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tretching 500 miles across the northern side of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest in the Atlantic Ocean. This 6-mile-deep feature is part of what makes the Virgin Islands one of the world’s best sportfishing destinations. Here, where the Atlantic Ocean borders the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Virgin Islands rise as the peaks of an enormous underwater mountain chain. The islands offer some of the best diving, snorkeling and most beautiful beaches anywhere, but it is off these islands that serious anglers come to play. Beneath the surface, the topography is spectacular. About 20 miles north of St. Thomas, the travel hub of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the North Drop falls precipitously to depths of more than 28,000 feet into the Puerto Rico Trench. Cool Atlantic currents are stirred off Virgin Gorda, and sea life abounds. The big pelagic species congregate to feed on an abundance of baitfish drawn by the drop. A similar situation occurs off the South Drop, just 8 miles south of St. Thomas, and the smaller drops around St. Croix. Short boat rides put anglers on abundant baitfish and the bigger fish that feed on them. Marlin can be caught year-round, but spring to fall is peak time for blue marlin, which show up in numbers and feed aggressively around the full moons. The bite is legendary. The IGFA Women’s alltackle world record, a 1,073-pound blue marlin, was caught off the Virgin Islands, along with 24 other world records over the years. The granders—1,000-pound-plus marlin—show up on occasion, but the Virgin Islands also offer numbers. During the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, 207 blue marlin were released over four days of fishing. Marlin average about 350 pounds out of St. Thomas, and 500-pounders are caught regularly. But blues aren’t the only game in town. The location of these islands 6
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almost seems strategic. Sailfish, white marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin… the most sought after gamefish for sport and the table frequent these drops in good numbers to feed. Working the drop by trolling rigs across the depth contours produces consistently good action year-round. The sailfish bite peaks October through March. Yellowfin tuna are present late summer through winter, and blackfin and skipjack tuna provide
action year-round. Wahoo are also a year-round target, and dolphin fishing peaks in fall. The fishing is world class, and the Virgin Islands are also easy to get to. A short plane ride from the continental U.S. puts anglers in the middle of the action. And with lodging that ranges from quaint to luxurious, there are options for anyone who wants to live out their offshore fantasy. To learn more about the Puerto Rico Trench, go to
FORTHELO VEOFFISHING.CO
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It’s the Honda of Outboards. Literally.
Quality, reliability, technology and fuel-efficiency have made Honda an automotive legend. You’ll find those same strengths in every Honda Marine outboard. Honda outboards deliver best-of-class features in models ranging from 2.3 to 250 hp. Many even share engine technology and components used in Honda vehicles like the Accord, Odyssey, Fit and Pilot — vehicles that have proven themselves over millions of miles. No wonder all Honda outboards are backed by the only 5-year manufacturer’s warranty in the industry. Power your boat with the brand that offers millions of miles of proven performance — Honda Marine.
Take Advantage Of 2.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboards Or 4.49% APR Financing On All New Honda Outboard Engines Or Boat/Motor Packages — Going On Now! To Find Your Nearest Authorized Honda Marine Dealer, Visit Our Website Now From Your QR-Enabled Phone, Or Go To ca.hondamarine.com *APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 2.49% APR financing for 24 – 48 months, available to customers who qualify for the AHFC super preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines: 2.49% APR for 36 months financing at $28.86 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 60 months financing at $18.19 a month for every $1,000 financed. 3.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.44 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. Lower rates may also be available. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines (2hp – 250hp) and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. **APR financing available on all new Honda outboard engines or packages (boat, motor and trailer, where Honda outboard engine is the main source of power) through American Honda Finance Corporation upon approved credit. 4.49% APR financing for 12 – 180 months (term and rate based on amount financed) available to customers who qualify for the AHFC Super Preferred credit tier. Example for new Honda outboard engines or packages: 4.49% APR for 84 months financing at $13.90 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 144 months financing at $9.00 a month for every $1,000 financed. 4.49% APR for 180 months financing at $7.64 a month for every $1,000 financed. Offer good on any new and unregistered Honda outboard engine or package, with a minimum amount financed of $1,000 and a minimum monthly payment of $100. Check with participating dealers for complete details. Dealers set actual sales prices. For well-qualified buyers, not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for different terms and/or buyers with lower credit rating. APR may be subject to dealer mark-up. Offer valid through 01/03/17, on new and unregistered Honda outboard engines or packages and only on approved credit by Honda Financial Services through participating dealers. Honda Financial Services’ standard credit criteria apply. ©2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2016 NATIONAL 7
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he numbers don’t lie. Guatemala’s Pacific coast is the most productive sailfish destination in the world. Days of double-digit releases would be considered spectacular anywhere. Off Guatemala, it’s just an average day. Annual release rates show a dozen sailfish per boat, per day. And that’s just a year-round average. It is not unusual during peak seasons for boats to raise more than 50 or 60 sails a day, sometimes a lot more. In March of 2006, Capt. Ron Hamlin, and the anglers on the Captain Hook, released 124 sailfish in a single day less than 15 miles off Guatemala. The legendary former skipper out of Casa Vieja Lodge in Puerto San Jose still holds the record. For conventional anglers, it’s pretty much a sure thing. For fly anglers, it’s the best odds you’ll find. The concentrations of sailfish in this small slice of the Pacific are astounding. But it’s not just sails. Natural factors such as dramatically shifting currents, temperature barriers and high oxygen levels close to the surface combine to hold baitfish year-round. The eddy formations that swirl off the Guatemalan coast are crowded with life, including the big pelagics and the fish they feed on. There are more Pacific sailfish than can be found anywhere, but there are also marlin, wahoo, slammer Dorado and yellowfin tuna. Casa Vieja Lodge says blue marlin in the 200- to 400-pound range are thickest April through July, with black marlin up to 400 pounds showing up December through March and smaller striped marlin November through January. On average, every Casa Vieja boat encounters marlin every three days while targeting sailfish. During peak billfish seasons of December through March and then again from May through July, grand slams are an everyday possibility. Boats fish anywhere from 2 to 50 miles out in an area renowned for flat seas. The most consistently productive area is a canyon known as “The Pocket.” Only about 40 nautical miles wide, The Pocket drops to depths of 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Those constantly shifting currents deflect off the walls of the pocket stirring up nutrient rich waters that attract bait and big gamefish. Casa Vieja takes the fishing very seriously. Guided by some of the world’s top-tagging and award winning captains, their fleet of classically maintained 35’ Contenders and 40’ Sportfishers consistently produces world-class results. They are inheritors of history. A majority of the
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captains and lodge staff were employees of the original Fins ’n Feathers Inn that launched the Guatemalan sportfishing industry. These are the same sportsmen who have cared for the fishery since it exploded onto the sportfishing scene in the 1990s. With total release using circle hooks, the conservation philosophy has been central to Casa Vieja’s operations for more than a decade. With this kind of stewardship, as well as emphasis from the Guatemalan Government on limiting commercial fishing, the fishery continues to thrive. The lodge was also designed by lifelong sportsmen who know it is best to recover from a non-stop day of action on the water in worldclass accommodations. Luxurious rooms and top-notch local cuisine are paired with a staff trained to fill the needs of discerning travelers. It’s the perfect place to relive the day’s catch or dream of the morning’s possibilities. For more information on fishing Guatemala and the Casa Vieja Lodge, go to www.casaviejalodge.com.
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Decorè for Coastal Living Hand Crafted Accent & Area Rugs
Sand Dollar on Blue Stripes
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NOVEMBER 2016
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our Rip Roller is tearing up the water as you retrieve it in short quick jerks. Suddenly the water explodes from the vicious strike of a peacock bass. In your excitement and shock, you instinctively jerk your rod up before the peacock has had a chance to get the hook firmly in his mouth, and 6 inches of lure and three massive treble hooks come flying past your head. Your first encounter with the huge peacock bass of Brazil’s Amazon will be one you never forget. Fishing for this massive, hard-fighting predator can be best described to anglers as hooking into a 20-pound smallmouth bass that is having a bad day. To top off this fishing adventure, you are fishing over 1,000 miles from the ocean in the heart of the world’s largest rain forest on black water rivers that are home to more than 2,500 species of fish and the world’s greatest diversity of flora and fauna. Anglers will catch four or five different species of peacock bass, ranging from the popoca and butterfly species weighing an average of 3 to 5 pounds to the massive paca or arzu, the current world record of which is a 29-pounder caught by Andrea Zaccherini in 2010. Anglers can also catch aerobatic arowana, several species of catfish weighing upwards of 200 pounds, wolf fish and myriad other species. Peacocks will readily hit topwater baits on waters that aren’t heavily pressured, the most famous being the big propeller driven Woodchopper and its clones, as well as the more subtle Spook type baits. As with most species of fish, subsurface jerkbaits and jigs will produce bigger numbers of fish caught than topwater lures. Fly fishermen have discovered this game
2016T AMAZON
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as well, fishing big Deceivers, Dahlberg Divers and Clouser type flies. Heavy baitcasting tackle loaded with 65to 80-pound braided Kevlar line is the ticket for peacocks, as they are structure-oriented fish. The war is outfitters including River Plate Anglers and to keep them out of the cover once hooked. Fly fishermen need to bring saltwater Acute Angling. River Plate Outfitters, fishing in style 9- and 10-weight fly rods coupled with a Brazil since 1992, has leased exclusive fishing fly reel with a smooth drag and 30- to 50-pound rights on 10 different tributaries encompassing over 1,000 miles of black water rivers in all four tippets. In the last 15 years, Manaus, a city of 2 million dry zones in Brazil’s Amazon. It’s all within a 500in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon, has become mile radius northwest and south of Manaus. This the epicenter of South America’s peacock bass enables anglers to fly directly into these private fishing. American Airlines flies a daily five-hour lands by wheel or float equipped Caravan charter non-stop flight between Miami and Manaus planes and be in prime unpressured waters the and back, making Manuas easily accessible. The first day of their trip from mid July through mid majority of operators will have anglers spend March. The key to these operations is their six the first night in Manaus and then fly by charter “river trains,” each consisting of 250-squareaircraft to their fishing destinations. Most mother foot single or double occupancy air conditioned boat and cruise ship operators that offer peacock cabins that can be moved to the tributary in the bass fishing operate on the upper Rio Negro dry zone with the most ideal water conditions in out of Barcelos, a city of 30,000 people located a given time frame and not be relegated only to 300 miles upriver from Manaus. The waters of the upper Rio Negro dry zone. the Rio Negro and the mouths of its tributaries For additional information, contact River within a 150-mile radius of Barcelos receive the majority of the peacock bass fishing pressure. Plate Outfitters at www.riverplateanglers.com There are presently more than 40 mother boats/ or Jim kern at jim@emuoutfitting.com or at 817cruise ships operating out of Barcelos and a large 946-2479. Jim has been to Brazil 32 times since 1997 and can give you the real facts on most of lodge in the area. The other option for small groups of 6 to the Peacock Bass operations in Brazil’s Amazon. 12 people is a fishing trip on private indian For More Amazon Peacock Bass fishing, go to lands and government preserves leased by a couple different
CAMFRESHWATER.COM
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By CAM Staff • Photos Courtesy of Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge
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hey call Islamorada the Sportfishing Capital of the World. This slim string of six small islands about halfway down the Florida Keys separates the Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico, and just offshore in the Atlantic, warm blue currents of the Gulf Stream deliver a steady flow of baitfish and the big migrating pelagic species that feed on them. The Continental Shelf is a highway for swordfish that move through in depths of 1,400 to 1,900 feet with a consistency that may be unmatched anywhere in the world. It is possible to target these deepwater giants any month of the year off Islamorada, and even during the day. But it is sportfishing only for hardcore anglers. Swordfish are elusive anywhere, the most difficult of the billfish to catch, and fights lasting several hours are the reward for tempting a bite from 150- to 400-pound or larger fish deep in the abyss. If catching a swordfish is one of the boxes that remains to be checked off on your bucket list, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to do it. A little closer in, where the Gulf Stream swings over broken bottom and the offshore humps Islamorada has become famous for, it creates rips where disoriented baitfish become easy prey for dolphin, wahoo, sailfish, kingfish and tuna. In the summer months, flocks of birds are a dead giveaway for dolphinfish pushing frenzied bait to the surface. When that’s not going on, fish can be found trolling feather or jet head lures and plugs. A bite while trolling means it’s time to slow down and cast baits to catch other fish drawn to the same area. Sometimes this is met with spectacular results, especially for mahi, which tend to gather in numbers. Some of the most spectacular action on the humps comes from blackfin tuna. It can show up in spurts any time of year, but fall typically brings a push of 10-pound-plus tuna that can be incited into surface-feeding frenzies. Chumming up blackfins with pilchards is a very visual experience that allows even anglers armed with fly rods to hook up with multiple hard-fighting fish.
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As the tuna move toward the reefs with the late fall and winter baitfish migrations, the bigger fish begin to show up, and kite fishing becomes one of the preferred methods for teasing up fish 20 pounds and larger. The other fish that shows up to take advantage of baitfish from November through the winter is sailfish. There’s a reason why Islamorada is home to so many sailfish tournaments during the winter months. It can seem like everyone drops everything they’re doing for a chance to fly release flags. In fall and winter, sails move in to gorge on abundant ballyhoo around the reefs. This can present opportunities to anglers less than 5 miles from the docks off the islands of Islamorada. The 130- to 200-foot depths produce the most consistent bite where strong currents and changes in water color to a deep royal blue give away the edges and rips where sailfish hunt. Trolling or kite fishing the reefs can produce numerous fish in the 60-pound range when the bite is on. But on sunny days when the weather cooperates, it is possible to sight fish for sailfish inside the reefs in water as shallow as 20 or 30 feet. Even smaller boats can get in on this action. From the tower, crewmembers seek out the fish. When the alarm goes out, chum and baits are deployed. There’s really no technique more exciting. Anglers in the know await those bluebird skies on winter days when seeking out sailfish becomes as much hunting as it is fishing. And if all the offshore action isn’t enough to convince any angler to start making plans right now, fall also brings some of the biggest bonefish of the year to the Islamorada flats. Time it right, and you can be fishing the flats in the morning and trolling the bluewater in the afternoon. What more could you ask for?
