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Heads Of Cold Steel Winter Steelheading In Upstate New York By Frank Geremski -The Angler Magazine of Upstate NY publisher
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inter steelhead fishing can be chilling, but once you hook into a 10-pound, lightning-fast bolt of silver, your blood will be boiling. The speed and explosion are what lures steelheaders to expose themselves to harsh Great Lakes winters. And there’s more. On Upstate New York’s Salmon River, there are plenty of beautiful, large, lake-run brown trout mixed in. Plus, today’s lightweight protective clothing provides comfort between strikes. The Salmon River in Oswego County, N.Y. (www.visitoswegocounty.com) offers consistent steelhead fishing during the late fall, winter and spring. In fact, the river has runs of trout and salmon from Lake Ontario all year long. With many quality tributaries along its length and a hatchery, this highquality wilderness river once was home to a legendary Atlantic salmon run. Rebounding populations of Atlantics still exist due to restoration projects, but Pacific salmon dominate the scene in late summer and fall. Huge chinook salmon, some heavier than 30 pounds, and coho salmon run up 14 miles of prime spawning and fishing waters each fall. A good number of steelhead (rainbow trout) follow the salmon to feed on the eggs dropped during this legendary fall salmon run. The steelhead feed aggressively during the salmon run, and they remain in this beautiful blue-ribbon river all winter, providing more than six months of explosive action. Winter thaws and early spring rains invite the remaining Lake Ontario steelhead to spawn and join their riverwintering kin. It’s a truly dynamic trophy trout experience. The Salmon River holds big fish. Ten-pound steelhead are commonplace. Fish in the teens are a definite possibility, and persistent steelheaders get chances every year on specimens in the 20-pound range. When salmon first enter the Salmon River in September and October, steelhead and lake-run brown trout mix in with pacific salmon making their spawning run. Both trout species feed on salmon eggs, and just when the salmon die off, the brown trout begin to spawn. Their eggs supplement the steelheads’ diet. Large numbers of giant trout and steelhead winter in the river, with additional fish running up from Lake Ontario all winter and early spring. When they first enter the river, these brightly colored bullets aggressively strike offerings like egg sacks, bright Estaz flies or beads that imitate eggs. Midriver matriculation brings them past the village of Pulaski, where there are about 10 miles of mostly public fishing access to deep holes, runs, rapids and every kind of trout water. Several high-quality tributaries flow in along the way and provide excellent spawning grounds up to what’s considered the upper section of the river. Natural reproduction does occur, and New York state operates a large hatchery on the upper end of the Salmon River. Since the Salmon River is a tailwater, this upper section is fishable all winter and never ices up. With egg availability diminishing, the winter steelhead diet evolves to more nymphs and stoneflies. Fly fishing is effective yet challenging. This section of river is ideal for fighting and landing large fish, with catch and release encouraged. Many trophy steelhead in the teens are photographed for replica mounts, and brown trout in the 5- to 10-pound range are caught regularly, with fish in the teens a possibility. 8
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The Salmon River has a reputation for tight quarters during the peak of the salmon run. Crowds diminish during winter steelhead season. Weekdays bring even less competition. Two very select permit-only resort properties are located on the two best sections of river offering managed access and exclusive riverside lodging. On the upper river, The Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, N.Y. has private southside access to Schoolhouse Pool and the runs and holes above and below. This is the prime wintering spot for a large percentage of steelhead and the best access for ice-free angling. The Tailwater is an Orvis-endorsed lodge, which includes an on-site fly shop, “The Woodshed.” Zero Limit Adventures Guide Service, also Orvis endorsed, has a collaborative relationship with Tailwater Lodge and provides outstanding guidance to this section and the entire Salmon River. They’ll get you dialed into current river conditions and what the fish are feeding on. The Tailwater Lodge’s opulent accommodations coupled with their location on the river and exclusive access make it the Mecca for Salmon River steelheading. This large section of river provides various speeds of current and holding water with ice-free conditions all winter. Tactics for hooking these giants include fly fishing, spinning, float fishing and center-pin techniques. The Angler Magazine highly recommends booking an experienced licensed guide on your first day to instruct you on equipment, fly or bait selection and technique. Allow Tailwater Lodge (www.tailwaterlodge.com) and Zero Limit Adventures (www. zerolimitadventures.com) ease the entry into this elite pursuit. Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) manages more than 2 1/2 miles of exclusive access in the lower end of the Salmon River where steelhead first enter from Lake Ontario. Early steelhead action can be fast and furious. Winter access is dependent on weather conditions, as the middle and lower sections of the Salmon River get slushy or iced over during mid-winter cold speels. DSR (www. douglastonsalmonrun.com) publishes an accurate and honest daily report that functions as a great information source for river conditions and fish movement. The highly challenging adventure of hooking and battling your first 10-pound-plus Great Lakes steelhead will certainly not be your last. This divine experience will put you in a league of sportsmen who are the only ones to understand this trophy steelhead quest. It’s a feeling like the adrenaline rush of your first buck or sailfish. This heart-pounding adventure on a beautiful river will provide a memory that can be yours forever. To check out the “Men of Steel” video, go to
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12/15/16 3:09 PM
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Editor’s Note: Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
COASTAL ANGLER MAGAZINE Houma, Louisiana
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The big black drum on the cover of Coastal Angler’s January editions was caught by Banging The Drums Of Jacki Shae, whose south Florida upbringing Houma, La. taught her a love of fishing from an early age. Winter Chrome In On a recent ladies-only fishing trip to the Upstate N.Y. marshes around Houma, Louisiana, Jacki learned a newfound respect for black drum. Local This often overlooked cousin to the everpopular red drum might not be much on looks, but it puts up a heck of a fight and grows even larger than the big bull reds prized by so many anglers. Rumor has it the fish on the cover was caught with one of those kids’ Barbie rods spooled with 30-pound test. With tutelage from their guide Brittney Novalsky, the ladies also did battle with some of the big redfish Louisiana is famous for. Four young women staying on a houseboat and hauling big fish from the Louisiana mud… what more could anyone ask for from a fishing expedition?
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The covers of this month’s editions of The Angler feature a beautiful chrome steelhead Winter Chrome In caught by Zero Limit Adventures Guide Rob Upstate N.Y. Reynolds. The photo was taken by Zero Limit Banging The Drums Of Adventures Guide Matthew DeRosa. The fish was caught on the Salmon River in Oswego County, New York. To learn more Local about this fantastic fishery view this month’s article “Heads of Cold Steel” by The Angler Magazine Upstate New York publisher Frank Geremski. Zero Limit’s diverse team of guides offer tailored trips of a lifetime and expertly fish many tributaries of central and western New York. They can be reached by e-mail via mderosa@zerolimitadventures.com by phone at 585-766-2421, or view their website at www.zerolimitadventures.com. Zero Limit has a collaborative relationship with the opulent Tailwater Lodge www.TailwaterLodge.com in Oswego County. Tailwater Lodge offers exclusive access and wonderful accommodations on the banks of the Salmon River, home of legendary trophy salmon, steelhead and brown trout runs from Lake Ontario. Call Tailwater Lodge for availability and reservations at 315-298-3434. To learn more about Lake Ontario, the Salmon River and Oswego County fishing go to www. visitoswegocounty.com or call 1-800-248-4FUN. Houma, La.
