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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT, NC EDITION

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STREAMER TIPS FOR

BIG BROWNS

LOCAL FISHING REPORTS

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STREAMERS FOR

FALL TROPHY

BROWNS

By Jacob Milholland

ctober is a special month in the mountains. Autumn colors and cooler weather signal it’s time to head back to trout water. Hunting a trophy brown trout is what fall is all about. These fish can be caught nymphing a big stonefly or drifting an October caddis, but the old adage, “big bait, big fish,” holds true. Streamer fishing is a surefire way to try and target these old brutes. Streamers are flies that imitate forage such as baitfish, crawfish, sculpin, other trout or even mice. While the common way to fish a streamer is to enact action by “stripping” or pulling the fly line, streamers can be dead drifted, jigged or swung. There is no wrong way to fish streamers, but the goal is to make the fly look like the real thing. Equipment: We fish heavier rods, tippets and leaders, as we are targeting larger fish. The flies are more wind resistant or heavily weighted, and the strikes can be more aggressive. Think 5 to 8 weights and 8 to 20-pound fluorocarbon tippet/leader. A misconception of streamer fishing is that it must be done from a boat on a large river. While a boat is nice for covering ground, wading anglers can adapt these tactics to any size body of water. If you have the option to fish from a boat, multiple rods with different rate-of-fall (ROF) sinking fly lines should be in your arsenal to probe different depths: floating, intermediate (falls at one foot per second), and ROF-6 (falls at six inches per second). Fly Selection: Ask anyone what they throw, and you’ll get a different answer. It’s hard to go wrong with Woolly Bugger variations—like Sparkle Minnows or Bow River Buggers—any Kelly Galloup pattern or Clouser minnows to start out. Pick staple colors that allow you to adjust to conditions: white, black, bold (yellow or chartreuse) and flashy. Big fish drop their guard in nasty weather, and these can result in the best days on the water. Tactics: Brown trout ambush their prey, so look for places adjacent to current where fish can sit without expending too much energy. Covering water is paramount to success with a streamer. Likely holding water can produce results immediately, so don’t spend too much time in one spot. You are hunting the largest fish willing to eat the fly, not trying to force inactive fish to feed. Vary your retrieve; sometimes jigging or dead drifting can be better than a strip, or slower or faster retrieves may get a fish to react. Mental fortitude is just as important as the where and how. You can go hours or even days without seeing a fish follow the fly, but the magic of streamer fishing lies in the take of the fly and the caliber of fish. Jacob Milholland fishes with Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, Ga. Check them out at www.cohuttafishingco.com or call (706) 946-3044.

4 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

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NATIONAL 5

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

t seems even the most remote waterways are becoming more crowded every year. More boats can lead to some extremely dangerous situations when boaters exhibit a lack of respect for the water, and it’s pretty easy to identify those who should not be allowed to operate a boat. But there are also people who create frustrating situations, particularly while fishing, who might just be unaware of certain etiquette. It is unique to the Southeastern United States to have access to such vastly diverse fisheries within a relatively small area. It is fortunate boat owners can easily travel to a new and different fishery and bring their own vessel with them. However, just as you don’t have to travel far before the fishery changes, the same applies to local fishing etiquette. Some of the unspoken rules will apply no matter where you are, but it is generally a good idea to check in with local knowledge and identify the local vhf channel before launching your boat somewhere new. While nobody owns the water, commercial and charter fishing captains generally operate with respect for each other to make sharing the fishery feasible and pleasant. When pleasure boaters don’t understand or don’t respect local etiquette, it disrupts fishing enough to affect the people who are trying to make a living on the water. As a general rule, try to stay away from other boats as much as possible. If you have to maneuver around or fish near another boat, be respectful of the type of fishing they are doing. If a vessel is anchored, they will generally be fishing off the back of the boat, often running a chum slick, which means you should avoid driving behind them. If a boat is anchored

offshore, in an area that you are unfamiliar with, they are probably fishing coordinates that took them years of hard work to acquire. You should absolutely not anchor near them,

nor should you drive next to them to mark their location. If you are offshore hunting for fish that appear under flocks of diving birds, look for a flock that isn’t currently being worked by another fisherman. These birds are moving around over fish that are traveling, and moving in can cause the boat that got to the birds first to be cut off from the school of fish. The ocean is vast and birds are plentiful, look for birds on your own, not just an easy-to-spot boat under birds. Overcrowded fishing areas, that don’t operate under anchor, follow certain traffic patterns. These patterned drifts or trolls should be observed and followed just like any roadway. The Marathon Humps, for example, should be trolled east to west, and west to east. Fishing oil rigs in the northern Gulf of Mexico can be made extremely difficult by poor etiquette, as locations are limited and can be made even more limited due to weather. Places like this rely heavily on unspoken rules of the road, and respect. These areas are primarily fished in two different ways: live bait and chum drifts. Charter boats take the time to catch live bait before making it out there, which can be time consuming and difficult. If there are fish on the surface, and someone nearby starts a chum drift, this pushes the surface fish down deep, where the fish will no longer be eating the hard-earned live bait. This is horrible etiquette that rewards lazy and ignorant fishermen. If you show up to a rig without live bait and see other boats using it, with fish clearly on the surface, you should probably just troll lures until other people start a chum drift. Learn and respect the local etiquette anywhere you get your boat wet. There’s no reason we can’t all catch fish, be safe and have fun doing it.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters in Marathon, Florida Keys. Check her out at CaptainQuinlyn.com, @captainquinlyn or call (504) 920-6342.

