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F R A N C H I S E

A FISHING KAYAK! PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTINE FISCHER INSTAGRAM: @MIDWESTFISHERGAL

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FISHING FROM A PADDLEBOARD:

TUPAT’S TIPS By Nick Carter

THINK AHEAD: Unless your board is staked out or tied off, it is going to move. It blows with the wind and drifts with the tide. Even small fish will tow a board during a fight. Tupat constantly considers these factors and comes up with a plan before making a cast. Sometimes, finding wind-shade in the lee of landscape is necessary to fish. Other times, the wind or tide can be used to set up drifts. When you do hook up, you must adapt to the situation. “It’s spur of the moment to decide what you have to do to land the fish.” Tupat said. “You have to use your common sense.” If you’re in open water, it’s possible to play a fish out. The board serves as a secondary drag system in this situation. In shallow water and tight confines, it sometimes makes sense to step off the board and battle a fish on foot. In other situations, it can be necessary to hold the rod in one hand and paddle with the other to find a more advantageous place to land large fish.

F TUPAT.

Check out Tupat’s Hawaiian Poke Sauce at www. tupats.com, his Youtube fishing show Tupat’s Fishing Adventures and his Instagram feeds @therealtupat and @tupatshawaiian.

URTESY O

board that will float your weight. From there: “You’ve got to develop a core balance and become one with the motions of paddling and fishing and how the board reacts to your movements,” said Tupat. He fishes an 11-foot-long, 36-inch-wide, 5-inch-thick Pau Hana Big EZ Angler. He said it’s stable, yet maneuverable, and called it the ultimate fishing board. Rigging is a matter of preference, but generally “less is more on a paddleboard,” said Tupat. A cooler placed on the middle of the board is a seat and fishbox. Aft of that, a milk crate with zip-tied sections of PVC pipe serves as a rod holder and carry-all. Tupat keeps a softsided, rectangular wet/dry bag in front of him on the deck. This is where he keeps tackle, tools and anything he’ll need quick access to. “I’ve tried attachments and all that crap, and all it’s done is get in my way,” he said. “I need it to be as simple as possible to put me in the best position to catch fish.” STEALTH: The ability to sneak up on fish in shallow water is the primary advantage of a paddleboard. A paddle or any other gear banging on the deck alerts fish to your presence. Tupat said knowing where your paddle is and having a secure place to put it quickly is imperative. You should have a plan for your paddle. Tupat sets his on that soft-sided wet/dry bag, where it is secure and will not bang on the deck.

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atrick “Tupat” Eichstaedt has been mucking around in backwater creeks as long as he can remember. He grew up just north of Florida’s famous Mosquito Lagoon, in Bethune Beach, where the Indian River is a labyrinth of saltwater creeks and channels that snake between mangrove islands. Tupat is a surfer, angler and an entrepreneur, and recently life brought him home to Bethune Beach, where his passion for fishing from a standup paddleboard (SUP) re-ignited in a big way. “The things a board allows me to see and do is incomparable to being in a boat,” he said. “It puts me as close to Mother Nature and the fish as I can get. I can get to places you wouldn’t dream of in a boat, and the stealth lets me observe fish at a much deeper level.” Casting from an SUP for big snook, trout and redfish is not, however, something you just pick up and go do well. It’s a melding of sports, and Tupat’s surfing background gifted him with an awareness of how a board handles in the water. Anyone can spend the day SUP fishing and catch some fish. Getting good at it requires time on the water to learn the intricacies of the sport. Here are some tips from Tupat: SETUP: Fishing from an SUP requires confidence in the board and competence on it. Before you hit the water, it’s wise to research and find a stable

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NATIONAL 7

IGFA Tweaks Electric Reel Rules W ith the skyrocketing popularity of daytime swordfishing and following on the heels of some spectacularly large swordfish caught in the last few years, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has tweaked its rules on electric reels. Effective immediately, anglers will be allowed limited use of power-driven reels and remain eligible for IGFA records. According to an IGFA press release, new language in its rules clarify accepted and nonaccepted uses of electric reels. New rules do not allow for fighting fish with the aid electric reels. Of note is a requirement that power accessories must be removable and may not be attached to a reel during deployment of baits or at any time during fishing, except to retrieve baits all the way to the boat. This function is almost necessary in daytime swordfishing, which requires anglers to commonly drop and retrieve baits deeper, sometimes much deeper than 1,000 feet. The old and new language read as follows: IGFA International Angling Rules: Section E. Reel PREVIOUS RULE: 2. Power-driven reels of any kind are prohibited. This includes motor, hydraulic, or electrically driven reels, and any device that gives the angler an unfair advantage in fighting the fish.

NEW RULE: 2. Power- driven reels are acceptable under the following situation and configuration. a) Reels that have power accessories (e.g., electric drill attachments, motors or other power accessories specifically designed for a reel) that can be physically removed from the reel may be used strictly for the purpose of retrieving a deployed bait or lure at depth all the way to the boat. b) Power accessories may only be used to retrieve a bait or lure completely to the boat and are not permitted for adjusting the position of a bait or lure in the water column. Once a power accessory is attached to the reel, the bait or lure may no longer be legally used to catch a fish and the bait or lure must be retrieved all the way to the boat for manual redeployment before it may be legally used to hook or catch a fish. Power accessories may not be attached to the reel during the deployment of a bait or lure. c) Power accessories must be physically removed from the reel before the act of hooking and/or fighting a fish. Any fish that strikes a bait or lure being fished with a reel with power accessories still attached—whether or not under electric operation—will not be eligible for record consideration. d) Electric reels that do not have removable electronic components that allow them to be completely manually driven are prohibited.

“Changes to the IGFA’s International Angling Rules are always something we handle with the utmost care,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “This rule in particular has been a point of contention for years, and we are pleased to announce this new language that we strongly feel adapts IGFA rules to the technology of our time, while not jeopardizing the core principles of IGFA ethics.” For more information, see igfa.org.

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APRIL 2021

NATIONAL 9

2/25/21 12:17 PM

By TAM Staff

LIFE ON THE TRAIL WITH

KRISTINE FISCHER

hose familiar with kayak bass tournaments have likely heard the name Kristine Fischer. She’s a driven angler from Weeping Water, Nebraska, who dropped out of the rat race a few years ago to hit the road and fish kayak tournaments. Since 2017, she’s proven she’s a lot more than just a breath of fresh air in a male-dominated sport. Fischer has amassed a strong resume from top national tournament trails like KBF, Hobie B.O.S. and B.A.S.S. In 81 tournaments, she’s tallied five firstplace victories and fished her way to top-10 finishes 27 times. Along the way, she’s picked up major sponsors like Tincup Whiskey, Hobie Fishing, Z-Man, PLANO, Hobie Eyewear, AFTCO, Omnia, CalCoast Fishing, Dakota Lithium batteries and Torqeedo. These sponsorships allow her to make a living as a professional kayak angler. And while she doesn’t deny her blonde hair and big smile have helped, the 33-year-old said it also drives her to build on her reputation as one of the fiercest competitors on the circuit. Here’s a little Q&A with Kristine Fischer:

Q: What led you to become a professional kayak angler? KF: My biggest fear has always been leading a life that lacked purpose and didn’t allow me to grow as a person. I’ve always craved adventure in some capacity and fully believe in the importance of submersing yourself in the wilderness as often as possible. To me, routines and having everything planned out can become mundane and almost robs us of spontaneity and ability to live in the moment. Being a full-time angler was a natural fit, given my love for fishing and my competitive nature. 10 NATIONAL

APRIL 2021

I mean, the family camping trips etched on your mind are the ones when gale-force winds destroyed the camp and raccoons stole the last bag of marshmallows. Life is what you make of it, whether it is on the road or at the end of a cul-de-sac. It’s all about your disposition.

Q: What’s the lifestyle on the road? KF: The Internet has a funny way of romanticizing road life. In reality, it’s hardly romantic. Replace sunsets wrapped in fuzzy blankets and barefoot nights by the fire with lights strung in the trees and drone shots of the RV rolling down a picturesque Route 66 with flat tires. Living on the road is 10-second cold showers, eating cans of gas-station beef ravioli with your fingers and praying you get to the next gas station before the truck runs out of fuel. It’s wrapping up a tournament in the Carolinas, knowing you’ve got one day to make it to west Texas. It’s utter chaos. Something always seems to go wrong at the most inconvenient time. It’s little sleep, a gas-station diet and pushing yourself to the limits in every capacity. Despite all that, there’s something about the road that lights my soul. I’ve always found the most joy in those moments of chaos. The best memories are made when everything goes south.