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO LIMIT ADVENTURES GUIDE MATTHEW DEROSA VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 264
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LADIES DRUM UP ACTION IN THE LOUISIANA MARSH By Jacki Shea
I
find myself staying in the strangest places when I go on fishing adventures. But as long as it involves fishing, sleeping on a couch or on the ground really doesn’t matter. On this particular trip, my friends and I found ourselves in a small houseboat on a river in the Louisiana marshes west of New Orleans. It was tiny, there was only one bathroom (picture four girls trying to use one bathroom), and the bed sheets smelled like a man after a long day of fishing. You might be wondering what brought us to such a place, and I will give you two very good reasons: redfish and black drum. Enormous specimens of these two drum species come into the marsh each fall and winter, 20 to 30 pounds to be more specific. If you plan on making the trip to Louisiana to do some inshore fishing, it is not necessary to stay on a houseboat; however, I highly recommend it. When
you wake up each morning, you are on the water ready to fish with your boat tied up next to you. Of the drum family, redfish seem to be the most popular inshore species. Redfish are always a great fight, especially the big bulls. But many anglers seem to overlook black drum, which are sometimes referred to as a “mud donkeys.” It is not an attractive fish, nor is it great for eating; therefore, it is not commonly targeted. This fish does, however, grow the largest of the drum species, and it fights with the same action and power as a bull red. Now that I’ve caught a few, I believe black drum can look very pretty once the Louisiana sun hits those scales just right. Redfish and black drum are thick in the Louisiana marshes all year, but the season for the monsters runs from September to January, when big fish move from offshore into the marsh following migrating baitfish. When the baitfish show up inshore, the big fish won’t be far behind. For bait you can use live or artificial depending on whether you are trying to sight fish or just toss a line out and wait. On our trip, we used a standard knocker rig, with an egg sinker and a hook, and sank split live blue crabs and shrimp to the bottom and waited. The fishing is quite simple when you know where the fish are, although a guide is recommended for those unfamiliar with the waters because it’s easy to get lost in the marsh. Keep an eye out for cold fronts. The cold fronts clean up the water and bring the fish closer to the surface, which makes for perfect sight fishing. The fish also enjoy the cooler inshore water, so they will be more abundant and active. Check out Jacki’s YouTube channel Jacki Shea Fishing for videos of her fishing adventures. Her guide for the Louisiana trip was Brittney Novalsky who can be contacted through www.fishingadventureswithbrittney.com. For more fishing with Jacki Shea, go to
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By Tom Karrow Researcher Tom Karrow assessing fishery health in Abaco with a Bahamian angling guide from the Delphi Club. Photo by Andrew O’Neill
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hen I first started fly fishing in the 80s, the sport was not nearly as popular as it is today. Shops carrying fly tackle were sparse, people with knowledge of the sport were few and far between and getting lessons was nearly impossible. When I think back to those days, recalling the number of flies I lost in trees, the frequent tangles I developed and the shear lack of fish I caught, it is a wonder that I kept with it. Indeed, if it were not for the fly tying component of the sport, I might well have thrown in the towel. I love fly tying; being able to create something to fool fish with is a marvelous achievement. In contrast to my early fly fishing days, today there is a seeming abundance of information on the sport, from equipment, to angling destinations; everyone seems to have some insights. On top of this has been the advent of the Internet, a treasure trove of information and misinformation. The fact of the matter is, fly fishing is not nearly as complicated as it may seem. It is simply a form of fishing that allows for lightweight or nearly weightless “lures” to be used, which without the added weight in the line could not be presented to a fish. In some cases, fly fishing is a far superior method for fooling fish and in others, deep waters for example, far more challenging. When it comes to heavily pressured or sensitive fish, especially those inhabiting shallow inshore waters, I would argue fly fishing can often out-produce other techniques. Being able to imperceptibly drop a fly in front of fish when they are used to loud splashes from heavy lures or live baits can often result in fooled fish. Fly fishing is sometimes called an art, perhaps because of the apparent delicateness of the cast, the manner in which the line travels out over the water, or because many incorrectly, consider it hard. So let me correct this fallacy. Fly fishing is not hard, it does not need to be complicated and it can be very easily learned. If you really want to learn to fly fish, I would suggest a trip to the Bahamas. The weather is beautiful, the waters are stunning, and the people, culture and food are marvelous. The chance of catching fish is very high, as the guides are great instructors and a week’s worth of fly fishing immersion would provide incredible advancement in understanding and skill level. Throughout my travels in the Bahamas, I have met many wonderful guides and visited many top-notch facilities. To highlight one Bahamian guide or lodge is simply impossible. However, when it comes to learning the sport, be honest. When booking a trip to a lodge, perhaps directly or through a travel company like Yellow Dog Fly Fishing or Frontiers International, tell them what you want. Tell them you are a beginner. Tell them you want to learn. Through this strategy, those in the know will put you with facilities and personnel best suited to an instructional 12
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Great equipment meets great Bahamian culture. Photo by Tom Karrow
environment. You want a location that offers everything, lodging and food of course but also equipment, casting lessons, fly tying lessons, safety instruction along with patient and professional guides. One common thread that has become apparent through my research in the Bahamas is the respect that Bahamians have for travelers, specifically bonefish anglers. Bahamians openly welcome tourists, recognizing the importance that bonefishing has on local Family Island communities. Bonefishing on some Bahamian islands provides employment for up to 80 percent of the local population. With that level of economic importance, industry professionalism is critical along with healthy fisheries. In the Bahamas you will find both a high degree of angling knowledge and amazing fisheries. The Bahamas are certainly an excellent place to consider taking a trip and a phenomenal place to learn to fly fish. What I find most attractive about the Bahamas is the shear diversity available. With more than 700 islands, there is something for everyone. And for anglers, old and new, there are always new opportunities to learn from. Tom Karrow is a sustainable tourism scholar from the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on the Bahamian bonefishing industry, centered on the guides and their knowledge, stories and experiences. For more on his research see: http://tomkarrow.wixsite.com/bahamasguide-tek, and follow Coastal Angler Magazine for updates and more. Tom Karrow can be reached at tkarrow@uwaterloo.ca or tomkarrow@ gmail.com. For more Bonefishing in the Bahamas, go to
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Elite Series™ Bassmaster Lester Pro Brandon t the rods tha builds all of he Elite he uses on t ment Trail. a n r u o T s ie r Se
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no weight reduction had gone into the components above the handle. The guides were large and weighty. As a result, the rod was annoyingly front-heavy, even when I mounted two of the spinning reels I had tabbed for the task. Lost balance led to lost feel and sense of control over my bait. It took an oversized reel to bring anything resembling “balance” to this rod, and the resultant combo was still cumbersome. “It’s hard to get a rod perfectly balanced without knowing the reel a guy plans to put on it,” said Russ Lane, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler known for his talent for tackle tinkering. Lane wraps many of his rods with Winn Superior Rod Wrap (www.winngrips.com) to give them the same advantages of hand control and comfort that he gets with the Denali Attax rods and other rods in his arsenal already fitted with Winn grips. But at times there’s a secondary benefit to the wrap. “Sometimes adding the Winn rod wrap can add just enough weight to balance a rod,” noted Lane. He faced a formidable “weight-forward” balance challenge with the flipping/pitching rod he uses to punch matted vegetation with soft plastic lures and 1.5-ounce tungsten By Mike Pehanich weights. “I needed to add more weight to the handle,” Lane recalled. As usual, he covered the cork mid-grip of this 7-foot, 6-inch Denali Lithium Flipping Stick (Xtra Heavy) with the ightness” has been the dominant thrust of rod evolution for years. Lightweight guides, skeletal reel seats, split grips… these and other polymer overwrap. Before he added the wrap to the butt grip, however, he developments have served rod builders in their ongoing quest to added Storm SuspenStrips—adhesive-backed rectangles of soft lead that he reduce rod weight and, in turn, diminish fatigue and enhance angler comfort generally uses to add weight to his jerkbaits—to the tapered butt grip. “You can get the balance perfect by adding just enough lead tape over the and feel on the water. Oddly enough, radical downsizing of rod components sometimes produces butt grip before adding Winn overwrap on top of it,” explained Lane. “Balance the opposite of its intended effect if rod balance is significantly compromised makes a big difference when you are flipping those heavy tungsten weights in along the way or when heavier-than-usual lures or terminal tackle enter the heavy cover all day long.” picture. Several seasons ago, a rod manufacturer asked me to road test a new midFor a word from Lester on the benefits of Winn Grips, go to priced spinning rod the company was planning to bring to market. The design team had taken the split grip concept to an extreme, virtually eliminating the mid (rear) grip altogether and adding a very airy foam to the butt grip. However,
Tackle Corner: A ‘WRAP’ SESSION WITH RODS FOR BETTER CONTROL
“L
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Shown above: Chad Roberson, President of H2O Sports congratulates Danny Amador on his new boat.
hat’s a real mouthful of salutations, but the winner of Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine’s Boat Giveaway contest is certainly deserving of all three. Danny Amador was drawn as the winner of the 15’10” Cape Craft boat with 75 hp Honda engine and a Coyote trailer. A massive fire at H20 Sports Manufacturing delayed much of their manufacturing, and Danny Amador had to wait until Dec. 9 to pick up his brand new Cape Craft vessel. That’s where the story gets really interesting. Dec. 9 is Danny’s birthday. Yep, and as all December birthday people know it’s always “Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas.” Coastal Angler Magazine would like to salute Danny Amador for his patience in receiving his boat. Unforeseen circumstances can sometimes alter even the best of transactions. Danny Amador’s patience and H20’s commitment to fulfilling the contest award represented the best of our industry. In addition to Danny’s boat, motor and trailer, Chad Roberson, H20 Sports Manufacturing’s President, insisted on
throwing in a free bimini top and invited Danny Amador to pick his favorite custom color for the boat. Good things are worth waiting for. Special thanks to Top Notch Marine in Fort H2O Staff and Danny Amador shown at H2O Sports headquarters. Pierce, Fla. for their assistance in titling this boat to our Florida winner. Once again to Danny Amador: “Congratulations, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!”
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UNDER THE SEA
Center s LIONFISH: CAN’T BEAT ’EM? EAT ’EM! SHERI DAYE
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lthough beautiful to look at, the invasive lionfish poses a severe threat to Atlantic and Gulf waters. They are known for having spines that can sting if not handled properly, but the meat is perfectly safe and delicious to eat. In other words, they are venomous but not poisonous. Lionfish is becoming increasingly common on restaurant menus and is even available at Whole Foods grocery stores. Connoisseurs often compare the quality to hogfish – a fine, delicate white meat. The scientific community concluded that home aquarists are to blame. Much like the python in the Everglades, it only took a few released invasive individuals to begin the breeding cycle. Since they are a new and strange looking species, native fish are not consuming lionfish. Yet lionfish are consuming juvenile native species at an alarming rate. Adding to the problem, they also breed at an amazing rate. Females reach sexual maturity at six months and release up to 30,000 eggs every five days. They now cover the east coast of the U.S., the entire Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic side of Central and South America, and can be found between 2 and 1,000 feet deep. The most effective way of hunting them, by far, is spearfishing. Since they have no natural predators, they are not wary which makes them easy to spear. Just handle the spines with care and you will be rewarded with a delicious meal while helping the environment! Lionfish hunting tips: 1. First, you must find them! Unfortunately, they are everywhere—look on reefs, wrecks, sometimes out in the open and often in ledges and holes. 2. Handle them carefully and do not to let the fins puncture your skin. If stung on the hand, remove any rings right away. The best treatment is heat, which breaks down the venom. Heat packs or hot water collected from the boat exhaust can be used. 3. Use the specially designed pole spears (such as Neritic) and use lionfish containers (such as the Zookeeper), which are puncture-proof. These specialty items can be found on the LionfishHunting.com website or your local dive shop.
4. Once back on the boat/shore, place lionfish into cooler and continue to handle with care. The protein-based venom is broken down by heat but preserved by cold. 5. Lionfish can be filleted just like any other fish. See LionfishHunting.com for a good set of instructions with photos on how to fillet. 6. Lionfish can be prepared like any other white-meat fish. Many recipes can be found online. For an impressive presentation, they can even be cooked whole as cooking neutralizes the venom. P. S. The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo, which takes place April 2017 in Ft. Lauderdale, will have a Lionfish Pavilion featuring several exhibitors along with a cook-off event where several chefs will be showing off their best recipes and giving samples. Happy Hunting! Sheri Daye is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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WEST MICHIGAN Michigan Hard Water
REPORTS & EVENTS
Local Fishing Reports - Rivers - Hard Water Catch Photos
Spring Break Planning
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fall-run Jane landing a late tee River. nis Ma steelie on the Big
Shane with his first steelhead. He caught the fresh dime from the Grand River while out with Capt. Greg Knapp.
Jan is all smiles after landing a nice male steelhead on the Muskegon river with Capt. Jeff Bacon.
