The Angler Magazine | January 2019 | Western North Carolina by Coastal Angler Magazine

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

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Striper Time! Tips for winter Bass/Trout PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK CARTER VOLUME 23 â&#x20AC;¢ ISSUE 287

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By Team Three Buoys

Photos by Michael Grant

hile mystic grouper can be caught year-round in the Bahamas, the winter months are our favorite time of year. Whenever a weather window presents itself, we point our bow east across the Florida Straights in search of these deep-water bottom dwellers. Mystics are one of the lesser-known grouper species, simply because anglers don’t fish deep enough to target them. Like all grouper, they are excellent to eat and usually weigh from 15 to 50 pounds, although they can grow much larger. It takes special gear to fish the 800- to 1,200-foot depths where we find mystics. Armed with Shimano Tiagra 80 WAs and Shimano Tiagra 50 WAs equipped with Hooker Electric Autostop drives, we string up 65- to 100-pound Power Pro braid on Crafty One Custom’s Deep Drop Rods. We begin by paying close attention to our Humminbird Solix sonar with CHIRP HD digital technology to locate bottom structure. We look for cones, holes, drop-offs, ledges and deep-water ridges. Once viable structure is located, we position the boat above it with engines out of gear to judge how wind and current will manipulate our drift. Then the

boat is repositioned up-current from the structure and the deep-drop rigs are readied. When targeting mystics, we use our www.ThreeBuoysFishing.com grouper deep-drop rigs made with three 8/0 VMC 3x Circle Hooks on 100-pound branch lines off of 12 feet of 150-pound main line. For bait, we prefer fresh-cut 8-inch strips of dolphin, tuna, wahoo or barracuda. Many deep-drop anglers claim, “no light, no bite,” but our experience has proven that, especially with mystics, we catch more and bigger fish without lights. We deploy two rods on opposite sides of the boat. Lead weights in the 10-pound range are the rule of thumb, but weight can be adjusted to the current. After the weights hit bottom, the reels are left in freespool to lay the rigs straight down on the bottom. The engines should be used to decrease the boat’s drift to a standstill, if possible. If the boat drifts, let out line to keep the rigs on bottom. When the rod tip bumps and shakes, resist the urge to lock up the drag and retrieve line. Wait a minute or two for additional fish to sense the commotion. They’ll often eat the remaining baits. When it’s time to strike, lift the reel’s drag to strike (pre-set to 20 pounds of drag) and slowly start your retrieve. Big mystic grouper put up quite a fight at first, and you might even think you’ve hung bottom. Be patient and slowly gain as must line as possible. When fish are about halfway up, their air bladders expand and create lift. They will begin to float your rig up to the surface. For more tips and tactics on deep-dropping and the tackle and rigs to get tight, see www.threebuoysfishing.com. Also, keep up with all of the offshore action @ Team Three Buoys on Facebook and Instagram.

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Finding bait becomes more important than at any other time of year. Goebel likes to get out well before dawn in search of shad or herring flickering near the surface, especially when a big moon keeps baitfish active all night. Diving birds are also a dead giveaway. They are likely feeding on baitfish pushed by stripers from below. “A lot of times if there’s bait there, I won’t even worry about marking fish on the graph,” Goebel said. “I’ll just put out my lines and start fishing where the bait is.”

By Nick Carter

here aren’t many anglers willing to endure the frigid early morning temperatures of winter on a large reservoir. But for those who can handle a little discomfort, right now is the best time of year to hook up with the striper of a lifetime. Around the Southeast, in reservoirs where striped bass were introduced, falling water temperatures spur changes in behavior that make the largest fish in the lake susceptible to anglers. Those 30- to 50-pounders are feeding up right now. They’re storing up reserves that will take them through the spring spawn. “It’s trophy striper season,” said Shane Goebel, of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. “The bigger fish are participating a little better. This time of year, we start going after those big ol’ hogs that are chasing the big baits.” The large summer schools broke up months ago. Stripers are spread out and on the move, following baitfish into the creek mouths and up into the backs of the creeks. Big fish move shallow when water temps hit the mid to low 50s on the lakes Goebel guides in the mountains of north Georgia and western North Carolina. It might take some searching to find them, but the rewards can be huge.

Because the stripers are continually moving with the bait, covering water is crucial. Goebel said to troll as many baits in as wide a spread as you can handle. Herring are great on lakes where they are present, but this time of year you should also work some big gizzard shad or trout into the spread. Sometimes it takes a big mouthful to convince big fish to eat. Goebel runs baits 30 to 40 feet behind planer boards. He’ll drop freelines 100 to 150 feet behind the boat. If the area where he finds bait isn’t too shallow, he’ll put a little bit of weight ahead of the baits on the inside boards to cover more water vertically. He slow trolls at about half a mile per hour. This is a pattern Goebel fishes all the way into May, when stripers have moved into a pre-spawn phase. It might not produce the numbers of fish that downlining into summer mega-schools will, but the fish are generally a lot bigger than those 5- to 10-pound summer schoolies. If catching an enormous striper sounds like fun, zip up your parka and get out on the lake. It’s trophy striper season. Check out Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service at bigolfish.com.

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By Tom Schlichter

Capt. Carlos Arguedas (left) shows off a huge cubera snapper caught aboard the Los Suenos charter vessel, Wingman, with Lindor Jimenez. Photo courtesy of Wingman Charters, Los Suenos, Costa Rica.

