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VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 263
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki outboard motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki outboards made between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki marine engines. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki marine engines purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16.“Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2016 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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More Of A World Traveler’s Top Fishing Destinations By Patrick Sebile
L
ast month in these pages, I laid out what in my opinion are the top-5 fishing destinations in the world. It was a list of the most impressive fisheries I have experienced in a career spent traveling to fish the most renowned waters on this planet. From southern Africa’s Atlantic coast to Scandanavia, Panama, Australia and Venice, Louisiana, those five destinations topped the list among the 64 countries where I have fished. But there are other destinations well worth mention as some of the top fisheries in the world. With this article I will touch on five more destinations I believe to be some of the best on the planet. • Florida, U.S.A: Choosing a whole state and calling it a destination might be a stretch. However, the variety of great fisheries offered by this peninsula is what makes it one of the best places in the world for anglers. With fantastic inshore and offshore fishing, seasonal highlights like the east coast mullet run and some of the best bass fishing anywhere, Florida’s patchwork of options make it a great place for fishing. • South Island, New Zealand: This place is as wild as wilderness can get. Fishing for trout in New Zealand streams with the backdrop that was the set from the “Lord of the Rings” movies has to be one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Also, the north island offers great saltwater fishing for humphead snapper and yellowtail amberjack, which is one of the meanest and most powerful fish that lives in the world’s oceans. • Lake Biwa, Japan: This 259-square-mile lake is surrounded with history as one of the oldest lakes in the world. It is filled with millions of ayu—a small trout-related fish—that turned out to be the major food for a population of largemouth bass. There are consistently more
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Photo Courtesy of Al Stewart Photography
big bass in Lake Biwa than anywhere else I know of. It is where the longtime IGFA All Tackle world record was tied just a few years ago with a bass that weighed 22-pounds, 5-ounces. • Ivory Coast, Africa: Years ago, I ran a lodge on the Ivory Coast, not far from the city of San Pedro, where Stuart Campbell used to come targeting record blue marlin. He succeeded a number of times. From April to June, my average day consisted of three to five fish in the 300- to 600-pound range. • Massachusetts, U.S.A.: I’m a striped bass addict, and fishing the shores of Massachusetts is a pilgrimage I must make on an annual basis, period! There’s nothing like fishing for striped bass when they’re blitzing bait on the shorelines of the northeastern states. Patrick Sebile is the owner and lure designer of Sebile Innovative Fishing (www.sebile.com).
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Take Advantage Of 2.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboards Or 4.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboard Engines Or Boat/Motor Packages — Going On Now! To Find Your Nearest Authorized Honda Marine Dealer, Visit Our Website Now From Your QR-Enabled Phone, Or Go To ca.hondamarine.com *APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 2.49% APR financing for 24 – 48 months, available to customers who qualify for the AHFC super preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines: 2.49% APR for 36 months financing at $28.86 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 60 months financing at $18.19 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.44 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. Lower rates may also be available. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines (2hp – 250hp) and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. **APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines or packages (boat, motor and trailer, where Honda outboard engine is the main source of power) through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 4.49% APR financing for 12 – 180 months (term and rate based on amount financed) available to customers who qualify for the AHFC Super Preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines or packages: 4.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.90 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 144 months financing at $9.00 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 180 months financing at $7.64 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine or package, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. APR may be subject to dealer mark-up. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines or packages and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. ©2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER 2016 NATIONAL 7
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Editor’s Note: Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Eleuthera, Bahamas
FREE
This year’s December holiday editions of Coastal Angler Magazine feature an image Holiday of Gene Dyer and a 30-pound mahi caught GIFT while fishing aboard Uncle Tom Dyer’s GUIDE 55-foot Hatteras off Eleuthera, Bahamas. Dyer is Coastal Angler’s newest franchisee, having recently taken over the Fort Local Lauderdale franchise location. Gene comes to Coastal Angler as a former advertising sales executive for Florida Sport Fishing. Eleuthera is one of the long skinny Out Islands that make up the eastern edge of the Bahamian archipelago. It is a spectacular vacation destination with miles of pink sand beaches, and for anglers it is a renowned bonefish destination, noted for expansive and easily accessible flats. As evidenced by Dyer’s Mahi, Eleuthera is also a fantastic jumpingoff place for the reef, spearfishing and sport fishing the Bahamas are famous for. Excellent reefs such as Devil’s Backbone are teeming with snappers, groupers and amberjack. And with depths of thousands of feet a few miles offshore, anglers can take a quick boat ride and tangle with tuna, marlin, snapper, mahi-mahi, sailfish and some huge wahoo. Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 263
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Southeastern Mountain Trout
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION
FREE
There is no better gift for a trout angler than the opportunity to cast to gorgeous fish in the streams of southern Appalachia. The cover image for our holiday editions of The Angler Holiday Magazine comes from the north Georgia GIFT GUIDE mountains, where Tommy Nicodemus caught this big rainbow trout from Noontootla Creek Local while fishing with guide Chuck Head of Unicoi Outfitters. Noontootla Creek is one of the best small trout streams in Georgia, and it feeds the larger Toccoa River, which boasts one the Southeast’s premier tailwater trout fisheries. Noontootla itself flows from high-headwaters through public land on Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area, where it is a small stream offering wild brown and rainbow trout. For decades it has been managed under special regulations, which have produced a great, if sometimes challenging, fishery. Our cover fish was caught from an extensively managed private trophy stretch of Noontootla Creek called Noontootla Creek Farms. The image was captured by Jason Weldon. PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON WELDON
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 263
F R A N C H I S E
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
FISHING WITH UNICOI OUTFITTERS
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W
inter means giant redfish on the fly. From Florida to Texas and up the east coast of the United States, giant redfish are a prime target species for many saltwater fly anglers. In my opinion, there is no finer wintertime saltwater species to sight fish a fly too. The fishing opportunities are endless, and the chance to hook a true giant heavier than 30 pounds is very likely. However, for the fly angler to be successful he/she must be able to make the cast. First Things First The first thing I suggest to anglers before they jump into saltwater fly fishing is to really learn how to cast a fly line to 40 feet quickly and accurately. We are often led to believe that if the angler can cast a long distance then he or she will be a successful fly angler. There is nothing further from the truth. I’ve seen wonderful fly casters become frustrated when sight casting to redfish. They are so focused on making a long cast that they miss the f ish-catching opportunities within 40 feet of their rod tip. Casting to redfish is more about accuracy and quickness than is distance. Learn The Double Haul Developing a solid double-haul is the foundation of a quick and accurate cast. Not only does the double-haul help with distance, if executed correctly, it reduces the number of backcasts the angler must make. It is well to remember that the more time the fly line is in the air, the less time the fly is on the water. The best way to learn the double haul is to find a grassy area like a park. Next, strip out 40 feet of fly line and make a forward cast, allowing the fly line to lie on the grass in front of you. Next, lower your rod tip to where it is touching the ground in front of you. Then, pick up the fly line and make a back cast, laying the line out behind you. This is the single haul. Next, pull the fly line off the grass behind you with your line hand while the fly rod is moving forward, and with the rod moving forward, pull the line down towards your belt line. As you feel the fly rod load while it bends on the forward cast, release the line from your line hand, allowing the fly line to shoot forward through the guides. This is the second haul of the double haul, an effective cast when long- distance casts are required, but also important for the short, quick accurate cast needed when fishing red fish. The Back Cast Is Important Much of your success in fly casting is dependent upon the development of a smooth back cast, that is the ability to cast 20 to 30 feet of line behind you whenever demanded. Remember the fly fisherman’s adage that “your forward cast is only as good as your back cast,” and a good cast is the “rule-of thumb” when casting flies to redfish. If a redfish appears behind you, simply make a forward cast. With your fly line on the water, simply pick up the line, and shoot it behind you. Retain eye contact with the redfish’s position. In next month’s column, Casting to Redfish Part Two, I will write about the importance of the repositioning cast and quick cast.