For More Fishing in Islamorada go to
CAMSALTWATER.COM
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10/18/16 3:15 PM
The only thing we don’t fish for is excuses.
With everything from sailfish, grouper and tuna out front to bonefish, permit and tarpon out back, you have every excuse you need for dropping what you’re doing and heading for Islamorada in The Florida Keys. fla-keys.com/islamorada 1.800.322.5397 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Get six years of product protection at no extra charge on new Suzuki outboards from 25 to 300 horsepower. You’ll be covered until 2022.
SUMMER MIGHT BE WINDING DOWN, BUT THE SUZUKI SAVINGS SEASON IS JUST HEATING UP
Suzuki is extending its popular Repower Finance program, as well, with attractive rates now available to all qualified borrowers. ®
In addition, Suzuki is offering cash rebates of up to $800 on select models. Your dealer has the models and amounts or you can visit our website for more information.
The Suzuki Savings Season 2016 ends soon so see your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today – or visit suzukimarine.com – for details on these special offers.
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki outboard motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki outboards made between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki marine engines. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki marine engines purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/16 and 12/31/16.“Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2016 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN... Designed from the inside out for the technical
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THE ONLY DURABLE HIGH QUALITY ROD WRAP
Russ Lane: Bassmaster Elite Series™ Pro
“Winn overwraps help me as a tournament angler in so many ways. They’re great in all weather conditions. I don’t have to physically squeeze my rod during a cast as hard as I did with cork or EVA. That gives me a better degree of accuracy with less fatigue. Multiple color options also allow me to organize different rod actions and lengths using different colors. I honestly could never use a rod again without my Winn overwrap!”
winngrips.com 1-877-854-7601
WinnGrips.com, Winn, and the Winn Brand Symbol is a registered trademark of Winn Inc. © 2016 Winn Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
By Mike Pehanich
I
believe this is the Golden Age of fishing tackle. For my money, the amazing quality and range of rods available to us today is clear evidence of that claim. Improvements in graphite quality, skeletal reel seats and lightweight braid-resistant guides have paved a path to conspicuous performance benefits, and rods conscientiously tailored to nearly every angling task are helping anglers execute specific techniques with a flourish. Yet, until recently, the seat of angler control—the handle—seemed stuck in the Dark Ages. Cork, a survivor from a bygone era, seemed like it would dominate rod handles forever, with EVA foam the only alternative material allowed any territorial claim. But progress has come, finally, to the rod handle. In recent years, alternative rod grip materials have hit the market including carbon fiber, a slick lightweight option; tough Kevlar tubing; composite cork, a denser and more durable cork-based material blend; and Syncork, a light and durable material with a rough-hewn appearance. Some have used shrinkwrap to give EVA foam a different look and feel, too. Color and design options have emerged, with even a “camo cork” available
now to rod builders. One of the biggest breakthroughs may have come two years ago when Winn Grips (www.winngrips.com), the Huntington Beach, California-based maker of grips for sports equipment, introduced its interchangeable grip system and rolled out a full line of handsomely designed rod grips made from its patented WinnDry material, which maintains its tacky feel in wet conditions and weather extremes. Early Winn prototypes were colorful and interesting, and they provided a hint of the performance benefits of ergonomic comfort and angler control that has come to characterize the grips today. Yet some thought early designs too similar to the golf grips that have made Winn a global leader in that field. Winn’s founder, aerospace engineering pioneer Dr. Ben Huang, took angler feedback to heart. Winn’s grip system has evolved into a versatile line of rod handle components. Rod makers, from leading brands to custom builders, have caught on quickly to the advantages of the grips. At ICAST 2016 in Orlando, Lew’s Fishing Tackle captured three Best of Show awards for products featuring Winn’s advanced polymer materials in rod handles and reel knobs. Lew’s, Kistler, Denali and others displayed new rod lines with Winn grips. Winn has introduced an element of “fashion” to fishing rods, too, by offering a broad range of bold colors and multi-colored and sometimes multi-textured designs that can complement tournament jerseys, boat colors and wraps, or represent a signature look or the colors of a favorite sports team. Winn’s quieter contribution to today’s tackle evolution could come in the emerging practice of “retrofitting” favorite old rods with Winn rod grips and in routinely fitting cork and EVA rod handles with a Winn “skin” in the form of Winn Superior Rod Wrap, a tape-like overwrap.
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UNDER THE SEA
Center s SPEARFISHING TRAVEL
SHERI DAYE
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s spearfishing continues to grow and capture people’s interest, so has the amount of travel related to spearfishing. The allure of exotic locations, different species, and the possibility of world records has spawned a new breed of traveler, and resorts and charters are happy to cater to this crowd. In Florida, there are live-aboard charters that take scuba divers to fertile grounds out of the lower Keys into the Gulf or the Dry Tortugas – such as Seaclusive Charters. There are also charters that cater to smaller groups of freediving spearfishers such as Killshot, Into the Blue, and more. The Keys are especially attractive to vacationers, as the scenery above the water can be just as interesting as below. In the Bahamas, resorts with marinas are well-equipped to handle divers, some of them weekend warriors coming by boat from Florida. The clear waters and beautiful marine life are a big draw. Bahamian law requires freediving-only and the use of either slings or polespears for spearfishing. Rather than being a deterrent, it’s created a new breed of divers who enjoy this simple and primitive form of hunting. The ability to add cracked conch or a lobster tail to a meal is a big bonus. Both coasts of the United States have a number of spearfishing charters to choose from as well. Divers can enjoy a change of scenery and try their luck at hunting white sea bass in the kelps of California, cobias off the rigs of Louisiana, stripers in the waters off Rhode Island, African Pompanos off the wrecks of Hatteras – all exciting catches. International travel has increased significantly in the past few years. Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica are a big draw with desirable species such as Cubera Snappers, cobias, and tunas – depending on which coast. Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and Ascension Island have been yielding world record wahoos and tunas, drawing the more hard-core divers. Here’s some quick tips to make sure your travel is fun, safe, and productive: 1. Go with friends and watch out for each other - in the water and out.
2. Choose a reputable charter that specializes in spearing and ask the captain about fish and conditions. Make sure your skill level is up to par for that location. 3. Make sure you are properly equipped for the fish you are targeting and follow the law. Be aware of the local fishing regulations and limits. 4. Use a Sportube to pack your spearguns and use the wetsuits for padding. Tell TSA you have “fishing equipment” rather than using the word “speargun”. 5. Buy DAN insurance – they are a reputable agency known for covering divers, including evacuation services. For divers in search of adventure, traveling to different hunting grounds can yield the trip (and fish) of a lifetime. Life is short, so get out and enjoy it! Follow “Sheri Daye” & “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” April 22-23, 2017 - Ft Lauderdale - Instagram and Facebook
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DOUBLE BARREL POPPER
For anglers who enjoy pursuing bass on the fly and for the anglers that have interest in fly fishing for bass, now is the time to get on the water. Cooler nights and slightly shorter days bring a nice drop in water temps that often triggers bass into aggressive feeding patterns to beef up for winter. The result is some exciting topwater activity. Armed with poppers, I love to row anglers down local rivers armed with 6 weights and poppers targeting bankside structure for spotted bass. Takes are often aggressive followed with a nice acrobatic battle to the boat. I have been filling my popper box with the new Double Barrel Popper heads from Flymen Fishing Company. They generate loud glugs and can also be used in a number of creative ways to create your own desired style of topwater fishing. Hook: Thread: Eyes: Tail: Body:
Surface Seducer #2 Popper Hook Black 140 Denier 4mm Dragon Eyes Black Marabou, Blue Saddle Hackle Tips, Light Blue/Pumpkin Silicone Legs Medium Blue Double Barrel Popper Body, Black Saddle Hackle
Garner Reid is head guide at Cohutta Fishing Company in Cartersville, Ga. Contact them at 770-606-1100 and see their website at
W W W. C O H U T TA F I S H I N G C O . C O M Sunburst Trout Farms Is located below the Shining Rock National Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. Since 1948 they have been growing rainbow trout, and the farm is now run by third generation brothers Wes and Ben Eason.
Sunburst has a long standing commitment to quality. Their fish are hormone and antibiotic free, and the feed is made especially for them containing no mammalian by-products. All trout are cut to order in small bathces, mostly by hand, thus ensuring all products are of the highest standard. In addition to Sunburst’s flagship fillets you can also find their award winning caviar, as well as trout jerky, hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout, smoked trout dip, trout sausage, and even some non trout products, pimento goat cheese and smoked tomato jam.
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314 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 828-648-3010 • 800-673-3051
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NOVEMBER l WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
l Dear “Orvis” l Delayed Harvest in the “Forgotten
Far West”
l Striper Heaven l Huge Spotted Bass on Lake Chatuge l “The Rest of the Story” on The Nantahala
River by Ken Kastorff
l Mystical Queens Creek Lake l “Tenkara” in the Mountains l Fall Backcountry Fishin’ in the GSMNP l “The Chatty Girl” by Matt Mittan l Hot Fishing Around Morganton l Lake Glenville in the Fall
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For editorial comments, articles, photography, advertising and all other inquiries please email debra@theanglermagazine.com
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Ethan Hollifield. Photo by Halley Burleson of Appalachian Exposures.
10/18/16 5:43 PM
MOUNTAIN LAKES Striper Heaven – Lake Hiwassee By Shane Goebel
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orone saxatallis, or the striped bass, as most of us call it, was introduced to Murphy, NC’s Lake Hiwassee three years ago. Since then, this 22-mile long reservoir has been one of the fastest growing striper impoundments in the Southeast. With its abundance of bait and cool, deep water (sourced from a number of fast-moving rivers, where the stripers go to spawn), Lake Hiwassee has proven to be a perfect location for M. saxatallis to thrive. To locate and catch these hard-fighting sport fish, you will need to know a few key factors. First, learning the stripers’ seasonal-movement patterns on this lake is essential. The winter, November through February, can be very challenging due to their fast movement around the lake; however, if you get out there early, you will usually be rewarded with some awesome top-water-busting fish feeding off shallow points and in the shallow backs of creeks. Once the sun comes up, they head to deeper water. Although they cannot produce viable offspring, stripers still replicate the habits of spawning, and from spring’s March to June season these big stripers are super hungry. They will move towards the rivers and can be found in the shallow creeks and humps around the lake. Summer brings on big numbers for us. In the months of
July, August, and September, these landlocked Hiwassee stripers gather in huge schools and head to deeper waters. Look for steep, rocky ledges, river channels, brush piles, and other areas that similarly hold large quantities of bait. You will need to rely heavily on your graph this time of year. Fall brings on some exciting fishing on Hiwassee. From October2 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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December, water temps start falling, and those deep stripers start coming up in the water column to feed. With the same patterns in mind as the summer season, look for fish off of rocky banks and shallow humps and over brush piles throughout the lake. It is also not uncommon to pick up some fish in the fast-moving rivers that feed this lake. Next, let’s discuss technique. There are countless ways to hookup with these aggressive fish, but my goal is to get you started with a few basics. • Umbrella rigs: These are great tools for catching and locating stripers. We like to use umbrella rigs as a means of covering a lot of ground while using the outboard motor at slow speeds. This is an easy way to search out the schooling fish. It is also not uncommon to catch more than one at a time with these. • Free-lining live bait: When fish are up, keep your line up, simple as that. Trolling freelines with live bait is a great way to get hooked up with some top-water stripers. • Downline: When stripers school up, downlining with live bait is one of the most effective methods of catching freshwater stripers. A downline is basically a Carolina rig with a longer leader. • Planer Boards: This is one of our favorite tools. Some of our biggest fish have been caught using this technique. Planer boards are used to troll multiple lines, and they push the lines out and away from the boat. Baited with live bait, they are excellent for covering a lot of ground. • Artificial: There are many types of artificial bait to be casted, trolled, and jigged in search of stripers. When the fish are busting top water, I like to go with my Zara spoon, a small popper, or a trusty Red Fin. On this lake, however, there are no limits. The state record striper was caught on a plastic worm, so use whatever you have in your tackle box and you might just be surprised.
