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else, here are a few tips to help you hook and land more tripletail. • Cruise Carefully: Floating at the surface and doing its best to imitate a garbage bag, a tripletail is easy to spot once you develop an eye for it. Run a trap line on plane with a dedicated spotter and you can cover water quickly to locate “trips.” However, you’ll put fish down if you wake them too hard. Stay at least 30 feet off a trap line or channel markers while prospecting. When you spot a fish, give it a few minutes to settle and come back to the surface while you bring the boat around to approach with the trolling motor. A tripletail at ease on the surface is an easy fish to target. • Consider Your Eyewear: Obviously, polarized glasses are a must when sight fishing anything. The color of your lenses matters, too. It’s worth investing in a couple of good pairs so you can switch out according to conditions. Gray or blue works best in clear water. In dingy water, go with copper or rose lenses. • Stay Rigged and Ready: If you’re targeting trout, redfish or whatever, keep a tripletail rig on hand and keep an eye out for them when you’re running to a new spot. A good basic rig is a popping cork with a short 20-pound fluorocarbon leader of a foot or less and a 2/0 circle hook. Live shrimp is best, but if you’re fishing artificials, a DOA shrimp or a Gulp! shrimp or crab will also work. • On Approach: Come at your quarry from down-current and cast well past it so that your bait drifts back in front of its nose. If that cork starts to dance, give it a few seconds before coming tight. Tripletail have small, hard mouths and you want to be sure the fish has taken the bait. • Fish Small Baits: The reason a tripletail is hanging out on that marker is to eat the small crabs and shrimp that live there. They’re used to small food and have small mouths, which is why they’ll sometimes reject big shrimp. Pitch small or medium shrimp to them or small baitfish and lures no longer than about 2.5 inches. • Stick With Them: If a tripletail spooks or goes down, it usually isn’t going far. Try drifting an unweighted bait on a longer 4- or 5-foot leader that will get down deeper on a long drift past your structure. If that doesn’t work, t will soon be the time of year when everyone’s favorite oddball, the go hit your next mark and come back later. There’s a good chance the fish will tripletail, starts moving in closer to shore to hang out on structure or free- be sunbathing happily on the surface when you return. floating debris. Whether you actively sight fish them by running a line of traps and markers or if you just happen to see one while pursuing something For more tips and tricks, visit coastalanglermag.com.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING line hand several feet apart. What usually happens then is- the rod hand moves the rod over to meet the line hand. That pulls the fly away from the target. Worse is if a fish hits the fly on impact and they can’t strip and set the hook. I’ve done that move many times in the past, and it’s hard to get control of the fish when my rod hand is up in the air and my line hand is down by my side and I’m trying to get the line under my finger. It happens and is a riot to watch. I just don’t want anyone to see me do it, so I work on controlling it. Make the cast and bring your hands together as the fly line is extending. These little details make a big difference.
THE CASTING CORNER
Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
These’ are Important.
Although we are having winter weather, I’m not going to remind you to bring extra cloths, blanket and a wading staff- because this is the Casting Corner, not the gear corner. However, I will be talking about getting ‘these’ other things together. Without having ‘these’ together you may miss a strike. If ‘these’ are not together, the line may end up shooting to far or get bunched up. Having ‘these’ together is so important. What are ‘these’? ‘These’ as you may have guessed are our hands. In fly fishing, both hands complement each other in a casting stroke, delivery, retrieve, and hook set. The hands need to be next to each other when we start the cast
so we can keep tension on the line and haul. If we do a haul (pull on the line to increase line speed) we need to get our hand- with the line in it- back close to the rod hand. That will allow us to haul again or control the line as it is going out. It also allows us to place the line over our stripping finger on the rod hand as the fly is delivered. Every cast should end with the line being placed over the stripping finger on the rod hand at the same moment the line touches the water. If you are high sticking the sequence is different, because it is more of a lob than a cast. Bringing the line hand to the rod hand may sound like a silly thing to
talk about but doing it incorrectly will create problems. I am always surprised to see how many fly fishers end the cast with their rod and
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING SAVE A SHOULDER; TRY A 10-FOOTER. By Jeff Durniak | Unicoi Outfitters Thinking about a new fly rod for the new year? I’ve got a great idea: consider adding a 10-foot rod to your arsenal. That extra foot will really increase your versatility and decrease the fatigue on your casting arm and shoulder. I fish my 10-foot, 4-weight rod regularly throughout the winter and spring. I can Euronymph, indicator- drift, streamerswing, and even dry-dropper with it. Follow along with me. If you haven’t tried Euro-nymphing yet, you should. When winter trout are glued to the bottom of icy streams, this technique vastly out fishes traditional indicator rigs in boulder-strewn pocket water and deep, fast runs. Tungsten nymphs sink quickly in these tight spots and a long rod enhances the Euro technique. Learn Euro basics via my column in the February 2021 online issue of this magazine and by watching the great Euro-nymphing instructional video at the Orvis Learning Center website (howtoflyfish.orvis. com). If you want to enhance your catch rate in the pocket water of the Nantahala or Oconaluftee, try that long rod, light tippet, and a tungsten Euro-nymph. The rod will save your shoulder, especially if you’re not six feet tall! My 10-footer also helps me with traditional indicator rigs. Those indicator rigs are much more effective in long, deep pools where I can’t get close enough or deep enough with a Euro rig. That rod makes casting a lengthy indi/split shot/double nymph rig easier, with fewer tangles when I’m dredging those long Chat-
tooga and Toccoa pools. It’s also easy to keep more fly line off the water and prevent drag on my leader and flies on close casts, as well as to mend line on longer drifts through distant parts of the pool. The same attributes hold true when I’m swinging wet flies and stripping streamers. Casting and mending are a breeze, and the soft tip section buffers my light tippet from hard strikes. While the tip is soft, the butt section still has plenty of power to sidearm trophies toward the bank and into my net. As spring arrives, I often employ that 10-footer for dry/dropper and double-dry fishing in complex currents, where small pockets and soft runs are often sandwiched between faster flows. As in Euro-nymphing, I can hi-stick those spots, keeping all of my line and most, if not all of my leader off the faster current next to me. Then I can drift my dries dragfree in those short, slow, fishy pockets behind boulders and logs 1-2 rod lengths away from me. Hi-sticking the upper Chattooga, Nantahala, and several Smokies streams with the longer rod saves my shoulder again. Give a 10-foot rod a hard look this month and enhance your versatility. We have a nice selection of 2-4 weight rods from Orvis, Echo, and G Loomis in our Helen shop that start at $199, so come by and cast a few. Like me, you just might decide to add it to your arsenal. Catch more trout while saving your shoulder and make your 2024 flyfishing season a long, comfortable
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING
NG CHATTOOGA RIVER Provided By: Karl Ekberg | Chattooga River Fly Shop www.chattoogariverflyshop.com | 864-638-2806 The Atlanta Fly Fishing Show the first weekend of the month is an awesome place to see a tremendous amount of gear, flies, and gather a tremendous amount of information. The folks at these shows along with us have a wealth of knowledge to assist everyone with rod selections for any type of fish which one may target. Then we need to add a fly reel and fly line which there are many to choose from as well. One huge word of advice, this purchase does not need to cost thousands of dollars. There are many great deals out there, but purchasing a thousand dollar fly rod does not catch more fish. Now in fly line there are great fly lines, and most all the companies out there for top end fly line is over a hundred dollars. Fly reels, of which there are so many out there, although a good one between one to two hundred dollars will totally be sufficient for trout waters around here. Higher end reels with more stopping power, better drag systems, will cost more when targeting larger fish species. Just remember that more money does not directly equal more fish. The month of January was extremely kind in the rain department for an area in desperate need of filling the water table back up. Rain entering the area every three to five days with torrential amounts of precipitation has brought river levels at times above safe zones, and slower to recede now that the region has received a much-needed refresh. Temperatures have been on the normal Winter side of things as well, as after these torrents of rain, below freezing nightly temperatures and daytime highs in the forties have been the norm. Water temperatures have been from the high thirties to low forties for most of the month, meaning mid-day fishing
has been most productive. Following the sun along the river throughout the day fishing is most productive during the colder months of the year as well. Heavy weighted nymph rigs and streamers are the most productive as well. Remember that the bottom of the river is where the money (fish) is this time of year. A huge event, “Save the 22”, is at the Anderson (SC) Civic Center at 5:30pm on February 16. This event put on by WLS (WHENLIFESUCKS.ORG) is to help Veterans, and one hundred percent of the proceeds go to the program that helps veterans heal from trauma and live well. We are blessed to be a part of helping individuals get out on the rivers along with fly fishing with this great organization. Tickets are available here at the Fly Shop or through the organization. A second event just for ladies, through the SCWF (South Carolina Wildlife Federation), is a POWR+ Women’s Fly-Fishing Day, on February 23, from 9:00am to 3:00pm. This event is for women to join like-minded outdoors women and take part in a fly-fishing experience in the Upstate South Carolina. The event is designed for women to connect with each other and feel confident on the water. A full day from the basics to being out on the river understanding how to catch trout with us, and registration is through the South Carolina Wildlife Federation website. As we think about the winter cold, we realize that there is little time before the warmer days of Spring arrive, and we will be casting dry flies to rising fish. Let’s remember while we are in the great outdoors, bring back a little more than you walked in with, and “Leave No Trace”.
