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Tailwater TROUT VOLUME 25 â€¢ ISSUE 305

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REPORTS PHOTO BY CAPT. BYRON HENNECY OSCEOLA OUTBACK ADVENTURES WWW.OSCEOLAOUTBACK.COM

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Sight Fishing Reds In The South Carolina Lowcountry

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in a the now Sur I kn nig As Hu

By Nick Carter

oling his skiff through grass in shin-deep water, Capt. Josh Boyles was the first to spot a big redfish crashing bait about 100 yards away. The vast grass beds around Hilton Head, S.C. were inundated in an especially high tide, and we had been working them for a couple hours with limited success. Most of the limited success was blamed on a pair of trout anglers with little saltwater fly fishing experience. Boyles had already put us on a couple fish. We had botched both royally. Conditions seemed right, with plenty of water for reds to push into in search of crabs, but the fish weren’t showing themselves. And we needed to see fish in order to cast to them with one of Boyles’ Swamp Fox flies on an 8-weight fly rod. “I’m not going to lie. This is pretty slow,” Boyles said. “We should be seeing a half-dozen fish at once and trying to decide which one to go after.” With classic tailing redfish behavior, fish root around with their noses in the muck. On the other end, their tails wave above the surface like little beacons. Reds are not hard to find when they do what they’re supposed to. These fish were not cooperating. Instead of seeking tails, we were reduced to watching for unusual wakes and nervous water. Boyles hypothesized the fish might be eating baitfish or shrimp instead of crabs, which would account for their horizontal position in skinny water. As we poled slowly to where the fish was spotted in an open pool amid a sea of grass, I stripped line from the reel and onto the deck. There was no additional sign of the fish, but we had to check it out. The tide was beginning to turn out, and it would take all the fish with it. Boyles had earlier explained why tailing reds are great sport for fly rodders just getting into the saltwater game. Redfish are comfortable in the shallows, so they don’t spook easily. Also, they feed actively and opportunistically in the grass. If they see the fly, they will most likely eat it. When our redfish reappeared, it was right in front of the boat. So close that it made casting difficult. I saw it for a second, but Boyles could see it clear as day from the platform. He began barking instructions. “Two o’clock, about 15 feet out,” he said. “See the wake?” The fish was moving right to left across the bow. I made a timid first cast, which caught the wind and plopped down off target. “Pick it up! Do it again,” Boyles said, urgency entering his voice. “Play the wind. Put it in front of him.” The pressure was on, and the second cast was better. “Strip it… Strip it… Now stop!” Boyles instructed as he watched the action unfold. “Give it a little twitch.” He didn’t have to tell me to set the hook.

For com too the gre be we’

Al Tro tha imp dee pol clas The fish swirled. I jerked back hard with my line hand, the rod pointed right at the commotion. With a jolt, the redfish was on and streaking across the flat! Pound-for-pound, nothing pulls like a red, and this was a big one, spending its last season in the marsh before it would move offshore to join the rest of the big bulls. Capt. Josh Boyles is a veteran Lowcountry guide who offers local and international fishing experiences. Email him at joshboylesfishing@gmail.com or call (843) 816-2229.

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Survival of the Sharpest When it’s you against nature, there’s only one tool you need: the tempered steel Stag Hunter from Stauer—now ONLY $49!

hat first crack of thunder sounded like a bomb just fell on Ramshorn Peak. Black clouds rolled in and the wind shook the trees. I had ventured off the trail on my own, gambled with the weather and now I was trapped in the forest. Miles from camp. Surrounded by wilderness and watching eyes. I knew that if I was going to make it through the night I needed to find shelter and build a fire... fast. As the first raindrops fell, I reached for my Stag Hunter Knife. Forget about smartphones and GPS, because when it comes to taking on Mother Nature, there’s only one tool you really need. Our stunning Stag Hunter is the ultimate sidekick for surviving and thriving in the great outdoors. Priced at $149, the Stag Hunter can be yours today for an unbelievable $49! Call now and we’ll include a bonus leather sheath!

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SiriusXM Fish Mapping: SERIOUS TOOLS FOR SERIOUS ANGLERS

hether it’s a weed line, a color change or a temperature break, success in the wide-open environs of offshore fishing depends on finding the features that hold baitfish and predators that hunt them. With this in mind, SiriusXM has developed a powerful new set of tools to help serious offshore anglers narrow the field of search and find fish more quickly and efficiently. Combined with SiriusXM Marine’s weather data, the company’s Fish Mapping service is so advanced it almost seems unfair. But when you’re competing for big tournament money or have a boatful of clients or friends to keep happy, any advantage is welcome. Real-time data and eight dedicated features pull together information captains need to save time and fuel in pursuit of the ocean’s biggest gamefish. All of it is marked directly on the boat’s display, making it easy to identify areas where fish are likely to be. Here’s a list of those fish-finding features: • Fishing Recommendations: Based on data-driven analysis from oceanographers, the service recommends hot areas for specific species overlaid on your chart. This tailored information is kept fresh with twice-weekly updates to keep you on the action as it evolves. It can be viewed in combination with Fish Mapping’s other features to help solve the puzzle. • Weed Lines: Vast drifting weed lines are always hotspots for hunting pelagics. They provide food and habitat for open-ocean baitfish and shrimp, which draws in the big-game species. Finding them can be tricky, though, since they are constantly moving. Fish Mapping’s Weed Line feature updates every 24 hours to display where weed lines have been sighted recently and where they are most likely to form. • Sea Height Anomalies: Areas where sea height is noticeably different from the surrounding water often indicate an upwelling, where nutrient-rich water pushes to the surface. These are favorable conditions that attract baitfish and gamefish. Using realtime radar and sea-surface models, experts analyze the data and identify upwelling areas every 24 hours. This feature can also be used to locate downwelling areas, so you won’t waste your time fishing nutrient-poor, unproductive water. • Surface Temperature Contours: Different species prefer different temperature ranges, and Fish Mapping’s easy-to-read temperature contour lines quickly and clearly illustrate water temperatures to home in on the ideal conditions for your target species. This feature updates with current temperature data every three hours. • Sea Surface Temperature Front Strength: There’s no need to spend hours running and searching for significant temperature variances between bodies of water. These “ocean fronts” are hunting grounds for big pelagics, which take advantage of concentrated nutrients and fish-movement barriers created by 6 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2020

precipitous temperature changes. Fish Mapping estimates the strength of these ocean fronts and updates them every 24 hours. There tends to be good fishing where temperature fronts and plankton fronts coincide. • 30 Meter Subsurface Temperatures: Surface temperature is not always a good indicator of what lies beneath, where pelagics do most of their hunting. This feature tracks water temps 30 meters below the surface and updates every 24 hours to help you find your target species’ preferred temperature range. • Plankton Concentration Contours: Baitfish feed on plankton; big fish feed on baitfish. It’s easy to understand why concentrations of plankton can lead the way to good fishing. Displayed with green contour lines on your multi-function display and updated every 24 hours, Fish Mapping makes quick work of locating productive water. • Plankton Front Strength: Strong plankton fronts offer good conditions for gamefish to hunt. Baitfish prefer nutrient-rich stained water. Gamefish prefer clear water where they can spot their prey. When the two conditions exist side-by-side and coincide with a temperature front, it presents optimal fishing conditions. The plankton front strength feature displays these conditions on your display and updates every 24 hours. With tools like these, it’s easy to see why SiriusXM’s Fish Mapping service gives serious offshore anglers a leg-up on open water. They even offer a one-month trial of the service because a test drive will prove how valuable their up-to-date, easy-to-access information is. For more information, visit www.siriusxm.com/FishMapping

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Fish fish The and Add day

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“After looking at SiriusXM’s Fish Mapping Fishing Recommendations feature on our Garmin plotter and seeing several recommended areas for wahoo, we aimed the Intrepid for one of the overlapping “fish bubble” areas about 80 miles offshore. We put two weighted wahoo flatlines out well behind the boat and two outriggers with skirts chugging over the wakes and trolled at 8.5 knots. We had our first wahoo on in minutes!” — Dave Johnson, Mike Hatcher & Captain Tom Robinson “Fixed Income” (40' Intrepid), Naples, Florida

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UNDER SEA THE

What It’s Like to Spearfish I

8 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2020

and relaxed, and “becoming one with nature” will you be part of the tribe. This unlikely fraternity of ocean hunters is made up of men and women of all ages, races and socio-economic status. The only rules here are made by Mother Nature, and the only requirement is an unspoken bond with the ocean and a respect for its resources. Unlike our mostly predictable lives, every dive is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. I’ve experienced a school of mantas flying by, a gentle whaleshark ambling along, a sunfish scratching itself on our anchor line. I’ve experienced the exhilaration of being accepted by a pod of wild dolphins. I’ve been bumped by a hammerhead and stared down by a menacing mako. I’ve endured jellyfish stings, sealice rashes, and a crab in my ear canal. The most thrilling sight of all—after paying your dues—is spotting your prey in the shadows.