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OCTOBER 2021

NATIONAL 7

WHEN TEMPS COOL DOWN, THE GROUPER BITE HEATS UP

’m going to date myself here, but what is about to happen will come as no surprise to me. This is time of year I live for. You see, I’ve been watching this beautiful cycle happen with grouper for almost four decades now. As soon as the mullet run slows, and the vast schools of cigar minnows (cigs) and sardines drift inshore, so do the larger (male) gag grouper. This generally occurs around the middle of October. The scamp bite will be hard and fast during this same time in deeper water. I started my grouper fishing career with heavy electric and hydraulic commercial reels and eventually switched over to Elec-Tra-Mates and Precision Auto Reels, but now I’ve gone full circle to lighter (heavyduty) level-wind reels with braided line and ultra stealth terminal tackle to stay ahead of the mental evolution of grouper and large snapper. You see, back in the day when there were so many grouper, it was a competitive atmosphere on the bottom. The first bait to the bottom used to catch the biggest red snapper or gag, even using monofilament leader, but

Tim Barefoot

sardines are by far the best choice for instant bites, but the problem with them is everything down there gives them a whack. Fishing a bait that eliminates everything but large black sea bass, large snapper and grouper helps weed through the smaller fish to find the big male grouper you’re looking for. Live pinfish, sailors

now it’s just not that way. I haven’t cleaned hundreds of grouper… I’ve cleaned thousands of them before selling them, and I’m always curious about what they were eating. One common denominator in gags and red grouper, but not as many scamp grouper, are the small red crabs that are obviously plentiful on live bottom.

This is what prompted me to experiment with crab jigs. I made my first batch of Crab Decoy Jigs over a decade ago and quickly realized they out-fish any other bottom rig I’ve ever used. I tie them in with red braided line and a short piece of fluorocarbon leader tied in a loop knot. Then I sweeten the pot with a live bait. Bait selection is important. Live cigs and

choice grunts, grass grunts and tomtate grunts all work. I like to fish big stacks of beeliners, and that makes beeliners one of my alltime favorite baits. I fish them live or butterflied on a Crab Decoy Jig. The older, wiser males are growing increasingly tackle shy, so shed all the useless terminal tackle and scale down to “clean” heavyduty tackle that can fool ole big boy into biting. For video with detailed instructions on fishing Tim Barefoot’s rigs and proof that they work, visit his website at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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“W be fl th th th

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT NC EDITION

In This Issue…. • Local Fishing Forecasts • Spooky Season • Chatterbait • About Papa Doc’s Billy Raines, Publisher TheAnglerMagCLT@gmail.com

/TAMcharlottenc

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OCTOBER 2021

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 1

FRESHWATER FORECAS

Forecast for Lake Norman By: Captain Craig Price October - cooler days, cerulean blue skies, beautiful leaves, the 6th Annual Lake Norman Open, & “bustin’ fish”! As water temperatures fall into the 70’s, local gamefishes become more aggressive as they begin to fatten up ahead of winter conditions. On Norman, that means increasingly frequent surface feeding activity by hybrid stripers, spotted bass, white perch, and any remaining stripers. Aka “bustin’ fish”. Long points and pockets in major creek mouths are likely places to find surface feeding at dawn or dusk. The area where Little, Beaver Dam & Mountain Creeks come together, and the confluence of Reeds and Davidson Creeks are areas that have numerous long points and are proven areas of activity. The long points and coves in No Man’s Land east of the island at Marker 10 can also be good. Above Hwy 150, the islands at Markers 20 and 21 plus the points and bays associated with the entrances to Rocky, Hicks, and Terrapin Creeks can be good. There are also numerous offshore humps along the river channel from Rocky to Terrapin Creek which attract bait and gamefish. This time of year, the fish are attacking smallish shad or herring from the summer’s hatches so just about any floating or shallow running lure that mimics this forage can be effective. Puppy spooks, buzzbaits, Rapalas, spinner baits (willow leaf or inline), light leadhead jigs with swim baits, bucktails, roadrunners, rattle traps – the options are many depending on what depth zone the fish prefer each day.

