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t was a good winter in the Atlantic off south Florida’s Palm Beach County. Capt. Austin Rowe said that bodes well for the spring season, when a convergence of several different bites typically makes for some of the best action of the year. “March, April and May are by far my favorite time of year around here,” he said in mid-February. “We’re already starting to see some blackfin tunas right now, which is kind of uncommon. It was a crazy-good winter for mahi, and it was a good for sailfish, as well. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the fish stick around for spring, and we can really put a hurting on them.” Rowe is a young captain who grew up fishing here, where the Gulf Stream sweeps warm nutrient-rich waters northward just a few miles offshore. He captains “Angler Management,” a 34’ Legend center console with twin 300s. With a crew of up to six clients, it is a perfect ride for making the short runs out of Singer Island’s Sailfish Marina quickly and comfortably.

By Nick Carter

“One of the really beautiful things about fishing around here is you don’t have to go very far to get to the fish,” he said. “A full tank of gas lasts a long time.” Most spring mornings start for clients with a run of just 3 or 4 miles out of the inlet with tanks pre-loaded with live threadfin herring and/or goggle eyes. Kite fishing is the preferred method in this part of the world, and that’s exactly what Rowe does when conditions are right. “I’m looking at water color, temperature and moving water. I’m also looking for bait,” Rowe said. “I’m a big fan of charts, and I study them religiously looking for eddies and things, but keeping your eyes open is the biggest thing when you’re out there. If you see live water, with birds diving, it’s probably time to pick up and go see what’s happening over there.” With kites—or drifting with flatlines when conditions call for them—you’re targeting anything that will eat live baits at the surface. That can produce some pretty exciting mixed bags.

“We see a lot of blackfin tunas. There should still be some sailfish around. The kingfish start to show up pretty thick this time of year, and there are also mahi,” Rowe said. “And don’t forget wahoo. Wahoo can get really good around the full moon in March.” If all else fails, or if his clients just want some more meat, the reef is just a couple miles from the kite-fishing grounds, and it’s usually no problem to load up a cooler full of snappers in short order. Big African Pompano also make regular appearances on the reef. Rowe said that by the end of the day, if his anglers aren’t too worn out, he’ll stop in the inlet and let them test their strength against some hard-pulling jack crevalle. You can pack a whole lot of fishing into a full day when you don’t have to run far to find fish. Check out Austin Rowe and Absolute Action Sportfishing Charters at absoluteactionfishing.com.

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ventilation, you’ll conquer every battle, every day. GILLZ took its Pro Series UV Hoodie to the next level. They went one step further and provided anglers with a built-in mesh mask to go along with the 3-piece hood construction. Now, you’re able to keep your gear organized in one place for when that unexpected pull on the reel turns into a clash of strength. Brand new to this collection is the Pro Series Board Shorts. Made of recycled quickdry polyester, the 9-inch inseam gives you the freedom to move without worry, and the secure cellphone hip pocket keeps your devices safe from any damage. This time, Gillz introduces anglers to a new design feature: a no-sew fabrication. This means no chafing or irritation as you charge headfirst against the waves. The Contenders Series, delivers an amazing fit and feel for each and every angler. With the Contender Series Long-sleeve or Hoodie, you’re guaranteed to have 360-degree cooling and 170 GSM interlocking polyester that gives you perfect performance every single time. Moreover, you’re given an extended range of motion that allows every angler to move freely. When facing the unpredictable outdoors, GILLZ Gear and the new Spring 2022 who want Collection will give you the power to perform to face the at your best, no matter where you and Mother elements head-on. With our GILLZTEC proprietary fabric, Nature meet. With prices starting at $39.99, there’s 4-way stretch, and the ability to modify with something for every angler from the Atlantic to the shoulder shape, the Pro Series Long-Sleeves and Pacific and every waterway in between! Hoodies fit every angler to perfection. Plus, when Check out the Gillz Spring 2022 Collection you add on UPF 50+, ultra cooling, a single seam at gillz-gear.com. underarm mesh gusset, and complete 360-degree

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MONSTER BASS ON

JURASSIC LAKE

t piques my interest when “Jurassic” appears in a nickname. So is the case with Jurassic Lake, a 10,000-acre reservoir in Fellsmere, Florida, officially known has Headwaters Lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had a goal to turn Headwaters into a worldclass trophy bass fishery. By all accounts, they succeeded. Just a little over 10 years ago, this bassfishing mecca was farmlands, cattle pastures and orange groves. The St. Johns River Water Management District purchased the lands from Sun-Ag to build a reservoir intended to provide a water supply for surrounding communities and flood control for the St. Johns River. The FWC saw an opportunity and invested $1.35 million in bass fishing “enhancements.” Prior to the reservoir’s flooding in 2015, the FWC constructed fish habitat in the form of winding channels, dredge holes, flats, islands and more, with the goal of providing the optimum combination of structure, depth and spawning habitat. The FWC planted 15,000 bald cypress and red maple trees on the numerous islands, and they stocked over a million bass, bream and crappie. If there is a downside to Headwaters, it’s that there is so much awesome, fishy-looking habitat that it can be a little over whelming trying to figure out where to fish. Since August 2020, when the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened, 103 trophy bass (bass eight pounds or larger) have been registered into FWC’s Trophy Catch program from Headwaters. Who knows how many other giants were caught that were never entered into Trophy Catch? The biggest registered catch is a 13-pound, 1-ounce monster caught by kayak angler Mary Kelly on January 24, 2022. Those are pretty impressive results for a reservoir that is not even seven years old. Jim Fallon, the Godfather of Headwaters,

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By Paul MacInnis

has probably fished these waters more than anybody. “I love this lake because of the design of the habitats, the natural beauty and all the great fishing,” said Fallon. You’ll find Fallon on the reservoir three to five times a week. He’s been fishing there since 2018, before the boat ramp opened, when he’d drag a kayak into the reservoir from the bank. Fallon says a competent bass angler should catch 15 to 40 bass on an average day with a decent shot at a trophy fish every trip. Fallon has caught almost 50 bass over eight pounds from Headwaters, including 13 in the double digits, all on artificial baits. The address for the Headwaters Lake boat ramp is 16245 Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere, Fla. Headwaters is an hour and a half drive from Orlando, making it a great diversion on a central Florida vacation. The nearby city of Palm Bay has convenient hotels, many with bass boat friendly parking lots. An internet search will bring up several Headwaters guides who can put you on a bass of a lifetime. For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

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APPROACHING THE

TRANSITION

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

s I type this article in early February, the temperature is 38 and the forecasted lows across the Texas coast will dip into the mid to upper twenties for a few nights. This should place larger seatrout into full-blown winter mode, which is a great thing. It might not be so cold where you fish, but similar patterns should exist wherever there are big trout. Predicting movements and habits is always easier when the seasons are typical. This tells me where I should start in early March versus where I should fish later in the month. In early March, I look for shallow areas with irregular soft mud and grass bottoms. I particularly like these areas adjacent to deeper water, as the night temps will still cool flats to less favorable temps for large trout. The term “deeper” will be different for each area. So, as you plan your trip, you should focus on deeper pockets in relation to the overall area. Early in the month, I will stick to a larger profile lure

like a 5-inch paddletail. The trout will still be feeding on mature mullet, and the 5-inch swimbait is a great imitation. These lures are versatile, and they are ideal due to the finicky nature of trout during the transition from winter to spring. A slow roll can be deadly when trout move onto a flat to warm and feed. Depending on the conditions, a slow roll just under the surface that creates a slight ripple can trigger an aggressive strike. If the bait is down, I will slow roll the lure in the mid to lower water portion of the water column. The versatility of these lures also allows them to be jigged and twitched; however, I prefer to do that in a little deeper water. As the water temps rise later in the month, fish become more difficult to pattern. Although high temps warm the water faster, persistent cool fronts still chill the waters, and the wind shifts can wreak havoc on the pattern. It keeps fish and anglers confused. During this part of the season, I tend to move often, not devoting too much time to a location or pattern. Changing things up often until you find them is more effective than banging it out in a spot like I would do in early March. Lures to choose from are wide open here. Small and large soft plastics in the twitch or paddletail style can all be effective. Topwaters and slow sinking hard baits can also produce. Keep moving and changing lure styles, sizes, colors and action until you find the bite. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. You will be surprised what they can teach you when they put the electronics down. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING MARCH FLY FISHING REPORT Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com February has continued to prove that Lake Lanier for fly fisherman has not been a positive experience this year. We have had a slight uptick on striper fishing if you specifically plan your trips around the moon phases. The full and new moon positively gets these deep fish fired up to eat a little shallower in the water column. By the time March rolls around, we hope to see a major change on Lanier as well as most striper lakes here in North GA. Predicting what happens in March is all based on our lakes water temperature and so far it appears we may be a little warmer than last year. March is clearly the most unpredictable weather for us living in North GA, and if it gets warm, the bite should be pretty good by the middle of the month! If it doesn’t, then we will wait toward

the back half of the month to begin the spring run and the highly coveted “pre-spawn” striped bass bite. The fish are spread out, and there are fish both on the north part of Lanier as well as the very south part of Lanier. Probably the best advice I can give anglers during the month of March is twofold: take advantage of the moon phases and take advantage of the pre-frontal systems. Try to plan your trip around both the full and new moon phases for best results. Fish will respond well to both of those moon phases. Also, if you are going to fish before a front moves through the region, in all likelihood you will be rewarded. If you choose to fish post-frontal, you better be happy to just be out on the water rather than sitting behind your desk in the office.

