Fishing
Page 6 IWANNA Hunting & Fishing Guide ~ Fall 2010
continued from page 5
TrouT Common Types: Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss The rainbow trout is a favorite among the vast majority of trout-fishing anglers due to its tasty pink flesh. Because they take flies as well as other baits and lures, rainbow trout are appealing to fly fisherman for both sport and cooking. Feeding on small insects, minnows, crustaceans, and worms, rainbow trout remain in streams until they reach 6 - 9”in length. They’ll then travel to lakes or oceans where they will bulk up, then return to the streams or rivers to spawn. Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis You can find brook trout in
cold, clear waters which don’t get above a chilly 68°. Its primary food source is small insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and other small fish. Among its cousins, brook trout is the easiest to catch. Brookies can be found in gravel-bottom streams with a moderate current, plenty of waterfalls, and ponds with ample rocks and cover. Be on the lookout for overhanging trees which offer shade, attract insects, and offer protection from preying birds. Duplicate their food source, and you will no doubt find that business is good! Brown Trout Salmo trutta The brown trout has been known to tolerate slightly warmer waters than brook trout. Brown trout are more aware of their surroundings it seems, as they are a bit more difficult to fish. Look for quiet water with lots of cover like
logs, under cuts in the bank, rock shelves, and overhanging trees. The larger they get, the more wary they’ll be, meaning you may have more luck when fishing at night when they come out to feed. prime spoTs in nC: Nolichucky River, North and South Toe River, Daniel Boone Refuge, Newberry Creek, Curtis Creek (Catawba River Watershed), Burnsville/Yancey County, Nantahala River prime spoTs in sC: Lake Jocassee, Eastatoe River (Easternmost edge of Jocassee Gorges area), Chattooga River, Thompson ERWIN WARRIORS River, Whitewater River
Walleye The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock, or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its white, tasty flesh. Fish for them in shallow to moderate depth waters. Walleye Stizostedion vitreum A toothy fish by nature, walleye tend to eat anything that lands in its mouth, and will eat anything from small fish to crustaceans to insects. They prefer the deeper, darker water’s safety and are the wary type. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, especially during summer’s hottest months.
with eight or nine vertical bands on its sides, and it prefers quiet backwaters. Since Spring brings spawning, fishing during that time will be more profitable. They love cover, so look for brush, stumps, or artificial cover. Use live bait, a crappie jig, or a small crappie lure (use baits that imitate minnows, insects, worms, or small crustaceans). The more aggressive the crappie are, the faster you can move the bait to cover more water. Crappie are very particular about where they spend their time — at dawn they may be close to the surface, but when the sun is in full swing, they’ll retreat to deeper water, 25 feet or more. They usually finish the day closer to the surface at dusk, then typically return to deeper water at night. Occasionally you’ll find them doing some feeding at night. prime nC spoTs: High Rock Lake, Lake Badin, Lake Tillery, Jordan Lake, Lake Waccamaw, most rivers and ponds prime sC spoTs: Upper tributaries of Lake Keowee (Cane Creek, Stamp Creek, Little River, and Crowe Creek), Lake Greenwood, Lake Wylie, Lake Wateree, Lake Murray
Bass
prime nC spoTs: Lake Chatuge, Lake Glenville, Lake James, Santeetlah Lake, and W Kerr Scott Reservoir
Notoriously agile and aggressive feeders, bass can chase down and catch most of their favorite foods. That being said, if it moves and will fit into their mouths, bass will eat it. They are most easily caught during a feeding spree but can be enticed into striking an angler’s bait for reasons other than hunger. Bass are very predatory and are known to strike anything that ventures into their territory.