WINTER FLY FISHING HATCHES?
Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service Most people think winter is when most critters hibernate, but February is actually the kickoff to dry fly action on the Hooch. Nymphing either “Euro-style” or under a strike indicator is our bread-and-butter winter techniques to catching fish but don’t forget your favorite dry fly box! Because Georgia is in drought conditions the “Delayed Harvest” section below Morgan Falls should be low and clear unlike the past five very wet years. These consistent low and clear river conditions simply allow the trout to see the surface most of the day during the winter hatches of, Little Winter Stones, Mayflies, Midges and Caddisflies. There will be winter hatches on the entire Chattahoochee Tailwater but there are higher densities of bugs on the Lower River from Sope Creek to Paces Mill Park. Dry fly fishing is as close to hunting as you’ll get with a fly rod. To be able to see a fish rising then present the fly to their feeding lane and to finally see the fish rise to take your fly is unforgettable.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE CHATUGE Eric Welch | Welch’s Guide Service www.welchguideservice.com 706-455-2323 Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “Fishing is good. The lake is down at the winter pool. There has been some topwater action around during the day, so I would recommend keeping a topwater rig on the front deck. I like throwing a Berkley Cane Walker, Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr., and a Lucky Craft Gunfish. With the lake being down, you can get way off some of the clay points on the main body of the lake and you will see fish stacked up 12 to 25 feet deep, before it drops off to deeper water. I’ve been targeting these fish with a drop shot, using a 6-inch Roboworm or switching it up with a 3-inch minnow bait to try and match the herring they’re feeding on. You can also catch some on a Ned rig, jig, and a shaky head. This time of year, is a good time to start using small swimbaits. I like throwing a Strike King 3.25-inch Rage Swimmer on a 1/4- to 5/16-oz. VMC swimbait hook. If you find a good school of fish off a point or
in a ditch, try throwing a flex it spoon or a hair jig. Lake Chatuge is full of herring bait fish, so fall and winter are great times to throw a jerk bait or a small crankbait. If you want to just burn the banks, try paralleling and throwing a #5 shad rap. This is a great time of year to take a little time and work on your electronic skills. If you have any of the forwardviewing sonars, now is the time to check out your settings. If you set it up right, you will be able to watch a jerkbait or crankbait come right over the brush pile or school of fish. Once the water temps get down to 55 degrees, it’s a good time to drag the A-rig back out. It’s really fun to watch on the Garmin Livescope. You can watch the fish chase it, and you can also pause it and watch them run into it on the screen.” Good Luck! Level: 7.5’ Below Full pool. Temp: 47-49 degrees. Clarity: Clear
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Forecast By: Jeff Hamm | Lake Seminole Guide | 770-912-7936
LAKE SEMINOLE BASS FISHING REPORT JANUARY 2024
Water Conditions: The water temperatures range from the low to mid-50s. As winter progresses, the fish are still predominantly found around grass lines and ditches in depths of 5-10 feet. However, the impact of cold fronts during this time of the year is evident, pushing the bass to deeper waters of 10-20 feet. Weather Influence: Consistent weather patterns play a crucial role in determining the fishing action. When the area experiences stable conditions for several days, the bass activity significantly increases.
Bait and Techniques: Jerkbaits: The jerk bait bite has been exceptional lately. Anglers are advised to use their favorite jerkbait in depths ranging from 5 to 7 feet, specifically targeting the shallow ditches
just over the grass. In the deeper ditches opt for jerkbaits that get in the 10-12 ft range. Again, sinking jerkbaits are your best option for triggering bass to come out of the grass. For those equipped with a sinking jerkbait and livescope, an effective strategy is to observe the bait until it tips the grass and then make the move. Bass have been actively coming out of the grass to aggressively strike these offerings. Natural colors are recommended for clearer water, while a bone-colored jerkbait with an orange belly is preferable for off-colored water. A Rigs, Chatterbaits, and Traps: In addition to jerkbaits, A Rigs, chatterbaits, and traps continue to be go-to options for successful bass fishing in January. These lures have been doing most of the heavy lifting, providing anglers with consistent results.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS AND FORECAST FEBRUARY 2024 Monitor Weather Patterns: Stay informed about the weather conditions, especially cold fronts, as they influence the bass’s depth and activity levels. As the weather warms, bass will be moving up toward their pre-spawn staging areas. The key is to intercept them in route. So, locate the spawning flats on the map and find the ditches that lead to the spawning flats, then locate the bends and points along those ditches that allow bass to move up to feed and down to stage and fish all the baits mentioned above, and you will be prepared for success. February is the best month of the year to catch multiple bass on one cast with an A-Rig and catch giants on a Chatterbait, Jerkbait and a Trap. Slowing down is not an option for the experienced angler knowing what can happen this time of year.
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Captain Wayne Moore - Oconee On The Fly, Inc 404-317-9556 www.oconeeonthefly.com / wmoore1700@outlook.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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ATLANTA 5
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST OCONEE DERBY
Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore - USCG Licensed www.oconeeonthefly.com
The 2024 10th Annual Oconee Derby
It’s almost time for the 10th Annual Oconee Derby. The Derby is the brainchild of Captain Doug Nelms and his guide service BigFishHeads. Doug is a modest fellow, so I wanted to let the Angler Magazine readers know about this special event. The Derby is a tournament where the biggest fish (Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass and Crappie) wins the weekly prize. The Derby runs for six weeks from February 24th to April 7th. Weeks 1-6 winners will receive $200 for each division won. At the end of the six weeks the grand prizes for the two divisions (Striped Bass, Hybrid Bass) and Crappie range from 1st Place: $2500 plus $250 Cook Cash, to 6th place $100. Also, there is a $1000 prize for the first Striper that is 20 pounds or over and a $1000 prize for the first Crappie that is 2 pounds 3 ounces or over. Registration begins on February
1st and the registration fee of $200.00 must be paid BEFORE opening day, February 24th. You can go online to www.Oconeederby.com to register. One of the benefits of participating in the Derby is the Champions Dinner / Soire which will be in May. There you will eat some amazing BBQ and get a chance to meet your fellow competitors. The Derby has always been a friendly competition, and everyone learns a lot. Dr Lee Herman won the Striper Division with a 21-pound 13.6-ounce Striper. Richard “The Professor” Malcom won the Crappie Division with a 2-pound 1.8-ounce Crappie. Maybe YOU will be the next Champion!
