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For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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INTERNATIONAL BAHAMAS : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2017. 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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Best Of By CAM Staff
Overall Best of Show - Bote Rover
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ach year, the fishing industry and anglers eagerly await ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, to see what new rods, reels, lures, apparel and gadgets companies will roll out in the show’s New Product Showcase. For the gear-heads out there, it never disappoints. This year, 1,263 products, accessories and apparel were entered by 280 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 26 different categories. The products were viewed and voted on at ICAST in Orlando on July 13. This year’s big winner was the Bote Rover, which took home Overall Best of Show. It also took top honors in the Boats and Watercraft category. It is a truly innovative little SUP/Skiff hybrid, powered by a small outboard to get you where you’re going. Once you get there, it gives you all the skinny-water and stealth capabilities of an SUP. The following is a list of all the other cool and innovative products that earned top honors in their categories. Boating Accessories: Yeti Coolers LoadOut Bucket With the LoadOut Bucket, Yeti has done for the lowly 5-gallon bucket what it did for the cooler. This injection-molded workhorse is Yeti tough and designed to exceed any need from the boat to the backyard. Eyewear: Costa Sunrise Mirror Lens Sunrise Mirror lenses are designed for low-light conditions. They let in 30 percent of the available light while maintaining 97 percent polarization for optimal performance and eye protection at dawn, dusk or on cloudy days.
Huk Attack
Footwear: Huk Performance Fishing Attack The Huk Attack is the most engineered, purpose-built fishing shoe ever created. It brings performance features for the serious fisherman with unique traction, bullet-proof durability and all-day comfort and support. Giftware: The Catch and Release Print Shop Actual Size An alternative to taxidermy, these fish prints are created to the exact length of your catch and stamped with your name and information about your catch. Lifestyle Apparel: Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs The Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs is the company’s camouflage style of its bombproof Pilot II. It is available in shoreline blue, silver mist and blackout options. Technical Apparel: Frogg Toggs Sierran Transition Wader A zippered, flip-out chest pocket, large multi-function pocket and exterior fly storage area allow these waders to fill double-duty as a chest pack for storage of fly fishing gear. Electronics: Humminbird Solix 15 Chirp Mega SI GPS Humminbird has achieved improved detail and target separation with Chirp Digital Sonar. With touch screen or keypad interface, the screen can be customized and viewed with up to four panels. Fishing Accessory: Yeti Coolers Panga Duffel The Panga Duffel is a hardcore drybag designed to withstand brutal treatment and be completely watertight. It is fully submersible, and Yeti called it a gear fortress. Fly Fishing Accessory: Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Wader Simms has built its most breathable and durable wader yet in its new G3 Guide, with four-layers of Gore-Tex fabric in the legs and three layers above the waist. They also feature a chest pocket, handwarmer pockets and built in utility tabs.
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Fishing Line: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 With four times the abrasion resistance of its original Fireline, Berkley’s thermally fused Ultra 8 comes in a range from 4 pound test up to 30 pound test. FishSmart: Eagle Claw 2017 Flounder Sample Pack Eagle Claw jumps in for the conservation of summer flounder and catch and release with its 2017 Flouder Sample Pack. Kids’ Tackle: 13 Fishing Ambition Combo Designed specifically with the smaller size of a child in mind, but packed with some features required by serious anglers, these salt and freshwater combos are perfect for the little angler who is really into fishing. Tackle Management: Daiwa Tactical Backpack This tackle backpack is perfect for hiking into a stream, walking the banks of a pond, hauling down to the surf or for use as a quickgrab on your buddy’s boat. It is custom designed to hold all the gear an angler needs.
Saltwater Soft Lure: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet The Hollow Body Mullet is sure to find a place in nearshore and inshore boxes and be deadly for sea trout, redfish, snook, flounder and striped bass. It is an incredibly detailed and lifelike walking bait with great action. Fly Reel: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel With its innovative Quick Release Spool, the Supreme QRS offers an interchangeable large-arbor cassette spool system. The polycarbonate cassettes are secured in the spool carrier by an advanced locking system enclosed by a full stainless steel and alloy construction. Freshwater Reel: Shimano Curado K Baitcasting Reel As if the Curado weren’t legendary enough, Shimano has improved on its venerable reel with the latest in Shimano technology, such as smooth, efficient, durable MicroModule gearing. It is available gear ratios up to 8.5:1. Saltwater Reel: Shimano Sustain Reels C4000/5000 Shimano’s Sustain Reels are a saltwater line of spinning reels that fits into the higher end of Shimano’s line. Featuring Shimano’s advanced Hagane technology, they are smooth, powerful and durable for anglers seeking to do battle with midsized saltwater species.
Terminal Tackle: Trapper Round Bend Treble With an innovative “trap,” the standard version of this odd-looking hook has proven itself by holding baits in place and keeping fish on the hook. The treble-hook version of the trapper is revolutionary. Freshwater Hard Lure: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat This crazy-looking bait plays on the nature of predatory species to strike on reaction. It is a hard, surface-walking bait 3D scanned to mimic a bat struggling in the water.
3D Topwater Bat
Saltwater Hard Lure: Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40 Did somebody say wahoo? The new X-Rap Magnum 40 dives consistently to 40 feet with aggressive swimming action. It can be trolled as fast as 13 knots without rolling or kicking out.
Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40
Freshwater Soft Lure: Lunkerhunt LP Prop Series The Lunkerhunt Prop Series combines the design of hollow-body soft plastics with modern prop technology previously found only on hard-body lures. The Prop Series features three body styles: The Prop Frog, The Prop Fish Sunfish and The Prop Fish Shad.
Rod & Reel Combo: Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo This baitcast combo features Lew’s exclusive SLP Super Low Profile compact design in a premium 10-bearing Speed Spool reel with MSB Multi-Setting Brake dual cast control system. The combo’s onepiece IM8 graphite rod sports a Winn Dri-Tac splitgrip handle. Fly Fishing Rod: G. Loomis IMX-Pro Fly Rod G. Loomis’ IMX-Pro series was designed for professional guides. IMX-PRO MATRIX is a material that allows Loomis to use fewer wraps of graphite and build fast, responsive rods that are lighter and more sensitive without sacrificing power or durability. Freshwater Rod: 13 Fishing Fate Black With crisp action, incredible sensitivity and superb balance, the Fate Black offers the benefits of a Japanese 30T HTC blank, an innovative seamless reel seat, tanglefree guides with zirconia inserts, hybrid comfort grips and handles made of hand-selected Portuguese cork. Saltwater Rod: St. Croix Legend T o u r n a m e n t Inshore Legend Tournament Inshore rods are the blending of the sensitivity, power and durability found in St Croix’s existing Legend Tournament Bass and Walleye series with components and technology reserved for saltwater environments.
Lunkerhunt Prop series
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A boater’s paradise, Bay Point Marina is gently tucked away along the Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach, Florida, yet conveniently located just five minutes from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and 15 minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway. Fortunately for patrons and guests, Bay Point Marina is also just minutes by boat from Shell Island, which offers excellent snorkeling, superb fishing and some of the most secluded beaches available in North Florida. This quiet, full-service marina offers worldclass facilities and services including 180 protected slips, housing for boats up to 125 feet and luxury pontoon boat rentals at a relaxing price.
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Alaska’s Can’t Miss
Freshwater Fishing Adventures
By Christopher Batin
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laska sportfishing offers wilderness realized rather than imagined and quickens the pulse in all types of anglers, from panfishermen to veteran world anglers. When an angler returns from Alaska and shares an evening on the flats or at the catfish hole with friends, talk quickly turns from big catfish stories to Alaska fishing adventures. The reason is obvious. If you are searching for action, the roostertails of spray generated by a 50-pound chinook salmon on a five-jump run through shallow water will satisfy your need. If the sight of huge shad migrations have you tying on a lure in finger-fumbling fashion, wait until you view pristine rivers teeming with five species of Pacific salmon that are counted not by the thousands, but by the millions. Valdez anglers see the return of as many as 11 million pink salmon to intertidal waters. Choosing the right Alaska adventure is complex, with its various runs, timing and weather. Knowing when to go, where to go and with whom is key. I’ve fished and covered Alaska’s fishing for more than 42 years, and I’ve helped countless anglers find the trip best suited for them. Each angler has separate needs. In the freshwater realm, here are some of the top considerations for can’t miss adventure, fish-hooking action and personal service worthy of the Alaska experience. Interior Alaska
If you’re looking for a quiet place to fish, with scenery, comfortable cabins and located far from the crowds, drive down to Denali National Park and visit Kirk Martakis at Fish Denali. He offers several lakes on private property that offer about 3,000 wild rainbow trout to 31 inches and trophy-sized grayling. They cruise the lake like sharks, and the clear water makes sight casting to them with single-hook jigs, nymphs or topwater lures too much fun. It’s some of the best lake rainbow fishing I’ve experienced. Cozy, fully equipped cabins located at lakeside offer everything you’ll need for a multi-day stay, including Wi-Fi and multiple bedrooms. It’s a good choice for large families, fishing buddies or couples who want a quiet, laid-back trip with some of Alaska’s best scenery (www.Fishdenali.com). Float fishing offers a change of scenery around each turn in the river as well as great fishing opportunities. Alaska River Tours offers remote float trips along the road system, with neither the crowds nor the expense. Depending on the season, owner Reinhard “Reini” Neuhauser chooses the best rivers for grayling, trout, sheefish, pike, salmon and char. On overnight excursions, he provides tents, camping gear and boats. You arrive ready to fish. I recommend the overnight float, which makes the most of Alaska’s 19-plus hours of daylight. Fish when it’s light, and float during the remaining five hours from midnight to the 4 a.m. during the twilight period, when it’s still light enough to read. It’s a heady trip that is only surpassed by his camps and food served (www.akrivertours.com). The Kenai Peninsula For a quick day of fishing, the Kenai River offers big king salmon to 70plus pounds that sizzle drags. Guide Joe Connors was my instructor back in 10
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my college days, and he’s still as tough on catching fish as he was on me learning public speaking. He’s a long-time Kenai veteran, and his guides at Big Sky Charter and Fish Camp have a long-time, sterling reputation for helping anglers of all skill levels catch silver and sockeye salmon, char and rainbow trout in the 25- to 34-inch range. He offers comfortable riverside cabins, evening barbecues and a quiet place to enjoy the river (www.kenaiguide.com). Bristol Bay Bristol Bay lodges offer the crème de le crème of Alaska sportfishing in these western Alaska waters, where tens of millions of salmon move into various watersheds each year. A couple hundred lodges and camps offer a variety of services, from bare-basic outfitted trips to spectacular lodges with fly-out fishing, shore lunches, and gourmet meals. Mike Gorton runs Goodnews River Lodge, the only lodge located on the 400-milelong river that offers some of the best boat-accessible river fishing for silver salmon, rainbow trout and char you’ll find in the region. It is a mixed-bag fishery, where no matter the weather, you can fish. There wasn’t a stretch of the Goodnews when friend Mark Wade and I fished that didn’t have silver salmon hammering our flies and big rainbow trout swarming in numbers like piranhas. The guides have great people skills and are skilled in their knowledge of the river (www.goodnewsriverlodge. com). Southeast Alaska In southeast Alaska, Marlin Benedict, of Fish Wrangell, offers freshwater fishing for salmon, cutthroat trout and char in the remote, beautiful jungle streams of the Tongass National Forest. You don’t walk long distances here, as most of the good fishing is within a half mile or so of saltwater, which also guarantees fish as fresh as they come. The most fun in fishing these shallow waters is watching salmon attacking your fly or lure. Personal service is topnotch. (www.fishwrangell.com). Chris Batin is editor of The Alaska Angler and author of nine award-winning books and Alaska fishing DVDs. He is featured as an Alaska legend in a new book, “Alaska’s Greatest Outdoor Legends,” published by the University of Alaska Press. For over 40 years, he has run The Alaska Angler Information Service. Discover more at www.AlaskaAngler.com.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
HAMMERHEAD TUFF GRAB AMARRA
Hammerhead Tuff Grab spearfishing gloves are the toughest warmwater spearfishing gloves available. Tuff Grabs were designed in Hawaii for use in asspetto spearfishing, which involves the diver descending to the bottom and scratching up substrate to attract inquisitive fish. In this style of ambush diving, normal diving gloves only last weeks. Tuff Grabs last months, saving the diver money in the long run. A full 5-finger, 2mm neoprene glove with reinforced flexible amarra (synthetic suede) palm and double-stitched gripped reinforcements offer exceptional durability without sacrificing dexterity. Anti-Slip rubberized grips are sewn into each fingertip and palm, leaving the knuckles open for flexibility. Large batting-glove style Velcro enclosures keep the glove tight. Tuff Grabs are available in both Deep Reef and Pelagic Shatter camouflage to help make you the ultimate predator.