Los Suenos roosterfish come big aboard Capt. Carlos Arguedas’ charter vessel, Wingman. Photo courtesy of Wingman Charters, Los Suenos, Costa Rica.

f Costa Rica isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be. Famous for both inshore and offshore fishing, it’s also a country with incredible biodiversity and exciting eco-tourism opportunities. In short, there’s something for every sportsman and adventure seeker here. From a fishing perspective, the west coast of this Central American country is most favored with several significant cities and ports including Jaco, Quepos and, of course, Golfito. It’s Los Suenos, however, where

my wife, Felicia and I found outstanding action on a trip last April. We worked the inshore grounds, catching huge roosterfish, rainbow runners, grouper, jacks and even mahi. We also decked a big cubera snapper. Of course, we did have an edge. Coastal Angler’s very own Costa Rica inshore reporter Capt. Carlos Arguedas and his first-mate son, Christopher, were our charter crew. “This really is a terrific place to fish,” said Arguedas, “We have access to a lot of different spots ranging from very close to the marina to 50 miles away. The roosterfish action is unbelievable here but we also catch big cubera snapper, amberjack, groupers and huge red snappers, too.” Arguedas loves to take clients for roosterfish because they fight so hard, are found close to port, and grow big. He’s had a 90-pounder grace his deck. For these, he’ll slow troll live baits like blue runners, herring, sardines or bonita. All of these baits, impaled on size 8 circle hooks, also attract other large predators; so you never know what to expect when the rod doubles over. “Roosterfish are very impressive when you first see them,” said Arguedas. “They are exotic-looking with big dorsal rays, a huge mouth and striped flanks. They are stunning to see for the first time. They are also exceptionally strong. Fight a 20-pounder and you’ll think you have a 40-pounder at the end of the line. They jump, too, and shake their head, so remember to lower your rod tip when that fish comes up or you’ll tear the hook free.” Among the other big fish that hit the deck for Arguedas’ crew on a regular basis are goliath grouper that can top 400 pounds. These are targeted around local reefs. If you want to run offshore, sailfish, tuna and marlin abound within 10 miles of port. Dorado, sometimes topping 30 pounds, can be tempted within sight of the coast. Costa Rica’s tropical climate makes it a year-round destination. Most travelers prefer to visit during the dry season, which runs from December through April, but you’ll find lighter crowds and lower travel prices during the “green” or rainy season from May to November. Whenever you visit, it really helps to work with a travel pro that deals frequently with Costa Rica to customize a trip here. Blue Water Sportfishing Charters (http://bluewatersportfishingcharters.com) specializes in setting up trips to Los Suenos. They can put you in the right place at the right time for the fish you want to catch, sights you want to see or adventures you want to experience. They’ll also book you with Capt. Carlos—or you can contact him yourself at www.wingmancr.com.

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he first time I saw someone spearfishing, I was intrigued and wondered out loud how hard it would be to load a speargun. A friend heard me and said, “I’m sure you can do it. It’s probably more about technique than brute strength.” He was right. It’s not uncommon to struggle to load your first speargun, and you might suspect they made the bands too short. If you give it some time and use the right technique, it will become easy. First, some safety tips: 1) Never load a speargun out of the water. 2) Keep the safety on until you intend to shoot a fish. 3) Even with the safety on, treat it like a loaded weapon, never let the tip point at anyone. 4) Use tip protectors when not in use, so you don’t scratch anything. Some spearguns are loaded by resting the butt of the gun on your hip and pulling the bands toward the shaft notches. Others are loaded by resting the butt high on the middle of the chest and pulling the bands toward your sternum. Hip-loading spearguns are commonly used by scuba divers, as chest loading can be difficult when wearing a buoyancy compensator vest. Freedivers are less constricted by gear, so they normally use chest-loading spearguns. These have longer range because the shaft tabs sit closer to the butt of the gun. Now, some loading tips: 1) Wear gloves and wetsuit to prevent slips, scrapes or bruising. Some wetsuits have a loading pad built into the chest. 2) Don’t look down and hunch over when loading the bands. Push forward with your chest and pull the band swiftly with your arms, so the shaft tabs are pushed forward to meet the incoming

band. 3) Use a loading tab (if using a wood gun). This simple device makes things much easier by allowing you to first hip load the band to the loading tab and then raise the butt to your chest for the final pull. Although it’s a two-step process, it can be done quickly and will feel much easier. 4) If your bands are still too hard to load, use three longer bands. 5) Work out, lift weights, work on core and upper body. Try bench presses, seated rows, bent over rows, pushups and pull-ups. Bands and dumbbells can be incorporated into your workout routine, whether at the gym or home. If you want to see a band loading video, check out Coastal Angler online. And remember—you can accomplish anything you set your mind to! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of “Speargun Hunter,” and producer of The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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By CAM Staff • Photo by Jean-Pierre Bazard

very blade-handy angler has their own techniques and tricks for peeling the perfect fillet off a fish. But anyone who has spent enough time around a cutting board knows the perfect way to fillet is a combination of three crucial elements: technique, tools and practice. Whether it’s a 15-pound red snapper or a 6-ounce bream, the basics of filleting a fish are the same. The idea is to remove the meat along the fish’s flanks, while leaving behind the head, bones and guts. Step 1: Make a vertical cut just behind the fish’s gill plate and pectoral fin. This cut should go all the way down to the bone and