ANGLER OF THE YEAR! By James K. Pressley jameskpressley@gmail.com Since beginning my career as a writer (which I still find funny) I have had the opportunity to get to meet and spend time with a lot of cool people. From guides, manufacturers, TV personalities, etc. I have enjoyed every minute of it. But this time I got to interview someone unique and special right after an achievement of a lifetime. Through a mutual connection, Todd Goade and I met a couple of years ago for the first time at a fishing show. For some reason both of us know Jim Lumpkin with Lake Country Fishing… First and foremost, I knew Todd as the owner of Pulse Fishing. He has supported me by sending bait to test. Todd has always been open and willing to give me hints and advice on those baits. I have written about catching lots of hybrids, stripers, and whites on his scrounger head jig. Some of you may know Todd as a truly world class fisherman who lately has set the world on fire. 2023 was a year unlike any other for Todd. Picture this. From March through October in 6 events from Pickwick Lake to Lanier, our man placed in the top 10 in all of them. Capturing a grand total of 1470 AOY points and ending the year 28 points ahead of his closest competitor. In tournament angling that is pretty much running away with-it folks! Also, just as a side note, from everything I can tell, I don’t think anyone else has run a season without dropping out of the top 10 in any of the league tournaments. He had a grand total of $88,250 in NPFL winnings for the year through 6 events as well. But who’s counting at this point! 2024 is shaping up to be just as good for our friend, just in a different manner. Yes, he will still be on the NPFL tour, and he will still be slinging bass in the boat. In addition to this his company will be releasing an exciting rod line! Yep. Fishing rods. This is a market that if you do it well and provide customer service, quality
products, and a customer connection you will do well. Strike King, Costa Del Mar, Yeti are all proof of that. Well, Todd and the folks at Pulse will release two new lines of product for 2024. A budget friendly rod series done by them, and a custom line up designed by Elite Series pro Matt Airey. That line up will include a cranking rod made of a composite material that will work great not only for cranking but should line up to be an outstanding bladed jig rod. I for one can’t wait to try it and I know that since Todd likes to toss a Shakey head ALMOST as much as me, his medium spinning rod is probably going to be right on the money and it will end up in my boat. In the end, a conversation with someone like Todd gives insight into tournament life and shows us what will happen to fishing as a whole because no other sport is as brand and angler loyal as bass fishing. We follow our anglers with more intensity and more devotion than our football and baseball teams. Anglers traditionally listen to the tournament pros they most identify with regarding purchasing equipment, boats, electronics, and bait. We buy rods because Todd fishes those; we buy Zoom because Brandon Cobb or someone who might not even be alive anymore told us they were the best and treated us like friends. In the end, fisherman like to be associated with our heroes. I for one am glad to be associated in even a small way with Todd. Tight lines and following seas y’all!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE LANIER STRIPER Capt. Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com | 770-630-2673 Looks like the striper fishing this February will be a repeat of January. The stripers have been deep, with the deep bait, all Winter and will continue to do so until the weather finally makes a turn toward Spring. We need some sun to warm the water for the bait to make a shift shallow. Most of the bait has been 40-60 feet deep. There have been a few big fish, shallow, on the south end of the lake but not big numbers. Live bait has continued to be the best pattern over the deep bait. As the bait continues to condense in the creeks this pattern will not change much, except that they will progressively move shallower as Spring gets closer and closer. Herring have been the best bait all Winter, but trout have been working as well. Be prepared with as many rods as possible. Keep as many Shakespeare striper rods rigged as possible with Penn Fathom Linecounter reels spooled with 15-pound Trilene Big Game. Rig most of these striper rods with downlines. The downline is more or less a Carolina rig for live bait. Tie on a 2-ounce Capt. Mack swivel sinker, a four-foot leader of Trilene 100% twelve-pound Flourocarbon and a Gamakatsu size 1/0 Octopus hook for the trout and a size 1/0 Gamakatsu octopus hook for the herring. The herring have been large all Winter which is the reason for the larger hook size than normal. Great electronics like the Humminbird Solix will greatly increase your success as well. You should be able to see your bait almost hit the fish on
the head with the electronics. Also, the down imaging of the Solix allows you to see into the bait with more detail. Many times, you will see fish with down imaging that is hard to see with old school 2D. If you want to use artificials, the Berkley Fusion 3/8 ounce and 1/4-ounce bucktails will come into play in February. In clear water, go with the white bucktail and the chartreuse in stained water. Rig up a Penn Conflict 3000 with 10-pound Trilene Big Game on a 7-foot Medium Penn rod and you are ready for battle. If you prefer a baitcaster, match up an Abu Garcia Revo with an Abu Garcia Veritas 7’ medium casting rod. Do not use heavier than 10-pound line. A heavier line will decrease your casting distance. This pattern will be best once the bait moves to the back of the creeks. Also of note, February can be the big fish month of the year as the females begin to feel the urge of the Spring spawn. The metabolism of the big females will increase, and they will be looking for a meal. Be sure to check all your lines for minor frays and knots in the line. Fishing line is just like a chain and only as strong as the weakest link. Some big fish will show up this February if the weather falls into place. The stripers are rebounding from the parasite that hurt the big fish a few years ago. Look for more big fish to show up this year. Last year we saw a few. This year should be even better. Go catch a big one.