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MAVERICK DARIAN YOKOOJI HYBRID SPEARGUNS Darian Yokooji made his first speargun back in 1993 because he didn’t have money to buy one. Since then, his Hawaiian-made, handcrafted guns have become highly sought after by spearfishers around the world. All of Yokooji’s guns are handcrafted in small batches to ensure quality workmanship, and he uses only the finest materials to construct beautiful, durable spearguns that perform to the highest level. His best-selling guns are his Hybrid Signature line. Originally designed in 1996, this line offers the stability of wood with the maneuverability of a pipe gun. The latest rendition of this classic gun has been retooled through collaboration with Maverick America’s Mark Laboccetta to improve on the original body design, add a carbon fiber barrel and redesign the Delrin muzzle. It is an exceptional, versatile speargun available in lengths of 53, 55, 57 and 60 inches. Check out all the specs online.
WWW.MAVERICK-AMERICA.COM
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High Performance Eyewear
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Center sp Are Log Homes Practical? Why Buy a Log Home?
Log Cabin process. Each log is perfectly engineered in our state of the art, climate-controlled facility prior to construction. This precise engineering of the logs prior to construction also ensures a superior thermal mass. Prior to the Blue Ridge Log Cabin process, thermal mass was affected by less than airtight construction. Ensuring exact fitting and high thermal mass has enabled our log homes to be very competitively priced with traditional construction and traditional building thermal efficiency, making our log homes View time-lapsed video at www.blueridgelogcabins.net an exceptional value, both now and into the future. bviously the number one attribute for log home owners tends Ben Martin: You’ve mentioned the “manufacturing process.” to be the aesthetics. Log homes and the feel of real wood tend to create an ambiance that tends to suit the outdoor enthu- How is it that log homes would have a manufacturing process? Chip Smith: Blue Ridge Log Cabins is an innovator in the log siast more than the traditional American home. But what about the cost to build and maintain a log home? Is it practical? That’s the ques- home industry. We were recently voted on as one of “America’s Favorite Log Homes” by Log Cabin Hub. Our unique process of comtion that we asked Chip Smith, Owner of Blue Ridge Log Cabins. Ben Martin: Chip, some people would suggest that the cost of pletely engineering each log in our facility has enabled us to provide a consistency previously unavailable in the log home industry. This a log home is more than that of a traditional home. Is that correct? Chip Smith: There was a time when that would have been true has also enabled us to produce a more energy efficient log home. Eliminating the inconsistencies normally associated with log but today with our improved efficiencies in development and construction of a Blue Ridge Log Cabin the answer is no, they are not home construction has allowed us to create a better value for our more costly than a traditional home. This innovation in the actual customers and a more efficient building process. Beautiful log homes manufacturing of the logs themselves is at the core of the Blue Ridge do not have to cost more than traditional homes.
O
7.5078 W x 3.2985 H
Visit our website: www.BlueRidgeLogCabins.net or Call: (888) 340-9782 625 East Frontage Road, Campobello, SC 29322 14
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SOUTHEAST
Mad Fish
By Capt. Chester Reese
W
e sometimes think fish are just mindless members of the environment with little tiny brains. Though it is true that brain size in fish is diminutive, they’ve had 450 million years to work out their game plan. In the wild, fish need to be both aggressive and wary to survive. The eye of a fish is well adapted to light conditions and motion; this gives them a unique ability to feed and fight. I’ve been a diver for many years and witnessed some wild antics of fish of all sizes. Once, there was a 3-inch damselfish in the Keys that attacked my dive glove and
fought like a bulldog because it thought I was intruding on its territory. Here in Franklin County, Florida, we have some of the best gag grouper grounds in the state. During the warmer months, gags are somewhat dispersed, and the tried and true method of fishing for them is to troll large-lipped lures. This allows the fisherman to cover a lot of ground, plus it’s a nice way to cruise and fish at the same time. Some of the lures that are the most effective do not look like any fish in the sea but catch fish on a regular basis. What does a grouper think a big plastic bright green shaking lure racing along the reef is? For a long time, whenever I bought a lure it had to look fishy, but maybe that’s not what is the most effective. Many times when we get a hookup on these lures, the fish is caught on the side of the head or in some other part away from the mouth. I have talked to a lot of grouper fisherman, and we have come up with a crazy idea; maybe these lone groupers are simply defending their spot on the reef. One old captain told me he wasn’t catching feeding fish, they were just mad. This make sense to me, because I’ve seen largemouth bass defend their breeding beds in freshwater and they can be very aggressive. And don’t forget about the damselfish incident. Color, size and movement are very important to successful lure action. Many colors appear different at depth than at the surface. Red is the first to go and looks black at 30 feet, while chartreuse green holds its color the best in low-light conditions, and you can’t go wrong with white. So, when considering what lure or fly you want to fish with, think like a fish. What is going to stimulate a bite under certain conditions and in certain areas? It is important to realize that fish may not only be feeding, they might just be “Mad Fish.” Be Safe Out There and Good Luck Capt. Chester Reese Natural World Charters out of Carabelle, Franklin County, Florida. Check out his website at www.naturalworldcharters.com.
Your fish is waiting. Florida’s Forgotten Coast
Boaters and mariners will find something to love in Franklin County. Carrabelle features deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater rivers. Plan a kayak or day sailing eco-adventure from Apalachicola or St. George Island. Eastpoint and Alligator Point offer direct access to the best inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast. Bring your own boat or rent one here; there’s no better place to enjoy Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information.
ALLIGATOR POINT • APALACHICOLA • CARRABELLE • EASTPOINT • ST. GEORGE ISLAND COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NORTH CAROLINA
A Decorum Manifesto:
SHOULD I PICK THIS UP?
By Dustin Stanberry
Summer Strategies for Shoreline Bass Anglers By Patrick Morrow
S A
t some point in our fishing excursions, we all have encountered litter on the stream. We want to believe the extra work we put into getting to that special spot will pay off with a pristine piece of water. It’s only after we arrive and fish a few yards that we quickly realize we aren’t pioneers, and we’re just following footsteps. Traces of human presence can often be found in the form of trash in or around the water. Something we can control, as anglers, is what we do when we see this debris. I’m not suggesting everyone carry a trash bag with them while fishing just to pick up after others. But how much could we clean up if everyone picked up one more piece of garbage than they carried in? Recently, while guiding, I retrieved a soda can, wine bottle and chip bag on the way back to the vehicle for lunch. My clients were curious as to why someone would pick up another’s trash. We ate lunch, and I placed the refuse in the trash bag along with our trash. After witnessing how easily the trash was disposed of, my clients were on the lookout for trash the rest of the evening. The point of this story is simple. Setting an example is not only rewarding, sometimes it can change the behavior of others. Something all anglers are faced with is the scraps and snippets of leader, tippet or fishing line. Every time a lure or fly is changed, we generally need to trim the tag ends of our knot. Ideally we want to pack all of our line out. Realistically, we drop small amounts of line for various reasons. Perhaps it’s windy and your fingers are cold and wet, or maybe you are in the middle of feeding fish and trying to make a quick fly change. I make a point to stow my trimmings. I just push them into the chest pocket on my waders and throw the line away when I get home. Cutting the line up into small pieces before placing it in the garbage will help ensure it will not be a problem later on. It doesn’t take much effort, and I know the fish and wildlife will appreciate it. Along the same lines, I am constantly on the lookout for abandoned line while I fish. You won’t have to look hard to find line on trees and snagged in the rocks. Abandoned line is tough on fish and other wildlife, so take a moment to gather what you can and pack it out. It might save the life of a critter or the fish we try so hard to protect. If you find yourself asking the question, “Should I pick this up?” then it’s probably the right thing to do. In the quest for good decorum on the water, picking up after each other, and ourselves, is one of the most important. Preserving the resource we cherish is one of the most challenging goals we face as anglers.
ummer is a trying time of year for most anglers, but it is especially challenging for those fishing from the bank. Stranded far from deep water, shoreline anglers must overcome even greater obstacles than their boat-fishing counterparts to elicit bites. But you can still catch plenty of bass in the summer, you just have to adjust your techniques and do a few things to maximize your opportunities. Seek Out Shade Largemouth bass are most comfortable hunting in low-light conditions, and they tend to hangout in areas with some type of shade. Therefore, you’ll want to concentrate your efforts on deep weed beds, boat docks and tree-lined coves to get your lure in front of more bass. It is often helpful to master the art of skipping a lure, so you can get it back under overhanging vegetation or low-lying docks. Reach Deeper Depths Bass often move away from the shore following the post-spawn period until fall temperatures arrive and they return. This means that bank-bound anglers will need to do everything they can to maximize casting distance. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of heavier weights and lures. You may also want to downsize your line choice as much as possible, to further increase your reach. Slow Down Your Presentation Summer bass often become quite lethargic, and food is often very plentiful during the Dog Days. Accordingly, fish are far less aggressive during this time of year than the spring or fall. To help tempt them into biting your lure, you’ll want to make it as irresistible looking as possible. One of the best ways to do this is by simply slowing down your presentation; you can even let your lure stop completely at several points during the retrieve. Fish Early or Late The intense heat of summer often causes bass and other fish to alter their activity patterns. Specifically, it causes them to adopt a crepuscular daily cycle – meaning that they become most active at dawn and dusk. This doesn’t mean that you can achieve success while the sun’s high in the sky, but you’ll have a better chance to catch more fish while the light levels are low and the temperature relatively cool. Look for Cold Water Some of the most productive areas for bank fishers to target are the mouths of tree-lined—and therefore cool—creeks and streams. Many of the fish that populate stream-fed lakes and ponds will hang out in these areas – including both baitfish and bass. Bass often stage on either side of points in these areas, so work crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs in all directions until you hit upon an effective trajectory. The truth is, you probably won’t catch quite as many fish during the hottest part of the summer as you will during the comparatively cooler months of the calendar. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have enough success to enjoy yourself, no matter how high the mercury climbs. Just embrace the five strategies detailed above, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you enjoy success.
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AUGUST 2017
NORTH CAROLINA 3
7/18/17 9:29 12:11 7/15/17 AMPM
Restore Our Battleship!
What is a Cofferdam? • • • •
A cofferdam is a watertight structure built to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment. The Battleship cofferdam will enable workers to repair and restore the ship’s corroded hull, which is paper-thin in places. The Battleship’s last major dry docking and repair work was done in 1953. The cofferdam will be constructed over 18 months by Orion Marine Group of Norfolk, VA.
The SECU Memorial Walkway • • •
•
Under construction simultaneously, the SECU Memorial Walkway will be a half mile long, 10-foot wide timber walkway surrounding the Battleship. The walkway will be above the waterline but below the main deck of the Battleship. It will allow visitors to see the ship’s entire hull for the first time. The walkway will include five bump-out areas to honor each of the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Merchant Marines will be honored by flying their flag on the quarterdeck. The walkway will be open to the public and free of charge.
All Hands on Deck! • •
To view construction updates, visit www.battleshipnc.com. For more information on the Generations Campaign, contact Marty Feurer, Development Director, at marty.feurer@ ncdcr.gov.
Text “Battleship” to 41444
HUGE Online Store To Receive Our 98-Page Spearfishing Equipment Catalog, email info@maverick-america.com AM 11/8/16 9:55
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BLUE RIDGE
Our knowledgable staff has been serving the Maggie Valley Cabin Rental market for over 15 years helping others, like yourself, find the right vacation home in the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee areas. Premier Vacation Rentals offers a wide variety of rental properties for your Smoky Mountain vacation. We are located in the Maggie Valley and Waynesville area.