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extend from back to belly. Step 2: Run the blade from the first cut all the way down the top of the fish, along the backbone to the tail, making a shallow incision as close to the backbone as you can get it. Step 3: Using that long cut along the backbone, utilize smooth, light strokes to work the fillet away from the bones moving from the back to the belly. The other hand can be used to peel back the meat as you go. Cut around the ribcage when you arrive at it. Step 4: With step 3 completed, you should have a beautiful skinon fillet. To remove the skin, place the fillet on the board skin side down. Start from the tail and insert the knife through the meat down to the skin, leaving a tab of meat and skin at the tail to hold onto. Turn the knife horizontal and run the blade up the skin to remove the meat. Step 5: Use tweezers to pick out any pin bones left in the fillet. The technique seems simple enough, but if you don’t have good, sharp, flexible knives that are sized correctly for the fish on the board, you’re going to make a mess out of your fillets. Havalon has come up with an all-in-one solution for this issue with its Talon system. With five styles of high-quality blades that all fit on the same handle, switching from a 7-inch blade down to a 5-incher or even down to a 3.5-inch utility blade is as easy as pressing a button with their Quik-Change II blade replacement system. The blades can be resharpened as well as replaced to make sure they are razor sharp when you need them. Also, with a handle that opens up, clean-up is both thorough and easy with the Havalon Talon system. Rinse your tools down and roll them up in the included canvas kit so they’ll be ready the next time you need them. And next time should be soon, because practice is the final and most important element in the perfect way to fillet. Go fishing enough, and you’ll be peeling off perfect fillets for the table in no time. Check out the Havalon Talon System at www.havalon.com.

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JANUARY 2019 l WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

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MURPHY AREA LAKES

New Year’s Fishing on Murphy Area Lakes By Aaron Kephart

s I write this, parts of the state are bracing for what could be absolutely historic snowfall (although who knows what will happen). As you read this we are weeks removed from that event, whatever form it takes, and I hope everyone makes it through alright. With that said, winter fishing is most assuredly here, and we have been catching a lot of really nice fish. Depending upon which lake you are on and where you are at on that lake, water temperatures and clarity are varying widely. However, most lakes are currently clear to stained, and in the 48-54 degree range. The creeks and upper ends of the lake will gradually start to gain more color as winter, and the increase in precipitation that comes with it, drags on. The two primary species that we have been targeting are stripers and smallmouth, and we have been having a ton of success with both. Stripers have been found from one end of the lakes to the other, but the most numbers have been occurring from the dams to the mid-lake regions. However, while the numbers have been down in the creeks and rivers, the fish seem to be bigger in those locales. The fish have also been showing

a marked preference for gizzard shad over herring, as their diets tend to shift when they move into the shallows. January through March ought to see a continuation of this pattern, with things only getting better as we go forward. This is big fish time, and the next couple of months will see some of the biggest stripers of the entire year landed. We have already landed a number of 20 to 30 pounders in the last week or so, and I am expecting 40s to start showing up any day. Smallmouth fishing has been exceptional. We have been having a lot of 30 to 50 fish days, as we do every winter, and the fish are set up in their winter holes. The awesome thing about winter smallmouth fishing is the predictability: barring a massive warm front, a frozen lake, or super high pressure, the fish should stay put, and they should be eating. Quite frankly, winter smallmouth trips, from my perspective, are the easiest trips I do all year, simply because there typically isn’t nearly as much pressure to have to hunt fish; you simply go back to where you caught them last trip, and catch some more. If you would like to get on some big, beautiful brownbacks, now is the time. Regardless of weather condi-

tions fish still bite in the winter and, in fact, it is my favorite time of year to fish simply because the fish are heavier at this time than any other. If you want the opportunity for the fish of a lifetime,

give me a call at 865-466-1345, and I will be glad to do my best. If you hit it on your own remember to layer up, exercise caution, and have fun!

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 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

The Big Catch

Lake Chatuge Hybrids and Spots

By Darren Hughes

ishing has been awesome out here lately. The spotted bass and hybrids have settled into their winter patterns. If you can deal with the cold it’s a perfect time to be on the water. Currently, Lake Chatuge is 8 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and the creeks, and rivers are stained due to the recent rains. Water temperatures are in the upper 40’s. Spotted bass have been very active, and we are catching a ton (30-40) of nice fish. You can still find these bass schooled up all over the lake from shallow to deep. Focus on shallow humps and points around the lake that hold a lot of bait, then, work your way out to deeper water. Most of the creek mouths and rivers have been holding some nice fish. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live bluebacks will work great for covering good ground and catching quality fish. Watch for an early morning top-water bite. Casting jerkbaits, spoons and spooks will also produce quality results. This bite should get even better in the up-coming months. The hybrid bite has also been pretty good. These hard-fighting Western North Carolina hybrids have been on the move and headed for the mouths and backs of creeks in search of warmer wa-

ter. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring should land you some nice fish. Vary your lines behind your boards. Set your bait about 20 feet behind your outside boards along the banks and 30 to 40 feet on your inside boards. Keep your free lines around 80 to 100 feet behind the boat and maintain your trolling speed at .5 mph. It’s also a great idea to set out a few down lines as you troll. January fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. 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 only place around for quality live blueback herring. For guided fishing trips on Lake Chatuge, Hiwassee and Lake Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call Darren Hughes or Shane Goebel at Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. And whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, give Chatuge a shot for some of the best spotted bass and hybrids in the area. Good luck, and get hooked!

By Mike Rayder

I stand motionless on the bank, my waders pulled up tight, Fly rod in one hand, it’s just after light. My other hand on my forehead, blocking the sun’s reflection, I’ve done this before, in my mind’s recollection. Scanning the water, moving only my eyes, ever so slowly, There! A rise! I ease into the river, careful, no ripples, Nothing must break the clear waters surface. Deliberately I edge forward, toward the feeding trout, Near the far bank, they’re stirring about, I sneak within casting range, stripping line from my reel, Enough for the distance, slowly I peel. I cast upstream, and as the fly floats high to approach them, I pray my choice was correct, a number twelve coachman. A splash! One’s on! He’s tugging and running, I see him flash by me, his colors are stunning. As trout go he’s bigger and longer and rounder, I’m beginning to shake, I’ve hooked a six pounder. Then with a mighty yank, he snaps my light leader, My fly line goes slack, I’ve lost that big breeder. I can’t believe it! I’m stunned! For a moment frozen still wishing, But turning to leave, I whisper aloud, “Oh well, all in a days fishing.”