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We actually have two types of patterns that exist for March. The first is the pre-spawn, which is a big fish pattern. This can take place during the entire month of March, but usually begins after the 15th of the month. However, this could be delayed if temps stay cool. If someone is going to land a trophy on Lake Lanier (or any North GA impoundment), it is usually done during this time period. Striped bass are seen crashing threadfin shad on the surface in the coves all over the lake. Our bird life on the lake will take you to the fish. While the fish can be caught on both the north end as well as the south end, I would always give the nod to the north end for this pattern. However, three years ago the pre-spawn was off the charts on the very south end of Lanier. They can be in the backs of the coves in very shallow water or in the mouths of the coves over a 30-40 foot bottom. Either way they will be feeding on threadfin shad in the 2” to 3” size and possibly herring in the 4”-5” size range. So far this year the shad has been mostly in the 3”-3 ½” range. Fly anglers need be prepared with both a sinking line as well as an intermediate (slow sinking line) in order to cover both just subsurface as well as to twenty feet down. The sinking line comes in handy if you cannot get to the fish while they are on top. The fish on top will make toilet flush type boils on the surface. Fish up into the mid-teens and even pushing into the twenty plus pound range can be seen on the surface at this time of year. While Lanier has lost much of its big fish (fish over twenty pounds) the females are fattening up for their spawning run up the river, and this is the beginning of what I call trophy season. Somethin’ Else, Coyotes, Game Changers, Clouser’s and baitfish patterns can all be the ticket this time of year. If you start with the bigger flies and get refusals, then simply size down until you get a bite! Look for fish feeding best around first light and last light and during cloudy days and pre-frontal conditions. The second half of the month offers a slightly different pattern to watch for especially if the water temps warms up to near sixty degrees. Now the stripers, largemouth and spots will be

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feeding in the coves, and you will come away with a mixed bag of fish. What I love about the second half of March is the sheer number of bites an angler tossing flies can expect. There are plenty of days where fly anglers can land double digit numbers of fish in a morning or afternoon outing. Dock light fishing is in full swing too! All the lakes dock lights will be full of fish. For conventional anglers, it’s hard to beat either a 3/8 oz. Fish Head Spin with a Fluke attached or simply a weightless Fluke thrown on a spinning rod. Also, try tossing a Little Cleo to surface feeding fish. Remember, these fish are NOT eating on the surface, but rather one to three feet under the surface. The blow ups you visually see on top are just the fish giving a kick with its tail to go back down. For those anglers who have been sitting in their recliners the past two months, now is the time to clean the equipment in preparation of some HOPEFULLY fabulous March fishing. BTW, fly anglers will catch what could be the next line class WORLD RECORD Kentucky spotted bass at this time of the year. One last thing anglers will see in March is that Lanier’s largemouth bass will make themselves more available in shallow water. Catching a big ole bucket mouth on fly is always a sight to see and experience. See you on the pond.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING GETTING READY

Contributed by James Bradley Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide www.ReelEmInGuideService.com (706) 273-0764 As we move into March, the warmer days are sure to start bringing some trout up to the surface for a quick snack. We’re looking for an outstanding spring this year! One thing to work on before your first outing is some casting practice. Many folks put their long rods up at the end of the fall to never see them until the day that they hit the mountains to tempt some trout. It’s best to practice some before heading out. Work on your roll cast and some water haul casts, and stay in tune with your rod. I can personally tell you that those who are good casters catch more fish. Use your lawn as a casting area if possible. This allows you to make casting practice easy and simple. Use a few markers on the lawn for target and precision casting. Also, pay attention to your fly line during its flight. Make small adjustments to regain tight loops on your forward and back cast. Many times, we see improper stops which opens your loops and destroys your cast’s momentum. Remember, many streams are tight and false casting can be very limited. Keep slack to a bare minimum as it can kill the cast. It’s probably the number one cause of a bad cast. Some casting should be done on a windy day. This helps your fly placement under harsh conditions. We usually see plenty of windy days February through April, so be prepared for these types of days on the water. Another great option is going to a certified casting instructor to oversee your casting. A good casting instructor can watch you for a few minutes then dissect your cast and its faults. Instructors can also show you how to make some of those new casts you might be wanting to try. After you have freshened up on your casting, don’t forget to clean up your rod. Be sure to put wax on the male ferrules which helps taking the rod sections apart more easily. Use some fine or extra fine sand paper to clean up the soiled handle if you like. At the beginning of each season we go through our reels

thoroughly with Q-tips and fresh grease. You might be surprised at how much better it will function, especially the drag. Many times, you can bring that old fly line back to life after washing it and apply a fly line conditioner. A clean and slick fly line will shoot further, and it stays in better condition. March brings out some mayflies like the Quills. The Blue and Gordon are two of the earliest, and they may draw a few trout up to the surface for takes. The Quill Gordon is a much larger than the Blue Quill, but the Blue usually hatches in bigger numbers. Gordons should be size 10-12 and Blues should be size 18-20. Stay with standard fare on subsurface flies like Stoneflies, Prince’s, PT’s and Hares Ear in sizes from 14-18. Water is still cold, so using some weight will get those flies on down toward the bottom. Reel ‘Em In Guide Service is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide based out of beautiful Ellijay, Georgia. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. Their Special Use Permit for Guiding allows them on the Chattahoochee National Forest, they have licensed guides for North Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and offer drift boat trips on the Toccoa River and the Tuckasegee River in NC.

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MARCH 2022

ATLANTA 3

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING With the warmer weather and

WHEN THE LOG MOVES, PART THREE Contributed By: Jeff Durniak www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year

As a continuation in our series for your Oh My Gawd Moment as you ponder what you’re going to do next to win the war with Moby Dick, Unicoi Outfitters is here again to help you win. After five decades of tussles with tackle-busters, I have a few tips to share. Tune in and see if some of these lessons may suit you, too. It’s not IF, but WHEN you too will hook the log that moves. Here we go: 1) Play tug-ofwar. Be patient and play the brute out. Too many rookies try to prematurely net a hot fish. That net wakes up Moby, which bolts back into the main current, often without the angler connected due to a snapped tippet or flies caught in net webbing. Let the tug-of-war do its job of tiring the fish. 2) Steer it. By now, despite your thin tippet, you may be getting the upper hand. Moby is tiring, its runs are shorter, and you’re closing the gap. Look around for a good landing zone (LZ), a place that you can steer the fish toward for a safe netting. LZ’s are quiet shallows along the bank, but with enough depth to cover the fish and submerge your net. Keep sidearming and steer your trophy toward the LZ. Once you can steer the fish without it bolting back into the main current or down to the stream bottom, you’re ready to win. 3) Ready your net. Grab the handle in your off hand and hide it along your leg. Don’t let Moby see what’s coming at him. Sidearm that fish within netting distance and then raise the rod to lift the fish’s head up. If it still bulldogs, be patient. If it comes toward you and finally lets you raise its head to the surface, it’s time! 4) Take a swing. I really learned this technique when serious time and money were on the line. This is how we captured BIG striper 4 ATLANTA

MARCH 2022

and walleye broodstock for wildlife agency stocking programs. Lead the fish toward your net arm and slowly lift its head. Then “surprise attack” your prize with a sudden but deliberate net-swipe, fish head-first, and lift that net. The fish won’t know

what hit it and won’t have time to turn and escape. Even fish bigger than your net can be corralled; just throw your other arm around the protruding tail and pin it to your chest. 5) Let it breathe. And you, too! Exhale finally and celebrate your victory. Hopefully, you’re already in the shallows. If not, make your way there, but always keep that netted fish submerged in the water. 6) Respect and Protect. Keep that fish submerged and breathing while your buddy focuses his camera/ phone and frames the picture-to-be. Take pics of the fish in the water. If you want one of you with the fish, have your friend frame the fishless shot and then say, go! Then hold the fish up for just a few seconds while your buddy snaps 3 quick pics and get that fish back into the water ASAP. Hold it softly in a slow current, head facing upstream, until it recovers and swims out of your light grasp. Respect that fish that just gave you a lifetime memory. Hopefully, these tips will bring you more wins than losses. Enjoy the game, no matter the outcome. If we are standing in a stream, waving a stick, then we are all winners anyway! Good luck with those moving logs.

CHATTOOGA RIVER

Spring is in the air in the mountains of South Carolina. February brought us a mixed bag of weather where water temperatures hovered in the low thirties topping out in the low fifties a couple of times throughout the month. A couple of large rain systems have brought water levels up and are looking great for the next month as well. Below freezing temperatures at night for a good part of the month have the water temperatures in the low forties in the mornings, and then climbing to the mid to high forties as the day warms. All of the warming weather with winter in the rear-view mirror brings everyone’s delight of the spring hatches starting. From the emergence of all the varieties of mayflies to the abundance of different caddis hatches, nothing beats a great day of dry fly fishing. River conditions and weather surely play an enormous role in this whole transformation of these trout delights. Excellent days for the hatches are definitely on the warmer sunny days where temperatures move from the mid-thirties in the mornings to the fifties and sixties in the mid- day through later afternoons. On colder overcast days, the bugs tend not to hatch as they need the warmth of the sun and water temperatures to rise to emerge from their nymphal bodies for the mayflies or the pupa stages for the caddis. Fishing flies on the “swing” is a great way to catch fish during these warmer spring days. A tandem rig with a nymph and then a trailing fly of a

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soft-hackle or wet fly mimicking the hatching bugs are great set-ups. Some of these bugs hatching can last for a week, and sometimes up to three or four weeks depending on the species, and more importantly, the weather. Having the proper size and color of these bugs is essential. We carry the essential bugs for everyone to have an incredible day on the rivers. Streamer fishing can also be an enjoyable day out here as many baitfish start to emerge from their winter dormancy, and they start appearing in abundance. The trout can be a little more aggressive now that the water temperatures have warmed. At times, the “go big or go home” philosophy is not necessary, as the size of smaller baitfish may only be a couple of inches long, so using small streamers will definitely raise the catch count for the day. Spring time typically leads to more folks in the river corridors, so let’s make sure that we all practice “Leave No Trace”, and it does not hurt any of us to carry a little more out than we walked in with. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers.

