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GIFT IDEAS FOR ANGLERS
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heck out these great gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday gift list. These local merchants are available to ensure your holiday gift giving satisfaction. We always try to encourage our readers to shop locally. It’s our community and we all benefit from supporting our local businesses. They’re here for us all year long and our personal convenience depends on their sustainability. Tell them Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine sent you. By the way, if you see something here that you wish could be under the tree with your name on it, just take out a marker and circle it. Then leave this page open for your friends and family to see. Yes, crude but effective. Happy Holidays from all of us at Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
NORTH CAROLINA
W
BRANDON LESTER
hen water temperatures dip into the 50s, I like to take a few days to leave my bass fishing gear at home and go crappie fishing. Most folks equate crappie with spring, but I’m here to tell you the winter bite is as good as it gets. Not only do crappie taste better when you pull them from cold water, they seem to run larger than they do when they’re up on the banks in the spring. And when you find them piled up, it can lead to a cooler full very quickly. Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year. If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to catch them. Finding good cover is always the ticket when it comes to crappie, and this is especially true during the winter months. On many reservoirs, boat docks are prime crappie cover. It seems like there are a few magic docks that always hold fish, and I also like to hunt them down with my Raymarine electronics. With the SideVision mode, it’s just a matter of idling around potential holding water and looking for them. They will be in big winter schools, so I might cruise past 50 docks before hitting on the mother lode. Once I see them on the SideVision, I’ll drop an Aqua Vu camera down to make sure they are crappie and see how big they are. I’m looking for depths of at least 20 feet beneath a dock. For obvious reasons, these deep-water docks are floating docks, and that’s something you can look out for. I have found them around docks with 60 feet of water under them, and the fish will be suspended 8 to 15 feet from the surface. If your lake or river has mostly fixed position docks with poles, crappie will get on them as well. The best way to narrow the search on
permanent docks is to look for the ones right on the edge of a creek or river channel. With a good map card like Navionics platinum these places are easy to find. If you can find a dock that has a little brush on it, you can almost bet there will be crappie around. Once you find crappie, cast exactly where they are or just beyond. Winter crappie have a very small strike zone. Count your bait down to the desired depth, and reel just fast enough to maintain that
By Carlos Hidalgo
M
enhaden are one of the most important baitfish on the Atlantic coast. Bunker, as menhaden are commonly called, are thin when looked at from the top but very wide from the side. Small bunker, referred to as peanut bunker, are easy to mimic with Flat Wings, Hi-Ties or any number of specialized patterns. Flies that represent big bunker, however, pose challenges. Think of casting a wet mop head, and you’ll get the idea. The other problem is that flies compress when stripped through the water. A fly with a wide profile on the tying vise can end up looking like a strand of spaghetti in the water. Capt. Chris Newsome grew up fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, where bunker make up as much as 80 percent of striped bass diets. As a fly fishing guide, Chris needed to come up with a large bunker fly that was easy to cast and kept its wide profile. The idea of how to accomplish this came to him one night when he was woken up by his crying young daughter. Instead of tying bucktail and saddle hackles directly on the hook, Chris thought to tie the material onto small pieces of wire, which would then be tied onto the hook. Since the fly is made up with a relatively small amount of material, it’s easy to cast. The angle of the wires ensures the fly keeps its wide profile in the water. The fly has been very effective for stripers and can be used for any gamefish that feeds on wide-profile baitfish.
Wired Bunker Fly
depth. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-oz. ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16 oz. if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. The natural bait is going to be larger this time of year, so soft-plastic minnow imitations in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6 feet long, super-sensitive, and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1,000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps detect light strikes.
Get more tips from Lester at
FISHINGMAGAZINE.FISHING
Hook – Tiemco 600SP, size 2/0 to 6/0 Thread – Danville flat waxed nylon, 210 denier Wire – Malin Hard Wire, size 1/0 Tail – bucktail topped by four saddle hackles tied flat Wing – four saddle hackles surrounded by bucktail tied onto ½-inch wire pieces Belly – long, thin bunches of bucktail tied onto ½-inch wire pieces Eyes – 3-D prismatic, 3/8” to 3/4” Glue – Beacon 527 Place a piece of wire in the vise and tie a thin bunch of bucktail onto it. Make several of these units. Next, tie several components made up of four saddle hackles surrounded by bucktail onto pieces of wire. Flashabou can be tied onto each component. Begin by tying a thin amount of bucktail topped by four saddle hackles tied flat onto the back of the hook. Move the thread up the shank and tie a wing component (one with hackles) on top of the hook and a belly component (one with just bucktail) on the bottom of the shank. Keep moving the thread up the hook shank and tie at least two more wing and two more belly units. Bend the wire pieces until satisfied with the fly’s profile. Glue each tie-in point, and finish by gluing eyes onto the sides of the fly. Contact Capt. Chris Newsome at 804-815-4895 or chris@bayflyfishing.com. Check out his website BayFlyFishing.com. Contact Carlos at cah6620@gmail.com if you would like to submit a pattern for consideration in this column or if you would like to order my book, “South Florida’s Peacock Bass.”
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MURPHY AREA
Winter Bass Fishing on Murphy Area Lakes By Aaron Kephart
W
inter is on its way, and we have actually already had a small taste of it in late October. With winter weather comes my favorite time to fish for bass on our Murphy mountain lakes. While a lot of people prefer to sit at home by the fire on winter days, experience has taught me that the months of November through March typically offer the best bass fishing of the year on Hiwassee, Apalachia, and Chatuge Lakes. I would like to spend some time this month discussing winter tactics, locations, and techniques.
Location, location, location
The great thing about bass fishing in the winter is that when you find one, you typically find a bunch. Finding bass in the winter boils down to 4 key variables: water temperature, water clarity, weather conditions, and species being pursued. In terms of water temperature and weather conditions, fish in the winter are typically looking for warmer water. This means that if you are on a sustained cooling trend weather wise, you will probably find more fish in the warmer, clearer waters of the main channel (I like point ends and channel bends especially well). However, if the water has some stain and the weather is on a warming front, off color water in creeks, coves, and rivers will often hold more baitfish, heat, and bass. A warm, sunny day will put the fish on
anything shallow that will draw and hold heat. A snowy day, and the corresponding super low barometric pressure that accompanies it, seems to always be highly productive. However, a cold, windy, bluebird day can present challenges, primarily because it causes fish to suspend so much. These are the days where good electronics pay for themselves. The species you are pursuing also factors heavily into location. Smallmouth and spotted bass are more channel oriented (meaning they are more comfortable on structure as opposed to just cover), whereas largemouth will seek out the last remaining cover in winter drawdown. Spots and largemouth are also more comfortable in shallow, dirty water
Murphy North Carolina’s
premier trophy smallmouth and spotted bass guide service
Mountain Lakes Guide Service
Hiwassee - Apalachia - Chatuge Aaron Kephart 865-466-1345 mtnlakesguide@outlook.com
Crappie, Trophy Trout, Stripers, and more available 2 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 2017
than are smallmouth.
