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Big Fish And Little Plastic Boats By Nick Carter; Photos by Eric McDonald
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hese guys stole a chapter out of “The Old Man and the Sea.” While fishing a 2014 kayak tournament in the Bahamas, angler Matt Eckert had an adventure of epic proportions. He hooked into a 500-pound blue marlin while sitting on the deck of a little plastic boat. It dragged him 32 miles over an 11-hour fight. Eckert admits he was unbelievably lucky to get his hands on the leader, making it an official catch before the fish continued having its way with him. “I grabbed the leader with my hand, and it was like a bomb went off next to me. It almost spooled me 10 hours into the fight,” Eckert said. “The only reason I was able to get the leader was he made a big airplane turn and swam right by me.” That’s about as extreme as fishing gets. The kayak trips Eckert and his partner Eric McDonald guide out of Boynton Beach, Fla., might seem tame in comparison. But there aren’t many who would consider catching sailfish from a kayak to be tame. Deep Blue Kayak Fishing offers standard inshore and freshwater trips, but they specialize in taking groups of up to six anglers off the beach in rigged-out peddle-drive Hobie kayaks to chase big pelagics. They don’t use motherships or support boats. Their location on the southeast coast of Florida is one of the only places in the world where their style of fishing is possible. At times, the Gulf Stream swings in as close as 8 miles off the beach and brings with it fishing that would normally require long runs offshore. “When the east wind picks up, it brings everything in,” said McDonald. “It brings in the grass and the baitfish, which brings in the pelagics.” Deep Blue doesn’t force clients on an 8-mile death-peddle out to the Gulf Stream. Less than a half-mile off the beach, the reef tops out at about 45 feet and drops precipitously into 100-foot depths on the backside. Within sight of shore, they drift with the current and slowly peddle-troll live baits from the reef out into 200-foot depths and back. Each kayak pulls a single bait on a kingfish-style rig, and six anglers working together can pull a pretty impressive spread. The fish are impressive, too. “We’re so close to the Gulf Stream, you never know what you’re going to get,” said McDonald. “It seems like everyone wants a billfish, and sailfish are our most common catch. It’s sailfish from October into maybe June. Then the rest of the year it’s big king mackerel.” A smoker king or 65-pound sailfish will take a kayak angler on a
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serious sleigh ride. The typical fight stretches out over 3 or 4 miles of water and lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. “We usually start out trying to get a sailfish first thing in the morning. Then you’re trolling looking for meat,” McDonald said. “A good day would consist of a sailfish and three or four more meat fish.” Kingfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, grouper, snapper and cobia are some of the species that regularly find a spot in the deck-mounted fish bags. Because of a kayak’s limited range, Deep Blue stays in contact with the local charter fleet to share intel, and word of a good grass line might call for a trek out into 400-foot depths in search of mahi. But what kayaks lack in range they make up for in stealth. McDonald said they are sometimes able to peddle over and through bait balls and schooling fish that an outboard would definitely spook. “We just look like another piece of debris floating out there,” he said. “We get a lot of sea turtles that come check us out, and a lot of times mahi will be right under the boat.” Because of the physical nature of kayak fishing, Deep Blue limits its trips to five hours on the water. Depending on the wind and currents, a five-hour drift can take you 20 miles or more from where you put in. But they won’t make you peddle all the way back to the put-in. With a series of different take-out points, the end of a trip is usually a straight shot back to shore, hopefully in a kayak loaded down with fresh fish. Check out Deep Blue Kayak Fishing Charters at deepbluekayakfishing.com or give them a call at (561) 350-8764.
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Putting In The Time:The Man Behind The Design By Ryan Drygas
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evin Hawkins, owner of Kaku Kayaks, is not your typical kayak manufacturer. He’s a fisherman who tests and uses his own product and has made a living doing what he loves. In the quiet beachfront town of Tarpon Springs, Fla. Kaku Kayaks was born out of the idea of “life on the water.” Initially, Hawkins took up kayaking to get into springs, go scalloping, spearfishing and basic exercise. He fell in love with the ease of use, the peace of the water and the idea that you can pick-up and drop-in anywhere and take off to parts unknown. What started as a hobby turned into a passion, and an idea was born. At the time, Hawkins also had an interest in mountain biking, so in 2007 he started an outfitter shop to combine his two favorite outdoor activities. As time went on, Hawkins realized the products
he was selling weren’t holding up to his idea of a true paddle-craft, so he made the decision to stop reselling and focus on inventing. The idea was there, the knowledge was out there, all he had to do was find a way to put it all together. Hawkins spent five years working in other fields and saving money. All the while, he was learning the trade of roto-molding, studying different plastics, shaping, design and everything else he could possibly absorb about creating the perfect paddle-craft. Hawkins slowly made his dream become a reality by piecing together his company one step at a time. Eventually, the time came for Kaku Kayak to step out into the world of kayak angling. In late 2014, Hawkins took a crosscountry trip and tested his paddle-craft in every condition of water you can think of. From Florida to Texas, Hawkins fished rivers, creeks, lakes, inlets, offshore oil rigs and everything else in between. When he posted photos showcasing the Kahuna on social media, he knew he was onto something special. The Kahuna just might be the ultimate fishing SUP, designed, tested and tweaked by a hardcore fisherman. The response flooded in, with comments like: “Where can I get that?” and “That looks like a fisherman’s dream.” Requests for the Kahuna were not in short supply. Hawkins’ dream had become a reality, but he knew his inventing days weren’t over. The success of the Kahuna led to the birth of the Wahoo, a kayak fisherman’s dream. Designed to be simplistic yet fully capable of top-of-the-line rigging, the Wahoo will cut through the water like a downhill train. People from all over the country were noticing the unique design of the paddle-crafts coming out of Kaku Kayak. Still, Hawkins knew he could do more. The blended idea of the Kahuna and Wahoo brought forth one of today’s most sought-after paddle-crafts. The Voodoo is a combination of Kayak and SUP, a design that is a perfect mix of balance, comfort and mobility. We can only imagine what is going to come out of Kaku Kayak in the future! Check out Kaku Kayak at kakukayak.com.
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BOAT REVIEW NuCanoe Frontier 12
The NuCanoe Frontier 12 is an incredible fishing platform. Just spend a few minutes fishing on the Frontier 12, and you’ll be hooked. First thing you’ll notice is that, unlike other kayaks, it has a very clean deck with a lot of open space. There’s not a lot to get in your way, and there’s no limit to how you can set it up and outfit it. Solo or tandem, rigged up or stripped down, paddle, trolling motor or outboard, the options are unlimited. You’ll be blown away by the Frontier 12’s stability. It’s unlike any canoe or kayak you’ve been in before. You feel completely comfortable whether seated or standing. Your movements barely affect how it rides on the water. So, when it comes time to cast and fight a fish, you’re not even thinking about being in a kayak, you’re just locked in to the battle! Adding an outboard to the Frontier 12 is an ideal solution for anglers who want a great fishing experience but don’t want to spend a lot of time paddling. The Honda 2.3hp outboard moves the Frontier 12 at a very nice clip and is surprisingly easy to control. Whether you are going 500 feet or 5 miles, the outboard will get you to where you want to be quickly and comfortably. Then kill the motor, grab your rod, stand up and enjoy your unlimited fishing experience.
Learn more + find your local NuCanoe dealer at www.nucanoe.com | 888.226.6310
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“The most attractive option for boat and SUP storage.” -Cabin Life, June 2015
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Paddlesports| 1. Log Kayak Rack
Looking for a way to store your kayaks, canoes or paddleboards? You’d be hard-pressed to find a sturdier, more convenient or better-looking solution than a Log Kayak Rack. Individually constructed in the U.S.A. from weather-resistant white cedar, Log Kayak Racks are extremely strong and durable. They’re built to hold heavy loads and provide many years of service. They are available with capacity for two to eight boats, and racks can also be customized to meet your specific needs. Need a place off the ground to store a paddleboat, rowboat or any hand-launched vessel? Give Log Kayak Rack a call. They’ll custom design a rack for you. Well-considered design makes lifting boats in and out of the rack easy. Locking down boats is a cinch with standard cable locks. Racks can be bolted to a dock or anchored to the ground, and there are even Log Kayak Racks designed to hang on the wall. Visit their website to see what Log Kayak Rack has to offer, then give them a call at (715) 543-2006 to discuss the best solution for safely storing your fleet of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Product Reviews
1.
LogKayakRack.com
2. 2019 Hobie Mirage Outback
For more than a decade, Hobie’s Mirage Outback has peddled along without any major redesigns. With a kayak this close to perfection, there hasn’t been a need. However, for 2019, Hobie has taken the world’s best-selling pedaldrive kayak and made it even better. The 2019 Mirage Outback is a fishing machine built to handle any trip, from pond prowling to offshore expeditions. An extra-wide deck offers an improved and more stable casting platform and vantage point for sight fishing. The revolutionary Guardian Transducer Shield protects your vision below. The new Vantage CTW seat is roomier and more comfortable. Four molded-in rod holders, multiple deluxe H-Track mounts and numerous high-capacity storage compartments ensure all your gear is at your fingertips. Powered by the MirageDrive 180 with ARC Cranks + Turbo Fins, this vessel is versatile, fast, quiet and nimble. It now features the Kick-Up Rudder system with dual steering.
3.
Hobie.com
3. Kaku Voodoo
Kaku Voodoo The all-new Kaku Voodoo is the ultimate sight-casting paddle craft. This authentic fishing paddle craft has a unique look and performance. It’s part kayak, part paddleboard, with some micro skiff qualities. The Kaku Voodoo is like a personal deck yak. It has incredible stability, while maintaining good paddling efficiency. The performance of this paddle craft is lifted to an even higher level with the included Voodoo Chair, which is unlike anything on the market today. The Voodoo Chair has a beefy aluminum structure, a perfect amount of cushion, and off-the-charts utility, giving the paddler a high and low seating position, leaning chair,
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as well as a standing platform, without having to adjust anything. It’s mounted securely on 30-inch aluminum tracks, allowing for trimming as necessary. Top it all off with great storage and five Micro Powerpole mounts, which allow for multiple or single Powerpoles while also offering motor mounting. Check out the Voodoo’s higher-level capabilities today.
KakuKayak.com
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2. 4. Watershed Goforth Duffel
A dry bag is a necessity when you’re fishing from a kayak, canoe or SUP. Watershed’s Goforth is a darn good one. Step on it, stand on it or stomp around on it, no matter what you do, it won’t leak. The Goforth is a dry bag with mobility and versatility in mind. It features low-profile lash points along with a 2” nylon removable waist belt to make it ideal for on-the-go water enthusiasts. From the incredibly strong Airtight ZipDry closure to the 420 denier Cordura nylon ripstop fabric coated with polyurethane, it’s hard to know what to love most about the Goforth. Ideal for fishing, boating or just messing about on the water, this madein-the-U.S.A. duffel also features rugged carrying handles and multiple compression straps. Plus, it looks great on! Specs: Dimensions Rolled - 9”x16”x7.25” Capacity Rolled - 640 cu in (10.5L) Opening Size - 13” Weight - 1.5 lbs.
Drybags.com
5. Salt Marsh Skiffs Savanna
The new Savanna from Salt Marsh Skiffs is a kayak/skiff hybrid that offers a kayak’s ease of use with the capability to handle more diverse conditions and loads. Designed to handle two full size adults, it has a self-bailing cockpit fully loaded. The overall length of 14’ is long enough to accommodate 4 fly rods. The beam is 40” at the waterline, offering great stability that makes it a great fishing platform. The Savanna can be paddled, rowed, poled or powered depending on the need. It can putt around with a lightweight 2.5hp outboard or go long distance at up to 21mph with a 9.9hp engine. Perhaps the most intriguing option is the 3hp electric engine capable of cruising at 3mph with a range of up to 12-miles. For short bursts, the electric can reach speeds close to 6mph. The Savanna is right at home in rougher water and heavy boat traffic with a 14” free board. It can be easily be equipped for a variety of uses with the many accessories available from the kayak fishing world. If you’re ready to move up from a kayak and expand your horizons without the complexity and expense of a full-size skiff, the Savanna deserves a look.
SaltMarshSkiffs.com
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DeFoe Slams Door On Hometown Bassmaster Classic Victory B.A.S.S. photo by Andy Crawford
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or decades, it seemed almost impossible for an angler to win the Bassmaster Classic in his home state. Now it’s happened four times in six years. On the final day of the Classic March 17, Tennessee pro Ott DeFoe, of Knoxville, caught five bass that weighed 18 pounds, 14 ounces to win the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing and the $300,000 prize. The event was held on the Tennessee River in Knoxville. DeFoe’s three-day total weight of 49-3
helped him slip past second-place angler Jacob Wheeler at the weighin before a raucous home crowd at the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena. The world-championship bass tournament drew a record attendance of 153,809. “This is a dream come true—a dream I’ve had since I was a 9-yearold kid,” said DeFoe. “When we came over here and did the walkthrough the day before the tournament, I actually imagined hearing my name after the words ‘Bassmaster Classic champion.’ “For it to happen now… I just keep thinking I’m gonna wake up.” DeFoe lives in Knoxville—and since few others in the 52-angler field had much experience on the tournament waters of Fort Loudon and Tellico lakes—he was one of the obvious favorites coming into the event. But things didn’t go smoothly for him all three days. After catching 20 pounds during Friday’s opening round, DeFoe caught five bass that weighed just 10-5 Saturday—and he said that tough day might have been the best thing that could have happened. “If I would have had a good Day 2—if I’d had even 14 or 15 pounds—I might have been totally committed to what I was doing,” DeFoe said. “…But the fact that it just didn’t work for me, that caused me to just scrap it all. I just
went fishing today, and that’s exactly what I needed to do.” DeFoe spent Day 1 far from the shoreline fishing shallow tips of points. His primary bait was a Storm Arashi Vibe lipless crankbait in the “rusty craw” pattern, which he doctored with orange, red and black Sharpies. On the second day, DeFoe switched to shallow boat docks when a strong north wind interfered with his pattern. His bait of choice around the docks—a 3/8-ounce bladed jig— helped him land three of his five keepers on Day 2. He used the bladed jig again Sunday but moved to the outside wall of a marina after a conversation with Keith Poche, a Classic competitor who failed to make the cut for Championship Sunday. On the water Sunday, after boating one of the bass that helped seal the victory, Defoe said he was going to give Poche a big old bear hug.
Bassmaster Classic Top-10 1. Ott Defoe, 49-3, $302,500 2. Jacob Wheeler, 45-3, $52,500 3. Jesse Wiggins, 43-14, $40,000 4. Michael Iaconelli, 42-9, $30,000 5. Mark Daniels Jr., 41-12, $26,250 6. Brandon Lester, 40-5, $22,000 7. Wesley Strader, 39-8, $21,500 8. Edwin Evers, 39-7, $22,250 9. Dean Rojas, 35-6, $20,500 10. Brandon Palaniuk, 34-15, $20,000
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Unsinkable Polarized Mirror Sunglasses
KING KRACKEN Outdoor Clothing Co..