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Th po we go du as oft

Ho an Jef

“It of in to Sil Tr rea

By Sheri Daye

have a friend at work who is horrified by my spearfishing. He asks, “Why don’t you just buy fish at the market? Aren’t you scared of sharks? What’s it like?” I know spearfishing will never be his cup of tea, but I try to explain why it’s mine. The simple answer is it’s fun to jump into tropical water and choose a delicious fish for dinner. But the truth is those flat, warm, fishy days are few and far between. The truth is that weathermen are liars, visibility can turn ugly, and fish are unpredictable. The truth is that underwater hunting is hard work in an alien environment. One of many challenges is to become comfortable underwater—so comfortable that fish believe you belong there. Fish sense herkyjerky motions and aggression, which means you will never be able to stalk them unless you learn to control your movements, and more importantly, your emotions. You must also overcome the primal fear of becoming the hunted, which is ingrained in all of us. And, as a freediver, you must become adept enough to achieve decent breath hold times. Only after persevering, learning to be smooth

D 1

When hunting tunas, the sight of the yellow finlets speeding under you will make your heart thump. When hunting wahoos, the silver ghost appearing out of nowhere will take your breath away. The realization that your eye has caught the silhouette of a black grouper in the reef will send you into adrenalized stealth mode. Back at the dock, as you fillet your fish and watch the sun set, you feel a sense of accomplishment and relief to be back on solid ground. But you also feel a sense of longing to be back in the weightless, quiet, unpredictable, beautiful ocean. As cell phones begin to ring, traffic on the way home raises your blood pressure, and thoughts of work invade your brain, you begin to plan your next trip back to the soul-cleansing world beneath the sea. Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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Discovered! Unopened Bag of 138-Year-Old Morgan Silver Dollars Coin experts amazed by “Incredible Opportunity” The Morgan Silver Dollar is the most popular and iconic vintage U.S. coin. They were the Silver Dollars of the Wild West, going on countless untold adventures in dusty saddlebags across the nation. Finding a secret hoard of Morgans doesn’t happen often—and when it does, it’s a big deal. How big? Here’s numismatist, author and consultant to the Smithsonian® Jeff Garrett: “It’s very rare to find large quantities of Morgan Silver Dollars, especially in bags that have been sealed... to find several thousand Morgan Silver Dollars that are from the U.S. Treasury Hoards, still unopened, is really an incredible opportunity.” -Jeff Garrett

 Historic Morgan Silver Dollars  Minted in New Orleans  Struck and bagged in 1882  Unopened for 138 years  26.73 grams of 90% fine silver  Hefty 38.1 mm diameter  Certified Brilliant Uncirculated by NGC

 Certified “Great Southern

Treasury Hoard” pedigree

 Limit five coins per household Actual size is 38.1 mm

the southern gentleman by giving the coins the pedigree of the “Great Southern Treasury Hoard.”

But where did this unique hoard come from? Read on...

These gorgeous 1882-O Morgans are as bright and new as the day they were struck and bagged 138 years ago. Coins are graded on a 70-point scale, with those graded at least Mint State-60 (MS60) often referred to as “Brilliant Uncirculated” or BU. Of all 1882-O Morgans struck, LESS THAN 1% have earned a Mint State grade. This makes these unopened bags of 1882-O Morgans extremely rare, certified as being in BU condition—nearly unheard of for coins 138 years old.

Morgans from the New Orleans Mint

Don’t Miss This Rare Opportunity—Order Now!

The U.S. Treasury Hoard

Given the limited quantity of coins available from this historic hoard, we must set a strict limit of five coins per household. Call quickly to secure yours today as supplies are sure to sell out quickly!

In 1859, Nevada’s Comstock Lode was discovered, and soon its rich silver ore made its way across the nation, including to the fabled New Orleans Mint, the only U.S. Mint branch to have served under the U.S. government, the State of Louisiana and the Confederacy. In 1882, some of that silver was struck into Morgan Silver Dollars, each featuring the iconic “O” mint mark of the New Orleans Mint. Employees then placed the freshly struck coins into canvas bags... Fast-forward nearly 80 years. In the 1960s, the U.S. government opened its vaults and revealed a massive store of Morgan Silver Dollars—including full, unopened bags of “fresh” 1882-O Morgan Silver Dollars. A number of bags were secured by a child of the Great Depression—a southern gentleman whose upbringing showed him the value of hard assets like silver. He stashed the unopened bags of “fresh” Morgans away, and there they stayed...

The Great Southern Treasury Hoard

That is, until another 50 years later, when the man’s family finally decided to sell the coins—still in their unopened bags—which we secured, bag and all! We submitted the coins to respected third-party grading service Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), and they agreed to honor

Regular 1882-O Morgans sell elsewhere for as much as $133, and that’s without the original brilliant shine these “fresh” 138-yearold coins have, without their special NGC hoard designation, and without their ability to tell their full, complete story from the Comstock Lode all the way to your collection.

1882-O Morgan Silver Dollar NGC Certified BU from the Great Southern Treasury Hoard — $99 ea.

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Limited time only. Product total over $149 before taxes (if any). Standard domestic shipping only. Not valid on previous purchases.

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GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. MSH230-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2020 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

H Photo courtesy of FWC TrophyCatch.

James Wirtz caught this 10-pound, 6-ounce beast from an unnamed Florida lake on June 16.

Deep Summer’s Shallow-Water Option By CAM Staff

ere’s some advice for bass anglers sick of the summertime grind. Instead of dredging out deep ledges or dragging worms on offshore humps, go shallow and beat the banks. Yes. You read that right. In deep summer, bass that aren’t stacked up deep will scatter to seek out the best water conditions and feeding opportunities they can find. And while you probably shouldn’t throw all your tournamentday hopes into this pattern, which really is hit-or-miss, hitting it right can lead to some of the biggest largemouths of the summer. Wave action is a key to this pattern. On lakes with heavy boat traffic and on windy days, waves slamming into the banks oxygenate water. While water conditions across the rest of the lake are hot and stagnant this time of year, the shallows offer higher oxygen levels that attract baitfish and bass. By the same token, the backs of creeks with some current often offer better oxygen levels as well as cooler water. Vegetation oxygenates water, also, and provides shade from the stifling sun. Bait is another reason big fish will be up shallow. All of the bream species—the bluegills, shellcrackers, redbreasts and others—spawn during the full moons of summer. When they bed up in colonies, they do it in the shallows, often in just a couple feet of water. Bream beds are buffets for big largemouths, which hang just off the beds waiting on any strays small enough to fit in their mouths. Now, beating the banks all day looking for one big fish in the scorching August heat doesn’t sound like much fun. But that one kicker fish you need to bolster a tournament limit is not likely to be hanging out with all those 2-pounders suspended on a deep ledge. These are also great tactics for fun fishing, when you’ve got the luxury to only fish the comfortable morning and evening hours. In low light, a buzzbait burned around a bream bed or in the shadows of a blowdown can be just the thing to draw a reaction strike from a big girl lazing in the shallows. Running a spinnerbait, bladed jig or square-bill crankbait around and under shallow docks can be very productive. Resist the urge to slow down and pick apart cover with a jig or worm. Shallow fish will be scattered this time of year, so it makes sense to cover a lot of water. Hit all the stumps, grass, rocks and any other cover you encounter. Keep moving, but do it slowly and quietly. Keep your distance, and make long casts. Sound travels far and fish spook easily in the shallows.

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J.O. SPICE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AND 4 GENERATIONS

teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.

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In order to reach more of our readers, weâ€™ve revised and expanded our pick up locations. You can view the complete list on pages 31 and 32 of this edition.

MURPHY AREA LAKES

Lake Chatuge Hybrids By Darren Hughes

his summer has been off the charts for us out here on Lake Chatuge. We’ve had one of the most productive and exciting hybrid bites in years and now that August is here, that means fall is knocking on our door, so it should remain the same. Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the mid 80s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid fishing has been phenomenal lately. Late summer patterns are in full swing. The fish are schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities (30 to 40 a morning.) Most of our hybrids are averaging 5-10 pounds. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardest-fighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning and midafternoon bite has been prime. Look

for schools of fish along the main channel and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by midmorning. Top-water bite has slowed down considerably but you can still find a few busting. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, spook, or red fin at the ready. Look for this same pattern to continue for the next month or so until water temps begin to fall. July fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. You won’t regret booking a trip with Murphy NC and Blairsville GA’s #1 guide service, Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA--it’s the best place

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around for quality live blueback herring. So book your hybrid and striper fishing trips now with Big Ol’ Fish and come get your fish on!