• • • • • •

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING CHOOSING A SINKING FLY LINE By Jacob Milholland, Store Manager Cohutta Fishing Company (706) 946-3044 Now that spring fishing is firing up, it’s time to take a hard look at your gear. Whether you’re targeting tailwater brown trout, spotted bass on the Etowah, or chasing temperate bass on one of our North Georgia reservoirs, there’s a good chance that a sinking fly line can make a difference in your success on the water. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out what line fits your needs as the terminology is cryptic, so let’s break down a few commonly used terms you’ll see when you’re purchasing a new sinking line. Grain Weight: Some fly lines are labeled by this number rather than by a standard rod line weight. Usually, if you’re looking at the box and see these numbers, this is a measure of the grains per inch for the first thirty feet of the

line. Use this designation to pair your rod to the line rather than a line weight. For example, a 200 grain line pairs to a 6/7 weight, a 250 grain pairs to a 7/8 weight, a 300 grain would pair to an 8/9 weight. Sink Rate: This is how fast your line is going fall through the water. The sink rate is often measured in inches per second, but sometimes can be labeled as “type”. A sink 3, or alternatively a “type 3”, will fall at roughly 3 inches per second. A sink 6, or type 6, will fall roughly at 6 inches per second. If you know your sink rate, you can use it to your advantage and count down the fly line to reach your desired depth. Intermediate: This is generally a sink rate of 1-2 inches per second across most line manufacturers. We prefer this sink rate line to

keep a fly in the top 1 to 4 feet of the water column. This is an excellent selection for fish that are actively feeding up as well as in shallow and low water conditions that still call for a sinking line such as fishing an unweighted streamer. Sink Tip: This is typically a floating fly line having a short sinking section at the front. A sink tip can have an intermediate sink rate all the way down to a heavy 6 inch per second sink rate. These are great lines for current where you need to get down but still need the ability to mend line. The only limitation of a sink tip is maximum depth – a full sink line is better for slower or still water when you need to get down deep. Full sink: This means that the line sinks from the tip to the end. A full sink line will usually have an intermediate running line and a head that sinks at a faster rate. These make for great lake and river lines, especially when you need to really get a fly down deep. One disadvantage of a full sinking fly line is that you lose the ability to mend. You will also see some manufacturers offering triple density lines. These are full sink lines with three different sink rates to

try and prevent line hinge and give better direct contact to the fly. If you’re having trouble making a selection, call us at the shop or stop by! Cohutta Fishing Company is located in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. We carry a large assortment of guide-tested fly fishing equipment and proven fly patterns, as well as have a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Come by and see us! 490 East Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513. (706) 946-3044.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE CASTING CORNER Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer If you were lucky enough, you went to the the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show. And if you were even luckier, you got to listen to some of the great fly casting presenters like Gary Borger, Mack Brown, Eric Cook and more. All of them gave excellent instruction, and I always learn something by listening. One of the seminars was called the perfect cast. The question was posed at the beginning, ‘What is a perfect cast?’ And the answer was, ‘A cast that delivered the fly to the fish with the best chance of catching it’. That makes sense to me. Then they got into the mechanics of the basic cast, roll cast, curve cast and distance casts. If you are a casting geek like I am, you hung on each word, visual and application. Most of the people that are fishing in Georgia are not casting geeks. They just want to

fish and maybe even catch one. So speaking to the majority of the folks who will read this, here is what the majority of our local trout fishing casts are...wait for it....water loading casts and roll casts. Right! Most of our rigs are weighted multi-fly setups that require a larger loop lofted to the water upstream. For a casting geek, this is a hard truth, but if you want to catch more fish, get down deeper and up your percentages. You are going to need to get good at making that type cast work. Here are a couple of tips to do that. The amount of fly line out of the rod tip is often only a few feet or maybe none, so we are no longer forming loops in the line like you see with a 30 foot cast. Since the line is not helping us, we need the water tension pulling on the leader to bend the rod. However,

the water tension and having everything ‘up’ allows for a smooth forward cast and will not overload the rod. The repositioning directly away from your target can be incorporated into the lift. So the perfect cast in this water loading at the end of the drift is simply raising the tip of the rod while sweeping it 180 degrees from your target and then make the forward cast with a larger loop. Don’t start the acceleration until the rod is above or past your head on the forward cast. Go fish!

getting the right amount of tension now becomes the focus. If you have a weighted multi-fly rig and your line is downstream and you want to go back upstream, try to remember the 180 degree rule. You want the line to come straight to the target from directly away from the target. To do that, there will always be a ‘lift’ and maybe then a ‘repositioning’ of the line before you start the forward cast. The lift serves two purposes. It brings the fly higher in the water and clears the line which reduces

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RETIRING FROM THE DAY JOB/ FULL TIME GUIDING/OCONEE FORECAST

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com Time marches on, dreams come true, and good deeds can bring good fortune in ways we can hardly imagine. Yeah, I know it sounds optimistic, but these days it’s nice to read something positive. I am retiring from my day job of selling electronic medical record software to doctors this week! This will free me up during the week, so I will be guiding weekdays here on Oconee and enjoying some quality time with my wife and family. I have always dreamed of being a fishing guide. That means a serious investment in a boat, tackle, insurance, a website and much more. Venerable guide, Doug Nelms, told me that “It’s easy to make $100,000 a year guiding, just spend $200,000!” I have been blessed by God and a series of good deeds from others. When I was a young father in 1983, a close friend’s father owned a billing service for doctors. He talked his father into hiring me and my career got a kick start. Later in my career, I was blessed again to meet Dick Derrick. Dick was a sales manager at a competitor, and he tried to hire me to eliminate the competition. Despite being competitors, we became friends. When he was looking to get a new job, I wrote an email to his prospective employer about his exceptional skill as a sales manager. He got the job. A little later, Dick returned the favor. I was looking for a

new job and Dick hired me at eClinicalWorks. They are the industry leader, and being with the right company allowed us to move to Lake Oconee and pursue the dream of opening a guide service. My point is to always do that good deed. It will come back in ways you could never imagine! Forecast Hybrids/ March Stripers - So far, February hybrid and striper fishing has been tough. We have had rain and cold temperatures, and most days the water temperatures have not gone above 50 degrees. By March this will change. Look for fish from Lick Creek south to the dam and from the dam north in Richland Creek. The water in these areas will be less stained. Use a variety of tactics. A white 7/8-ounce

spoon jigged over suspended fish will produce. Downline bass minnows and troll long lines behind the boat. When I am spooning, I use spot lock on my trolling motor, so the presentation is straight down. The same goes for downlines. If the fish are on the move, I troll at .5 mph. That way I can use downlines and longlines in my spread. Forecast March Crappie - Don’t wait until the end of March to get on Oconee to crappie fish. Pre-spawn is the time to come. Again, quoting Doug Nelms, “When the first bloom appears on the Bradford pears, it’s time.” Longline above I-20 in the flats up the Apalachee and Oconee or push Jiffy Jigs tipped with minnows. This is when the huge crappie will be caught. Just look for the boats.

Final Words - I am now taking trips during the week and on weekends. Email me at wmoore1700@ outlook.com or call 404-317-9556 and lock in your dates. Tight Lines and God bless.

Fly of the Month

SEXY WALT’S

Contributed by: Alpharetta Outfitters 79 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-762-0027 Alpharettaoutfitters@yahoo.com #14 Nymph Hook (jig or regular) 3.0mm Tungsten Bead Tapered squirrel dub body with pearl tinsel rib Fluorescent orange hot spot collar The Walt’s worm originated in Pennsylvania as an effective spring creek fly. The Sexy Walt’s is a variation tied by competitive angler, Loren Williams with some minor adjustments. A bit of flash and a hot spot have proven to be an incredibly effective variation of the original Walt’s for high pressure fish and off-color water.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

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FLY FISHING THE UPPER TOCCOA RIVER

Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001

The Toccoa River near Blue Ridge, Georgia is a great year-round destination for the fly fisher. The river flows north and is divided into two separate sections. The Lower Toccoa River or Toccoa River Tailwater section flows north to McCayesville, Georgia from the Blue Ridge Dam. The Upper Toccoa River is the section of the river that flows into Lake Blue Ridge, but it will be south of Blue Ridge. The Upper Toccoa River is a freestone stream that originates in Suches, Georgia. The Upper Toccoa is formed by Cooper Creek, Rock Creek, and Noontootla Creek in addition to several smaller tributaries. These are great places to spend the day with decent populations of trout. As a freestone stream, this beautiful river rises and falls with precipitation and can become unfishable during heavy rain events. The Delayed Harvest section of this river runs for about a mile and a half downstream of the Sandy Bottoms Canoe Launch on Old Dial Road. From November 1st to May 15th, this section is catch and release only, artificial lures only water. The river is stocked here on the Chattahoochee National Forest. You might see the occasional wild trout. The river here is large by Southeastern trout stream standards. It has quite a few big deep holes with slick rock shelving that can be tricky for wading this water. We recommend using a wading staff for the unsteady fisherperson, and it can also help you judge the depth of your next step when moving to other fishing spots. Further, using a wading belt, wading boots with felt with studs or Vibram soles with studs, and polarized sunglasses are a must too. Polarized

sunglasses with amber lenses are the best to help folks see the floor of the stream as well as fish in the water. Checking the water flow before you arrive at the river is a good idea. Flows less than 350cfs are easier to fish and safer to wade. Over that and you might consider hiring a guide with a drift boat to safely access the best water. To find out the flow rate, google TVA Valley Stream Flows and look for the Toccoa near Dial. Fly selection need not be too complicated with general purpose nymphs, streamers, and dry flies working well most of the time. Wooly Buggers, Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tail, and Hares Ear Nymphs will normally catch a trout or two subsurface fishing. A Parachute Adams, Yellow Stimulator, and Elk Hair Caddis will take surface feeders. Being able to cast a long line and get a good drift without drag or slack in your fly line is essential here. A long 9 foot single hand fly rod in 4 or 5 weight should do the trick. Further, an 11 foot 2 or 3

weight trout spey rod should work for our swingers. Soft Hackles and small Intruders are effective flies to swing in the many riffles and runs. Access is pretty good along the road at the top half of the river with every pull out normally almost sitting on a good run or hole. Weekends can be crowded, so getting here early or late in the day will show you some peace. Hiking into the lower half of the delayed harvest will help eliminate competing for good runs or riffles on the river as well. The river fishes well all year,

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even in the heat of summer. You can catch fish early in the day before the throngs of tubers descend on the water. There are also a few smallmouth bass and spotted bass that make the trek from beautiful Lake Blue Ridge in the spring and summer. They are a welcome surprise for the fly angler. We hope you will check out our 3 Hour Intro to Fly Fishing Class or Toccoa River Trout Spey Class for opportunities to fly fish with us on the Upper Toccoa River. We provide all gear needed.

MARCH 2022

ATLANTA 9

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE GUIDE’S ANGLE MARCH EMERGENCE Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service Transitioning from winter to spring fishing seasons happens earlier in the South with our mild climate here in Georgia. March on the Chattahoochee Tailwater has a pretty good caddis fly emergence along with remnants of the little winter stone fly adults from February. This is the time to keep a rod rigged with #16 or #18 dry fly

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with a horizontal wing and maybe drop an emerger or cripple pattern respectively to throw at rising fish. When observing rising fish, it’s good rule of thumb that if the riseform is subtle or gentle, the fish are likely taking adults, and if the rises are explosively sudden with a splash, they are taking caddis emergers in the pupal stage.

