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SMOKY MOUNTAIN TROUT

AREA CATCH REPORTS VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 317

F R A N C H I S E

SCHOOLING SUMMER

BASS

PHOTO COURTESY OF TARA JO SAWYER INSTAGRAM: @TARA_FISHING

THEANGLERMAG.COM O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

AUGUST 2021

Upper Class Just Got Lower Priced Finally, luxury built for value— not for false status

ntil Stauer came along, you needed an inheritance to buy a timepiece with class and refinement. Not any more. The Stauer Magnificat II embodies the impeccable quality and engineering once found only in the watch collections of the idle rich. Today, it can be on your wrist. The Magnificat II has the kind of thoughtful design that harkens back to those rare, 150-year-old moon phases that once could only be found under glass in a collector’s trophy room. Powered by 27 jewels, the Magnificat II is wound by the movement of your body. An exhibition back reveals the genius of the engineering and lets you witness the automatic rotor that enables you to wind the watch with a simple flick of your wrist. It took three years of development and $26 million in advanced Swiss-built watch-making machinery to create the Magnificat II. When we took the watch to renowned watchmaker and watch historian George Thomas, he disassembled it and studied the escapement, balance wheel and the rotor. He remarked on the detailed guilloche face, gilt winding crown, and the crocodile-embossed leather band. He was intrigued by the three interior dials for day, date, and 24-hour moon phases. He estimated that this fine timepiece would cost over $2,500. We all smiled and told him that the Stauer price was less than $100. A truly magnificent watch at a truly magnificent price! Try the Magnificat II for 30 days and if you are not receiving compliments, please return the watch for a full refund of the purchase price. The precision-built movement carries a 2 year warranty against defect. If you trust your own good taste, the Magnificat II is built for you.

Stauer Magnificat II Timepiece $399* Offer Code Price

$99 + S&P SAVE $300!

The Stauer Magnificat II is powered by your own movement

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

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Your Offer Code: MAG571-08

Stauer

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. MAG571-08 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

www.stauer.com

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

• Luxurious gold-finished case with exposition back • 27-jeweled automatic movement • Croc-embossed band fits wrists 6¾"–8½" • Water-resistant to 3 ATM

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

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Now, THIS is a Knife! This 16" full tang stainless steel blade is not for the faint of heart —now ONLY $99!

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n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip BONUS! Call today and through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you’ll also receive this you under. Call today! genuine leather sheath!

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 value-

with purchase of Down Under Knife

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives

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“This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN

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“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” — H., Arvada, CO

Down Under Bowie Knife $249*

Offer Code Price Only $99 + S&P Save $150

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DUK212-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price. Rating of A+

Stauer

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DUK212-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

*Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the shown listed original Stauer.com price. actual size.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

FRANCHISOR-CORPORATE DIRECTORY

EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com COO : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Laura Kelly • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Ryan Clapper • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING & FRANCHISE INQUIRIES:

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Franchise Opportunities Now Available If you love the outdoors and dream of being in business for yourself, now is the time to choose a Coastal Angler or The Angler Magazine Franchise.

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4 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Sizzling Hot Deals From Suzuki’s Summer Sales Event Suzuki’s Summer Sales Event is finally here! It’s time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for a sizzling hot deal on the Ultimate Outboard Motor. You can get Low-Rate Financing on the all new DF140BG with Drive by Wire Technology, or our Flagship DF350. Get all the details at your participating Suzuki Marine Dealer.

REPOWER FINANCE

YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY†

REPOWER FINANCE Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]

*REPOWER FINANCE is available through Synchrony Retail Finance, as low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors, subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories, or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between from July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021. †5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. The Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine, USA, LLC.

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ISTIOPHORUS: THE MYSTERIOUS SAILFISH

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

he sailfish is one of the most commonly caught billfish. Due to its proclivity for shallower coastal waters and frequency of ascension to the surface, the odds of catching one of these beauties can be much greater than for other billfish. There is little scientific certainty about the mysterious behavior of sailfish. They exhibit a general migratory pattern throughout the year, but they often break their own rules and show up unexpectedly. Summer sailfish catches are generally more associated with the Gulf of Mexico, yet they do appear on the Atlantic coast this time of year, as well. Sailfishing in the Florida Keys is usually a late autumn and early spring

bite. It can be an absolute catching frenzy. However, in July, following the passage of tropical storm Elsa, sailfish were seen tailing at the surface, cruising the waves along a strong current line off of Marathon Key. It was a bizarre and welcomed phenomenon. The conditions that followed the storm created a concise current line, with greener nearshore waters touching the blue water, and a milky powder-blue highway running down the center. Sailfish were spotted swimming east to west at the top of the waves, and seemed to dive deeper to circle back. The locals are no strangers to this phenomenon that occurs in the Keys. Though the time of year may be unpredictable, anglers are always ready to make the most of it. This type of fishing requires polarized sunglasses and a tower boat. Slowly creeping through the powder blue highway, scan the waves for black torpedo shapes or blobs that resemble black garbage bags. Hunt for the opportunity to sight cast live baits. Without the visual vantage of a tower, trolling lures or bump trolling live bait may be more productive than trying to spot them from deck level. Sailfish truly are an incredible and unpredictable species. Very few have been successfully tagged, and few have held a tag long enough to transmit much information. Of those tagged for up to a year, their patterns were generally erratic. They seem to be extremely transient, foraging and spawning in many different coastal regions, predictably unpredictable, like majestic aquatic gypsies. Commonalities in their behavior are that they primarily stay within a water temperature of approximately 80 degrees; they mostly stay near the surface, rarely diving below 300 feet; and they exhibit extremely curious evening routines. All of the transmissions showed sailfish spending the evening within 30 feet of the surface, descending briefly before sunrise and sunset. They were also observed to be active nightly, seemingly unaffected by lunar phases. Help uncover the mysteries of sailfish by reporting tagged fish or by visiting billfish.org to purchase a tagging kit. Remember to handle sailfish with care and revive them before release when necessary. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla. Check her out her Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn, her website CaptainQuinlyn.com, or call (504) 920-6342.

MFD

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 7

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Actual size is 40.6 mm

W N E IG S N DE

The Biggest Event In Silver Dollar History!

he American Silver Eagle has been the most popular silver coin on the planet since its introduction in 1986. Its beautiful, iconic design inspires collectors, and investors love it because it’s struck in one full ounce of 99.9% fine silver, and guaranteed for weight and fineness by the U.S. Government. Now in 2021, for the first time ever, the coin’s design is changing.

The Most Important Coins in the Modern Era

When President Ronald Reagan signed the Liberty Coin Act into law, he didn’t know American Eagles would have the impact they’ve had, year after year. The coins were so popular that between 1986 and 2020, over 535 million were struck. That’s more than HALF A BILLION coins, easily making Silver Eagles the most bought coins in the world. Hugely popular now, Silver Eagles may soon become even more popular!

Collectors Crave Firsts

Collectors covet coins with Key Dates. Key Dates mark significance in a coin’s history...firsts, lasts, lowest mintage,

new finishes and new designs. Now, for the first time in over three-and-a-half decades, the Silver Eagle is getting a new design, leading to a historic “first” unlike anything we’ve seen. The iconic Heraldic Eagle reverse is being replaced by a beautiful new “Eagle Landing” design. This is arguably a bigger deal than even the actual introduction of the coin because there’s so much more interest now than in 1986, with investors and collectors!

If You Knew Then What You Know Now...

If you’d had a crystal ball in 1986, you undoubtedly would have grabbed every Silver Eagle you could get. Those coins in uncirculated condition continue to be sought-after. Now you’re getting another chance to land a big Silver Eagle first, a Key Date. Additionally, since these newly designed Silver Eagles are only being released during the second half of 2021, it’s quite possible this will be one of the lowest mintages we’ve seen. That’s significant because it could make 2021 a DOUBLE Key Date, with both a new design and a low mintage. Demand for these coins is already sky-high, but if that

happens, watch out! No one can predict the future value of silver, but many Americans are rushing to stock up, for themselves, and their loved ones.

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GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. NRE155-02 • 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. © 2021 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

DADDYghter u a DOFF DAYS VIRGINIA BEACH

By Nick Carter

or Matt Metelsky, daddy-daughter time with his 17-year-old is a little more involved than a trip to the ice cream parlor. Matt’s daughter Lily is a rising high school senior. She loves nothing more than waking up at 2 a.m. to run 85 miles off Virginia Beach and troll the edge of the Continental Shelf with her dad. In late June, the duo fished the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament, where Lily placed second in the Lady Angler division with a yellowfin that weighed 39.9 pounds. But that’s not her biggest tuna to-date. Her heaviest yellowfin weighed 44 pounds. She caught it last summer, and at 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds, it took her about 15 minutes to haul it in stand-up with a belt. “I don’t know. We do wood work on the side, so we load wood, and I guess that gives you some back strength,” Lily offered as explanation for feats of fishing strength. “We always stay active. With Dad, it’s work hard, play harder.” Lily’s strength and stamina are a given considering she qualified and is working as an oceanfront lifeguard at Virginia Beach this summer. Matt, however, has another explanation for his daughter’s skill, as well as her love for this hard-core style of fishing. Lily was 5 years old when Matt purchased his Contender 25 with twin 150s. At a tender age, Lily cut her teeth going toe-to-toe with hard-pulling spadefish in 50 feet of water, 20 miles offshore. “I’m thinking the technique she picked up with those spades when she was little just kind of morphed over into the tuna,” Matt said. “It really amazes

me she is able to battle those things stand-up.” Lily began joining Matt for long days offshore when she turned 13. She was 15 the summer of 2019 when she was first physically able to handle a yellowfin—a 26-pounder—by herself. But pumping and reeling aren’t Lily’s only deck duties. She helps rig and bait and steers the boat while her dad deploys an eight-rod spread on the Gulf Stream. Last Jan. 11, she manned the helm while Matt battled a 550-pound bluefin. When the handle on the 50w reel broke under the stress, it was Lily’s idea to improvise with a screwdriver and electrical tape to eventually land that fish. The peak yellowfin season is June and July out of Rudee Inlet. Matt and Lily make five or six trips a summer, often with friends. Normal days consist of two or three tuna, some bonita and mahi, and occasionally a white marlin. Two or three times a year, January and February bluefin trips are just for the two of them. There aren’t many people interested in waiting on one big bite in brutal mid-winter conditions, anyway. “She’s just tough as nails,” Matt said of his daughter. “I don’t know how else to describe it. She’s just tough.” Lily doesn’t seem to perceive any hardship. She considers herself lucky to be able to spend time with her dad on the water. “When we’re out there on the boat, it’s just so peaceful,” she said. “I pretty much sleep the whole time. When that reel goes off, that’s my alarm.” For more action from Virginia Beach, visit coastalanglermag.com/tidewater-obx/.