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Q: Tell us about being a successful woman in a male-dominated industry. KF: Successful women in fishing are a rarity, and therefore it’s much easier to get noticed. That fact has never sat well with me. I’m the type of person who needs to know I’m absolutely earning opportunities and that they aren’t coming to me simply because I’m a female with a big smile and blonde hair. I wanted to be recognized as a talented angler who is capable of winning any tournament on any given day. I set my sights on that. The sport is inundated with people who pose as anglers to take advantage of the industry. I’ve had to work to overcome negative stereotypes associated with women in the sport. Over the years, it’s gotten easier. The ability to record my tournaments has helped prove that I’m the “real deal.” Q: What are your goals for the 2021 season and into the future? KF: I’m gunning for AOY in the Hobie series, and I want to make “The TEN” for KBF. Future goals: qualifying for the Bassmaster Elites certainly has lingered on my mind. It’s a lofty goal, but I always appreciate a good challenge. Keep up with Kristine Fischer and her life on the tournament trail at her YouTube channel and through Facebook @kristinefischerfishing and Instagram @midwestfishergal.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING BLUE LINING FOR TROUT

Contributed by James Bradley Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide www.ReelEmInGuideService.com (706) 273-0764 You may have heard this term before, but do you really know what it entails? I see on some online boards and other media outlets where they speak of blue lining. Sometimes, I think the term “blue lining” is just referring to the waterways on some map. True “blue lining” to me is getting out there where you will probably not see another person. “Blue lining” is tearing your clothes as you traverse your way through the rhododendron, scrambling up over boulders, and climbing up some 50-foot waterfall to get in pursuit of wild trout. High elevation streams should be over the 2,000-foot range and preferably above 2,400 feet. Trout are plentiful in Georgia’s High-Country Region and in my favorite waters: the small nameless streams. I refer to fishing these small streams as “blue lining”. Blue lining is a favorite amongst many Appalachia fly anglers because the fish are always wild, often untouched, and very abundant. Their parr markings and vivid colors are worth the skinned elbows and knees that oftentimes occur in this neck of the woods. These less accessible creeks can provide some of the best fishing and a big surprise or two along the way. Words cannot express what it is like bringing to hand a ten, eleven or even twelve-inch Southern Appalachian brookie. These little jewels have been here since the dawn of time and are the most colorful in the area. Many locals refer to them as specks due to the red dots with blue halos that are

embedded throughout their sides. Most of these trout are not very picky about your fly selection but will be more sensitive to your presentation. Dry flies will normally work here when they will not in other lowland streams. Use obstacles to your advantage and keep a low profile for better results as wild trout are extremely easy to spook. The average trout size ranges from around four to eight inches, with a handful of ten plus inchers. Though rare, some of the streams in our wilderness areas can support wild trout in the twenty plus inch range. Yes, you read it correctly, 20+ inches. If you are a beginner wanting to learn how to fly fish, we have a great staff of instructors who have been schooled in the art of fly fishing. One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Don’t forget to ask us about our float trips! Currently, we are doing floats on the Toccoa Tailwater and on the upper river as well. Give us a call to book your amazing trip on the water and don’t forget that we offer gift certificates! Reel ‘Em In Guide Service operates as an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter in North Georgia’s Historic High-Country region. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. They have permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and operate float trips on the Toccoa River in GA and the Tuckasegee River in NC.

Many of Georgia’s high elevation streams will have these wild Southern Appalachian brookies. 2 ATLANTA

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APRIL FLY FISHING REPORT Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com The lake has fished extremely well so far this March. The lake has also stayed relatively high and full this winter. It also appears we are slightly warmer than usual which may mean our April pattern will move up by a couple of weeks. Here is why April in my opinion has traditionally been the BEST month to fish area lakes throughout North GA. What makes April so productive is that the winter pattern has ended, and we are fully ingrained with warm spring-like temperatures every day. This has the fish committed to two things: eating and spawning. Both of these are based on warmer water temperatures. Once the fish are committed to both the pre-spawn feed and the spawn itself, it has the fish on the move. Striped bass for the most part should already be up to the upper reaches of the river systems their lakes are formed by. This year, we will see this event already as the water temps sent the fish up river earlier than normal. Not all fish head north. Some fish will head to the backs of some of the larger creeks where there is a good source of fresh water. This is when the fish will get SHALLOW. For anglers wanting to take advantage of the spawn, all one has to do is head north into their lake’s respective river system. The fish will bunch up in huge numbers. This will last from two to three weeks as all the fish do not make the run at the same time. For anglers fishing Lake Lanier, all you need to do is head up either the Chattahoochee or the Chestatee Rivers to wait for their return down river in this annual event. While most fish are still feeding on threadfin shad in the 2”-3” range, do not hesitate to toss flies that are a tad larger than that. Equipment remains the same in that we toss both 8 and 9 weight fly rods. It is best to employ both an intermediate (slow sinking) and fast sinking fly lines in case you are finding fish in water 8’-10’ deep (fast sinking line) or 2’-5’ deep (intermediate slow sinking line).

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Clousers, Game Changers, Coyotes and Somethin’ Else flies are still your best bet. For anglers bringing conventional tackle with them, it is best to toss medium action rods with 12-pound test line and have an assortment of baits. Some of my favorites are Flukes (weighted and un-weighted), ¼ oz. bucktails, Mcsticks, spy baits and Krocodile spoons. You can start fishing points in the dark using Long A Bombers. Anglers will also find spotted bass getting shallower in preparation for their spawn. Anglers need to fish in the 3’ to 8’ depth and toss a little lighter tackle (6 and 7 weight rods) for these bass that are getting very aggressive. Tossing flies on your lake’s points up shallow as well as fishing the grass flats will have you finding lots of hungry spotted bass. Largemouth will also start getting active, and now is the chance to catch a trophy fish up shallow and on dock lights too! I would even venture to guess that the beloved Redfin bite which normally starts toward the end of April will begin by the full moon in April this year. That is easily one of my most favorite patterns there is. It is the ONLY time I may not use a fly rod on Lanier day in and day out. When a striper eats a Redfin… they want to completely destroy it on the surface! See you on the pond!

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING GOLFING FOR TROUT?

The Situation: The most critical

Contributed By: Jeff Durniak www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year

Strike indicators are sort of like golf clubs. In both sports, we must use the right tool for the shot at hand. Since Indi’s are small and light, I usually carry a large selection and pick the right “club” for my salmonid shot. Here’s a brief list of my clubs as I “golf ” for trout through another year astream. Come and join me on the course. 1. Deep, cold pools = a ¾ inch round, foam Airlock brand indicator. It has a screw top that allows quick adjustment for water depth, and it can float a bunch of split shot! 2. Cold, shallow, and faster water = a four color-long piece of Orvis 0X tactical sighter tippet (supple monofilament) for my Euronymphing rig. I pre-rig a few of these sighters with tippet rings, roll them up, and carry them in an empty leader bag. See my prior Angler Magazine column for Euronymphing basics. 3. Shallow spring pools and runs with naive fish= a bright orange Lightning Strike brand foam football, sized to match the freight to float. The surgical tubing in the slit makes water depth adjustments quick and easy. 4. Same as #3, but smarter fish = just change the color to white to match stream bubbles and foam, so the Indi doesn’t spook the fish. 5. Flat water and nervous fish = a poly yarn Indi that won’t land with a loud “plop” like the Airlocks and footballs do. A soft landing and quiet drift will let your rig sneak up

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APRIL 2021

on its targets. 6. Spring searching = a buoyant dry to match the current hatch while floating the nymph or soft hackle below it. Pick the dry in your box with the most hackle and thickest wings for best flotation. Popular “bobbers with a hook in them” include parachute Adams and cahills, elk hair caddis, and stimulators. 7. Late spring, low water nymphing = a tiny bead of Orvis or Loon strike putty. 8. My “summer stealth Indi” = a big yellow stimulator, often cast and drifted downstream so the two flies (and not the leader) are the first objects entering the trout’s sight window. Other UO staffers really like the chubby Chernobyl. 9. “Universal indicator” = a #14 parachute Adams. When Jimmy and I are clueless and searching, whether here, the Smokies, Montana, or Argentina, we revert to “Ole Reliable!” Everything eats an Adams (or the dropper under it). Pick one with extra hackle and a thick para-post for better flotation. That’s my “golf bag” of strike indicators. Read those trout “greens” carefully, select the right club, and take a shot at the hole. Hopefully, these tips will help your fly fishing score this spring and beyond. Stop in or call our Helen shop (706-8783083) or our Clarkesville store on the square (706-754-0203) if we can help you further. After all, we are pretty darn good trouting caddies!