Darren Hughes is the owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop, a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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there’s that la Lake bite is couple we’ve striper and it lake a And w By bo NC’s # Guidin nice st Augus month Cu at full throug temps Str excelle up an here. averag early-m your b creek main l hot su out ar The m

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Lake Hiwassee Schooling Stripers By Shane Goebel

ugust brings with it some explosive striper fishing in Western North Carolina and there’s no better lake to experience that late summer mayhem on than Lake Hiwassee. Especially if the bite is like it was in July. In the past couple of days before writing this, we’ve had several 28-32 pound stripers! This striper bite is intense; and it’s the perfect time to hit the lake and catch some amazing fish. And what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. If you want a ton of nice stripers and I mean a ton! Then August and September are perfect months. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is at full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the mid 80’s. Striper fishing has been excellent. These fish are schooled up and we’ve been killing it out here. Our morning trips usually average 20 to 30 stripers a trip. The early-morning and evening bites are your best times to see action. Target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel. Also, during the hot sunny days of summer, search out areas with some good shade. The majority of our fish have been

caught from Point 6 to the dam. Your best technique will be down lining live blueback herring. The top-water bite has also been great. I like to keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surfacebusting fish. The fish will continue to stay schooled up through the next couple of months. Just remember to keep an eye on your electronics and watch for schools of stripers when cruising the lake. Also, remember to try to get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible after they are caught. Bringing up stripers from deep water really puts a hurting on them and the quicker you get them into the water the more likely they will survive. August is a fantastic month for catching some monster stripers on this Western North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy NC’s only and original premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely, Chatuge, and Lake Blue Ridge. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA.

They carry everything you need opportunity to be featured in Angler for a successful day of fishing and Magazine, and let us help you get have the best live herring around. your fish on! So, come fish with the pros for the Shane Goebel owns Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. See the website at www.bigolfish.com or call (828) 361-2021.

August Fishing

By David Hulsey

ugust in the South is not for the faint of heart! Fly fishing here during this time usually pushes you into pursuing different species than just trout. High elevation streams may even get too warm to catch and release fish safely. Carry a thermometer and test the stream before fishing. Water temperatures 67 degrees or above in the afternoon should

be avoided. Tailwater fisheries, such as the Toccoa River, can have decent fishing if you float into less pressured areas. On the other hand, warm water species such as panfish, bass, and carp flourish in the heat. Local ponds and lakes with bank access, or better yet, if you have access to watercraft, can be areas of great fun during summer. Early morning sessions usually consist of

some sort of top water bite before the sun gets overhead. Chartreuse, yellow, or frog colored poppers will produce around cover or inlets of streams into the lake. When that sun starts blazing, use subsurface flies such as clousers or game changers, matching the baitfish that reside in the waterway. Fishing an intermediate fly line will get your flies down a few feet, to willing gamefish. For really deep fish, a sinking line is in order; tougher to cast than an intermediate line but necessary for fish pushing 10 -20 feet or more in depth and having an extra spool for your fly reel, with the sinking line ready to go, can save the rest of the day. Our mountain lakes are fairly pleasant even on the hottest days

and catching a few bass or bluegill can make a day out here even better. Carp will usually be cruising the flats and coves by midmorning, providing redfish-like fishing right here in North Georgia and Western North Carolina. Carp will eat a variety of flies mimicking crawfish, damselfly, or any large nymph, usually with a few rubber legs. Look for muds or plumes of silt in shallow water. If you can see the carps head, cast carefully just in front of the fish and do a small strip when the fish gets close. You will usually know when “old rubber lips” eats but, if you are not sure, set the hook anyway. Sometimes, you just have a feeling. Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down, get out there and enjoy some summer fishing!

Give David Hulsey a call at (770) 639-4001 to book a class or a guided trout trip. See his website at www.hulseyflyfishing.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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EAST TN / GREAT SMOKIES / SWAIN COUNTY

Buy the Right Sonar Technology

oday’s modern Sonar equipment comes in all sizes, and many anglers try to get by with a smaller machine to save a little money. This usually ends up being a big mistake, as the smaller machines are harder to see and read. As a rule of thumb, get the next bigger screen. Now the decision comes to the technology available in each category. Global Position technology is very good now that Selective Availably was taken off the entire system in 2001. Some machines only have a Global Positioning antenna that is a plotter only with no mapping. The Global Positioning Systems use satellites that are maintained by the United States Department of Defense. These satellites have been in outer space since 1970 to provide accurate, reliable and continuous position reporting. This system is available 24 hours a day and can be used on land, sea and air. The signal is unaffected

By Ken Sturdivant

by weather. The best advice is to get a unit with the mapping technology so you can see yourself on the body of water. Some of the lesser machines may only have a Global Positioning machine with a one hertz antenna that is very slow to keep up with movement. The best lines of these machines are the ones that offer up to a 12-channel receiver that is much faster and a lot more accurate. If accuracy is important, get the faster antenna and the better mapping. There are several aftermarket mapping technologies available to enhance the “on the water “experience. Sonar comes in every machine. Some only offer one frequency, and others offer as many as 80 different frequencies based on the transducer selected. Before making this decision, learn what frequencies are available and make this decision based on the needs for your use. The 200 kHz Frequency has an upside

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down beam like an ice cream cone. This is the basic frequency used by almost all machines today. It’s easy to read and easy to install. Structure Scan technology is best called a 3 dimensional world. If a machine with technology sees an airplane on the bottom, it displays the actual airplane. Sonar only sees this as a very large blob. Seeing fish from great distances is the main reason this technology is so favored by anglers worldwide. Lowrance machines can scan as much as 600 feet of the water column on both sides of the boat. This 3-D transducer is only available on the HDS line. This transducer

costs $999.00. Down Scan technology allows the same 3 dimensional technology and can see the airplane too, as it shoots beams down and up to 300 feet deep. The Down Scan beam is 4 times larger than regular 200 kHz Sonar technology. So do some homework before spending your money.

Ken Sturdivant is a member of the Lowrance Professional Fishing staff. Ken teaches this technology on Lake Lanier. Look him up by visiting www.southernfishing.com or call him at 770-889-2654.

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Big Fish Sometimes Like Big Bait By Ronnie Parris

know I’m always preaching about using small baits to catch finicky fish. Well, every now and then, there are times of exception and right now is one of them. Like it or not, the Blueback Herrin are in our mountain lakes and I’m afraid they’re here to stay. The reluctance of our state biologists to stock stripers to help control their numbers tells me we will just have to get used to low fish numbers and fish that are eating less often, since they can eat one Blueback instead of 15 Threadfin to get the same amount of food. The only win in the Blueback scenario is that we are seeing some really large Bass and Walleye since the food is so readily available. The Walleye in the photo with this article is proof of the nutritional value the Bluebacks add. This, so far, has been the toughest year to catch Bass and

Walleye in Fontana. Unless the residents of Swain and Graham Counties can get together and change some of the management practices that clearly aren’t working in Fontana, I’m afraid this will only get worse. With Hiwassee and Chatuge as a pattern on how good the striper and hybrid stockings can be for the other lake species with high Blueback populations, it’s a shame when residents with a lake like Fontana, with all the creeks and rivers filling its waters, are having to drive to other lakes with better management practices. Hopefully our biologists will listen to folks that fish the lake instead of making decisions from what they’ve learned in a book. I am afraid that, whatever they do, we will be in for a long spell of less than average catches. As always, stay safe and take a kid fishing!

Ronnie Parris is owner and head guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, N.C., heart of the Great Smoky Mountains (www.smounlimited.com; (828) 488-9711).

Fishing: The Best Way to Social Distance

By Ken Kastorff

hankfully, fly fishing is one of those things that we can still do and keep social distance. In fact, the great thing is that it will keep other people from crowding you while fishing your favorite hole. It is even better than having to put a cast next to some intruder’s ear to get their attention and convince them that you are not the sharing type. A few loud coughs and some mumbling about having a little fever and you got the whole river valley to yourself.

All joking aside, the mountains of North Carolina have hundreds and hundreds of miles of remote fishing water to explore. Sure beats sitting in the house eating six meals a day and gaining weight. Best part is, you can fish alone with no mask required. Even better, there are no politics or TV, just a good fly rod and some of your favorite flies are all it takes to have a wonderful day and not have to think about the “new normal”. Personally, I look forward to being able to one

day live the “old normal” again. In the meantime, getting out and breathing some good old mountain air and throwing some flies are the closest things to normal that you can do. So, now is the time to think outside the box and get on Google

Earth and explore! I have lived here in Western North Carolina for almost a half a century and still find new places each year to wet a fly. I know for sure that I will run out of time before I ever run out of fishing destinations to explore.

Ken Kastorff is a Guide and the Owner of Endless River Adventures. To book a guided trip near The Nantahala Gorge or the Cheoah River, give him a call at 1-(800) 224-7238 or look him up at www.nantahalariverflyfishing.com.

Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING We offer both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.

