Coastal Angler Magazine - April / West Michigan by Coastal Angler Magazine

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WEST MICHIGAN EDITION

Bass Pro

Mike Iaconelli Talks Kayaks Inshore

Make New Lures

Confidence Lures

Local

Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events

ELITE SERIES PRO MIKE IACONELLI CHASES REDFISH FROM A HOBIE KAYAK VOLUME 22 â&#x20AC;¢ ISSUE 267

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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.

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The cover of this month’s Coastal Angler Venice, Louisiana: editions features a gorgeous Louisiana red A Paddler's caught by Kaku pro-staffer and Louisiana Heaven tuna captain Jeff Schneider while fishing from the deck of a Kahuna SUP. There is perhaps no better place in the world to chase redfish from a paddle-powered boat Local Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli than Venice, Louisiana. Kaku’s president Talks Kayaks Inshore Kevin Hawkins tells us all about it in this issue. With thousands upon thousands of acres of marshland situated around the mouth of the Mississippi Delta, it is a paradise for inshore species and the anglers who target them. There are so many options for kayak and paddleboard anglers around Venice. They range from mothership trips out in the Gulf of Mexico for big cobia, jacks and bull reds to easier hand-launch expeditions off the side of the road in Venice, where marsh ponds and canals in tall grass make it easier to find fishing out of the wind. No matter where or how one decides to deploy a little plastic boat in the waters around the Delta, the fishing will be fantastic. It truly is heaven for anglers under paddle power.

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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli: Down Off The Deck

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Professional bass tournament angler and Mike Iaconelli TV personality Mike Iaconelli is one of the most recognized anglers in the world. The 2003 Bassmaster Classic Champion and 2006 Make New Lures Angler of the Year, “Ike” can claim to have won Confidence Lures Local almost every major award in professional bass fishing. But he’s also a self-described fish-head, who will fish anywhere, any way for anything that will pull on the other end of a line. It’s fitting that the rig pulling his stateof-the-art Bass Cat boat also has a Hobie kayak strapped to the roof for quick and easy, on-the-spot fun fishing. In this month’s magazine, Ike tells us about his love of kayak fishing in a question-and-answer session that delves into some of the tools and techniques he uses inshore. Ike is one of the best bass fishermen in the world, and his tournament skills translate well to saltwater. The cover of this month’s The Angler Magazines is of “Ike” with a good redfish caught while filming for his TV show “Going Ike” in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. We interviewed him in the run-up to this year’s Bassmaster Classic, and taking a moment to talk kayaks seemed a breathe of fresh air for him during crunch time. Talks Kayaks Inshore

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Kayakin’ The Spring

By Patrick Sebile

ife is getting vibrant. Things are warming up, and spring is here. As a ritual long established, I feel the need to be close to nature. And to me there’s no better way to experience the feeling of life awakening than riding a kayak with a rod in my hand. I have fished and guided from all kinds of boats, from small skiffs to majestic deep-sea vessels, but a small plastic shell puts me right next to the fish, my hands always a few inches from the water’s surface. It’s not a money matter, as I own boats. Perhaps it is the challenge? I definitively spend more time each year fishing from my skiff or bass boat, and surely catch more fish from these boats. They are true fishing machines, helping me cover lots of water to find fish. And they can carry all the gear necessary for any situation. On my kayak, I have to think effectively about what my needs are and carefully consider every single thing I will bring onboard. It’s a good way to find the balance between needs and wants. So how do I fish while kayaking? In freshwater and saltwater, my approach is to slowly and surely cover every spot. In a kayak, I am much more aware of, and more capable of, targeting the places where fish hide. Superbly silent, my Pro Angler carries me at the edge of two worlds, above the surface where we

live and the liquid world, which holds the object of all our passions. My kayak tackle boxes have a variety of carefully selected key lures that will help in different situations and environments, nothing more than what I will need. I carry Magic Swimmers, hard for open water and soft for heavy cover and structure. A Flatt Shad snagless is effective in both open and snaggy areas. Twitch baits like the Stick Shadd definitely go into my box, as they are needed if fish are active. A handful of plastic worms, a couple of bucktails, and then a topwater or a pivot frog will complete this set to fish from a ’yak. Seated just above the water, gliding silently with gentle movements of my feet on the pedals, rod in hand and with eyes searching, I use the smooth approach to get as close as I can to the spot or to the fish. Then all that’s left is a short but accurate cast. Proximity also gives me greater enjoyment of seeing the fish and seeing it bite. That’s why I love kayak fishing this time of the year. And you never know; I may let my lures sit in the tackle box and simply hook a shiner or a shrimp and let it swim. Or maybe I won’t even do a thing, just watch the water and the life that surrounds it—just enjoy life… and a kayak ride. Patrick Sebile is the owner and lure designer of Sebile Innovative Fishing (www.sebile.com).

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Mike Iaconelli Talks Kayaks And Redfish

Editor Nick Carter had the chance to interview professional bass angler Mike Iaconelli just before the Bassmaster Classic. We didn’t want to jinx Ike by talking about the Classic, so we asked the Hobie pro about his love of kayak fishing.

hat’s the appeal in stepping down from the deck of a bass boat into a kayak? Ike: Growing up in southern New Jersey, I consider myself a small-boat angler first. Many of my early childhood experiences fishing involved fishing from the bank, rowing a small jonboat or paddling a canoe. Kayak fishing fills a huge niche in my fishing life. Outside of competitive bass tournament fishing, I’m still a huge fish head. That means fishing for all freshwater and saltwater species in my down time. When I’m fun fishing or filming for TV shows, I love to access remote places that I can’t get into with my full size bass boat. Kayak fishing is also a HUGE breath of fresh air to leave behind the big boat and all of the time and preparation that go along with launching and running that boat. With your tournament schedule, do you get to spend much time on the salt? Ike: I definitely try to go inshore and offshore fishing each fall when the tournament season concludes. This past fall, I spent a week in Port Fourchon, Louisiana hanging out at Hobie Worlds 6 and filming a kayak fishing episode for season two of my TV show, Going Ike, which premiers this spring on the Pursuit Channel! I had a great time catching big redfish and trout, plus it was awesome meeting the Hobie World Championship competitors from all over the world who love fishing as much as I do. I also had a chance to go offshore fishing with my buddy Ish Monroe in San Francisco during November. We were mainly targeting lingcod, and it was an amazing day of fishing! Where do you put your kayak in and what do you fish for in New Jersey? Ike: I mostly fish the small lake behind my house, which has largemouth bass, northern chain pickerel, crappie and sunfish. My son, Vegas, got a brand new Hobie kayak from Santa for Christmas this year. The fish in our lake better watch out this summer! I’m really looking forward to spending time with my family and pursuing exciting new fishing adventures. How do redfish compare to “green fish?” Ike: Anyone who has caught a big redfish would agree that they are definitely more powerful and are a very aggressive fish in general. One of my favorite things about targeting redfish is that most of the time I can focus on shallow-water power-fishing techniques and search for active, feeding reds. With the “green fish,” there are a lot of times that I have to slow down and present a bait to them slowly such as with a jig, worm or finesse fishing.

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What skills, techniques and gear from your bass arsenal translate well to inshore? Ike: Casting accuracy/ presentation, reading tides and powerfishing techniques are the first three that come to my mind. Often when I’m inshore fishing, I am targeting fish that are relating to a grass edge or current break. If I can make accurate, quiet casts, there’s a good chance I’m going to catch more fish! Having grown up fishing the Delaware River, which can have up to a 7-foot tide swing between low and high tides, I’ve spent much of my life learning how fish position based on the tide level and current. This experience translates extremely well to inshore fishing…. I bring a lot of traditional power-fishing gear that you’d also find in my Bass Cat boat when I’m fishing for bass: Abu Garcia “Ike” Series Rods, Berkley Trilene braided/ monofilament/ fluorocarbon fishing lines, Rapala Skitter Walk and Skitter V topwaters, VMC jigheads, and Berkley Powerbait and Gulp swimbaits, grubs, and more soft plastics. How is your Hobie rigged out? Ike: I have a Power Pole Micro Anchor to stop the kayak on a dime. This is a very crucial piece of equipment, which allows me to quickly stop and fish an area without the kayak drifting with the current or wind. This is huge when you are fishing specific targets such as points, current breaks, laydowns, docks and more. I also have a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit, a storage crate for my Flambeau Zerust tackle boxes and tackle bags, landing net, rod holders, and of course, Hobie’s Mirage Drive pedals so I can keep my hands fishing instead of paddling! Electronics play a huge role on the bass tournament scene, what’re your thoughts on electronics in kayaks? Ike: Electronics play just as huge of a role in kayak fishing. I really use it the same as with my Bass Cat boat! As I just mentioned, I run a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit on my Hobie for its GPS/ sonar abilities. I rely heavily on the information I can gather from the Lowrance such as mapping/ bottom contours, reading the water temperature, and using the sonar for locating fish, cover and structure to name a few. I may mount a Hydrowave on the Hobie as well soon. It’s another great innovation in electronics, and I use it often in my boat to fire up fish. I’m always interested in adding tools to my boat or kayak that help me catch more fish!

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Lou

By Nick Carter - Photos Courtesy of Kaku

f there’s a heaven for folks who fish from paddle-powered boats, it must look a lot like Venice, Louisiana. This narrow spit of marshland at the Mississippi River Delta is a maze of canals and bays that flush into the Gulf of Mexico with fecundity born of joining waters. Channels and marsh ponds tucked into thousands of acres of wetlands make it the perfect habitat for redfish, seatrout, flounder and other species. It’s like the landscape was designed for fishing and exploring with a paddle. Kevin Hawkins was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Fla. He is the president of Kaku Kayaks & Paddleboards but calls himself the company’s chief pro-staffer. He prides himself on the amount of fishing he does and designs his boats on experience. Venice is one of his favorite testing grounds. Whether its launching roadside into the marsh, a trip outside the pass from remote Port Eads or a mothership expedition to the Gulf ’s famous oil rigs, it’s the perfect setting to test his boats. It doesn’t hurt that the fishing is awesome. When the seas aren’t too rough, there’s no adventure quite like a mothership trip out to the oilrigs in search of cobia, kingfish and bull reds. Kaku pro-staffer Capt. Jeff Schneider is also a tuna captain who runs a 36-foot Contender when he’s not paddling a small plastic boat. With kayaks loaded, it’s about an hour and a half run from Venice Marina out to 50-foot-deep rigs in West Bay. Hawkins described a day he fished with Schneider, and although the primary target was cobia, a big 45-inch redfish was the highlight. Armed with big 5000 reels and 40- to 50-pound tackle, they dropped Kaku Wahoo kayaks into 2- to 3-foot seas. Even on the stable fishing platform, Hawkins said it might have been a bit much for new paddlers. For a veteran it was fun. “It’s awesome, man. I love paddling a good kayak in that stuff and busting over big waves,” said Hawkins. “When it gets rough like that, it’s fun.” They fished a series of four or five structures linked by a bridge, which gave space to paddle around and explore. Hawkins said he paddled right up to the corner of a pier, dropped his jig straight down and began back paddling before jigging. That’s when the big bull red ate. “When you’re in the shallows and they pull you around, they call that the Cajun sleigh ride,” Hawkins said. “When you’re in deep water like that, he heads straight down. He was pulling me, and that kayak was smashing straight down on those waves. It was pretty intense.” Invariably, fish seek something to wrap the line around, and only by kicking off a beam was Hawkins able to keep himself from going