Mother Nature is telling you. For instance, the appearance of a lot of sea gulls means bait-fish are near, and bait fish means sport fish are near, too. Watch your banks— sunny shorelines in the winter will hold fish, and the same for a little shade in the summer. Muddy water usually indicates that the fish will be scarce, and if the water temperature is warm, the fish will usually be deeper. Mother Nature gives you almost all the answers— by paying attention, you will find out a lot about catching fish on this lake. In Western NC, we pride ourselves on knowing the specifics of our home lake, Lake Hiwassee. This lake has so much to offer, and it’s only going to get better in the next few years as the striped bass population is healthy and growing fast. So, if fishing sounds like your next adventure, and you want to reel in some of the hardest fighting fish, give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service
a call. Located in Murphy, NC, we are the area’s only full-time fishing guide and Western NC’s only striper charter service. For the fishing experience of a lifetime, book your trip now! Shane Goebel is the Owner of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and a member of The Angler Fishing Team. Contact him at www. bigolfish.com or (828) 361-2021 / 1-(844)-4-ANGLER
Finally, be sure to pay attention to your surroundings. Monitor temperatures, and notice what NOVEMBER 2016
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Dear “Orvis” Keeps Guide Humble By Danny Maybin
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very once in a while I like to stop and laugh at myself. Believe me, I’ve got plenty of material. If I ever get to feeling a little too serious, all I have to remember is an incident when I was a caretaker, a cutter boat pilot/fishing guide. The fishing guide part is where I got into trouble. [incidentally, in South Georgia, “fishing guide” can also mean “boat paddler”]. On this particular day, my job was to “guide” a fly fisherman on a beautiful brown water lake, studded with cypress knees. The guy must have been a big shot because orders came straight from the top to show this guy a good time and make sure he caught fish. So there he stood: The Orvis poster child, right down to his brand new ‘l foot fly rod and his designer fishing vest ! The boat we were using that day was a Ghee-noe, pronounced “gheenoo “ a cross between canoe and a Louisiana pirot. As we shoved off, it became apparent that Orvis was not familiar with the Ghee-noe because he immediately stood up. I thought to myself, this may work out after all , the gators are always watching for stuff falling out of boats. As we reached the area he was going to fish, and he had not fallen out, I figured this guy is either really good, or really lucky. Then he started his casting sequence. His accuracy was OK but his backstroke was killing me. I suggested that he cast from the sides of the boat to which he retorted,” This boat is too unstable for that!” Now right about here is one of those times when life tries to right all of it’s injustices. As I said earlier, his backstroke was wearing heavily on me. I had already lost my favorite ball cap, a pair of sunglasses and one ear was bleeding. We were now coasting to a quiet stop at one of my personal favorite spots which I was being forced to share by the top brass. As the boat silently glided through the water, the bow glanced off a cypress knee and sent Orvis clambering like a squirrel on a windmill. You know, sometimes something
will strike you funny at the most inappropriate time. Watching his undulations alone made it worth the trouble. What neither of us had noticed, was a softball sized wasp nest dislodged from the cypress knee, lying face up in the water right beside the boat! Up until now, I had contained myself, but when that first wasp stung him on the back of the leg, I lost my composure, though still not making a sound, my eyes were full of tears, and my upper body was twitching left and right as laughter pleaded to be released. Orvis interpreted this as my being stung to death and used his fly rod to beat the imaginary bees off me. The strain was more than I could bear. There was a sound I have not been able to duplicate coming out of me. A howling describes it best, for which Orvis mistook as more bees. Every time he would let up on me, another wasp would hit him starting the whole cycle over again. Through the now swollen slits of his eyes, Orvis finally saw the humor of our predicament and as a grotesque grin came across his face, there has never been a better Kodak moment. His rod dangling from the handle in three pieces, green fly line everywhere, in and out of the boat, and his plastic see-through fly box crushed under his mighty, size twelve, brand new mail-order deck shoes. We paddled back to the landing in exhausted silence, both fully aware we had just made a memory. I never saw Orvis again. I half expected a pink slip over this one but nothing was ever said until now. I like to think Orvis and I became friends that day. Danny Maybin’s family has fished and hunted in the area of Lake Summit for at least six generations. He is a state firearms instructor, blacksmith, musician/ luthier and his favorite, a fishin’, and hunting resort facilitator. He also does voice acting, copywriting, and short story humor.
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LAKE CHATUGE The Big Spotted Bass of Lake Chatuge By Aaron Kephart
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he weather is cooling off, but the fishing is heating up. We have had some of the most incredible smallmouth trips you could imagine lately. We had a 6.48 pound and a 5.71 pound smallmouth on the same trip last week. I anticipate the smallmouth only improving for the next couple of months. I am, admittedly, a huge fan of whopper smallmouth, and I have been blessed with the best trophy smallmouth fishing of my life recently (clients or myself have caught 6 smallmouth over 6 pounds since Summer). If you want to hunt a trophy bronzeback, give me a call. I also expect the big brown and rainbow trout to start showing back up with more frequency at any time. However, today I would like to talk about another world class fishery that exists in the Murphy area: the spots of Chatuge. Chatuge is an incredible fishery for a lot of different species, but I personally love it because of the spotted bass. In fact, I would rank Chatuge highly on any list of the best spotted bass fisheries in the nation. The good news is that now is one of the best times of all to catch them. As you read this, the spots are currently herding herring near the surface, and it seems like every one you catch is in the 3 to 5 pound range. A variety of baits can work: 4 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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flukes, spoons, topwaters, etc. You just have to experiment to see what they want on any given day. As late October days get shorter and cooler, and as nights get downright cold, you will start seeing less surface activity. That doesn’t mean that the topwater bite is completely over; I won’t stop trying it until the water is consistently in the lower 50s. It just means that the likelihood of exceptional topwater days is dropping with the temperature. However, the fish still live in the lake, and you can catch them if you keep at it. Soft jerkbaits, dropshot rigs, and jigs can be exceptionally productive this time of year. While these are admittedly not my personal favorite techniques for catching fish, I cannot deny their effectiveness during this stretch of the year. November, especially the later part, is often when one of my favorite bites of the year starts: the hair jig. I make my own, and I love nothing more than to follow the creek and river channels, trying to load the boat and catch 20 out of one hole. As the water progressively gets cooler, you can really find the fish stacked up. The jerkbait bite should not be overlooked either at this time of year. As we progress into December, January, and February, weather becomes the main indicator of both productivity and likely bait choices. If we have had an exceptionally cold winter, the hair jig will remain productive, but I will mix in blade baits. I will also start incorporating some additional techniques: jigging spoons, dropshots, and a couple of trade secrets which I would prefer to keep under wraps until you are fishing with me. If, however, the winter has been exceptionally mild and/or wet, other possibilities begin to present themselves. While I have never fished Chatuge when there wasn’t a decent deep bite in the NOVEMBER 2016
winter, I prefer to fish shallow during warmer winters. Last winter was one of exceptional rain and warmth, and the fish on Chatuge provided one of the best crankbait bites I have ever experienced. If you have never felt a 5 pound spot inhale a rattlebait or a shallow crankbait, you are truly missing an unforgettable experience in your angling life. I know I have been heavy on the spotted bass and the artificial lures, but other possibilities are also present on Chatuge. Chatuge has an improving hybrid striper population, and the state has recently begun a walleye stocking program. I can also offer guided trips with live bait for spots or hybrids, if you prefer. If you are interested in a big smallmouth, spot, largemouth, trout, or whatever
else might be biting, please give me a call. I have limited availability for the rest of the year, but the winter months lead to hot fishing on the area lakes, and I will do my best to get you booked. I look forward to hearing from you! Aaron Kephart Mountain Lakes Guide Service 865-466-1345
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FAR WESTERN DELAYED HARVEST STREAMS By David Hulsey
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ovember is that time of year when the trout streams are smoking because the fishing is so hot! North Georgia and Western North Carolina mountain creeks are alive with the sounds of screaming fly reels and splashing trout. Most of the fly hatches are starting to wane with just a
few Blue Winged Olive Mayflies and small Grey Midges hanging around on select days. Have no fear though; nymphs, buggers, soft hackles, and various junk food will hold us over until the first sunny days of March when the big bugs start flying again. The Toccoa River tail water near Blue Ridge, Georgia is finishing up its nasty lake turnover and returning to its semi-normal self. Also, the Delayed Harvest starts on the headwaters of the Toccoa at Sandy Bottoms Canoe Launch on November 1st. There’s a good mile and a half here to fish with good access along Dial road. The wading can be a little tricky with lots of shelf rock but it’s well worth it with the water flow below 300 cfsjust be careful. Junk food patterns such as Eggs, San Juan Worms, and Squirmy Worms will work great along with standard nymph patterns and good old Wooly Buggers in size 10, 12, and 14. The Delayed Harvest streams in the forgotten far West of North
Carolina such as Fires Creek and Big Snowbird Creek are rocking right now! Two huge stockings of big, beautiful, hungry trout have been planted in these two amazingly scenic streams by the second week of November. Both are just a couple of hours North of Atlanta or West of Asheville and are well worth the drive from anywhere. The fish will take bushy dry flies such as Elk Hair Caddis and Black or Orange Stimulators on warmer days. To be super effective though, a size 14 or 16 Pheasant Tail or Hares Ear Nymph swung under one of those dries on some 5x fluorocarbon will keep you busy with the landing net. Better yet, take a fishing buddy and let him hold the net for you! If the water is up and you want to fish nymphs, double rigging with a Y2K Bug with a size 14 Prince nymph dropper is murder on these guys. Fishing barbless is recommended to reduce the chance of harming these fish as much as possible.
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We guide on all of these three awesome pieces of trout water and I can’t think of a better place to take a beginning fly fisher to get a little stream cred under his or her wading belt. Give us a call at Southern Highroads Outfitters Fly Shop here in Blairsville, GA. at 706-781-1414 or stop by on your way to the river we’d be glad to give you the latest information on fishing here in the mountains or to take you on the guided trip of a lifetime! David Hulsey can be contacted at 770-639-4001 or at his website at www.hulseyflyfishing.com to book a trip to this little slice of fly fishing heaven this fall.
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NANTAHALA RIVER By Ken Kastorff
“Holy Smokes! I’ve got a monster brown on. I can’t hold him in this eddy, I am going to have to run down stream with him!” This all took place while my fishing guests were wade fishing a small area of the Nantahala River on a recent float trip. I had just pulled out the camera to take a picture of nice rainbow the other guest had caught when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a huge brown trout come completely out of the water. We all jumped back in the raft as quick as possible and the Nantahala Nantucket “sleigh ride” was on. I can’t tell you how many times I have had fly fishing guests in this scenario. Whether you are wading or on a float trip, sooner or later, you will hook into a big brown trout and if the water is deep and fast, things will get real interesting real fast. One hundred yards down stream after some exciting rowing and fish handling, we were able to land a beautiful 28” fish. After a few quick pictures it was back in the river and hopefully, using those
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good genes to produce more brown trout just like itself. This happens quite often on float trips on the Nantahala bypass, arguably one of the most unique flyfishing rivers in the area. Generally, the biggest browns are caught during the generation releases. That means, not only do you possibly have a fish of a lifetime on, but you’re also having to deal with that fish in what would normally be flooded conditions. The Nantahala would rarely have the flows we float on all summer long if not for power generation. The good thing about this tail water river is that even in the heat of the summer, when some of our other streams gets dangerously warm to provide a healthy fishery, the Nantahala maintains 50 degree water during the heat of the day. There are lots of other trout streams in the southeast but rarely will you find one that has such highly oxygenated cold water. It is one of the most perfect trout streams I have ever encountered. The Nantahala is also unique in that it has a huge population of NOVEMBER 2016
native fish along with stocked fish. It is not unusual to catch lots of native rainbows if you happen to stumble onto a good hatch of BWO’s or Sulfurs. Some of the best fishing I have seen is late afternoon, fall dry fly fishing. So what more could anyone ask for? Up to this point I have given you the good news. Now as Paul Harvey would say, “Here is the rest of the story…” I have been fishing the Nantahala for over 40 years. In that time, there have been a lot of changes. First of all, there are lots more people fishing the river than ever before plus, equipment and techniques have improved dramatically. Although most anglers practice catch and release, there are still a lot that keep anything they can get to the net. As popularity of the river has increased, I see more and more of our good fish ending up in someone’s cooler. The sad thing is that many times, it is our bigger, healthy rainbows and browns that are killed. It is a mystery to me that the Nantahala has the same fishing regulations now that it had half a century ago. Don’t get me wrong! I am not one of the radicals who wants to enforce catch and release only, on the river. But I think it is high time to review the current regulations and enact a slot system to try to protect the natural breeding stock in the river. If there was ever a trout stream that could be an outstanding trophy river, the Nantahala is it. I think it would be good to change the regulations to single hook artificial, barbless hooks. This means spinning rods are still ok but not treble hooks and a pliers to crimp the barb on the hook. I am amazed, with all the delayed harvest streams we have in the area where fish have to be released all winter long, that the NC Wildlife Commission hasn’t added that rule to the regulations. Any fishing guide will tell you that barbless hooks don’t inhibit landing fish, it just means releasing them is less traumatic for the fish. I believe it would also be good to have a slot system for both rainbows and
browns on the Nantahala River. Releasing any rainbow over 14” to 24 “ and any brown from 16” to 30” back into the river would substantially improve the quality of this fishery. Right now, you can keep 7 fish of any size and fish with any natural bait, even this is oft times abused. I have seen anglers catch their limit, clean and fry them up alongside the river and then go right back to fishing and keep another limit. Worse yet, I recently heard from another guide that was asked if he wanted a fish that a local angler had caught and decided not to take home after all. It was a 24” brown! In this day and age, there really isn’t any need to kill such an important member of our fish community. If you want to show everyone the great fish you caught, then use your cell phone to take a picture. Just about everyone has a camera on their cell phone these days. If you want a mount of the fish, take several photos, most mounts are fiberglass replicas these days. That is what we did a couple of years ago with a potential state record brown trout. Rather than killing this 34” hen, we took pictures, revived her and set her free. I think it is a shame that, to register a state record, you have to kill the fish. Rarely, if ever, do you see a skin mount anymore. You want a few fish to take home and eat, take the small ones. They actually taste better. Times have changed and it is true that, fortunately, most anglers practice catch and release but bringing regulations into the 21st century on the Nantahala bypass and on our other NC streams could result in North Carolina having one of the best trophy trout fishing streams anywhere. Ken can be contacted at Endless River Adventures, 800-2247238, endrivadv@cs.com, www. endlessriveradventures.com
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QUEENS CREEK LAKE Mystical Queens Creek Lake By Ronnie Parris
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all is here, in full swing, and after a record summer with abnormally high temperatures and seasonal lows on rainfall, the cool-down is welcome to this old mountain boy. Our leaf season is almost over but some beautiful oak leaves still remain to outline the water. One of my favorite destinations this month is Queens Creek Lake located in Macon county North Carolina. If you haven’t heard of Queens Lake, I’m not surprised. Its probably one of the best kept fishing secrets in
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the Smokies. The lake was built in 1949 by Nantahala Power and Light, a division of Duke Energy. Its primary purpose is to provide hydroelectric power. This is an earth core dam with a height of 78 feet. The water covers 37 acres. Access is limited, at best, as it has only one spot on the end, opposite the dam, where smaller boats can launch. To me, this only adds to the mystique of the lake. Only one time in the many years in which I have fished it, have I encountered another boat on the water. Check lake levels before you go as full pool is the only time boats, that are too heavy to be carried, can be launched. The roadside of the lake has many spots where shoreline fishing can be accessed. Also, a fishing pier has been constructed a short distance from the dam. The lake is a hatchery-supported lake, so be sure you have the trout endorsement on your fishing license. The lake has
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always been a good place to go catch a good number of bluegill and large mouth bass but when I go, I’m always there to catch the yellow perch, which are found there in great numbers. On a good day, expect to catch 75 or 80. Please keep only the ones that are good sized and release the rest to ensure the population stays healthy. Queens Creek Lake also holds some really big flathead catfish which will be a great surprise when fishing for bluegill and perch with ultra light tackle. This lake was where my dad took us when we were kids and is a great place to learn to catch pan fish. The best baits for the bluegill and the yellow perch are small minnows, wax worms, mill worms, and red worms. They can also be caught on small spinners and jigs. The best largemouth fishing is close to the dam on the roadside next to the dam. This is where you will find the deepest water. I usually use
medium minnows, if I’m using live bait. I really enjoy fishing a popper around the edge or casting into the breaks when they are surface feeding. Most days, I never crank my boat motor until I’m loading my boat to leave. As I mentioned, this lake is an unknown mountain gem, so please help keep it looking great. Directions: Take Wayah Road off of Nantahala Gorge, go about 4 miles and you will see the community trash drop on the right, take the left right there and just stay on it till you come to the lake. Its about 4 miles up the road. Ronnie Parris is the Owner and Head Guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, North Caronina, heart of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. (www.smounlimited.com)
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HIGH COUNTRY LAKES Baggin’ Big Bass in Glenville and Nantahala By Austin Neary
Lake Glenville Clarity: 6ft
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Water Temp: 82* Water Level: -4
ake Glenville has the secret recipe when it comes to big bass year around! The dominant population of shad, known as blueback herring, are swimming “filet mignon” for the smallmouth and largemouth bass. Bass will be feeding and schooling on herring early in the morning and sparingly throughout the day. Being that Glenville is the highest lake in elevation east of the Mississippi River, the summer highs will max about 76-78 degrees, except for this year. The current lake temps are ranging from 81- 84 degrees and have the fish very finicky. Bass in the summer are very much like people, we like shade and air conditioning. You can find “AC” for the fish in two forms; cold flowing water or
Nantahala Lake: Clarity 12ft.