Joe lands a nice Ka lam River steelhead wh azoo ile with Capt. Stacy Ch out upailo.
For editorial comments, articles, photography, advertising, and all other inquiries please contact: The Angler Magazine West Michigan (616) 957-1714 • westmichigan@theanglermagazine.com • www.theanglermag.com/westmichigan
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Fish Tales Nathan displaying his Muskegoon River steelie.
Scott showing off his late season smallie from Portage Lake.
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inter is here, and so are the steelhead. Swinging with spey or switch rods is still an option, although the fish aren't willing to move as far as they did back in the fall to grab a fly. Heavier lines, smaller patterns, and a slower presentation are critical for success in the cold water. Swing this fly with a heavy sink tip through slow moving pools, and hopefully you'll provoke and entice a huge winter steelhead. They are big this year, and your best chances of landing a true giant is in the dead of winter since they don't fight nearly as aggressively. Focus your efforts in the late evenings when the water temps are the highest. See you out there.
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Rivers & Streams
Manistee River
REPORTS REPORTS & FORECASTS
& FORECASTS
Rivers & Streams
Manistee River Muskegon River Muskegon River C
older conditions have made their way into the Midwest, with snow accumulations making it look "a lot like winter”. Although water BY: L A R RY R A N E Y levels B Y : C A P T . J E F F B A C OandN temperatures have Y : C Guide A P TService . LARRY RANEY PremierBAngling dropped with the snow and B Y : J E F F B A C O N Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures colder weather patterns, fishing (231)Premier 477-5554Angling Guide Service Michigan Fly Fishing Ventures (616) 560-3195 is still good on the Muskegon (231) 510-5862 www.premieranglingguideservice.com River. The next month or so 616-560-3195 www.westmichiganflyfishing.com www.premieranglingguideservice.com should fish well for both steelwww.westmichiganflyfishing.com head and resident rainbow and brownshift trout.to warm retreats appy New Year! May it be s winter settles into West Michigan, thoughts Fishing rainbow a blessed one full of fishing to the south or post-holiday outdoor activities suchforasresident snow skiing, anuary brings thoughts and brown trout has beensnowmobiling, exceptional this fall and early winter. After the floods of looking last spring,atthe Muskegon River excursions. The Big Manistee ice fishing, and more. For those other activities of the first steelhead bewater levels and temperature aboveYear, averagefishing in flowsresident and sustained below average temperatures mostwith of the is fishing well. Our steelhead forstayed the New rainbow and brown trout,over along ing caught in the New Year summer and as a result, trout had a chance to fattenon up…and they did! ThRiver e huge issalmon runs#1!from fall allowed numbers have been good, the mighty steelhead the Muskegon choice Thethis Muskegon here and on the Manistee. This trout to pack on more weight in anticipation of the colder months ahead. they are all looking healthy.is When River in the Newaygo area is one of a select few rivers in the Midwest that a time of solitude on the This month will find the steelhead are during currentlywinter in the river systemand relocating different the river it comes to fishing steelhead in the don't freezethat over months offerstoaccess toparts goodof fishing river, sometimes you can go winter, it's all about the weather. January andcomfortably February.post up to feed and conserve energy. The resident brown and for a better "lies"— placesinwhere they can for days not seeing another They are there for the catch and water temperatures, the winterforsteelhead rainbow trout will find their With winter dropping lies as well and continue to strap on we the approach feedbag in preparation the colder boat orbut bank angler. It seems most years in good numbers mode, often offerings ofalready egg patterns, months. Lake run brown fishing trout are in nowstealth in the river system andfishing more arevery sure small to follow. Some have spawned; like your own private paraplaying the weather game to plan nymphs, others will do so in the weeks ahead. and bait, on light line and long rods. Regardless of whether it's diseLook most of the time. The a day can be the hard part. on flyoffishing or light spinstreamers tackle Both the fly fisher and light spin angler are catching steelhead using a variety techniques. Swinging can plan be theon deciding for warming trends in theweather area you fishing and try with to plan a day equipment, we patience can target both sinking or sink tip lines, on one and two handed fly rods are getting some fish to net, but and covering factor some days by day watching weather forecast the second or but third afterthe cold snaps, give and that warmer weather a day trout and steelhead on the same water is critical to the swing. Floating line+indicator rigs are good options as well when fishing pocket water or planning your fishing or two to settle in.day around warm ups, you can make setups. runs that don't require too long of a cast. Deeper water drift fishing, a.k.a. "chuck-n-duck", is best when fishing very it happen. Water live temperatures in thetypes winterofmonths Steelhead in different wateroninthethe winter months. Look Another annual occurrence long, deep runs and troughs where getting flies down and keeping them down is required. Those spey casting two Big 32 to 35indegrees on average. As an angler, youand more times than not forrange slowfrom currents the five-to-seven-foot range of significance to the fly fisher handed rods are doing so with 11-15' long, 8-9 weight rods, with heavy floating/Skagit lines andmidge sink tipshatches, from 10theytoare going beerent around some sortyear. of structure, is winter month have think a littletodiff this time of the With the logs, rocks, trees, etc. 15' long. Flies for swinging are wide open to one’s imagination and river which conditions. Big,bring gaudy rainbow streamers inand rich Their metabolism slows down, and they tend to get a little lethargic. The can water temperatures so low the fish tend to slow down and and vibrant colors are also getting looks by fi sh. Use both "chuck-n-duck" and fl oating line+indicator rods with 7-8 structure the current, so as they are not working so hard. There are a brown trout to the top for some get lethargic.slows You should do the same an angler. Look for weights, in with 9-10+' lengths, with 6-10# test line. Egg flies-beads, nymphs, andfun very dry small fly minnow patterns are#18-22 options handful of ways to fish for winter steelhead; you can bottom bounce fishing on slow woody runs and pools, slow current seams, and current for floating line rigs and chuck-n-duck. spinning but be ready to tie acan bunch dry flies, on 7 & 8x tippet, cast seams alongand deepfly cutgear banks. Places the steelhead get outof knots. Some guys back For the light tackle spin bouncing flies,asorwater bait is temperatures getting it done, asdrop, well asmidge float fishing troll plugs, and that can be effective also. of angler, lighterbottom fly rods. Thisbeads, occurs larvaof the main currents and not have to work so hard. floating fishing beads, flies, or bait under bobbers. Best setupsemerge, for bottom bouncing spinagear rigs on is 9-10' med action rods. Running a float on fly or spinning gear or my favorite centerpin mature and eventually offering trout "meal top." We fish these type of spots with floats. Whether it being is probably the most effective day in and day out. Float fishing enables you Many look for break weather a few outyou're and using! take Same flies can be used with spin gear anglers as fly gear….bugs areabugs, thein fishthe don't know what kinddays of setup with a floating line and fly rod, float rod and center pin reels, to adjust your depth so that you keep your bait over top of theAsstructure of look this for wonderful winter fishery for aofffew of water temperaturesadvantage drop, fish will slower moving water. Reducetothegetsizeout of your eringhours in slower or gear. Fishing oat ofand somehelps sort enables onspinning the bottom of thea flriver keep you youtoin the bite zone. fishing. Whether it'stest, on water theircolor/clarity own, walking into favorable fishing spot, movingFishing water. Line choices can range from 6-10# will help oneadecide. control depth your of offering to thesecurrents fish. a floatthe also letsand youspeed fish ofsome the slower that can’tLocations be fished or figoing outsteelhead with me Special" outing, it's a Croton great to seek out for shing fall andon lakemy run"Winter brown trout include half-day most all water from below Th e offerings for fly anglers should be an egg bottom bouncing or back trolling. Thepattern, types be of bait we use under our getaway very peaceful andbeen beautiful setting thetoMuskegon Dam, down to Muskegon,little but a bulk of the in lakearun brown activity has from Croton Damof down Newaygo. As itfloats trout bead yarn egg and a spawn, nymph ofjigs some sort.wax Hex's, rangeor from beads, and worms to various aquatic for resident trout, focus onRiver. the water from Croton Dam, down past the Thornapple Rd access site, down to Newaygo. Green Caddis, Pheasant Tailsare andall Buggers areyou my preferred nymph patterns. These things need to have in your It won't beyou long thoughts shift to our annual spring steelhead Troutarsenal numberstodrop off considerably once get before below Newaygo. patterns. Center and spinning gear junkies may want to help with yourpinsuccess on the river. run on the Muskegon River, which begins in early to mid-March based Winter fly fishing for trout with floating line and indicator rigs is producing some rocky mountain caliber fish thinkThe about spawn, wigglers get it is the time of the day. other thing thatorisjigs keyand in wax the worms wintertomonths on weather and goes well into May, often into ladder half of the month. and will be a great option for those looking to keep lines wet here and there throughout the winter months. The next No need to get out at first light, let things warm up a bit, 10am-2pm seems Shortly after, it's dry fly time as we cast our caddis, sulphur, BWO, gray done. month should fish well fordrake both steelhead and resident rainbowtoand brownrainbow trout. Some the largest troutinI’veMay seen to No be reason a good frame frominmy and isonychia patterns rising andof brown trout to time rush out first thing the experience. morning, sleepIfinyou are looking to learn in years have come to hand over the past few weeks. I will be targeting both during my half day, winter special trips. or want do cup something different and try your hand at float and June. and have antoextra of coffee. Most days thethis bite winter is best from Check my website for more trip detailsthe at www.westmichiganfl yfishing.com. fishing, giveto us WeRemember have enclosed, Enjoy wonderful winter activities that we have available here in late morning earlya shout. afternoon. think slowand andheated jet boats so don’t I hope Tight everyone had aWest great holiday seasonwe andare welcome 2014! fortunate to have such an array of things let the weather be a factor. Come on up and watch the floats drop. Michigan; truly very get out and enjoy one of Michigan's hidden winter activities, lines & high fives! to do during the winter months. winter steelheading here on the Big Manistee.
