WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION
FREE
Tactics
For
Cold Front Bass
Rods &
Reels Reviews
Wintertime
Trout Skeeter Celebrates
70
th
Anniversary PHOTO COURTESY OF FISHERGUIDING.COM VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 276
F R A N C H I S E
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FAMILY LEGENDS
and fish tales
BUILT FOR THAT
210 FSH ® SERIES
Go where no other boat has gone before. With powerful twin TR-1® Yamaha Marine Engines, ample storage and comfortable bow seating, the all-new 210 FSH provides the shallow-water capability to get to those hard-to-reach fishing spots and the versatility to enjoy watersports with your family.
210 FSH®
210 FSH® Deluxe
210 FSH® Sport
YA M A H A B OAT S . C O M
©2018 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Drive responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always drive within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink and drive. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT YAMAHABOATS.COM OR CALL 1.800.88.YAMAHA.
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2018 242CC
FISHING FOCUSED FAMILY FRIENDLY “Sailfish Boats are truly versatile. A great fishing boat and a great family boat all in one.”
2018 220CC ® Exclusive Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) Hull for Performance, Safety & Stability ® 10 year Structural Warranty ® SailTech Construction: 100% Composite, Reinforced with Kevlar® & Carbon Fiber ® Lifetime No-Rot Guarantee ® Bow To Stern Intelligent Ergonomic Design with Premium Finishes ® Family Friendly Features for Fun, Comfort and Safety
www.SailfishBoats.com
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THE NEXT GREAT THE NEXT GREAT
HAVALON HAVALON INNOVATION INNOVATION HAS LANDED. HAS LANDED.
QUIK-CHANGE II ™ Interchangeable Fixed Blade™ QUIK-CHANGE Cutlery System II Interchangeable Fixed Blade Cutlery System9” FILLET 7” FILLET 9” FILLET 5” FILLET 7” FILLET 3” SERRATED 5” FILLET 3” SERRATED
Easy Blade Release System Easy Blade Release System
Opens For Easy Cleaning
KN IVES
Opens For Easy Cleaning
KN IVES
COMING SPRING 2018 COMING SPRING 2018 4
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Rugged Canvas Roll Pack Rugged Canvas Roll Pack
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BLEED TRIM
SAFETY
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
FLORIDA
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 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
SOUTHEAST
ATLANTA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Jane A. Redden • (205) 725-9616 • jane@coastalanglermagazine.com
Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com
CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com
COME JOIN OUR TEAM Dear Reader, “Coastal Angler” and our freshwater component “The Angler” magazines are looking to expand our franchise footprint to include numerous Gulf Coast region markets. Having become the largest outdoor publication on the Eastern Seaboard, we’re now ready to continue our expansion westerly all the way to California and northerly to the Great Lakes and beyond. Our franchise system enables localized editions of the magazine to be managed and developed by our franchisee/co-publishers. Publishing your localized edition of either Coastal Angler Magazine or The Angler Magazine can be exceptionally enriching and financially rewarding. Our ideal candidate may never have been involved in publishing before. They would, however, be passionately involved in the outdoors. Obsessive anglers often make great fishing magazine franchisees.
COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com
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NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT/RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com
Your new career is just a phone call or email away.
GULF COAST MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
This is a chance to own your own business but not be all on your own. Our training and support systems enable our co-publishers to quickly establish their localized edition of the magazine into a viable local business. If you think you would enjoy a career centered around the outdoors and fishing, you owe it to yourself to check out our franchise opportunities. Our expansion goals have numerous territories now available.
Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com
Best regards,
NEW ORLEANS : Dr. Dave Dunaway • (225) 400-8156 • nola@coastalanglermagazine.com
GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com
INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2018. 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. SAFETY
Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com
1-888-800-9794
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By CAM Staff
F
ast and stable, with a needle nose that reminded people of a mosquito buzzing over southern waters, the world’s first bass boat was the 1948 brainchild of Shreveport, Louisiana’s Holmes Thurmond. That first Skeeter boat, made of molded marine plywood, caught on quickly with local anglers. It launched the brand
that today, 70 years later, is still renowned for building innovative boats designed specifically for the needs of recreational anglers. Cary Crutchfield, co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s North Central Florida edition, owns one of those early Skeeter boats. When he bought his first Skeeter in the 1960s, the company was already leading the way in what became an industry-wide transition to fiberglass. His was a 15-foot model with stick steering up front that was powered by a 35hp outboard. “It’s real easy to fish from, and it’s just a neat 6
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looking boat,” Crutchfield said of those early flat-bottomed Skeeters. “It’s narrow, and the way the sides turn up to the cockpit makes it very stable to move around in.” With today’s bass boats, a 250hp Yamaha seems like a necessity to even compete on the tournament circuits. Back then, a Skeeter with a 35hp was capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 mph. It was a fishing boat superior to any that came before it. The Super Skeeter arose as the boat for serious anglers fishing the large, newly constructed man-made reservoirs that have since fueled the sport. Crutchfield sold his 15-footer in the 1980s and almost immediately began kicking himself. He missed the narrow profile and shallow draft, along with kind of stability that allows him to stand comfortably and pole into very tight places. It wasn’t long before he ran into another old Skeeter he had to have, this one a 14-footer, originally powered by a 25hp outboard that has since been replaced by a 1950s model 12hp. Even with that old motor, it still gets around pretty quickly, and Crutchfield said it’s still the perfect small fishing boat where he launches on the Suwannee River. With the spirit of innovation that gave rise to that first bass boat and an open ear to the new requirements of early bass tournaments, Skeeter grew and evolved with the sport. The Skeeter Hawk did away with the characteristic pointed bow, which allowed for a smoother ride and a raised casting platform. In the 1970s, after moving into its current plant in Kilgore, Texas, Skeeter rolled the dice and introduced the legendary Wrangler to the bass fishing world. Rated for 150hp with a V-bottom, it was an odd and new style that absolutely dominated the competition in performance. It became the template that led to the high-performance fishing machines that roar
around our reservoirs today. In 2018, Skeeter Performance Fishing Boats is celebrating its 70th year of providing anglers with exceptional fishing boats. With modern technology and computer design capabilities, it has continued to lead the industry with innovations such as the first production composite bass boat, the ZX202, in the mid-1990s. The venerable ZX series, in all its versions, has been a staple in the bass tournament world for more then three decades. But listening to the needs of the fishermen who are its customers, Skeeter branched out to produce deep-v boats for walleye tournament anglers on the big lakes of the north, as well as bay boats for saltwater anglers. Skeeter’s acquisition by Yamaha in 1996 brought new resources to the table and advances followed. In 2001, Skeeter again set a new standard for the industry with its Torque Transfer Transom and Stringer System, which provides lift to the entire keel, while eliminating stress on the on the transom, deck, hull and sides. Through all the advancements, Skeeter boats bear little resemblance to Thurmond’s first bass boat. But the same concept, to design perfect
fishing boats for fishermen, is evident throughout Skeeter’s product line. Whether it’s on southern reservoirs, the big northern lakes or the bays and backwaters of the Gulf of Mexico, Skeeter has a nimble, fast and extremely fishable boat perfect for the kind of fishing you do.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
1/17/18 5:06 PM
IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BOAT. IT’S A LIFESTYLE.
STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE: Center console command center Abundant bow & floor storage Lowrance® Elite 9 Ti touch 40 gallon rear livewell/baitwell Deluxe lean post w/vertical rod holders 14 gallon console baitwell New upholstery styling ...and much more!
ENGINEERED TO BE THE ULTIMATE BAY BOAT Ultimate in the way you get to the fish, with a durability that is unsurpassed. Engineering this one was a dream come true. We put everything you need right at your fingertips to provide you with a true fishing machine. For additional information please visit SkeeterBoats.com/SX240.
$42,995* 2O18 SX21O WITH
YAMAHA VF15OXA
ACTUAL SALES PRICE DETERMINED BY DEALER. PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE FREIGHT, DEALER PREP & T.T.L.
NATIONALLY ADVERTISED PRICE BEFORE REBATE
$
43,495
+
MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$
52,060
u
STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE: White Pro Series 2 Power-Pole® Abundant bow & floor storage Center console command center 25 gallon rear livewell/baitwell Leaning post with vertical rod holders 14 gallon console baitwell ...and much more! 8” setback plate
THE BEST RIDE AT THE BEST VALUE It’s true you really can have it all without spending it all. The SX210 is just the right fit for any situation. Family fun and weekend getaways make this boat a hero. For additional information please visit SkeeterBoats.com/SX210.
UP TO
INSTANT REBATE
*
LIMITED TIME OFFER INSTANT REBATE APPLIED AT TIME OF FINAL SALE BY DEALER.