Baits and Tactics
A number of lures will work for winter bass, and it is actually the one time of the year where artificial lures often outfish live bait. In terms of deep water lure selections, my favorite bait is a hair jig (I tie my own), which is generally most productive in water temps below 50 degrees. I also am a big fan of silver buddy type baits. I also love to find deep fish on my electronics and drop a bait in their face. I have three or four baits I don’t want to disclose for this tactic, and the video game aspect of this type of fishing can be addicting. Live bait can also be very productive depending upon the mood of the fish, but generally deep fish will respond as well, or better, to a correctly placed artificial. My two primary lures for suspended fish are jerkbaits and Alabama rigs. I prefer Megabass and Lucky Craft jerkbaits, but you have to experiment with colors, bill styles, and diving depths. I also prefer a custom made A-rig with a number of small willow blades, but a flash mob or flash mob junior works in a
pinch. I typically tip my jigheads on the rig with some hand poured soft plastics, but any good swimming, 3 to 5 inch bait that resembles herring or shad can be effective. I also employ a fish head spin type bait with a similar swimbait trailer if the fish are especially spooky. However, suspended fish are usually in a bad mood, and they are the main reason that I always make sure to have a tank full of fresh blueback herring on the boat. While that is not my favorite way to catch fish, sometimes they save the trip. Regardless, always remember that bass feed up, which means you want to keep your bait slightly above their depth, not below it. For shallow fish, I typically employ shallower diving jerkbaits in clear to slightly stained water, and medium diving crankbaits and rattlebaits in stained to muddy water. Match your colors to the water clarity, and match your diving depths and retrieve speeds to the depth and mood of the fish. Winter is a time that can require a lot of versatility from an angler, but it is also a time that can yield the most rewards of the year. We typically have some of our highest numbers of fish per trip in the winter, capped off last January with a 44 smallmouth day, with 21 of those in excess of 4 pounds. In addition to numbers, winter fish are heavier than they are at any other time of the year, so the opportunity for the trophy of a lifetime is always there. If you would like to try some new tactics at a time of year with less boat traffic and reduced fishing pressure, please give me a call at 865-4661345. We are the area’s premier trophy smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass guide service, and as of right now I have a couple of December dates left. We are also booking trips for 2018 if winter fishing is not your thing. I hope to hear from you!
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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LAKE CHATUGE
Lake Chatuge December Hybrids and Bass By Darren Hughes
T
he cold weather is finally here, but don’t be a fair-weather angler. December and the winter months on Lake Chatuge are off the hook, so throw on some thermals and hit the water for some of the best bass fishing in Western North Carolina and North Georgia. Water temperatures are currently around 62 degrees, and the water level is down 7 feet. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake and slightly stained in the backs of creeks. Spotted bass are still schooled up throughout the lake and we are absolutely slaying them! We’ve had a fantastic top-water bite and down line bite in the mornings. Check shallow humps and areas from 10-25 ft. deep. Watch for these fish to bust the water as they chase up bait then cast into them. Poppers, spooks, spoons, and, of course, live bait have been working great on catching these spots. Also, don’t forget to target your points and brush piles. Some excellent largemouth and spots have been caught lately off rocky points and around brush. Now that water temps have fallen, the hybrids are on the move. These guys are heading towards the creeks and rivers and are moving up in the water column. We’ve started to pick up a few small ones on an early morning top-water bite. Red Fins and Zara Spooks work
great for hooking up with some of these hybrids. The same rule of thumb applies as for the spotted bass—search around shallow areas and watch for fish chasing up bait. Trolling free-lines with live bait and planer boards should work fine as well. We’ve also been doing awesome with a downline on some big hybrids still schooled up deep. Several fish from the 13-15-pound range have been boated with us. Live blueback herring remains your best bet to catch these fish. December fishing on Lake Chatuge is always an exciting month. The bigger fish start feeding more aggressively, and for us, it’s a great time of year for some great top-water action. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA carries a wide range of bait and tackle--it’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. We also carry ethanol free gas and have some of the best hot, made-fromscratch biscuits in North GA. For guided fishing trips on Lake Chatuge, Hiwassee and Lake Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call Darren Hughes at Hughes General Store, and whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, give Chatuge a shot for some of the best spotted bass and hybrids around. Good luck and get hooked.
Darren Hughes is the Owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop and a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team 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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DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 3
Let’s Just Fish
I
Winter Fly Fishing
By Justin Mickens
n the world of fly fishing you can become lost. There is always a new technique coming out that is better than the last. New equipment that rivals what came out last year. Come to think about it, it’s a lot like cell phones. Every time you think you’ve upgraded to the newest and greatest, something better hits the market three days later. I’m not knocking any equipment or technique out there. I know many people who have found their niche for catching many different species on the fly. I would just like to know what happened to just fishing. To being out on the water, enjoying the hunt, feeling the tug on the line. You don’t have to have any special equipment to get this feeling. I’ve never had a fish tell me I have a great rod. Starting out, don’t worry that you don’t look like you walked out of a catalog. As long as you have gear that you are comfortable in, and it meets your criteria, who cares? I have caught many fish with an old, beat up Wonderglass Rod. One of my best friends never used a taper leader for many years. He used a piece of 6lb mono instead. He even taught himself how to compensate his cast for it.
Starting fly fishing is like starting at a gym. You get out on the water and you think everyone is staring at you. Believe it or not, most people aren’t even looking your way. They are too busy concentrating on trying to catch fish. If I happen to see somebody out on the stream having troubles, I’ll try to help them out but, for the most part, I don’t pay attention to what others are doing. Remember, everybody has his own technique, and you will develop what works best for you. Learn all you can, from everywhere you can, but apply what works for you. The best teacher is time on the water. Learn to enjoy the hunt, and feel the tug on a line, no matter what the species. That is what fishing means to me. Until next time, Tight Lines and Stable Rocks.
Justin Mickens is Co-Owner and Manager of Appalachian Outfitters Fly Shop in Murphy, NC.
T
By David Hulsey
he winter season is one of the most beautiful and serene times to be on the water. Long gone are the crowds of fall leaf lookers and throngs of anglers hanging out in every hole and run on your favorite trout stream. For sure, the thoughts of rising trout are still bubbling around in your head but seldom do the icy waters of our highland streams squeeze out a bug while in winter’s frozen grip. The exceptionally weird warm sunny day in this season might show you a few Tiny Black Stones or Black Caddis, or maybe, a Black Midge or two. The likelihood of a trout having the will to break the surface after one of these little bugs is a long shot at best. Still though, I carry a small box of floating imitations just in case. If a trout pokes his nose through I want to be there to greet him! Normally, the slow moving, late morning arriving nymph angler will be the lucky one with a bent rod at this time of year. The trout are usually glued to the bottom at first light and only an accurate presentation to the nose of the fish is about all that will trigger a reaction strike. When the sun gets above the horizon and bathes the river in
golden light, the trout may start to eat a little. One small degree of rise in water temperature is what you’re looking for. Spotting a single insect rising from the water’s surface is a notable sign that the fishing is getting ready to get good. Make it as easy as possible for the trout to eat your offering. If you can spot a fish, adjust the depth of your drift with weight, an indicator, or by mending until your fly is on the fish’s level. One sure way to tell if your flies are in their faces is to use a highly visible fly, tied about a foot away from the nymph the fish should be eating. This way, you can visibly see the flies approach the trout. If the fish “winks” at you, set the hook as he may have eaten it! Or, if the visible fly shifts position or stops drifting, stick him! A good pair of polarized glasses is required to do this and are as valuable as your fly rod, as far as I’m concerned. Give us a call to set up your holiday season fly fishing trip. Noontootla Creek Farms fishes great in the winter so check out our website at www.ncfga.com and get ready for some cold weather action!