prime sC spoTs: Russell Lake
Common Types:
Crappie A member of the sunfish family, crappie aren’t too crappy to catch, actually! They also have some of the best nicknames among its neighboring freshwater friends. Here are just a few: paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch, speckled perch. For crappie fishing...check out ponds, rivers, and small lakes. Common Types: Black Crappie Promoxis nigro-maculatus The black crappie is darker with seven or eight dorsal spines and it has spotted sides. The black crappie could be called a “Northern” fish, since it prefers larger, deeper impoundments. White Crappie Promoxis annularis A lighter version, the white crappie has six dorsal spines,
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides The largemouth bass has a mouth that opens wide enough to swallow its own head! It will attempt to eat virtually anything it can catch and swallow. Growing to well over 20 lbs., it is much bigger that its cousin, the smallmouth bass. Smaller bass tend to school then become loners as they get older. In the fall and winter, fish for them in the shallow waters in the mornings, then move deeper as the day wears on. In the spring and summer, try fishing in shallow to moderate depths. Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu While the smallmouth only grows to about half the size of the largemouth, it is much more agile and faster. It eats pretty much the same foods, just smaller specimens. Without argument, it is one of the finest
game fish an angler can pursue. The thrill of the frantic chase is indescribable. In fall and winter, smallmouth bass can be found in shallow water in the mornings and tend to move to deeper water in the evenings. For spring and summer, fish for them in shallow to mediumdepth waters. Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus Easily identified by the dominant spots along the lateral lines, they are found primarily in the Southeast. They prefer warmer water temperatures from 70 78°. They have a smaller mouth than the largemouth, so use lure sizes similar to smallmouth tackle. They feed on smaller fish as well as insects, crustaceans, and worms. Redeye Bass Micropterus coosae The redeye bass looks very much like a largemouth with a red eye and red coloration in the tail. (Careful not to mistake it for the shoal bass!) It prefers water temperatures a little cooler — from 65 - 70° — and is often found in cool streams and rivers. Catch the redeye with smaller bass baits and lighter tackle. If you prefer fly fishing, try for the redeye bass. Striped Bass Morone saxatilis In natural environments, striped bass live the majority of their lives in the ocean and migrate into freshwater rivers to spawn. Striped bass generally spend their time in the middle sections of the lake — in deeper water than most fish. When fishing for stripers, concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also attract striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Try trolling as well. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes. prime nC spoTs: Currituck Sound, Roanoke River, Roanoke Rapids Lake, Sutton Lake, Lake Waccamaw, Lake Gaston, Jordan Lake, Catawba Lakes, Lake Rhodhiss, Fontana Lake, Hiwassee Lake, Lake Glenville prime sC spoTs: Lake Hartwell, Lake Russell, Lake Thurmond, Lake Murray, Lake Wylie, Lake Chatuge, Lake Jocassee, Fishing Creek, Monticello Lake, Lake Wateree, Cooper River
Hunting
Page 9 WANNA Hunting & Fishing Guide ~ Fall 2010
Protect Yourself from Nature, or More Importantly...Ticks The very moment hunting season starts is a moment of joy for all hunters. However the likelihood of coming into contact with ticks is pretty high. It’s invevitable that hunters will come across a tick at one point or another, so it’s important to take the right precautions.
S
itting or lying for long periods of time on the ground, especially against trees, gives ticks the perfect opportunity to find their way on you. While tick bites create an itchy, irritated area on your skin, it’s usually gone within a few days. However, Lyme disease is a common threat and can be a serious situation if you fall victim to it. So what exactly does Lyme disease (LD) mean, and what does it do to you? What are the symptoms? Lyme disease is a multi-system bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdoferi (Bb). Spirochetes are found inside the bodies of wild animals and are transmitted from one animal to another through an infective tick bite. Our bodies are not immune to the disease, which unfortunately means that a person can be re-infected with the disease from repeated tick bites. Ticks have four life cycles: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Through molting, they go from one stage to another. Each of the last three“active” life stages requires a blood meal. Ticks that transmit Lyme disease can carry the infection throughout their lives and are able to transmit the infection to subsequent hosts. North American ticks which can trasmit the disease include the Western black-legged (Ixodes pacificus) tick in the West and the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) or “deer” tick (Ixodes “dammini”) in the rest of the country. Research is currently underway to determine if the lone star tick (Amblyomma
americanum) is capable of transmitting the disease as well. In the Northeast, ticks are at their peak from April to September. Out West, it’s from November to April. As for Southern states, ticks are pretty much active throughout the year, not to mention they’re resilient when it comes to survival — as long as moisture is available. With all these factors, infectionratestendtovarygeographically from one year to the next. There is good news, though! An infective tick must be attached for at least a day or more before transmission of Bb occurs, so it’s a good idea to check yourself often and know how to properly remove a tick to be completely safe from LD.
SympTomS of LD Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose, so monitor yourself closely. Here are some possible symptoms to keep in mind. • Symptoms of early local Lyme disease often resemble the flu, with feelings like headache, fatigue, stiff neck, fever, and muscle aches. • Many people may develop a rash — referred to as erythema migrans (EM) — as soon as a day after a bite or as much as a month after. On people with darker skin, this rash may resemble bruising. The rash usually starts as a small, reddish bump about one-half inch in diameter and is slightly raised or flat. It expands quickly, often leaving a normal color area in the center. It
can be the size of your thumb or can cover a person’s whole back! • Some of the more severe symptoms can include weakness or paralysis of limbs, loss of reflexes, tingling sensations of the extremities, difficulty chewing or swallowing, a change in smell and/or taste, chest pains, severe aches, irregular heart beats, and many more. • Be careful not to confuse a normal tick bite with symptoms of Lyme disease, as normal tick bites are more common than ones that carry Lyme disease. A small inflamed skin bump or discoloration that develops within hours of a bite or over the next day or two is not likely to be caused by an infection.