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LAKE NOTTELY Forecast By:Will Harkins- Getfishingguide.com | Williamharkins11@gmail.com
Brrrr. Who else is ready for spring? Winter has been wonderful, but the warmth of spring and new growth is exciting! The bass are also looking towards spring. February can be a big moving month for many of these bass. Some of the biggest fish in the lake will be the first ones to make the move shallow, especially late February, with some warmer, sunny days! If you are still looking at numbers of fish, the typical winter techniques will more than likely hold true. The Shakey head, jig, and small swimbaits will all still catch plenty of fish on the deeper points and rock. However, when looking to hook a true giant, I will have two rods on the deck. The first is a Colorado bladed half ounce spinnerbait. The secret is either adding an orange blade or coloring the existing blade orange. This extra bit of enticement can truly make a big difference. You want the spinnerbait to crawl along the bottom, it’s a very slow but productive way to catch some giant Largemouth. The second bait is a 3–8-foot diving crankbait in a brown craw or red color. It seems like in February many of the largemouth are feeding on crawfish, hence the reds, browns, and oranges. My favorite two crankbaits for this application are an ARK CT35 and an ARK CT-8. The next thing to remember is the location. You cannot just go anywhere and catch these giants predictably. The highest percentage places to target are transition banks. Where deep
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water meets shallow on a sharp edge, or transition. Typically, you want a good chunk rock mix transitioning into a shallower pocket from the main lake. These fish are moving up from their winter haunts, scoping out areas to spawn come March and April. With water temps still low, you don’t want to go too fast with either presentation. Sometimes it takes a couple casts at the same spot to get them to bite. But patience can be extremely rewarding! Get out there, enjoy the cool weather, spend time with family, and take a minute each trip and look around, reflecting on the glory and creation all around! Get out there and Get Fishing! #Godsgotthis Lake Nottely: Lake Level: 16 feet below full pool. Temp: 43-46 degrees Clarity: Clear FEBRUARY 2024
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST Avoiding Wintertime Boat Gremlins By Capt. Cefus McRae | Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA
Lots of folks put their boats away for the winter. Some cover them with a tarp or factory boat cover, and some folks store them in the garage or covered storage unit. Now your boat will sit out the winter doldrums and dream about its next trip to the water. During these cold months, a number of crazy things can develop that might delay your re-launch next spring. Fortunately, there are simple solutions to prevent these wintertime gremlins from appearing. And most of these measures take only a few minutes. Let’s imagine you took your boat out late this fall. You put it on the trailer, pulled the drain plug, and parked it in the yard or in the garage. Good to go…right? Well, maybe not. Depending on exactly where the boat is stored, the environment they’re living in can be cozy or harsh. Outside storage can expose your boat, motor and trailer to subzero temperatures, wind, rain, and all kinds of critters from chipmunks to insects to birds. Falling leaves, limbs, and dust also factor into the equation. Boats stored with a cover, face other foes…moisture and humidity. They can be the source of a lot of problems; from corrosion on your electrical connections to damaging your fabrics and upholstery. If the cover isn’t properly placed to allow rainwater to drain off, you can wind up with huge pools of water that ultimately add weight to the trailer and can damage your tires or suspension. Something to think about. Now that I’ve got your attention, here’s a few things you can do to keep those wintertime gremlins away. 1. Remove your PFD’s (lifejackets and throwables) and put them in a dry place. Life jackets are prob8 ATLANTA
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ably the single most overlooked, and important, item on boats these days. It’s the old ‘out-ofsight, out-of-mind’ thing. Check them for mildew and clean them really well. Really tug on the straps and the seams where the neck meets the front flotation pieces. If there’s a tear or signs of weakness, replace them. If you get stopped by the DNR, Coast Guard or Marine Patrol, and they see tattered PFD’s…. guess what…those no longer qualify as reliable devices on the boat, and you could wind up with a ticket. And if you ever find yourself in an emergency where you need them, no one wants a life jacket that’s falling apart as they put it on. 2. Check your fire extinguisher. Nowadays, fire extinguishers have expiration dates in addition to the ‘charged’ gauge or indicator. Even if it seems OK, the dry chemical extinguishing agent in your fire extinguisher has a tendency to settle in the bottom of the canister. And since boats ‘pound’ as they’re zipping across the waves, the powder can cake up in the bottom. That presents the possibility, if you ever needed to pull the trigger, all that comes out is propellant…not the fire extinguishing powder. To keep the powder fluffy inside, flip the extinguisher upside down and slap it on the bottom a few times with the palm of your hand or a
rubber mallet to get all the powder stirred up again. Also, small wasps have a habit of building their mud nest inside the nozzle, so use a flashlight to really check the outlet to make sure it’s clean and free of debris. 3. These may seem really obvious, but here goes. Check your oil and lower unit fluid. Spray some engine fogging oil as recommended by the manufacturer. A full gas tank is better than a half-full gas tank. Less opportunity for condensation to build up in the tank. Ethanol gas is nasty for marine engines, so add some fuel stabilizer to the tank then take the boat out (on the trailer) for a neighborhood spin to mix it up well. 4. OK, here’s one more for good measure. Remember Point #2? Well, those pesky dirt dobbers love to stack up their mud in the Tell-Tale outlet of outboard
engines…the small hole on the side of the motor that spits out water to let you know the water pump is working. I know, that’s a really tiny hole, but those little wasps can be partial to those openings. And they’ll also build their nests in the fuel vent on the side of the hull too. To check the Tell-Tale outlet, cut a short piece of lawn trimmer cord and gently push it up into the hole. If it’s clear, you’re good to go. If there’s resistance, then you should probably do a little more investigation. Well, there’s a few things that can help to remove the boredom of a dreary winter’s day. And you can feel good that you’re doing things to keep your boat in tip-top condition too. Plus, the time you spend with your boat will make it feel a lot less lonely. Tight lines and calm seas.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE EUFAULA By Capt Sam Williams | Hawks Fishing Guide Service hawk184@earthlink.net | 334-355-5057 The water level continues to hold fairly steady. The folks on the river concerns team approached the Corp of Engineers to see about holding a steadier water level. If their efforts prove successful, we will have a much better spawning season in the early spring if the water is not dropped after the fish fan their beds. The cooler winter weather is going to keep the fish congregated around rock structure, rocky levies, and causeways as well as timber. All these scenarios hold the heat from the daytime sun and will draw bait fish for the bass and other species to feed on. The deeper fish will be on the structure where the water remains warmer. The shallow bass bite will come on soft plastics rigged on Texas rigs, jigs with creature trailers, and slowmoving blade baits. The fish are in their winter mode and moving slowly. It will take some finessing to aggravate a bite. The deeper bass will hit a vertical spoon worked in front of them. Heavy jigs with large creature trailers will also get a bite. Carolina rigs with a big, dark worm bounced through a school will also make them hit. A very deep running crank bait pulled slowly through the school is another great choice. Keeping the offering if front of the bass this time of year is your goal, they do not chase a lot in the cold water. Use your electron-
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ics to locate the above-mentioned structure settings and you should mark fish Crappie are also in their winter mode, hanging around deeper structure weather man made or natural. Again, your electronics will assist in finding these areas. Minnows on a tight line suspended just above the school will do the trick. Catfish are also slow to bite, jugs baited with cut bait will put a good mess on the table. The bottom fishermen are getting a few on crawlers or cut bait. Pan fish are still in the warm shallows and wigglers are a good bait to use here. Be sure and dress warm and keep plenty of water with you. It is a great time to take a youngster fishing or hunting and make those wonderful memories that will last for generations. Pray for all our folks in uniform and their families as they protect us every day. Pray for each other and love your neighbor. Keep an eye on our Lee King Memorial Facebook page to keep up with our future plans. God Bless & Good Fishing Water level: 189.08 msl Water temperature: 50 Water clarity: Stained
OCONEE ON THE FLY
Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore - USCG Licensed www.oconeeonthefly.com The birds have arrived and fishing for hybrids and stripers has been exceptionally good! FORECAST FOR JANUARY: Crappie — As of this writing in early January crappie fishing has been slow. We have had a number of cold fronts come through and the water temperatures have been between 50 and 53 degrees. The old saying here is that if we have three warmer days the crappie will start biting. Many anglers and guides here prefer a slower presentation in February pushing rods out of the front of the boat. The typical set up is a 14- or 16foot rod, 6lb test, a ½ ounce pencil style sinker held in place with bobber stops, and a 1/16-ounce Hal-Fly jig. Black/ Blue/Black is a popular color. Troll slow enough that your line stays vertical in flats north of I-20. Hybrids/Stripers — I have switched over to afternoon trips and done well, but I hear from other guides that mornings have been good too. My customers are a little more comfortable in the afternoon. Looking for birds is the key and even if they are just sitting still, you are likely to find fish. Look for water 25 feet deep, right next to the channel. If you thump the bottom of your boat with a stick with a rubber tip on the bottom you will see fish come in. Flat lining bass minnows behind the boat produced larger fish. I am using 2 or 3 number 4 split shots above the swivel to get the bait down deeper. The fish pictured here by Jackson and his father, Shawn, were caught using this method. Jackson is 13 years old and one
heck of an angler already. If you like trolling mini-Macks (a small umbrella rig), I would suggest you contact Kevin Wahl’s Wild Side Charters 404-824-3220 https://wildsidefishing.net/. He is the expert at this technique. I fished with him recently, caught a bunch of hybrids and stripers, and had a blast! Fly Fishing — Finally, the “bird bite” is here. It should be particularly good on warm, overcast days in February. Look for the birds, especially on points. Cast a #2 chartreuse and white clouser on an 8-weight rod with a sink tip line. If you are fishing a hump with spoons and see fish high in the water column you can get them as deep as 15 feet if you use the countdown method. With most lines one foot per two seconds is about right. So, count down 30 seconds to reach those fish at 15 feet. My customer Hamp, pictured here with the fly rod, got this nice hybrid using the countdown method! Final Words Contact me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or call 404-317-9556 to book your trip. I do both morning and afternoon. Tight Lines, and God Bless
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST BEING PREPARED FOR ANGLING WEATHER CONDITIONS Dr. Andrew Cox I have always enjoyed fishing during the late Fall and Winter months in Georgia. During these times of the year, waters are less crowded. At times, fish caught during this season may be concentrated, fewer in number but larger in size. However, it behooves the angler to be prepared for changing weather conditions that can make fishing an enjoyable or a miserable experience during this time of the angling year. Over the recent New Years Holiday period, I traveled to Savannah, Georgia. Part of my trip included a guided fishing trip in the Savannah area’s inshore waters. I had never fished the waters around this locale in Georgia but desired to sample primarily the area’s redfish, and speckled trout. Of course, I was open to catching other fish species that may be found in these waters. As the weather had recently turned cold, the guide advised me to dress in layers for the boat ride and fishing. I have always been an advocate for being prepared and the importance of organization while angling. I thought that I was following the guide’s advice by wearing several clothing layers to include lined trousers, appropriate under-garments, and padded jacket. As we had to travel via boat from the marina on the Isle of Hope to across the South Carolina border for our day’s fishing, it did not take long to figure out that my clothing layers were too light for the weather conditions, particularly the hour-long ride in an open boat required to reach our fishing locale. I believe this may have been the coldest boat ride that I have ever experienced. Though not as frigid for the return boat trip in the afternoon, it was still a cold boat trip. Overall, the guided fishing trip was a good experience. A good sampling of redfish and speckled trout were caught, with several “gator” trout being part of our catch. The fishing required a slow fishing approach with careful attention to the light fish “bites” encountered over the fishing day. This trip reinforced the impor10 ATLANTA
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tance of taking stock of your outdoor clothing items. You should ensure that you have appropriate clothing for all types of weather conditions that you may encounter during the angling year. The type of clothing worn by the angler can make the fishing experience a pleasure or a misery. Depending upon where you fish, you will likely require different types of outdoor clothing for different fishing locales. What keeps you warm on a boat in saltwater may not be appropriate for angling for trout in the North Georgia, Tennessee, or western North Carolina Mountain areas. As you are reading this article during February, we will continue to most likely encounter some frigid days that find you fishing area waters. Take stock of your outdoor clothing to make sure that you have what you need for rapidly changing weather conditions that may be thrown at you. The present time period continues to be a good time to stock up on needed cold weather type clothing. Retailers are continuing to sell off their inventory of cold weather outdoor gear and clothing, many times at discounted prices. Continue to enjoy our region’s outdoor treasures and be careful. Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique-oriented topics. 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. He enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout using fly, baitcasting, and spinning equipment. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.
LAKE MARTIN Provided By: Capt David B Hare Alex City Guide Service | 256-401-3089 2036 Cherokee Rd., Suite 205 | Alexander City, Al. 35010 davidbhare@yahoo.com | www.alexcityguideservice.com Fbook/alexcityguideservice/LakeMartin
As with all of Alabama weather, Lake Martin’s weather goes from beautiful and mild, to wet and cold, several times during the month in February, but the good news is the bite for the most part is consistently good. This month kicks off a lot of tournaments on our lake but very few are on weekdays with the majority being on Saturdays. If you can fish Monday through Friday, then you’ll most likely have your favorite spots to yourself. Whether you’re after stripers, bass, or crappie this month produces a lot of numbers, with the end of the month, producing better quality fish. Approaching stripers in February
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is all dependent on weather conditions. My approach when it’s really cold and windy is to fish really deep and when it’s warm with a lot of sunshine I’ll normally pull live baits behind planer boards in fairly shallow areas. This is a month that a lot of different areas around the lake will produce bites so don’t think you have to concentrate on one area. In a week’s time I may fish from the shoals, up in the river, all the way down to the dam and over to Willow Point and hit all the different locations in between. This is a good time of year to keep a top water lure tied on just in case you get an opportunity to cast at one of our trophy stripers that may roll on the surface at any given time . Please bear in mind that the water levels are definitely low and you need to always be alert of shallow areas and floating debris . Until next time “tight lines“ and remember get those spring dates booked with me asap by texting me at 256-401-3089. Winter Pool level 483.6 (full pool 491.00) Clarity good to slight stain
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST TU Cohutta Veterans and 1st Responders Fly Fishing Classes The Trout Unlimited Cohutta Chapter has been conducting fly fishing classes for veterans and first responders since 2020 at the Boys and Girls Club in Canton, Ga. Jim Lindenmayer Director of Cherokee Homeless Veterans, Atlanta Fly Fishing School, and Veterans Fly Fishing have been great supporters of this program. The classes are done twice a year and consist of three days. The classes cover equipment used in fly fishing, entomology (aquatic bugs), fly tying, common flies, knots used in fly fishing, safety, and resources to go fishing. Fly casting is taught by certified casting instructors each of the three days and all the equipment is provided. Fly Fishing is therapeutic for the mind, body, and soul. Mother nature and the water provide a connectivity and healing path that allows life’s stresses and pressures to flow away. It benefits all veterans and first responders and including those with mental and physical disabilities and PTSD. Fly Fishing provides veterans and first responders from a wide range of ages and backgrounds an opportunity to reignite a past interest or develop a new interest that will refresh their lives
in a beautiful mountain stream setting. The Trout Unlimited Cohutta Chapter provides the classes to the veterans and first responders for free. The classes are conducted in a comfortable, safe, and friendly environment. It is the Cohutta Chapter’s way of showing appreciation and thanks to the veterans and first responders for their service to this great country. The Chapter volunteers love to share their passion for fly fishing and see the joy and appreciation in the veterans and first responders faces. The grand finale is taking the class fly fishing. This is where the students and the fly rods meet the water. They get to experience fly fishing on the beautiful upper Etowah River in north Georgia. This is truly a life changing experience that builds memories to last a lifetime and a spring board to launch a new connection with the great outdoors. The next class will be March 7, 14, 21, 2024 at the Boys and Girls Club, Canton Ga. For more information, see our website at www.tucohutta.org or contact Rob Hilkin at robflyfisher@ gmail.com.
CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973
lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com
Feb typically brings our coldest temps of the year. These cold temps will drive fish deep to more stable water temps. This time of year, I tell everyone to find the deepest fish you can find and target those fish. Walleye hate light and love to lay in the deep water pinned to the bottom. Look for small groups of fish or individuals laying on the bottom near bait. A simple jig-n-minnow, small spoon, or soft plastic fished right in their face will usually draw a bite or two. Walleye can be super picky on color so switch between a few of your favorites to dial in the bite each day. The area or location, this time of year, doesn’t seem to matter much as long as you’re looking deep, and you’ll find a few fish here and there. Unlike most of the year, in February, you can sleep in a bit and get started around 8am vs well before sunrise for the walleye. You may not see the numbers this time of year, but the size of fish can’t be beat. With the fish feeding up for the spring run, now is the time to catch some fatty females before they turn their attention to spawning vs eating. The striper bite held steady last month and continues to be good. Live bait is the go-to right now. Alewives, threadfin, gizzards, or trout are
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all working (please don’t bring blue backs to Carters) flat lines and down lines will both get attention right now just adjust your baits to the level of the bait balls you’re marking on the graph. Small hooks and light leaders will increase your hook ups. We like #1 circle hooks and 12lb leaders with sinkers just heavy enough to get your bait to the desired depth. The find the bait, find the fish theory is applicable here as the stripers are in hot pursuit. Typical areas are Worley creek, Fisher creek, and the bends in the river. If you want to catch them on artificials try some various size spoons fished around the same areas where you’re marking bait and fish. Somedays they want a small 1/2 or 3/4oz spoon and the next day a big 8” parker spoon. I tend to keep one of each tied on to swap back and forth. These spoons also get attention while fishing live baits as well as draw fish in to your live baits. The spotted bass are schooled up and cruising the 30 to 50ft depth looking for bait balls to feed on. Spoons or live minnows, shad, or alewives will get plenty of bites right now. Another option is fishing the backs of creeks with small swim baits. We are throwing the Cast Prodigy and Echo in the 3” size on 1/8 or 1/4oz jig heads and letting it fall to the bottom then crawling it back on or just off the bottom. If the fish you’re targeting are suspended up high, try a 3/8oz. VMC hammerhead jig and trailer hook with the 3” Prodigy fished vertical. Temperature: 49 degrees Level: full to -6 ft Clarity: 8 ft
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE SEMINOLE
BLUE RIDGE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973 | lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com February typically brings our coldest temperatures of the year. These cold temps will drive fish deep to more stable water temperatures. This time of year, I tell everyone to find the deepest fish you can find and target those fish. Walleye love to lay in the deep water pinned to the bottom. Look for small groups of fish or individuals laying on the bottom near bait. A simple jig-nminnow, small spoon, or soft plastic fished right in their face will usually draw a bite or two. Walleye can be super picky on color so switch between a few of your favorites to dial in the bite each day. As far as the area or location this time of year? It doesn’t seem to matter, as long as, you’re looking deep as you’ll find a few fish here and there. Unlike most of the year, in February, you can sleep in a bit and get started around 8am vs. well before sunrise for the walleye. You may not see the numbers this time of year, but the size of fish can’t be beat. With the fish feeding up for the spring run, now is the time to catch some fatty females before they turn their attention to spawning vs eating. The spotted bass are schooled up and cruising the 20 to 40ft depth looking for bait balls to feed on. Spoons or live minnows, shad, or herring will get plenty of bites right now. Another option is fishing the backs of creeks with small swim baits. We are throwing the Cast Prodigy and Echo in the 3” size on
1/8 or 1/4oz jig heads and letting it fall to the bottom then crawling it back on the bottom or just off the bottom. If the fish you’re targeting are suspended up high, try a 3/8oz. VMC hammerhead jig and trailer hook with the 3” Prodigy fished vertical. The recent trout stocking has given us a decent trout bite scattered all over the main lake. Casting spoons have been the go-to option as they will absolutely annihilate them. Straight chrome or chrome and blue have had the most action. Any surface activity right now is most likely trout, so sling a spoon at them if you get the chance. Temp – 48 degrees Level - 18 feet Clarity - 12 feet
Forecast By: Captain Paul Tyre Tyrelakeseminolefishingadventures2gmail.com The Bass Fishing on Lake Seminole has been extremely productive this Winter! The water temperatures have fallen to the mid 50’s and the Flint and Chattahoochee River arms of the lake have good stain. Spring Creek remains clear. We have been catching bass on a variety of lures from vibrating jigs, jerk baits and lipless crankbaits. The Strike King Thunder Cricket has been very productive this winter and I expect it to continue to produce all the way into spring! This bait has incredible action to it and a built-in trailer keeper that works! Jerk baits have worked well this Winter also. The 6th Sense Provoke Jerk Bait in the 106 and 106DD series in any shad color has worked well. The 6th Sense Provoke Jerk Bait series is one of my favorite jerk baits because it’s cast ability and action, the key is working at a fast erratic pace. As we enter February, the bass will be in full pre-spawn mode and is one of the best months of the year to catch the biggest bass Lake Seminole has to offer because the bass will be schooling up by size! The Crappie fishing on Lake Seminole has also been very good this Winter! We are catching them in 18 to 25 feet of water around wood structures. The Crappie will begin to move to their spawning areas as we close out February and can be caught on minnows and jigs.
I had a FANTASTIC day with Jesse Bush from Valdosta, Georgia with this GIANT BASS
Chad Edwards from Coleman, Georgia with a Giant Crappie!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST WEST POINT LAKE Forecast By: Capt. Keith Hudson Keith Hudson Guide Service hudsonprobass@gmail.com www.LakeWestPointFishing.com | 706-844-1483 BASS: FAIR—In most years, things are beginning to pick up a bit as the weather improves in February. The shallow bite for bass is fair right now, but should improve quickly in February, especially with warm rain and an extended warming trend. Stained water, higher than normal lake levels and water temps in the low 60’s will turn things on quickly. Baits such as crawdad Shad Raps, Rat’l Traps and Chatterbaits will produce on these shallower fish. Try to fish these baits in coves and pockets with small feeder creeks or around schools of baitfish. Keep a jig or Shakey head handy to pitch around any wood cover. Fishing riprap can also produce good results this time of year. The rocks warm quickly and retain heat. Some trophy size fish are always caught in February!!! ON
THE OTHER HAND, a snow or ice storm in February could shut the bite down completely! Water temps in the 30’s and 40’s make it super tough. If the lake stays cold and clear, go deep! Big schools of spots mixed with hybrids, white bass and stripers can still be caught on jigging spoons and dropshot rigs and Shakey head rigs on humps and drop offs. Target deeper offshore structures like brush piles and old roadbeds in 20-30 feet of water near the mouth of most major creeks for the best results. LINESIDES: GOOD—The down line bite with shad or bass shiners has been good all winter. Most of the fish seem to be in 25 to 40 feet deep water except for those rare days when they are schooling on the surface. But expect the topwater fishing to be very sporadic. It’s usually best very early
and very late, or on overcast or rainy days. Gulls and Loons are here now, which makes it easier to pinpoint schooling stripers and hybrids. Keep your eyes open! The popping cork rig has still been working on schooling 1- to 3-lb. fish with an occasional bigger one mixed in. A big Red Fin or a big Swimbait won’t get many bites but could produce a 20lb fish on any cast. A 3/8 or 1/2-oz. white Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and a number of other small shad imitators have also been producing, and the colder and clearer the water the better the deep fishing usually is (within reason of course). Trolling with mid-depth crankbaits and Flash Mob rigs also continues to produce some linesides. The mouths of most creeks anywhere south of the Highland Marina area, all the way to the dam, and Maple Creek have been holding fish. A few fish are usually beginning to make the river run up the Hooch in late February as well. They can be caught in the mouths of most of the creeks, especially if we have an early spring. Try cut bait in water temps below 60 degrees. CRAPPIE: GOOD—In most years a warm - lake staining rain in
February will set the crappie bite on fire. Fishing with minnows or jigs 3-4 feet under a float will catch them when they decide to move up. Bank fishing can be just as good as fishing from a boat! Other techniques will work as well. Try tight line fishing with minnows or a 1/16oz. or 1/8 jig around bridge pilings, brush piles, and blowdowns in 15 to 20 feet of water. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels. Pitching or shooting deep water docks with small tubes or feather jigs around or under the docks can still produce this time of year. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Yellow Jacket, Wehadkee & Whitewater creeks are already producing some crappie. Spider trolling usually works well in February as well and can be very effective. If the weather turns unusually warm and wet, the crappie can show back up surprisingly shallow very quickly. NOW IS THE TIME! Book your trip with me for the prime April, May, or June striper season. Email me now to insure your day!! Hudsonsprobass@gmail.com or visit my website LakeWestPointFishing.com - THANKS!!