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING STEALTH AND FLY FISHING By Ethan Hollifield

One of the first things that any so-called native Appalachian fly fisherman is ever taught is the importance of being stealthy when approaching fish. The tight, clear wild trout streams of Southern Appalachia call for this approach in order to find success. Of course, how educated trout are can play a key role in how much trout perceive human presence as a large enough threat to immediately run for cover, but that is a topic for another time. This article will focus mostly on some tips that will hopefully enable you, as a fly angler, to be able to land a few more fish on your next outing. it’s important to First, understand that trout have incredible senses of “hearing” and sight. I’ll spare the complex biology that makes it possible, but to put it in simple terms: we

as anglers have to understand that our initial presence is unnatural to fish in a stream. Their lateral lines in addition to complex hearing structures in their heads, can sense vibration and sounds in the water at a remarkable capacity. This isn’t so surprising once you understand that sound waves travel four times as fast under water as it does in the air. I even read one study showing that trout can sense the vibrations of people walking at a normal pace ten feet from a riverbank. Trout also have impeccable eyesight, mainly due to the angles at which their eyes are facing along their head, leaving their only blind spot directly behind them. This is why fly fisherman are usually taught initially to fish upstream as much as possible. This cone of vision extends for around 320 degrees with the exception of this

blind spot. Their eyes have adapted to perceive contrast which enables them to detect otherwise small flies on the surface of the water paired against the backdrop of the sky. While it’s inevitable that you’re going to spook fish, there are ways that you can limit the chances of that happening while on the water. Really, there are three very simple things that I teach my clients who are trying to become better fly fishermen. First, understand where you are in relation to the fish and position yourself accordingly. Use the natural cover that is available to you which can be in the form of a big boulder, fast choppy water, tree limbs, tall grass, or simply just kneel down to conceal your profile from the fish. It should also be noted that your movements should be done as quietly as your ability allows. The other critical component actually comes down to your clothing. Remember what I mentioned about contrast? Trout are constantly seeing their natural environment and the surrounding riverbanks in natural hues (green,

gray, brown, etc.). That bright salmon colored fishing shirt you received for Christmas is probably better worn to social events rather than fishing for trout. Your chances of keeping trout from spooking are far better when wearing drab, natural colors. On a final note, while I don’t think it’s always necessary, it does help tremendously to use as long of a rod as you can get away with. I think it’s estimated that for every one inch of rod length, it increases the anglers reach by almost a foot when implementing high-stick techniques. Keeping as much distance between you and the fish as possible can greatly increase your chances of success the next time you’re on the water. Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2% For Conservation and a guide for Southern Appalachian Angler

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ATLANTA 11

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE SINCLAIR

LAKE LANIER CRAPPIE

The water temperature is 48 degrees and the water is clear in the main lake. The side channels and creeks are chocolate milk. Dock shooting has been producing some bigger crappie this week. Try smaller, lighter jigs with little to no action but go slowly. Try several color combinations until you find one that works, and that will probably be your color for the day. One color combo that has been working well is black and chartreuse. The bite is slow and soft, so keep a close eye on your line. You may see the line swimming away before the rod bends over. Crappie minnows work great year round. Try a freeline minnow

(no sinker) when the crappie are schooling near the top. I am setting minnows 10-12’ feet over brush. Look for covered docks that have brush under or nearby. A good depth range would be 20 to 30 feet of water and near a main channel. Use your electronics to locate structure or bush piles. Crappie love the shade, so cast into the shadows. When dock shooting, the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. I’m using the Skippers Jig Moon Jigs and ATX Lure Company’s jigs. I use 5-pound test high visibility yellow K9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber, then it’s the K9 6-pound high vis line and a Piscifun reel on a ACC Crappie Stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics Boating app. Find me on Facebook and like my pages @crappieonlanier & @ fishingwitheverydayheroes.

Forecast By: Ken Sturdivant kensturdivant@att.net Lake Sinclair is down 1.3 feet with the water temperature in the 50s. Bass fishing is fair. It is almost time for the big pre-spawn bass to move up. With the cold weather, this is a good time to capitalize on catching bass. Bites can be found pretty much all over the lake. A crankbait, jig and spinnerbait seem to consistently produce better quality strikes. The Super Flukes and the Suddeth Little Earl crankbait in chartreuse and shad patterns are working mid-day on the rocks and seawalls along the bank. Use a chartreuse pattern in the stained

water and a natural shad pattern when fishing the cleaner areas of the lake. When flipping docks and blow downs, use the Strike King 3/8 ounce flipping jig in black and blue for the stained water. Have a brown crawfish color when targeting the cleaner areas with more visibility. If the fish are in the grass and actively feeding on baitfish, the Lucky Craft Redemption ½ ounce spinnerbait in white and chartreuse is a hard bait to beat. Be sure to slow roll it along the bottom. When it slows down, have the Weedless Wonder head and a Zoom Finesse worm and fish around any type of cover or structure. A drop-shot is also a great choice. If they are suspended off the bottom as seen with the Lowrance Down Scan beams, this presentation can work.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE BURTON

Tournament Schedule March 12 March 13 March 17 March 19 March 26 April 9 April 16 April 21 April 23 April 30 April 30

Forecast by: by Tyler Clore tyler.pps@hotmail.com www.georgialakefishing.com

BFL Skeeter Bass Challenge Mid Georgia Berry’s GA Bass Nation (School Fishing) ABA AFT ABA Couples Mid Georgia Berry’s United Craftsman Children’s Shoe Drive Mid Georgia

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Water temperature: 48 degrees, lake level: 1 foot below full pool, clarity: stained. Bass: The bite has been up and down with the recent fronts that have been bringing cold, wind, rain and snow in. The rain and snow has raised the lake level but also stained large portions of the lake. The best bite has been just before the front. As we move into March, you will see the water temp start to rise. Concentrate fishing in the creeks with jerk baits and Fish Head Spins. I like throwing a Lucky Craft Staysee in bone color. As we get later in month, more and more

JACKSON LAKE Forecast By: Brian Lee leebrian16@yahoo.com

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fish will move into the creeks. On windy days I like to fish primary and secondary points with jerk baits. If you are in the middle of a front or the jerk bait bite is slow, try using a green pumpkin seed finesse worm on a shaky head rig and really slow down your presentation. Trout/Walleye: There hasn’t been much trout activity this month, but the walleye are starting to move into staging areas for their yearly run up the river. That will happen later this month. Try fishing the deeper holes and bends in the river with a white #7 Shad Rap. You can also slow troll the Shad Raps for them. Later in the month, the walleye will keep pushing up into the shallows of the river. Good luck.

Water temperature: mid-upper 50’s, lake level: slightly below full, clarity: heavily stained. March marks the days that most every angler can’t wait for with warm weather and pre-spawning bass. Bass will start to transition to points making their travels to spawn and feeding up as they head to spawning areas. The weather this time of the year is a huge factor, knowing that past years have been either cooler than normal or warmer than expected. So remember to keep that in your mind if you plan a trip to Jackson. Primary points with a #5 crawdad Shad Rap is really all you

need to catch bass this month, but keeping a variety of baits on deck will do the job as well. If we have a few days of warmer weather, look more towards secondary points and spawning areas for bass, because it doesn’t take much to get them committed to going. If a few days of colder weather happens to hit us, I’d throw a Fish Head Spin with a Zoom pearl white Fluke Jr Paddle Tail and crawl it on the primary points. The cooler temps may make the bass suspend waiting for the weather to stabilize. March is pretty much straight forward as to what and where to fish. Look for a wave of spawners to flood the banks later in the month as the full moon and warmer temps approach. Soft plastics will be key baits and remember to slow down.

When you visit or call one of our advertisers, or fish with one of our captains, make sure to tell them you saw their ad in:

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST EARLY PRE-SPAWN ON LAKE LANIER? Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

Fishing during March can provide some interesting opportunities. The largemouth will be soon to spawn, and the spots will begin to stage in preparation for the spawn. The lake level is well above full pool as we head out of February, and the temperatures have been far above normal so far this winter, which could mean an early spawn if this trend continues. This will provide some different opportunities for this March as we should find different trends and patterns this spring as a result of the warmer-than-normal weather trends. Let’s explore how to address this important month on Lanier in these unusual weather and water conditions. Optimal Conditions: There are a few things to consider when fishing during this time of year. You will be fishing the pre-spawn in March, and maybe an advanced pre-spawn based on the weather, so let’s start with the end in mind and review the spawning habits of both the largemouth and spots. The largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-58 degrees. The spotted bass will spawn a bit later when the water temperatures reach 62 degrees or above. Typically, the fish spawn in “waves”, rather than all at once. After the first “wave” of fish completes their spawning routine, there will be fish in all stages of the spawn (pre, spawn, and post) for the next 30-45 days, depending on the weather conditions and water temperatures. Further, it is important to understand that many fish that

spawn in “waves” as mentioned above, 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 spawning routine. Until those conditions are met, fish will be staging and feeding up in preparation for this process. So, where do we need to look? Location: The largemouth 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. Look around docks in shallow water for these fish as well as stumps and adjacent blow downs. The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, but often prefer a hard bottom type area, such as that a clay flat can provide. And again, the spots will typically spawn deeper than do the largemouth and can be found in 6-15 feet of water and even deeper. Unlike most largemouth, there is a contingency of the spotted bass that will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. Until the time when the fish spawn in these areas, fish key features adjacent to these spawning areas. Secondary points and docks often provide great staging

areas for these fish and become a prime target this time of year. The spots will be in the same types of places to spawn and will stage in similar areas as well. Lures and Presentation: Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish. Jerkbaits - A great choice as the water warms up though the 50’s. Work these baits around docks, points, and over humps. A Berkley Stunna is a good option. Experiment with cadence to find the right retrieve speed and pause cycle. The colder the water, the longer the pause. GA Blade Shad Spin - This bait in the ¼ oz. size is an excellent choice to work in shallow creek ditches as well as in and around secondary points and docks. Experiment with trailer size and type. A Berkley Jerk Shad is a good option for a trailer. Crankbait - Excellent choice to cover water in the back of creeks and pockets as well as around secondary point, docks, and flats. The Berkley Fritz Side crankbait or the Berkley Dredger are good options to cover the varying depth ranges until you find the best one for the day’s conditions. They offer many good shad and crayfish patterns from which to choose. And as always, make sure to visit our local treasure, Hammonds Fishing, to pick up what you need! Worm/jig - Always an option in the springtime. A Georgia Jig on rocky/clay secondary points and around docks is always a good choice for spots or largemouth. If the fish are ultra-finicky, don’t forget the old Carolina rig to present your softplastics. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a GA Blade jig head and worm combo, consider using a lighter jig head. I

often choose a 1/8 oz. head or lighter to target spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4 inch Berkley Hit Worm, as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more. I often work the baits slowly in this situation to trigger strikes. While the winter to spring/early spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, it can be awesome if you remain versatile and openminded in your approach. Use the tips and techniques noted above to guide your fishing during the spawn and you will enjoy some great success. See you on the water! For more information or to book your winter trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www.jimboonlanier. com.