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deeper, more stable water! This is where you’ll find a vast majority of your fish. With it being summer, you can also pattern fish looking for spawning bream. Packs of largemouth will be in your back water (cool water) around young immature bream spawning areas. Throwing bream imitating baits, like a spro popping frog or Reaction Innovation Trixie Shark, will produce big bites up shallow! Don’t be hesitant to pick up a big swimbait either. Bass are efficient feeders so if they can eat something big once, in order not to eat for a few days to conserve energy, they will! Big wood rats and rainbow trout swimbaits can make the difference! Go for bites or go for broke!
Water Temp: 83* Water level: -5
ay off the beaten path and up some skinny and sketchy mountain roads there lies a tame beast known as Nantahala Lake and it is the lake of the GIANTS! This lake is full of big, hungry and unpressured fish! With the dense population of trout and bream, these bass are keyed into big baits! Stay shallow and look for back water and docks with deep water access nearby. Big bass will get into shade trees and shade docks looking to stay cool and ambush big prey! Serpentine swimbaits, like a savage gear or triple trout, will knock their lights out! Big wood rats along trees and cliff walls will lead to some fish for sure! Glide baits like a River2Sea S Waver, Megabass I-Slide and Deps Slide Swimmer can put a hurting on some Nantahala
STUDS! Smallmouth are chasing the threadfin shad in big pockets. Down riggers for big lake trout and the occasional salmon will produce! For more in-depth information on patterning fish, specific lures and spots, visit Dream Catcher’s Fishing Supply on highway 74 in Sylva on your way to all the lakes and rivers in Western NC. Want to learn from a pro while catching GIANT bass? Book a trip with pro guide and Bassmaster’s College series Champion Austin Neary!
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FONTANA LAKE It’s Fall...Time to Reel ‘em In! By Capt. James McManus
he hardest part about fishing this time of the year is putting it at the head of the list. All summer we have tourists here when the fish are sluggish and temps are hot, and now that everyone in the water is hungry and willing, the TV is full of ballgames and the woods are full of real game. As the water cools, our fish gang up in larger and larger schools making them easier and easier to find. Points are their homes usually, and once an area is found holding some bait you can move from point to point and pick
up everything that swims. I am not sure where the bigger fish, especially spots, go during the summer but they are back on the feed now. Bellies will look like baseballs have been swallowed, not a good time to be a shad in Fontana. Speaking of shad, they have grown up and you don’t have to match ridiculously small baits-normal mid sized jerkbaits, spoons and crankbaits will work now. I still like to drop jigs, spoons, or ice jigs vertically to schools this time of year. If they won’t hit or you are having trouble finding fish, trolling can help cover ground or trigger bites, especially for walleye. Earlier, they were as deep this fall as I can ever remember; 125 feet is a long way down to catch freshwater fish, but that is where a lot of our eyes were hanging a month or so ago. Most won’t be over 80 feet from here on, but still be willing to look if you don’t catch them at normal depths. Bass will be anywhere from the surface down to 40-60
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feet suspended off the points and they are really the easiest to target. Watching your electronics you can see schools moving vertically 3040 feet in an instant so even if you see fish at 60, a jerkbait can bring them right up, at times. Get off the couch, come out of the woods, and enjoy the next two months, which I believe are the best two months of the year to catch quality fish during
the prettiest and most comfortable time of the year. Give me a call and enjoy God’s gift. Later, Capt. James Capt. James McManus is an expert guide on Lake Fontana and similar lakes in WNC and Upstate SC. He can be reached through his website at 153Charters@gmail.com
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IN THE VICE
Zonker Fly by Dustin Stanberry
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he Zonker is a fly pattern that has been around for quite some time. It can be tied with many different materials but generally involves the use of a rabbit Zonker for the wing of the fly. When I first started using Zonker patterns, the fly was quite simple in construction. It had the classic rabbit Zonker strip wing, mylar piping for the body and a red throat. Now this fly can be found tied in many different variations. The body can be built by using mylar cord or dubbed with many types of dubbing. The assortment of rabbit zonker colors available today, paired with
the different types and colors of body materials open up infinite possibilities when tying this fly. With all of these material types and color variations, it can be tied to match the baitfish in your home waters or tied with different color combinations to try to trigger a strike from the fish. The Original Zonker creator tied the fly with a fairly prominent set of eyes. I believe that the eyes on the fly provide a trigger point to predatory fish. When I tie the Zonker I like to use the 3D eyes that are available to fly tiers today to create that prominent eye. In addition, I like to use red schlappen plumage for the throat to create a bit of a bleeding gill effect. I generally tie this fly in sizes 4-10. The smaller sizes tend to be quite productive when I see lots of smaller fry moving around. White zonker with pearl mylar and green zonker with gold mylar seem to be the most productive colors for me, but experiment with different color combinations to find out what will work best for you. This is how I tie this classic fly pattern. Best wishes and tight lines!
Hook: Orvis 4x Streamer hook, #4 Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0, White Weight: .030 Lead Free Round Wire Body: Large Mylar Cord, Pearl Wing: Rabbit Zonker Strip, White Throat: Red Schlappen Plume Fibers Eyes: Hareline Holographic Eyes, 3/16” Super Pearl Head Coating: Clear Cure Goo, Tack Free Optional info: Super glue the eyes in place and then cover with Clear Cure Goo Tack Free. After curing the CCG, top coat with clear finger nail polish to prevent other materials sticking to the CCG.
Dustin Stanberry is an instructor at Biltmore Fly Fishing and Sporting Clays located in Asheville, NC.
“Come see me after a hard days fishing”
(828) 277-6700 www.flemingchiropracticcare.com
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The Casting Corner
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t’s small stream fishing season again and time to look at casts that catch fish. Although it’s cool to cast a long distance, we don’t get to do that when fishing most north mountain streams. What we really need to focus on are, casts that are with a purpose. For example, we don’t want to put our line on top of a fish when we cast upstream. Or maybe we need to get a streamer deep and swing it at the end of a pool. Maybe it’s just being able to cast a fly upstream when there are trees behind you. Being aware of what you’re doing to the fish is a big part of stalking, casting to and catching a fish. On small streams we are often limited by structure. Short, targeted casts like a reach cast are often the best bet. One application of a reach cast is to deliver the fly to the target and get the line off to the side of the fish and the drift. If we are casting to a fish directly upstream, a regular cast would put the line right on top of the fish. To counter that, make a normal back cast and then on the forward cast, launch the line off the rod tip as usual, and then sweep the rod tip/
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by Rene J. Hesse
line off to the side. Kind of like drawing an ‘L’ with your rod tip. This will send the fly out to the target with the ‘fly leg’ of the loop and move the ‘rod leg’ of the loop to the side, out of the fly’s drift. Now put yourself in that same situation. With the trout upstream and now your back is against a cliff or trees. You can’t make a forward cast so you have to deliver the cast on your back cast. Sight your target, face away from it and make a cast away from the target. Remember that the trajectory on your ‘false cast’ (forward cast) is up, and then out over your target on the delivery cast (back cast). Make this a regular part of your casts, and it will become just as easy as your normal cast. You can combine these casts too. For example, use a back cast delivery with a reach mend at the end of it. Excellent cast that is fun to do and works great in certain situations. Check out the International Federation of Fly Fishers website for more information on fly fishing and join us.
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JACKSON COUNTY, TROUT CAPITOL OF NORTH CAROLINA
Tenkara Fishing by Mathew Canter
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enkara fishing has recently become wildly popular across the United States. It is not a new technique...in fact, originating in Japan, it is one of the oldest forms of fly fishing. There are many things about Tenkara fishing that make it so attractive but as a seasoned fly fishing guide, I am going to give you a short run-down on why it is attractive to me and where it fits into my role as a fishing guide as well as recreational fun for myself and my family. One phrase comes to mind when I think of Tenkara: “Keep it Simple, Stupid!” There are times, and situations, to get technical while
fishing, and other times to keep it super simple and just have some fun. When it’s time for the latter, I normally turn to Tenkara. You have a telescopic rod that packs down easily into a backpack, a line that attaches right to the end of the rod, and tippet connecting the line to your fly...that’s it! You can literally fit everything you need for a day on the water into your shirt pocket. This makes it perfect for combining fishing with other outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and mountain biking. Where Tenkara fishing shines, in my neck of the woods (Western NC), is the small mountain streams, which are so plentiful. Typically, these are small streams and creeks filled with small to medium sized trout that do not see a lot of fishing pressure. Here, presentation is everything and fly selection is not nearly as important. You don’t have to cast far and the trout aren’t going to make any long runs where having a reel with drag is a necessity. Because Tenkara rods are longer than the average fly rod, it becomes easier to make good drag-free drifts because of the lack of line being held on the water...the result is often times more strikes from fooled trout. What do you do when you hook up on a fish? Play the fish with the rod until it shows signs of
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becoming tired, then simply grab the line with your free hand and bring him to your side to be released. I have found that Tenkara fishing is possibly the perfect gateway to fly-fishing for new anglers. There is not a lot of equipment to purchase, and the casting/presentation technique can be learned in under an hour. It’s a great activity for families to enjoy as well. I could fish all day, every day, but my family isn’t nearly as diehard as I am. The solution is a day hike to a waterfall with a Tenkara rod stowed away in the backpack. Take a snack break along the creek, put the rod together real quick, and the family can all have some fun catching a few trout. It’s all about having fun, and keeping it simple is the best way to do that!
Matt Canter is the Manager at Brookings Anglers in Cashiers, NC. He knows Jackson County Waters like the back of his hand. To contact him, give him a call at (828) 743-3768 or look up the website at www. brookingsonline.com
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JACKSON COUNTY Fishing the N.C. Mountain Heritage Waters By Shanon Messer
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nglers venture to Jackson County daily to experience excellent fishing along the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail with hopes of catching the fish of a lifetime. Before getting into the water, anglers must arm themselves with the most important item, a valid N.C. Fishing License. One such license is the N.C. Mountain Heritage Fishing License. The Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program is a cooperative effort between the N.C. Wildlife Commission and local government to encourage trout fishing as a tourism activity in western North Carolina cities that are designated as “Mountain Heritage Trout Water City,” according to the N.C. Wildlife Commission. Sylva, Dillsboro, and Webster N.C. in Jackson County participate in the program that provides public access to a trout stream that runs through, or adjacent to, the city or town in our case. Non-residents, as well as residents, may fish these designated sections of stream with a Mountain Heritage Trout License. The license is only valid on the areas designated as N.C. Mountain Heritage Waters. You will need to purchase a N.C Trout Stamp and N.C. Fishing License if you plan to fish outside the designated Mountain Heritage Waters section. The N.C. Heritage License is valid for 3-days and only cost $5. You can purchase the license online at www.ncwildlife.org or by calling 1(888) 248-6834. The license is 14 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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not available for purchase at N.C. Wildlife Agency locations. The most important thing to remember is that you must be fishing within the designated boundary area. For example, Scott Creek in Sylva, from Hometown Place Road to Hospital Road, is designated as Mountain Heritage Trout Water. Scott Creek roughly runs 10 miles from its headwaters near Balsam to Sylva but the Mountain Heritage Section only covers 3.25 miles, however; it offers an opportunity for anyone to try a stretch of water with good access that holds trout on our Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail. Sections of Scott Creek and the Tuckasegee River in Dillsboro, a section of Scott Creek in Sylva, and a section of the Tuckasegee River in Webster are designated N.C. Mountain Heritage Waters and can be fished with a valid N.C. Mountain Heritage License. All of these streams are on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in Jackson County. Before you head off to the water, do some research and select the sections of water you want to fish and obtain the proper license. If you are looking to fish one of the designated Mountain Heritage Trout Waters sections, the N.C. Heritage Fishing License is for you. Shannon Messer is a Manager and Guide at Blackrock Outdoors and Orvis Fly Shop.
