CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT, NC EDITION
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RECORD CATCHES OF 2020
Smallies &
BIG BLUES
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOBIE & KEVIN NAKADA VOLUME 25 • ISSUE 301
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1782-
Fo
1782-20A Coastal Angler.indd 1
For: Coastal Angler
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Due: 3/2/2020
Photo courtesy of Knockin Tail Lures
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
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or those who want to catch a heavy speckled trout, April is perhaps your best opportunity. April trout are still heavy from their lowered metabolism of winter. They are heavy with eggs and about to spawn. This makes April a prime month for heavy fish. The warmer water also makes them extremely aggressive and more willing to strike artificial lures of all styles. Let’s go over the how, when and where to target trophy trout in the spring. How: When water temp reaches the low to mid 70s, topwater action can be some of the best of the year. Aggressive trout are attracted by the rattling sound and erratic sway of the cigarshaped lures. You can’t go wrong with bone/white/ silver or a combination of these colors. I like to match the size to the conditions and forage in the immediate area. Required casting distance and surface conditions also play a vital role in my decision making. In rougher conditions, I typically use a large lure. The rattles of various lures also have different pitch. I prefer to use the higher pitch over a muddy bottom and a lower tone over sand, grass or shell. Slow-sinking, rattling, shad-style twitch baits
are also a good choice when trout don’t want to “rise” to the occasion. I prefer these lures with near-mirror reflective finishes. They do an excellent job of impersonating a wounded baitfish, and no large spawning trout in its right mind will pass up an injured baitfish. I can’t leave out the most versatile trout lure of all, the soft plastic. There are many styles, sizes and colors, but I prefer those that give more bang for the buck. When the fish are aggressive, I steer toward a soft plastic with a larger paddle that vibrates, creates a great swimming motion even on the pause, and one that rattles. These three components stimulate a fish’s lateral line, and they can’t resist the need to feed. When: I plan trips according to the solunar tables. I make every effort to be at my spot fishing during peak feeding times so that I’m not traveling from spot to spot when the fish are eating. Where: In spring, I direct my attention to grass flats. Wading is the superior method to consistently catch large trout, but you can still target flats from a boat. I prefer a flat with broken grass patches, potholes, channels, the dreaded prop scar or anything else that breaks up the grass to create ambush points for trout. Try to cover each transition from multiple angles, as trout will
stage on the edge of the sand against the grass. Pay attention to the where, when and how on your next trip. It will increase your odds of landing a trophy trout. It never hurts to practice catch and release on these beautiful fish. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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ew for 2020, Outcast Sporting Gear released a sweet little inflatable kayak with the performance, portability and comfort to take you wherever the fish are. The OSG IK Angler 11 was recently awarded Best of Show for boats/ personal watercraft at the American Fly Fishing Trade Association show in Denver. It was designed specifically for avid anglers seeking to access more open water. Weighing just 32 pounds, the IK Angler 11 is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you on those trips to out-of-the way places that are difficult to access with bigger boats. And it will haul a load, too. With a 350-pound capacity, it’ll carry even the largest anglers and all their gear. This kayak was built for all-day fishing in comfort, with an adjustable seat that sits high off the water for easy casting. It is a stable platform to fish from, and a removable fin provides straight tracking on long paddles as well as a shallow draft for skinny water. Other features include a quick, one-handed paddle holder; a self-baling floor; interior cargo loops for lashing gear; and an innovative Integrated Gear System, which incorporates a moveable base in a sleeve that accepts cargo pockets, rod holders and anchor mounts. At just under 11 feet in length and 37 inches wide, the OSG IK Angler 11 is a compact boat that delivers on the water. It comes with a www.outcastboats.com 5-year warranty. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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atching big pelagics is one of those “someday” goals for many kayak anglers. Venturing into the open ocean under paddle power after species like kingfish, mahi, sailfish and tuna can seem daunting to anglers accustomed to inshore waters or freshwater lakes and rivers. The first question you might have is: “Where am I going to find them?” Inshore, there are grass flats, mangroves and channels drop-offs that offer kayak anglers good places to start. Offshore waters don’t always give up information quite as easily, but the clues are out there. You just have to know what you’re looking for. The ocean is a big place, but I believe 10 percent of the water holds 90 percent of the fish. Narrowing it down to that 10 percent is the first step. Start your research off the water by locating a beach or other launch point that is close to hard bottom, wrecks or a reef line. This can be done with a little online research and a good mapping chip for your GPS. When the day comes to venture into the pelagic zone, take some time on the beach before heading out. Know the current, wind and water conditions. Is it calm? Is it rough? Are there a lot of weeds on the beach? Is there bait close to shore? Which way is the wind blowing? Answering these questions helps you decide what baits to use and at what depths to fish them. In general, calm days call for running baits deeper in the water column. With some surface chop or visible action on top—like bait jumping or fish breaking the water—run baits closer to the surface. Other things to look for are rips, color changes, birds and weed lines. A rip is an area where two currents meet. The water will look more turbulent than surrounding areas. A defined color change will have strong current running along its edge. Usually these color breaks and rips consolidate debris and weeds, and often birds will hover over these areas. The weeds and current attract bait, which in turn attract the pelagics. When you’re offshore, you have to take what the ocean gives you. Anything that looks different than the surrounding water is a place to put baits out. If you find yourself on the water with no wind, surface activity or weeds, look to your GPS to show you the way to hard bottom, structure, rock piles or reefs. There will always be some type of baitfish around these areas to attract pelagics. Find the bait, and you will find the fish. If you are new to offshore kayak fishing or are thinking about trying it, this information should give you a start on your quest to land a pelagic from your kayak.
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By Brian Nelli
Brian Nelli operates south Florida’s Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters. Check them out at www.tckayakfishing.com and email Brian at brian@tckayakfishing.com.
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Urgent: Special Summer Driving Notice
To some, sunglasses are a fashion accessory…
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Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that most (74%) of the crashes occurred on clear, sunny days
Drivers’ Alert: Driving can expose you to more dangerous glare than any sunny day at the beach can… do you know how to protect yourself?
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he sun rises and sets at peak travel periods, during the early morning and afternoon rush hours and many drivers find themselves temporarily blinded while driving directly into the glare of the sun. Deadly accidents are regularly caused by such blinding glare with danger arising from reflected light off another vehicle, the pavement, or even from waxed and oily windshields that can make matters worse. Early morning dew can exacerbate this situation. Yet, motorists struggle on despite being blinded by the sun’s glare that can cause countless accidents every year. Not all sunglasses are created equal. Protecting your eyes is serious business. With all the fancy fashion frames out there it can be easy to overlook what really matters––the lenses. So we did our research and looked to the very best in optic innovation and technology. Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist. A NASA rocket scientist. Some ordinary sunglasses can obscure your vision by exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays, blue light, and reflective glare. They can also darken useful vision-enhancing light. But now, independent research conducted by scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought forth ground-breaking technology to help protect human eyesight from the harmful effects of solar radiation
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By Nick Carter
T
ennessee’s Lake Chickamauga has garnered a lot of press in recent years for giant largemouth bass. The introduction of Florida-strain largemouths certainly paid off for this 60-mile-long Tennessee River impoundment. The thing is, all the hype over bucketmouths has overshadowed world-class fisheries that already existed on the Tennessee River from Chickamauga down through Chattanooga. Flowing between high ridges of The Scenic City, the big river pumps out some pretty spectacular action for catfish and smallmouth bass. Richard Simms, of Scenic City Charters, said the fishing heats up with water temperatures this time of year. Whether you’re looking for bigshouldered river smallies, giant blue cats—or a little bit of both—right now is the time to be on the water. Smallmouth Bass: The Chickamauga tailrace lights up with aggressive smallies in spring. They feed up in a 10-mile stretch below the dam. Simms said fishing jigs and soft plastics around rip-rap, current seams and edges is productive. But drifting live threadfin shad or shiners with the current leads to faster action. With light 6-poundtest line enticing the most bites, any smallmouth is a handful. They typically run from 2 to 4 pounds on the river, and a decent day will produce 10 to 15 of
these scrappy bronzebacks. Simms said to expect a mixed bag on live bait. Everything eats shiners, so anglers will also catch white bass, spotted bass, largemouth bass, crappie, yellow bass, catfish and maybe a striped bass. Catfish: Big blue catfish are abundant on the Tennessee River from Chickamauga Dam all the way down through Chattanooga. When flows are right, the tailrace can be very good. When too much water is being released from the dam, Simms heads up to the reservoir. Either side of the dam, the prespawn bite peaks in April. “Both fisheries hold great big catfish,” said Simms, “and pre-spawn is a great time for catching trophy fish.” On the reservoir, deep drop-offs and river channel holes with structure are the places to vertical drop cut skipjack herring, bluegill or chicken breast. Below the dam, Simms drift fishes those same baits on light 10-pound tackle. In 2009, Simms’ client, Jerry Uhrine, caught a 52-inch-long, 75-pound blue catfish on 10-poundtest line. It is a National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame line-class record. “That light tackle technique is really fun because the average catfish we catch is 5 to 10 pounds,” said Simms. “Those 10 to 20 pounders aren’t unusual,
Photos courtesy of Scenic City Charters.
and every now and then we get one of those really big fish.” An average half-day trip from April through October typically yields 50 to 100 pounds of catfish. “It’s real easy to stock a freezer,” said Simms. Check out Scenic City Fishing Charters at www.sceniccityfishing.com.
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Photos courtesy of Tuna Duck Charters, Hatteras, NC.
April action can be fast and furious off the Outer Banks. Here’s one on deck and another on the line.
By Tom Schlichter
T
he Outer Banks of North Carolina needs little introduction to fishing fans. A true angling Mecca, it boasts super action with striped bass, red drum, cobia, sea trout and a host of inshore species while also offering tremendous offshore action for tuna, billfish, wahoo, mahi and additional pelagic favorites. These ocean predators really get your blood boiling in April, when the action comes alive 25 to 30 miles offshore. “We really do see a great mix of blue water species in April,” said charter Capt. Dan Rooks of the 51-foot custom Carolina Sportfisher, Tuna Duck (252-216-6160; http://tunaduck.com) which sails out of Hatteras Harbor Marina (252-986-2166; https://www.hatterasharbor.com.) “Typical action this month sees yellowfins in the 40- to 70-pound class, blackfin tuna weighing 20 to 25 pounds, and wahoo to 60 pounds. Early in the month, you might also deck a bluefin while the end of the month sees white marlin, blue marlin and sailfish arrive on the scene. Many of the big blues will top 400 pounds.” It’s the combination of bottom structure and a meeting of offshore currents that draws big game species to these waters, explained Rooks. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream flowing up from the south and cool waters of the Labrador Current dropping down from the north meet along the edge of the continental shelf, providing sharp temperature breaks that stack squid, ballyhoo, flying fish and other baitfish. Match a Anglers aboard Capt. Dan Rook’s Tuna Duck Charters celebrate a break over some structure, and you have a great spot to start hefty tuna that slammed a popper off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. your search. “It’s not as important that the temperature break be large as that it be well-defined,” noted Rooks. “I’ve seen breaks here as small as half-a- said. “A storm might push the cool water farther out or bring warmer water degree and as large as 20 degrees. Any break can produce if the surrounding closer in, so you constantly need to make adjustments. Expect to spend some conditions are right. Look for clean water, active baitfish and plenty of life. time searching out the fish even if they were stacked up just a day before. That’s one plus for heading out with a charter skipper; we’re on the water daily, Those are tip-offs that you are in the right area.” Although he’ll sometimes jig or work poppers for tuna, Rooks spends which helps us keep track of shifting currents, temperature breaks and baitfish most of his time trolling. His favorite setup is a natural dead-bait spread, with schools. Some days you find the predators sooner than others – but never give eight ballyhoo trolled in a V-pattern at 7 knots. He works hard to drag his up hope because once you dial ’em in, the fishing here is as good as it gets.” Anglers looking to trailer to this area can find transient dockage, fuel, hotel offerings across structure points, where temperature breaks are discovered accommodations and a boat launch ($10) all at Village Marina (252-986-2522; using on-board temperature gauges and satellite imagery. “The breaks move, of course, and you need to be aware of that,” Rooks www.villagemarinahatteras.com) in Hatteras. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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A BUCKET-LIST FISH WORTH CROWING ABOUT Photo courtesy of Crocodile Bay
By Todd Staley
W
hen anglers think of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, they usually think about billfish. Costa Rica is one of the top destinations in the world to chase these pointy-nose acrobats. Many folks travel to Costa Rica with billfish fever and are not even aware of the great inshore fishery available. A fish many anglers have never even heard about before their arrival in Costa Rica is the roosterfish. This unique-looking fish with seven combs as a dorsal fin is only found in the Eastern Tropical Pacific between southern Mexico and Ecuador. In its most northern and southern ranges, the fish move as the seasonal drop in water temperature arrives. Costa Rica, being in the smack-dab middle of Roosterfish’s range, enjoys a fairly constant water temperature and a year-round fishery. In many places, roosterfish are only available by fishing the surf break. Not in Costa Rica. Of course they cruise the beaches looking for an easy meal, but they also roam the many volcanic reefs. One area that is extremely productive is the Golfo Dulce on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, a 32-mile-long tropical fjord. Here you find roosters almost everywhere, along the beaches and even over reefs in 200 feet of water. This allows anglers to target them using several different fishing styles. The locals also catch them with dead bait using handlines off the beach. Roosterfish in the Golfo Dulce average 15 pounds, and fish over 50 pounds are taken weekly. The resort record at Crocodile Bay is 106 pounds. Live bait is most always a sure bet. Blue runners, goggle-eyes, sardines and lookdowns are the favorite choices and are readily available. If you are looking for a monster and have the patience to wait it out, bridle up a 3- to 5-pound live bonito and hang on. The best method to fish live bait is to either slow troll behind the surf line or drift fish over volcanic structure. In the deeper areas, a 2- to 6-ounce weight is added to send the bait closer to the top of the reef. In Costa Rica, circle hooks are required by law when using bait, so it is best to have the “crank don’t yank,” mentality firmly planted in one’s brain. Popper fishing is also popular. Fish will often rise to a lure that is really ripped through the water. This is not a walk-the-dog fishing. The faster you work the popper, with lots of splash, the more hits you will get. At times, you will be surprised by a big orange flash as a hefty cubera snapper comes up from 80 feet to smash a popper. If a fish misses its target, don’t stop. They will often come back and strike again. A long stiff rod and six weeks of dumbbell curls are required to cast poppers any length of time.
Photos by Capt. Allan Smith Jigging will also get you your first rooster, but they are a little shyer to a jig than live bait or poppers. White or chartreuse bucktails produce in the shallow water and mental jigs work in the deep areas. Just about any brand of jig will work as long as it is worked fast. No one I know has found the “Holy Grail” for taking roosterfish on a fly. If you are looking for a real challenge, it’s game on. If you are looking for big numbers on a fly, roosterfish is probably not a good choice of adversary. There has been some success by teasing up roosters, much like you would a sailfish. They can be teased with a lure or live bait or by casting a popper with the hooks removed. To get a fly in front of charged-up rooster though, you have to have the speed of a Western gunslinger and the accuracy of William Tell. If you happen to be lucky enough to be on top of a school of bait and a herd of roosterfish charge in on them, you can get your fly in the middle of that action and have a good chance of hooking up. Some have had success trolling the fly, but that is taboo in many a fly guys’ book. To sum it up, if someone tells me they regularly catch roosterfish on a fly, I certainly wouldn’t leave my wife alone with them. Surely they can’t be trusted. Anyone thinking about a Costa Rica billfish vacation should really book at least one day inshore. Roosterfish are a strong and beautiful fish with an iridescent hue. Their unique dorsal cuts the surface as it hones in on its target. When hooked, they make powerful runs and sometimes clear the water in an aerial display. They make for an exciting sporting challenge and a replica makes for a great conversation piece on the wall. They really are a fish to crow about. More information can be found at www.crocodilebay.com or by calling (800) 733 1115.
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MATCH YOUR TACKLE TO THE FISH
By Robert Wiggers
F
or fish that are released, their survival often depends on the rod and reel used to catch them. Fish naturally don’t want to have a hook in their mouth, attached to a line, being pulled in a direction they don’t want to go. So, like any animal, they resist in an attempt to free themselves. The longer they fight, the more exhausted they become, and in some instances they deplete every amount of available energy in an effort to escape. The battle is over and the angler has won. Unfortunately, when it comes time to release the fish, it’s too exhausted to swim away on its own. Even if it is able to swim away, it certainly doesn’t have the energy to avoid predators that may be lurking around waiting for an easy meal.
Hooking and fighting a fish is an exhilarating experience. There was a time when it was considered to be more “sporting” to catch a large fish on very light tackle. A long fight requires a degree of skill and finesse in order to successfully bring a large fish to the boat. Anglers are recognized for such achievements through acknowledgement in the record books. However, the majority of recreational anglers don’t go fishing with the sole intent of trying to break a line-class record for a specific species. We go fishing simply to catch fish. Some anglers want something for the table, while others just want the satisfaction of catch and release. Regardless of reason, we usually choose a rod and reel that gives us the best chance of successfully landing the species we are targeting. Most anglers wouldn’t use freshwater bass tackle if they were trying to catch a billfish. The rod and reel you choose to use when fishing for a particular species should be carefully considered when practicing catch and release. Nowadays, the options for rod and reels are endless. Rods come in all lengths and are designed with different actions ranging from ultra light to heavy. Reels also range in size to match the rod, but have different gear ratios that allow an angler to retrieve the bait at a faster pace with less effort. Each combination performs differently. For this reason, many anglers carry a number of rods with them on any given trip. While it may be more fun to use a light rod and reel for catching a big fish, it’s simply not good for the fish or its chances of survival after being released. Studies have even shown that mortality of released fish can happen several hours after being released. There are always instances when anglers unexpectedly hook an exceptionally large fish on light tackle. But if you know beforehand that you are going to fish specifically for large fish, be sure to use appropriate tackle that reduces the fight time. I don’t know of any conservationminded angler that wouldn’t be heartbroken to see a large fish float away knowing the fish was potentially older than they were or that they just killed a spawning fish that could contribute more to the population.
Charlotte/Piedmont
In This Issue…. Local Fishing Forecasts How to Not Sight Fish Aliens Amoung Us Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing Trail Unsteady Footing: Learning Safe Wading Skills Ricky Raines, Publisher rickyr@theanglermagazine.com Billy Raines, Publisher
billyr@theanglermagazine.com
/TAMcharlottenc
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FRESHWATER FORECAS
Forecast for Lake Hickory & Rhodhiss April is the top month to catch bass on Hickory; the heaviest waves of spawning fish will move into the shallows on the full moon (April 15) and the new moon (April 29). Lake Hickory has three main tributary creeks — Gunpowder Creek and the Upper and Middle Little rivers — all of which drain the foothills along the northern side of the lake, but when fish get ready to move shallow, it’s the pockets and cuts off the main river that shine. It’s easier to target areas where bass are staging on their way to the backs of those pockets where they bed, and the little pockets and coves stay clearer. Do most of your fishing in the pockets and cuts off the main lake, starting on the lower end and moving with the spawn as it works its way up the lake. Work your way back in coves and pockets, fishing the outside corners with small crankbaits and the deeper water in the center of the cove with a jerkbait or Alabama rig. Pitch or flip to visible cover with a soft-plastic crawfish for staging fish, and target spawning fish with the same lures. Areas with warmer water and sun-drenched banks will hold more spawning fish.
123 W Broad St * Statesville, NC 28677 * 704.871.1444 1-40 exit 150, S one mile or 1-77 exit 50, W 1 mile approx
Hours: Tues-Fri 11am 7pm
Sat 9am-2pm
Forecast for High Rock, Badin & Tuckertown By: Darin Brown April is a prime month for catching slab crappies. As the water temperature climbs into the high 50’s they will move into shallow water to spawn. Crappies usually spawn in water depths between 18 inches and 4 feet on the Yadkin river Lakes, although in clear water they may spawn deeper. The traditional method of casting small jigs or minnows below a bobber still catches a lot of fish during the spawn. Slow trolling or drifting multiple crappie poles (spider rigging) out from a potential spawning area is another great way to fill the live well. This is the best time of year to catch crappie from the bank. Several public bank fishing areas that seem to consistently produce fish during the spring spawning season are: Stokes Ferry road bridge across Riles Creek and the two bridges on River road (River road runs from Stokes Ferry Road to Bringle Ferry Road) on Tuckertown Lake, Bringle Ferry road bridge area next to the NCWRC boat access area on High Rock Lake, on Badin Lake the Old Whitney Public Access area on Old Whitney Road (off of Hwy. 740). Largemouth bass will be moving into the shallow water to spawn. This usually occurs just as the crappie are finishing their spawn. Just prior to the spawn the fish will be very active and will chase a lot of different lures. Small and medium size crankbaits such as the Strike King KVD 1.5’s and Rapala Shad Raps in size 5 and 7 are great lures during this time. As the fish 2 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
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start to make spawning beds a jerkbait like the Rapala Shadow Rap or the Lucky Craft Pointer can be a great tool. Several new rigs and lures are working well. The new Tokyo Rig uses a swim bait such as the Zoom Fluke or Keitech Swing Impact attached to a 3 1/2” solid wire with a worm weight attached. The rig is held together by a split ring with a swivel attached. The weight ticks along the bottom or other structure and the swimbait stays just off the bottom. River2sea came out with the Whopper Plopper a few years ago and it has become one of the best “go to” top water baits around. Striped Bass will make their annual false spawn run on Badin Lake up to Tuckertown Dam this month. Good numbers of striped bass have been reported caught over the winter months and we are expecting a good spring run up behind Tuckertown Dam. The annual run up to Tuckertown Dam always depends on the water clarity. Stripers do not like muddy water. If the water is clear or only slightly stained, the Old Whitney area just down from Tucketeown Dam is a great area to fish. Try drifting the area with live shad for bait or trolling with bucktail jigs. If the upper end on the lake is muddy due to spring rains the fish may remain in the lower end of the lake. The Palmer mountain area or the Beaver Dam creek area down river usually has clearer water than the upper end of the lake.
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FRESHW
How to NOT Sight Fish By: Michelle Armstrong
As of March 21, it was officially Spring. Longer days and warmer weather can only mean one thing. The Bass are in full Spawn!!! I get more excited about sight fishing than I do at Christmas! It is truly the most wonderful time of the year. (Just kidding, Jesus). I’ve had people tell me over the years that they just don’t like plucking Bass off their beds. I get that and I agree to disagree. So, we are going to talk about how to not sight fish. The truth of the matter is, if you are fishing during the Spawn, you are still likely catching a bedding fish. But if makes you feel better to not sight fish, you be you. The basics of “not sight fishing” is to head north where the biggest concentration of Bass will be. The northern banks are warmer due to longer sunlight. Girls and boys alike are moving up for the Spawn. The females are close to hard bottom banks, dock pilings, and brush or blowdowns. The male (bucks) are swimming close by to protect the beds from predators or if mama should swim off for a snack or break. Your best bet for catching a buck is to stay about a cast length AWAY from the bank. This will lessen the likelihood of catching a female. During this time, I like to use light line, light tackle. My favorite technique is to rig a Bizz Bait, Sassy Stick weightless and let it do its job. The trick is to let it slowly fall while keeping your line under control to stay in contact with the bait. A mistake often made is to let the bait fall on slack line. By not keeping in contact, a fish will possibly, bite, swim off, realize this ain’t right, and drop it without the fisherman even noticing. While crawling the Sassy Stick back to the boat, it’s ideal to give it a few pops and pauses to achieve a reaction bite. If you prefer a wacky rigged Sassy stick, you can absolutely use that technique with great success. Small twitches and pauses can be very productive. If you like to drag and feel the lakes bottom you can rig a Bizz Bait Killer Kraw on a WOO! ⅛ oz Shakey head. This is a perfect bait because it mimics a crawfish and as springtime bonus, they are spawning as well. I like to rig any of these on a Johnny Morris Carbonltie spinning rod with a Bass Pro Shops Signatures Series spinning reel. I stay between 8lb to 10 lb test Flourocarbon line. If you MUST use a baitcaster, you can’t go wrong with medium action Johnny Morris Carbonltie rod paired with a Carbonlite reel.
HWY. 49 36488 SPORTING GOODS NC 49 Hwy, New London, NC 28127 704-463-7053 Tuckertown Lake 49sports.com
I hope you enjoy your Spring. Now go “not sight fish” and catch a fish!
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FRESHWATER FORECAS
Forecast for Lake Norman By: Captain Craig Price April means the spring bite is on at Norman! Longer days, warming water, & the full moons in March and April make all of our gamefish species very active. The spawn is in full swing by early mid-month, and anglers can go shallow for mixed bags of hybrids, stripers, bass, catfish, crappie, and perch. Even needle-nose gars and bowfins might be encountered this time of year. Water temperatures are typically in the 60⁰ to mid-70⁰F range in April. Primary and secondary points, protected bays or coves, shallow flats, and banks with tree laps near the back of major creeks are prime spots to look for fish. Try fishing humps along the creek banks during the middle of the day. Depending on the time of day and light conditions, fish your live baits on or near the surface down to 20-25 ft deep. Medium to large herring and threadfin shad are the most effective live baits on Norman. Bream and crappie, even perch, make good baits too, but make sure you know and observe the regulations anytime you use gamefish for bait. As for artificials, topwaters can be deadly at dawn and dusk, and old school bucktails and roadrunners still work when you need to fish deeper in the water column. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerk baits will also fish from shallow to deep, and soft plastic worms, lizards, and craw designs are great offerings for prespawn bass, when they’re on the beds, or post-spawn. Shad and herring colors are standbys, along with bream, and various greens, pumpkin, and crawfish colors for the worms and creature baits. And don’t ever overlook red on white and chartreuse! By mid-month, hybrids make their annual false spawning run to above I-40. Bass, cats, and perch are often found in the same areas. Live baits (herring), cut baits, or mussels fished from top to bottom in the current, while on anchor or adrift with the flow, can produce some of the year’s best creels. I must advise anyone who’s not familiar with the “old river channel” up north to exercise caution to and from this area due to the increased current, and shallow areas that can be quite hard and destructive rocks or logs. Floating or sunken debris is also a constant navigation hazard. It’s best to go with an experienced friend or guide to learn how to operate your vessel and fish safely in these areas and conditions before going it alone. Main lake or up in the river, April kicks off 8-12 weeks of beautiful weather and prime fishing. Tune up your gear and your cranking muscles and go get’cha some Fish On! Capt. Craig Price is locally born and raised, and has been fishing the Catawba River and its impoundments since the 1960’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 704-996-0946 to book your fishing adventure today.
Brenda Farmer
Country Home Real Estate Broker/Realtor
4001 East Hwy. 24/27 Midland, NC 28107 (704) 791-5437 (704) 888-6335 www.countryhomerealestate.com brendaleefarmer@gmail.com
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FRESHWATER FORECAS
Forecast for Lake Wylie By: Captain Phillip Rizzitello Finally, the rain has let up! With the weather starting to warm, the rain starting to go away and the longer day light it can only mean one thing. That’s right, the spawn. Fish are already coming out of the lethargic stage and getting more and more active by the day. Spawning beds are being made, bites have picked up and water temps are on the rise. With that being said, now is the time to get out. The next month or so should be very productive and only get better. Make sure to get out and take advantage of this prime time as the recreational boaters and sweltering summer temps will be here before you know it. The water, while clearing, is still dingy. Utilize baits that will draw attention will be in your best interest. Whether it be something noisy, vibrating, shiny, stinky or bright in color anything that will draw attention. Spinner baits, crank bait that rattles, cut shad, live bait (not dead) are all options for most species. Water depth is doing to vary this time of year day by day. Warmer days go shallower and cooler days move a little deeper. Fish should be covering a lot of different depths with the weather so back and forth as well as while they are getting their beds ready. If you can visually see beds the fish will not be far. So, don’t hesitate, quarantine yourself into the outdoors and enjoy all mother nature has to offer!
4070 Charlotte Hwy Lake Wylie, South Carolina
(803) 831-0251 M-F 7:00am-5:00pm Saturday 7:00am-12:00pm
Forecast for Lake Wateree By: Cory Davis Lake Wateree is the best lake in all of the Carolinas, particularly this time of year. No matter what species of fish, whether fishing off the bank or out of a high dollar glitter rocket, Lake Wateree produces. This time of year is also when the weekend warriors get out on the water, so the lake will be filled with jet skis, skiers, and people driving boats who are not familiar with all the written and unwritten rules of the water. Be careful out there. Bass will be spawning, if not now, then very soon. Bass will spawn in waves, while there are key factors such as water temperatures and moon phases that can dictate the majority of the population. There will always be the “early birds” and “late bloomers”. Because of this, Bass will be seen in all stages of the spawn this month. The backs of creeks, shallow flats, and any sort of cover along the banks will be worth fishing. Look for places with hard bottoms, like sand or pebbles, the Bass use areas like this to make beds. Another misconception is Bass only spawn in very shallow water, when in fact Bass will make beds in up to 8’ of water depending on light penetration. Patience is a virtue this time of year for the fisherman. Reaction lures like jerk baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and such can be productive in the morning hours. Although most of these Bass are thinking about spawning and will not waste much energy chasing down baits, therefore soft plastics, jigs, and slower presentations will prove to be a better choice for these fish. Texas rig, wacky rig, 6 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
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weightless, drop shot, and Ned rigs will be very effective for the finicky Bass on beds. The Crappie will tend to be in different stages of the spawn as well. Crappie can be caught anywhere in the lake this month. Fishing vertically with jigs tipped with minnows can be effective method, as well as trolling. Some Crappie may be suspending over brushes and by downfalls, so finding the right depth will be key to catching. April should bring another great month of Catfishing on Wateree. The upper half of the lake is a good place to start. Fishing the main lake around the mouths of creeks or ledges in 1530’ can be productive. Cut and live bait will both work.
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CONGRATS HANK CHERRY ON WINNING THE 2020 BASSMASTER CLASSIC
TED BENBOW
If you want to sell your farm or acreage tract, I want to come look at it!
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704-902-0121
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114 Morlake Drive, Suite #103 Mooresville, NC 28117 Each office is independently owned and operated.
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Aliens Among Us
By Scott T. Fletcher The southeastern United States, including the Piedmont of Aquatic nonnative and nuisance species cause ecological and North Carolina, is home to a diversity of aquatic species. The economic problems by: Yadkin-Pee Dee River system, which includes High Rock Lake, Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake has over 110 fish • Reducing native species species. The Catawba River and its reservoirs have a similar • Increasing competition for food and habitat number. More than 60 percent of these species are indigenous, • Reducing gamefish through competition and predation or native, to the area. • Affecting human health through the spread of parasites • Acting as a host for wildlife diseases These native species include sport fish like Largemouth Bass, • Causing operational and maintenance problems to water Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redbreast Sunfish, and Yellow Perch. intakes, power plant equipment, and recreational equipment But other fish have been introduced to waterbodies for sport, • Making areas unsuitable for recreational activities such as through aquarium releases, or for forage fish. Nonnative fishing, boating, and swimming. species include Alabama Bass, Green Sunfish, Striped Bass, White Perch, Common Carp, Threadfin Shad, Alewife, You can reduce the spread of the alien invaders and be a Blueback Herring, Flathead Catfish, and Blue Catfish. Several good steward of natural resources by taking a few easy of these species (Alabama Bass, White Perch, the catfish) are safeguards, as recommended by our resource agencies: pursued by sportsman throughout the Piedmont. • Clean and dry your boat, trailer, and boots before you leave A few strange nonnative species like the South American the water. Remove visible mud, vegetation, and animals (such Pacu and the coastal Striped Mullet have been found in as trailing vegetation and Asiatic Clams) from your gear. lakes Norman and Wylie in the recent past. The Pacu were • Drain the water from your boat and equipment, including probably an exotic pet dumped in the lake when they outgrew your live well and bait bucket. the aquarium. The Mullet were probably added through • Never move aquatic plants or animals from one waterbody a fisherman’s bait bucket release. These species are likely to another. localized and short-lived since they inhabit the reservoir near • Never release aquarium plant or animal species into the the power plant “hot-holes”. water. Aquarium releases have also caused aquatic nuisance species to thrive. Some of them are weeds like Hydrilla and Brazilian Elodea, and animals such as the Japanese and Chinese Mysterysnails. Lake Norman, for example, is home to areas of Hydrilla (being controlled by several entities) and Norman and High Rock Lake have several locales with Mysterysnail invasions.
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For more information on preventing aquatic nuisance species see: ✓ http://stopaquatichitchhikers.org ✓ http://ncwildlife.org (see “angler gear care”) ✓ http://dnr.sc.gov (see “Fishingaquatic nuisance species”) Scott T. Fletcher is a certified wildlife biologist, conservationist, and outdoor enthusiast.
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Jake Mungo
Chad McKinney and BASS Hall Blake Honeycutt of Famer
B O A R D
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Tyler Nelson
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QCKBF Trail: Norman and Hobie We study maps. We read articles. We watch videos. We play with our tackle nightly in the garage. We can’t stop thinking about it. Fishing. It’s our drug of choice, and this time of the year, the urge to get out and wet a line is strong. Its springtime in the Carolina’s. What does that mean for tournament directors like myself? It means big turnouts, big limits, and even bigger fish counts. It’s the time of the year where you can catch fish on so many different lures, it’s crazy! It’s the time of the year where lakes have fish in the dirt, in the middle and deep. It’s the time of the year you want to be a kayak angler!!! Sneak up on the big ol’ bass on a bed and she never heard you coming. Fun. It’s all fun! Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing had an amazing opportunity in March. We were asked to join forces with the Hobie Bass Open Series, the National level kayak series. They wanted to come to Charlotte and host a dual event. It has been in the works for almost a year. A huge event for us here at QC. Get us some national exposure and show off the talent of this club. AJ McWhorter and I planned, talked, planned, and talked more. Guessed at numbers. Guessed at winning limits, etc. etc. All the things it takes to make these things run smoothly. It is a lot of prep work behind the scenes, a lot of give and take, a lot of understanding, patience, friendships, conversations, explaining things, but when you are working with the Gold Standard in directors, it all comes easy.
71.5 in 4th for $590. Landing in 5th was a new guy, Cameron Saxon with a 70.5inch limit, going home with $460. We paid out 14 spots this event, with sixth through fourteenth playing out as such: 6th- Mark Wilkins - $375 7th- Matt Hawj - $325 8th- Trent Davis - $300 9th- PC Hawj - $215 10th- Joey Randall - $200 11th- John Ladd - $170 12th- Cody Harris - $130 13th- Kristine Fischer - $100 14th- Nick Huddleston - Free entry into Hickory. Chase Helms took home $345 for his Yak Bass’n small bass prize with a 7.5 incher. I would like to give a huge shout out to all of the anglers who double dipped this weekend. On my quick count, we had almost 50 anglers in the Hobie side. We kick things off again on April 5th at Lake Hickory. I am expecting the size record for QCKBF to be broken that month!! Big Bass wait for us! You can find any info on QCKBF on FaceBook, or at Qckayakbassfishing.com
We are in season 6 of QCKBF. When we first started guaranteeing $1000 payouts 3 years ago, we were the first around here to do it. It drew some attention and at our opening event, we had 96 anglers come out to Lake Norman. We have been close to beating it twice, but capping at 88 we never have. I had a feeling this would be the event to set a new QCKBF record, and boy was I right. We set records in attendance with 132 angler, payouts with a first place payout of $1500, limits, with 77 total, and fish catches with 597! It was simply an amazing weekend, and I do not think it could have gone any better. The weather this weekend ended up being nice. Warm, not windy at all and no rain on Saturday. With public access allowed, anglers were spread out all over the huge Lake Norman. I know of anglers who fished to the northern boundary, and some at the southernmost ramp. Lake Norman had it all this weekend. Mud, stain, crystal clear, along with Pre spawn and full on bed fishing. Whatever you like to do, you could have found it. We were lucky enough to have our weigh in at the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. When I sat down to verify standings, I could not believe how many fish were caught, and how many limits we had, and how many 70+ inch bags we had. We always call 70 the magic number, but Norman said NO, NO, NO. We had 6 bags over 70 inches, including a tie at the top with 72.75. At the end of the day Marcus Smith was the man!! He went home with $2000, which included his Emerald School of Excellence Big Bass Prize for his 21.5in giant. Melvin Yang smoked the bass all weekend. He tied for first in QC and lost due to a tiebreak. He took home second place in QC and in Hobie!!! He won $870 from QC. Chris Grant rounded out the top 3 with a 72-inch bag worth $750. His best friend Tyler Smith right there with him with COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM
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U n s te a d y F o o t in g : L e a r n in g S a f e W a d in g S k ills By: Ryan Wilson
I’ve fallen in the river before. Actually I’ve fallen in a few times. I’m fairly steady on my feet, so it doesn’t happen a lot, but I spend enough time wading through moving water and over slippery rocks, that the occasional yard sale is inevitable. I’ve been fortunate that most of my falls have only left me wet, cold and embarrassed, but I’ve had the occasional lost fly box and one slip left me with a busted pair of waders and a gash in my leg. As a matter of course, fly fishermen will quibble about pretty much every single thing that has to do with fly fishing, but I think most of will accede that going ass over elbows into a 50 degree trout stream really isn’t great. Slips and falls present the greatest risk of injury when fly fishing. Injuries can range anywhere from minor soft tissue wounds to life threating long bone fractures and head injuries. Aside from the injury risk, you’re not unlikely to find a broken rod, lost/ ruined gear and a smart phone that is now a very expensive paperweight. At the very least, you’re going to be wet and uncomfortable, really making the day a lot less fun. So now that we all agree that falls are bad, what are some ways that we can improve wading safely and effectively? The first thing to note is that wading is an acquired athletic skill. It requires time and attention to build competence and you should try not to get frustrated because you aren’t able to master it from the get go. Being in good shape and having naturally good balance are helpful, but they aren’t everything and I have seen plenty of otherwise fit and athletic people struggle to move through water. Like any new skill, take it slow and don’t attempt something you aren’t comfortable with. If the water looks too deep or too fast, forget it and go somewhere else. A strong sense of situational and self-awareness will lead to good decision making.
to catch your balance when you start to fall, they act as a third point of contact and depth finder to prevent the misstep from happening. There seems to be a misconception that sticks are just for old guys and not worth the cost if you’re young and in shape, but in my experience it’s absolutely incorrect. A wading staff makes navigating the stream significantly faster, safer and more efficient. Few things make you look sillier than slipping and sliding through the stream, while holding your arms out for balance. Like most things in fishing and the outdoors in general, competence comes with experience. There’s no shortcut to building confidence in the water and no gadget that will overcome a lack of capability. Certainly having the right tools at your disposal will make things better, but using common sense and having an awareness of your own capabilities can’t be overstated. A fall might mean getting wet and looking silly in front of your buddies, but it also might mean a broken bone or other serious injury. Moving water can exert a lot of force and all it takes is one step to get into a bad situation. The only way to get better is to spend more time in the river. Have fun and be safe! Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like help finding the “Right Fly” or booking a guided trip, 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
Learning how to read water is crucial. Not only is this a fundamental fishing skill, it will help you move through the water effectively. Take the time to study an area and develop a plan of attack. How do I want to fish this spot? What’s a route that will allow me to work up to where I want to cast without spooking the fish I plan to cast to? Is getting out as easy as getting in? Be strategic and think through your steps as you move up and across stream. Having the right gear is also important. The most obvious debate is rubber vs. felt sole boots. I believe that both absolutely have their place and are the right choice for different types of angles. Felt is going to be the best in terms of slip prevention, especially on rocky terrain. Felt will grip slippery rocks in a way that rubber simply won’t. However, felt is not quite as durable and will wear down after long miles of hiking and heavy use. There are also concerns about aquatic invasives that can hitch a ride in wet felt. It’s worth noting that several states have a felt sole ban in place, although a ban does not appear to be on the horizon in NC. I like this sole type for folks who are less steady on their feet or don’t plan on hiking much. A rubber sole will not offer the same slip traction as felt, but the durability and comfort make up for it for some anglers. For an angler who plans on working into the back country, or moving upstream as they fish will probably prefer the rubber soles. They won’t get weighted down with water and tend to come unstuck from muddy or soft bottoms better than the felt. I do absolutely recommend installing metal cleats or studs when purchasing these types of boots.
Madison River Fly Fishing is your one stop shop for all fly fishing gear. We proudly distribute:
Don’t forget to book your guided fly fishing trip today! 20910 Torrence Chapel Rd. Suite D5, Cornelius, NC 28031
704-896-3676 www.carolinaflyfishing.com
www.facebook.com/Madisonriverflyfishing outfitters
The other essential piece of gear is a wading staff. These not only serve 12 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT
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AO Coolers Releases New Insulated Fish and Fillet Mylar Bags
A
O Coolers is pleased to announce the release of their new line of marine products – Insulated Fish Bags and Fillet Mylar Bags. While AO Coolers already has a great line up with their ultimate soft sided coolers, these new insulated AO Insulated Fish Bags are sure to be a hit! AO Coolers Insulated Fish Bags are designed and made to keep your catch fresh. The interior liner is a tear and mildew resistant, reflective, 18 oz vinyl. It is insulated with 1” closed cell foam to keep your catch cold and fresh. The exterior is a heavy duty 18 oz vinyl material that is both UV and mildew resistant with full wrap graphics and a reinforced bottom. The AO Insulated Fish Bags also feature rugged, non-corrosive YKK zippers, and an exterior zippered pocket for additional dry storage. Two padded grab handles make transport easy when loaded. The AO Insulated Fish Bag is available in two sizes: 4’x26” and 6’x30”. AO Coolers Fillet Mylar bags are designed to keep your catch fresh. The AO Fillet Mylar bags are made from 5 MIL thick foil lined mylar which blocks moisture, air and light (they are not transparent). These one gallon bags are odor proof and waterproof which feature a ziplock seal, and lines for catch location and date. Each Insulated Fish Bag kit includes with six AO Fillet Mylar bags. Additional fillet bags may be purchased from aomarineproducts. com. The AO Fillet Mylar bags are available in packs of 12 or 24. Dimensions: 9” x 13.75” About AO Coolers: AO Coolers has been making soft-sided coolers in the market for over 25 years. AO Coolers were the first to introduce the soft-sided cooler and have the “best in industry” limited lifetime warranty for the inside liner and top main zipper. “Go with the Original AO Coolers!” The customers keep coming back because they know AO Coolers offers excellent service. AO Coolers delivers orders on time, on budget, and with exceptional quality – every time! For more information, please visit www.aocoolers.com or Facebook www.facebook. com/aocoolers. You may also email us at info@aocoolers.com or speak with our Customer Service Representatives directly at 800-336-5208.