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Experience Heaven

APRIL 2017

under the rig and losing the fish. He gave a piece of advice for battling big fish from a kayak in deep water. “Keep the tip of the rod toward the front of the boat,” he said. “When the rod goes to the side, that’s when you run the risk of flipping.” If an open-water mothership trip seems a little much, Port Eads sits on the southernmost tip of Louisiana, right at the end of the Mississippi River. It’s only accessible by boat, and reasonable prices buy lodging and good meals. Also known as South Pass, the location is a few minutes paddle from the open Gulf and offers excellent fishing for big jacks, reds, cobia, blacktip sharks and any number of other species big enough to warrant medium-heavy rods, 3000 to 4000 reels and 30- to 40-pound-test lines. Hawkins likes artificials and prefers Slayer Inc.’s Sinister Swim Tail rigged on a 4/0 jig head. For him, sinking bait outside the pass would detract from the reason he fishes from kayaks and SUPs in the first place. “Kayaks are about stalking and hunting the fish,” he said. “You’ve got to use your instincts to find them. I don’t like to just sit on a hole and fish bait.” It’s as much fun as you can have sitting down… or standing up if seas are calm enough for an SUP like Kaku’s Kahuna, which is specifically designed for fishing. But perhaps the best bet for calm waters is a third Venice option, to launch roadside. Highway 23 runs from New Orleans to Venice, and Tidewater Road is where the pavement ends. There are any number of places to hand-launch a kayak or paddleboard. Hawkins mentioned Yellow Cotton Bay as well as a series of marsh ponds and cuts at a circular canal known as The Pinwheel. Once you find fish off the grass edges, it’s probably the best inshore action in the world, and it’s easily accessible to paddlers. Popping cork rigs are a no-brainer, but Hawkins said once you get tired of catching scads of rat reds and trout, it’s time to switch to the paddletail rig he likes to fish outside the pass. “We’re looking for the big ones,” he said. “You’ve still got to be ready for the big ones. No matter where I am in Venice, I’ve got a 30-pound rig.” For more information on Kaku Kayaks & SUPs, see kakukayak. com.

To learn more about fishing from a Kahuna Paddleboard, go to

FISHINGLIFE.CO

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The 12.5′ length of the Wahoo helps ensure stability. The Wahoo spans 33″ wide, great for fishing! Weighing only 74 lbs, the Wahoo is WWW.kakukayak.com lightweight, but incredibly stable. The Wahoo has a capacity of 400lbs.

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Paddlesports Product Review COVERALLS KAYAK COVER

CREEKKOOLER FLOATING COOLER

Who says kayak covers need to be bulky and thick? CoverAlls kayak covers deliver protection, strength and durability in a lightweight, tough material that keeps your kayak clean and dry year-round. Protect your kayak from nature and the elements. Prevent dirt, debris, pollen and leaves from piling up in the cockpit and seat. Block bugs and critters before they move in. Keep water out with material that’s not just water-resistant—it’s water-PROOF. Our covers are also UV-resistant to preserve your kayak’s hull and rigging from the sun’s damaging rays. Best of all, CoverAlls kayak covers are a breeze to use. They slip on quickly, draw closed with a single poly cord and cam lock—not zippers—and get snug with durable Velcro straps. There’s even a built-in red flag for transport. The cover slips off easily and stows neatly in an included compact stuff bag that even fits in most deck hatches. Spend more time with a rod and reel and less time with a hose and scrub brush. See how much better protection can be at www.coveralls.biz!

Space is always at a premium when you’re on the water in a paddle-powered vessel. Whether it’s a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, a lack of stowage often forces us to leave behind the things not absolutely necessary for the activity at hand. On a larger boat where there’s plenty of room, many anglers wouldn’t think of going fishing without a cooler full of iced-down beverages. With the new Creekkooler, those navigating under paddle power can have the same luxury. The Creekkooler is an innovative floating cooler designed with dual-wall construction and top-quality insulation to retain ice and keep things cold for extended periods. Its shape cuts through the water, limiting drag and allowing it to be pulled easily behind a boat. Creekkooler has a 30-quart capacity and will hold 30 12-ounce cans and 20 pounds of ice. It has four drink holders on deck and a 1/8-turn watertight lid that makes it a great tool for extra dry storage, too. Whether it’s for keeping drinks cold during a day on the water with buddies, packing in provisions for a multi-day float trip, or extra dry storage for the stuff you need but don’t have room in the boat for, Creekkooler is an innovative new product that will make your excursion under paddle power more comfortable.

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WHALEBACK PADDLEBOARDS TORTUGA

When I’m not in the studio or at the racetrack, I’m fishing. Every chance I get. I recently started SUP fishing, and the 12’6” Tortuga by Whaleback Paddleboards is a real game changer. At 12’6” x 34” x 10.5”, with twin pontoons, the stability is ridiculous. I can walk nose to tail and all around the rails to reel in fish from any direction. Its 3-inch side bite tracking fins allow me to squeeze into shallow flats, and its maneuverability and stability is great offshore as well. With a fullcoverage, water-resistant traction pad, the deck space is unmatched. And its 28 customizable

By Matt Nix, Racin’ Nation Radio

WWW.WHALEBACKPADDLEBOARDS.COM

JACKSON KAYAK KRAKEN 13.5

Jackson Kayak’s Kraken 13.5 is an all-new option for paddlers looking to tackle big water. Based on The Kraken 15.5 platform, the 13.5 sheds some length for more maneuverability but with all the punch of its big brother. This kayak, just like the original, is designed for the most challenging paddling environments and intended for the offshore and big-lake kayak angler. It’s a natural follow up to the first collaborative design between legendary kayak angler, Jim Sammons and Jackson Kayak’s design team led by Tony Lee. The new Kraken 13.5 is a boat shaped and built to accommodate those hitting the open water in a nimble, smaller footprint but still capable of big water management. It’s designed for punching through surf, handling rough offshore currents, swells, beach landings and those who desire ultimate performance and maneuverability. With more features than can be listed, Jackson has considered all the needs of bigwater anglers and packed them thoughtfully into this kayak. Its great-tracking hull has the speed to cover miles and the volume and storage to carry you and your gear comfortably on long outings. 16

inserts and deck tie downs let me rig up my YakAttack lean post, rod holders, GPS and paddle holder and still have room for the cooler, cup holder and lawn chair. Because let’s face it, nothing’s better than celebrating a good catch with a cold one. Whether you’re an experienced SUP fisherman or just getting started, the 12’6’ Tortuga is the board for you. It sets you up with everything you need. You just have to find the fish. All Whaleback boards are made in the USA. Visit www.whalebackpaddleboards.com or call 561-3361612 for a dealer near you.

PAU HANA BIG EZ ANGLER At 11 feet long and available in both 32 and 36 inches of width, Pau Hana’s Big EZ Angler is built to be stable, the perfect platform for fighting any game fish. This paddleboard is derived from the classic Big EZ, and is shaped to provide anglers the balance they need while remaining easy to maneuver in shallow water without disrupting fish underneath. It is lightweight at just over 30-pounds, which means it is easy to launch anywhere there’s a place to carry it to the water. It can be rigged up for any kind of fishing, can handle heavy loads and carry all the gear you need. With a soft and stylish deck and space in between the pieces for water drainage, the Angler comes pre-equipped with 25 multiple threaded mount attachment points using Pau Hana’s innovative SeaMount System. Coolers, tackle boxes, anchors, nets, rod holders, paddle clips, lights and anything else an angler needs can be easily mounted on deck. The Big EZ Angler is a real teak paddleboard with the capacity to carry everything an angler needs and provide a stable platform to fish from.

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Paddlesports Product Review RAM MOUNTING SYSTEMS Whether you are on a lake, stream, whitewater, inlet or ocean, kayaking is all about adaptability. RAM has created a complete line of rust-resistant mounting solutions for kayaks that allow anglers to mount items where they are needed. RAM Mounting systems offer the widest selection of kayak fishing accessories to adapt to a wide range of fishing scenarios. With a patented ball-and-socket design, RAM mounts allow anglers to mount almost anything at the perfect angle. This provides flexibility to mount equipment within reach, but out of the way. RAM’s kayak mounts and fishing accessories are rugged, compact, and have no sharp edges or points. All of our kayak mounts are backed by a lifetime warranty and are made in the USA. RAM mounts are the solution for mounting anything you might need on the water. A full line of rod holders covers everything from fly rods to conventional baitcasters and spinning rods of all sizes. Electronics, like fishfinders, chartplotters, phones, tablets and cameras can be mounted securely where they are needed. RAM even has a special system for mounting transducers for depthfinders. If there is something that needs to be mounted on a kayak, chances are RAM has thought of it and designed a product to hold it.

WWW.RAMMOUNT.COM

THE SKIMMER KAYAK MOTOR KIT Paddle fatigue getting to you? Want to motorize your kayak or canoe? There’s no need to pay $2,000 for a motorized kayak. Watercraft Technologies’ The Skimmer is a simple system for motorizing your kayak or canoe, and it costs less than $400. It is a lightweight, portable motor that mounts easily to your stern. Just snap it on when you need it. Fishing has never been easier, safer and more convenient. Go farther and save your energy for fishing! Increase your range! Catch more fish! The Skimmer weighs only 6 pounds. It’s 12v battery operated. There are easy controls for steering and motor lift. It’s environmentally safe, with no pollution, oil or gas spills. The Skimmer is made for saltwater, but does great in brackish or fresh water. It is able to propel a craft 2-4 knots and lasts two to five hours per charge. Imagine running your kayak at that speed and that long with zero effort! This propulsion system is great for people who want to get on the water and not worry about paddling hard into a swift current or strong wind. It is also great for those with shoulder, back or elbow issues. This kayak trolling motor kit carries a one-year, full parts replacement policy. See The Skimmer in action and order online at www.kayaktrollingmotor.com or order by phone at 631-848-3119.

WWW.KAYAKTROLLINGMOTOR.COM

MALIBU X-WING CONSOLE

Storage is a huge issue when all the gear you need at hand must fit in a space the size of your legs and lap. Malibu’s X-Wing Console is a fantastic option for storing and organizing gear in the cockpit of a kayak. Mounting of electronics, rod holders and other accessories can all be accomplished on one unit without drilling unnecessary holes in a kayak’s deck. A dry-storage compartment included in the unit makes the perfect place for valuables as well as being a great place for a battery. The X-Wing slides back and forth on a track mounted to the gunnel, so placement can be customized on the fly so it’s there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t. It’s also completely removable for storage and transportation. The X-Wing fits Malibu Kayaks, and modifications and adapters can be used to make the console fit other brands.

WWW.MALIBUKAYAKS.COM

YAKGEAR COOLER SEAT A cooler is one of the most valuable tools in most anglers’ arsenals. It goes everywhere and serves as a refrigerator, stepladder, poling platform, storage box and even a seat. YakGear’s Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit allows anglers to turn their cooler into a more comfortable and practical seating platform. Perfect for fishing, paddling, camping, tailgating and hunting, the YakGear Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit consists of the YakGear Sting Ray Seat and the necessary hardware to mount and secure the seat to a cooler. The kit is compatible with all coolers that feature “Front Locking Holes” including Yeti, Grizzly, Engel, Yukon, Icehole, some of the Bison models, and many more. The YakGear Sting Ray Seat features built-in back braces, which allow rigid back support without pressure from an exterior backrest. While most seats slouch down or fold over, the YakGear back braces hold the seat in place. As an additional feature, the seat has an aggressive non-slip pad to prevent unwarranted movement while sitting.