Unsinkable brings a lot more to the table than just being unsinkable. Their premium polarized glasses feature lenses made from a proprietary lens material called Polyamide, which has the optics of glass combined with the lightweight feel of polycarbonate, resulting in crystal-clear vision. New for 2019, Unsinkable’s lineup now offers blue and green mirror polarized lenses, providing another level of sun glare protection. These lenses reflect glare from every possible angle and offer super crisp, saturated, color acuity. A proprietary blue light barrier filters harmful blue light, allowing colors to blast, and a hydrophobic coating protects against salt, sweat and smudges. Other features include anti-scratch coating, 100 percent UV protection, they are BPA free, and boast injected and decentered optics. All Unsinkable glasses are lightweight and impact resistant, and provide 10 percent visual light transmittance (VLT). Blue mirror lenses are available in six wrap sunglass styles, ideal for blocking out glare while searching out signs of baitfish or gamefish. Blue mirrors are best suited for bright sunlight conditions and are an excellent choice for offshore and coastal fishing and boating. Green mirror lenses are available in four wrap sunglass styles, which reflect glare from every possible angle. They are best suited for variable light conditions and an excellent choice for anyone who spends a lot of time fishing or boating inshore waters or freshwater. Unsinkable Polarized Sunglasses will never sink, but in case they do float away, you are covered by Unsinkable’s groundbreaking Lifetime plus Loss warranty. The MSRP on the new Unsinkable premium polarized mirror sunglasses is $159. To checkout their complete lineup of products, go to https://unsinkablepolarized.com/.
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Center sp ie Vaine By Jeram
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tand up paddling covers a wide variety of activities. From the casual cruise on a calm lake to adrenaline fueled wave surfing. But I’ve found myself spending more time on my stand up paddleboard (SUP) with a fishing rod. Two good friends, Chris Hollingsworth and Ken Hoeve, opened my eyes to world of SUP fishing. Hearing their stories, seeing the fish they caught and the ear-to-ear smiles are what inspired me. I grew up on a small New England lake, where I spent countless hours fishing. But I never really thought about fishing from an SUP… until speaking with Chris and Ken. Besides hearing the stories and seeing the fun times, the biggest appeal of SUP fishing is its simplicity. All you need is a board, a paddle and a fishing rod. Whether you’re an angler who wants to try fishing from an SUP or a paddler interested in fishing, here are some tips for getting into SUP fishing.
• What’s the right board? These days, manufacturers make fishing-specific boards that make fishing from an SUP easier. They are awesome, but they’re not absolutely necessary for someone just getting started. The most important thing is to find a board you can comfortably paddle without falling in. My general rule is a board over 30 inches wide and longer than 10 feet. It will have the stability to stand and fish, while remaining portable. If you’re concerned about falling in or losing your fishing gear, use a tether to tie it off to your board. Don’t tie gear to your person, it could hinder your ability to swim if you do fall in. • Where and when to go? Like any outdoor activity, and probably more so, weather is crucial. With an SUP, calm days are definitely better. Wind and rough conditions make it challenging, which eliminates the fun factor. Smaller bodies of water are a great place to start, as they are more protected from wind and do not have a lot of boat traffic. For these reasons, I prefer freshwater lakes. But a little experience on a board opens up a whole world of inshore action on saltwater. An SUP is a great, elevated platform to fish from during a calm day along the mangroves or up in the backwaters. • What to bring? For beginners, it’s best to keep it simple. I started SUP fishing 18
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with one spinning rod, pre-rigged with a single tried-and-true lure. It limited my catch, but having just one option allows you to enjoy time on the water without fussing with gear. Again, experience will guide preferences, but starting simple can save a lot of headaches. Of course the safety rules of SUP still apply. You’ll need a paddle leash and a lifejacket. • What to fish for? I really enjoy bass fishing, but some of my most fun days were with my nephews catching perch. Other people seek out trout in rivers and saltwater fish like snook, seatrout and redfish. If it can be caught from a boat, it can be caught from atop an SUP. Head out on the water, take a few casts and see what you think. If it develops into a passion, you might find yourself paddling a board that resembles a fully rigged fishing skiff.
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Apalachicola National Forest features many paddling opportunities. Photo courtesy of Colin Hackney, Visit Florida.
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here may not be an area better suited for the paddle sports enthusiast than Franklin County, Fla. The Apalachicola River and its system of tributaries and creeks make the area a paddler’s paradise that offers paddling options for everyone. With more than 80 percent of Franklin County’s 545 square miles publically owned and preserved as wilderness areas, there are literally hundreds of miles of rivers, creeks and coastal shallows to explore by canoe or kayak. From floating pristine rivers by canoe to
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the challenges of a long-distance sea kayak adventure along a remote coastline, Franklin County has it all! The Apalachicola River Paddling Trail System is broken into 11 separate smaller trail sections. Paddlers at all levels of ability will enjoy these canoeing and kayaking trails that are comprised of nearly 100 miles through the swamps of the Apalachicola River. Distances range from short, easy trips to multi-day river trips flowing into open bays of the Gulf of Mexico. These trails not only offer breathtaking scenery and wildlife encounters, but the fishing in these places is amazing! As the river carries you to the bay, you can expect to catch both fresh and saltwater species like bass, bream, speckled trout and the mighty red drum. Tackle selection is easy. A few basic lures is all it takes: spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged worms and a topwater lure, like a Bagley Bang-O-Lure will get the bass bites in the flowing waters of the river. Cast to anything that creates a current break and hold on! As the water turns salty, a gold spoon and jigs tipped with curly tail grubs or a Gulp Shrimp are mainstays for trout and redfish success, but these fish smash topwaters, as well… especially walking baits like a Rapala Skitterwalk. Any one of the local tackle shops will help you gear up with lure types, colors and sizes best suited for the season and conditions. Or you can fill your bucket with the live bait. That’s always a sure bet. Don’t miss the Paddle Jam event and races April 5-7. Come be a part of this annual attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest raft of kayakers! Also enjoy other events like the Antique & Classic Boat & Car Show April 20 and the annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival featuring maritime exhibits, arts and crafts, seafood, live music and a classic car show April 26-27. Bring your kayak or paddleboard and a love for adventure and fun. For more info and a complete list of rentals, charters, supplies and more, visit www.floridasforgottencoast.com.
Florida’s Forgotten Coast
Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca
for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information
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BLUE RIDGE
North GA’s Full Service Fly Shop
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his time of year, we’re usually writing about hatching insects and the blooming of springtime. With all the rain we’ve had, fly fishing high water seems a better topic. Fishing high water can be very productive, especially if the angler knows what to look for. Understanding hydraulics and likely locations to cast can produce good fish. Here are some tips for fishing high water: • High water is faster and causes insects to lose hold of whatever they’re clinging to. This means there is more food in the water, which makes trout lively. • High water is usually stained. Trout are not as spooky and many times will move into the open to feed. • High water, at times, will cause trout to move to the outer banks of the stream, where they can rest in less-turbulent water. • Use attention-getting flies. Try large streamers in dark colors, articulating patterns, large sculpin patterns, and do not forget about worm patterns like the San Juan or Squirmy Worm. • High water is a good time to fish with a buddy. • High water is also a good time to cinch that wading belt tight. It could help save your life. • Use a wading staff for balance and to check depth. • Bring a heavy 5- or 6-weight. Do not be shy with weight. Use whatever amount is needed to get flies to the bottom. When casting weight, be sure to use more of a lob cast. You don’t want that weight to hit your rod. • Rig your leader with 3x or even 2x tippet. Line is less visible in stained water, and big trout might be on the prowl. • Throw streamers either at or along the bank and strip. At times, throwing across and stripping back on a swing can get the rod almost jerked out of your hand. Cast to breaks caused by logs or large rocks, where trout hold out of the current. • Know when to stop because of unsafe conditions. Reel Em In Guide Service will be at the Blue Ridge Trout Fest in Blue Ridge, Ga. on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I’ll be giving a presentation on private water. If you are a first-timer, we have several instructors schooled in the art of teaching fly fishing. If you are new to the area and need a place to go, give us a call. If big water is intimidating or if the Toccoa River DH is too rough for you to wade, we float the Toccoa with drift boats.
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new term is being thrown around in the bass fishing world, and it is spreading like wildfire. This term is “hawg wallows.” It describes a concentrated area where a school of mature female largemouths settle to the bottom. Each individual selects a spot to rest and relax while staying in close proximity to all other fish in the same school. While lying almost motionless with tail, anal fins and pectorals moving slightly to maintain balance and stability, silt is gently removed. This action creates a small crater, very similar to a shellcracker bed, only much larger in individual size. It is not unusual to detect 50 or more wallows in an area about the size of a two-car garage, or 300 to 500 square feet, which in turn indicates 50 or more
bass. Yes, 50! This pattern is not a shallow-water anomaly. Actually, it is more likely to be found in deeper water, from 15 to 25 feet, near separated contour lines that identify gradual depth changes. Don’t look for hawg wallows on sharp ledges or rocky outcrops. They will usually be along sloping ravines where there is a soft bottom. I think these schools of bass are prespawn fish biding time for egg development or waiting for conducive water temperatures and weather patterns to migrate up to the spawning grounds. On the other hand, the wallows I found in February last year emptied out only to refill throughout the early summer. Now, let’s get down to the brass tacks on how to detect these hawg wallows and determine which fields of wallows are active versus those that are abandoned. Using side scan only on your Humminbird, adjust to 75 feet on either side with contours showing. Investigate the areas in your lake that match my description of likely locations. Look closely for multiple large indentions near the suggested depth. When spotted, move your curser to hover over the targeted area and zoom in. Mark the spot, especially if a white streak or multiple streaks are detected in or near the selected crater. Then mark a GPS location and toss a buoy marker. Back off to casting distance, put your Minn Kota on spot lock, pull a Big Bite Fighting Frog into the chaos and hold on. Repeat. With the newest side-imaging technology, Humminbird and Minn Kota with the spot-lock feature have changed the face of bass fishing forever. Try it. You’ll like it. During the last weekend of February on Lake Eufaula, a bass tournament was won using this method with a total weight of 34 pounds for the best five and a total of 40 bass caught by two anglers in three hours. With the win assured, these anglers departed to look for more wallows and future success. P.S. In the Deep South, we might just call them “wallers.” Billy Darby is a retired professional guide on Lake Eufaula. He can be reached at imfishing4u@windstream.net or 229-768-2369.
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Rent This Fisherman’s Dream!
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hose who think Gulf red snapper seasons are short should check out the sturgeon season on Cheboygan County, Michigan’s Black Lake. More than 400 registered anglers showed up on the ice Saturday, Feb. 2 for a season that lasted only 78 minutes before the six-fish quota was met. It hardly seems worth it, except to the lucky anglers who managed to bag a sturgeon. It’s one of the few sturgeon harvest opportunities available, and hook-andline fishing as well as spearing the prehistoric fish are allowed. With a heavy Michigan DNR presence on-hand and embedded within ice fishing communities, catches were tracked and anglers were notified of the season’s close by phone and text messages as well as with signal cannons, mortar rounds and fireworks. The first four sturgeon harvested were males ranging from 52 to 60 inches, and 25 to 47 pounds. The final two fish were females ranging from 61 to 72 inches long, and 54 to 80 pounds. Three of the six fish taken had been captured before by Michigan State University and the DNR during spring spawning runs in the Black River. A harvested 56inch male originally was captured in the 2009 spring spawning run. A 60-inch male had been captured and tagged during the 2004, 2010 and 2017 spawning runs. The largest fish, a 72-inch female, had been captured and tagged during the 2003, 2007 and 2012 spawning runs in the Black River.
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APRIL 2019 PUBLISHER: BOB RICE
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THE EVOLVING ANGLER Contributed By: Jimmy Harris www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year
Fly of the Month
Caddis Pupa
by Eli Crumley Blackhawk Fly Fishing keepemwet94@gmail.com
Hook: Tiemco TMC2457 size 14/16 Thread: UTC 70 denier (color) olive Body: Micro tubing (olive) Thorax: Natural hare’s ear Head: Black UV dubbing Legs: Hungarian Partridge A great caddis hatch is any fly anglers dream. Don’t neglect the opportunity to catch fish with other caddis imitations. The caddis pupa has been the key to many successful days on the water for me.
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On a recent road trip, I was listening to a podcast interview of Gary Borger (“Anchored with April Vokey”). It’s a great conversation with a lot of history on modern fly fishing. Modern as in the last 70 years. For the last 50 or so years, Borger has been right in the middle of what we now know as our contemporary sport. He was on Fenwick’s staff before there was a Sage or Scott. When the transition was being made from bamboo to fiberglass and boron and the door began to open to the general public, he was there. And then he was in the forefront when graphite appeared on the scene and effectively killed off those old glass rods at the time. What really struck me was that this was the same time period when I decided I wanted to learn how to fly fish. And while I had been fishing for all my recollectable life, I knew nothing about fly fishing; what gear to purchase, how to cast, what flies to use. Even worse, I knew absolutely no one to even ask. Fortunately, I was teaching at a small university in Arkansas that was surrounded by great fishing opportunities, so I went to the school library to find a book that would teach me. They had one. I mean, they had one book in the entire university on how to fly fish! Long story short, I took it home and began to learn how to cast. I actually became fairly proficient at it. I credit my progress to the fact that I was also very hard into bow hunting; pre-compound bows. Believe it or not, there are many similarities. Most anyone who shoots a bow can hit a pie plate at 20 yards. It takes considerable mental and physical discipline to consistently hit a bullseye the size of a quarter at that distance.
Fly fishing is remarkably the same. You can flail around with your cast and your presentation and still catch fish now and then. Many anglers accept this level of competency and thoroughly enjoy their fly fishing lives. But to truly become more efficient at it, you’re going to have to put more discipline into it. You’re going to have to tweak your cast at every phase and understand what it takes to improve your presentation, your hook setting skills, and hopefully, your ability to land a good strong fish. To some people, this comes as naturally as breathing. To the rest of us, it requires practice. But, it’s worth it. If you’re on that bucket list trip, it’s too late to learn. The good news is there are ample opportunities to help you reach a state of continuous evolution with your cast and angling acumen. Orvis has a variety of teaching aids like videos and podcasts. As someone who didn’t have many options all those years ago, I strongly recommend you consider booking casting lessons with someone who has either a Fly Fishers International casting certification or someone who isn’t certified but has a reputation for being an accomplished caster. What I want to warn you against is relying too much on good friends who tell you they can help. While some certainly can help, so many people have bad habits ingrained into them and you’ll simply have to unlearn those bad habits down the road. Speaking as someone who has been here longer than he’s going be, I urge you to make the most of your time on-stream by being proficient enough to enjoy every moment of it. Until then, tight lines!
“What really struck me was that this was the same time period when I decided I wanted to learn how to fly fish..”