H
J
A
Guided River Fishing www.WestMichiganFishingGuide.com
CAPTAIN JEFF BACON Phone: 616-560-3195 Email: jrbacon@ameritech.net WEST MICHIGAN WEST4MICHIGAN 8
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Rivers & Streams
Upper Pere Marquette
REPORTS & FORECASTS
RoguePere RiverMarquette A
lthough I no longer live on a farm, I still read the Farmers’ Almanac and put faith in their forecasts. This year they seem to be dead on, as they predicted our winter to be a real one with colder temperatures and snow that seems to be B Y : J E F F H U BforB aAwhile. R D These conditions have caused B Y : G L E N R . B L A C K W O O D staying theGuide Rogue River to produce both shelf and anchor Outfitters North Service The Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company ice and in some sections completely freeze shut. (231) 898-6246 River anglers have a couple of choices, the obvi(616) 866-6060 www.outfittersnorth.com ous, go ice fishing, (you will never land a fish staywww.troutmoor.net ing home) or make the best of a tough scenario. I choose to make the best of what Mother Nature inter has has created. To make the best of these tough condiset in on tions one must look to maximize time on the water and fish in a productive fashion. We can do the Pere Marquette this by preparing our equipment. River. For most The winter constant issue folks gets that we face is cold air and water temperatures. How we deal with this limiting factor will determine our success. Looking at equipment first, most tackle designers old. Personally, dream someone is going to be using their rods and reels in sub 30 degree air Inever enjoy it. that I love temperatures. common issue anglers experience is reels and lines freezing, along with ice being on theA river buildup in guides. So how do we deal with this issue? To prevent freezing issues with reels, before this time of year. your next It's the winter timetrip,ofclean both your reel frame and spool completely. Remove any excess oil or year getboth, to fish greaseIfrom as well as any dirt. A little lubrication goes a long way with modern reels and for steelheadlubricant and will begin to solidify, causing a binding effect between your spool and any additional enjoy the toriver frame, leading freezing. Dirt and sand will trap moisture also causing premature freezing of with family and your angling day, bring your reels inside, remove the spool from the your reel. Upon finishing friends. reel frame and allow both to completely dry and warm. S t e e l issue h e athis d time of the year is ice buildup in guides. There is no good way to stop Another fishing this time this, but there are ways to negate it happening rapidly. Try placing fly floatant, cooking spray, or of year takes a lot of patience and many layers of fleece. Winter anglers Vaseline on yourfor guides negate rapid buildup. these stop it completely? No, but they must prepare thetoweather andicethe waterWill because temps drop quickly. will keep you in the game longer. Happiest of Holidays! If you're not warm, you're not comfortable you're miserable which makes
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your fishing experience not fun at all. I believe if you're dressed well in the winter you will have fun and fish well. Not prepared, well things fall apart quickly. This time of year fishing can be hard. The bite windows can be short. You find that steelhead will be much happier later into the day as water temps start to rise. Many fly fishing techniques work well when pursuing steelhead in the winter. Fishing nymphs and egg's under an indicator is probably the most effective. Fishing a slow drift this time of year is key. The fish are more lethargic when the river temps fall, so you need to get that fly to them. The indicator and floating line can work well for this. It will slow your drift down making the flies look real to the steelhead. The only draw back from this style of fishing is frozen guides and fingers. Stripping line in and recasting to me gets old when your gloves are wet, and your fingers are freezing. So even though indicator fishing is probably the most effective way to hook a steelhead on a fly in the winter, personally I prefer swinging streamer for them still. You will have to work a little harder for a fish when swinging a fly.
Kalamazoo River
BY: J E F F H U B B A R D
Outfitters North Guide Service
B Y: C A P T. S TA C Y C H U PA I LO
(231) 898-6246
River Hunter Charters
www.outfittersnorth.com
(616) 502-4657
H
appy Holidays to everyone! Winter sure hit early this year, with single digit temperatures in the evenings and teens during the day. The Pere Marquette River he bestandstretches fish starting to drop. We're starting to see shelf ice and temperature water level to are really have Dam down anchor ice been in somethe of the middle sections of the river system. to the M89 progresses Bridge. look We for have As winter steelhead fishing to slow down a bit. Instead of an allbeen catching fish day bite you willmost start toofgetour short windows of action throughout the day, usually in the onaftspawn Because ernoon asand waterplugs. temperatures start to warm. Nymphs will also start to be a key fly to of the colder temperatures, we use this time of year. When the water temperatures really start to drop steelhead and have been either back bouncing resident trout are looking for whatever they can get as far as an easy meal. Hex Nymphs, spawn, or running bobbers Stone Flies and small Hares Ear's or Pheasant Tails can start to produce. Eggs will also with either spawn, beads, or workworms. well. Try small and Nukes in more natural colors. For Swinging Flies try wax AllClown haveEggsbeen more naturalwell colorsdepending too, with less on flash as the water clears. Sculpins in olive or brown can producing produce in the Check my site for some go-to patterns, www.outfittersnorth. what part of winter. the river weoutare com. Remember are not flies and are illegal in the Flies Only Water. fishing. Plugs trout are Beads producing find and fish throughout the whole river system. The fish are now starting to fish. You Hotcan n tots flat fish are doing most of the use their winter runscatching. and pools. Look for fish in much slower deeper runs with wood Whentothe was structure hidewater them. You canhigh, find this type of water in any stretch of the Pere Marquette, the Magbecause Lipsof the were doing however weather; access will become more difficult until spring. Play it great. orange safe at Gold, the boat gold ramps and and while wading the river. Practice catch and release on wild Pere and grinch were Ifvery good.get to spawn, we don't get to hook any in the future. Marquette steelhead. they don't Also, withHappy the Holidays! water cooling off, we should start to see the walleye Goodnow luck and
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bite pick up too. Best baits are huskeys, jigs tipped with a minnow, or a jig tipped with plastics and a minnow. Guys will also dead rod minnows on the bottom. While that approach can produce fish at given times, jigging is ideal. Anglers are catching a lot of eater-sized fish. It isn't uncommon for guys to start seeing fish in that eight-to-ten-pound range. As far as January goes, we will just have to see what mother nature has in store. It appears that ice fishing season isn't too far off with the colder temps in the future. Always be sure to have a partner along, and ice picks on hand when hitting the hard water this season. Be safe, and good luck fishing!
FLY of THE MONTH Beaddazzled Stone
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BY PHIL CUSEY
Materials
his is a great winter stone fly FLY NAME: "Beadazzled Stone" imitation! The rubber leg tail provides greater movement HOOK: Tiemco 2457 - Sz.12- 8 in the water. Using beads for the THREAD: Uni 6/0 Black body gives a wonderful segmented TAIL: Round rubber - Black - Small profile and the dubbed head traps BODY: Spirit River glass bead - Iridescent Plum air and hence releases "bubbles" HEAD: UV Dubbing- Peacock when fished. Be sure and adjust size; smaller for trout and larger Michigan West for steelhead. Enjoy the solitude of winter fishing! www.facebook.com/theanglermagazinewestmichigan When Phil Cusey isn't guiding, he can be reached at streamertwo@sbcglobal.net. JANUARY 2014 367_WM_16.indd 5
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REPORTS & FORECASTS
Grand River BY: G R E G K N A P P Getting Bit Guide Service 616-570-2946
www.gettingbitguideservice.com
FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES PHIL BELSITO
Dear Readers, The Angler Magazine that you are reading is part of a franchise publishing system that spans the Northeast, the Southeast, Florida, the Gulf and even Costa Rica and the Bahamas. In total, we have 40 franchise locations. This Western Michigan edition that you are reading is one of those locations and I am its publisher. The Angler Magazine is looking to grow its Great Lakes presence in 2017 and we are offering franchise locations in: • Milwaukee, WI • Detroit, MI • Cleveland, OH • Rochester, NY If you love the outdoors and think you would enjoy running your own business, I would like to encourage you to check out our franchise opportunities by contacting our Corporate Office at 888-800-9794 or email info@coastalanglermagazine.com. You’ll be glad you did. I know I’m glad I did.
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Sincerely,
ishing can be hot on the Grand River in January; that is as long as we do not get a deep freeze. Look for the steelhead to be sitting in the slower deeper runs throughout the river if it stays ice-free. Slowing down your presentation is key to finding steelhead. They are not going to chase down your presentation as they would when the water is on the warmer side. If you are throwing hardware or plugs, try working them slower and right down near the bottom. Most winter steelhead will not chase down a lure during the dead of winter so put it right in their face. Float fishing jigs and waxworms work well during the winter months. Twitching your rod tip here and there can trigger strikes when dead drifting them is not working. If a majority of the typical fishing areas are frozen, try below the Dams such as 6th Street or Webber to find open water. The walls of downtown Grand Rapids are popular areas to fish for winter steelhead. The post office wall and the quarry hole wall are good spots. If you are going to boat or wade the Grand River in the winter, use extreme caution. You can have ice flows or good-sized pieces of shelf ice coming down the river. The bayous of the Grand River can be great ice fishing for a variety of species, try Sterns or Millhouse for gills and specs. Use caution when fishing the bayous. It is always a good idea to use a spud to make sure the ice is safe.