YAKGEAR.COM APRIL 2017

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FLY FISHING A Modern Take On Booking Fishing Guides And Charters

a better way. In April 2016, Fisher Guiding was founded. Since then, Hill has been working full time to turn his dream of easy one-stop shopping for charters and guided trips into reality. Fisher Guiding is a web-based service that lets anglers book trips with guides and charters online. It allows potential customers to search, review, message and pay guides all through an easy-to-use website. This service allows guides and captains to advertise and book clients based on available dates. It makes payment hassle free and allows guides and captains to market to customers in a way never before available. For some independent guides, the local fly shop is the only avenue available for them to book clients. Fisher Guiding is looking to supplement and modernize by offering a variety of scheduling and booking tools. Right now, Fisher Guiding currently has booking options from Alaska to the East Coast, Bahamas, Belize and Costa Rica. Although the consumer website just launched eight days ago, Fisher is already off to a great start with trips booked and new guides joining daily making for a constantly growing community. “Ultimately, the goal is to have guides and charters representing every market and fishing destination in the USA and around the world,” said Hill. It will be interesting to see how Fisher Guiding impacts the industry. The advantages are obvious for guides and charter services, but the greatest benefit may be for the consumer. Customers can read reviews and even message guides right through the website. Booking and paying for trips can be handled in two easy steps. While all change forces adaptation, a more competitive and transparent system will serve both the professionals and consumers. Ultimately the goal of Fisher Guiding is to make guides and charters more accessible to the public and contribute to the growth of the sport. A high tide will raise all the boats. See for yourself at www.fisherguiding.com.

FLY FISHING

ooking fishing guides and charters has not really changed at all for 50 years, so the industry is ripe for change and improvement. That is what Edward Hill—founder of Fisher Guiding– thought before launching his online service for guides and captains and the anglers who use them. Hill worked at Front Range Anglers before By Charlie Warfield graduating from the University of Colorado. There he saw firsthand how the guiding business worked in the local area. After school, he did private sector work in Washington, D.C., but after a couple years felt the need for a change and a new challenge. He began planning a trip to the Everglades with his father to do some fishing and reflection. Hill began searching the Internet for local guides. He was frustrated by the lack of information and the hoops he had to jump through to get hold of a guide. He had to look up guides and then call them for available dates and rates. It was a hassle, and it then turned out the guides he tracked down didn’t have the dates available he was looking for. Hill thought there must be

CHOOSING THE CORRECT BAITFISH FLY

f you look in many fly anglers’ boxes, you will see a huge array of flies in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, having the one correct fly in the box is the key to fishing success. Picking the correct flies for any saltwater fly fishing situation is key to whether or not you’ll be catching fish. Walking into a fly shop and looking into the fly bins can prove mindboggling to the uninitiated. The bins are filled with so many flies with which the fledgling saltwater fly fisher has little or no knowledge. Saltwater flies differ from their freshwater cousins in size and dress. Sometimes, like the kid in a candy store who is more influenced by the attractive wrapper than its contents, the beginning saltwater fly angler often chooses the eye-candy, over-dressed flies far too bulky to resemble a baitfish or a crab, flies that hook fishermen rather than fish.

Baitfish patterns

I believe a sparsely dressed baitfish pattern is preferable to a bulked up flashy fly. Why? The sparsely dressed fly will have a more natural look than will an all-too-spruced-up fly. Also, my experience has shown that a fish is far less selective when presented the sparsely dressed fly. The fly is only an imitation, a hint, of what the fish is feeding on, producing in the fish a reflexive action to strike. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the saltwater fly is its large eye that resembles closely the good-sized eyes on baitfish such as sardines, pilchards, and anchovies. Game fish zero in on that oversized eye when chasing and feeding on baitfish. Focusing on that eye results in fewer lost meals.

Color

Natural colors work best. Olive green, browns, tans and

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FLY FISHING Upstate New York

Bass On The Fly! By Mathew DeRosa

t was a very successful spring steelhead season on New York’s Salmon River. Approaching the tail end of the season, a friend and I made a “last chance” trip in hopes of finding a few final drop-back steelhead left in the system. We fished the lower section of the river, near Lake Ontario, to increase our chances of a tight line. It was one of those days when spring starts meshing into summer. The sun was shining with a few high clouds, the warm breeze was 70 degrees, and we had the river to ourselves. For an angler, being outside and fishing in a short sleeve shirt with no one around should be enough to call any day a success. This day was about to get better. As we cast into a river with increasing water temps and a majority of the steelhead already back in Lake Ontario, our expectations of a tight line were low. Soon enough, as we launched large flies

into the water, the addicting tight line grabs began. These fierce strikes were not steelhead, but hungry smallmouth bass. We enjoyed a full day on the river swinging 4-plus-inch flies and catching more than 25 smallmouth bass apiece. Are you a bass fisherman? Have you experienced the power of a bass on a fly rod? Smallmouth and largemouth bass will aggressively hunt down prey, which makes catching them on a fly rod extremely enjoyable. The late spring and early summer months are perfect to experience bass on the fly in Upstate New York. Altmar, N.Y. is on the Salmon River a short drive from the Tug Hill Sportsman Club. Both the Salmon River and the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club are great places to learn how to fly fish and test your skills on bass. The beautiful scenery and vast expanse of meandering clear water make the Salmon River a top-priority fishing location in late spring. Favorable river conditions draw in large numbers of smallmouth bass. The river has more than 12 miles of public fishing property, and you can fish all day without encountering another angler. Smallmouth enter the river in April to spawn and remain in the system until September. Average Salmon River smallmouth bass range from 2 to 3 pounds; some weigh more than 5 pounds. Bass are present the entire length of the river from Altmar to the Douglaston Salmon Run. Tug Hill Sportsman Club The Tug Hill Sportsman Club is located on 450 acres of gently rolling land and is home to four lakes. The lakes make up about 45 acres of pristine largemouth bass-infested water. New to fly fishing or experienced, the opportunity to catch a world-class largemouth is there. The fish in these small lakes have had unpressured feeding, growing and reproductive conditions as the property has been carefully managed for more than 25 years. The goal is to provide guests with the highest quality angling. Enjoy Tailwater Lodge’s relaxing accommodations and fish the Tug Hill Sporting Club with Zero Limit Adventures! Matthew DeRosa is a guide with Zero Limit Adventures. For more information on the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club and Zero Limit Adventures, visit www.zerolimitadventures.com.

whites are all great color combos for baitfish patterns. You should, however, carry a selection of blue and white, red and white and, of course, chartreuse and white in your fly box.

Size

Depending on what type of fish you’re pursuing, the size of your flies will vary. But, in most saltwater fly fishing situations, you’ll also need baitfish patterns that range from a small anchovy patterns in size 6 to large sardine or pilchard patterns in size 2/0. Remember, just as it is on the spring creek or on the large river, it’s all about matching the hatch, weather it’s insects or baitfish.

For more flyfishing with Bowman, go to

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Michigan Hard Water

WEST MICHIGAN REPORTS & EVENTS

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Local Fishing Reports - Rivers - Hard Water Catch Photos FLORIDA GULF COAST

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Expert advice from the areas top guides and FISHING CHARTERS & GUIDEScharter boat captains

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WWW.THEANGLERMAG.COM/WESTMICHIGA WWW.THEANGLERMAG.COM/WESTMICHIGA

Photo courtesy of Capt. Ben Wolfe of Sport Fish Michigan

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hing c t a c s ' o h W fish?

esh male Capt. Chad with a frh Street 6t e th om fr d steelhea s. Dam in Grand Rapid

Jon S "Capt. Chewy" and Russ Maddin with a beautiful brown caught on Maddin's chromatic nut streamer.

Brook catches her first pik e through the ice.

Conner with a nice early spring buck from the Kalamazoo River.

For editorial comments, articles, photography, advertising, and all other inquiries please contact: The Angler Magazine West Michigan (616) 957-1714 • westmichigan@theanglermagazine.com • www.theanglermag.com/westmichigan