The opposite is true at dusk. Look for bait and fish on your sonar in 20-35 ft. of water, and work them all the way to the bank as daylight fades. I often find that bass feed 90 to 45 minutes before sunset, while the hybrids and stripers tend to feed best during the last 30-45 minutes of daylight. Of course, live bait is almost always effective, trolled lures too, if you can find room to fish them. Be courteous of other anglers that are already set up on active fish. Don’t run your boat into or over the feeding zone while the fish are up. Your trolling motor can be disruptive, but definitely don’t run your big motor through or near the action. Approach the action slowly and quietly. After the full moon in October you can usually see large schools of bait moving into the creeks. When the bait is balled up good, multihook rigs like those made locally by Shane’s Baits can be deadly and lots of fun. Multiple hookups on a single cast are not uncommon. October’s the time to get out to enjoy some other year’s best weather, and don’t forget those bustin’ fish. Fish On! Capt. Craig Price is locally born and raised, and has been fishing the Catawba River and its impoundments since the1960’s. As his guide business has grown, his area of operations has also grown to include numerous freshwater lakes in NC & SC, plus inshore saltwater charters along the coasts of both states. Capt. Craig is a master rated USCG licensed captain, fully insured, and trained in first aid/CPR. Visit www.fishonguideservices.com or call 704-9960946 to book your fishing adventure today.

It’s really frustrating to not get bites out of active fish so remember just because you can see them on the surface doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll get the most bites. I usually start with a walk the dog lure, but if I’m not getting strikes, I go to something that’ll run just under the surface. I also tend to go smaller and slower if the bite is tough. In other words, adjust size, depth, and your retrieve if the fish seem finicky. They generally go down quickly as the day brightens or due to fishing pressure, which is when the deeper running offerings come into play.

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2 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

OCTOBER 2021

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Forecast for Lake WYLIE By: Captain Phillip Rizzitello

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Finally, a break from the heat. The days are getting shorter, the rain is plentiful, and temperatures are starting to cool. There’s not really any downside to this. With less lake traffic and cooler water temps the fish will respond accordingly. With less pressure and cooler temperatures, the fish will start feeding heavier and returning to shallower water. This time of the year I switch my bass technique over to a shad like or colored lure as they will be schooled up chasing schools of shad. During morning and evenings, you can find them cruising the shallower water and with warmer mid days they will start moving deeper as the day goes on. My personal favorite is early morning top water under dock lights.

varying depths or anchoring on ledges at night again setting up at varying depths. No matter what you do you learn what works and what doesn’t. Experiment. What works today may not work tomorrow. Just sit back and enjoy being one with nature. Get out, have fun and enjoy our natural resources. Strive to leave it better than you found it as one day it might not be here! Visit www.rizzsoutdoors.com or call 803-230-6309 to book your fishing trip with Captain Phillip Rizzitello.

For crappie long lining with live bait is still my go to. This year has been a great year for the crappie as far as size. The key is to hone-in on the depth they are holding. I usually start with several rods out at varying depth and watch my electronics. Once I notice where they are active all rods to about that depth. Keep in mind, it’s better to be over their heads than under, as they don’t see below them. It’s always fun to run into a school of white perch and catch fish none stop for a while. The white perch have been large this year as well. With all the rain the catfish bite has picked up as well. The closer you can get to the rain on either end the better as they like the low pressure. Many times, I’ll sit at the ramp and wait for the rain to pass and get on them the second the rain slacks off. My preferred method is drifting with lines at

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OCTOBER 2021

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 3

SUNDAY - MONDAY: Closed TUESDAY - THURSDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Indoor Range is Open! Deer Season is around the corner! We have all the equipment to make your hunt a success. Stop in and sign up for the 2021 Deer Contest!

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4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

OCTOBER 2021

ABOUT PAPA DOC'S Conveniently located on Lake Wylie, Papa Doc’s Shore Club is the perfect spot for family and friends to dock and dine or break up a day at the lake. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail or one of our freshly prepared entrées while dining inside or on our spacious outdoor dock. From tiki cocktails to live music on the water, Papa Doc’s keeps it fresh with a menu sure to please everyone. Our familyfriendly restaurant features a mouthwatering selection of dishes including the Big Papa 5 Ib. Steamed Seafood Tower, Char-grilled Oysters, All American Burger, Blackened Mahi Sandwich, Fried Shrimp, and more. Come early for weekend brunch, plan ahead for family dinner or stay until the sun goes down, Papa Doc’s will take care of the rest!

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OCTOBER 2021

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 5

S T I A B R E T T CHA By Steve Chapman of Get Ur Fish On!