Mike was born and raised in Connecticut. He’s always been an avid fly fisherman and a member of Trout Unlimited. He retired in 2015 and moved to Whittier NC to be in the center of great trout fishing. The Tuckasegee River is now his home waters.

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. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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LAKE HIWASSEE

Lake Hiwassee Stripers

By Shane Goebel

anuary’s here and the holidays are gone. It’s time to put those awesome Christmas fishing gifts to good use, and there’s no better place to start than on this excellent Western North Carolina reservoir. Located in Murphy North Carolina, Lake Hiwassee offers some amazing striper fishing. For me, January seems to really kick off the start of monster striper season. So, if Santa forgot to leave you those rods and reels, just book a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 and only fulltime striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We specialize in striper and hybrid fishing on these mountain lakes and have what it takes to put you on some huge trophy stripers. Currently, the water temps are in the upper 40’s. The water clarity is clear in the main lake area, and the backs of creeks are

slightly stained. Water levels on Lake Hiwassee are extremely low, about 32 feet below June’s water levels but no worries. It just concentrates the fish. Striper fishing is EXCELLENT lately. We are still catching a lot of nice fish every morning. Averaging 20 to 30 per trip. We’ve already had several big fish in the 20 to 40 pound range. Most of our fish are being caught early in the morning on planer boards and free lines with either live bluebacks or big gizzard shad. We’ve also had an incredible downline bite once the sun gets up. This is pretty typical for this time of year. Look for these hard fighting stripers in the backs of creek all the way out the mouths of creeks. We’ve also been picking up some nice fish in the rivers. In the upcoming month, look for stripers to be searching for

warmer water, especially on cold sunny days. Continue to work the backs of creeks, around shallow humps and in the river. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and gizzard shad will be your best technique for landing these wintertime monsters. Keep an eye out for seagulls and schools of baitfish. It’s not uncommon to see stripers crushing bait right under those birds. I like to cast a Red Fin or a fluke right into these guys for some nice top-water action. January is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers 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, NC’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely, Chatuge, 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 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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What Is Trout Spey?

By David Hulsey

pey fishing, or casting, originated on the gravely banks of the River Spey in Scotland many moons ago. Long wooden rods up to, and some over, 15 feet with a wispy line attached were used to propel a hand tied fly long distances to salmon holding in inaccessible runs and pools. Certain casts were developed that enabled fishermen to fly cast even when very little back cast room was available, due to vegetation or steep shorelines in the area. This style of fly fishing migrated here to America and beyond giving anglers access to large rivers that, at one time, were very difficult to fish effectively. Now anglers across every continent are using these techniques and excellent modern tackle to successfully catch a new variety of species from trout to stripers

to smallmouth bass. Trout spey is just miniaturized tackle that has been sized appropriately to propel trout sized flies to waiting cold water residents. Rods in two, three, and four weight, and 11 to 12 feet in length, are the most popular and effective for fishing trout-sized rivers and streams. Proper fly line matching is critical for maximizing the potential of your rod and reel combination. Fortunately for us anglers, the Rio Line Company has a chart with recommended fly line to rod matches on their website. This saves lots of time and expense in determining the appropriate fly line/rod balance for your particular combo. Connected to the line, a short tip is added to sink the fly to the best depth. Trout Spey rods are usually pretty flexible and can load

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deeply into the blank with the heavy spey line hanging out the end of the rod. This use of flexible lever to massive fly line can propel your flies, or the neighbors toy poodle, great distances making even the most rugged and hard to wade river fishable. Our large Southeastern tailwaters and big freestone rivers are perfect locations for this type of fly fishing. If you are older or have trouble bouncing around the rivers like you used to, no problem, just launch an eighty footer and fish the far bank. Trout love baitfish and the trout spey system can deliver streamers to runs that rarely see a fly due to wading restrictions. Normal streamers work well like wooly buggers, zonkers etc. At-

lantic Salmon and Steelhead flies also will take a bunch of trout too, and are my favorite to fish with. The trout simply haven’t seen them swing through their lair. Soft hackles and wet flies can be dynamite fished in this manner too. Approach to trout with spey gear is to slowly move downstream casting down and across, letting the flies swing through likely runs and buckets as they’re called. A bump or a twitch is sometimes needed or just the smooth swing will work. You just have to let the fish tell you what they want. If your interested in learning more about trout spey and how to do it, give me a call at 770-639-4001 and we’ll go swing up a few!

Give David a call to book a class or trophy trout guide trip at Noontootla Creek Farms. We can make learning to fly fish easy and fun! You can make the switch.

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Winter Fishing

ou never know what Old Man Winter is going to bring come the New Year. If there are several stable, relatively warm days, those can be some of the best fishing days imaginable, other times, you need an icebreaker just to launch your boat. I remember one January on Glenville with Marty Jones, we had been killing the big rainbows and walleye out of his dads old wooden boat. His boat sat outside and freezing and thawing had filled the drain hole with ice to where we couldn’t put in the plug. I was so nervous it would thaw and fall out, filling the Queen Mary with icy water and taking us to the bottom, that I didn’t enjoy even the catching that we had that day. Another friend’s dad, again on Glenville, had gone out with a buddy and they were night fishing over lanterns for walleye, again, also in a wooden boat. Late into the freezing night they poured a little gas into a metal sheetrock bucket to warm their hands [that tells you how long ago this was], all was well, hands warming until a big fish was being landed, causing a stand up net job which resulted in a rocking trip overboard. Naturally the bucket tipped over and the flaming gas floated back and forth in the bottom of the leaky boat. As my buddy’s dad tried to pull himself back into the boat, the rush of flaming water and gas would greet him and so he had to tread water until the conflagration ceased. I bring up