FLY FISHING
ON THE COVER
CASTING FOR THE REDFISH GAME: PART ONE
Follow Conway Bowman at www.conwybowman.com, on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
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DECEMBER 2016
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Gift Ideas FOR ANGLERS
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heck out these great gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday gift list. These local merchants are available to ensure your holiday gift giving satisfaction. We always try to encourage our readers to shop locally. It’s our community and we all benefit from supporting our local businesses. They’re here for us all year long and our personal convenience depends on their sustainability. Tell them Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine sent you. By the way, if you see something here that you wish could be under the tree with your name on it, just take out a marker and circle it. Then leave this page open for your friends and family to see. Yes, crude but effective.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine.
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DECEMBER 2016
E
xciting stuff this month!! We are proud to help the team behind Trout Power, a conservative effort lead by JP Ross that is presented and described by Mark Usyk in our Fly-Fishing section. Check out the Trout Power video on www.troutpower.org and you too can be a part of this excitement. This is a great month to gear up for ice fishing season and joining the NYS Winter Classic www.nyswinterclassic. com . You can do both at FISH307 www. fish307.com on Sat. Dec.17, FISH307 will be hosting their 7th Annual Ice Fishing Open Seminar. On site there will be all sorts of expert demonstrations, factory reps, and instruction on exciting new products. Tim Thomas, The NYS Winter Classic coordinator will be sharing a booth with The Angler Magazine, we will be raffling off some great products, some giveaways too. What we are mostly anticipating in December is the launch of our website. www.theanglermagazine.com/ upstate-ny. This site is designed to create a one-stop resource for all things fishing in Upstate NY. We have quite a way to go, but by hyper-linking our advertiser’s sites, who are peppered around the best fishing spots in the state, that would be a great database to start.
UPSTATE NEW YORK
Many of our advertisers offer great videos and instruction. That’s why we are asking you, our readers, to share your photos, videos or any other resource to help make this the best fishing site possible. Our site displays much better on computer, so stay connected with your phone to The Angler Magazine on Instagram. I manage our site myself. I need more steelhead photos and want your NYS Winter Classic shots. Please text me fish to cycle through. I only post photos of fish caught by our readers, field experts, or shared by our advertisers. If you would like to have The Angler Magazines digital e-mag e-mailed to you monthly via Issuu.com just email us at lisah@theanglermagazine.com. Please be patient, and while liking and interacting with us on our social media sites, advise us of any mistakes or issues navigating. We are presently active on a daily basis on Instagram, www.instagram.com/TheAnglerMagazineUpstateNY, www.facebook.com/TheAnglerMagazineUpstateNY and now our website will be providing daily fishing reports, ice status, and promotions on a daily basis starting Dec.15th. Have patience and join us!!
We wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season full of friends, family and good cheer! – Frankie & Lisa
NOW ONLINE www.theanglermag.com/upstate-ny For editorial comments, articles, photography, advertising and all other inquires please contact: The Angler Magazine Upstate New York. CALL OR TEXT 518-898-6484 OR EMAIL frankie@theanglermagazine.com OR VISIT www.theanglermag.com/upstate-ny Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/theanglermagazineupstateny 1216_LOC_UPNY.indd 1
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SALMON RIVER REPORT BY DREAMS COME TRUE CHARTERS’ RICK PECCI
Then come aboard and make your fishing "Dreams Come True" Lake Trolling, River Fishing & Drift Boat Charters Check us out!
www.dreamscometruecharters.com Contact Rick Pecci to plan your next trip. 315-790-7412 E-mail: rickfish38@yahoo.com Mexico Bay, New York
2 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Steelhead action has started to pick up for the season following a slow start. November brought moderate action throughout The Salmon River with hard working Steelheaders hooking a few fish on certain days. Best success has been eggs or egg imitations. Blue goo eggs sacks have been hooking fish and lower water and light conditions may increase that trend. Peach egg sacks have been good along with white. Beads have been successful and should be considered for float fisherman, Great Lakes Steelhead Company and Creek Candy have great varieties. Flies imitating eggs in colors orange and pink have been good. Catch and release considerations now would certainly aid the longevity of the population. Anticipate steelhead and browns to hole up and find deeper sections with lower water. This may be a season that more work is required, but your reward may find less competition. Be willing to cover more water to find pods of active fish. Water clarity should continue to improve, along with less leaves. This is the lowest the river has been since late October rains brought the river up quickly. Midriver and Upper sections of river are producing as well if not better the DSR below, and that trend should continue. As the month continues, look for upper river runs and holes to hold good numbers of fish starting to get into their winter modes. Mid-river holes like Sportsman are a personal favorite on a snowy or early winter day. These sometimes challenging to reach sections between Pulaski and Pineville could be holding less hassled fish and concentrating quarters could give you some nice action. Sportsmans often turns on after lunch or later in the day, and can provide a nice mid-afternoon dividend. December Colder water coupled with rain could trigger new runs. A consistent weather pattern and consistently lower water temperatures could set us up for a decent season, but it should not be judged by the number of fish you hook, rather the freedom and choice we have on this river to hook up with a truly amazing trout. I have always loved Salmon River fishing right after thanksgiving and this year that may be great timing. Just get out and stay focused.
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a slow er with uccess ng fish g sacks uld be Creek d pink nly aid ole up more ing to nue to ce late ons of should oles to d-river er day. neville ve you he day, water rn and on, but eedom I have ar that
Center-pinning for Steelhead A
lmost 20 years ago, I was drifting egg sacks on my favorite run on North Sandy Creek. I was doing my share of hooking Steelhead and landing a few, when I intersected another Steelheader on the opposite bank just murderlizing fish after fish. He had this super long rod and a free spooling, hand dragged reel. That’s when I first heard of Center-pin fishing and became fishing buddies with Tim Brooks. Tim is convinced that Center-pinning is the best, most natural technique for drifting egg spawn, beads or jigs for Steelhead and Browns. According to Mr. Brooks, a primary reason is keeping the correct speed with your drift. He is also super meticulous about the products that he utilizes in matching this drift and that any variations can and will change your success. Angler Magazine reached out to Whitakers Sport Store in Pulaski to run a special on a good starter combination to help you enter the Center-pinning world. It’s a 12ft-9in Raven Matrix rod/Raven Matrix float reel for $329. Put this on YOUR Christmas list.
Center-pin Combo from Whitakers 12ft-9in Raven Matrix Rod/Raven Matrix float reel for $329. Put this on YOUR Christmas list. Here is Tim’s Starter Set-up and techniques Raven Matrix Combo-On Sale at Whitakers Sport Store for $329, Nice! – Spooled with 8-10 lb. test Raven main line, attach your float with 2-3 pieces of Raven float tubing on your main line, fix 6-10 small round Densmor or Phill split shots based on the water you are fishing. For bait selection, start your efforts with a Bloogoo eggsack and tie on a #8 Blackbird Sabretooth hook. Tim also recommends having an assortment of Great Lakes Steelhead Company beads and jigs and also favors pink power worms. Through trial and error, keep your offering within a foot of bottom and develop your methods to match the speed of the water you are on. Adjust your bobber lead and split shot numbers accordingly and develop your own techniques and efforts to matching the speed, projecting a natural drift. These products along with all your Steelhead needs are available at Whitaker’s Sport Store.
Tim Brooks with a chrome Center-pin Steelhead - https://whitakers.com
Quality Tackle • Rods & Reels • Live Bait Expert Guide Service • Large and Varied Selection of Bait • Best Service in Town • All Your Ice Fishing Needs • NYS Winter Classic Weigh-In Home of the Original Salmon Hotline
4826 Salina St., Pulaski, NY 13142 (315) 298-4343 Open 7 days - 5am-9pm
www.salmonriversportsshop.com
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Our sport shop is fully equipped with hard core gear for the serious salmon and steelhead angler
Riffle Jacket
249
$
3707 State Route 13 | Pulaski, NY 13142 | Phone: 315-298-6162 Whitaker's Sport Store and Motel has been family owned and operated since 1976. Our home water is the famous Salmon River, which is the premier destination fishery for trophy salmon and steelhead in the entire northeast.
Trailhead Hybrid Jacket $98
Our hotel rooms are equipped with fly tying lamps, cable TV, private bath, and air-conditioning. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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"World Class Fishing" Steelhead Lodge offers a true, "fishing lodge" experience by providing lodging packages that include meals and outdoor excursions, guided fishing and hunting, kayaking, rafting, x-country skiing and more.