David Hulsey is the Owner of Hulsey Fly Fishing, LLC and can be contacted at 770-639-4001 or through his website at www. hulseyflyfishing.com to book a trip.
SMSS has all the essentials for hunting, target shooting, home defense, reloading and more Call for date & time of monthly concealed carry class. 53 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC • 828-837-7677 Beside the Courthouse
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4 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 2017
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LAKE HIWASSEE
Lake Hiwassee Stripers in December
D
By Shane Goebel
ecember is finally here and the majority of us have Christmas and the holiday season on our minds. But when the horrid shopping mall lines and the stress of gift buying get to be too much, why not catch some relief by hitting the lake for some early winter fishing. In Western North Carolina, no other lake is better to do that on than Lake Hiwassee, and some of our best fish can be caught during the month of December. Also, check out this month’s issue of our cover photo and story for Lake Blue Ridge. Lake Hiwassee water temps are still in the lower 60’s, and water clarity is mostly clear to stained in the creek and rivers, especially in the Nottely River and Hiwassee River areas. Fishing out here remains excellent, and we are still catching some large quantities of fish. This should be the case through the month of December. Striper fishing has been excellent lately. The bigger fish are really starting to come up in the water column and are headed towards shallow humps and into the creeks. We’ve been catching some great fish and still averaging 15-20 stripers a trip. This is a great time of year to start using bigger bait. Start off by pulling planer boards and free-lines early in the morning. Live bluebacks and gizzard shad are working best. Top water bite has been wicked good and should be getting even better as the water continues to cool, so as you’re pulling baits, keep a Red Fin We Run Trips 365 Days A Year. Book Your Trip Now! The Areas Top Rated Guide Service
or a spook tied on and work those banks and points. As the sun comes up and the day gets warmer, the fish will move a little deeper. Switch to down lines and weighted free lines. Remember, this is the time of year to keep an eye out for seagulls. Where there are birds, there is bait, and where there is bait, there are fish. The smallmouth and spotted bass bite has been off the hook— we’ve been absolutely slaying these fish. It seems our top-water bite has been lasting all day. Working shallow humps, brush piles and rocky points with spooks, jerk baits, and buzz baits have produced some great fish. The majority of our larger smallmouths have been coming off our down line bite 40 to 50 feet deep in the mid-day hours. Jigging flutter spoons will also work for these deeper bass. We want to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for an awesome year of fishing, and we hope to see you in 2018. Remember, December is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers and bass on this Western North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy North Carolina’s only premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lake Chatuge, Lake Nottely and Lake Blue Ridge. And for
all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live blue-
back herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
Shane Goebel is the Owner of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and a member of The Angler Fishing Team. Contact him at www.bigolfish.com or (828) 361-2021 / 1-(844)-4-ANGLER
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cherokeegunsNC.com DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 5
SWAIN COUNTY / BRYSON CITY
Go Back to School on Lake Fontana
S
till not a global warming “Chicken Little” but the fall turnover did come later this year. Our lake never got as hot as some years, so I was thinking it wouldn’t be that bad, but the warmer weather kept it from fully turning until recently. Now that that incident is behind us the best of the year can begin. From now till the first of the year, the fish will be extra hungry. They will also be in big schools so, when you find them, you will generally find a bunch. I like points with a little breeze blowing perpendicular to the shoreline, this stacks up bait and the fish will follow. There are also chances the bait will pull into the backs of coves and mull around all day. Chambers, Greasy, Alarka, Mouse and Eagle have all held schools at times. The one factor about big schools is that without some surface feeding, you may have to cover the entire cove to find them. Without
By Capt. James McManus
surface work, they will typically hold around forty feet but can be as deep as eighty. My favorite method, as usual, is to drop a small fluke into the crowd and see who gets to it first. Live bait, spoons, ice jigs and even trolling will also work. The hardest part is finding them so stay glued to your electronics until you have covered an area thoroughly before moving. Our lake now has a fledgling population of blueback herring and they have altered the way fish move particularly in the backs of coves and creeks. Herring will move shallow at night and as the day brightens, will move following the channel out into deeper water so, if you mark tons of fish and they are suddenly gone, check the channel towards deeper water, they are just following the bait. I am hoping this new bait source will fatten up our spots…wish the NCWRC would remove size limit, keep the five fish limit and remove a portion of these 10 inch fish that swarm everywhere. Government moves slowly and some government doesn’t move at all. This time of year, when temps are midrange, fish congregate to the bait, there will generally be all species mixed together without the depth separation like in the summer or middle of winter. This year was a better than normal year for the walleye, not sure if they are stocked fish [I heard rumors they had stocked] or just a good spawn, but with stocking this could continue to be a great
eye lake. The bluebacks will keep the natural spawn a disaster but the food base is still available, so encourage any wildlife folks you meet to stock our redheaded stepchild of a lake. Dress in layers, let folks know where and when you will be fishing, and returning, and enjoy some fast action on the nicer days of late fall and early winter. Release the big smallmouth and give them a chance to hold on with the spots, and enjoy one of God’s gifts to us. Later, Capt. James
Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!
6 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 2017
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Swainglers Visit Tuckasegee River at Darnell Farms By Tammy Parris
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he Tuckasegee River at Darnell Farms in Bryson City was invaded by the Swainglers in October on a warm, sunny, fall day. Two dozen high school students enjoyed a forty-five minute break of fishing in the middle of their school day. A variety of lures and baits were tested. JT Neugin’s first fish was a Carp, commonly known as a bottom feeder trash fish, using a Gold/Blue Fox Rooster Tail. They can be difficult to
hook and give a “good fight” while reeling in. Soon after, he reeled in a smallmouth bass using a silver chatter bait with gulp alive minnow shad. Classmate, Nick Bishop caught a nice rainbow trout using a Plain Gold Panther Martin. The Autumn scenery and hospitably couldn’t be beaten at the local, family owned 100-acre farm, known as Darnell Farms, located in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. Stu-
JT Neugin proudly displays his bass! dents and Sponsors enjoyed purchasing a snack and cold drink from their fully stocked produce stand. A great time was had by all and we
returned back to school ready to conquer the rest of the day. Swainglers Fishing Club would love to hear your words of support
Tammy Parris is the Leader of The Swainglers fishing club at Swain County High School in Bryson City, North Carolina. They fish once a month of the school year during club time. Contact her at tparris@ swainmail.org for more information or to support this popular club.