VALID JANUARY 1-MARCH 31, 2018
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY Limited Lifetime Structural Warranty 10 Year Limited Transferable Structural Warranty 3 Year Limited Component Warranty
Visit SkeeterBoats.com to locate your nearest Skeeter Dealer. Nationally Advertised Price; actual sales price determined by dealer. Price does not include freight, dealer prep, and T.T.L.. uManufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Prices may vary due to supply, location, freight etc. Actual prices are set by the dealer. *Terms and Conditions: Nationally Advertised Price for 2018 SX210 with $1500 Rebate. Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) eligible MY 2018 and prior boat from 1/1/18- 3/31/18 is an instant rebate applied at time of final sale by dealer, at no extra cost to consumer. Actual rebate amount is determined by model selected. NO BENEFIT SUBSTITUTIONS. Promotion is only applicable from authorized participating Skeeter dealers in the U.S.A. and Canada sold to purchasing consumers residing in the U.S.A. and Canada. Promotion is limited to available stock in dealer inventory that is sold, PDI completed, delivered and warranty registered in accordance with Skeeter’s promotion and warranty registration req uirements during applicable dates. No model substitutions, benefit substitutions, extensions or rain checks will be allowed. Not redeemable for cash. Boats sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, rental, promotional/ demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use are not eligible. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other Skeeter offer or discounts. Some exceptions may apply. See authorized, participating Skeeter dealer for complete details. Skeeter reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. Other restrictions and conditions apply. ©2018 Skeeter Products, Inc. All rights reserved. This document contains many of Skeeter’s valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only, and are not intended to be an endorsement. Remember to observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and ride. Dress properly with a USCG approved flotation device and protective gear. +
LOOK FOR US AT THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW AT BOOTH A112 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Rods & Reels
G. LOOMIS/SHIMANO CONQUEST
PENN CONFLICT II
PENN redesigned its smooth and durable Conflict reel to bring anglers the Conflict II, the most lightweight PENN reel ever made. It is a superior reel, perfectly suited to inshore applications. True to its origins, the Conflict II features stealthy cosmetics and a smooth and reliable HT-100 carbon fiber drag system. The RR30 Rigid Resin body and rotor are extremely lightweight and durable, and with the redesign, the Conflict II is 20 percent lighter than the first-generation Conflict. Internally, the Conflict II is updated with PENN’s CNC Gear Technology and high quality stainless steel ball bearings, making it the ultimate PENN inshore reel. With the Superline Spool, no backing is needed because of the rubber gasket that keeps superlines from slipping. Other key features include: Slow Oscillation – Leveline System, 7+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearing system and line capacity rings.
WWW.PENNFISHING.COM
ST. CROIX LEGEND TOURNAMENT INSHORE
8
What do you get when you mix proven G. Loomis rod design with Shimano technology? You get Conquest, a line of 12 awesome bass rods, purposebuilt for different conditions and techniques. The new Conquest series includes eight casting rods with G. Loomis’ original “Mag Bass” fast-action tapers and four “Spin/Jig” fast-action spinning rods. With Shimano’s Spiral X and Hi-Power X processes, the blanks are rolled to exact G. Loomis specifications before being handfinished in G. Loomis’ Woodland, Wash. facility. With this partnership, engineers believe they have produced the most technologically advanced rods on the water. They are lightweight and offer anglers a whole new set of performance standards. Some of the benefits anglers will experience are: more accurate casts, increased fighting power, solid leverage for hook sets and reduced rod twist for rod control and durability. The casting rods are fitted with G. Loomis’ “skeleton” reel seats on full-cork contoured grips. The spinning rods feature split grips and Shimano’s CI4 reel seats. Blank-through-handle design on both versions adds sensitivity, as do the Fuji Torzite guides and a durable SIC Titanium tip guide. Whether you’re pitching jigs in thick cover or prospecting open water for smallies, high-performance Conquest rods will help you catch more bass.
WWW.GLOOMIS.COM
PENN INTERNATIONAL VI
Legend Tournament Inshore rods are the blending of the inimitable sensitivity, power and durability of St Croix’s Legend Tournament Bass and Walleye series with components and technology suited for saltwater environments. With good looks and a high-performance feel, the Legend Tournament Inshore was awarded Best Saltwater rod at ICAST 2017. The eye-catching “Belize Blue” blanks are crafted of SCIV graphite using Integrated Poly Curve tooling technology and engineered to eliminate all transitional points, which fosters smooth action, increased strength and sensitivity. They are surprisingly lightweight, yet durable, and are equipped with a Fuji TVS blank touch reel seat on spinning rods and PTS blank-touch reel seat with builtin hoods on casting models. These new Fuji seats are designed to stand-up to the pressure of hard-fighting inshore species. Kigan Master Hand Zero Tangle guides and a Kigan titanium hook keeper provide 100 percent corrosion protection.
After nearly 15 years, the PENN International big game reel will get a makeover. The reel that has become legendary for fulfilling angler dreams offshore has been refined and modernized to once again redefine big game reels. The PENN International VI series features many upgrades including a weight reduction on key sizes, a new silent anti-reverse and a more refined/ adjustable Dura-Drag system. The new series features 28 models in both gold and silver, single speed and two-speed, wide and narrow. Made in the U.S.A. of domestic and imported components at the historic PENN Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Company building in Philadelphia, the International VI will give anglers the edge in chasing that trophy of a lifetime. Key features include: Machined and anodized aluminum body and side plates, stainless steel main and pinion gears, Quick-Shift II two-speed system, sealed DuraDrag system, Versa-Strike Adjustable Strike stop, double-dog ratchet anti-reverse and line capacity rings.
STCROIXRODS.COM
WWW.PENNFISHING.COM
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1/17/18 5:06 PM
Product Reviews
TSUNAMI ARMR
MUD HOLE TURN KEY KITS Avid anglers who want to take their fishing to the next level owe it to themselves to check out Mud Hole Custom Tackle’s rod building kits. They include everything needed for anglers to construct their own high-end custom fishing rods. Mud Hole is offering an amazing value on its Inshore Turnkey Kit, which includes all the tools and materials to build a custom inshore rod perfect for trout and redfish. The kit features the extremely popular and versatile MHX SJ842 rod blank. This 7’0” medium-light power rod features a fast action for throwing soft plastics and topwater lures at wary flats fish. Along with the blank, the kit comes with a matched guide set, handle kit and everything from the CRB wrapper, a CRB rod dryer and ProPaste and ProKote Rod Finish and all the tools needed to craft your own custom rod. Visit www.mudhole.com and check out all our Turn Key Kit options or simply Google: Mud Hole Turnkey.
Super smooth and well built, the Tsunami ARMR is lightweight, high-performance spinning reel available in 3000/4000 and 5000/6000 sizes. The Tsunami ARMR has a sleek design and features
high-end components to provide smooth and durable operation for fighting and casting. The lightweight, solid aluminum body combined with hybrid, corrosion resistant carbon infused side plates and rotor and a double anodized ported aluminum spool are what keep this reel feather light in the hand all day long. Seven high-precision, shielded stainless steel ball bearings allow full support to all free-moving parts during the toughest fight or retrieve after retrieve. The look and feel of the Tsunami ARMR reel, enhanced by a light, durable EVA handle knob and braid-ready spool is what separates these high-performance reels from the competition.
WWW.BIMINIBAYOUTFITTERS.COM
WWW.MUDHOLE.COM
SHIMANO SUSTAIN HOOKER ELECTRIC REELS Hooker Electric continues to raise the bar with the fastest, lightest and best looking electric reels on the market, along with second-to-none customer service. The top seller in 2017 was their 80 motor that features level wind and auto stop, mounted on the Shimano Tiagra 80WA. The auto stop feature allows the angler to set the reel to stop winding at any interval, including just before your terminal tackle reaches the rod tip. With both 12- and 24-volt functionality, there is no need for a converter box. Its full variable speed allows line retrieval at up to 500 feet per minute, which makes checking your bait from 1,800 feet a breeze. It also includes bluetooth connectivity, allowing the angler to control the reel through Hooker Electric’s iPhone app, ReelTime. If you’re feeling sporty, the reel can also be used manually, so you can feel the fight. New for 2018, Hooker Electric now offers custom colors in silver, black, blue and even pink. For more information, go to www.hookerelectric.com or give them a call at 954-530-6908.
WWW.HOOKERELECTRIC.COM
T h e Best New Saltwater Reel winner at ICAST 2017, Shimano’s Sustain might just be the best new spinning reel for freshwater or salt. The Sustain series comes in four sizes suitable for everything from finesse baits for bass, to stripers and even small billfish. In all sizes, the reel’s Hagane aluminum body construction gives it a solid feel, and the Shimano Magnumlite low inertia rotor provides sensitive, light rotation and a light start up, which allows anglers to instantly begin the retrieve. Shimano’s Hagane gear has already made waves in the industry for its incredibly smooth operation. The exclusive technology used to engineer the cold forged aluminum drive also makes it extremely strong and durable. The X-Protect feature, which should be of particular interest to saltwater anglers but is relevant in any wet fishing conditions, is a threelipped rubber seal system that offers exceptional water resistance. With Cross Carbon Drag, eight shielded anti-rust ball bearings, and a one-way roller bearing to stop handle backplay, Shimano went in whole hog to produce these award-winning reels. Whether you fish freshwater or salt, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better spinning reel.
FISH.SHIMANO.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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MOTOR UPGRADES ARE AVAILABLE
Marine Wintertime Blowout $209* mon
G2968 Key Largo 160cc
G2661 Key Largo 1800 cc
40 HP Motor
90 HP Motor
WAS $23,849 NOW $15,999
WAS $37,749 NOW $25,999
$194* mon
90 HP Motor
G3149 Caravelle 16EBo 70 HP Motor
WAS $30,746 NOW $19,799
$299* mon thly
thly
G2849 Key Largo 2000
G2646 Key Largo 210LX
WAS $50,787 NOW $35,990
WAS $59,266 NOW $36,990
150 HP Motor
140 HP Motor
WAS $35,833 NOW $23,999
thly
$279* mon
thly
G3068 Caravelle 19EBo
$164* mon
thly
thly
$377* mon
$306* mon
$368* mon
thly
thly
G3010 Key Largo 220BAY
G3054 Razon 238PF
140 HP Motor
200 HP Motor
WAS $61,517 NOW $39,599
WAS $78,605 NOW $49,599
thly
G3081 Razor 247UR 200 HP Motor
WAS $71,288 NOW $48,499
www.factorydirectmarine.com *payments calculated at 180 months for well qualified buyers with 20% down. Please note: Prices do not include freight, dealer make ready, and rigging. Pictures may not reflect actual unit and/or available inventory. Price and payment do not include sales tax or fees. Not responsible for typographical errors.