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GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK Fall Backcountry Fishing in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park By James Lackey
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s the leaves start to turn and the temperature starts to cool, fly-fishing in the GSMNP can offer angler a beautiful, but challenging, experience on the streams. Taking a short hike up some of the moderate to small streams that are numerous in the park can get you off the beaten path and provide some excellent fly-fishing opportunities. As the water begins to cool, trout will become more active. The Browns and the Brookie’s begin to spawn in October. That’s when the largest Browns in the stream will be out and ready for a meal. They like to hang out in the larger pools or slower runs but are still wary and can be spooked easily. While water temperature cools, low water conditions will make approach and presentation the key to catching native trout in the park. Low water means the trout will be pushed into the pools and runs, so spend time planning your approach. Stay out of the water as much as possible and use your surroundings to blend in like the trees and the rocks. I like to wear dark green or gray and move slowly as I approach each section of water. Your presentation should be delicate, let the fly land subtle and soft with as much distance as possible. Try to eliminate as much false casting as possible and try to always make your first cast the most accurate. If the trout are
hungry, the strike will usually occur in the first two to three casts. Try to keep the flyline off the water as much as possible, use line colors in olive, tan or beige. When it comes to the leader, I like to use a 9 1/2 to 12 ft. 6X or 7X tapered leader, the tippet is light so attach your fly with a good strong knot (I use the improved clinch knot) and when the trout is on, be gentle with the retrieve. Always have a net to land the fish in and try to keep the trout in the water as much as possible. When it comes to flyrods, I like a 2, 3 or 4 weight light action in 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 ft. length. The Orvis 7 ½ feet Super Fine Touch 2 1/8 oz., 3 weight Full Flex rod with an Orvis BatlenKill BBS reel is a good combination. As for fly selection, I like to go small this time of year, dry flies anywhere from 16 to 18 and nymphs 14 to 18 in size. I use a dry/dropper technique but usually whatever seems to be getting strikes, the dry or the nymph, I will use exclusively. Flies with yellow or burnt orange work well, I like to use a Number 16 yellow sally with a traditional Tellico nymph size 14 in yellow or burnt orange. Don’t forget the go-to flies like a 16 or 18 parachute Blue winged olive or the same in the Parachute Adams. I also like to drop a size 20 or 22 black or zebra midge especially in the early half of the day. The main
thing here is to be versatile, change flies, use different combinations, and find the pattern that is working best. I like to pre-rig a lot of my dry/ dropper rigs before I go because the more time you spend tying on flies the less time you spend fishing with them. Also, when fishing in the backcountry, I like to carry some extra gear, just in case. For example, a light rain jacket, rope, water proof matches, flashlight, a map of the area you are fishing, and water tablets or a small water purifier. It is also a good idea to carry some light food, such as protein bars, nuts, crackers, etc. Fall in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park is a beautiful time of the year. However, leaves in the water can be a nuisance. I like to put a subtle action on my
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flies this time of year, especially in areas of the creek that have a lot of floating leaves. Always remember to pre-plan your trip before you go and always let someone know where you are going, when you are leaving, and the estimated time when you should be returning. I also encourage “catch and release” and “leave no trace.” TightLines, Jimmy Jimmy Lackey has been fishing in the GSMNP for over 30 years. He is a retired Firefighter and when not guiding, he is fishing somewhere in the park. He considers himself a real life, “Fishhippie”.If you would like to book a trip, contact Hunter Banks in Asheville or Waynesville.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Hydropool Self Cleaning Hot Tub It seems you never have time to rest. Imagine your own personal getaway, a place where you can relax, meditate, and enjoy quiet times…by yourself, with family or with friends. Feel the stress and tension sweep out of your body as you sit back, stretch out, and let the combination of warm water, pulsating jets, and the natural buoyancy of the water do it’s magic. Indoors or out, a Hydropool Self Cleaning Hot Tub will create more
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time for what matters. Whether in a corner of your home, in a solarium, conservatory or installed in your deck or backyard, a Hydropool Self Cleaning Hot Tub will “rekindle” romance and relationships with family and friends. For more information or assistance in selecting and customizing your Hydropool heaven, contact the product specialists at The Hot Tub Store in Waynesville, North Carolina.
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RIVER REFLECTIONS The “Chatty Girl” By Matt Mittan
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ne of the greatest things about having the French Broad River cut straight through the most densely populated corridor of Western North Carolina is that there is no shortage of river banks to walk and fish from. All along it’s muddy, meandering slumber, there pop up various green-ways, parks and boat launches. With it comes a never ending buffet of interesting people to observe or converse with. Recently, I had a few free minutes between client appointments so I did what any professional insurance man would do in my situation, I drove to the nearest river access and pulled out my fishing pole. I knew I could only get in about 20 minutes worth of casts but that was 20 minutes of living I wasn’t going to pass up. Three casts into my flash-fishing expedition, a vibrant and energized voice rang from close behind me, “Catchin’ anything Mr.!?” I turned
to see a young girl, probably about 9 years old. “Just started,” I answered. “Yeah, I know. I saw you walk up,” she smiled. “What are you trying to catch?” “Anything that will bite. I’m just happy being out here. It’s a beautiful day,” I answered. Immediately, as a 46 year old, Father of two boys, I started scanning around the park wondering where this girls parents were. You read the papers, you watch the news. We live in scary times. But before I could finish my visual inventory of folks at the park, this curious youngster chimed up again, with a cadence of delivery that would leave any auctioneer jealous. “You mind if I walk with you while you fish Mr.? I love fishing! I used to do it a lot with my Grandpa. He never let me cast it... or bait it... or take em’ off the hook. But he would let me reel them in though. Do you have a Grandpa? I bet you do. You seem to
know how to fish pretty good. Oh, my name is Sarah. Nice to meet you!” She reached out and eagerly shook my hand. “I’m Matt. Nice to meet you too Sarah.” Immediately, I recognized that any answer I offered probably wouldn’t matter. And besides, I felt a little bit protective of her. At least if she’s hanging out by me, she’s safe until I can find her parents. So, we began to stroll down the shore. Me casting. Her asking a half-dozen questions each throw and retrieve. A few casts later, as I tossed my 4” gold Rapala floater under an overhang that shaded some slack, dark water behind a branch pile, the surface erupted in a violent splash. I leaned back into my hook set and down went the top half of my pole into a cobra like series of lunges toward the river. “You got one!” she yelled out. Within a few seconds I had my thumb in the lip of about a 10 inch river Largemouth Bass. Little did I know that this fish would lead to a 5 minute in-service training on how, why and when to fish cover for Bass. Truth is, I loved how curious she was to learn every little detail about how this thing ended up on the end of the line. With each lesson I offered up she, in turn, would passionately share another story from her own library of experiences, fishing with her Grandfather. We walked along for another 10 minutes or so, casting every few steps. She was like a Gatling Gun of stories and questions. She never stopped smiling and her pride and love for her Grandfather was ever present. I started to think that perhaps he had recently passed away and that was why he was so prevalent in her stories. I didn’t ask. Knowing that I needed to get back to work, I again scanned the area looking for anyone who might be her parents. Before I could ask her about it though, some shouting rang out from just around the next bend. There were two young folks sitting on a bench in full throttle argument mode, tearing into each other. We were close enough to
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hear every word at this point. “Oh you have all the answers, don’t you – as always!?!” , one of them yelled out. I felt the air go out from my little shadow. “That’s my parents,” she said softly. She started to turn away from me to head back down stream rather than go any closer to her parents. I realized instantly that I had served as an escape for her. A sadness came over me. I said to her, “Hey Sarah. Thanks for fishing with me and for teaching me all those great things from your Grandpa! You’re a pretty awesome kid.” She smiled back at me. I added, “You know, no one can ever take away those great memories, or from enjoying places like this as you grow up.” I didn’t know what else to say. Just then, her parents got up from the bench and started walking back toward the parking lot, which was on the other side of me. I made it a point to wait for them to get to me so I could comment on what a wonderful and smart daughter they had. As she walked back to the parking lot behind her parents, she looked back at me and gave me that perfect kid wave and smile that melts anyone with half a heart. I don’t know what happened from there. I don’t know what stress or turmoil that family is dealing with. I pray they work it out. What I do know is that my 20 minute fishing break, in the middle of the day, ended up being a blessing, for both me and the chatty little girl who just wanted somebody to share a few stories with, there along the banks of the French Broad. Matt Mittan is a long time broadcaster in WNC, an entrepreneur and USAF veteran who has fished all around the world. He can often be found aboard his classic red Old Town canoe in search of mountain Bass. Matt currently has an insurance business, partnered with AFLAC, providing benefits and tax solutions for area businesses. Email MattsFishingDiary@gmail. com with story ideas or feedback. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 17
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MOUNTAIN WATER EVENTS Brought to you by
French Broad River Atlas focuses on history of the river and the fate of the Mountain Lily
RIVER LINK
By Dave Russell
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irginia Canals & Navigations Society, designed to encourage interest in the fascinating history of navigation on the French Broad. The goal of these atlases is to bring back to light, a lost era in America’s history when her rivers and streams were the superhighways of their time. We’re trying to learn the history of that era, and to explore the rivers to rediscover what’s left to see of the navigation works built for river craft running on what we like to call the “Whitewater Ocean.” In North Carolina, this atlas focuses on 50 miles of the upper French Broad -- “The Trail
Of The Mountain Lily” -- and 31 miles in Tennessee, featuring the amazing piled-stone walls (some a mile long) built for steamboat navigation on the lower French Broad. It includes “The Ballad of the Mountain Lily,” maps of interesting railroad grades in the region, and the Laurel Park Canal. The Mountain Lily steamboat was constructed in 1881 to carry passengers and freight between the junction of the Oklawaha River and the French Broad River, to just east of Brevard, NC, a distance of some seventeen miles. The vessel was the central capital of the French Broad Steamboat Company, owned by Col. S. V. Pickens of Hendersonville. The steamboat was designed to link Brevard, Hendersonville and Asheville. The Mountain Lily was 90 feet long with two decks and staterooms to accommodate 100 passengers. On the maiden voyage it held some 100 people, friends of Pickens, but was never successful in showing a profit. The Company tried several other ventures with the steamboat, but all were unsuccessful. A flash flood in 1885 pulled the boat from the mooring at Banner Farm Road
Networking for Success By George Smart
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ave you ever wondered why some anglers are always more successful than others? There are several factors involved in the success of course, such as luck, experience, determination, local knowledge, weather conditions, moon phase, etc. But have you considered these people also are networking for success? They are connecting with their buddies and other anglers to find out the latest information on what, where and how fish are biting. I’ve networked all my life as a salesperson, and it is the best vehicle for getting to the right place and successfully getting a sale. Networking for fishing success will also work. One of the best ways to get started is to find other successful anglers and ask them to share
their secrets to catching more fish. You know these guys; they are the people that always have a great story to tell about all the fish they have been catching. Some anglers are a little reluctant, to say the least, to tell you exactly where they caught that big fish but will be willing to tell you general areas to find fish and to tell you what they have been using for bait unless it’s a secret formula or a handmade lure of a sort. Asking what species are biting is also important. Make a mental note of different angler’s stories and techniques and of the areas they are fishing in. Compile this information for your next trip to narrow down the area that you will have more confidence in. One of the best ways to get other anglers to share successes is to also share your successes with them. It
Copies of The French Broad Atlas are available by mail from the canal society at www.vacanals.org/ store, for $20, plus $5 postage, (plus tax if you are in VA). A large wholesale discount is available for quantity sales (contact holt@vacanals.org). The Virginia Canals & Navigations Society museum and headquarters is at 3806 S. Amherst Hwy, Madison Heights, VA 24572.
seems to break the ice sometimes and lets them know it is a two- way street and that you are willing to give away a few secrets to get a few secrets. Another great way to get some great tips is at local bait shops. The owners of the bait shops are always talking to the local anglers and guides that patronize their shops for their tackle, bait and gear. They get first-hand information of how the fishing is going and the latest lures and techniques for catching all the fish. They will also inform you of the areas that are the most productive right now and the local laws that govern fish sizes, limits and in some cases the seasons. Once you have gotten some information and you get on the water, look to the boats that are already fishing and ask them how they are doing. You’ll find that most anglers are more than happy to chat about their success that day. Almost every time I go on the water, I end up meeting a new
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and it became mired in a sand bar near King’s Bridge near the current Haywood Road in the 1880’s. The boat was sold for salvage and her wood was used to build the Horseshoe Baptist Church, and her bell was hung in the church belfry. The French Broad River is, literally, filled with history. If you canoe it at reasonably low water, you can rediscover fascinating things preserved in its depths. You’ll float through rapids with names like Allison’s Shoals, Clayton’s Reef, Long Shoals, Eli Glen’s Shoal, Bell’s Shoal, and Smith’s Bridge Shoal. You’ll experience “The Suck” at Bowman’s Bluff, and “The Soap Pot” in the Horse Shoe. You’ll shoot down Davidson’s River Shoals between a long line of wing-dams just as the Mountain Lily did a century ago. And who knows, you might even discover the longlost remains of the Lily herself!
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friend with whom I can share my fishing experiences, and I get to hear some fantastic stories from them. One of my most successful ways of finding fish sometimes is watching other boats and where they are fishing. Just being observant but not trying to fish in the same spot has taught me where some of the most productive holes are. If I have seen a boat in the same places day after day, you can rest assured that they have been successful catching fish in that area. If I find that area not being fished the next time I go, I will stop and try my luck there. Fishing is not 100% luck as some people may lead you to think, but rather it is a lot of calculation and experience to be in the right place at the right time with the right bait fished in the right manner. Good luck and don’t forget to network for success. See you on the water!
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Mountain Gift Ideas By Chris Bubenik
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ne of the joys of living in western North Carolina is that we get to experience all four seasons. Just when I thought summer would never end, we got a cold snap and fall was here. I’ve always enjoyed winter because I love to celebrate and people seem to slow down just a little bit.
People seem to smile a lot more, too. I switched into gift buying mode in October. I’ve been joining friends for years in different gift exchanges with rules varying in degrees of complication. Here are some suggestions for outdoor lovers on your list. (Of course, if your favorite angler is more difficult to buy for, gift certificates to Diamond Brand Outdoors are always a hit.)
Under $30 Yeti Rambler Colster ($29.99) ensures the last sip of your beverage is just as cold (or hot) as the first with double-wall vacuum instillation and kitchengrade stainless steel.
SeaLine Baja Dry Bag ($23.95-$39.95, 10L-55L) provides versatile and durable watertight protection against the elements. It can withstand just about any abuse and even floats if it falls overboard.
YakAttack Paddle Holder ($13.95) is compatible with most kayak track systems and features two rollers, providing the right amount of tension while remaining very quiet.
Under $100 Outdoor Tech Buckshot Pro ($79.95) has the enviable combination of wireless music, illumination, and power, encased in a rugged, ultra-portable housing. Water resistant, dust proof, and shock resistant, you can rock tunes in HiFi sound while simultaneously charging your GoPro and switching between four lighting settings while searching for your keys.