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DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 7
CHEROKEE / MAGGIE VALLEY
Cherokee Secret: Soco Creek By Joey Walraven
I
n today’s world of social media, blogging, and being able to get internet access practically anywhere, there are few secrets left. Unfortunately, this seems to especially hold true in the world of fishing! What precious few secrets we do have about “honey holes” or magic flies, most of us plan on taking with us to the grave. I even know of a local guide who blindfolded a buddy before taking him to one of his secret fishing spots. This was a friend, mind you, not just some stranger off the street. So, I’ve decided, in the spirit of the holidays, to share a secret with you. Well, it’s a sort of a secret. Just keep it quiet. You might already know about how incredible a place Cherokee,
North Carolina can be. The scenery is mind blowing. The history is captivating. The wildlife alone is worth the trip. But just in case you aren’t aware of what an amazing fishery Cherokee is, let me point out a few things. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) have their very own hatchery right here on the reservation. Which means the Fish and Wildlife Management Department isn’t dependent on the state or anyone else to stock the waters. They raise and stock 400,000 trout in the 30 miles of fishable water in Cherokee every year. That’s an enormous amount of fish! Just to put that into perspective, the state of North Carolina stocks 800,000 trout annually, but spread over 1,000 miles of wa-
8 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 2017
ter. It’s easy to see why Cherokee is considered some of the most heavily stocked waters in the Southeast, if not the entire country. If you are vaguely aware of the fishing in Cherokee, then you’re probably familiar with the Oconaluftee. A beautiful river that flows through town and offers easy access to heavily stocked waters. The ‘Luftee is certainly some of the most heavily fished waters on The Reservation. If you’ve really done your homework, you might even know about the Raven Fork and the famous 2.2-mile stretch of fly fishing only, water. This section is
strictly catch and release and offers up trout in excess of 20 inches on a regular basis. Now for the (sort of) secret! Most folks aren’t aware of one of the real hidden treasures in Cherokee and that’s Soco Creek. While this little creek has less access, it’s much easier to wade and absolutely loaded with stocked and wild trout. It’s well worth the time invested to explore this amazing little creek. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Remember, it’s the season of giving!
Joey Walraven is the Owner of Rivers Edge Outfitters, located in Cherokee, NC. You can contact him at 828-497-9300 or info@flyshopnc.com.
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DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 9
RIVER REFLECTIONS
The Little Big Fish By Matt Mittan
T
he older I get, the more I see the “bigness” of little things. This applies to my fishing excursions as well. I spent years of my life chasing the biggest fish, the toughest catches, and took pride in pulling beasts out of places that most anglers would wade, paddle or engine on by. It was all great fun. But life happens along the way and situations often cause us to reassess our time management priorities. That’s what happened with me over the past five years. Divorce, a career change, medical challenges within my circle – all these things combined to shift my focus. Fishing trips no longer needed to be full blown expeditions anymore. They couldn’t be. That’s when I discovered the vibrant and spirited Creek Chub. This
species inhabits small waters across most of the eastern half of the country and is reportedly showing up in other places further west. It’s size ranges from 2 to 6 inches, most commonly, but I have read reports of them growing up to 10-12 inches in some places. Most people look at this fish as a baitfish, but I see it as a battle breed. It rules over its domain with strength and confidence. And if you’re willing to humble yourself down to some ultra-light gear and fishing in the little creeks that most people think are not much more than rain runoff, you could end up having some pretty amazing fun. And that’s one of the best kept secrets about it. You literally can find these in almost every neighborhood. I took my youngest son out to
10 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
DECEMBER 2017
“As we walked along the bank, we could see a few little minnows dart around occasionally in the current, but as soon as we flipped that grub into the water, behind a rock or behind a log, a small swarm of attackers torpedoed right for the lure.” a small wash creek behind a local fire department earlier this Fall with the smallest gear we could find, a tiny, plastic, clear grub, and a gentle touch. As we walked along the bank, we could see a few little minnows dart around occasionally in the current, but as soon as we flipped that grub into the water, behind a rock, or behind a log, a small swarm of attackers torpedoed right for the lure. They hit with the same angered
focus of many predator fish I’ve gone after over the years. The difference being that there were lots of them, not just one or two seen per day. Therein lies the real fun. We found a deep little pool at a bend in the creek. We must have spent an hour there, feeling quick tugs on every single cast. We took turns reeling in fish. Some had colors as beautiful as any fall trout. Others looked like something from another planet, as their heads were en-
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larged and lumpy for the spawn. I still like to get out on the water when I can and spend the day chasing trophy fish, but I have to say that this little big fish, called the Creek Chub, has given me – and my son - as many smiles and sighs as any other fish we’ve gone for in years. It’s been a blessing to be reminded that so much joy is found in such small things. Whether you’re fishing or wading through the waters of daily life. You just have to decide to see them.
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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Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
e recently purchased 147 acres at Stevens Creek, a quiet cove on the eastern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The acquisition permanently protects important habitat and water resources near the remote Cataloochee Valley area of the park. “Wrapped on three sides by publicly owned land, this pocket of prime forest and open pasture habitat will remain undeveloped for future generations,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “The acquisition presents a wonderful opportunity for SAHC to deepen our connection to America’s most visited national park.” Located at the northern end of Cataloochee Ridge in Haywood County, the recently purchased Stevens Creek conservation land shares over 7,000 feet of boundary with a portion of the national park that serves as a key wildlife corridor for rare and threatened species. SAHC and its partners at the National Parks Conservation Associ-
ation, the Wilderness Society and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation considered the tract a high conservation priority because of its location and exceptional habitat. “Protecting this land is critical for the elk, black bear and other animals moving in and out of Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Jeffrey Hunter, Southeast regional program manager for National Parks Conservation Association. “Wildlife aren’t aware of park boundaries and protecting lands adjacent to the Great Smokies provides protection for the animals, and creates corridors for them to move freely. This land acquisition is a critical step in preserving the biodiversity of this special region.” In 2001, Rocky Mountain Elk were released into Cataloochee Valley as park of an experimental program to reintroduce elk to the park. Native elk had been eliminated from the region by over-hunting and loss of habitat. Today, visitors enjoy watching
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elk, as well as wild turkey, deer, and other wildlife, across the open fields of the valley during early morning and evening hours. Conservation of the Stevens Creek property also protects water quality. Three miles of streams flow across the tract and eventually drain into Waterville Lake, a popular boating, angling, and recreation site in the Pigeon River watershed. “Conservation of the Stevens Creek tract benefits both wildlife and recreational users of these rugged mountain areas,” adds Silverstein. “We are very grateful to Brad and Shelli Stanback for making a generous gift that made this land acquisition possible.”
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 11
Fly Fishing Guide to Big Creek, North Carolina, Smoky Mountains By James Marsh
B
ig Creek may not have as many aquatic insect hatches as some of the other streams in the park. This is probably because of its steep decline. When heavy rains occur in this part of the national park, flooding often occurs and the streambed is almost cleaned of everything that gets in the way. Most insects are either stoneflies or clinger mayflies. There are not many crawlers, swimmers and probably no burrowing mayflies. There are few caddisflies. The trout feed opportunistically most of the time. The rainbows probably only average about seven inches long but they are fast, aggressive and fairly easy to catch if you stay hidden from them. As mentioned in the introduction, this stream is big time pocket water. The huge boulders make some big pockets and holes. While dry fly fishing can be good at certain times, all in all this stream fishes much better with nymphs. Most of the aquatic insects are stoneflies. There are some clinger mayflies but they usually stay well hidden
until they hatch. We suggest you use a stonefly nymph and especially during the times prior to a hatch of a particular species. The “high stickin’” method of fishing a nymph works great in this stream. There are many boulders that allow you to get close to holes and pockets without spooking the fish. Some of the runs are deep and fast and it also works great there. The headwaters provide some excellent brook trout fishing. The streams there are typical small, brook trout streams but they are usually very steep.