Do you want to catch your PB? Consider using a chatter bait with and a good trailer and keep that bait in the water as much as possible. Chatterbait fishing has many up’s and down’s. There are more positives than negatives. This article is about chatter baits and why they will help you catch bigger and better fish.

learn and begin to love this bait, you will have to put down the money and purchase the King, the Jack Hammer or Stealth Blade if you have a pressured pond. The Jack Hammer is an incredible lure. Yes it is pricey at $15-16 dollars, but the quality of the components, how fast the blade starts and loads of other things will impress you with this Chatterbait. It is hands down the best bladed jig chatter bait on It was pre-2004 when Ron Davis and his son the market, without any question. collaborated and created what we refer to now as the Chatterbait. When the baits were first released What makes a bladed jig or chatter bait so they were described as a hybrid of a spinnerbait, successful? To start, the vibration that a chatterbait a crank bait and a jig. To get the configuration makes is truly amazing. When your reeling it in, your correct, and to get the action correct, the Daviss’ rod tip will bounce at all times. The six-sided blade spent years designing and building this lure. They hitting the jighead also makes a unique sound. A found that they could go behind a tournament chatter bait is a big fish lure. Will smaller fish eat angler, on a highly pressured lake or pond, and it? Yes, sometimes, but big fish love smashing this catch the fish that the tournament angler was bait from behind. There is one thing all chatter missing using their chatter bait. The Davis’s sold bait users should know up front. If your rod tip the rights to the chatterbait to Z-Man Fishing in stops bouncing and vibrating, you need to set the 2006 and they have taken this lure to a whole new hook immediately. Chatterbaits are a great bait to direction with help of Paul Mueller, Edwin Evers, use as a new angler and up, and once you get the Randy Howell, and Brett Hite. All those anglers cadence of the lure, you will find yourself using this have won hundreds of thousands of dollars using bait more and more. this bladed jig. These days there are numerous companies that make chatter baits, however one company stands out as the leader. Z-Man Fishing makes the best chatter baits on the market. From the original Chatterbait, to arguably the best on the market, the Jack Hammer, Z-Man Fishing continues to improve and make new and exciting chatter baits that catch fish. At this year at iCast 2021, Z-Man introduced the Big Blade and MiniMax Chatterbaits that are insane. Which Chatterbait should you use? To start off, and to keep it real, the Z-Man Fishing Original Chatterbait will allow you to learn, get the feel and catch fish for you. It is priced right, and is a great lure, especially for under $5 in most cases. As you 6 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

OCTOBER 2021

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Here are a few help tips to help you catch and land more fish when using a chatter bait. 1. Use a swimsuit style soft plastic lure as a trailer. While a grub tail and other soft plastics will work, the professionals will try to use their favorite swim bait trailer. I will be honest and tell you that when I use the Z-Man Fishing MiniMax, I use the Z-Man Fishing small GOATZ as a trailer. When I am using the King of all Chatterbaits the Jack Hammer, my go to trailer is the Smash Tech Blade Aide. I believe the Blade Aide is the best trailer on the market. 2. When reeling in your chatter bait, give the rod and bait some small twitches. These rod twitches make the blade move slightly different. When you give the rod a twitch it will stop and pause the blade from moving back and forth and make the bait fall for just a micro-second. Many times you will get a strike during this fall of the bait. 3. This will probably be the hardest thing to do, but when you get a bite, setting the hook with a side arm hook set will allow you to hook more fish. There will be times that setting the hook with your rod tip up high will work, but you will quickly find that if side-armed with your hook sets, you will hold more fish for those selfie photos to showcase on instagram and Facebook. And for some reason cast side arm lets you cast a little further. The blade is not very aerodynamic, so those side arm casts seem to cast further and more accurate. The chatter bait is an unbelievable lure that will bring you shocking results. You must be patient with this lure too. However when you get a bite, hold onto the rod because there is a very good chance that it could be your personal best. Tight lines and cheers!! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2021

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 7

Sp on ason Seas ky Se ooky Spoo

By Michelle Armstrong

It seems only appropriate that one of the best lures to use during the Halloween month of October is the Zara Spook. So, let's start with the "spooky" story. Once upon a time, in the late 1890's, over a hundred and thirty years ago, lived a fellow named John Heddon from Dogwagiac, Michigan. John started carving fishing lures from wooden broomstick handles. In 1902, he was confident enough to market his first wooden, "surface" bait, named the "Dogwagiac Expert". He expanded from there, opening James Heddon & Son Lures becoming one of the first manufacturers of artificial lures. Later, in 1917 a man named Walter Biggs opened a tackle store in Pensacola Florida. His store attracted a motley crew of patrons. One character was Angelo Capaduca. Angelo was an avid angler. He was well known around the tackle store for his hand whittled wooden lures called "minnows". He often gave them away to fellow fishermen at Bigg's store. One of the "minnows" ended up in the tackle box of a Greek gentleman that frequented the store. After experiencing an outstanding fishing day using the lure, he likened it to the girls in the nearby red-light district. "It do the hoochie coochie like the girls on Zaragosa Street." Quickly, the lure earned the name "The Zaragosa Minnow". Fast forward yet again, to the Great Depression. It was during this time that James Heddon & Son had a salesman that heard about the Zaragosa Minnow. He visited Bigg's store and returned to Heddon with lure in hand. Heddon paid the original inventor for his design and quickly went to work perfecting it. Around 1950, John had moved onto building plastic lures that mimicked the wooden ones. They were called "spooks" because they were transparent, like a ghost. As a result, from the Zaragosa Minnow, was born the Zaragosa Spook, known today, as the Zara Spook. More than a century later this bait is a staple in the arsenal of most fishermen. During the cooler October days, this bait is scary good. If you don't own a Zara Spook, you should be afraid to leave your house. (See what I did there). The "spook" can be rigged on a 6 ½ to 7' rod. Ideally one with a shorter handle for lure management. 50lb braided line pairs well with a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier high speed reel. A favorite Spook retrieval technique among anglers is called "walk the dog". After the lure is cast, lower your rod tip and simply twitch your rod tip while reeling in line. (This is where the shorter handle plays its part). Experiment with different "cadences" until you get a bite. You can also increase the action of the bait by adding an "O" ring. When Bass blow up at the bait, give the fish a few seconds to get a good grip on the bait before you set the hook. Often if you set the hook too fast, you'll pull the bait away before the fish has a good bite. In the South, fall fishing can be fast and furious. Bass can be found moving from the deep to the shallows to find warmth and back again. It's up to you to intercept them on their journey. You can find them hanging along deep points close to shallow water. Even better if you find a stumpfield. Bass will be hiding, waiting themselves, to intercept whatever swims above their head. The explosion of top water fishing is one of the most thrilling experiences an angler can have. Now, don't be a scaredy cat. Go get your own Zara Spook and go catch a fish! 8 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

OCTOBER 2021

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DRAG: SET IT AND FORGET IT

By Will Schmidt

cringe every time I see it, whether it’s a seasoned pro or newbie. A fish makes a blistering run; the angler reaches down to tighten the drag only to part ways with the fish due to too much pressure. There are a variety of reasons why tightening the drag during a fight is a bad idea. First, as the diameter of the spool gets smaller with less line, the drag already actually increases. The spool is spinning at the same rate, but less line is coming off. Physics, who knew? Also, the drag of the line itself in the water adds more strain—the more line, the more pressure. Finally, even if the line doesn’t break, the chances of pulling or straightening the hook increases with the additional load. Worst of all, losing a fish due to applying too much pressure is one of the easiest things to avoid. Set your drag and forget it. Old-school tactics still hold true today when it comes to setting a drag. Set it to 20 to 30 percent of line test strength. For example, if you’re using 10-pound test, you want your drag to be set between 2 and 3 pounds, 4 to 6 pounds for 20-pound test. To do this, you need a scale and a friend to hold it. An inexpensive spring scale will do the trick. Attach the line to the scale and pull against it. When the drag starts slipping, read the scale and that’s your drag setting. There’s some debate as to whether you should pull straight or with a bend in the rod. I use a bend, and it has never failed me. I generally set my drags at 25 percent of the test strength of the line, but there are certain situations that call for going higher and lower. If you are grouper fishing or chasing big snook near structure, you need to be able to turn the fish by applying maximum pressure. In this case, setting your drag more toward 30 percent of the test strength would be advisable. Because this rule was devised before the advent of braid, the type of line should also be

considered. The stretch of mono gives you a bit of forgiveness at the strike and during jumps. When setting the drag for braid, lighter or closer to 20 or 25 percent would be sensible. Many seasoned anglers, myself included, will add extra pressure to turn a wayward fish by thumbing or palming the spool. This can be useful, but it takes practice to get that touch, and all who do it will at some point apply too much pressure. Sometimes it’s a case of turn the fish or lose it, so your only option is to apply more pressure. However, in general, your best bet is to set it and forget it. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades.

Gulf Cobia Study Underway

exas researchers are conducting some pretty cool research with Gulf of Mexico cobia in order to better understand the migratory patterns of this highly mobile species. Each spring and fall, you’ll see tower-bearing cobia boats cruising Gulf Coast beaches sight fishing for cobia as they migrate along the coast from Texas to the west coast of Florida and back again. Research has shown that brownies over-winter off the coast of Mississippi and Alabama as well as off South Florida, where there is mixing of Gulf and Atlantic cobia stocks. Researchers with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation are tagging Texas cobia with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSATs) to better understand the species. Many Texas anglers have reported declining cobia landings in recent years. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and federal agencies have funded additional assessments of Texas’ cobia populations. Areas of interest are post-release survival, habitat use patterns and seasonal movements. Evaluating whether or not cobia stocks mix between U.S. and Mexican waters is of particular interest. It could have Gulf-wide management implications if the stock overlap between the U.S. Gulf and Mexican waters is high. To learn more about the program, and how to claim your reward if you catch a tagged one, check out this video: https://bit.ly/LoneStarLing.

10 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

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INSPECT AND MAINTAIN YOUR BOAT’S HYDRAULIC STEERING E

By the Experts at Dometic Marine

xperienced boaters know regular inspection, preventative maintenance and fixing small problems before they become large ones are keys to trouble-free time on the water. Many boaters, however, tend to overlook hydraulic steering systems. This isn’t surprising, given these systems’ reliability and durability. Owners of outboardpowered boats expect smooth, easy steering control and rarely think about steering-system components until they wear out or need repair. According to Brian Dudra, vice president/ general manager for Dometic Marine, boaters can ensure trouble-free steering and extend the life of components through simple inspections and maintenance. “While each of our hydraulic systems are designed for the harsh marine environment, like any critical control system, it requires periodic checks and maintenance,” Dudra explained. “As per your owner’s manual and product labels, hydraulic steering systems should be inspected prior to every use for fluid level, steering response, leaks or worn/ binding components.” In addition, most systems require a small amount of maintenance from a qualified dealer every six months. Here’s how to inspect and care for your hydraulic steering system. Check the Helm: Starting with the steering helm, make sure the steering cylinder and helm hydraulic hose connections are tight. Dudra recommends greasing the helm shaft when installing the steering wheel to facilitate easier future removal. Check hydraulic fluid level inside the helm by unscrewing the fill plug and looking inside. The level should be 1/8- to ¼-inch below the lowest thread in the fill port. If lower than this, fill the helm to the proper level, but avoid over-filling. Check steering response when turning the wheel. It should respond within a quarter turn. If not, the system might need fluid or there might be air in the system, which requires purging. For tilt-and-lock steering helms, make sure the plastic covers are secured. Inspect Hoses & Fittings: When inspecting hoses, run your hand down them to feel for cuts, chafing or cracks. If you discover wear, have a qualified service shop replace suspect hoses. Also, ensure hose fittings are tight. Feel for hydraulic fluid leaks or weeps by running a finger around the fitting. If you find a leak, tighten the fitting. If that fails, have a qualified service shop address the issue.

Check Steering Cylinder & Glands:

Most outboard-powered boats use front-mounted hydraulic steering cylinders. The cylinder should be periodically inspected with focus on the cylinder hose connections and glands on each end of the cylinder to ensure there are no leaks. 12 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

Inspect the glands, which contain seals, on the ends of the steering cylinder by running your finger around the edges. If you discover fluid weeping, it’s time to replace the gland with authentic SeaStar parts. Check the steering cylinder’s shaft and support rod. Inspect the cylinder shaft for salt buildup, corrosion and nicks that might damage the cylinder. Major damage might require replacement of the entire cylinder. Apply a thin film of grease to the visible portions of the support rod. Remove and inspect the rod annually. The support rod and outboard tilt tube must be cleaned of old grease and debris prior to re-applying quality marine grease before re-installing.

Fix Leaks: If the hose fittings are weeping fluid, the hoses might require replacement. The same applies to the glands. SeaStar offers a gland replacement kit and O-ring seals for the bleeders and other fittings. If you follow the provided instructions carefully, fixing leaks is relatively easy for competent DIY boaters. You can also turn the job over to a qualified marine shop. To ensure the steering is secure and tight, check all assembly nuts for proper tightness,

including the adjusting nut on the starboard side of the support rod. Purge Air: Air in the hydraulic steering system causes sloppy unresponsive steering and noisy operation. It can make your boat unsafe. Air finds its way into the hydraulic system through leaks or when replacing key components. It must be purged through a process called “bleeding.” Your owner’s manual explains bleeding. If you lack confidence, tools or manpower to do it yourself, ask a qualified marine shop to handle this.

Check for Water Intrusion. Make sure water hasn’t entered the system. Water can cause damage and internal corrosion. “This is a subjective examination, but can be performed by taking a syringe and sampling the fluid in the helm reservoir,” Dudra advised. “If the fluid looks like ‘chocolate milk,’ then the fluid is likely contaminated with water.” If this occurs, the entire system must be inspected for leaks. Once these are fixed, the system should be flushed with clean oil to remove any contaminated oil. To learn more about marine steering and components from the industry leader, visit www.dometic.com.

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Together. Carrying what matters most. 14 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

By Rex Hannon

itting in the Cancun International Airport, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past 15 days on Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean coast. In August, I traveled to the little fishing village Xcalak to compete in the Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament. Xcalak is a quaint little village very near the border of Belize in southern Quintana Roo. It doesn’t make it on most tourist lists. In fact, a large 9:54 AM percentage of Mexican citizens have probably never heard of the place. If it wasn’t for Xcalak’s world-class flats fishery, even fewer would know of it. The Silver Scales International Fly Fishing Tournament is an annual gathering of some of the finest saltwater fly fishers on the planet. The tournament focuses on the “grand slam” of permit, bonefish and tarpon. Combine that with a snook, and you have the “super slam.” Points are assigned for each fish, and there’s an added bonus for anglers who catch a slam. The grand slam is all three species in a 24-hour period, or in this case the day’s allotted fishing hours. Xcalak is an amazing fishery. If your bucket list includes the pursuit of this elusive challenge, there is no better place on the planet. Sighting schools of bonefish is commonplace, but the real prize is the abundance of “black-tailed devils” known as permit. Just because there are great numbers of these highly sought after game fish, they are by no mean easy. It’s much more fishing than catching. Fifteen teams and 30 total anglers fished three days in 2021, and the results were impressive. There were seven grand slams caught and two super slams. Total catch included 27 bonefish, three snook, 13 tarpon and 22 permit. Like I stated earlier, the Silver Scales draws some very talented anglers from around the globe. Brothers Javier and Mauricio Osorio, of Escamas Plateadas dedicated months to ensure the gathering was a success. The success our team “Fly Fish Costa Maya” is due to the passion and dedication of my friend Will Robins and the hard work and intimate knowledge of our guide Moises Cordova. The tournament is a grueling three days of hot sun, little sleep and nothing short of physical torture. It was one of the best times of my life. Preparation, hard work and endurance paid off in a respectable fourth-place finish. But, our success in fishing the tournament was nowhere near the highlight of this trip. Just knowing there are special places and people like this warms the heart and makes you want to return. I was anxious to board the plane for home and see my beautiful wife, but— with God’s blessing—I know I’ll return to this place soon.

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FISH A LIPLESS CRANK

TYLER WOOLCOTT

he weather is cooling, and bass are feeding heavily before the spawn. This time of year, baitfish is prevalent in waters across the country, and there is one lure that puts fish in the boat just about everywhere. This bait is a lipless crankbait. A lipless crank can play a huge role in getting baitfish-feeding bass to bite. I use it all over the country. Sometimes it’s as easy as casting it out and retrieving it steadily. But sometimes it’s a bit more complicated. Inside the lure, there are rattles. Sizes vary from ¼-ounce up to an ounce, and it is best to match the size of baitfish bass are feeding on. There are different types of rattles inside different lures. Two I like are a multi-rattle and a one-knock. Multi-rattles make a lot of noise. I throw this style when fish are very active and feeding heavily. The noise draws their attention from real baitfish and gets them to react and eat your bait. I like the one-knocker version and its slower, deeper-pitch knock when fish are feeding on baitfish, but not very actively. Fish tend to scatter out when they aren’t actively feeding, and that deeper pitch can sometimes trigger them to bite. There are many ways to retrieve a lipless crankbait. A steady retrieve can sometimes be the trick, especially if you see bass

feeding. But my absolute favorite way to fish a lipless crank is to yo-yo it. This is a varied retrieve with the reel handle, with an occasional pull and pause with the rod to let the bait flutter up and fall back down. This technique is deadly. When you pull the bait up fast, it makes a loud rattle. Then, when you let it flutter down, it looks like an injured baitfish, and bass can’t resist it. In the fall, bass also feed on crayfish in some parts of the country. A lipless crank can be a massive player in this scenario. When crayfish flee, their tails smack against their bodies and make a clacking noise similar to a rattle. When deciding colors, I match the color of the lure to the color of the baitfish present. 13 Fishing makes an awesome lure called the Magic Man that comes in both multirattle and one-knocker versions. When matching baitfish, I use chromes, whites and sometimes chartreuse. When mimicking crayfish, I use reds and oranges.

Trap Fishing Gear I’ve done a ton of experimenting with setups for lipless cranks, and I’ve got it down to a science. When dealing with treble hooks, you want a rod with a decent amount of backbone and a bit of bend to let the fish get the hooks. I use a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4MH Moderate action rod. I pair this with a 7:1 Concept A 13 Fishing reel spooled with 15-pound Seaguar Abrazx line. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

OCTOBER 2021

NATIONAL 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

TIPS FOR CATCH-AND-RELEASE FLOUNDER

A MONSTER CANADIAN STURGEON

hite Sturgeon can live longer than 100 years, so it’s likely this monster fish has been swimming between the northern Pacific and British Columbia’s Fraser River for the better part of a century. According to the Vancouver Sun, it took a group of Canadian anglers about 25 minutes to land this huge sturgeon in August. It stretched the tape to 11-feet, 6-inches and had a girth of 55 inches. An estimate based on those measurements puts the weight of the fish near 900 pounds. That would make it a Canadian provincial record for the species, according to the Sun. The anglers were fishing the Fraser River east of Vancouver. National Hockey League great Pete Peeters and his buddy Jake Driedger took turns on the rod. White sturgeon are widely protected, which makes them a difficult species in terms of records. In British Columbia, catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed, but fish longer than 5 feet must remain in the water before release. These protections as well their size makes it nearly impossible to get a certified weight on angler catches. The IGFA all-tackle world record white sturgeon was caught in 1983 and weighed just 468 pounds. There have been several reported but uncertified catches heavier than 1,000 pounds, including a 12-foot, 4-incher caught in 2012 from the Fraser River. It was estimated at 1,100 pounds. However, it’s likely the all-tackle record is permanent because it’s no longer possible to weigh white sturgeon. For more on fishing opportunities in British Columbia, see www.gofishbc.com.

16 NATIONAL

OCTOBER 2021

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

s the weather changes, so do the fishing patterns. This year, along with the seasonal changes, we also have some regulation changes to keep in mind. Here in Texas and also in Florida there are new closed seasons for flounder in 2021. From Nov. 1-Dec. 14, Texas flounder will be catch and release only. In Florida, the recreational season will be closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30. These closures are part of regulations-tightening trend for Gulf and Atlantic states after a federal study showed southern flounder numbers at historically low levels. I’m happy to report we’re still catching flounder, but be sure to check for updates to your state’s seasons and bag limits before applying the following tips. I enjoy the precise approach to successfully and consistently catch flounder. Although I won’t be able to harvest any during the closed period, I’ll still land some saddle blankets for photos before release. I’ll also modify my tactics to improve my hook-up ratio, which will also increase the odds of flounder survival during this spawning season. While targeting flounder, I generally pause after I feel the initial strike. I do this for a few reasons. Flounder hold their prey in locked jaws for a period of time in order to kill the bait and reposition it before swallowing. I don’t get as many hook-ups when setting the hook on the first thump of a flounder strike. In preparation for the closed season, I’ve practiced downsizing lures. A shorter and smaller profile significantly increased my first-strike hookup ratio. A lure that has proven very effective is the new 3.25-inch Knockin Tail Lure. It has a small profile, which allows for a wider gap between the plastic and the hook tip. With the boney jaw of a flounder, ample hook exposure increases penetration. This lure also has a built-in tail rattle and a ton of action. When targeting flounder, I start each day with a new jighead, and I might even replace it during the day depending on the bottom structure in the area. A sharp hook is crucial to consistently piercing a flounder’s jaw, which is where most of the hooks will be if you’re not waiting for the second or third bite, which is what I do if I plan to retain my catch. I also recommend a jighead with a strong solid hook with little to no flex. My final tip for targeting flounder is to use bright colors. Any color can work, but I catch more flounder on bright patterns. Some of my favorites are, white/limetruese, chartreuse with glitter and a bright green/bright red combo. I hope these tips give you the edge during this year’s flounder runs. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. Flounder can be an easy target for young anglers, even on lures. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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Wear it today for only

$29

n the history of timepieces, few moments are more important than the creation of the world’s first Piezo timepiece. First released to the public in 1969, the watch turned the entire industry on its head, ushering in a new era of timekeeping. It’s this legacy that we’re honoring with the Timemaster Watch, available only through Stauer at a price only we can offer. Prior to Piezo watches, gravity-driven Swiss watches were the standard bearer of precision timekeeping. But all that changed when the first commercially available Piezo watch came onto the market. The result of ten years of research and development by some of the world’s top engineers, they discovered that when you squeeze a certain type of crystal, it generates a tiny electric current. And, if you pass electricity through the crystal, it vibrates at a precise frequency–exactly 32,768 times each second. When it came on the market, the Piezo watch was the most dependable timepiece available, accurate to 0.2 seconds per day. Today, it’s still considered a spectacular advance in electrical engineering. “[Piezo timepieces]...it would shake the Swiss watch industry to its very foundations.” —Foundation For Economic Education With the Timemaster we’ve set one of the world’s most important mechanical advances inside a decidedly masculine case. A handsome prodigy in rich leather and gold-finished stainless steel. The simplicity of the watch’s case belies an ornately detailed dial, which reflects the prestige of this timepiece. Call today to secure your own marvel of timekeeping history. Because we work directly with our own craftsman we’re able to offer the Timemaster at a fraction of the price that many Piezo watches cost. But a watch like this doesn’t come along every day. Call today before time runs out and they’re gone. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Spend some time with this engineering masterpiece for one month. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, simply send it back within 30 days for a refund of the item price. But we’re betting this timekeeping pioneer is a keeper.

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Timemaster Piezo Watch $299*

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• Precision Piezo electric movement • Stainless steel caseback and crown • Cotswold® mineral crystal • Crocodile embossed leather strap fits wrists 6 ½"–8 ½" • Date window display • Water resistant to 3 ATM