By Capt. James McManus

these stories to remind you that winter fishing is different from summer fishing; a trip over the side is not only embarrassing, it can be deadly. So first off, do your due diligence by checking out your safety equipment, and wearing it, letting folks know your schedule and area to be fished, and with cell phones, checking in occasionally with other boaters that may be on the water. Once on the water I look for breaking fish first. There may be some and there may not be, but that is an easy first sign for locating bait and fish. If you don’t see breaks then scan for baitfish. Fish, like turkeys, gang up into huge schools for the coldest periods, find some and you have likely found a bunch. Fontana now has a well established crop of bluebacks, this will likely improve the bass size over time but there is a downside in that, what once was a school of bass or walleye marked down say 60 to 80 feet, now may be a school of 10 to even 12 inch bluebacks. If you are marking schools and not getting any bites, you may be fishing bait schools instead of gamefish schools. Check around the edges and try and find marks just a little larger or a little higher in the water column. Typically the bait schools will be hugging bottom with roving bands of bass working through the schools. Areas close to the river entries have typically been hotspots for winter but any point off of a feeder creek can hold fish. The good thing is that barring ot-

ters or too much pressure, you may find the same schools for weeks on end close to the same spots. As always, use whatever lure you prefer based on the depth of the fish. Here’s to hoping for a good topwater bite, which has been relatively weak so far. Here’s also hoping that global warming will give us some really pleasant fishing days

this winter. It has been explained to me that global warming doesn’t necessarily mean warmer, but as my mom used to say, “I know the difference between warmer and colder” so I am all in for some 60 degree January days. Be safe, thank God for our beautiful mountain lakes and enjoy time on the water. Later, Capt. James.

Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 7

SWAIN & JACKSON COUNTY / BRYSON CITY / ROBBINSVILLE

For the Love of Fishing, Swainglers Brave the Elements!

he two best times to fish are when it’s raining and when it ain’t.” That has become the Swaingler motto for the last month. After cancelling one trip due to a week’s worth of rain mak-

Kinley Bigg’s rainbow trout.

By Tammy Millsaps

ing the creek to high and muddy, and then a two hour delay at school due to icy conditions, we decided we would fish rain or shine! At least this time it hadn’t rained all week, just overnight and the day of our trip. Over two dozen anglers invaded Deep Creek with fly rods and a variety of poles and lures as a steady rain beaded down and the temperature was in the upper forties. The favorite of the fish that morning was single hook spinnerbaits. We weren’t allowed to use live bait, scented lures or treble hooks. The fish were “hungry” and the students were willing to feed them. Freshman, Trevor Jones reeled in a nice brown trout on a gray, silver blade rooster tail. Ninth grader, Kinley Biggs tricked a pretty rainbow on a grey, gold blade rooster tail. I was so impressed with all the

students that braved the weather. A few stayed at school because it was raining, but my “die hards” toughed it out. I have to admit, it was one of the best trips we’ve had. So I have to give a shout out to Jacob Bell, Kinley Biggs, Nick Bishop, Hunter Cochran, Levi Fowls, Ben Franklin, Travis Franklin, Campbell Fuller, Donald Johns, Trevor Jones, John Nations, Austin Pyles, Naven Sherrill, Seth Shuler and Wyett Hampton, bus driver Pat Smiley and co-sponsor Samantha McFalls for braving the elements! We may have arrived back to school soaking wet and a little muddy, but we all had Trevor Jones’ brown trout. smiles on our faces! Tammy Millsaps 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 tmillsaps@swainmail.org for more information or to support this popular club.

JOHN 3:16

or God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him shall not parish, but have everlasting life.” Most of us know John 3:16 as a biblical phrase, however in this story, it has a humorous meaning. On my way to a guided fishing

By Eddie Hudon

trip, I stopped into the Outpost Mountain Outfitters, in Whittier, to pick up some split shot. While cashing out, John Honeycutt asked me how it was going. I told him fishing has been real good this fall. In spite of this good report, John showed me a new streamer pattern that he had just brought into the

store. He said that he has tried it and it worked very well. “If it gets slow out there, try this out.” So, I bought a dozen and put them in my shirt pocket. I met my clients and we were off to the West Fork of the Pigeon. The day started out a little slow, so I decided to try one of John’s streamers. As soon as we started using it, we were catching fish! I was so happy, that I looked up into the sky, spread my arms out, and said, “ thank you John.” My client said, “you mean John 3:16.” I said no, “ I mean John at the Outpost!” We laughed so hard. It was a funny moment. My client, who was pretty religious, said, “most people know about John 3:16, but do you know what John 3:17 was about?” I couldn’t help it. I said, “ Is it his batting average?” Needless to say, we shared a

precious memory together. PS; Next time I stopped into the Outpost, I told John the story. He laughed. We all did. Stop in and ask for The John 3:16. You’ll be glad you did…………

Eddie Hudon is the Owner of Blue Chip Fly Fishing headquartered in Whittier, NC. 8 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