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Rivers & Streams

Manistee River

REPORTS REPORTS & FORECASTS

& FORECASTS

Rivers & Streams

Manistee River Muskegon River Muskegon River C

older conditions have made their way into the Midwest, with snow accumulations making it look "a lot like winter”. Although water BY: L A R RY R A N E Y levels B Y : C A P T . J E F F B A C Oand N temperatures have Y : C Guide A P TService . LARRY RANEY PremierBAngling dropped with the snow and B Y : J E F F B A C O N Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures colder weather patterns, fishing (231)Premier 477-5554Angling Guide Service Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures (616) 560-3195 is still good on the Muskegon (231) 510-5862 www.premieranglingguideservice.com River. The next month or so 616-560-3195 www.westmichiganflyfishing.com www.premieranglingguideservice.com should fish well for both steelwww.westmichiganflyfishing.com head and resident rainbow and brown trout. pril here on the n April, we'll likely see heavy rains that bring Fishing the river up andrainbow keep for resident anuary brings thoughts Manistee will it running a bit high through the first week of the month. Then the and brown trout has been exceptional this fall and early winter. After the floods of last spring, the Muskegon River of the first steelhead bebring warmer air temps, river typically comes down in level, clarity improves, and the water water levels and temperature stayed above average in flows and sustained below average temperatures over most of the higher water, and our ing caught in the New Year temperatures rise, making both migratory steelhead and resident rainbow summer and as a result, trout had a chance to fatten up…and they did! The huge salmon runs from this fall allowed spring steelhead. This is here on the Manistee. This and brown trout very active. trout to pack on more weight in anticipation of thestreamer colder months ahead.can be done while on the move or the time of the year that is a time of solitude on the For the fly fisher, fishing This month will find theswinging steelhead that are currently in the river system relocating to diff erent parts down" of the river most steelhead anglers river, sometimes you can go streamers from a fixed location, while "dropping a for a better "lies"— places where they can comfortably post up to feed and conserve energy. Th e resident brown wait all year for. While for days not seeing another few feet after each cast and swing. Floating line and indicator rigsand rainbow trout will find their winter lies as well and continue- to the effective feedbag in when preparation the colder the peace and serenity boat or bank angler. It seems a.k.a. "indicator nymphing" is strap also on very riverforlevels are months. Lake run brown running trout are now in average the river system more arecommon sure to follow. Some ishave alreadybounce, spawned; of the winter fishing are like your own private paranear flows.and Another method bottom others will do so in the weeks ahead. or "chuck and duck" as it's commonly called. Streamer rods behind us, we have to get dise most of the time. The nymphing, Both the fly fisher andrange light spin angler are catching steelhead using a varietydepending of techniques.onSwinging streamers used to the crowds that weather can be the deciding from 9-12+' in length, in 7 or 8 weight, whether your the spring steelhead run casting-retrieving or swinging with either with sinking or sink tip lines, on one and two handed fly rods areflies. gettingBoth some are fish todone net, but patience andsinking covering factor some days but by watching the weather forecast and brings. With longer days or sink tip fly lines, andrigs onare reels a good largewater arboror water is critical to the swing. Floating line+indicator goodwith options as welldrag whensystem, fishing pocket planning fishingsnow day around warmrain ups,we youwill can start make seeing new fish showing and runyour off from melt and moredrift popular they allow for quicker linefishing pick very up runs that don't require tooreels long are of a becoming cast. Deeper water fishing,as a.k.a. "chuck-n-duck", is best when ituphappen. everyWater day. temperatures in the winter months on the thanwhere standard reels. floating chuck duck long, deep runs and troughs gettingarbor flies down andFor keeping themline/indicator down is required.and Those speyand casting two Big range 32 month to 35 degrees on anglers average. As anemploy angler, you Aprilfrom is the which can many different techniques rods of 8-9 9-10' length, in 7 floroating/Skagit 8 weight,lines haveandboth power handed rods are doing sosetups, with 11-15' long, weight rods, also with heavy sink the tips from 10have to think a little diffFloat erent this time ofearly the year. Withmonth the with centerpins and to catch steelhead. fishing in the to are handle but withand sensitive enoughBig, tipsgaudy to protect 15' long. Flies for swinging wide big opengame to one’fish, s imagination river conditions. streamerslighter in rich water temperatures so low flies the fiwith sh tendtwo-handed to slow downspey and rods and probably the fly rods, to swinging can get away with line+indicator stronger tippet when and vibrant colors are alsotippet gettingwhere looks byapplicable. fish. Use bothYou "chuck-n-duck" and floating rods with 7-8 get lethargic. You should the same as an angler. bouncing Look for with spinning gear or most commonly useddotechnique, bottom streamer fishing, 15+# test common, but lighter tippet in the 8-10# range weights, in 9-10+' lengths, with 6-10# test line. Egg flies-beads, nymphs, and very small minnow patterns are options slow woodyAll runsofand pools,work slow current fly rods. these well toseams, catchand a current fish, but some are better than better for the other two setups. for floating line rigs and chuck-n-duck. othersalong depending on water experience. As we start April, For the conventional tackle angler, open face spinning, as well as seams deep cut banks. Placesconditions the steelheadand can get out themake light tackle spin angler, bottom ies, orinbait it done, asare wellgood as float fishing stillcurrents targeting thehave holes and runs the fish are hiding in asFor they baitcaster reels,bouncing paired beads, with flrods theis getting 9-12' length, matches ofwetheare main and not to work so hard. fl oating beads, fl ies, or bait under bobbers. Best setups for bottom bouncing spin gear rigs is 9-10' med action rods. their to their spawning gravel.it being We prefer to use centerpins for migratory steelhead. As with fly gear, having a way to bottom bounce, We way fish these type ofnatural spots with floats. Whether Same fliesmonth can be used with spinsomething gear as fly gear….bugs are bugs, the ficast sh don't know what kind of setup you're using! and float rods for this using trout beads, spawn and jigs. As the float under a bobber or and retrieve a lure will cover the with a floating line and fly rod, float rod and center pin reels, As water temperaturesbases, drop, fibut sh will lookvery for slower moving water. Reduce the size of your offering in slower goes on and riversa fltypically rise we gears to the bottom with different rod/reel combinations. Bottom bouncing or spinning gear.the Fishing oat of somestart sortto enables youswitch to movingmuch water.be Line choices can range frombe6-10# waterlong color/clarity help one decide. bouncing gear and get the out,fish. which will pretty setups would on test, a 9-10' rod, inwill medium action, rated for 6-12# control the depth and speed of pencil your offlead ering back to these Locations to seek out for fishing fall steelhead and lake runspinning brown troutorinclude most allreel, waterwith from below the way to get it done until we start trout fishing in May. This is the most line on either an open face baitcaster 8-10#Croton test The offerings for fly anglers should be an egg pattern, be down to Muskegon,tippet. but a bulk of the lake run brown activitylonger has beenrods from in Croton downlength to Newaygo. As common and easiest way to fish for our steelhead. 9-10ft flyDam, or spinning For float/bobber fishing, the Dam 11-12+' allow it trout bead or yarn egg and a nymph of some sort. Hex's, rods set up with running lines or 10-12lb main lines to a for swivel with a focus onfor best line management as site, great hook setting resident trout, thethe water from Croton Dam, downwhile past the"drifting," ThornappleasRdwell access down to Newaygo. Green Caddis, Pheasant Tails and Buggers are my preferred pencil lead weight and a 5-7ft leader to your offering. YarnTrout flies, beads,drop off considerably capabilities with longerNewaygo. rod. Whether you're fishing bait, egg or insect numbers once youthe get below patterns. Center pin andasspinning gear junkiesgreen may want to stoneflies, and small and nymphs such hex nymphs, caddis, tippetlineinand theindicator 8-10# range suffice. Asrocky for casting-retrieving Winter fly fishing for imitations, trout with floating rigs is will producing some mountain caliber fish think aboutpatterns spawn, wigglers or jigs andThings wax worms to get it good so far this spring minnow all work well. are looking a shorter thewet8-9' similar as a bottom and will be a great optionlures, for those looking torod keepin lines herelength, and therewith throughout theratings winter months. The next done. with a fairly warm winter, good fishing and an early snow month melt we may rod, but a reel spooled with trout. slightly line such as 12should fish well forbounce both steelhead andwith resident rainbow and brown Someheavier of the largest trout I’ve seen reasona tonice rushconsistent out first thing in the morning, sleepspring in justNohave trickle of fish this and not all ofhave them 14# test best.I April first significant "hatch" the new in years come to hand over thewill pastwork few weeks. will bebrings targetingthe both during my half day, winterofspecial trips. and havetime an extra cuplast of coff ee. Most bite isyou bestcan, from enjoy what we have and at one like year. Get days out the when season as our #12 black stoneflies emerge once water temperatures get Check my website for more trip details at www.westmichiganfl yfishing.com. late morning early afternoon. Remember slow when and you are releasing your think abouttothe future of our fishery. think Use care 40's, but it's not always a given that trout will "look up" for them.... I hope everyone had ainto greatthe holiday season and welcome 2014! get andifenjoy of Michigan's hidden winter activities, fishoutand you one don’t need it don’t take it. Have fun, be safe and enjoy what It's ALL water temperature dependent. springsteelheading has to offer. & High Fives! winter hereTight on the line Big Manistee.

Guided River Fishing www.WestMichiganFishingGuide.com

CAPTAIN JEFF BACON Phone: 616-560-3195 Email: jrbacon@ameritech.net 4 WEST MICHIGAN WEST MICHIGAN 8

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Nomad Angler Presents

PRIMARY FEEDING TIMES

FLY of THE MONTH

April 2017 Mar 5 First Quarter

Phases:

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BY ERICH GROSS

Mar 28 New Moon

Materials HOOK: Gamakatsu B10s sz 4 BODY: Brown Barred Rabbit Strip, Olive UNDERBODY: UV Polar Chenille Olive FINS: Kileys Fish Fins, Olive HEAD: Sculpin Helmet, Small, Olive THREAD: 100 GSP Olive

pril is a great time to pitch streamers for trout. Over the past few years, I've been fishing streamers on foot more than from a boat. When wading, it seems weighted streamers like this one are more effective since your retrieve is usually much shorter. The weighted head drops your fly instantly, and gives an erratic jigging motion to the retrieval. I like this fly on a 6 wt with a 150-grain sink tip, and a 3-4' leader (12lb fluoro).

“Best diver I have ever used period!”

– Alan R.

Directional troll fishing sinkers, allow you to effectively cover a broad area, both side to side of the boat and at multiple depths, all at the same time. Ordering and information online at:

www.chinookdiver.com

585-820-8603 • 825 Lee Road, Rochester NY COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

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Traverse City BY: R U S S MA D D I N (231) 633-6464

Nomad Anglers Fishing Guides & Trips Smallmouth Bass, Trout & Steelhead 25 years of experience CLASSES

Fly Fishing 101 – FREE Priviate Casting Instruction Walk-In Instructionals Private Fly Tying Instruction THREE LOCATIONS IN MICHIGAN East Lansing Grand Rapids Rochester Hills 2850 East Grand River Ave 1600 East Beltline Ave NE 158 North Adams Road 517-349-6696 616-805-4393 248-608-4875

Outfitting anglers with fly fishing gear since 1989

www.nomadanglers.com

The Lure That Swims, Now GLOWS in the dark!

hat a roller coaster ride this March has been. Looking forward to a less bumpy ride weather wise this April. Most of the west side rivers will be flat out for lake rainbows. With limited snow left to melt it should leave the rivers in good shape for the most part. As the water temps climb into the 40s most of the lake rainbows will be on or near gravel. The upper rivers because of the early melt should be in decent shape as well this trout opener should set up nicely for dry fly fishing. With early black stones and Hendrickson's as a potential. April should bode well for streamer anglers since the majority of the runoff has passed already barring some freak event the fish should be ready to eat big once again. All sorts of meaty creatures are readily available as the water temps climb into the mid-40s. Sculpins, chestnut lampreys, dace, and a variety of other minnows are all hatching or spawning at this time including salmon fry on rivers with migratory beasts. Making the month of April a potent streamer time indeed. Rainbow trout and loads of suckers will also be spawning to add to the biomass as well so don't put away the nymphing rigs. Good luck on the waters you fish and call home.

•3 models to choose from •Works with soft baits! • 2 hooks Included •Made in USA Scan this code to see the lure in action at www.keweenawtc.com

6 WEST MICHIGAN

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Rivers Streams Rivers &&Streams

Upper Pere Marquette

REPORTS REPORTS && FORECASTS FORECASTS

RoguePere RiverMarquette A

lthough I no longer live on a farm, I still read the Farmers’ Almanac and put faith in their forecasts. This year they seem to be dead on, as they predicted our winter to be a real one with colder temperatures and snow that seems to be H U for B Ba while. A R DThese conditions have caused B Y : G L E N R . B L A CBKYW: OJOEDF Fstaying the Rogue River to produce both shelf and anchor Outfitters Guide Service The Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company North ice and in some sections completely freeze shut. (231) River 898-6246 anglers have a couple of choices, the obvi(616) 866-6060 ous, go ice fishing, (you will never land a fish staywww.troutmoor.net www.outfittersnorth.com ing home) or make the best of a tough scenario. I choose to make the best of what Mother Nature has created. To make the best of these tough conditions one must look to maximize time on the water and fish in a productive fashion. We can do this by preparing our equipment. The constant issue that we face is cold air and water temperatures. How we deal with this limiting factor will determine our success. Looking at equipment first, most tackle designers never dream that someone is going to be using their rods and reels in sub 30 degree air temperatures. A common issue anglers experience is reels and lines freezing, along with ice buildup in guides. So how do we deal with this issue? To prevent freezing issues with reels, before your next winter trip, clean both your reel frame and spool completely. Remove any excess oil or grease from both, as well as any dirt. A little lubrication goes a long way with modern reels and any additional lubricant will begin to solidify, causing a binding effect between your spool and frame, leading to freezing. Dirt and sand will trap moisture also causing premature freezing of your reel. Upon finishing your angling day, bring your reels inside, remove the spool from the reel frame and allow both to completely dry and warm. Another issue this time of the year is ice buildup in guides. There is no good way to stop this, but there are ways to negate it happening rapidly. Try placing fly floatant, cooking spray, or Vaseline on your guides to negate rapid ice buildup. Will these stop it completely? No, but they seen Happiest some weird weather patterns on the Pere will keep eyousure in thehave game longer. of Holidays!

Marquette River. Last month saw warming temps in the sixties one day and back in the teens the next. "Only in Michigan," right? The steelhead fishing has been pretty good so far. A majority of the fall and winter fish took advantage of higher water temps and river levels and spawned rather quickly and headed back to Lake Michigan. Spring fish have been entering the river since the first week of March. You can find steelhead throughout the whole river system. This time of year they will be in the pocket water around gravel areas. For flies try smaller egg patterns in natural colors along with stonefly nymphs and salmon fry. The resident trout fishing is starting to improve too, as the water temps warm. This will only get better as they come off the steelhead egg bite and focus on the thousands of baby salmon a long the rivers banks. These little salmon become a huge staple in the trout's diet on the Pere Marquette River. For the swing, try smaller egg sucking leech patterns and white baitfish patterns. For an up-to-date Pere Marquette River Report check out www.outfittersnorth.com and don't forget to like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/outfittersnorth/. Thanks and Tight Lines!