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HIT THE TRAILRACE

By Capt. James McManus

ugust is just one of those months that just isn’t one of my all time favorites. My son lives in Savannah and, even though I am getting older, I enjoy living in the cool mountains so I told him I wouldn’t move closer until I had to wear a sweater every day...just too hot. That said, August in the mountains can still be pretty warm but there are a few things happening that can keep you cool. All of our lakes have dams and below them are tailrace rivers that are ideal places to spend a day on

check the regulations before going. I tend to fish the ones that have boat access but you need to be mindful of the risks inherent in fishing areas of high water releases. Some give warnings but others simply start generating with no warning at all. I tend to not go by their release schedules and instead just be vigilant about keeping an eye on what’s happening. Almost all have areas very close to the dam itself, where you can walk up and fish from the bank. Absolutely do not wade, even really shallow, because and fan cast lower on successive the way to the dam. casts to cover all the areas. Any So cool down, the air just off minnow type plug, spoon or the water will feel like someone All of our lakes have dams and below them streamer can work but those trout opened the fridge. Be CAREFUL didn’t get big by being stupid, so and enjoy not only the fishing but are tailrace rivers that are ideal places even if you have lots of breaking also watching eagles, occasionally and chasing, don’t hesitate to bears, pigs, and otters. There are few to spend a day on the water. switch baits and retrieves. Once better ways to enjoy God’s blessings headed downstream, you can cast in the doldrums of summer. Later, the water. Most in our area are the rocks are extremely slick, the crankbaits to the shore, bait fish, or Capt. James stocked with trout and some have water is very cold and can be at get the trolling gear out and go all lake specific rules, so make sure you flood stage in a matter of minutes. Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him Almost any trout tactic will a call for a great day of boat fishing! work, from fly gear to spinners and spoons, all the way to trolling gear. Most ramps tend to be close to the dam so I always like to fish the shallow, swift water as far upstream as I can get. If you like big western river float trips, this is as close to that as we have here. With regular stocking, there are generally plenty of fish and, with those numbers, there are some nice sized ones mixed in. My favorite time to hit the upper reaches is in the spring when the bait runs upstream. Those can bring out the “big boy” feeding frenzies but typically only when they are generating. Cast like you would in a normal river, fishing quartering upstream, Ellie Dicus

Little Fish – Big Smiles

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HIGH COUNTRY

The River Bass Box By Jeff Durniak – Unicoi Outfitters

he dog days of summer are here. That means the lengthy rains of spring are long-gone, and we simply have to deal with occasional, pop-up thunderstorms. While those brief storms might muddy-up flowing waters, they usually clear quickly. That’s great news for our best bet during the dog days: river bassin’! While a lot of anglers complicate things, river bassin’ is really simple and easy. For new fly anglers, you can enjoy your own Huck Finn days with any old 5, 6 or 7-weight fly rod, wading shoes or a canoe/kayak, and a basic bass box. I’ll tell you the goodies I carry in my box. That basic box is a simple 3 X 2 concept of water layers and fly patterns. I’ve got three layers of water to cover (top, middle, and bottom) and two flies per layer: my go-to pattern and a backup bug. Only two, you say? Yep, for a starter box. Pick the bug size to match your local quarry. If you need a size to start, buy or tie these on size 4 hooks. Of course, we can add more bugs and make that box bigger. That’s what fly fishing is all about. Lots of cool trinkets, right? But for new fly-flingers, a ton of trinkets isn’t necessary. Sometimes it’s

counterproductive, as newbs spend more time changing flies than casting their first pick into a good spot and working it seductively. Remember this: Technique trumps pattern! Now let’s get to the got-to-have patterns. First, for the surface, I like a white Kent’s Stealth Bomber and a white popper. They both must have lots of long rubber legs! Toss the Stealth Bomber into low, clear water along shady banks and don’t move it. Just let it drift along. Every now and then, give it a slight twitch to wiggle the legs, then, let it drift again for 5-10 feet. River bass and bream are spooky in summer’s low, clear water, but they’re very hungry and love to hang out under tree limbs, waiting for terrestrial bugs to lose their footing. Fish with patience and you’ll be rewarded. The backup surface bug is the trusty white popper. Use it to call fish up from deep, fast, or slightly discolored water. Don’t pop it as much as you did in the spring when the water was cooler. Pop and drift, then repeat. Use these two surface bugs in the shade and shadows of dawn, dusk, and shaded banks, where your quarry feels safe enough to “look up” for supper and not be a

Continued, see THE RIVER BASS BOX Page 11 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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THE RIVER BASS BOX continued from page 9 meal for a heron. When they’re not looking up, go down for the fish. You can start at mid-column with either the Clouser minnow or the greatest fly of all time, the black Woolly Bugger. Fish the Clouser like a nervous minnow. Cast, let it sink a bit, and retrieve it back to you with erratic strips. Don’t fall into the bad habit of a constant retrieve. You’ll catch more fish when they think their lunch is leaving! You can fish the Bugger any way at all: cast upstream and twitch down to you, then twitch slightly as it swings past you and hangs in the current below you, then twitch and strip it back to your rod tip. One hint: put your rod tip right on the water surface while you’re twitching and stripping. Striking fish will encounter a tight line and result in more hookups. Strikes on high rods just pull on a big U-loop of slack, and you’ll have lots of misses. When your shoalies and smallies are glued to the bottom, especially in the high sun, go knock on den doors and offer them a lobster dinner. Dens are boulder

fields, rock ledges, and logjams, especially the shady side of each. You can toss Reindeau’s Hairy Fodder upstream and bounce it on the bottom back to you, to imitate a downstream- fleeing crayfish. Toss it across stream, toward the bank, and twitch it while it swings. As it finally hangs in the current below you, stick that rod tip in the water and short-strip it back upstream. If you’re greedy like us, tie two feet of 10-pound tippet to the Fodder’s hook bend and drop the Woolly Bugger off the back. That dualdinner menu is hard to resist. Hopefully these tips will get you started on some summer fun while you await the return of trouting in the fall. Don’t forget a big hat, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlight, plenty of water, and a good fishing buddy (at a distance) for river safety. Toss one of these six bugs in the right spot, work it like the natural food, and hold on. These river bass have bad attitudes and broad shoulders! And they’ll make you smile in the summer sun.

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Jeff Durniak recently retired as DNR’s Regional Fisheries Biologist for North Georgia. He now spends his time terrorizing fish and working his hobby job at Unicoi Outfitters.

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 11

Madison County is located 15 miles north of Asheville on the North Carolina/Tennessee border in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia. There are many attractions in our 452 square mile area, of which 73 percent is forest. Nearly one fourth is public land managed by the US Forest Service.

Tourism Development Authority

Madison County Visitors Center (828) 680-9031 56 South Main • P.O. Box 1060 Mars Hill, NC 28754

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Hatchery Supported = 1–10 Delayed Harvest = 1, 6, 9 Wild Waters = 13, 14, 15 French Broad River = 16, 17, 18, 19

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Fly Fishing The Linville River By James Marsh

inville River is considered one of North Carolina’s better trout streams by some anglers. It is also quite different from many other North Carolina trout streams in some ways. The uppermost part of the Linville River starts close to Linville Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the little community of Crossnore. Fly fishing the Linville river is best during the Spring and Fall months. The first odd thing you may notice about the Linville River is that, instead of being the typical fast flowing headwater stream, it flows only moderately in its upper sections. It meanders along as if it were going to stop; however, its upper waters are located at a high elevation and the water stays well oxygenated. In that sense, it’s more like a Western alpine headwater stream than an Appalachian Mountain headwater stream. It runs right along state highway #105 to Linville and then continues flowing moderately along U. S. highway

#221 to Crossnore. The Linville River is small to medium sized stream in the Crossnore area with plenty of water. From Crossnore, it flows onto National Park property at the Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville Falls. Although the stream has plenty of wild trout, it’s stocked by the state. I guess this is primarily because of its easy access. Even when the stream gets on the park service property, it’s still stocked by the state of North Carolina. I would do well as a wild trout stream, in my opinion.

About three miles downstream from its intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway, the stream flows into the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The falls and 1100 acres around them are owned by the National Park Service. There is a visitors’ center and several trails that lead to various observation points of the falls and gorge. The Linville Gorge changes things drastically. The river declines over 1800 feet in elevation in just

a few short miles. It flows over Linville Falls and becomes a fast and turbulent stream downstream from the base of the falls. At least the easy roadside access goes away. It’s about a 1400 foot change in elevation from the ridge to the stream, so getting in and out of the canyon isn’t easy. The river can be accessed by a few very steep Forest Service trails but it’s very difficult to fish the river on a day trip. Once in the gorge (canyon would be a better word) the Linviille Gorge Trail follows the stream through the entire length of the canyon. This section of the Linville River has deep plunge pools and large brown trout. The State still stocks this section of the river, but at least they use fingerlings. I’m sure they don’t use them to make the trout grow up to be more like a streambed trout. They do it because it’s much easier. I would be interested in knowing how many fingerlings actually make it, if that is still the