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

NG CHATTOOGA RIVER

The beginning of spring has graced us here on the waters surrounding Chattooga River Fly Shop. Mayfly and Caddis hatches are plentiful, and the trout are responding well to dry fly presentations. The water temperatures have now risen to a comfortable mid 40’s to low 50’s. Starting out the day, a tandem rig with a nymph and an emerger trailing behind will be a good setup as the bugs have yet to hatch early in the day. Swinging this tandem rig will work well starting at the tops of the riffles and a slight upstream cast with a mend or two of the line. Slowly working the entire riffle area with numerous casts along the same area to make sure you cover behind every rock or boulder in the riffle

will reward you with trout awaiting a drifting morsel. Once the riffle is covered, swinging this tandem rig into the heads of the pools, and a pinch of weight may be necessary to get the flies down to the fish. Also, swinging these flies along the seams will be just as productive. As the day progresses, the sun starts to warm the waters and the bugs emerge from the nymph shucks and emerge to break to the top of the water to fly away. This is when our day gets exciting and now it’s time to tie on our dry fly. A little more precision in our cast and mending techniques will be needed, as you will want to cast well above these rising fish. After the cast, a mend or two of the line and a “drag-free” drift into the location of the rising fish will be key. One word of caution; don’t set the hook too early, as it is very easy to do as you see the fish rising to the fly. Hook set too early and the

fish is gone. If you are new at this, don’t worry as persistence pays off. We have all been too anxious to set the hook when seeing the fish rising to our beautiful dry fly. Once, the hatch has subsided and the fish have stopped rising, it’s time to switch back to the tandem rig and swinging. If wading, hiking and rivers are

what you’re looking for, let us help you with our guided fly fishing trips. Not sure if you have the correct equipment? Don’t worry as we provide everything necessary on our trips here in the fly shop to make sure you have a great day on our local waters. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers and lakes, and let’s remember to leave no trace!

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING WHERE TO FISH IN APRIL

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Fly fishing the North Georgia and Western North Carolina mountains in April is usually great no matter where you go this month. The Georgia delayed harvest streams are really getting productive with the warming water temperatures and nicer days. The Toccoa, Smith Creek and Amicalola DH waters receive a stocking normally the first of the month, and the uneducated fish provide good fun for the beginning angler for a while. If the streams are low and clear enough, a dry dropper rig can be very productive. An Elk Hair Caddis or Yellow Stimulator with a Pheasant Tail or Prince dropper hanging underneath can be deadly. Wooly Buggers or Zonkers stripped in at a good clip also will produce fish in the deeper holding water in the creek. If you can possibly fish during the week, there won’t be as much pressure on the fish as on the weekends. In North Carolina, the delayed harvest waters of the Nantahala, Fires Creek and Big Snowbird are rocking it with large numbers of willing fish. All three streams have great access to the water and are

APRIL 26TH PINK MOON

Mix it up with light spinning tackle as well for a great combo trip!

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APRIL 2021

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great places to introduce a new angler to the sport. Nothing can pique the interest of a new angler like catching a few! Like the Georgia waters, dry droppers and streamers are hard to beat. Dry flies are easiest to cast for the beginner, and these trout usually favor larger sizes making them easy to see and fish. Nymph rigs, though being more difficult to cast, can really up the numbers of netted trout in a day’s time. Egg patterns or San Juan Worms bounced close to the bottom are stone cold killers in the month of April on our wellloved delayed harvest waters. Wild fish are very aggressive to a high riding dry fly or swung wet fly or soft hackle. They are seeing and eating insects every day, and a well drifted fly will normally get some attention. Fish are active all day unlike the mid-day winter fishing hour or two of activity. So plan to get there early and stay late! If you’d like to sample these waters, check us out at www.hulseyflyfishing.com or if you’ve never fly fished before and would like to learn how, visit our other company at www.blueridgeflyfishingschool. com.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE GUIDES ANGLE

THE CASTING CORNER

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service

Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer

THE RISE

When fly anglers think of dry fly fishing on the stream surface for rising trout, it is some of their fondest of on-stream memories for even seasoned trout fishermen. You are hunting more than fishing in this scenario where you actually see the fish rise to the surface to the adult stage of an aquatic insect, most likely caddis flies or mayflies in the early springtime in the South. Blindly prospecting with a dry fly is most likely futile as the bug hatch and the fish feeding activity must happen with perfect timing window and being at the right place at the right time with the stars aligning as well. If you’re lucky enough to spot a rising trout, you must assess not just the general area in the river where the fish is located, but also the exact feeding lane that your fly

should be presented without the slightest drag as to appear natural to the fish. Silhouette, size, color of whatever is hatching should be matched as close as possible. If the fish is positioned in faster currents such as a shoal area, the fly selection does not have to be as exact as compared to slower meandering flat water where the fish has more time to inspect what you’re offering. The ultimate part of this dry fly equation is the final rise to your fly. Most of my newbie clients pull the fly right out of the first few fish’s mouths from the excitement and disbelief. The trick is to say “God Bless America” right after the fish rises to your fly and then set the hook by delaying your reaction by a half a second. You have allowed the fish to turn downward in the current with a solid dry fly hook-set!

DO YOU WANT THE LONG OR SHORT VERSION

While getting my training as a certified casting instructor with the FFF, (Now known as the Fly Fishers International), there was an understanding between the student and mentor. When a question was asked, the student would give the short answer. Then, if the mentor wanted to see how much more they know on a subject, he would ask for more in-depth information. This was good for both student and mentor. From the student side, he might get a pass on something that was very technical. That’s if they explained the answer in a clear, concise, confident manor. The mentor can tell if it is worth going deeper to engage, or spare himself/herself the rambling of someone trying to dig their way out of a situation. Here is an example of a good short vs long answer. Mentor; How do you cast a narrow loop? Student; Keep the rod tip on a straight line path.

M; How do you keep your rod tip on a straight line path? S; By using the 5 essentials M; What are the 5 essentials? S; SSSPP M; What the heck is that? S; S- Straight line path of the rod tip on all planes. S- Slack- Remove slack from the casting sequence. S- Stoke size- Short cast short stroke, long cast long stroke. P- Power application is a smooth constant rate of acceleration to a stop. P- Pause- Let the line extend without losing tension or falling too far. Mentor; Okay, let’s get a beer.

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APRIL 2021

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

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OCONEE ON THE FLY-APRIL FORECAST TRANSITIONS ON OCONEE – MARCH TO APRIL/CRAPPIE TO STRIPERS Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com What a crappie season it has been! The Big Fish Heads Derby here has seen five crappie weekly winners over 2 pounds! Check out the weekly winners here: https://oconeederby. com/overall-leaders. March has been incredible for crappie, but by mid-April many of the guides here will be turning their attention to hybrid and striper fishing. The first week or two in April, I will still be doing some crappie trips. Rather than pushing jigs tipped with minnows out of the front of the boat or trolling out of the back, I will be casting to the bank with a fly rod. April is also the beginning of the topwater bite for stripers and hybrids. No matter what type of fishing you like to do, April is one of the best months to be fishing Oconee. If you are hiring a guide, book your trip well in advance. Since the pandemic, all of us have been ex-

tremely busy. If you do book a guide in a month that is particularly good for your quarry, go ahead and book the same time for the next year. Believe it or not, I even have a certain day that has been the best fishing day that year for 4 years in a row now! April Forecast Hybrids/Stripers – As we move into April, I like to long line bass minnows behind the boat in areas like Great Waters, the dam, and up the Richland Creek stretch of the lake. Spoons will be effective. One thing I like to do that is popular on Lanier is throw a Cotton Cordell Red-Fin. Do this at first light over shallow humps, points, and clay banks. There is nothing like seeing a hybrid, striper, or largemouth attack a topwater bait! I am usually out before first light, and if I get out early enough or stay out late enough, I love fly fishing and throwing a Cowen’s Somethin

Else fly to a dock that has lights on it. This time of year, it is a very dependable bite! April Forecast Crappie – As I mentioned before, I like to “beat the banks”. This will only work when the crappie are in the shallows and on the bed. One method is to cast a 1/24 oz. Jiffy Jig under a weighted bobber to the shoreline, no minnow needed. Work it slowly back to the boat, jiggling the rod tip slightly. When you hit an area with a bed, you can load up. The other method is to use a 5-weight fly rod. You can use the same 1/24 oz. Jiffy Jig under a strike indicator. Better yet, try the new micro Game Changer fly. Its looks just like a small shad. Final Words - It’s an incredible time to fish Oconee! I am now taking trips during the week and on weekends. Email me at wmoore1700@ outlook.com or call 404-3179556 and lock in your dates.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING TIME FOR A VACATION Contributed By: William Reed Nucanoe National Pro Staff Writer IG: @wde_will, will@nucanoe.com