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Just Venting

By Ronnie Parris

nybody who knows me will tell you I’m not one to gripe. But sometimes the old saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” is true and I would say it’s time for the residents of Swain County and the surrounding counties to ask for some changes in the way our main lake, Fontana, is being managed. When you have a lake the size of Fontana with the fresh water supplies coming into it, and the majority of the local anglers are going to other lakes because it’s getting harder to catch a good limit of fish, then something’s wrong. I have grown up here in Swain County and I have fished Fontana as long as I can remember. The last 2 years, I can say, have been the toughest that I can remember. I have multiple friends who guide or some that just fish almost every day, and we are all worried about the direction Fontana is headed. I’m sure if you ask you will get a different opinion from every person regarding what the problem, and what the solution, is and I’m no different. I will say I’m not a biologist; I’m just a fishing guide that wants Fontana to be managed in a more favorable way. I know a lot of folks are going to point to the spotted bass as the culprit for the fall in Walleye and smallmouth numbers, and I will admit the cross breeding between smallmouth and spots have hurt the smallmouth. As for me, I love the spotted bass. They are aggressive feeders and great

table fare for the angler who likes eating fish. If I was in charge, the only change I would make, as far as the spotted bass are concerned, is to either go back to the 12-inch minimum size or do away with the size restriction all together to control spotted bass numbers. I would keep the 5 fish per day limit, which would cause a lot of people to turn back smallmouth and largemouth and keep the spots, which are much better to eat. The way it’s set up now, you really have to keep smallmouth and largemouth if you are going to keep a limit of fish. As far as the Walleye numbers, I feel we have multiple problems and fixes. First, I really think the spawn, for several years, has been poor at best and in my opinion, the number one reason is TVA refuses to hold the water at a constant level during the spawn. Walleye and white bass are in full swing with the spawn at the same time of year. That TVA starts filling the lake back up from its wintertime levels, which prevents the eggs that are being laid from hatching. In my opinion, the limit is too high on Walleye. It needs to be cut back to 5 per person like the bass limit. A good number of fish are needlessly killed every year by the gill net studies, when you could get a better assessment by doing creel surveys or having guides and anglers keep a data sheet on time on the water and species caught, which was done for species such as ruffed grouse. The newest problem for Wall-

eye is another fish species in Fontana. These are the bluebacks that are now abundant in Fontana. I’ve always heard that the bluebacks contain an enzyme which, when consumed by walleye, would make them sterile. I’m not a biologist so I don’t know if this is true. What I do know is that the bluebacks are veracious eaters and not only eat the eggs of game fish but also the fry. Lake Glenville is a prime example of the effect of bluebacks on Walleye populations, as when I was a boy, Glenville was one of the best Walleye lakes in the mountains and now you hardly ever catch a Walleye there. The answer to the blueback problem in my opinion is to turn striped bass in to keep the blueback numbers down. I know a lot of people will worry about

the stripers eating other game fish but Hiwassee has had great success with the introduction of them and has seen no negative effects of stocking of them. I’m sure there are other folks with ideas about Fontana and where we are headed. Hopefully our North Carolina Wildlife biologist is listening, is as concerned as we are about the way things are going, and is willing to make some changes to get Fontana headed back in the right direction. As I said at the beginning of this article, this is only my opinion but Fontana is too valuable of a resource to sit back and see it continue to go in the wrong direction. Maybe if enough people contact our biologist and voice their concerns, we can get a little grease flowing our way.

Ronnie Parris is the Owner and Head Guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, North Carolina, heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. (www. smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com)

Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING We offer both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.

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ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD

Polar Shift

he question that comes to mind this time of year is, “Do I hunt or do I fish?” I find that venison is a reward I find myself craving to have in the freezer but if you find yourself with an early harvest, you may want to try the lakes right now. This is the time of year you can really get into some giant largemouth bass. You see, giant largemouth still have to consume calories to sustain their own mass. The smaller bass are starting to slow down and will shut down when the water temperature gets below 40 degrees but even though you don’t catch much, what you do catch is big. Where do these large slobs go this time of year? They go where the water is the warmest. You will find warmer water deep, or you will find it where the water comes into the lake. Moving water stays warmer than still water. Bass like to migrate like birds do for winter and they will find the warmest places and stay there. More than likely, you will find them in the backs of creeks. Shad will also go there as well, which is perfect for feeding bass. I have seen shad in the main lakes before but it’s

By Scott Norton

because there is an under water spring nearby. Spring water is also warmer than lake water and this is where you’ll find deep-water bass. When the water really gets cold, shad will start dying off and applying “match the hatch” theories will work best in this situation. If the water is above the mid 40’s, use A-rigs, under spins, flutter spoons, lipless cranks, and flukes. Make sure when the water gets colder you start using silent baits. You also have to watch some of the plastic baits you use because they will get hard and loose action the colder it gets. For you anglers that like to use jigs, switch to a hair jigs. Feathers and hair are great materials to have in your lures for cold-water applications. You can still use other lures that work year round you just have to tune them for swimming very slow. Be sure to bring the appropriate clothing just in case of weather or you get wet. This falls into the safety part of a trip. We’re always hearing of a death somewhere close that happens and it’s because they didn’t either plan or wear their pfd’s, especially the kayak anglers. If you

fall into the water without a pfd, you won’t be able to swim because you’ll loose feeling in your extremities and if you’re lucky to make it back, you’ll get hypothermia if you can’t get into dry clothes fast enough. There are not a lot of people out there this time of year so no one will help you or find you until it’s too late. It’s a double-edged sword in the winter. It can be the best day because you have the whole lake

to yourself or it could be devastating due to no help being available. Plan ahead, don’t take risks this time of year. Hope this helps you guys out.

Scott Norton is a native of Western North Carolina. Born in Asheville, NC, he is a long time avid hunter, angler, and weekend warrior. He is a member of Southern Raft Supply’s prostaff team representing them in his Jackson Kayak Coosa FD.

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What Fly Should I Use?