RemovIng a TIck According to the Lyme Disease Foundation, here is some advice on how to properly remove ticks: • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the tick. If you are outside and don’t have access to tweezers, use a leaf to protect you from the tick and any juices that come out of it. • Never smash the tick in between your fingers — the juices from the tick can still cause infection even without a bite! • When ticks are spotted quickly, they aren’t too difficult to remove. Pull slowly, and the tick will usually release its bite. If you pull too fast, the tick could lose its head, leaving it inside you, making you still at risk
“Be careful not to confuse a normal tick bite with symptoms of Lyme disease, as normal tick bites are more common than ones that carry Lyme disease.” for infection. • Don’t use petroleum jelly, matches, or nail polish to remove a tick — none of these “home remedies” actually work. • After removing, place the tick in a small, sealable bottle, and keep it until you are sure the bite isn’t going to show any severe symptoms. That way if symptoms do occur, you’ll have your evidence readily available for doctors to test. • Always call your doctor if you have any concerns or if symptoms appear to be more serious than a normal tick bite. • Always pay careful attention to your entire body when coming in from the outdoors. Ticks like to attach themselves in areas where they won’t be rubbed by clothing, but they can be found virtually anywhere. Use a mirror to check hardto-reach areas.
• Check yourself and small children closely, and not just once! The slight red area tick bites create may be easier to detect the following day, so always check multiple times. Be sure to check the head and hairline carefully as well. Avoiding ticks doesn’t have to mean avoiding the outdoors altogether. Nowadays we have access to pretty reliable options that can prevent tick bites — insect repellent being one of them. Spray your pant legs, socks, and clothing with an insect repellent that specifically lists ticks on its label. Duranon Tick Repellent is an excellent choice. This product is designed for use on clothing, and not on skin. Make sure you read the instructions well before use.
Hunting - North Carolina
Page 20 IWANNA Hunting & Fishing Guide ~ Fall 2010
continued from page 19
BEAR WESTERN REGION: 8- Pisgah National Forest:
10- Mitchell River Game Lands:
• Top place to hunt for bears • Permit only — hunters can apply for sanctuary bear hunt permits
• 505,217 acres EASTERN REGION: • Good bear population • Downfall is that many bears are 11- Croatan National in areas around Asheville and the Forest: watershed, where hunters aren’t al- • 160,724 acres — the East’s largest lowed. game land • Dog and still hunting allowed • Heavy bear hunting
9- Nantahala National Forest:
• 528,782 acres • Great bear population • Dog and still hunting allowed
12- Van Swamp Game Land:
• 5,482 acres • Still and dog hunting allowed
•Some herbicide treatment was done to create bear browse
13- Dare Game Lands:
• Permit-only • Back-to-back, 2-day still hunts; two dog hunts in November and December
WATERFOWL WESTERN REGION 14- Needmore Game Land:
• 4,525 acres, located in Swain and Macon Counties • Good jump shooting for wood ducks • Float trips offer mallards, ducks, and some Canada Geese
15- French Broad River:
• 2,600 acres, Northern end of Sandy Mush Game Land • Good jump shooting
CENTRAL REGION 4- Jordan Lake:
• 7 waterfowl impoundments that attract wood ducks, mallards, and teal • No permits needed to hunt
5- Roanoke River Game Land:
• No impoundments, but decent waterfowl opportunities • Permit required
EASTERN REGION 16- Goose Creek Game Lands: • Beaufort and Pamlico Counties
• 6 impoundments, permit-only areas, but offer good waterfowl opportunities
6- Whitehall Plantation Game Land: • Offers wood duck, gadwall, widgeon, teal, and mallards
17- J. Morgan Futch Game Land: • 600 acres, 15 impoundments mpoundments with permits • Good place to shoot ducks and swan
5- Roanoke River Game Land:
• No impoundments, but decent waterfowl opportunities • Permit required
SMALL GAME WESTERN REGION:
• Planted dove fields which attract other birds other than doves
15- Sandy Mush Game Land:
20- Sandhills Game Land:
• Overall best area for small game • Good rabbit cover — dove, rabbit, squirrel, and quail • Fox squirrels can be found in this • 1,000 acres of open ground, fields, area and pastures EASTERN REGION: • Permit-only hunting first 4 days, after that, no permits needed
18- Cold Mountain Game Land:
• Best rabbit hunting in WNC
8- Pisgah National Forest:
• Good grouse hunting
CENTRAL REGION: 19- Butner/Falls of Neuse Game Lands:
• Find rabbit, squirrel, doves
21- Stones Creek and Croatan National Forest:
• Good for hunters interested in rabbits, doves, and a few squirrels
7- Holly Shelter:
• Quite a few rabbits, quail, and squirrels • Dove fields