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3/17/19 2:59 PM
FISHING HIGH WATER Contributed by David Hulsey
International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001
After all the rain we had in March, hopefully April has a little more sunshine than clouds! With all the rain this winter, good high water fly fishing and wading skills were required to produce fish in less than ideal conditions on many occasions. First off, under high water flow conditions, safety is number one. Watch for newly formed holes or debris that have blown out or blown in, so to speak. The speed of the water is usually much faster, and you can’t wade as deep. In other words, don’t do anything stupid, and you’ll normally be fine. Having a sturdy wading staff will be an essential tool for the wading angler. Get a good one. Don’t go cheap when your safety is concerned, as I have seen junky staffs collapse and make folks take a scary swim or two. Knowing your stream inside and out will not only help you stay safe, but also catch some nice trout in the process. High and discolored water can hide an angler from the fish, but also hide the fish from the angler. You will be able to get extremely close to the fish, but probably won’t be able to spot them. Knowing where the slower water pockets and holes are can really up your chances of hooking up. During strong flows, trout will not only naturally seek these areas to weather the storm and conserve energy, but big’uns will use these spots for feeding on the smaller fish packed into a small area. This is a time for big streamers enticingly swung through these areas
with a chance to pick up a monster trout. If the water is really dirty, like dark green to brown, a big white or flashy articulated streamer is hard to beat. Make sure it’s getting deep enough to get in their face. Adding split shot may be necessary. I always use Fluorocarbon leaders and tippet when fishing subsurface with streamers and nymphs. Not only is it less visible and abrasion resistant, but it sinks much quicker than monofilament lines. Nymph fishing at these times can be productive too, again, if you can reach the bottom. Additional weight and tungsten beads are the name of the successful game. Big rubber legs on your nymphs and brighter colors than normal seem to work better. Getting a big rainbow’s attention while a million things zoom by him can be quite the challenge. Hot pink San Juan Worms, Egg patterns, Big Rubber Legged Stones and Wooly Buggers dragged every few inches along the bottom are on the top of the list. Dry flies are normally a waste of time except in pockets and eddies along the bank. I’ve caught a good number of trout in these spots after being surprised by a rise in these mini slow-water pockets. Some high elevation streams clear faster than others after flooding rains. Knowing which ones these are can save your weekend. Give us a call at Noontootla Creek Farms when every other fishery is blown out. A lot of times, we are still fishing!
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Selling and Listing: Trout Stream Properties, Raw Land and Amazing Homes Gene Rutkowski
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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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OCONEE ON THE FLYAPRIL FORECAST
THE GUIDE’S ANGLE
CASTING VS CATCHING ON THE FLY ROD
SPRING ABUNDANCE Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service
Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com
It’s been a wet 2018 and let’s hope we have a normal rain year for 2019. If Mother Nature gives us a break from all the wet weather, we may see some of her spring bounty this April and May. “Spring Abundance” is typically the time of year when birds are seen building their nests, all the flora is beginning to bloom and river-bugs start hatching. Whether it’s one or all three of the “big three species” of invertebrates that inhabit most trout streams will make their appearance known to many trout fishermen. Caddisflies, mayflies, and or stoneflies typically are part of this spring upsurge of activity making all three species readily available to trout.
James Bradley had an article on fly casting last month here in The Angler Magazine and I am going to follow suite. In my fly-fishing endeavors, I always was focused on catching fish. Before we moved to Lake Oconee, I lived near the Chattahoochee, and I thought that being able to go to Island Ford and catch and release between 6 and 20 fish on a fly was pretty good. I fooled myself into thinking I was a pretty good caster too. Then one day I booked a trip to try and catch stripers at Lanier on a fly rod with a guy some of you may have heard of, Henry Cowen. Henry put me dead on the fish that were rising, and it was like buck fever big time. He had said to strip out about 60 feet of line and be ready to cast quickly because those fish come up and go right back down. Guess what, I screwed up the cast. Henry said gently, “Wayne, you are just not a 70-foot caster”. I told him I was going to get good at this and have been trying ever since. I am better now, but it is one of those things you can always improve at. So how do you do that? Well, there is one-on-one instruction at The Fish Hawk in Atlanta, The Atlanta Fly Fishing School, and Fly Fishers International (FFI) https:// flyfishersinternational.org/, which has an educational section with some very good videos. And then, there is PRACTICE! I believe practicing on land is best. I lay out a tape measure and distance cones and practice the videos I have seen on FFI. Sometimes, I lay out two tape measures 4 feet apart and cast horizontally and try to make sure my loops go in between them. Invest some time and you will find you enjoy casting and catching. You might also save yourself a case of tennis elbow using the proper techniques. Here is what I believe April has coming our way: Hybrids/Stripers – It’s a heavenly time to go fishing for hybrids
and stripers on Oconee. Looking at my log from last year, some of my best trips were right around the week of the Master’s Tournament. The shad spawn started that week last year, and flat lining shad early near the dam was incredible. Fly fishing was also good. The pump-back had not started, but at first light casting to rip-rap and wood banks where the shad were was productive. Anglers using spinning tackle could cast white spinnerbaits and catch nice sized hybrids and largemouth, but this is an early morning bite only. Crappie - As of this writing, crappie fishing is very good, but we have had some challenges with rain. A popular debate among the guides here is pulling vs. pushing. The latter will produce bigger fish. As we finish out March, the fish will bed shallow. You can bet I will be out there with a 5 weight fly rod casting a pink Crazy Charlie fly under a strike indicator. Final words – April through June offers incredible fishing here on Oconee. I offer combination trips, so you can fly fish and spin fish in the same morning. If you want to go anytime in the next 3 months, call 706-816-4281 or e-mail me at wmoore1700@outlook.com and lock in your dates. Tight Lines and God Bless.
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I tell all my clients when they approach a trout stream in the spring they should quietly approach the river and just observe. If you see birds like swallows and song birds actively feeding on small bugs, you will likely see rise forms of fish feeding on the surface indicating dry fly or emerger tactics. It is also likely you may not witness surface activity which will help you to decide to go with subsurface techniques dead-drifting nymphs. This spring, take advantage of the spring abundance of aquatic insects.
LAKE CHATUGE Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice.com 706-455-2323 Water temperature: 48-49 degrees, lake level: full pool, clarity: clear. Fishing is starting to pick up. The lake has already reached full pool due to all the rain we got the past month. With the warmer days, the water temp should start warming up quickly, and this will make the fish get active and move up around spawning areas. I’m starting my mornings out with two baits, a Strike King 1.5 Square Bill and a Z-Man Trd Ned
Rig. I’m working these around rocky banks, docks, and when the sun gets up, try pockets and spawning flats. Once the sun is up, try using a 3.5” tube and a shaky head. A pb/j jig will work in these same areas and around lay downs. If you start getting a little wind, try a jerk bait, spinnerbait or an umbrella rig around brush and the back of pockets. These same areas are a good place to throw a Strike King 3.5 or 4.5 Rage Swimmer. We guide on eight 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!
3/17/19 2:59 PM
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TOCCOA RIVER TROUT FISHING FROM MANY ANGLES
Contributed By: Bob Borgwat ReelAnglingAdventures.com
but you won’t find it comfortable or efficient to fish from either of these boats once you drop the paddle and grab your trout rod. Rather, you’ll want to get out of these boats to effectively fish the shoals that hold most of the trout. Pass through the shoal where you won’t disturb the fish, jump out of the boat and fish back upstream through the shoal and other holding water you just passed. When you’re finished with that site, hop back into the canoe/ kayak and head off for the next “best spot”. When you make this tailwater float in a true drift-boat, you’ll realize ClackaCraft, Hyde, StealthCraft, StreamTech and other high-quality drift boats are the right way to tackle the Toccoa tailwater. Top Toccoa River outfitters choose these boats because of their safety, maneuverability, comfort and design. From the inside of a drift boat, anglers are carried into the best positions to approach the Toccoa’s trout fishing. Dead-drift the river’s long feeding lanes and the edges of its deep pools or anchor the boat within casting range of the best lies. Lure fishermen do well with ultralight rods/reels and small models of spinners, jigs and spoons in 1/4- to 1/16-ounce sizes. Pick up a fly rod — 3- to 5-weights work great — and whip the mayfly/nymph of the day (see the hatch chart online at ReelAnglingAdventures.com) into the river’s productive riffles or strip a black Wooly Bugger across the current lines and seams. Beware of high-water flows on the Toccoa. Water releases from Blue Ridge Dam are typically scheduled but can change at any time. Upon releases, water level changes quickly, as much as 30 inches when the powerhouse is online. Water flow times are post-
When anglers head for Blue Ridge in the North Georgia Mountains, the Toccoa River plays into every fisherman’s choice of where they fish around the scenic, historic town nestled among the ridges from which it takes its name — the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fishing begins, some say, at Lake Blue Ridge on the city’s eastern edge. The 3,300-acre reservoir collects the upper Toccoa River and sports a fine cool-water fishery for spotted bass, smallmouth bass and walleyes (along with channel catfish, bluegills and white bass). Downstream from Blue Ridge Dam, a really good, largely stocked trout fishery comes into its own. The cold-water flow in the tailwater supports trout for 15 miles northward, all the way to the Tennessee state line. The Spine of The Trout Capital of Georgia - But the Toccoa’s influence on fishing doesn’t stop there. The river also forms the spine of fishing out beyond the county seat of Blue Ridge in the eastern highlands of Fannin County — designated by the state legislature in 2005 as “The Trout Capital of Georgia.” In fact, the Toccoa watershed’s year-round cold water supports hundreds of miles of trout streams that appeal to anglers of all levels. Bait fishermen enjoy easy access to stocked streams, like Coopers Creek, Rock Creek and Rock Creek Lake on a seasonal basis. Anglers who like to toss small spinners, spoons and other hardware find the trout in the runs and pools of Coopers, Noontootla and Big Creek. Those creeks are the gateways to some really challenging fly-fishing for wild trout in the remote stretches of the tributaries that are often unnamed in local fishing circles. Locate just about any “blue line” on a map of the Chattahoochee National Forest where it spreads across the southern and eastern reaches of Fannin County, and you’re sure to discover small, feisty rainbows, browns and brook trout in many of them. The best fishing is often found in the hardest waters to reach. These
clear, small creeks are best fished with fly rods and dry flies, especially from April through June. Tackling the Toccoa River Tailwater - Fishing in the Trout Capital of Georgia also attracts trout anglers with a completely different angle on their sport. Unlike any other of the thousands of miles of trout water in the Georgia highlands, the stretch of the Toccoa River from Blue Ridge Dam to McCayesville is the only tailwater in the North Georgia Mountains. For about 15 miles, this portion of the river presents great fishing action for float-fishing trips that see catches often ranging from 20 to 30 fish a day. Why not wade fish the Toccoa? Sure! But wade-fishing the Toccoa tailwater is largely “reserved” for the many residents and guests in the homes, cabins and lodges that flank the river’s length here. Otherwise, public wading access is limited to Tammen Park, Horseshoe Bend Park and the TVA access site locally known as “Curtis Switch” — a parking site and boat ramp located about a half-mile downstream from the Curtis Switch Road Bridge, some 7 miles downstream from Blue Ridge Dam. And it’s evident the riversideowner segment of local anglers is growing. Real estate activity is brisk for the riverside’s existing homes and developments, and the opening last winter of Cohutta Fishing Company on East Main Street in Blue Ridge signals a need for a quality fly shop and outfitter to share its knowledge and gear for a growing population of trout anglers! Miles and Miles of Trout Water On the other hand, float-fishing the Toccoa tailwater opens access for fishing many miles of trout water in a day’s outing. The riverway is “divided” into two 6- to 7-mile sections for float-fishing: Tammen Park to Curtis Switch; and Curtis Switch to Horseshoe Bend Park. Concrete boat ramps are located at each site. Canoes and kayaks present what is arguably the best transportation down the river. You’ll easily move from one fishing “hole” to another,
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ed at the river’s boat ramps. Daily powerhouse schedules are available online at TVA.gov or by phone at 800-238-2264. Good Numbers … and a Trophy Sometimes - No matter your choice of fishing style, the Toccoa River produces good catches for those who know trout water. I once was told there’s a trout behind every rock on the Toccoa. That’s not exactly the case; you need good fishing trout fishing skills to be successful. But the growing acceptance of catch-and-release fishing among the Toccoa’s trout fishermen further supports a fishery of high numbers, thanks to the state’s regular stocking of rainbows and browns and what appears to be a growing return of wild fish in the riverway. And hold onto that rod! Not only are you likely to catch a lot of trout on the Toccoa tailwater, you may also find yourself tackling with one of the river’s large brown trout that are giving anglers reasons for making several trips a year to Blue Ridge.
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Casting is one of the most enjoy enjoyable aspects of fly-fishing when it’s
APRIL FLY FISHING REPORT Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com
So when will it ever stop raining here in North Georgia? All the rain and the lake being as high as I’ve ever seen makes predicting the fishing patterns more difficult. It appears we are slightly warmer than usual which may mean our April pattern will move up by a couple of weeks. March of 18’ was tough and we saw that the fish went upriver to spawn early, and then the water temps got so warm that the fish went deep and bypassed a couple of patterns that we are normally accustomed to seeing. The striper fishing was basically non-existent for April last year. The only pattern we could count on was the dock light bite after dark. Not what I’d call a pretty consistent fishery. In my opinion, April may be the BEST month to fish area lakes throughout North GA. It is easily one of the two or three months to fish for both striped bass and spotted bass on nearly all our area lakes in the Peach State. What makes April so productive is that the winter pattern has ended, and while the weather has certainly warmed up due to the mild winter we had, we are fully ingrained with warm spring-like temperatures every day. There can be two or even three patterns to look out for during a typical April fishing season. The fish should be doing something totally different due to the temperature change. This has the fish feeling
spunky and are committed to two things; eating and spawning. Both of these are based on warmer water temperatures. Once the fish are committed to both the pre-spawn feed and the spawn itself, it has the fish on the move. Striped bass will be for the most part already in the upper reaches of the river systems their lakes are formed by. While this usually starts at the end of March and goes thru April, this year we will see this event already post-season as the water temps sent the fish upriver earlier than normal. Not all fish head north. Some fish will head to the backs of some of the larger creeks where there is a good source of fresh water. This is when the fish will get shallow. However, for anglers wanting to take advantage of the spawn, all one has to do is head north into their lake’s respective river system. The fish will bunch up in huge numbers. This will last from two to three weeks as all the fish do not make the run at the same time. For anglers fishing Lake Lanier, all you need to do is head up either the Chattahoochee or the Chestatee Rivers to wait for their return down river in this annual event. This will also take place on all our other lakes and their respective river systems that feed these lakes. Fish will be eating nearly anything thrown in their line of vision. While most fish
are still feeding on threadfin shad in the 2”-3” range, do not hesitate to toss flies that are a tad larger than that. Equipment remains the same in that we toss both 8 and 9 weight fly rods. Lines are still the same in that it is best to employ both an intermediate (slow sinking) and fast sinking fly lines in case you are finding fish in water 8’-10’ deep (fast sinking line) or 2’-5’ deep (intermediate slow sinking line). Clousers, Coyotes and Something Else flies are still your best bet. For anglers bringing conventional tackle with them, it is best to toss medium action rods with 12-pound test line and have an assortment of baits. Some of my favorites are flukes (weighted and un-weighted), ¼ ounce bucktails, Mcsticks, Spy baits and Krocodile spoons. You can start fishing points in the dark using Long A Bombers. That bite is usually kept very quiet by in-the-know striped bass aficionados. Anglers will also find spotted bass getting shallower in preparation for their spawn. Anglers need
to fish in the 3’ to 8’ depth and toss a little lighter tackle (6 and 7 weight rods) for these bass that are getting very aggressive. Tossing flies on your lake’s points up shallow as well as fishing the grass flats will have you finding lots of hungry spotted bass. Largemouth will also start getting active, and now is the chance to catch a trophy fish up shallow and on dock lights too! The dogwoods have bloomed and the fish are starting to feed. I would even guess that the beloved Redfin bite will begin by the full moon in April this year. That is easily one of my favorite patterns there is. It is the ONLY time I may not use a fly rod on Lanier day in and day out. When a striper eats a Redfin, they want to completely destroy it on the surface! It is the perfect combination of beauty, excitement and good fishing.