You must climb up the streambed in most cases and that can be tough going in some areas due to the boulders and steep decline of the stream. There are many tributary streams. Swallow Fork, Gunter Creek, Mouse Creek, McGinty Creek, John Mack Creek, Yellow Creek and Deer Creek are the larger ones. Of course, all of them are actually small. Swallow Fork is one of the larger ones. It has its own trial, which starts about five miles
above the campground. Brook trout exist quite low. In fact they can be caught within two or three miles upstream from Big Creek Campground at times. Most of them are much further than that. Most all of the main tributaries have brook trout. These small streams will produce nice brook trout during the hottest days of summer. There is a large trail that follows the main stream up from the campground at the lower entrance to the park. It is located high above the stream in most cases. Getting down from it to the stream can be rough in many areas. Anglers have managed to make their own trail along the opposite side of Big Creek. The trail goes right beside the campground area next to the creek. If you are planning on hiking into the headwaters, then you would probably want to take the formal trail. There are several remote campsites on Big Creek.
James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog mailorder store. www.perfectflystore.com
828.926.0425
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DECEMBER 2017
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A Smoky Mountain heritage and family legacy We’re not the first distillers to understand the importance of Maggie Valley’s water. The first settlers knew these rustic and rugged mountains held a secret. They brought their Scotch-Irish heritage of making craft whiskey and spirits with them. Maggie Valley has been the home to many legendary moonshiners who made GREAT Smoky Mountain whiskeys! Elevated Mountain Distilling Company is a craft distiller of top-shelf whiskeys and spirits based in Maggie Valley, NC. We are located where America’s favorite drive meets America’s most visited park! The name, Elevated Mountain, reflects the fact that Haywood County has the highest average median elevation (3600 ft.) of any county east of the Rockies. Due to our high elevation, all our natural water originates within Haywood County. Maggie Valley
is the most elevated incorporated valley in the United States at 3020 feet! Half of Maggie Valley’s water is sourced from Campbell Creek, which flows from Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The other half flows from Fie Creek and Jonathan Creek, which border the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Located on the banks of Jonathan Creek, you can spend time in our 11,000 square feet production facility and meeting hall or outside in the Elevated Creek Side
Park. Either place is an excellent place to begin or start your adventure fishing day. Dave and Sue Angel founded the company knowing that their daughters would grow up as fourth generation Smoky Mountain whiskey makers. Their Smoky Mountain heritage and family legacy shines through in every product distilled and produced by Elevated Mountain.
We’re not the first distillers to understand the importance of Maggie Valley’s water. Elevated Mountain Distilling Company is a craft distiller of top-shelf whiskeys and spirits based in Maggie Valley, NC. We make great Smoky Mountain Whiskey & other premium spirits with the same time-honored traditions & secrets of our forefathers.
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3732 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC • (828) 944-0766
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DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 13
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iverLink has a mission to promote the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed as a place to live, learn, work and play. During this holiday season, consider giving back to an organization that has made such an impact in not only recreational access, but has lead the way in reclaiming impaired lands for public use, completing comprehensive plans that have documented the current state of water quality, flooding issues, and other related issues within the French Broad watershed. Our education programs use the power of hands-on, experiential learning to engage K-12
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DECEMBER 2017
students about how they can be better stewards of the river by making informed decisions in their everyday lives. Our work depends on the generosity of our community, and we would not be able to complete these much needed projects without your support. You can make a secure online gift at www.riverlink.org/support. When you support RiverLink, you know that your contribution is going directly to assist us in carrying out our mission, and not only are contributions to RiverLink tax deductible, you can feel good knowing that you had a hand in ensuring that our important work continues.
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Night Moves – A Lesson Learned By Wilson Love
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omewhere in my antler collection is a pretty good seven point rack. The memory of taking that particular buck has impacted my every hunt since then. Seasons ago, on the first Saturday of December, my friend Thurman Pickett and I hunted up a mountain branch called Laurel Jog off Newberry Creek in McDowell County. The trail up Laurel Jog had been neglected. It was brushy, steep, and apparently hunted very little. We separated and took up stands in the rocky laurels. A half hour later, I heard and saw a deer trotting steadily through the low cover. It stopped at the edge of the green clumps and I fired. We field dressed it and hung it in a little sourwood tree. As we roped up the buck, we saw a bearded hunter appear above us, having crossed over the western ridge into our hollow. He said he’d shot a spike on the ridge above and trailed it to the laurels where we were. Well, we just set out to help him and in short order we found it. Then we watched bearded Bill drag his prize off down the hollow toward Newberry Creek. Right here is where we made our bother. Here is where my story starts to go wrong. We weren’t as smart as Bill. We didn’t quit while we were ahead. No, we didn’t take our winnings and leave. What were we thinking? It was only middle of the morning. We sat and ate dried fruit and
crackers and chocolate. We caught ice water pouring over a flat rock and drank it. We contemplated the nature of things. Thurman allowed there had to be more than those two bucks up there. I had to agree and Thurman said, “You want to lay with it for a while?” I said, “If you do.” It must have been one of my greedy days. We agreed to meet back at that spot when shooting light was gone, around five o’clock. Shooting light? Isn’t that the same as walking light and deer dragging light? The rest of the day passed and neither of us saw a squirrel or a snowbird or anything else. Now it was time to get out of there and go home to our sweethearts, hot food and a crackling fire. I tied a drag rope to the buck’s antlers. Thurman took my gun, pulled out a flashlight and down the slope we went. That is, down the slope HE went. Thurman is older than me, but he is one of those hard-nosed coon hunters who will go to a dog that’s treed a mile away and never stop walking. The truth is, I love to hunt and I love those hounds, but I just never enjoyed picking through the woods AT NIGHT. There’s something about getting poked in the eye or slapped in the mouth by a limb or briar at night. When that happens in the daytime, you can turn on that wicked protrusion and break it off and kill it so that it cannot ever hurt another human
being. At night, you never know what hit you or from whence it came. At night, all you can do is hurt. I couldn’t keep up with him now and he caught on quickly. A hundred yards down the trail my coat came off. In the next three hours I wished a hundred times we’d left the mountain sooner. All the excitement and satisfaction of the hunt turned into a blind, sweaty tug-o-war with a dead deer whose only mission in death was to stay put. The creek crossings were funny unless you happened to be a participant. Thurman hopped across dry. My trophy and I sloshed through with all the grace and dignity of mud wrestlers. The bushes ate my cap and one of my gloves. I tied my flannel shirt around my waist by the sleeves. The sweat pouring off my head stung my eyes so I peeled off my long undershirt for a towel. My friend offered several times and would have relieved me. I declined each time. It wasn’t pride; more like determination or even self-imposed punishment that kept me going. I scolded myself for not having thought this through. Hadn’t I hunted enough to know better? At long last, we bottomed out and I could see the red pickup through the trees in the moon-
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light. I fell down and stretched out and looked up at heaven and thanked God for getting us there. The thing I remember most is how good those dry leaves felt on my back. And there were wispy little clouds floating over just before my eyes closed. I was out just that quick, like a baby full of mother’s milk. Thurman didn’t let me sleep long. Yes, that was a handsome buck, except for those hairless patches that scrubbed every inch of Laurel Jog. Hanging the deer up in the garage took my last bit of strength. No supper. No bath. My last thought before going into the house: don’t crash on her new couch if you plan to go on living here. Twenty-five years later the values that grew out of these events live on. Success for the sportsman is not measured by pounds or numbers, but by the quality of his companions, the excellence of his experiences, and wisdom gained.
Wilson Love is Owner/Operator of The Practical Outdoorsman, a retail and consignment store.
DECEMBER 2017
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HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD
The Uncatchable Fish By Ethan Hollifield
“…It’s not fly fishing, if you’re not looking for answers to questions.” - Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It
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any dedicated anglers have fish embedded into their minds that continually haunt them. These are fish that maybe come once or twice in an angler’s life, if they’re lucky enough. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have the memories of myself connecting and even landing some large fish that others would only dream about possessing. It’s the ones that always tended to slip from my grasp, despite me being so close to outwitting them, that I tend to remember more so than the ones I placed my own hands on. As I matured, I began to understand more that these seemingly uncatchable fish were metaphoric in nature: in that they represented more of my own experiences in life outside of fishing than I realized.
When I was younger, all I wanted to really pursue when it came to fly fishing was catching at least one “big” fish on every outing. At one point, I had seemingly struck it rich with a yearlong streak of hooking into some monster rainbow and brown trout. What I quickly began to realize, however, was that these were fish that had such qualities of intelligence and cunning that my attempts to net one, more often than not, failed horribly. These are fish that still haunt me and which I still perceive as uncatchable. Norman Maclean in the book “A River Runs Through It” had interpreted the notion that the stories in our lives are more like rivers rather than books themselves. I’ll be so rash as to take this a step further and compare life and fly fishing as almost
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one in the same. As I grew older, I began to understand more the idea of what it meant to hook into and lose one of these uncatchable fish. With age, comes experience. And with experience, comes success and failure. Failure comes with the notion of something being unattainable: getting fired from a job, a failed relationship, and losing a big brown trout are things that come to mind. However, through God’s grace we have the ability to enter the microcosm world of fly fishing and experience these successes and failures without any consequence other than maybe a broken off fly. I appreciate more, the sense of place that is so prevalent to me on a trout stream rather than just the idea of “catching” anymore. Trout streams have magic to them,
where questions that aren’t even a conscious thought can make their presence known and yet, somewhat impossible to grasp. This revelation became so much more of a reality in my post college years where I have experienced more “uncatchable fish” on and off the water than I ever had prior. I believe it was then that the whole idea of what fly fishing, and life itself, really meant unfolded in my minds eye. They both are in pursuit of something uncatchable, whether it’s a trout or otherwise. I still don’t believe I’ve fully found an answer as to how to catch these creatures, or rather, to avoid failure in life altogether. If anything, I suppose this means I need to go fishing.
Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers.
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Layering For Winter Fishing
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By Aaron Motley
find that as we move into the winter season I become more excited about going fishing. My biggest reason to get excited is because many anglers are going to sit at home, and not fish because of the cold temperatures. This leads to less anglers being on the water throughout the winter. Solitude with the river, and a good friend, are great rewards during the winter. There are definitely ways to make your time on the water during winter more bearable. The easiest solution is just to fish from about 10AM or 11AM to 3PM or 4PM, this will generally be the warmest part of the day. How anglers go about layering themselves is the biggest factor in what kind of day they will have winter fishing: a miserable one or an enjoyable one. Try some of the following tips this winter. Hands: Gloves are a smart accessory when fishing during cold
times. Half-finger mittens; gloves that allow your thumb, pointer, and middle finger to have retractable covers; thinner, liner style gloves for more sensitivity. A great feature on a pair of gloves is a pocket to place Hot-Hand packets, usually located on the underside of the wrist. Doing this in cold conditions can really help in circulating blood flow in and out of your hands. Toes: In the winter, we tend to add layers, and when it comes to socks, consider how much room is in your neoprene booties on your waders. If you add too many layers of socks, you can place too much compression around your foot and make yourself colder while standing in 40 degree water. When it comes to the type of sock to wear; synthetic, poly, wool, and blended mixtures are the best to use under your waders. Please leave all cotton socks at home. Head and Neck: Wearing a
windstopper fleece beanie can add a lot of comfort to a day outside. I am a big hand of hoods on jackets. While out in the cold winter elements, a neck gaiter of wool or fleece can make you very comfortable. Legs: Layering your legs should start with a baselayer like Patagonia Capiline or some synthetic layer for wicking moisture from your skin and aiding to keep you warmer. Next, a thin quick-dry pant may be all you need for being out. However, thick fleece pants or down pants can add vast amounts of warmth to your legs. Torso: Layering may start with a thin base layer, then adding,
quick-dry shirt, fleece, vest, jackets, hoodies, and windstopper layers. Finding the right layering for your day out can vary so, be prepared. This is by far the best motto I know. Come into Hunter Banks Fly Shop in Asheville or Waynesville and let us help you find the right layers so that you can enjoy more of the peace and solitude winter fishing offers the prepared angler.
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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DECEMBER 2017
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 17
The Wary Pilgrim By Danny Maybin
Any time I walk into a restaurant, store or gas station across the Mason Dixon line or the Mississippi River, before saying anything I am invariably asked, “Where you from?” I’ve tried many times to figure it out. I guess I just walk “Deep South” and when I tell them, it’s always, “that’s what I thought” but never offering a clue as to how they deduced my geographical origin. I do know that I don’t move fast enough in the Northeast. I move too fast in Arkansas and I
smith. The guy immediately wrote down a number and a name but offered no hope if he couldn’t be reached, which raised my anxiety even more. The smith’s name was Wade and his shop was at his house about twenty miles from the motel in a little town called Cairo, pronounced kay-row. I’m not going into details but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to not pronounce it like the city in Egypt. So, with an address plugged into google maps, I loaded up the
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hand and said “come around back, through the window what looked like specialized tools and parts of that’s where my shop is”. I managed an “ok” and turned guns lying here and there. I began for my car when it hit me. I don’t to feel a little silly for letting my know anything about this person. imagination get the best of me so Go around back? What if unsus- I popped the hatch, retrieved the pecting, out of state customers are gun and went in the shop. At this how he’s feeding that beast! It was point the only thing that I’ve said just a fleeting thought but enough to Wade is, “ok”, so what is the first to slow my step. So I told myself, thing he says to me? Yep. “Where “relax, you’re a guy’s guy”. “You’re ya from?” I told him and he said, six feet and two hundred plus and “That’s what I thought”. I’ve never you’re up here at a shooting com- been able to discern what folks petition for Pete’s sake!” With my mean when they say that. nerves settled and courage bol- Turns out, Wade was a really stered, I fired up the Prius and nice guy. We started all the regular drove around back. conversation men have when they “This is the exact center of the United States”. Arriving at his shop, “around don’t know one another. Fishing, I don’t know where it is, but I’m pretty sure it’s back” there was a simple plank hunting, and trucks were the main board sign over the door that just topics and as I was learning where somewhere in Grand Island, Nebraska. said “Wade’s” with what looked to fish up there, Wade busied himlike teeth marks in it. The win- self with the shotgun. I was bedow shaking barks now sounded ginning to settle in for some good apparently look too friendly in gun and headed out into the un- much further away and I could see fishing tales when I happened to Illinois. I guess I shouldn’t over- known. I drove in a blind panic for CONTINUED, THE WARY PILGRIM, PAGE 20 think it because, wherever I roam, the next thirty minutes, directly folks always seem pleased to talk into the setting sun with nothing with a southerner. to look at but a distant horizon and A while back, my son and I haunted by the thought that it’s as drove out to the Midwest for a obvious as a pickle in a peach pie national shotgun competition. He that I’m not from around here. was the competitor. I was just the When my phone said I had driver, coach and money spender! reached my destination, on the I’m sure somewhere there is a con- right, I was relieved to see a nicecrete spire or monument that says, ly appointed two story house and “This is the exact center of the what I guessed was Wade’s truck United States”. I don’t know where in the driveway. I hopped out and it is, but I’m pretty sure it’s some- went up the steps. The door was where in Grand Island, Nebraska. open but the glass storm door was The first day was a practice day closed. Feeling better about this and despite the 96 degree tem- by the minute, I rapped several perature, everything went great. times on the glass. Almost imWe were all ready to compete. mediately, I was eye to eye with Then, on the first day of competi- a huge dog with a growl like a tion his gun started jamming and grizzly and the teeth of a T Rex. after thousands of miles and thou- I was suddenly thankful that I sands of dollars, I was struggling hadn’t stopped for a water on the to maintain that positive, thankful way. Immediately, Wade, I could attitude I am always preaching only assume, had the beast by the about to him. Something had to collar and was struggling to get be done and fast! These size com- him behind another door but his petitions don’t wait for anyone! bark was still rattling the storm In desperation I went to the door. As Wade struggled to shut range office to see if they could the door between himself and the recommend a good local gun- dog, he motioned with his free COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
MORGANTON / MARION / HIGH COUNTRY
“Far Shore Fever”
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By Jeff Konst
o matter where I’m fishing, or how many fish I’m catching currently, there are always more fish over there. Wherever that may be, the promise of the unknown is an allure that few fishermen are strong enough to withstand. My brother and I coined the term “Far Shore Fever” to describe this sensation we both suffer from. The unfortunate realization we’ve come to, time and time again, is that once you finally reach this tantalizing place you’ve been staring at for 30 minutes, you’re probably standing in the middle of your best piece of water trying to get at that one fish you just KNOW is laying up under that rhododendron bush. I’m here to remind you that most, not all, of the fish we are chasing this fall, especially those
delayed harvest fish, are going to be right where you expect them in the middle of the hole. Yes, there is that odd fish tucked up underneath that rhododendron bush that you could probably get to eat if you could just sneak your fly right under the leaves, but is it worth spooking 20 other fish to get there? I find this problem occurs much more prevalently with beginners. They are focused on casting further instead of casting accurately. As my friend John Zimmerman once said “They’re at your feet, dude”. It is a short, but completely accurate, statement that I paraphrase with each client when they struggle to find fish. Trout are generally exactly where you expect them to be, the majority of them will be near the middle of the current because that is where the food
is coming through. If you go out seeking to catch that hard to reach fish, I will applaud you when it happens, but I bet I will release a
few fish before you get a presentable cast off. Happy fishing and tight lines!
Jeffrey Konst is the full time operator/guide/rod-builder/fly-tier for Upper Creek Angler located in Morganton, NC.
If it has to do with fly fishing, we do it! Custom Rods • Hand Tied Flies • Guided Trips
Book a day or build a rod with us today! 828.443.4850 • 205 Burke Dr., Morganton, NC
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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 19
THE WARY PILGRIM
continued from page 18
glance at his workbench. My shotgun was nowhere to be seen and in its place was, like five hundred little parts and a stock! Apparently Wade was very proficient at his trade and I could only hope he was as good at putting them back together as he was at taking them apart! Turns out he was. He finished up, test fired it several times and slid it back in the case. Now it was time to settle up. Like all the folks that ask me the same question, it was now my turn to ask what I seem to end up asking everyone in the shooting business. “How much do I owe you?” He replied in what I thought a bit of an odd way, “What’s it worth to you?” Before I could get out a “well” he grinned and said, “I’ll be right back, I’ve got to feed my dog”. Now I’m not saying that had any bearing on my estimation of his work but the longer he stayed gone, the more I came to realize his mastery of the trade and the
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value of which I should reward such craftsmanship! When he finally returned, my wallet was lying on the workbench and I was going through my pockets for loose change. I think Wade kind of figured out what was going on but graciously tried to hide his amusement. He said “Gimme fifty bucks” which was about a third of what I’d expected. After all our business was concluded and it was obviously time for me to go, I couldn’t resist asking Wade about a good place to fish while I was in town. Before arriving in Grand Island, I had seen the Platte River on a map, snaking through the edge of town and had great hopes of getting in a little fishing while I was there. Just the name Grand Island had set my imagination ablaze, thinking of a wide, bold river where I could catch plenty of fish and possibly bag a memory or two. Turns out the river bed seemed to average
DECEMBER 2017
somewhere between 30 and 50 feet wide but the little stream meandering down the middle of it couldn’t have been over 6 gallons per minute! I was crushed. I had never been this far from a large body of water in any direction in my life. It was sort of like being a squirrel on an airplane. Wade assured me that there were plenty of fishing opportunities but I would do best by driving up to the Dakotas for some great walleye fishing, except that it was not the best time of year. He said the winter ice fishing was the most productive. Problem was, by that time, I would be in South Georgia after bass and red fin pike. Trying to hide my disappointment, I
thanked Wade and headed back to the motel. For the duration of the shooting competition my Midwest fishing experience consisted of me sullenly catching bluegill in a postage stamp sized pond behind our motel. I guess if there was a silver lining to the disappointing fishing, it was that I now had gotten on the offensive and was making great sport in asking everyone I met, “Where you from?” and taking great delight in their bewildered looks as I would answer, “That’s what I thought”.
Danny Maybin’s family has fished and hunted in the area of Lake Summit for at least six generations. He is a state firearms instructor a, blacksmith, musician/luthier, and his favorite, a fishin’ and hunting resort facilitator. He also does voice acting, copywriting, and short story humor.