Ridgeland, SC, 401 Sycamore Drive, 844-280-9753 | Panama City, FL, 8308 Panama City Beach Pkwy, 844-278-2510 Charlotte, NC | 9204 N Lakebrook Road | 980-267-5597 | Rockwood,TN, 2475 Westel Road, 844-271-9582 Hamburg, PA, 20 Industrial Drive , 844-247-1678 | West Coxsackie, NY, 12634 Route 9 West, 844-276-8649
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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.
$136* mon
For over a century, a league of canned crusaders have been fighting to keep boats safe from barnacles, slime, algae and other aquatic evils that rob your boat of its true performance. With advanced know-how and unique capabilities, each antifouling is tailored to different conditions, and has the power to defeat fouling in all its forms. Micron® Extra leads the charge in all waters. Using its signature dual-protection with boosting Biolux® technology, it provides high-quality, multi-season protection that survives hauling and relaunch without the need for repainting. For super-powered antifouling protection and proven performance, choose Interlux®.
All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.
The hero your boat deserves!
8953/1217
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Drifting For
Nighttime Yellowfin On Gulf Floaters
By Nick Carter
Y
ellowfin tuna are some of the most sought after gamefish in the world. They are the ahi tuna on the menus at restaurants and sushi bars, and in the water they have the speed and power to wear down anglers and break gear. The signature “spiral” that tuna commence in the waning moments of a fight is responsible for untold numbers of broken lines and broken hearts. After battling 30 mph runs for 20 minutes or more, the weary angler, captain and crew face one final test, a team effort to survive the spiral and get the fish on deck. These tense moments, when a big yellowfin turns sideways and begins to circle, using its body’s mass as leverage, are the most critical minutes of the fight. If the line even touches the boat, it will snap, and the circling fish provides many opportunities for this to happen. These moments are the reason Randy King, of Paparda Rey Fishing Charters out of Galveston, Texas, says the main limitation on their catch is the ability of the angler. The captain, Kenneth Doxey, is solid. He has been running their 54-foot Bertram and their 35-foot Cabo for more than a decade. He was the 2016 recipient
of the Houston Big Game Fishing Club’s Jim Peachey Award. The crew is also top-notch, which leaves the angler as the potential weak link. The good news is there will likely be multiple opportunities on one of their overnight trips to deep-water oil platforms off Texas. King said a great trip with six anglers would yield a dozen yellowfin tuna in the 40- to 120-pound range, and that doesn’t include the shots anglers will have at mahi-mahi, wahoo, marlin and blackfin tuna. Out of Galveston, it’s 100 miles or more into the Gulf of Mexico to reach the enormous floating gas and oil structures off the edge of the Continental Shelf. These deep-water facilities, known as “floaters,” create their own food chain, consolidating bait and gamefish from miles around. On a typical 36- or 48-hour trip, don’t plan on sleeping much. The floaters are brightly lit at night, which is when the tuna fishing is best. After identifying fish on the sonar, chumming and drift fishing with 30-pound-class tackle is usually the most productive method for yellowfin. “Sometimes the tuna will start breaching,” said King. “They’ll jump in the air like king mackerel.” It’s for these occasions, when fish are on the surface, that big spinning rigs armed with poppers are
kept on deck. Drifting and pulling poppers while chugging back up-current to start a new drift goes on all night long. At dawn, the bait rods come in, and it’s time to start trolling. The primary daylight targets are marlin, sailfish, wahoo and dolphin. Between night and day, it equates to a whole lot of big fish packed into a weekend at sea. It’s a grand adventure, and a meat trip of epic proportions in the Gulf of Mexico. Check out Paparda Rey at www.offshorebiggame.com. Information on the Houston Big Game Fishing Club can be found at www.hbgfc.com.
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By Randy “C-Note” Cnota f you’ve ever found yourself fishing for largemouths after a bitter cold front has blown into your area, then you might be familiar with how tough northern winds can make it to fill a livewell. All tournament anglers know these fronts wait until the night before the competition to crash the feeding-frenzy of the days prior to an event. There is hope in this situation, and it doesn’t involve finesse presentations. It requires you to break out your heaviest sticks and braid (65 lb. minimum) as well as your stoutest hooks and beefiest weights. It’s time to present your bait where many fear to go… under the floating grass mats. I have an 11 pounder, two 10 pounders and probably over 100 in the 5- to 8-lb. range to my credit using this technique. Mats of grass in the South consist of wide variety of aquatic vegetation. Where I fish most, they consist of hydrilla, submergent Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM aPage 1 grass that grows to the surface, and hyacinth, a floating vegetation.
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The hydrilla acts as a base that holds the hyacinth in place. This makes for a bass sanctuary similar to your home in that it has walls and a ceiling. The trick to presenting your bait to these cold fish hiding under the mats is to crash it through their roof (the hyacinth) using a large tungsten steel weight. The exact size is dependent upon the thickness of the mat, but you want a weight that penetrates without too much effort. I usually opt for a 1 ¾-ounce, as the bass will be heading for the deepest recesses of the mat. This is also a place that many anglers fail to target because it can be quite a chore to penetrate and doubly difficult to extract a fish… especially a big fish. This is why we use heavy rods, lines and hooks. The most popular baits to present to these fish are small craw or creature type baits. I find Gambler Chigger Craws or Burner Craws work great, but there’s no shortage of baits to choose from. Color is always a personal preference, but I’ve had the best results using hues of green like watermelon-red and green pumpkin for clear water and dark hues like black/blue or junebug for darker water. As for the technique, simply put, you have to get the bait through the roof and into the bass’ house so he can eat it, but there are too many subtleties to discuss here. Once a bass bites, you have to get him out so again… NO WIMPY TACKLE! If you’ve never punched mats, I suggest you go out with someone with experience. Commit to spending a lot of time punching the mats, and set out with a variety of weights, hooks and lures to experiment and fine tune your technique. And don’t forget the camera; most fish hauled out of these places are picture-worthy. Capt. Randy Cnota is the publisher of the Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.
For more fishing with Capt. Randy Cnota, go to
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Tobin Strickland - CAM Special Correspondent • Photo courtesy of TroutSupport.com
pring is almost here on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Soon the redbuds and crabapples and a host of other flowering trees and plants will be budding. Where should you be fishing? For many years now, I’ve learned to read the plants that are blooming to know if the seasonal shift of my bay would be ahead of schedule or behind. While the last several winters have had bitter cold, these cold periods still have been shorter compared to long-term trends. This leads to certain flowering trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to bloom early or later, and I’ve found over time this to be a consistent indicator correlating with forage species movements into and out of the bays and estuaries. Redbuds, crabapples, and a host of flowering bulbs tend to be great indicators of early spring warm ups and whether or not the trout will move early from the rivers and other winter haunts to more of a spring location ahead of schedule or sometimes behind schedule. You’ll have to begin making notes in your log as to what the fish are doing in your area and what species to watch as they bloom and stop. Seeing the redbuds flower early compared to prior seasons could lead you to abandon your winter fishing locations ahead of your planned time. Getting on the move early can then help you find those early spring fish ahead of schedule. Tobin created TroutSupport.com—Tech Support for Speckled Trout and Redfish Anglers—beyond the basics.
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BLUE RIDGE
By Bill Carson
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f you are reading this, you are probably ready to get out and go fishing... or catching would be more like it. All of us “fish heads” want to catch more fish when we are out fishing, and this is the number one reason technology is playing such a big part in the sport. The number one aspect to locating and catching more fish hinges on finding structure, understanding what the structure is and making
sure there are fish on the structure before ever putting a hook in the water. This is true in both fresh and saltwater. Once we know the fish are there, we can concentrate of finding what they will bite. Most know that 2D and DI (Down Imaging) sonar is looking under the boat and that SI (Side Imaging) sonar has the ability to look out to the side of the boat. It is the SI capability that allows us to canvas or search vast amounts of water very quickly and identify and mark very accurately. Side Imaging is the most effective tool for finding and catching fish, with depth of use being the only limitation. The images we get from 455 kHz and 800 kHz are really good, but the images that we are getting from the new MEGA (1200 kHz) units are some of the most detailed ever seen by recreational sonar. When we consider all of the inshore and nearshore fishing is taking place in 150 feet or less of depth, one can realize the role this technology does play and how it can help put significantly more fish in the boat. It is MEGA Imaging that cannot only find more fish but provides the greatest and most detailed peek at underwater structure and fish. The ability to identify the actual species of fish is a reality now, and it will only get better. You be the judge. Another great advantage is the ability to connect your trolling motor to your sonar unit as is the case with Minn Kota i-Pilot LINK and Humminbird. This ability allows the user to control and captain the boat from any Humminbird unit on the vessel. If the motor is an Ulterra, the motor can be stowed or deployed in addition to all of the other abilities. The user can access all TWR (Tracks, Waypoints and Routes) warehoused on the units. This includes Spotlocks, which allows the boat to be “virtually anchored” to a spot without the aid of an old-fashioned anchor. We are seeing more and more boats employing this capability in bigger and bigger boats. After all, who likes pulling and resetting anchor? Some of the other features on today’s Minn Kotas include: Circle Mode, Cruise Control, Follow the Contour, Go To and Jog. As the season gets started, make sure to look online, visit your favorite retailer, boat show or fishing show to see for yourself how the new technology can help you put more fish in the boat.