Reflekt Unsinkable polarized sunglasses ($99) feature stainless steel hinge screws, hydrogrip nosepads, and technology that make them 20% lighter than ordinary sunglasses. The lifetime warranty even covers you if you lose them!
Cannon Escape E ($59) is a fantastic entrylevel kayak paddle for fishing and other forms of kayaking. Lightweight with a great strength-to-weight ratio, the blade angle settings can be adjusted to enhance stability and offer an easy pull through water.
For Yourself Native Ultimate FX 12 ($1,449) completely redesigns the Ultimate series, offering more stability, storage room, and features than the original. The seating system has two height options and can slide forward and backward. The hull has been flattened out to make it super stable and provide more space for standing or storage. When it comes to what’s most important for fishing kayaks, this one’s easy to load for a weekend of fun and fishing on the water. Chris Bubenik is the Marketing Director at Diamond Brand Outdoors. He lives in Asheville, NC and is an avid outdoorsman and kayak fisherman. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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ASHEVILLE By J.E.B. Hall
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ate fall means it’s time to hunt for big fish in Western North Carolina. As the last of the leaves fall from the trees, Brown trout begin to make their way out of deep water hiding spots, moving into shallow areas to spawn. It is during this transitional period, that fly anglers are able to target these larger fish in daylight hours. Stripping large, articulated streamers, around shallow cover, such as downed trees, is a great way to make contact with a fish of a lifetime. That being said, once the fish move onto their spawning areas, known as redds, anglers should leave them alone, and let them reproduce without harassment. Fortunately, there are still lots of Rainbows and Brook Trout to be had in November, and with Delayed Harvest streams experiencing their second stocking early in the month, there lots of places to fish too. November is also a good time to chase Muskies. These toothy predators inhabit the French Broad River from Brevard all the way downstream into Tennessee. As any avid Musky angler can attest, those who pursue “Essox” are going to do a lot more
fish-ing than catching. Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, Muskies like to hold around blow downs and deep holes, seldom showing themselves. Ideal Musky water can be found anywhere upstream of the Asheville Airport, and anglers can utilize the quality boat accesses that have been put in place by the NCWRC. Whether anglers choose to fish with conventional gear, or flies, they should bear in mind that big baits catch big fish. Most anglers prefer fishing lures and flies that range from 9”-16” in length. The size of the lur-es and flies alone requires heavy tackle and strong arms. A day of casting for Muskies is like cross-fit for fisherman, but the reward is well worth the effort. J.E.B. Hall is a full time fishing guide for Davidson River Outfitters in Pisgah Forest, NC. He is the author of The Southern Appalachian Fly Guide, and has contributed to a variety of maga-zines and blogs, including Southern Culture on the Fly and Fish Alaska Magazine.
FLY OF THE MONTH Root Beer Midge
by Jake Darling
Unicoi Outfitters jake@unicoioutfitters.com
A local favorite! An easy pattern to tie, and a proven pattern through the winter months. The Root Beer Midge is my go-to pattern when trout become very picky. This pattern is a killer on tailwaters, but also works well on our clear water freestone streams as well. Add some to the box this winter and watch your catch rate increase!
Hook: #18 TMC 100 Bead: 5/64 Tungsten Copper Thread: UTC 70 Brown Underbody: UTC Tinsel, Brown Ribbing: DMC 3371 Embroidery Thread (one strand)
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NORTH MILLS By Aaron Motley
I
n November, an angler can take a short, 30-minute drive from Asheville to the North Mills River. This DH (Delayed Harvest) river offers anglers easy access to water currently under the regulation of catch and release, from October 1 to the first Saturday in June. The first section of the river runs through the North Mills River campground where camping spots can be reserved in advance at www. recreation.gov. Above the campground, anglers are able to hike up a trail that fords the river about 10 times as you make your way 2 1/2 miles to the dam that creates the North Mills
Reservoir. This entire section is under Delayed Harvest Regulation. Anglers will encounter some calm runs and deep holes as well as pocket water, on their way to the dam. Above the reservoir, Fletcher Creek and Big Creek are under Wild Water trout regulations with plenty of rainbow in the water. Tactics I use for this stream are: a dry fly and a dropper, subsurface dropper setup, or a streamer. For your dry fly selection, pick a fly that is buoyant enough to support a nymph that you choose to drift in the top, middle, or bottom of the water column. Various lengths of droppers from 10 to 36 inches can be fished in this stream. Hard to beat a parachute Adam’s and a bead head pheasant tail. A subsurface dropper system could be a tight line nymphing system or maybe common split shot 10-12 inches in front of your first fly. Then place a dropper off the bend of the hook shank of your first fly. This length may fall
commonly between 10-20 inches. Eggs patterns, girdle bugs, and squirmy worms with a zebra midge or rainbow warrior are good DH water setups. Both articulated streamers and traditional streamers in this river must be single hook only. With a weight forward floating line, I would use 3x fluorocarbon 6 feet long with a loop knot or quick clasp so the fly will have extra movement in the water during retrieval. Vary the speed of retrieval and see what the fish respond too. Stop in at Hunter Banks Fly Shop in Asheville or Waynesville
Aaron, a graduate of Brevard College, is the day-to-day Operations Manager at the Waynesville location of Hunter Banks. His waterfowl hunting addiction supports his fly tying addiction. He has learned his flyfishing craft from many mountain “fishy” people and pursues large trout, bass and musky on a daily basis. He teaches others to do the same. Get in touch with him through Hunter Banks.
It’s Time to Put Up and Shut Up!
I
’m talking about getting your boat ready to embrace the winter ahead. Following are a few tips that will help you with the dreaded chore of winterizing your beloved boat. Outboard motors, if stored in the vertical position, water will drain from the cooling system, which allows these motors to be used year round. Before cold weather, you should change the oil in the gear case. I have found fishing line behind the propeller on many occasions which damages seals and allows water to enter the gear case. Pull that prop off and check for fishing line, then put some grease on the splines before putting the prop back on. If at all possible, use non-ethanol fuel in your boat! Use a stabilizer in the fuel. I recommend stabilizer all year, not just for winter storage. Some people will only stabilize in the fall, but by then the fuel is already deteriorating. You must stabilize fresh fuel for it to be effective. I also don’t use stabilizer that is older than a year as there is a shelf life for these products. Non-oil injected outboards can also be drained of fuel by running the motor out of gas. You can achieve this by disconnecting the supply from the fuel tank. Oil injected motors will just fill up with oil and give the same prognosis: dirty carburetors in the spring. If possible, spray fogging oil in the air intake on 2-stroke motors. This coats the interior parts and will cut down on rust forming in the months to come. Drain fuel left in the float bowls on motors with carburetors by turning the valve screw that is located on the very bottom of each component. Do the same to drain fuel in vapor separators on fuel injected motors. Stabilize the fuel system on inboards and I/O’s the same wayjust don’t disconnect the fuel supply. Treat the out-drive gear case the same as previously discussed for the outboards. Drain the water out of
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for more advice or some fly selection before you head to the river.
NOVEMBER 2016
the block (both sides if you have a V block). Drain the exhaust manifolds, seawater pump, power steering coolers, and transmission coolers, if so equipped. I remove each cooling system hose off at the very bottom connection to drain them. When drained, reconnect the hoses and close all drain valves. Then, pull off all the hoses from their top connection and fill with non-toxic anti-freeze. Also fill with anti-freeze: manifolds, block, seawater pump and coolers (not the one full of beer!). The antifreeze will cut down on the rust that accumulates in the off-season, giving you more protection against freezing. By putting a little bag of mothballs under the engine cover, you will keep pesky mud dabbers away. I recommend shrink-wrapping your boat to maintain cleanliness and overall protection of all surfaces from the elements. This is done at most boat dealerships. Then the boat can stay outside which frees up precious garage space. “Weather” you shrink-wrap or just cover the boar (pun intended), put mothballs in your boat so the mice will stay away and not chew on your electric wires. Hang a couple of “damp-rid” closet bags on the steering wheel, to minimize mildew. Don’t forget the fresh water system in your boat, if so equipped: sinks, showers and toilets. Drain and add non-toxic anti-freeze to all fresh water systems to avoid freezing. Fully charge your batteries before storing your boat for the winter. Now your boat will be ready for the next season. It will be clean, fresh and ready to run. These are general recommendations. Always read your owner’s manual for detailed instructions. Have a great winter! Johnny M. Holden John’s Boats Pisgah Forest, NC
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WILSON CREEK/JACOB FORK RIVER/CATAWBA By John Zimmerman
Morganton, North Carolina is popularly known by locals as “Nature’s Playground.” If sporting a fly rod clad in chest waders is your form of play, a 15- to 20-minute drive in just about any direction from downtown Morganton will find you treading ground fit for chasing trout in some of the most beautiful naturescapes in all of Western North Carolina! Wilson Creek The Wilson Creek drainage provides a suite of water activities. Kayakers flood the gorge section of the river on high-water events for some of the very best whitewater kayaking in the region, but the real trophy of the drainage is the trout fishing. After turning onto Adako Road, fly anglers have a robust series of opportunities to chase trout along the river. From “Hatchery Supported” designated water at the bottom of, and through the gorge, transitioning to “Delayed Harvest” water above the confluence of Harper’s Creek, to Fly-Fish, Catch-and-Release-Only designations in the highest reaches, the Wilson Creek drainage is the fly angler’s dream, and trout can be pursued year around. On the Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest waters, we suggest junk
food flies (mop flies, squirmy wormies, eggs) on freshly stocked fish and 9’ to 10’, 4 to 5 weight rods. Smaller drab, dull patterns such as Walt’s Worms, English-style pheasant tails, and Utah Killer Bugs in sizes 14-20 dropped below a yarn strike indicator or bushy dry fly will fool holdover fish year round. The wild water sections of Wilson, including the tributaries of Lost Cove and Harper’s Creek, fish well from early spring to the end of fall. Our motto is “caddis flies and pheasant tails” on these typically opportunistic, wild fish, and 7’6”-8’ 4-weights should be your rods of choice. South Mountain State Park Another highly popular flyfishing destination, just outside of Morganton, is the Jacob Fork River flowing through South Mountain State Park. Starting at the bottom boundary of the park, Jacob’s Fork is heavily stocked by the state hatcheries in accordance with the Delayed Harvest program up to the confluence of Shinny Creek. Shinny Creek itself is a lovely small wild stream, and for the angler looking for a wonderful waterfall view, continuing up Jacob Fork on the wild water section will yield gems of beautiful rainbow, brown, and occasional brook trout above and below the falls. We prefer dry and dropper rigs, tossed with 7’8’ 3- to 4-weight rods along all of the water on the South Mountain State Park grounds. The watershed is marked by relatively skinny water and a few deeper runs. With less water to displace big thumps into the water, the softer-landing, smaller patterns work markedly
better. A heavily dressed caddis fly in the 12-14 sizes and a range of nymphs in the 16-20 sizes will serve an angler well on the delayed harvest and wild waters in the park. Catawba River Tailrace Below the Bridgewater Powerhouse on Lake James, the three rivers that form the lake (Linville River, Catawba River, North Fork) flow out of the dam as the “majestic Catawba River.” When Duke isn’t generating electricity from the hydroelectric dam, the river is easily waded. But when the wheels kick on, a drift boat, raft, or canoe is required. The Wildlife Commission has sustained a long and successful project of stocking tens of thousands of advanced fingerling brown trout from Bridgewater power station all the way to Morganton. These stockings supplement an existing resident population of wild browns that call the river home. This tailrace is only getting better each year. Big black stoneflies are the ticket. Streamers tied in black and orange to simulate the big crawfish population in the river yields a number of big fish for us each year. And if you happen to be in Morganton during the ACC tournament, you better be on the river with a gray caddis fly in sizes 14-16 for the famous ACC Caddis Hatch! We suggest stout 9’-10’ rods in the 5- to 6-weight class for this river to aid in turning over the big stoneflies and big streamers we most often fish there.
With trout to be chased in all directions, Morganton is a basecamp for fly-fishing to add to your to-do list. Wilson’s Creek, Jacob’s Fork, and the Catawba River are but just three of the near hundred fishing destinations within the town’s radius. John Zimmerman and Taylor Sharp are the co-owners of Upper Creek Angler, a fly-fishing guide and custom tackle service based in Morganton, North Carolina. John and Taylor are also the founders of Casting for Hope, a regional nonprofit organization based in Morganton, Asheville, and Bakersville that serves women and families in Western North Carolina battling ovarian and other gynecological cancers through fly-fishing retreats and financial assistance. When they aren’t tying flies, building bamboo fly rods, hosting guide trips, running Casting for Hope fundraisers, organizing patient and caregiver retreats, and managing the Casting for Hope Retreat Center, John and Taylor can be found cheering on the Tar Heels in all things sport, floating the South Holston River, hiking North Carolina mountains and trials, and yes, hiking into and fishing some of their secret streams that they will never share! John and Taylor can be reached by e-mail at uppercreekangler@ gmail.com or by finding them on the web at www.uppercreekangler. com or www.castingforhope.org.
The 8 Methods of Fly Fishing By Michael Yelton
S
ingle Dry: Pretty straight -forward, you fish one single dry fly. This is a great method for tight quarters fishing or low water conditions. Also a good method to use during blanket hatches. Single Nymph: Fish one single nymph. This method is great for tight quarters, pocket
water and low water conditions. lso this method allows you to fish perfect or mistake free, as you’re not spending a lot of time untangling double fly rigs. Dry Dropper: Using a dry as an indicator with a nymph dropper. You can adjust your dropper length to the given depth of water you’re fishing. This
method is good for flat or still moving water. This method also allows you to fish further away from yourself. It ‘s also a good choice for low water conditions when fish are more apt to rise to a dry fly.
presenting your flies by swinging them across the river current. This is a great method for fishing far away from yourself when fish are feeding throughout the water column. This is another great method for low water conditions.