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W r C g e o Y w f s B w h H a o M s a c Q

10 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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A gemstone 10,000 times rarer than diamonds

So rare, you can only find it one place on earth. Two, if you count Stauer! Over 7 carats of ethereal Larimar— From a remote Caribbean mountain

he rarity of larimar is legendary. Its exquisite beauty, unique color and scarcity make it a truly treasured gem. Found in only one square kilometer of the world, the ONLY source of larimar lies in the relatively inaccessible Bahoruco’s mountains in the Caribbean. Formed by unique combination of volcanic minerals and geological conditions, larimar is very dangerous to get to and therefore is only mined 5 months out of the year. Because of its rarity, few people have ever seen larimar, and it is only recently that the Caribbean yielded its secret to us. But luckily, the prices are not controlled by a syndicate so this rare stone is still affordable, as long as you know where to look. And, you’ve come to the right place, we are your ticket to paradise. We’ve crafted rare larimar into remarkable jewelry that’s also remarkably affordable. Each stone in our Sea of Love Larimar Collection is a picture of perfect swirling blue. Nature guarantees that no two larimar gemstones will be exactly alike, each has a wispy white swirl that looks like the highest clouds on a sun-filled day. You could spend PRAISE FOR STAUER LARIMAR RINGS well over $1,000 “There are not enough adjectives in for a larimar ring the dictionary to describe the beauty set in sterling silver. and excellence of this ring. Buy it, do But why would you not wait.” — C., Longwood, FL when you can bring her this gorgeous stone for an exclusive Stauer price. Her Satisfaction is 100% Guaranteed. If she’s not swept away within 30 days, simply return your purchase for a refund of the item price. Mother Nature has given us such a small quantity of this beautiful stone and there is no way to replenish the few carats that are available. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own this captivating gemstone that’s 10,000 times rarer than diamonds. Quantities are extremely limited, so please act quickly!

Add the entire collection to your jewelry ensemble C.

Jewelry shown is not exact size

Sea of Love Larimar Collection

A. Ring (7 ¹⁄2 carat) ............................... $299 $99* Save $200 B. Earrings (5 ctw) ..............................$299 $99* Save $200 C. Pendant (7 ¹⁄2 carat) ..........................$299 $149* Save $150 18" Sterling Silver Cable Chain ........... $59 D. 7 ¹⁄2" Bracelet (7 ³⁄4 ctw) .....................$299 $149* Save $150 Pendant, Chain, Earrings & Bracelet $956 $299 Save $657 Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collection.

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Stauer

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By Nick Carter

BAY COUNTY’S

t the mid-point of the Florida Panhandle, St. Andrew Bay dominates the map of Bay County, flanking Panama City on three sides. It’s a 107-square-mile inshore playground that bustles with all sorts of watersports during the heavy tourism months. But there’s a quieter side to St. Andrew. With access points spread throughout Bay County, skinny water is where it’s at for redfish anglers. The water is clear and maintains predictably high salinity thanks to limited freshwater inflow. There are vast prairies of spartina grass, cut through with channels, as well as acres of sand, mud and grass flats. Much of it is accessible only to shallow-draft vessels, and therein is the allure for folks seeking respite 2 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2021

from party pontoons and jet skis. When you’re in less than 2 feet of water, the only other boats you’ll see are kayaks, paddleboards and flats skiffs. “I fell in love with inshore fishing and kayaking here because of the ease and lower expense,” said Josh Damon, who hails from Fountain, Fla., about 25 miles north of Panama City. “I enjoy the tranquility and access to areas big boats can’t reach.” The fishing is good, too. Damon is a passionate angler who enjoys inshore tournaments, so he specializes in redfish on artificials. He said a good day might results in five or six reds from 18 to 24 inches, with a few trout or flounder thrown into a mixed bag. He fishes from a paddle-powered kayak, which is perfectly at home in the one-and-a-half-foot depths he prefers. Redfish are comfortable and free from predatory threats in extreme shallows, and it’s also where the food is. St. Andrew reds grow fat on mullet, mud minnows, pinfish and a variety of other little baitfish. With good visibility, sight fishing is a good tactic. This time of year, there’s usually a good topwater bite in the mornings and evenings, and walking baits are a favorite of many anglers. Damon, however, fishes soft plastics almost exclusively. With tackle modifications, they can be worked across the top, bounced on the bottom or fished anywhere in between. They’re delicate enough for sight casting and also make great chunk-and-wind search baits. “Aside from the versatility of a soft-plastic bait, I don’t want a fish flopping around in the kayak with six hooks,” Damon said. At St. Andrew, Damon’s go-to lure is a 4-inch D.O.A. C.A.L. Shad Tail rigged on a 1/8-ounce 4/0 Screw Lock jig head. He likes the Houdini color and dresses it with Kings Stank Stick, a scent product he said increases hookups. He fishes variations of this set-up, but this basic rig gets the job done. For safety reasons as well effective fishing, planning is key. Damon studies wind and tide before selecting a put-in on a given day. With the whole bay to choose from, he’s looking for a location that will provide long drifts over productive water. Follow Josh Damon’s adventures on his Facebook page Josh Damon’s Inshore Fishing. For information on kayaking the Panama City area, check out Sunjammers at www.sunjammers.com.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PHAMILY CUSTOM 360 KAYAK LIGHTS

IN THE

STILL OF THE NIGHT By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

ith the dog days upon us, night fishing can be productive and much more comfortable than slogging it out during the heat of the day. Many fish feed aggressively in the still of the night. They can be

targeted by anglers in multiple ways in different locations. Here are a few options to try. I’ve utilized all three methods and found success with each. • Perhaps the coolest strategy is wade fishing in the dark. Large trout and redfish move unbelievably shallow under the cover of the night sky, and tossing a topwater plug on the flats can result in exciting explosions. I typically wade in the dark without lights, other than a headlamp for changing lures or unhooking fish. With vision impaired, your sense of hearing is on high alert. Nighttime is quiet on the water, which makes the commotion of a topwater take startling. It can give the impression that a fish is larger than it really is. That’s part of the excitement of a topwater bite! For safety reasons, I only wade at night in areas I know well and have fished many times. • Another way to beat the heat is to focus on dock lights. This can be done from the dock, a kayak or a boat. Many canal homes have lights, both under water and above the surface. Lights attract baitfish, which in-turn attract the gamefish we target. Trout, reds and snook are all drawn to baitfish around lights at night. I like to target these areas with smaller lures. In this situation, I’ve had a lot of success throwing my Knockin Tail Lures, which are soft-plastic paddletails with a built-in rattle. Small, lipped hard baits can also be very productive around canal lights. I prefer natural colors, with some shade of white or clear and some silver mixed in. • Fish also feed around rock jetties at night. The setup for this bite requires a little more work, but it can yield terrific results. When jetty fishing, I bring a generator and two 1,500 watt stage lights. These areas typically have more current, so I fish slightly larger lipped hard lures, but I still go with the smallest lure I can work properly in the current. I stick with the same color pattern as mentioned earlier. The channel and surf side of the rocks can both be productive depending on the tide, water clarity and bait presence. I recommend pointing one light in each direction until you determine which areas have the best conditions. Night fishing definitely brings new challenges, but it can offer some of the best catching of the summer. Remember, safety first and don’t fish alone. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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SCALLOPING

Reports Look Mighty Good

By CAM Staff

eports from a few of the historic scalloping hotspots indicated a very good beginning to the season. Capt. Katie Jo Davis, of KD Outdoors Fishing Charters, said scalloping out of Crystal River and Homosassa has been great. “It’s been fantastic. It’s been a lot better year than the last few to be sure,” she said. “They have also been larger than in recent years. The quantity and quality are very good, and I expect it to continue into August and September.” Davis said they are finding scallops six and seven at a time in 2 to 6 feet of water. She took her 6-year-old out, and it took them about an hour to get their 2-gallon limit. Up in Steinhatchee, there are reports of plentiful scallops. Headed north out of the river, scallopers are seeing tons of scallops in 6- to 7-foot depths. The bottom is loaded with them, but they are on the small side. Headed south, scallops are running larger, but there are not as many. Either way, quick limits are being reported. With the bulk of the season still ahead for most of the scalloping zones and Gulf County opening up this month, it’s shaping up to be a mighty good year for scallops. For regulations and information, go to myfwc.com.

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OKEECHOBEE Serving Okeechobee, Highlands, Glades and Hendry Counties

Welcome!

To the First Edition of The Angler Magazine

Okeechobee Serving Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, and Hendry Counties

Featured in this issue Pg 2 Sara Menendez Interview Pg 4 Chapman School of Seamanship Pg 5 The Voice of Okeechobee Fishing Pg 6 One Man's Thoughts Pg 7 A Long Way Home Pg 8 Huntin Hawgs in Highlands County Pg 9 Angler Profile Pg 10 Determining the Best Freshwater Fishing Times Pg 17 Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats Report & Forecast Pg 18 Okeechobee Fishing Report from the South End Pg 19 Southwest Florida Freshwater Report & Forecast Pg 21 Four County Bass Tournament Schedule for August

Staff Don Norton Natalie Lopez Amy Norton Louie Echols Chris Norton

Publisher Graphics Distribution Sales Technical Director

any of you may remember the Coastal Angler Magazine from the past. It was a very popular magazine that was published and distributed in this area for a number of years until 2017. The magazine promoted freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, camping and all outdoor sports. Well, this is the same publication, minus the word Coastal in the name. Don Norton My name is Don Norton and I purchased Co-Publisher the franchise in early June, 2021. Some of you may remember me from a number of articles I wrote in the old issues of the Coastal Angler Magazine. I’ve also been writing fishing columns for the Highlands News-Sun off and on since 2004. I’m originally from Northeastern Ohio and I moved my family to Florida in 1990. Continued on page 24

Lake Istokpoga Photo by: Delma Wright

Sara Menendez Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission By TAM Staff

Florida native, Sara Menendez was born in Tampa but spent the majority of her childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. She moved back to Florida to attend the University of Tampa and got her bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology. She then went on to the University of Southern Mississippi to earn her Master’s degree in Fish Ecology. As a kid, Sara grew up loving the ocean. Fish and conservation were always on her mind. She was always picking up trash along beach shorelines that someone else left behind and she knew early on, what she wanted to do with her life. Sara was interested in how fish interact with other fish, as well as, with other species and their habitat. While in graduate school, her freshwater studies focused on the Pascagoula River in Southeastern Mississippi, which drains into the Mississippi Sound and then into the Gulf of Mexico. The Pascagoula proved to be unique for her studies since it was the largest, unimpounded (no dams or lakes) river system remaining in the country. Sara indicated that the Pascagoula River system has been studied since the 1970’s, and because of its uniqueness, it has remained a very pristine, clean body of water. During her time of study, the fish population changed. So, her job was to find out why. Hurricane Katrina hit the area in 2005, which had a big impact on the river by pushing saltwater upstream into the freshwater sections and changing the dynamics of the water quality. The brackish, saltwater and debris from the catastrophic hurricane winds, not only changed the quality of the water, but it changed the fish populations as well. Fish that could withstand the sudden impacts of the hurricane survived and multiplied, while those that could not tolerate the salty, post-hurricane conditions, died off and were not as abundant in fish populations sampled in the many years after Hurricane Katrina. After completing her degree work at University of Southern Mississippi, she moved back to Tampa and started working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission in Lakeland. Her main areas of responsibility as a fisheries biologist are lakes in Highlands County, which is part of the Southwest region. Her focus is on lakes that receive the most fishing pressure 2 OKEECHOBEE

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- Lake Istokpoga, Lake June-in-Winter, Lake Placid, and Lake Josephine - although she also tries to focus on all of the lakes within Highlands County. Her primary attention is directed towards monitoring the fisheries in each of these lakes. Sara works closely with other FWC team members, like the Invasive Plant Management (IPM) and Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Section (AHRE) sections to discuss lake management techniques like spraying efforts, vegetation planting, and communicating important information with the public. I asked her questions about the sores and lesions that anglers have found on many of the largemouth bass and she believes they are a natural occurrence, and not a result of spraying herbicides. She explained that just like human beings, fish can develop these abnormalities due to genetics, predation from birds or other wildlife, or from common fish diseases that are naturally occurring in the lake. Anytime a fish’s slime coat is removed by an abrasion, cut or even a parasite, bacteria can invade and cause an infectious lesion or sore. She went on to explain

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that a number of studies have been conducted on the soil taken from the bottom of different lakes, including Lake Istokpoga, and there was no evidence of residual herbicides found. Could stress be a factor to these sores and lesions? Absolutely. Sara indicated that FWC has a fish health team, and that they are constantly looking into questions involving fish health and would know more as their research continues in the future. I mentioned that many bass fishermen felt like Lake Istokpoga just wasn’t as good as it used to be, and that the fish population had declined dramatically over the last few years. She told me that while largemouth bass catch rate numbers are not as strong as what has been seen in historic data from 10-20 years ago, the lake is slowly rebounding and catch rates are improving. The lake has changed over the years, as most lakes do. In 2017, Hurricane Irma blew through the shallow waters changing specific habitats that bass had been using for years. The loss of aquatic vegetation such as eelgrass, peppergrass and hydrilla made it more difficult for anglers to target fish successfully. Catch rates from both FWC angler surveys and electrofishing sampling showed a decline immediately following Hurricane Irma, but the population is rebounding. When the FWC shocking crew hit the water in February 2021, they shocked up 196 bass, this was the highest number sampled since Hurricane Irma. Of the fish captured in 2021, 12 of those weighed 8 pounds or more and the biggest was just over 10 pounds. We talked at length about bass tournaments and what, if any negative impact they might have on the largemouth bass species. Sara said the mortality rate from bass tournaments is very low, due to the length at which bass fishermen go to ensure a live release.

She said that this is why it is important for anglers to properly release fish away from tournament weigh-in sites to ensure highest survival rates of the bass. In the month of June alone, there were a number of bass tournaments weighing in 5 fish bag limits of 25 pounds or more. Some even had winning weights of 30+ pounds. Not many lakes can produce that many large fish and continue producing them year after year. Florida’s TrophyCatch program is proof of the incredible fishing in Highlands County. TrophyCatch is FWC’s angler recognition program – if a bass that is over 8 pounds is caught, anglers should register it to FWC’s TrophyCatch website for the chance to win prizes. Lake Placid ranks in the Top 5 lakes for TrophyCatch submissions from January-April 2021, while Lake Istokpoga ranks 3rd overall in the state for bass over 8 pounds entered into the TrophyCatch program since the program began 9 seasons ago. As a biologist, Sara understands the relationship of healthy vegetation and the fish population. She mentioned that the FWC is involved in replanting native plants, like Illinois pondweed and eelgrass that have disappeared from the lake as a result of Hurricane Irma. These native

plants provide a diverse habitat for all fish and wildlife to live in. In fact, currently there is over 3 ½ miles of shoreline on the eastern shore of the lake that has flourishing eelgrass. Sara acknowledged that there is not much, if any hydrilla in the lake currently, but that could change, given how quickly the invasive plant grows. In the Lake Istokpoga Habitat Management Plan that went into effect in Spring 2020, the FWC will allow up to 2,500 acres of hydrilla in the lake before they take any action to cut it back, unless it’s blocking navigational access or outcompeting native aquatic vegetation. When hydrilla is not managed, it can cause navigational issues, flooding issues, and takes over native plant habitat. Just for the record, soil samples of the lake have been tested and it will grow tomatoes and hydrilla, so there’s nothing to stop the hydrilla from coming back other than Mother Nature. Sara loves her job, and she enjoys meeting fishermen and women on the lake when FWC is conducting their electrofishing samples or when she rides along with Pete Ruiz, who conducts their annual creel surveys. If you fish Lake Istokpoga, Lake Placid or Lake June-in-Winter, you’re sure to run into Sara. She’s looking forward to meeting you.

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AUGUST 2021

OKEECHOBEE 3

Why You Should Donate Your Boat to the Chapman School of Seamanship By Chris Norton

About the Chapman School of Seamanship

ounded by the late Charles F. Chapman and the late Glen D. Castle, the Chapman School has trained over 20,000 students since opening its doors in 1971. Since its inception, the School has grown from a single vessel to a modern campus of classrooms, labs, dormitories, and large training fleet - both power and sail. The Chapman School is a world renowned boat school that encompasses 9 waterfront acres in South Florida, located just minutes by water from both the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Atlantic Ocean. The school’s location of less than 90 nautical miles from the Bahamas allowing convenient access to some of the best cruising waters in the Caribbean for our Offshore Training Programs. The Chapman School continues to focus on its mission of providing the highest quality boating education in a “Learn at the Helm” approach for both the novice and experienced, professional and recreational boater.

Why should you donate your boat?

Boat Donations are Tax Deductible. In the United States, charitable giving to qualified non-profit organizations has long been encouraged by the federal government. The IRS encourages financial support of these organizations. The Charles F. Chapman School of Seamanship, Inc. qualifies as such an entity, under IRS Code 501 (c)(3) and the IRS has continued our designation of this approval since 1971 Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, FL is one of the few non-profits that can legitimately use your vessel in our training programs, i.e. boat handling, floating classroom to teach marine surveying, boat maintenance projects, as well as systems, electrical, and engines. The term “significant intervening use” is an important consideration in choosing the right non-profit for your donation. In that regard, according to the IRS: “Section 7.01 (1) of Notice 2005-44, 20051 C.B. 1287, states that to constitute a significant intervening use, a donee organization must actually use the qualified vehicle to substantially further the organization’s regularly conducted activities, and the use must be significant. Incidental use by an organization is not a significant intervening use. Whether a use is significant intervening use depends on its nature, extent, frequency, and duration.”

How Do You Benefit?

Have the satisfaction of knowing that your tax deductible donation benefits the students and maritime programs of Chapman School. Eliminate the time, energy, expense and stress involved in trying to sell your boat. End all expenses now for dockage, insurance, maintenance, storage, repairs, financial investment and interest.Pay no sale commissions, avoid providing buyer’s marine surveys or dealing with sea trials. Complete the entire transaction in a few days. 4 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2021

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How Does the School Benefit? • Grant scholarships to deserving students. • Expand our training programs to meet maritime needs. • Update our technology for use in our classrooms. • Hire licensed, professional mariners as instructors. • Expand our facilities & training programs.

How to Donate My Boat 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Contact the Chapman School An Inspection is arranged Paperwork is provided for filing Delivery is arranged at no cost to you Your tax deductible donation is complete

For Donations Contact Donations at: (772) 281-1782 Donations Email: donations@chapman.org

Steve Daniel

The Voice of Okeechobee Fishing Steve Daniel • 239.560.2704 • 863.885.2230

Okeechobee Bream just speed up the retrieve usually this works. I hope this helps the anglers looking to fill the coolers with these great eating fish, remember the limit is 50 per angler with no size limit. Just because I use the spinners there are other ways to catch bream on the Big O, I recently got the opportunity to fish with David Castlen probably the best fly fisherman I’ve ever had in my boat and he showed me you can catch Okeechobee bream on his home made bugs. I went home and dug out my old fly rod dusted off the cob webs and added it to my collection of rods for Okeechobee bream. Okeechobee is by far the best bream lake in the world that is why you see so many boats from all over the south here in the summer time, even though its getting late in the summer there are always a great number of bream still spawning. If you want to see firsthand me catching bream on my special lure go to YouTube, look up Roland Martin fishing and go till you see Okeechobee bluegill and watch me school Roland on catching these great fish.

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Steve Daniel schooling Roland Martin on how to catch Okeechobee brim

t’s the end of the great summertime bream fishing but there is always some late spawnners on the Big O. If you get the chance to experience the bream spawn here on the Big O here are some of the things I do to catch these great eating fish. First let’s talk about rods and reels. Medium action spinning rods with reels spooled up with 10lb. braid; any of the braided lines are good. The reason I use braid is the fact it is very small in diameter but strong enough to cut through the grass if one of those big bream runs into the grass. Next let’s talk about the most important thing that is what is tied to the end of your line. My choice is the old beetle spin, if you are using the ones that are sold in every tackle shop around Okeechobee get the 1/32 in the black color. Here is what I do to build the perfect lure for bream fishing on the Big O. You can get all these components at your local wall-mart. I get the heads in 1/16oz in black; arkie sells them in packs of 10 heads. It is most important to get these heads with the smallest hooks available; bream have very small mouths so the small hooks are very important. You will also find the safety pin wires and blades sold by eagle claw; these are a little bit bigger and heavier than the original beetle spin in the stores. This combination is heaver and will cast much better than the 1/32ozm model. Sometimes I will buy the original beetle spin just to get the little black grubs from the package. Something I’ve done lately is buying the 2in. twister tail grub made by yum, wall-mart usually has these but make sure you get the 2in. and not the 3in. grub. I’ve made this mistake the 3in. is much to big. The 2in. model is really only about an inch long. Get the darkest color they have I would get black if they have it but I haven’t seen it in black at my wall-mart so I just get the darkest color they have. Now let’s talk about where to look for these late season bream. The best area I have found for me is around Rita Island, the water is clear and you can see the beds, stay as far from these beds as you can and make cast past the beds and just bring the bait back to the boat at a steady retrieve. One tip, if you see the bream just following your lure,

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AUGUST 2021

OKEECHOBEE 5

One Guy's Thought's

By Ly Nguyen

ishing in the central Florida area is an everchanging game. Whether it be the changing of the seasons, temperament of the target species, or water level in the lake, every angler must potentially be ready to try another technique. My name is Ly Nguyen and I am a lifelong Highlands County resident and recreational fisherman. I have fished the The Highlands Bass Anglers Tournament Trail since 2010 and have served as tournament director since 2013. I greatly enjoy fishing all the local charity tournaments, evening events and derbies throughout the year with my son. My son, Tyler, is a local high school student that has participated in the Florida B.A.S.S. Nations high school/ Jr. trail over the past 2 years and I have enjoyed being the captain in the boat to watch him win a few state level tournaments as well as be humbled with some poor finishes. Luckily enough for me, my wife and daughter also greatly enjoy the Florida outdoors. So most other free time tends to include my boat and some fishing tackle. That time on the water has given me a fair amount of knowledge of the local lakes of Highlands, Polk and Okeechobee. As I sat and tried to think what kind of article could I possibly write that would be interesting, entertaining and potentially helpful to someone at some point. After a few ideas came and went, I decided to do something similar to another publication that I had read entitled “A Day on the Lake”. Over the years I have found that no matter the body of water, I tend to always start with what worked last trip. Often that is a great starting point but as I stated in the first sentence of this article, fishing is an everchanging deal. With that being said each month I intend to fully cover the events of fishing day on a different body of water each month with my son, Tyler. In each article I will cover the fish catches, evaluate the choices made during the trip and discuss the condition of that body of water. As an example, I will use a recent trip to Lake Francis in Sebring during an evening time big bass derby. The event ran from 6-9 PM with the person catching the largest bass declared the winner. It was a very ominous evening with storms throughout the area. Prior to this event I actually only had been to this body of water once in my life. Drawing from my previous trip I decided to start in the scattered Kissimmee grass on the west side of the lake over stopping to fish the deeper water drop-offs because that was where I had gotten the most bites. Just minutes into the event I pitch my trusty 5-inch stick bait into the first opening in the grass and land my first fish. The fish measured 12 inches and I quickly placed it in the livewell as I was just happy to break the ice. Over the next 20 minutes I landed 5 more fish. They all were the same size as the first or smaller except one that measured 14 inches. I switched out the first fish for that one. All the while I was watching another angler in the tournament that was fishing offshore to see if that bite was the choice. To that point I had not seen him catch anything so I continued down the grass line. I fished down another 50 yards of grass over the next 30 minutes with no bites. At that point the thunder in the distance started to edge its way even closer. I made one quick pass through 6 OKEECHOBEE

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the short stretch that I had started and got no more bites. With the storm seeming inevitable I began to think maybe I should seek shelter but saw that angler still circling offshore so I made my way to a small canal that I saw on the google map in the northwest corner. I fished my way into the canal only to find very shallow but clean water with a dyke with a four-foot drop. After investing 45 minutes to that area and getting no bites I looked over my shoulder and the storm was on the edge of the opposite shoreline. At that point the angler offshore, I had been occasionally checking was packing up and driving towards the ramp. I opened my weather app and the storm looked to me to be going just north of us. I was feeling unsure and then a crack of lightning appeared off in the distance. It was motivation enough to think to myself maybe it’s time to go. I drove over towards the ramp to see how many other anglers were having the same idea. As I get over there, I notice the one angler loading up but all the other trailers were in the lot. I figured to myself why not fish while he loads and see what happens. I idled 5 boat docks to the west of the ramp and figured that would be enough time for the angler to clear the ramp and see what the storm would really do. After fishing the first couple unsuccessfully I came to the only couple docks with any vegetation between them, Kissimmee grass mixed with a few lily pads. I worked my way around the pockets and as I rounded the grass towards the next dock, I made my last pitch to the grass. As the bait almost got to the bottom, I felt the tick in the line so I set the hook. By the time I hooked the fish it had me wrapped in the grass enough to have me thinking this was a good one. I kept the line tight and luckily the fished worked itself out of the grass and swam up for a jump. Sadly, as the fish jumped it wasn’t the monster I had hoped. I landed the fish and put it on the golden ruler. The fish measured just over 17 inches. I change it out with the one in the well and check the time. It’s now 8:02 with an 8:34 weigh in. The storm seemed to be holding off so I decided to continue to fish. I continued to fish working myself passed the boat ramp and down several more docks with no more bites. The time came to show and tell. Upon getting back to the ramp it seemed everyone had caught something but no real wall hangers showed up. During the eye ball test, it was determined my fish and one other were the clear leaders. I placed my fish on the scale and watched it total at 2 pounds 8 ounces. The other angler comes up and places his fish on the scale and to my surprise, 2 pounds 7 ounces. I had won! That always makes for a sweeter ride home for sure. Reflecting back on this trip to the lake, the first thing I think to myself is why didn’t I leave when that lightning hit because that was the safe thing to do. I’d like to tell myself that I was paying attention to the radar and watched closely. I went to the lake intending to use multiple techniques. I got stuck on one bait because the fish seemed to say right out of the box that it was what they wanted. Had the angler offshore caught anything while I was watching it would have greatly influenced my decisions as well. I feel that lake has great potential and over the years have had many tell me they caught their personal bests out there. The water is quite fertile looking and the fish caught all were free of any sores while looking very healthy. The lake consists mainly of shoreline grasses and docks. It sets up well for pitching and flipping baits the most. This is one body of water that I look forward to spending more time on and getting better at. Thanks for the read and may your next bite be your best ever

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The

Long Way

By Bob Fromhartz

HOME H

For more information or to order your copy call, text, or email Dan or Bob today. Bob Fromhartz 954-802-8173 twohartz1@gmail.com Dan Healy 954-825-5495 healydanny@att.net

iking 2189 miles is not easy for anyone, but even more difficult if your 73 going on 74 years old. My long - time hiking friend Dan Healy, left Ft. Lauderdale to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, leaving in 2018. The decision to leave his wife Carmen and his home for 6 months or more wasn’t an easy one to make. First, he needed his wife to be “all in” as she would be left to run the household, pay the bills and send mail drops to pre-planned stops along the trail. Plus, she still had to go to work every day. Once the decision was made and approved by Carmen and his family, he took a second job and began saving for the hike. I’ve read where thru-hikes can cost $10,000 dollars and more. One can survive for less if you are willing to sleep in the woods every night and pick up your resupplies at the pre-planned post offices, then hurry back to the woods. Some of the younger hikers do just that, but at 73 Dan wanted more from this experience. Most nights were spent in shelters or tent camping in the woods. He sometimes stayed in Hostels that would charge 30 or 40 dollars a night and if he couldn’t find one, he might stay at a budget hotel. He would also use Uber or Lyft to get from a road crossing into town. The next morning, they would carry him back to the trail. He was determined and careful to never miss a step. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) awards hikers that complete the trail within one year a certificate congratulating them on their hike. It’s an honor system and Dan was committed to completing every step. Hikers, like society are not 100% honorable. Dan bought some new, and sometimes costly, but very useful equipment. He wore a Go Pro camera that was held on his chest with a harness. It was voice activated, so he could tell it when to begin or stop filming. He also attached a “Spot” satellite tracker to his pack so Carmen and I could look at an app on our phone and know exactly where he was. Dan made a promise to his mother to finish the hike, and because he lost a son and a sister to cancer, he committed to raise money for the American Cancer Society. As the time neared for Dan to take his first step many friends would ask me how far I thought he would go. I always told them, of the 2500 plus North bound hikers leaving Springer Mountain Georgia every year, and the 400 or so South bounders leaving Mt. Katahdin in Maine, I would put my money on Dan. There were no guarantees, but I knew he had the mental and physical tools needed to survive whatever nature and life itself could throw at him. In April 2018 Dan took his first step northbound from Springer Mountain Georgia. I asked Dan to start keeping a record of what he saw, the places he visited, and the people he met. His “story” came out of those notes and now you can join him on his adventure that carried him through 14 states. Read about his triumphs, his failures, his disappointments and his personal losses. Meet the people he met, the places he saw and the connections he made with the trail, the mountains, the forest and the serenity and beauty of nature itself. When he was done, he asked me to sort through his notes and write a little something he could remember his hike with. Somehow over the next year which included a Covid lockdown we both ended up with this book. Our first printing sold out and we are now working on the second printing.

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OKEECHOBEE 7

Adrian “Lunker Louie” Echols

Huntin’ Hawgs in the Highlands Adrian “Lunker Louie” Echols • facebook.com/FishingTheHighlands • 863-651-4068

his is not really for you pro anglers, semi-pro anglers or even you weekend warriors who probably already know all there is to know about catching trophy bass. This is more for all you young anglers, girls and boys just starting out. Maybe something you read here will inspire you and even give you a little head start. I started bass fishing when I was just three years old. I’m 19 now and in those years, I have lost track of how many trophy bass I’ve caught and released. Included was a 14 pounder I caught when I was just 7. Since Florida started the TrophyCatch program in 2012 I have logged 41 bass over 8 pounds, with the smallest being 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and the largest being 13 pounds, 14 ounces (which landed me in the TrophyCatch Hall of Fame), for a total of 374 pounds of lunker bass. With over a hundred lakes here in Highlands County, the opportunities for catching a big ol’ lunker bass abound. All you need is a lot of dedication, a little luck, and a fair amount of skill (which comes with time), and above all you need to have confidence in what you’re doing. Dedication to the sport of Hawg hunting is a requirement. You have to get out there every chance you get. It doesn’t matter if it’s early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or late in the evening, what day it is or what time of the year. Although each one of these can call for a different technique, we’ll discuss that at some other time. By being totally dedicated, the odds of you catching a trophy just went way up. As for the luck, almost anybody can cast a lure to a spot along the lakeshore or riverbank. The luck comes in when you cast that lure and it just so happens, to land right on top of a big ol’ bucket mouth and her immediate reaction is to inhale whatever it is that just had the nerve to hit her on top of the head. Always

14 lbs. 2009

13 lbs. 14 oz. 2018

be ready because it can and will happen when you’re dedicated. The skill comes in when you set the hook on that bass of a lifetime. It’s one thing to hook one. It’s another thing to be able to fight it, wear it down and land it long enough to weigh it and get a few pictures. Be prepared to get beat up a little. These big fish are strong. You need to be strong. When you grab one by the bottom jaw, don’t be timid about it. They will hurt you if you’re not careful (and they can bite pretty hard). As I said before, skill comes with time and also with experience and dedication. Last but not least, be confident. If you truly want to hawg hunt, you must have confidence in what you’re doing. Confident in your mind that the very next cast whether it’s your second or 500th, is going to be the one that ends up landing you that bass of a lifetime. Confidence runs from your mind, right down that line to the lure you’re throwing. I hope that you learned something from reading this that will help make you a little better angler and who knows, maybe someday we’ll be reading about you.