Continued, see FLY FISHING THE LINVILLE RIVER Page 23

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Grandfather Mountain Offers Safe Summer Fun

randfather Mountain offers visitors the chance to get close to nature — and away from everything else. Towering 5,946 feet above sea level — over a mile high — the nonprofit nature park (not to be confused with the neighboring Grandfather Mountain State Park) strives to inspire conservation of the natural world through a variety of outdoor activities that are safe and fun for the whole family, even during COVID-19. This includes the park’s most popular attraction: the worldfamous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Measuring at a mile in elevation, and suspended over an 80-foot chasm, the bridge provides 360-degree views, cool temperatures— sometimes 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding areas—high winds and one-of-a-kind adventure in the clouds. On a clear day, guests can even see the Charlotte skyline some 80 miles away. Grandfather Mountain is also home to environmental wildlife habitats, where visitors can see the park’s resident black bears, cougars,

river otters, bald eagles and elk, all of whom were either rescued or orphaned in the wild or born into captivity before arriving at Grandfather, therefore unfit to be released back into the wild. The park features access to over 12 miles of pristine hiking trails varying in difficulty from a leisurely walk to a rigorous trek across rugged peaks, making it an ideal outdoor destination for natural social distancing. And that’s only the tip of the mountain. To learn Grandfather Mountain features access to more than 12 miles of pristine more about things to do at hiking trails, from easy strolls to rigorous alpine treks. Photo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain, please the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation visit www.grandfather.com. • Protective barriers at the indoors and outdoors when With safety in mind, entrance gate, gift shops and safe social distancing cannot Grandfather Mountain has enacted restaurant be maintained numerous procedures to help • tables spaced at Restaurant prevent and reduce the spread of To learn more about least 6 feet apart COVID-19, including: Grandfather Mountain’s COVID-19 operating procedures, please visit • Increased sanitization stations • Online admission only to throughout the park www.grandfather.com/covid-19limit the number of guests in update/. the park at one time • Required face coverings • One-way pedestrian traffic in popular areas, such as the Mile The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and High Swinging Bridge and animal habitats value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, call (800) 468-7325, or visit www.grandfather.com to book your visit. • Social-distancing markers

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Tailgate Camping

By Chris Smith

ave you ever taken friends and family tailgate camping? For those who are not familiar, it’s basically driving to a campsite and setting up. No hiking your stuff in. Very efficient for the weekend warrior. John had a friend named Jake who had three kids. Somehow the topic came up and John asked Jake if he would like to come over with his kids and go camping on their property. John has a 25-acre property. The back half of his land is wooded with trails he’s made for his four wheelers. Jake, not missing a chance to be outside with his kids, said, “Yes”. He told John that he would take care of the food for everyone. John told Jake that they haven’t really done anything like this and wanted to

One of the easiest meals to prep for and make is what Jake called a Hobo meal. Jake had prepped the food before leaving his house. Jake gathered everyone around and laid out the ingredients. He gave them all a piece of tinfoil and explained what needed to be done. He had made hamburger patties and cut potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and had spices. When everyone had made their meals, Jake showed them how to fold the tinfoil. Meanwhile, John had added more wood to the fire, so they had a good bed of coals. Jake showed them how to set up the coals, then placed everyone’s meals on the coals and covered the top with more coals. Once this was done, Jake showed them how to prep corn on the cob and place it on the coals.

know what he needs to buy. Jake said not to worry he has more than enough for everyone. Jake and John picked a weekend and made plans. All the kids were excited. When the weekend arrived, Jake and his kids packed up everything and headed over to John’s. John had his gator and two four wheelers ready. Once the equipment was loaded up, they headed to the trails and John took them to a place he thought would make a good place to set up. Jake and his kids took the time and showed everyone how to prep the site for the tents, build a fire ring, and which wood is best for what. Everyone had a good time setting up the campsite. It was near time to start cooking. A fire was built, and Jake asked everyone if they were ready.

When it was time to flip the meals and turn the corn, Jake and John did it. The meals were almost ready. Jake told the kids to grab the Dutch oven he had brought. He also taught the kids how to make the peach cobbler recipe. John pulled the corn and meals off the coals and Jake placed the Dutch oven on the coals and then added coals to cover the lid. The kids asked where the plates were and Jake chuckled and said, “You eat your meal like this”. He opened the meal and folded back the tinfoil to make a little bowl, passed out forks and sat back to watch. Those kids ate every single bite of their meals with along with the corn. Everyone couldn’t believe how good it tasted. Shortly afterwards, the peach cobbler was ready. There wasn’t a single bite left anywhere. Jake told them, “If you liked this, wait till

Continued, see TAILGATE CAMPING Page 23 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Beginners Tips on Upgrading Tackle By Ben Wayne

re you ready to upgrade your fly rod outfit? If so, here are the components of the setup where you should spend your money first and why. 1. The Fly Line: Good fly line can make your rod outfit feel completely different. Fly fishing is an expensive sport, and, relative to the cost of rods and reels, upgrading your fly line will have the biggest impact on your fishing for the smallest investment. You can buy a top of the line fly line for $90-$130 currently. Top of the line rods run $800-$1000 and top tier reels are $1000+. I would recommend a fly line from Rio or Scientific Anglers. Good fly line rolls over easier, floats in the air longer, floats better in the water, and loads up your rod better. 2. The Rod: The rod is to a fly angler as a sword is to a knight. Every angler has their favorite rod that they have had countless adventures with, given a name to, and intend to pass down one day. Just like the legendary swords of

fairy tales. There are a lot of fly rod companies out there and the market is saturated with new rod technology. This makes selecting a new rod very confusing, or overwhelming, for a first or second time buyer. Set a budget for yourself, do some research, read/watch reviews, and the best thing you can do is to go to a local fly shop and try the rod out for yourself. 3. The Reel: This reel got the last place for me because of my area, Western North Carolina. In WNC, for the most part, you hardly ever hook into a fish that you cannot bring by hand-lining. As a result, reels are just line holders and are the last thing I would recommend upgrading. I did not upgrade my reel until I started fishing tailwater fisheries and creeks that had reputations for having larger fish. The drag system is the most important aspect of a new reel. You don’t want the reel to jerk or take a lot of momentum to start up when fighting a big fish.

Ben has earned his reputation as a wild water specialist in Boone North Carolina through his years of exploration into wilderness areas in order to map out the best hidden gems in high country. Ben attended Appalachian State University for his undergraduate education in Biology Secondary Education and is currently working on his master’s degree in Higher Education with a concentration in teaching biology. Ben’s ability to teach clients stems directly from his years as a public school teacher. Whether it’s the biology of the stream or casting techniques, Ben can give you the knowledge you need to be a better angler. 18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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of fly nd the w rod ecting g, or st or budget earch, e best a local ut for

he last area, WNC, y ever annot result, nd are mend pgrade fishing s that larger most el. You take a when

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ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD / OLD FORT

Better Angles for Better Angling By Stephen Tomasovich

ngles play a large part in our angling success, and once you pay attention, you can improve your catch rate by changing them in many situations. Here are a few tips on when to consider your angle. Angle of attack – We often fall into the comfortable trap of fishing areas from the same side of the river. Consider fishing straight upstream or from the opposite side of a run, riffle, or pool. A different angle will almost always change the way your flies drift through and may be the preferred look the fish has been waiting for. I immediately think of a run I often fish that will outproduce from one side one day, and the other side the next. Dangle Angle – When you are indicator fishing (suspension nymphing) you need to have a good feel for the angle from indicator

to bottom fly. Too steep and you may be fishing too deep. A very shallow angle often puts your flies in the upper part of the water column. In either case, that may or may not be the area you want your flies to drift towards, so adjust accordingly by adding/subtracting weight and/or moving your indicator to lengthen or lessen distance. In my experience, a lot of anglers fish with too much distance from indicator to bottom fly. Line/Leader Angle – When suspension nymphing, don’t get stuck fishing with most of the line on the water at all times. When there is a big difference in current speeds

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between you and your indicator, it often helps to lift the rod tip, pulling line up off the water creating a steep angle, to prevent over mending to produce a better drift. If you euronymph, changing the leader angle from shallow to steep is a great way to change the depth at which you are fishing. A shallow leader entry angle produces a shallow drift. A more vertical angle and you get your flies down deeper. Fighting Angle – It will make a

big difference fighting fish (especially big ones) if you pay attention to your rod angle. If the fish is downstream, drop your rod to a horizontal position parallel to the river with the rod tip pointed upstream. This not only puts more pressure on the fish than an upright rod position, but it also encourages the fish to come upstream. If the fish travels upstream from you, transition the rod to a horizontal position with the rod tip facing downstream. Try to keep a 90-degree angle when looking at the rod butt and your forearm. The time to go upright with the rod is when you are ready to land the fish. For a good instructional video on this you can go to https://youtu.be/ tvFcqCZilH4

Stephen “Big T” Tomasovich is the owner of Big T Fly Fishing, Outfitter and Ecommerce Fly Shop. Visit them at 106 Grand Ave, Suwanee, Georgia, or look them up online at bigtflyfishing.com