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CHATTOOGA RIVER
Winter has passed us by, and now the bugs are hatching in full swing. Cooler mornings and warmer afternoons delight us with rising trout to many bugs hatching on the rivers. The winter rains have been more than generous to us this year, as the rivers are at great levels as we enter spring. Let’s hope we continue to receive ample rains to keep river levels at a comfortable height heading toward summer. Starting out the day, a tandem rig with a nymph and emerger trailer will be a good set up, as the bugs have yet to hatch early in the day. Swinging this tandem rig will work well starting at the tops of the riffles with a slight upstream cast with a mend or two of the line, and
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working the entire riffle area with numerous casts along the same area will reward you with trout awaiting a drifting morsel. Once the riffle is covered, swing this tandem rig into the heads of the pools. A pinch of weight may be necessary to get the flies down to the fish. Swinging these flies along the seams will be just as productive. As the day progresses and the temperature rises, the bugs emerge from the nymph shucks and emerge to break to the top of the water to fly away. This is when our day gets exciting! A glimpse of the first rising fish, and now it’s time to tie on our dry fly. You will want to cast well above these rising fish. After the cast, a mend or two of the line, and releasing some line so the fly will have a “drag-free” drift into the location of the rising fish will be key. Don’t set the hook too early, as it is very easy to do,
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as you see the fish rising to the fly you have perfectly presented. Hook set too early, fish is gone, and we’re back to square one and casting to another rising fish. If you are new at this, don’t worry, as persistence pays off. We have all been too anxious to set the hook seeing the fish rising at our beautiful dry fly drifting toward the fish starting to open its jaws to inhale our fly. Once the hatch has subsided, it’s time to switch back to
the tandem rig and swinging. If you’re not sure if you have the right bugs in your arsenal, then please stop by and we will help you with a full selection of flies for your day on the river. We are a full service fly shop with everything you need and offer full and half day guided wading trips as well. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers and lakes, and let’s remember, leave no trace!
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WHAT TO DO WITH THE LINE HAND
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Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
When you are making a cast with a fly rod, it is important to keep tension on the line. We want to keep the slack to a minimum. There is a very common casting fault that is seldom talked about, but we will today. A great way to reduce slack, keep tension on the line, and improve your cast is to use your line hand effectively. What tends to happen is a separation of the hands as the rod goes back, and the line hand stays in its original place. At the end of that back cast, the hands are far apart, and there is a huge amount of slack that is about to be fed into the cast as the rod hand travels toward the target. When that happens, we lose tension between the first guide and the line hand. That causes the rod to unbend too early. The line hand helps control the line as the rod hand makes the cast-
ing stroke. What we want to do is move the line hand along with the rod hand. Pretend there is a 15-inch string attached to the rod butt, and the line hand is holding it. As we do the pick up and lay down cast, the line hand needs to follow the rod hand up, back, and stop at the same time. On the forward cast, you can lead the rod hand forward with the line hand. As the rod stops, so will the line hand. Keeping the line hand below the rod hand is a good idea. Practice keeping your hands close together until you don’t have to think about it. This movement is also the basis for the hauling, so if you want to learn the double haul, you have to understand and have a decent concept of keeping your hands together. We are in the prime time for fishing, so get in casting shape. Practice keeping your hands close together as you cast.
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FISHING IN THE RAIN By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series I can’t remember when it has rained so much, so hard and in such a short period of time. It seems like it’s rained nearly every day for the past couple months. That’s not the case, but it sure seems that way. Lake levels are at full pool or above, and rising. If you fish our southern impoundments and rivers, you may have noticed some of them look like chocolate milk. Creeks are overflowing and all that water movement downstream tends to muddy-up the lakes. Plus, there is a lot of debris being pushed down too, so you have to be vigilant and on the look-out for floating hazards. I’ve seen dock steps, dock floats, trees, lumber and other stuff adrift on the lake recently. So what’s all this rain done to the fishing? With “normal” rainfall, the increased current helps stir nutrients and critters off the bottom. The raining motion agitates the surface and adds oxygen to the upper column. In the summer months, rain can help cool the surface allowing
bait and game fish to come closer to the top. All those can be positive effects of a ‘normal’ rain shower. But sometimes too much of a good thing can be detrimental to the fishing. When we have frog-strangler after frog-strangler and the lake rises quickly, I believe it upsets the balance of things, especially in the early spring. Fish that spawn in eight feet of water are still going to spawn in eight feet of water, but rising waters change the landscape of what’s down below. A rock pile or long point that always produced spawning bass, is now in twelve feet of water, instead of eight. That grassy bank that was a great spot for spawning shellcrackers is now completely submerged. What do you do? First, don’t give up. Think back a few years ago, when a similar weather pattern occurred. What did we do? We adjusted, adapted to the conditions and we caught fish. It may have been a little more challenging, but fish still got to eat and still have to spawn. It could be that Mother Nature simply tells
them to hold off for a couple weeks to let the crazy weather subside. In these turbid waters, slow down your presentation a bit and select baits that work for the conditions; darker baits for dark water and slower presentations for cold water. If you’re using live bait, shorten your leader so the minnow doesn’t have as much leeway to run away from a sluggish, but hungry striper. As I found on a recent charter trip, the distinct ‘thump’ wasn’t there on the strike. Instead, it was a slow easy pull, almost like they were just tasting the bait. You have to really be aware of what your bait or lure is doing and be ready to set the hook, and you have to be patient. The rain was so heavy that morning, it just shut
the bite down. I knew there were fish there, and we simply waited them out. When the weather is as awful as it’s been lately, there will be days when you go ‘fishing’ instead of ‘catching’. This is the time to pull all the tricks out of your bag. It’s a great time to try something new like dropping shiny spoons instead of purple worms or exploring new areas looking for clearer water because your usual honey holes are totally stained. We were able to turn lemons into lemonade that day in the nasty weather. I’m sure you can too. By the time this article makes it to the newsstand, the weather will be better, so go fishing!
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JACKSON LAKE By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com The spawn is upon us. The bass are on shallow flats, secondary points and primary points. They know what is ahead of them, and they will be eating up to prepare to lay eggs. Any bait is going to produce as long as you target these ar-
eas. Bedded bass are going to be visible at times, but that doesn’t mean that they are easy targets. I wouldn’t spend any time targeting these fish, rather, target the fish that are transitioning to spawning areas. The spawn will last into early May. Be ready to have your lines stretched by some big girls as they are eating before and after the spawn. Tight lines till next month.
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LAKE LANIER STRIPERS Forecast By: Steve Scott http://TeamLanier.wordpress.com/menu With the passing of the winter water temperatures, April is the time to hit the backs of the creeks as the stripers will head to the shallower, warmer waters that attract the bait. You should target 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The sun would have been up for a while warming the shallow water in the backs of the creeks, clay banks and reef pole areas. If there is no sun that day, you will have to hunt for warmer temperatures. Traditionally, the water temperatures should be around 64 degrees. In addition to planer boards one quarter ounce weighted 50 feet behind the board, we need to use our complete arsenal to get these stripers to bite. Remember to use the lighter fluorocarbon leaders 10 to 12-pound test; use smaller hooks with the smaller baits like shiners or crappie minnows; weighted and unweighted freelines between 70-100 behind the boat and diagonal bobbers weighted and unweighted in the deeper areas; downlines with herring at staggered depths; the Mini Mack pulled 100-135 feet behind the boat; or just dropped below the boat in the range just above the marks. Using this method is simple. Just put the rod in the rod holder. It will bob up and down as the boat moves up and down with the waves, and if you are above spaghetti and they are not hitting your downlines, don’t forget to power reel the Mini Mack. In any water conditions, it is always best to run out a transom bait just below the water surface behind the big motor. We cannot leave out a big bait like a gizzard shad or a trout out
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on a long line 150 feet out the back of the boat. If you are in a narrow creek, use a quick release bobber to maintain better control of the larger bait running along the bank. Popular April locations to try are the river channel bends near the banks and over trees, lake markers 22 to FC 1, River Forks area off the main point in about 50’ of water, backs of Shoal Creek, Saddle Dike, Orr Creek, Mud Creek, Balus Creek and Flat Creek 1-4. April is also the beginning of the topwater bite, so target areas like Little Hall reef pole and other flats nearby, Chestatee 9-10 and LM 37, Chattahoochee River points above Hwy 53 Bridge, Flat and Mud Creeks, FC1 to LM 29, and LM1 and the rip rap at the dam. Popular topwater lures are the Sammy, any Zaras and the one quarter ounce Capt. Mack’s bucktail jig. TIP OF THE MONTH: When motoring at high speeds across the lake, be sure that your equipment is secure so that you will have it when you arrive at your fishing spot. For more information see my website at TeamLanier.com. Steve Scott 404273-3481.
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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
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April is finally here, and it brings with it some rip-roaring fishing action on Lake Nottely. So, enough sitting around suffering from cabin fever. Time to get out of the house and hit one of North Georgia’s best lakes with Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Courtesy of all the rain we’ve had, Lake Nottely’s water level is super high for this time of year. This means better access to those hardto-get places where stripers like to go. Currently, we are 3 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear for most of the lake except for the backs of creeks, which are slightly stained. Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s and a bit warmer in the coves and creeks. Striper fishing has been excellent for this time of year. We’re having a successful early spring catching some quality stripers, with the majority of them in the 20 to 35-pound range. Presently, these Lake Nottely monsters are in their full-spring pattern and chasing bait in the mouths and backs of creeks and off rocky shallow points. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for where the bait is. There’s been a lack of seagulls lately, so you’ll have to rely on your electronics and your vision. If you see bait busting, that’s usually
a good indication there’s fish chasing them up. As far as bait goes, we’ve seen a variety of different bites. Some days the fish are feeding on small herring, and other days they are hitting on large bluebacks and shad. I would recommend bringing a number of different baits with you. For the next month or so, look for fish to move further back in the creeks, rivers and around shallow coves as early spring spawning will start. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live bluebacks and shad will be your best techniques. Also, look for a great topwater bite to start. I always like to have a Zara Spook or a Fluke at the ready to nail those topbusting fish. April is a fantastic month for catching some monster 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 fish during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s only full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hyrbrid bass. We also serve Lake Apalachia for huge lake trout, and Lakes Nottely, Chatuge and Blue Ridge. For all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine.
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TROPHY RAINBOW TROUT CAUGHT ON LAKE LANIER By Courtesy Georgia DNR Brooke Wheeler of Snellville and her fishing buddy, Landon Crafton, were casting underspin lures along the banks of lower Lake Lanier on Saturday, March 2, when her line hesitated slightly. She instinctively set the hook and the fight was on! As the rod doubled over and the reel drag sang, they knew it was a big fish. After a tenminute fight that included a dance around the trolling motor to free the thin, ten-pound test line, the quarry finally came to the net. It was a trophy rainbow trout! Brooke and Landon brought her awesome catch to the WRD Gainesville Regional Office on March 4th to have the fish certified by WRD biologists for a Georgia Angler Award. The hook-jawed male stretched the tape to 28 ½ inches
and pulled the arrow of the certified scale down to the 9 pounds, 6 ounce mark. That’s certainly a trophy anywhere, and especially in North Georgia! Biologists believe this trophy rainbow trout “relocated” to Lake Lanier as a result of winter’s high water. WRD discontinued trout stocking in Lake Lanier around 1990 as the lake naturally aged and summer oxygen levels declined, but a few trout are still caught each year by anglers. Those fish are usually escapees from striper anglers’ hooks or downstream migrants from Lanier’s tributaries — all designated trout waters high in the mountains. With this winter’s rains, this big fish likely took a whitewater ride down the Hooch or Chestatee and finally landed in the calmer waters of Lake Lanier, that is, until he met our young angling expert, Brooke!
LAKE BURTON Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 56 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: slight stain. Bass: The bass bite has been great the last few days. We have caught most of our fish on jerk baits on long points close to the main lake channels. These fish are pulling up shallower every day to feed for a few hours. We are casting in the 5 foot depths and working the baits back towards the boat through the 25 foot depth range. We have had good success with a white jerk bait with a chartreuse belly. We have also caught some bigger spots and largemouth on a Ned Rig tipped with a pumpkin seed color worm. Look for these fish to pull up shallow over the next few weeks and begin their spawning ritual. Trout: We have been trolling with Rapala X-Raps (XR06) Hot Mustard jerk baits and having good success. This
bait seems to catch the bigger trout and the smaller fish as well. Most of the trout seem to be in the backs of the creeks in the 20 to 30 foot depths. Look for the herring schools surfacing and the brown trout will be close. Try running these jerk baits in the 12 to 18 foot depth range at a speed of 3 mph (idle speed). Working in and around the fallen brush around the bank lines can be tricky. This technique has also been effective for catching walleye. Although the walleye like a slower speed than trout, try limiting your boat speed to 2 mph for the walleye. Most of the walleye have completed their spawning and are hungry. This is a great time of year to catch a wall hanger or dinner. Look for the trout to slowly migrate towards the southern portions of the creeks over the next few weeks. The walleye bite should continue to get better as we head towards the middle to latter part of April/May. Good luck!
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LANIER IN APRIL - HOW TO FISH THE SPAWN
Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com Fishing during the spawn can provide some interesting opportunities and many different choices. Bass focused on the spawn are often quite finicky and tough to catch at times. Bed-fishing is very popular this time of year, especially for tournament anglers, and certainly can provide some outstanding catches. In most instances, I prefer to leave the fish to their reproductive cycle, and often shy away from bed fishing. In this article, I will focus on tips and techniques to catch fish during this sometimes challenging period that offer an alternative to the bed fishing option. Optimal conditions: This year, 2019, we are in sync with the normal timing of the spawn on Lake Lanier in terms of water temperature trends. The thing that stands out for this season is the unusually high water. Lanier is more than 4 feet over full pool, and has been that way for a number of weeks. The high water, should it stay that way throughout the spawn, will provide many options for spawning fish, and more importantly, additional cover for the bass fry. This should lead to a good year class, barring any major cold fronts or other further unusual activity. The largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-60 degrees. The spotted bass tend to spawn a bit later when the water temperatures reach 62 degrees or above. Further, it is important to understand that many fish that spawn do so during a favorable moon phase, given the noted water temperature requirements are met. The full and new moon phases often prompt fish to move into their bedding routine. Make sure to cross reference the moon calendar with water data to understand when fish will likely begin their spawning rituals. Location: The largemouths in Lake Lanier tend to spawn shallower than do the spotted bass. The largemouth can be found bedding in creek pockets, often in the back of these pockets, in a protected area. They will position themselves next to a piece of cover such as a blow down tree or stump for security and are often in 3 feet of water or less.