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Set Your Sights On Us On 67 acres of rural rolling terrain, among towering pines, red maples, and mighty oaks, and surrounded by the incredible Blue Ridge vistas in the heart of the gated Blue Ridge Mountain Club, lies Chetola Sporting Reserve. • • • • • •
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Steel of Approval At $49, this blade of Damascus steel is a real steal amascus steel is legendary. Tales of its unmatched strength, sharpness and D durability ring through the ages. There are stories of gun rifles being sliced in two by Damascus steel swords and individual strands of hair being sliced in
half, even if they gently floated down on to the edge of the blade. Now, you can be a part of the legend. The Legend Knife boasts nearly 4” of famed Damascus steel with it’s signature, wavy pattern. Damascus steel blade knives can cost thousands. So, at $49, the price itself is almost legendary. Cast Damascus steel, known as wootz, was popular in the East and it’s an exacting process that’s part metalwork, part chemistry. It's produced by melting pieces of iron and steel with charcoal in a low oxygen environment. During the process, the metals absorb carbon from the charcoal and the resulting alloy is cooled at a very slow rate. The outcome is a beautiful one-of-a-kind pattern of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. Once a lost art, we sought out a knifemaker who has resurrected the craftsmanship of Damascus steel to create the Legend Knife. The genuine Damascus steel blade folds into a tri-colored pakkawood handle that’s prepared to resist the ravages of the great outdoors. When not in use or on display, The Legend Knife stays protected in the included genuine leather sheath. “If you have a Damascus steel blade knife, you have a knife blade with unique beauty. With its historical reputation as the metal used for the best swords over hundreds of years, and its distinctive wavy design, Damascus steel is a beauty to behold.” –– knifeart.com With our limited edition Legend Knife What customers are saying you’re getting the best blade money can buy. about Stauer knives... What you won’t get is the inflated price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an out- “Good value. Great looking. standing, collector’s-quality knife that won’t Sufficiently sharp. Overall cut into your bank account. Priced at an an "A" purchase and amazing $49, we can’t guarantee this knife I ordered three.” will stick around for long. So call today! — B. of Maryland Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 60 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe that once you wrap your finTAKE 67 % gers around the Legend’s handle and experience the OFF INST ANTLY! beauty of its Damascus steel blade, you’ll be ready to When you carve out your own legend. use your INSIDER OFFER CO DE
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NEW ENGLAND STRIPERS
AT CUTTYHUNK ISLAND, MASS. By Charlie Warfield
B
etween Buzzards Bay and Martha’s Vineyard, 10 miles out to sea off the coast of Massachusetts, you will find Cuttyhunk Island. Early seafarers used the island’s natural harbor as a shelter for a few weeks in 1604, making it the first English settlement in New England. When I first visited Cuttyhunk, I could have been in the Bahamas; it was warm and beautiful. It has New England charm with the relaxed feel of the Islands. In addition to the beautiful scenery and fun atmosphere, Cuttyhunk has made a name for itself as a premier striper fishing destination in the Elizabethan Islands. In the summer, this small village is populated with surf casters and clients chartering one of the eight captains on the island. I fell into the former category and benefited from the sage advice of my friend Armand, who has been making an annual pilgrimage to this island for nearly 40 years. Armand knows all the locals, and he knows that the person for us to fish with on this trip would be Capt. Bruce Borges, because Capt. Borges was the only one on the island with a boat that had a full casting platform suited to pursue bass with a fly rod. Capt. Bruce is quite the fly angler himself, and has guided big names such as Lefty Cray over the years. He is a sharp-witted salty fellow who looks all of 78 his years but possessed the strength and agility of a man in his 50s. As soon as we unloaded our gear from the ferry, we set out to fish the shoreline from the captain’s nicely appointed boat the Wahini. As we worked the rocky shoreline, I was impressed by the rugged beauty of this place.
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Cuttyhunk sits in the middle of the striped bass prespawn staging area. Fish glut themselves on an abundance of squid and sand eels as well as school after school of bunker. Once the water warms to the perfect temperature, the fish move inland and up the many tributaries throughout Massachusetts and Maine to spawn. This makes for a great fishery full of fish ranging from small schoolies up to 50-pound-plus monsters. It is all about timing as to whether you will catch the big fish or just the schoolies. On this trip, it was the latter, but there were larger fish around, and bait fishermen were having better luck with the big fish. You know what they say, “they never refuse the naturals.” If you ever find yourself around Cape Cod and looking for some great fishing, check out Cuttyhunk. Even if you just take the ferry over for the day and spend some time on the beach with the family, I promise you will enjoy this beautiful and quaint Island.
7/18/17 12:00 PM
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AUGUST 2017 l WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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LAKE HIWASSEE
August Striper Fishing in Western NC with The Angler Magazine Fishing Team By Shane Goebel
H
ot summer days equal hot striper fishing on Lake Hiwassee. August brings with it some great fishing in the Western North Carolina Mountains, and there’s no better lake to experience awesome striper fishing on than Lake Hiwassee. We’ve been averaging 30 to 50 fish per morning out here. This is the perfect time to hit the lake and experience some extreme striper fishing, and what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 and only fulltime striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is at full pool. Water clarity is clear and water temps are in the mid 80s. Striper fishing has been excellent. The early-morning and eve-
ning bites are your best times to see action. Target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel. Also, during the hot sunny days of summer, search out areas with some good shade. The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 6 to the dam. The top-water bite has slowed a bit, but I still like to keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag surface-busting fish. The fish will continue to school up through the next couple months and will move to even deeper water. Just remember to keep an eye on your electronics and watch for schools of stripers when cruising the lake. Also, remember to try to get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible after they are caught. Try not to drop them in the boat and remember
that the limit is 4 per person out there. This is an excellent striper lake, and it’s only going to get better if we help them thrive. Smallmouth and spotted bass fishing has been outstanding, too. The bass have really started to school up. Work shallow humps, creek mouths, and clay banks. Also, target brush piles throughout the lake. Downlining blueback herring has worked best for us, but we are also picking up some quality fish on jerkbaits, flukes, and spooks. Look for these bass to continue to school through the rest of next month. August is a fantastic month for catching some big fish on this lake. From smallmouth bass to hard fighting stripers, there are many great opportunities to catch a number of fish species on Hiwassee Lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guid-
ing Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy fish. We are Murphy, NC’s only full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lake Nottely, Chatuge and Blue Ridge. And for all your live blueback herring and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
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. We Run Trips 365 Days A Year. Book Your Trip Now!
Pontoon, Kayak and Paddle Board Rentals Visit our website at
Mention This Ad and Receive a Discount When Booking Your Trip!
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MURPHY, NC'S ONLY FULL-TIME STRIPER GUIDE SERVICE
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To find available accommodations in the Bear Paw Resort area, click on "places to stay"
200 Dean Aldrich Dr. Murphy, NC 28906 • (828) 644-5451 2 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 2017
828-361-2021 www.bigol�ish.com
Serving Hiwassee Lake, Lake Apalachia, Lake Chatuge and Lake Nottely STRIPED BASS, HYBRID BASS, WALLEYE & SMALLMOUTH
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LAKE CHATUGE
Lake Chatuge Hybrid and Bass Fishing
S
ummer fishing on Lake Chatuge, which borders Western North Carolina and North Georgia, really gets fired up. With warmer water temps, the hybrids and bass school up, which means we are able to load the boat with tons of trophy hybrids, spotted, and largemouth bass. Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the mid 80s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid fishing is great, as the fish are schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities. Most of our hybrids are averaging 8-12 pounds. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardest-fighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish off shallow humps along the main channel, clay banks, and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. Top-water bite remains very good as well. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, spook, or red fin at the ready. Spotted bass fishing remains
By Darren Hughes
excellent, too. We are still catching some huge spots throughout the day, and it’s not uncommon to put 30-40 of these feisty fish in the boat in one trip. Early morning top-water bite has been strong. Top-water plugs, spooks, and jerk baits have worked well. Our downline bite has also been very productive, especially in the mid-morning hours. Look for fish to be schooled up on shallow clay banks, humps, and off points. In terms of location, the upper end of the lake has been producing slightly better numbers than the lower end. August fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. Remember, live bait on this lake can mean the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA--it’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. We also carry ethanol-free gas and have some of the best hot, made-from-scratch biscuits in North GA. For guided fishing trips on Lakes Chatuge, Apalachia, Hiwassee, or Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call me, Darren Hughes, at Hughes General Store. And whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, give Chatuge a shot for some of the best spotted bass and hybrids in the area. Good luck, and get hooked!
Darren Hughes is the Owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop and a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. Look him up at www. bigolfish.com or give him a call, (706) 745-6569
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 3
MURPHY AREA
Reminiscing In The Holler By Justin Mickens
T
raditions run deeply here in the Southern Appalachians. Everything from fishing to gardening is taught to you from a young age. You grow up wanting to be just like your Grandpa, Dad, or maybe even an Uncle. They are the ones that you have the most memories of fishing with. Crawling through the foliage to your favorite fishing hole, to make a 10 foot cast, for a Native Brook Trout. Frying the trout, on the stream bank, with some potatoes and ramps. Life can be very good in the Southern Appalachians. Traditions have always been a part of fly fishing. Secrets are passed down through the generations. Secret fly patterns, secret fishing spots, and secret techniques are all part of the lore here in the Southern Appalachians. I personally, never had that opportunity. I didn’t learn to fly fish until my twenties, and I
learned through the school of hard knocks. Even though no one in my family fly-fished, I’m all the time running into people who are willing to share their experience. In the Murphy area, we have a legend named Forrest Lockaby. Forrest is very well known across
the area for his skill with a fly rod. He is also an accomplished fly tyer, with many of his creations being regarded as people’s go to flies. I was fortunate to marry into his fam-
ily, and have one of his rods handed down to me - a 7 foot, 5 weight Shakespeare Wonderglass. It was my favorite rod. I used it so much that the cork was falling apart. I had my friend, Jimmy at “Jimmy ‘The Fox’ Rescue Rods”, rebuild and customize the rod. After fishing it myself for a couple of years, I have since passed down the rod to my daughter. I made sure to explain to her where the rod came from, and how much it means to keep it in the family. The next time you plan on fishing, be sure to take someone with you. You never know when that spark might ignite an inferno in that young person’s life. I would much rather see our young people hooked on fishing than drugs. Until next time, tight lines and stables rocks.
Justin Mickens is Co-Owner and Manager of Appalachian Outfitters Fly Shop in Murphy, NC.
Fly Shop Full Service Fly Shop Fly Fishing • Fly Tying Paddle Sports • Guide Services Your #1 Destination for Outdoor Activities in Western NC, Northern GA and Eastern TN
104C Tennessee Street, Murphy, NC • 828-837-4165
www.appalachianoutfittersnc.com
SMSS has all the essentials for hunting, target shooting, home defense, reloading and more Call for date & time of monthly concealed carry class. 53 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC • 828-837-7677 Beside the Courthouse
www.smokymountainshooters.com www.facebook.com/smokymtnshooter
4 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 2017
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For Bill By Aaron Kephart
M
y original intent for this month was to relay a brief fishing forecast for August and spend some time on tips for fishing with kids (which I do a lot), but as I sat down to write this article I received a phone call that changed my focus entirely. To put it bluntly, most guides write magazine articles to try and recruit new business, and I am no exception. However, if you happened to notice, all of my pictures this month contained the same gentleman, Mr. Bill Youngblood. Bill was one of my first, and quite frankly one of my favorite, clients, and I always looked forward to every opportunity to spend time in the boat with him. If I am remembering correctly, I probably guided him a half dozen or so times this year, and every single trip
was one I looked forward to. Unfortunately for everyone that knew him, Bill passed away unexpectedly yesterday at his cabin in Murphy, and I would be remiss as a friend if I did not spend time in my allotted space this month to remember him. While my words will in no way do justice to the man that Bill was, I at least want to try. My business is grounded in relationships. While I always welcome new clients, I don’t do a lot of advertising, instead preferring to let my business grow primarily through referrals and repeat clients. Some of those relationships that I form eventually extend beyond business, and a few can quickly transcend client status and evolve into friendships. Bill was a case in point. The first time I guided Bill I felt like I had known him all my life, and despite our significant age difference, we quickly
found common ground. If I am not mistaken, I guided him for the first time on Chatuge on a Wednesday, and on Thursday he called me and booked a trip on Apalachia for Friday. You could say we hit it off right from the start. I have had the honor and privilege of coming in contact with some incredible people in my time as a fishing guide, and none
have left a bigger impression on me than Mr. Bill. I had the opportunity to guide Bill, his wife, a number of his friends, and a good portion of his grandchildren on numerous trips and lakes in the Murphy area. Every single excursion was memorable and enjoyable, regardless of the quality of the fishing. He was a man of faith, family, and integrity, and he will be sorely missed. Bill always showed genuine concern for my own personal health (always encouraging me to quit dipping and to get more sleep), my family (never forgetting to ask about my wife and kids), and for my financial wellbeing (always offering free financial advice, a field in which he was an expert). He always displayed love for the sport of fishing, but more importantly, he displayed a concern for his fellow man. He was one of those rare few, who genuinely cared for others as much as he did for himself. When I opened my email to compose this article I had an unopened email in my inbox from Bill just checking in on me and how I was doing. He offered valued advice to me via text a few times in the last couple of weeks concerning the future direction of my business (I truly believe he had
more faith in me than I have in myself) and also about the pros and cons of the new boat purchase I have been considering. Bill did not stand to profit in the least from any of this, but was simply reaching out to lend a helping hand. The world could use a lot more people like him. It is hard to make sense of loss sometimes. Bill’s loss keeps making me think of one thought: keep things in context. I spend an inordinate amount of my time either fishing or preparing to fish, and I am always thinking about how to make sure my next clients catch the most fish possible. This is not a bad way to spend life, and I am supremely blessed to be in a position to profit financially from something that I love dearly. However, some of the most important things involved in what I do (at least for me) don’t necessarily involve fish, but the people I get to encounter. On multiple occasions in recent months Bill invited me out for a meal, but between guiding, teaching, kids, and all of the other things that clutter my schedule, I never found the right
opportunity to meet up with him. Those are opportunities I will never have now, and I sorely regret missing out on them. I would like to close this month with this thought on my mind: enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, and if you love fishing as much as I do and as much as Bill did, enjoy every single opportunity that you have to spend time on the water, especially if it’s with people that matter to you. Bill froze half to death with me on February mornings chasing smallmouth on Apalachia and nearly melted in the August heat chasing giant spots on Chatuge and stripers on Hiwassee, but I wouldn’t trade a second of it, and I sincerely hope he felt the same way.