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A New World of Fishing

By Ethan Hollifiled

his past year has been weird, hasn’t it? Within a matter of a couple of weeks, our world as we knew it has transcended into something unfamiliar and foreign to all of us. Arguably, the Covid-19 pandemic has been the most radical societal shift since the terrorist attacks of 9-11 in 2001. While fishing is generally a constant respite from the rest of the world’s troubles, I’ve found, over the last few months, inevitable shifts that have been accelerated by current events. It makes me wonder, as a guide and a conservationist, how the world will continue to change and how those changes will affect us as anglers. The most obvious change that I’ve noticed, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, is that our public lands and our mountains as a whole have been overrun with people. Many people from “off the mountain” have retreated earlier than normal to their summer homes followed by an unusual

this shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise that folks from dense population centers, such as Raleigh or Atlanta, have retreated to the mountains. How does this affect us? Well, as I’m sure most people know, fishing was one of the few activities deemed “safe” by the “powers that be” to engage with during and after quarantine. Fishing, as a whole, is what our area is associated with among other popular outdoor recreational activities. Places that I guide on, that receive relatively low traffic in the late spring to early summer, suddenly saw a massive spike in the amount of pressure they received, and as we enter the spike of our dry season, that wave doesn’t seem to be letting up. I’ve written previously on the effects of over-saturation. Some streams and rivers can handle and recover from this increase in traffic, while others I’m afraid are never going to revive themselves to their previous glory. The

Well, as I’m sure most people know, fishing was one of the few activities deemed “safe” by the “powers that be” to engage with during and after quarantine. spike in the number of tourists visiting our area. People associate where we live with isolation, so

biology and science behind all of this would take a whole novel to write, but in short, some

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populations (of particularly, trout) can’t handle being misused or mishandled. With an increase in tourist traffic comes an unfortunate increase in ignorance of fish handling/ catch and release practices. One has to remember that the majority of the public views fishing as just something to do, without thinking about their consequences to the environment by the keeping (sometimes way above their limit) of fish. Judging by the amount of fish guts and worm cans I’ve seen already; some populations have been completely devastated. From the standpoint of a

conservationist, I believe that we were lacking in the state from a fisheries management perspective of our gamefish populations a decade ago to account for the amount of fishing pressure we have received, and the covid-19 crisis has only exacerbated that dilemma. My hopes are that we, within the angling community here in Western NC, can recognize these issues before it’s too late. The ultimate protector of our wild gamefish populations is not the government, but frankly, lays within the hands and actions of everyday anglers like you and me. Just something to ponder on.

Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2% For Conservation and a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers

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FLY FISHING THE LINVILLE RIVER continued from page 14 TAILGATE CAMPING continued from page 17 current practice. It wouldn’t be a good idea for anyone to fish this area by themselves. It would be difficult to get out in an emergency situation. As I just mentioned, it is also very difficult to get into the canyon, fish any length of time, and get back out the same day. The canyon section is approximately fifteen miles long. Near the end of the Gorge, the river flows into Lake James. Another weird thing about the Linville River is the two dams - the dam at Lake James and another one on the Catawba River. That would be normal except there’s only one lake. The two original lakes merged into one after a flood and all the water is released through the Linville Dam. That makes it a full size tailwater large enough that it can be fished from a boat. The tailwater section is also difficult to access in most areas and it’s difficult to impossible to wade, for that matter. It’s also stocked by the state of North Carolina.

In my opinion, the best thing going for this stream is the Linville River Gorge. If it were not for that, I guess there would corn cans stowed every few feet up and down the river. Although the gorge is a very tough area to fish, it is the only thing saving a beautiful, wild river. Fly fishing the Linville River in the gorge isn’t easy, but it is well worth the effort to do it. • Season: The season runs yearround • Winter: Trout can be caught most days of the winter • Spring: Spring is the best time for fly fishing the Linville River due to the hatches. • Summer: Summertime is okay - the water in the gorge stays cool. • Fall: Fall is the best time for big browns in the lower section.

breakfast”. The kids played for a little bit, while Jake and John had a cigar. Everyone bedded down and went to sleep. The next morning, Jake was up stoking the coals and getting the fire going. Once everyone was up, he called them together and said they were going to have omelets for breakfast. John and his kids looked at him like he was crazy. Jake placed a big pot on a grate over the coals to boil water. He pulled out a dozen eggs, shredded cheese, chopped onion and diced ham from the cooler. He used a quart size zip bag and broke two eggs, then added the ingredients he wanted. The

rest of the crew followed suit. The water started boiling and Jake said, “Watch this”. He placed the bags in the water. Not too long afterwards, he pulled the bags out and dumped the contents out on paper plates. Everyone was amazed at how fluffy the omelets were. Around noon, camp was taken down and everyone headed back to the house. Years, afterwards, John and his kids (who are grown now) still talk about that weekend and how good the food was. If you ever have the opportunity to teach skills to our younger generations, please take the time to do so.

Chris is a Combat Veteran recently retired. A few places he has deployed are Afghanistan, Jordon, Panama, Haiti and various non-combat areas. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, camping, and fishing. He lives with his bride of 30 years in Alabama whom he calls “Household 6”. If any Veterans or family members of a veteran see changes in their loved one, or for that matter knows anyone who is contemplating suicide, he urges you to contact him at combatvettalk@gmail.com

James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog mail-order store. www.perfectflystore.com

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Bass Acting Like Bass By Scott Norton

pring patterns were late and short due to the cold fronts in the highland lake reservoirs this year. The silver lining would be that the summertime water temps will be mild compared to previous years. You’ll notice the water stayed clear longer than usual, as well. This was the year for swim baits and boy, did it last. Anything with a wagging tail or a nice long glide could have the angler chomping at the bit for that giant bite. The algae is blooming and a nice stain is clouding the waters. Now the bass will act like bass. They will set coarse for those summer holes holding to the structures, such as rock, wood, and drop offs. You’ll find wolf packs of bass in the shallows and schooling bass in the color-lines. You will be able to catch these fish on any bait in the box. Literally, any technique will work. It’s also a good time to learn some new tricks. When you find a school of bass, you can catch a lot of

numbers in one spot by getting them fired up. The trick is to speed up your retrieve and get your bait back in the water as fast as you can. The water is warm so their metabolisms are revved up. If you are trying to plan a good day, you’ll want the overcast days with wind. Avoid the days with bluebird skies and no wind. These days are miserable, just trust me on that one. One mistake I see often is someone fishing in the same spot too long. You only want to target the bass that are the most aggressive. The second most common mistake is, if you see a big bass and he’s not paying attention to your lure, move on because that one won’t bite anyways. The early morning is a great time to go before the water temperature rises. The evenings are good but short because the water temperature falls slowly. In my opinion, the night bite on a full moon in June or July is the best. That top water bite will get

into your dreams. Breaking it down even further, you’ll want to cover as much water as you can in the morning hours. Bass will be roaming around and chasing forage before the sun hits the water. You’ll know when that bite starts to slow down and, when it does, get ready to fish the shade

lines and docks. Some anglers love this kind of technique, due to the predictable bites it produces. There is something in it for all anglers this time of year but don’t get stuck in your rut; try something different because now is the time to do it. I hope this helps, as always, and keep those thumbs sore.

Scott Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior. He is a member of Southern Raft Supply’s prostaff, representing them in his Jackson Kayak Coosa FD.

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Old Fort Fishing

By Matt Evans

ld Fort is a unique town because it is fortunate to have the classification as a Mountain Heritage Trout City. This classification is given to cities across Western North Carolina that provide public access to a trout stream that runs through or adjacent to the city. Mill Creek runs through downtown Old Fort and is a healthy trout fishery. The North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission stocks trout anywhere from 10 inches to 20+ inches in the months of March, April, May, October, and November. The best fishing is from the U.S. 70 Bridge to the Interstate 40 Bridge because the stocked fish generally stay in this particular stretch. Growing up in Old Fort, North Carolina I was fortunate enough to begin my fishing days right here on Mill Creek. My dad, who is also an Old Fort native, was an avid angler and always took me along on his adventures. We would spend our days on the rivers and creeks in the area, but Mill Creek has always been home. One of my most fond memories of fishing on Mill Creek, as a kid, was an afternoon I spent with my dad where we started fishing behind Old Fort School and decided to float all the way to the Old Fort Dam. During this time of year, the red horse suckers from Lake James would run up the river to spawn and were so thick, it felt as if you could walk across them

on the water. I thought we had hit the jackpot of fishing, but I quickly realized they weren’t the prized trout I had grown to love while fishing here. Nonetheless, it was a great day, and memory, that I still reminisce on with my dad. To see where Old Fort has come from, and is continuing to grow towards, makes it even more special to be a small business owner in this town. With two new breweries, a bike apparel company, and the Fonta Flora trail continuing to expand here, we, as a town, are a hidden gem in the foothills of Western North Carolina. I started my business, The Catawba Angler, three years ago as a side passion but I’ve been fortunate to take it on full time and show clients from all over what the fisheries around Old Fort have to offer. Mill Creek is certainly at the top of my list, but Curtis Creek and the Catawba River also flow close to our town and we are lucky enough to guide on them all. Fishing on Mill Creek can be tricky, just like any other clear mountain stream, but here are a few of my favorite flies to throw, for you to keep in mind next time you’re on the water. Bright colored egg patterns, stonefly nymphs, and Walt’s worms tied with rainbow colored dubbing are my go-to flies when I am guiding on Mill Creek. I hope the creek is as good to you as it has been to me. See you on the water.

Matt Evans is the Owner of The Catawba Angler. It is the only fishing guide service located in Old Fort, North Carolina. TCA offers the highest quality fishing trips with entertaining guides at the most reasonable prices. The Catawba River and the Catawba River Tailrace located below the Bridgewater Dam at Lake James are their specialties.

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UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Lake Hartwell Fishing Forecast August 2020 By Preston Harden

Water level-full pool â€“ Water temp.-86

uly can be hot. The fishing in Lake Hartwell can be hotter. July means looking deeper and farther down the lake for stripers and hybrids. Most bass, especially spotted bass, move off the bank to brush and structure in deeper water. Look for stripers and hybrids from mid-lake to the dam. In June, the thermocline forms in the creeks and up the river arms. The stripers and hybrids migrate down lake looking for cool oxygenated water. They group up in big schools. A good sonar unit is important to find the schools in deep water. They will eat a lively herring lowered to right

above the fish. Artificials that will work include a big spoon or a 1 oz. Jig and a 5 inch swim bait. The spotted bass also group up on offshore structure. There are not many largemouth left in the main lake as spots have taken over. The largemouth bass get pushed to the backs of creeks in shallow water. The spots rule the main lake. I like the spots because they are easy to catch and are good to eat. They fight better than largemouth bass. Bass tournament anglers like to catch largemouth bass because they get bigger.

Preston Harden / Bucktail Guide Service/ 706-255-5622 / bucktailguideservice.net

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Bartram’s Bass and Redbreast Sunfish By Karl Ekberg

he fireworks of July 4th have gone, but Mother Nature sure did bring in the heat. The abundance of rain that we were having subsided through the middle of July. The higher temperatures, at times hitting the 90 degree mark, and the drop off of rainfall has made the trout fishing quite tough. After the morning coolness has burned off by the hot sun, the trout have gone to the coolest place possible on the rivers, the bottom depths. In all actuality, we truly need to leave the trout alone, let them find their thermal refuge, and let us all pray for some cooling temperatures, and plenty of rain. The lack of rain, high heat, and daily evaporation, can make water levels detrimental for the trout population. For August, if the next few weeks bring cooler temperatures and plenty of rain, the trout will have a good chance of survival for the summer. Let’s not let the trout fishing being tough, make us believe that there is no fly fishing to be done

out there. One of the best trips of your summer can be out on the rivers fly fishing for the Bartram’s Bass and Redbreast Sunfish. Who doesn’t like top water fishing and watching fish explode on their surface fly? These feisty fish will take you for a ride around the back eddy or small pool you’re fishing. The Redbreast is probably one of the areas most beautiful fish, almost tropical in colors at times with their fiery orange bellies and vivid coral blue veins running from their lips through their gill plates. Some of these fish are large enough that you will need to use two hands. The Bartram’s bass is no slouch either, this fish can do a little tail walking for you or take you to the bottom of the river. For the days that these fine fish do not want to be showing off on the top water flies, make sure to have a subsurface arsenal. We have a full array of both sub-surface and top water flies for your day at the river.

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Let’s all pray for a little cooler weather and some rains to keep the rivers cooler and the water levels up. We look forward to a great fall season, as the temperatures start to fall off from the summer heat. Always remember to leave no

trace and pick up a little extra on your way out from your trip out on our beautiful waters. We also look forward to seeing everyone out on the rivers around us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop.

Karl and Karen Ekberg are co-owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 and visit their website at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com.

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Let’s Chat! Wanna? I’ll Talk, You Listen…

nstead of picking a single or a couple of subjects this month, permit me to list a few of the lessons I’ve learned during literally hundreds of trips with talented anglers and to pass them along to you, with proper credit, of course, and allow me to make some recommendations that you can pick from that might improve you fishing success. I’ll be giving credit where it’s due and without fanfare and colorful descriptions. Pick what you want, contradict or disagree if you like. I’m just trying to help. Let’s go. Generally, and without any order of importance: From Gary Moore, an outstanding light tackle angler, from Cartersville, Georgia: Order some live crawfish from Louisiana, or somewhere else, and use them with a light wire hook, light mono, and a single BB split around the docks at Lanier.

By O’Neill Williams

For every crawfish you use, you’ll get a quality bite. It’s almost unfair to the bass. From Junior Collis, a successful BASS tournament angler from years ago who qualified for and fished in the very first Bassmaster’s Classic: I was in a tournament in the late 70s and Junior was in the line-up, and every time I motored under one of the bridges at Sinclair, I saw him there watching and kind of sitting quietly and waiting until the boats passed under the bridge. After the tournament, in which Junior beat me, I ask what the heck he was doing. He quietly passed along that, around most of the bridges, especially the ones with some current, there would be both bait and bass, and each time a boat passed, it would stir up the action. The bass would rise in the water column, attempt to feed, and he’d catch a couple.

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Good idea. From Mack Farr at Lanier: During the summer months, when the spots and largemouth are deep and you’re fishing plastics, if you get bit and hang one and it gets off in a couple of seconds, don’t immediately reel up and drop again. Chances are that the activity down below might be kicking in and another bass might have been trying to get that worm from the one who bit and got off or dropped it. Leave it there for 5 or 10 seconds, and it may be that another bass will try and eat it. Competition sometimes works. Secondly, if you’re striper fishing and drop some live bait above a deepwater tree and catch one or two and they quit, leave and return in a half hour or so. You’re only trying to outsmart a fish, and your return and bait presentation will likely get bit again. The fish

didn’t leave after your first visit. They’re still there. From Randy Smith, tournament angler, outstanding angler, and one having caught a 12 bass limit in a tournament years ago that weighed 77 pounds: So, you’re fishing in a big reservoir where you’ve never been before and don’t know what to do on short notice. That tournament day is your first on that lake. Go up the river into water, a little stained, with some current. The bass will be shallow, more vulnerable to moving baits, more ‘ganged up’ and easily found next to deeper spots in the river and more likely to be behind stumps and downed logs and trees. Likely too is that you will not have any competition up there in the river. From TJ Stallings, writer, producer and general ‘do everything’ guy for Tru-Turn:

Continued, see LET’S CHAT! Page 29

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Gener using get m that an tackle bites. filmin ESPN for ba in Flo three severa the ho surfac not re not fe happe and sm by the ask ab Rolan 30-po They’r not. Sa area w be fish future

LET’S CHAT! continued from page 28 Generally, the average angler using light line and small baits will get more bites and catch more fish that an average angler using heavy tackle. Why? You will feel more bites. I recall an old underwater filming years ago that aired on ESPN. Homer Circle was fishing for bass in the clear spring waters in Florida. Homer’s lure was bitten three plus times on one cast by several bass, but Homer never set the hook. When the cameraman surfaced and asked why he had not reacted, Homer said he had not felt the fish. Believe me, it happens frequently. Lighter line and small bait are more easily felt by the average angler. You might ask about how Kevin Van Dam or Roland Martin can use 20 or even 30-pound test and catch them. They’re professionals and you’re not. Say you just moved into an area with a great reservoir and will be fishing there frequently in the future. How do you find out how

to make the most of the upcoming fishing days? Spend the money for a professional guide, one with a good reputation and references. Tell him your purposes. You will learn more from him in one day on how to be successful on that lake than trying to learn it for yourself over the next 10 years. Now, I’ll ask a favor. Visit O’Neill Outside on YouTube, subscribe to the page and comment or ‘like’ as many of the 700+ videos as you have the time to view. Once you subscribe, every time you ‘like’ or comment, you increase your changes of being rewarded a substantial ‘gift’ from my TV and radio sponsors. Gifts? CVA Muzzleloader, WORX 40 Volt leaf blower, Binoculars from Konus, $50 Bojangles’ gift cards, Big Green Egg Charcoal lighter, Plano Tackle Boxes, TruTurn hooks, Realtree jacket, and on and on. Give it a try. We’ll be giving away all this stuff soon.

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6/9/2020 1:45:55 PM

BIG BLUES TOPPING LEADERBOARDS R

eports are coming in from this summer’s big-game tournaments of some huge blue marlin topping the leaderboards. The largest we’ve heard of so far— 964 pounds— was a big meal shy of achieving grander status. There were also a couple of big fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico, one of which is a potential Alabama state record. The near-grander was caught July 4 in the Cape Verde Islands off Africa’s North Atlantic coast by La Onda Mila, captained by Marty Bates. The fish won $464,000 and the 2020 Blue Marlin World Cup, which is open in waters worldwide for a single day. Another qualifying entry in the Blue Marlin World Cup was 667.2-pound blue, caught by Done Deal and Capt. Jason Buck from the central Gulf of Mexico. Weighed at Cypress Cove Marina in Venice, Louisiana, Done Deals’ big fish earned $339,200 for the optional Big Blue Challenge consolation prize. It was a big payday for Done Deal. Their 667.2-pounder was also entered in the July 4 Gulf Cup, in which boats may fish out of any Gulf of Mexico port. Done Deal earned an additional $128,000 for its catch as the Gulf Cup champion.