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LAKE ALLATOONA we are doing well using shad on planer boards, freelines and even downlines where we are getting a bite or two right at sunup. By 9:30 AM, the live bait bite really slows down. This is when you want to swap over to your U-rigs. The U-rig bite is the strongest bite going right now. I have been doing very well pulling my rigs between 9:30 AM to 1 PM mid-lake. The key to catching these fish is your speed. The best speed for me has been 2.5 miles per hour. The shad kill will make fishing a little difficult for the next couple of weeks, but it should really make for a great spring.

Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson First Bite Guide Service 770-827-6282 eidson6260@att.net www.firstbiteguideservice.com Lineside fishing is fair. The cold weather has triggered the start of a shad kill. This kill doesn’t seem to be as big as the one three years ago yet. The good news is it hit quickly and should be a shorter kill than we have seen in past years. There is still a bite out there but nothing like we had back in January. We are catching fish on many different techniques. Early in the morning,

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targeting laydowns on sunny banks, along with rocky bank lines, then I will move into shallow spawning flats. These areas will warm up faster, and the flats is where they are going to spawn in a couple months. I’m still catching fish deep, in ditches, road beds and drops on drop-shotting a 4.5” RoboWorm, Ned rig, and green pumpkin jig. We should start seeing the fish get more active and start catching them on jerk baits. This month is a great time to throw the A-rig around sunny docks, brush and in spawning pockets and flats. Remember, we guide on 8 different lakes, so if you’re looking for some great fishing, give Welch’s Guide Service a call. We’re your #1 guide service, and we’ve been doing this since 2001. Good luck.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST BLURRING THE LINES

By James K. Pressley, jameskpressley@gmail.com

A friend of mine, Capt. Mack Farr, likes to say we should blur the lines between salt and freshwater fishing, meaning both have lessons, techniques, and baits to offer the other. An example of that is the popularity of the spinnerbait in red fishing and chatterbaits, too. Both of those got their start in freshwater for bass. The umbrella rig for bass and stripers is another example. No matter the size, no matter the hook counts, these rigs started in salt and started for big game fish! Yet, we consistently use them and count on them to catch stripers and bass. Recently, I was introduced to a guy named Ryan Hanks. Ryan is with Cast Fishing, which is, believe it or not, an Australia-based fishing equipment company. If you are on social media or keep up with what is happening on Lake Lanier, you probably have seen him or Cast Fishing. They make the O.G. topwater bait, which is probably the hottest thing on Lanier right now. But wait a minute. They are not just topwater. Ryan is a nut for slow pitch jigging. I will forgive you if you have never heard of this technique. It’s very understandable. It’s a technique using very light rods, very tough and high-capacity reels, braid, and jigs (what we call spoons in the freshwater world). You drop down

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to the bottom or the desired depth and use the reel to impart action to the jig. It’s cool! And it really works on species such as grouper, snapper, tuna, etc. Ok. You got the back story. Now, for the point of the piece. Ryan and I were chatting back around Thanksgiving on a call one day and he asked how the spoon bite was on Oconee. Well, Bubba, you just walked into my wheelhouse! I told him how, when, and what we did here to catch them, and he asked if I would be willing to try the new small Cast SPJ in 20g. Well, I had to ask exactly how big a 20g jig was first. After I learned, I quickly signed on. In the mail that day Ryan dropped a few Cast jigs and their new jigging braid. I immediately called my good friend Jimmy Holmes (the spoon guru) and told him what we had going on. Jimmy was all in too, and he brought along our buddy Danny Lockhart. Jimmy, Danny, and I met over at Sugar Creek in mid-December and put in at the GA Power ramp. I fish this end of the lake a LOT when it’s not muddy, and we headed to a few of my prime spots to try the SPJ, and of course, we also had several Capt. Mack’s super jigs tied on, too. The first spot out was one everyone knows, and the secret is being around often enough to be there when the fish hit it hard! That’s the mouth of Sugar Creek. This whole area holds fish at different times of the year and in different spots. This time we fished along the upper end of the trees in the river channel. Man, they were thick! Birds were there, the bait was there, and the fish were there. We might have fished for 3-5 minutes before we started catching some. I caught the first fish on Lake Oconee right then on a Cast slow pitch jig. It was a smaller white bass, but it was the first! The next spot was a river channel spot I keep an eye on up towards I-20. Here and there it will produce a good fish for me. This time I handed the Cast Jig over to Danny and he started working it while I got ready to film. We had seen some good bait balls on the electronics with some

feeding fish in them. Well, Danny didn’t take long and boated a nice 6-8 pound striper, which fortunately we got on video! Well, that was the only fish we could get to bite there, but like usual, that spot produces a good fish for me. Not wanting to waste a lot of time, we headed back to the mouth of Sugar Creek and widened our search for fish. We found them again, and this time stayed on them for a couple of hours catching many doubles, triples, and fish of every size on all types of spoons. The Cast SPJ continued to produce for me, and once you get the feel for it, you will love it. All in all, we caught probably 100 fish that day in just a few hours. I caught stripers, whites, hybrids, and even a crappie on the Cast Jig. While I didn’t truly use the jig as was intended, I used it far

more like we do spoons (drop it to the bottom or the depth and slowly pop it). The size, shape, and colors are something our fish haven’t seen, and they do seem to like it! Check out Southern Born Gentleman on Facebook and Instagram for video and more pics of the day!

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE EUFAULA By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: low 50’s, lake level, 189.74 msl, clarity: muddy. The winter weather patterns and storms have kept the water very muddy from mid-river to the north. With the different vegetation and sand down south, it clears up a little faster. On the north end, you can track a deer where it crosses the river it has been so bad. The bass are holding near levies and rip-rap where the structure is holding heat when the sun shines. They are moving to deeper structure where the water is warmer and they find cleaner water for oxygen. Chatter baits with trailers soaked in JJ’S Magic are getting hits. The smell from JJ’S attractor travels and causes a trail in the dense, dirty water causing the bass to react. Where you find shallow cover later in the day as the water warms up, slow presentations with jigs and soft plastic worms will get a strike. Always keep an eye out for shad action and birds feeding. If you find shad working offshore, keep a topwater bait working. If you are in a buddy tournament, have one work a lipless crank deeper in the school while the topwater angler keeps the action working. The larger bass are holding under the smaller fish eating the injured shad they hit and miss.

The crappie are basically in a holding pattern in this muddy water. There are a few being caught in deeper structure. The night fishermen are doing a little better as the lights are creating a situation where the crappie can see the minnows above them. Some jug fishermen are getting catfish in the mouths of the creeks with cut bait. With the reports from talking to our Game Biologist, our fishery is on an upswing, and the spring fishing promises to be great. Remember, we the fishermen can improve our fish size by eating the smaller bass we catch. Remember, on March 26 we will continue the Scott Woodruff Heart Transplant Tournament out of Lake Point State Park. Scott does have his new heart, and thanks to all your prayers and support, he is doing well. There are still weekly trips to Emory in Atlanta and the expensive post-op meds, so we still need to support these expenses through the tournament. These funds are administered by the National Transplant Foundation. You can go to www.alclassic.com and click on the Scott Woodruff link and register. All fees are donations and tax deductible. Hunting season is over and there will be a lot more fishermen on the water. Enjoy what God has provided for us. HE is our answer in these crazy days in our great nation. God bless a good fishing.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST EARLY SPRING FISHING TRIP PREPARATION TIPS Dr. Andrew Cox March is an interesting month during the angling year. Warm days over the course of this month will trick you and the fish into thinking that spring has arrived. Unfortunately, cold weather invariably returns over the course of this month, reminding us that winter is still here. The variable weather found during this month impacts fishing on area waters. A series of warm days will have the fish returning into shallow water, making them easier to locate and catch. However, the return of cold weather fronts will once again send the fish into deeper water. With some good angling days to be found during this month, and spring fishing just around the corner, your equipment needs to be in working order. This is particularly true for boating equipment. Your boat and engine are an important fishing investment allowing you to

access waters that would otherwise be inaccessible. Preventative maintenance is essential during the fishing and boating off season. There are many simple things that you can do that are inexpensive and can be completed with limited mechanical expertise to insure the reliable operation of your fishing vessel. During this month, if not earlier, run some gasoline through your outboard engine making sure that it starts up. Hopefully, you put some gasoline stabilizer into your boat’s gas tanks, making sure that the gasoline has not destabilized and gummed up your engine. Though I attempt to use non-ethanol gasoline in my outboard motors, such is not always available. Therefore, attention to the quality and stability of fuel remaining in your boat and engine after use is required. Make sure that your outboard gas line primes and has no gasoline leaks. During

this start up routine, ensure that the engine’s water pump is pumping water. Check the various engine gauges to ensure that they are operational. Check the trolling motor and cranking batteries to ensure that they are holding an electrical charge. I have found that extremely cold weather during the winter months can take its toll on marine batteries. Other marine maintenance tasks that you should complete include maintaining a charge on all marine batteries. Check the operation of your trolling motor, bilge and livewell pumps. Ensure that marine accessories such as depth finders, PowerPole, and similar devices are operational. Make sure that your boat’s navigational lights are functioning. Don’t forget about your boat’s trailer. Check to ensure that the tires are in good condition with greased and sound wheel bearings. Are all your trailer’s bolts and screws tight with operational trailer lights? Ensure that the trailer’s winch is working and effectively winches and holds the boat on your trailer. This may protect your boat and motor when encountering sudden and dangerous traffic situations