Wets: Fishing more traditional wet flies by quartering casts 45 degrees down-stream and
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BURNSVILLE AND MOUNT MITCHELL
Late Autumn and Early Winter Tactics for Wild Streams By Ethan Hollifield
T
his past summer has been hard on the trout fishing in Western North Carolina. I think many of us can agree that the changing of the seasons and the cooler water temperatures was a very welcome sight. As winter approaches, many anglers will start to shy away from fishing, especially since the recent low water levels that are still precedent around the mountains are not the most ideal conditions. Others will think of this time as a chance to fish the often overly crowded Delayed Harvest Waters, which are great angling opportunities in their own right as this time of year can be some of the hottest wild trout fishing that the area has to offer. Cold temperatures and low water can make the fishing challenging, but with a few “tweaks” to your normal setup, you can exponentially increase your catch rate, despite the low water conditions and the coming colder weather. As a guide, the first piece of advice that I give anyone is to get presentation of your flies down pat. There’s a rule that I teach my clients called the 80/20 rule. There are always exceptions, but 80% of your fish catching ability comes from how you present your fly to the fish, and 20% of your fish catching ability comes from the actual fly pattern itself. Right now, with the water being low and the fish being spooky, I would recommend using a 15-foot or longer leader tapered down to 5x or 6x. Rods from the 9’ to 11’ range in 3 to 4 weight ranges are perfect for throwing these longer leaders and provide great tippet protection when using lighter line. Keep your fly selection as simple as possible. Even though the bug activity is slower during this period compared to the Spring and Summer months, the trout will still actively feed. Over the years, I’ve found myself consistently fishing with four different fly patterns throughout the year: A Parachute Adams, a Pheasant Tail, a Waltz Worm, and a Stimulator. A grey or olive Parachute Adams paired with a natural, olive, or black pheasant tail on a dry-dropper rig can be deadly on wild fish during this time period (and to be truthful, year round) because 26 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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those two fly patterns can represent several different species of aquatic insects that are found in Southern Appalachian streams. What you wear can also make or break your fish catching ability this time of year. Late fall and early Winter in Western North Carolina can carry with it some drastic weather changes. One day the weather will be 65 and sunny with the next bringing highs in the 30’s and snowfall. If the weather is cold, focus on wearing darker colors that absorb more heat. Darker, duller color choices will also keep you better concealed from spooky trout that are wary to bright colors that trout can see from longer distances. Fishing in these conditions can be tough for even seasoned anglers, but being able to adapt and learn how to be patient fishing in low water can be rewarded with great fishing and the chance to find solitude on some of the best wild trout streams in the Southeast. Ethan is a native North Carolinian from Spruce Pine. While earning a degree in Parks and Natural Resource Management from NC State, he was a member of the three-time national championship-winning bass fishing team “BassPack”. Ethan currently guides for Stonefly Outfitters in Burnsville, North Carolina.
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The 8 Methods of Fly Fishing FROM PAGE 25
Streamers: Fishing using streamers, which are flies that imitate minnows, crawdads or leeches. Streamers can be deaddrifted, swung or stripped. Streamer fishing is great for deep or high water conditions. It can also produce fish during low clarity conditions. Tight Lining or Euro Nymphing: This method is when you use a mono sighter tied into your leader while contact nymphing. This is probably one of the most versatile methods as you can fish this way in almost any water conditions. By being in contact with your flies, your bite detection is off the radar. Curlie Fishing: Fishing using a curlie sighter/indicator, which is a coiled mono sighter that is tied into your leader. It looks just like a mono “slinky.” This can be used as a suspension device for light
nymphs or just as a strike detector. This method can be good for low or flat-water conditions. Suspension Device: This is when you use a strike indicator as a suspension device to float nymphs at your desired depth. This method can produce when you wish to fish further away from yourself in deeper water. This can also enable you to achieve longer drifts. The key, to all these methods of fly-fishing is to know when to use them. River and weather conditions will dictate which method to use. More times than not, the angler that is in tune with the conditions the most will catch more fish. So, be observant of your surroundings while you’re on the water and adjust accordingly. Also, you have to master each method to be able to execute it.
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LAKE LURE At Years End By Michael Lewis
I
can’t help but think that the weather really played a big part in the fishing this year. With the heat of the summer, then the cool down in October, to the quiet time of winter…the fishing is as good, if not better, this time of year. The water skiing is over and the traffic on the lake is almost zero. This is when I troll for big lake trout. The town of Lake Lure used to put a lot of trout in the lake in November. That was a few years ago, but there are still some trout in the lake. All you have to do is go slow. I have been very successful using a minnow-type bait-black and silver, or blue and silver, work really well. You can also use a spoon-gold or silver work great. The bass are still interested in feeding but you have to put the bait right in their face. The cold weather has them moving very slowly. I will use a drop shot rig or a whacky
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worm and fish a little deeper than we do most of the year. I have been catching a lot them on a purple worm. The last trip I took, we caught nine largemouth bass. All on the purple worm rigged whacky style. I’ll tell you, it wasn’t easy. I donate some trips every year and the last one the anglers caught a lot of trees and stumps. One angler got caught in a tree. When I got it loose and it fell back in the water, a four pound bass grabbed the bait and took off! We all agreed that it must like pine scent because it was caught up in a pine tree. So if you have never been fishing in the winter months, you should give it a try. Michael can be contacted at Lewis No Clark Expiditions in Lake Lure, 828-223-0269, www. lewisnoclark.com, lewisnoclark@ aol.com
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER MY FAVORITE FISHING DESTINATION
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BRANDON LESTER
raveling across the country for the last three years with the Bassmaster Elite Series has led me to some amazing fishing destinations. I’ve been about as far as one can go in every direction in the United States and have gotten to experience some great fishing. Although I don’t have a definitive answer on where my favorite place to fish is, I will say that without a doubt my favorite fish to target are big northern smallmouth bass. Let’s talk about some of the places I’ve been and what makes the places and the
Lakes. My next experience with northern smallies was on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. The Thousand Islands area is a beautiful part of the country and should be on every bass fisherman’s bucket list. The river is full of fish, and a lot of people there seem to fish more for other species so the smallmouth are quite catchable. A little ways away on Lake Ontario is the home of more willing smallmouth. Next on the list is Lake St. Clair in Michigan. St. Clair is
Chums’ new Downstream waterproof bag is a medium-sized shoulder bag or fanny pack for folks who enjoy the outdoors, especially if you like water sports and fishing. From offshore boaters to kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders, this 6” x 10” x 4.5” travel bag is designed to protect your gear against the elements encountered while on your adventure. It has a roll-top closure that fastens at both ends and is completely airtight and waterproof. The material is very durable, made of double sided TPU-coated nylon and has waterproof RF welded seams. A front pocket with YKK water-resistant zipper is handy for your sunscreen or lip balm and has a drain hole for quick drying. The Downstream is a smart choice for boaters, anglers, stand-up paddle boarders and kayakers in need of a personal bag with easy access and a variety of wearable options. Keep your gear dry with Chums’ new line of accessory cases. Visit www. chums.com or your favorite specialty outdoor retailer to get yours today. Chums came about in 1983 when a Colorado River guide sought a simple way to keep his sunglasses out of the river. Through this innovative idea, the Chums original cotton eyeglasses retainer was born. More than thirty years later, Chums is now a global brand that offers a wide range of outdoor products and apparel. Chums’ mantra is simple: provide fun, quality products to enjoy while at work or play. Chums - Helping you hang on since 1983.
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fisheries so special. My very first experience with the Great Lakes was at the Elite Series AOY championship in 2014 in Escanaba, Mich. I ended up finishing that tournament in ninth place and qualified for my first Bassmaster Classic. I was super impressed with the place as soon as I rolled into town. Everyone in Escanaba was very nice and hospitable, which is something you don’t find everywhere these days. It is a nice quiet town much like the Tennessee town I was raised in, with great places to eat and nice places to stay. As far as the fishery, just take a look at the weights from that tournament and they will speak for themselves. Little Bay and Big Bay de Noc are chock-full of big smallmouth as well as walleye, pike, perch and everything else you would expect to find in the Great
unique because you can either fish in the lake, which is great, or you can fish one of the rivers that flows into or out of the lake, which is what I chose to do when I was there. In all these places, smallmouth bass will absolutely chew a small soft plastic bait on a Mustad dropshot hook fished on a MHX EPS 81MLXF rod from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. Catching these fish requires good electronics, so I rely heavily on my Raymarine units to locate the big schools. As I was writing this last week, I got thinking I needed to go and pay those smallmouth a visit. My dad and I jumped in the car, drove to Lake Michigan and had a ball. I would encourage you to do the same before it gets too cold!
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Custombilt Pondtoons introduces for fall 2016 a new camo model that makes the perfect duck hunting boat or just a cool version of their small-water fishing boat. Also new is the optional Lehr 9.9 HP 4-stroke propane motor that will run off the propane tank for your grill to deliver clean and efficient power. All boats are all-welded aluminum construction and made in the USA with premium options to meet every hunter and fisherman’s needs in boating. The Pondtoon is the perfect small-water boat for the avid river and pond angler, duck and bow hunter, as well as the family with children or grandchildren. Their pontoon boats are factory assembled in three standard sizes, 14’x5’, 14’x6’, 16’x6’ with options and additional features that allow you to equip the boat for your fishing and hunting style at a very affordable price. In addition to the new camo style boat, they also have a fishing series, hunting series, pleasure series, farm/pond work boats, search and rescue and wheelchair accessible models. Call or email with any questions to help you customize your very own CustomBilt Pondtoon boat! For more information, email Steve Bynum at pondtoons@gmail.com or call 334-684-2210.
Capt. Mike Hakala, Aqua Dream Lures
SKIMMER TUNNEL HULL
19,950
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FRESHWATER
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Photo by Melissa Shavlik
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here’s stocking trout, and then there’s unintentionally releasing 80,000 rainbow trout into the open ocean. In the short-term, recreational anglers will be the beneficiaries of a $1.5 million accident at a Danish fish farm. Reuters reports that a cargo vessel collided with fish farm nets between Danish Islands in the Baltic Sea on Oct. 11. The fish, which were bound for the slaughterhouse within a few days’ time, weighed about 6.6 pounds each. Recreational anglers are being encouraged to get out on the fjord and catch as many of the escapees as possible. Authorities are concerned the jailbreak could have disastrous consequences for the native sea-run rainbow trout populations. According to the Associated Press report, wild populations are preparing to run up the rivers to spawn right now, and their eggs would make tasty morsels for the farmed fish. Other Danish biologists have dismissed the threat as minimal because the farmed trout are unprepared for life in the wild and are conditioned to heavy feedings. There is a good chance the fish will die of starvation or be consumed by larger predators before they are able to do much damage. One thing is for sure, if there are Walmarts in Denmark, the shelves will be emptied of spinners, salmon eggs, Powerbait and canned corn. There isn’t a stocked trout in the world that can resist Green Giant Niblets.
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*Plus $599 s/h. Offer expires 2-15-17. PA residents add 6% tax — taxes on orders shipped outside of PA are the responsibility of the purchaser. Offer available to first-time purchasers. One per customer. From time to time substitutions may occur. Cigars International does not sell products to anyone under the age of 21. For more information please see www.cigarsinternational.com/ageverify.
NOVEMBER 2016
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even it wasn’t so beautiful. Most places they are found, BUCKET LIST roosterfish are A commonly known A RI T C A • C OS as denizens of the surf. In Costa Rica, they are in the surf and everywhere else. Midway down the spit of land that is Central America, Costa Rica is in the heart of the By CAM Staff roosterfish range, which spans the Pacific from Peru to the Baja Photos Courtesy of Francisco Mejias California Peninsula. The average fish caught probably weighs less than 20 pounds, but it takes one weighing 60 or 70 pounds to really ames Like Los Sueños, Quepos and the Osa Peninsula ring out in raise eyebrows. our collective angler imaginings as the sportfishing destinations They are plentiful, big and powerful, and half the fun of catching of fantasy. Reports filter back to the U.S. with stories of 50-sailfish them is fishing for them. Sure, the most consistent way to catch them days, multiple blue, black and striped marlin… billfish action that seems is trolling or drifting live baits. But we’re talking about a fish that will too good to be true on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. cream a topwater lure. There is not much in fishing more exciting than a Well, those reports are most likely true. Costa Rica is one of the world’s topwater take, so when it is possible one might as well take advantage of it. best billfish destinations. But not everyone is into spending long days With roosterfish, the preferred surface presentation is ripping a trolling offshore. For some anglers, casting a line or working a bait is as popper across the top with as much splashy commotion as possible. It’s much a part of the fun as fighting a fish. That’s where Costa Rica’s exotic not a finesse technique. When a fish homes in on the bait, it will chase, and astoundingly good inshore fisheries step in. often hitting several times before it finds the hook. Year-round, just off the coast of Costa Rica, huge snook, big cubera It’s this kind of explosive action that makes Costa Rica worth the snapper and giant roosterfish hunt the gorgeous beaches, rocks and reefs. trip for inshore action alone. And of course there’s also all those marlin, Any number of species is subject to find the end of your line, but the chief sailfish and tuna. target for anglers has to be the roosterfish. For More Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica Visit With its tall Mohawk of a dorsal fin and multi-hued stripes, the roosterfish’s oddball appearance is enough of a reason to try and catch one. FRABILL-8.5 X 4.94-IFLOATSUIT.pdf 8/9/16 11:20 Its aggressive nature and powerful runs1 would make it aPMtarget for anglers T
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Inshore Topwater Action In Costa Rica
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CAMINSHORE.COM
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10/18/16 3:15 PM
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT PIRANA FISHING LURES With its patented Jet Trail System, Pirana Fishing Lures has given the fishing world one of those “why didn’t someone think of this before” moments. Pirana has taken proven elements of highly successful crankbaits and jerkbaits and given them a new feature that is the most innovative and effective to hit the market in years. These lures leave a bubble trail, an enticement that draws in predatory fish and triggers them to strike. The effectiveness of bubble trails is well documented. Bluewater anglers troll jet head lures. Bass anglers fish gurglers and buzzbaits. Pirana’s Jet Trail System brings the same concept to crankbaits and jerkbaits. With an open mouth and gill slots along the lure’s sides, water is forced through the lure on retrieve to create the jet trail. Pirana has also put a lot into the details. These lures have a finely tuned wobble and dive as well as a rattle chamber for additional noise. Bright red gills, holographic silver eyes, a hex-scale pattern and a high-gloss finish complete the package. The lasting trail of bubbles, however, is what sets them apart. Pirana’s latest, which should hit the market soon, is the new and improved P200, which has a lip above the mouth opening. Whether the target species are redfish, seatrout and snook inshore or largemouth and smallmouth bass or trout in freshwater, anything that will eat a plug will be more likely to eat one with a jet trail. For more information visit www.piranafishinglures.com or call 386310-7165.