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CHERRY DOMINATES THE CLASSIC
T
here was no denying Elite Series veteran Hank Cherry. Riding a first-day sack of nearly 30 pounds, he led wireto-wire during the 50th anniversary Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville to capture the most coveted title in tournament bass fishing. The 46-year-old B.A.S.S. photo by Gary Tramontina from Lincolnton, N.C. hoisted the trophy on championship Sunday March 8 and accepted his winnings of $307,500 as the Classic champion. It was sweet redemption for a man who’s fished the Classic five times and came heartbreakingly close to winning the whole enchilada back in 2013. During the 2013 Classic at Grand Lake, Oklahoma, a lost jerkbait fish dropped Cherry into third place. It’s safe to say his luck held on Guntersville, where limits of 29-3, 16-10 and 19-8 gave him a three-day total of 65 pounds, 5 ounces. He did most of his damage during Friday’s first round with a Z-Man Jack Hammer. The pattern led to a tournamentbest bag that featured a pair of 7-2 largemouths. On Days 2 and 3, he relied on his own Hank Cherry Signature Series Jig from Picasso in green pumpkin with a matching Berkley MaxScent Chunk trailer and a jerkbait—a Megabass 110+1 in the French pearl OB color. He spent practically the whole event fishing one causeway and one grass flat after a Day 1 arm injury limited his travel in windy conditions. “I never put gas in the boat all week,” Cherry said. “Y’all know me. If it’s windy, I’m not going to be making a lot of long runs—and anyway, I just didn’t need to.” South Carolina pro Todd Auten finished second with 58-10. Arkansas angler Stetson Blaylock took third with 58-1. The Berkley Big Bass award went to Auten for a 7-9 he caught on Day 1.
Made in USA
DOA 2.75 Shrimp - the totally new design is the best of both worlds – it’s like fishing a jig and a DOA Shrimp. The weighted hook is super sharp and slips seamlessly into the body of the shrimp. Slightly smaller and heavier than the Original, it has a molded in rattle cavity to easily add sound, skips well, sinks fast, and casts like a bullet.
www.doalures.com
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SCADDEN DRAGONFLY XT2
A
nglers looking for a two-man raft as versatile as it is portable and functional will have a hard time finding anything that tops Dave Scadden’s Dragonfly XT2. At 10 feet long, 54 inches wide and weighing just 100 pounds, the Dragonfly XT2 can be thrown in the back of a pickup truck, yet it fishes and handles as well as a much bigger boat. It can be set up one person frameless, two-person frameless or decked out to the moon with Dave’s Dragonfly travel frame. It is super lightweight and portable yet offers performance levels never before achieved in the inflatable world. The Dragonfly XT2 is so outrageously tricked out that there are just too many cool gadgets to list. Go to www. davescaddenpaddlesports.com and watch the videos. You’ll see why professional guides around the country are choosing this boat for their river trips. All Dragonfly models are bladderless, miterless and fully rockered with rigid dropstitch technology and removable self-bailing floor systems. They are rated for Class V whitewater, have a 1,500-pound weight capacity and are backed by an exclusive unconditional lifetime warranty.
www.davescaddenpaddlesports.com
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IT'S TIME TO FISH! www.
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www.MitziSkiffs.com www.CHawkBoats.net CALL FOR YOUR LOCAL DEALER
FISH & FISHING
252-235-2461
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MARK SOSIN
ound is critical to a fish’s survival beneath the surface of the water. They rely on sound to signal the presence of prey or warn them of impending danger. Since sound travels five times faster in water than it does in air, it becomes a critical factor in a fish’s daily life. If you have watched fish for any period of time, you know they instinctively become alert to unfamiliar sounds or noise and tend to move away from the source. I watched a scientific experiment with trout in a clear water stream from a concealed tower. As an associate approached the edge of the stream from wooded concealment on the opposite bank, the trout became instantly alert. A few slipped back into protective cover, while the rest became motionless and waited to see what would happen. Every fish within view stopped feeding. Large predators sometimes invade a chum slick simply because they respond to the sound of smaller fish feeding. They can actually hear potential prey as the little guys devour the chum. The sound of other fish feeding will often trigger additional fish to begin feeding. Game fish are intensely aware of the distress vibrations given off by injured or impaired fish and usually are attracted to move in closer. These distress vibrations telegraph the
presence of an easy meal. That’s why a larger predator often attacks a hooked fish as you struggle to land it. Unique in the animal kingdom, the lateral line on either side of a fish is an extremely precise sound-detecting organ. It responds to low frequency sound within relatively short range in a system known as near-field displacement. Anything moving through the water disturbs the molecules and this is detected by neuromasts in the fish’s body. The accuracy of the system is nothing less than amazing. A fish can strike prey it cannot see with incredible accuracy. Negative sounds or noises are equally important. Too many anglers ignore the damage that noises can cause. Once a fish is alerted that something is not right, it seldom will risk striking a bait or lure. A plug landing too close to an oversized shark or a 100-pound tarpon can send that critter scurrying for safety. The noise of an outboard can eliminate fish in a given spot. Racing to reach a spot or to get to breaking Photo by Nick Carter fish as quickly as possible can shut down the activity. And making noise aboard a boat, particularly when it is easily transmitted through the hull has negative effects. The shallower the water, the more damaging noise can be. All it takes is dropping a pair of pliers, sliding a tackle box so it scrapes or making heavy sounds of any type. It pays to live by the rule that silence is golden. If you do, you’ll catch more fish.
For more from Mark Sosin, visit
CAMFISHING.COM
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WAHOO “COWBELLS’’ & ‘’SNAGGER’’ DOLPHIN LURES
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NOAA CLAMPS DOWN
ON ATLANTIC SNAPPER
I
n early March, NOAA Fisheries announced that red snapper season in the South Atlantic, from the Carolinas to Florida, will be a scant three days long with a one-fish per person daily limit… if there is to be a snapper season at all. It’s frustrating news for anglers, who are experiencing a similar situation to what occurred in the Gulf of Mexico prior to states taking control of red snapper management. While anglers and charter captains report plentiful and increasing red snapper catches, federal managers continue clamping down on regulations. And even the three-day season is contingent on a change to regulatory framework, which currently does not allow a season at all if NOAA determines it will be three days or less. According to a release from the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (SAFMC), the change that would allow a three-day season is expected to be in place before the 2020 season. Since 2010, recreational anglers have been allowed just 37 days total to harvest red snapper in the South Atlantic. NOAA’s decision on the 2020 season is based on landing estimates from 2019, when a five-day recreational season produced an estimated 49,674 fish and exceeded the annual catch limit. The current annual catch limit is set at 29,656 fish.
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E-Z ANCHOR PULLER PATRIOT SERIES
E
-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. provides a solid, reliable, easy-to-use solution for anchoring. As a leading drum anchor winch manufacturer, our products are a safe, consistent launch and retrieval system for vessels in calm or rough seas. No more trips toward the front of your boat to untangle line and chain: we have a drum anchor winch that provides years of dependability and safety for you and your anchor, from 18-foot all the way up to 55-foot vessels! The Patriot series is especially developed for fiberglass fishing boats in shallow coastal waters. Before purchasing his E-Z Anchor Puller unit, Jarrett Sanchez pulled up a 22-pound anchor and 230 feet of rope and chain onto his 1977, 25’ Mako Center Console all by himself, by hand. Now, he can simply press a button to drop his anchor to the bottom, then simply push “up” for three seconds to ensure his line is nice and tight. Manufactured completely from 316 stainless steel and rated IP68 waterproof submersible, the Patriot series is immune to saltwater environments, whether it’s exposed on the deck or hidden away in the rope locker while you’re out on the water. With three sizes (EZ-1, EZ-2 and EZ-3) in the series, the Patriot is the winch of choice for Florida boaters who own vessels 18 to 35 feet, and can hold between 175 and 325 feet of ⅜-inch line, or 150 to 200 feet of ½-ich line depending on preference and need. The power-up, power-down direct drive button gives boaters more control over deployment and retrieval with an average of 100 feet per minute for deployment and retrieval. Sanchez’s particular unit, the Patriot EZ-2, holds 150 feet of ½-inch line where he boats off of the coast of Treasure Island, Fla. Even though his decision to buy our unit was, “99.9 percent his wife and family,” we think Sanchez is one happy customer, too! No drifting, no tangled lines and one less thing to worry about on the open water. To check out the Patriot series in its entirety, visit our website at ezanchorpuller.com/collections/anchor-winch
Ezanchorpuller.com/collections/anchor-winch
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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FOULFREE TRANSDUCER COATING
M
Enter To Win A VOODOO KAKUKAYAK! The Kaku Voodoo is the ultimate sight casting paddle craft. This Authentic Fishing Paddle Craft has a unique look and performance. Part Kayak, part paddle board, with some micro skiff qualities. “ The Kaku Voodoo is like a Cadillac on the water, comfort and stability combined with all the accessories an angler could want.”