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or those brave enough to slide their waders on in February’s brutal winter weather, the streams of the Blue Ridge Mountains can provide welcome relief from cabin fever. Even on our heavily stocked waters, trout will not be as aggressive as they are in spring or fall. However, fish still feed—even in the coldest weather. On a wintertime trip to the Chattooga River, my younger brother once honed in on a pattern that saved a slow day. It was suck-the-icefrom-your-guides cold, and we were getting skunked dredging out the deeper runs with heavy nymph rigs. Tired of throwing all that weight with no results, he tied on a dry and dropper—I believe it was a Stimulator over a Pheasant Tail—and went to work on some of the shallower pocket water. By mid-afternoon, he had managed to bring several nice browns to hand, all on the dropper. He discovered that the fish were feeding in the sunny spots, where the sand and gravel had presumably warmed in the sun. His tactics went against everything we thought we knew, and there’s no way localized water temps could have been affected in the rushing river. It worked, though. Time and again, the only places we drew strikes were in those patches of sunlight. It was one of those isolated occurrences when doing something out of the ordinary leads to results. When desperation sets in, there’s no reason not to try something different, even if it seems counterintuitive.
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LAKES HIWASSEE & CHATUGE Western North Carolina Monster Stripers and Smallmouth By Shane Goebel
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ebruary may not boast the warm temperatures of summer, especially if it’s anything like last month, but it’s an optimal time to hit the water for some huge trophy striped bass. Fortunately, we can help you score that monster Western North Carolina or North Georgia striper. It is also an exciting time of year for big smallmouth. Hiwassee Lake is Western North Carolina’s hidden gem for catching some awesome stripers and smallmouth bass, and, as Murphy, NC’s only professional fullWe Run Trips 365 Days A Year. Book Your Trip Now!
time guide service, we are here to help put you on some hard-fighting fish. Currently, water temperatures on Lake Hiwassee are in the low 40’s and water levels are around 41 feet below full pool. Water clarity is moderately clear and stained in the creeks and rivers. Striper fishing has been excellent recently. We’ve been catching some nice fish in the 20 to 40-pound range. These fish are shallow and pounding bait up on the banks and shallow flats in the backs of creeks. Pulling planer boards early in the morning has been Mention This Ad and Receive a Discount When Booking Your Trip!
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working great. Make sure to stagger your baits behind your boards. I like to run my bluebacks, trout, and shad 15 to 25 feet behind the boards closest to the banks, and further back on my inside boards. While pulling planer boards, it’s always a great idea to set these great Hiwassee smallmouths. out a couple of free lines behind the February is a fantastic month for boat. While trolling, keep an eye on catching a lot of stripers and smallyour electronics. We’ve also picked mouth on this Western North Caroliup some decent schools over deeper na lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Serwater, especially as the day progress- vice a call and let the area’s #1-rated es and the sun gets up over the tree guide service put you on some of Lake lines. Most of our down line fish have Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during been caught in the 30 to 40-foot range the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are off points and ledges along the river Murphy, NC’s premier full-time guide channels in the mouths of creeks. This service, specializing in striped and hyis also a great way to pick up a stray brid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely walleye or two. and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Smallmouth and spotted bass have Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. been off the hook out here lately. This And for all your live bait and tackbeautiful mountain lake never ceas- le needs, check out Hughes General es to fail me (knock on wood). We’ve Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry been catching some large quantities of everything you need for a successful smallmouth and spots. These fish have day of fishing and have the best live been schooled up on shallow flats and herring around. So, come fish with the off rocky points around the lake. Down pros for the opportunity to be featured lining live bluebacks has been the best in Angler Magazine, and let us help technique for loading the boat with 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) 3612021 / 1-(844)-4-ANGLER.
Bass Fishing Heaven On Lake Chatuge
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By Darren Hughes
inter has definitely moved into the area with the exception of some unseasonably warm days. This has lead to some great winter fishing on Lake Chatuge this season. Also, remember to book your trips now for this spring. We are booking up quick. We guarantee you’ll have a fishing trip of a lifetime with us and the spring is an
excellent time to hit the water. Currently, the water temps are in the low 40’s. Lake water levels are slowly on the rise due to the recent rains and are presently around 6 feet below full pool. Clarity is clear to stained in the creeks. The spotted bass bite has been really good for this time of year, and we’re seeing an awesome early morn-
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ing to midday down line bite. We’re catching some nice fish in the 10 to still averaging about 20 to 30 spots a 13 pound range in the backs of creeks morning out here. Live blueback her- and off some sloping points. ring has been the key here. Top water February fishing on Lake Chatuge has been decent and should pick up in is always exciting. Remember, live the next few months. Look for these bait on this lake can be the difference fish to be holding off points and ledges between a successful day of fishing off the main channel. We’ve also seen and a horrid one. For all of your bait some nice schools of bass on shal- and tackle needs, come visit us at low flats throughout the lake. Look Hughes General Store in Blairsville, for these spots to really fire up in the GA--it’s the best place around for upcoming months. Last year, we had quality live blueback herring. We also several 50 plus fish days. Remember carry ethanol-free gas and have some while fishing in the spring, these bass of the best hot, made-from-scratch are bedding so try to quickly get them biscuits in North GA. For guidback in to the water. Preserving the ed fishing trips on Lakes Chatuge, quality of the bass will ensure years of Hiwassee, or Nottely, or questions great fishing on this lake. about the bait shop, call me, Darren Our hybrid bass bite has also been Hughes, at Hughes General Store. fantastic, with early morning being And whether you’re a seasoned anthe best time to target these fish. Pull- gler or just starting out, give Chatuge ing planer boards and free-lining live a shot for some of the best spotted bluebacks and shad have been the bass and hybrids in the area. Good best techniques. We have also been luck, and get hooked! Darren Hughes is the Owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop and a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and Guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call, (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.
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MURPHY AREA LAKES February Fishing Forecast for Murphy Area Lakes, and a Few Proposals for Local Fisheries
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By Aaron Kephart
anuary, I suppose, is supposed to be cold, but the first week of this one was just ridiculous. Hiwassee Lake was frozen from Grape Creek to the headwaters, as of two days ago (1/6), although the extreme lower end of the lake was substantially warmer than I expected (45 to 47 degrees). In spite of the weather, we are still catching fish, primarily smallmouth and brown trout, although we have seen a walleye or two in the mix some days, and have run across stripers on other days. There is some warming rain in the forecast, and I have very high hopes for February. February is traditionally one of my favorite months to fish and, over the years, a disproportionate number of our biggest largemouth, smallmouth, spots, brown trout, walleye, and stripers have come during the month. Patterns will vary depending on weather and water color, but generally speaking, the month provides a great bite, and I would love to show you what it can offer! I would like to change gears for a minute and talk about my “wish list,” so to speak, for the three lakes I guide on the most: Hiwassee, Apalachia, and Chatuge. I know not everyone will agree with these proposals, but I would like to present them as food for thought, and give my rationale for each. Hiwassee–I would like to see two things happen on Hiwassee. The first involves the spotted bass. They have taken over the lake, and they have had a huge negative impact on the smallmouth. I know we are stuck
with them, but if they are here to stay, I would prefer for them to get bigger. The only way to accomplish that in a spot lake is for anglers to keep a bunch of the smaller ones. Many of you reading this remember back 20-25 years ago when Chatuge was absolutely full of small spots, and an 8 pound limit was decent. Now it is rare to catch a small spot on Chatuge, and it is a fantastic trophy spotted bass lake. I am a firm believer that the reason they grew up is because a majority of anglers on that lake kept a bunch of small spots. I am not advocating keeping big spots, and in fact I strongly discourage it if for no other reason than genetics (keep the big ones in and take the little ones out), but I would love to see Hiwassee go to a 15 per person limit on spots under 15 inches, with no minimum size limit. I think this would benefit both the spots and the smallmouth greatly. This same thing would probably also be beneficial on a lake like Fontana. My second proposal for Hiwassee involves the walleye. In my opinion, the current bag limit is way too high for the population that we have. In reality, the only time you can routinely catch limits of walleye given their current numbers is when they are spawning, which is not a great formula for the continuation of the species on Hiwassee. They have it hard enough with the herring, and keeping a bunch of spawning fish only compounds the problem, and leads to fewer and fewer fish every year (there are simply nowhere
near enough stocked in the lake). I would love to see Hiwassee go to a 3 fish per person walleye limit. Three of them is a fine meal for a big family, and is hard to come by the majority of the year anyway. I would also love to see the stocking numbers increased by about 10 times the current rate. Apalachia–My three ideas for Apalachia are pretty straightforward. The first would be to designate it as a trophy smallmouth fishery, and only allow anglers to keep one smallmouth per day, with that fish being a minimum of 22 inches. I have seen this work with tremendous success on other bodies of water, primarily in Tennessee, and I would love to see it tried out on Apalachia (it also wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see this size and bag limit on smallmouth implemented on Hiwassee, or possibly even state wide). My second proposal for Apalachia is for a complete removal of any size or bag limits on spotted bass. Luckily there are not a ton of them in the lake at this point, but I am seeing more every year, and I would encourage anglers to keep all of them they legally can out of there. My third proposal for Apalachia is to stock 30,000 to 50,000 walleye fingerlings a year. I know the herring
have essentially eliminated natural reproduction for them, but Apalachia is the perfect lake to stock a reasonable number into (and walleye have to be much cheaper than raising trout to put in the lake). proposal for Chatuge–My Chatuge is very simple. North Carolina should return to a 5 fish bass limit on the lake. I know that Georgia allows anglers 10 spotted bass per person and Chatuge is a border lake, but two wrongs don’t make a right, and we do not have to follow their lead. Way too many big spots are being taken out of this lake, especially in the prespawn, and if people won’t police themselves game laws have to do it for them. We have a jewel of a trophy spotted bass fishery in this lake, but I am a firm believer that excessive bag limits, combined with a few fish hogs, are going to destroy this awesome fishery if nothing is done about it. I hope everyone has survived the deep freeze of early January. If you are like me you are looking forward to spring at this point, although I do love winter fishing. Regardless, thank you for your time.