Grand River

BY: J E F F H U B B A R D

Outfitters North Guide Service (231) 898-6246 BY:

GREG KNAPP

www.outfittersnorth.com Getting Bit Guide Service

616-570-2946

www.gettingbitguideservice.com

appy Holidays to everyone! Winter sure hit early this year, with single digit temperatures in the evenings and teens during the day. The Pere Marquette River temperature and water level are really starting to drop. We're starting to see shelf ice and anchor ice in some of the middle sections of the river system. As winter progresses look for steelhead fishing to slow down a bit. Instead of an allday bite you will start to get short windows of action throughout the day, usually in the afternoon as water temperatures start to warm. Nymphs will also start to be a key fly to use this time of year. When the water temperatures really start to drop steelhead and resident trout are looking for whatever they can get as far as an easy meal. Hex Nymphs, Stone Flies and small Hares Ear's or Pheasant Tails can start to produce. Eggs will also work well. Try small Clown Eggs and Nukes in more natural colors. For Swinging Flies try more natural colors too, with less flash as the water clears. Sculpins in olive or brown can produce in the winter. Check out my site for some go-to patterns, www.outfittersnorth. com. Remember trout Beads are not flies and are illegal in the Flies Only Water. You can find fish throughout the whole river system. The fish are now starting to use their winter runs and pools. Look for fish in much slower deeper runs with wood structure to hide them. You can find this type of water in any stretch of the Pere Marquette, however because of the weather; access will become more difficult until spring. Play it safe at the boat ramps and while wading the river. Practice catch and release on wild Pere Marquette steelhead. they don't get towell spawn, don't get tointo hook anyfirst in theweek future. he Grand RiverIfusually fishes forwe steelhead that Good anddepending Happy Holidays! of luck April on the weather. If we have a warm spring the

fish usually blow through Grand Rapids and head upstream to Webber or hit the tributaries to spawn. Good ways to catch spring steelhead are bottom bouncing with wobble glos, spawnbags, or egg flies. Float fishing with beads, spawn, or jigs. Plug fishing with baits such as maglips, Flatbush, or hot n tots. If the main river is too high or warm, try the tributaries that usually run clear and cool. Dropbacks can be intercepted on their way down as they are usually hungry and eager to hit just about any bait. Smallmouth fishing usually heats up towards the end of the month as well. Fishing tubes, minnows, or jigs will catch the attention of the pre-spawn smallmouth.

FLY of THE MONTH Beaddazzled Stone

BY PHIL CUSEY

his is a great winter stone fly imitation! The rubber leg tail provides greater movement in the water. Using beads for the body gives a wonderful segmented profile and the dubbed head traps air and hence releases "bubbles" when fished. Be sure and adjust size; smaller for trout and larger for steelhead. Enjoy the solitude of winter fishing!

Materials FLY NAME: "Beadazzled Stone" HOOK: Tiemco 2457 - Sz.12- 8 THREAD: Uni 6/0 Black TAIL: Round rubber - Black - Small BODY: Spirit River glass bead - Iridescent Plum HEAD: UV Dubbing- Peacock

When Phil Cusey isn't guiding, he can be reached at streamertwo@sbcglobal.net. JANUARY 2014 367_WM_16.indd 7

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WEST MICHIGAN 9 3/19/17 8:43 AM

Inland Lakes

REPORTS & FORECASTS

Northwest Area

Grand Traverse Bay

B Y: C A P T. C H A D D I LT S

B Y: C A P T. B E N W O L F E

Sport Fish Michigan

www.sportfishmichigan.com

(877) 442-4294

pring has finally arrived; we at Sport Fish Michigan are very excited to take advantage of all the great angling opportunities April has to offer. This is the time that we have all been waiting for, putting away the ice fishing equipment and dusting off the cover of the boat in hopes to hit the open water. With inconsistent temperatures and minimal ice coverage, most lakes in Northern Michigan should provide some excellent fishing this spring. Grand Traverse Bay can really shine in April, jigging, casting and trolling for shallow water lake trout, cisco, browns and steelhead can be very productive. As the bay water gradually warms anglers will find schooling cisco feeding on bait fish and insects in close to the drop off. 40-80 feet of water is typically the best depth for any technique when searching for cisco and trout. However, do not be afraid to venture in to 20-30 feet, schools have a tendency to form in shallower water as the month progresses and water temperatures rise. Anglers wanting to cast or jig should have a variety of weapons in the their tackle arsenal. When targeting trout and cisco in deeper water, vertical jigging is most effective. White, chartreuse, and gold can be very good colors. Elk Rapids S Jigs, Jonah Jig’s and Swedish Pimples will work best for this application. When targeting fish inside of 40 feet, blade baits definitely come into play. Retrieving blade baits along the bottom and making contact with the sand and rocks can trigger aggressive bites from both species. For those looking to troll, lead core should make up most of the program. Covering the water column at different depths in April is very important. The water column will be filled with cold water with no define temperature break, this allows an array of species the opportunity to feed at all depths. 2, 5, 7, and 10 colors of lead can be good for targeting suspended fish. Smaller spoon presentations in gold, chartreuse, orange and silver are all good colors. Mini Silver Streaks, Warrior Flutter Spoons and Stinger trolling spoons are great options. Anglers running lighter fluorocarbon line on down riggers and slide divers will also have good luck in targeting all species in Grand Traverse Bay. With cold waters here in Northern Michigan, take caution when heading out and make sure that you have all of the safety gear required before you go. Have an awesome April, and we look forward to seeing you on the water!

8 WEST MICHIGAN

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pril is upon us. The ice has melted and instead of seeing the lakes covered with shanties and snow, we are seeing waves and boats! Northern Michigan spring weather can be cold and rainy, but that will not stop anglers from hitting the inland lakes in hopes of landing some big pre-spawn smallmouth and largemouth bass. With the new DNR regulations in place allowing us to target bass, the month of April is now wide open for us, where it was previously closed. While we can target bass, it is still catch and immediate release, however. With a lot of the lakes maintaining water temperatures in the upper 30’s to low 40’s it is important to note that most of the bass in the larger inland lakes are still rather lethargic. Feeding fish can and will be found transitioning from deeper water to shallower flats and weed covered drop offs. The feeding window tends to be short lived this time of the year; generally it can be the warmest time of the day. Smallmouth's love sun, and a sunny day can really trigger a nice bite as the sun will penetrate down through the clear waters here in northern Michigan. A good go-to presentation in April can be blade baits and jerk baits. With the blade bait, retrieving with a double pump action associated with a fall can be key. Try several different styles of pumps making the blade bait flutter in your retrieve to trigger a strike and establish a pattern. The same goes for jerk baits--make sure you play with the jerk/pause cadence to establish what the fish want. With cold water, we at Traverse City Bass Guide Service like to start with at least a 3-5 second pause in between jerk/retrieve. In the colder water, April bass can even want as long as a 10 second pause. Keep in mind as well, that sometimes a twitch can be more effective than a jerk! When targeting bass with these techniques, you have a very good chance of stumbling into a post spawn pike. This can make for a nice added bonus to get the blood flowing. Pike have a tendency to be found actively feeding adjacent to drop offs and on weed covered deeper flats this time of year. When you find one, you will usually find more! If you find that you’ve stumbled into an area that has nothing but pike, try moving a little deeper or in contrast a little shallower. The bass usually aren’t too far away. We at Traverse City Bass and Sport Fish Michigan look forward to a great season chasing fish on the open water. We hope everyone has a great April and we look forward to seeing you on the water.

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GREAT RATES, GREAT LOCATION!

THE LOG LODGE

Tustin, Michigan Hey Anglers! This custom built vacation rental is just a few miles from the Pine River and the Manistee River. It’s the perfect cabin for your trout opener or spring steelhead run.

loglodgevacation.wixsite.com/loglodge-wix

• Custom built log cabin • 2600 square feet • Sleeps 16 comfortably • 5 bedrooms, 3 baths • Fireplace • 7 acres of woods and trails

231-250-2110

10 WEST MICHIGAN

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GET THE NEW VISITORS GUIDE REQUEST OR DOWNLOAD AT: CadillacMichigan.com

S R E V I R & S E K A L R EXPLORE OU

g res of prime fish holdin ac 00 7,5 er ov er off ee Mitchell, and Missauk gills, perch, and bass. Together Lakes Cadillac, tions of walleye, northern pike, crappie, blue la habitat, with large popu

n.com a ig h ic M c la il d a C | 7 5 (231) 775-06

Opening Day BY: DAV E F O L E Y Outdoor enthusiast who takes every opportunity to be out on the trails, roads, and waterways of the area.

t dawn on the 29th, cars bump down seldom-used two track roads heading to “secret spots,” for a rendezvous with unsuspecting streamdwelling trout, which haven't seen a hook-laden offering since the season ended nearly seven months ago. It may be freezing out, and, on occasion, snow flurries are in the air, but the weather won't deter anglers or the trout they seek. After a winter of relying on natural forage, trout are eager to pounce on a night-crawler floating by or a lure wriggling across their field of vision. We must be ready to provide that offering. Unlike downstate areas, our trout waters won't be crowded. It's likely an angler will fish a stretch of river and rarely see anyone. Hundreds of miles of pristine trout habitat are close by in streams like the Pine, Little Manistee, Betsie, Manistee, and Pere Marquette. The Clam River, which flows through the city, is designated as a brook trout blue ribbon trout stream when it reaches the Missaukee County line, just east of Cadillac. The key to fishing in this cold water is to work these baits slowly. The trout aren't as aggressive as they will be later when the water begins to warm up. Opening day fly fishers rely on nymphs, streamers, and wet flies. Later in the season, when most the hatches occur, dry flies will become the bait of choice. April 29th also is the opener for pike and walleye. Opening day brings an uptick in boating as a legion of pike and walleye anglers pull their fishing craft from storage and head for the lakes. The most activity at boat launches will be found at Cadillac, Mitchell, and Missaukee Lakes, but smaller local lakes like Crooked, Long, Pleasant, and Berry are well supplied with

gamefish. The odds favor the fishermen. After a winter under the ice, the warming water puts pike and walleye on the prowl. These gamefish are ready to feed, but baitfish numbers are depleted. With fewer edible options available, an angler's offering is not likely to be rejected. Walleye, which aren't as quick and agile as pike, do much of their feeding in low light or during the night when their prey is less active. Some troll after dark using Rapala-type lures. Another popular technique finds wading anglers casting lures to the edge of deeper water after dark. Although the ends of the canal between Lake Mitchell and Cadillac is the best-known spot, good catches are made along certain sections of shoreline. Successful anglers tend to be tight-lipped about these locations. Opening Day not only kicks-off the trout, pike, and walleye season, it begins what most feel is the best month of fishing during the year. A case can be made that more good fish are taken during May than are caught then during the months of June, July, and August combined. That's as good a reason as any for being out there fishing on Opening Day and in the weeks that follow.