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while trailering your boat. A good boating checklist starts before the boat enters the water. It is important to keep abreast of minor maintenance activities to ensure the reliable operation of your boat and motor. Having a reliable, easily accessible marine mechanic with a good turnaround time in providing marine repairs is indispensable. These services are essential for the long term maintenance and operation of your boat and motor. It is most disheartening to take your boat to the ramp to enjoy a day of fishing only to find that you are unable to leave the ramp due to a nonoperational boat or motor. Enjoy the early spring fishing season. Be safe on the water. 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. 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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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST SEEING SPOTS By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA When it comes to finned foes, spotted bass definitely deserve a position in the top ten of fish species. Pound for pound, these critters fight as hard as any fish you’ll ever catch. They simply don’t give up. You can catch them year round, and in the early spring they gorge themselves on whatever local forage is available and putting on weight for the spawn. Catch a ‘fatty’ and their belly looks like they’ve just swallowed a football. They will viciously attack crankbaits, stickbaits, spoons, worms, and of course, live baits. I’ll often catch spots when striper fishing, and by the initial bend in the rod, think I’ve got a ten or twelve pound striper on the line, only to find out it’s a three pound spotted bass. This time of year, they’re in pre-spawn mode. They are

moving from their deep water, winter hangouts and staging up in somewhat shallower depths before moving to the skinny water to spawn in the spring. Now is a great time to catch a big fish too, as they spend most of the day in the buffet line to put on weight and build up energy lost during the winter. It seems the magic number is 50 degrees. Even if the main lake or river is still in the mid40s, the creeks and shallow flats will warm up into the low to mid50s, so mid-day fishing can be really productive. You’ll just have to focus on some of the deeper pockets as the sun gets higher in the sky. If your favorite pond has a population of spots, locating them can be fairly straightforward. Look on your chartplotter for long shallow points, rocky outcrop-

pings, and shallow structure where they will make their beds in a few weeks. Then simply start a search pattern where the bottom drops steeply close to these areas. There won’t be a school at every drop-off, but the odds are in your favor. If there’s deep water structure close to these shallow areas, that’s likely to be a honey hole. I’ll start my search with something that can cover a lot of water quickly like a spoon or a jig. Remember, the water is still cold so don’t get over zealous with your retrieves. Although they are ready to eat, these fish are still a bit sluggish and won’t chase a lure too far. Use your DownScan and SideScan to locate the structure and bait schools, then concentrate your efforts in those areas. Live baits are a sure-fire way to

put fish in the boat, and if you’re not tournament fishing, down-lining and free-lining herring, threadfins and gizzard shad will definitely draw a strike. A six to eight inch gizzard shad is really hard for a big spot to pass up. The pre-spawn frenzy is on, but it only lasts for a couple weeks. Bundle up, and get out on your favorite spotted bass water. Try these tactics and you’ll be seeing spots before your eyes too. Tight lines and calm seas.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST DIVERSITY OUTDOORS Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com Many of us who have been fortunate to have grown up having outdoor experiences are lucky indeed. However, the outdoors has not been a melting pot of total representation of what makes America very unique: its diversity. My goal is to extend the conversation to open our minds and hearts to seeing the outdoors differently by challenging each of us to take action to increase diversity outdoors. Let me cover how each of us who love the outdoors can help and be a part of the solution rather than just stare or ignore the concern. However, before I do, let me first state that I’m not writing this to offend anyone, but to open up about my passion for the outdoors that belongs to us all. We, as anglers, can ensure that we do our part by first understanding that we have a problem with outdoor diversity and embracing the fact. Second, we can take action by sharing our passion with someone who has never felt the tug on the line when fishing. Third, we can take a more comprehensive look at how we conduct ourselves when diversity enters the outdoor community. Notice how the brands we support can create a more equitable space for folks who identify differently. Understanding the problem: Some of my best friends in the world don’t look like me, don’t act like me, don’t talk like me, and indeed can’t fish like me. I’m always excited to enjoy the company of others who are not like me; the conversations are richer and mean so much more because I get to learn something new. Sure, in the very beginning, I was a bit nervous doing something new, but also excited at the same time. Did I look like a fish out of the water? You bet I did. However, getting outside my comfort zone and taking the time to understand someone new was what I needed to do to grow in better ways. The sport I love has a multitude of races, creeds, colors, cultures, religions, and different exposures to get to know. The way to understand the 24 ATLANTA

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diversity gap outdoors is to get involved, ask questions, be open to understanding the differences, and then embrace them. You will be amazed at the stories told and the common ground you stand together on. Sharing your passion: As bass anglers, we have the good fortune to have bass boats, fishing gear, camping gear, and all the bells and whistles we need to enjoy the water. The challenge is to take some time to meet someone new who has not been fishing before, someone who has not been on a boat before to share some of your days with them. It is these small acts of kindness we can all take advantage of that have the ability to do so. Consider inviting that father and son/daughter that is fishing on the bank the morning you are getting on the water and asking if they want to go out for a few hours and giving them a different experience is just one thing we can do. I love to fish, and when I’m out on the water, I want to see more people that look like the American landscape. We can do our part by sharing our passion with someone who has never experienced the water. Be mindful: How do we act when we see diversity enter the outdoor area where our passion is? Do we embrace them? Do we stare? Do we ignore them? The best answer that is apparent is that our own bias is ingrained, and we must work at managing it and not allowing stereotypes to block our ability to embrace diversity in the sport. The sport of fishing is no different than any other sport, however, the sport needs more diversity and outreach to our women and BIPOC cultures to grow. However, it takes us all to be mindful not to look at diversity differently but to look within ourselves and welcome it. We must also look at the companies that we support and ask if they are mindful of their products’ marketing mix. Do the monthly magazine have a true representation of what American diversity looks like. Being mindful is simply being

aware of opportunities to address one of the biggest concerns in the outdoors, which is diversity. I’m excited that you will see new efforts to be more diverse in the sport of fishing over the coming months and would love to have the support of the angling community by taking someone who

doesn’t look, talk, act, or think like you fishing. However, you will be surprised at what you may learn about someone new and what you may learn about yourself. Take care, and thanks for all of the support and comments you share with me on social media at Jaystriker.52 on IG and FB. Take care and tight lines.

LAKE HARTWELL By Preston Harden Bucktail Guide Service www.bucktailguideservice.com (706) 255-5622 Water temperature: 53 degrees, lake level: 1 foot below full pool, clarity: clear. March is my favorite month of the year. As the water starts to warm, all game fish move shallow. The best time to fish is afternoons. As the water warms through the day, fish move to the bank. The best banks are the windblown banks. I concentrate on the points and pockets. This time of year, you can catch lots of big fish shallow casting small shad imitations. I am not looking for schooling fish. I am casting to where I think they should be. I throw a small jig and Fluke or a bucktail jig and Fluke. The fish are not ready to eat a herring until the water warms later in the month. When the water warms to the mid-50s, I will use a larger jig and Fluke and live herring free lined. We will catch

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largemouth and spotted bass. We will also catch hybrids and stripers. So if you like to cast like a bass fisherman and catch big fish on light tackle, now is the time. Sleep late and fish till dark.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS By: Darren Hughes Owner: Hughes General Store & Bait Shop The Angler Magazine Fishing Team & Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021

March is another great month for fishing on Lake Chatuge. With its warmer temps and longer days, we expect March to be just as great as last year, hopefully even better. Currently, lake temps are in the mid 40’s. Water clarity is clear all over the lake and water levels are holding at about 7 feet below full pool. The hybrid bass bite in March can be crazy. We usually end up catching some nice 7 to 10 pound fish in good numbers for early spring. The hybrids will be staging in their spawning areas in the backs of creeks and feeding on small bait. This should continue through the month of April and into May. Early morning planer boards and freelines have worked the best. As the sun really comes out, the fish are moving to slightly deeper water and hitting on our downlines. 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 some the best spotted bass fishing around, 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. March fishing on Lake Chatuge is always an exciting month. It’s a fantastic month for catching a lot of monster hybrids

on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s premier full-time guide

service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Apalachia, Nottely, and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

crappie fishing of the year! We have had great success using a Panfishing Assassin 2” Curly Shad in any shad color rigged on a 1/16-ounce crappie jighead made by Bassassin. For a Lake Seminole Fishing

Adventure for crappie and/or bass this spring, give us a call to check availability at 850-264-7534, follow us on Instagram @ Capt. paultyrefishing or email me @ paultyrefishing@yahoo.com.

LAKE SEMINOLE Forecast By: by Capt. Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com The bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been excellent through the month of February! As we enter into March, the bass will be in full spawning mode. If coming to Lake Seminole in March, make sure you have soft plastics and some swim jigs in your tackle box. For the soft plastics, lizards and Senkos are a great choice. June bug and green pumpkin are the colors to bring. Fish these bait slowly around the flats in 4 to 5 feet of water. A swim jig is a very productive lure in March. My choice of a swim jig is the Untamed Tackle Punisher 26 ATLANTA

MARCH 2022

swim jig. It is made with a quad bait keeper that holds the trailer on and will come through the cover with ease. Try to imitate a bluegill with your color of jig and trailer. Rod, reel and line are important to get a good hook set with a swim jig. I prefer a fast gear-ratio reel and prefer 30-pound Cortland Master Braid. With this bait, I like a little shorter rod like a Temple Fork Outfitters 7’2” H Tactical Bass series. This is a heavy action rod with a fast tip, but the tip is soft enough to work the bait properly, but it has enough backbone to get the big bass out of heavy cover! The crappie fishing on Lake Seminole has also been excellent. The crappie will be in shallow staging areas closer to their spawning areas and this can be some of the best

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST MARCH MADNESS REFRESHER By Capt. Jake Davis

When the month of March arrives it’s the start of the best part of the season! March bring so many different presentations for the average fisherman to be successful. Here are a couple of things to watch for. Let’s take a short look at weather and its effect on how the fish respond. Nothing changes the bite more than a few degrees of water temperature increase or a cold front in the early springtime. The increase in water temperature effect is easily noticed during the change of real cold water like in the 40’s moving to the 50’s, but it also is extremely obvious in the change of 55 degree water to 57 degree water. A small change in your tactics can make or break a day on the lake. The key is knowing when to move to the shallow water with the slight changes in water temperature. The first thing that is important is the type of day. Is it sunny or cloudy? There is no question the sun warms the water temperature