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ATLANTA 13
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST SANTEE BLUES AND A SURPRISE!
By Gary Turner Gary@purgeright.com https://youtube.com/@FishingWithGary “Tight Lines and Squealing Reels Put a Smile on My Face Every Time.”
It was a little cold and windy as we pulled out of Goat Island boat ramp in search of some blue and flathead catfish. Today I had my good friends Danny and Rafi with me, as well as my longtime fishing buddy Stacy. We were going out with my good friend, guide and often traveling fishing buddy Capt. Dewayne Profitt of Takin It Easy Guide Service. We looked around for a bit while Dewayne zeroed in on a school of catfish. Then we put out assorted baits, some of which are top secret, and it was only a couple of minutes before a rod went down. Danny reeled down on the fish and hooked up on it. We are using 6/0 BKK circle hooks and you reel down on them so they slide to the edge of the fish’s mouth. Using circle hooks results in less gut hooked fish. We catch a lot of fish somedays, and we like to release all that are not needed for eating, so we try to be careful not to injure them. I have gone down a rabbit hole, back to the story line. When I took Danny to Santee with us last year, he caught his first fish and naturally his biggest fish, so we were out to beat his best. He reeled hard and, even though the water was cold and the fish were a little lethargic, it was still giving him quite the fight! When he finally got it boatside, Dewayne netted it. It was a little over 20-pound blue catfish - a new personal best! Another rod went down and Rafi was on. Stacy was manning the rods in the back of the boat and one of his went down. Dewayne said, “Yeah, yesterday we got in the school and six rods went down at the same time!” They were both reeling in their fish. Rafi got his in first and I swung it over the side of the boat. When you can see that the fish is hooked good and they are less than 10 pounds, it usually works well swinging them in. Dewayne was busy in the back netting Stacy’s fish that was over 25 pounds. I have lost a few fish swinging them in, and its best to always use a net, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! Stacy and I love to try to beat each other out for the rods when they go down, but when we have 14 ATLANTA
FEBRUARY 2024
friends who haven’t caught as many fish, we usually let them catch a bunch first. Danny and Rafi caught a boatload of fish that day! I mean what I consider a boatload, over 30 big blue catfish. They decided they needed to go back home that night because they had so much work. So, we all went to the Lake House in Santee for dinner and enjoyed a great meal with friends, then they drove home. That left Stacy and I on the poles the next day, look out, the battle is on! The next day it was colder and windier (it really is a word). We fished several spots but the fish were not biting! Finally, around 11 a.m. we got a bite, then another. We only put out the front rods, and I had the left side, Stacy the right. The lines were drawn! The first four fish hit on my side! Then Stacy got one, and then I got a couple more nice blues. We put them in my Xtreme Bait Tank, 80 gallons, for culling and video purposes. My rod went down again, and I was sitting down in the enclosure, so Stacy was closer. He reeled down on it and it looked to be a good fish! I told him to turn on his GoPro and I turned on mine! I was happy he was getting a good fish on my side, lol. Stacy and I rib each other a lot, we’ve been fishing together a long time. The day progressed and we continued to catch lots of good blues in the 10-to30-pound range. With over 40 fish caught, some in the cooler, some in the tank, and some released, we had had a great day on the water with Capt. Dewayne, but it wasn’t over quite yet. We were tied off to a stump with a down rod on the front left. We were both standing mid deck when that rod slowly bent
down hard! I knew that bend! I looked at Stacy and said I’m taking that one! I turned on my GoPro and reeled down on it. It was not happy and started taking line! I got the rod out of the rod holder and tried to pull it off the bottom. We were surrounded by submerged trees 25 feet tall, and if he wrapped one, I would surely loose him! I pulled up and he pulled down. Bubbles came up, which is their last attempt at staying down. I was making ground on him now! Up he came, a beautiful large flathead! A trophy! I love catching flatheads! And that my friends was our trip to Santee! Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip. Whether with a guide or just on your own, GO FISHING! If you are local to
me, give me a holler because I’m gonna do more Lanier, Carters, Oconee, and Sinclair this year than I have in the last few years. By the way nobody has written me wanting to go fishing yet. Will you be the first? I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you! You can reach me at gary@purgeright.com. My YouTube is growing slowly @ takemefishinggary if you want to see some of the videos. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it. “Tight Lines and Squeelin’ Reels put a Smile on my Face Every Time.”
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Mark B on the 30A beach caught this great Red, while surf fishing! Russell Smith and Hank Steele at Roosevelt Lake, AZ with some nice crappie!
Andrew Whalen living his best life while catching a nice black drum at the Sebastian Inlet State Park!
Chandler Morrow with a monster striper that was caught on Lake Allatoona!
Jeff Byard landed and released this trophy Soque River rainbow trout while fishing with Unicoi Outfitters guide Wes McElroy. Stacy and Jason Ott with a nice catch of slabs on Lake Eufaula Alabama. Sent in by Tony Adams
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NATIONAL 11
BLITZING BASS INVADE
EARLY SEASON ESTUARIES By Nick Carter
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triped bass are king along the crags and marshes of the Massachusetts North Shore, and each year around the first week of May something very interesting takes place. They call it the early season in this stretch of coastline north of Boston, and it can bring on some of the fastest action of the year. All the baitfish—the herring, the sand eels, the silversides and bunker— push into the estuaries in search of warmer water temperatures. Big schools of striped bass move in with them. It leads to classic bass blitzes, when pods of stripers push bait up to boil on the surface as birds hammer them from above.
You can bet Matt Zimmerman, owner of Back Eddy Charters out of Beverly, Mass., will be there in the middle of the melee standing in the water waving a stick in the air. “I fly fish pretty much everywhere for everything, but it’s better early season,” he said. “You can use a slower presentation, mimic smaller baits, and cover the water column a lot better with a fly.” Historically, the pattern produced 40-fish days of smaller 14- to 26-inch stripers, known as “schoolies.” However, recent years have seen an uptick in larger 26- to 30-inch fish in the early season. “That’s great for fishing, but it’s not a great sign for the fishery,” Zimmerman said. If you haven’t heard, fisheries managers are scrambling to prop up Atlantic striper populations. Since 2019, striper reproduction on the Eastern Seaboard has been dismal due to weather conditions. Emergency action reduced the recreational limit to one fish in a slot limit from 28 to 31 inches, and more restrictive measures may be on the horizon. “The regs? I’m all catch and release, so it hasn’t impacted me too much,” Zimmerman said. “They’re trying to get the stocks up, but most of what we’re seeing is slot fish and up.” That’s not necessarily the case in the early season, which Zimmerman said is a time when you can just park the truck and wade in. “Most of the time I fish from a boat,” he said. “But early season, when there’s lots of fish in the river, it’s easier and you can catch more fish wading from shore.” Zimmerman fishes 5- to 8-weight rods and leaders of straight 20- or 30-pound monofilament. Intermediate sinking lines allow for good depth control, and a handful of Clousers and Deceivers are all you need. Zimmerman suggested 4- to 6-inch patterns and colors of green/white, yellow/white and gray/white. The fishing is best on the last three hours of an outgoing tide or the first couple hours of an incoming tide, when the bait moves around and incites feeding activity. This river bite is Zimmerman’s go-to pattern for about a month, after which he’ll move out to the beaches and rocky islands, where huge stripers herd bait and slam 6- to 8-inch Hollow Fleyes. Find Matt Zimmerman on Instagram @backeddycharters.