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BIG Lake

REPORTS & FORECASTS

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hile most of us are still preparing for the upcoming spring, some anglers in the area have beat us to the punch and are catching a few coho, lake trout, and steelhead here in Grand Haven. Back in 2012 or 2013, we had similar conditions, and the fishing was fantastic from the first week of April and stayed strong right through May. The following are a few things that helped put a bunch of nice kings in the cooler during our last early spring. Don't overlook things like batteries, fuel filters, water pumps, life jackets, boat registration, a current fishing license, etc. as nothing after this matters much if those things aren't up to snuff. A great place to start is to replace the line on your downrigger rods and the leaders and backing on your copper and lead core set ups. If you spooled up with new line last fall, strip a good 20' off anyway as that section of the line gets beat up pretty good. At the very least cut and retie all of the knots. Do the same thing with your downrigger cables! Releases and weights work best when they remain attached to the downrigger, and if you were bouncing bottom for trout last fall or just plain bouncing around in the heavy seas, it's easy to wind up with kinked and weakened downrigger wires. I usually take about 10' off at the start of the season. Now that your boat and gear are ready it's time to head out and look for pockets of warm water around river mouths. Tenths of a degree matter so mark warm spots on your plotter so you can find those temps again. Scatter your baits from top to bottom as the temperature is not usually much different between the top and bottom. I like to have plenty of brightly colored spoon and a couple of Bombers or Rapala's on flat lines early in the year. Mixed veggies, Blue Veggies, and Carmel Dolphins were all good in the top 25' for me last spring. If things are slow and the weather is good head west. Last spring, we found a great number of active, big kings out in 200 feet of water within 20' of the bottom. 10" white paddles with Illusion, Mirage and Oceana flies were hot! While the kings were deep, cohos, steelhead, and lake trout were in the top 40' out there and added a little extra action when the kings would take a short break away from the buffet table. See you out there soon!

pril in Ludington can offer some great brown and lake trout fishing nearshore and around the piers. Our launch on Loomis Street had a dock put in in Late February, and some small boats already made it out and have been successful with brown trout. Focusing your fishing near any warmer water at this time of the year is key. River mouths in the area are the Big Sauble, Pere Marquette, Lincoln, and Pentwater - they will concentrate fish where the warmer water will be. Creeks such as Bass Lake Inlet and Gurney are additional warm water influences that will have brown and lake trout near them. Trolling body baits and in these areas and anywhere along the shoreline from 6 to 20 feet of water will put some fish in your boat. Rapalas and Challenger shallow diving body baits are the top choices in a variety of colors. Some anglers use spoons with a small trolling sinker or spoons on slide divers or downriggers to add more lures. Inline or Mother Board planers will keep the baits away from your boat and likely produce better results. If you are using Mother Board planers a 1/4 pound rubber band in the release and you will be able to see it stretching if there is a small fish on it. The smaller inline planers will just pull back out of the line with the others if a small fish is dragging. If we have a warm April, the trout will move into deeper water (30 feet or more). This is when we start bottom bouncing for lake trout with dodgers and spin and glows, or whirly gigs to catch our first king salmon. Good luck on the water during the early season.

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Suspended Walleye Basics

Today, trolling for suspended fish is one of the most common ’eye-catching ploys. BY: MA R K MA RT I N

Reflecting on the walleye tournaments and fun-fishing trips with my family of yesteryear, I can’t help but to think of the suspended fish I missed out on catching. Wa l l e y e suspending within the topfifteen feet of the water column, even in depths over 100-plus feet? None of us had any idea those fish were even there 30-plus years ago. Today, however, trolling for suspended fish is one of the most common ’eye-catching ploys. But it would be difficult to achieve fishing success for these up-high roamers without the help of modern technology. In the beginning

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It was 1959 the Lowrance flasher known as the “Little Green Box” came along. It was this very unit that taught us about those walleyes that would suspending off bottom. With a quick “blip” (flash of light) on the screen, we could see there where fish both on and off bottom. But the fish nearest the surface were still being missed, spooked out from under the boat and out of the range of the transducer. Although the Little Green Box was our eye to the underwater world at the time, it’s no comparison to what modernday sonar shows us. Today, Lowrance’s highdefinition sonar and side scanning capabilities, coupled with GPS and mapping, make it’s nearly impossible for game fish, baitfish, and even zooplankton to go undetected. But I don’t always have to mark the fish themselves to know they are there. Oftentimes they’ll scoot out from the transducers “ping” (signal) and won’t show up on the screen. I know, however, that if I am marking baitfish and insects high in the water column, then there will be predator fish in the mix, as well. No fooling around

When I was child, my grandfather and father would take me fishing at least once a week. My elders new a lot a about walleye and where to catch ‘em. And through years of trial and error they had found fish in places where others would never have thought a walleye would roam. One of our best techniques back then was to troll a Flatfish slowly. We’d have a rubber-core sinker attached to our line about three feet ahead of the lure to get it to bottom—where we thought all walleye lived. And we’d nip a half of a night crawler onto each of the front gang hooks for scent. We’d pull this rig right at bottom, on the edges of weed beds, wood piles and rock piles, targeting these areas along drop offs, humps, and holes. We caught fish; plenty of them at that.But then sonar came along and we realized the most aggressive walleyes would suspended well off bottom. A fish hovering six feet off the lake’s floor? That was much more than then we ever imagined they would. Unfortunately, we never knew there were fish even higher. If I only knew then what I know now… Because of all the tools of the walleye-fishing trade we have today, including electronics, improved lures, hooks and planer boards, we’ve not only learned walleyes suspend high in the water column, but have the tools needed to catch them. And we’ve also learned that it’s the larger fish that tend to suspend. Fish below them and you’ll never get a hit. Fish at their level or above and you’ll catch them. 14 WEST MICHIGAN

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Once I’ve determined where in the water column the forage is, it’s time to get my lures down into the same zone. However, stealth is needed to fool these weary walleyes. Even as quiet as my 9.9-hp four-stroke Mercury kicker motor is, I know fish will spook out from under my Lund. Because of this, when trolling for suspended walleyes, in-line planer boards are a must. There’s no doubt that Church Tackle’s “Walleye Board” is the most versatile and easy touse in-line planer board on the market. Walleye Boards, with their adjustable counter- weight system, can accommodate both crankbaits and spinners (crawler harnesses). And they always plane well, even in surging waves, while using largest deep-diving crankbaits or over-sized spinners behind in-line weights. Seeing believing I’m often asked how I know when a fish has hit my lure when it’s being pulled behind a planer board. And I admit, it can be tricky. As soon as all lines are out, I’ll take note as to where the planer boards are tracking in conjunction to the boat. If one drops back, I know there’s either a fish on, or, I’ve snagged up on something like floating vegetation. Once a walleye strikes, it may swim along with bait in mouth. Because of this, any time I see a planer board move back, even so slightly, I’ll reel the line in as if there was a fish on.

Get a hold of yourself Thinking back to my days of youth once more, before the advent of the in-line planer board, we would just hang on to our rods as we trolled. And although it was fun to feel the fish strike, there were some difficulties with this. You could only fish one rod per person, and, there were often tangled lines. This was extremely hard on the person who was driving the boat. Having rod holders rigged to the boat’s gunwales would have saved the day back then. Today, rod holders they are essential when trolling with planer boards. Little details Is trolling speed important? “Nope... It’s imperative! If you’re trolling too fast, or, too slow, you won’t get bit. Period. Thus paying attention to your speed at all times is a must. With my Lowrance HDS-12 Carbon I can watch the unit’s GPS speed intently, noting it right down to 1/10 of a mile per hour. Overall, when trolling crankbaits for suspended walleye, I’ll keep my boat moving along at speeds of 1.5 to 2.0 miles per hour. If trolling spinners, I’ll drop the speed down to .7 to 1.5 miles per hour. I adjust my speed often to see just how fast the ’eyes want it. And getting my lures into the strike zone is also of the utmost importance. Once I’ve determined the depth of the baitfish and bugs on my sonar, I am adamant about getting my baits in, or just above that zone. To get spinners down, I use 1-ounce in-line weights, or, Church Tackle’s Sting ray diving disk, attaching them about 6 feet in front of the spinner. In general, the rule of thumb for using 1-ounce weights is when they are trolled at 1 MPH, they will pull a spinner down 1/2 of the amount of line out. An example would be 10 feet down for 20 feet out, or 20 feet down for 40 feet out, and so on… I’ve learned a lot about the wandering ways of walleyes over the years, and today’s tools and technologies were the teachers. They have not only helped us discover that walleye suspend, but allow us to get out offerings to them without spooking them. Finding fish and forage on a quality sonar, fishing crankbaits and spinners in front of fish un-spooked, using rod holders so as to achieve better boat control, and paying close attention to trolling speed as well the proper depth my lures are running are all essential when getting back to basics for suspended ’eyes. Mark Martin is a touring walleye tournament angler and instructor with the Ice-Fishing Vacation/ School. Check out his website at markmartins.net for more information about Mark, the school and links to all the products listed in this article.

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Tackle Corner:

By Mike Pehanich

Angling for comfort and joint health

nce upon a time, fishing was deemed a passive, even contemplative game, a quiet pastime spent under a straw hat and a warming sun. No more! Modern angling is an active endeavor generally characterized by energetic casts, and plenty of them. The aggressive style of the modern angler takes its toll on the body with back, wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. “As we get older, our bodies kind of fall apart,” said Bassmaster Elite Series angler Mark Menendez during an outing on Kentucky Lake. Menendez has developed tendinitis in his elbow. “I have had to figure out ways to fish that are less taxing on my body.” He has changed technique and equipment to reduce the wear. He fishes soft swimbaits like the Strike King Shadalicious far more these days, working them on relatively light spinning tackle and line testing no more than 10 pounds. It’s effective and easier on his elbow. The other adjustments he makes relate to his tackle. He lauds the Winn grips now featured on Lew’s Custom Lite, Lew’s Tournament Performance TP1 Speed Stick and Lew’s Mach Speed Stick rods. “The advantage to the angler is that the Winn grip adheres to your hand, but it’s not sticky,” he explained. “It just makes you feel you have a good grip on your rod and reel. The grips also allow me to make longer casts because I have better control of my rod and reel.” Musky and saltwater anglers are also taking advantage of the “tacky” feel and security of the non-slip polymer to protect against joint stress. Eavesdrop on a group of musky fishers for long and you’re bound to hear complaints of sore elbows and forearms. Many musky anglers are building custom rods with Winn grips, employing larger 1.25-inch Straight Taper split grips or a Straight Taper fore

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grip coupled with a 15-inch Straight Cylinder Saltwater grip capped with a fighting butt to extend the rear handle to 18-plus inches. Winn will add a new 18-inch grip to the Saltwater line this spring. Builders of custom surf and offshore rods are already making plans for its use. But oversized grips and rod wraps are finding favor with other anglers, too. At the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Okeechobee in February, anglers with arthritic hands and joint issues noticed the booth Winn shared with North Fork Bait & Tackle owner and rod builder Steve Keller, who also operates a Winn Authorized Service Center at his store in Jensen Beach, Fla. Arthritis sufferers noted their preference for larger grip diameters to ease gripping pressure. The 1.25-inch Winn grips caught their attention, as did the array of offerings in the Winn Superior Rod Wrap line of overwraps, which enable the angler to put a layer of non-slip Winn polymer over existing cork or EVA grips. Winn grips and rod wraps (www.winngrips.com) are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The Winn interchangeable grip system offers an endless combination of configurations.