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
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 3
Fontana Lake
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enerally, I try and get out as often as the weather and my schedule allow. This year has been tough on both fronts. It’s not that I am afraid of the cold, or not prepared, but sometimes it is just to the point that, it ain’t no fun! Here’s to hoping we get a little warm-up in the coming weeks. On days where it has been bearable, the fish are really active and, the best thing about this time of year,
By Capt. James McManus is that they are schooled up around bait so when you find one, the other is usually not far behind. We have been doing more spoon fishing than trolling lately but my buds that are trolling have been getting into them pretty good also. Eighty feet can still be a good depth to search, with bunches showing at 30 to 40 feet at times. Several trips to other lakes have shown the same tendencies with large
concentrations of bait- sometimes mid-channel and sometimes scattered on large flats. I have seen the milder days leaning towards the flats where really cold blustery days seem to concentrate fish in deeper channels. It also slows the bite when it has been really brutally cold. Good news is that, now that February is here, we can start looking back to the banks as the smallies, in particular, will start to orient towards the banks getting ready for the spawn. I know the moon plays a big part in when fish spawn but if we get a few nice days and good sun and the water warms a couple of degrees, they start at least thinking about procreation and the urge hits to seek out bedding areas. We have always found good smallmouth on the Tuck side between Noland and Goldmine on the park side. Throw small jigs or crankbaits to the bank and fat smallies may interrupt your retrieve. Anywhere around Greasy Branch
or up in Alarka, can also be good. With spots around everywhere, please release any smallmouth you catch, the spots are better eating anyway, so give our bronze backs a fighting chance of holding on. You will also find the whites and even walleye are moving shallower, along with crappie, if there happens to be any brush on the banks. Keep an eye on the weather, still be prepared for cold conditions and get off the couch when possible. Let me know if you need help finding a few, later Capt. James
Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!
4 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
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SWAIN COUNTY / BRYSON CITY
Swaingler Fishing “Secrets” By Tammy Parris
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ooler weather doesn’t mean the fishing slows down. Fair weather anglers usually trade the waterways for the woods when it’s hunting season. Winter anglers tend to catch more fish because the freshwater species tend to group up. Due to Christmas break and bad weather, we didn’t go on our monthly trip, but that doesn’t mean the fishing stopped. Swainglers kept the waters busy during break when they weren’t in the woods. A few of the anglers were willing to share their favorite wintertime fishing secrets: Lance: Nightcrawlers in the Tuckasegee River for Walleye. Kade: A-Rig with white twisters for bass on Fontana Lake. DJ: Yellow Spinner in
the Tuckasegee River for trout. Daniel: Dry fly in Santeetlah for trout. Michael: Single hook spinner off the main street bridge in Bryson City for trout. Brooke: Bobby Garland lures in Fontana Lake for Crappie. Conner: White spinner for bass on Fontana Lake. Payton: Ice Jig for Walleye on Fontana Lake. Levi: Homemade doll fly for bass on Tuckasegee River. Nicholas: Jerk bait or hollow body swimbait for bass on Fontana Lake. JT: underspin drop shot shakey head and jerk bait for bass in his pond. Max: Spinner for bass at Fontana Lake. Dakota: Rooster tail for crappie on Fontana. Brady: Shakey head for bass on Fontana. Brothers, Ben & Zach: Red Worms for trout in the Nantahala River. Austin: Island
Park for trout with single hook rooster tail. Stefan: Rooster tail for trout on Sawmill Creek. Ms. Parris: Bobby Garland Crappie baits on Fontana for Crappie. Fishing during the colder months offers unique benefits. Wintertime offers a more lowKinley and Kades’ Cold weather catch from key and peaceful time on Fontana Lake the lake, river or creek. Go see for yourself, just remember to layer up and stay warm! 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.
Fish On The Move
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By Ronnie Parris
ebruary is a time of change in mountain lakes. So if you want to be successful, and come home with a good catch for the frying pan, you better be ready to change your fishing style and location to what fish want. I fish all of our mountain lakes but Fontana is my closest, and home lake, so to speak. I constantly hear folks in the local bait shops talk about how they have shut down in February as the water is at its coldest. Fish are like people in that they can’t completely stop eating, or they will die. The coldwater temps may move fish from your normal spots, where you were catching good numbers and sizes. First thing I do is start looking for warmer water; even a 2-degree
change will sometimes concentrate fish in a small area. Check where streams or run off enters your lake, sometimes it‘s shallow flats or logs laying half submerged, that will give you that small temperature change that will hold fish and bait. The sunny side of the lake will always be more productive this time of year. Some fish, such as walleye an crappie, have spawning on there minds and will be making their way up river runs to head waters and shallow spawning grounds. These fish will sometimes hold when they hit a water column with desirable temperatures for them and the shad they feed on. If you’re lucky enough to find this, you’re in for some
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fast action. I like to troll and am capable of running 10 rods at once, but when I hit fish schooled like this, I’ve found it’s better to run no more than 4 rods, as the school is usually tight and in running fewer rods, I can get back in them after hooking fish. A lot of these, especially walleye, will be deep water-sometimes 80 or 90 feet, so when you get your limit, please stop fishing for them as when they are brought up from those depths, their swim bladder blows and their chance of survival when released is very low. I’ve heard people talk of venting them but I’m skeptical about the fish’s survival when this has been done. Sometimes, even after finding these fish, they are so cold they just don’t bite well trolling or even casting artificial lures to them. When I find they aren’t wanting to chase, I throw live minnows or a scented artificial, such as a tube, Fluke, or Shaky head worm. There are several different baits you can use, but the common thread is, you have to work it super slow, they want to watch it and come up and sort of “smell” it and even then, don’t expect viscous hits, as it will be a subtle take. Sometimes, you just feel the rod load. Safety should be a main concern at this time of the year, a fall in the wa-
ter is no big deal in July but do it now and you may not make it back home to your family. Also, a trip without proper clothes and you’re looking at a short, miserable trip. I like to dress in layers so I can stay warm and not be hot if it does warm up at midday. Another concern this time of year is your tackle and boat, and how it responds to the cold. Always leave your motor down till all the water drains out when you pull out so the water pump isn’t frozen the next morning. Also dry any water on the steering arm and keep a good grease in it, or your steering may be frozen. I have had the trolling motor freeze so it wouldn’t drop into the water when I got to my spot and had to keep pouring water over it to thaw it. I keep a Kerosene heater in my boat this time of year, but I would advise you to use a lot of caution when taking a heater on a boat because if you have a fire you’re trapped there with it. I usually close with the phrase take a kid fishing but if temps are too cold you may want to leave them at home as you don’t want to make it a bad experience for them. So, I’ll just close by saying, ”Be safe and good fishing“. Anyone one who would like to go out at this time can contact me at 828-488-9711
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)
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RIVER REFLECTIONS
Cleaning Out The Box
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e’ve officially reached the time of winter where I start getting my spring itch to fish. It starts with the arrival of spring outdoor shopping catalogs. It ends with a dining room table, a folding banquet table and several movable trays covered in lures, lines and various other fishing accessories. Now I’m not trying to suggest that I fill these spaces with all new gear. Quite to the contrary; I might buy a few new items during late winter months at most, new lines of various strength, usually. I approach this season more like a retailer approaches inventory, but with a lot more enjoyment. Actually, I take that back. It’s more like an old trade bizarre or flea market.
By Matt Mittan
Let me explain. It has become the custom in my home that each February all our tackle boxes get emptied out, gadgets get cleaned, hooks are sharpened and lures are shined up. Family members, and invited friends, get their own little corner of the place to do this. Once each person has fully measured and prepared their stock, a good, old-fashioned trade fair begins. “I’ll trade you 2 Spinnerbaits and 6 motor oil colored worms for one 6” Rapala Floater.” (A silent pause leads into a steely eyed counter offer.) “No way. If you want a Rapala, you need to throw in some Tru-Turn hooks with those worms too.” (Measuring up if there’s room
to negotiate for a better deal, the trader resigns to the value the plug will bring...) “Deal! Dang it!” You see, the value for each item – like Stock – goes up and down based upon prior performance and predictions of future yields. If all the biggest fish were caught on Jigs last year, then they will carry a higher value this year. If someone wants to go after a different species during the coming year, they may try to swap lures with other family members for lesser-sought items, in order to find more value for their trades. Not only does this provide a really fun way for us to prep all our gear for the coming season and get some new toys in our tackle boxes, but it’s also a wonderful way to have some fun with varying versions of stories from previous fishing trips. It’s so funny to see the way different people can remember the same catch. It goes without saying that, the better you can talk
up a tale for any given item, the more you can get for it in trade. But more than all this, it’s quality time with loved ones right smack in the middle of February. No electronics (other than maybe a few pictures to show off collections to our friends), no money changing hands and always lots of laughs, good food and warm memories to lead us into a new season of creating memories. The more years that go by the more fun it gets. A few stories seem to resurface each year, like a folk story of legend, reminding us that we share some common ground where roots begin to run deep. Not feeling the itch yet? Invite over some friends and family that like to fish. Tell them to bring a covered dish, their tackle boxes and the intent to brag, trade, laugh and grin. Who knows, you might even start a new late winter tradition in your family as well. Roots have to start by someone dropping the first seed. Trade well!
Matt Mittan is a long time broadcaster in WNC, an entrepreneur and USAF veteran who has fished all around the world. He can often be found aboard his classic red Old Town canoe in search of mountain Bass. Matt currently has an insurance business, partnered with AFLAC, providing benefits and tax solutions for area businesses. Email MattsFishingDiary@ gmail.com with story ideas or feedback.