The next day, July 5, Ginger Myers sat in the chair of the Fleur-de-lis and battled a huge 851.9-pound blue to submission during the 2020 MONGO Offshore Challenge. Weighed at Orange Beach Marina, the fish is a pending Alabama state record and it also puts Myers in position to claim the largest blue marlin ever caught by a woman from the Gulf of Mexico. She’ll have to wait for the results of the MONGO, as the tournament runs through Oct. 15.

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NEW ATLANTIC SNAPPER-GROUPER FISHING THE FLATS OR BAY? REQUIREMENTS

ew gear requirements required for anglers targeting snapper and grouper species went into effect July 15 for Atlantic waters from North Carolina through Florida. NOAA’s new regulations are designed to decrease mortality rates for released fish and require anglers to have a descending device on board and readily available while grouper or snapper fishing. The new rule also requires the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel hooks when fishing for snapper or grouper with hook-and-line gear and natural baits. More than 50 fish species fall under the umbrella of the snapper-grouper ‘complex,’ a diverse collection of offshore fish that are sought-after table fare and critical to a healthy ocean ecosystem. Some of the most commonly encountered snapper-grouper species are black seabass, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, red snapper, gag grouper and spadefish. Many snapper-grouper species live a long time, grow slowly, and reach maturity at a late age—all of which makes them vulnerable to overfishing and makes each adult fish valuable to the overall population. Because these fish are often pulled from deep waters, they’re at high risk of barotrauma, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when fish undergo rapid pressure changes. Barotrauma, often accompanied by bulging eyes and bloated stomachs, can be a death sentence for caught-and-released fish. Fortunately, barotrauma can be reversed through the use of a descending device, which helps anglers return fish to deep waters from which it was caught. Descending devices can range from sophisticated, commercially available instruments to a DIY weighted hook.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM 7/14/20 7/14/20 4:22 4:22 PM PM

GO GROUPER FISHING,

NOT JUST BOTTOM FISHING Tim Barefoot

t’s not a coincidence...people who go “grouper fishing” come home with grouper in the box. People who go “bottom fishing” might catch a grouper, but they are more likely to fill the cooler with grunts, pinkies and sea bass. If you’re dropping cut squid and minnows on a high-low (chicken rig), you’ll have plenty of action, but you are not fishing for grouper. In order to specifically target grouper, you have to put baits on the bottom, and tackle that will accommodate that bait, in order to eliminate the trash bites. I love to eat grunts, pinkies and sea bass as much as the next guy, but I specifically target the grouper bite with the size and kind of bait I use. From an anchored boat, I typically start everyone out with whole squid and minnows to get the party going on the bottom. This creates a “chum slick” and gets the fish all excited. After half a dozen drops of sacrificial baits each, we change over to larger live and butterflied baits. Wherever you fish, the best bait to use is the bait that is there. That’s why I stay on the sabiki while everyone else is sending down squid. I’m fishing for grass grunts and beeliners (vermillion snapper) to be used live or butterflied. Don’t think for a minute that a 12inch beeliner is too big to use as bait. It’s not. A foot-long butterflied beeliner is the perfect bait for a big grouper.

The idea is to use baits that grunts and pinkies can’t fit in their mouths. If they do eat it, it will take them a long time and a lot of small bites. The angler must be patient with big baits like this. You’ll feel a lot of little “tap, tap, taps,” and then all of a sudden the little fish will stop biting. When the nibbling stops, it’s time to get ready. A lull often signifies the arrival of a bigger fish. It’s getting ready to happen! Live grass grunts on a Decoy Jig are probably my go-to big gag grouper bait, but a big butterflied beeliner is just as good. In the past, when we had abundant and inexpensive bait like frozen cigar minnows and sardines in 5-pound boxes, it was easy to take a few boxes of minnows and a couple boxes of squid for these sacrificial “chum” baits. Now, we have to be more creative. I keep a pinfish trap fishing a few days before a trip and butterfly a large bag of the biggest pinfish. You can also sabiki or cast net larger pinfish on any wreck or fish-cleaning station with a little chum. Cast net a few dozen big turbo pogies (menhaden) as a back-up if you can’t find big pinfish. If you’re interested in catching big grouper, fish big baits on heavy-duty tackle, and be ready for the big bite! For a video on how to butterfly baits, see https://youtu.be/UzdxiTkjvHI.

For more great rigging and jigging tips, go to

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Finding Trout On

SUMMERTIME TAILWATERS

By CAM Staff

f you’re looking for a way to beat the summer heat, fishing a tailwater trout stream is an obvious choice. With predictable flows controlled by hydroelectric dams, these are waters where temperature and oxygen content remain relatively stable year round. For trout and angler alike, tailrace fisheries are an oasis in the deep summer heat. While life in all but the highest-elevation free-flowing streams is suffering from heat-induced lethargy, tailwater trout remain active and healthy. Whether it’s the White River in Arkansas, Maryland’s Gunpowder Falls or Georgia’s Toccoa River, there are some constants when it comes to fishing tactics in deep summer. No two rivers fish the same, but trout prefer similar conditions wherever they live. • Fish High — When cold water from the bottom of a deep reservoir is pulled through generation turbines under various methods of oxygenation, flows released below the dam offer excellent conditions for trout. This only extends so

far downstream, though. Summer heat and the sun warm the water, which is also robbed of its oxygen content in the absence of aerating shoals. For anglers on most tailwaters, this means the first few miles below the dam will be the best place to fish. • Fish The Morning — In the depths of winter, sleeping in and fishing the warmest part of the day is often recommended. The opposite is true in summer. Anglers and trout will be more comfortable in the early morning before the sun has had a chance to heat the shallows. Fish are more likely to be up and feeding when the sun is not cooking their backs. Get on the water at daybreak for a few hours of action and then go eat brunch.

• Fish The Shoals — Shoal-broken water has more oxygen. Trout seek out water with higher oxygen content, and their metabolisms also churn when there’s more oxygen in the system. Especially in low-light conditions, work the runs and pockets in the shoals to find actively feeding fish. • Fish The Holes — Find a good deep hole beneath a turbulent shoal and use plenty of weight to dredge the bottom. Deeper water is colder water. When water temps begin to rise, trout go deep. You might find a pod of hungry trout hugging the bottom, or you might find that one fish big enough to have the whole lie to herself.

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Limited to the first 1600 orders from this ad only

Uniquely American stone ignites romance

n May 18, 1980, the once-slumbering Mount St. Helens erupted in the Pacific Northwest. It was the most impressive display of nature’s power in North America’s recorded history. But even more impressive is what emerged from the chaos... a spectacular new creation born of ancient minerals named Helenite. Its lush, vivid color and amazing story instantly captured the attention of jewelry connoisseurs worldwide. You can now have four carats of the world’s newest stone for an absolutely unbelievable price. Known as America’s emerald, Helenite makes it possible to give her a stone that’s brighter and has more fire than any emerald without paying the exorbitant price. In fact, this many carats of an emerald that looks this perfect and glows this green would cost you upwards of $80,000. Your more beautiful and much more affordable option features a perfect teardrop of Helenite set in gold-covered sterling silver suspended from a chain accented with even more verdant Helenite. Limited Reserves. As one of the largest EXCLUSIVE gemstone dealers in the world, we buy more carats of Helenite than anyone, which lets us give you a great price. However, this much gorgeous green Helenite Earrings for this price won’t last long. Don’t miss out. Helenite is only found in -a one section of Washington State, so with purchase of call today! Helenite Necklace Romance guaranteed or your money back. Experience the scintillating beauty of the Helenite Teardrop Necklace for 30 days and if she isn’t completely in love with it send it back for a full refund of the item price. You can even keep the stud earrings as our thank you for giving us a try.

4 carats of shimmering Helenite

FREE

$129 value-



“I love these pieces... it just glowed... so beautiful!” — S.S., Salem, OR

Helenite Teardrop Necklace (4 ¼ ctw) $299* ..... Only $129 +S&P Helenite Stud Earrings (1 ctw) ....................................... $129 +S&P

Helenite Set (5 ¼ ctw) $428* ...... Call-in price only $129 +S&P (Set includes necklace and stud earrings)

Call now and mention the offer code to receive FREE earrings.

1-800-333-2045 Offer Code HEN304-01

You must use the offer code to get our special price.

Stauer Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HEN304-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color

* Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

• 4 ¼ ctw of American Helenite and the Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® — Gold-finished .925 sterling silver settings — 16" chain with 2" extender and lobster clasp

Stau e r … A f f or d the E x tr ao r di n a r y .®

Meet the Watch That Shook Up Switzerland A watch that revolutionized timekeeping at a price equally as radical.

Wear it today for only

$39

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

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Timemaster Piezo Watch $299*

TAKE 8

Offer Code Price Only $39 + S&P Save $260 OFF IN 7% STA

NTLY!

1-800-333-2045

When you use

Your Insider Offer Code: TPW221-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. TPW221-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

Rating of A+

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

your

INSIDER OFFER CO DE

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