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TIPS FROM A PRO

FRESHWATER LEARN CONFIDENCE IN NEW TECHNIQUES

BRANDON LESTER

rowing up in southern middle Tennessee, I was fortunate to have a lot of really good fisheries within a couple hours of my house. I had my choice between the Tennessee River lakes like Guntersville, Wheeler and Wilson or the typical highland reservoirs located in the hills of Tennessee. I spent many days fishing club events and absorbing every bit of knowledge I could. It helped me become a versatile angler and to stay in tune with the seasonal movements of bass. These things helped prepare me for the situations I would later face on

the Bassmaster Elite Series. I remember my very first Elite Series event. It was at Lake Seminole. I had never been to the lake and didn’t know a thing about it. After a tough first day of practice, I ran way up the Flint River to see if I could find something up there all to myself. What I found was a couple of small backwaters with clear water and fish that were setting up to spawn. These places had been completely overlooked, and I finished 21st in that tournament. I caught almost every fish on a floating worm, something that is very popular during the spawn around my home waters. That tournament and many others since have taught me that no matter where you go in the country, or what body of water you’re on, there will always be something that fits your fishing style. It may not always be the winning pattern,

but more times than not, I would rather be fishing for fewer fish with more confidence. The very best lure in any tackle box is confidence. But this doesn’t mean I stubbornly sticking to the same techniques I’m comfortable with. Successful tournament anglers must keep up with the latest trends. Lures, line, rods, reels and everything else are constantly evolving. It helps to stay on the forefront. As I travel the country, I learn a lot of new techniques and about new baits that work in particular regions. Every time I go to a tournament and a new technique arises that I’m not familiar with, the first thing I do when I get home is take it to a nearby lake and try to learn it. When trying to learn something new, it’s best to do it in areas you know hold fish. A good example of this was at the first Elite Series event of this year at Lake Cherokee. Cherokee is in east Tennessee, but it is much different than my home waters. There is a hot new trend among the locals there called the “Damiki rig” that is dynamite for catching smallmouth relating to baitfish. It is a small fluke-style lure rigged on a Lake Erie-style jig head that allows for precise placement of the lure at depth. I had heard about the rig leading up to the tournament and tried it in practice, but I never could figure it out. Our tournament was actually won on that rig, and several of the top guys were doing it. After that tournament was over, I spent the next day on my home lake with nothing but that rig. I wanted to learn everything there was to know about it. I went on to catch some big smallmouth on my home lake with it, and although I still don’t consider myself an expert, I feel like I can catch them on it next time the opportunity arises.

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3/20/17 3:40 PM

Endless Fishing Opportunities

In Marathon

By Capt. Chris Johnson, SeaSquared Charters Marathon, the very heart of the Florida Keys, offers fishing options as vast as the crystal blue waters that surround the islands. to experience the exhilaration of big game sport fishing closer to shore and easier on your budget. Rounding out the sport fishing options in Marathon are bonefish, snook, Goliath grouper, permit and barracuda. Each challenging in its own right and all worthy of a place of honor on your trophy wall.

ill Your Trophy Wall With visions of Ernest Hemingway’s exploits in their heads, adventurers flock to Marathon from around the globe to fulfill their dreams of catching the sportfish of a lifetime. The offshore deep blue waters are the realm of the mighty swordfish, who live in the 1,500-plus-foot depths. Fishing for swordfish is highly technical and is best done with an electric set-up. While a magnificent creature to display above the fireplace, swordfish are also prized for their food value. Closer inshore are sailfish, which are unsurpassed in their size range for combined strength and spectacle. These silver speedsters, with their distinctive blue fan-shaped fin, are free-roamers that seem to prefer the coral reef areas. They are best fished for where their favorite foods are plentiful, such as along weed lines or around schools of blue runners, goggle eyes or pilchards. Perhaps the most elusive of all the sportfish in the Marathon waters is the Silver King. The tarpon that visit the Middle Florida Keys each spring love to hang out at bridge passes, where their food of choice is easily obtainable. These areas are known for their relative calm conditions, making tarpon fishing a comfortable experience for all anglers, even those prone to seasickness. Using light spinning tackle and circle hooks, fishing for tarpon is about as sporting as it gets. And, to hook one and chase it through the bridge pilings, hoping to be rewarded with a few jumps and maybe a picture at the side of the boat is an unforgettable experience. With a plethora of media coverage of sharks, catch-and-release fishing for them has become increasingly popular. The Marathon area sees a vast spectrum of sharks, including lemons, blacktips, bulls, blacknoses, nurse, spinners, hammerheads and tigers. These range in size from little guys to behemoths at 12 to 15 feet in length. Light tackle, shallow water angling for sharks in the Middle Florida Keys presents the opportunity 30

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Fill Your Dinner Plate When it comes to catching fish with a top-quality food value, you’d be hard-pressed to find a greater bounty than contained in the waters surrounding Marathon. On the Atlantic coral reefs and wrecks, snapper of all variety are plentiful for the taking year-round. Yellowtails, mangroves, muttons and lanes offer endless rod-bending entertainment and fill the bellies of hungry anglers at the end of the day. Grouper – blacks, reds and gags – are ever-present as well, although they tend to retreat to deeper waters during the summer heat. Additionally, the season is closed for them from January 1 to May 1. There are many more species that provide high-quality table fare – too many to list – but include amberjack, cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, cero mackerel, pompano and on and on. Marathon’s offshore waters are fishing central for pelagic species that provide angling excitement. Venture 26 miles out to the Marathon Humps and you will be in tuna heaven. Blackfin and skipjack tuna are abundant year-round, and the only thing that can prevent you from getting there to catch them on any given day are the winds. But, on a calm day, the ride out and back is comfortable and the catching typically rapid-fire. Dolphin (mahi) and wahoo roam the open sea in a continuous hunt for food. Anglers seek them along weed lines and around any sort of floating debris. Feeding birds, particularly frigates, also indicate their presence. The spectacle of the blue and yellow blaze of a dolphin or the blue and white zebra-like stripes of a wahoo on the end of your line is indelible. Entertain The Family. There’s nothing finer for family bonding than spending quality time together on the water, away from the interruptions of everyday life. Marathon boasts multiple venues that are ideal for a day of family fun fishing. The patch reefs, Hawk Channel, the Seven Mile Bridge and the nearshore bay waters are chock-full of fun-catching fish. Snapper, hogfish, porgy, yellowjack, maybe even grouper, keep the rods bent with tasty rewards at the end of the day. Just for fun, there are sharks, barracuda, jacks and more. Catch ’em and release ’em and on to the next! So, whether you’re looking to fill your trophy wall or your dinner plate, or just have a great day out with the family, Marathon offers the fishing opportunities to make your dreams come true. Capt. Chris Johnson specializes in offshore, gulf/bay, reef/wreck, sailfish, shark and tarpon fishing with SeaSquared Charters, docked at Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club in Marathon. You can reach him at 305-743-5305, http://SeaSquaredCharters.com and http://Facebook. com/MarathonFishing.

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Micron: Generations of Innovation Every parent hopes their children will do well and have a better life than they did. At Interlux, we feel the same way about the products we make. With each new advancement and generation of Micron® Technology comes better performing, higher quality solutions. Innovation is a tradition we are proud to have carried on for over 30 years. From the long lasting and always dependable Micron CSC to our new, powerful water-based Micron Optima with Activated Biolux®, we build on our past success to deliver state of the art protection today. Whatever the year, you know you’ll always have the latest and best in Micron Technology. Visit our website for more information – yachtpaint.com

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The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament

Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures

nglers with the guts to mix big-game tournament fishing with kayaking will head to beautiful Grand Bahama this month to compete in the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament April 2023. This two-day kayak fishing tournament will attract anglers and their family members from all over the world for a chance to win more than $40,000 in cash and prizes, and all to help raise funds for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. There will be free entertainment, food, drinks, a huge raffle and lots of fun for the entire family! “This event, now in its fourth year, has gained tremendous interest and notoriety for anglers and sporting enthusiasts from throughout the USA, Canada, China and Brazil. We have seen the competition grow each year from 40 anglers in our inaugural year in 2014 to some 280 participants last year,” said Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) spokesman Richard Treco, Sr. “The high level of competition, coupled with our incredible on-island authentic cultural experiences and diverse product offering, makes this event most attractive for the seasoned as well as relatively new to the sport, angler.” Joe Hector, of Extreme Kayak Fishing International and organizer of the event, said he is excited to work with The BMOT on this tournament, and is particularly pleased with its rapid growth. “The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament truly is the gold standard for kayak fishing in the world, as it provides everything into one great getaway: fun and family adventures, awesome fishing from white and blue marlins to huge mutton snappers, friendly people and the most beautiful destination in the world,” said Hector. Pre- and post-tournament packages range from $595 triple or qua-

druple occupancy for a three nights stay to $1,370 single occupancy for a seven nights stay, which includes tournament registration, hotel accommodations at the Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, round-trip transportation for the angler and his/her kayak from Port Everglades to Grand Bahama, a cocktail reception and awards dinner. Fish caught during the tournament will be given to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, and volunteers assisting with the project. For more information or to register for the tournament, visit www. extremekayakfishing.com or call 954-661-0175.

To learn more about the event and how to register, go to

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UNDER THE SEA

SLINGS AND POLESPEARS

from companies have challenged this SHERI DAYE traditional design by changing the here’s a fun retro-movement taking hand position. The place in spearfishing—a trend toward Headhunter Guerilla primitive hunting gear. Slings and Sling has a comfortable polespears are used in places that do not allow trigger mechanisms, such as Bermuda or the grip, which transfers the weight load from Bahamas, but they are growing in popularity the wrist and distributes the force throughout the forearm. Sea Archer slings look like an outside these regions too. This could be attributed to the new Sling/ underwater bow and arrow. The user holds Polespear category for world records, run by the body of the sling just as they would with a the International Underwater Spearfishing bow and arrow. There’s nothing more beautiful Association (IUSA). However, I suspect the than watching a skilled underwater hunter real reason is that many hunters appreciate using a sling and hitting the mark with a freethe challenge and simplicity, not unlike land- flying shaft! Polespears are another fun option. hunters opting for bow-and-arrow over rifles. It’s a beautiful art form that evokes images of They can be made of fiberglass, aluminum Indians using extreme stealth and having great or carbon fiber. The tip can have a flopper, three-prong paralyzer tip or a slip-tip. Neritic respect for their prey. Slings and polespears are great tools for Diving company makes polespears with someone who is either learning how to spearfish interchangeable sections that can be assembled or interested in improving their hunting skills. in different length configurations. Users may Compared to modern spearguns, they force a choose to use a shorter polespear when hunting diver to become calmer and stealthier because in dirtier water or in tight spaces. When diving of their shorter range. One must slow down and in deep clear water, fish may not be cooperative study the behavior of fish in order to get closer and a longer polespear may be desired. The to them. While both slings and polespears are ability to quickly construct your weapon of powered using rubber bands without trigger choice is one of the best recent innovations, along with magnetic slip-tips that don’t fall off mechanisms, these two styles differ. Slings, sometimes called “Hawaiian slings,” while diving. I must admit that I can’t help feeling a are similar to a slingshot where the band is pulled back to launch the spear. Traditionally, smug sense of satisfaction when I land an the shooter was a tubular-shaped piece of wood elusive fish with a simple stick and rubber with a hole drilled down the center so the shaft band. Regardless if you are a novice or could slide through when being launched professional, primitive hunting offers a forward by the band. Recent innovations fun and entertaining challenge. Why not

Charles Duffie with a polespeared hogfish. Photo by James Ferrara.

add another skill to your spearfishing resume and another choice in your toolkit? It will double your fun and make you a better hunter! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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3/20/17 3:40 PM

Spearfishing Course for Freedivers

By Capt. Chad Carney Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures

n 2016, Freediving Instructors International (FII) presented their new spearfishing course at The Blue Wild Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. If you’re new to spearfishing or a veteran, this wealthof-knowledge course, from many of the world’s best spearfishermen and freedivers will be invaluable. All students must already have a Level 1 freediving certification from an internationally recognized agency. FII founder Martin Stepanek, and freediving instructors John Dornellas and Cameron Kirkconnell, wrote the textbook for the course, called FII Spearfishing. The first course was taught by Martin and John at Florida Freedivers, Jonathan and Kelsey Dickinson’s dive shop in North Palm Beach, Fla. just days before The Blue Wild. Jonathan became a FII Spearfishing Instructor in September and taught the course to most of his staff and several customers since. The classroom section of the course runs a half day and is packed with great content including spearfishing ethics, freediving safety, location safety about dive planning, site obstructions, currents, marine animals, divers and boats. Information about spearfishing gear, it’s handling and use is covered thoroughly along with underwater hunting skills and techniques. The second half of the day is the pool training, where speargun handling and float line training is hands-on. The provided spearguns are unique in that they can be loaded in the water with total safety, because their shafts are completely stationary, as they are permanently bolted to the muzzles and mechanisms. Otherwise, the spearguns are fully functional and allow the best practice for pool or confined water training. Hunting styles and tricks are also taught and practiced in the pool around a portable artificial reef at the pool bottom where students will stalk a foam fish. Certification is completed with the classroom and pool session, along with a written test. A day of real ocean spearfishing is an option and may vary from location to location, but in the Palm Beaches, Jonathan says they plan for a day of spearfishing in moderate depths where water entries with gear can be polished, and also float lines can be used in currents. Reefs with low structure are available for stalking with, aspetto and agguatto techniques. The photo is Jonathan Dickinson with a recent 70-pound amberjack!