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Prepping Your Gear For Spring and Summer Fly Fishing
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By Aaron Motley
ith cold weather upon us, this is a great time to pull out, assess, and repair your gear; like a reel with dirty floating fly line or waders that have a leak. It’s also a great time to organize your fly box and pack. Take time this winter to make sure you’re ready for spring and summer fly fishing. Floating line over time will accumulate dirt, oil, or other agents that bond to the surface of the line. This can cause sinking to occur in the front of your floating line. Dry rot or line splitting may allow water to penetrate small cracks in your line. If this is your case, a new floating line may be a better solution. If no major issues, then clean and dress your fly line. Rio Fishing Products makes a simple cleaning towelette, $1 each. If you use this handy little product make sure you use the towelette
thoroughly on the first 40-50 feet of fly line. You may also try hot water, Dawn soap, and the kitchen sink; just try not to destroy the kitchen. Either way, after the line has been scrubbed of bonded agents, it is time to apply a line dressing. Loon Outdoors has a good product called Line Speed. Apply to your fly line with a soft cloth or buy the Line Speed Kit from Loon Outdoors which has a cleaning pad and Line Speed. Waders that leak do not make for a good day. Some manufacturers have warranties on their products, or the manufacturer may be able to repair the wader for a fee. Warranties will vary by manufacturers, but Simms and Patagonia have the best in the fishing industry. Breathable waders can be patched with Aqua Seal or Gortex patch kits, as long as you have found where the leak is. If you get a leak on the stream, there is a product
from Loon Outdoors, called UV Wader repair. It comes in a small tube that, after applying to the desired area of repair, just needs exposer to UV light from the sun, or a UV flashlight to solidify. It has come in handy for both my waders and for rain jackets over the years. Cleaning up your fishing bag and consolidating and organizing your fly boxes is an easy way to see what flies you may need to tie or buy, before the warm weather comes back. Come in to our shop and check out some new water-
proof fly boxes to help you organize and protect your flies. Come in to Hunter Banks fly shop in Asheville or Waynesville, and let us help take care of all our your fly fishing needs.
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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Fly or Spin Fishing –Which Is Superior? By Ethan Hollifield
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f you’ve hung around a group of fly-or-die guys long enough, then you’ve probably heard how catching any fish on a spinning rod (especially trout) is an abomination. Conversely, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard fly rods coined as “fairy wands” during my career on N.C State’s Bass Fishing Team. There’s always been a back and forth debate between these camps as to which style of fishing is quote “better.” Having experience on both sides, I can attest to the ignorance that lingers on either side when viewing the other. Whether you target wild trout in small mountain streams on the fly or skip jigs under boat docks during bass tournaments: each requires a certain set of skills and knowledge of aquatic environments that can’t be learned overnight. I don’t see one or the other as being “superior” but rather as
just another set of skills in an angler’s arsenal. When comparing fly fishing and spin fishing, the most obvious difference between the two is how the “lure” or “fly” is presented to a given fish species, and both come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Spinning rods and bait-casting rods have the ultimate advantage in presenting larger and heavier lures over greater distances and at controlled depths. Have you ever tried to bass fish with a fly rod on a lake when the bass are holding in 30 feet of water off a vertical bluff wall? It sucks, believe me. Even with heavy sinking lines it’s almost impossible to control, let alone, present flies to fish at that depth. Conversely, fly fishing for trout far outweighs spin fishing as far as catch rate is concerned, due to the ability to cast virtually weightless flies that match aquat-
ic insects that make up 90% of a trout’s diet, on average. I realize that there are exceptions to either technique and it’s all very circumstantial as to what kind of presentation is needed. Personally, my decision to strictly fly fish for trout and do either/or for saltwater/ bass species is mainly from a conservationist standpoint. While, ultimately, fish survival depends on fish handling/release, regardless of technique, I truly believe that fly fishing for trout results in lower mortality rates as a whole compared to spin fishing for them. A long fly rod absorbs greater amounts of potentially harmful shock than a spinning rod, and it’s much harder to “gut hook” a trout as apposed to using spinning
tackle. However, you would never catch me bass fishing without at least one spinning rod rigged and ready to roll if the bass/saltwater species are keyed on a specific presentation that a fly rod just can’t achieve. In conclusion, I really don’t believe that either technique is greater than the other, and neither is any given angler who prefers one to the other. What I care more about is whether an individual angler respects and cares about his or her fishery, and uses this as a basis for their technique choice over anything else. A mindset based on conservation far outweighs any petty differences in fly fishing or spin fishing.
Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers.
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Benefits of “The Golden Rule”
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By Wilson Love
Conventional wisdom says,
o you ever seem to come up short on time or opportunity to fish? Or maybe to hunt, or to camp, or other things you enjoy? Would you like more money to spend on things that are just for fun? Do you seldom connect with just the right people who understand and pursue the same interest as you? I can help. No, this is not a “hook” for some marketing scheme, religious cult, or the latest self-help book. I wouldn’t do that to you. The help I’m describing is as old as the world itself and it is absolutely free. However, to receive this kind of help you must do something that can be very difficult. You must change your mind. That’s right. It’s all about the way we think. I challenge you to stop thinking about how to get what you want and start thinking of how to give it away. There is an ancient teaching that came to be called The Golden Rule and it goes like this: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. (By the way, if you are not teachable, just stop reading right here because the rest of this won’t help you.) This rule, in its original form, can be found in the Human Being Owner’s Manual; otherwise known as The Bible. There’s lots of other helpful stuff in this Book as well, but let’s focus briefly here on mind changing for fun and profit.
So tell me, how is this approach working for you? Not good, if you answered “yes” to any of the questions in the first paragraph above. What am I getting at here? How does The Golden Rule play into time, resources, and opportunity? I’m glad you asked. The Golden Rule is not just a good idea. It is how life was designed to be lived. It carries with it this powerful truth: the way we treat people is the way we, ourselves, WILL be treated. This is a promise from God and cannot be avoided, no matter how independent we consider ourselves to be as individuals. That worldly proverb, “what goes around, comes around”, is a mirror image of the Biblical statement, “do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, this he will also reap”(Gal 6:7). The simple point here is that everything we think, say, and do is a planted seed; a seed that will grow and produce a crop, whether we like it or not. We will get back what we give out, and the quantity will be multiplied! If you want a harvest of corn, you don’t plant potatoes. Is this get-
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“Take care of number one.” “Get all you can.” “Can all you get.” “Sit on your can.” “My needs come first.” “What’s in it for me?” etc.
ting too complicated for anyone? It amazes me when I see self-centered people whining about what they don’t have or what isn’t working for them. If your whole life is about yourself, why would you ever expect to be on the receiving end of good things? Let me break this down for you. Do you want more time to get out on the lake and it just isn’t happening for you? Make time for someone else first (plant that seed), and more time will come back to you, providentially. Do you not have the money to buy the equipment you really want? Find folks to help financially first (seed), and then watch as your own finances grow. This is not a lightning bolt fix or a “slam dunk” remedy for any situation out there. Instead, it is a lifestyle that must be embraced daily to be effective. Whatever you seem to require, make a pointed effort to give away that very thing, no matter how small the gift. This holds true for every arena of life, not just our sporting ventures. Sound crazy? You don’t believe it? Well then, it won’t work for you. You have to mix believing with action. Does a farmer put seed in the ground without fully expecting that seed to sprout, grow, and produce? I couldn’t speak this strong-
ly without a track record to back it up. Many personal examples of this “law of the harvest” come to mind, but here’s an obvious one: For many years I had very limited access to the best places to carry on my outdoor addictions. Most of my time was spent on local game lands, but I often took along someone who needed experience or lacked opportunity otherwise. Briefly said, I planted a lot of good seeds and the harvests have been incredible. I’ve fished from Florida to Lake Erie, turkey and deer hunted from the Mississippi to Murfreesboro, and elk hunted in the Rockies, to name a few. How do I know these trips were a supernatural harvests and not just planned events? Because most of them were by invitation. I didn’t plan them at all. The Golden Rule is not just a good idea. It is how life was designed to be lived. Plant some good seeds today if you want a better tomorrow.
Wilson Love is Owner/Operator of The Practical Outdoorsman, a retail and consignment store.
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What Women Really Want. . . By Kacie Kisielewski
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hile I truly resent stereotypes, I will be the first to admit that I can be complicated and indecisive, and my husband is sometimes confused about what I really want in a given situation (though the feeling is often mutual). Understanding what a woman (or a man) really wants can be an arduous process, but I want to share some great news: when it comes to fishing, this process is very simple. All women really want on the water is. . . respect. As a female angler, I am constantly reminded
of the biases that should have been eradicated when pioneers like Joan Wulff shattered the glass ceilings that kept women out of the sport for so long. Unfortunately, many of our fellow anglers still view fly fishing as a “man’s sport,” and this attitude is often most noticeable in interactions on the riverbank. I recently endured the cold stares and snickers as I walked into a local delayed harvest section, chose a fly, and tied it on without any assistance. As I very quickly landed a feisty rainbow, I admit that I relished in the revela-
tion that one of the judgmental anglers had positioned himself closer to me in an effort to see what I was using. I would have been more than happy to tell him if he had asked, but he was clearly not interested in interacting with me. I understand that this is one small isolated incident, but I also understand that female anglers in this region are constantly met with various types of contempt. Women, however, have so much to offer the sport of fly fishing. Many of us are skilled in the art of both patience and technique, and all we truly want is to be a part of the beauty of such a timeless sport. I feel no shame in asking a man or a woman for help, on or off the water, for I believe we can learn something from every person we meet. Because of my own desire for independence, I am certainly not advocating for men to give women special treatment. In fact, I am advocating for quite the opposite. As I step into the water, give me the same respectful nod that you give my husband as
he steps in behind me, OR if you are the type of angler that doesn’t typically interact with men on the water, please do not make an exception for me simply because I am a woman. We all enter the water for different reasons, but I believe that we all deserve to be there. If we choose to empower and respect one another, our sport will be better, our rivers will be cleaner, and our world will be a little better because of our efforts.