Fishing - North Carolina
Page 24 IWANNA Hunting & Fishing Guide ~ Fall 2010
continued from page 23 year. Even large flies will catch smallies during some of the significant mayfly hatches on the French Broad. The main stem of the French Broad is a large valley river through most of its run and is therefore a little too warm and silty for good trout conditions. But all is not lost for trout lovers! Virtually all of the French Broad’s major tributaries head up high in the mountains, mostly within the Pisgah National Forest and many quite close to the Blue Ridge. Dozens of tributary flows (many of which are actually tributaries of French Broad tributaries) hold good populations of wild trout, including brookies in some cases. Among the best-known wild
trout streams in the French Broad system are Looking Glass and Avery creeks, (accessible off U.S. Highway 276), and flow into the Davidson River. Looking Glass Creek parallels Highway 276, and Looking Glass Falls is a very popular spot. Since the creek is small, pressure is not as bad in that area. Avery, which is even smaller and more remote, gets even less pressure than Looking Glass. This past summer, the French Broad saw its fair share of high water levels and decreased visibility. (When the river is muddy, the fishing is nearly impossible as the smallmouth have very little time to see a fly due to the higher river flow and the decreased visibility.) But with Fall in full swing, fishing has improved dramatically because the
weather patterns have changed and there is less rainfall. Stock up on your crayfish patterns, as well as white and chartreuse minnow patterns for when the water clears. Some portions of the river contain wide shorelines and slow-moving currents, ideal for individuals who prefer the solitude of the outdoors but don’t want to travel too far to get it. The banks are lined with mossy sycamores, flowering dogwood, elderberry, blackberries, tulip poplars, dozens of songbirds, and an endless array of wildflowers, along with abundant wildlife to view. It’s no wonder then that the French Broad attracts fisherman and hunters throughout the year. The French Broad River Campground provides easy access to the river, and with a spacious RV and tent campground of 13 acres, visitors and locals can spend the day on the water and come back to a relaxing campground. If you’d like a guided fly fishing trip, Headwaters Outfitters has some great opportunities for the whole family. Check out their website at headwatersoutfitters.com.
BefoRe you go: Different sections bring different regulations, so be sure to be up to date on that area’s regulations. Get a current North Carolina Fishing,
Hunting, and Trapping Regulations Digest, available from all license dealers, and available on-line at wildlife.state.nc.us. It defines the
boundaries of all designated sections as well as important stocking information, trout maps, and maps of different game lands.
5 Factors for French Broad Floating 1. Current — Moving water they are behaving, how deep they tends to push bait up on points like rocks, ledges, humps, etc. This actually makes some fish like bass easier to catch, as they will be in a more “active”mode and positioned near the bottom, making them easier to catch. 2. Water clarity — Take this into account when choosing your lures. Here’s a tip: drop a white spinnerbait into the water and observe how deep it gets before it disappears. Naturally, the clearer the water, the more natural-looking your lures must be. Lures that make less noise, look more natural, and are handled with faster, erratic movements (that’s your job!) will be more effective. For murky water, try lures that wobble, have rattles, or are bright in color. 3. Behavior — Pay attention to what your baitfish are doing, how
are, etc. This will give you a better idea of how to match your lures accordingly (size, color, movement, depth, etc.) 4. Weather — Don’t just know the weather on the day you’re fishing, but the weather in the long run as well (especially if you’re going on a week-long trip). Weather changes — direct or indirect sunlight, cloud coverage, wind, any fronts coming in — can change the behavior of fish in more ways than one. 5. River floor — Any changes to the floor of the river, from soft to hard bottom, rock to gravel, or vegetation change can change a fish’s behavior. Whenever you see noticeable shifts and changes in the bottom of the area, take your time and fish that area more thoroughly. The odds of catching fish in this area will be better.
Fishing
Page 63 IWANNA Hunting & Fishing Guide ~ Fall 2010
Catching Prime Time Catfish in the Fall C atfishing on riprap in early autumn is a hot spot for anglers in search of the massive, whiskered catfish as they gorge themselves in the cool water. In need of some good catfishing?Then look for a stretch of riprap at any lake or stream, and you’ll be in luck!
