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STREAMERS FOR
FALL TROPHY
BROWNS
O
By Jacob Milholland
ctober is a special month in the mountains. Autumn colors and cooler weather signal it’s time to head back to trout water. Hunting a trophy brown trout is what fall is all about. These fish can be caught nymphing a big stonefly or drifting an October caddis, but the old adage, “big bait, big fish,” holds true. Streamer fishing is a surefire way to try and target these old brutes. Streamers are flies that imitate forage such as baitfish, crawfish, sculpin, other trout or even mice. While the common way to fish a streamer is to enact action by “stripping” or pulling the fly line, streamers can be dead drifted, jigged or swung. There is no wrong way to fish streamers, but the goal is to make the fly look like the real thing. Equipment: We fish heavier rods, tippets and leaders, as we are targeting larger fish. The flies are more wind resistant or heavily weighted, and the strikes can be more aggressive. Think 5 to 8 weights and 8 to 20-pound fluorocarbon tippet/leader. A misconception of streamer fishing is that it must be done from a boat on a large river. While a boat is nice for covering ground, wading anglers can adapt these tactics to any size body of water. If you have the option to fish from a boat, multiple rods with different rate-of-fall (ROF) sinking fly lines should be in your arsenal to probe different depths: floating, intermediate (falls at one foot per second), and ROF-6 (falls at six inches per second). Fly Selection: Ask anyone what they throw, and you’ll get a different answer. It’s hard to go wrong with Woolly Bugger variations—like Sparkle Minnows or Bow River Buggers—any Kelly Galloup pattern or Clouser minnows to start out. Pick staple colors that allow you to adjust to conditions: white, black, bold (yellow or chartreuse) and flashy. Big fish drop their guard in nasty weather, and these can result in the best days on the water. Tactics: Brown trout ambush their prey, so look for places adjacent to current where fish can sit without expending too much energy. Covering water is paramount to success with a streamer. Likely holding water can produce results immediately, so don’t spend too much time in one spot. You are hunting the largest fish willing to eat the fly, not trying to force inactive fish to feed. Vary your retrieve; sometimes jigging or dead drifting can be better than a strip, or slower or faster retrieves may get a fish to react. Mental fortitude is just as important as the where and how. You can go hours or even days without seeing a fish follow the fly, but the magic of streamer fishing lies in the take of the fly and the caliber of fish. Jacob Milholland fishes with Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, Ga. Check them out at www.cohuttafishingco.com or call (706) 946-3044.
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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
I
t seems even the most remote waterways are becoming more crowded every year. More boats can lead to some extremely dangerous situations when boaters exhibit a lack of respect for the water, and it’s pretty easy to identify those who should not be allowed to operate a boat. But there are also people who create frustrating situations, particularly while fishing, who might just be unaware of certain etiquette. It is unique to the Southeastern United States to have access to such vastly diverse fisheries within a relatively small area. It is fortunate boat owners can easily travel to a new and different fishery and bring their own vessel with them. However, just as you don’t have to travel far before the fishery changes, the same applies to local fishing etiquette. Some of the unspoken rules will apply no matter where you are, but it is generally a good idea to check in with local knowledge and identify the local vhf channel before launching your boat somewhere new. While nobody owns the water, commercial and charter fishing captains generally operate with respect for each other to make sharing the fishery feasible and pleasant. When pleasure boaters don’t understand or don’t respect local etiquette, it disrupts fishing enough to affect the people who are trying to make a living on the water. As a general rule, try to stay away from other boats as much as possible. If you have to maneuver around or fish near another boat, be respectful of the type of fishing they are doing. If a vessel is anchored, they will generally be fishing off the back of the boat, often running a chum slick, which means you should avoid driving behind them. If a boat is anchored
offshore, in an area that you are unfamiliar with, they are probably fishing coordinates that took them years of hard work to acquire. You should absolutely not anchor near them,
nor should you drive next to them to mark their location. If you are offshore hunting for fish that appear under flocks of diving birds, look for a flock that isn’t currently being worked by another fisherman. These birds are moving around over fish that are traveling, and moving in can cause the boat that got to the birds first to be cut off from the school of fish. The ocean is vast and birds are plentiful, look for birds on your own, not just an easy-to-spot boat under birds. Overcrowded fishing areas, that don’t operate under anchor, follow certain traffic patterns. These patterned drifts or trolls should be observed and followed just like any roadway. The Marathon Humps, for example, should be trolled east to west, and west to east. Fishing oil rigs in the northern Gulf of Mexico can be made extremely difficult by poor etiquette, as locations are limited and can be made even more limited due to weather. Places like this rely heavily on unspoken rules of the road, and respect. These areas are primarily fished in two different ways: live bait and chum drifts. Charter boats take the time to catch live bait before making it out there, which can be time consuming and difficult. If there are fish on the surface, and someone nearby starts a chum drift, this pushes the surface fish down deep, where the fish will no longer be eating the hard-earned live bait. This is horrible etiquette that rewards lazy and ignorant fishermen. If you show up to a rig without live bait and see other boats using it, with fish clearly on the surface, you should probably just troll lures until other people start a chum drift. Learn and respect the local etiquette anywhere you get your boat wet. There’s no reason we can’t all catch fish, be safe and have fun doing it.
Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in Marathon, Florida Keys. Check her out at CaptainQuinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.
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OCTOBER 2021
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WHEN TEMPS COOL DOWN, THE GROUPER BITE HEATS UP
I
’m going to date myself here, but what is about to happen will come as no surprise to me. This is time of year I live for. You see, I’ve been watching this beautiful cycle happen with grouper for almost four decades now. As soon as the mullet run slows, and the vast schools of cigar minnows (cigs) and sardines drift inshore, so do the larger (male) gag grouper. This generally occurs around the middle of October. The scamp bite will be hard and fast during this same time in deeper water. I started my grouper fishing career with heavy electric and hydraulic commercial reels and eventually switched over to Elec-Tra-Mates and Precision Auto Reels, but now I’ve gone full circle to lighter (heavyduty) level-wind reels with braided line and ultra stealth terminal tackle to stay ahead of the mental evolution of grouper and large snapper. You see, back in the day when there were so many grouper, it was a competitive atmosphere on the bottom. The first bait to the bottom used to catch the biggest red snapper or gag, even using monofilament leader, but
Tim Barefoot
sardines are by far the best choice for instant bites, but the problem with them is everything down there gives them a whack. Fishing a bait that eliminates everything but large black sea bass, large snapper and grouper helps weed through the smaller fish to find the big male grouper you’re looking for. Live pinfish, sailors
now it’s just not that way. I haven’t cleaned hundreds of grouper… I’ve cleaned thousands of them before selling them, and I’m always curious about what they were eating. One common denominator in gags and red grouper, but not as many scamp grouper, are the small red crabs that are obviously plentiful on live bottom.
This is what prompted me to experiment with crab jigs. I made my first batch of Crab Decoy Jigs over a decade ago and quickly realized they out-fish any other bottom rig I’ve ever used. I tie them in with red braided line and a short piece of fluorocarbon leader tied in a loop knot. Then I sweeten the pot with a live bait. Bait selection is important. Live cigs and
choice grunts, grass grunts and tomtate grunts all work. I like to fish big stacks of beeliners, and that makes beeliners one of my alltime favorite baits. I fish them live or butterflied on a Crab Decoy Jig. The older, wiser males are growing increasingly tackle shy, so shed all the useless terminal tackle and scale down to “clean” heavyduty tackle that can fool ole big boy into biting. For video with detailed instructions on fishing Tim Barefoot’s rigs and proof that they work, visit his website at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING OCTOBER FLY FISHING REPORT Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com TOPWATER season. The lakes will surely have started their turnover process, and the Corp of Engineers should be pulling water down every afternoon to get the lakes into their winter water levels. This has a lot of significance to anglers who want to search for busting fish as the pull of water creates a manmade tide (if you will) and causes the fish to look up and eat on or just below the surface. In early October, our bite should start out with the spotted bass being the most consistent topwater feeders. You might find singles breaking the surface or wolf pack groups of 10-15 fish blowing up on top. Either way, a run and gun approach is what you need. Make sure your trolling motors are charged to the max as you will be moving all around to get to these
Having had a mild September seems to have pushed the fishing up from what we are accustomed to for fly fishing for stripers on area lakes. Most of the time, the fishing begins in mid-October, but this year we started seeing schooling fish in early September. So what does that mean for October? As of this writing, the afternoons are already seeing schools of 30 to 50 fish crashing bait on the surface. This time of year you need to burn gas looking for the topwater feeders and have a bit of patience with regards to your fellow angler. Show respect and ease up on fish if another boat has beaten you to them. Put away the 6 and 7 weight outfits and get the 8 and 9 weight outfits back in service. For most lakes around North GA, October means it’s time to keep a pair of binoculars handy as it is
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fast feeding demons. Fly rodders can have a ball tossing floating lines with Wiggle Minnows and Game Changers attached to 15-pound tippet. Put your rod under your arm and strip with a hand over hand retrieve and watch these fish explode on your offering. Generally speaking, Lanier’s bass and stripers will be mostly a herring bite. By the time we get into the end of October, it is likely that the bite will change over to a small sized threadfin shad pattern. My guess is that the stripers will be feasting on both 1 ½”-2” long threadfin shad as well as 4”-6” long blue back herring. Start by tossing herring type flies. Any small to medium sized fly thrown on an intermediate slow sinking line should get you a bite. What fly you throw is not that important. However, what is important is to MATCH THE SIZE OF THE SHAD OR HERRING. So small flies like my Somethin’ Else, Gummy Minnow or tiny Clouser are good choices if you are in the middle of a threadfin shad blitz. Game Changers are your ticket for matching the herring blitz (which tends to end earlier if the water cools down below 70 degrees). Conventional anglers can toss small bucktails on light lines or even a casting bubble rigged with a small fly to match the shad and can toss Sebile’s, Redfins and Chug Bugs if the stripers are feeding on herring. First light until 9am will also be another good time to get out and give these fish a try. On Lanier, the fish will show best from midlake down to the south end. One last thing anglers can do is start fishing the shallow sandy points by the end of the month. You do this using intermediate lines along with bigger flies like 5”-6” long Deceivers, Snake flies and the like. It is at this time of year that the Bomber bite fires up. Conventional anglers will toss Bomber Long A lures on shallow sandy points in the dark and catch stripers
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feeding shallow on gizzard shad. Best colors for the Bomber bite is bubble gum pink, black or dark purple. As a fly rod angler, I toss a hookless Bomber Long A until I get a tug. I am using my hookless Bomber as a bird dog to help locate the fish. Then I break out my fly rod and throw it until I move on to another point and start with the conventional gear again. So that is what October has in store for North GA anglers. This strategy will work on other area lakes too as stripers don’t know where they live. Just remember that while you are awaiting a topwater bite to occur, you can toss these same flies and lures on humps that are 20-25’ deep. Any hump that is around deeper water will more than likely hold a fish or two, and you can raise them up on a fly or lure worked near the surface. So tossing Sebiles, Redfins or pencil poppers can get you a few extra bites while waiting for surfacing fish. For anyone wanting to learn more about our beloved fresh water striped bass, my book, “Fly Fishing For Fresh Water Striped Bass” is out and available in all fly shops as well as Amazon, BooksA-Million, Barnes & Noble and is a great read for both fly or light tackle anglers wanting to learn how to target these great game fish.
NG
LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING CHATTOOGA RIVER
Cooler temperatures, changing beautiful colors of the forest, and great fishing decorates the October calendar. This is a great time to visit the rivers and knock the summertime rust off your fly fishing skills. Cooler overnight temperatures have the trout moving from their summertime river bottom dwellings to feeding on aquatic bugs and small baitfish again. Rivers and higher mountain creeks are now blessed with adequate water levels for the fall fishing season. Along with the falling water temperatures and levels, the emergence of the all hatches bless us again. Swinging nymphs and soft-hackles on a dead-drift is essential to a great day on the rivers. An upstream cast, a mend or two of your line, and letting these fine bugs drift freely with no drag all the way downstream will produce fish. Streamer fishing will be great this fall season as well. There is a tremendous abundance of shiners, minnows and sculpins throughout the watersheds. Targeting fish in the seam lines, just off the big runs
of the rivers, will be beneficial. Cast the streamers upstream, “deaddrift and twitch” through the drift, and then a strip and pause retrieve will be rewarding. For a full line of bugs and streamers, stop by and see us and check out the new arrivals to fulfill your fall fly fishing. As the Delayed Harvest season arrives, now is a great time to see the Walhalla Fish Hatchery in full swing. If you have never been to the hatchery, you will be able to see the thousands of fish in many sizes getting ready for their journey to the rivers. From fingerlings to show fish, one will be amazed at the variety of sizes of the brook, brown, and rainbow trout which the great folks at the hatchery have raised for us to enjoy out on the rivers. Bring along a couple of quarters when you visit to enjoy feeding the large show fish which the hatchery has on display. After visiting the hatchery, try your hand at fishing the East Fork, a great small water fishery here in South Carolina. As we travel from one water system to another, let’s remember to give our equipment a good cleaning to avoid any transfer of invasive species. Also, as we are enjoying the scenery and rivers we are fishing on, please “Leave No Trace”. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers!
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An early September fish caught by Brian Daugherty. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING WHO INFLUENCED YOU?
Contributed by James Bradley Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide www.ReelEmInGuideService.com (706) 273-0764
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Today, there are all types of influencers. In the world of flyfishing, I have had many influencers over the years with the likes of Lee Wulff and Lefty Kreh. Even some like Tom Rosenbauer or Norman Maclain have had their impact throughout some part of my flyfishing life. But what about good ole dad? My father was an avid outdoorsman. He once told me that his church was the outdoors. He loved the woods. He was a devoted hunter who could walk after his hounds for hours and always enjoyed telling stories about his hounds. Even toward the end of his life, you could see a gleam in his eyes when we would mention about one of his hounds. As a kid, dad would load us boys up with Coleman lanterns and we would head over to the spillway with our rod and reels to tangle with some channel cats. The smell of lake water, a fire for cooking up some hot dogs and cold Mountain Dews. Boy, those were the days! As I have gotten older, I see a lot of dad in myself, both the good and the bad. I have his laugh, and many times my decisions seem to come from how he would whittle down to a conclusion. I learned many years ago how to separate the good from the bad. The hardest things in this life he thought were how to live off the land, to give an honest day’s work, to believe in God, and to love your family and country even when the going got tough. My dad never taught me how to fly fish. We would use short ultralight rods with 4 or 6-pound test and used live bait to fill our cooler with rainbow trout. I think back over the years to understand now who he was as much as why he was a certain way, and at 78 years old, still following his hounds and cutting his own firewood. Yes, he was an influencer, maybe greater in my life than all of the gentleman listed above. Was he a Lefty or Norman? The answer is simply no. He was my dad. He passed away on August 27th of pancreatic cancer. This disease had ravished his body in only three
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months. I told him about two weeks earlier, “Dad, you are tougher than nails”. He could no longer hold a conversation due to his nausea, but he looked at me and simply shook his head no. It was hard to see a man so strong and healthy become shaven down to almost nothing. Just a few days before his passing, I asked one of his nurses how much longer would he have. She only answered by saying “mountain people are tougher than nails”. Thanks dad for all of the memories. If you are a beginner wanting to learn how to fly fish, we have a great staff of instructors who have been schooled in the art of fly fishing. One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Give us a call to book your amazing trip on the water and don’t forget that we offer gift certificates! Reel ‘Em In Guide Service operates as an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter in North Georgia’s Historic High-Country region. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. They have permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and operate float trips on the Toccoa River in GA and the Tuckasegee River in NC.
LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING
NG
A) The tree that is in the way of a good spot you are casting to, B) Leftover line, C) The amount of rear taper beyond the rod tip. The answers below are to Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse stimulate thoughts about the Certified Casting Instructordifferent parts of the line and how Federation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly to use them. The tip is to tie on Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer leaders. The front taper dissipates the energy that is being carried If you know your fly line, fly 2. What is the function of Belly to it by the belly of the line. The casting is so much easier. When of the line? belly of the line is level tapered we fish for trout in small North A) Connect the front and and carries energy better than the Georgia streams, it isn’t very rear taper, B) Carry the energy important to know the fly line transferred from the rod to the because most of the fishing is done front taper, C) Allow mending at with only a few feet of line out of the furthest point in the fly line the rod tip, however, drop down from the fly. from the small blue line streams 3. Rear Taper is shorter on and into the Chattahoochee, trout lines than weight forward Chestatee or Soque, and you may lines. need to reach fish a little further A) True, B) False, C) Hmmmmout and use the whole head of the why would it be different? line. For fun, check your fly line 4. The taper on a standard fly knowledge with the questions line from reel to leader is; A) Rear taper-running linebelow. Answers at the bottom. 1. What is the ‘Head’ of the belly-front taper-tip, B) Bellyrear taper, running line-tip, C) line? A) Running line, rear taper, Running line- rear taper- bellybelly, front taper and tip, B) Rear front taper-tip, D) Tip-front tapertaper, belly, front taper and tip, C) belly- rear taper-running line 5. Overhang is? Belly, front taper and tip.
THE CASTING CORNER CHECK YOUR FLY LINE KNOWLEDGE
tapers. The rear taper is for line management and transitioning from the belly to the running line. Running line is thin and creates less drag when a fish is running you into the backing. Hint; Don’t try to make a cast if you have more than a foot or two of the rear taper out of the rod tip. Answers; 1-B, 2-A and B, 3-B-False- rear tapers are longer on trout lines so mending is easier, 4-C, 5-C.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING FALL MEANS TROUT
Contributed By: William Reed Nucanoe National Pro Staff Writer IG: @wde_will, will@nucanoe.com Summer has come to an end, and with the cooler temps comes amazing trout fishing. Trout fishing happens year-round in North Georgia, but the fall brings the start of delayed harvest streams and trout spawns. If you’re searching for a big brown or want to venture out of the normal tailrace water, this is the perfect time of year to wet a line. Trout need water below 70 degrees to survive. During the summer, that required temperature locks you into fishing high mountain streams or dam release tailwaters that are cool, flowing waters. The fall will bring ample more waters that are prime for trout fishing. In fact, the number of good waterways to fish are overwhelming. A great resource to tap into is the Georgia DNR stocking report. As many of the warmer waters start to cool, the GADNR will stock trout for anglers to enjoy. The stocking report is pub-
lished weekly and released to the public. Do note that the list is for what was stocked the week prior, not the next week where you can be waiting beside a waterway for a trout truck to arrive. If you’re wanting a chance to hook a trophy fish or if fly fishing is more your style, the start of fall also means the start of Delayed Harvest streams, also abbreviated DH streams. Delayed Harvest streams are single hook, catch and release only with no live bait fishing. Live bait also includes scented baits like power bait or impregnated soft plastics. Be warned that law enforcement watches these areas closely, and I have seen hundreds of anglers receive tickets for breaking the law. In addition to the above regulations, some DH streams have added restrictions like barbless hooks only or fly fishing only. Knowing where the trout are is half the battle. The other half is knowing how to target them. If you’re up for fly fishing, you’re going to want a 3 to 6 weight, up to a 9 foot rod paired
with matching weight fly line and a tapered leader. Some guaranteed, “tried and true” flies for this area are Chubby Chernobyl’s, Wooly Buggers, Rainbow Warriors, Zebra Midges, Blue Winged Olives and assorted Stoneflies. If you’re more into conventional fishing, you’ll want an ultra-lite, inline spinning setup; a 500-1000 size reel on a 4 to 6 foot rod with 4 to 6-pound line. Daiwa has a phenomenal setup I currently use; the Kage 5’6” UL rod paired with a Kage 1000 LT reel. That setup or similar will easily handle any of your jigs, jerks or spinners as well as any trout you hook up to. Some of my favorite conventional lures are inline spinnerbaits from Rooster Tail, Joes Flies, Trout Magnet, or Mepps. I like to use dark colors with gold blades, and I match the weight to the water depth I’m fishing. Trout are opportunistic feeders that wait in the eddies, seams, deeper holes, or riffles for their
food to drift by. You’ll want to cast upstream to them and allow your fly or lure to drift naturally past them. You’ll also want to avoid putting yourself or anchoring too close to where you plan to cast as they are easily spooked. Enjoy the break from the heat and get out and wet a line in the cooling temps of the mountains.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING OCONEE ON THE FLY-
FLIES, SPOONS, POPPING CORKS, BAIT, AND THE LAKE OCONEE OCTOBER FORECAST
Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com rising fish and worked it back like a yo-yo. The first cast was a nice hybrid. Then, another angler came by and said he was catching a lot of fish trolling a white Captain Mack Farr’s Mini Mack umbrella rig around 2 mph on the gas motor. It produced very well indeed. So, as the water cools, the bite will be more of a surface bite, but for now, just below the surface. October Forecast Hybrids/ Stripers – Now is the time! If you are planning a trip for October with me, I have a few dates open. Last year, it was by far the most productive month for the fly fisherman. As mentioned earlier, it’s a subsurface bite as of this writing (mid-September). Here is what I am using: Fly Fishing – Use an 8-weight rod with intermediate line and a 7 to 9 foot, 12-pound leader. For the fly, most of the time I have on Henry Cowen’s Somethin Else fly, which is
There are a lot of choices for anglers targeting hybrids and stripers here on Lake Oconee in October and for the remainder of the year. There is usually a reason that one will produce better than another. Let’s start with the water temperature. I had a VIP come fish with me this past Sunday; that’s right, Mrs. Mary Moore! Georgia Power was pumping water up from Lake Sinclair, and a fair number of hybrids were breaking the surface. The first thing I tried was a popping cork with a Betts Pop N’ Stripe. (This trip I had left my fly rod at home because Mary has not gotten the fly fishing bug just yet). This rig did not produce, but why? I believe it was water temperature which still 84 degrees. I think they were feeding subsurface. I then tied on a War Eagle 7/8-ounce spoon and cast it to the
MOUNTAIN STREAM By Tim Dangar ltdangar@tds.net I took a little trip up to one of my go-to trout streams for some catch and release action. It had rained heavily overnight, but the morning cleared with low humidity, and boy did it feel good after a brutal August. The stream was clear with the pools a little cloudy due to the rain the night before. Fish had moved out of the pools into the clearer water to feed. That’s good and bad. Good they were feeding, but fast water can make working a spinner a little tricky. Another plus is when you hang one in swift water, it makes an average fish feel like a wall hanger. A number one Mepps with a silver blade and orange skirt was the ticket on this trip. October will find me heading to the woods for a little string music (that’s bow hunting for all my fishing buddies that don’t hunt). My favorite place on the south end of the Chattahoochee National Forest to 8 ATLANTA
OCTOBER 2021
bow hunt happens to have a trout stream running through it. Early October generally still warms in the middle part of the day. How about this for a great day in the mountains; bow hunt in the morning, trout fish middle of day and bow hunt late evening, and we must not forget a nap worked in there as well. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer. Until next time, stay calm and hunt and fish on!
basically a small Clouser. As the water cools, you switch to a Wiggle Minnow, or better, a Betts Pop N’ Stripe tied behind Captain Gary Dubiel’s Pop-N-Fly which acts like a popping cork on a fly rod. I still use intermediate line which puts the fly slightly below surface Spin Fishing – The spoon is so versatile; I’ll start with it. They can be cast a mile too. White with a little red is my color of choice. The popping cork with a Betts Pop N’ Stripe is my second choice in October. Trolling the Mini Mack umbrella rig or number 7 Shad Raps at 2 to 2.9 MPH will produce well. Finally, long lining a bass minnow on 12-pound test with a swivel, #4 sinker, and #4 circle hook will work until the water temps drop below 50 degrees. October Forecast Crappie – The long line trolling bite will begin. I run 8 spinning rods from 7 to 10 feet long out of the back of the boat. Double jigs work best; the first
jig being a 1/16th and the second a 1/32. Always use Curtis Hobbs lite wire hooks, jig heads with Jiffy Jigs curly tail jigs. I like the June bug/ chartreuse and popsicle colors. Final Words - Our best months on the water are about to begin. If you want to fish this fall bite, please email me at wmoore1700@outlook. com or call 404-317-9556 and lock in your dates as far in advance as you can.
Guided Fly Fishing and Conventional Tackle Trips for Hybrids, Stripers, and Crappie Booking now, novice or experienced anglers. On the water instruction, top of the line fly gear! Mix it up with light spinning tackle as well for a great combo trip!
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LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001
October is viewed as the beginning of the fly fishing season by a lot of anglers. Gone are the sweltering sunny days of summer along with yellow jackets and snakes. Tubers and kayakers are pretty much absent so having to answer the question “are you catching anything?’’ every five minutes or so is not to be heard again until next summer. Only a few hatches are coming off such as big October Caddis, Blue Winged Olives and a few Midges. Sporadic at best, these emergences can provide some short lived entertainment for the dry fly fisher. The days of dredging are here and that’s cool too. Nymph and streamer fishing will reign until about April, then the spring surface playground will begin again. Some of the better places to get numbers of trout to the net in the fall and winter are the delayed harvest streams in North Georgia and Western North Carolina. Great
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numbers of fish are stocked, and with the catch and release regulations, the trout will survive for several months. Good sport will be had until the slaughter begins again in the late spring. The Upper Toccoa River delayed harvest near Blue Ridge, Georgia starts November 1st and runs until May 15th. The river is large here and provides some nice big holes and runs to fish for the careful wader. If the water flow is around 300 cfs, you can wade pretty well, but anything over that and you better be watching your step or floating. The section here is about a mile and a half long and very beautiful. General purpose nymphs and Wooly Buggers will usually keep you busy. Trout spey is great here too, and the long rod opens up a whole new world for fly fishers not wanting to risk a watery fate by wading heavy current. We do introductory classes, spey classes, wade trips and float trips
here. Fires Creek near Hayesville, North Carolina is another great delayed harvest destination for a fall or winter jaunt on the stream. The season runs from October 1st until June and is only about an hour drive from Blue Ridge, Georgia. The creek is fairly small here and unintimidating. Trout are pretty much everywhere they should be. Leatherwood Falls picnic area is a good place to start with a nice short paved trail making access extremely easy on old knees and hips. The section here is about two miles long with
a trail running the full length. Again, you don’t have to get too fancy with fly patterns. Hare’s Ear, Prince, and Pheasant Tail nymphs will normally work anytime. The creek’s size can also be fished well with shorter rods and close range casts. We run half and full day wade trips here in addition to a Trout Trek, where we spend 3 hours on Fires Creek and then fish 3 hours on the wonderful waters of the Nantahala River. If you are interested in exploring these waters this fall and winter, check out our awesome website. See you on the river!
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SIMPLI-FLY AND STAND OUT! Contributed By: Jeff Durniak www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year
We welcome October’s fall colors and especially its cooler water. This is truly our trouting “second season,” as wild trout rejuvenate and Delayed Harvest season kicks off in North Carolina, with Georgia DH right behind on November 1. What many fly fishers do not welcome is leaf-fall, with leaves and twigs more common catches than anything with fins. Well, Unicoi Outfitters has a few tips to help you navigate the instream debris fields and tempt a few more trout. Our two themes are “simpli-fly” and “stand out.” First, simplify your terminal tackle to provide the least possible hangon spots for leaves and twigs. Use a nice, tapered leader with no tippet knotted to its end. If you must add some tippet, add just one piece so there’s only one additional knot in your mono. Second, drop the droppers and simpli-fly. Use just one fly knotted to the end of your leader. The fewer knots and hook points, the fewer attachment points for instream debris. Next, simplify by casting short, no farther than 15-20 feet. Avoid crossing currents with hero shots, which will splay extra fly line on the water and channel a bushel of leaves toward your fly. Last, go with the flow. This is not the time to be stripping streamers. Instead, cast your fly upstream and let it drift back to you at the same speed and in the same current lane as your adversarial vegetation. You’ll still catch plenty of poplar leaves, but nowhere near the bushels that you would with dropper flies, long casts, and energetic retrieves.
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Our second theme is to stand out. Your bug must distinguish itself from all of the aquatic clutter, both on the surface and in the water column. First, try a big, loud, meaty dry fly. Since it’s October, guess what our favorite color is? Yep, orange! Try a #12 Orange Stimulator or Elk Hair Caddis. After all, this is the season for October caddis to hatch. They’re usually a very sparse hatch, but their ample calories have fall trout on the lookout for them. For subsurface treats, try a brown or black Pat’s Rubberlegs, a silver-beaded Euronymph, a hotpink San Juan Worm, or a bright red Squirmy Worm. The leggy profile of the Pat’s will stand out amongst the sticks, while the silver bead on a Sexy Walt’s Worm or Tan Mop will shine in the sunlight. And the bright, wiggly worms contrast well to pine needles. Years ago, we discovered the worm’s effectiveness on some big (supplementally fed), wild, river rainbows. We have no idea why they were so effective in the crystalclear waters. Maybe it was because they looked like fish food instead of forest clutter. All we know is that the worms worked! Try these tips when the October winds deliver next year’s food supply, leaves, to fuel the stream ecosystem. Simpli-fly your rig and pick a stand-out fly to turn your leaf-fall frustration into Halloween treats.
THE GUIDE’S ANGLE FALL FLY FISHING ON THE RIVER Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service It’s finally time for cooler weather and the beauty of fall foliage. The reflection of turning leafs on the river’s surface is something to behold. The brown trout seem to come out of the woodwork where catch rates seem to suddenly flip flop from mostly rainbows to mostly salmotrutta. Our typical first frost takes place in late October, so believe it or not, hopper fishing can be excellent leading up to the first big freeze. October Caddis will begin hatching in decent numbers which
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is a larger Tan Sedge imitated with a #14 Elk Hair Caddis dry fly. Blue Winged Olive Mayflies hatch consistently causing fish to pod up with true daisy chain porpoise rising to adults in hook sizes #18 down to #24. The streamer bite will pick up as the brown trout become more territorial as they begin staking out their spawning habitat along the many gravel bars throughout the riverbed.
NG
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST HELP FOR OUR HEROES by Dickelsby Dickg@Theanglermagazine.com
I’m just guessing that, like me, you are totally done with the everyday flood of bad news from the media about almost everything that affects our daily life! Well, settle in and check out one of the best new stories about the formation of fantastic help for our veterans and first responders! Meet Captain Josh Thornton of Awesomeville Dawsonville who has originated a super plan to help get them on the water and enjoy carefree hours catching crappie and catfish and many other Lanier species. His website www.fishingwith everydayheroes.org is the place to go to see how this great effort is taking place. He is a USCG Master Captain, Full time Crappie Guide, Tournament Director, Local and Regional Trail Angler and also featured speaker/ presenter at the Atlanta Boat Show, GON Blast, NOE Outdoors, Southern Fishing Schools, Fish North Georgia, North Georgia
Crappie Anglers, West Marine, The Angler Magazine and many local outdoor and fishing expos. If you have any inclination to get involved or learn more, please visit the website or call 770-530-6493. Angler Magazine publisher Bob Rice and I, your humble correspondent, were really excited about a special crappie trip with Josh just recently. This experience really helped with a close up of the special talents this guy has to offer for organizing and participating in a ‘reel’ deal guided trip out of Thompson Creek Park recently on Lake Lanier. First off, Boss Bob always starts things with a nice spotted bass and that put us crappie guys on the ready! Josh has so much experience on this part of the lake, he knows what docks and spots to look at and drop the camera. Yes, you read it right, he has a Panoptic live scope that lowers into the water and actually sees fish in real time. It awesomely pictures on his Garmin Echomap electronic display showing the fish chasing bait and actually approaching your baited offering!
We witnessed two locations with no fish, then at the third the screen came alive with bait being chased by crappie! In went our baited hooks and settled to 10 feet. It didn’t take long before mine and Josh’s line tightened up and we boated 2 nice 10 inchers for the live well. Bob chipped in with another on a jig precisely cast under the dock. Then I witnessed a happening for the first time in my 70 years of fishing. Josh looking intently at the screen and said “get ready, Dick, there’s a fish after your minnow!” I prepared for the sure bite but it never happened as the guide said “too bad, it just swam away” Yes, I just experienced my first known fish rejection! Bob added another nice spotted bass because he is the bass master! I took a beautiful 14 inch pole-doubling crappie and the morning became a great day of fish catching on beautiful Lake Lanier! I can’t thank the North Georgia Crappie Club enough for all the fine work they do helping Capt Thornton get the veterans out on the water as often as possible. They will also be holding a Junior
Tournament on October the 9th. Please contact them for more information. In closing, please think how you might help with a sponsorship for the www.fishingwitheverydayheroes.org. This just in! Our hero Josh Thornton just announced the arrival of a great new boat for him to please even more heroes!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE MARTIN
by Wayne Wooten
Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089 Water temperature: 81 degrees, lake level: 490 (remember 10/15 water draw down starts), clarity: clear. The collage of below pictures is from October 2020 so as you can see Lake Martin fall fishing can be amazing! I see no reason why 2021 will be any different. On October 15, the lake draw down begins, and will be down 10 feet by end of 2021, which is exactly what it used to be pulled down every year. The last 5 years they held it at 7 feet below full pool. I am very excited that the extra 3 feet draw down is happening this year. Why? In the eyes of a fisherman, it’s very simple.