The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, but often prefer a hard bottom type area, such as that a pebble rock/clay flat or sandy pocket can provide. And again, the spots will typically spawn deeper than do the largemouth and can generally be found in 6-12 feet of water and deeper. Unlike the largemouth, there are a contingency of the spotted bass that will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, islands, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. So, if you are looking for a trophy spot in the springtime, your efforts may be better spent on the main lake as opposed to the creeks. The creeks, however, will offer greater numbers of fish and more action than will the main lake in most cases. Spots and largemouth both will stage around and under docks near likely spawning areas. Check those areas thoroughly. Lures and Presentation: Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, I want to share some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish. Rather than focusing on specific “bed fishing” techniques, which are multi-faceted and often different with each pair of targeted fish on any given day, I am going to share some proven tactics that can be used to catch fish just before they actually lock down on the beds. 1. Worm/jig – These baits are proven fish catchers year-round, and the spawn is no different. These are great baits to skip and pitch around docks for those staging fish we discussed earlier in this article. Use a 3/16 ounce Picasso Shakedown Head or Chattahoochee Cross Ball and tip it with a Zoom finesse worm. If the fish are ultra-finicky, don’t forget the Carolina Rig to present your soft-plastics. This presentation method is often ideal for finicky spawning bass. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or the ends of spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a Picasso Shakedown Head and worm combo, consider
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using a lighter jig-head. I often choose a 1/8 ounce head or lighter to target these spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4-inch worm as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more. 2. Fluke – A weightless fluke is a fun and productive bait to fish this time of year. Target the shallows, cover, and docks with this rig. Twitch the bait and then allow it to sink slowly. This presentation will draw strikes from actively feeding and spawning fish as well, and you get to see the strikes! 3. Super Spin - I like to downsize to a 1/4 ounce model with a small trailer and work the back 1/3 of creeks with this bait during the pre-spawn and just before the fish go on beds. It offers versatility in presentation and depth, a great combo. A traditional spinnerbait can be a good choice as well. 4. Swimbait – Swimbaits offer great versatility as they can, based on the model, be fished at any depth you wish. This a great bait with which to catch a monster bass just before
they spawn. Often, the females will be out just off of the spawning area in slightly deeper water, but they are not far from the beds. Throwing a big 6 or 8-inch swimbait and slow rolling in these areas just off of spawning flats or around secondary points and docks can entice bites from very big fish. I recommend the Sweet Herring Swimbait from Sweet Bait options for this tactic. Keep in mind this approach will not garner you many bites on any given day. But the fish you do catch will likely be monsters! Also, a Keitech Swimbait on a jig head fished off of rocky and clay points as well as in pockets can be a great option for both numbers and big fish as well. While the spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, focus on the immediate prespawn period with the tips and baits noted above for some outstanding results! See you on the water! For more information or to book your spring trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www.jimboonlanier.com.
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CLARKS HILL STRIPED BASS, HYBRIDS AND CRAPPIE by Capt Tony Shepherd and Capt Rocky Fulmer Little River Guide Service lrguideservice@gmail.com (706) 210-3474 Clark’s Hill Lake has been steadily rising towards full pool. The current lake level is 326.29 (roughly 4 feet low). The surface temperatures are back up to the 56-58 degree range after a return to average seasonal temperatures. The accelerated warm up in late February moved most fish into staging positions for spawning activities and then they gradually retreated deeper as the temperatures fell again. For the most part, fish and bait are still in the same locations just waiting on the water to get just right. When we experience the next significant warming trend, all spring tactics will be on the table. The crappie continue to hover close to their preferred spawning areas. They are currently holding in 8 to 17 feet of water and are most easily found trolling curly tail jigs very slowly near the ledges of the
narrow creeks and coves. Colors and speed may vary day to day, so arrive with a plan to experiment until you find what they want at that time. The shallow morning bite for striper and hybrids will provide early excitement on clay points and shoals. As the sun gets above the treetops, follow the fish by presenting lively herring or shad using freelines, flatlines and also using planer boards to cover water and to keep lines spread apart to allow for maneuvering. By mid-day, try increasing the distance of your baits from the boat and slowly patrol the deeper water near the junctions of creeks and deep coves where they connect to the river channels. April is by far my favorite time to be on the water. It provides comfortable temperatures, aggressive fish and some of God’s most beautiful natural wonders. Get outdoors and enjoy. Check out our current catches on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/littleriverguideservice/
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CLOUD FISHING
Contributed By: Noey Vinyard
AN ANIMAL LOVERS TRIBUTE
lieve they do miss out on the love, loyalty and companionship that our animals bring us. Nor do they get the courage that it takes us to love our animals, as we embrace them with the knowledge that we will almost certainly outlive them. As I write this, my dog Festus of 11 years lies stretched out comfortably underneath my desk on his brand-new bed. I don’t care to calculate how long he has left, instead, I like the fact that his eyes, ears and nose are all still sharp and nothing
My friend and I have known each other since we were six years old. She is a Cajun out of Louisiana, and I call her the “swamp rat.” Like me, she is a true animal lover. They always come first. But for a time in my friend’s life, like with many Americans, she found comfort in the arms of drugs. It’s not uncommon for addicts to be animal lovers as well, and her dog “Salty” was no exception. No matter how hard she had to work to get a fix, she made a point to work twice as hard to keep her dog healthy along with the opiates that flowed through her veins. Like many, she thought she had it under control and had no intention of stopping. It was probably that comfort that was on her mind as she drove home, habitually reaching down to touch the hard round object in her pocket to make sure it was still there. A 20mg Roxy, and it promised some long hours in the warmth and comfort of the arms of Morpheus. She was excited to get home, but unfortunately Salty was too, and like he had a thousand times before in the 12 year span that had been his life, he stepped out into the driveway to greet her. She felt the impact under her tires, and after a moment’s confusion, she realized with horror that she had indeed run over the loyal dog. Sick and beside herself with grief, she imposed her own punishment as well as silver lining to this story. After burying her dog, she locked herself inside her house with nothing but a Bible and quit drugs cold turkey. She has been clean for over a decade. Today, she fosters as many as 18 dogs at a time and helps at a very successful rescue called Dante’s Hope in Baton Rouge. She still reads from the same Bible every day, and keeps a picture of Salty tucked inside. Razz the Arabian - his full name was Razzle-Dazzle, but it didn’t really fit. In fact, you had to look really hard to see that he was related to the often flashy Arabians seen on TV. Dusty colored and often overlooked, he reminded me of a prince in exile who kept his crown in a
drawer somewhere. But what he lacked in flash and looks, he more than made up for in the well-known attributes that the wellspring of horses are known for. He could be ridden on the trail for hours and still have gas in the tank long after the quarter horses and long legged thoroughbreds had quit. And Razz had one of the best qualities you could ask for in a horse; he never panicked or got over-excited about anything. He was blessed with an owner, a longtime friend of mine who has a great deal of knowledge of horses. She was maniacal in his care and did most of it herself right down to the trimming of his hooves. But maybe the best quality my friend has is that she treated Razz like an Arabian, often entering him in endurance events and taking him to places where he could embrace the legendary stamina of Arabians. And he took them all in stride, never quitting, never balking and always with that “what’s the big deal” look on his face. When I received a message from my friend, it was one of those rare texts that let the raw emotion come through. At only 16, and still well in his prime, Razz had died, and you could feel my friend’s broken heart through the words on the phone. And what’s worse, he had been stricken with colic, and my friend had been forced to watch, helpless as we all are with that gut-wrenching condition. If you are a horse lover, then you know just how evil colic can be, and the absolute worst thing about it, it is a condition that leaves the owner doubting their judgment over and over again. But no matter what you do, you are often forced to watch an animal that you have loved for as long as three decades, roll in agony and die. I know my friend even now doubts her choices and decisions, but I know that if anyone could have pulled Razz through, or prevented it from happening, it would have been her. Not everybody gets it, and it’s not uncommon to hear words like “it’s just a dog” or “it’s just a horse.” These are not bad people, but I be-
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gets close to our abode without his announcing their presence. Being an animal lover is not something that can be taught. But the words that I would share with my fellow animal lovers would be this. Embrace the pain when your beloved companions pass, but do not get hung up in it. There are far too many animals still out there that need that special love that only we can give. Please spay and neuter your animals and donate your time or money to a local rescue.
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LANIER STRIPERS Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 After another wet March, hopefully the weather is finally taking a turn for the better. The lake is fuller than I have even seen in my life. Lots of stained water which will warm fast. The water temperature has been hovering around 50 degrees for months, but it is finally climbing quickly. As we move into April, the water temperature should finally move solidly into the sixties. Sixty-five degrees is the magic number for the striped bass spawn. Most years, this occurs the first week of April. That being said, all the fish do not spawn at one time. The fish will work their way up into the rivers and work their way back down over the next month. The key pattern will be to pull the banks and points with freelines and boards mostly on the north
end of the lake. Be sure to use your electronics to spot the fish in these areas. On the Humminbird Side Imaging, you can see the fish on each side of the boat. In the past five years, the electronics have progressed immensely. The best setup is a Shakespeare Striper Rod paired with a Penn Fathom II Linecounter reel. The linecounter on the reel makes life simple and more precise. Spool the Penn Fathom II Linecounter with 15-pound Trilene Big Game line. On the end of the line, you will need a flourocarbon leader. Tie on a Spro Power Swivel and a five foot section of 15-pound Trilene 100% Flourocarbon and a Gamakatsu 1/0 Octopus hook. Pick up a set of Water Bug Planer Boards and some live herring and you are good to go for the day. If herring are unavailable, use medium and large shiners or even threadfin shad. Herring have been hard to find even in the bait shops.
If you prefer to use artificials, be sure to pick up some Sebile Magic Swimmer Swimbaits in White Linear and Ayu in several sizes. The most popular sizes are the 95 and 125 size. So far this year, the Magic Swimmer in the 95 has been best due to the baitfish being a little smaller this year. Be sure to throw the smaller 95 size on 10-pound Trilene Big Game or Trilene 100% Flourocarbon on a seven foot medium action Penn combo. Personally, I like the Penn Conflict 3000 spooled with 10-pound Trilene Big
Game on a Fenwick 7 foot medium spinning rod. The Sebile Stick Shad is also a great bait. Give it a try as well. Pick up a selection of other topwater wake baits like the Berkley Surge Shad and walking baits and you are good to go. Another good choice is a Capt. Mack 1/2 ounce bucktail tipped with a Zoom Fluke. April is a great month for casting here on Lanier. Early and late in the day are always best, but do not be afraid to throw it in the middle of the day. I’m looking forward to a great action-packed April.
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LAKE EUFAULA
LAKE SINCLAIR
By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: low 60’s, lake level: 187.98, clarity: stained. The water is dropping some and confusing the fish trying to move shallow. Bass are still holding deep staging to spawn. They are also being caught on cover, natural and man-made. Deep crankbaits and Carolina rigs are working here. Lizards are beginning to be effective. I have had reports of shallow crankbaits near wood on the banks are getting good fish. Senkos and chatter baits are working just off the shore cover in 2 to 6 feet of water. Crappie are trying to move shallow if the water level will become steady. Jigs cast on the grass line are getting some nice ones. The deep fish are still there in 10 to 16 feet. Minnows are the trick there. The catfish bite is good on jugs baited with cut bait. The spring spawn promises to be very hot on Lake Eufaula. We need
Johnny McCloskey from Dayton, Ohio fishing Lake Eufaula with Capt Sam Williams to support the Florida bass study that Auburn University is conducting. The program they instituted on Lake Jordan is in its fifth year and is very successful. The Florida strain has survived and are reproducing very well. We need this same program here on Eufaula. It will allow us to have bigger largemouth for our anglers to enjoy and draw the larger tournaments back to our town. Remember to visit www.alabamachildrensclassic.org and register for our June 1 tournament. Flight one is now full. God bless and good fishing.
Lake Sinclair is down 1.13 feet with the water stained and the temperatures in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. We are still in this rainy cycle which is keeping the lake heavily stained. Look for the clearest water you can find and fish slowly. For the shallow bite, fish a SPRO Little John MD 50 slowly along rocky points and concrete sea walls. Chartreuse or red craw colors will be best. A worm or jig will also get bites in these same areas and around docks
with brush. A Weedless Wonder lead head with a black Zoom trick worm will work around the docks for numbers. A ¼ ounce black and blue jig will get fewer bites around these docks, but will produce a quality bite. There are plenty of deep fish to be caught right now as well. Look for rock structure in the mouths of the creeks just off the main river channel. Find these deep fish quickly by using the Lowrance HDS Structure Scan units. Once you have located these fish, drop a gold Hopkins spoon, a tailspin, or a drop shot vertically through the school. These fish will be located in 24 to 30 feet of water. This is a great way to catch numbers.
“There are plenty of deep fish to be caught right now as well.”