Phil Belsito Co-Publisher West Michigan Edition of The Angler Magazine 616-957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com
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Inland Lakes
REPORTS & FORECASTS
Northwest Area
PRIMARY FEEDING TIMES January 2017
B Y: C A P T. B E N W O L F E Sport Fish Michigan (877) 442-4294
Jan 5 First Quarter
Phases:
www.sportfishmichigan.com
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anuary in northern Michigan is an excellent time to take advantage of many different angling opportunities. For those who want to get out on the ice, this is a great time to venture out on smaller bodies of water that have just formed safe fishable ice. Another January option is hitting the river for trout and steelhead. Both options will provide anglers with active fish and lower levels of angler competition due to the time of year. First ice conditions can be an excellent time to encounter active panfish, perch, walleye, and pike. Panfish love the shallower weed flats this time of year. Fishing on top of and adjacent to small depth changes and structure can be very effective. Size 12 teardrops tipped with spikes accompanied by 2-4 lb. fluorocarbon can be most effective. While targeting panfish in the shallows, anglers can go after cruising pike on the edges of weed beds and close to adjacent drop offs. Tip-ups with sucker minnows provide a great bonus option while searching for panfish. Presenting your sucker minnow right above and slightly into standing weeds can produce nice pike this time of year. Walleye can be found cruising the drop offs at daybreak and dusk. Depending on the lake, most active depths will range from 15-25ft. Jigging Rapalas, Buckshot Spoons, and smaller jig heads tipped with a minnow can be a good rod and reel option at this depth range. Anglers fishing tip-ups in this same zone will have great success as well. Big Blue minnows and Greys on a size twelve treble weighted by a ¼ ounce egg sinker will work for most tip-up rigging. When jigging this depth range, good electronics are critical for finding active fish and interpreting the type of jigging cadence that is most desired for that specific day. Both pike and walleye often inspect offerings for quite a while before striking. January steelhead fishing can be an absolute riot! If you can get past the cold fingers and frozen rod guides, this is great time to pursue lowpressured fish and not encounter a large number of anglers. The active fish can be found in deeper slower sections of the river mostly keying in on the tail outs of runs and holes. Anglers presenting spawn and beads under floats will have great success. For those who prefer to tackle these hungry fish on the fly, intruder, egg, and leech patterns will produce fish when presented at the right depth. We at Sport Fish Michigan would like to caution all anglers fishing first ice, to please use good judgment when venturing out and always fish with a friend. Ice doesn’t always freeze uniformly, and weak spots can be common during this first ice period. Good luck, tight lines and we hope to see you on the water this January!
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S
an 28 w Moon
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GREAT RATES, GREAT LOCATION!
THE LOG LODGE
Tustin, Michigan Hey Anglers! This custom built vacation rental is just a few miles from the Pine River and the Manistee River. It’s the perfect cabin for your trout opener or spring steelhead run.
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10 WEST MICHIGAN
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Crystal & Platte Lakes Benzie’s Fall and Winter Gems BY: J O H N B E R G S MA
I
f you are looking to get in on some spectacular fishing, I know what your all thinking. Benzie County is all about Frankfort and the great salmon, steelhead, and lake trout fishing! And you are right, but we are in the fall and quickly headed towards winter, and I want everyone to know that some of Benzie County’s BEST fishing starts now. So sit back and read about two of my favorite destinations. Crystal Lake is an absolutely beautiful and scenic lake; it’s also about as diverse and interesting fishery as I have ever experienced. Let’s start with the king of fish in Crystal, the mighty smallmouth bass. The fishing in the fall
not only produces numbers but also size. Every year many six pound plus fish are caught and released on this prolific smallmouth lake. The presentations for these monsters is not hard so listen up. I almost always have the following arsenal of baits in my boat and rigged up for fall bass fishing: Tubes, drop shots, blade baits, jerk baits and even an A-rig. The choices for me are based on where the fish are holding. Fish at this time of year often mimic the spring progression and using a methodical approach works well. I start
in the mornings in and around shallow breaks, these can be weed breaks or transition breaks or depth breaks. Working these areas with a tube or Jerk bait to locate fish is a very way to work through the water. The guy in the bow can work the aggressive presentation while the back of the boat can slow it down. This is also a great way to judge the mood of the fish. If you encounter fish in the deeper edges or at the bottom of the breaks, then the drop shot or blade bait becomes the deadly weapon of choice. These two very different baits offer that same ability for you to figure out what the fish want. The drop shot as you know is a slow presentation with sometimes nothing more than a shiver-twitch needed for the soft “dead weight” bites that are so common to this presentation. The blade bait, on the other hand, is possibly one of the least used but deadliest cold water presentations. Whether cast or jigged this bait produces huge results and usually gets better the colder it gets. Crystal also offers some of the most unusual fall fishing in the northern Michigan area. Coho, lake trout and rainbows all call Crystal home, and this bite really gets going in the fall. Try shore casting from the beach in the town of Beulah for these tasty fish. A medium light spinning rod and spawn bags are the bait of choice; a pair of waders is helpful in landing fish. Ice fishing for lake trout is a very popular activity. The presentation is as simple as setting up a spread of tip-ups usually tipped with smelt. The more in your group, the better your chances! Perch are also available in numbers during the fall as well as through the ice. No secrets here just straight down with perch rigs and minnows or fresh shrimp for me, that’s right very small fresh shrimp can be the ticket to loads of big jumbos. I down size during ice fishing but almost always have the shrimp along. If you perch fish with minnows, be prepared for the random burbot that are ever present in Crystal. They are ugly but the back meat poached in salted water and then dipped in butter can be as close to lobster as anything else I’ve ever tried. Platte Lake is not as well-known as Crystal but is every bit the fish producer. I love this lake and so will you if just catching fish is high on your list. The fishery is world class when it comes to fall smallmouth and rock bass. That’s right rock bass. The small mouth and largemouth are very
abundant, and if you read the first segment, then you already know how to catch them. One tip for a spot is the site of the old milling operation. There is a bunch of wood in and around this area, and the bass seem to hang there in greater numbers. The river mouth is also another super spot for numbers of all species. The rock bass fishing on this lake is completely off the hook. Listen I know what you’re thinking but just try this. A light action rod with light line and the small 4” Ocho worm by Strike King. They can’t leave it alone, and they will tear up your stuff. 12” rockies are common place, and they can fill your day up with catching like you have not experienced before. The perch and bluegill fishing is also very good, as is the northern pike fishing. Spinner baits along the weed edges and break lines is deadly
for nice northerns. I like white spinner baits with gold blades and little chartreuse never hurts anything This is a river system lake so there are so many species of fish in the lake that I could just keep going, but you get the idea. This is a great lake to just “catch stuff.” So next time you feel the itch to just hook up the boat and go fish somewhere. Benzie County and these two gems are a sure bet for a great time. The town of Frankfort is always there for great food and fun, and Crystal Mountain Resort is just a stone’s throw away. John Bergsma is the host of Great Lakes Fisherman’s Digest television show and is honored to bring you these monthly “Destination Features” Check out his website: www.fishermansdigest.com for more destination information.
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HARD Water
REPORTS & FORECASTS
Ludington
Traverse City
B Y: C A P T. S E A N M C D O N A L D
BY: R U S S MA D D I N
Katch Me Charters
(231) 633-6464
(231) 510-2072
www.centurycircle.com
T
he weather finally made the turn, and it looks like most of the areas mid-sized lakes will have safe ice or close to it by January. Look for first ice pan fish in the 9' to 16' around remnant weeds or along drop-offs or in shallower lakes find the weeds, and you will find fish. The first-ice bite can be red hot for crappies and gills. Limits can be achieved in short order if the angler drills the right well. I love the plastics this time of year since the action is fast and it saves re-baiting. Some of the new products from Eurotackle, Berkeley, and BY-baits as well as others can all be tipped on your favorite jigs and can add size to your catch, and as a bonus, they also keep the bait thieves off. Early season, tip-up fishing can be great for pike and walleye. I recommend mixing baits both live and dead and vary the depths. 10'-20' areas off structure are great places to start on most lakes. First ice it's one of the greatest moments of the year. Taking that first step on hard-water and seeing that pan fish color push through the hole is something that we look forward to all year. Enjoy first ice, be a safe and courteous angler, and always "stay on top."
J
anuary is perch time in the Ludington area. We should be able to venture out on the harbors that connect to Lake Michigan in search of a true delicacy. Pentwater, Pere Marquette, Manistee, and Portage Lakes will all have perch for anglers to catch. We will have to go to each lake a few times and also check reports to see which one is producing the best fishing. At the beginning of winter, Perch normally seek out the deepest water they can find. I have caught them with baby alewives and small gobies still in their mouths when I took the hook out. Blue minnows will typically catch the biggest perch at this time of the year. By using larger minnows, it keeps your sorting of fish to a minimum. Slab Grabber or Gapen spoons will work well with just the red ball or bead and no bait at times. If there are herring in the area, a Haley jig with a waxworm or a couple of spikes will work well. Herring typically come in a school about 10 feet up from the bottom. Bring your jig above them and keep it moving. As you see them come up for it on your flasher, pull it up and away from them, and you are normally assured a strike. If you use a Haley, you are likely to catch a lot of smaller fish and have to sort more. Good luck this year in January and enjoy your time on the ice.
West Michigan Waterfront & Hunting Land Realtor
Hunting Muskegon, Pere Marquette, White, and Little Manistee Rivers plus many wonderful lakes
(231) 510-2072 View my listings at
Sean McDonald
12 WEST MICHIGAN
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Homewaters.net
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Grand Rapids Area BY: C H A S T H O M P S O N MI Ice Guys
(616) 953-0423
www.MIIceGuys.com
J
anuary rain/snow mix with nights in the teens should make hard ice. The lack of snow will help strengthen the ice away from Lake Michigan. Lake effect areas should use extra caution as the insulating effect and added weight might make things dangerous. Remember where you found the weed beds in late fall will still be the oxygen rich locations that provide food sources for the panfish around Grand Rapids. December afforded us a few more days in the boat to do some research fishing around the mouths of creeks and the deep side of weed beds. We found that the panfish continued to bite on the cold fall tactics. Just for the fun of it, we started using the new ice jigs under slip bobbers, to do a little distance jigging. Reading the side scan instead of the flasher took a bit of adjustment, but we got it. Move carefully as you venture out and start jigging the new tackle Santa brought. You can expect to entice the gills in a bit more since they have been feeding in the oxygen rich open water. We are hoping it will translate to some larger fish this year. I plan to target the shallow flats on the protected sides of some of our smaller lakes. Some tight bays and open water off of points and corners may yield the crappie before they go suspended mid month. The forecasts for January should have ice suitable for tip ups soon. I plan to place them along the edges of the weed beds that yielded early ice catches. Some even out over the shallow sides to take advantage of the natural patrol of predatory fish. Use your flasher to find any dips or cuts in the bottom. A camera can really make the difference finding a feeding school. Use any nose weighted pike decoy to fool perch into believing there is feeding in an area. Simply bang it on the bottom every few minutes in a secondary hole. Disturbing the bottom not only fills the water column with debris for perch to munch on but also simulates a school working the bottom. Wishing you a safe New Year of fishing and those wonderful meals of fresh caught Michigan bounty, please remember to observe limits and rules. Be a Great Michigan Sportsman and take a kid fishing! As always, share your ice report on MiIceGuys.com.