Check out www.floridafreedivers.com and www.freedivinginstructors.com for more information about the course and spearfishing and freediving equipment. Capt. Chad Carney runs diving and spearfishing charters in southeast Florida and can be reached at 727-4237775 or chad.carney@yahoo.com.

To learn more about Florida Free Divers, go to

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FISH & FISHING

THE LIGHT WAND MARK SOSIN

earning to fish a fly in saltwater adds a new and extremely challenging dimension to the sport. Light-wand enthusiasts on the marine scene don’t have to trip over tradition that sometimes limits the thinking and performance of their brethren who focus attention solely on trout and salmon. There are differences. When you work over fish in a stream, you often have ample time to contemplate the situation, change flies if the first one doesn’t work, and even try several approaches. Even a shoreline largemouth bass lays claim to a stationary feeding station near a log or under the lip of a lily pad. Saltwater critters remain on the move, probing and prowling continuously or they hold on a seat in the restaurant until the water level rises or falls a certain amount. Then, they change position. If you happen to spot your quarry, you only have seconds to get a fly in front of it. The first cast has to count. Simple hesitation can cause you to miss the opportunity. When you are blind casting, it’s important to read the water and recognize another set of signals. Predators frequently follow a feeding rhythm tied directly to the stage of the tide. Since they are not restricted to a few deep pools or the tail end of a run, finding them and presenting a fly with accuracy requires detailed knowledge of their habits and habitat. Casting in saltwater demands a bit more distance than it does in many freshwater settings. False casting becomes a handicap when you’re trying to drop a fly in the path of a cruising gamefish. You won’t have time to admire the tight loops or match the distance to the target precisely before dropping the fly gently on the skin of the water. The repeated surges of a powerful marine denizen tethered to flyline, leader and backing, or the task of driving a fly into the wind and in front of a cruising fish have no parallels in other forms of angling. Once experienced, these challenges trigger an insatiable appetite that demands more.

For smaller species of fish, a 9-weight fly rod that is 9-feet long would be my first choice. The reel should be single action, hold adequate backing, and left or right hand retrieve. You should turn the handle with your primary hand rather than what many fly fishermen do today. With a 9-weight rod, the reel should hold at least 200 yards of 20-pound dacron or braid. The second outfit for larger fish starts with a 12-weight or 13-weight rod and a reel that holds at least 275 yards of backing. Again, if you are right handed, choose a right hand retrieve. If you’re new to fly fishing, the time to break out the fly rod is when fishing is very good and your chances of success are boosted. It pays to keep it rigged and handy all the time. Let me warn you that catching fish on a fly rod becomes addictive. Once you start hooking fish on the light wand you will also be hooked.

For more Mark Sosin visit

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A slippery knife can make filleting fish a difficult chore. Dexter UR-Cut Fillet knives were designed to eliminate this problem, while providing comfort and control by custom molding the grip to a user’s hand. Coastal Angler put Dexter’s design to the test at the docks with a cooler full of sheepshead, which are known to be difficult to clean. The customization involves boiling the handle before dipping it in cold water and gripping it tightly so the owner’s grip is impressed on the handle. With attention to thumb position during the process, we were able to customize the grip to the exact position our fillet men prefer. It took just a few minutes, and the result was a well-balanced tool that felt secure and comfortable in the hand. Then we took our blades to the cutting table. Dexters are known for maintaining a super-sharp edge, and having just the right amount of flexibility. Past experience has taught us they are also easy to sharpen. We were not surprised to find the blade on our new UR-Cut knives performed flawlessly working along spines and ribcages. Our hands and the table were coated in slime, and this is where the URCut showed why it is more than just a good knife. We intentionally created a slippery situation by not washing down, and the non-slip properties of the custom handles performed as advertised. For more information, visit...

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PANTHER SWIM PLATFORM OUTBOARD MOTOR BRACKET Now, with the new Panther Swim Platform Outboard Motor Bracket you can transform the family boat or even the work boat into a fishing machine. The convenience of having a kicker motor makes slow trolling for your favorite species much more efficient and productive. The new bracket easily mounts to most swim platforms and features three levels of convenient height adjustment to accommodate most platform heights and motor shaft lengths, for optimal prop depth and performance. • Rated for two- and four-stroke motors up to 20 hp with max motor weight of 195 pounds • Constructed of black powder coat aluminum • Comes complete with transom support bar for weight support torque resistance For more information, contact MarineTech Products at 1 651-486-2010 or visit

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ost anglers would probably enjoy a shopping spree in the fishing section of the local Walmart. An Ohio man allegedly helped himself to not one, but two free-ofcharge shopping sprees last October, and has now been charged with stealing an estimated $3,800 worth of fishing gear, according to NBC affiliate WLWT. Warren County, Ohio prosecutor David Fornshell told reporters that Derrick Marcum, “pretty much cleared out the aisle.” According to the WLWT report, Marcum was arrested last October when he attempted to carry two backpacks stuffed with fishing gear out of an Ohio Walmart. He was arrested that same day for the theft of $1,300 worth of gear. But it wasn’t until recently that investigators connected that incident with another theft that occurred the previous day at another Ohio Walmart. Marcum allegedly filled five plastic bins with tackle and then proceeded to the self-checkout, where he paid only for the bins. Investigators valued that heist at about $2,500. A grand jury indicted Marcum, and he waits in jail for his arraignment, according to reports. Jail time seems a pretty steep price, even for thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear.

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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, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, StormCat, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/17.

$269.99

• Weighs 73 lbs.

SUPER COUPON

20"

Customer Rating

SAVE $269 LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

$99

ITEM 69780 41005 shown

SUPER COUPON

14999 $369.32

Compare

$1799 $

ITEM 60626 shown 69474/62861

SUPER COUPON

LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

45 WATT SOLAR PANEL 10 PIECE KIT ITEM 62443 68751 shown

SAVE $83

Compare

Customer Rating

149

Compare

$203.73

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $94

Blade sold separately.

ITEM 61971/61972 98199 shown Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

$84

99 119$179

Compare

LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

hft_coastalangler_0417_M-REG100631.indd 1 NAT_0417.indd 41

VALUE LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON

Voted Best 2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH Winches in WITH WIRELESS Quality & Price

REMOTE CONTROL

179

Compare

$49

$446.61

LIMIT 5 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

$699

1199 $34.95

Compare

8$17.97

Compare

Customer Rating

LIMIT 7 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES • 5 mil thickness PACK OF 100

ITEM 68287 shown 69652/62872/62869 Customer Rating Includes one 18V NiCd battery and charger.

SAVE 74% $2499 Compare $79

SUPER COUPON

$19

LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

Item 68498 shown

SAVE 62%

SIZE MED LG X-LG

Customer Rating

YOUR CHOICE

Compare

$119.99

SUPER COUPON

SAVE 85%

LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

18 VOLT CORDLESS 3/8" DRILL/DRIVER AND FLASHLIGHT KIT

6999

AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER

$ 99

LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SAVE 66%

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

4 PIECE 1" x 15 FT. 72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET

SAVE 80%

SAVE $70

SUPER COUPON

RATCHETING TIE DOWNS ITEM 69505/62418 ITEM 63056/63057/60405/63094 66537 shown 63150/61524/62322/90984 shown

LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

10" SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW

$ 99

• Includes keychain remote • Weighs 14.3 lbs. • 11-1/4" W x 4-1/8" H

SUPER COUPON

$1 1999

$149

3999 $62.27

LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 69030 69031 shown

ITEM 63476/61840/61297/68146/61258 shown

SUPER COUPON

$2999

Compare 99 $39 .94

1" x 25 FT. TAPE MEASURE

• Air delivery: 5.8 CFM @ 40 PSI, 4.7 CFM @ 90 PSI

7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER

Customer Rating

ANY PURCHASE

WITH

SAVE $296

SUPER COUPON

SAVE 51%

FREE

Customer Rating

LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

Customer Rating

SAVE 54%

ITEM 69091/61454 61693/62803 67847 shown

SUPER COUPON

1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK

2.5 HP, 21 GALLON, 125 PSI VERTICAL OIL-LUBE AIR COMPRESSOR

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359

$499

LIMIT 9 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

AMERICA'S BEST GENERATOR

SUPER QUIET

4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNING WATTS 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS GENERATORS

Customer Rating

ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY

SAVE $149

7 $15.99

LIMIT 8 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.

SUPER COUPON

$ 99 Compare $34.99

Customer Rating

$ 99

Compare

ITEM 69594/69955 42292 shown

339

Wheel kit sold separately.

SUPER COUPON

99 9 8 $2 99 Compare

$439

LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17. At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare” or “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare” or “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 “Compare” or "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go toHarborFreight.com or see store associate.

Use Coupons:COASTALANGLERMAG.COM In-Store, HarborFreight.com or 800-423-2567 • THEANGLERMAG.COM APRIL 2017

NATIONAL

3/8/17 12:34 PM 3/20/17 3:41 PM

suzuki spring savings Three Limited Time Offers Make A Good Deal Even Better Suzuki Gives You All Three So You Don’t Have To Choose One Or The Other

Buy a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but ALL THREE Suzuki Spring promotional offers.

Add cash rebates on select models and you can get up to $800 cash back. Plus our Repower Financing is available at attractive interest rates (on approved credit.*)

Just say, “Gimme Six!” and you’ll get six years of product protection. That’s right, you’ll get Suzuki’s three-year limited warranty and Suzuki’s 3-Year Extended Protection Plan at no extra charge.

See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today and find out how you can get the ultimate deal on the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard.

Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.

Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.

REPOWER FINANCE

Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*

For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com

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 4/01/17 and 6/30/17 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 Outboard Motors made between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. 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 Outboard Motors. 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 Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. “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. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

NATIONAL

NAT_0417.indd 42

APRIL 2017

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

3/20/17 3:41 PM

PENNFISHING.COM

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,

COMMON CVRS_0417.indd 3

and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.

3/19/17 2:26 PM

COMMON CVRS_0417.indd 4

3/19/17 2:26 PM