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BUSHES IN THE SPRING Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com
Springtime is a unique time to fish. It can bring with it some of the best a lake has to offer and sometimes the worst. I have been fishing in the spring when it looks like the lake is about to overflow. When I see this situation, I am excited, because it’s time to “beat the bushes.” Beating the bushes means that it’s time to start looking for fish in brush piles near the back or in the back of the coves. You may ask, why go to the back of the coves when the lake has risen? The primary reason I have noticed is that when a lake is rising, the fish tend to move shallower. The same philosophy holds when the lake is falling, however, the bass tends to move out deeper. The process of locating bass in brush piles is easily done us-
ing sonar on your electronics. The echo from the sonar will produce a clear picture and definition of what brush piles tend to resemble. Since it is the springtime, you can expect fish to be using the brush piles for different reasons. One such reason bass use them in the spring is because of its location. If the brush pile is at the front of the cove heading back to the back of a creek, then the bass will use this brush pile as a staging area. This location, if found, will hold some fish. Once you know what brush you want to fish, spend a little time fishing it from all different angles with all different baits. One of my favorite baits for this type of fishing is a 3/8 ounce Fish Head M1 Jig because it has a six-sided head and allows me to work it out
of cover much easier with little to no snags. My last piece of advice is to fish the brush that you can see, the type of brush that we call “overhang” brush. This brush is the type that is alive and is literally hanging over and into the water. This type of brush is perfect for bass to hide in and ambush prey as it comes by. So when the water is rising, don’t leave the cove without fishing the brush that hangs over into the water as it will most likely hold fish, and perhaps the fish of a lifetime. So let me close by saying that beating the bushes is one of the things I do in the springtime when the water on the lake is rising or the lake has taken on much rain. The bush piles and overhanging trees should not go un-fished. In fact, I would suggest that you fish each
one from all different angles. Good luck and tight lines. Please follow me on social media under Jay Striker and at www.Jaystriker.com
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TRIPLE TRIPS MEANS TRIPLE THE FUN
By Gary Turner As we approached the river, you could hear the water rushing. Normally on the Toccoa River, you can hear the rushing of the river over the rocks, but today was different. Today, it was so full, the water was a massive flow covering all the rocks. My fishing buddies, Danny Williams aka “Shorty”, Joe Dipietro and I were setting out to trout fish on the Toccoa River. It was the highest water I have ever seen on the Toccoa River, way higher and faster than it was last summer when my daughter Tori and I were here. Joe said we were going to catch fish. I know Joe, and I know he was going to put us on the fish. Shorty had never caught a trout before, so it was going be epic. His first trout and a float trip on crazy high water. We picked our spots and went fishing. I caught some, and Shorty was getting the feel for snags versus fish. We stopped for a moment and I was eating my pb&j when Shorty had several misses. I laid down my sandwich to see if I could get one out of that hole. Sure enough, I hooked up, and the current was so swift we had to follow the fish downstream. I hated that we had to pull out of that hole and he didn’t get one out of it. We went on downstream and he got on one. His first trout was on the line. He reeled it in and Joe netted it. You should have seen the smile on his face! Despite the high water and swift currents, we still managed to get some really good trout and the biggest rainbow I’ve ever caught on the Toccoa that day. We had a great day fishing with Joe. High water, low water, almost no water, Joe knows where to catch the fish. Next stop: Lake Oconee. Shorty and I went fishing with Chad Smith on one of those transition weather days. It had been a mixed week, and it was supposed to be just cloudy that day with a front pushing in the next day. We got started, and no sooner than we had the baits down, we were on two fish. Out of nowhere it then started raining. It 26 ATLANTA
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rained for about 30 minutes, and the fish absolutely shut down. They were still there on the graph, but just not biting. We worked them a few more hours, picking up several more here and there. The fish were stacked in there just taking a break, I guess. Chad went out again the next day and they were back on fire again. Same spot, same fish. Mother Nature and fish, you never know. Stop number 3: Santee Cooper with Dewayne Proffit. Roy Holiday, Stacy Fleming, Shorty and I went looking for catfish. It had been a sunny week and Dewayne had been catching good fish every day. We knew that a front was coming with temps starting in the 50s and dropping. Old Mother Nature was after us again. This time she brought cold winds and spits of rain. We went out anyway because you got to go try. Dewayne put us on a spot and we set out 16 lines. In just a few minutes, the first blue catfish was hammering a bait, then another and another. I set the hook on one and it jumped out of the water. It did not look like a catfish. It was a bowfin, my first ever bowfin. I know they are not good eating, but they have been on my list to catch for quite awhile. We caught a few more cats and then moved to another spot when the bite slowed. We picked up some more fish, and I landed one just over 35 pounds and several others were caught over 20. Stacy was keeping fish to fry, so he kept all under 20 pounds, and we released the big ones. We ended the day with a cooler full of blues and a few channels. We caught over 25 fish, which was great considering the cold, wet, windy conditions. You just never know when and where they are going to be biting, so go fishing every chance you get. If you want more info about fishing with any of these guides, give them a shout for more info. Joe Dipietro, trout, North GA, 706851-4001; Chad Smith, crappie, catfish, striper, Lake Oconee, 706207-2411; Dewayne Proffit, catfish,
Santee Cooper, 740-404-3900. We have several more trips lined up; West Palm, Santee, Carters and Bear Creek are coming up. Make 2019 your best fishing year yet! 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 or check out my Hub pages at GoneFishinClub.hubpages.com. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.
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WEST POINT Water tempatures are mostly in the mid 60’s to low 70s. The lake is slightly stained in places and should be approaching full pool soon! Bass: Good - April is usually my favorite month for all types of fishing in general. The weather is usually beautiful and fairly consistent. Bass can be caught on several different patterns. Topwater baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive pre-spawn and spawning fish. The second pattern that works really well is to look for spawning shad. Try fishing rip rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and Zoom Superflukes. Additionally, some big tournament sacks of largemouth are weighed in April by guys who sight fish, targeting fish that are locked on
bed. This can be an aggravating way to fish but can pay off in a tournament win. Lots of spotted bass spawn in April and are caught by just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks. This tactic normally works very well for numbers. Linesides: Excellent - Expect a strong river run from the hybrids and white bass this year until at least mid-April. The hybrids have made a nice comeback since the DNR has been stocking them again for the past several years. Many of these fish are mature enough this year to guarantee a big run. Try live or cut bait (even chicken livers will work at times!) fished in holes from Grayson’s Landing to Franklin. Spray your bait with a little garlic scent for even more bites. Some fish will, as usual, always remain down on the main lake as well and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, and Storm Swim Shad lures. Try the rip rap around the bridges at daylight. Shad spawn should start soon!
Crappie: Good - There should be a decent second wave of crappie coming up in early to mid-April this year to spawn. During April, crappie can be in all stages of the spawning process - pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. Crappie can be easier to catch in slightly stained water, especially if you have shallow brush, blow-downs or chunk rock structure. Spawned out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper structure for a while to recover. Night fishing should also improve in late April. Bream: Good - Don’t forget about our bream and shellcracker. Finding an active bed can take a little effort, but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually
April 19th Full Pink Moon
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takes place on the full moon cycles in April and May. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats and stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live pink worms, crickets and small jigs for the best results. Catfish: Good - Lots of channel cats are caught every year by anglers who are targeting linesides. The same live and cut baits (as well as pink worms and liver) that are used on stripers will catch cats, especially in the river north of 219. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream and fish the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs as fish in the 20 to 30-pound range are fairly common.
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SO YOU WANT TO HAVE AN OUTDOOR TELEVISION SHOW by O’Neill Williams Sounds great, doesn’t it? Take a look around on the Internet, Dish, Direct TV, Cable, Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, Pursuit, Wild TV, and dozens of other Video On Demand (VOD) networks. There’s bound to be a place for you and your buddies to have your own show. Great! The process kind of goes like this. Equipment is not expensive as it once was. When we got started in 1981, the camera was a brand called an Ikegami. At the time, that camera costs about thirty grand. Now, it’s much easier because the high definition camera you can buy costs about four thousand. OK, you have your camera and microphone transmitter and receiver. You’d better plan on starting with an experienced camera operator. That’ll be about $400 to $600 per day. For a fishing episode, you can plan on two days, hunting about four days, maybe six. Let’s be kind and average three days at $400, so $1,200 for camera work. Editing? Maybe you can contract that out and not buy the gear. Figure three days to edit and send the shows to the networks. Reasonably, you just spent another $3,000. For yourself, make your effort free, so on the cheap side, you have invested $4,000 for the camera and gear and $4,200 per show for production. Put the production costs at 13 shows for $58,600. How about the networks? Outdoor Channel will cost about $6,000 per week, Sportsman $4,000 and Pursuit $2,000 per week. You have to plan on thirteen original shows and thirteen reruns over at least a 26-week period. Let’s say you start your program on Pursuit, so that’s 26 x $2,000 = $52,000. Outdoor Channel is $156,000, etc. OK, for 26 weeks you spent: network = $156,000 for Outdoor Channel, production = $58,600, travel, insurance, general accounting, equipment, sales commissions, etc. another $200,000. Wow, almost
$500,000 total. Take my word for it, that’s on the cheap. Personally, we spend at least $600,000 per season, $1,200,000 over a full year because “O’Neill Outside with Travis Johnson” airs on over ten different networks every week 52 weeks per year. Someone, either you or an advertising sales person or company, must sell the advertising slots in the show before you make any money. You will have eight ‘slots’ or ‘positions’ to sell. How many slots to you need to sell? Eight per week every week, obviously, to fill it up. My experience says you’ll have to make sales pitches to eighty companies to sell eight positions. Have time for that? Maybe, maybe not. Understanding me so far? Here’s the killer. You must commit to the networks and to how much you’ll be paying them BEFORE you ever produce a single show beyond a ‘pilot’, AND each month you’ll have to pay in advance. WOW! Are you doing this for fun or to make money? It needs to be about the good old American dollar, because I can tell you that being on television is not a heroic act. It puzzles me how so many people get into television and think they will become famous celebrities. Believe me, you will not. Misguided outdoorsmen, sometime think they will. True heroes are EMT’s, police, firefighters, soldiers, often teachers, nurses, doctors and, some of the time, parents, not outdoor show hosts/producers. I’m guessing there are probably 200 or more outdoor hunting and fishing shows now, and very few make money, in fact, a generous portion are financed by a single company to promote their brands exclusively and have their names and products in focus all during the program. This is why the outdoor shows come and go, in and out, on then off. It’s a tough business and getting tougher because the audience
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watches many of the programs via their computers or I-Pads or VOD networks which do not allow for the commercials where the money comes from in the first place. Telling you this makes me want to quit and dig ditches.
If you really want to jam it together so you’ll have to work seven days a week, start a radio show, then add podcasting, a monthly newsletter and a Facebook page and get old like me at 75 years celebrated in October of 2018.
3/17/19 2:59 PM
WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN
By: Ryan Kennedy YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing Instagram: ryankfishing ryankfishing@gmail.com Similar to our day-to-day lives, tournament fishing is full of mountainous highs and dreadful lows. Life seems to steer clear of the predictable path that we have planned out for ourselves. In an absolute instant, everything can change. On countless occasions I have had certain patterns working during practice days and been thrown an absolute curveball come tournament time. Sometimes that curveball lines up for success, and sometimes it presents a new trial that must be dealt with. The thing that amazes me the most about days that have seemingly taken a turn for the worst on the water is the turnaround moment that I experience. The turnaround moment may not even involve catching the tournament winning fish or even getting a bite. It’s that one moment in a day on the water that you can look back on as the diamond in the rough. The one and only time that diamond never appeared for me was the first and last time that
I ever decided to not give 110% effort towards enjoying my time and being grateful for all that surrounded me while I was on the water. Just like the old saying goes, you’ve only got three choices in life: give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got! Sometimes I have to grind out a frustrating tournament day after a good practice, and sometimes it’s a bad practice with a good tournament day. In both situations, I have felt endless support and encouragement from my family and been able to look back and see the Lord’s blessings in those times. My father is always an early riser and has always been quick to call or text words of encouragement when I am off traveling for tournaments. One of my favorite things he has ever told me is a Bible verse that has helped me get through countless tournaments and situations in my life. Proverbs 21:32 NIV says, “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
As outdoorsmen we get to enjoy aspects of life that are the true masterpieces of this world. Whether it’s watching the sun rise or set over the horizon, seeing a bass come clean out of the water busting on a school of shad, or even looking up to see a bald eagle glide through the air, special moments in the outdoors are never too far away. It’s during “little” instances like that where I can oftentimes find the diamond in the rough during my day on the water. Now don’t get me
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wrong, I love it when the diamond in the rough gets to be a tournament limit of fish that tips the scales past the other boats in the field, but I’m truly grateful to simply be able to enjoy God’s amazing creation in the outdoors. So, the next time life throws you a curveball on the water, I encourage you to just take a step back and enjoy the moment for what it is; a blessing. When the chips are down, give it all you’ve got! Tight lines and God bless!
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CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973
lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com
Rain, rain, and more rain has really made a mess of the lake lately. Water has been up pretty much all year, and we can only hope for a dry spring to get the lake back to normal. Looking ahead, we should see the spring bite take off with bait and predator fish all getting into spawning mode. As the water temp creeps back up slowly towards the upper 50s and low 60s, look for schools of bait to gather into giant spawning schools near rocky structure, submerged timber and low hanging brush. The stripers and hybrids will be close by following the large bait balls feeding on them throughout the day and evening. This is one of my favorite times of year to fish cause there will be days when the fish literally feed all day. Live bait is king during daylight hours. Live threadfins or freshcaught herring will be key and typically, the bigger the better. There’s no real target depth except follow the depth of the bait you are fishing. I like to be just above or just below the
school of bait. Circle hooks, 14-pound leader and a good medium action rod is all you need. If you prefer trolling live baits over sitting still, Castaway planers and a combination of flat lines are the way to go. I pull a spread of 5 to 6 rods. As always, Worley Creek, Fisher Creek and Woodring/Camp Branch is the place to be. At night, throwing artificials can really pay off. Finding the bait and fan casting the shorelines nearby is a great tactic that can produce some great fish on lures as well as on fly. Not being able to see much is compensated by the shattering explosions of a big fish eating your artificial. Zara Spooks, original floating Rapalas, and a number of other similar baits are the way to go. As far as fly gear goes, a 6 to 8 weight with a sinking tip or full sink line stripped in short 4 to 6 inch bursts while attached to big streamer baitfish patterns are what I like. Upriver, look for the walleye to move up past Ridgeway area into ideal spawning areas. They will be on the bottom and usually eager to eat an easy meal. Live threadfins are a great option here as well as small to medium crank and jerk baits. Let’s all hope the spring gives us some dry weather and some sunshine.
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LAKE ALATOONA Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson First Bite Guide Service 770-827-6282 eidson6260@att.net www.firstbiteguideservice.com
LAKE LANIER CRAPPIE Lake level is about 3 ½ feet over full pool, and there is still a good bit of floating debris to avoid. Everyone in the boat should be on the lookout. The backs of the creeks have moderate to heavy stain, which is where you find the warmest water, about 55 degrees and creeping up. Fishing is good to excellent. Simply follow the bait in the middle to backs of creeks and they will lead you to the fish. Also, there are lots of roaming fish. This means that longline trolling can be very effective. We suspect that the fish are checking out their spawning grounds, and my guess will be that the spawn will begin around the coming full moon.
We are targeting and catching fish around docks in 15 feet of water and much less. The bite is suspended shallow in the water column, so expect bites quickly after the bait hits the water. Having said that, fishing is changing from day to day. You might catch a mixed bag in size one day, and the next day you may end up with nothing but big ones. We are keeping a close eye on the blow-downs, and scanning the deeper ones. But so far, we are not seeing any fish on them. I do expect that to change quickly, though. If you happen to be one of those fishermen who fishes multiple times during the week and are catching a lot of fish, keep in mind that our future fishery depends on a good spawn, so you may want to consider catch and release. Stay safe on the water and wear a life jacket!
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Forecast By: Dan Saknini, Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. www.laniercrappieanglers.net
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Linesides fishing is good! The lake has come up close to 14 feet in the last few weeks and is now 2 feet above full pool and rising. It is rolling mud on the north end and on the far south end. The better water is in between Bartow Carver and Iron Hill. With all of this rain, you would think the bite would be nonexistent, but that isn’t the case this year. The bite is still good, and
I contribute that to the water weather/ water temperatures. A couple of weeks ago, the artificial bite (Capt. Mack’s Mini Rigs and 1/2 ounce white Flex It spoons) was outfishing live bait 2 to 1. That’s not the case this week. Shad and shiners on freelines and planer boards early are the ticket right now. The key isn’t what creek you’re in, but finding clearer water is a must. Polarized glasses are a must. Sometimes it only takes one shade difference in the water color to load the boat. If you’re looking to get out this month but don’t have a boat, we have plenty of availability. Just give us a call at 770-827-6282.
“Linesides fishing is good! The lake has come up close to 14 feet in the last few weeks and is now 2 feet above full pool and rising.”