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The Doctor’s Choice For...ADVANCED HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY UNDER $200
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10/18/16 3:15 PM
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT UNDERWATER FISH LIGHT If you live on the water or have ever cruised any local canals or shorelines at night, you’ve probably seen how effective and widespread Underwater Fish Light’s products are. They seem to be just about everywhere, and are almost always loaded with fish. Their classic Natural Green lights look amazing in any waterway, but they recently released a new line of Vibrant Green underwater lights that illuminate the water with a richer green color that really stands out from the crowd. In addition to the unique look, these lights are also 50 percent brighter than the classic systems and are perfect for those looking to “out glow” their neighbors. Of course these new lights come backed by the same guarantees that Underwater Fish Light is famous for, including their well known “Fish Guaranteed or Your Money Back” promise. You can try the new Vibrant Green systems or any of their other models for sixty nights in your own waterway, and if you’re not thrilled with the performance of the light, you can return it for a full refund. Obviously they don’t get too many returns. There is also a new line of Caribbean Blue underwater lights that look incredible in clear waterways, but customers outside of the Florida Keys should opt for either the Natural Green or Vibrant Green, as these will look the best in murkier waters. With a 3-year warranty and money back guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Underwater Fish Light. Visit them online at www.FishLight.com or call 1-855-FISH-LIGHT for more information.
WWW.FISHLIGHT.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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WAHOO “COWBELLS’’ & ‘’SNAGGER’’ DOLPHIN LURES
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www.BALLYHOOD.com
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT NEW RECHARGEABLE HEARING AID Hearing loss can leave you feeling disconnected. And it can be more than just a nuisance for those who enjoy fishing, boating or the outdoors. The inability to hear or understand warnings from the captain or guide can be downright dangerous. MDHearingAid, the doctor’s choice for affordable hearing aids, has the solution for your hearing loss with discreet, easy-to-use devices that are surprisingly affordable. The MDHearingAid Volt is a rechargeable hearing aid that eliminates the need for finding and fumbling with tiny batteries. It plugs in just like a cell phone or tablet, and the lithium-ion battery lasts up to 22 hours with each charge. Just plug it in at night when you go to bed and you’ll hear clearly all day long. Doctor-designed, this state-of-the-art digital technology utilizes dual microphones paired with noise reduction to filter out background noise. With four programs and volume control, the user has complete control to communicate confidently even in the most challenging listening environments. You’ll be able to focus on what you want to hear, not the surrounding noise. It sits discreetly behind the ear and is nearly invisible so even those closest to you may not notice you’re wearing it. The MDHearingAid Volt includes dual USB charging station and convenient carrying case. Try this rechargeable and affordable FDA-registered digital hearing aid at home with a 45-day risk-free trial and a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Call 800-514-1609 and get FREE shipping with offer code CV74 or visit
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
The perfect gift for any fishing enthusiast. Rogue Angler Wallet
Genuine Salmon Leather Rogue Front Pocket Wallet
Rogue Front Pocket Wallet with Compass
Back pocket wallets are badly designed - they’re easy targets for pickpockets and a surefire way to ruin your back. That’s why we reinvented the wallet, for a more comfortable, more secure everyday. Our wallets perfectly fit the front pocket, where a wallet belongs. The best wallet you’ve ever owned, or your money back.
Free Shipping on Orders $49+ rogue-industries.com
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Shallow Water Fishing? MITZI SKIFFS GETS IT2016 RIGHT!!! 25cc C
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WELCOME OUR NEW FLORIDA DEALER: COASTAL MARINE, STUART FL
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• The GS 1500 Series' PIE PANEL construction provides a truer spread and a flatter net than the industry expects. • Super high strength and high durability leadline allows for non-kink performance. • Exclusive SPS Monofilament Netting • 1.50lbs. of lead weight per radius foot. Mesh sizes start at 3/16th to 3/4th with radius from 6ft to 12ft. • Extra long 30ft. Polypropylene throw line. • Komfort Kuff included.
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NOVEMBER 2016
252.235.2
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT INHIBITOR VCI PRO CHIPS FOR CORROSION PROTECTION Protecting your fishing gear from rust and corrosion has never been easier, or more effective. The Inhibitor VCI offers unrivaled corrosion and rust prevention to protect lures, hooks, reels and more. Fishing tackle is a magnet for rust and corrosion. Many people do not fully appreciate the money and time avid anglers put into building their collection of lures. Rust will damage hooks, split rings and the body of the lure. With VCI Pro Chips you can make sure you never lose any of your fishing equipment to rust. Saltwater speeds up rust and corrosion; protect your fishing tackle from saltwater. Inhibitor VCI Pro Chips are a safe, easy and economical way to ensure your fishing tackle, tool boxes, small part bins and any other small metal items stay rust free. Each chip is treated on both sides with Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors that release a non-toxic vapor to blend with moisture and oxygen and stop rust and corrosion. The special vapors penetrate into the smallest cracks or crevices, providing total protection in marine environments. There is no scent residue. Fish will never know you are rust free! With Inhibitor rust prevention products, even saltwater cannot cause your fishing tackle to rust or corrode. They are great for parts bins and tool boxes at home, too. It works on all ferrous and non-ferrous metals: brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. Visit www.theinhibitor.com to get your 20-pack of VCI Pro Chips for only $5.99.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
RHODAN INTRODUCES 72” SHAFT GPS GUIDED TROLLING MOTOR
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Attention Advertising Sales Reps Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own the media company that you were selling advertising for? Ever considered how different your life would be if you didn’t have to hand over the bulk of your sales revenue to your employer? Have you ever thought about how much easier your sales job could be if you didn’t have to beg your sales manager for every little extra thing that you wanted to give your customer? Ever wondered what it would be like to control your own time? You don’t have to wonder anymore. Coastal Angler and its freshwater component The Angler Magazine are offering magazine franchises throughout the continental U.S. and abroad. Now, you can be the publisher and completely control the advertising department of your magazine. After nine years of franchising this magazine and with 42 current locations, we can say with confidence that these home-based magazine locations can be opened in nearly any location with a minimum population base of 500,000 and an active angling community. We have also identified our ideal candidate as being someone with previous media sales experience. Male or female, success in this endeavor is gaged more on advertising sales than fishing prowess. If you are a current or former media advertising sales rep, you owe it to yourself to check out our franchise opportunities. For more information, call 888-800-9794 or email info@ coastalanglermagazine.com.
Outstanding Customer Support Media Sales Representatives wanted immediately for fishing magazine franchisee opportunity. Must have 2 to 5 years media sales experience. Dependable transporation, a love of the outdoors and a good solid work ethic. Type A’s welcome.
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For Information Contact Editor in Chief Ben Martin at 888-800-7974 or email at info@coastalanglermagazine.com
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• No Hassle Return Policy
On All Hand Tools
Does your dog have
FISH BREATH?
presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
Naturally Removes Plaque & Tartar, Controls Bacteria and Freshens Breath Without BRUSHING!
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hft_coa
How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON SU UP ALUMINUM RACING JACK CO
Customer Rating • 3-1/2 Pumps Lifts Most Vehicles • Weighs 34 lbs.
ITEM 69252/68053 62160/62496/62516 60569 shown
5999 comp at
8999 $119.99
SAVE $60
$ $
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
SUPER COUPON
12999
comp at
ITEM 69052 shown 69111/62522/62573
4
$ 97 VALUE
29 PIECE TITANIUM NITRIDE COATED HIGH SPEED STEEL DRILL BIT SET ITEM 62281/61637 shown
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 37%
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ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615
comp at
5999 $98.62
$3999
YOUR CHOICE
Customer Rating
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$
ITEM 69397 63308/61427 95272 shown
5 DRAWER TOOL CART
R PE ON SU UP 30", CO
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16499
comp at
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$59.99
comp at
ITEM 38391 62376 62306 shown
$4799
SAVE 20%
SUPER COUPON 3-IN-1 PORTABLE POWER PACK WITH JUMP STARTER
WOW
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• 704 lb. capacity
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
$59.97
SAVE $ 78% $ comp at
67500 shown
Customer Rating ITEM 69779
1500 LB. CAPACITY DUAL WHEEL SWING-BACK BOAT TRAILER JACK
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
16999 $268.99 $1299 $1999
$
ITEM 69662 shown 60432/63018/63019
POWER INVERTER
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 3/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
$
R R 2000 WATT CONTINUOUS/ PE ON PE ON SU UP Customer Rating 4000 WATT PEAK SU UPCustomer Rating CO CO
SAVE $139
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
ITEM 93068 shown 69590/61910 62447
$ 99 $ 99 16 $ $29.99 2799comp at29$44.99 comp at
$1199
Customer Rating
ALERT SYSTEM
PON WOWWIRSUPELEERSSCOU SECURITY
SAVE 60%
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
• HarborFreight.com • 800-423-2567
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
B
QUALITY TOOLS LOWEST PRICES EVERYDAY VALID NOW ON 5,000 + ITEMS
99 $163.06
WITH ANY PURCHASE 3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT NINE LED ALUMINUM FLASHLIGHT
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OFF
9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS METRIC
ITEM 63282/69043/42304 shown
SAE
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, automotive lifts, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Badland, Bremen, CoverPro, Creekstone, Daytona, Diablo, Doyle, Drummond, Earthquake, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Lynxx, Maddox, Portland, Predator, Quinn, StormCat, Union, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases. Nontransferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17.
R PE ON SU UP CO
SAVE 70% Customer Rating
ITEM 42305 69044/63171
$19.97
$899
comp at
YOUR CHOICE
5
$ 99
ITEM 69381 60338 shown
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
WOW
SAVE $73
comp at
$
$8999 119
SUPER COUPON TS 900 PEAK/700 RUNNING WAT 2 HP (63 CC) 2 CYCLE GAS RECREATIONAL GENERATOR
Customer Rating
On All Hand Tools
• 700+ Stores Nationwide • Lifetime Warranty
800-423-2567. Cannot or HarborFreight.com or by calling LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original or be used with other discount Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original purchase with original receipt. through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day. coupon must be presented. Valid
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed • Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers • No Hassle Return Policy
R PE ON SU UP CO
ITEM 46807/68975 69221/62123/63017 69222 shown
12" RATCHET BAR CLAMP/SPREADER
2
SAVE comp at 85% $ 99 $399 $20.76
SAVE $105
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP Customer Rating CO
ITEM 61258 shown 61840/61297/68146
comp at
5499 $8999
$159.99
2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH WITH WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL
$
LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
comp at
$17.97
$ 99
8
$ 99
5
ITEM 66537 shown 69505/62418
R 72" x 80" PE ON MOVING BLANKET SU UP CO Customer Rating
SAVE 66%
SAVE 106
$
ITEM 63054/60728 69034/62858 shown
9999
™
10 FT. x 20 FT. PORTABLE CAR CANOPY
LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
R PE ON SU UP CO
Customer Rating
$
$205.99
$14999
comp at
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 3/1/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
9/30/16 2:16 PM
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NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2016
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
Franchise locations available throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Ever wanted to be your own boss, run your own business and be involved in the fishing industry? Well now you can. Our franchisees enjoy the benefits of controlling their own time while building their incomes in an industry that they love. If you enjoy the outdoors and don’t mind meeting the public and immersing yourself in the world of boating and fishing, then you owe it to yourself to check out our franchise opportunities. We now have locations available throughout the U.S. and abroad. These are home based businesses designed to operate on relatively low overhead and modest investment. No prior publishing experience necessary. We provide a complete training program and ongoing support. For more information on a franchise location near you, visit www.coastalanglermag.com, call 888-800-9794 or email info@coastalanglermagazine.com.
Now Available
• New Orleans, LA • Baton Rouge, LA • Gloucester, MA • Nashville, TN • Denver, CO • Charlotte, NC • Milwaukee, WI • Seattle, WA
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...And More!
© 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.
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RHODE ISLAND/ LONG ISLAND
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MAINE
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pauld@ coastalanglermagazine.com
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eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com travis@theanglermagazine.com travis@theanglermagazine.com
OUTER BANKS/ VIRGINIA BEACH
N.C. PIEDMONT
TravisHarper Harper Travis (912)266-1430 266-1430 (912)
MOREHEAD CITY
Roscoe Worth-Jones & Frank Jones (276) 274-9889
roscoe@theanglermagazine.com frank@theanglermagazine.com
Eddie Hardgrove • (910)264-5487
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John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com brians@coastalanglermagazine.com Eddie Hardgrove • (910)264-5487 tony@theanglermagazine.com john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com Brian Slesinski • (910) 797-6093 phil@theanglermagazine.com Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 brians@coastalanglermagazine.com eddie@coastalanglermagazine.com laura@coastalanglermagazine.com
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NATIONAL
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HILTON HEAD
Kathy & Mark McElheney (843) 478-5095
mark@coastalanglermagazine.com
PUERTO RICO/ VIRGIN ISLANDS Ace Bassue
MYRTLE BEACH
Kenneth & Ana Moore (843) 446-5777
kenmoore@ coastalanglermagazine.com
COSTA RICA
Thomas Hauer, Jr. (321) 445-1557
thomash@coastalanglermagazine.com (407) 285-9453 ace@ Thomas Hauer • (321) 445-1557 coastalanglermagazine.com tomh@coastalanglermagazine.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
10/18/16 3:15 PM
Graphite and fiberglass construction. One-piece stainless steel guides. Tougher than the original.
uglystik.com
@uglystik /uglystikfishing COLORS
PANTONE 200; CMYK: C-16.69, M-100, Y-87.59, B-7.22
PANTONE 877; CMYK: C-47.43, M-39.86, Y-39, B-3.48
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