Kacie Kisielewski is a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers, LLC.
Contentment and Fishing
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By Daniel Day
walked around the store for a few minutes while my wife looked at swimming goggles. I bought a pair for her for Christmas, but they didn’t fit well. She wanted a different pair, and I volunteered to accompany her on the exchange. It was a good husband move, “Sure, honey. I’ll go shopping with you.” What I didn’t know was, that all of the fishing gear had gone on sale, and now my sacrifice looked like an opportunity to look at hooks and lures. We’re talking 50% off or more on everything fishing—Christmas had come again! I left my wife on the goggle aisle, and started looking through the gear. I picked up different sized weights, and examined a few new lures. The more I looked, the more a desire within me began to grow—I needed this stuff. Have you ever felt
that way before? Most of the gear I looked at was on sale for a reason— who needs size 6 fishing hooks in Western North Carolina? By the way, a size 6 hook is nicknamed an “Octopus hook”—I don’t think I’ll find any eight-legged seafaring creatures in the Upper French Broad. So why did I want size 6 hooks? Because they were on sale, and they were related to fishing, and I might need them in the ocean one day. Recently, I was listening to an interview with, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. Chouinard was describing how he learned to fly-fish, and that specifically, he had given up trying to stay up-to-date with the 1000s of different flies on the market. Instead, he decided to choose one fly—in a few different sizes—and master it. According to Chouinard, he’s never caught so
many fish in his life. I think my experience in the sporting goods store and the experience of Yvon Choinard illustrates two important things about life and fishing.
1. The good life comes to those who practice contentment. As much as I want to believe that my next lure will be the one that catches all the fish, it probably won’t
CONTINUED, SEE CONTENTMENT AND FISHING, PAGE 12
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CONTENTMENT AND FISHING happen. Why? Because other than a brick of dynamite or a shot gun, there’s no silver bullet for catching fish (see what I did there? “Shot gun” and “silver bullet.”) It takes time, skill and experience. Instead of shopping for more hooks, I need to spend more time on the water, faithfully practicing what I already know. Yes, it’s a good thing to understand when and how to use a few different lures, but have you looked in a ‘nor-
continued from page 11 When I’m tempted to purchase a
mal’ angler’s tackle box lately? There are more than a few lures. I think all of us could learn to practice more contentment, and I bet we’ll find that we—like Chouinard—catch more fish. 2. Fishing—just like most learned skills—is most effective when we stop trying to be a jack-of-alltrades and simply master a few techniques.
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lure from a TV commercial, I need to remember that it took a week of fishing for them to put together that hour-long special. There’s no quick fix or “tricks of the trade”—there’s a faithfulness and patience that leads to more fish in the boat. Does that mean we stop learning? Of course not! But buying isn’t learning. Buying is buying. What if we adapted Yvon Chouinard’s experience into a challenge, and used 2018 as the year to master one or two lures? Instead of spending half of our fishing trip digging around a tackle box, what if we dumped it out and left ourselves just a few options? I think it might be worth the risk. And what if we applied these two principles to more than just fishing, and tried to live our lives this way? What if we practiced contentment and were faithful with all of the tasks we have to do today? We might find that life—and fishing—
becomes much more successful. **If you decide to take the challenge, let me know on Facebook: @ danielryanday or shoot me an email: connect@intentionalChristianity. com. I’d love to hear how it works out. Maybe we’ll start a revolution, and catch a bunch more fish in the process.
Daniel Ryan Day is the author of two books, including his most recent work: Intentional Christian (now available). He’s also the COO of Cascades Mountain Resort, Old Orchard Tavern and Asheville’s Fun Depot. Daniel lives in Fairview, NC with his wife and three kiddos. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram or at intentionalchristianity.com.
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star-studded field of 111 professional bass anglers—including a mix of rookies, legends and veterans from other tournament circuits—will make up the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series field when competition gets underway on Lake Martin, Alabama, in February. The lineup includes 99 anglers who competed in the Elite Series this year. They will be joined by 11 first-time Elite qualifiers and one Elite veteran, Rick Morris, of Lake Gaston, Va., who is returning to the prestigious pro circuit after a three-year hiatus. “The Elite field is getting stronger every year,” noted B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon. “Some of the anglers who achieved Elite status in the last few years—including Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee—are already proving they belong in the top tier of this sport. I expect some of the pros qualifying from the Bassmaster Opens will become forces to be reckoned with right away, too.” Weldon said that only three of the 15 qualifiers from the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens declined invitations to compete in the Elite Series.
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Among those climbing in from the Opens is Hunter Shryock, brother of veteran Elite pro Fletcher Shryock, and at least two standouts from the FLW Tour. Shin Fukae and Wesley Strader have each won about $1.5 million in long careers with FLW. Because of their previous winnings, Fukae and Strader will not be eligible for Bassmaster Rookie of the Year honors next year. Heading the list of anglers requalifying for the 11-event circuit are Brandon Palaniuk of Hayden, Idaho, the reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and seven-time AOY winner Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. Also returning are 17 former Classic winners, including Lee. Three of those, Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo.; David Fritts of Lexington, N.C.; and Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss., narrowly missed requalifying this year but were given special “Legends” exemptions available to past Classic champions and AOY winners. Requalifying through the Elites is based on Angler of the Year points earned the previous season. Newcomers also get a one-year grace period that guarantees them a second season. Should Opens anglers or others decline invitations, those spots are filled from a list based on average rankings in Angler of the Year points over the anglers’ careers. Another nine Elite Series anglers failed to requalify this year and will have to climb back in through the Bassmaster Opens, said Weldon, who noted that they were offered priority entry into the 2018 Opens. After the kickoff Elite tournament in February, the anglers will break for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, March 16-18. Eight more regular-season Elites will be held between April and August. As in 2017, the Elite postseason will include the $1 million Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship (to be held next year on Lake Chatuge, Georgia, Sept. 20-23) and the wildly popular, livestreamed Bassmaster Classic Bracket Fish-Off (Oct. 23-26 on Carters Lake, Georgia).
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Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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n January the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries submitted an application to NOAA Fisheries for an exempted fishing permit (EFP). NOAA Fisheries issues these permits to authorize activities, which would otherwise be prohibited by federal fishery regulations, for limited testing, data collection, exploratory fishing and other purposes. NOAA Fisheries invited the Gulf states to apply for EFPs to lead reef fish management activities in the Gulf of Mexico. LDWF’s proposed EFP study would test a state-based management approach that would allow recreational harvest of red snapper in both state and federal waters off Louisiana during seasons set by the state. LDWF would monitor landings through Louisiana’s existing recreational landings data collection program (LA Creel) and track fishing at oil and gas platforms, artificial reefs, and natural bottom habitat. Participants would also have the option to test new, voluntary electronic reporting methods. Seasons would be closed when landings approach or reach Louisiana’s recreational quota. Anyone with a Louisiana Saltwater Fishing License and a Recreational Offshore Fishing Permit (ROLP) would be eligible to participate in the study. Participants would be required to indicate their preference to participate in the study via their ROLP account, provide vessel registration information (per federal requirements), and abide by the federal minimum size limit (currently 16 inches) and two fish bag limit.
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Telling Good Fish Stories By Matt Jorn
Laura Price of Lexington, N.C. and a nice Dorado caught with the FishingNosara Explorer on Dec. 5, 2017.
“W
hat did you catch today?” It is a question asked at every marina, boat ramp and backyard dock in the world every day of the fishing calendar. This is your chance to hold up your catch, your fillet bag or your digital camera. It is a chance to reveal (or conceal) details regarding where and how you snared your prey. It is also the chance to spin a wonderful tale of the leviathan that you fought for hours, had right next to the boat, and locked eyes with only to have it spit the hook/break the leader/get caught on the props/ pull you overboard… we’ve all been there! Even the master angler and author Ernest Hemingway’s beloved “The Old Man and the Sea” is a fish tale, featuring the angler we all wish we were losing the fish we all wish we could catch.
The craft of embellishing your catch is a time-honored tradition; however as the curator of the FishingNosara Costa Rica Fishing Report, I take umbrage with the 21st century version of the fish story. For the last seven years, I have documented every one of the 2,000plus trips run by the Nosara, Costa Rica based fishing team. Each report is meticulously checked for accuracy, including the angler’s names, trip date, fish caught, and (most importantly) photographs of the catches. I also encourage my clients to offer their own stories from the fishing experience. In December 2017, we hosted Laura and Michael Price. Here’s what Laura wrote: “My husband and I went out today on the Explorer. We had an AMAZING time!!! We ended the day with six mahi mahi caught with one mahi mahi, one tuna and one marlin getting away. Phenomenal crew! We loved every minute of it!” Here is another example, this time from angler Kevin Bahr: “We went with Capt. William and his mate Johnny. They were very professional and ready to ensure we had a successful outing on May 12. The weather was pretty sketchy, but we were able to locate the fish and ended up with a freezer full of ahi and mahi mahi. We cut our day short due to the weather, but our crew was willing to stay out longer if we wanted to. Despite the weather, it was a great day!” Everyone knows that the Internet is a place where the line between fact and fiction is often blurry; from politics, to sports, to fishing—it is not always easy to separate the truth, from an opinion, from a sales pitch. For instance, a quick glance at a competing Central American fishing charter’s report looks like this: Dec 27, 3 sailfish, 6 mahi-mahi, 1 marlin. Dec 28, 7 sailfish, 2 marlin. Dec 29, 5 mahi-mahi, 3 yellowfin tuna, 1 sailfish. Who is this helping? Why no details, no photos? Is this for search engines, the illiterate, or the lazy? I put it to all anglers in the 21st century posting online: Tell me a good fish story or log-off.
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Accommodations are nestled on 6 lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon. As you make your way down the one lane road you will truly be stepping back in time. Your hosts Kim and Robert Pruitt have re-captured the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.