Visit
Length 13’ Width 35” Hull Weight 77lbs Capacity 450+
CoastalAnglerMag.com/contest 18
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arine growth on the transducer inhibits the performance your sonar. A fouled transducer reduces sensitivity, bottom-echo returns and positive fish targets. In other words, when the transducer is dirty, you’re not seeing what’s down there. Also, transducers perform best when there’s minimal turbulence over their surface during operation. Consider this next time you’re idling over structure looking for bait and fish. With streamlined water flow over your equipment, you’ll get a better image of what’s below. To solve these performance issues, Propspeed, a leading innovator of underwater coatings, developed a revolutionary foul-release coating designed specifically for transducers. Foulfree is a biocide-free coating that when cured creates a super-slippery surface over the transducer. It prevents marine growth without poisons to keep your transducer clean, streamlined and performing at its peak. One application lasts through an entire year of service and even longer in cooler climates. “Foulfree is an exciting new coating specifically made to enhance the performance of transducers,” said Chris Baird, CEO of Propspeed. “Bringing together our revolutionary product design and working with the experts in transducer functionality from Airmar, we are able to offer boaters around the world a new solution to an age-old problem and improve sonar performance for anglers and cruisers alike.” Foulfree joins Propspeed’s award-winning product line which includes Propspeed an industry-leading foul-release system for propellers and running gear and the groundbreaking transparent foulrelease coating specifically formulated www.oceanmax.com for underwater lights, Lightspeed.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
T
he dawning of the new year has been good to West Virginia anglers who are setting new state records. A monster blue catfish and a big grass carp were certified as state length records by the West Virginia Division of Naturaral Resources, and then the grass carp record was broken again. On Jan. 3, Zachary Adkins, of Cabins, W.Va., caught a 53.1-inch, 59-pound grass carp from Warden Lake, a 44-acre state-managed reservoir in the northeastern corner of the state. Adkins used a large swimbait to catch the fish, which broke the previous length record of 50.75 inches. Then, on Feb. 18, John Miller, of Lost City, W.Va., bested Adkins’ mark with a 54.75-inch, 67.4-pound grass carp, also from Warden Lake. Warden Lake is apparently a hotbed for big carp. The state weight record of 71.69 pounds also came from Warden. It was caught by William Tucker in 2005. On Jan. 11, Justin Conner, of Culloden, W.Va., caught his 49.84-inch, 58.38-pound blue catfish on the Ohio River over on the Ohio border. Conner’s big blue ate a chunk of cut shad. It broke the previous length record of 47.75 inches. Mark Blauvelt still holds the weight record with a 59.74-pound blue catfish caught on the Ohio River in 2016. The IGFA alltackle world record blue catfish weighed 143 pounds. It was caught out of Kerr Lake, Va. in 2011. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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RIDE THE BULL In Grand Isle Louisiana
T
he maze of bayous around the mouth of the Mississippi River south of New Orleans holds the best redfish fishing in the world. This unique system of waterways on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast also lays out perfectly for anglers fishing from kayaks. It’s fitting that the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament should be held out of Grand Isle, Louisiana. On Aug. 28-29, Ride the Bull will flood Caminada Pass with hundreds of kayak anglers chasing the event’s heaviest single redfish. It will be the 11th edition of this catch-and-release bull redfish tournament hosted by CCA Louisiana. And whether you’re a competitor or one of the hundreds of spectators, it’s an event you need to see. Because of the tournament’s boundaries within Caminada pass, it is suitable for anglers of all ages and experience levels. The fishing, however, can be pretty serious, with a leaderboard filled by redfish approaching 30 pounds. In addition to the fishing on Saturday, Aug. 29, vendors will be there displaying their wares, and usually there’s live music on Friday night after the captains meeting. Registration opens June 1 and hotel rooms on Grand Isle fill up quickly, so make reservations early. For more information, go to ccalouisiana.com.
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Pig Cookers, Patio Grills, Smokers, Customized BBQ Trailers
For More Info 1-252-236-4464 www.BQGRILLS.com 6043 Hwy 301N, Elm City, NC 20
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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
3/6/20 4:13 PM
Time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for the Ultimate Outboard Motors. Buy during our Spring Sales Event and get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Time to get to your local for the Ultimate Outboard Motors. Extended Protection at noSuzuki extra Marine charge.Dealer There are Instant Savings on select models,Buy and during ourFinancing Spring Sales Event and get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Low-Rate is also available. Extended Protection atSuzuki no extra charge. There are Instant Savings on select models, and See your participating Marine Low-Rate is also available. dealer for Financing all the details. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details.
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. For list of designated models, Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. For list of designated models, Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. NATIONAL APRIL 2020 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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SZ Q2 PROMO 1PG CSTL ANGLR 3-3-20.indd 1
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Limited Collector’s Edition
Damascus steel forged to throw them for a curve at only $79
F
or centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded immediate respect. Recognizable because the unique and mysterious smelting process left a one-of-a-kind, rippled texture on the steel, and respected because Damascus steel’s sharp edge and resistance to shattering were the stuff of legend. If you carried Damascus steel, you were ahead of the curve. Today, you can own the legend.
What customers are saying about Stauer knives...
êêêêê “Very hefty, well-built knife and sheath. Extremely goodlooking and utilitarian.” — R., Lacey, Washington Damascus Curva Knife, you’ll be ready to throw a curve of your own. Limited Reserves. Damascus steel blades are a lost art form that only a handful of artisan bladesmiths have mastered. These legendary blades take time to forge and only a few are crafted each month. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers. Call today!
BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!
The Damascus Curva Knife celebrates those legendary blades. It uses modern Damascus steel, with the same rippled texture pattern on the blade, to create a curved folding knife that’s 7 ½" in total length. With a liner lock mechanism, which allows the knife to be opened and closed using just one hand, and a ergonomic handle made of buffalo horn and colored bone, this $79 knife is a trophy for any hunter or collector.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship of Damascus steel. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe that once you hold the
“The most common aspects of Damascus steel knives that enthusiasts consider ideal are the aesthetics and high performance.” –– Knife Informer
Damascus Curva Folding Knife $179*
Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $100
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: CFK280-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
Stauer
®
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. CFK280-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.stauer.com
*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.
• Damascus steel blade & bolster • Buffalo horn & colored bone handle • Liner lock • Overall length, open : 7 ½" • Includes genuine leather sheath
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
Rating of A+