A Straightforward Guide to Simplify Fly Selection for Trout

By Ethan Hollifield

hen it comes to fly selection; there’s an infinite amount of possibilities. Looking through the bins in a fly shop or spending enough time on the vice will quickly show you how many endless material choices, color combinations, and overall varieties of what otherwise are simple patterns, can be accumulated by your average fly angler. I’ve seen anglers on the water that bring with them over ten fly boxes stuffed in every free pocket to try and accommodate the vast amount of patterns available on the market in hopes that maybe “the” fly of the day is one of those hundreds of flies. Guiding taught me very quickly that carrying an ungodly amount of flies and changing patterns every other drift is the most ineffective way to fly fish that has ever been conceived. The lesson I would like for readers to take away from this is to develop a sense of confidence in how they fish rather than relying on carrying hundreds of flies hoping that one might work. The “hope” factor is something I cannot rely on as a guide; I have to know that something I’m tying on for my clients is going to produce. This is how I developed this system. I’ll go over some tips and what I look for on the water or

at the tying vice that helps me determine my fly selection. Starting off with the number of flies themselves: I only carry three boxes on the water with me while I guide (all double sided). One box contains dry flies, the other nymphs, and the other contains a selection of streamers. Within these boxes are what I call my “confidence” flies. These are flies that will produce a fish 90% of the time in 90% of the water conditions you’ll face on the water. If you look in any of my dry fly or nymph boxes, you’ll see essentially 4 of the same types of flies: a pheasant tail, a hares ear, a zebra midge, and a parachute adams. I organize these patterns by size, color, and weight distribution as well as whether a fly has additional notations added to it such as rubber legs or elements of flash. My streamer box carries a selection of flies that either perform as a jig fly or flies that will move with an erratic action in the water: my two favorites being the bunny clouser or either a single hook/articulated zoo cougar. I carry a wide variety of colors and sizes to meet water conditions, as I need them. Now, why only limit myself to having specifically these types of fly patterns on the water? The

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method behind my reasoning is what drives trout to feed in most circumstances: opportunity. A trout’s feeding habits on any given freestone stream is relatively consistent. They are going to intercept, in the current, what is available to them at a given time. This could be smaller mayflies or midges in the winter to large golden stoneflies in the summer. Either way, a pheasant tail variation to meet both the size and color of any of these insects is a hard pattern to beat, and the reason for that is simple and outweighs our understandings of

trout behavior. This being presentation over fly pattern. This is the golden rule I tell all my clients to abide by. You can have the fanciest, most well tied flies ever conceived but they will mean nothing unless you can fish them correctly. So, rather than carrying every fly pattern known to man on your next outing: equip yourself with only a small selection of flies and focus more on applying correct presentations. You’ll be amazed at how much your catch rate, and your confidence will grow.

Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers

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Werewolves in Cataloochee Valley

By Joe Woody

love listening to old Warren Zevon Music. I mean it touches my soul. Maybe I relate to his lyrics about strange places, risk taking and the surreal. Lawyers, Guns and Money, and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner are a couple classics that immediately come to mind. If you haven’t listened to these songs, do yourself a solid and check ‘em out. Which leads me to this story… I set off one Saturday morning to do some “Modified Blue Lining” in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…more specifically, Cataloochee Valley. I want to say the year was 2009 but it could be three years on either side. I call it “Modified” because although remote, Cataloochee Valley is wide open, with traffic jams caused by cars stopping to look at the abundant wild life in

clear view. It’s not as congested as Cades Cove in Tennessee… but give it a few years. My dastardly plan was to get away from it all and go bush whackin’ in a much less traveled section of the creek. I planned to park down by the Gauging Station and walk as far as I could down the creek toward Waterville Lake. If you’ve never been in this section of Cataloochee, you’re not alone. There is a trail on the right side of the creek for about a quarter of a mile, which abruptly stops at a river crossing. From this point on, for about seven to eight miles, Cataloochee Creek runs through a deep holler, protected by Rhododendron, Dog Hobble and fairly big waterfalls. If there is a trail, I’ve obviously missed it. Maybe some Haywood County locals can enlighten me. The lower section is what I refer

to as “Snaky”. I am absolutely convinced that this is one of the few place left in WNC where a panther could exist without ever coming in contact with a human. I pulled into the parking area near the bridge almost giddy with the adventure spirit. I specifically remember Warren’s “Werewolves of London” playing on my stereo. There are no radio signals there so it had to be from my phone. I was hollering the words. I would say singing, but anyone who’s heard me sing would strongly disagree. “Ahoo… Werewolves of London…Ahoo,” I was belting it out. I had to sit in the car and finish the song…”I saw a werewolf drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vicks…His hair was perfect…MIP.” I jumped out of the truck full

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of Zevon Motivation, grabbed my gear and hit the stream. I did the obligatory, fruitless five casts under the bridge then crossed the creek, climbed the bank and joined the old stream bed used as a trail. Wasn’t long before I began seeing very large bundles of “deer” poop. Many of you will quickly recognize these bundles as elk poop. At the moment, it went straight over my head. Needless to say I was intrigued. I followed the large tracks that accompanied the poop on down the trail to where the trail ended near the bend. The water was high and swift and it took a good deal of effort to cross over so I concentrated on the crossing. To say I lost my situational awareness is an understatement. I got to the

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WEREWOLVES

continued from page 13

edge, placed a foot on the bank and began hoisting myself up to continue my journey. Mid-hoist, I found myself face to face with a large female elk. We just stared into each other eyes. The elk was not concerned. In fact, I kinda felt like she said, in elk language of course, “Hey dude, what cha doin?” I actually said, out loud, “Oh…hey.” We continued staring into each other’s eyes for about ten more seconds. Then it got awkward. I pulled myself up on the bank and walked right past her. I could have touched the large tracking collar on her neck. I continued fishing down the creek for a couple of hours then followed my tracks back to where we’d met. She’d moved on. I was sad. I wanted to tell her bye. Now, reading this, you may ask, “How exactly does anyone miss a five hundred pound animal, standing in the sunshine, on

a creek bank, clear as day?” Believe me, I’ve asked myself that question hundreds of times. I was fortunate. It could have been during the rut. I could have meandered head long into a bull full of the mating fever. This story would be much more grave if that had been the case. I’ve pondered this encounter over the years. Self reflection and study has led me to this conclusion. I was not in the spirit world. Months of alone time in wild places has taught me to condition my mind before entering the wilderness. I left the paved road with Warren Zevon blasting on my car stereo. It left me blind to the hidden world around me. I may as well have been wearing a blindfold. When I get close to the wilderness these days, I turn my radio off. When I park my car, I spend a few minutes taking in everything. There’s not a set