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WEST MICHIGAN 13
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The Dead of Winter's Lifeless Approach BY: MA R K MA RT I N
The ice will soon be at it’s thickest of the year. To boot, layers of snow have been covering the frozen façade for quite some time now. How cold and dark that water must be. And it will only get more so… But this is the very condition fish of all species have been living in for quite some time now in the Ice Belt region. Not only are these cold-blooded creatures below the solidified surface having a difficult time swimming because of stiff muscles from living in bone-chilling temperatures (literally), but they are having a difficult time breathing, as well. The latter is due to the majority of weeds that were once producing life-giving oxygen are now dying off in the ever darkening environment. Instead, the decaying vegetation is now producing a noxious gas. In short: This is not a good time of year to be a fish living in the Midwest. But even though times are tough for fish that live under the ice, they still go about their business of foraging for food. Just a little slower, that’s all. And if you want to catch these fish in the dead of winter, you must often use tactics that don’t have much action to them. I like to call it the “lifeless approach”. MOVE SOONER THAN LATER In general, it’s not that fish are unwilling to move much this time of year; it’s more they physically can’t. Even if forage is nearby, the laws of living over dying dictate they cannot expend more energy to eat than they will get out of whatever it is they are eating. Thus I like to move around a lot this time of year until I find fish under me rather than wait for them to swim by. My Lowrance Hook-5 Ice Machine, when coupled with an SD card filled with detailed maps 14 WEST MICHIGAN
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from Navionics, is one of my most important assets on ice. By utilizing the GPS portion of the product, I can drive my quad or snowmobile— Clam ice shanty and gear in tow—directly to areas where I think the best bite will occur. And then I drill holes directly over breaklines and other structures the Navionics mapping has shown is below me. I drill as many holes as I am able the moment I get to the spot. This way I make all my commotion on the ice all at once and allows the environment of the lake to settle down before I ever drop a line. Boring holes is simple when I use my StrikeMaster Honda 35cc Lite power auger. This auger is light in weight (the 8-inch model weighing in at only 23 pounds) yet is powerful with its 35cc 4-Stroke OHC Engine. And its Signature StrikeMaster Steel DrillTwin Serrated Stainless Steel Lazer Blades literally do all the work for you when punching holes. Once all my holes have been made, I’ll walk around and place the transducer of the Hook-5 Ice Machine in each one and watch the screen. And when I spy fish on the screen of the Lowrance, I’ll deploy the camera of my MarCum Underwater Viewing System so I can see firsthand what species they are. Once I determine the fish are my target species, I’ll immediately set up my Clam X200 Thermal 2-Man shelter and drill all the other holes that will be within its insulate walls. And I usually drill three holes for myself: One to jig from, one for my sonar’s transducer and one for one of the lifeless tactics I will be using. “LIFELESS” TACTIC NUMBER ONE Before getting in my shanty to fish, I’ll set up a tip-up or two - the quantity depending on the laws governed by the state I am in. And I make
sure to place them where I can see then through the windows of the shanty. Tip-ups are a great tool of the “lifeless” fishing trade, because of the “set ‘em and forget ‘em” way they are fished. But even though I call them a lifeless technique, I still want to use only the liveliest of live bait when using them. This is why I keep my minnows in a foam-lined Frabill minnow bucket, and keep them well-oxygenated by using a battery-operated Rapala aerator. The rig I use the majority of the time when using tip-ups is a tiny ball-bearing swivel tied to the main line, with a two-foot section of fluorocarbon line as a leader when fishing for panfish or walleye. To the tip of the leader, I tie on a Daiichi Bleeding Bait (red) treble hook - the size depending on the species. This may range from size 10 to 8. If pike are my target species, I’ll beef the fluorocarbon leader, up to 30-pound-test, to nip bite offs in the bud, and use a larger Daiichi hooks up to size 2, depending on the size of the baitfish I’m using. Not until all the energetic minnows have been nipped just under their dorsal fins and set off towards bottom will I’ll then get inside my Clam, zip up the doors, open the vents and turn my heater on and get ready to fish. “LIFELESS” TACTIC NUMBER TWO While I’m jigging a Rapala Jigging Rap, Jigging Shad, Northland Live-Forage Fish-Fry Minnow Spoon or Macho Minnow from one hole, I’ll set a deadstick rig in another. What is deadsticking, you ask? It’s a “lifeless” tactic much like tip-up fishing. But instead of pulling the line in hand-over-hand like you do when bringing in a fish on a tip-up, you use a rod and reel with an extremely soft tip. If you don’t have a rod with ultra-limber rod tip, then slip bobbers are a great way to keep minnows up off bottom when deadsticking. Either method allows a fish to grab you offering and swim off without them feeling any tension in the line. Usually, once a line goes taut, the fish will drop the bait. When you get a hit while deadsticking, it’s best to let the fish swim off with it. Allow the bobber to completely disappear down the hole and under the ice before setting the hook. As for jigging out of the other hole from within the shanty, I feel the lure often attracts the attention of passing fish, but then they go for the lively minnow hooked up to the “lifeless” deadstick rig. It’s a winning combination that works wonders. FIND, SET, AND CATCH There seems to be a million-and-one tactics for catching fish through the ice. But in the dead of winter it’s sometimes best to use an approach that offers the fish the easiest meal. As soon as you get to your spot, drill your holes and then settle in. Deploy a tip-up or two and then deadstick from one within the comfort of your shanty. You’ll be surprised at the results when you try a lifeless approach during the dead of winter. Mark Martin is a touring walleye tournament angler and instructor with the Ice-Fishing Vacation/ School. Check out his website at markmartins.net for more information about Mark, the school and links to all the products listed in this article.
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TOURNAMENT & EVENTS
JANUARY 67TH TIP-UP TOWN USA HOUTON LAKE
January 20th – 21st, 2017 January 27th - 28th, 2017
FEBRUARY NORTH AMERICAN SNOW FESTIVAL CADILLAC February 2nd – 4th, 2017
The festivities are BACK downtown into the newly renovated Cadillac Commons space. Unique winter events: Snow drone racing, Silent Disco, Ferris Wheel & Hot Air Balloon, Family concerts and outdoor movie, fireworks, Winter Market, aerial snow art/community photo & much more.
HAMILIN HOOKERS ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT Coming early February 2017
MARCH List your tournament here!
PM EXPEDITIONS MONSTER PIKE TOURNAMENT Coming March 2017
Send your event details to westmichigan@theanglermagazine.com
Now Booking Winter Steelhead & Ice Fishing Trips 877-442-4294
Now Booking Winter Steelhead & Ice Fishing Trips 877-442-4294 16 WEST MICHIGAN
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER WINTERTIME CRAPPIE FISHING
BRANDON LESTER
E
very year as my bass tournament season comes to an end, I start thinking about crappie fishing. I like to take a break and let the competitive flames refuel a bit. When the calendar strikes November and water temperatures dip into the 50s in Tennessee, I take several days to go crappie fishing. These fish make really good table fare, they are also very fun to catch, especially the big ones like you find in winter. I am well aware of how good crappie fishing is in spring. But for the way I fish for them around home, fall and winter are when you can really fill the livewell.
It works the same way when fishing laydowns. I look for laydowns on vertical banks that have a good-sized trunk. If they have a big trunk, I know there is a good-sized treetop out in the water. If they are there, I will see them on my SideVision. Once you find fish, cast exactly where they are or just beyond them, not 3 feet to the left or right. If you miss a crappie’s strike zone by 6 inches, you’ve missed it by a mile. Make the cast, count your bait down to the desired depth and reel just fast enough to maintain that depth. No jigging, nothing fancy, just a
Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year, at it’s not hard to catch them if you know what to look for. Crappie always hang around cover of some type. The two key pieces of structure on my home water are boat docks and laydowns. There are a few docks that seem to always hold fish, but I like to hunt for them with my Raymarine electronics. I turn on SideVision mode and start searching. Crappie will be in big schools, and I might go down a line of 50 docks with only one dock holding the mother lode. To see how big they are and to make sure they are crappie, I will put an Aqua Vu camera down there and check them out. Most of the docks I fish are floating, and the magical depth is normally at least 20 feet of water under the dock. The crappie will normally be suspended under these docks anywhere from 8 to 15 feet down, depending on the water clarity.
slow reel. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-ounce ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16-ounce if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. Any soft plastic minnow imitation in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. Stay away from twist-tail grubs for this method because they cause your bait to rise too much. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6-foot-long, super-sensitive and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps me detect light strikes. These tips will help you all the way up until crappie start moving shallow to spawn. These fish are fat and healthy this time of year. So get out and have some fun this winter.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly
at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth. There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point. Second, the fruit just taste
better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature. Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together. Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com
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N
estled in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Jackson County is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail and its centerpiece, the Tuckasegee River, which dissects the county as it flows north to Fontana Lake. The “Tuck,” as it is known to the locals, is a beautiful tailwater trout fishery used for the 2011 USA Fly Fishing Championships, in which the Gold Medal was won by Team USA member Logan Egan. The most popular time to fish the Tuck is during the delayed harvest (DH) fishing season from Oct. 1 to the first Friday in June each year. During this time frame, the Tuck is a catchand-release fishery with artificial-lure, single-hook restrictions. This stretch of specially regulated water runs about 5.5 miles outside the small towns of Dillsboro, Sylva and Cullowhee. The boundaries of the DH are marked by signage on the banks. These regulations appeal to fly fishers and spin fishers alike. You will not only see anglers stripping streamers, drifting nymphs, and casting dries, but you will see a fair number of spinner fishermen taking good numbers of brook, rainbow and brown trout. Jackson County receives an annual stocking of 92,800 trout, the most in the state of North Carolina. In October and November 2016, the Tuck DH section was stocked with 19,600 trout. Rainbow and brook trout made up about 80 percent of this number, and the other 20 percent were brown trout. Normally, trout reach 12 inches in length before making it into the Tuck, but anglers should expect to see, and potentially land, some trophy-sized trout on any drift or presentation. Many anglers wade the river, and drift boats are also popular. Stream flow is controlled by Duke Energy, which posts three days of release schedules on their website, www.duke-energy. com under the Nantahala link. Duke Energy has also provided boat ramps on Old Cullowhee Road and North River Road that many drifters use while floating the Tuck. South River Road is a popular area for anglers and guides due to the number of pull-offs that parallel the river and make accessing the river easy. Access to the Tuckasegee is great compared to some other rivers in the area, but there is some posted private property. Be sure to avoid it. The Tuck is also part of the North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout Waters program, which allows anglers to fish with a special three-day license that costs only $5. Many anglers opt to purchase a regular fishing license with a trout stamp since the fee is fair and it gives access to almost all the state’s trout waters. A non-resident can purchase a 10-day fishing license and trout stamp for $33 or an annual fishing license and trout stamp for $51. The Tuck DH runs very close to downtown Sylva, yet its beauty catches most first-time anglers off guard.