Aaron Kephart is the Owner of Mountain Lakes Guide Service. To book a guided trip on one of the Murphy area mountain lakes, contact him by phone at 865-466-1345 or by email at mtnlakesguide@outlook. com Check out his website at http://www.mtnlakesguideservice.com and catch him on facebook@mountainlakesguideservice
Murphy North Carolina’s
premier trophy smallmouth and spotted bass guide service
Mountain Lakes Guide Service
Hiwassee - Apalachia - Chatuge Aaron Kephart 865-466-1345 mtnlakesguide@outlook.com
Crappie, Trophy Trout, Stripers, and more available
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 5
NANTAHALA
Late Summer Fishing On The Nantahala
L
ate summer is here and with it begins some of the best dry fly fishing the Nantahala River has to offer. While spring and early to midsummer is awesome for all day nymphing, late summer and fall, with decreasing sunlight, gives the fly angler a combination of both nymph and dry fly action. Mornings are still
By Ken Kastorff
great for nymphing, while afternoons and early evenings can fire up some awesome dry fly fishing. This is exciting and challenging fishing with light leader and tippet on big fast water. Even a 10 inch rainbow on 6x tippet can get your attention in the Nantahala tail race. Hook into a 15-20 inch brown and it is game on!
I like to use an 8.5 to 9 foot 4-5 weight rod with a nine foot leader. Most times, a 5x tapered leader will work fine. Tie a number 16 high visible fly directly on to it, and then come off of the high visible fly hook with two feet of 6x for your primary Fly. Usually, a size 18 fly will be small enough, although sometimes I will drop down to size 20. I will almost always use two dry flys, tied in tandem with a larger, more visible fly, in front of my primary fly. This works really well when fishing low light, late afternoon conditions. The larger fly will help you focus in on the smaller primary fly. The water in the Nantahala is usually crystal clear and I have seen big fish come tearing out of their hiding place along shore to sprint ten to fifteen feet or more, to inhale a dry fly. If this doesn’t get your heart racing, nothing will. Fly selection for the fall can present a variety of possibilities. Light Cahills, Pale Evening Dunns, Sulfurs,
BWO’s and Adams patterns all seem to work fine for the lead fly. Usually, I will use Cream Midges, Grey Midges or BWOs for the primary Fly. Another great pattern that works well for both the lead and primary fly is a Bivisible. These are just a few options. Everyone has his favorite combination and, to be honest, presentation and drag free drift is far more important to consider. The Nantahala River is a tailrace river with high flows during power generation releases. That being said, it is a challenge to fish with the water on and fly anglers need to careful if they are wade fishing. One slip wearing waders with water on can turn into a bad situation in a hurry. We offer float trips on the Nantahala, which makes for a much better platform for fishing with the water on. Wade fishing is much better late in the afternoon or early evening after the power generation releases subside.
Ken Kastorff is the Owner and Guide at Endless River Adventures located in Bryson City, North Carolina.
6 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 2017
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SWAIN COUNTY / BRYSON CITY
Know The Basics And “Get Your Fly On!” By Ronnie Parris
H
ey Folks! The hot weather is here and it’s time to head for the mountains. When it gets this hot, the best relief a man can get is to hike into a backcountry Brooke Trout stream and get waist deep in that cold water. I like the smaller, less pressured, streams that only the “locals” know about. You don’t need a real expensive fly fishing outfit. No need for fancy waders, just put on a pair of felt soled wading boots, grab the seven foot 3 weight rod, and hit the road. Most days, these brookies will not be too picky about fly patterns. I use royal wolfs, stimulaters, female adams, orange palmers, or black parachutes. Size is usually more important than the pattern. I use 12 and14s.
For most small streams, you won’t need a long leader, the rule of thumb is to use the same length of leader as the length of your rod. I use store
bought tapered leaders usually 5x.I, like floating weight forward line. There are a lot of different brands but they’re pretty much the same. You will be making short role casts so it won’t matter much. Always start at the bottom of the stretch- you want to fish and work upstream because the fish are facing upstream and you don’t want them to see you or they will spook. Always wear natural colors of clothing so the fish won’t spot you as easily. I always stalk up on a pool and not to splash around and draw attention to myself. Fly presentation is very important. If you smack the water hard with your fly, you won’t draw too many hits and also your dry fly will usually sink. I try to place my fly, not in the current, but on the edge of the current because the trout are usually laying close by. If there’s a tree in the water or any cover, such as good undercut rocks, it’s a safe bet that there will be a fish close by. Pay attention to the sun as you stalk up on a pool, if it’s at your back and your shadow is casting ahead into the pool your fishing, you will not get a strike. These fish are very fast, so when you get a hit, set the hook fast or they spit the fly and are gone. These brookies are great eating, so I like to enjoy a meal of them. Just don’t get caught up in the habit of taking to many because they are a valuable resource and can easily be over fished. When we camp, my
buddies and I only keep the number each one of us can eat, which is usually 2 or 3, even though the limit in the park is 5. Be sure if you carry drinks or snacks that you carry out your trash. Nothing is more of an eyesore than to be in a pretty stream and see a drink bottle floating down. Also a good habit to get into is, if you are going to release a fish and you are not going to get a picture, don’t touch it- just grab the fly with your pliers and turn the hook around, sew a little slack, and the fish is released. If you do want a picture, either hold the line and don’t touch the fish, or wet your hands and cradle the fish, being sure to get it back in the water as fast as possi-
ble. Always check the regulations before fishing a stream because each one has different rules on size and creel limits. We are so lucky in Swain County because, in any direction you turn, 15 minutes will put you on good fishing. Don’t be intimidated by the fly fishing books that make it seem you have to be a scaler to catch a trout on a fly. Just keep everything as simple as possible and you will do fine. If you go fly fishing and have trouble, give me a call and I would be glad to book a trip and go over the techniques you will need in our area. So next time it’s so hot it would make a dragon sweat, hit the creek, cool off, and catch some trout!
Ronnie Parris is the Owner and Head Guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, North Carolina, heart of The Great Smoky Mountains. (www.smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com)
Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING We offer both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.
1012 East Alarka Road, Bryson City, NC • 828-488-9711, Cell: 828-736-9471
smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 7
Swainglers Fishing Club Member Wins Tournament! By Tammy Parris
K
ade Biggs, rising junior and Swaingler fishing club member at Swain County High School, along with Bryce Coates from Robbinsville, placed first place at Lake Chatuge in the WNC High School Anglers fishing tournament June 24th. Their
Congratulations go out to Kade Biggs and Bryce Coates.
Kade Biggs’ big catch.
8 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
impressive weigh in added up to 13.20 lbs! They tricked the fish with spooks, shakey heads and a big swimbait. They walked off with plaques and countless free fishing tackle. The bass didn’t stand a chance with these two experienced anglers in control of the rod and reels! Congratulations Kade and
AUGUST 2017
Bryce! Kade is an example of #maroonstrong! Western North Carolina High School Anglers is a tournament
bass fishing organization for Western North Carolina and North Georgia- middle school through high school. The fishing trail competes once a month on a variety of lakes. Points are taken at each tournament and winners are announced at the end of the season. More information is available from their Facebook page, WNC High School Anglers. It’s great to see teenagers outside doing what they love and getting rewarded for it. In this day and time, too many are on the couch with a phone in their hand or in front of a TV screen for entertainment. Whether it’s fishing, camping, or taking a bike ride, get your teenagers outside! It’s a healthier lifestyle for them and for you!
Tammy Parris is the Leader of The Swainglers fishing club at Swain County High School in Bryson City, North Carolina. They fish once a month of the school year during club time. Contact her at tparris@swainmail.org for more information or to support this popular club.
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SWAIN COUNTY/FONTANA LAKE
Beating The Late Summer Heat
W
ell, the full heat of summer is upon us. Not many days ‘til the kids start back to school. Guides generally have a rush of trips before the kiddos are sequestered in the classrooms. The worst thing is, that this just isn’t one of the best times to fish. Heat, bugs, sunburn, and a general lack of fish willing to partake can make this a slow to middling time to get out. A few things that can help follow. Number one is to get out as early as you can stand. A fish is going
By Capt. James McManus
to feed and there are tons of bait schools - they may be tiny but they’re there. A fish’s metabolism is up and so, at some point, they will get hungry. Getting out early will generally give you a shot at a couple hour feed with topwater not out of the picture. Remember too, that bait has been newly hatched so downsize your baits to match the hatch. This may mean crappie-sized jigs that you can tie in tandem to gain a little more distance throwing. While some fish may be on top eating hatchling fly,
the bigger boys may be deep trying to escape the warmer temps. Searching channel edges on Fontana means being in up to 200+ feet of water and you can find bass down to 80 or so feet, you just have to be willing to look away from the banks. Another beat the heat trick is to give in and just fish after the sun has gone down. Setting up on points in 80 feet of water, at the mouth of a good sized creek, will be a good starting place. Set out lights and wait for them to bring the fish to you. The heads of major rivers like the Nantahala or Little Tennessee are also excellent places to set up. Live bait and artificials will work, so keep an assortment handy. I also like to tie up at the dam and fish for trout. Tasty fillets are typically waiting here. Use
live bait and jigs to catch whites and walleye too. As I get older, it is harder and harder to night fish so be careful - if you stay all night and drive home be sure to have a lookout along and take coffee or caffeine drinks and just be smart and pull over to nap if those eyes are drooping. The last tip is to just change species. I still love to watch a cork go down, so this time of year, I often grab a tube of crickets, head to a bank with brush, and bream fish. It is amazing, but you will catch some of the largest bass doing this and add some channel cats to the bag also. So stay cool, give the middle of the day to the skiers and jet skis and change tactics for continued success ‘til the water cools next month. God Bless and be careful, Capt. James
Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 9
10 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 2017
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US Youth National Fly Fishing Championship
Y
By Michael Yelton
outh anglers from across the country ascended on Cherokee, NC to compete in the 2017 US Youth National Fly Fishing Championship held on June 23rd– 25th. There were 18 competitors who had qualified to compete. The competition consisted of 4, 2 hour, competitor controlled river sessions. Which means that each angler would fish a session then judge a fellow angler during the next session. The river venues were the delayed harvest waters of the upper Nantahala, the hatchery supported waters of the lower Nantahala, the general water of the Raven’s Fork and the trophy water of the Raven’s Fork. Due to recent rains, the competitors were challenged with high water conditions on the first day. Nevertheless, there were plenty of fish, with a total of 344 fish caught over the two-day catch & release event. With an average length of 24cm and the largest being 53 cm. Wild and stocked Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout were recorded. Local Seth Drake of Hendersonville, NC took home the gold medal. Mike Komara of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania took the silver medal and Evan Vanek of Dallas, Texas snagged the bronze. Drake commented on the tough conditions, “Having rained the day before the competition, I had to be prepared
for high muddy water the first day, and clearer water on the second. Fly selection was crucial for each day, having to switch gears from using junky flies at first, to smaller natural nymphs as the water became clearer.” Drake’s adjustments paid off as he came from behind going into the last session to secure the win. The US Youth Fly Fishing team selected its’ 2017/18 roster at the closing awards ceremony. The top 6 anglers were selected from last years’ roster to represent the US at the 2017 World Youth Fly Fishing Championship in Slovenia, August 7th-13th, 2017. Representing the US Youth World team this year will be Douglas Freemann of Philadelphia, PA, Grant Hawse of Marvin, NC, Holden Price of Port Matilda, PA, Seth Drake of Hendersonville, NC, Evan Vanek of Dallas, TX and Mike Komara of Pittsburg, PA. Fore more information or to follow the results of the 2017 Youth World Championships go to www. wyffc2017.com.
www.granddaddyflyfishing.com (828) 980-3554
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 11
It’s Time to Fess Up By Eddie Hudon
W
ell, It’s about time I tell the story of my trip to Colorado, in 2008. That’s when my partner and I hosted a fishing trip with our clients. One in particular, Jeff V. D., never fly fished before. He was very apprehensive but being a great sport, he decided to try it. Jeff asked me for help and instruction, as I was very familiar with the Taylor River. At dinner the first night we arrived, we discussed our plans for the next day. I recommended we first start out throwing a spinning outfit to get the feel of the water and to locate the trout. Jeff was fine with that. So the next morning we entered the water, found a good spot, and started casting. After several casts, Jeff had a fish on, but it got off. He was excited and said, “ this is going to be easy.” (Little did he know) After several more casts
- same thing. Fish on, but it got off. He would ask, “What am I doing wrong?” I replied, “keep casting.” We moved around and the same thing kept happening. I said, “let me try it.” I told Jeff I was going to change the spinner and maybe that would give us good luck. A few casts in the river and “SMACK!” A nice, 18” Rainbow. A few more casts and another nice fish. Time for Jeff to try it again, but he said he preferred to try the fly rod next. At dinner that night, Jeff told everyone how he couldn’t catch a fish with the spinner, but I was great at it. (Oh my!) I didn’t have the heart to tell everyone what I had done. When we first started out in the morning, I took the treble hook off the spinner and was going to replace it with a single barbless hook. Ah HA! I decide to pull a joke
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AUGUST 2017
on Jeff and not put a hook on at all…………At the time, I thought it was funny. (Well it is, ain’t it?) I couldn’t fess up then, but I’m doing it now. So when this article comes out in the August issue, I
am going to send him a copy. I’m sure I am going to get a phone call. However ~ I finally got this of my chest…………LOL! [PS: Jeff is no longer my client, so I can now tell this story]
Eddie Hudon is the Owner of Blue Chip Fly Fishing headquartered in Whittier, NC.