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FISHING, FACEBOOK AND A SNICKERS BAR
You end up with a lot less acres of surface water to have to search for fish on. It narrows down the areas that the fish have to hide from you, and as a professional charter guide, you’re always hunting for an edge to help put your clients on fish. So yes, I’m excited. Based on 2020 striper catches, I plan on live baiting the entire month and concentrate searching in 50 feet or less of water. I personally think both sides of the lake will produce striper catches. Whether you like the Ridge south area or the Ridge north area, you should have good fishing at both. If you are a trolling person instead of a live bait person, you should be pleasantly surprised at how many fish you should be able to catch. Whether it’s stripers or spotted bass, you will have fun in October. If you like lots of action, beautiful weather and beautiful scenery, come spend a day with us here on Lake Martin. You’ll be glad you did. Until next time, be safe and catch a big one!
A few months back, a conversation took place on Facebook between Jim, Tommy, Danny and myself about who could out fish who, resulting in a contest to be held at Sandy Creek Park in Athens with a Snickers Bar as the first place prize. We were all classmates and neighbors from the Cedar Grove Community/Panthersville area. We had communicated trough Facebook but had not seen each other in 50 plus years. Everyone showed up at Sandy Creek, and we loaded out to prove our worth! We divided into two teams, Danny and Tommy in Tommy’s boat and Jim and I in Jim’s boat. Not long after we started, Jim hooked into a Jackfish, and as for me, well I had a professional over-spin! Jim and I
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fished for a couple of more hours with no luck. We finally spot Tommy and Danny claiming four fish on a wacky rig and pics to prove it. Jim and I crossed the lake and tried some wacky rigs, and finally Jim caught a bass. I continued to have tackle woes. Some were selfinduced, and I didn’t catch a fish. It was moving on towards lunch time, and the Snickers had been eaten. We all opted to call it a day, declaring Tommy and Danny “alleged” winners. A rematch was immediately called for, and we headed for lunch. Although there were not many fish caught, a fine time was had by all. We got caught up on stories and each other. Now we are looking forward to the rematch!
Th made countr reserv or ero were d 1930’s left th cuttin was ar pool. G Hill, H examp the wa ‘petrifi oxygen as cov points In the s rises a provid of the enoug fish to sunny will g up. W the tre paints trees b turned hybrid cruisin trees. Ga based sun an amoun proxim few. E their you ca So ju appear trees, i not ‘ca For trees challen them. mark having correc a sona SideSc other Simra traditi
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
T FISHING IN THE FOREST By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA There are numerous manmade lakes throughout the country that were created as water reservoirs for power generation or erosion control. Many of them were dammed up as far back at the 1930’s. When most were built, they left the standing timber intact, cutting off the tops when the lake was around 20 to 30 feet below full pool. Georgia’s Lake Lanier, Clarks Hill, Hartwell and others are good examples. This timber, far below the water line, has essentially been ‘petrified’ in the dark, cold, lowoxygen content water, and serves as cover for baitfish, and ambush points for game fish. In the warm weather months, the surface water temperature rises and the thermocline sets up providing a relatively narrow layer of the water column where there’s enough oxygen for active game fish to be comfortable. On bright sunny days, the fish we’re targeting will go deeper as the sun comes up. Where do they go? Right into the treetops. Simrad’s DownScan paints a remarkable image of the trees below, and with Fish Reveal turned on, you can see stripers, hybrids, bass and even crappie cruising in and just above the trees. Game fish feeding times are based on a variety of factors; the sun and moon, water temperature, amount of light, and of course the proximity of bait, to name just a few. Even when they are not on their normal feeding schedule, you can still elicit a reaction strike. So just because you see them appearing to take a siesta in the trees, it doesn’t mean those fish are not ‘catchable’. For us anglers, fishing the trees does present a number of challenges. The first one is locating them. Sometimes tree limbs will mark as fish on your sonar. So having your machine adjusted correctly is paramount. Having a sonar unit with DownScan and SideScan that can discern fish from other ‘stuff ’ down there is critical. Simrad’s Fish Reveal combines traditional sonar, which makes
fish appear like arches along with their high resolution DownScan Imaging, so fish will show up as arches amidst all the other objects DownScan is showing. It’s really cool technology. The next challenge is getting these semi-lethargic fish to bite. For me, that strategy comes in two forms; live bait and jigging spoons. Jigging spoons will definitely trigger a reaction strike. The big Parker spoons are among my favorite, but diamond jigs will work and so will larger Clark spoons. This is a great search technique because you can cover a lot of ground quickly. You can watch the jig drop on the Simrad, and start retrieving just as it makes the tops of the trees. Dropping into the trees is risky. Those petrified limbs do not easily give up a fouled spoon. When tree-fishing, I think the best tactic is live bait. Again, you have to be keenly aware of the treeline depth. If you drop your bait down too deep, when a fish hits it there’s a strong likelihood the fish will run back for the cover and get tangled in the limbs. No one wins this game. You’ll wind up breaking your leader, and the fish will stay hung up, probably dying. So, when deploying your rigs, make sure your baits are positioned just above the trees. I typically use about 4 feet of fluorocarbon leader below the 1 ½ ounce sinker. If the treetops are 25 feet below the surface, I’ll position my sinker around 18 feet. This gives the bait plenty of room to swim around without getting tangled in the branches, and if a big fish hits and pulls drag, you have a good chance at getting him turned before he can make it back to the forest. So now you’re saying “If the fish are down around 30 to 35 feet in the trees, how can I expect them to come up to 20 feet and eat?” Believe me, it happens all the time. Remember that Mother Nature built most game fish to feed “up”. On a clear, sunny day those baits present a tasty silhouette that
will generate a reaction strike, and oftentimes will cause the entire school to come out to play. This is true for more than just stripers and hybrids. We’ve pulled catfish off a 50 foot bottom to come up and eat baits at 25 feet. Spotted bass and smallmouth sitting on a ledge will gladly make the 20 to 30 foot ascension to eat a tasty morsel. One key I’ve found is it’s best to put out a pretty good spread of baits. I’ll drop at least four downlines over the side, and many times I’ll do six.
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When all the rods start bending, it’s cockpit chaos, and it’s a lot of fun! So when the sun comes up and the fish go down deep, change your strategy to fish the forests and you’ll put more fish in the boat. Tight lines and calm seas.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST OCTOBER ON LANIER MEANS TRANSITION Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com
October on Lake Lanier means transition. Often, you can find fish shallow and in the mid-depth ranges. As well, some fish start to move deep. The lake traditionally begins its turnover/stratification process this month, which provides an additional challenge. This year the lake returned to full pool and actually remained over full pool for the majority of the year. As we head into October 2021, the lake is over full pool and should be dropping, as it usually does in the fall. September 2021 has been more normal in terms of conditions with a normal cool down and eradication of the humidity occurring earlier in the month. This traditional weather pattern should bring us some more predictable fall fishing this year on Lanier. Let’s dig in and examine how to approach catching spotted bass in this highly transitional month. Location: As the water temperature cools, the bait, and
therefore many of the fish, begin to move shallower in search of the warmer water that remains. As always, staying up with the location of the bait is key to consistently catching fish. To complicate matters, the lake traditionally begins its turnover process in September/ October, which provides an unstable environment for the bait and the fish. The stratified layers of the lake mix at different times in different places. During this time, focus your efforts on the areas of the lake that have not yet or already have turned over or stratified. Look for the clearer water and avoid water that has a dark, cloudy, or coffee look to it. Often, you can find fish shallower in the creeks during this period. However, some fish may also be deeper relating to the brush that had been holding fish through September. Some of the fish may go even deeper and begin relating to
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the timber edges in preparation for winter. Obviously, there are numerous factors to consider when searching for the catchable fish in October. Examine your options, understand the status of the lake and the effect of recent weather changes, stay flexible in your search, and stay on the move until you find a viable, repeatable pattern during your fishing day. Now let’s examine some potential lure choices. Lures and Presentation Mid-Depth 1. Topwater/Swimbait – This bite in October can be outstanding. Large schools of fish can be found around humps and points near the creek or river channel, typically more near the mouths. Experiment with different baits and presentations to match the conditions. A Zara Spook, Chug Bug, and Gunfish are some of my favorite topwater baits. On the swimbait side, make sure to try the Sweet Bait Company Swim Bait offerings. Awesome baits! 2. Georgia Jig – Great bait throughout the fall on Lake Lanier. Tip the jig with a twin tail trailer, and fish the bait around rocky/clay points, on ledges, and timber edges. Take your time and work it slowly. Lures and Presentation Shallow 1. Shaky Head – A Lanier Baits head with a Jimbo’s Fat Finesse worm can be an awesome bait in October. Fish shallow around docks and secondary points with this bait for some hammers. 2. Senko – A great bait to fish shallow around docks as it can be skipped under and around objects
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with ease. Dead stick the bait and wait for the tick! 3. Crankbait – Tie on a Spro Little John DD and target shallower rock points toward the end of the month. This can be a particularly good approach at daylight. 4. Spinnerbait – A Georgia Blade spinnerbait can really get cracking for you in October once the water temperatures fall into the 60’s. I like the double white willow blade combination and the #9 skirt choice. Check out GA Blade online or pick up some of their super creations at Hammonds Fishing and other tackle stores around North Georgia. Lures and Presentation Suspended 1. GA Blade Shad Spin – This is an excellent producer on Lanier. Fish the bait at the depth you see the fish suspending near bait balls. Understand the fall-rate for your rig and count the bait down to the depth of the fish and maintain that depth. 2. Jerk Bait – Another great tool for targeting suspending fish. Choose a bait that suspends at the depth the fish are holding and experiment with your retrieve cadence until you find what the fish are looking for any given day. I really like the SPRO offerings in the jerk bait – both the McStick and the McRip - start with those. I still have a few dates available this October, but they are going fast. Call me to book a trip. See you on the water! For more information or to book your trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www.jimboonlanier.com.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE SEMINOLE Forecast By: by Capt. Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com
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The bass fishing through September was very good again this year. As we move into October, the fall bite will be in full swing as the water temperature starts to cool down and our days become shorter. The reaction bite starts to heat up and that means topwater baits and moving baits. Buzzbaits and walking baits like a Heddon Zara Spook, fished along the edges of the grass lines on the Flint River arm of the lake, have been very productive. If coming to Lake Seminole in October, the bass will be in their fall feed, feeding on shad. Spinnerbaits are very productive when the bass start chasing shad in the fall. One of my favorite spinnerbaits is a ½ ounce War Eagle double willow leaf in chartreuse and white fished over the grass flats on the main lake. The striper and hybrid fishing has been on fire, and our customers have been averaging over 30 fish per half day trip! Moving into October, the bite typically extends, so we anticipate the excitement to continue. When fishing for hybrid and stripers, the correct rod paired with a 6:2-1 reel is critical. For the reel, I prefer the Lews LFS series. It has an awesome drag and can hold up to the demands of these hard fighting fish! For the rod, I prefer a Temple Fork Outfitter’s Rod in the Professional Series. TFO’s 7’6” heavy action rod with its fast tip and mod-
Bill Allen from Recovery, GA with a big Seminole hybrid. erate action, paired with an Alabama rig, is my go-to for battling these tough fighting pelagics! On the business end of the A-rig, you can’t beat the Bass Assassin 4” or 5” Sea Shad rigged on a Bass Assassin jig head that features a needle sharp Mustad wide gap hook. For an exciting Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this fall, email us at lakeseminolefishingadventures@ gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @capt.paultyrefishing and Facebook @lakeseminolefishingadventures! Give us a call at 850-264-7534 to check availability!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE SINCLAIR
ENJOYING FALL ANGLING Dr. Andrew Cox In my view, October is one of the best months of the year for angling. The water is beginning to cool down making the fish more active. Fish that have been hard to come by during the summer months can now be caught with some consistency. Crappie, bass, bream, and catfish can be more readily found in shallower water. Even the hybrid and striped bass are more active in their schooling activity on area lakes. The air temperature is now cooler making it more comfortable for anglers spending the day on the water. These cooler temperatures are certainly most welcome. In the past, I have experienced heat stroke/heat exhaustion while fishing during summer’s heat, illustrating the dangers of fishing and other outdoor activities during hot summer days. Though October is cooler, the angler should continue to take precautions to avoid heat related medical problems. There are also fewer anglers and other water enthusiasts on our waterways, making them less busy. Many outdoor users have shifted their focus from water sports to other activities or interests. Some anglers are now engrossed in hunting. Others are spending time watching or attending college and professional football on the weekends. Accordingly, there is less competition for those prime fishing spots. A variety of baits continue to be effective during the fall season. Anglers seem to have more success this time of year using shallow water baits such as spinnerbaits, inline spinners, and shallow running lures. Plastic baits such as creature baits and plastic worms continue
to be effective in shallow and intermediate depth water off banks and points. Fish can be caught on topwater baits and flies on the flyrod at certain times of the day during this month. A dilemma is encountered during October and November. Not only does freshwater fishing pick up, but inshore saltwater fishing on the Atlantic coasts of Georgia and Florida, and Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana Gulf Coasts also light up with cooler water and more active redfish, speckled trout, and other saltwater fish species. Accordingly, the angler with limited time available for fishing has hard decisions to make as to where to spend that valuable fishing time. I try to schedule several freshwater fishing excursions and at least one inshore saltwater trip over the course of October and November. October and November are my favorite months of the year for angling. The cooler air and water temperatures, less anglers and boat traffic, and more active fish; this is the stuff of angler’s dreams. Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.