RIPRAP’S MANY ADVANTAGES
What is riprap exactly? Riprap is simply a heap of large, loose rocks placed at strategic places at shorelines of large lakes and rivers so as to control and prevent erosion. These angular stones are blanketed in these areas — many times reaching out into deeper waters — and aren’t meant to attract catfish, however attract them it does! And in big numbers. There are a couple of reasons for this, and here we’ll explain some of them. Food: Since our whiskered friends love to eat, eat, and eat some more, it’s no wonder that riprap contains the perfect environment for one of their favorite foods — crawdads. Riprap provides a very favorable home for crawdads, which may provide the only decent habitat for them in an entire body of water. And so, catfish are there, filling up to the point of bursting on these tasty treats. In fact, they’ll eat so much of them that parts of the half-eaten crawdads are often seen hanging from a catfish’s mouth. Not only do crawdads find a decent home in riprap, many baitfish also call this area home. Since algae grows on the submerged stones, shad and minnows are attracted, feeding on this plentiful algae. And where there are baitfish, there are catfish. Safety: Riprap — with all its rocky goodness — harbors a perfect safety zone for catfish. Its structure provides good cover, depth, shade, and protection. Riprap will often stretch for miles along the shoreline of lakes and rivers and can also be spotted near dams, and around bridges, causeways, and roadways that cross channels. Because of its ideal locale and the combination of shallow and deep-water domiciles, it’s the perfect area to set up shop and reel in plenty of fat catfish, especially during the Fall season.
FISHING TIPS
Although the rocks attract so many catfish, they also can cause hang-ups. In that respect, it’s best to keep your fishing rigs simple. The best baits: • It may seem a little obvious, but using baits that are already riprap natives is your best bet when fishing for big cats. (Be sure to check local regulations regarding bait use first). Best bets: • Shad, minnows, crawdads, and small sunfish are favorites among catfish. • Try tail-hooking a crawdad or a sunfish hooked behind the dorsal fin, or try stacking several on a single hook. • Don’t rule out night crawlers or stink bait — they’re pretty effective as well.
• Try artificials to catch these whiskered friends. Many baitfish- and crawdad-imitating crankbaits will catch catfish when you bounce them through the rocks. Deep-diving ones work better because the longer lip helps keep the line from snagging. • Riprap catfish have also been known to go for a range of jigs and spinners. When fishing at shallow-water edges: • Using just a baited hook works well while fishing at shallow-water edges. • Choose crawdads, baitfish, a bit of cut bait, or another catfish favorite to bait your hook with. • Cast to the area where you think you’ll get a bite, and let the rig flutter down through the water column. When the rig has touched bottom, pull the rig sideways so it drifts down to a different spot. Keep up this method until you feel a bite! When fishing at deeper riprap edges:
• Work the rig the same way as you would for shallow-water edges. Drop, lift, move, then drop, lift, and move again. This works well as it helps to avoid hang-ups while at the same time catching the cats that are hiding in the rock’s crevices. • Cast upwind or upcurrent, keeping a tight line while your rig flutters through the water. • Try a 1/4- to 1-oz. jighead with bait rigged on the hook. • Be aware of surroundings — above water and below! Here are some things to look for: - Anchor near the outer, underwater edge of the rocks near some object or contour change that distinguishes a small section of riprap from its surroundings. Examples: a tree washed in shore, a difference in the rocks, bigger rocks changing to smaller rocks, any points, cuts, pipes, or cavities, etc. - Be aware of unusual bottom features as
well. Examples: a wall border underneath the water, any humps, holes, brush, etc. • Zone in on where catfish are concentrated by keeping two rods ready — one with a simple baited hook rig and one with a baited jighead. Work all depths, starting at the shallow water during the night and the deeper waters during the day.
Bridge riprap tactics: • Always try out the four corners of the bridge riprap. • Downcurrent points are ideal to fish in because catfish are already there, looking out for food floating by. • Station your boat on the bridge’s downcurrent (or downwind) side, and cast your line into the current.This will allow your bait to move downcurrent, mimicking all the other food passLOOK OUT FOR BRIDGES Bridges tend to span creeks, rivers, or con- ing by, so it looks as natural as possible. necting channels, many times offering the Riprap offers all the things catfish need — deepest water in that particular area — and an an abundance of food and reliable cover. Lots of abundance of catfish as well! How so? The bridge actually funnels fish into this narrow section of anglers miss out on all the great opportunities water, and because of this funneling, food is car- to be had in these areas, but this autumn, don’t ried along with the current. Some catfish do in- be one of them! By using these riprap tactics, deed live in this area, whereas others just remain you’ll be catching these hungry whiskered beasts in no time! there to feed on food passing by.
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