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arly in my career, I fished out of Venice, Louisiana. On off days, we fished inshore and roadside, which produced incredible catches like bull reds, 100-pound alligator gar and 70-pound blue cats. It was nothing to complain about, but my heart is always offshore. The offshore fishing off Venice is topnotch for yellowfin tuna, wahoo, marlin and swordfish, but the gas bill was too much for me to get out there as anything but crew. One evening, I was invited on an offshore trip and was told I got to plan the route. I ecstatically hit my Hilton’s offshore report to check the salinity chart and decided to hit an overlooked rig called Moxie. We headed out the next morning, caught bait and arrived at the rig. This rig sits in shallower waters and is a bit off the path for rig hopping, so it is often passed by. I was surprised to see another boat when we arrived. The bottom machine lit up with giant marks, and we tossed out our baits. I was running the deck and focused on the back of the boat, but I kept hearing the captain comment on the other boat. It seemed like they were diving, but they didn’t have a dive flag up. I heard him say the boat looked to be sitting
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low in the water. All of a sudden, Capt. Travis Mayeux started screaming, “LINES IN, LINES IN!” I was reeling everything up as quickly as I could when he pushed the boat to full throttle. I wasn’t sure what was going on until I had the lines secured and I turned around. The motors of the other boat had gone under, and the bow reached for the sky before slipping away. The boat sank in seconds. By the time we got to the scene, most of the flotsam had been carried away by the currents. We rescued the spearfishermen, one Pelican case and a fish bag. We ended our trip and took the spearfishers back to the dock. Their wallets and keys sank offshore, so they called Plaquemines Parish Sheriff ’s Office to get into their truck. The deputy ran their names, and one of them had an outstanding warrant. He was taken to jail for the weekend. It was a rough day for those guys, but it could have been much worse. Fishing offshore oil rigs provides a false sense of security. You are still very much offshore even though you are near a structure. The crew on those rigs are not lifeguards and are not paying attention to you. Considering how quickly the debris dispersed and how unfished that rig was, those fellas were very lucky we were there that day. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’nuf Charters, out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342, captainquinlyn.com or @captainquinlyn.
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ON AMERICA’S HOTTEST BIG BASS LAKE By Nick Carter
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f a truly giant largemouth bass is on your bucket list, make plans to visit O.H. Ivie Lake in Texas over the next few months. Last year, this 19,000acre impoundment of the Colorado River burst onto the scene as the hottest big bass lake in the nation. A string of 17 monster largemouths from January through April kept O.H. Ivie in the headlines, and 10 of them were caught in February. And when we say monster, we’re not talking about 8- to 10-pounders, we’re talking about 13-plus-pound behemoths. According to data from Toyota ShareLunker, Texas’ trophy bass recognition and breeding program, February is the time to catch a giant at this central Texas reservoir. Bass are at their heaviest and most aggressive ahead of the spawn, when they are fat, feeding and full of eggs. Last February’s incredible streak was highlighted by an enormous 17.03-pounder that is the lake record and the eighth largest bass ever caught in Texas. Jason Conn caught it on Feb. 13, 2023, and he said the fish was even heavier before it started regurgitating shad in his livewell. Moving into March and April last year, the trophy bass statistics were still pretty amazing—with 34 fish heavier than 8 pounds—but the giant fish tapered off. Five 13-plus-pounders were caught during those two months, and then no one registered another one until November, when Shawn Strength caught a 16.65-pound monster. The totals for 2023 were 75 fish heavier than 8 pounds and 18 heavier than 13 pounds. The true total is potentially much more impressive, because these statistics include only the fish anglers bothered to register with ShareLunker. So, why has the productivity of O.H. Ivie largemouth bass fishing exploded
over the last three or four years? According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, intensive stocking of bass with Florida-strain genetics is the secret ingredient. Florida strain genetics produce larger, faster-growing fish than the native-northern strain genetics in the system. Part of the mission of the ShareLunker program is to breed trophy fish, and they do this by using 13-plus-pounders caught by anglers in their breeding program. It is estimated 75 to 85 percent of the bass in O.H. Ivie possess those Florida genetics. On top of that, weather played a role in the lake’s rise. Following a prolonged drought, heavy rain in the fall of 2018 raised water levels by more than 30 feet. “It gave these bass pretty much unlimited food and space to grow,” said a ShareLunker representative, “and they just grew like crazy.” Stay tuned. It’ll be interesting to see what America’s hottest big bass lake produces over the next four months, especially with all the added angler attention that comes with a bright hot spotlight.
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See more on last year’s incredible fishing at O.H. Ivie at coastalanglermag.com.
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Y
ou may think you understood the concept of “priceless” jewelry. For years, “priceless” meant “astronomically expensive.” That is, until now ... Stauer smashes the luxury status quo with the release of our FREE* 200-Carat Lusso Amethyst Necklace. That’s right, we said FREE ... as in “priceless.” No charge.* ZERO dollars.* Call now and we’ll send you this impressive helping of genuine amethyst (independently appraised at $295) for FREE. We cut the price 100%. You only pay $24.95, our regular charge for shipping and processing. We’ll even pay you back with a $30 discount certificate –– that’s our Better Than Free Shipping!
A collection of purple perfection. Your Lusso Amethyst Necklace is a 200-carat symphony of smooth purple genuine gemstones. Each gemstone’s shape and translucence ignites the velvety, violet hues. The polished amethysts are hand-strung on double-knotted jeweler’s thread, and the stunning 18" necklace (with 2" extender) secures with a goldfinished lobster clasp. Too good to pass up. Too good to last long. Amethyst is one of the world’s most coveted gemstones and our supply is extremely limited. We can only offer such an outrageous deal for a short time every few years. Over 30,000 thrilled customers were lucky enough to get this promotion last time.
200 carats of pure luxury independently appraised at $295† ... yours FREE!* “This necklace is beautiful. I could not believe my eyes ... GREAT!”
We only have about 2,500 left in stock. Act now!
— Bonnie from Longs, SC
Necklace Specifications: • 200 ctw of genuine amethyst • Gold-finished spacers • 18" + 2" length necklace
FREE amethyst necklace limited to just the first 2,500 responders to this ad!
Lusso Amethyst Necklace: Lusso Amethyst Necklace (200 ctw) $249** FREE* *Pay only shipping & processing of $24.95. Special price only for customers using the offer code.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: LAN510-05
* This offer is valid in the United States (and Puerto Rico) except in TX, FL, CO, OK, RI, NH, WV, OR, SC, VA, CA and ID. These state residents will be charged one cent ($.01) + shipping & processing for the item. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer subject to state and local regulations. Not valid with any other offers and only while supplies last. This offer is limited to one item per shipping address. ** Free is only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code. † For more information concerning the appraisal, visit www.stauer.com/appraisedvalues.asp.
Stauer, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. LAN510-05, Burnsville, MN 55337 www.stauer.com
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