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Catch and Release… Is It Causing More Harm Than Good?
N
ow, before someone calls for a lynch mob, hear me out on this. Let’s look at a few things here and get some conversation started on how to best allow our trout to reach the sizes of years past, when catch and release was more catch and keep. Catch and release waters provide great opportunities for anglers and, as a guide service, we certainly depend on these waters to produce, and in most cases, they do when that regulation is in place. However, I am more interested in fisheries such as the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, where no stocking program is taking place and you are seeing more anglers practicing catch and release versus catch and keep. Posted and printed regulations allow you a daily creel limit of 5 fish, 7 inches or longer in the GSMNP. One would think that biologists have taken into consideration that harvesting these legal limits of trout would not hurt population sustainability and, in fact, these regulations have not changed much over the years. Let’s look at what has happened to fly fishing over the last 20 years in Western North Carolina. I remember walking into Lowe’s Fly Shop in the 90’s, which was the first local fly shop that I patronized. It was a true fly shop; Not the Army Store or Sky City, but an actual fly shop with local tied flies, tying materials, all the gear you would ever
By Shannon Messer
need, and of course, a fantastic environment to learn knowledge and that, my friend, was the best part! Other Fly Shops at that time, would have included Hunter Banks in Asheville and Davidson River Outfitters in Brevard, so that was a total of three. Fast forward to 2017, and currently, we have 3 fly shops in Jackson County that offer wade and float trips as well as all the necessary gear that anyone could want. We have had a tourist explosion, for better or worse, it is the sign of the times. People have found out what
Fork, you can still take good trout but you are seeing less of them. You will see more anglers practicing catch and release where we practiced catch and keep. Everything that you read says that we have a great diversity of insects, but we don’t have a great abundance of them, so the trout have fewer insects to feast on. My hypothesis is that, less trout being taken means more trout are fighting over a small amount of natural food. It doesn’t take a genius to understand this; more trout and less
I think that we should look at what we can do to help ensure good sustainable trout populations, sizes, and healthy fisheries for all to enjoy. locals have known about for years, we have awesome fly fishing! Anglers are practicing catch and release more now than ever and that includes waters where we kept our legal limits, and we enjoyed eating the trout. In my opinion, we are taking smaller trout than we have in years, not due to overfishing, but the lack of harvesting legal size limit trout. For instance, on most trips in Straight Fork we would catch larger Rainbows and Browns and we would be selective of what we would keep for eating. We did not freeze them- we ate them so they were not wasted. Now on Straight
food should equal smaller trout. My theory is that, by taking and eating trout, we are doing our part to assist in managing trout populations based on what biologist deem acceptable catch and keep sizes and daily limits. I would question and challenge biologist to reconsider, or reevaluate, current regulations to see if they are up to date based on current trout population surveys. Hunters and fishermen play an important role in maintaining a good balance of harvestable game
and fish for generations to come. If you hunt or fish, you are a conservationist. I think that if you enjoy eating trout you should consider keeping them. It is not going to hurt the population, but should actually help the fisheries. Now, let’s not keep 232 Brook Trout and trade them for getting a tooth pulled like in the early 1900’s, but abide by the rules put into place by biologist years ago. Also, understand the definition of a daily creel limit, total trout per day, per person, not going three times in one day and stuffing your cooler or stringers with 32 trout and posting that picture on Instagram for the world to see. I think that we should look at what we can do to help ensure good sustainable trout populations, sizes, and healthy fisheries for all to enjoy. Regardless, if you practice catch and release, or catch and keep, we have an obligation to our fisheries, and each to other, to ensure that we all are doing our part to protect our cold water fisheries for generations to come. Don’t look down on an angler keeping legal trout. As long as they use the trout in the way the good Lord meant for them to be used, I am good with it. Stop by the shop and let me know what you think. The door is always open, and you can even tie a fly while we chat.
Shannon Messer is the Manager of Blackrock Outdoor/ Orvis Fly Shop located in Sylva, NC.
“Come see me after a hard days fishing”
(828) 277-6700 www.flemingchiropracticcare.com
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 13
By Dustin Stanberry
Dustin’s Masked Menace
Hook: Gamakatsu SC-15 Size 2 Thread: UTC 140 Gray Brown Under Body: Medium Tungsten Nymph Body Body: Senyo’s Laser Dub in Silver Minnow Belly Wing: Layered buck tail in gray, white and gray. Over wing: 4 strands of peacock herl. Flash: 2 Strands of Lateral Scale on each side. Head: Fish Skull Fish Mask #5 Eyes: Fish Skull Living Eyes Earth color in size 5.0 mm. Super glue into place. a glass minnow effect. Of course you could substitute in flashabou in place of the lateral scale but, if you haven’t used lateral scale in your baitfish patterns you should give it a go. It adds just a little more shimmer and offers the
Photo: Dustin Stanberry
With the warmer temperatures beginning to take its toll on some of the trout streams, it’s time to shift gears and target some warm water species. The Masked Menace has been a very successful fly during the warmer months fishing for large and smallmouth bass and is also a great crappie fly for the early season as well. Since the fly is tied on a saltwater hook, this expands the possibilities of
use into the saltwater realm. I used this pattern while fishing some tidal pools on the North Carolina coast to catch flounder. The colors can be changed to match the baitfish in your area. The use of the tungsten nymph body placed on the bottom of the hook shank allows the fly to maintain the proper orientation in the water. Keeping the buck tail sparse will give the fly a bit of
fly a slight appearance of movement at the end of the retrieve. It is a fairly easy fly to tie and is extremely durable. Best wishes and tight lines! Step by step instructions available at theflybin. blogspot.com.
Dustin Stanberry is an instructor at Biltmore Fly Fishing and Sporting Clays located in Asheville, NC.
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• Open season from July 1 to last Fishing regulations for Mountain Heritage Trout Waters, such as daily day of February creel limits, minimum size limits and lure restrictions, are established by • From 7:00 a.m. on the first the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Saturday in April until June 30 The three-mile section of Jonathan Creek, classified as the Maggie Valley • No bait or lure restriction Mountain Heritage Trout Water, is a hatchery-supported trout water with • No size limit restriction the following regulations: • Seven (7) trout per day creel limit AUGUST 2017
Lower Jonathan Creek
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Mountain Heritage Trout Waters: • North Toe River in Newland • North Toe River in Spruce Pine • Richland Creek in Waynesville • Cane Creek in Bakersville • Jonathan Creek in Maggie Valley
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Legend MHTW section Parking Greenway/trail Park boundary Downtown area/landmarks Pier
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MAGGIE VALLEY
Tips for Grilling Fish By Brad Barrett
1. Oil the fish, then season. Lightly coat with olive oil or avocado oil, if grilling very hot, for fish such as tuna or wahoo. The oil helps the seasoning stick to and penetrate the flesh. The oil also helps when the fish is placed on the grill to prevent sticking. 2. Grill on a HOT / clean grill. Most people don’t grill fish hot enough. Oil the GrillGrates (use a paper towel with Canola oil) just before putting fish on the grill. 3. Don’t touch it! Leave the fish sitting where it hits to allow searing and better release. Grill 60% of time before turning and cook to finish. One flip is enough. 4. Two skewers are better than one. Smaller shrimp and scallops are ideal to skewer but only one skewer allows them to rotate and some will not turn. Using two
skewers solves this dilemma and makes turning all at once, easy. 5. Leave the skin on. Think of the skin as a flame shield and flavor saver. Grill skin down and baste, but never turn. 6. Marinade for added flavor and moisture. Simple oil and spice mixtures are easy and flavorful. Give the fish a soak prior to grilling. 7. Use GrillGrates. The raised rail design coupled with the GrateTool make it easy to handle fish and prevent sticking. Fish can’t fall through the grill and the wide raised rails sear even the most delicate fish, making it easy to lift and turn with the GrateTool. If you are new to grilling fish, start with firmer fish such as salmon, mahi mahi, snapper, etc. Oil and season the fish and grill it hot and fast, like at steak.
Brad Barrett is the owner of GrillGrate LLC and an avid fisherman who loves to grill his catch. Find out more at grillgrate.com
828.926.0425
Enjoy our relaxed dining experience overlooking Jonathan Creek We have something for everyone, veggie platter, fried catfish, lemon peppered catfish, or a killer turkey melt with bacon. We make all our sauces in house daily. Our southern pearl catfish fillets are straight out of the Mississippi Delta. Try them grilled with our lemon pepper seasoning or have them deep fried to perfection. We will also serve it on a freshly baked onion roll or kaiser bun with all the fixins on top.
Catering, Large or Small • Pet Friendly Dine indoors or outside under the canapy
Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner The Maggie Valley Restaurant is Maggie's Family Eatery
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Since 1952 we have pleased our customers serving southern cooking at it's best.
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 15
Life Is Hard - Go Fish!
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By Ethan Hollifield
recently had a conversation with a gentleman that I’ve known for a long time and have admired for his angling experience. I was in the middle of telling him how my job schedule, while I’m more than thankful for it, has kept me from fishing as often as I would like. In the middle of my rant, he abruptly interrupted me and said “Ethan, there is always time to fish.” I don’t think I’m alone when, more often than not, I have made too many excuses as to why I can’t go fish, even when I have a little time to. “Things are due for work tomorrow.” “The house is a mess.” “I’m too tired, it’s been a very difficult day.” I often say these things right as I’m driving by my favorite trout stream or when I’m only a couple of miles away from my favorite smallmouth river. Heck, I have a 4 acre lake below the house that I drive by every single day that would be worth making a few casts in, if nothing else. Granted, I’m only
24 and (I hope) I have a long and fulfilling future ahead of me. But I can’t count the times where I would forgo something that I loved to do for a relationship or a responsibility that, in a year, won’t even be relevant anymore. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful for my family and the jobs that I have. I wouldn’t trade those for anything in the world. I often find it a relatively ironic part of the human condition: in that we tend to push aside the things we love, like fishing, for things of less importance. So, I’ve made it a point to go fishing as often as I can now. My rods, which have previously been long neglected, are kept ready to roll in my truck at all times. So, why is all of this important to us as anglers? I can remember as a kid how my mind was consumed with the thought of my next fishing adventure, so what happened to that childlike enthusiasm? There are plenty of articles online about
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how awesome fishing is and why we should invest our time and money into it. It’s much easier to read about in our heads and forget about it the next day rather than live it out completely. It’s an investment; every investment we make in our lives initially sucks. However, I wholeheartedly believe that waiting for retirement or for a free moment for us to arise as anglers to go and fish will lead to a harsh eventuality later on in life. I can’t count the conversations I’ve had with anglers, who are much older and wiser than myself, who have told me of all the time they took for granted, and how if they could redo everything that there would have been more fish hung and more happier memo-
ries in the back of their minds. Life isn’t going to get any easier, or any less stressful. So, why aren’t you spending precious moments doing something you love? You may regret a lot of things in this life, but never a day spent on the water.
Ethan Hollifield is a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers and works with French Broad Riverkeeper
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ASHEVILLE AREA
Fly Fishing in Western North Carolina
Escape From Life’s Realities or Connect to The Realities of Life? You Decide!