In fall, the red, yellow and orange leaves dancing on the trees highlight the contours of the surrounding mountains. A bald eagle might closely judge your fishing skills, watching for its opportunity to show you how it’s done. Winter brings cleansing and the occasional snowfall, in which many local anglers find solitude chasing trout on tiny midges. Winter fishing pressure is minimal, which makes it a great time to land a large trout if you’re willing to test your mental toughness wading in cold water. Spring comes to life with budding trees and insects hatching, signaling the coming summer. Anglers spend late evenings on the Tuck sight casting to rising trout honed in on larger dry flies and emerger patterns. Spring evenings can be very peaceful, since most anglers have broken down their rods by 6 p.m. and are headed to the local brewery or one of the many unique restaurants or food trailers in downtown Sylva or Dillsboro. There is a list of local restaurants and breweries at www.mountainlovers.com, or just ask local fly shop employees for their recommendation. In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly proclaimed Jackson County the Official Trout Capital of North Carolina. Jackson County is home to 4,600 miles of trout streams with a good mixture of hatchery supported streams and wild streams. Check out www.NCTroutcapital.com for more information. Jackson County was also the first to have an officially designated Fly Fishing Trail, which highlights 15 different streams and rivers for any angler to test their skills. Many have taken the challenge of catching and releasing trout or smallmouth bass in each location. There is a map that gives detailed information about each stream, directions, and the type of fish anglers can expect to catch. More information is available at www. flyfishingtrail.com. If you are looking for a fishery with plenty of trout and the opportunity to catch a 25-incher, the Tuck is for you. It is relatively close to Atlanta, Knoxville, Charleston and Charlotte. The Tuck is just an hour west of Asheville, N.C., and it is at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. This makes for a nice and easy weekend retreat, or it can be a popular destination for longer stays due to accessibility and other local attractions. Come and experience North Carolina trout fishing at its best! Shannon Messer owns Appalachian Flies and manages and guides at Blackrock Outdoors Orvis Authorized Fly Shop at 570 West Main Street, Sylva NC 28779. Contact him at 828-6314453 or appalachianflies@gmail.com.
North Carolina’s Tuckasegee River, A Southern Gem By Shannon Messer
For more fishin’ on the North Carolina Tuckasegee River, go to
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FISH & FISHING
A DIFFERENT APPROACH MARK SOSIN
I
t’s commonplace today, but more than a halfcentury ago few anglers even thought about it. The late Dr. Webster Robinson wanted to catch either a sailfish or striped marlin on a fly rod while casting from a boat that was out of gear so that the fly was not being trolled. Working with his skipper, Capt. Lefty Reagan, these angling legends fathered the concept of teasing a fish. They reasoned that if they could raise a billfish on a hookless bait, capture its total attention by keeping the tasty morsel just out of reach, work the fish within casting range and substitute a different offering at the last minute, the mission would be successful. I knew both men well and listened intently as Web Robinson described the process to me in detail. He even gave me a copy of the fly he used. Teasing ranks as an extremely effective technique for countless species in a variety of situations. Working on sailfish or marlin on the offshore grounds is just one phase. Sometimes known as bait-andswitch, it’s nothing more than using a live bait, dead bait or a certain artificial to excite a fish enough so it will eat the lure or bait you want it to devour on the tackle of your choice. Very light tackle enthusiasts often tease their quarry into striking so that the line doesn’t break on the initial contact. I’ve teased countless species from sharks, albacore and tuna to striped bass, redfish, barracuda, amberjack, snook and many more. Let me share a couple examples to show you how effective teasing can be. Using a spinning outfit, I rigged a plastic worm exactly the same way as I would for largemouth bass. Pacific sailfish normally don’t include plastic worms as part of their diet. We teased one with a bonito belly and, once the boat was out of gear, I cast the worm. My partner yanked the teaser out of the water and the fish inhaled a plastic worm faster than you can read this.
I met a man who showed me beautiful flies for offshore species. When I told him I could catch a sailfish on a cigar just as easily as with one of his flies, he laughed at me. We were shooting a television show in Panama, and late in the day Capt. Karl Anderson asked if I had a cigar. He rigged it with a leader and hook, attached it to a flyrod and waited for a sailfish to show in the trolled teasers. We stopped the boat, Karl yanked the teaser away from the fish, and I cast the cigar. Within seconds, the sailfish crashed the cigar, went airborne, and all you could see was tobacco showering through the air. As Karl put it, that’s no longer theory. Teasing fish opens a broad new dimension to the sport. As an angler, it allows you to hook fish on all types of tackle using any bait or lure you choose including cigars and plastic worms. Try it and you’ll become hooked on the technique just as I am.
For More Mark Sosin Visit
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FLY FISHING
CASTING FOR REDFISH: BEYOND THE DOUBLE HAUL
I
t is well-known that the double haul and the back cast are essential for fly fishing for redfish. Here are three more casts I believe are very important when targeting winter reds with a fly. Fly Repositioning Cast This cast is wonderful when you need to recast a fly to a redfish that refused it or when you missed your target. It works best when 20 or more feet of line are outside the tip-top. It is essential to the success of this cast to not rush picking the fly line up off the water. The key is to load for the back cast by beginning with the rod tip close to the water and slowly lifting the line off the water. Then wait to feel the rod load on the back cast. Once you feel the rod load, make a forward cast, allowing the fly to hit the mark. I’ve witnessed far too many fishermen rush to recast, and in doing so, miss their target on the second cast. The Quick-Cast For The Short Game When sight casting, you will need to execute some short, quick accurate casts. The short cast is one of the most difficult casts to make because a fly rod made for short casting has yet to be built. When red fishing, unless I know I’ll be making long casts, I keep roughly 40 feet of fly line stripped into a line management basket (a bucket if fishing from a skiff) and 20 feet of line outside the fly rod’s tip-top. The first 15 feet of the belly section of the line will easily load the fly rod with minimal false casting. Place the fly between the index finger and thumb of the hand not holding the rod. If a redfish is spotted at close range, make a back cast while at the same time releasing the fly from your hand and cast to the redfish.
Master The Cross-Wind Cast The wind blows where redfish live. The most difficult winds to a fly flinger are the cross-wind and the following-wind. Both are guaranteed to give the angler fits. The best cast for these challenging situations is the Belgian cast, a very quick cast that when executed correctly presents the fly under challenging conditions. The key is to make an extended side-armed back cast, followed by a high extended-arm overhead cast that will provide the angler distance when working in a big wind. A word of caution: The side cast may produce the painful problem of a fly imbedded in the angler if the wind is blowing toward the casting arm. Put It To The Test When targeting winter redfish, the fly angler will be presented with many different casting situations depending on weather conditions. It’s important to understand and execute each of the casting techniques discussed. Once mastered, a trophy redfish is only a cast away! Conway Bowman caught this 41.65-pound IGFA fly-caught world record redfish out of Hopedale, La.
For More Fly Fishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
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FISHING AND DIVING
The Maldives
By Capt. Terry Fisher
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t had been 20 years since I had boarded a followed by fishing. The Maldivian government live-a-board to fish and dive. My friend, Capt. is famous for it’s eco-friendly approach and Wayne Hasson, president of Aggressor and serious application to fish conservation. The Dancer Fleets, invited me to accompany him to government’s prohibition of net and long-line the Maldives for a world-class fishing and diving fishing for commercial purposes has sustained the expedition. Over the years, Wayne and I have abundance of fisheries. Commercial fishermen use fished and dived many exotic locations, including line and pole, preventing by-catch of species other waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific than their main target, which is tuna. Sport fishing, and Atlantic. This was my first visit to the Indian therefore, has thrived. Among the game fish found Ocean. are giant trevally, barracuda, wahoo, dorado, A three-leg flight from Miami through New yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin. Bonefish and York and Dubai landed us in Male, the small, permit inhabit the flats. bustling capital of the Maldives. Upon arrival, There are many charter fishing operations Wayne and I quickly cleared customs and were in the Maldives. I had numerous opportunities to assisted by a friendly and helpful crew of the be transported to beautiful sand beaches in the mother ship. We were transported aboard a ‘Dhoni’ middle of the Indian Ocean to fish for bonefish, (dinghy) by water, to lush accommodations aboard giant trevally, jack crevalle and other species. the Maldives Aggressor. This live-a-board vessel While sailing to new dive sites, we used a ‘Dohni’ boasts a full-service galley, huge salon, 10 guest to troll and catch tuna, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. state rooms and decks for relaxing, sunbathing, At night aboard the Maldives Aggressor, we dining under the stars or just getting away for bottom fished for grouper and snapper. some private time. This luxury yacht offered all Trolling, spinning, fly-fishing gear, including of the comforts and amenities of a five-star, land- lures and fly presentations are basically the same as based property with toilets, lavatory and shower we use in the states. Diving various locations and facilities to satisfy the most demanding guests. seeing up close the numerous species that I would This voyage, Dive with the Owners Week, fish for was an added and educational bonus. provided me the benefit of being surrounded Perfect water clarity offered a vast array of marine by a number of crew, divers and fishermen, life at every dive destination. representing more than 10 different countries. The Maldives is a nation of islands. It is also For information on this trip of a lifetime, visit the “Honeymoon Capital” of Europe and parts www.maldivesfishing.com or www.aggressorfleet. of Asia. Temperatures range from 77 to 86. There com. Contact Capt. Terry Fisher of Cape Coral, are 26 atolls with 1,190 islands. One island boasts Florida’s Fish Face Charters at fishfacecharters@ a rainforest. Only 209 of the islands are inhabited yahoo.com. with a total population For more fishing in the Maldives, go to of only 400,000. Tourism is the leading industry,
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ll tournament anglers want to win. The questions are: How bad do you want that win? How much are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to put on the line chasing the big win? The answers aren’t cut-and-dry or crystal clear. Most tournament anglers I know are perfectly content competing at the club and local level for beer money. But don’t underestimate the will of those guys either. I recently competed in a Deerpoint Team Trail event with Travis Poole in which a win would have been a few hundred dollars for us to split. It was low threat, low entry fee and big fun. You’d think that given the conditions that day, any sane man would’ve stayed at home. Approximately 4 inches of rain fell that day, the wind blew and lightning popped around our heads all day. Still, most guys that entered the event that morning brought their catch to the scales in the pouring rain hoping to claim the prize. The weather didn’t seem to dampen their desires one bit. They wanted it bad enough, at least they did that day. For the professional angler, the weather is just one of many elements they must fight to stay in the game. Family, sponsorship obligations, mechanical problems and financial burdens are just a few of the non-fishing issues that require an angler to do a gut-check nearly every day. All these things must be tended to before the angler can even set out to find fish for a coming event, and he’s usually a one-man crew. Some of the top touring anglers have support networks taking on some of this for them, but rest assured, they didn’t get there with them. Stories from many of the top pros sound the same, tales about sleeping in the cab of their trucks for weeks on end, dining on peanut butter day after day, selling possessions off to fund the next event, and practicing in horrible weather because they only have two days to figure out unknown waters. If there was one thing I could define that separates the successful tournament angler from the others, it’s this: he wanted more. The guy in this picture is my friend Johnny Nguyen. He is a great example of what I just described. I can’t tell you how bad he wants it, but I can tell you he possesses at least one critical element for fishing success: the undeniable, unflappable, hard-core love for the sport. No tournament here, just him out fishing on a day he probably shouldn’t have been. But there he is, doing what he loves. Some get it, others never will. Randy Cnota is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine’s Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition.