A variety of baits continue to be effective during the fall season. Anglers seem to have more success this time of year using shallow water baits...
20 ATLANTA
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Forecast By: Ken Sturdivant kensturdivant@att.net Lake Sinclair is down 1.4 feet with the temperature in the 80s. Bass fishing is fair. When the cool down starts, the quality fish can be caught on a Bass Hound Crankbaits’ Main Event prop bait in a bream color fished aggressively around the grass and old bream beds. A square bill crankbait and a Buckeye Mop Jig will also catch some quality fish in these same areas. An early fall pattern is starting to show up as the shad have started
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moving back in the creeks. Use the Lowrance electronics to find these concentrations of shad. Numbers of fish can be found following the shad around the points and flats at the mouths of the creeks. A small Lucky Craft Sammy and a Zoom Super Fluke in shad patterns will catch these fish that are following the shad. Small shad colored crankbaits and small Alabama rigs thrown across these main creek points will also produce a good many bites. The clearer water down lake seems to be best for numbers of fish and fishing that early fall pattern. The stained water from mid-lake up both rivers has been best for quality bites.
LAKE CHATUGE Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice. com 706-455-2323 Water temperature: 78-80 degrees, lake level: 1 foot below full pool, clarity: clear. Lake Chatuge has been fishing well. TVA had started lowering the lake some before Labor Day weekend, but we got a lot of rain off Hurricane Ida that put the lake back up above full pool. TVA has been dropping it fast the past couple weeks, and we’re now a foot below full pool. With the rain we got off the hurricane, it did cool the water temp some. As a fisherman, it seems like we wish our lives away. We can’t wait for spring fishing, and after it’s over, we can’t wait for fall and winter fishing to get here. I’m still trying to target a topwater bite the first couple hours of the morning. Baits I’ve been
using are a Zara Spook, Whopper Plopper and Berkley Cane Walker. This bite should keep getting better throughout the month. You can also catch fish on a Zoom Fluke and a Strike King 3.25 Rage Swimmer. I’m always using my electronics to try to find fish over brush offshore or in ditches. The baits I will use are Z-man Trd, shaky head, drop-shot, and a jerk bait. The fishing is only going to get better throughout the month, so remember catch and release, and we can catch them another day. Remember that we guide on 8 different lakes, so if you’re looking for some great fishing, give Welch’s Guide Service a call. We’re your #1 guide service, and we’ve been doing this since 2001. Good luck.
As a fisherman, it seems like we wish our lives away. We can’t wait for spring fishing, and after it’s over, we can’t wait for fall and winter fishing to get here.
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LAKE ALLATOONA Forecast By: Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918 Lake Allatoona is fishing excellent and current water temperatures are in the 82° range lake-wide. The past weeks have shown the linesides to be schooling up nicely, and there is a fantastic topwater bite we hope to enjoy now through the end of October. While this fantastic phenomenon is commonly enjoyed around the morning and evening ‘golden hours’, the topwater bite can occur at intervals throughout the days and nights. Always be prepared and have a rod ready to cast that has a topwater lure or possibly a small spoon attached. If you are frustrated by fish breaking on everything but your artificial, size it down. If you are targeting the bigger hybrids and stripers in these mixed schools, just keep on with the larger offering. While I may be a huge fan of light-line fluorocarbon presentations, this topwater routine is where I personally step up to a braided line that is incredibly durable and forgiving with minimal stretch. If I could only have ONE lure on ONE rod for these topwater times, it might just be a small but fairly heavy spoon that can be cast up to 50 yards to reach a distant boil. Try your best to cast beyond the boiling and immediately start reeling and ‘skimming’ the top. When you are in the midst of the schooling fish, tossing out a larger bait on a freeline is almost always a win. We try to keep a few small to medium gizzards and even a few hook and line caught bream on hand at all times in preparation for these schooling fish. Almost without exception, this setup will pick up a larger fish from the school during these peak topwater shadchasing events. We talked about spoons a little, but not their primarily known application of ‘spooning’ up a fish from down under. Currently, spooning has been a very effective method for hooking up with all species of linesides. A lot of good fish are being caught in the heat
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of the day in water around 20-25 feet deep by spooning, and in the cooler evenings on flats as shallow as 2-8 feet deep. Techniques vary here, but ripping a spoon across the surface and bouncing a spoon of the bottom has worked well for us overall. Downlining: For the most part, the target start depth for downlining has been at around 15 feet down with live threadfins on a #2 or even #4 octopus or mosquito hook. Matching the smaller bait size the fish are chasing is often key. Frisky bait can be hard to top at most times, but we have witnessed that spoons worked through these same fish might produce equally well (if not better) at select times. Fresh bait may only last a few minutes on the hook with the current temperatures. It is my contention at this point one could do better to entice a strike by actively jigging a spoon than by trailing a lifeless shad at .5 mph. We have caught some nice spotted bass working primary and secondary points with a 3-4” swimbait, Berkley flat worm and even the smaller topwater lures. We would very much like for you to consider us for your next Outdoor Adventure. We strive to exceed your expectations and make every Adventure well worth the time spent. We cater to everyone - from the first-timer to the avid ‘old-timer’. Let’s go fishing! Please call us at 404-919-4918, visit us on FB @Heron Outdoor Adventures or at https://www. heronoutdooradventures.com/ OCTOBER 2021
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST FALL BASS FISHING Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com Fishing in the fall can be some of the most enjoyable times of the year for catching bass. When I’m heading to the lake in the fall, there are a few things I consider that helps me increase my chances of catching fish. The first thing I want to know is what the water temperature is. Next, I try to locate the last bit of grass that is left in the lake, and finally, making sure I have the right baits this time of year. Many may wonder why these three things are important. Well, there may not be a cut and clear reason, however, for me and the regions I fish, they usually work well for me and here’s why. Water temperature and where to fish: Water temperature affects the entire biological system in any body of water. When the water temperature drops in the lakes and reservoirs, this becomes a trigger for the bass to start getting ready for the long winter ahead. For me, there is a basic rule of thumb I use in order
to catch fish. It is a combination of knowing the water temperature and knowing general bass locations. When the water temperature drops to the mid 80’s, it’s time to look for coves and tributaries, and I only fish just a third way into the pockets. When the water temp hits 70 to 60’s, I focus on the secondary points and channel swings, 60-50’s hit the flats in the back of coves that have a creek running from the back of it, and 50’s to the mid 40’s focus on stump fields, ditches and shallow areas close to some type of deep access route. Grass is your friend in the fall: When fishing in the fall, find any bit of grass left. Bass use grass year round no matter the season. Find grass on deeper points leading into pockets and it will allow you to pick up a few bass. The reason that vegetation is so important to bass is because it is a primary part of their life support. Bass need three things; food, shelter, and oxygen
that comes from vegetation when it is present, and other anglers agree. “They will stick to it to the bitter end” (Howell 2003). I have seen fish stack up on a patch of last vegetation near a channel break and loaded the boat pretty quickly. So find some grass in the fall, fish it and hang on. Using the right baits in the fall: There is one simple thing you need to know in the fall when it comes
to bass fishing; bass are feeding and feeding a lot. On the deck of my boat I have four main baits tied on at all times; a spinnerbait, deep crankbait, a topwater bait and a jerk bait. Every one of the baits allows me to cover a lot of water, and that is what you need to do in the fall because the fish can be at times hard to find. However, when you do locate the fish, you will most likely be around a lot of them. So use your baits and cover water and know that the fish are in schools. You only need one fish to activate a feeding frenzy and it’s on. Remember that the fall is one of the best times to bass fish. If you keep an eye on the water temperature, find some vegetation and use some of the right baits, you might just find some of the best fishing of the year. Good luck and enjoy.
LAKE EUFAULA By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: mid to upper 80’s, lake level: 189.56msl, clarity: stained. The water level is holding steady, the temperature is great, the stain is just right and the ever so slight chop in the morning is perfect for the lipless crankbait and blade bait action. The shad are feeding just off of the outside isolated grass patches. The chrome baits are working, but they draw a lot of short strikes and foul hook up’s due to the flash on the chrome. If you feel a slap at the bait, stop for a second, pop it and begin the retrieve again. When you get your bait to the boat, do a couple of vertical jig motions before you bring it all the way in. The bass are chasing it back to the boat. 22 ATLANTA
OCTOBER 2021
The deeper fish are on the cover and trash piles on the ledges. Deep cranks and Carolina rigs are catching bass. Creature baits in greens and reds are working on jigs and Texas rigs along the grass patches. Trick worms in the same colors worked on a slow retrieve are also getting hit. The hybrids are hitting the faster moving lures. We are getting most of them where the bass are feeding on shad on the outside cover. Crappie are eating minnows in the trash piles and manmade cover on the drops in 10 to 18 feet. Panfish are staged on the flats and are eating crickets and wigglers. The cooler weather is the perfect time to get the family out on the water to catch a great meal and make memories your kids will share for generations. The October 16th Alabama Classic Bass Tournament is fast approaching. Registration is now open
Kenai Castllo, Tifton, GA, fishing Lake Eufaula with guide Joe Dudewicz. online. Thanks to our title sponsor Alfa Insurance, we now guarantee our first place team a $5,000 check, increasing our total purse to $15,000 for the top 15 teams. Big fish pot is a 100% pay back to the two biggest bass weighed in, split 60/40. That
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pot is $20.00 per angler. Please visit www.alclassic.com, register to fish and sign up for our newsletter. The safety meeting will be October 15th at 5:00 P.M. CT at Lake Point Resort in the banquet room. God bless and good fishing.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE BLUE RIDGE
CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973
lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com
Water temperature: 78 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: not much. October on most lakes is the end of summer and when the fish start to pull up from the deep holds of summer. Not here. Unfortunately, we won’t see that movement for another month or so. Until then, we are still summertime fishing here. Stripers are still deep and feeding mainly early in the day on live baits. After sunrise, we are catching them on Capt. Mack’s umbrella rigs as well as deep running crankbaits fishing the points around the mouths of the creeks. Fish are holding in the 50 to 70 foot range. The walleye are still deep on the timber tops. Spoons, jigs, or live bait
will work, but you have to hit them in the face with it. You literally have to bounce it on their heads until they eat. With the warm water, the best bites have been at dawn and dusk still. Best color this month has been chrome and black with all artificial offerings. Look a little deeper than the stripers at about 75 feet. Late summertime is a good time to target the catfish in Carters Lake. Channels and flatheads are pretty common along with the occasional blue cat. I like targeting them at night, either after sunset or the hours before dawn are prime time. Live bait is king. Shad, alewives, bream, anything really, and they will find it. Lots of channels are around the Doll Mountain ramp, and flatheads are all over the rocks on the dam. Both like the Hydro Glow lights and the life it draws in.
Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973
lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com
Water temperature: 75 degrees, lake level: near winter pool, clarity: 6 to 8 feet. October fishing is always a welcome change after the long, hot summers on this lake. Water temps dropping along with the annual drawdown bring about new bites, mainly the perch fishing. The yellow perch move onto the grass beds for fall and start feeding and packing on the pounds before winter. This annual migration has become one of my favorite times of year. Not only good numbers of fish, but some really nice size fish are caught each fall. Right behind the perch are the walleye. They are finally moving up a bit shallower and feeding really well on shad and herring.
Look for the bait and find the fish nearby. Spoons and deep diving cranks are the go-to for these fall walleyes. As the fish move to shallower structure, look for them on secondary points and pockets rather than the main lake. I like the big Vibrax spoons in green and gold as well as the Deep Tail Dancers in dark colors.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST FISHING WITH STICK BAITS By Ken Sturdivant www.southernfishing.com 770-889-2654
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Stick baits were popularized by the Rapala Company years ago. What made these baits so effective is they almost perfectly mimicked the baits that game fish feed on, both in fresh and salt water. These first lures were and are still made of the best balsa wood in the world. One major feature that makes them so effective is the wobble when retrieved. The small lips on the front of these baits are tuned, and they run straight right out of the box. Tie the fishing line directly to the lip. One tip is to use a loop knot on this lure. This makes the bait swim even better. But even at a standstill, the colors of these baits attract all game fish. Since they are made of wood, they float. But once they start moving, this wobble is perfect. Every Rapala bait made today is tank tested before it leaves the factory. Now, many of these lures are now made of plastic and even a foam material. Companies all over the world have a new style of the original stick bait and they have many new features. The most obvious features of these new baits is that they suspend once the retrieve stops. Instead of floating to the surface, these new styles stay dead still in the water col-
umn. These baits have been perfectly weighted with lead inside the lures. As another benefit, the lures now rattle. World class hooks are another benefit to these new lures. In the last two BassMasters Classic tournaments, professional angler Hank Cherry won these two events back to back, a very rare feat for any angler who makes a living fishing professionally. Hank Cherry is just the fourth angler in history to win the Classic in back-to-back years. And the one bait that helped him is a New Berkley Stunna Jerk Bait Stealth Shad. Working with Berkley, his refinements with the new bait added more action, casting distance and in the design process. The Stunna delivers with a unique slow sink to trigger bites from neutral and inactive fish. Fish eat them almost all year and in almost any water color and water temperature.
LAKE JACKSON By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com Water temperature: low 70’s-mid 70’s, lake level: full, clarity: heavily stained/stained. The fall bite isn’t very far away. Topwater in the mornings is wide open. Throw a Spook, buzzbait or Pop-R along deeper sea walls. Run as many spots as you can before the sun gets above the tree line. Once the sun is above the trees, throw a shaky head or C-rig on points and docks. On any brush you
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find, slow down and fish it really thoroughly. The offshore bite will still produce fish as all the bass will not move up at once. A drop-shot is a very effective way to catch offshore bass. Humps and brush will be your key areas to look for. Be patient, as the bass will give you a key as to what you need to be doing. Each bite will give you something to go on, so just remember what and where you were and what you were doing. Just duplicate it and you will catch fish. Look for fish to be further along if we have had cooler weather than usual. This will make the fall bite better. If the shad are in the pockets, you can have a day to remember on the lake.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST PEACOCK BASS AND IGUANAS FOR DAYS! By Gary Turner
Peacock bass were biting as fast as we could pitch baits. That was the fun part! Finding and catching the bait was a whole other story, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Last month my friend Dewayne Proffit said he wanted to take his boat down to West Palm to fish. Stacy Fleming and I planned to drive down and meet up with Dewayne and Dewayne’s son, Blake. We met down at Delray Beach and went to the Sandy Hook Bait shop to pick up some shiners. I don’t know what y’all pay for shiners, but they are premium bait down there ranging from $12.50 to $15.00 a dozen. I grab three dozen and we headed for the Lake Ida boat ramp. Blake has told all his school buddies he is going to catch a peacock bass. We got on the water and trolled down one of the small canals between the houses. The water was a little shallow, but as we neared the end, practically right beside the boat, Blake hooked onto a really nice four pounder! We caught several more peacocks and mayan cichilids and fished until we ran out of bait as 36 only goes so far. There we also saw some giant, dragon sized, iguanas on that canal. Blake said he wanted to catch one of those too. We then headed to Captain Charlies Reef Grill, best seafood in Juno, for dinner while we planned our adventures for the next two days. The next morning, we headed for Lake Ida. We launched the boat and caught shad with the cast net. With my 50 gallon Xtreme bait tank onboard full of bait, we’re now in good shape on bait. At the dock we met some other fishermen from North Carolina, so we headed up one of the canals they recommended. We trolled slowly with Blake and Dewayne casting off the front, while Stacy and I were casting and trolling off the back. Twice fish flew out of the water behind the boat missing the baits. The next one hit and Stacy had his first clown knife fish on the line. Next, Blake hooked some26 ATLANTA
OCTOBER 2021
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thing big that ran into the grass, and when he finally fought it out, it had so much salad we couldn’t see the fish. When we finally got it cleaned off, it was a really nice five pound peacock bass. As the day went on, we all caught lots more peacocks and mayan cichlids. We caught several largemouth and large bluegills too. I caught my first suwannee bass that afternoon. We wore out the fish for three days, catching well over 200, and we also managed to catch several iguanas too. That’s when fishing is FUN! The guys all headed back home, and the next morning I caught up with my friend and guide Johnny Stabile, South Florida Fishing Charters, for a day of fishing with him. We hit Lake Ida and wore out the peacock bass and mayans for another day, catching some really nice ones too. I still didn’t find the elusive clown knife, but I’m sure I will on another trip. I’m headed over to Santee next week to see if the cats are chewing! Hopefully, my next article will be about all of the fish we caught on some of my upcoming trips, so remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe I will come fishing with you! If you want more information about fishing, you can reach me at gary@purgeright.com.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST KIM’S KITCHEN
WEST POINT LAKE
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STUFFED & GRILLED RED SNAPPER
Instructions
Ingredients
• 3 tablespoons butter • ¾ cup fresh bread crumbs • ¼ cup chopped green onions • ¼ cup celery, diced • 1 clove garlic, minced • 4 ounces cooked shrimp • 4 ounces cooked crabmeat • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley • ⅛ teaspoon salt • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Step 1: Preheat coals in a covered grill to high heat. Step 2: To Make Stuffing: Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine in a skillet. Add the bread crumbs. Sauté and stir the mixture over medium-high heat till the bread crumbs are browned. Remove the bread crumbs to a mixing bowl. Step 3: Melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine in the skillet and sauté the onions, celery and garlic until tender; add to bread crumbs in mixing bowl, then stir in shrimp, crab, parsley, salt and pepper and toss gently. Step 4: Cut foil to form a double-thickness 18x12-inch rectangle. Lay the fish fillets on the double thickness of foil. Mound the stuffing on top of the fillets. Step 5: Curl up the edges of the foil to form a tray. In a covered grill, arrange the preheated coals at either side of the grill. Test for medium heat above the center of the grill. Place the fish in foil in the center of the grill rack. Cover and grill for 20 to 25 minutes or just until the fish flakes.
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Bass: Good - October usually marks a big improvement in fishing in general. As the days start to get a little shorter and the temps cool, expect a drastic improvement in the bass fishing. As usual, a few largemouth and spots are still being caught on pond dams, ledges and road beds in the main lake area, especially early in the month. Drop-shotting can also be effective in these areas. Best fishing is around brush piles or other structure in these areas, if you can find them. Water generation always improves this bite. Downsize baits in these same areas and improve your chances for spotted bass. More fish will move shallow with cooler water temps, and this pattern should improve as the water cools and we move into fall. Topwater baits such as Rebel Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and Spro Poppin frogs will become more effective for shallow fish, especially around grass and weed beds and wood. If they decide to pull the lake down, it can really stack fish up around the shallow cover that is still in the water. Try targeting the mouths of feeder creeks north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee. Also have a jig handy to pitch into wood cover in these same areas. Spotted bass are still your best bet on the south end of the lake. Spots can be caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with Zoom trick worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm around shoal markers. Also, try a small Texas rigged worm or a pig-n-jig around
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blown down trees. If it should cool down early, we could even get a good bite on spoons by the end of the month. Surface schooling groups of fish will also hit the Flash Mob Jr. rig, a favorite in the fall. Linesides: Good - After a good summer in general for schooling topwater action on the main lake, I expect surface schooling on the main lake to continue into this fall. These fish can generally be caught on spoons, topwaters, pop-n-cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures. Start early or stay late for the best results. The mouths of Maple and Whitewater Creeks will usually produce. Expect the down-line bite on live bait to continue to improve as we move toward fall, with the best yet to come in late fall and early winter. In most years, we are catching a good mixed bag of whites, hybrids, stripers and spots on vertically jigged spoons by the end of the month. Humps and old road beds near the mouth of most major creeks will generally hold fish. Crappie: Good - The fish will typically move shallower and hold on mid-depth brush and structure or under docks as the water temps drop into the 70s or below. Try dropshotting minnows in the brush or shooting docks in 5-15 feet of water for the best results. You can really do well if you find one of these schools. Try the cuts and coves in Yellow Jacket Creek and from Highland Marina north to Wolf Creek in the Chattahoochee. Some fish will start to move a little shallower as the water slowly cools, maybe by the end of the month. Minnows fished under a float will usually work on them when you find them. Any blowdown near deep water is a good starting point. Night fishing is still pretty good. Try under the bridges with lights.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
ST LAKE BURTON
E Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 77 degrees, lake level: full pool, clarity: clear. Lake Burton has started turning over, and the bite is picking up! Spotted Bass: The spots are ranging in depths from 9 feet of water to 25 feet. The biggest concentrations seems to be in 25 feet near the creek channels close to the main river channel. Most of the bigger spots we’re catching are in 20 feet of water. These fish have been biting a dropshot finesse worm (dark colors). Try to position the boat away from the point or hump that you are fishing and work the jig quickly back toward the boat. The topwater Spook bite has also picked up as well. Be ready for schooling fish. We had several big schools come up top this past week. This means we’re only a week or so away from a shallow water bite. I have seen more fish and bait on the electronics the last few weeks than
ever before. Look out October. The bite is going be ON! Brown Trout: The brown trout are grouping up in their late summer pattern. It seems with the cooling water temperatures that things are progressing faster this year. We have been catching most of our brown trout trolling crankbaits and spoons (white). Most of the trout are holding on a 30 to 40 foot bottom and biting baits in the 20 foot range. The size of the trout has decreased, but the number of fish has come up. Look for these fish to become more aggressive and bite more often throughout the day as we head into early fall. Yellow Perch: The perch bite is on fire! These fish are biting a drop-shot rig tipped with any bait (Fluke, worm, minnows). Look for these fish in 15 to 20 feet of water near the grass beds. Brush piles and rocks are another good location to scout. Good electronics always help when locating the yellow perch. Good luck!
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CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS By: Darren Hughes Owner: Hughes General Store & Bait Shop The Angler Magazine Fishing Team & Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021
Fall fishing is wide open out here on this awesome Western North Carolina and North Georgia lake. The cooler water temperatures have really got these big fish feeding. Currently, Lake Chatuge is 7 feet below full pool. Water temps are in the mid 70s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid fishing has been great. These fish are still schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardest-fighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning and mid-afternoon bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish along the main channel and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. With the cooling water temps, the topwater bite has been insane. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a Spook or Red Fin at the ready. As the month progresses, these hybrids will work
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their way back into the creeks and spread out. Then it’s time to break out the ol’ planer boards. Spotted bass fishing remains excellent, too. We are still catching some huge spots throughout the day, and it’s not uncommon to put 30-50 of these feisty fish in the boat in one trip. Early morning topwater bite has been strong. Topwater plugs, Spooks, and jerk baits have worked well. Our downline bite has also been very productive, especially in the mid-morning hours. Look for fish to be schooled up on shallow clay banks, humps, and off points. In terms of location, the upper end of the lake has been producing slightly better numbers than the lower end. Fall fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting, and October is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Nottely, and Lake Blue Ridge. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!!
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
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LANIER STRIPERS
LAKE NOTTELY STRIPER By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021, 1-844-4-ANGLER October in the North Georgia Mountains is a fantastic time to hit the water. With the beautiful views of the changing leaves and the cool comfortable temps, a day on the water seems like a dream come true after this long hot summer. Not to mention the fishing is also great! This is the perfect time to hit the lake and experience some extreme striper fishing, and what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Blairsville, GA’s #1 striper guide service: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We’ve been striper fishing these mountain lakes a long time and have what it takes to put you on some huge fish. Currently, Lake Nottely is 6 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear and water temps are in the low 80s. Striper fishing was excellent in September, and this month should be just as good. We’re currently still finding big schools of fish. Most of our stripers have been in the 5-8 pound range with a bunch of 15 to 20 pounders mixed in, and talk
about numbers! Our boats have been catching 20-30 stripers a trip. The early morning and evening bites are your best times to see action. With the cooling water temps, continue to target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel but also look for schools to move back into the creeks. The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 8 to the dam. The topwater bite has picked up a lot, so keep a Spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag surface-busting fish. The fish will start to spread out here soon and move in to the creeks. We will then move to all planer boards and free lines. We will also start pulling bigger baits for much bigger fish. October is a great month for catching a lot of schooling stripers on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Chatuge, and Blue Ridge. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!
Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 The lake is still more or less full pool, the water is clear, and the water temperature is finally getting below 80 degrees. The topwater bite has started early this year just like last year. As the water temperature drops, look for the topwater bite to become solid. Concerning live bait, herring will continue to be the primary bait in October. Rig the herring on a spinning rod with basically a 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook on a small section of 10-pound Trilene Big Game 100% flourocarbon and a Spro 120 PD Power Swivel. We are using a light action Shakespeare Striper spinning rod paired with a Penn Clash 3000. The light action is important to keep the herring from flying off. We are casting the herring to schoolers on points and open water and letting the herring just free swim. Be prepared for the surface action this month with a wide selection of topwater baits. Spool up an Abu
Garcia medium action rod with 10-pound Trilene Big Game and a Sebile Magic Swimmer as the lure. The Magic Swimmer has caught tons of stripers over the past decade. The Magic Swimmer comes in several sizes, and they all work, but the 125 is most popular on Lanier. Be prepared with several colors like the Halo Greenie and White Liner. Other key topwater baits include the Berkley J-Walker 120, Berkley Surge Shad, and the Berkley Hijacker. Each one has a different action. Also keep the trebles in tip-top shape. If they are bent, replace them with Gamakatsu Magic Eye trebles. So far this fall, the Berkley Hijacker in Bone has been the best bait. The key bait can change daily based on conditions. Three of the key colors are Black Chrome, Green Back Ghost, and Bone. Look for schooling fish and cast right in the middle of them. Some of these schools can be massive. This is usually the most exciting month of the year on Lanier. Do not miss it!
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Wall of Fame
WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP! One will be given away each month for the best reader submitted photo!
WINNER!
Jody Day and nephew Seth Gerri were the MGCA catfish tournament winners on Lake Jackson with a 44.85 lb flathead big fish and a 16.5 and 14 pounder.
Rene Hesse landed this big carp with his fly rod on a private lake in Alpharetta.
. High school angler Damian Pugh with a big bass caught fishing Lake Eufaula with his dad.
Case Guck caught his biggest ever striper on Lake Lanier
Pastor Ben Phenny from Phenix City, AL with a nice 7+ pounder caught on a soft plastic
. Dave Schmitt with a nice mess of Lake Allatoona slabs.
Troy Redner from Suwanee, Ga with a monster Seminole bass caught fishing with Capt Paul Tyre.
Steve Coward with some of the nice bass he caught on Lake Eufaula with Captain Sam Williams.
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DRAG: SET IT AND FORGET IT
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By Will Schmidt
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cringe every time I see it, whether it’s a seasoned pro or newbie. A fish makes a blistering run; the angler reaches down to tighten the drag only to part ways with the fish due to too much pressure. There are a variety of reasons why tightening the drag during a fight is a bad idea. First, as the diameter of the spool gets smaller with less line, the drag already actually increases. The spool is spinning at the same rate, but less line is coming off. Physics, who knew? Also, the drag of the line itself in the water adds more strain—the more line, the more pressure. Finally, even if the line doesn’t break, the chances of pulling or straightening the hook increases with the additional load. Worst of all, losing a fish due to applying too much pressure is one of the easiest things to avoid. Set your drag and forget it. Old-school tactics still hold true today when it comes to setting a drag. Set it to 20 to 30 percent of line test strength. For example, if you’re using 10-pound test, you want your drag to be set between 2 and 3 pounds, 4 to 6 pounds for 20-pound test. To do this, you need a scale and a friend to hold it. An inexpensive spring scale will do the trick. Attach the line to the scale and pull against it. When the drag starts slipping, read the scale and that’s your drag setting. There’s some debate as to whether you should pull straight or with a bend in the rod. I use a bend, and it has never failed me. I generally set my drags at 25 percent of the test strength of the line, but there are certain situations that call for going higher and lower. If you are grouper fishing or chasing big snook near structure, you need to be able to turn the fish by applying maximum pressure. In this case, setting your drag more toward 30 percent of the test strength would be advisable. Because this rule was devised before the advent of braid, the type of line should also be
considered. The stretch of mono gives you a bit of forgiveness at the strike and during jumps. When setting the drag for braid, lighter or closer to 20 or 25 percent would be sensible. Many seasoned anglers, myself included, will add extra pressure to turn a wayward fish by thumbing or palming the spool. This can be useful, but it takes practice to get that touch, and all who do it will at some point apply too much pressure. Sometimes it’s a case of turn the fish or lose it, so your only option is to apply more pressure. However, in general, your best bet is to set it and forget it. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades.
Gulf Cobia Study Underway
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exas researchers are conducting some pretty cool research with Gulf of Mexico cobia in order to better understand the migratory patterns of this highly mobile species. Each spring and fall, you’ll see tower-bearing cobia boats cruising Gulf Coast beaches sight fishing for cobia as they migrate along the coast from Texas to the west coast of Florida and back again. Research has shown that brownies over-winter off the coast of Mississippi and Alabama as well as off South Florida, where there is mixing of Gulf and Atlantic cobia stocks. Researchers with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation are tagging Texas cobia with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSATs) to better understand the species. Many Texas anglers have reported declining cobia landings in recent years. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and federal agencies have funded additional assessments of Texas’ cobia populations. Areas of interest are post-release survival, habitat use patterns and seasonal movements. Evaluating whether or not cobia stocks mix between U.S. and Mexican waters is of particular interest. It could have Gulf-wide management implications if the stock overlap between the U.S. Gulf and Mexican waters is high. To learn more about the program, and how to claim your reward if you catch a tagged one, check out this video: https://bit.ly/LoneStarLing.
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INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR BOAT’S HYDRAULIC STEERING E
By the Experts at Dometic Marine
xperienced boaters know regular inspection, preventative maintenance and fixing small problems before they become large ones are keys to trouble-free time on the water. Many boaters, however, tend to overlook hydraulic steering systems. This isn’t surprising, given these systems’ reliability and durability. Owners of outboardpowered boats expect smooth, easy steering control and rarely think about steering-system components until they wear out or need repair. According to Brian Dudra, vice president/ general manager for Dometic Marine, boaters can ensure trouble-free steering and extend the life of components through simple inspections and maintenance. “While each of our hydraulic systems are designed for the harsh marine environment, like any critical control system, it requires periodic checks and maintenance,” Dudra explained. “As per your owner’s manual and product labels, hydraulic steering systems should be inspected prior to every use for fluid level, steering response, leaks or worn/ binding components.” In addition, most systems require a small amount of maintenance from a qualified dealer every six months. Here’s how to inspect and care for your hydraulic steering system. Check the Helm: Starting with the steering helm, make sure the steering cylinder and helm hydraulic hose connections are tight. Dudra recommends greasing the helm shaft when installing the steering wheel to facilitate easier future removal. Check hydraulic fluid level inside the helm by unscrewing the fill plug and looking inside. The level should be 1/8- to ¼-inch below the lowest thread in the fill port. If lower than this, fill the helm to the proper level, but avoid over-filling. Check steering response when turning the wheel. It should respond within a quarter turn. If not, the system might need fluid or there might be air in the system, which requires purging. For tilt-and-lock steering helms, make sure the plastic covers are secured. Inspect Hoses & Fittings: When inspecting hoses, run your hand down them to feel for cuts, chafing or cracks. If you discover wear, have a qualified service shop replace suspect hoses. Also, ensure hose fittings are tight. Feel for hydraulic fluid leaks or weeps by running a finger around the fitting. If you find a leak, tighten the fitting. If that fails, have a qualified service shop address the issue.
Check Steering Cylinder & Glands:
Most outboard-powered boats use front-mounted hydraulic steering cylinders. The cylinder should be periodically inspected with focus on the cylinder hose connections and glands on each end of the cylinder to ensure there are no leaks. 12 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
Inspect the glands, which contain seals, on the ends of the steering cylinder by running your finger around the edges. If you discover fluid weeping, it’s time to replace the gland with authentic SeaStar parts. Check the steering cylinder’s shaft and support rod. Inspect the cylinder shaft for salt buildup, corrosion and nicks that might damage the cylinder. Major damage might require replacement of the entire cylinder. Apply a thin film of grease to the visible portions of the support rod. Remove and inspect the rod annually. The support rod and outboard tilt tube must be cleaned of old grease and debris prior to re-applying quality marine grease before re-installing.
Fix Leaks: If the hose fittings are weeping fluid, the hoses might require replacement. The same applies to the glands. SeaStar offers a gland replacement kit and O-ring seals for the bleeders and other fittings. If you follow the provided instructions carefully, fixing leaks is relatively easy for competent DIY boaters. You can also turn the job over to a qualified marine shop. To ensure the steering is secure and tight, check all assembly nuts for proper tightness,
including the adjusting nut on the starboard side of the support rod. Purge Air: Air in the hydraulic steering system causes sloppy unresponsive steering and noisy operation. It can make your boat unsafe. Air finds its way into the hydraulic system through leaks or when replacing key components. It must be purged through a process called “bleeding.” Your owner’s manual explains bleeding. If you lack confidence, tools or manpower to do it yourself, ask a qualified marine shop to handle this.
Check for Water Intrusion. Make sure water hasn’t entered the system. Water can cause damage and internal corrosion. “This is a subjective examination, but can be performed by taking a syringe and sampling the fluid in the helm reservoir,” Dudra advised. “If the fluid looks like ‘chocolate milk,’ then the fluid is likely contaminated with water.” If this occurs, the entire system must be inspected for leaks. Once these are fixed, the system should be flushed with clean oil to remove any contaminated oil. To learn more about marine steering and components from the industry leader, visit www.dometic.com.
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Together. Carrying what matters most. 14 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
By Rex Hannon
S
itting in the Cancun International Airport, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past 15 days on Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean coast. In August, I traveled to the little fishing village Xcalak to compete in the Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament. Xcalak is a quaint little village very near the border of Belize in southern Quintana Roo. It doesn’t make it on most tourist lists. In fact, a large 9:54 AM percentage of Mexican citizens have probably never heard of the place. If it wasn’t for Xcalak’s world-class flats fishery, even fewer would know of it. The Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament is an annual gathering of some of the finest saltwater fly fishers on the planet. The tournament focuses on the “grand slam” of permit, bonefish and tarpon. Combine that with a snook, and you have the “super slam.” Points are assigned for each fish, and there’s an added bonus for anglers who catch a slam. The grand slam is all three species in a 24-hour period, or in this case the day’s allotted fishing hours. Xcalak is an amazing fishery. If your bucket list includes the pursuit of this elusive challenge, there is no better place on the planet. Sighting schools of bonefish is commonplace, but the real prize is the abundance of “black-tailed devils” known as permit. Just because there are great numbers of these highly sought after game fish, they are by no mean easy. It’s much more fishing than catching. Fifteen teams and 30 total anglers fished three days in 2021, and the results were impressive. There were seven grand slams caught and two super slams. Total catch included 27 bonefish, three snook, 13 tarpon and 22 permit. Like I stated earlier, the Silver Scales draws some very talented anglers from around the globe. Brothers Javier and Mauricio Osorio, of Escamas Plateadas dedicated months to ensure the gathering was a success. The success our team “Fly Fish Costa Maya” is due to the passion and dedication of my friend Will Robins and the hard work and intimate knowledge of our guide Moises Cordova. The tournament is a grueling three days of hot sun, little sleep and nothing short of physical torture. It was one of the best times of my life. Preparation, hard work and endurance paid off in a respectable fourth-place finish. But, our success in fishing the tournament was nowhere near the highlight of this trip. Just knowing there are special places and people like this warms the heart and makes you want to return. I was anxious to board the plane for home and see my beautiful wife, but— with God’s blessing—I know I’ll return to this place soon.
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FISH A LIPLESS CRANK
T
TYLER WOOLCOTT
he weather is cooling, and bass are feeding heavily before the spawn. This time of year, baitfish is prevalent in waters across the country, and there is one lure that puts fish in the boat just about everywhere. This bait is a lipless crankbait. A lipless crank can play a huge role in getting baitfish-feeding bass to bite. I use it all over the country. Sometimes it’s as easy as casting it out and retrieving it steadily. But sometimes it’s a bit more complicated. Inside the lure, there are rattles. Sizes vary from ¼-ounce up to an ounce, and it is best to match the size of baitfish bass are feeding on. There are different types of rattles inside different lures. Two I like are a multi-rattle and a one-knock. Multi-rattles make a lot of noise. I throw this style when fish are very active and feeding heavily. The noise draws their attention from real baitfish and gets them to react and eat your bait. I like the one-knocker version and its slower, deeper-pitch knock when fish are feeding on baitfish, but not very actively. Fish tend to scatter out when they aren’t actively feeding, and that deeper pitch can sometimes trigger them to bite. There are many ways to retrieve a lipless crankbait. A steady retrieve can sometimes be the trick, especially if you see bass
feeding. But my absolute favorite way to fish a lipless crank is to yo-yo it. This is a varied retrieve with the reel handle, with an occasional pull and pause with the rod to let the bait flutter up and fall back down. This technique is deadly. When you pull the bait up fast, it makes a loud rattle. Then, when you let it flutter down, it looks like an injured baitfish, and bass can’t resist it. In the fall, bass also feed on crayfish in some parts of the country. A lipless crank can be a massive player in this scenario. When crayfish flee, their tails smack against their bodies and make a clacking noise similar to a rattle. When deciding colors, I match the color of the lure to the color of the baitfish present. 13 Fishing makes an awesome lure called the Magic Man that comes in both multirattle and one-knocker versions. When matching baitfish, I use chromes, whites and sometimes chartreuse. When mimicking crayfish, I use reds and oranges.
Trap Fishing Gear I’ve done a ton of experimenting with setups for lipless cranks, and I’ve got it down to a science. When dealing with treble hooks, you want a rod with a decent amount of backbone and a bit of bend to let the fish get the hooks. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4MH Moderate action rod. I pair this with a 7:1 Concept A 13 Fishing reel spooled with 15-pound Seaguar Abrazx line. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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OCTOBER 2021
NATIONAL 15
PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
TIPS FOR CATCH-AND-RELEASE FLOUNDER
A MONSTER CANADIAN STURGEON
W
hite Sturgeon can live longer than 100 years, so it’s likely this monster fish has been swimming between the northern Pacific and British Columbia’s Fraser River for the better part of a century. According to the Vancouver Sun, it took a group of Canadian anglers about 25 minutes to land this huge sturgeon in August. It stretched the tape to 11-feet, 6-inches and had a girth of 55 inches. An estimate based on those measurements puts the weight of the fish near 900 pounds. That would make it a Canadian provincial record for the species, according to the Sun. The anglers were fishing the Fraser River east of Vancouver. National Hockey League great Pete Peeters and his buddy Jake Driedger took turns on the rod. White sturgeon are widely protected, which makes them a difficult species in terms of records. In British Columbia, catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed, but fish longer than 5 feet must remain in the water before release. These protections as well their size makes it nearly impossible to get a certified weight on angler catches. The IGFA all-tackle world record white sturgeon was caught in 1983 and weighed just 468 pounds. There have been several reported but uncertified catches heavier than 1,000 pounds, including a 12-foot, 4-incher caught in 2012 from the Fraser River. It was estimated at 1,100 pounds. However, it’s likely the all-tackle record is permanent because it’s no longer possible to weigh white sturgeon. For more on fishing opportunities in British Columbia, see www.gofishbc.com.
16 NATIONAL
OCTOBER 2021
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
s the weather changes, so do the fishing patterns. This year, along with the seasonal changes, we also have some regulation changes to keep in mind. Here in Texas and also in Florida there are new closed seasons for flounder in 2021. From Nov. 1-Dec. 14, Texas flounder will be catch and release only. In Florida, the recreational season will be closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30. These closures are part of regulations-tightening trend for Gulf and Atlantic states after a federal study showed southern flounder numbers at historically low levels. I’m happy to report we’re still catching flounder, but be sure to check for updates to your state’s seasons and bag limits before applying the following tips. I enjoy the precise approach to successfully and consistently catch flounder. Although I won’t be able to harvest any during the closed period, I’ll still land some saddle blankets for photos before release. I’ll also modify my tactics to improve my hook-up ratio, which will also increase the odds of flounder survival during this spawning season. While targeting flounder, I generally pause after I feel the initial strike. I do this for a few reasons. Flounder hold their prey in locked jaws for a period of time in order to kill the bait and reposition it before swallowing. I don’t get as many hook-ups when setting the hook on the first thump of a flounder strike. In preparation for the closed season, I’ve practiced downsizing lures. A shorter and smaller profile significantly increased my first-strike hookup ratio. A lure that has proven very effective is the new 3.25-inch Knockin Tail Lure. It has a small profile, which allows for a wider gap between the plastic and the hook tip. With the boney jaw of a flounder, ample hook exposure increases penetration. This lure also has a built-in tail rattle and a ton of action. When targeting flounder, I start each day with a new jighead, and I might even replace it during the day depending on the bottom structure in the area. A sharp hook is crucial to consistently piercing a flounder’s jaw, which is where most of the hooks will be if you’re not waiting for the second or third bite, which is what I do if I plan to retain my catch. I also recommend a jighead with a strong solid hook with little to no flex. My final tip for targeting flounder is to use bright colors. Any color can work, but I catch more flounder on bright patterns. Some of my favorites are, white/limetruese, chartreuse with glitter and a bright green/bright red combo. I hope these tips give you the edge during this year’s flounder runs. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. Flounder can be an easy target for young anglers, even on lures. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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