Good luck and happy hunting! 8 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2021

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The Angler Profile

Ron Myrnes

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ocal Sebring Hills angler, Ron Myrnes grew up and spent most of his life in York, Pennsylvania, fishing the Susquehanna River, world-famous for its incredible smallmouth bass fishing. Starting at around the age of 8, Ron quickly learned from his father how to catch smallmouth bass from the river. After finishing high school, Ron studied engineering at Penn State. Then, years later after a successful working career, he and Peggy – his wife of 36 years – began traveling south. Unlike Ron, Peggy was from the South - Mobile, Alabama and they both enjoyed a warmer climate. Ron retired in 2012, and they began traveling south in their motor home, usually right after the Christmas Holidays. Often, they would drive to South Florida and work their way back home. One year, they stayed at the Seminole Indian Reservation, south of Lake Okeechobee, and then followed Route 27 North to Sebring, where they stayed at Reflections on Silver Lake. Ron wasn’t able to tow his boat with the motor home but they always brought along a kayak and Ron did plenty of fishing in the area lakes. One of his best memories was a fishing trip with his friend on the Susquehanna River when they hooked a fish that seemed almost impossible to reel in. The river has a fast-moving current as well as plenty of rocks, but they soon discovered the Rapala lure had two smallmouth bass securely hooked – each trying to go a different direction. In 2019, Ron and Peggy bought a home in Sebring Hills, and now, Ron is able to fish his “circuit of lakes”, - Dinner Lake, Little Redwater, Lake Glenada, Lake Lotela and Lake Lelia. He enjoys getting on the water early in his 2020 Bass Tracker Classic XL boat with a 50 hp Mercury 4-stroke, and he generally fishes only during the week, no weekends. Ron is a worm fisherman, relying on Zoom finesse worms or Mann’s Jelly worms, Texas-rigged with a 1/8th oz pegged weight and 2/0 hook. His biggest bass? A whopping 24” lunker that he caught on Silver Lake while fishing from his kayak. The fish actually towed the light-weight boat around until he could get it landed in the kayak. Ron releases all his fish, although he does have a livewell. He said it works well to keep his Gatorade cold.

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OKEECHOBEE 9

Determining the Best Freshwater Fishing Times By Captain Debbie Hanson

s you spend more time on the water, you’ll notice the influence that weather patterns and solunar periods have on fish behavior. These factors are important to consider when pinpointing the best fishing times. By doing a bit of homework regarding where and when to fish based on conditions, you can bump up your catch rates considerably. In other words, if you want to catch more fish… keep on reading.

Seasonal Weather Patterns When getting started, it’s important to understand that fish will be found in particular areas and depths of a waterway depending on current weather patterns and water temperatures. For example, hot summer days can cause fish to become less active in shallow lakes, ponds, and rivers or can drive them into deeper parts of a waterway, where water temperatures are cooler. During the coldest winter days, fish head into deeper waters that are less influenced by the effects of the wind and air temperatures. Since fish are cold-blooded and can’t keep their body temperature at a constant level, the water temperature will always have a major impact on their physiological functions and feeding behaviors. When weighing weather into the equation, a general rule for selecting the best fishing times is to pick a period of stable weather that doesn’t include extreme high or low temperatures.

Best Day of the Week Since you know that fish will be more active during stable weather periods, let’s run through how to choose a particular day of the week for fishing based on solunar theory. Solunar theory was proposed by John Alden Knight back in 1926. His theory provides the basis of today’s solunar calendars which offer predictions on when there is likely to be a boost in wildlife feeding activity based on the position of the moon and sun. Solunar calendars are based on the theory that fish tend to feed more actively during peak solunar periods when the gravitational force of the moon and the sun are the strongest. Solunar calendars provide a rating for each day of the month based on this moon and sun data. One important point to keep in mind when referencing a 10 OKEECHOBEE

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solunar calendar; however, is that the weather will play a larger role. For example, the solunar calendar may indicate that a particular day is expected to be one of the best days of the month, but if a major cold front arrives the day or two before, inshore saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing conditions are likely to be more challenging. In addition to the best days of the month, a solunar calendar will also provide two major feeding periods and two minor feeding periods throughout the day. This leads us to the subject of how to narrow down a particular time of day that will be best.

Best Time of Day Once you consider the weather and check a solunar calendar to see which days of month are likely to be good for fishing, the next step is to plan around the best time of day. As mentioned, a solunar calendar will provide two major and two minor feeding activity periods during the day. I generally like to be at my fishing spot about an hour prior to the start of a major solunar fishing period. If you don’t have access to a solunar calendar, or just want to keep things simple, remember that a boost in fish feeding activity is historically associated with the hours around dawn and dusk.

Pulling the Factors Together To pinpoint the best fishing times, you’ll want to combine each of these factors. Pick a day of stable weather with no major decreases or increases in temperature, check a solunar calendar to see which days around a new or full moon might mean the fish are likely to be actively feeding, and try to fish around dawn or dusk.

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Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer and freshwater fishing guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Salt Water Sportsman Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish Magazine. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2. com or follow her on Instagram @ shefishes2.

Local Area Guides Capt. Mark King Reel Dreams Guide Service Lake Okeechobee Fishing: Bass Live bait and Artificial Lures Airboat Tours Clewiston, FL 863-677-0983 www.markkingfishing.com Capt. Debbie Hanson Shefishes2 Fishing: Bass, Peacock Bass Southwest Florida Artificial and Fly Estero, FL Ph: (239) 233-4930 www.Shefishes2.com

“You dream it, I can build it” About Us

Capt. Dave Stephens Back Bay Extreme Fishing Fishing: Snook, Tarpon, Redfish Charlotte Harbor – Punta Gorda Ph: 941-916-5769 www.backbayextremes.com

I started building rods over 60 years ago, and unlike most rodbuilders of today, I still build my custom rods by hand. Regarding Repairs, let’s face it, everybody breaks off a tip or has an eye go bad. When that happens, the rod, regardless of it’s cost, ends up sitting in the corner of the garage.

Capt. Steve Daniel The Voice of Lake Okeechobee Fishing Fishing: Bass Okeechobee, FL Ph: 239-560-2704 Ph: 863-885-2230 www.OkeechobeeProSteveDaniel.com

“Why let a broken tip or a broken guide stop you from fishing?”

Capt. Brian Nelli TC Kayak Fishing Fishing: Snook, Tarpon, Redfish Peace River – Port Charlotte Ph: 772-201-5899 www.TCKayakFishing.com Capt. Joe Gruny Bass On-Line Fishing: Bass, Peacock Bass Headwaters, South and Central Florida Ph: 561-827-5668 www.bassonline.com/fl/fishing-guides/capt-joe-gruny.com Capt. Corky Neff Corky and Tangies Bass Fishing Tours Fishing: Lake Istokpoga, Lake June, Lake Placid Ph: 606-584-0144 www.corkyandtangiebassfishingtours.com Capt. Don Hatcher Don Hatcher Fishing Fishing: Lake Istokpoga, Lake June, Lake Placid Ph: 863-655-0265 www.donhatcherfishing.com Capt. Remo Beaver & Capt. Mark Beaver Remo and Mark Beaver Fishing Fishing: Headwaters Lake, Lake Istokpoga, Lake June, Lake Placid Ph: 863-655-0820 www.visitsebring.com/partners/remo-and-markbeaver-fishing

Tip Replacement $4.95 for the new tip top and $4.95 to wrap and flexcoat. Total $9.90

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OKEECHOBEE 11

WHERE were they caught?

nglers have submitted HOFs from all over Florida. Roughly one-third of Florida’s counties can claim at least one HOF bass, ranging as far as Lee County in the south to Holmes County in the western Panhandle. Even though the footprint of HOF bass in Florida is expansive, there are certainly some hot spots. Clay and Putnam counties top the list, accounting for 30% of all HOF catches. Starting there and moving south through the center of the Florida peninsula appears to be a trophy bass corridor as the contiguous counties of Alachua, Marion, Lake, Polk, and Highlands account for another 35% of HOF bass.

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Timothy Butcher

Chandler Dowling

Species: Largemouth Weight: 11 lbs 3 oz County: Putnam Location: Unnamed Lake

Species: Largemouth Weight: 11 lbs 13 oz. County: Citrus Location: Lake Rousseau

John Stanley

Charles Jenkins Species: Largemouth Weight: 11 lbs 1 oz County: Lake Location: Wildcat Lake

Species: Largemouth Weight: 10 lbs 9 oz County: Sumter Location: Unnamed Lake

The Braggin’ Board Bass Kevin Klocko - 9.6 lb.

f Doug Pearl fishing with Corky Nef

Tangie Neff

Geof Balog and his Istokpoga Lake catch

ss - 10.11 lbs Mike LaMere - Big Ba

Corky Neff

ies wo beaut t h t i w Brown Robert Tom McGinnis

Mike Bowers

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Friends Of Istokpoga Lake Association

ighlands County, Florida, is rich with lakes, but the jewel of all of these is Lake Istokpoga. The fifth largest lake in Florida, this natural lake is one of the best in the country. With its great bass and speckled perch fishing, hunting and air boating, this lake deserves to remain as good or better than it is today for our children and grandchildren. To help insure this happens, a group of concerned people that live around The Friends of Istokpoga the lake, use the lake, or simply care about Lake Association, Inc., the lake, banded together and formed received the the Friends of Istokpoga Lake Association, Conservation Inc. Organization Friends of Istokpoga Lake Association is of the Year Award a nonprofit corporation, formed in August, for 2001 from the 1998, duly chartered by the State of Florida. Florida Wildlife Our goal is to preserve the quality of Lake Federation. Istokpoga for future generations so they can experience all its natural beauty, both the lake and the wildlife that lives in or around it. We have a dedicated group of officers and directors who represent the association in all its business. Additionally, we conduct regular meetings for the membership, publish a newsletter, the Istokpoga Newswire, that will keep you up-to-date on the lake and events effecting it. We work with various government agencies to insure they are aware of our members concerns and desires regarding the lake. Furthermore, we are all volunteers, doing this because we love Lake Istokpoga and want to preserve it. If you feel the same about Lake Istokpoga, please consider joining us by submitting a Membership Application. Applications can be found on our website at www.istokpoga.org.

Florida Lakewatch Get out there!

Whether you’re looking to relax, make memories with those you love or reel in the big one, we’re here to help you enjoy your summer. Unless you are exempt, the first thing you’ll need is a fishing license. Make sure your account is up to date in case you need to renew.

Buy or Renew Your License

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lorida LAKEWATCH is a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program that facilitates “hands-on” citizen participation in the management of Florida lakes, estuaries, rivers and springs through monthly monitoring activities. Coordinated through the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/FFGS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, the program has been in existence since 1986. In 1991, the Florida Legislature recognized the importance of the program and established Florida LAKEWATCH in the state statutes (Florida Statute 1004.49.). LAKEWATCH is now one of the largest lake monitoring programs in the nation with over 1800 trained citizens currently monitoring 525 lakes, 175 estuary stations, 125 river stations, 20 coastal dune lakes and 10 spring runs in 57 counties.

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Captain Dave Stephens

Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats Report & Forecast Capt. Dave Stephens • www.backbayxtremes.com • 941-916-5769

ere we are in August. We have already had a close call with a named storm, we need the rain just not any major disasters. With the summer rains come changes to our water that can help you or hurt you. If you depend on mostly sight for your style of fishing? Then this is probably not your favorite time of year. The rains tend to darken the water due to the rain. If your not very big on sight fishing? Well this time of year can be very productive for you. The darker water allows you to get closer to fish that are normally spooky. I myself rely on sight and knowledge of the area. I will admit the darker water can make it more difficult to set up on spots in the open water. Spots such as oyster bars and pot holes. With the technology of today’s GPS systems this shouldn’t be an issue. As long as you took the time to mark them. I’m sure if your like me you had to learn the hard way. The good news is our top game fish such as snook, tarpon and redfish can tolerate the freshwater. A lot of the times if we get a large amount of rain it will shut the bite off for a few

days. For the fish that require a higher salt level such as trout and snapper. These fish might be pushed out closer to the gulf, or into deeper salty waters. One fish that seems to make more of its presence known in the upper harbor when the rain come is tarpon. I’m not sure if these fish get pushed from the river, or come in from the beaches. Its probably a combination of both. However there seems to be more schools around

this time of year. Areas like the holes in the harbor will be holding fish. Also the mouths of our two rivers are great places to locate fish. If you get a early start on a calm morning you will surely come across some rolling fish. If this summer is anything like last summer, the mangrove snapper should be showing up very good. Last year was one of the best snapper bites I’ve seen in along time. Areas like deep mangrove point with moving water will hold good numbers of fish. Also local grass flats with potholes and oyster bars are a good bet. These little guys can be tricky sometimes. I recommend downsizing your tackle, to a smaller hook and baits. Moving water is also key to have a good snapper bite. For there size these guys put up a pretty good fight, and there also very tasty. This time of year keep your eye on the sky, don’t let a good day be ruined by thunderstorms. If you would like to enjoy some of South West Florida’s finest fishing give us a call or send an email. All of our trips are customized to fit you and your party’s needs.

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AUGUST 2021

OKEECHOBEE 17

Captain Mark King’s

Okeechobee Fishing Report from the South End Capt. Mark King • www.markkingfishing.com • 863-677-0983

ant to thank the all-new Angler Magazine (Okeechobee Edition) for the invitation to do fishing reports and other fishing related articles from the Clewiston area of the lake. I have been a fulltime guide working out of Roland Martin’s Marina for over twenty years putting my clients on some of the best bass fishing in the United States. I am a US Navy veteran formerly from Ohio with a dream to make fishing my career and to Florida my wife and I moved and I can say it has been an awesome ride. I have three kids and two grandkids scattered around in different states and enjoy hunting and riding my Harley when I am not chasing after those green fish. Starting out my reports in the summer on Lake Okeechobee is a little like the fishing in South Florida in the summer, slow!!! But as with any lake there are still some fish to be caught even when the water temperatures are in the mid to high eighties. The water level has come up a little from the rain and the current level is at a little over thirteen feet above sea level, I would like to see it a little lower this time of the year so that some of the grasses that has been sprayed and killed has a chance to grow back before the winter months. The vegetation on Lake Okeechobee is the life blood of the lake providing cover for bass, clean water, areas for fish to spawn, and hiding places for bait fish. I won’t go into it to much this month but the spaying and killing of vegetation in all of the Florida lakes needs to slow down or stop completely before we lose all our precious resources.

The fishing has been really good for the first few hours in the morning on both live bait (aka wild shiners) and on artificial lures but as the sun get up the fishing slows down quite a bit. I recommend to my clients to get an early start and then get off the water when the bite slows down or stops, there is no magic situation that makes them start biting this time of the year after it gets good and hot out there. For the artificial lure fishing I have been using a chatterbait with a Gambler Lures Little EZ for a trailer and also pitching a Gambler Ace to scattered grass patches. For the shiner fishing pick an outside grass line with hopefully a little wind blowing on it and you should catch some nice bass, you will have to move more during the summer months as the bass are not as concentrated as the are in the winter. As far as areas to try around the Clewiston, East Wall outside, West Wall, and all the way up the shoal outside and inside the grass line. You can contact me for a fishing trip of a lifetime on World Famous Lake Okeechobee or an airboat ride back in areas of the lake that no boat will get you to. All of my trips are customizable to meet your needs. Hope to see ya’ll out on the lake soon, good luck and tight lines.

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Captain Debbie Hanson’s

Southwest Florida Freshwater Report & Forecast Capt. Debbie Hanson • shefishes2.com • @shefishes2

efore Tropical Storm Elsa blew through, the morning largemouth bass bite was good with regard to both numbers and sizeable fish in our local canal systems. Spinning gear clients were bringing bass to the boat on topwater poppers and walk the dog lures from sunrise until about 9 or 10 AM, then we’d switch over to weightless senkos or Texas rigs during the warmer hours of the day. My fly anglers started out in the mornings with topwater poppers, then we’d switch it up to muddler or craft fur minnow patterns as the morning progressed. For those in pursuit of a lunker, live wild shiners are always going to boost your chances -- just be sure to keep your baits aerated, covered, and cool. Following Elsa, the key has been to focus on areas where water is flushing into canals and lakes through culverts or weirs. Keep in mind that the

water is muddy and murky in many waterways, so make sure you’re using presentations that have flash, vibration or sound. One of my “go-to” lures for these types of situations is Road Runner Lures Swim-NRunner underspin. If you can find clean water, 5-inch soft plastic senkos or 7-inch ribbontail worms in junebug will bring on bites as the sun comes up and the temperature rises. Remember that fish will be deeper and holding tight to shady cover on bright, sunny days. Practice your casting accuracy this time of year because your first shot around structure is often your best chance at getting bigger, less aggressive fish to strike. Stay tuned for next month’s fishing report because we’ll be into the prime time of year for peacock bass here on the west coast of Florida. Those Amazon natives like it HOT!

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Debbie Hanson is an awardwinning outdoor writer and freshwater fishing guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Salt Water Sportsman Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish Magazine. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.

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15 Fisheating Creek Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing 9 Hooker Hooker Highway Highway Access Access Point Point Free Free -- Bank Bank fishing, fishing, scenic scenic viewpoint viewpoint scant parking parking 9 scant 10 John John Stretch Stretch Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with tables tables & grills, grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint, play area, area, dump station 16 Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area Freeviewpoint, - Boat ramps, bankdump fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, raised scenic viewing platform 10 with & water, restrooms, scenic play station 11 Clewiston Clewiston City City Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramps, ramps, bank bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters withDitch tablesCanal & grills, grills,(Bare scenic viewpoint 17 Dyess Beach) Free - Boat ramps, bank fishing 11 with tables & scenic viewpoint

12 Alvin Alvin Ward Ward Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank & & pier pier fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables & & grills, grills, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, play play area 12 18 Indian Prairie Canal Free - Boat ramp, bank area fishing 13 Moore Moore Haven Haven Lock Lock & & Dam Dam Free Free -- Bank Bank & & pier pier fishing fishing (south (south side side of of river) river) 13 19 Okee-Tantie Recreation Area - C. Scott Driver Park - Boat ramp, marina, bank fishing, bait, fishing license, guide service, ice, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, showers, camping 14 Old Sportsmans Village Free Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic tables 14 Old Sportsmans Village Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic tables 15 Fisheating Fisheating Creek Creek Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank fishing fishing 15 16 Harney Harney Pond Pond Canal Canal Recreation Recreation Area Area Free Free -- Boat Boat ramps, ramps, bank bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables & & grills, grills, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, raised raised scenic scenic viewing viewing platform platform 16 17 Dyess Dyess Ditch Ditch Canal Canal (Bare (Bare Beach) Beach) Free Free -- Boat Boat ramps, ramps, bank bank fishing fishing 17 18 Indian Indian Prairie Prairie Canal Canal Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank fishing fishing 18 19 Okee-Tantie Okee-Tantie Recreation Recreation Area Area -- C. C. Scott Scott Driver Driver Park Park -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, marina, marina, bank bank fishing, fishing, bait, bait, fishing fishing license, license, guide guide service, service, ice, ice, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables & & grills, grills, water, water, showers, showers, camping camping 19

L A K E O K E E C HH OI B GE HE LANDS LAKE MAP

44 55

ADELAIDE CHILTON to Arcadia Arcadia to OLIVIA LILLIAN EAGLE POND

98 98

70 70

441 441

Taylor Creek Creek

710 710

BYRD

15A 15A

Eagle IslandBay Island

alal anan CC ieie aiar ir Pr r nn P diaia InInd

2nd Point 2nd Point

GLENADA King’s

King’s Bar Bar Shoal

3rd Point 3rd Point Tin House Tin House Cove Cove

GRANADA

721 721

710 710

LITTLE LAKE BONNET

Chancy Chancy BONNET Bay Bay 44 RED WATER LITTLE

rm ar ormve Bear Wo ove Bech W CCo l Dyess Ditch Canal Big each Dyess Ditch Cana BigBBea Area Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area Harney Pond Canal Recreation

Fisheating t Bay Cuut Bay

LD3 LD3

14 14

Monkey Monkey Box Box

Iron Stake Iron Stake Hole Hole

Dynamite Dynamite Pass Pass va ev ne n CC a na an a l l

Moonshine Moonshine Bay Bay

to to Sebring Sebring

13 12 Moore Haven Haven 12 Moore

iver e River tchee R ahatche looossaha Caalo C

to LaBelle LaBelle to

Gator Gator Hole Hole

Ir C Rocky Reef Iroonn C ross Rocky Reef ross

27/80 27/80

Pahokee Marina/Campground Marina/Campground -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, boat boat rentals, rentals, marina, marina, Pahokee camping, bank bank && pier pier fishing, fishing, cabin cabin rentals, rentals, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, pool pool camping, Paul Rardin Park Free Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with Paul Rardin Park Free - Boat ramp, bank fishing, picnic shelters with tables & grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint tables & grills, water, restrooms, scenic viewpoint Slim’ss Fish Fish Camp Camp -- Guide Guide services, services, bait bait && tackle, tackle, RV RV && camping, camping, marina marina Slim’ John Stretch Stretch Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank fishing, fishing, John picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables && grills, grills, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, picnic scenic viewpoint, play area, dump station scenic viewpoint, play area, dump station Clewiston City City Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramps, ramps, Clewiston bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables bank && grills, grills, scenic scenic viewpoint viewpoint Alvin Ward Ward Park Park Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank Alvin pier fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with tables tables && pier grills, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, play play area area && grills,

Coot Coot Bay Bay

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Clewiston Clewiston

HILL

14 14 15 15 16 16

Moore Haven Haven Lock Lock && Dam Dam Free Free -Moore Bank && pier pier fishing fishing (south (south side side ofof river) river) Bank Old Sportsmans Village Free Old Sportsmans Village Free Boat ramp, ramp, bank bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic tables tables Boat Fisheating Creek Creek Free Free -- Boat Boat ramp, ramp, Fisheating bank fishing fishing bank Harney Pond Canal Canal Recreation Recreation Area Area Free Free -Harney Pond Boat ramps, ramps, bank bank fishing, fishing, picnic picnic shelters shelters with with Boat tables && grills, grills, water, water, restrooms, restrooms, raised raised scenic scenic tables viewing platform platform viewing

Morgan

CARRIE

Pass The Pass The

621 South South Bay Bay

Torry Torry Island Island

B Booy S y S co co ut ut Pa m Pa ss Bottom ss Baayy Botto B

South Bay Bay South

to to West Palm Palm West Beach Beach

441 441

JUNE IN

80 H H ii l l 80 l l ss b b oo r o ro C C aa n n aa l l

AUGUST

880 880

80 80

to Ft Ft Lauderdale Lauderdale to

18 18 19 19

SIMMONS

HENRY

Belle Glade Glade Belle WINTER

W Ca na W Ca l St. N nal St. N

27 27

17 17

APRHORPE

80 80

Hooker Highway Hooker Highway

LAKE PLACID 27/80 27/80

441 441

715 715

CREWS

Lake Lake Harbor Harbor

NELLIE

Road

Kreamer Pelican Kreamer Bay Island Bay Island

10 10

13 13

West

Ritta Ritta Island Island

HARRY

717

Pahokee Pahokee

East East Wall Wall

JOSEPHINE CREEK

PERSIMMON Glades REDWATER Glades Airport Airport FRANCIS Pelican

The Water Tank The Water Tank West West Wall Wall

720 720

80 80

W We e ss t t PP a a ll m m B 98 B e e aa c 98 c hh C C an an a a ll 717

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12 12

27 27

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Canal Canal Point Point

Observation Observation Island Island

The The Vee Grass Vee Grass Island Island

441 441

NWNW 1st 1st Avenue Avenue

11 11

RED BEACH Sand Cut Cut Sand

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99 19 19

JOESPHINE

Joe Moore Joe Moore Hole Mayaca Cut Hole Mayaca Cut

823

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CHRISTY

Turner’s Cove Turner’s Cove Blue Hole Blue Hole

720 720

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Port Mayaca Mayaca Port

CHARLOTTE

BLUE

76 76

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17A

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Tobias Tobias Avenue Avenue

27 27

EDILA

Fine Bricee Fsine Bric Pas Pass

roer eH H a

78 78

SEBRING

LITTLE LAKE JACKSON OKEECHOBEE HUCKLEBERRY

Whidden Pass Whidden Pass

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441 441

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Fisheating Fisheating Creek Creek

Horse Horse Island Island

DD upurp er BB arar e e

15 15

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L50 L50

to to West Palm Palm West Beach Beach

BASKET

SEBRING

DINNER 17 16 17 16

GRASSY POND

MUD

COUNTERFEIT

LETTA

DENTON

Shoal

15B 15B

ANGELO

LOTELA

1st Point Trail 1st Point Trail

ARBUCKLE CREEK

AVON PARK

441 441

Hog Hog Island Island

AV BO

DUCK DEER

ISIS VIOLA 22 FOX VERONA Eagle Bay

SILVER 1st Point Point LELIA1st

18 18

to Ft Ft Pierce Pierce to

PIONEER

Buckhead Buckhead Ridge Ridge

78 78

PYTHIAS

Okeechobee Okeechobee Taylor

TULANE 19 19 ANOKA

Brighton Brighton Indian Indian Reservation Reservation

H Haarn rn ey ey P Poon ndd C Caan naal l

Junction TROUTJunction DAMON

erer iviv RR eeee mm sim sim Kis Kis

to to Yeehaw Yeehaw

to Sebring Sebring to

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22 33

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WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee THEANGLERMAG.COM JANUARY 2017 2017 OKEECHOBEE 5 AUGUSTWWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee 2021 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM •• THEANGLERMAG.COM JANUARY OKEECHOBEE 5 WWW.COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/okeechobee • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Tournament directors have until the day before their tournament to schedule or make changes to their tournament exemption. This exemption allows the tournament participants to have an exemption from fish length limits, but not bag limits, while participating in the tournament. All fish are required to be handled as stipulated in the permit, while doing everything possible to ensure a live release. Any dead fish are normally provided to a charity, such as a homeless shelter. More information about black (largemouth) bass fishing tournament exemptions can be found here: https://myfwc.com/license/freshwater/bass-tournament/ Many of the bass tournaments are coordinated through local fishing clubs. Reach out to the group specified for additional information. Weigh-ins are typically open to the public. JANUARY 2017

OKEECHOBEE 7

12/15/16 11:41 AM

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

OKEECHOBEE 21

Tournament

2021

Winners

Share your tournament results with don@theanglermagazine.com

Ronnie Westcott & Tony Stoner Jason Walkup & Joe Conly - 1st Place

Norman Riggles & Mike LaMere - 1st Place 22 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2021

Rick Helmuth and Gary Niemi 36.6 lbs Xtreme Bass Tournament

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Nick & Sharee Tidwell - 24.92 lbs

David Ashley & Jon Anderson - 2nd Place - 24.4 lbs

Brad Day & Cody Craig - 3rd Place

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AUGUST 2021

OKEECHOBEE 23

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I’m originally from Northeastern Ohio and I moved my family to Florida in 1990. As a bass-fishing guide, and custom rod builder, as well as a bass-tournament angler, I’ve been involved in all types of fishing both here and when I lived in Ohio all my life. For those of you who are not familiar with The Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, it is a four-color magazine published monthly and FREE to the public, featuring the latest fishing techniques, freshwater as well as saltwater articles and fishing reports, bass club news, tournament results, hunting and clay shooting articles, fishing men and women profiles, tournament results and pictures, solunar tables and much, much more. The magazine will also feature its own “Braggin Board”. I’ve also changed the name, as many other land-locked franchises have chosen to do, to The Angler, instead of the Coastal Angler. We will still cover saltwater fishing, but since our four counties are not coastal, renaming the magazine The Angler just makes more sense. The Angler Magazine is also available on-line. Just go to The Coastal Angler Magazine and click on YOUR REGION. Then, click on Okeechobee. For outdoor activities, we start the first issue off with the rainy season, around the middle of July, and now, our lakes, rivers and streams are nearly full. Many, like Lake Istokpoga and Lake Okeechobee are running water out to maintain the desired lower lake levels during the hurricane season. Largemouth bass are being caught in all the area lakes with a large number over 8 pounds being entered into the FWC’s TrophyCatch program. Check out our profile on Sara Menendez, the Lake Istokpoga, Lake Placid and Lake June Biologist who works with our lakes in Highlands County. Next month we’ll be introducing you to Mason Smith, the Okeechobee Fisheries Biologist. With this being our first issue, I’m sure we’ve missed a thing or two, but rest assured, The Angler will continue to grow. I am very excited about this first issue of the magazine and my hope is that you, the reader share my enthusiasm as we move forward to develop the best magazine possible in the days to come. Finally, for those of you who just want to sit back, relax and catch up on what’s happening, enjoy the Angler.

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TYLER WOOLCOTT

t’s hot. The bass are transitioning, and the fishing can be very fun if you can locate them. Generally, summer bass are chasing baitfish. This can group fish up and make them eager to eat easy meals off the surface. Whether you’re throwing a walking bait, a buzzbait or even a popper, topwater lures can do some extreme damage in the heat of summer. When targeting fish chasing bait near shallow water, I like a popper-style bait or a bait that kicks up water, like a buzzbait or a Whopper Plopper. Bank dwellers usually chase bluegill and shad. They can be very aggressive and fun to target. Always keep your eyes peeled for movement and baitfish activity when you’re working down the bank. Bass won’t be far from this activity. Often times in the summer, fish group up near deeper water to harass large schools of baitfish. The baitfish will be different from lake to lake and region to region, but the patterns will be similar. Focus on points and humps, where the fish can push and ambush bait. These deeper fish tend to show themselves, and you’ll sometimes see them schooling on top or chasing bait near the surface. Keep your eyes and ears open

12 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2021

for activity. When schooling activity occurs, you want to get a bait in the mix as quickly as possible. I like a walking bait for this scenario and throw Spook-style baits like

the 13 Fishing Dual Pitch or a pencil popper. Whether you’re deep or shallow, matching

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the size of your lure to the size and shape of the baitfish will result in more bites. Always look for activity, and be ready when the opportunity presents itself. Summertime is an awesome time to fish, and it’s my absolute favorite time of year to throw a topwater.

Topwater Gear When targeting fish chasing bait near the shallows with a popper or a buzzbait, I like a shorter rod for more accurate casts. I use a 13 fishing 7’ 1” MH Omen Black casting rod paired with an 8:3:1Concept A reel spooled up with 20-pound monofilament or 40-pound braided line. When chasing schooling fish in deeper water, I like a longer rod for longer casts. I use a 13 Fishing 7’ 5” Omen Black casting rod paired up with an 8:3:1 Concept A reel spooled with 30-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid. The braid and the long rod pair up to allow long casts to get the bait in the strike zone when fish come up schooling far from the boat. The fast gear ratio reel is important in both the shallow and deep scenarios. They allow you to get your bait back to the boat quickly if you need to make a different cast when the moment presents itself. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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nook, redfish and spotted seatrout are now catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide. The restrictions began July 16 and will continue through Sept. 16. This applies to the following areas: • All Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay. • All Florida waters of Hillsborough County. • All Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries. “While it’s unfortunate that we must do this so close to the recent reopening of these species to harvest in this area, we know temporary catch-andrelease measures such as these are successful in keeping fisheries sustainable throughout red tide events such as this one,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “We will continue working with our partners, stakeholders and local communities to evaluate this situation.” “We’ve seen the devastation to the redfish, trout and snook populations in Tampa Bay, and we support the catch-and-release initiative taken by FWC,” stated Brian Gorski, Executive Director of Coastal Conservation Association Florida. “In working with FWC on this initiative, we’ve heard support from members and guides throughout the region who also understand the need for such a change. We must protect the fish and our waterways so that generations to come can enjoy the thrill of catching one of these iconic species.” Regulations outside of those counties remain unchanged, including the measures south of State Road 64 in Manatee County through Gordon Pass in Collier County for snook, redfish and spotted seatrout. For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

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urf Expo is a lot more than surf. As the largest and longest-running watersports and beach lifestyle tradeshow in the world, the show is about watersports; it’s about boating; it’s about everything that has to do with the coastal lifestyle. Surf Expo’s “Bluewater” category caters to the fishing lifestyle that is an inherent part of the “waterman” lifestyle of today’s watersports enthusiast who lives on, in and for the water or just aspires to the lifestyle. Surf Expo caters to all things water, from surfing, to fishing, and paddling on a SUP, kayak or canoe, or just a day at the beach or on the lake. For apparel and accessory brands and manufacturers, Surf Expo is the ideal place to promote products to a new audience of buyers searching for products to cater to the “waterman” customer. AFTCO’s Chairman and CEO Bill Shedd said, “We’ve been coming to Surf Expo since the beginning, and we were one of the first to be in the Bluewater section—where we’ve found a new home. There’s a whole lifestyle around saltwater, offshore and big game fishing that’s bled off into inshore fishing and more of an outdoor activity in the broader outdoor world. AFTCO fits into that.” For buyers, it’s the ideal way to conveniently shop top fishing apparel and accessory brands and source from the show’s 10 other water-related categories to fill shelves with everything from sunglasses and sunscreen to towels, footwear and sportswear. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream. Owner of Sarasota fishing and boating landmark CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Aledia Tush said, “We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years. We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!” Brands you’ll find in Bluewater at Surf Expo include AFTCO, Deep Blue Gear, Fish Hippie, Habit Outdoors, Jeep by Buck Wear, John Boy Brand, MANG Gear, Marsh Wear Clothing, Reel Life, Reelhead, Salt Life, The Qualified Captain, Unsalted Coast and WTF-What The Fin. Other core brands to be found across the show include Costa, YETI, Salty Crew, Avid Gear, Hook & Tackle, Reel Skipper, Beach and Barn, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Unsalted Coast, Skinny Water Culture and many, many more. Surf Expo’s upcoming show stages September 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center’s West Concourse in Orlando, Fla. Registration is free for qualified retailers, at surfexpo.com or contact steven.fisher@surfexpo.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2021 ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER WEST CONCOURSE ORLANDO, FL

Shop ﬁshing & marine apparel and accessories at Surf Expo.

SEE BRANDS INCLUDING:

AFTCO Avid Gear Beach and Barn Bimini Bay Outﬁtters Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear Cablz CHUMS Corkcicle Costa Dakine

Deep Blue Gear Fish Hippie Flyvines Geckobrands Grip 6 Guy Harvey Habit Outdoors Hook & Tackle ICEMULE Coolers I-SEA Sunglasses Jeep by Buck Wear

WATERSPORTS Surf • Wake • Bluewater • Paddle • Wind • Skate COASTAL LIFE Swim • Boutique • Resort • Coastal Gift • Footwear

Salt Life

Local Boy Outﬁtters MAKAI Hat Co.

Sandbar

MANG

Salty Crew

Marsh Wear

Skinny Water Culture

Mustang Survival

Sun Bum

O’Neill

The Qualiﬁed Captain

Reelhead

Unsalted Coast

Reelskinz

Wave Life

Reel Skipper

What The Fin

Rheos Nautical

YETI

Learn more about Bluewater at Surf Expo

A Trade-only event. Qualified Retailers Attend for Free A Trade-only event. Qualified Retailers Attend for Free | R E G I S T E R A T S U R F E X P O . C O M

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 17

CAMP FOR TROUT DEEP IN THE SMOKIES By Nick Carter

hen the boat dropped us off Friday morning, it was with an understanding someone would return for us Sunday afternoon. We debarked into two nights and three days of camping and trout fishing deep in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With no cell service or road access for miles in any direction, we were about as disconnected as you can get in this part of the world. It was a glorious feeling. Actually, one of our guides, Jake Tallent, of Fish Tales Outfitters in Franklin, N.C., had a satellite phone/EPIRB “for emergencies.” Around the campfire one night, he admitted using it to text his girlfriend. Guess the whole out-of-touch and roughing-it fantasy is a little outdated these days. We weren’t really roughing it much at all. Tallent and our other guide, Nick Potts, rolled cartloads of gear up the trail to our campsite near the mouth of Hazel Creek. Three other clients and I sat in camp chairs and got to know each other while the guides set up camp. That set the mood for the weekend. The camping was comfortable, everything was provided for. All we were expected to do was fish hard, enjoy ourselves and return to hot meals around a campfire each evening. Hazel Creek flows through high mountains on the north shore of

North Carolina’s Lake Fontana. Road access to the north shore was completely cut off in the 1940s, when TVA flooded this impoundment of the Little Tennessee River. Abandoned, the communities that existed there returned to the forest. In three-quarters of a century since, it has become one of the most beautiful and historically intriguing areas of the Smokies. The best access is by boat across the lake. Proctor, N.C. is the ghost town on Hazel Creek. The town’s main drag, Calico Street, is now the gravel trail that parallels the creek for 15 miles up into the hills. Ruins of Proctor are hidden everywhere in the creek and up steep wooded hillsides. Tallent regaled us with history as we passed landmarks hiking upstream in search of good trout water each day. The creek itself is on the large side of typical for the park. It is cold and clear with a relatively flat gradient that makes for easy streamside hiking. A mix of boulder-strewn stretches and bedrock shoals create interesting holding water. There are also some deep, dark pools. Hazel Creek is loaded with beautiful 7- to 12-inch stream-born rainbow trout. There are also some big browns lurking in the deep holes. Over three days of fishing, we caught good numbers of fish with simple dry-dropper rigs on 3- and 4-weight fly rods. There’s nothing more fun than wading up a mountain stream to toy with wild trout that are eager to jump on a dry fly. Hazel Creek is a gorgeous place to do it. For a guided backcountry trip into the Great Smoky Mountains, check out Fish Tales Outfitters at www.fishtaleswnc.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2021

NATIONAL 19

Re-Discover Old Florida

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The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

E-Z ANCHOR PULLER BOWSPRITS

idely used anchoring accessories such as hawse pipes, bowsprits, guide rollers and more have been added to E-Z Anchor Puller’s catalog. They are manufactured specifically to accommodate the Hero, Patriot and Rebel drum anchor winches. Included in this catalog are straight and swivel bowsprits:

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Kingfish Lodge includes a wide screen TV and bar for small gatherings Sailfish House features a wide covered wrap-around porch for larger groups Boat Trailer Parking on site w/ Water and Power 250 Foot Dock w/ Covered Area FREE Ice / FREE Guest Dockage TRAVEL Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet Cover Your Vacation 2 miles to the Ft. Pierce Inlet with Travel Insurance 12 miles to the Gulf Stream Laundry, BBQ Grilles and FREE use of our Kayaks P R O T E C T I O N

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All accommodations are completely cleaned and sanitized prior to guest arrival 20 NATIONAL

AUGUST 2021

This fixed 316 stainless steel bowsprit features a self-launching design to ensure your anchor always drops. Universal mounting holes make it easy to install yourself with just a few bolts. If you’re looking for a self-launching bowsprit that not only looks great but performs flawlessly every time, you can’t go past the Swivel Arm Bowsprit! Designed to be adaptable to most boats, marine grade 316 stainless steel and a self-launching design ensure your anchor always drops and self rights the anchor on retrieval. The large is perfect for any vessel up to 45’ / 15m while the small suits boats up to 27’ / 9m.

THE STRAIGHT BOWSPRIT The Straight Bowsprit is a fixed 316 stainless steel bowsprit featuring a fixed design with angled rollers that ensure almost every anchor drops freely. Universal mounting holes make it easy to install yourself with just a few bolts. If you’re looking for a timeless, reliable bowsprit for your boat, you can’t go past the Straight Bowsprit. Marine-grade 316 stainless steel and a fixed design with angled rollers help self right the anchor on retrieving. It is designed to be adapted to most boats. The large is perfect for any vessel up to 45’ / 15m while the small suits boats up to 27’ / 9m. “For a while, we’ve identified ourselves as the drum anchor winch experts. But really, having dealt with various consultations and unique boating experiences over the years, we’ve really become boat anchoring experts along the way,” said Sara Hitchins, Trade Show and Office Manager, of the expanded inventory. She said it only made sense to begin selling all components of boat-anchoring configurations. E-Z Anchor Puller will attend the in-person IBEX show in late September, Booth 3-2130. The “Trade Only” Tampa-based event caters to marine industry professionals and is “dedicated to advancing the business of boating.” E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. will showcase their winch series along with other products in its expanded catalog. Customers can call 1.800.800.1640 to place EZANCHORPULLER.COM their order.

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NATIONAL 23

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