For More fishing with Randy ‘C-Note’ Cnota, go to
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hose of us who live life outdoors know it’s not always sunny. It can get downright ugly, and many times the best bite of the year is on the leading edge of a nasty front. With good foul weather gear, wind and rain should never stand between anglers and feeding fish. Pelagic Gear, a company founded on and devoted to the ocean lifestyle, has developed a line of gear that guarantees anglers will stay happy and dry, no matter what Mother Nature sends rolling in. Pelagic’s Dri-Flex Lightweight Jacket is perfect to throw in the bag for those dewy mornings or windy evenings when there’s a slight chill. Pelagic’s DRI-FLEX fabric provides the comfort of a lightweight jacket while protecting you from the elements with water repellant technology. When it’s time to take protection from the elements up a notch, anglers shouldn’t get caught on the water without
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Pelagic’s Hurricane Jacket. For more than a decade, this 100-percent waterproof outerwear has been the choice of hardcore captains around the world. It was designed specifically for the harsh conditions of the marine environment with technical features that cater to the needs of anglers. With welded zipper technology, reflective hex-safety patches and a moisture-wicking liner, the Hurricane Jacket keeps anglers dry and shielded in bad weather. And then there are those times when you need protection all over. Pelagic’s Stormbreaker Foul Weather Jacket and Bib are a full barrier to the elements. The suit is made of a lightweight PVC that is 100-percent waterproof, yet comfortable to wear. Again, it was designed specifically for anglers, with a loose cut for optimal maneuverability and plenty of ventilation. This is also the perfect rain barrier for the traveling angler. It is lightweight and packs easily, so an angler never has to leave the docks without the full protection from harsh conditions. Good foul weather gear is essential to every angler. When it comes to selecting protection from the elements, it makes sense to choose gear designed specifically for fishing. Any outerwear will do if the mission is a stroll through the park. Pelagic Gear’s line protects anglers and keeps them fishing in the kind of brutal conditions only found on open water. To learn more about the Pelagic Lifestyle, go to
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FITEC CAST NETS Fitec International has been providing the very best cast nets available to anglers for over 50 years. They are the world’s largest manufacturer of cast nets and their products are in stock or online with all major retailers and distributors where cast nets are sold. The superior quality in their handmade nets gives anglers the fun and performance they deserve while out on the water. Hold a Fitec net next to a competitor and you will see there is no comparison. Fitec’s Super Spreader and Ultra Spreader cast nets are simply the best! Fitec offers four distinct categories to ensure you are able to get the net you need. The patented EZ throw cast net is designed with a disc feature that is perfect for the novice. The RS, or Recreational Series, is designed for shallow waters or for the person who wants a lighter net. The SS, or Sport Series, nets are designed with a 1-pound per radius foot weight system and are the No. 1 selling cast net in the country. Finally, the GS, or Guide Series, nets are designed for the serious angler, built with the highest quality standards and the fastest sink rate. Fitec values your business. They go to work every day with you, their customer, in mind. Their mission is to “bring innovative quality products to customers, with drive and passion every day.”
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Seeking to become the leading and most comprehensive manufacturer of all things diving and fishing, Hammerhead Spearguns has made another addition to its lineup of gear. They are proud to announce the launch of the Dentex NT, a utility glove so durable yet flexible it’s almost like having a second skin on the hands. The Dentex NT comes with an ANSI Cut Level 5 and Puncture Level 3 and is woven from Hammerhead’s signature red Dentex fabric, but now it has a Sandy Nitrile coating on the palm and fingers, giving it increased resistance to heat and chemicals, plus additional grip. The Dentex NT is also known to be extremely pliant, molding seamlessly into your hands, so no clumsy mitten-hands here. You can even pick up a penny while wearing them! The wide range of things you can do with the Dentex NT gloves is staggering. You can use them not just when you fish or handle tricky, spiny sea critters but also when doing repairs or squaring off with hazardous materials. Welding a piece of metal to fix your boat? Piece of cake! Filleting tuna? Sure thing! Changing lines and hooks? Say goodbye to line abrasions and getting pricked, stabbed, or poked on your fingers. Sharp tools and hot objects no longer pose a threat to your valuable hands.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ERGODOCK OFFERS IMPROVED RESILIENCE, AESTHETICS AND SAFETY
While many docks along the Florida coastline buckled to the force of Hurricane Matthew this fall, widespread reports from boaters and anglers indicated that docks utilizing ErgoDock technologies held up considerably better. With the damage and debris left in Matthew’s wake, the resilience of ErgoDock proved significant—not only because of its strength, but because of expected durability against future hurricanes that routinely batter the coast. The ErgoDock difference is its inherent structural augmentation. ErgoDock is designed to provide a matrix that evolves the dock into a single structural component instead of a succession of individual parts like most marine docks are constructed. Independent tests report that ErgoDock significantly outperforms all other dock options in comfort, safety and customization. ErgoDock’s unique texture, for example, enhances safety with a far more slip resistant material than wood or composite decking. The ErgoDock surface also is designed to allow more “give,” increasing comfort and safety by easing stress on ErgoDock owners’ feet, back and joints while also mitigating any potential injury from a fall. ErgoDock prevents deterioration, therefore reducing the need for maintenance. Its products adhere with an impervious membrane to seal all decking materials and are self-draining, to prevent UV or water degradation of existing decking or concrete surfaces. “Our purpose was to create a material that far outperforms all other dock options when it comes to safety, comfort, customization and longevity,” said Kent Weisenberg, founder and CEO of ErgoDock LLC. “There is nothing like it on the market. ErgoDock is a multi patent-pending marine surfacing system that is revolutionizing the dock design and repair industries.” Weisenberg, the sole named inventor on 28 U.S. and foreign patents, added, “We passionately pursue improving the world’s infrastructure with green technology. ErgoDock surfaces are made of sustainable materials that fight the depletion of our environment.” ErgoDock products can be used in various stages of a dock’s life whether for preservation, safety, aesthetics or for any combination of the three. Still want that traditional wood dock look? ErgoDock offers ErgoWood Decking, which is select-treated wood that is pre-dried and then encased in ErgoDock’s patented SafeTread material and prevents deterioration from sun and water while increasing a dock’s life by as much as 10 years over current decking materials. “Add it all up, and ErgoDock products represent a major leap forward in dock design and repair,” Weisenberg said. “We want people to know that there is another option out there–one that comes with ergonomic elegance and represents a resilient, safe and viable option that contractors will want to offer their customers.”
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT XTRATUF CAMO-LINED LEGACY BOOT Designed to keep fishermen sure-footed on the water, XTRATUF’s Camo-Lined Legacy Boot is the ideal boot for fishing in the elements. An interior camo lining and XTRATUF logo that are visible when the boot is rolled down adds a pop of color to XTRATUF’s classic performance boot. Not your typical rubber boot, the Legacy is triple-dipped to create a seamless coating of rubber that further strengthens an already watertight material, thus sealing the boots and making them impervious to fish oils and chemicals. The soft, pliable and lightweight neoprene latex rubber gives the Legacy boots unparalleled comfort and flexibility. The hand-laye r e d construction allows for flex and strength at critical stress points on the boot. A signature chevron outsole design and unique rubber compound provides maximum surface contact for ultimate traction and stability in even the most severe fishing and work conditions. These 100 percent waterproof boots will keep the warmth in and the cold out when the temperature drops.
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Customer Rating 69662 shown
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6" VARIABLE SPEED DUAL ACTION POLISHER Customer Rating ITEM 69924 shown 62403/62862
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How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices? We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 700+ Stores Nationwide. R PE ON SU UP CO
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ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952 • 580 lb. capacity
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RETRACTABLE AIR HOSE REEL R PE ON WITH 3/8" x 50 FT. HOSE SU UPCustomer Rating ITEM 93897 shown CO 69265/62344
$ $
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comp at
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ITEM 69252 68053/62160 62496/62516 60569 shown
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LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
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