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from the early part of the day to the mid and later part. This is your sign to start hunting warmer water to find a bite. The bass will turn on when we see this sunny weather make slight changes in water temperature. Most times, the movement is very near the deep water, so look for main river points, then the bays close to deep water to find the first temperature change. Bass migrate back and forth several times throughout a given 24 hour period, thus main river points are exceptional places to start. With spring rains, there is generally mud lines from the main river to the pockets or main points; mud lines almost always show water temperature increases. Fishing the edge of the mud lines can be critical as the fish will hang on the mud line next to the increased water temperature area. As we move into spring, the bass migrate from their winter haunts to the spawning areas like

clock-work. The key is to understand the lake you’re fishing on so you can fish the migration (pre-spawn areas). The best way to do this is to look for likely spawning areas, then adjust to transition areas; the main river points, road beds, and grass or stumps along the way. If the lake is shallow, then migration is probably done through grass points, stump fields and just about any kind of hard bottom or hard bottom structure. If the lake is deep, then your paths are more likely to be deep dropping points and boat houses near dropping creeks are the paths you’re looking for. No matter what lake you’re on, the rocky areas warm first and the migration path normally starts near the rocky areas. If you like fishing fast moving baits, rattle baits, square bill crankbaits or burning swimbaits over grass beds can be extremely successful. A power fisherman using any fast moving presentation can catch a big sack of fish in a short day on the water. Later in March, burning big spinnerbaits normally proves to be an ideal time to do it. Anglers

should never pass up boat docks on the bright sunny days, especially the docks where the creeks front end the spawning grounds. I really like a football head jig because the bass always stage and move as water temperature increases, allowing you to slowly drag that football head on the bottom as they slowly migrate with increased water temperature. Hopefully, this will refresh your daltonmarineinc.com memory or give you some ideas what to look for on the water.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE NOTTELY STRIPERS Trophy Striper Season is Here! Forecast By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com

Stripers, stripers, stripers! It’s business as usual for us here in Blairsville, GA. It’s also been an outstanding winter bite, and as early spring approaches, the striper bite should get even better. So, get out of that cramped up house and get some fresh air while catching some nice trophy fish with us! This month should be amazing! With its warmer weather and longer days, it’s my favorite month for fishing. With that said, give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and book those trips. Let us put you on some of the biggest fish the mountains have to offer. We are North Georgia’s #1 striper guide service, so mention The Angler Magazine and get $25 off your trip. Currently, Lake Nottley is 18 feet below full pool. Water temperatures have been in the low to mid 40’s. Due to all the recent rains, water clarity is stained in the river and creeks and clear towards the dam.

Striper fishing has been super out here lately. We’ve had a very successful January and February. Most of the stripers we are catching have been in the 15 to 35 pound range, and we’re averaging about 10 to 20 stripers a trip. The warmer water temps have played a big role on the increase in numbers this year. So, this spring should be amazing! This pattern should continue into the month of March and increase as the stripers start their pre-spawn. Continue the same techniques as the previous months, pulling planer boards with live herring and shad in the backs of creeks and around shallow, sloping banks. As you pull boards, it’s always a good idea to work the banks by casting a Zara Spook or a Red Fin. As the sun comes up, turn your focus to fishing the mouths of creeks, as the stripers will follow bait to deeper water. With pre-spawn in mind, more and more stripers will start to stage in the mouths of creeks in March. Keep an eye on your electronics for schooling stripers, and pay attention to where the bait balls are. I guarantee you, if you find the bait, the stripers will be close by. March is a fantastic month for

LANIER STRIPERS

time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Apalachia, Chatuge and Lake Blue Ridge. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

catching a lot of 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 stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s premier full-

in the warmest shallow water they can find. With some of the fish moving shallow, keep a Penn Battalion 7’ medium light spinning rod paired with a Penn Conflict with light line on the deck. Tie on a Capt. Mack 1/4 ounce bucktail in white or chartreuse or a Berkley Fusion 1/4

The stripers have been very deep all winter here on Lanier, but they are finally making a move into shallower water. The water temperature has been in the high forties, but it is finally climbing into the low fifties. The recent rains stained a good portion on the lake, and as a result, the stained shallow water has warmed with the sun. As a result, freelines will most likely become the primary tactic in March. Rig up a Penn Fathom Linecounter reel with 15-pound Trilene Big Game line, a 12-pound Trilene 100% fluorocarbon leader,

a Spro 80-pound Power Swivel, and a Gamakatsu 1/0 Octopus hook tipped with the herring. This setup is the Lanier staple. The Penn Fathom Linecounter really helps your success rate as you are able to know exactly how far back your baits are behind the boat. Start at 120 feet and make changes as necessary. A small split shot or an additional 30 feet of line can make a huge difference from day to day. Pull the freelines at 1 mph across humps and points, and in some cases, over open water. This bite will be lake wide. Also, don’t forget about gizzard shad. With more big fish starting to show up, do not be afraid to pull a dollar bill size shad or larger on a planer board right on the bank. Some of the biggest females will be

28 ATLANTA

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Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673

MARCH 2022

ounce jig head tipped with a white paddle tail and beat the bank. The plastics will outperform the live bait on some days. Also, start thinking about a Berkley Surge Shad in Bone later in the month. The topwater bite will be around the corner. If you can’t tell, I am already looking forward to April.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973

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Water temperature: 47 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: 3 to 6 feet. After a cold February, everyone including the fish are looking forward to spring. March is an exciting month as the walleye spawn kicks off. Big females full of eggs will be staging in the lower parts of the river waiting for the full moon to pass before heading way up river to complete the spawning process. Look for them on the bottom in 50 to 70 feet. Males are already staged from the island to Ridgeway mainly feeding at night on small shad and alewives on points and bends in 20 to 50 feet. Spoons, crankbaits or live bait will all catch fish when presented properly. After the full moon, the females will stop feeding while they spawn. They typically shut down for about 2 weeks while they return to the main lake and start packing on the pounds again. The males don’t get so stressed during

The threadfin will start to school up in the shallower waters near spawning areas on the lower end of the lake. This is a dinner bell for stripers and hybrids. The bait will be on rocky shorelines, and the big fish will use that to trap the bait and feed on them. Throwing topwater baits, jerk baits, or Flukes against the shoreline at night will draw explosive strikes that will rattle even the most seasoned angler. Locations will vary as the shad will move around each day, but when you find feeding fish, it can be some of the best action of the

year. Early morning can be productive as well as the stripers will be in super shallow water along the shorelines waiting on unsuspecting schools of bait. Pitching live baits to shoreline structure or pulling planers really close to the bank can produce some really nice striped fish. Pitch rod setup is typically a 7 foot medium action rod spooled with 15-pound braid and 15-pound leader and 2/0 circle hooks. For up to date reports, you can find us at www. lakeandstreamguideservice.com.

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MARCH 2022

ATLANTA 29

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE MARTIN

LAKE BLUE RIDGE

Water temperature: 48 degrees, lake level: 483.00 (491.00 full pool), clarity: very stained on north end and partially stained in Kowaliga area. As you can tell by the photos below, it was a really good February for quantity and the occasional 1520 pound stripers. Hopefully, by the time February is over we are on the 20-40 pound class. March will kick off trophy class stripers here. As of now, the biggest we know of was caught by Alex City Guide Services’ own guide JB, and it is 52 pounds. In 2021 our biggest was 45 pounds on March 15 by one of our clients. Concentrate on both the lake and major creek channels this month because both will be producing. If you’re into catching crappie, some of the most frequently visited areas for crappie are the river, Camp Asca, Wind Creek and Elkahatchee Creek. If you like to catch stripers off your dock at night, this is the month that it gets cranked up big time. If you don’t have a Green Monster Fishing Light, you don’t know what you’re missing. Give my friend David Carlee a call and tell him I sent you, and he will fix you up. They are built by him right here on Lake Martin and he even installs them. Looking back over several years,

Lake Martin and the month of March never fails to produce some of the biggest stripers in the South. There are other good striper lakes around the USA, but in my opinion, year round and year after year Lake Martin never fails to produce high quality stripers. Some reservoirs have off years, but in my 42 years of fishing for stripers on Lake Martin I can honestly say we have not had a bad year, and I think it’s going to get better and better over the next several years. Lake Martin’s water quality and 880 miles of shoreline along with its abundance of baitfish is just a haven for the elusive salt water striped bass. I often get asked by clients if they can bring their fly rod along, and of course I say yes. I would love to carry you to some of our spots that produce some action on top this time of year. In fact, one of my clients got a 33 pounder several years back on a fly rod, and it would be awesome to see someone do that again. I hope you get out this month and enjoy the outdoors. There’s nothing better than a pretty March day on the water fighting a big ole striper. It might be the most addictive thing you have ever done. If you’d like to book a trip here on Lake Martin, please consider us as we are the #1 guide service on the lake. Text ANYTIME to 256-401-3089.