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e all have passions and pursuits in life, apart from the daily grind of work, that drive us and consume our imaginations with anticipation about our next adventure. Things we love to do, in what little spare time we have, that we think about constantly. Some of us do them to escape from life’s realities, some to actually re-connect to reality as we see and know it. For some people, it’s golf and for some, it’s hunting, for others it’s hiking, and so on. For me, it’s fishing, and more specifically, fly fishing in Western North Carolina. Fortunately, I don’t have to go far to pursue my passion, as we have some of the best trout fishing resources that the east coast has to offer in the abundance of rivers, mountain streams, and creeks that meander and tumble through Pisgah National Forest, off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Great Smokey Mountain Nation-
al Park. Whether you’re looking for a quick respite on a nearby stocked stream to get your fly fishing fix, or a full day, or overnight trip, hiking and backpacking into the wilderness backcountry, you can do it all here in Western North Carolina. I was introduced to (or I should say, I found) fishing at a young age. I have always found great enjoyment and have felt a connection to the water, and all that lives in it, for as long as I can remember. When I discovered fly fishing and the challenges it has to offer, my passion became more of an addiction. From figuring out how to, “match the hatch” with the right fly, to reading the water and understanding where a fish might be feeding and why, to getting a perfect, drag free drift that fools a fish into eagerly accepting my offering, there is no lack of challenges in what is a very tactical and precise sport. On top of the pursuit to get better
and learn more, there is something naturally soothing about the look, the feel and the sound of being on, in, or near the water. I believe that we are hardwired that way. Being on a stream with a fly rod in hand is truly the one thing that I do where I totally unplug from the worries of work and plug into the natural beauty of God’s incredible creation before me. Time seems to stop even though, in reality, it passes by very quickly. It is not uncommon for me to be fishing on a backcountry wild trout stream and realize when that first hunger pang hits that it is 4PM and I have been fishing straight without a break since 8AM, or earlier. How does that happen? All I know is that I am so fully immersed in what I am doing, that everything else just falls away. I finish my day fully recharged, yet thoroughly exhausted, completely refocused and ready to
get back to what I left behind but still day dreaming about the look, smells, and sounds I encountered in my brief time away. Most of all, I come away with a renewed appreciation and intense respect for all that we have to enjoy in our beautiful backyard of Western North Carolina. You will never run out of places to explore, never run out of new things to see and experience in nature, and you will always learn something new every time out on the river that you carry with you for the rest of your life, that makes you a better angler. When I leave the stream at the end of the day, I feel like I have gained back, if only for a brief period in time, the gift of what I believe God has always intended for us to have and experience in our daily lives, a connection to His creation. And for that gift, I am forever thankful and grateful!
Will Gay lives in Asheville and is the president and CEO of Diamond Brand Outdoors and Frugal Backpacker
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 17
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“Oh Man, It’s Raining Again! Now What?”
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By Rene J. Hesse
hen the river is too high to wade, lakes are muddy, or you’re waiting on the snow to melt, there is a way to put a smile on your “fly fishing face”. Grab your fly rod, put on a 7-8 foot, 0X leader with a piece of yarn and go ‘Grassting’! Yep, casting in the grass can be almost as fun as fishing (for some of us). Here is a game plan. Set up 5 or 6 targets at different distances and directions. Set up a line of 3 rocks or cones that start about 15 feet from you and space them 2 feet apart. Start with about 30 feet of line out and make a few false casts while working on good loops. Repeat until you have a good feel for the cast. That will warm up your arm. Then, start picking out different targets and casting to them. Here is a hint on changing directions; make the back cast, and when the line is extending out in back, turn your body to the new target. That’s when you change direction. There are other ways, but that’s another article.
Change direction in the back cast. Remember those cones you set up a few feet apart? Here is how you want to challenge yourself. Make a cast to get your fly to a target just past the cones, and as your line is falling, make the line go back and forth between the cones. It is known as an aerial wiggle mend. The cast has a few practical applications. It produces a slack line cast that can help provide a neutral drift. As you walk back to your car, shoot a cast around a tree, under the car, or maybe go for your best distance cast. Who knows, this could be the best fly casting day ever. Plan on spending only 15-20 minutes to get an attitude adjustment for your day. Don’t forget there are fly fishing schools and clubs available, and Fly Fishers International can get you even more information on fly fishing and casting on line. So, try some ‘Grassting’, you will have a smile on your face, even if the water is high and dark.
Relaxing and Adventurous River Float Trip on the French Broad River
Enjoyable River Float Trip Don't spend your weekends doing the same old stuff. Take your family and friends for a river float trip on the French Broad River. Landscape and wildlife will give you the perfect blend of solace and adventure that you can enjoy with your loved ones for hours. Lazy River Tubing Trips Open May thru September Open 10:00am-4:00pm Seven Days a Week No Reservations Needed!
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www.skytubing.com AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 19
MOUNTAIN WISDOM
Why We Fish
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ost of us have heard the adage, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you get rid of him on the weekend.” But why? Why is there such a strong pull for those of us who fish to do what we do? We rise at the crack of dawn, or before, in all kinds of weather. I remember, as a kid, I was in the creek the first Saturday of April, regardless of whether it was raining, sleeting, or snowing. I remember a few times my father and I had to get out of the creek and build a fire to melt the ice on our pant legs. Waders didn’t appear till I was grown and I could buy my own. The funny thing is, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I remember feeling very good about myself. I felt alive and wild. It was
By Ben Bailey
a rite of passage into manhood but it also gave me a deep respect for both the water and the fish. The water was a force to be reckoned with and the fish did not come easy. John Eldridge, in his book, Wild at Heart, says that, “There are three things a man requires: a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to win.” I know in my own life, fishing definitely falls into the category of “adventure”, and some trips could even fall under “a battle to fight”. I almost bought a hat once that said, “women love me and fish tremble at the mention of my name”. That may be a bit of a stretch but at least the adventure part is true. We need to test ourselves and prove to the world that we’ve got what it takes to brave the elements. That we’ve
got enough sense to outsmart a fish and put food on the table for our tribe. The Scientific definition of life is very simple. It is the ability of an organism to interact with its environment. I feel most alive when I’m standing knee deep in a rushing mountain stream with a big rainbow or brown dancing on his tail at the end of my line, or standing in a boat with my pole bent double hollering, “Get the net! Get the net!” Herbert Hoover once wrote, “To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul in pure air, with the rush of the brook, or the serenity of a lake, or the shimmer
of the sun or blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and ego, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you don’t have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is a discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish.”
Ben Bailey, is a native of Western North Carolina, Master Carpenter, Avid Angler, and Naturalist.
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BREVARD
Making Memories On The Davidson River By Dan Dry
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efore I moved here to Maggie Valley, I vacationed here every year, for 25 years. We would rent cabins, camp out, etc. One of our favorite places was The Davidson River Campground in the Pisgah National Forest. My child and her friends would tube, ride their bicycles, and fish with me. My best memories of her were here. A couple of weeks ago I re-lived those times with her spiritually by my side. Jaden Dixie Dry was killed in 2010 at the age of 17 by a distracted driver. Another reason I moved here- the memories. One afternoon, I set up camp, got my box of wigglers, and went to a spot where, years ago during a drought, she literally ran down a big Brown Trout and caught it with only a net. I was wading in that
area, remembering this occurrence when, “Wham!” One hit my worm and stripped off a lot of line. Three times, this big one ran until I finally netted it. My fishing spot was close to where the swimming hole is and stream flows into the river where she caught that big Brown. The trout I caught on this occasion was a 19 inch, fat “whopper”. I couldn’t help but feel her with me. That afternoon, I caught several for the camp supper along with my cowboy potatoes which I cooked over the open fire in my cast iron skillet. Several campers nearby came to see what I was cooking from the onions and potatoes mixed with a couple of pieces of bacon. The trout were wrapped in foil with butter and onions, Old Bay, and a squeeze of lemon. The Campground can be found
off Highway 276 near Brevard. Tent and RV sites can be rented. Plenty for all to do with Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls nearby, but the fishing is great in many areas. This particular three day, two-night adventure, gifted me with my 7 fish limit every day. Live crickets are hard to find but were very productive along with the red wigglers. I couldn’t get my daughter off my mind the whole time I was there and was so grateful I taught her the beauty of fishing and nature. Instead of a day trip, take your
kids camping and fishing. The Sunburst swimming and fishing hole isn’t very far from the campground and is productive also. The native Rhododendron were blooming making the trip a gift from God. Make some memories with your children ~~ In memory of my beautiful daughter Jaden Dixie Dry December 20, 1992-August 29, 2010.
Dan Dry can be reached on Facebook and dandry53@gmail.com
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 21
THE HIGH COUNTRY
Best Trout Fishing Rivers in WNC By Paul Kisielewski
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ly fishing anglers have a knack for leaving their worries at the door after they pull up their waders and strap on their boots. It’s the type of sport that allows you to spend time in nature, and focus on only one thing and that is casting to rising trout. There is an extensive list of rivers out west that provide phenomenal fishing, but not every angler has the capability to leave for a week at a time. So, that’s why we made a skinny list that provides anglers with a cheat sheet to fish around Western North Carolina. Whether traveling from Atlanta, Charleston, Kentucky, or Virginia, Western North Carolina can provide anglers with the best fishing in the Southeast! Take a look at these outstanding places to fish and how you should approach them, next time you plan a trip out to Asheville, NC!
5 Best Rivers to Fish in Western North Carolina
to the shallow, clear water stream. Sight fishing is very popular in the East Fork and is one of the best ways to catch trout. Cast dries early in the morning, matching a hatch, or late in the evening to get a chance at catching a big brown or brook trout. Davidson River: The Davidson River is known for its small midges and bushy terrestrial bites.
Located miles away from Brevard and a short drive through Pisgah National Forest. The Davidson River has many easy pull offs and can be fished with a 5wt. The lower section of the Davidson is heavily stocked with brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Above the fish hatchery, anglers can find wild trout with only a short drive up the same road. The highly oxygenated
Upper French Broad: The East Fork has technical fishing and easy access, combined. With relatively easy wading, just a drop down the bank from the pull off, and you’re in the river. In this river, you will find small pools combined with long stretches of bank-tight ditches. Come prepared with a 4wt-5wt for shooting long casts to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout on a dry fly. Many of the regular hatches, common to Western North Carolina, can be found here. Dry flies are primarily the fly of choice due river holds plenty of trout for a day trip or a week-long getaway. Float small midges in deep pools to get a chance to hook a large brown trout, fly fishing with a 5-6wt! North Toe Spruce Pine: The North Toe River in Spruce Pine, NC offers anglers easy accessibility and plenty of trout. Right near downtown Spruce Pine, prime trout fishing can be found. The river offers anglers with fantastic dry dropper
fishing and midge fishing. Be sure to use proper equipment, such as a 5-6wt rod with 3-5x tippet – big brown trout can be found lurking around. To avoid fishing pressure, and to capitalize on a dry fly bite, head to the river right before sunrise or right at dusk. Big browns and rainbow trout will come out to feed on mayflies in the summer. North Mills River: The North Mills River has an opportunity for anglers of all skill levels. The delayed harvest fishery runs from the Township of Mills River to Brevard. With plenty of river to fish, anglers can seclude themselves to avoid knocking elbows. The North Mills provides anglers with wild trout fishing in Pisgah National Forest and delayed harvest sections near the campground. The river is technical and it can be challenging not to spook fish. Recommended leader lengths are from 7-9ft, paired with a 4-5wt rod and reel. Cast dry flies for explosives strikes. Follow the gravel road through Pisgah to search for wild trout. The road winds for miles, but the river will soon make another appearance. Throw size #16-20 dries and small midges for high-sticking pockets. Wilson’s Creek (Catawba/Linville): The famous Wilson’s Creek, known for it’s large rainbow trout and big wild trout, is a fishing destination that cannot be missed. With beautiful scenery, fishy waters, and plenty of trout to be caught, Wilson’s Creek is a peaceful place to spend a day or a weekend away. Fish the lower section near Catawba for large specimens of rainbow and brown trout or travel the gravel road up river to search for wild brook trout. Fishing Wilson’s Creek you will find deep pools with long runs. To get to the deeper water, fish a dry dropper combination with a long 9-12ft. leader. Strike indicators are helpful in strong current pools. Deep pockets can be fished with big terrestrials as well. Trout will rise all day in the fall and more commonly at dusk in the summer months.
Paul Kisielewski is a seasoned guide in Asheville, NC and owns Southern Appalachian Anglers – Asheville Fly Fishing Guide Service. He is local to the area and grew up chasing wild trout around WNC. For reservations call (828) 691-1506 or visit southernappalachiananglers.com to reserve a fly fishing destination. 22 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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Wilson Creek
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By Aaron Motley
ilson Creek, from top to bottom, is a wonderful place to fly fish for Rainbow, Brown, or Brook trout. The various prongs of Wilson Creek have both wild fish and hatchery-stocked fish. Also, Wilson Creek allows outdoor users to access many acres of National Forest land. Camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting are allowed during the appropriate time of year for deer, bear, turkey, and small game. National Forest verses National Park. The difference lies in the mindset of each organization. National Forest’s use of wise practices of Conservation verses National Parks are a mindset of Preservation. Hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, OHV, campers, waterfall enthusiasts, anglers, hunters, and the animals that call that land home, are all subject to the wise use of our resources. The better we manage
the resource, the more benefit it will have to all groups. The pristine headwaters of Wilson Creek start at the top of Grandfather Mountain. These headwater streams house small wild brook trout. As the streams descend the escarpment, brown and rainbow trout are found instead of native Brook trout. At the Mortimer junction, you reach water that is stocked by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) cold water trout hatcheries. Delayed Harvest waters are found near Mortimer downstream, and change regulations to Hatchery Supported near the Wilson Creek visitor center. In the summer, the Wild regulated streams fish nicely with a dry fly and a dropper. Dry flies to have in your box are yellow or green stimulators, Adams female or parachute Adam’s, parachute ants, and a Royal Wulff. Subsurface flies would be squirmy worms, greenie wee-
nie, pheasant tail, zebra midge, and girdle bugs. In the smaller streams, you may want to have a shorter 7.5 foot 6X leader or if you like to fish a long rod of 10 feet, try a 68 inch braided leader with Loon Payette Paste to help it float, and attach your tippet to the metal tippet ring at the end of your braided leader. The supple and heavy braided leader will allow you to retract your leader inside the guides of your rod, and not fall down the guides leaving your fly stuck at the end of your fly rod. If you have questions about this rigging, stop by Hunter Banks, and let us help. There is a lot to do here so you may want to camp overnight, how-
ever, camping types vary in this area. In the Wild and Scenic designated area, camping is limited to Mortimer and near the Visitors Center. National Forest Land falls under use only established sites and dispersed camping rules. Best practice is to take only memories and leave only footprints. There are many options for adventures in the Wilson Creek area. Come into the Hunter Banks Organization in Waynesville or Asheville, and let us show you the maps you need and the flies recommended by our staff to catch either stocked fish or wild fish. Our shops have the best leaders and tippet to land fish on your next adventure.
Aaron Motley is Operations Manager at the Waynesville location of Hunter Banks. His waterfowl hunting addictions supports his fly tying addiction. He learned his fly-fishing craft from “fishy” people and pursues large trout, bass, and musky on a daily basis. He teaches others to do the same.
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 23
Specialty Jigs By Paul Shell
W
hen most anglers hear the word “jig”, they automatically think of ¼ through ¾ oz. bass jigs with assorted plastic trailers and weedguards. However, there’s another collection of jigs that require some finesse while fishing - they definitely are a step up from the standard crappie jigs, which can be inferior because of the minimum materials used, and the placement of them. Full-bodied jigs with tails that
match the length of the body, resemble minnows, crayfish, the young of panfish and gamefish, larva, and most all, aquatic life found in our waters. The best sizes are 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, and ¼ oz. Use the same materials mentioned in my bass bug article in the July issue of The Angler Magazine WNC, minus the deerhair. To imitate crayfish, use olive and burnt orange since that is the prominent color of them in our area. Some of the B.A.S.S. pros have secretly been using them for years in tough tournament situations, and have just recently admitted to fishing with them. I asked a customer of mine, Zane Allison from Marion, N.C., how he fished jigs this time of year. He said, “The amount of rainfall we receive determines how I fish them. If the rains come with a constant inflow of fresh water, a lot of bass stay shallow in creeks.” If not, he focuses on points and ledges using a ½ or ¾ oz. football jig in green pumpkin or
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a 3/8 oz. black hair jig. I’ve also seen this pattern work in the past. Red clay banks can be productive too, especially those adjacent to deep water. If there are laydowns on them; all the better. In stream or river fishing, cast to the obvious deep pools, undercut banks, and any pocket water behind rocks. A swimming retrieve is good anywhere. Sometimes, momentarily pause your retrieve and allow the jig to sink one or two feet before winding again. This change in direction and depth can trigger vicious strikes. Another advantage in using jigs is that fish seldom nip a jig or hit short. They engulf them with the jig embedded deep in their throats, but usually hooked in the roof of their mouth, which is a good hookset. Also, due to the scant weight of the jig, it is harder for a bass to shake it out. They don’t have any leverage. Compared to the average lure that anglers use, a jig is much smaller and substantially lighter, resulting in no treble hooks to hand or foul on cover or line. You’ll waste less time untangling line and lures and more time fishing.
If you have not done so yet, I strongly suggest keeping a fishing journal. Way back in the day, I thought I could remember everything concerning a fishing trip. Not hardly! I have now kept a very detailed journal for the past 11 years, and it has proved to be invaluable. Under the column, “lures used,” Jigs ranked a close second to soft plastics in numbers of fish caught. I’ll take those numbers anytime.
The jigs mentioned in this article are available at The Rod & Fly and at Foothills Marine on Hwy. 181 in Morganton, N.C. Try to attend Riverfest at Lake James Paddy’s Creek State Park on September 16, 2017 from 10:00am to 3:00pm. For more information, visit www.mcdowellnews.com/news/catawba-riverfest. There will be food, free music, children’s activities, and vendors. I will be there with a fly-tying demonstration. Hope to see you there!
Paul is the Owner/Operator or The Rod & Fly in Morganton, N.C. Visit his store or give him a call at (828) 433-9747. He now offers fly-tying and fly-casting/fishing lessons in his store.
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Fish However You Want, With Whatever You Want By Jeffrey Konst
“You have to match the hatch.” “Wild water must be fished with a dry fly cast from a bamboo rod.” “If you’re not on the water by sunrise, you’re late.”
T
hese are all quotes I’m sure you’ve read in articles, seen on TV, or even heard from your friends; I know I did when I was beginning my fly fishing experience. And I’m here to tell you, it’s all a lie. These anglers often proudly portray their boxes filled with row, upon row of dries and emergers. Flies that may serve their purpose one day a year, but otherwise, go unused in a box stuffed in the bottom of your pack. They will proudly tote their $2,000 bamboo rod and gently present a single dry fly to a single rising fish. Maybe they will catch it, maybe they won’t; all too often, a fish will burst out of the water to take a big bushy dry and you will be left with your fly tangled in the bushes behind you. Recently, I was blue lining one of my favorite wild streams in WNC
and decided to try something new. I left the dry fly box and shorter rod at home and left with only my nymphing rod. Equipped with an 11’ 3wt and a size 10 mop fly I began my assault. And guess what? I caught fish. A lot of fish! I kept the same mop fly on the entire day and caught plenty of wild 5-8” trout with ease. I never got stuck in a tree, never had to make a difficult cast upstream, and I never had to worry about tricky mends through a myriad of microcurrents. I know my success was mostly due to the fact that the wild fish there had never seen a mop fly before. Who would dare use a fly typically reserved for dumb stockers on water like this? I do not wish to change your life, and certainly do not want to tell you how to fish. I certainly still enjoy
throwing dries and enjoy the satisfaction of perfectly matching whatever hatch is popping off. I only want
to say, don’t get caught up in tradition; mix it up and catch fish in as many ways as possible.
Jeffrey Konst is the full time operator/guide/rod-builder/fly-tier for Upper Creek Angler located in Morganton, NC.
If it has to do with fly fishing, we do it! Custom Rods • Hand Tied Flies • Guided Trips
Book a day or build a rod with us today! 828.443.4850 • 205 Burke Dr., Morganton, NC
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AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 25
Fly Fishing…. Why Did It Take Me This Long? By Barry Holcombe
F
or the past few years, I have been trout fishing with a buddy of mine who has tried to persuade me to switch from an ultralight spin caster to a fly rod. I swear, I had used the same ultralight spin caster for 20 plus years. Maybe I fought it for so long because of the way I grew up fishing for trout. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate the art and beauty of watching him work a fly rod! I have always enjoyed watching him cast, and depending on the time of year, choose what type of fly to use. To be honest with you, he did get stuck in weeds and rhododendron a lot. I used to think to myself, “Is it really worth it?” Most of the time, I would actually catch more trout than him anyway so, why switch? About three years ago, I was fishing alone along a stretch of river I have fished many times before. It was early fall and I was wading up the river and noticed a small school of trout. Of course, I was using my new ultralight with a brown colored rooster tail, which has been very successful on this river. Yes, I finally replaced my old ultralight; not because I wanted to, but because I had to. The thing literally started falling apart! No matter how many times I cast that rooster tail, they would not bite. I always kept a variety of rooster tails and other types of artificial lures in my arsenal. After scouring through what I had in my tackle box, I came across what appeared to be a Wooly Bugger. Of course, at the time, I had no idea what it was, but for whatever reason, I decided to try it. Talk about a funny site to see…. I’m glad I was the only one on that section of the river at the time. Picture this, I’m standing about 20 feet away from where I see the trout and I have a little 5 ½ foot ultralight rod with 4 pound fishing line on it with no weight, trying to throw it out like it’s a fly rod. Finally, I wised up and decided to walk upstream a few more feet and just let the current carry it to where the 26 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
fish were. As soon as it got close, a trout hit it. After about 30 minutes of making (attempting) various casts, I ended up catching 4 trout. Mind you, on this river, most of the fish you catch are stocked. So fortunately, I didn’t exactly scare them away with my failed attempts at trying to cast it out. As a matter of fact, I was using it, somewhat,
what it feels like?” After driving back home that evening I was devising a plan in my head to justify getting myself a fly rod. Christmas was just around the corner. “Yes, of course!” I could hardly contain my excitement. This would be a great Christmas gift from my wife and kids. As a matter of fact, I will just go ahead and or-
There are so many variables that determine if you are going to have a good trip or a bad trip (If there is such a thing as a bad trip fly fishing). like a Tenkara Rod. In my lifetime, I have seen one person use that type of rod on this river. Anyway, at that moment, I realized I had to get myself a fly rod. It was like a light just suddenly went off in my head and I thought, ”So this is AUGUST 2017
der it and then tell them what they were getting me for Christmas. “Perfect!” I think I saved them
from a lot of stress by doing this. And you know what, it worked out exactly as I planned. After consulting with by buddy, I settled on a 4 weight Orvis fly rod combo which included the rod, reel, backing, fly line, leader and tippet. A kind-of “middle of the road” set-up. Not too cheap and not too expensive. I even wrapped it and put it under the Christmas tree…It was from my family! Of course Christmas rolls around and I start trying it out (Casting) in my backyard. After many practice casts I finally get the hang of it and I was actually amazed at how good I was getting (In my own mind). I was doing little roll casts, back casts, side casts, etc. and all I could think of the whole time is… “Thanks Family!” And then it happens. A decently sunny day in January comes around and I head to the river. I won’t go into a whole lot of detail regarding my actual “on the river” learning experiences other than, it was a very successful first outing. The feel of a trout on that fly rod and the various options of flies you can learn to use was amazing to me. I still have so much to learn when it comes to fly fishing. There are so many variables that determine if you are going to have a good trip or a bad trip (If there is such a thing as a bad trip fly fishing). I am writing this to tell you that it is not too late to learn. I don’t even carry my ultralight anymore. I’m telling you, once you try it, you won’t be able to get enough of it. It’s hard to describe the feeling of being out on that river, laying out a perfect roll cast and watching that fly land exactly where you intended. And then, a big brown or rainbow hits it…I guarantee you will be asking yourself, “Why did it take me this long”?
Barry Holcombe is an avid outdoorsman from Anderson, South Carolina who loves to hike and spend valuable time enjoying the outdoors with his family.
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Trout Fishing Through The Summer Heat?
S
ummer and trout don’t always go well together. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fish for trout, but you do need to know the thresholds and when to not target trout. Summer brings rising temps,
By Jeff Dean lower waters and sporadic hatches. It may be a little more difficult to catch trout, but when is it easy? If it were easy, we wouldn’t be laying in bed at night wondering what we could have done differently that day out on the river. If you are willing to work, you can be successful while trout fishing in the summertime and here are a few tips how to make it happen. If there are trout where you are fishing, then there is cold water, elevation drop resulting in pools with well-oxygenated water, and ample food for them to eat. In the colder months, the water is always cold, and cold water holds more oxygen. When the air temperatures warm up, the water temps rise and you need to get
to higher elevations where the air temps are cooler, therefore, the water is colder and will hold more oxygen. Trout will go upstream to find the colder, oxygenated water. A good rule of thumb is to not trout fish where the water temp hits 70
degrees. If the water temp is above 70, go to a higher elevation and find colder water. Find nicely shaded spots with deep pools and actively running water and you should find trout. If the fish ARE NOT feeding on the surface, fish deep nymph
CONTINUED, SEE TROUT FISHING, PAGE 28
Full Service Fly Shop and Guide Service WADE TRIPS • FLOAT TRIPS
Located on the Watauga River just outside of Boone, NC (828) 963-5463 • 5712 NC Highway 105 South, Vilas, North Carolina
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www.wrflyshop.com
AUGUST 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 27
Balds & Brews
Friday, August 11, 3:00pm
Nature and comfort meet here at the highest KOA east of the Mississippi at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet. Nature and comfort meet here, a spot with long pull thrus under tall trees, a pool, arcade games and even a farm animal mini zoo, all set atop a scenic mountain just 4 miles from city services.
Boone KOA
J
Balds presentation in Room 304, D.M. Brown Hall, ETSU, followed by Brews at JRH Brewing in Johnson City
oin us as SAHC’s Duke Stanback Intern Sarah Sanford presents her work cataloging the last three decades of grassy balds management in the Roan Highlands. Sarah will use GIS data, historic photographs, and interactive maps to portray the years of work performed by SAHC, our partners, and local volunteers. The presentation will also include a brief overview of the natural and cultural history of the Roan Highlands, from land conservation ef-
forts to mountaintop festivals. Following the presentation, join us for a cold brew at JRH Brewing in Johnson City. JRH is donating $1 of every pint to SAHC in support of our land and water conservation efforts. JRH Brewing is located at 458 West Walnut Street in Johnson City. RSVP to presentation preferred. For more information or to RSVP, contact Pauline: pauline@ appalachian.org or (828) 253-0095 x 216.
Open May 1 - October 31
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123 Harmony Mountain Lane Boone, NC 28607
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TROUT FISHING
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28 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 2017
continued from page 27
rigs in the larger pools. If the fish ARE feeding on top, summer is a great time to throw terrestrials (hoppers, beetles, ants, etc.) and big bushy stimulators. Toss them under overhanging trees or run them along the edge of the faster runs and wait for the hit! Most of us like to consider ourselves responsible anglers, so practice what you preach and know when to not fish for trout. Last year, much of the southeast (including those of us in the NC High Country) suffered from drought conditions and above normal temps. The lack of rain created low water levels and many of our streams were barely running at a trickle. The air and water temps were well above normal. We were finding water temps above 70 in late July. That’s when we decided we couldn’t be fishing locally for trout. Trout can
be very easily stressed and high water temps will already have them stressed. Catching them puts a lot of additional stress on the fish. You may feel that you safely handled and released a healthy trout, but many times the stress you put on that fish will ultimately kill it. That being said, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission does do some stocking as late as July. These fish are meant to be fished, and many of them are taken home for dinner. Locally, the Watauga River and the Middle Fork of the New River were stocked with trout in July. Conditions change and we need to adapt to the conditions. If the conditions are good for fishing…fish. If they are not…don’t. We want the fish to be there next time we go out, so “know when to say when”.
Jeff Dean is the owner of Watauga River Fly Shop located at 5712 NC Highway 105 South, Vilas, NC. Visit their website at www.wrflyshop.com, email them at info@wrflyshop.com, or give them a call at (828) 963-5463.
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By TAM Staff atching giant flathead catfish might get to be old-hat for Jake Robinson, of Shakopee, Minn. In less than a year, he has Photo by Doug Kerr broken the Minnesota state record for the species twice. Minnesota keeps separate sets of records, one for weighed and certified state records and one for fish that are caught and released after length measurements are taken. Both of Robinson’s monster cats fall into that second record category. On May 15, Robinson caught and released his latest record from the Minnesota River southwest of Minneapolis near Savage. With 100-pound test line, he hauled in the fish, which had a length of 49 inches and a girth of 33 ½ inches. Now, we ran the numbers through several of those online calculators that are supposed to estimate fish weight and came up with a wild variation, from 35 pounds up to 75 pounds. So, it’s up to you to guess at this one’s actual weight. The weighed and certified Minnesota state record was caught back in 1970. It weighed 70 pounds and was caught from the St. Croix River. There is no record of that fish’s length and girth. The IGFA world record flathead was caught from Elk City Reservoir in Kansas in 1998 by Ken Paulie. It weighed 123 pounds. Maybe next time Robinson catches a big catfish he should weigh it. The one in the photo sure does look mighty big.
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By Capt. Charlie Slattery
t started as just an idea for a family vacation, and it turned into a new passion for the sport of spearfishing and freedive, as well as a new relationship with some great friends. Being a professional guide organizing and hosting worldwide spearfishing adventures, I’ve had the luxury of meeting some incredible people, but this trip was special. It started with
a phone call from a Texas number and a man on the line interested in the sport. He had been following some fishing and spearing social media pages, and I struck his interest after he noticed I live in Treasure Island, Fla. It was one of those small-world scenarios. He had previously done a fishing charter with a friend of mine. The man on the phone, Mike Fry, said he liked my style based on what he saw on my social media pages. I always strongly stress the importance of freedive safety, while on the other hand pushing the wild side to send everyone home with a new adrenaline rush that will leave them starving for more. 5 NORTH CAROLINA
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Mike had nothing, not even a clue. He was open for anything as long as it got him a big fish. We started with weeks of emails and texts, getting him set up with the best gear on the market for him and his son Tanner. They needed everything: wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, weights and belts, gloves, freedive watches, float lines, buoys and spearguns. We started at Maverick America, my favorite one-stop shop for the best gear available. Luca, the shop manager, took care of Mike with five-star service. Then it was time for his gun. Mike wanted something versatile, something he could use to hunt the blue water as well as oil rigs and reefs. I hooked him up with a local gun builder and friend Travis Emory, of Flatline Custom Spearguns. Using only salvaged repurposed wood, Travis makes some of the most beautiful guns out there. Every gun holds a small piece of history with that salvaged wood, and Travis’ craft gives it the ability to live on and make more history. Mike was set. It was time for his family’s adventure. Mike, Tabby, Tanner and Shelby Fry, a small-town family from Texas, flew to Costa Rica to spearfish. Upon arrival in San Jose, I awaited them with my van driver. Joining them on the trip were Megan Romine, a realtor looking to get away, and a surprise friend of hers, Anthony Colettii. Both were not so fresh as the Fry family, but they were definitely beginners. We packed up all the luggage, and the journey began to Nosara, a village renowned for sportfishing on northern Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. There was much to see on the way. The scenery is breathtaking with coastline, waterfalls, river bridges, with hundred of giant crocs underneath, and endless mountains. There was plenty of time to talk in the van and over a nice waterfront lunch. When we made it to the re-
CAMSPEARFISHING.COM sort, we settled in with a few mixed drinks, and we were already like a small family. The next day was a relaxing training day in the pool. Blackout safety training is more important than anything in freedive spearfishing. After hours in the pool with the divers, we were all very confident and feeling safe about our dive partners who would be in the water to protect us in the event of a blackout. After a few freedive tips consisting of breath-ups, dive techniques and gear safety, we were ready to spear some fish. Much to my surprise with a group of newbies, the first day was madness. The entire group was diving like pros. Mike, Megan and Anthony made drops of nearly 90 feet to shoot some monster snappers! I could not believe it; I was so stoked. Even Tanner, diving with only one fin because of a broken ankle, was able to dive 60 feet. I was so proud of everyone. Megan let nothing stop her; she had never before been able to dive deeper than 30 feet. Geared up with her brand new C4 carbon fiber fins and a C4 carbon fiber speargun, she did it, making it all the way to the bottom into an unbelievably big school of pargo. She got her big fish. Breaching the surface with a huge smile, she said, “That’s what fishin’ is all about.” Anthony and Mike made it look easy, dive after dive filling the fish box. Needless to say, the spearfishing adventure was a success. Every night we shared our fresh catch with the family back at the lodge, inviting my local longtime friends over every night, the Brandon Richardson family. Not one piece of the fish went to waste. Catering to the non-divers on the trip, and giving our bodies a rest, we ziplined the longest line in the entire world, took surf lessons, and were dragged through all the local shops with the ladies. Parting from this group was hard, but I knew it wasn’t over. We were all lifelong friends now, and that’s what it’s all about— making memories, meeting new people and enjoying an incredible life experience. It’s all about a good time! Spearing a trophy fish is always a bonus.
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LER DES
TIPS FROM A PRO
DOG DAYS BASS FISHING BRANDON LESTER
T
he “dog days” of summer can make for some of the toughest conditions a bass fisherman faces. Combine hot air and water temperatures with an abundance of recreational traffic on the lake, and sometimes it seems there aren’t any bass left to catch. The big schools out on the ledges have already seen every bait known to man, and many fish have already been caught. With all this being said, don’t let it stop you from fishing, because bass can certainly still be caught if you keep an open mind. The old saying “the early bird gets the worm” has never been more true than during the dog days. Bass feed a lot more at night this time of year, and that bite carries over into the first couple hours of daylight. A good place to start looking for early morning bass is shallow rocky banks. Rocks cool down at night, and that slight temperature change attracts shad, bluegill, crawfish and everything else bass like to eat. Shallow boat ramps are also really good for the same reasons. My favorite baits for early in the morning are a topwater walking bait and a popper. My personal favorites are a Heddon Super Spook Jr. and a Booyah Boss Pop. The key is to start early and cover as much water as you can before the sun gets up. The bites will be pretty scattered, so you don’t want to waste too much time in one place. My topwater setup consists of an MHX-EPS86MF rod that I build from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. It’s 7’2” in length, which allows for long, accurate casts. I use a high-speed reel, usually 7:1:1 gear ratio spooled with 30-pound Vicious No-Fade
braid. I also use a 6-foot leader of 17-pound Vicious mono. Sharp hooks are key, so I change out factory hooks with #4 Mustad round bend trebles and put a feathered treble on the back for added flash. Once the sun gets high, it gets tougher. The best way to keep up with the fish is to watch for shade lines. That’s where the bass will be. Shade could be boat docks, laydowns, overhanging trees,
By Chris Beardsley
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anything in or over the water that creates shade. Shade attracts bluegills, which are up around the banks this time of year to spawn, and that is what attracts bass. One of my favorite ways to catch bass later in the day is with a wacky worm. It is easy for me to skip this rig into hard-to-reach places. The key is to cover water and put the bait in the deepest, darkest shade you can find. My wacky worm setup is a 6’9” MHX-EPS-81MXF. This rod is medium-power so it has plenty of backbone to get them out of cover, especially when you spool it with 10-pound Vicious Hi-Vis yellow braid with a 10-pound Vicious fluorocarbon leader. The wacky worm I throw is called a True Center Stick from X-Zone Lures, and my favorite color this time of year is green pumpkin/ purple flake to resemble a bluegill.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Redfish From The Beach
AUGUST 2017
hen targeting redfish, the beach isn’t the first place most people think to look. It’s easy to imagine casting topwater plugs, spoons, paddletails or a popping cork with a DOA to tailing reds in a grassy flat or hijacking a big bull on the edge of an oyster bar or jetty, but what about the beach? Redfish or red drum are a highly sought after gamefish that can be found all along the Gulf Coast and up the Atlantic Coast as far north as Massachusetts. No matter where you fish for them, fishing from the beach requires different tactics. The good news is that redfish will eat anything that won’t eat them, and big redfish love cut bait. A 3-inch piece of ladyfish is a good start, but others prefer live baits such as menhaden. Of course cut bait is a magnet for stingrays and catfish, but more importantly sharks. You’ll want to be prepared with at least a 30-pound mono leader or better yet, an 8- to 10-inch steel leader. Whether you choose live bait or cut, the typical fish finder or Carolina rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook is all you need. Big drum pull especially hard in the surf. Typical hardware consists of an 8- to 10-foot medium-heavy rod and 5000 series reel. This combination provides plenty of backbone for chunking big baits but also provides enough cranking power for all but the largest fish. I have found that the rolling waves can work to your advantage, as the surf will often push the fish onto the beach. On the other hand, the undertow can work against you just as easily. Just be sure that whichever reel you choose has a smooth, powerful drag. Depending on your location, the tide will affect conditions on the beach differently. In most cases, it won’t have as much influence when fishing the surf as it might in shallower water around oyster bars or grass flats. My best success has been at high tide, which is contrary to most flats fishing, where low tide is preferred for spotting tailing fish. Look for deeper holes away from the beach or breaks in the sandbar. Deeper water is often preferred by bigger fish, and I like to cast to the far edge of the sandbar; the trough, or gut, just isn’t as productive. This takes a little effort, and might require some wading to reach, but you’ll greatly increase your chances of catching fish. Later in the afternoon or early evening is preferred regardless of tide conditions. Of course, there are other, more willing fish out for dinner at this time too. This makes fishing for reds on the beach that much more fun, because like someone once said, “The surf is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” At least that’s how I remember it. Chris is a freelance writer from Wisconsin with an obsession for all things saltwater. He does most of his fishing on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
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