LAKE MARTIN

side scan, I wouldn’t ever see it on the screen. We are known here for a lot of major creeks that feed our lake and April is the month that you need to take advantage of these areas. Dust your rods and boards off and get some new line on those reels and get out and enjoy the spring bite you’ll definitely be glad you did . If you’re not familiar with fishing with planer boards then book a learning trip with us, it’s very simple fishing, laid back atmosphere and lots of action.

Until next time “ tight lines “ and stay tuned in for some huge striper photos that will be coming your way over the next few weeks!! And who knows, it might be you in them!!

The Boating Season Is Upon Us

Dr. Andrew Cox

April and the subsequent warm weather months ushers in the boating season on area lakes and waterways. Beginning with this month through the fall months, our waterways are crowded with pleasure boaters and anglers. Boating safety becomes important to reduce or minimize potential boating and other water related accidents and mishaps.

On Georgia waterways during 2021 (latest year in which statistics are available) there were a total of 91 boating related accidents. These included 62 injuries and 17 deaths during the 2021 boating year. Unfortunately, some of these accidents involved the use of alcohol and drugs. Many of these mishaps could have been avoided through knowledge of safe boating procedures or nonuse of alcohol or drugs while operating a vessel.

Do you know what to do in the following boating scenarios?

• How do I operate a boat when I see red and black buoys within the waterway?

• What do I do when I see striped black and white buoys midstream within the waterway?

• What do various flags in the water mean?

• How do I operate my vessel when approaching other on-coming boats?

• Do I slow my boat down when operating my boat adjacent to anchored or stopped boats?

• How close can I operate my vessel near to or within swimming areas?

• What safety equipment is required on my boat? These questions and other boating safety and operation tips and procedures can be answered fairly quickly and easily. A useful reference for Georgia boat operators is the Handbook of Georgia Boating Laws and Responsibilities. This reference is available through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (www. gadnrle.org). Alabama has a similar publication available through www. outdooralabama.com. These handbooks will answer the above questions, plus some, that you didn’t know to ask.

As a boat operator on the increasingly crowded waterways in Georgia and Alabama, you may want to consider taking a boating safety or boat operator course. These courses are available in live course with an instructor or on-line course instructional formats. These are available to accommodate your schedule and learning needs. Some are free or charge a minimal fee. Some potential boating safety or so-called boating education providers are listed below:

• Georgia Department of Natural Resources. www.gadnrle.org; www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com; www.georgiawildlife. com. These websites describe online and live boating education programs available within the State of Georgia

• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. www.uscgaux.info. Lists various boating education programs available through this branch of the U.S. Coast Guard

• United States Power Squadron. www. usps.org. Another source of boating education programs

• Several non-governmental providers of boating safety and education programs are available to include www.boatus.org and boat-ed.com. These sources include on-line boating safety courses.

Check out some of the above sources. Useful information is provided for nonpowerboat operators using Alabama and Georgia waters. Information useful to angling, kayak and canoe enthusiasts is available. You should also be aware of the licensing and boating operation regulations in effect for both Georgia and Alabama. These regulations can be reviewed through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Review of the above resources, being observant, and anticipating possible safety hazards while operating a boat can keep you and your boating passengers from being a statistic as described earlier in this article. Hope you have a safe and pleasurable boating season.

Author’s Note: 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 Lanier is full of water, mostly clear, and the water temperature is rising above the 60-degree mark. The striper fishing this past month has been quality over quantity. As we move into April, the stripers will spawn over the course of the next few weeks. As a result, the fish will be on the move and eating. The key over the month of April will be points and flats as the stripers pull up into these areas to feed on shad and herring.

Freelines and planer boards will be the key tactics this month. The bait of choice so far has been medium shiners, but it is changing to herring quickly. That being said, some fish are biting on gizzard Shad as well. As a result, be sure to be prepared with a variety of hook sizes and line sizes tied on different rods. Keep two Shakespeare Striper rods with 15-pound Trilene 100% Flourocarbon and size one Gamakatsu Octopus hooks for the herring. Then at least two rods with 15-pound Trilene 100% Flourocarbon and size 5/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks or larger for the gizzard shad and tiny number size 4 for the shiners. If they are “mongo” gizzards maybe add a Gamakatsu Magic Eye Treble stinger hook. Talk to your local bait shop like Hammond’s or Oakwood Bait and Tackle for details on the stinger hook set up. Pull the bank line on the north end of the lake and in the creeks on the south end. Also put out planers boards as well. The Perfect Planer is most popular because it can be used with herring and gizzard Shad.

Toward the end of the month look for the topwater bite to appear as well. This will be the highlight of the year for those who like to cast. Once the topwater bite starts, rig up a 7-foot medium action rod with twelve pound Trilene Big Game line and be prepared for the stripers to try to take it away from you. Be sure to take a variety of baits like the Berkley Surge Shad, the Sebile Mag- ic Swimmer, Berkley Canewalker, and the Berkley Highjacker. Every day a different one will be the ticket. The stripers will quickly let you know the right choice. See you on the water,

Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973 lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Temp 64, Level -13 ft, Clarity 6 to 8ft

Spring really transforms this lake like no other in the area. Grass starts growing and pulling the bait and small fish into the shallow water. Big fish are cruising the shoreline and grass edges looking for food. This will create lots of fish catching opportunities this month. Walleye will be on the rocky shorelines at night and just off the grass in the daytime. You can find fish in shoreline timber as well as in offshore rock piles, be versatile and cover water. Whatever way you like