30 ATLANTA

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Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089

MARCH 2022

Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973

lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Water temperature: 43 degrees, lake level: -10 feet, clarity: 7 feet. Up down, up down, this lake level is like a roller coaster in the spring. Work on the dam has had TVA drawing water as fast as they can, and Mother Nature is working to fill it up on the other end at the same time. Once you get past a never ending water level change, the lake is starting to move into early spring patterns. Don’t get too excited as the water is still very cold and most of the fish are moving pretty slowly. Some fish are starting to move into prespawn areas and getting ready to ensure the survival of their species by performing their annual duty. Walleye are in the river around points 5 stacking up on the points waiting on the full moon. Most are holding in 20 to 50 feet of water, but only feeding at night really. They should be slowly working their way up river this month in anticipation of their spawn. The spawn will last a few nights then they will move back out to the main lake and start gorging themselves in coming weeks. Crankbaits, jigs and minnows, and spoons will be my go-to tactics this month covering lots of water. The males will be feeding throughout the month even during the spawn as the females shut down while they recuperate from

the stress of spawning. The bass bite has been pretty good. Pre-spawn fish are feeding on small baits all over the main lake. They are in mid-level water around 30 to 40 feet just ambushing schools of blue backs. When you mark a school of fish, you can almost count on catching a few. For more up to date reports, visit us at www.lakeandstreamguideservice. com.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

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Water temps are mostly in the upper 50’s and low 60’s. The lake is stained and pulled back down about 4-5 feet. Bass: Good - Expect big changes as we move toward and into March. Warming weather and a stained lake should move many of the largemouth shallow quickly, especially when we have a decent warming trend. Expect the largemouth bite to continue to be good around any shallow wood or brush, rip-rap rocks or around shallow baitfish schools. Shallow water baits such as chatterbaits, square-bill crankbaits and RatL-Traps should work effectively. Spinnerbaits and jig’n pigs are also producing some fish around wood and rip-rap. It’s a good time to catch a big fish, even though the numbers are not that great early in the month. One of the main keys to this type of shallow fishing is to look for warmer stained water. A ditch or creek run sometimes helps to bring warmer water into an area, especially after a warm rain. Dark chunk rock and red clay retain heat and attract bass. Fishing for spots can be awesome as they will start to bed in March as well. Small crankbaits or Carolina rigged finesse worms will catch fish on almost any gravel bank. Linesides: Good – The river run starts up in March, and how good it gets usually depends on weather and water conditions. What you don’t want is really muddy and cold water below 50 degrees. I usually start out with cut bait soaked in garlic spray in water temps around 60 or lower. Live shad usually work better in water temps of 60 or higher. Start around Ringer Access and follow the fish upstream as the water warms. Stripers

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mixed with hybrids and white bass can continue to school on top throughout early spring as well. The schooling fish are mostly less than 3 pounds or so, but there are some bigger fish mixed in as well. Gulls and loons are also still out there now to help you pinpoint the schooling linesides. The mouths of Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee and Maple Creeks have all been producing some fish. Downlining with live shiners will also work. Target drop-offs near the channel or the top of humps. Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits, Alabama rigs, bucktail jigs and vertical jigging with spoons have also been producing in these same areas. The key is finding a little clearer water. Crappie: Good - A few warm days in a row will drastically improve the crappie fishing. Good numbers of slab size crappie will be in high gear soon. Whitewater and Yellow Jacket Creeks almost always seem to turn on this month. Some fish are being caught by drop-shotting minnows over or near deeper brush. Expect the shallow bite to turn off in the event of an extended cold snap or get even better with an extended warming trend. Hopefully, the water will clear up a little as we move into March. Trolling always seems to work better in clearer water. Overall, March is probably the BEST month for size and numbers of crappie. Expect many of the crappie to bed on the full moon in mid-March.

MARCH 2022

ATLANTA 31

Wall of Fame

WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP! One will be given away each month for the best reader submitted photo!

WINNER!

Eight-year-old Mason Ray Cheek from Covington, with a grin to match the fish, caught this nice flathead on Lake Sinclair with his Paw Paw Johnny Sessums Doug Geyer caught his personal best on a trip with Reel Em In Guide Service

Logan Daniel with a 29 inch, 12.5 pound striper caught on Lake Lanier

Eric Crowley with a handful of big Carters Lake walleye

Jimmy Harris with a couple of shallow water largemouth taken on fly

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The U.S. Mint Just Struck Morgan Silver Dollars for the First Time in 100 Years!

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MARCH IS THE TURN-AROUND MONTH

The early part of the month will feature very cold water temps around the inlets and river mouths, and keep the trout, drum (redfish) and flounder a little on the sluggish side, but that doesn’t seem to bother the shad, rock and cats. As a matter of fact, it kicks them into overdrive. It’s not water temperature so much as it is the length of daylight in the beginning of the month, but water temps do come into play by the end Tim Barefoot of March. The end of March will see the big spawning female speckled trout his has been a winter for the books, with cold temps, constant wind and sometimes too much rain keeping us arriving at the inlets and river mouths, and the drum bite will be on from the offshore grounds weekend after weekend. In light of fire. This is the time of year when you stand to catch an egg-filled gator trout, but for goodness sakes, take some this, let’s talk about some of the things that brought a lot of good photos and dimensions/weight us to the dance, the anadromous fish that are coming home and let her go do her spawn. This can be in the month of March. the time of year for some great topwater/ If you live on the East Coast, white and hickory shad, popping cork trout and drum bites. striped bass and sturgeon are coming back to the place There are bites, then there are topwater they were born to spawn. March is traditionally a very bites. It’s exciting fishing to say the least. windy month, so on the days we can’t get offshore, there is March will also produce tuna, a safe haven up in the river for some entertainment. Truly, dolphin and wahoo when you can get some of the best to them. The wind will keep us inside memories I have a lot during March, but whenever the were made up seas lay down enough to get offshore, the river. While go for it. This can be the time to catch a not the best stud wahoo and numbers of tuna. Find table fare, white a temperature break and/or the bait, and and hickory you’ll find the wahoo and tuna. They are shad are right on the move and chewing. up there at I don’t care what the wind is doing, I the top of the can always find somewhere to get a bite entertainment and grin in this turn-around month we list. Other fish call March. that have always been at the top See more from Capt. Tim Barefoot of my favorite spring entertainment list are striped bass (rock) and blue at barefootcatsandtackle.com catfish. They come back to the upper reaches of the river to spawn in and rigandjig.com. large numbers.

KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION

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NATIONAL 15

PHOTO BY SEIGO SAITO/B.A.S.S.

At Hartwell, Stage is Set for 2022 Bassmaster Classic By TAM Staff

or months the field has been set for the big show. From March 4-6, some of the world’s top professional bass anglers will fish South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, vying for a championship in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Upstate South Carolina will play host to the field of 55 professional anglers as well as hordes of fans, who will attend daily weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville and morning takeoffs at Green Pond Landing & Event Center, near Anderson. The annual Bassmaster

Classic Outdoors Expo will take place each day at the Greenville Convention Center. As for the fishing, Hartwell is familiar to the anglers. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will mark the fourth time the tournament has been held on the 56,000-acre reservoir. The fishery is renowned for excellent spotted and largemouth bass fishing. Early March is typically a transition period on upstate lakes, when bass begin moving up in preparation for the spawn. Weather will have

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everything to do with how successful anglers will fish. The two normal patterns that set up that time of year are either a deeper bite on ditches and points in 30 to 60 feet of water, or a shallower bite when bass move up into the 5- to 20-foot range to stage next to the spawning flats. The prespawn bite can provide excellent numbers of fish as well as some solid size, which could potentially produce fast action and heavy sacks for Classic competitors. Lake Hartwell’s bass eat a lot of blueback herring, and Hartwell tournaments are responsible for the rise of the underspin as popular bass lure. If the fish are deep, it’s likely underspins, shaky heads and football jigs will see a lot of time in the water. If fish are shallow, jerkbaits, jigs and red crankbaits are Hartwell staples. Each of the three previous Classics have provided action-packed finishes. In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley, of South Carolina, came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic. Fans turned out in droves for all three visits, creating an electric atmosphere for the weigh-ins and packing the Expo all three days. For information on fishing Upcountry South Carolina, visit FishUpcountrySC.com.

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n paper, I was in Switzerland to ski the Alps and eat my weight in fondue. According to some, I was actually there to keep an eye out for Karloff, a rival spy who’d been attempting to rip off a Swiss bank. Walking through Bern’s picturesque Old City, passing Einstein’s house,

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rom humble beginnings in a home office five years ago, GaugeSaver has flourished on word-of-mouth and happy customers. The company has found great, hardworking friends to help the business grow, and a year ago expanded into a commercial property at 5049 Hwy 17-S in Green Cove Springs, Fla. They fixed up a 1,500-square-foot building for a main office and technician space, and recently constructed a 2,500-square-foot rigging shop. The plan is to grow into this space and offer electronic installs, repairs, etc. Happy customers are the key to GaugeSaver’s growth. Eric Clayton and his wife Tammy believe in their service so much that they both left 25-plus-year IT careers to grow the brand. They now do more than just gauge restorations. They remanufacture replacement parts for Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki gauges. They restore LCDs for many devices and most major manufacturers including Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, iCOM, Volvo, Honda, Humminbird, SeaDoo, Kawasaki, and more. They can restore almost anything that has an LCD. This includes VHFS, Chartplotters, AutoPilots, Jet Skis and Side-By-Sides. GaugeSaver can even replace LCD assemblies with aftermarket or OEM parts to keep electronics out of landfills. GaugeSaver was founded to extend the lifespan of electronics and save people money. Every week they are learning new ways to do so. They offer Dealer Discounts for friends in the industry. Check out Gaugesaver.com (or drop by and meet the shop dog, Jeb) to see if WWW.GAUGESAVER.COM GaugeSaver can save you money!

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exter’s complete line of surge actuators are highly engineered, easy to use, and go through rigorous testing to ensure that you get to your destination safely. Available in capacities from 6,600 lbs. to 20,000 lbs. in both disc brake and drum brake varieties, Dexter surge actuators provide smooth and powerful operation. All you need to do is replace the trailer’s standard tongue coupler with a surge actuator and add hydraulic brake end units. The “surge” or “push” of the trailer toward the tow vehicle during deceleration automatically synchronizes the trailer brakes with the tow vehicle brakes. As the trailer pushes against the tow vehicle, the actuator compresses and applies force to its master cylinder, which supplies hydraulic pressure to the trailer’s brakes. As a trusted leader in the Marine Industry, Dexter also outfitted its surge actuators with corrosion-resistant rollers and bushings to create smoother movements and added longevity. Tow with WWW.DEXTERAXLE.COM confidence – Demand Dexter!

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WILD SALMON THREATENED BY INTERBREEDING WITH FARMED FISH

nterbreeding between farmed salmon and wild populations in Norway is changing the lifecycle of wild salmon, according to a report from the website Phys.org. Researchers with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Rådgivende Biologer studied scale growth patterns in thousands of salmon taken from rivers in Norway from 2010 to 2017. They looked at the impact of escaped farmed salmon breeding with wild salmon by collecting scales from 6,900 adult wild Atlantic salmon in 105 Norwegian rivers. The researchers conducted genetic tests on the scales to learn the genetic history of the fish. The researchers found that both farmed salmon and wild salmon with farmed ancestry mature and age at a faster rate and return to rivers earlier to spawn. It was hypothesized this accelerated maturation process puts salmon at a higher risk of predation because they venture into saltwater earlier, when they are less likely to evade capture by sharks and halibut. Prior studies have indicated that salmon with farmed ancestry are less afraid of predators. The study suggests interbreeding of farmed and wild salmon will result in reductions in wild populations, which has already been observed in some areas. To read the entire report, see phys.org

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FOR REEL

GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.

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864-233-2690

Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk