The Angler Magazine | August 2019 | Charlotte

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Summer Terrestrials

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OUT OF PANAMA CITY

By Nick Carter

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he rising sun revealed unaddressed devastation as Capt. Randy Cnota backed his 22-foot Pathfinder down the ramp at Tyndall Airforce Base. Less than a year after Hurricane Michael rocked the Florida Panhandle, we launched near the heart of the destruction. Just east of Panama City and a short drive from the catastrophe that unfolded at Mexico Beach, this slice of the Panhandle is a community doggedly enduring the slow process of rebuilding. The bright boards of new framing show progress in neighborhoods of single-story homes. Blue-tarped roofs, shredded metal buildings and acres of tall pines snapped like so many twigs are reminders of just how far there is to go. At the docks, bare wood pilings and concrete footings are left from what was a bustling little marina before the storm surge. But the fish don’t care. And with an eager 8-year-old angler perched on the leaning post, Capt. Randy pointed us toward the open Gulf of Mexico. This was early July, during the Gulf red snapper season, and Capt. Randy’s numbers would take us a few miles out to some hard-bottom that promised big snapper. But first we had to catch bait, which was plentiful in the form of Spanish sardines balled up around the markers just outside the pass from St. Andrews Bay. The 8-year-old would have spent all day catching sardines on a Sabiki rig, but shortly we left the other boats jockeying for position at the marker. We had our bait, and Capt. Randy now had an idea of how the boy would handle his first fishing trip on the open ocean. The kid emitted enthusiasm, and it’s a good thing we didn’t make a several hour run. The waiting would have driven him mad. Bigger boats out of Panama City can comfortably take anglers dozens of miles out to deeper water, quick limits and huge fish, but this nearshore trip was more our speed. Less than 10 miles from the coast, and even inside the 9-mile state waters, there are wrecks, reefs and hard bottom in the 100-foot depths that offer plentiful bottomfish as well as shots at some big pelagics. Within minutes at our first drop, the boy was hooked up with a big bonito, and Capt. Randy was steering with one hand, while holding the butt of the rod with the other. The kid had a death grip on the handle and cranked with all his might. “You’re gonna have to come over here and make sure this rod doesn’t get pulled out!” Randy barked at me with both hands full. But I couldn’t. On the other side of the boat, I was pumping and grunting on what turned out to be a stud red snapper. Somehow, both

fish made it onto the deck, and Randy went right back to work feeding out a freelined sardine from the stern. “Where there’s Bonnies, there’s kings,” he called the shot. Shortly thereafter, he handed me a rod with line ripping off the spool. I came up tight on a good king mackerel. It was one of three kingfish we had on that morning, but it was the only one that made it in the boat. Through the morning, the fish kept us continuously busy. We caught more red snapper than we could keep track of as well as gag and red grouper. Capt. Randy was great with the kid. Seeing the big bottom rigs were too much for an 8-year-old, Randy tied up a chicken rig on a lighter rod, showed the boy how to bait and fish it and then set him loose. Although the beeliners we were hoping for didn’t show up, the boy had a field day hauling snapper and triggerfish off the bottom. He was particularly proud of an FWC-tagged trigger he caught. “Part of the fun is you never know what you’re going to catch when you’re out here,” said Randy as he unhooked a 2-foot-long smoothback pufferfish. The whole time out, we kept eyes peeled for weeds and surface activity that might belie the presence of mahi-mahi or cobia. In the week before our trip, Randy managed to put clients on a sailfish and a big blackfin tuna. Although we didn’t encounter these species, we did watch in awe as two 10-foot tiger sharks circled uncomfortably close to the boat. We went home with a cooler full of fish. But more importantly, while those meaty chunks of snapper sizzled in hot oil, the boy regaled his grandparents with stories of the trip. His first time was an experience he will never forget. Snapper seasons may be over along the Gulf Coast, but if you find yourself hankering for a good fishing trip that’s fun and easy, consider hiring a captain out of the Panama City area. Capt. Randy said fall brings better opportunities for sailfish and tuna nearshore, and with his smaller boat, he is also well equipped to fish inshore. The fall redfish and trout bite can be off the charts. These hurricane-battered communities remain in recovery, but the fish, beaches and visitor ammenities are still there. Go spend some time at Panama City and eastward along The Forgotten Coast. You’ll be glad you did, because the fishing is pretty spectacular. Capt. Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine and owner of C-Note Charters. Check him out online at www.cnotecharters.com or call 229-834-7880.

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Urban Chrome In Grand Rapids, Michigan

Photo by Aaron Peterson Photography, LLC for Experience Grand Rapids

By Tom Werkman

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hy do people feel the need to head to remote destinations a million miles from nowhere to fish? Some of the best fishing opportunities exist right under our noses, and many times they are very close to major metropolitan areas. The Grand River is just such a place. Michigan’s largest river runs through the heart of the state’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, and offers great fishing through its 252-mile run from rural headwaters in Hillsdale County down to Lake Michigan. Downtown Grand Rapids: Home to more than 37 craft breweries, Grand Rapids is Beer City. But there is another side of Grand Rapids that few know about. It offers the

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lure of big-river fishing in an urban environment. The river through downtown Grand Rapids offers the angler a unique opportunity to fish for steelhead in swift rapids beneath the city’s skyscrapers. On an early leg of their run up out of Lake Michigan, these fish are strong and as hot as they come. From October through December and again during March and April, droves of steelhead run through downtown as they migrate through and hold up in the rapids. Some of the best steelhead fishing lies between Sixth Street Dam and the Fulton Street Bridge. It’s not uncommon to see people wading the river, fishing from the banks or in boats landing these chrome bullets. When fishing here, the angler can expect to only move a few times to get on fish. Once you have your spot, you don’t want to move very much as it can be crowded at times. If you’re not on a fish right away, be patient. These fish get backed up at the dam and constantly move around in search of the fish ladder to pass through and continue their migration up the river. Lowell To Ada Section: Just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Grand River between the towns of Lowell and Ada offers fishing that is a little more secluded. From late spring through early fall, this section offers smallmouth bass and northern pike. There is little public access here, and the angler can expect solitude and no-pressure fishing in a remote river setting just outside Grand Rapids. A typical trip involves floating in a drift boat or jet boat from Lowell to Ada, covering a lot of water while casting to the banks, river timber and rocks. Bald eagles, osprey, blue heron and deer are common sights on this piece of river. Rarely will the angler lay eyes on another boat or fisherman. On the Grand River, one can enjoy spectacular fishing and then enjoy a cold beer and everything else the city has to offer. Tom Werkman, and his son Max, are owner/guides at Werkman Outfitters, a guide service on the Grand River in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contact them at tom@werkmanoutfitters.com or check them out at werkmanoutfitters.com.

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FISH & FISHING

FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS MARK SOSIN

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t may seem logical, but it’s not always right. My favorite example is George Westinghouse, the man who invented the air brake for oversized vehicles. Researchers relied on logical thinking and experimented continuously on using air to apply the brake. It didn’t work. Westinghouse took an opposite approach and used the air to hold the brake off the drum until the driver stepped on the brake pedal and released the air. The common approach to understanding fish behavior lies in applying human values with the assumption that a fish’s brain has the capacity to reason. Just because a particular lure looks good to us does not mean it’s a fish’s favorite, too. Few of us can boast even the slightest knowledge of the release that triggers a fish into striking or simply passing up an offering. And, we probably wouldn’t recognize it if we saw it. Repeated observations hold the key to helping us focus our efforts on techniques that have worked in the past. As an example, fish have an amazing alertness to movement. It can cause them to flee a situation or take advantage of it and feed. The same applies to underwater sound. Low frequency vibrations such as those that indicate a fish is in distress usually cause predators to investigate with the hope of finding food. The more natural a bait or lure appears to a fish, the greater the chance a strike will occur. When you can see your quarry

and observe hesitation of any type, assume that something in your offering appears unnatural. Fish may be curious, but they are seldom in the habit of wasting energy to pursue something needlessly. Many species have the ability to measure energy expended in chasing food against the value received. Because fish are creatures of habit, they tend to do the same things over and over. That’s why captains and guides boast the ability to find fish. The quarry may hold in one spot with uncanny precision day after day, month after month, and year after year. If that fish is caught or leaves for any reason, another will take its place. Those fish that work a tide follow the same pattern daily. Even offshore skippers understand reliable patterns that fish follow and troll the waters where their quarry should be. For some unknown reason, fish tend to hold at the same depth over a wide area. If another angler can tell you the depth where he found fish, you don’t need to know the precise spot. Keep in mind that water temperature can play a role. Each species has its upper and lower limits. As water temperature drops, fish tend to swim slower and chase an offering for shorter distances. Figuring out what motivates a fish to strike a bait or lure becomes a continuous challenge for leading anglers as well as the scientific community. The important thing to remember is that fish do not think like humans. Their basic approach is simple, yet it is not always easy to detect. The more you observe fish behavior and understand that it follows patterns and procedures established a long time ago, the more successful you are going to be.

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t first glance, Alphonso Jackson’s 2-pound, 1-ounce redbreast sunfish might not seem all that impressive. But when you consider the size of your average redbreast, this thing is a monster. Jackson was fishing the Lumber River in central North Carolina’s Scotland County on June 10 when he caught the fish on a cricket. It bested a 36-yearold North Carolina state record for the species by 5 ounces. The previous record, caught in 1983 by Ronald Stanley in Big Swamp in Bladen County, N.C. weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Jackson’s fish also outweighs the world record. The current IGFA all-tackle world record for the species has stood at 1-pound, 12-ounces since 1984. That fish came from Florida’s Suwannee River. Wikipedia claims the heaviest redbreast on record weighed 2.3 pounds (2 pounds, 4.8 ounces), but there’s no information as to where that weight came from or whether it was angler-caught. So, if Jackson bothers to complete all the paperwork properly, he would definitely be the new IGFA record holder. Jackson, 43, is an avid fisherman, a passion he attributes to his father Johnny Jacobs who taught him how to fish when he was a boy, and one that he has passed on to his children, ages 23, 18 and 17. They were with him the day he caught the massive readbreast. “We started fishing in a pond but weren’t having any luck, so I said to my kids, ‘Let’s go back to where I learned how to fish.’ And this is what we caught,” Jackson said. “I’d like to thank my daddy for teaching me how to catch fish and where to catch fish.” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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TIPS FROM A PRO

READ GRASS MATS FOR BIG BASS

BRANDON LESTER

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ate summer and early fall absolutely scream for a frog. With big bass holed up in thick vegetation, working a frog across grass mats can lead to some of the most explosive strikes in fishing. I always look forward to the frog pattern setting up around this time of year. This year should be especially sweet because of the reemergence of Alabama’s Lake Guntersville as one of the best bass fisheries in the nation. This Tennessee River impoundment is frog fishing heaven. Over the last decade the Guntersville bass fishery saw a bit of a decline. But the “Big G” has come back in a big way. Bassmaster ranked Guntersville the No. 2 fishery in the nation in this year’s “100 Best Bass Lakes” listings. It is fishing lights-out, with five-fish tournament sacks regularly approaching and surpassing 30 pounds. I just came off a top-10 finish in the June Elite Series event on Guntersville. Some fish came off frogs, but the best patterns I found were deep cranking and worms. You can bet the frog bite will ramp up soon, though. No matter where you fish, the key to topwater frog fishing is reading the grass. To really dial in a pattern, you need to observe what’s happening on the lake. At Guntersville, the two prominent grass types are hydrilla and milfoil. There are other types, but these are the two you will encounter

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most often. From the time the grass first tops out in the summer until the first frost of the fall, I will concentrate on milfoil. Milfoil creates a great canopy and is hollow underneath, so the bass can get through it to get to your frog. When the hydrilla is still green, it is so thick that a bass has trouble seeing your frog on top of the mat. With that said, later on in the fall when the hydrilla starts to turn brown and break up, it starts to get hollow underneath. That is the time to start targeting it more. Another key to frog fishing is to listen and watch for “active” grass. Bass school up in grass mats just like they do on ledges, points and humps, so it is important to find a mat that has activity in it. Listen for bluegill popping the mat or watch for shad to flicker. Those are signs that bass are not far away. Also, look for points, turns and indentions in the mat itself. Anything different will often hold bass. Rod selection is important for hauling bass out of matted grass. I throw a MHX-MB-874. This rod is 7’3” heavy power with plenty of backbone, but more importantly it has enough action in the tip to allow the fish to eat the bait. I use 50-pound Vicious braid and a 7:1:1 reel. Try a topwater frog on your next trip out, or better yet plan an excursion to Guntersville for the trip of a lifetime.

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IT’S TERRESTRIAL TIME ON TROUT WATERS

By James Bradley ugust is a great time of year to throw those big ol’ nasty dry flies. About anywhere you go, big dries will work from the smallest streams to the big tailwaters. Look to be casting hopper patterns, beetles, Letort Crickets and the biggest dry flies in your box.

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Many of the sparse hatches of mayflies and caddis have dissipated, and if you get lucky to see a hatch, these insects will be tiny morsels. Since trout have become accustomed to looking up for their next meal, larger flies can be very enticing for trout to engulf. Remember, breezy days in early morning or late evening will put larger terrestrials on the water. Many will be knocked off due to being careless, the wind, or being on the wrong leaf that becomes detached. One of the best things about throwing larger flies is they’re easy to see. Many anglers attempt to softly land a large dry fly pattern. Don’t worry about that. Big trout eat big patterns. First, you must get their attention. A real bug or hopper is heavy. They hit the water’s surface with what I would call a “blop.” This is the attention getter, so there’s no need for a soft landing. If you’re having no luck with that big dry, add on a dropper pattern such as a big number 6 or 8 on top with a smaller number 16 or 20 as the dropper. Any takes on that sub-surface dropper will jerk that big dry under the water. Where to fish these big flies depends on the angler. Good casters can toss these things 30 feet into an 18-inch opening under the rhododendron where a trout will be hiding. One of my favorite sayings is: “Good casters catch all the fish.” Grassy areas along the bank are a surefire place where grasshoppers or crickets might find their way into the stream. Casting a beetle pattern along a bank log can be another dandy place to float a terrestrial, and yes, even out in the wide-open middle of the stream. One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Currently, we are doing floats on Georgia’s Toccoa Tailwater, which is producing well on early morning trips. James Bradley is the only Orvis endorsed fly fishing guide in north Georgia’s historic High-Country. Reel Em In Guide Service has permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offers over 6 miles of private trophy waters and operates drift boats on the Toccoa River and the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina. www.ReelEmInGuideService. com; (706) 273-0764.

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NANTUCKET SHOALS:

HOME OF THE DOORMATS! “Jimmy the Greek” from On Time Sportfishing charters in Yarmouth, Massachusetts shows off a nice summer flattie taken earlier this year at Nantucket Shoals. Photo courtesy of On Time Sportfishing.

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or anglers looking to hook-up with the fluke of a lifetime, there’s no spot more likely to bring success these days than Nantucket Shoals, Massachusetts. Action for summer flounder has absolutely sizzled here for the last several years, with many anglers drilling doormats weighing 8, 10 or 12 pounds and heavier. “This truly is an amazing place when it comes to catching outlandish summer flatties,” said Capt. Demetrios Koutalakis, also known as “Jimmy the Greek.” He runs On Time Sportfishing (www.ontimefishingcharters. com) out of Yarmouth, Massachusetts and launches from various local ramps based on weather conditions. “The action is generally fast-paced with typical keepers running 20 to 24

inches long and a disproportionate number of bigger fish in daily catches,” said Koutalakis. “It’s not unusual to see a double-digit doormat hit the deck in these waters. We had a 14.4-pounder yesterday, released a 14.9-pounder last week, and had two over 15 pounds last year.” Nantucket Island is roughly 16 to 17 miles from Koutalakis’ typical departure sites in the Bass River area. From there, the fish can be anywhere southwest of the island from up tight to 7 or 8 miles out and beyond. The entire area features a hilly bottom that’s more gravel than sand or rock. In the spring, squid and mackerel get swept through the shoal waters by strong currents and the big fish show up in hot pursuit. By mid-summer, sand eels dominate the baitfish scene and the fluke fishing settles in to a steady, consistent pattern that runs right through August and into September. “It’s the combination of the hills, currents and baitfish that give this place big fish appeal,” explained Koutalakis. “The biggest fluke, especially, like to settle into the gullies and wait for the current to bring the bait right across their noses. The water depths where I like to fish typically vary from 30 to 60 feet deep, and the best action moves around from day to day based on bait movements. So it really helps to have a skipper who is out working this area on a daily basis. It also helps a lot that the waters here are slow to change temperature, so small cold fronts or a couple of hot days generally don’t dampen the bite. I think the big fish really like that.” Koutalakis favors a hi-low rig with 6- and 8-ounce Berkeley bucktails tipped with 5- or 6-inch Berkley Gulp! Grubs or Swimming Mullets. He’ll spool up with 20- to 30-pound test Berkley X9 braided line on a fast retrieve reel. Typically, white, chartreuse and Nuclear Chicken color grubs work best but this year pink shine seems to have an edge. “More important than color choice,” he advised, “is keeping your rig active and bouncing all the time. Big fluke will follow a bait being dragged smoothly across the bottom—but they’ll absolutely SMASH a jig with exaggerated action.” If you’d like to give this super fluking a shot, you are best off using a professional skipper to reach the grounds. For those traveling overnight, Koutalakis suggests staying at the Wind Drift Hotel (https://www.windriftmotelcapecod. com) in Yarmouth. If you’d like to sample these waters via a party boat, the Helen H Fishing Fleet in Hyannis (https://helen-h.com) offers both one- and two-day trips.

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Forecast for LAKE HICKORY & RHODHISS By: Colt Bass - Colt Bass Fishing (828) 381-3426 • www.coltbassfishing.com

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eath, taxes and blazing hot August temperatures in North Carolina – you know they’re coming. Part of the strategy for this month is to minimize the toll the heat takes on you AND the fish. I’m starting early in the morning, as absolute early as I can, it may even be 5:30am to 5:45am. You’re dealing with a lot of boat traffic this month which also affects the fish. After so much boat traffic, they shut down, which they’re already on the lethargic side anyway thanks to the hot temperatures. Those are a couple of factors that make the early bite the main bite. You’re going to be looking for the coldest water in the lake. Surface temperatures are starting somewhere around the 79 to 80 degree mark in the mornings and by twelve o’clock you’ll see them climbing to about 85 degrees. Most of these fish are going to be down in the 20 to 25 foot or deeper depth range. The water down that deep isn’t going to change drastically as the day goes on, it stays somewhere in the mid to high 70’s for the most part. The bottom ends of these lakes, you could be looking at upwards of 88 degrees, so there is going to be a big, big difference in the bottom ends and top ends of these lakes. Your fish are definitely going to be in the coldest water they can find for this month. Your bait’s running bigger. It’s growing. Where I was using 4 to 5 inch baits most of the spring, your bait’s probably going to go to 5 inches up. I will start out in the morning with live bait on planer boards, if I can find the water. This water typically involves tailwater, the top ends of the lakes, so obviously it’s shallow. Most lakes are river sections at the top of them, so you’re in shallow waters so a lot of times you don’t have the choice to fish 25 to 30 feet down. Your total depth may be 18 feet. So, in water like that, in that situation, I’m going to pull some planer boards. Baits are going to be surface to 14 or 15 foot baits. If they don’t run the dams, you don’t have cold water. That water is going to be as hot as can be, and that’s when you’re going to have to go down the lake. That’s when I’m going to be fishing live baits on down lines, similar to last month, shad Carolina rigged on circle hooks. That’s probably going to be your bread and butter since the water schedule just isn’t consistent. I’m looking for holes. An area might be 30 foot and there might be a 10 foot drop off, and there’s going to be some cooler water in there so you can anticipate fish gathering there. Anywhere where you have creeks coming in, anywhere where you have any kind of flow, you’re typically going to have some kind of water temperature fluctuation. And it doesn’t take much! A two degree water temperature fluctuation could mean everything this time of year. They’re just like you and me – if we can be in 95 degree or 93 degree weather, we’re going to be in 93. I still like points this month. I still like deep water to shallow water access points. Name of the game doesn’t change; I’m looking for deep, cold water. They could scatter out. If I don’t find them in two or three spots that I know I’ve got the water that they should be in, fair to assume they’re scattered out. At which case, I’ll put out lead core lines and troll bucktails just for the simple fact that you cover so much more ground that way. I don’t fish a whole lot like that, but it’s an effective way to find fish. There’s a lot of underwater humps on the lower end of Lake Hickory and Rhodhiss. You can probably find fish on those humps in the mornings. I can’t stress enough how important water temperature is this month. These fish aren’t made for this kind of water, they’re just hanging on. They don’t want to do a whole lot. You’ve more or less got to hit them in the head with the bait. And if we get a cold front in August? You better get your butt out there!

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2 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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Visit the Blue Ridge this August A

By Britt Stoudenmire

ugust is a great time of year to escape the heat of the city and visit the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a plethora of outdoor activities abound, rivers and creeks are a great option for summer fun. And while swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are just a few of the activities you can enjoy, add in a great campsite or nice cabin for lodging, and you have a great getaway.

a top-water, to let the fish eat it before setting the hook. Often a smallmouth bass will miss a top-water plug, and anglers will pull the bait away from them. If you just keep working it, a big smallmouth will often stay with it and finally eat. Speaking from experience that can be easier said than done.

If you like to fly fish, August can be a great time of year to try more aggressive top-water presentations. Working If you like to chase smallmouth bass, August marks the a popper style fly in the riffles and shoals is a great peak of the top-water season. There is nothing better producer, and I really like a diver style fly along current than seeing a big, brown bass come up to the surface edges. Cicadas will emerge in July and will begin to die and pound a top-water plug or fly. When spin fishing, off during August signaling the peak of our famed “bug there are several mainstays in the top-water arsenal. season.” During this period, dead drift cicada imitations If fish are really aggressive and the water is not super along shaded banks until your fly drags, pick up, and clear, try a buzz-bait across riffles and broken current. then cast again. Big smallmouth will move shallow for Popper style baits such as a Rebel Pop-R or Rapala cicadas, and some of the best fly-fishing action of the Skitter-Pop are great along shaded banks littered with year will happen in August. wood cover. Make sure to dead drift the popper several seconds before working it back to the both. Another Britt Stoudenmire, along with his wife Leigh, own great option is a walk the dog style bait such as a Lucky and operate New River Outdoor Co. featuring private, Craft Sammy or Zara spook. Work these baits across waterfront cabin rentals, canoe and kayak rentals, and shallow, mid-river structure or grass. And finally, a guided smallmouth and musky trips on the New Rive blade or tail-bait such as a Lucky Craft Splash Tail or a in SW Virginia. For more information on their services, Phillips Crippled Killer are great options worked behind contact them at 540-921-7438 or visit their website at ledges or across current seams. Remember when fishing www.newriveroutdoorco.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

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Forecast for LAKE NORMAN By: Capt. Craig Price, Fish On! Guide Service, PO Box 1623, Denver, NC 28037

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he Greeks and Romans referred to August as the “dog days of summer” because of the appearance of the star system Sirius, which is part of the constellation Canis Major, the greater dog. Sirius is usually the brightest star in the summer sky, but the ancients associated it with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck.

ft. of water is a better option. Dark colored topwaters, spinnerbaits, stickbaits, or darter type jigs and swim baits all produce around the edges of the lit area. Bass, crappie and perch are usually present too. Big baits aren’t always the answer on Norman, so be sure to try small offerings if you’re not getting strikes from medium-large lures. A-rigs with small swimbaits are also worth a try.

Luckily for local anglers, things aren’t quite so bleak. Maybe think of August as the “cat days of summer” because plenty of blues, flatheads, and channel cats can be taken in numerous ways and locations.

Even with water temps approaching 90F or above, and in spite of all the calamity the ancients connected with the dog days of summer, there are still viable angling options in August. Keep in mind that fish don’t have eyelids or sunglasses so the bright sun is a problem for them. Pick your times and locations more carefully, adjust your tactics, and Fish On!

On Norman, big schools of white perch can be found in 15-40 ft. of water in long coves off the river channel and towards the back of major creek channels. Jigging for the perch with single or tandem jigs, or sabiki rigs, is an almost sure-fire way to catch dozens if not hundreds of fish. But more importantly, the perch action is a means to a bigger and better end. The perch feeding activity/vibrations draws top predators so I Carolina rig live perch (48”) on down rods with 1-2 oz of weight and 4/0-5/0 circle hooks, and fish them from the bottom to midway up the water column. The deepest baits typically catch flatheads, channels, and blues; and the mid-depth baits catch big bass, hybrids, stripers, and cats too. The cats aren’t always big, but it’s not unusual to hook 10-25# flatheads or blue cats. If you want to target cats more conventionally, try Santee rigs starting in the backs of creeks and long coves in 8-10 ft. of water early and late in the day, working out to the creek mouths up to 35-40 ft. during midday, or in reverse if starting in the evening. Expect the bite to be slower in the heat and light of the day with better action at dawn and dusk, and more so during the night. Fresh bait is key, with bream and perch fillets being top producers, but prepared baits of various kinds also work. For bass, look for topwater action on main channel points and humps early and late, then fish main or creek channel docks focusing on the deep shade during the day. Pig and jigs, plastic worms, or lizards in green pumpkin and electric blue are effective, and dipping the tails in chartreuse dye often helps. Try tandem bladed, 3/8-1/2 oz spinnerbaits in white or blue-white, too. Of course, live bait fished shallow early and late, then deeper midday around the points and humps above is hard to beat. Hybrids and any of Norman’s remaining stripers can be found anywhere the bass might be, and caught the same ways. But fishing for them at night around well-lit docks in 12+ 4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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Plenty of Water and Plenty of Fish at the Fort Louden Dam By: Jake Bussolini

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he weather has been very cooperative with plentiful rainfall before my annual striper fishing trip to Lenoir City Tennessee. The 4- hour drive from my home in Mooresville NC. was well worth any discomfort of the driving rainstorm that I faced in route because the water was being released from the dam all day for the two days that I fished below the dam. I make this trip to Tennessee every year, but this trip was special to me because I was joined by my son for a couple of days of great fishing, or should I say catching. Within 5 minutes from the start of the first day, my son John and I benefited from several double headers, catching fish on both our lines at the same time. The first of these double headers is shown in the photo below. These two 10-pound stripers were among the smaller fish caught that day with 15 to 20 pounds seemed to be the weight of the day for stripers. This was my son’s first experience with fast water stripers but he was quickly taught the proper catching procedure from Bo Rice who lives and breaths striper fishing in this area of Tennessee. John and Bo are shown below with one of the 20 stripers caught in the 15-pound range. I have fished with Bo Rice now for more than ten years. I believe he is more knowledgeable about this region of Tennessee than any other fishing guides that I have met. When the striper bite slows down, which it does at times each day, he fills in the slow time pointing us to other species like this 10-pound catfish or the 4 pound smallmouth bass that John is holding below. The first day produced 20 large stripers in addition to smallmouth bass, hybrid stripers, freshwater drum and blue catfish. The second day was not as cooperative with the weather but even with a continual rain falling on us, we still boated more than 20 stripers in the 5 to 10- pound range. If anyone is interested in fishing with Bo Rice, I advise booking him a year before your expected trip because his crowded schedule is witness to his popularity as a premier fishing guide.

Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer who has written 8 award winning books about freshwater fishing. His books can be seen on www.booksbyjake.com.

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Living on the Ledge By: Michelle Armstrong

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ummertime fishing is one of the toughest times to catch fish. We are hot, they are hot, everyone is miserable in the heat. But two things prove true... 1. You can always find fish shallow. 2. You can always find fish deep. The trick is, finding them. An ideal way to do just that is to fish ledges. Find where the river channel swings near a shallow bank and you’re golden. Here is where the fish will exit from the deep to intercept a quick meal in the shallows. Use your electronics to find brush piles, rock, or schooling Bass. Mark these places well with waypoints or icons because Bass will come back here time after time. Watching your front locator, back off if the ledge at different depths dragging a Carolina Rig until you find where the fish are biting. Make sure you fish in and around any brush you have marked. Just like any scenario, Bass tend to seek cover within the structure on ledges. You have to pick apart ledges, just as you would a point or a flat. There is usually a “sweet spot” the Bass will relate with. If you can figure out what that is, be it “where” (how deep) a brush pile is placed, a rock pile, etc... try to duplicate that scenario on other ledges and it’s almost certain the Bass will react the same way.

hang close waiting for food to get pushed by. Typically, for a Carolina Rig I use a C3 Baits 8” Magnum worm. I stick to basic colors to start, like a Green Pumpkin or June bug and then tweak that later. Using a Powell Endurance 764 I can get good distance and not compromise sensitivity. Slow crawl the Carolina Rig from the shallower water and let in free fall at different depths. If this bite gets slow or doesn’t produce, don’t be afraid to throw a crankbait. I’ll use a Norman DD22 or a Deep Little N and control the “run” of the crankbait with the height of my rod tip. My go to color in both is Lavender Shad. On the shallower side of a ledge, I want my bait bumping the bottom and ticking the structure so I move my rod tip at different levels to achieve this. As the crankbait reaches the deeper part of the ledge, I simply lower my rod tip to keep it in the strike zone. I prefer a longer, softer rod for Crankbaits like a Powell Endurance 7116 crank bait rod. Ledges are ideal for creating a summertime fish catching Bonanza. Now go catch fish, (off a ledge). Follow #GirlGoneFishingagain Instagram-MichelleArmstrongFishing Written By Michelle Armstrong

Bass often relate to ledges in the summer heat, but add current and the bite will be enhanced. Current cools the water, stirs up Plankton, and positions baitfish. All perfect for hungry, lethargic Bass. When current is present, key in on the inside channel turns or bends. Fish can seek the calm side of the current here and

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Forecast for LAKE WYLIE By: Captain Phillip Rizzitello 803-230-6309 www.rizzsoutdoors.com

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ummer is here to stay and so is the warm water. Now that the water’s up to summer temperatures, 88+ degrees, the fish have gone deep. The cooler water provides more oxygen as well as an escape from the brutal sun. Get out early or late. While you may still catch fish during the day, you’re not doing yourself any favors getting beat up by the sun all day. The primary bite is going to be late evening into early morning. The catfish have come out of the spawn and they are eating accordingly. For blue cats, use cut or live bait and fish mid water column, flat heads and channels fish the bottom. Blues, being scavengers, will be on the move looking for food throughout the lake. Flat heads will be hiding in brush and around rocks waiting to ambush prey as it comes by. They do move better at night but are very territorial during day light hours. Crappie can be caught long lining and trolling during the day. Experiment and watch your electronics for depth. Jigs, live bait and sabiki rigs will all work. Drop a green light and some live bait overboard at night for quick bite. Bridges, deep docks and deep creeks are a great place to start looking. Don’t fish too shallow as crappie feed forward and up. If your bait is under them, they won’t see it. Start deep and slowly work your way higher in the water column until you find that sweet spot. Early morning start looking for bass shallow and work deeper as the day warms. Early morning top water can be very exciting as well as night time dock lights. With so many lure selections don’t forget the tried and true worm rigged Carolina style or wacky rig. As the fish move deeper, your lure needs to do the same. Deep diving crank baits around points and jigs around humps and deep structure need to be targeted. Bigger baits may catch bigger fish, but smaller baits will produce better numbers. As always, stay safe and hydrated. All the fish in the world make no difference if you don’t make it home safe to your loved ones. For a better tomorrow, take a kid fishing today!

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8 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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7/15/19 5:40 PM

What’s In Your Tackle Bag? By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts of Fishing

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t’s around this time of year that I take a hard look at the mound of tackle bags and boxes I have in my garage and have a serious heart-to-heart chat with myself. Do I really need all this gear? The answer is usually, “sure I do”. Now, in my own defense, I do fish both fresh and saltwater. And I fish for a variety of species from crappie to tuna. Each warrants its own category of hooks, lures, and rods. For the uninformed, it may look like I have a sporting goods store in the garage, but when you dig a little deeper, I’ve got a couple crappie rods, a few bass rods, and striper gear for freshwater; and similar gear for saltwater expeditions. In pure numbers, that’s a lot of stuff. But if someone said, “you can only fish for spotted bass from now on”, that would significantly diminish my stockpiles. When it comes to tackle, the reality is I probably only use about twenty percent of what I have hanging around. I’m not adverse to trying new tactics or tackle, but I typically fall back into using what I have confidence in. There was a time when I carried as much ‘stuff’ on the boat as I possibly could fit in it. And I wound up spending a lot of extra time just loading and unloading gear…that never came out of the compartment on a fishing trip. A few years back, I made the active decision to carry two medium-sized tackle bags for a day on the water. Between the two, I have eight medium-sized trays, six zippered pockets, and two top pouches. Believe it or not, that’s a lot of stuff. And I’ve learned to work out of one or two of those trays at a time. I’ve got everything for bottom fishing in one tray. Jigs in another. Plastics in yet another. And so on.

Like a lot of bass anglers, I prefer to have rods pre-rigged with what I anticipate might be appropriate for the day. Now that my rod compartments are no longer over-stuffed with tackle boxes, I have the ability carry a couple extra rods. When the conditions change or the fish decide they want something different, I don’t have to re-rig as often. The lesson here is “Less is More”…at least in my case. I’ve learned to carry what I need for the day in just a couple tackle bags. And by limiting what I have on the boat, I believe I’ve actually become a better angler. With fewer choices, I tend to select rigs that I have confidence will produce a strike, and I’ve learned the keys to working lures and rigging baits more effectively. The side benefits are pretty obvious too. With less stuff, it’s quicker loading and unloading gear each day. And I’m not tripping over tackle bags or other stuff on the deck. The only thing I haven’t found a solution for yet, is how to ‘downsize’ my 128 pound, four-legged buddy…Buck the Wonder Dog. Then again, he could probably say the same about me. Tight lines and calm seas. Capt. Cefus McRae

Now, I spend more time fishing, and less time digging through compartments for tackle that’s buried beneath other tackle that I seldom use. The net-net is I’m more efficient at re-rigging, or if I decide to change out lures or rigs, I know exactly where everything is.

10 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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Forecast for HIGH ROCK/BADIN/TUCKERTOWN DAM By: Darin Brown Hwy. 49 Sport Goods • (704) 463-7053 • www.49sports.com

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argemouth Bass have been very active and we are seeing some really nice fish. Several new products seem to producing well. A new soft bait company called Riot Bait Company is making some of the best looking new soft plastic lures we have seen in a long time. The “Fuzzy Beaver” by Riot Baits is a very soft creature bait with a very life like action that comes in a variety of colors and two sizes. Flip them along side piers or carolina rig them along points for some great fishing. Check out all of the Riot Baits at www.riotbaits.com.

Catfish are being caught all over the lakes. The usual baits like cut shad or night crawlers have been catching them. But we are seeing more fish coming in caught on the dip baits than ever before. Catfish Charlie dip bait is our best seller and we are seeing some nice cats caught on the dip baits. The dip baits catch a lot of medium size catfish. For the really big ones live bream or live shad works great. For some really nice catfish try fishing where a creek channel drops off into deeper water or fish below the dams at High Rock or Tuckertown dam.

Another great new soft bait company is Googan Baits. They make a scented 6.5 inch “slim shake worm” that is tapered with ridges. This is a very versatile bait. It can be Texas rigged, drop shot or just about any way you would normally rig a straight tail worm. The ridges give it more life like action than most similar worms. Googan also makes a couple of creature baits that have been doing very well. The Krackin Craw is a 4 inch crawfish bait and the Trench Hawg is a large 6 inch creature bait. Check out Googan Baits at www.googanbaits.com.

Bream fishing has been great, especially right before and right after the full moon. Several species of bream spawn each month during the summer. Usually this is during the full moon. Three to four days before the full moon and two to three days after is a good rule of thumb for bedding bream. Although bream can and are caught all thru the summer months, the full moon period is the best time to find a lot of bream in a small area. Live crickets and red worms work great on these panfish. Small spinner lures and trout flies also work well if you prefer artificial lures. Most bream beds are in extremely shallow water and can be spooked off the beds if you are not careful with your approach. Stay out from the beds at maximum casting distance if possible. If you do spook them leave the area and come back to it in a couple of hours or so and the fish will likely be back.

Crappie are deep with a lot of the best catches coming at night. Deep water trolling over creek channels has been producing some fish. Night fishing with lights under bridges or other areas with minnows or jigs seems to be the best way to catch a mess of slabs. A new jig by Bonehead Tackle, the “Stump Bug”, is doing very well. Check it out at www.boneheadtackle.com.

HWY. 49 36488 SPORTING GOODS NC 49 Hwy, New London, NC 28127 704-463-7053 Tuckertown Lake 49sports.com

12 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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Brenda Farmer

Country Home Real Estate Broker/Realtor

4001 East Hwy. 24/27 Midland, NC 28107 (704) 791-5437 www.countryhomerealestate.com brendaleefarmer@gmail.com

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7/15/19 5:40 PM

TED BENBOW, B

roker/reALTor®

Certified Land Specialist Professional Land Surveyor

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Forecast for LAKE WATEREE By: Cory Davis Instagram: @carolinafishin3

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ake Wateree can be a tough lake to fish this time of year. All the spawning is over and as the temperatures start to rise, the fish start to move to deeper water. Although the fishing can be tough, they still have to eat which means you can catch them. Early morning the bass can be found cruising shallow water grass, rocky banks, and points. Top water baits like whopper ploppers, frogs, and walk the dog style lures work well during this time. If the Top water bite isn’t on then try shaky head worms, jigs, and crankbaits around the same area. Midday the bass will move down to deeper water. Creek channels, docks, and deep points have been producing bass on crankbaits, worms, and jigs. Carolina rigged, Texas rigged, and, shaky head worms are working well. Crappie are being caught in the 15-25’ depth range. Brush piles, humps, bridges, and old stump beds are productive places to look for. Live minnows and jigs have always been a productive method of fishing this time of year. The main river channel is also a good place to look when temperatures are abnormally high for multiple days. Catfish are in the post spawn phase. This means you may have to search for them. Best bet is to try a lot of spots, if you don’t catch anything in 20-30 mins it’s probably time to move. Main river channel, deep creek channels and bridges can be a good starting point. Trolling and anchoring methods are producing fish on variety of cut bait and live bait. Because of the heat, the catfishing is best at night.

learn about kayak bass fishing or interested in competing in local bass fishing tournaments. Cameron caught this nice Wateree bass “cranking old stump beds in 10’ of water”

Cameron Tetterton is the Tournament Director and Founder of “Plastic Navy Kayak Anglers”, which is one of many Kayak fishing groups on Facebook. It is open for anyone to join who would like to 14 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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7/15/19 5:40 PM

Beer Cans and Bait Buckets: Responsible Resource Stewardship By: Ryan Wilson

f you eye the bed of my truck after most of my fishing trips, Idrive you’ll probably conclude that I wasn’t in any condition to home. You might also be suspicious that the space

in my cooler where all that beer was, is now filled with more than a limit of trout. Don’t worry folks, you can relax. There’s no reason to call the state trooper or NC wildlife, because those beer cans aren’t mine (well, most of them anyway) and I didn’t run through nine tubs of worms today. I was just taught at a young age, that responsible resource stewardship is as integral a part of our sport as leaky waders and “Shoulda been here last week.” I’ve been called a few names in my life, but “Hippie” has never been one of them. I’m as quick to roll my eyes at the stereotypical tree-hugging, tofu munching, earth mother “environmentalist” as the next red-blooded American meat eater. However, as a lifelong angler and hunter, I proudly assume the mantle of the “Original Conservationist.” I believe to my core that as sportsmen, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and to take an active part in maintaining our wild lands and waters. After all, if we don’t, who will? Our public lands & waters are open to a diverse array of uses and users. Especially this time of year, our favorite fishing spots will be shared with tubers, swimmers, kayakers, BBQers and all manner of out-of-state tourists. While it’s important to remember that non-anglers have just as much right to be there as we do, it’s fair to say that not everyone who visits these spaces treats them with the respect and care that you do. For example, there was so much scattered trash at Wilson Creek after Memorial Day weekend, I’m pretty sure I saw a tear rolling down the eye of the Native American cutout at the Mortimer country store. Unfortunately there are some anglers in our ranks who are part of the problem. We’ve all encountered people who think that it’s ok to take fish, but leave trash. If that’s you, then be better. If you think it’s ok to take out a stringer of trout, while leaving an empty bucket of night crawlers and a Cheerwine bottle full of dip spit on the side of the stream, then you don’t deserve a share in our wonderful outdoor resources. Stay home instead. Our public access is already limited and bad behavior by fishermen will cost us even more. For the vast majority of us that are good stewards of the resource, there are some very easy, very painless ways to make a positive impact. Make a trash bag a core part of your fishing pack. I’m not suggesting that you spend your whole day picking up after others, but leave every spot that you touch just a little better than you found it. Pick up a can here and there, cut out that bird’s nest of 12lb monofilament, set a good example and don’t be afraid to show others how to do things the right way. Joining and supporting groups with a focus on conservation, like Trout Unlimited and the Carolina Fly Fishing Club, is another great way to actively support stewardship. Whether the scale is local or national, organization makes our voices

that much more impactful. Support can also fit your lifestyle and budget. Whether you’d rather donate or spend a weekend stocking fingerlings, these groups provide an avenue for meaningful service. We are truly blessed to have the quality and availability of public waters here in the Carolinas. Between the endless miles of wild trout water, loaded stocked streams, lakes, salt and warm water rivers, the diversity of fishing opportunities here is virtually second to none. However if we want to maintain quality and access, it is the responsibility of the angling community to hold itself to a higher standard. We need to set an example of stewardship and self-police our own by calling out bad behavior. If we don’t take the lead, then someone else will and we may not like what that looks like. Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like to hunt for wild trout, tailing carp, or smallmouth bass this summer, please contact him at madisonriverflyfishing@gmail.com or call at (704) 896-3676. Check us out on Facebook: Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters or on the Web: www. carolinaflyfishing.com

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AUGUST 2019

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Situational Awareness Skills Can Be A Life Saver By: Karen Fisher • Carolina Self Protection (704) 237-4487 www.carolinaselfprotection.com

I

read a news article recently about a girl who was able to avoid a man following her in a car as she was walking in her neighborhood. The story started out with, “A young girl noticed she was being followed . . .” She noticed. NOTICED. That was her key to safety. That is the key to safety for all of us. We just have to make sure we are using the key. Situational awareness helps you identify, process, and comprehend what’s happening around you. It takes focus, and that can be a little too much to ask of someone who simply wants to take a walk. I can understand that. But if you can learn to focus on your surroundings, it might help you avoid scary situations before they are upon you. Here are some tips to help build consistency into your situational awareness. Prediction. I’m not asking you to be a mind reader, but what you can do is think to yourself, “What would I do if something happens? Where would I go? How would I get safe?” That’s it. Just a thought process of “what if ”. Identification. What is around you? Is someone sitting in a car in a parking lot staring at you? Is someone consistently in the same place as you throughout your entire shopping trip at the mall? Notice them. Make eye contact. Let them know you see them. Make mental notes of what they are wearing or other defining features like tattoos or piercings. (If someone intends to harm you, it’s possible that just simply noticing them and making eye contact could thwart their plan). Trust your gut. If you feel it’s wrong, it probably is. Get somewhere

safe immediately. I can’t tell you how important it is to trust your gut. It doesn’t matter how you make others feel. What matters is that YOU feel safe. Don’t be complacent. It’s hard not to want to feel “at home” at the places you frequent. But most people who want to harm you aren’t local; they’ve come from the outside into your bubble of safety. Although you feel may safe, don’t assume everyone around you is also safe and have good intentions. Know where to go NOW. If you are presented with an unsafe situation, it’s critical to know how you can escape immediately rather than figuring it out along the way. Know where exits are at places you patronize (restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls). Make it your first priority to find exits. Know where you can hide. Know where you can take cover. Work on your home safety plan. Make safety plans for home, and involve your children. Practice home invasion and fire escape drills at home. Meet your neighbors so you can have a safe place near home if needed. Be aware of suspicious people or vehicles. Join a neighborhood watch. If you see something, say something. This is so important. Law enforcement WANTS you to say something. If a situation turns out not to be critical or harmful, they’ve been given that opportunity to use to their advantage to train. Never forget that.

SUNDAY - MONDAY: Closed TUESDAY - THURSDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m.

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7/15/19 5:40 PM

Fish At Night...Cool Temps, Hot Bites RIGGING & JIGGING

F

Tim Barefoot

or the remainder of the summer and into early fall, the best fishing can often be at night. Temperatures are more comfortable, there’s less boat traffic, less wind and fewer anglers. There’s no need for sunscreen, and best of all… fish are very active. I fish for several species in fresh and saltwater at night around the big lights on bridges and docks. I’ll also bring my own lights. Light draws the baitfish, and then it’s just a matter of time until the target species show up. Squid, cigar minnows, sardines and tinker mackerel (boston mackerel) show up in numbers around a bright light on an anchored boat over a ledge or wreck. This is a wonderful opportunity to fill the livewell with a Sabiki. It also brings all the action right to your back deck. It’s really cool to watch the life that is attracted. It’s like a National Geographic show right behind the boat. The key is bright lights. Years ago I bumped into the owner of Hydro Glow Lights at ICAST, and he quickly brought me into the modern age of offshore and inshore lights. New LED, low-amperage lights are powerful and require low power usage. Not only do I use a light on the surface, but I also drop at least one down 20 or 30 feet, and one even deeper depending on the target species. See video of this on the website. In addition to the good bite at night, it’s kinda like hunting in some respects when running the existing lights in waterways and sounds. You can go from light to light and watch, and you can also be very quiet and hear surface activity. Being stealthy is important. You don’t want to stomp around the boat, or yell over thumping music. Some of the standout species that hunt the edge of the light are

DUDLEY WINS FOURTH FLW ANGLER OF THE YEAR

D

avid Dudley made history by winning his fourth FLW Angler of the Year title at the last regular-season stop for the FLW Tour on Lake Champlain in late June. His seventh-place finish at the Lake Champlain event vaulted him to the top of the AOY rankings. “I’m still making the championship and still doing well, but in my mind I thought I had peaked out,” said Dudley. “To win my fourth makes this one very special and satisfying.” Dudley has finished in the top 25 at every event this season, with the exception of one stumble at Lake Seminole. Coming into the Lake Champlain event, Dudley trailed John Cox by one point in the standings. “I knew I had a very good chance at winning after day one at Lake Champlain,” said Dudley. “I had an 18-point lead, but what was more encouraging was that I had almost a 2-pound lead over John. I had the confidence that with a 2-pound cushion, I had a good shot at winning.” Consistency is the hallmark of Angler of the Year, and Dudley personified this throughout the year with timely, on-the-water decision-making. “The decisions you make out on the water separate a good angler from a great angler,” said Dudley. “Understanding how to play the game better than good anglers is key. We all can skip docks the same way, but knowing when to pick up and leave an area at the right time can make all the difference.”

kings, wahoo, most all the snappers and tuna, offshore. Inshore, snook, tarpon, drum and trout are susceptible. In freshwater, striped bass, crappie and panfish are suckers for well-lit water. I have memories of commercial trips of kings and beeliners in numbers at night. The beeliners really chew it up a few days before and during the full moons of summer, but the bite shuts down right at daylight. Even though the largest gag grouper I ever caught was at night, groupers can be difficult at night. Snapper, on the other hand, move higher in the water column and really chew. King mackerel under the lights can be off the charts. Once you get the squid and minnows concentrated under the lights, the dinner bell is ringing for kings, wahoo and tuna. Be sure to fill the livewell and fish the first couple hours after daybreak, while it’s still cool. Then head back in with a full box while other folks are just headed out. For video instructions on how to tye this rig, see:

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When submitting a photo for consideration for use as a cover image or editorial image, please follow the guidelines specified here: Optimal size: 10 x 12.5 at 300 DPI (3000 x 3750 Pixels) 1) Don’t zoom in too closely. Allow additional background to give our art directors the opportunity to create a horizontal or vertical layout. 2) Don’t hold your fish way out in front of you to create the illusion of a bigger fish. We call this telescoping and we just don’t use images like this. 3) Make sure the lighting is good. Having the sun behind a subject will create a silhouette effect and too strong a light source will burn out details in a photo. 4) Don’t have blood in the photo. It may not bother you, but it doesn’t contribute to making a better photo and many readers find it unattractive. 5) Hold the fish properly. The subject should hold the fish in a horizontal position supporting it with their hands. Don’t let fish hang by the head, gills or tail. Send to: graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com

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DIVER STICKS WORLD RECORD SHEEPSHEAD

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n June 2, Quentin Turko, of Kitty Hawk, N.C., speared this 16.8-pound sheepshead while diving off the coast of the Outer Banks. It is a new International Underwater Spearfishing Association world record (IUSA). Turko officially weighed the fish at TW’s Bait and Tackle in Nags Head the day of capture and sent in the paperwork to IUSA, which officiates international world records for spearfishing. A month later, on July 2, he was officially awarded the new IUSA world record, beating a mark of 15 pounds, which had stood since 2011. By comparison, the IGFA all tackle world record for sheepshead weighed 21 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught on rod-and-reel out of New Orleans in 1982. The North Carolina state record for sheepshead caught on rod and reel is 19 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught by Chris Robbins off Oregon Inlet in 1999. To view more spearfishing records, go to www.iusarecords.com.

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made. Havalon has continued to strengthen the Talon platform by developing 10 different blade types that all seamlessly interchange onto any Talon handle. The latest addition to that collection of blades is the new Talon Fish Serrated Combo pack. Each pack comes with 3 multi-function blades all created to make life easier after a day on the water. The pack includes a 5-inch fillet with back serration, a 7-inch fillet with back serration and a 5-inch scaler. Like all Talon blades, the three new blade types are made of stainless steel and can be easily resharpened after extensive use and can be easily swapped on to any Talon handle with the press of a button. The new Talon Fish Serrated Combo pack is available now at Havalon.com.

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By Gene Dyer

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6 barrel swivel. I like to stay on the long side with my leader to be a bit stealthier. This step will help to avoid line twist, especially when using a spinning reel. Now it’s time to put together some rigs. You’ll need some #5 stainless steel, coffee-colored wire, and depending on the bait that is available, octopus hooks ranging from 3/0 to 7/0 and some treble hooks in size 4 and 6. If you are using smaller baits like pilchards, you’ll want to use a smaller main hook and smaller treble hook for your stinger. For bigger baits like goggle eyes, blue runners and speedos, step up your hook size for your main hook and stinger. Use a haywire twist to attach a 20inch length of wire to the main hook. Don’t over do it, as four to five twists on a 45-degree angle will suffice. Finish off your haywire with three to four straight wraps to secure the connection. Now it’s time to attach your stinger to the main hook. Again, depending on the size of your bait, attach 4 to 8 inches of wire to your stinger hook with a haywire twist and then attach the other end of your stinger rig to the eye of the main hook with another haywire twist. It’s extremely important to rig your stinger with enough slack so that your bait will swim naturally. Now you are ready to attach your rig to your leader. Use an albright knot to connect your rig to your leader. If you don’t know how to tie an albright knot, do an Internet search and plenty of pages and videos will pop up. You can fish this setup a couple of different ways. If you will be drifting, fish at least two rods. You’ll want one bait on the surface and one deeper, from 30 to 60 feet. Send your surface bait out first and allow it to swim away from the boat. You can attach a balloon to your main line to help keep track of where your bait is. Depending on conditions, add 4 to 8 ounces of lead to your deep rod. Slip your lead on above the swivel or attach it to the main line with a rubber band. If you utilize the rubber band method, it’s highly likely that you’ll lose your sinker on the strike. These rigs can also be used for slow trolling baits. Slow trolling can help determine what depth the fish are in. Start trolling in about 60 feet and head out to 200 feet and then back to 60 feet. Once you find the fish, set up your drift at the depth. When kingfish strike, they typically go on a long run away from the boat. Take your time and slowly work the fish toward the boat. Don’t be surprised if you get it close and it takes off on another short run after it sees the boat. Let the fish run and tire out. You should then be able to get your fish back to the boat for a gaff shot to the head.

ing mackerel are aggressive predators with extremely sharp teeth. To catch them with consistency, you must prepare accordingly. Though there are many ways to rig your rods for kingfish, I’d like to focus on a few techniques that have worked for me over the years. These techniques can be utilized on both spinning and conventional tackle. To start, you’re going to want a rod in the 7-foot range that has a sensitive tip, so you can feel the bite, but also some backbone to turn the head of a smoker that just peeled off 100 yards of line in 20 seconds. Sometimes, a big king will swim right back at the boat after a blistering run, and you will have a better chance of coming tight with a higher speed reel. You’ll want nothing less than a 5-to-1 gear ratio. When it comes to line choice, you can certainly spool your reels with braided line, but I prefer 20- to 30-pound monofilament, as I’m kind of old school and learned to fish for kingfish before braid became so popular. That said, you’ll want to connect your main line to Gene Dyer is co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s Fort Lau4 to 10 feet of 40- or 50-pound fluorocarbon leader with a size 4 or derdale edition. Contact him at gene@coastalanglermagazine.com. 14

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FLY FISHING 16

CHUMMING UP MAKO SHARKS One of the greatest adversaries on the fly rod in saltwater is the shortfin mako shark. The mako is considered by many as the fastest of all sharks, but what makes this great gamefish stand out is not only its fighting ability but its tendency to leap 20 feet in the air once hooked! The mako shark is one of saltwater fly-fishing’s outstanding but unappreciated gamefish. Found on both in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a smaller mako in the 20- to 30-pound range can be perfect for the beginning saltwater fly fisherman; of course, fishing for sharks is a tad different than fishing for bluegills in your Uncle Ned’s farm pond. First, you’ll need a boat, preferably a boat over 18 feet that can handle fairly choppy seas. Most center-consoles will do; however, a skiff with a beam of 8 feet or wider and a not-too-deep V will settle in the water better and reduce pitch and roll to a minimum, guaranteeing a much more stable casting platform. A chum line is the most effective way of attracting makos into casting distance of your boat. Chumming attracts the larger makos and will allow you to sight-cast to them. Into a chum bag, place the belly sections or fresh carcasses of tuna, bluefish or bonito. Then place the bag into a milk crate or five-gallon bucket, lower this mess by rope over the side and listen for the musical score from the movie “Jaws” to begin. You won’t have long to wait once that chum slick begins to spread. Ideally, you should use fresh carcasses, but store-bought chum will suffice. One bit of important advice: Less is more when chumming; you don’t

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need much; no matter how small the slick, a shark can smell it from miles away. Now that you have the boat and chum, the next thing to do is find a mako. On the West Coast we are fortunate to have the continental shelf only a few miles offshore. On the east coast, you’ll have to venture bit farther offshore. Keep your eyes peeled for working birds and surface-busting bait; constantly check the water temperature, looking for readings between 66 and 70 degrees. But, be patient when chumming. I will wait at least an hour and a half before moving to another spot, but there have been occasions when the sharks make their appearance within a few minutes. Once in the slick, makos will stick around for most of the fishing day. Drifting allows you to cover more water and, in the process, attract more makos to your boat. By choosing the right season, having the right chum and chumming the right areas, you can count on hooking and releasing a good number of makos during the course of a single day on the water.

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