Book now for Steelhead season Limited rooms, great prices. Mouthwatering riverside ribs and bbq. Acres of River access near prime Salmon River holes and picnic grounds.
Steelhead Lodge
3178 State Rt. 13, Pulaski, NY 13142 (315) 298-4371
www.steelheadlodge.com
The view from our back deck overlooks the Salmon River.
OSWEGO REPORT AND FORECAST BY ROBERT MALLORY Oswego in the fall is a magical place. The mass of king salmon entered the mighty Oswego once again this fall and all was right. Water levels fluctuated throughout the fall but in general there was a great bite for anglers fishing cured skein under floats. Anglers at the dam also did well using the usual bottom bouncing techniques. There were some trout mixed in and taken as well while the kings were running. As the king’s started to dwindle, the domestic rainbow fishing picked up and steelhead and brown trout were also being taken in the river. For the trout, beads under floats as well as egg sacs are working. As the water in the river has started to clear from the big rains natural colored beads should start to take over and get hot in the coming weeks. The brown trout bite should be really good for the next few weeks and then the steelhead should fill in for the winter. There is plenty of access in Oswego to fish for trout even for those who prefer not to wade for them via the linear access on the east and west sides. Once deer season gets under way the crowds often thin and trout fishing can be phenomenal. Let this be the year you give the late fall and early winter trout fishing on Oswego a shot!
Jim So info ch
4 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Experience four seasons of fishing with over 200 lakes, streams and rivers in one of the world’s premier fresh water fisheries
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ST. LAWRENCE COU
Prepare to be Water Wolf Charters landed and released this beautiful Musky near Clayton in midNovember on a 13in black Believer plug as part of a Berger rig. We are planning to fish with Water Wolf on Dec. 6, with a follow Musky article for January. Bob has 2 dates open on Dec. 8 and 15th and go to his link to watch Live Musky Battles!! http://stlawrencemuskiefishing.com
Hooked
Jim Sorrento corralled this St. Lawrence River musky trolling reef runners, for more info check out St. Lawrence County fantastic fishing site at http://www.fishcap.net For a Free St. Lawrence County Anglers Guide call: 877-228-7810 & For fishing info. visit FISHCAP.Net
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Now, I’ll be Frank.
You have to enter The NYS WINTER CLASSIC!! T
he NYS Winter Classic www.nyswinterclassic.com is a twomonth long derby (January and February) that allows you to fish ALL waters in the state, any type of fishing, with a wide assortment of prizes. If you are going to ice-fish or Steelhead fish this winter, you should enter the NYS Winter Classic. The prizes are amazing and every fish you catch can win you NICE prizes. In fact, just joining up for $25 could get you a sign-up gear bonus and will make you eligible to win a brand new ice shanty, there is so many prizes to win! There are 56 statewide weigh-in stations and each location will be raffling off an Ice-shanty, and every fish you weigh-in increases your chances to win. The derby runs all January and February and you can enter any time before or during the event. Any waters in NY State are eligible and both weekly, monthly, species specific prizes are given away liberally. I’ve joined and I will be enjoying my ice fishing and Steelhead adventures with a chance to win BIG. I challenge all our readers to do the same. Join at any weigh-in station or go to www.nyswinterclassic.com for entry, prizes, free raffles and rules. The following weigh in stations below are Angler Magazine contributors and would be happy to explain the derby, ice conditions, fishing reports, or provide standings. Big prize$ are frequent. The Angler Magazine Upstate NY website (www.theanglermag.com/upstate-ny) and www.nyswinterclassic.com will be covering daily standings and providing daily pictures, fishing reports and ice conditions. We have
Perfect for novice or tournament angler and anyone in between • Catches Fish Automatically • Great for Kids and Family Fun • Ice Fishing Pole Included
so many trophy waters in Upstate NY and I am convinced if enough Upstate NY anglers join this well covered and sponsored derby, that WE will dominate the state standings. It will be a great way to get through the winter and provide a new tradition to NYS winter fishing. Go to www.nyswinterclassic.com for details and weigh-in locations. The following Angler Magazine contributors are weigh-in stations in our region and offer derby sign ups.
Runnings in Liverpool-Clay Runnings in Rome Fish307 in Lake George Schroon Lake Bait and More RKP Sports in Dolgeville Lakeshore Bait and Tackle in Cicero The Crossroads in Chestertown 1000 Island Sports in Alex Bay
Top Ten Reason to join the NYS Winter Classic 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
You can win a shanty just for signing up. Great way to learn new waters and techniques. Keeps you updated with fishing reports and ice status. The prizes and giveaways keep coming all derby long!! This derby’s length rewards skill as much as luck Great Family Fun!! Enter your kids, they will LOVE it! MASSIVE PRODUCT GIVEAWAYS FROM DERBY SPONSORS!! You and your friends can win BIG MONEY! Prove Upstate NY is the king of NY fishing.
www.nyswinterclassic.com www.theanglermag.com/upstate-ny
Order Online:
www.automaticfisherman.com 1048 Harwood Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54313 • (920) 639-5555
6 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Using Electronics to Ice More Fish By Capt. Stephen George, Allwater Guide Service
W
hen I started ice fishing as a kid, we were equipped with the most fluorocarbon leader. Like bass fisherman, I keep 3 or 4 rods rigged up so if basic of gear that included wooden tip ups, a plastic sled to carry changes are needed, I can quickly switch to find out what they like. In clear our gear, a bucket for bait, and a hand auger. With this we could water, it may be necessary to go with 2 lb test clear mono or fluorocarbon target any fish anywhere we wanted. To “dial in” the location we relied on and mico-jigs. Always keep in mind that other predators such as walleye, our knowledge from summer outings. Determining the depth of bottom pike, and/or lake trout cruise the perch beds looking for a meal; make was done with a sinker on the line and dropping it ‘til it hit bottom. Finding sure your drag is set accordingly and expect a long fight. Nothing is more fish was pure luck: Oh, how times have changed. exciting than landing a big fish on ultra light gear and The ice fishing revolution occurred in the 80’s 2 lb test line. with the invention of the portable ice shelter, more Perch fishing is a game of inches and one must be constantly on the move to keep up with the specialized tackle and electronics. The portable roaming schools of fish. Expect to drill lots of holes shanty allowed fisherman to withstand the onslaught to find fish and utilize other forms of technology to of cold and wind and no longer were you subjected to find structure such as rock piles, flats, or drop off ’s. the elements while sitting on a bucket. Now fisherman The Navionics App downloaded on my smart phone can go anywhere, at anytime and be comfortable. The allows me to see lake contours and structure as I move next big thing was the development of portable sonar around on the ice. Using the Navionics App along units/fish finders. Our everyday lives have become with my Vexilar Fl-18, it is easy to locate potential dependent upon gadgets and gizmos and my first structure and determine if fish are there. Not to say ice fishing sonar unit was the “Fishin’ Buddy” by you won’t have to put time in. Like I tell everyone, fish Hummingbird. The fish finder allowed us to quickly have fins and move wherever they want. check the overall depth of the water and it provided a Through the use of electronics, structure and fish can be http://www.allwaterguideny.com glimpse of what was there; rocks, mud, weeds and most found and once you are proficient with the interpretation importantly, were there fish? The first outing with my of what the electronics reveal, it will certainly help put son on Schroon Lake for lake trout proved that the investment was worth more fish, of any species, in your cooler. The one thing all this technology every penny. We set up in 100’ of water and our Fishin Buddy said the won’t do, is make the fish bite .... and that’s fishing! Keep in touch with local trout were cruising at 40’ amongst clouds of smelt, so we stripped out the bait shops such as Jim’s bait in Mayfield, Fish307 in Lake George or through line and set bait from 30 - 50’. Within minutes we had 7 Lakers on the ice IceShanty.com to find out where the hot action is and what the fisherman before he and I could set up our 10 tip ups. are saying is working. Always think safety when venturing out on the ice and Technology has grown in the ice fishing industry and we now are good luck to everyone this season. using flasher units that can show tiny jigs, flies, bottom structure, and fish of all sizes in 30’-100’ of water. By interpreting the flashes and colors on the screen, the size, abundance, as well as, the attitude/reaction of fish with regard to jigging action can be figured out. How the fish are reacting to jigs and baits is essential to keying in on what they like. With the new electronics, the behavior of the fish to a certain jigging action and lure selection can immediately be determined and if changes in the jigging cadence, or lure size, lure color are required, changes can be made with real time information. No other fish can be more finicky than perch. Locally, we are blessed with a variety of fantastic lakes for perch such as Lake George, Schroon Lake, Lake Champlain, and Lake Pleasant. I prefer to set up over weed beds in 15-30+’ of water and utilize tear drop Tungsten jigs tipped with bait. Mayfield, NY Often to “match the hatch” I will tie on my own custom nymphs tied with pheasant tail or peacock hurl 6-9” above the heavier jig. Size 10 - 14 hooks tipped with a Maki Plastic soft bait have also proven to be very effective. In Open all year round. 1/2 days on Holidays deep water, I will utilize a Hali or micro-spoon to get the rig to the bottom Full Supply of Bait fast. My standard perch rig is an ultra-light rod with 4 lb test mono with a
Jim’s Bait Shop
Your gateway to ice/fishing the ADKs and Sacandaga
Ice & Fly Fishing Specialist
“Jim’s Early Ice Tip”
Stay close to shore – fish less than 5 ft. tip-ups with minnows for feeding pike and walleye
Sacandaga Specialist Our ice fishing guide services lakes of East Central New York State including Great Sacandaga Lake, and all waters in Hamilton, Herkimer, Fulton-Montgomery, Otsego, Saratoga, Essex Counties and beyond.
Book Your Trip Now! (518) 527-6175 www.allwaterguideny.com
Captain Stephen George is a NYSDEC Licensed Wilderness Guide.
118 Second Ave Ext, Mayfield, NY 12117
(518) 661-5724
www.facebook.com/jims.baitshop
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Early Ice By Rodney Oathout
A
s I am writing this, it is nearly 50 degrees outside so it’s a little depressing to already have the itch to be walking on ice. On a good year, we would be drilling holes within two weeks of this month’s issue being released. Lets hope for some cold weather! First ice could be my favorite time of the ice fishing season, and arguably the best fishing as well. I usually pack a lot lighter, leaving the shanty and gas auger at home, especially since we are only on a couple inches of ice. I particularly like to target trout and big northerns this time of the season, usually fishing pretty shallow and close to shore. I typically do very well for both species in shallow water during “early ice”; not to mention I am not too keen on venturing out to deeper water when I am on no more than two inches of ice. Remember, just because you’re on two inches of ice, doesn’t mean you’ll have that much ice with your next step, so always be cautious. When targeting the trout, I use small to medium sized minnows below tip-ups hooked with a small treble hook, size 12 or 14, with a longer than normal light leader, usually four to eight pound test. When targeting northerns, I use larger shiners and suckers with a larger treble hook, size six, and heavier line- 12 pound with a 30 pound fluorocarbon leader. Those are just my personal tactics, everyone has there own opinions and methods of what works best for them. I think the fishing is so good during this time because there hasn’t been a lot of fishing pressure yet, and the lakes haven’t been taken over by screaming snowmobiles. Hopefully, by the time I’m writing my next article, I’ll be writing it from my shanty. I’m sure you all can’t wait to be out there chasing flags either! ‘Til next time, FLAG!!!
E
Rodney Oathout of Runnings Gloversville hunting/fishing dept. with an early season brown. http://www.runnings.com
Good Times, Great Food, Best People
NFL Sunday Ticket
Watch all the games after fishing GO! Raiders’ Just feet from Sacandaga Lake Tasty meats smoked on premises Great �ishing hangout Winner of the coveted 2008 Leader Herald's Best Tavern Award
223 County Highway 152 (Old Rte 30)
Northville, NY 12134
(518) 863-6272 8 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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giveaway
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FISH307.COM LAKE GEORGE FISHING REPORT If you want to see some of the most beautiful specimen of landlock salmon, big hook jaws 5-10 lb. average, rooming in sight, and they take shrimp and flies!! That’s right, cocktail shrimp under a float has been producing high-quality salmon right off the docks in downtown Lake George. See our Instagram page for photos, www.instagram.com/fish307. Fly fishermen have also been having success also, check out photo of FISH307 floor expert, Mike Hill, Jr., or singer, Richie Ortiz with a handsome hook-jawed beauty. Our staff and patrons have been consistently catching them in spurts all fall long, usually on favored fly patterns. Orange flies have been working best. We have a wide assortment in our fly section. Lake Trout have transitioned to spawning and reports have been slow with few boats fishing, trolled streamers and small spoons like Mooselooks and Speedy Shiners trolled close to shore and around docks for salmon would be your best bet. Bass have transitioned deep with just one report of Keitechs taking fish past 40 ft. On Sat Dec.17th at 8am join FISH307 at our Lake George Outlet store for our 7th Annual Ice Fishing Open Seminar ALL DAY. At our roomy outlet location, we will have booths of factory reps and experts explaining techniques and products for all species. The selection and inventory we have available will be our best ever and will rival the biggest in the state. $pecial pricing, derby sign-ups, expert advice, and special raffles for NYS WINTER CLASSIC sign ups. While Holiday shopping, pick out YOUR Christmas gift while visiting the outlet malls and get a jump on the season. Gear and instruction, repairs, auger sharpening, licenses, derby’s, and EVERYTHING ICE FISHING, Saturday Dec. 17 that FISH307 in the Lake George Outlet Mall. Everyone in the state is invited!! Or go to www.FISH307.com if you can’t make it.
An U
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Great Holiday Gift Idea Prices!! Ask
rices!!
Great Products & Services Unparalleled Customer Service Boating & Trolling Gear Authorized Cannon & Minnekota Dealer & Repairs All Downrigger Parts & Service Lures • Rods • Reels • Line Parts & Repair • Ice Auger Sharpening Accessories Ice Fishing Gear
VISIT US ONLINE @ FISH307.com or at our beautiful Lake George, NY location
Hut Clam Scout XL TC Portable Ice Fishing Shelter $319.00
13 Whiteout Ice Fishing Rod and Reel Combos $59.99
Lithium Laser Ice Auger $589.99
• NYS Winter Classic Weigh-In Station • Dec. 17, 7th Annual Ice Fishing Open Seminar
1-800-FISH307 or 518-798-9203 6 State Route 149, Lake George, NY 12845
10 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Troutfitter – Great savings on a premium 9ft. Steelhead Fly Combo for an incredible $334.95. Perfect. https://cnytroutfitter.com Whitakers – Complete Raven Matrix Center-pin Combo-$329. Read Story on Center-pinning. Fish-on by New Years! https://whitakers.com Capital District Fly Tying Class – 8 week class complete with materials to tie about 70 flies, manual and instruction. Thoughtful Gift of future memories for $75. http://cdflyfishers.org
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Gift Certificates from any of our advertisers!!
Choose Fulton County’s lakes for your next escape. We offer 44 backdrops for ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling or just relaxing.
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ANGLER MAGAZINE FLY FISHING...next 6 pages
Edited by Charlie Warfield
Wonderful Obsession – An Introduction to Fly Fishing http://www.flyshack.com
By Charlie Warfield
I
learned fly fishing from my father as a child, and I have been obsessed with it since. There is just something therapeutic about being in the water, even when I’m not catching fish. Just being in, and observing nature is awesome. The learning never ends and I think that’s the best part. I can never know everything about the fish, their food, and the habitat that they live in. Being a fly fisher can engage your body, mind, and soul. I feel truly blessed that I get to think about fly fishing and write about it as part of my job! Working in a fly shop, I have the privilege of helping many people experience this passion of fly fishing more fully. One of my favorite types of customer is the person that is new to fly fishing - maybe they remember their grandfather fly fishing when they were a child, or maybe they have a friend that is trying to get them into the sport. I have observed that there is definitely a fly fishing “bug.” I’m not sure how it is contracted, but I believe it is highly contagious.
you need a rod, reel, and line. It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. At The Fly Shack (where I work), packages start at about $110. Of course, many people have some kind of fly fishing gear that they either inherited from a friend/relative, or picked up at a garage sale. Most of the time, this second-hand gear will work just fine.
Casting
For many people, casting is the most daunting part of fly fishing. It is also very misunderstood and sometimes over complicated. Because most flies are unweighted, or have just a very small amount of weight added to them, you cannot cast like you would with a spinning rod. In fly fishing, you have to use the line to create the momentum needed to cast the fly where you want it. The most basic cast is the overhand cast. This cast is done by moving the rod forward, then abruptly stopping the rod at about the ten o’clock position. This will send the line flying in Let’s Start at the Top the direction you point the rod. There are many great resources on fly Freshwater fish eat bugs (flies). They eat these bugs at all stages casting, and it truly is an art to itself. Check on YouTube for some great of their life cycle. Fly fishing, in its most basic form, is fishing using tutorials on casting. Also check with your local fly shop for tips and imitations of bugs made of fur and feathers. Because these bugs are at casting classes. different stages of their life cycle at different times of the year, the flies Have Fun we use change with the season. However, there are some basic types Fly fishing, like all fishing, is all about getting outside and having of fly that can work all year long, and those are the flies that I suggest fun. So keep it very simple to start, and ask a lot questions. If you don’t beginners use to get started. One of these is the Woolly Bugger. This is a have a friend to ask, then ask someone at the local fly shop. Or reach out great fly that imitates a range of fish delicacies, from a hellgrammite to to the online community. Fly fishing is like most sports - you can get stonefly nymph, even baitfish. into it as much as you would like. But be careful, because fly fishing is a passion and a lifetime of learning. You just might get sucked into this Rods, Reels, and Lines There is a lot of specialized gear used for fly fishing, but essentially wonderful obsession.
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he Capital District Fly Tying Class is an 8 week class starting January 11th – 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Saratoga Spa State Park Office and is not just for beginners. For non CDFF members the class cost is $75.00 and it is one of the best deals around. For the class you will need your own tools and that info is covered in week 1 as well as how to start the thread and tie a few knots. You will also receive 14 different kits with enough materials to tie a minimum of 5 flies (value minimum $70.00), a book to help with how to place materials on a hook ($20.00) and raffle items for doing your homework. This just made it the one of the best bargains around. The main objective is to teach you how to place materials on the hook. There will be 2 different instructors teaching their favorite style of flies each class. We limit the number of students to a maximum of 10 per instructor and Floor walkers will be there to help answer questions and help with the different techniques used to apply the materials. No fly tier ties the same way. When you come to the class with the rest of the flies taught at the previous class you will receive a raffle ticket for the raffle items. The raffle items can be materials to help build your collection for future flies or other items. Some of the instructors even donate materials from their own collections. The space is limited and is on a first come first serve basis. There are several ways to find out more about the class. They are as follows go to WWW.CDFLYFISHERS.ORG, e-mail CDFLYFISHERS@NYCAP. RR.COM (in the subject line say fly tying class), or call Paul Sinicki – 885-8257 (if no answer, please leave a message). Gift Certificates are also available; this can be a gift for life.
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“Trout Power” I
By Mark Usyk, ADK Explorer and Writer
t’s a mission statement born out of a love for wild, untouched places and the search for wild fish. Trout Power is fly anglers, men and women, who want to both gauge and protect the health of water systems www.troutpower.org by the wild trout living in them, and protect those wild fish at the same time. Trout Power began as a creel study on the West Canada Creek in Central NY. But what’s in a name? The West Canada is no creek. It’s a river over 70 miles long that like most rivers changes more and more as you travel downstream. But what changed as you followed the river downstream is what put it in the sights of Jordan Ross of JP Ross Fly Rods and founder of Trout Power in 2011. In the head waters deep in the ADK wilderness wild brook trout abound, taking care of themselves and proving the quality of the watershed in its beginnings. As the river flows south and nears Hinckley Reservoir and civilization, they mix in with stocked rainbows, browns and more brookies. But below the reservoir, and below the many impoundments from which erratic water flows surge and where the brown trout call it home you’ll find no wild trout, only stocked. Of the 63 tributaries entering the West Canada below the dam, over half are documented as wild brook trout streams, but all you’ll find in the West Canada itself below multiple dams and turbines are stocked browns. Jordan went about compiling data over three years, using three creel studies. By recording over one-thousand fish and placing temperature sensors to record what the erratic flows did to water temperatures, combined with entomology studies, baselines have been established that will be used in upcoming FERC license changes. There should be wild fish the entire length
in what the NYDEC touts as one of the most renowned trout streams in central New York, and with the research compiled and the licenses coming up for renewal, there could be in the coming years. As it should be. Now the Trout Power sights have been adjusted farther north into the Adirondacks, and on to wild and native brook trout. 2016 saw a Trout Power watershed study two years in the making come to fruition on Father’s Day weekend in June with great success and a strong team of conservation minded anglers in the trenches. They slogged it out in rough country and shared stories and discoveries in the comfort of one of the Adirondack’s Great Camps, Camp Sagamore, in the evenings. In the late 1890s a doctor from NYC spent time exploring this very watershed and kept journals of his experiences and discoveries. Doctor Arpad Geyza Gerster left us a record in good detail of what the watershed was like from 1895 to 1898, his private journals. Detailing trips up and down the South Inlet, a fishing camp up lost Brook, canoe trips and hikes where fishing wasn’t only recorded by the number of fish caught, but by sizes, specific places, and conditions. They give us a look back in time through the firsthand accounts of someone who held this watershed very close to his heart. The watershed coursing through the backcountry here was once full of wild brook trout. Because of general history we know this, but because of the Gerster diaries we have specific details of this particular watershed. However, like much of the Adirondacks, acid rain killed off many of the brook trout, in some places most or all. Now the waters once again have a decent population of wild brookies, and researching stocking records shows no one has stocked them since the acid rain took its toll in this particular watershed, yet here they are. So the Trout Power study aimed to take a good look at the fish population and delve deeper into the mystery of the comeback story.
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http://www.jprossflyrods.com Jordan and his team carefully recorded the physical characteristics of the brook trout by photograph, took DNA samples by discreet and mindful fin clippings approved by their laboratory, and recorded where each sample came from in the watershed on maps. In all, 48 of 50 samples were taken. In cooperation with the NYS Museum and Cornell University the samples are being studied and compared to known heritage strains and stocked strains, which will tell a story of where these fish came from, and in the end help push for special regulations on these waters to protect a wild population of brook trout, that, heritage or not, have fought against the pollution and hardships brought on by humans and came back, because they were also left alone by humans. Within the park’s over six million acres lies over ten-thousand lakes and more than thirty-thousand miles of rivers and streams. One of the last hold outs of wild and native brook trout is right here in our state, in the vast and remote Adirondacks. It’s the perfect place to scientifically document a true natural comeback story. That’s why it will be the new focus and mission of Trout Power as it moves to become a full Nonprofit organization. There are other national trout conservation nonprofits, this is true. But as
organizations grow missions become too broad, focus blurs, and messages are lost. Trout Power’s mission will focus its work on protecting wild and native brook trout in the Adirondacks. This is grassroots conservation. Because of the success of the event and the support from the conservation community the Trout Power® team is poised to target the Adirondack Park and search out waters and wild fish that need to be identified and protected before it’s too late. The Adirondack brook trout is tough, make no mistake. They’ve been here since the ice age, but they’ve had to fight, flee, or hunker down in the wake of manmade catastrophes such as the logging boom at the turn of the last century, the acid rain from the industrial revolution, over fishing, and now the climate change as water temperatures begin to rise. Jordan’s belief, and the belief of those surrounding him are that there are more wild fish out there in hard to get to places that should never be stocked over, their heritage strain DNA never mixed with weaker and less resilient stocked DNA, and that whose populations are small enough that only a few careless anglers “keeping their limits” could finish them off. If you’d like to know more or get involved you can visit their website at www.troutpower.org.
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Twin Ponds – An Adirondack Brook Trout Preserve By Evan Bottcher, Fly Fishing Guide at the Hungry Trout
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here is an incredible mix of experiences to be had fly fishing for trout, but the one experience that truly has me hooked is fly fishing for brook trout in the ponds of the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York. Over the years I have been lucky enough to fly fish for trout all over the USA. Large slow moving tail waters from New Mexico to Montana and steep freestone streams from SW Colorado to Alaska to Labrador. Few things compare to the beauty, and the intimacy of a remote Adirondack Pond, and in this instance, a pond that produces wild populations of 3-6 pound brook trout throughout the fishing season. Tucked against the edge of ‘The Blue Line’, the border of the Adirondack Park, lies a 2000 acre parcel of land that surrounds 3 ponds, providing ample protection from angling pressure and invasive species alike. In the early 1980’s with the aid of Bill Flick, son of legendary Catskill fly tyer, Art Flick, and a team of biologists, this pond was brought back to life as an original Adirondack pond, supporting nothing but heritage strain Brook Trout. 30 years later, Twin Ponds remains as a spectacular self sustaining ecosystem, free of trout stocking, and loaded with a dense reproducing trout population The Hungry Trout has had the privilege as the only outfitter with access to these ponds since their fruition. We have guided them extensively and have become very close with the flora and fauna of the land, and the temperament of the brook trout that reside here. Your average angler will have the highest catch rates while trolling the shorelines, points, drop offs and spring holes scattered throughout the pond. Flat-water brook trout prefer structure and can be pulled out of
dense logjams and deadfall. While trolling we use type 5 (5-6 inches per second) full sinking fly lines, short leaders (3’-7’) and a variety of different flies usually imitating various baitfish, sculpin, or leeches. Black Ghost, Grey Ghost, Baby Brook Trout to name a few. We use a lot of wooly buggers, zonkers, and simple bunny leech flies to imitate leeches, and large wool head sculpin patterns. When fishing ponds, it is important to keep the following in mind. Where are fish feeding (location), how are they feeding (what type of retrieve), and what are they eating (what fly). Fishing different depths while trolling is accomplished by the amount of fly line you have out coupled with the speed of the troll. More line and slower troll = deeper retrieve. A faster row, will lift the plane of the line for a shallower retrieve. It seems simple to figure out, but it is amazing how picky these trout can be for the ‘correct’ trolling scenario. For those anglers who are not a fan of trolling, we also fish these ponds casting and retrieving utilizing ‘Loch Style’ techniques. These techniques eliminate the ‘chuck and chance’ practice of casting from a boat, and provide a methodology to finding the fish and figuring out their temperament and fly preference. When using this method we will use anywhere from a 5’-15’ leader, usually always with 2 flies spaced minimum 4’ apart. We use many of the same flies we use trolling, but many more specifically designed for this application. One example is the ‘Mini Humungous’ a wooly bugger style fly designed for flat water – look it up. Many European patterns come into play as well such as blobs, and boobies. http://hungrytrout.com
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The same thought process applies. Where are the fish, how are the feeding, and what are they eating. It is about adjusting to the conditions at the given time, and matching those conditions with proper fly line and fly selection. This is better for an advanced angler because casting a full sinking fly line 50’ can be a difficult task, but is necessary for properly covering the water column. When fishing ‘Loch Style’ techniques, we always have the wind at our back, casting downwind and drifting toward our target. This allows a neutral relationship between current, and our sinking fly line, which gives us our best sink rate. Just like in a river, we need to combat the current to get our flies into the zone and keep there as long as we can. We work the water column from the top down, utilizing different flies and retrieves, until find the trout, continuously
Evan Bottcher of The Hungry Trout with a trophy ADK brook trout – http://hungrytrout.com adjusting for the most success. Whether it is the classic ADK method of trolling, or utilizing Loch Style technique, the feeling of setting a fly into a wild, 3 pound Adirondack brook trout is unbeatable. There are few places in the country where one can find a fresh water eco system that compares to the Adirondacks. There are few places in the country where 3-5 pound brook trout are a regular occurrence. To catch trout like that, in a setting like this, is an incredible fly fishing experience.
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A Labor Day to Remember I
By Rachel Lynn Vickers, Angler Magazine Field Expert GSLFF Chair Member
play in a pool league every Sunday, and for months my teammate Bert Frasier, what I thought to be “fish stories” of he and his brothers domination over the Salvelinus Namaycush… {Lake trout} fishery at Lake Champlain. Week after Week, he would boast…”We caught 0ver 30,40 each, all were 20 inches plus”...And “My father, Brother, and I, last weekend set a single day catch record of 122 Lakers, you should really come up for a couple of days”. Honestly… I, figured he was embellishing on numbers to try and impress me which, when it comes to Fish & Fishing is NOT easily done. I earned my B.A. with Honors, in Fisheries & Aquaculture from SUNY Cobleskill, and I am an active Chair Member of the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation (GSLFF). Fisheries and sport fishing has been my greatest passion for as long as I can remember, and I’m always looking for new fishing opportunities to experience. I finally decided on Friday of Labor Day Weekend that I would take Bert up on his invitation, I have never fished Lake Champlain before, or caught a Laker and I was eager. After a picturesque drive we arrived, and my attention was immediately caught by the sparkling 20’ Bayliner Trophy sport-fishing boat, complete with outriggers on top and 2 Downs, on the bottom sides, and many other sport fishing bells and Whistles. During a quick introduction to Bert’s brother Steve, I thanked him for the invitation and said “If I catch one nice fish it will be worth the trip” Steve looked at his brother Bert and smiled, as if he knew something I didn’t, my confidence that my trip would be a success in producing at least some fish was solidified, when I saw that an entire section of Steve’s living room including a couch was occupied by 30, or so Shimano rods of mixed, medium to ultra heavy actions and 10-12 boxes of Shimano reels price-tags unremoved boasting costs of $280 and more! I knew these brothers meant business.
We launched at first light, in glass-like calm water, from what I was told that is very rare for Lake Champlain. We stopped, in about 100ft of water and the brothers started to gear up. I was given a 6’ Shimano Trevalla medium action rod, equipped with a Shimano Calcutta reel, and braided line. As I was tying my lure, Bert tells me the female single day catch record for their boat was 22 and asked, “Are you going to break it? Now do exactly as I say, when I tell you to drop, open the bail, and when I say reel, start retrieving at a quick steady pace without stopping or hesitation” Bert instructed...and so I did. Just like that it began, on my first retrieval, the strike felt like a cinderblock bending my rod almost to the surface, I set the hook and retrieved my first Laker!, both Bert and Steve were also hooked up and working fish in also!! We were able to release the fish back. The Bites were so consistent that 2 hours passed, and we had 27 Lakers on the boat counter before we had a chance to set out rods down and look at the time! The brothers had 10 fish each and me with 7. All of the fish caught were respectable in size ranging from 19-30 + inches, and weighed between 6-12 ½ lbs . When the bite Slowed in one spot we would simply move a short distance where another school was marked and repeated their method. I was respectfully asked by the Brothers not to reveal the exact method or lure used. The hook ups continued consistently many times all three of us had fish on at once, By 2pm, I landed my 22nd tying the Female catch record with 5 hours left to fish, the brothers had over 45 fish a piece! We all realized that The Single Day combined catch record for the boat, was very close to being reached, and we decided to go for it. The Brothers realized that I had watched very closely to What they were doing, learned how to identify and read my own line position on the Hummingbird, and picked up on
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18 UPSTATE NEW YORK
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I was 100ft mano a reel, single break l, and pping on my most to rt and ble to assed, to set h and from lowed nother asked hook once, hours at The being I had entify up on
Angler Magazine field expert Rachel Vickers with a beautiful Champlain Laker – for more great pictures check out https://www.instagram.com/theanglermagazineupstateny the trip relaxing mostly and caught caught 26 Lakers, adding a few more to my standing record .My total number of Lakers caught was a 65. The Brothers also pulled in 15-16 each putting our total number of Lake Trout caught in 2 ½ days by 3 people just under 200! We kept 8 fish for filets and the rest were released safely back. I told the Brothers that This Labor Day was one I would Never forget, and that next season I will absolutely be joining them again on multiple occasions! The running joke now is Burt saying to me…. “Well Im glad you at least caught ONE fish!” I can hardly wait until my next time fishing for Lakers with the Frasier Brothers, Bert and Steve the absolute experts on this specific fishery on Lake Champlain.
their method where I could start hooking up without any instructions. About 2 hours passed before I caught my 23rd Laker, surpassing the previous female catch record and setting the bar. When the Brothers reached 99 fish combined, the single Day Catch record was tied. The Brothers allowed me the honor of catching the 123 fish to set the new record and filmed it. The heaviest fish I caught weighed in at 11 ½ lbs! On Sunday all three of us were so worn out that we didn’t make it out onto the water until almost 11am, and for a half day we still enjoyed steady action all afternoon long. I ended the the day with a total of 16 lakers, and the brothers with over 30 fish each. On Monday, we ended
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ike last year, the bass season remained good deep into the fall season with plenty of fair weather days for those who have been aware enough to keep their boat in the water, extending the season for at least six weeks. Balston Lake, Round, Saratoga and Lake George all produced some nice late-season bass and pan fish action. If you still need to put your boat away or have other maintenance needs or parts, the ship store at Hyde’s RV and Boat stays open all winter. The best part of servicing with Hyde’s is when you are there, you will be speaking to a Hyde. The father/son team of Dave and Chris are always accessible to provide you answers and solutions first hand. They are the areas only Yamaha Master Technician, and will provide you the same quality service if you bought your Yamaha there or have just moved to the area or looking for a new experience. They carry plenty of new fishing boat lines and many options for pontoon enthusiasts, and are always taking in used inventory. Their old school approach is hands-on with young energy and “State of the Art service”.
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Ice Fishing For Landlocked Salmon By Alex Martin, Outdoor Writer and Fishing Enthusiast
I
f there is one fish in the northeast that is considered the ultimate trophy, it would be the landlocked salmon. These regal silver fish are renowned for their fighting abilities and penchant for making long runs before flipping through the air in their effort to throw the hook. While ice fisherman aren’t able to enjoy the aerial display of the fight they will still be able to fight them on the hand line which is a different challenge as opposed to using a rod and reel. Landlocked salmon are members of the salmonid family and like the other members of their family; the trout and char, they prefer colder water. Salmon are a fish of a slightly different scale however and have habits that are not shared by any of the other salmonids. In the winter time due to the water being very cold salmon can be found at any depth however they prefer to cruise in the shallows around 1 to 5 feet deep and over deeper water just under the ice to a couple of feet down. In the winter salmon hunt fish that are in the shallows as well as minnows feeding on plankton just under the ice. Like a torpedo, salmon are very quick and will either consume their prey in one swift strike or will act like a battering ram and run through a school of minnows and then turn back around to eat the fish that were stunned. Salmon are oddly curious and are attracted to noise and light coming through the ice. Some anglers will go to great lengths to cover up their holes using foam or cardboard covers to prevent sunlight from getting through. When we fish for salmon we like to leave the hole clear and allow light penetration. We often find too that we will catch salmon almost immediately after drilling the hole and putting the trap in so keep an eye out for a flag as soon as the trap is set! In general you want to use very light line due to the salmon’s sharp eyesight and their tendency to be very line shy. 6lb monofilament line is what most anglers use but you can also use tippets designed for fly fishing that often come in smaller diameters with better test strengths compared to monofilament line. Small single hooks from size 8 to 10 and a dull colored spilt shot will round out the rig. You only need a leader that is long enough to put your bait about a foot below the ice. Make sure that your tip up spool is completely drag free. Salmon will drop a bait at any feeling of resistance. Drag on a tip up reel=less fish. Another tip is to position the spool so that it is parallel with the shore line. Salmon will often swim parallel with the shoreline following the contours and facing your reel in the direction that they swim will further reduce any drag that may be on the tip up reel. When you do get a flag make sure to wait until the reel is spinning fast before setting the hook. Due to the feeding behavior of the Fast action!! salmon they may hit and kill the bait and then come back and eat it so don’t pull the line out right away, give the salmon a chance to come back. Don’t set the hook like you are starting a lawn mower all you need is a quick tug. These fish are very fast and strong so be prepared for an explosive run when you first set the hook.
Fun Fishing with Alex Martin When fighting a salmon make sure that you know where you are putting your line. At any point in the fight the fish may make a last ditch run for it and if you are standing on the line or if it gets wrapped around something it could snap! Some great options for salmon through the ice are- Schroon Lake, Lake Eaton, and Lake Colby. These fish are a special winter trophy for those who are lucky enough to catch one so give them a shot this winter and that lucky person could be you!
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Last ice season was a joke unless of course you can walk on water. In the meantime, you can still chase Walleye at night from shore with stick baits. Perch are being taken with jigs and minnows in Maple bay in about 8 foot of water. It has been reported that Perch and Walleye from the east end of the lake fishing in 30 plus feet of water, using Sonars lures and Fat Head minnows. Let’s face it there is a lot of food out there to compete with, especially now with the Round Goby. It’s said that the Gobies eat the Zebra Muscles; That should be interesting. From what I understand the fish in Oneida Lake, mainly Bass and Walleye, are going to get huge but harder to catch. I am sure in five years’ time we will have a better understanding. The changes we see in Oneida Lake should be noted however; From the shops experience, these past fifteen years or so, unpredictable weather patterns seem to be the norm. Whether we like it or not the lake is trying to tell us something. It’s been suggested that sportsman is considered the “leading edge conservationist”. I guess that the Earths maladies have a way of presenting them to us first. It’s also been suggested that Oneida Lakes ecology is being effected by climate change, not to mention the fact that several invasive species have become the wild card in its deck. If you agree that climate change is real and caused primarily by the actions of Man, don’t you think that now would be a good time to pursue an environmentally sound energy strategy. Wouldn’t you say that Oneida Lake is telling us to conserve energy any way we can, and continue to produce it by sustainable methods? It seems that Oneida Lake has become the litmus test for something bigger and we as sportsman can no longer ignore the signs. Shouldn’t it be incumbent upon us as care takers for the natural world, to insure future generations will look upon our roll as having done what was right? Environmental come backs are possible, just look at Onondaga lakes turnaround. You can get more information on the state of Oneida Lake by going to www.oneidalakeassociation.org
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New African Surf Rod Design Promises ‘Seven Seas’ Success By Mike Pehanich
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he landscape is stark off Namibia’s South Atlantic Coast. Sands end in sea, and, well, that’s about all there is to see! But these coastal waters where Jeri Drake and wife Sue fish and train for international surf fishing competition are loaded with game species, including copper sharks (“bronzies”), spotted gully, cow sharks, blue rays, smooth hounds and many more. You might never make it to Africa to fish these waters, but the tackle and techniques that Jeri—a master rod builder, innovator, member of Namibian President’s fishing team, and owner of Excalibur Tackle (www. excalibur-tackle.com ) in the town of Henties Bay—takes to the surf could find application on your coastal waters, too. Fishing is serious sport along the “Skeleton Coast,” particularly for tournament anglers who, armed with long rods and a fighting belt, often wade out several hundred yards to sandbanks, routinely casting 6- to 7-once sinkers and bait 100 to 160 yards or more to reach hard-fighting game fish. Rod design for Jeri Drake, known simply as “Jeri” in southern African fishing circles, has evolved into 14-foot and longer rods. He has developed his own blanks for this style of fishing, with unique handles featuring short butt sections and long fore grips, the latter measuring around 28 inches. The essential difference to U.S. style blanks is a ‘faster’ action, as opposed to the usual ‘through’ action. Jeri employs the same “reel down” design—reel positioned relatively close to the fighting belt—with surf rods he builds for both “fixed spool” (spinning) reels and conventional reels. The long fore grips allow fishermen to change the fulcrum point while fighting the fish. The “reel down” design also makes it easier to master more powerful casting techniques and thus achieve better distances. Wading through troughs and casting and fighting fish in sea spray calls
for a non-slip rod grip material. Jeri crafts his rod handles individually, wrapping Winn Superior Rod Wrap (www.winngrips.com ) directly over the large butt section of the rod blank. The all-weather WinnDry polymer, which also wraps easily over existing cork or EVA grips with its tape-like backing, retains its tacky feel even when he’s immersed in sea spray. In lieu of finishing tape, Jeri terminates the ends of the rod wrap with thread wrap and a finishing coat. This prevents seawater, sand particles and any other substance to undermine the grip material by seeping in between the wrap and blank. It also gives the handle a more finished look. To protect the polymer material from wear and punishment where rod butt meets rod belt, Jeri places a woven carbon sleeve above the butt button. The base of the rod wrap starts above the sleeve. This keeps the polymer from contacting the rod portal of the belt. Adapt some of Jeri’s surf rod tips to the rods in your arsenal. You’ll be tipping your cap to the tackle innovations of the avid anglers of southern Africa!