14 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

JANUARY 2019

amount of time to condition your mind. It could take five minutes or it could take half an hour. You’ll know when you’ve entered a more spiritual state. Bird sounds come out of nowhere…sharp and clear. Colors become more vibrant. The sound of the stream, although loud, becomes distinguishable from other noises. This is just the beginning, your senses will sharpen with each second you invest in the process. If you follow the advice I’ve given you in the preceding paragraph, perhaps you won’t come face to face with a big elk. But

then again, where’s the fun in that? A man I know once said, “Wisdom is based on the experiences you garner from poor decision making,” or something like that. The rating system for wisdom is subjective at best. Keep your feet wet and your eyes dry…unless you’re in the military, then keep your feet dry.

Joe Woody is Co-Publisher of The Angler Magazine WNC with his wife Debra. He is an Army Veteran and a self proclaimed “Adventure Angler”. You can usually find him wandering around Western North Carolina telling fishing lies. He is also a baseball nut and a crazy FCS Football fan. He has a Bigfoot magnet on the back of his truck.

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Casting a Sink Line and Weighted Fly in a Tight Spot By Rene J. Hesse

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t ain’t pretty”, was my response to Dr. John Mauldin and Jim Long, two buddies who were taking a break as we fished on Unicoi Outfitters property in Helen. I take pride in making good looking casts, and I take a bit of pride in catching fish, but the two do not go hand in hand with a full sink line and a heavy fly. So what is one to do? I choose to go for the fish and find a way to get the fly to them. The following is a cast that worked in tight cover with a sinking line and weighted fly. I don’t really know an easy way to explain it. The cast is easier to do than it may sound, and it would be much easier to show you. See if this makes sense to you. Picture yourself being at the water’s edge, and the trees are up to

or hanging out over the water. The fly is heavy enough that it could have been thrown out like a big marble. The line is full sink, so if it gets in the water, it will sink. Duh! That will kill the cast. What now? Keep in mind this is not a long cast, maybe 20-30 feet. Take a look around and know how much room you have above, behind, and on both sides of you to swing your rod tip around. Once you know, strip off enough line to get to the target, but only put 6-8 feet of line out of the rod tip. Place the fly in your line hand. Then, without stopping or slowing down, sweep your rod tip side to side, low to the water, out in front of you, to make another 10 or so feet of line slip out of the rod tip. Without slowing down, start setting up the ‘D’ loop by slipping more line out

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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target. Keep the fly in your hand as long as possible. That will keep the water tension issue to a minimum. I don’t know if anyone has named a cast like this. It is kind of a mix of a spey and salt water quick cast. One important thing to remember is that the line movement is all done out in front of you. Another key is line tension. The fly must be pulled out of your hand on the forward cast, not on the back cast. Although the line must have a constant rate of acceleration, it is a slow cast which uses the weight of the line to load the rod. A good way to get the muscle memory for this is to practice pointing your finger as if it were the rod before you get to the water and make the movements. It ain’t pretty, but it works.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 15

Fishing The Seams By Karl Ekberg

he holidays have passed; we hope everyone enjoyed time with their families! Now the winter fishing season is upon us, and it is time to layer up and catch big winter fish. At times, with the heavy rains or snow, the rivers will take a few days to subside from extremely high levels and unsafe wading conditions. After this, the rivers will fish extremely well, with many large fish being caught. Don’t let the cold weather keep you home, just dress appropriately and enjoy the rivers. We have found using the wicking base layers and the Redington I/O Fleece Pants to be very beneficial, for keeping warm while wading. Let’s not forget about top layers either: Wearing a wicking base-layer shirt, and then a fleece and an insulated coat, depending on the daytime temperatures. Many large fish are being caught using tandem nymph rigs, with larger nymphs as a lead fly and a smaller nymph as the trailer, tied off the back end of the lead fly hook. Casting these tandems slightly upstream, and dead-drifting these flies through the seams is essential. The seams are those areas where the water is moving quickly and the area of the slower moving water. Many flies to choose from, as the lead flies and as the trailers,

we have a tremendous supply in stock, and please check out our “hot list as well”. As for the streamers, big fish are being caught as well. Casting out and across fast moving water, dead-drifting, and then a strip and pause back to you along the seam lines has proved to be extremely effective. Keeping the streamers low in the water column is also a key to success, as with the colder water temperatures, the fish are holding low in the river. The use of a weighted leader, or pinching on a piece of weight a foot above the streamer, will help. On warmer days, some dry fly fishing may be at hand. Don’t be surprised to see rises as the winter days warm from the early-day cold to the 50’s, maybe 60, and fish start rising. Pre-hatch fishing nymphs and emergers on the swing, and then switching to dries will be the key to success. If fishing in the cold weather outside is not your cup of tea, join us for a fly tying lesson inside our warm shop. We offer one-on-one fly tying lessons for the beginner, or for those that want to learn new ideas at the vise, just call for an appointment. And YES, we offer Guided Trips year around! We hope to see everyone out on the rivers!!

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JANUARY 2019

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SELEC ANT SA VING T SUZ S UKI O UTBO ON ARDS

REPOWER FINANCE

SIX YEARS OF PROTECTION

INSTANT SAVINGS

REPOWER FINANCE

Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.

Instant Savings on select models when you buy at the boat show. See your dealer for details.

Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]

3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection

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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19 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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s 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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. “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. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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