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30-Pound Sacks Of Smallmouths
Photo by Laurie-Anne Ferris
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30-pound five-fish tournament limit is a big deal in bass fishing. It’s usually enough to win the day on even the lunker largemouth lakes of the southern United States. When it’s a 30-pound sack of smallmouth bass, it’s an even bigger deal. It was a record-breaking deal at the Jack Link’s Lake Simcoe Open in Ontario, Canada on Oct. 28. Niagra Falls anglers Jason Clay and Matt Belzil weighed in a 31.80-pound limit of smallmouths to win the 47-boat tournament, and they also set a new Canadian record, according to B.A.S.S. Each fish in their limit weighed more than 6 pounds. Lake Simcoe is one of Ontario’s largest lakes at 279 square miles. It is also a hot-bed for big smallmouth bass. The previous record of 31.55 pounds was caught during the 2010 Simcoe Open. Like many lakes that boast of giant smallies, gobies are part of a menu that allows for spectacular growth of predatory species at Simcoe. According to the B.A.S.S. report, Clay and Belzil spent practice and tournament days watching their electronics and dropping underwater cameras to locate pods of big bass. Fish were holding on boulders, flats, points and transition areas in 20 to 45 feet of water. Catching them was a matter of rotating through bladebaits, crankbaits, tubes and dropshots. On a lake where half the field has been known to zero, this year’s Simcoe Open produced three sacks heavier than 30 pounds, including Clay and Belzil’s record breaker. The duo took home a $7,800 cash prize, which will be followed by a $20,000 bonus once the catch is officially verified.
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11/15/17 2:45 PM
By Nick Carter
(An abbreviated excerpt from “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia”)
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FISH & FISHING
f it weren’t for the East Fork of the French Broad, it’d be easy to say public access to trout water on private property was a thing of the past. This medium to large flow runs roadside and is hemmed in by private holdings, yet it is one of North Carolina’s most popular delayed harvest streams. It draws anglers from North Carolina and from across the nearby borders with South Carolina and Georgia because it is heavily stocked and offers easy access to easy wading. Somehow, someone convinced property owners along East Fork Road southeast of Rosman, N.C. to allow anglers to fish the creek. There are small signs that read “Public Access For Fishing Only” and remind anglers to respect the access landowners have generously provided. Those are signs a lot of us would like to see a lot more of, but slobs tend to ruin such things. The East Fork French Broad is a shining example of
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ait fishing tends to breed a passive attitude, because most anglers believe they only have to put a bait in the water and wait for results. The serious bait fisherman is aggressive. Catching fish demands work whether you choose to present an artificial lure or a natural bait. Successful anglers vary their technique constantly, rarely remaining glued to a single method. To catch fish on bait, the key lies in getting your offering where your quarry can sense it. Fish feed either by probing for food or waiting in one spot where the food will come to them. The more you know about the species you seek and the way it feeds, the easier it is to choose the right bait and present it effectively. Start with the most common bait your target species feeds on at that time of year, and load up with a couple additional types just in case.
MARK SOSIN You want the freshest bait available, and it is important to change it frequently so it gives off a strong smell and stays lively. Once you select the bait, presentation becomes key. With live bait, you want it to swim and thrash. Hook it either in the lips or in front of the dorsal fin. Be sure to use a small enough hook so the bait can move about easily. If you want a live bait to swim toward the bottom, hook it behind the dorsal fin. The basic rule of bottom fishing is to use the lightest sinker that will take your bait to the bottom. Lighter sinkers allow the bait a more natural action. There’s an important difference between waiting for something to happen and making it happen. The successful bait fisherman works continuously to make something happen.
what can be achieved with strict management and landowner cooperation. This creek, where it runs through a rural setting of valley farms and fields, is typical of a lower elevation trout stream, with long slow runs, big bend pools and extended stretches of shallow riffles. There are also three significant sets of cascading falls with large holes at their bases. Easy access and easy wading in pretty water kept brimming trout does not go unnoticed. On weekdays or in nasty weather, it might be possible to have stretches of the creek to yourself, but count on sharing water during the October into June delayed harvest season. The standard colorful and flashy DH flies would suffice to fish this creek with a 4- or 5-weight. But the trout see a lot of flies. This means they sometimes reward anglers who fish something natural, like caddis, quills and other mayflies that come off in spring. And don’t hesitate to try something completely outlandish. There are some larger fish in the creek, and big Western flies sometimes get noticed by trout that aren’t quite sure what they’re supposed to be eating. There are about 5 miles of water managed as delayed harvest from Glady Fork down to the confluence that forms the French Broad proper. Not all of this is accessible to the public. East Fork Road runs east off of U.S. 178 south of Rosman. East Fork Road crosses the Middle Fork of the French Broad and then the East Fork. Public access begins at this first bridge over the East Fork and continues upstream. There are, however, several posted parcels within this stretch that should be avoided. Just get in the vehicle and find another pullout like the one marked by this GPS waypoint: 35.133958, -82.794207. There is plenty of river that is not posted. For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of all North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@ gmail.com.
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By Tobin Strickland, CAM Special Correspondent
T
here are several factors that cause cold numb feet during winter fishing. Lack of insulation layers and quality, too many socks causing constriction of blood flow, the wrong size footwear for winter application, and often overlooked, the proper ‘installation’ method of putting those items on in such a way that even the best gear can cause poor circulation. First, tight over-the-calf socks constrict blood flow. “Half-fold” the tops down the lower shin to allow better circulation. Secondly, pick footwear sizes for winter fishing and hunting that will give plenty of room for sock layers (and neoprene wader boot bottoms). Thirdly, use high quality merino wool sock layers with good loft. I’ve recently found Fits Brand socks (fitssock.com) and they contain a higher percentage merino wool than the competition, and they’re manufacturing process creates more loft. Loft equates to insulation. Use one liner sock like the Fits ‘Film’ liner and one thick merino wool sock. Finally, don’t hurriedly cram your feet into the boots. Make sure to bend your toes back and forth after putting on sock layers. Similarly, after the boots are on, walk around and bend the toe sections of the boots to loosen scrunched-up materials and layers inside the boots before lacing up. Following these simple steps will give your feet more blood flow and allow your feet to stay warmer longer. Tobin created TroutSupport.com - Tech Support for speckled trout and redfish anglers.
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hoosing a pair of sunglasses as a gift for someone else can be a tricky endeavor. On the one hand you have your opinion of what you think they will like and then there’s the issue of the fit and their face shape that can make all the difference in the world in their overall happiness with the pair that you’ve selected. Obviously, the best way to ensure your selection is exactly what they’re looking for is to have them help you. Go to your favorite sunglass seller, and let your friend try numerous pairs on. Then, once you know their favorite, the task is easy and foolproof. But if you’re not able to put that together prior to a purchase, the next best alternative is to make sure the company you’re buying the sunglasses from has an honest, no-loophole return policy. Yes, save your receipt. I also recommend including a small note with the sunglasses saying: I hope these fit, and are what you wanted. The store name here said you can exchange them if you like. At Fowler’s, we make sure our customers have an easy and helpful exchange process. The right pair of sunglasses can be a gift that is appreciated for many, many years, and we make giving the perfect gift a little bit easier. For more information contact David Maney at 888-3409021 or www.FowlersSunglasses.com
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