Most fisherman dream of taking a trip for a species of fish they have never caught. For most Georgians, species like salmon, peacock bass, and palomino trout seem like a world away. With Covid restrictions finally starting to lift, now is the perfect time for a mini vacation. Contrary to popular belief, all three species previously mentioned are within driving distance from anywhere in the state. Salmon is a broad term as most are found farther north and west, thriving in saltwater only to migrate into cold water streams to spawn. The big exception is the kokanee salmon. The kokanee salmon is the non-migrating, land locked strain of sockeye salmon that lives its entire life in freshwater. Approximately 2 hours north of Atlanta, lay an active population of kokanee. Lake Nantahala in North Carolina is cold and deep, providing a perfect opportunity for the salmon to thrive. Questionably, the best time to fish for

them is during the annual spawn on the upper Nantahala River. The drawback is there is no public access, meaning one will either pay a guide or buy land that has grown increasingly expensive. The other option that is productive year round is fishing the lake itself. Several guides offer services but if you have your own kayak or boat, all you need are some small spoons and a weight or down-rigger. Live bait also works really well. Use a sounder to find the depth of the fish and troll your spoons/live bait right past them. Using this tactic could also hook you up on a huge brown or rainbow trout as well. Next up is the peacock bass. Native to the Amazon and Brazil, in 1984 Florida Fish and Game introduced the peacock bass into south Florida. Think of a smallmouth, but on steroids. The peacock is fast, aggressive and puts up a serious fight. The drive from North GA could be considered an overnight trip at about nine hours, however once you get to the Fort Lauderdale area or Maimi, the bass are in almost every lake. I drove down to meet a friend who said we were going to

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two on the Toccoa River. It’s also easy to call around to find trophy water that regular stocks them for an almost guaranteed catch. Tactics are the same as any species of trout. For the adventurer, now is the perfect time to explore, so why not try to catch something that will make the memory of a lifetime.

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be fishing the water runoff canals in the city. Ignoring the almost black water that stunk to high heaven, we caught over 40 fish that day. That is a relatively standard number on average being you can throw almost any crank bait or flashy lure at them. A boat is not needed as the waterways are small, but a kayak does help as it allows you to move between areas of private property. Lastly, we will talk about the palomino trout. The palomino trout resembles a well ripened banana in color and is the offspring of the West Virginia golden trout and a rainbow trout. The main fishery for the palomino trout is Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, but they can be found an hour from Atlanta on the Soque River, the Toccoa River and several other North Georgia waterways. Guide services on private stretches of water have regularly stocked the palamino with high waters and storms pushing the fish downstream. Though not entirely a common catch, I have already heard of one caught on Hemptown Creek in Blue Ridge and

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST ALLATOONA SLABS By Tim Dangar ltdangar@tds.net The month of March is a great month for sportsman. Fish are beginning to move up rivers and creeks in big reservoirs to a prespawn grouping, turkey season opens in a week, and trout streams and lakes are getting the first stocking of the season. The warmer weather makes it feel good in the great outdoors. I had a chance to get on Lake Allatoona on Wednesday March 10th. It was still cold in the morning, but around 3:00 in the afternoon, which was the heat of the day, I found some crappie in about 10 feet of water. I managed to keep 15 big slabs, and that my friends, equals 30 delicious fillets. Allatoona needs water badly, as

it is still a good 10 feet down, but you can still catch fish with some persistence. It’s only going to get better, so get out there and always stay calm and fish on!

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LAKE BURTON Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 52 degrees, lake level: 6 feet below full pool, clarity: clear. Bass: The spotted bass bite has been good the last few days. We have been catching fish up shallow mid-morning in pockets. Topwater Mini Heddon Torpedoes (clear and green) have been working best. We have been working these around rocks and blown down trees. We have also had some success using a Texas rigged pumpkin seed finesse worm. Try using these on long main lake points where the afternoon sun sets. These clay points warm the water and seem to be holding more fish. The bass spawn is right

around the corner. Most of these fish should pull up shallow and offer some great results. Trout: The brown trout have moved up in the creeks shallow and are feeding on the blueback herring in 15 to 20 feet of water. Casting small jerkbaits and Rooster Tails has been the ticket. We have caught some bigger fish slow trolling night crawlers on crawler rigs. Look for this pattern to continue for the next few weeks. Walleye: The walleye spawn should be winding down, and most of the fish seem to be up in the river channels and around the bank lines. These fish are hungry and will bite about anything they can get their mouths on. Trolling small crankbaits 2.5 to 2 mph seems to be the ticket. This bite should continue for the next several weeks.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST APRIL ON LANIER – FISHING THE SPAWN Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

Fishing during the spawn can provide some interesting opportunities and many different choices. Bed-fishing is very popular this time of year and certainly can provide some outstanding catches. In most instances, I prefer to leave the fish to their reproductive cycle, and often shy away from bed fishing. In this article, I will focus on tips and techniques to catch fish during this sometimes challenging period that offer an alternative to the bed fishing option. Optimal Conditions: This year, 2021, we are in sync with the normal timing of the spawn on Lake Lanier in terms of water temperature trends. The thing that stands out this year is that the lake is below full pool, which is a sharp contrast to recent years of 3-5 feet over full pool. This will mean different areas for spawning and more main lake activity perhaps. The largemouth in the lake will physically go on the bed at water temperatures of 56-60 degrees. The spotted bass tend to spawn a bit later when the water temperatures reach 62 degrees or above. Further, it is important to understand that many fish spawn during a favorable moon phase, given the noted water temperature requirements are met. The full and new moon phases often prompt fish to move into their bedding routine. Make sure to cross reference the moon calendar with water data to understand when fish will likely begin their spawning rituals.

Location: The largemouths in Lake Lanier tend to spawn shallower than do the spotted bass. The largemouth can be found bedding in creek pockets, often in the back of these pockets, in a protected area often in 3 feet of water or less. The spotted bass can frequently be found in similar areas, but often prefer a hard bottom type area and can generally be found in 6-12 feet of water and deeper. Unlike the largemouth, there are a contingency of the spotted bass that will spawn on the main lake. These fish can be found on or around humps, points, islands, and sandy saddles between islands on the main lake. These females are often some of the biggest fish in the lake. Spots and largemouth both will stage around and under docks near likely spawning areas. Check those areas thoroughly. Lures and Presentation: Now that we have explored the location that fish can be found during the spawn, I want to share some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish. Rather than focusing on specific “bed fishing” techniques, I am going to share some proven tactics that can be used to catch fish just before they actually lock down on the beds. Worm/jig –These are great baits to skip and pitch around docks for those staging fish we discussed earlier in this article. Use a 3/16 oz Georgia Blade Shaky Head and tip it with a Zoom finesse worm. If the

fish are ultra-finicky, don’t forget the Carolina Rig to present your softplastics. Drag or drift this rig slowly over secondary points or the ends of spawning flats for some potentially awesome results. Also, when fishing a Georgia Blade Shaky Head and worm combo, consider using a lighter jig-head. I often choose a 1/8 oz head or lighter to target these spawning fish. I will often tip this with a 4-inch worm as opposed to a traditional offering of 6 inches or more. Fluke – A weightless fluke is a fun and productive bait to fish this time of year. Target the shallows, cover, and docks with this rig. Twitch the bait and then allow it to sink slowly. This presentation will draw strikes from actively feeding and spawning fish as well. Georgia Blade Underspin - I like to downsize to a 1/4 oz model with a small trailer and work the back third of creeks with this bait during the pre-spawn and just before the fish go on beds. It offers versatility in presentation and depth. A traditional spinnerbait from Georgia Blade can be a good choice as well.

I like the double white-bladed and double gold-bladed options as well. Swimbait – Swimbaits offer great versatility as they can, based on the model, be fished at any depth you wish. This a great bait with which to catch a monster bass just before they spawn. Throwing a big 6 or 8-inch swimbait and slow rolling in the areas just off of spawning flats or around secondary points and docks can entice bites from very big fish. I recommend the Sweet Herring Swimbait from Sweet Bait options for this tactic. This approach will not garner you many bites on any given day, but the fish you do catch will likely be monsters! Also, a Lanier Baits Swimmer on a jig head swam off of rocky and clay points as well as in pockets can be a great option for both numbers and big fish as well. While the spawn can be a challenging time of year to catch fish, focus on the immediate pre-spawn period with the trips and baits noted above for some outstanding results! For more information or to book your trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www. jimboonlanier.com.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE ALLATOONA 404-834-0007 April is a magical month here in North Georgia and fishermen anxiously await April every year here on lovely Lake Allatoona. The water temps begin to rise and the fish are spawning, and we are so very excited for the bigger fish bite that we start to enjoy in the month of April. The hybrids and stripers will soon be rolling on the surface, so let the “boiling” begin! We are confident that standard patterns of down-lining and free-lining fresh threadfin and gizzard shads along with trolling umbrella rigs and crankbaits will produce both numbers as well as quality fish as they had starting in March. The topwater bite should just be starting, and this always provides an extra rush of adrenaline when any species busts the popper or plug on the surface. This is the time the bigger girls come into the shallows to play and hunt, day and night. We can only hope to hook up with a gem or two this month. Bigger baits may prevail when targeting the larger fish this month. Think about pulling a big 10”+ shad anytime you are committing to an area for maximum success for hooking up with a drag screamer. The spotted bass bite has been fantastic for each and every one of the years I can recall on Allatoona. They will respond well to many offer-

ings. A white fluke or shad pattern swim bait worked along the bank edges will produce fish. So might your crappie jigs. Truly, it is always hard to beat a good ol’ nightcrawler or bass-sized shiner to get the bite, but this time of year can gain some great confidence in working different artificial baits and hooking up. More 3-5-pound bass will be caught this month. Spawn will fatten the females up, and we would encourage releasing egg laden females during this time. We sure do have a lot of 1-2 pounders that make it easy to enjoy a creel limit of this sweet meat if you just cannot resist. Allatoona crappie are bountiful despite less than ideal spawning conditions the previous 2 years. Keeping a small jig worked 3-6 feet under a float, maybe even tipped with a minnow, will produce some nice crappie that will be coming into all the awesome Christmas tree piles and other structure that local volunteer fisherman, state and federal agencies work diligently to ensure that the bank fishing will be great this time of year. Spider rigging and pushing over brush with 1/32-1/16oz. jigs and minnows will also produce. We look forward to having you on board for a striper/hybrid, spotted bass, crappie or catfish adventure here on lovely Lake Allatoona. Please reach out to us at any time to 404-919-4918 or email us: heronoutdooradventures@gmail.com. Stay safe and tight lines, friends!

JACKSON LAKE By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com Water temperature: mid 60’s, lake level: full, clarity: stained/ clear. Spring is in full swing, which means the bass spawn is just getting started. Focus on secondary points with spawning areas close by or flats close to spawning areas. This is the time of year every angler looks forward to because any 18 ATLANTA

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bait you decide to use will catch fish. You can catch bass that are actively spawning or in the process of making their way towards spawning areas. If you get bit but connecting doesn’t happen, you probably have found a bass on bed. Just slow down and keep casting to the exact spot. Chances are you will connect with that particular fish. Being able to see a bass on bed isn’t always a good thing, because if you can see the bass, it can see you. Covering water is the key factor to filling the boat this month.

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We had an adventure at the Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman Club Sailfish Tournament in West Palm Beach that could have turned out very badly, but fortunately it had a happy ending. My boat, Pegasus, happened to be near another club boat, Rent Money, Captained by Bill Brooker. We had left from Lake Worth Inlet (West Palm Beach) and were now fishing near Jupiter Inlet. I hailed them on the VHF radio to let them know we had just seen a sailfish jump a few hundred yards behind us, but the reply was “Pegasus, stick close. We have an issue” I started trolling towards them and watched a flurry of activity by the three crew members, and a couple of times the boat would take off going around in a tight circle like they were cutting doughnuts. A few minutes later, Bill came on the radio “Pegasus, we are on channel 16” so I switched over to monitor the communications between Rent Money and the Coast Guard. We radioed the other club boats in the area to let them know to standby in case their assistance was needed. It turns out that a hatch on Rent Money was leaking with the boat taking on water and the bilge pump was not working. On top of that, Rent Money had lost her steering control. Bill was trying to get her on plane so the water would drain, but the boat would only run in circles. Fortunately, they soon regained steering control, got up on plane and headed towards the shore in case they had to beach the boat. The Coast Guard continued monitoring the situation and immediately dispatched a boat from Lake Worth Inlet and also called Sea Tow which had a boat in Jupiter to get to the scene quicker. They also issued a “Pon Pon Pon” alert which made all the boats in the area aware of the situation and to render assistance if needed. Shortly, the Sea Tow boat came tearing out of Jupiter Inlet, and also there was a Tow Boat US boat that had been further offshore,

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which upon hearing the distress call came to it as fast as possible. Sea Tow and Tow Boat US then escorted Rent Money, ready to provide assistance. Now that Rent Money was up on plane, the water was draining and things were looking much better. In a few minutes the Coast Guard boat met up with them and Sea Tow and Tow Boat US handed off. The Coast Guard escorted Rent Money all the way into the boat ramp. At the ramp and on the trailer, the Coast Guard inspected the boat and filled out paperwork, and all’s well that ends well. I was extremely impressed with the response of everyone involved, the Coast Guard, Sea Tow and Tow Boat US. It was definitely safety above everything else. This real life episode happened in one of the most densely populated boating areas around, and we were only 3 or 4 miles offshore. Many of the places we fish are much more remote. If the same scenario happened at a more remote location and the steering did not recover, the boat probably would have sunk. Without another boat able to render assistance quickly, what turned out to be a good story to tell could have turned into a real disaster. This really drove home that emergency situations really can occur and one of the biggest advantages to fishing as a club is having other boats nearby that you know and can call for help. The Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman Club (ASWSC) is for saltwater lovers in the metro area (and beyond). For more information about ASWSC: www.aswsc.org, info@ aswsc.org, and like us on Facebook “Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman Club”.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST ENJOYING EARLY SPRING FISHING Dr. Andrew Cox

The middle of March brought a taste of spring to our area. It was a welcome relief from the cold, wet winter weather. Though we will likely experience some continuing cold weather as spring progresses, these early days remind us of what is in front of us. Other than possibly October and the first of November, the months of March and April are some of the best months of the year for outdoor activities in the South. The spring like weather certainly has resulted in some good fishing on area waters. If you can pick your days and be on the water at the right time of day, the angler can experience some good to excellent fishing. Now is a good time to be on the water and to introduce a young person to the joys of fishing. I have been taking my grandson and his friend to Lake Harding/Bartlett’s Ferry

reservoir, just south of LaGrange, straddling the Georgia and Alabama state line. The warming water has prompted the largemouth and spotted bass to come into the shallows along the lake’s banks. These fish are particularly located along banks that have riprap, rocks, or concrete along the shoreline, though they also could be found elsewhere within the lake’s shallows. The young people seem to enjoy their fishing experience, catching a number of fish located in some of my favorite fishing areas on this reservoir. These trips certainly have provided some nice pictures to post into my Facebook account as well as to include within this article. Hopefully, you can take time to enjoy this time of year on the water. Maybe you can make time to introduce a young person to angling. This

is the time of year that anglers can catch large fish; in some cases the fish of a lifetime. Young people can experience catching numbers of fish and larger fish that may whet their appetite for fishing during those times of the year where catching fish can be more sporadic. Stay safe and enjoy our area’s angling resources. Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He is

a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST SPRING IS HERE! GO FISHING! By Gary Turner

Spring is in the air! Winter for the most part is finally behind us, and the water temps are on the rise! If you look at any social media, you will see the fishing is blowing up coast to coast! Everyone is getting out on the water. With Covid vaccines reaching millions now, people are busting out the door to get back on the water. The fish are warming up and many species are pre-spawn. Like hibernating bears coming out of their dens, they are ready to put on the feed bags and start fattening up. That’s what we love! The crappie and bass on Sinclair and Oconee have been hot for several weeks. Stacy Fleming and his brother hit Sandy Creek this weekend and got several nice crappie. The baitfish are coming back toward the surface at Carters, and the big spots and stripers are right behind them. You might even find Mr. Whiskers lurking around too. Lake

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Jackson and Fort Yargo are producing some nice stringers right now. Several other area lakes are starting to come alive also. I caught some really nice bream at a local farm pond last week. That’s about all the fishing I have managed to do in the last month. I somehow tweaked my knee and haven’t been on any boats lately. I see the orthopedist on Friday and will find out what he thinks. This knee has really slowed me down for a few weeks. Hopefully, it will be fine and I will have my old sea legs back soon. I have a ton of fishing to catch up on since I missed most of March. The bite for nearly every species that swims is on, and most will get even better with the warming water temperatures. The bass and stripers are biting all over, and the crappie have moved in very shallow. Catfish are in their pre-spawn pattern and

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will be feeding heavy for a bit longer until they go into spawn and sometimes get lockjaw for a few weeks. There will be some really big fish caught this year in Georgia, I think there will be several state records broken. Georgia’s lakes are producing bigger and bigger fish. I talked with DNR and they told me they have shocked up lake record fish in several lakes I fish. That said, your record is out there swimming right now! This time of year you can catch lots of really big bass off the beds. Pre-spawn catfish will be biting hard and feeding up 24/7. As always, please release any big cats you catch. Eat the ones under 10 to 15 pounds and let the other trophy fish live. If you catch a monster flathead or blue during the spawn, please take your pictures and then release them back as quickly as possible. These large fish take years to reach this size and are the future of Georgia’s catfish populations and records. You do not need to keep these fish for a great mount. Simply take good pictures and measurements and your taxidermist will take it from there. Put those hawgs back in the water and let them spawn future generations.

I can’t wait for my grandson to be big enough to catch giant Georgia fish, so please help by releasing the big ones for future generations. You can reach me at gary@purgeright. com. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

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indications that we’ve been seeing in March, I think April will for sure produce lots of trophy stripers. If you’d like to try your luck at some trophy stripers, give me a call and let us get you on the most Lake Martin should be getting beautiful waters during the big fish close to full pool by the time you’re months. See you on the water! reading this, and surface temps should be around 65. April is one of the best months for fishing here and most other area lakes. This month, we as a guide service should be catching most every striper on top, whether it’s pulling planer boards for them or casting topwater plugs at the monster stripers that Lake Martin offers. The morning bite should be fantastic, but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to catch them all day long, just maybe not quite as fast as you might early. We will probably be spending most of our time in the shallower areas of the lake searching for another 50-plus pound striper. It’s about time to boat another one, and who knows, maybe our guide JB who holds the record here at 52-pounds, will break another record this month. From all

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Legends last forever and this lure maker is every bit a legend. This man, Lauri Rapala, took a piece of wood and a carving knife and created the best fishing lure ever known. It was an incredible feat and all he was trying to do make the best lure possible in 1930’s. He was an avid fisherman, but he had a family to feed. So with a row boat and some of his wooden handmade lures, he created the legendary Original Floating™ Rapala. Since he was a curious fellow, he watched game fish chase minnows on his hone lake. He noticed the game fish would attack any baitfish that looked injured as these minnows would swim off-centered. So with this in mind, he carved and whittled his lure. And all this work and patience was to help him feed his family. As the process got more refined, he added some foil to the body of the lure to make it more lifelike. As more lures came out and the stories of a man catching 600 pounds of fish a day, he was on his way. The rest, as they say, is history.

Later he designed and had crafted the Original Shad Rap. If you fish, you have Shad Raps. When this lure was first released, anglers were scrambling to find even one. Bait shops rented Shad Raps by the hour. They simply catch fish. The main reason this lure is so effective is the life-like swimming action. And every single Rapala ever made is hand tuned in water before it is shipped. At the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield Missouri, there are thousands of Rapala’s for sale. Every size, every color and every species of fish are caught annually on this lure. Rapala sells 20 million lures through 140 countries annually. Rapala products make better fishermen, and they are never rushed to market, but carefully crafted from years of experience. Often Rapala releases Limited Edition, one of a kind Rapala lures. This white #5 Rapala pictured was released in 1989 and only 5,000 were made and sold worldwide. Also pictured is the first Rapala, the Original Floating™ Rapala and the Shad Rap.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST WEST POINT LAKE

Water temps should be mostly in the mid 60’s to low 70s. The lake is still slightly stained in the creeks and should hopefully be approaching full pool soon! Bass: Good. Bass can be caught on several different patterns. Topwater baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive pre-spawn and spawning fish. The back ends of most creeks will usually produce. The second pattern that works really well is to look for spawning shad. Try fishing rip-rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and Zoom Superflukes. Additionally, some big tournament sacks of largemouth are weighed in April by guys who sight fish, targeting fish that are locked on bed. A Yamamoto Senko or merthiolate Trick worm rigged weightless will do the trick. Lots of spotted bass spawn in April are caught by just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks. Linesides: Excellent. Expect a strong river run from the hybrids and white bass this year until at least mid-April. The hybrids have made a nice comeback since the DNR has been stocking them again for the past several years. Many of these fish are mature this year and should guarantee a big run. Try live or cut bait fished in holes from Grayson’s Landing to Franklin. Spray your bait with a little garlic scent for even more bites. Some

fish will always remain down on the main lake as well and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, and Storm Swim Shad lures. Try the riprap around the bridges at daylight. Shad spawn should start soon! Please don’t forget to book your striper trips for this upcoming season. I still have a few days open in May and June! Please feel free to contact me at HudsonsProBass@gmail.com or visit my website: LakeWestPointFishing.com to reserve your day! Crappie: Good. Because of below average water temps last month, there should be a good second wave of crappie coming up in early to mid-April this year to spawn. During April, crappie can be in all stages of the spawning process: pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn. Crappie can be easier to catch in slightly stained water, especially if you have shallow brush, blow-downs or chunk rock structure. Try using minnows or jigs under a float. Spawned out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper structure for a while to recover. Night fishing should also improve in late April. Bream: Good. Don’t forget about our bream and shellcracker. Finding an active bed can take a little effort, but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycles in April and May. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Use live pink worms, crickets and small spinners for the best results. Catfish: Good. Lots of channel cat are caught every year by anglers that are targeting linesides. The same live and cut baits that are used on stripers will catch cats especially in the river north of 219. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream and fish the same areas.

THREE STAGES OF THE SPAWNING BASS

Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com When it comes to springtime bass fishing, one of the factors to consider is the stages in which the bass naturally follows. The pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn are levels that bass goes through each year. It is essential to note that these stages are actually migration routes that lead to the successful transition of what bass do to ensure future bass populations’ success. However, during these times of the year, bass fishing can be a challenge to many anglers. Let’s dig a little deeper and look at some of the things that make an angler successful during these times. The pre-spawn phase can be one of the most challenging times of the year to fish. However, it can also be one of the easiest ways to determine where the fish are on the lake. Pre-spawn for bass means that the fish are getting ready to move up from their winter haunts and start migrating toward the back of the creeks. The places I look for this time of year are main creek channels that have channel swings. I look for the cover that is near the entrance of the cove near deep water. If some type of structure is there, then that’s even better. It could be a dock or a secondary point that will allow the fish to stage before moving further back into the shallow water to spawn. The spawn phase is when the fish have moved back into the shallow water and started the mating season. The water temperature signals bass that it’s time to move onto the beds and start the spawning season. One sure way to catch a bedding

bass in spawining season is to use baits that mimic things that eat the bass eggs, such as bluegills and lizards. Using these baits is sure to get the attention of a bass that is guarding a nest. Post-spawn phase has the fish moving back out of the shallows to deeper water so that the recuperation process starts. After a female bass lays their eggs, they are ready to rest and then begin feeding to replace a lot of the energy that has been depleted. Catching these fish can be a challenge; however, they can be caught. To find these fish, you have to look for deeper water, and usually out near the main channel breaks near the spawning grounds. I have caught many of the post-spawn fish on Carolina rigs and jigs over humps and ditches. One of the most essential keys to fishing the three spawning phases is that you will have to cover water as the fish can move quickly. It is not uncommon to see bass on the beds one day, and the next day they are gone. There will be days when the bass are spooky, and as soon as you get near one of the beds, the fish darts away. Be patient during this time of year as the three phases can be a great time to catch fish and one of the most frustrating times. Tight Lines! www.jaystrker.com

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

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LAKE EUFAULA By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: lower 50’s to low 60’s, lake level: 188.54 msl, clarity: remains muddy. The wild temperature swings every day now has the water temperature changing so much that the fish are in a constant state of confusion. I leave to launch the boat around 5:00 A.M. and scrape frost from the windshield. We get back to the dock at the end of a trip in short sleeves. The fish have been trying to transition to shallow water to spawn for days now and do not find a consistent water temperature to complete the process. We are catching bass that are full of eggs, so it will happen soon. The bass we are catching are hitting reaction lures, and the noisier, the better. Chatterbaits have been good, and spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are also a great choice. Soft plastics rigged on a Texas rig and shaky head

worked very slowly are getting a few hits. We are still hearing stories about anglers watching their bait on the newer electronics landing in a school of fish, see the fish react to the presentation and then move away. Until we get a constant, warmer water temperature, they will remain lethargic. We have come to realize here in the South, that we cannot depend on any sort of dependable weather patterns before Easter each year. Crappie are off and on as well. A week ago, they were doing well on jigs and minnows, and this week they have scattered again. The schools we are seeing on the electronics are big, and it looks like it will be a fantastic season for them when all settles down. Catfish are even being stubborn at this time. We are getting a few on jugs, but they are not responding to the bottom bait at all. We have our two major fundraising tournaments coming up. Scott Woodruff Heart Transplant Tournament is March 20 and the Alabama Classic in June 12, 2021. Remember,

the Alabama Classic has Alfa Insurance as our new Title Sponsor, guaranteeing the first place team $5,000.00 and bringing our total purse to $15,000.00. Visit www. alclassic.com for all the details and sign up for our newsletter.

Remember to stay safe, pray for one another and outdoor activities like fishing are perfectly safe in the open air. Watching the wildlife in the spring is a great reminder our God is alive and well. God Bless and good fishing.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE SEMINOLE Forecast By: by Capt. Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com The bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been excellent this March! Stick worms like a Yum Dinger have produced some big bass. Spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits have been very productive. If planning a trip to Lake Seminole in April, there are three baits you will need to have tied on: A hollow belly frog. One of my favorite is a Spro Popping Frog fished around and over the top of vegetation. I like using a TFO 7’ 3” heavy action rod with a high speed reel filled with at least 50-pound Cortland Master Braid to get the big bass out of the heavy cover! A swim jig is a very productive lure in April on Seminole. My choice of a swim jig is the Untamed Tackle Heavy Cover swim jig. It is made with a quad bait keeper that

holds the trailer on and will come through the cover with ease. Try to imitate bluegill with your color of jig and trailer. A soft plastic straight tail worm will continue to be very productive bait in April on Lake Seminole. My favorite is a Yum Dinger Texas rigged and fished around the grass lines. Lake Seminole is nationally known for its excellent shellcracker fishing, and they will be bedding in and around the flats. For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this April for bass or shellcracker, email us at lakeseminolefishingadventures@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @lakeseminolefishingadventures.

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•1 1/2 lbs. venison steak an 1 inch thick •3 Tablespoons olive oil •1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice •1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce •1 Tablespoon soy sauce •2 teaspoons minced garlic •1/2 teaspoon ground pepper •1/4 cup dry red wine – we used Pinot Noir Instructions • Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a measuring cup. • Place venison in a large zip lock bag. • Pour marinade over steak and seal the bag. • Place bag in a flat casserole dish so that the steak lies flat. • Refrigerate and marinate at least 5 hours, turning every half hour to marinate each side. • Drain the marinade at let the steak come to room temperature at least 1 hour. • Spray grill grate with spray oil and heat the grill to 500 F. • Pat the steak dry with paper towels and then rub both sides of steak with olive oil. • Lay the steak on the grill. Do not disturb for 2 minutes. With tongs pick up the steak and move it 90 degrees on the grill — this will give you the cross-hatch grill marks. Grill another 2 minutes on the same side. • Flip the steak and grill until medium rare, using the same method as the first side. Do the Finger test for doneness about 4 minutes. • Move the steak to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST TLC FOR YOUR BOAT TRAILER

By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA If you own a boat, you probably own a trailer. Whether your trailer gets used once a week or once a year, it’s important to keep it in good shape because there’s nothing worse than having a fun boating day or a fishing trip cut short due to trailer problems. Here’s a few Nuts & Bolts trailering pro tips to help keep your trailer in tip-top condition and insure you get to the boat ramp on time. 1 - Check your tires regularly. Run the rated air pressure in the tires. You can see the recommended pressure stamped on the sidewall. Look for signs of uneven wear in the treads as this could indicate an axle alignment issue or wheel balance issue. If a tire is starting to crack or show signs of old age, replace it. Also, check the lug nuts on the wheels for correct torque, and add a little grease to each wheel bearing. 2 - Check your winch, winch lock and winch strap. Give the gears a little lithium grease. Check the winch lock and ratchet are fully functional and thoroughly examine every inch of your winch strap. If it’s starting to fray a little, replace it. You should also have a safety chain attached to the trailer, which then attaches to the bow eye. And speaking of safety chains, you should have safety chains that connect from the trailer to your tow vehicle. Criss-cross them under the trailer tongue. 3 – Check your trailer lights. This is probably the most common issue with trailers. Wire connections and bulb sockets get corroded. The harness connector pins can corrode or bend, and we’ve all seen lots of trailers with broken tail lights and busted amber side lights. Before you leave the driveway, check running lights, brake lights and turn signals. 4 – Check the brakes and brake fluid. This is pretty easy. If you

have surge brakes on your trailer (most do), just pull it a few hundred feet with your tow vehicle and press the brakes. The trailer should not ‘push’ your vehicle. Check the fluid reservoir on the trailer tongue. 5 – This is the one thing that seldom gets checked before leaving, and can be the most aggravating of all. Check the trailer jack and wheel. If it sticks when raising or lowering, or the wheel is rusted in place, or the crank is bent, take my advice and replace it. These five things should provide the maintenance basics to get you to and from the boat ramp. There are a few others things worth mentioning. If your trailer has been sitting in the driveway for a while, take it for spin around the block every couple months. It helps prevent ‘flat’ spots on your tires and keeps the bearings lubricated. I always put a safety pin in the coupler lock once it’s on the trailer ball. It’s an extra measure of safety. You do not want to see your trailer and boat passing you on the highway because the coupler wasn’t totally locked down. Of course, don’t forget to properly maintain your tow vehicle. Check the oil, coolant, brakes, lights, and condition of your tow hitch. A small bit of lithium grease on the hitch ball will help the trailer tongue slide on an off easier. Finally, be sure to rinse your entire trailer with lots of clean, fresh water every time. If it has a brake washdown system with a hose connector, do that. Take care of your trailer and it will take care of your boat on the highway.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS By: Darren Hughes Owner: Hughes General Store & Bait Shop The Angler Magazine Fishing Team & Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021

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If one thing could be said about April fishing on Lake Chatuge, it’s that April most certainly kicks off the start of some amazing fishing patterns. From explosive topwater bites to monster schools of hybrid bass under the boat and everything in between. It’s absolutely time to get on this beautiful North Georgia reservoir and experience the fishing trip of a lifetime. There’s no better way to do that than booking a trip with the area’s top-rated fishing guide service, Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We are Lake Chatuge’s premier charter service and will put you on those trophy spots and hybrids. The hybrid bass bite lately has been off the hook! We’ve been wearing out some nice 7 to 10 pound fish in good numbers for early spring. The hybrids are currently staging in their spawning areas in the backs of creeks and feeding on small bait. This should continue through the next month or so. Early morning planer boards and free lines will work the best. As the sun really comes out, the fish are moving to slightly deeper water and hitting on our down lines. Live bait is key here to catching some quality fish, but don’t hesitate to cast a Spook or a Red Fin, especially when theses hybrids are busting topwater. We have been killing it on some ultra-lite tackle lately. Our spotted bass bite has also been insane. We are averaging anywhere from 30 to 40 fish a trip out

here. Lake Chatuge offers the best spotted bass fishing in Western North Carolina, and I highly recommend booking a trip with us to experience this super exciting fishing thrill. These big spots are stacking up on shallow points, humps and flats all over the lake and preparing for the spawn. Look for these fish in the 10-30 foot range. The early morning bite has been okay, but it really fires up once the sun comes up. The late afternoon bite has also been pretty productive. Once you find these fish, they are hitting just about anything you can cast at them. Jerkbaits and crankbaits have been working great, but as always, our super lively blueback herring are the biggest producers for some huge spots. April is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on Lake Chatuge. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of best trophy fish during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Nottely and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

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LAKE NOTTELY STRIPER By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021, 1-844-4-ANGLER Explosive bites—as if someone threw a grenade in the water—reels screaming, rods doubled over, and line peeling out like a Nascar. Yup! That all means it’s once again monster striper time on this wicked fun North Georgia lake located in Blairsville, GA. April and May are two of my favorite months on Lake Nottely. If all this sounds like something down your alley, then it’s time to book that striper trip with Lake Nottely’s #1 striper guide service, Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We are one of the South’s premier striper guide services and have what it takes to put you on some trophy stripers! Currently, Lake Nottely is 9 feet below full pool. Water temperatures have been in the low to mid 50’s. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and just slightly stained in the backs of the creeks and rivers. Striper fishing has been super out here lately. We’ve have had such an amazing late winter striper run, and it’s only going to get better! Most of the stripers we are catching have been in the 20 to 40 pound range, and we have been loading the boat with these monsters. The warmer, unusual water temps have had these fish schooled up and ag-

gressively biting. Our boats have had a bunch of 20 plus striper mornings in the past couple of weeks. We have also been wearing them out on light tackle, which is so darn fun! This pattern should continue into the month of April and increase as the stripers start their pre-spawn. Pulling planer boards with live herring and huge gizzard shad in the backs of creeks and around shallow, sloping banks is going to be the best technique. It’s also a good idea to work the banks by casting a Zara Spook or a Red Fin. As the sun comes up, turn your focus to fishing the mouths of creeks, as the stripers will follow bait to deeper water. With pre-spawn in mind, more and more stripers will start to stage in the mouths of creeks in April and start to work their way to the backs. Also, keep an eye on your electronics for schooling stripers, and pay attention to where the bait balls are. April is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Chatuge and Lake Blue Ridge. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice. com 706-455-2323 Water temperature: 50-53 degrees, lake level: 6.5 feet below full pool, clarity: clear. Fishing is starting to pick up as the days are getting longer and temps are getting warmer. The lake has been coming up some and should start filling back up. I’ve been starting my mornings out checking deep points that lead into spawning areas for spotted bass feeding and waiting for the right time to move up. These are good staging areas for them to feed before they move up to spawn. I’m targeting these fish

with multiple lures like a Z-man Ned Rig, 3.5” tube, Strike King 2.5”, 3.25” Rage Swimmer, jerkbait and a drop-shot. These same baits work well fished slowly around when they are spawning. On up in the day when it gets warmer, I will check pockets and flats for largemouth bass. I try throwing a swimbait, Strike King 1.5 square bill, and a Jack Hammer chatter bait. As the water temps keep rising, this bite is really going to pick up. You can also drag a jig or a crawdad type plastic lure near these spawning areas. If it’s windy and the water temps stay in the mid 50’s for a couple weeks, you can still catch them on the A-rig. Once the water temps gets above 56 degrees, I stop throwing it and start throwing a spinnerbait.

Fishing is starting to pick up as the days are getting longer and temps are getting warmer.

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Wall of Fame WINNER!

Angie & Jesie Walton from Marietta, GA return to Lake Eufaula to fish with Captain Sam Williams.

WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP!

One will be given away each month for the best reader submitted photo!

Jessica Alexander with an awesome Chauga River brown.

Joe Dipietro caught his biggest brown ever, a 32” monster hooked right at the Curtis Switch boat ramp, Toccoa River tailwater.

Mark Pryat with a nice 4.4 pound pre-spawn bass caught on an Alpharetta private lake.

Mark Bates with a nice crappie on Lake Eufaula.

Robbie Bailey and son Cameron from Midland,GA wuth some nice Eufaula cats.

While fishing with Fall Line Guide Service, this 5.2 pound shoal bass was caught by Lee Anne Powell in the Flint River on a black and blue Zman Jackhammer chatter bait.

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Yamaha's New 252 FSH Sport and 255 FSH Sport E The Most Capable and Versatile Center Console Boats in Their Class

ew for 2021 is the exciting 25-foot Yamaha 252 FSH Sport and 255 FSH Sport E center console boats that are the most capable and versatile boats in their class. These larger models of Yamaha’s popular FSH Series are designed with the size, power, and fuel range for serious offshore adventures. The 252 FSH Sport features twin, Yamaha 1.8L High Output engines. These normally-aspirated engines are powerful, reliable, and virtually maintenance-free. Acceleration is instant, bow rise is minimal, and more deck space is available for fishing and fun. For buyers who want the most performance available, and the premium features that come with Yamaha's E-Series drive-by-wire features, the 255 FSH Sport E gets twin 1.8L supercharged Yamaha SVHO® marine engines for a combined 500-horsepower. Zero to 30 mph acceleration is a blistering five seconds with a top speed of 55 mph. In addition, the 255 FSH Sport E feature push-button start, dual throttle lever syncing, and more. Both models come with 111-gallon fuel tanks, the highest capacity fuel tanks Yamaha offers in a jet boat. Paired with Yamaha's fuelefficient engines, there is plenty of cruising range for boaters who want to explore beyond the harbor surf break.

Under the water line is an all-new deep-V hull design that responds immediately to steering input at all speeds and comes on plane instantly. The bow seating area is wide and long, providing ample space for taller passengers to stretch out. And of course, there is plenty of storage available under the hinged bow seats, stainless steel beverage holders in all the right places, and an expansive anchor and bow ladder locker for easy access. Moving into the spacious cockpit interior, there is a transparent live well located portside and a large storage pod topped with padded marine mat adjacent on the starboard side. There is a comfortable bench seat in the front of the center console that lifts up to reveal an extra deep, large storage area that can also serve as a changing room or a head compartment thanks to the curtain enclosure that is standard on all models. Both models are fitted with finished fiberglass hard tops with LED lighting and integrated audio speakers. Completing the tower are five rocket launcher rod holders mounted to the T-Top frame, and there are eight additional rod holders located under the port and starboard gunnels.

The helm is thoughtfully designed with a glass windshield, stainless steel sports steering wheel, locking glove box, and 12-inch Simrad® marine electronics. Also included is Yamaha's Connext® 3.0 helm control system with a 7-inch touchscreen that controls the entertainment and vital system functions of the boat, a mobile phone holder, and USB/AUX ports. Behind the helm is beam width bench seating, a starboard side live bait well, and a low walkthrough transom for easy access to Yamaha's signature stern lounge area. This is the place to be when hanging out at your favorite cove, and a great open access place to cast from. Completing the stern area are stainless steel beverage holders, high-quality padded flooring, a stainless-steel tow eye, and a telescopic reboarding ladder. They also feature underwater lights. From bow to stern, there is nothing cookiecutter about Yamaha's new 25-foot center console boats. From their striking good looks to industry-first innovations, Yamaha's 252/255 FSH Series models let you do it all on the water, in style and with peace of mind. Learn more at YamahaBoats.com

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GILL FISHING OVERTON SHIRT

hen the heat of summer arrives, Gill Fishing’s Overton shirt will keep you dry, cool and clean thanks to its lightweight, breathable fabric treated with Gill’s exclusive XPEL water and stain resistance technology. New for Spring 2021, the Overton is capable of repelling water, blood, and other filth you may encounter while fishing. Gill loaded the Overton with smart fishing features, including dual chest pockets, concealed, snag-proof press stud fasteners, a micro-fiber panel to wipe sunglasses, a self-fabric strip to hang sunglasses or a small tool, and roll-up sleeves with a retainer loop and button. Gill has been trusted on the water for more than 40 years, and they’ve delivered yet another dependable piece for hardcore anglers. The Overton’s stylish design makes its just as capable off the water, providing anglers a shirt they can wear anywhere. It’s available in two colors, white and blue check, and sizes XS through 4XL. www.gillfishing.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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EZ ANCHOR: Must-Have Solution for Fiberglass Boat Builders is the Charter Captain’s Best-Kept Secret

s charter captains, the time-consuming task of dropping and retrieving anchors not only becomes tedious, it cuts into valuable manpower, time and profits. Capt. Phillip Ridge, a Florida native, couldn’t settle for a typical windlass to anchor his fleet. “I have had [an E-Z Anchor Puller] unit on the bow of three different boats,” the founder of Blue Runner Charters said. “I was one of the very first captains in the area to install them... [they are] the best by far.” Charter fishermen across the United States have depended on the speed of E-Z Anchor Puller’s drum anchor winch for more than 30 years. Now, the value of owning an E-Z Anchor Puller for commercial fishing is recognized as the windlass upgrade customers want on their boats straight from the factory. Among the first fiberglass boat builders to embrace these true, freefall winches for center consoles is SeaVee, which had already been a familiar, customer-driven installer of the Classic series. Shurhold CEO Barry Berhoff, who personally installed the Rebel EZ-4 on his 40’ SeaVee, gave praise to the quality of the “strong, marinegrade piece of equipment” in a Youtube testimonial. Following in SeaVee’s footsteps, Georgia boat builder Carolina Skiff began factory-installing the Rebel EZ-4 on their Sea Chaser 35’ HFC Center Console after a company representative praised the brand from personal experience. “It works so great on our 35, I decided I needed to have one on my own personal boat.” Ed Johnston, Manufacturing Representative for Carolina Skiff, said of his E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winch. Sea Pro Boats recently debuted the 320 Deep-V series at the Miami

International Boat Show in 2020 with the Rebel EZ-4 as the factoryinstallation. The Rebel series appeals to boat owners and boat builders who need a versatile, no-jam solution that can hold ½” nylon rope or ¼” dyneema. What further sets Rebel anchor winches apart from the competition is its true, free-fall capabilities. Unlike other anchoring solutions, which manufacture “free-fall” mechanisms for emergency use only, E-Z Anchor Puller units are created to free-fall for regular, everyday use. Activating free-fall is simple. Press the “down” button for a quick 2-second push, the drum winch disengages the clutch plate and releases it to free-spool as fast as gravity allows. To quickly and neatly retract the line back onto the spool, press the “power up” side. Other notable fiberglass boat brands with E-Z Anchor Puller installations include Albemarle, Insetta Boatworks and Southport, with a plethora of customer and E-Z Anchor Puller authorized installers fitting Patriot EZ-3 and Rebel EZ-4 and EZ-5 units below deck.

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Call 1-800-800-1640 for more information or consultations, or visit ezanchorpuller.com to see video testimonials and customer submission in the Above/Below Boat Gallery.

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