Amenities: • Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet • Boat Trailer Parking on Site • 2 miles to the Ft. Pierce Inlet • 12 miles to the Gulf Stream • Scheduled Water Taxi Service
• Fully Furnished 3 room cottages w/ fully equipped kitchens • 250 Foot Dock with Covered Guest Area • Laundry, Ice, BBQ Grilles • FREE Ice / FREE Guest Dockage • FREE use of our Kayaks
Stay 1 Month and Get 50% OFF Your Complete Stay! Mention Reservation Code CA – 0118 when making your reservation
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT INTERLUX MICRON EXTRA ANTI-FOULING PAINT Anglers across the country will be glad to hear that Micron Extra—the classleading antifouling that delivers consistent, multiseason protection against all forms of fouling—is back in stock, thanks to the renewed manufacturing of one of its raw ingredients. Providing boaters with the signature proven performance of the Interlux Micron range, Micron Extra uses Biolux technology to achieve complete protection against shell, weed and slime fouling in all waters fresh and salt. By combining the slime-blocking capabilities of Biolux with a controlled solubility copolymer that releases active ingredients steadily over time, Micron Extra achieves long-lasting, full-spectrum defense against fouling organisms. This copolymer matrix gradually wears away like a layer of soap as the boat moves through water, via a steady polishing process. The result is a continuous, regulated delivery of biocides from each freshly exposed layer, ensuring consistent, long-lasting performance and maximum efficiency. Micron Extra retains full antifouling effectiveness when hauled, and can be relaunched without repainting. Stop by your local shipstore or boatyard and ask for Micron Extra, available in both quarts and gallons, and in all popular colors.
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GAME CHANGER FishSUP FS126
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The Stand-Up Paddleboard Designed Especially For Anglers • 12’6” x 40” x 6” provides incredible stability • Heavy duty 2 layer drop stitch construction • Motormount for up to 55lb thrust motor • 15 D-Rings for gear & leash • Paddle standing or sitting • Packs down to 45” x 15” x 10” For a FREE Catalog 800-944-7496 M-F 9-5 EST Dept CS028B 19 N Columbia St, Ste 1, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
SEA EAGLE FISHSUP FS126
By CAM Staff • Photo Courtesy of Sea Eagle Boats Last spring we introduced you to Sea Eagle’s FishSUP FS126, an inflatable stand-up paddleboard with which we were initially quite impressed. A year later, we’re fully convinced this super-stable, lightweight fishing machine is worth the praise. “I’m thrilled with its performance,” said Coastal Angler’s Tom Schlichter. “I’ve fished it from Long Island, N.Y. to the Florida Keys in everything from mangroves to bulrushes and boulder fields, and it’s come through unscathed.” At 12’6”x40” the FishSUP FS126 is both spacious and tough enough to work hardened shorelines. Heavy duty .90 drop stitch material covers the top, bottom and sides for superior protection against punctures and a 90”x18” thick camo EVA pad adds additional buffering while providing a non-slip foot bed. An integral 36-inch ruler makes fish measurement a snap. It fits in a trunk for easy transport, fully inflates in under 10 minutes, and has smartly positioned D-rings to secure a host of standard and optional fishing accessories including a swivel seat with Scotty rod holders, battery, 34-lb thrust electric motor, and forward mesh storage box with tube-style rod holders. “I love the stability, toughness and versatility of this platform,” said Schlichter. “You can stand, sit or kneel while casting, fish in freshwater or saltwater, and even add an optional Watersnake Venom 34 electric trolling motor.” Prices range from $799 for a basic start-up kit to $1,149 for a Pro Motor and Fishing Rig package. FOR MORE INFO,
VISIT WWW.SEAEAGLE.COM OR CALL 1-800-748-8066.
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eginning Feb. 1, crappie anglers will have the chance to win part of $172,000 in cash prizes being awarded in the 2018 Weiss Lake Crappie Rodeo in Alabama. More than 1,000 pink-tagged crappie were released into the reservoir on the Alabama/Georgia border. Each of those fish has been sponsored by a local merchant or individual, and tags carry cash prizes ranging from $50 to $10,000. The rodeo, being conducted by the Weiss Lake Improvement Association, will run Feb. 1 through April 15. A highlight new to this year’s event is the One Day Crappie Champion Tournament, which will be held March 31. Guaranteed payout for first place is $2,500, and Big Fish will award $1,000 in this 100-percent payback event. There will be a free fish fry at the weigh-ins. For more information, visit www.weisslakeimprovementassociation.org.
8/12/17 6:12 PM
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UNDER THE SEA
Speargun Basics
L
ike enthusiasts of any sport, if you stay with spearfishing long enough, you become intimately familiar with every detail of your equipment. Here’s an overview of what a newbie might want to know before buying that first speargun. Most spearguns are powered by bands, normally between one and three bands. There are two main types. The American style is recognized by the wood stock and is durable, sturdy and easy to load. The Eurogun style has a tubular shaped barrel, rear handle, and a thinner shaft well suited for freediving and smaller fish. In either case, spearguns are equipped with a trigger mechanism. The back end of the shaft engages into the trigger mechanism. Once the bands are loaded, the trigger is pulled and the shaft flies out due to the pulling load of the bands. You do not want to overload a gun by putting more bands than what it’s designed for as it could make the gun inaccurate or unsafe. Most spearguns now include a reel. This is especially needed if freediving and/or spearing larger fish, so the gun is not yanked out of your hands. If spearing a very large fish such as a tuna, which could spool your line in a matter of seconds, a line and float are required so the diver can pull it in from the surface. Shafts come in different lengths and diameters to match the gun, and spearos look for the perfect shaft—one that will not bend, not rust, fly straight in the water, and with a barb that will hold the fish securely. It’s wise to always carry a spare shaft or two on the boat, in case a shaft gets bent or lost. Like shafts, the bands are also replaced periodically, and it’s a good idea to carry spares in case one breaks. When bands get old, they start to get crack lines, or the wishbones can begin to fray, so it’s best to replace them before one snaps. There’s a wider variety of speargun brands than ever on the
market. These include: Wong, AB Biller, Riffe, Hammerhead, Cressi, SEAC, Mares, Rob Allen, Koah, Mako, JBL and more. If you want help selecting your first gun, see if you can find a mentor to help you select one that matches local conditions. Dive shops that specialize in spearfishing can also help. These include Austin’s in Miami, Fla.; Freedivers in Palm Beach, Fla.; James & Josephs in San Diego, Cali.; Freedive Shop in Sacramento, Cali.; and others. There are also Sheri Daye descends with a Wong speargun. custom gun builders who will work with you directly, give you advice, and design a gun to your specs—such as Wong Spearguns from Hawaii or Sea Sniper from California. Good luck and happy hunting! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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NOW
SUPER COUPON
10 FT. x 20 FT. PORTABLE CAR CANOPY NOW
Customer Rating
99
SUPER COUPON
COMPARE TO
2599
NOW
Tools sold separately.
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
Customer Rating 16"
$
Customer Rating
$5 99 9 $7999
LIMIT 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/18.
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
60" HARDWOOD WORKBENCH WITH 4 DRAWERS
RAPID PUMP® 1.5 TON ALUMINUM RACING JACK
SAVE $40
44
MODEL: 74410
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
MODEL: 887400
SAVE $106
• Height range: COMPARE TO 12-1/2" to 24" REESE SAVE $ 99
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
PROELITE
ANY SINGLE ITEM
5
$ 99
SUPER COUPON
$1 7
9999
COMPARE TO
ITEM 63358 63925/63363 shown
99
179
COMPARE TO
SAVE $394
95
• 12" x 12" • Non-Abrasive
1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK NOW
• Adjustable spray nozzle
99
MICROFIBER CLEANING CLOTHS PACK OF 4
SUPER COUPON
1/2" COMPOSITE PRO 1750 PSI ELECTRIC EXTREME TORQUE PRESSURE WASHER AIR IMPACT WRENCH • 1.3 GPM
NOW
ANY PURCHASE
WITH
LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 6/1/18. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
SUPER COUPON
• Weighs 4.4 lbs.
1,999
MODEL: EM4000SX
ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69728/63090/63089, CALIFORNIA ONLY
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
TORQUE 1190 FT. LBS. BOLT BREAKAWAY
$
FREE
9
33999
20% OFF
SUPER COUPON
TYPE SAE
42304 shown
ITEM 69043/63282/42304
METRIC 42305/69044/63171 LIFETIME WARRANTY
COMPARE TO
HUSKY
$
1797
MODEL: HCW10PCSAE
SAVE 66%
Customer Rating
LIMIT 7 - Coupon valid through 6/1/18*
I
FEBRUARY 2018
I
NATIONAL
25
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
1/17/18 1/3/18 5:07 2:12 PM
SUZUKI MAKES IT EASY AS
1-2-3
1. Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.
2. SEL
These are limited time offers. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.
N SO S NG ARD AVI TBO T S I OU TANUZUK INSECT S
Instant Savings of up to $800 on select models. See your dealer for details.
3. Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
REPOWER FINANCE
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/18 and 03/31/18 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. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/18 and 03/31/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate form at time of sale. Instant Savings will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). 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 01/01/18 and 03/31/18. “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. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
26
NATIONAL
I
CANGL_NAT3-NAT26.indd 26 SZ_Q1Promo_1PG_WIP.indd 1
FEBRUARY 2018
I
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
1/17/18 5:07 PM 12/8/17 2:46 PM
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1/17/18 1:13 PM
Where do you want to be? Don’t take the same old journey. Be somewhere genuine. Be somewhere amazing. Be changed.
800.828.4244 ¡ visithendersonvillenc.org Call for your complimentary Getaway Guide
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1/17/18 1:13 PM