3/17/19 3:00 PM
LAKE MARTIN Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089 Water temperature: 58 degrees, level: 5 feet below summer pool, clarity: stained from middle to north, clear middle to south end. Alex City Guide Service wants to send our thoughts and prayers out to everyone who has been affected by all of the tornadoes, flooding, and hurricane our friends and neighbors are still recovering from. God bless you all! At the time of this report, we are still dealing with water fluctuations and clarity changes, but we have managed to boat some nice stripers. So far, the majority of these fish are being caught in shallower waters adjacent to deep channels. The best bites have been on live bait. April is one month on the calendar that stands out to me year after year as the best. Weather in April is typically awesome
with the water temperature almost perfect, the clarity perfect, and the trophy striper bite is superb. If you are wanting a pictureworthy catch, this is definitely the month you want to be on Lake Martin. If you have been out with us in April, you have been exposed to some of the biggest live baits that you’ve ever dreamed of anyone fishing with. Typically, we will be casting some huge topwater lures and getting the fly fisherman in the middle of schools of some of the finest stripers Lake Martin has to offer. If you’re fishing on your own for stripers this month, you probably don’t have live shad. A good alternative for the weekend warrior is the Black Salty which can be purchased at most live bait providers around the lake or you can order them and shipped to you overnight. Black Saltys are one of the few baits that the average fisherman can keep alive with the least amount of equipment. Don’t overlook pier light fishing in April. This may be the easiest
way to catch stripers this month. It doesn’t work year round, but it sure works in April. Rig up a spinning rod with 12-pound monofilament and very loose drag with a Rapala #7 Shad Rap black and silver and you should have a blast. If you’d like to treat yourself, your family or your clients to a fun
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THE FUTURE OF TOURNAMENT BASS FISHING LOOKS BRIGHT by Jeff Hamm
Up and Coming Angler Spotlight: Meet Fisher Faulkner, a 13-year-old student at Evans Middle School from Augusta, GA. Fisher has been fishing tournaments since age 11. He is now 13 and has three wins under his belt in his short time of fishing competitively. He’s quite the accomplished angler, learning most of his skills from his father Nick, who is a 23year tournament angler and one of the best anglers on Clark’s Hill. Fisher is a member of the Clark’s Hill Youth Fishing Team. He won his first local team event with his partner Caleb “Cookie” Vacoc on November 11, 2017. Fisher recently won his first individual club event at Clark’s Hill in Augusta, GA on Feb 28, 2019. To top that off, on March 9, 2019 he and his partner, Baden Culpepper won the GA BASS Nation JR Title on Lake Blackshear in Cordele, GA. They won this tournament on the Minn Kota trolling motor. That’s right. Nick was their captain and recently had a blown motor. Unable to secure a backup boat, Nick was determined to not let his son and son’s partner down. He trailered his Ranger boat with a blown motor from Augusta, GA to Lake Blackshear and launched the boat with the trolling motor as the only source of propulsion. They trolled to a nearby marina where Baden hooks up and lands a 6.07-pound monster largemouth on 8-pound test spinning reel with a wacky rigged Senko. Fisher lands the only other fish, but it’s not just
any fish, it’s a Greenfish Jig fish, which means big fish. He lands a 4.31-pound largemouth which brings their tournament weight to 10.38 pounds. That was enough to capture the first place title out of 27 teams. This was one of the most impressive victories I have ever seen. It compares to Jordan Lee’s issue with his boat when he captured his first Bassmaster Classic victory. Now for the icing on the cake of what was a very positive weekend in the life of Fisher Faulkner. On Sunday March 10, 2019, the day after the victory on Lake Blackshear, Fisher and his partner, Collin Williams, qualified for the FLW Junior World Championship on Lake Hartwell, coming in seventh place at that event. I have had the pleasure of fishing with Fisher and Nick many times, and I must say Fisher is a reserved, unrattled individual who is very confident in his ability to read the fish, and he has a natural knack for the sport. His favorite angler on tour is Scott Martin. His favorite lure is the Greenfish Creeper head. He is constantly looking to learn new techniques that will help him develop into the best angler he can be. He will be one of the new young guns to watch for in the future. Thanks to Greenfish Lures, Boy Scout Automotive, BASS and FLW and all the sponsors, parents, volunteers and boat captains that make these tournaments posssible for the middle school and high school divisions. The future of tournament bass fishing definitely looks bright! To learn more about Georgia high school and middle school tournament fishing opportunities, visit: h t t p s : / / w w w. gabassnationhs. com/ and https:// gabassfed.org/
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SEMINOLE
HERE COMES THE BOATING SEASON
Forecast By: by Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com
Dr. Andrew Cox
Each year on Georgia and Alabama waterways, there are numerous boating related accidents. Unfortunately, some of these accidents involved the use of alcohol and drugs. Many of these mishaps could have been avoided through knowledge of safe boating procedures or nonuse of alcohol or drugs while operating a vessel. Do you know what to do in the following boating scenarios? • How do I operate a boat when I see red and black buoys within the waterway? • What do I do when I see striped black and white buoys midstream within the waterway? • What do various flags in the water mean? • How do I operate my vessel when approaching other on-coming boats? • Do I slow my boat down when operating my boat adjacent to anchored or stopped boats? • How close can I operate my vessel near to or within swimming areas? • What safety equipment is required on my boat? These questions and other boating safety and operation tips and procedures can be answered fairly quickly and easily. A useful reference for Georgia boat operators is the Handbook of Georgia Boating Laws and Responsibilities. This reference is available through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (www.gadnrle.org). Alabama has as a similar publication available through www.outdooralabama.com. These handbooks will answer the above questions plus some that you didn’t know to ask. As a boat operator on the increasingly crowded waterways in Georgia and Alabama, you may want to consider taking a boating safety or boat operator course. These courses are available in live course with an instructor or on-line course instructional formats. These are available to accommodate your schedule and learning needs. Some are free or charge a minimal fee. Some potential boating safety or so-called boating education providers are listed below: • Georgia Department of Natural
Resources. www.gadnrle.org; www. gooutdoorsgeorgia.com; www.georgiawildlife.com. These websites describe online and live boating education programs available within the State of Georgia • United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. www.uscgaux.info. Lists various boating education programs available through this branch of the U.S. Coast Guard • United States Power Squadron. www.usps.org. Another source of boating education programs • Several non-governmental providers of boating safety and education programs are available to include www.boatus.org and boat-ed. com. These sources include on-line boating safety courses. Check out some of the above sources. Useful information is provided for non-powerboat operators using Alabama and Georgia waters. Information useful to angling, kayak and canoe enthusiasts is available. You should also be aware of the licensing and boating operation regulations in effect for both Georgia and Alabama. These regulations can be reviewed through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Review of the above resources, being observant, and anticipating possible safety hazards while operating a boat can keep you and your boating passengers from being a statistic as described earlier in this article. Hope you have a safe and pleasurable boating season. Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers.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. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.
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3 to 4 feet of water, and we have been catching some big ones! It’s the same with crappie, and we’ve been seeing some huge slabs being caught on minnows and jigs.
The bass have been spawning and starting to move into their postspawn patterns. The main lake grass lines on the Flint River arm and on the Chattahoochee River arm of the lake have been very productive with topwater lures like a Strike King Pro Model Buzzbait in white fished along the grass lines where baitfish are present. A spinnerbait has also been productive early in the morning around spawning shad. I prefer a Strike King 1/2 ounce Burner in blue shad fished on 14-pound test Matt and Charlie LaHood from Valdofluorocarbon line. The shellcracker are bedding in sta fishing with Paul Tyre
LAKE CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS Forecast By:By: Darren Hughes Hughes General Store & Bait Shop & Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service^ www.bigolfish.com (706) 745-6569 March was another great month of fishing on Lake Chatuge, and with this warmer-than-usual spring in place, we expect April to be even better. Currently, lake temps are in the upper 50’s. Water clarity is clear all over the lake and water levels are holding at about 1 feet below full pool. The hybrid bass bite has been crazy. We’ve been catching some nice 10 to 13-pound fish in good numbers for early spring. The hybrids are presently staging in their spawning areas in the backs of creeks and feeding on some huge shad. This should continue through the month of April and into May. Early morning planer boards and free lines have worked the best. As the sun really comes out, the fish are moving to slightly deeper water and hitting on our down lines. Live bait is key here to catching some quality fish, but don’t hesitate to cast a Spook, Red Fin, or Sexy Dog, especially when theses hybrids are busting topwater. Our spotted bass bite has also been insane. We are averaging anywhere from 30 to 40 fish a trip out here. Lake
Chatuge offers the best spotted bass fishing in Western North Carolina, and I highly recommend booking a trip with us to experience this super exciting fishing thrill. These big spots are stacking up on shallow points, humps and flats all over the lake and preparing for the spawn. Look for these fish in the 10-30 foot range. The early morning bite has been okay, but it really fires up once the sun comes up. The late afternoon bite has also been pretty productive. Once you find these fish, they are hitting just about anything you can cast at them. Jerkbaits and crankbaits have been working great, but as always, our super lively blueback herring are the biggest producers for some huge spots. April fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. It’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. We also carry ethanol-free gas and have some of the best hot, made-from-scratch biscuits in North GA. For guided fishing trips on Lakes Chatuge, Hiwassee, or Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call me, Darren Hughes, at Hughes General Store.
3/17/19 3:00 PM
BOW FISHING 101 Tom Danger
The sport of bow fishing can take on many different looks and can also be very different when talking cost. In this article, we will stick to a low budget but fun and exciting method. If you are a whitetail deer bow hunter, you probably already have the main piece of equipment, an old bow. If you are not a deer hunter, you probably know someone who is and has an old bow or ten laying around unused. Once you obtain the bow, strip it down, back the pull off to about 45 pounds and put some no glove on the string which allows for fast shooting and saves the fingers. You can use sights, but I have found sighting down the arrow works really well and is much faster. As you are beginning to notice, speed is important when it comes to the
next shot. We will talk more about that another time. Next, you need a way to retrieve the fish or at least the arrow when you miss, and you will miss! This can be the most expensive part of the set up. If you go with a bow fishing reel, they range from $80.00 to $100.00 and may include line and arrow. If you go old school, (hand reel) which is not bad for beginners, they are around $30.00 including line. Hey, old school is not bad. I still use my old school bow from time to time. As for line, Muzzy makes what they call “Extreme Bow Fishing Line”, which is the best in my opinion. It comes in florescent yellow and orange, 25 yards, 200-pound test for around 15 bucks. By the way, when talking bow fishing gear, stay with Muzzy. Next you need a bow fishing
arrow. Again, Muzzy offers one fully rigged with line slide, stop and screw release barb hunting tip for around $15.00. Last, but not least, you need a bow rest to support the weight of the bow while looking for fish. I use one that fastens around your belt and straps around your leg. You just set the bottom cam in the stirrup and it handles the weight of the bow and relieves the arms for the next shot. These range from 15 to 25 bucks. So provided you find an old bow for free, you can be ready to shoot for $100-$150. If you have a boat, fine, but if not, wading is
fun also. In my next writing, we will talk about lakes, including water conditions, water temps, depths, time of year and how to prepare your fish to eat. I’m just kidding about the eating part. They are not called trash fish for nothing. I do, however, have a good use for your fish which we will also cover next time. Due to heavy rain and record high lake levels, it may be the May magazine for the next writing, which hopefully we can include some pictures of trips including some kills. Until then, be safe and enjoy the great outdoors!
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Shon Newman caught this big cat in the Hooch. Hamed Bahmancheh with a big carp caught on Carters Lake Jay Weathers from Eufaula High School team fishing with his dad Billy on Lake Eufaula
Gary Turner with a big Santee cat This 30 inch brown trout was caught by Paul Messer fly fishing with Reel Em In Guide Service
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n March 11, striped bass harvest closed in many North Carolina waters. Management measures were implemented for the Central Southern Management Area, which encompasses all internal waters from just south of Oregon Inlet to the South Carolina line. Waters impacted include, but are not limited to, the Pamlico and Core sounds and the Tar, Pamlico, Pungo, Bay, Neuse and White Oak rivers and their tributaries. In those areas, harvest of striped bass is closed, but recreational catch and release of striped bass is still allowed in the coastal fishing waters. Recreational fishermen are encouraged to use non-offset circle hooks and to limit handling of released fish. The recreational season remains open in joint fishing waters managed cooperatively between the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission until April 30 with an 18-inch minimum size limit, no possession of fish between 22 inches and 27 inches total length and a two-fish per person, per day bag limit. A recreational no-possession limit, essentially a year-round recreational season closure for striped bass will take effect in coastal fishing waters managed by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission. The closure does not impact striped bass fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, Albemarle Sound Management Area, Roanoke River Management Area, and inland waters under the sole jurisdiction of the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission. The new management measures are meant to be temporary restrictions to protect naturally spawned year classes of striped bass. Research has shown that striped bass in the Central Southern Management Area are not a self-sustaining population and that fishermen are mainly catching hatchery-raised fish; however, data suggest there have been two recent naturally spawned year classes.
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igger is better, right? Maybe, but when it comes to spring bluegills I like to go small. Everyone knows the ubiquitous bluegill or bream. A member of the sunfish family, the bluegill can be found in lakes, ponds and streams from the Rockies to Florida and is arguably one of the most popular, best known and most commonly caught freshwater fish. They are, however, the quintessential bait stealers and are often the cause of frustration, sometimes thrown back because they’re “just bluegills.” It took me a while to realize that the diminutive bluegill can be a bruiser and is hard to beat beer battered with a plate of fries. Going small is of course relative. Bluegills are small to begin with, and to put it into perspective, winter and early spring fishing calls for jigs as small as 1/64 of an ounce. Fast-forward to spring and comparatively large jigs of 1/32- to 1/16 of an ounce become the norm. Orange, yellow, white, chartreuse and purple Teardrop jigs, and
red Rat Finky and yellow or black ball jigs rule the day. Tipping the jigs with a wax worm, several red spikes or some other meaty offering is irresistible, especially when vertically jigged. The tiny baits are virtually weightless and casting, though not impossible, does create challenges. Vertical jigging keeps the jig and bait combo on the spot and in the strike zone far longer than drifting baits beneath a float. I’ve used crankbaits, spinnersbaits and bucktails larger than most bluegills I’ve caught, but big bull ’gills longer than 10 inches are pound-for-pound one of the strongest fighting fish that swims. They are great fun on very light tackle. A 4-foot, 6-inch to 5-foot ultra-light spooled with 4-pound mono is about perfect for catching the little brutes. If you plan to cast, the ultra-light is great, but a light action 6-foot, 6-inch crappie rod can provide a bit more distance. In early Spring, during prespawn when water temps push over 50 degrees, big bulls will begin moving out of their winter areas and start gravitating toward mid-depth structure. These areas include weed edges, rock piles or submerged timber; anything that provides protection will be sought out. Muddy bottoms and sunken brushpiles can be prime areas. Locating structure can be tricky, but when fishing muddy lakes look for slight changes in depth including depressions only inches deeper than the surrounding area. These “bowls” are big bull hotspots. A jig tipped with waxworms, spikes or grasshoppers work well here, but a 1-inch chunk of nightcrawler or leaf worm is better. If available, hellgrammites—sometimes locally called “wigglers”—will outshine any other offering. They’re typically more expensive, but you will not be disappointed. Be prepared, however, because largemouth bass love them too and will certainly test your light tackle. Vertical jigging is a great technique. Dangling a tempting morsel over a rock pile, suspended weeds, sunken brush or muddy bottom can mean the difference between fishing and catching. Sometimes bigger is better, but for these feisty little Frisbees, smaller is often your best bet.
T
he N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission closed approximately 1,000 miles of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters to fishing onehalf hour after sunset on Feb. 28 to prepare for opening day, which is April 6. During the closure, commission personnel stocked all Hatchery Supported Trout Waters in preparation for opening day. Staff stocks Hatchery Supported Trout Waters, which are marked by green-andwhite signs, at frequent intervals in the spring and early summer every year. This year, commission personnel will stock approximately 930,000 trout—96 percent of which average 10 inches in length, with the other 4 percent exceeding 14 inches in length. While fishing on Hatchery Supported Trout Waters, anglers can harvest a maximum of seven trout per day, with no minimum size limit or bait restriction. Hatchery Supported Trout Waters are open from 7 a.m. on the first Saturday in April until one-half hour after sunset on the last day of February the following year. For more information on trout fishing in North Carolina, visit the Commission’s trout fishing page, or call the Inland Fisheries Division, (919) 707-0220.
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OAA has announced recreational red snapper seasons for the South Atlantic, which includes fisheries off Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The recreational sector will open for harvest on the following days: • July 12-14 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) • July 19-20 (Friday and Satur-
day) During this limited open season, the recreational bag limit is one red snapper per person, per day for private and charter vessels. The captain and crew on for-hire vessels will be allowed to retain the recreational bag limit. There is no size limit. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council identified the following best practices to reduce release mortality and further protect the population as it rebuilds: • Avoid areas likely to have red snapper if you already caught your limit. • When red snapper are out of season, avoid areas where they are common. • Use single-hook rigs to reduce the potential for catching multiple red snapper on a single drop. • Use non-offset circle hooks while fishing in areas where red snapper are common. • Use a dehooking device to remove the hook. Keep fish in the water if you plan to release them or return them to the water as quickly as possible. • Use descending devices when releasing fish with signs of barotrauma.
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Tim Barefoot
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here are several ways to make this double tackle, but one simple knot makes a wonderful, heavy-duty presentation. Some folks refer to this as a “high/low rig,” and you can call it anything you want, but for the sake of this article I’ll just call it a “double tackle.” To start with, consider the fish you are targeting and choose the correct size fluorocarbon for the leader. You can tie this knot in almost any size fluoro up to 80- or 100-pound. A rig like this is extremely effective on quite a few species and gets a lot of “reaction strikes” due to the multiple offerings presented and the erratic action of the baits. Using a heavier jig on the bottom keeps the lighter jig, streamer fly or unweighted soft plastic in place. It’s less likely to foul and makes the action more erratic, which draws the instinct strikes. The darting action resembles a scared or confused baitfish, which is irresistible to predatory fish, and the trailing bait is an easy target. These are the baitfish they have been programmed to eat since birth. It makes perfect sense, as they exert less energy to catch disoriented baitfish than those swimming perfectly in open water. There are two primary considerations when choosing the poundage of the fluoro leader material, water clarity and quarry. After choosing the correct size jigs and fluoro, it’s time to determine the lengths of the two legs of the rig. I start with about a 4- or 5-foot length of leader and make a 10- to 12-inch diameter loop in the center of the leader. This is typical for smaller inshore or freshwater fish, but can be made larger and longer for larger fish and jigs for a variety of offshore fish. Next, make eight turns with one of the tag ends through the 1-foot diameter loop. Find the center wrap of the tag end and separate it large enough to pass the 1-foot diameter loop back through (as shown in the photo).
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At this point, hook the 1-foot diameter loop onto something that allows you to pull all three legs of the tackle together with equal pressure and lubricant (saliva). Now, pull the two tag ends HARD as well as the loop to secure the knot down tight. Clip one of the two sides of the loop (shown in photo) and this makes the second leg of the “double tackle.” This might sound complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. For a detailed video, visit the website and the watch the video named “Double Tackle” Check out Tim’s website at www.barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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Shot Placement Sheri Daye
W
hen you watch experienced spearos, you will notice they are relaxed in the water, they don’t take long shots, and they make it look easy. You will also notice they have a high percentage of kill shots. That is because they are disciplined and practice good shot placement. Perfect shot placement means you achieve a kill shot, also called “stoning the fish.” In other words, the fish is instantly put to sleep, lifeless as a stone. There’s a multitude of reasons to strive for this shot. For one, a kill shot is the most efficient and humane way to dispatch a fish. With a head shot, the fillets will be in better shape, with no holes, blood marks, or chance of bacteria entering the meat (from a gut shot). Also, the fish does not have a chance to struggle and bend your shaft, or worse yet, to get off the shaft. There are added safety benefits to stoning a fish. You will avoid ringing the dinner bell for sharks attracted to a struggling fish. Also, a live fish has the potential of tangling on the bottom or around you, so a dead fish makes for a much quicker and safer extraction. Finally, if you quietly put the fish to sleep, you won’t spook other fish in the surrounding area, giving you and your buddy a chance at more fish. To stone a fish, the shaft needs to hit the brain or spine. The ideal shot is a quartering shot from above and behind, hitting the spot where the lateral line meets the brain. This sweet spot is at the top of the gills and behind the eyes. Of course, the closer you can get to the fish, the higher the likelihood of proper shot placement.
Here’s more tips for achieving kill shots while spearfishing: 1. Refine your diving/stalking technique so you can get closer to fish without spooking them. 2. Don’t rush the shot, take your time and try to get a more accurate shot.
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3. Buy a good quality speargun and make sure your shafts/floppers are in good shape (not bent). 4. Practice hitting an underwater target, such as a weighted foam fish or net. Try shooting from different distances so you know your range versus accuracy. Don’t take “iffy” shots. 5. Take the time to study fish anatomy and examine them at the Sheri Daye fillet table. shows what good shot There are excepplacement tions to the rule. For on cubera example, when taking snapper looks a long shot on a spooky fish with a narrow like. body, such as a wahoo, you might want to aim for “center mass.” Otherwise, take the time to learn one of the most fundamental rules of spearfishing—that is, good shot placement! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye go to,
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3/18/19 11:18 AM
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The new Havalon® TalonTM Quik-Change IITM Multi-Blade Cutlery System brings together nearly 40 years of expertise in the surgical field and decades of quality time spent out in open waters. This innovative platform features a variety of reliable add-on blades designed to make clean work of the dirty work all the way from ship to shore. NATIONAL
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3/18/19 11:18 AM
SEA EAGLE SUPCAT 10 SeaEagle took the concept of an SUP and created a whole new type of inflatable fishing craft that is extremely versatile for anglers on the go. With two rock-solid inflatable side pontoons, The SUPCat10 is an incredibly stable platform to stand and fish or paddle from. For those who prefer to move faster, it can be equipped with either an electric or small gas outboard and reach speeds up to 8mph. From the trunk of your car to the water, the SUPCat10 sets up easily in less than 10 minutes. With the Wheels Up/Wheels Down feature, it’s possible to cart your boat and all your gear down to the water, flip the wheels into an upright position and paddle or motor away. Features include: Four Scotty gear mounts, two Scotty rod holders, nonslip EVA foam deck pads, 360-degree swivel seat, built-in fish rulers, multiple D-ring attachment points, removable rear motor mount and four grab handles. It’s an exceptional little fishing boat no matter how you choose to propel it.
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Sailfish Boats’ new flagship center console, the 360CC, is the largest, most feature-rich boat in the Sailfish family. The 360CC is on the leading-edge of center console design. Like all Sailfish Boats, the 360CC features Sailfish’s unique Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) Hull design, offering a smooth, stable ride, even in rough seas. Their exclusive VDS Hull features three distinct running surfaces. The first section is a 24-degree dead rise that cuts through the water. This is the most aggressive angle used in the fishing boat segment. The second section is 23 degrees, and it provides lift and allows air under the hull, producing a softer ride with less friction for better performance and fuel economy. This lift allows you to reach the same speed without requiring as much horsepower as other boats. The third section is 22 degrees, and it provides stability needed for slow trolling or stopped positions. The hull and deck are both reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fiber, and built using the SailTech foam-filled fiberglass stringer system and SailTech composite full length transom. Sailfish has been expertly engineering center consoles, dual consoles, walkarounds and bay boats for nearly 40 years. They range from 19’ to 36’. With reliable outboard power from Yamaha or Mercury, and their exclusive VDS hull design, the Sailfish 360CC delivers a smooth, safe ride, even in the roughest offshore water. The all-new 360CC Center Console is a fitting addition to the Sailfish lineup. It epitomizes the Sailfish legacy of building high quality and expertly engineered boats that are fishing focused and family friendly.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
EXPERIENCE THE
TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER Why Do Hooked Fish Get Off?
B
BRANDON LESTER
ass get away for two basic reasons: the hook coming out of their mouth and line failure. If you can keep those from happening, you’ll land the fish. Sounds simple right? Well, it is and it isn’t. To keep these from happening, you’ve got to have the right combination of hook, line and rod… and then you must use them all properly. Let’s start with the hookset. If the hook isn’t properly buried into the fish’s jaw, it is obviously easier for it to come out. The hookset is predominately a factor of the right hook paired with the right fishing rod. You generally want to use the biggest, sturdiest hook and the heaviest power (basically its stiffness) rod the particular technique and lure will allow. And you’ve got to learn to set the hook as hard as your equipment will allow you. Watch the hooksets of pro anglers on the Bassmaster television show. We do not mess around. The hookset is powerful and fast. The biggest challenge with matching hook and rod power is learning how big you can go with your equipment and still present the bait properly. You’ll get more bites using smaller hooks and lighter line, so you can’t always use the heaviest equipment. Pay close attention to the bait and lure weights that rods are rated for. I
build all my rods with blanks and supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle (www.MudHole.com). All of their blanks come with that information included. Winn Grips are a must on all my rods, as they ensure a proper grip on the rod for that big hookset. A good quality hook is one that penetrates a fish’s mouth and stays there until you get your hands on the fish. The sharper the hook, the better it penetrates into the fish’s mouth. Once there, the hook has to be strong enough to not “flex” or open up. A flexing hook takes pressure off the bass and allows him to pull off during the fight. A lot of baits come with cheap hooks that will flex even on the first fish. Lesser-quality hooks will often become dull very quickly, too. Not all hooks are made the same. Mustad is the world’s No. 1 hook seller, and it’s No. 1 for a reason. Fortunately for us bass anglers, years ago Denny Brauer and Kevin VanDam got together with Mustad’s engineers and designers to create the basic hooks needed specifically for bass. Mustad hasn’t stopped improving the line of hooks either. The Big Bite worm hook is a hook I helped them develop. In many countries, they don’t use a separate term for “fish hook.” They simply call it a “Mustad.” In a future article, we’ll discuss fighting the fish and the importance of choosing the right fishing line. Until then, go fishing and work on that hookset!
For more on Lester visit,
FISHINGMAGAZINE.FISHING
M
35 PM
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You own a boat because you love spending time on the water. Choose the outboard that allows you to make the most of it. Honda’s legendary reliability, durability, ease-of-maintenance, and powerful performance keep you going strong.
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MARK SOSIN There is a lesson to be learned. Shortly before he vaulted to stardom on the largemouth bass tournament trail countless years ago, Rick Clunn discovered that he spent so much time searching for magical techniques and secret lures that he almost lost sight of the basics. When he paused to reflect, he realized there were no curealls or panaceas that applied to any type of fishing. The answer centered on a more simplified approach. It suddenly became apparent that almost all bass tournaments were won by somebody who used a spinnerbait, plastic worm or a crankbait. It didn’t matter where the contest was held, who fished it and won, or what time of year it happened to be. Armed with that valuable bit of information, Rick decided to change his own fishing style and substitute simplicity for the complex techniques he clung to in the past. It occurred to him that if he learned to fish these basic lures with equal skill, he should be able to catch fish anywhere. Some of us have a tendency to insist on making fishing much more complicated than it actually is. If fish were that hard to catch, few of us would ever be successful. Impatience and lack of confidence force many anglers to search frantically for solutions that just don’t exist. These fishermen would do better if they learned one or two techniques thoroughly.
JOIN *
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Certainly, there will be times when their basic method does not produce, but over the long run they will catch more fish. My late father never heard of Rick Clunn, nor did he ever fish competitively for anything. Over many years, he fished for countless species in freshwater and salt, always limiting his approach to a few basic lures or some simple bait. When he finally retired and moved to Florida, his lure of choice was a small, yellow bucktail which he could fish better than anyone I ever met. His tackle box became the two side pockets on his jacket. A handful of bucktails were in his right-hand pocket and some leader material in his left pocket. There’s one other facet to Dad’s thinking worth following. He always insisted that the law of averages held the key to success. Those who insist on specializing on a particular species of fish or seek one of an extra large size are missing out on a lot of fun. All you have to do is keep casting and catching. The law of averages will eventually produce trophy fish for you as well as species that seem important. If you’ve been seeking a way to catch more fish on every outing, try this simplified approach that worked for Rick Clunn and my father. Many of the leading anglers of our time depend on it, and it just might turn the trick for you.
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
H
ave you ever wondered why your buddy fishing next to you is catching more fish when you are both using the same lure? Chances are it has to do with the way he’s retrieving his lure that entices fish to strike. What is the first thing you do when the fish are not biting? Most people immediately change lures. If that doesn’t work, the next step is usually to move locations, only to work the lure the same way when it clearly was not producing. You must try working a lure several different ways before ruling it out as ineffective. Here is an example. One chilly morning I was throwing a Controlled Descent Jerk Shad set to sink very slowly. It had a rattle in it. Since the water was in the mid 50s, I concentrated on an area that was 3 or 4 feet deep with a soft silty bottom. I started out keeping my lure near the bottom and working my rod parallel to the water. The lure was basically suspending 6- to 18-inches off the bottom with a side-to-side motion. This is a proven technique in similar situations; however, I didn’t get a strike. After some time covering the area with that technique, I changed my retrieve and worked the same area with the same lure. I started to twitch my lure slowly to the surface, almost as if it was climbing stairs, but very slowly. Since this lure had an extremely slow sink rate, it would almost suspend when paused after
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“climbing a few steps.” Once the lure reached the surface, I would let it slowly sink back to the bottom and repeat. I started to catch solid trout up to 6 pounds when the lure would almost reach the surface. Later that day, I fished a different spot with similar conditions. I was working the lure the same way that had produced earlier, and I was getting some very light bites once the lure would reach the bottom. The fish would pick up the lure and swim off, or at times they would swim toward me and I never really felt the strike. I landed a couple but missed and lost many more. Since they were definitely on the bottom and not really aggressive toward the slow-moving lure, I changed it up. Since I had a rattle, I started vigorously shaking my rod tip to make the lure rattle and twitch on the bottom without a lot of forward motion. This was most likely stirring up some silt, as well. This erratic action enticed the trout into a more instinctive strike. I began getting very aggressive strikes and landed every fish that hit. I never changed lure color, style or weight all day. Had I simply switched lures like most people do and worked them the same way as I started, I might not have caught anything. Try changing your retrieve before tying another knot. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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3/18/19 3/1/1911:19 3:10AM PM
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