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SPEARFISHING WORLD RECORDS SHERI DAYE
M
ost people have heard of IGFA (International Game Fish Association), which manages world records for fishermen. But have you heard of IUSA (International Underwater Spearfishing Association)? IUSA keeps track of spearfishing world records. Both were founded more than 65 years ago and have a rich history—and both pride themselves for providing a universal code of sporting ethics as well as record keeping. The IUSA rules are fairly simple: the fish must be taken while freediving and using a muscle-powered speargun, sling or polespear. The catch must be legal, unassisted and weighed on a certified scale. The application must include photos of the weighing, dimensions and witness information. The categories are: men and women, saltwater and freshwater, speargun and sling/polespear. In other words, a woman can have a record black grouper taken by polespear in the ocean; a man can have a record walleye taken by a speargun in a lake, and so forth. I was inspired a few years ago to see if I could get a world record yellowfin tuna. That led me to learn to hold my breath, educate myself on equipment, get in better shape, learn all about tunas, save money for trips and make friends with other bluewater hunters. Having that goal set many other activities in motion.
I was fortunate to achieve my goal with a 179-pound tuna in Mexico. While the catch itself was exciting, I now realize that it’s the hunt, not the catch—or as they say, “it’s the journey, not the destination.” The lessons learned, the new friends made along the way, the memories—that is what becomes most precious over time. If you’re interested in pursuing a world record, here’s some quick tips: 1. Go where the fish are! Investigate areas, charters, and recent catches. 2. Use the right tool for the job. For example, Wong guns are known for bluewater hunting, Hammerhead is known for slings/polespears, etc. 3. Know the rules in advance so you don’t unwittingly disqualify a record. They can be found on the IUSA website at www. iusarecords.com. 4. Pack a certified scale and tape measure in your dive bag. You never know when that special catch will take place! Chatillon scales are known for being accurate and “certifiable.” 5. Above all, be safe and have fun. Records are an enjoyable pursuit, but they don’t compare to your health and wellbeing. With a bit of persistence and some luck, you might be able to immortalize the fish of a lifetime by claiming a world record. Life is short, so get out and enjoy it! Follow “Sheri Daye” & “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” April 22-23, 2017 – Ft. Lauderdale - Instagram and Facebook.
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Team MHX finds Success in 2016
H
FLW Photo
ow does a team that collectively won over $425K in 2015 go out and improve? “Maintaining the incredible work ethic of our anglers while working directly with our team to continue to develop the best blanks out there,” said Bob McKamey who is The Man when it comes to rod building and managing the team. FLW Tour pro John Cox started off the year with a bang at Lake Okeechobee with a top-12 cut and valuable AOY points. John narrowly missed the Angler of the Year in 2015 but had and extra spark when starting out the new season. An interesting side note to that Okeechobee event was Brad Hallman from Norman, Oklahoma, who was flipping dense reed heads with a custom-built MHX-FS966. “We didn’t initially know Brad was using our blanks until after the win,” Bob said. Come to find out, one of the MHX Regional Staff members Brandon Mosley, who fishes the COSTA series built Hallman’s rods before the event. So with just one event down in the FLW Tour, MHX Blanks had accounted for over $100k, not a bad start. Less than a month later, the Elite Series was on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., and MHX Pro Brandon Lester found himself in the Day 1 lead and newest Team Member Bradley Roy was not far behind. Although he relinquished the lead over the next few days, Brandon and Bradley finished in the Top 20 to earn valuable AOY Points and nice paydays. Not to be outdone, John Cox and the FLW Tour were on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina the very same weekend, and Cox had the lead in that event. Although he did not win wire to wire, he was at the top when the smoke cleared on Sunday. With a Top-12 in the first event and a win in the second event, it seemed Cox wasted no time getting back to his
2015 form. On the regional event side, team member Brandon Mosley maintained a hot hand through the Costa Series and made two out of three cuts while building his rods as well as Hallman’s out on the FLW Tour. As the FLW Tour and Elite Series went on throughout the year, Cox, Roy and Lester continued to produce all while building their own rods. Cox, the most notable, who builds lake-specific rods in his hotel room during practice also has fellow anglers coming to him to fix a tip-top or a guide in an emergency. As the 2016 Season comes to a close, MHX has had an incredible year with multiple titles, a FLW Cup Championship and even team members headed to the Classic for the first time in their careers. Keep an eye out for the MHX Team as 2017 Season begins in January. If you are looking to build your own fishing rods check out MHX Rods at www.fishmhx.com and Mud Hole Custom Tackle at www.MudHole.com.
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LIMIT 9 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567
LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Customer Rating
R R 12 VOLT MAGNETIC PE ON PE ON SU UP Customer Rating TOWING LIGHT KIT SU UP CO CO
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
15999$395 $9999 $269.99 comp at
13999 $8499 SAVE 185
Tools sold
R PE ON SU UP CO • Weighs 73 lbs.
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, Bremen, CoverPro, Creekstone, Daytona, Diablo, Doyle, Drummond, Earthquake, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, Quinn, StormCat, Union, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17.
$
$
ITEM 93454/69054 shown 63395/62603 separately.
WOW SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
OOD 60", 4 DRAWER HARDWENC WORKB H
SAVE $255
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
ER N UP PO
Customer Rating
ITEM 69780 41005 shown
S U CO 1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK
SAVE 49%
comp at
2599 $39.94
$1999 $
On All Hand Tools
• 700+ Stores Nationwide • Lifetime Warranty
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • No Hassle Return Policy
999 37 $1029.99
35999
$
comp at
$
ITEM 68784 shown 69387/62270/62744
Customer Rating
44", 13 DRAWER INDUSTRIAL QUALITY ROLLER CABINET
WOW SUPER COUPON
SAVE $670
• Weighs 245 lbs.
Customer Rating
• 5 mil thickness
SIZE MED LG X-LG
YOUR CHOICE
5
$15.99
$ 99 $7comp99at
ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359
POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES PACK OF 100
or by calling stores or HarborFreight.com or prior LIMIT 5 - Good at our other discount or coupon with used 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. purchases after 30 days last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be er per day. Offer good while supplies Limit one coupon per custom presented. Valid through 4/1/17.
R PE ON SU UP CO
Item 68498 shown
SAVE 62%
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW SUPER COUPON
$
comp at
3999
2999
E 130 PIECE TOOL KIT WITH CAS
ITEM 69331/63091/63248 68998 shown
$
$89.98
SAVE 66%
or by calling stores or HarborFreight.com LIMIT 4 - Good at our used with other discount or coupon or prior 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. purchases after 30 days last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be er per day. Offer good while supplies Limit one coupon per custom presented. Valid through 4/1/17.
comp at
99 119$199
8499
ITEM 61971 61972 98199 shown
R 10" SLIDING COMPOUND PE ON Customer Rating MITER SAW SU UP CO
SAVE $114
$
$
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 4/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
25
NATIONAL
DECEMBER 2016
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
26
FRESHWATER
DECEMBER 2016
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
NEW STEALTH BLUE CAMO BRAID FOR SALTWATER ADVENTURES SPIDERWIRE® STEALTH™
SPIDERWIRE.COM COMMON CVRS_1216.indd 3
11/17/16 11:22 AM
COMMON CVRS_1216.indd 4 1526-16G Coastal Angler_NewSize.indd 1
11/17/16 11:22 AMAM 11/15/16 10:43