The Angler Magazine | June 2021 | Greater Atlanta Edition

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FROGGIN' TACTICS

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6.3-POUND SHELLCRACKER

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN CUMMINGS

VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 315

F R A N C H I S E

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A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

JUNE 2021

GO FROM FISH TO WAKE TO DAD OF THE YEAR IN THE SAME AFTERNOON.

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

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$375K GJKT Slated for July 12-17

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his month’s CAM cover is dedicated to the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament (GJKT) and all of the die-hard kingfish anglers out there.

The GJKT, from July 12-17, is a weeklong celebration of fishing in one the East Coast’s great fishing communities. With a festival featuring food, exhibitors and all things nautical, along with several different tournaments, including kids’ tournaments and a redfish tournament, the GJKT has grown into a lot more than just a spectacular kingfish tournament.

With the traditional king mackerel tournament season upon us, GJKT is holding one of its richest tournaments ever. Teams will fish July 15-16 out of Jim King Park in Jacksonville, Fla. This year, teams will compete for a first-place prize package valued at more than $160,000. Catch the largest kingfish over two days of fishing, and you could be the proud new owner of a brand new 25T Contender sport fishing boat powered by twin 150hp Yamaha motors. If that’s not the biggest single prize in kingfishing, it has to be close.

Fifty other places and divisions will also be paid out, including Lady and Junior Angler prizes, so anglers can still win big even if they aren’t the lucky angler to catch the largest kingfish. The weigh-ins are a sight for spectators to behold, and the total purse is valued at $375,000.

The GJKT, one of the oldest kingfish tournaments around, is now in its 41st year. The tournament reached 1,000 entrants before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, and it is now on the way back up.

Jacksonville Marine Charities (JMC), a 501c3 corporation, is the

parent organization of the GJKT, and all proceeds from the tournament are used to promote and enhance fishing in Northeast Florida. To date, several hundred thousand dollars have been donated for such projects as reef enhancement, marine science education and boater safety issues, to name a few.

For more information about the GJKT or JMC, visit kingfishtournament.com.

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JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 7

FOR GROUPER SEASON, IT’S...

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

W

ith the opening of gag grouper this month throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Florida grouper season is basically open across the board. The regulations for grouper vary greatly from state to state and even within specific regions of each state, so make sure to the latest legal harvest information in the location you plan to fish.

With that out of the way, game-on and good luck; it sure will be nice not to have to vent and release these chubby, spotted, pre-sandwiches.

Grouper fishing can be a challenge in regions that don’t have surface markings, where anglers rely primarily on coordinates of small hard-bottom patches. The numbers that aren’t completely overfished have been acquired by fishermen who’ve spent years cruising the ocean.

Hiring a salty and experienced charter captain is highly recommended for targeting grouper; paying attention to what they tell you is equally as important.

If you choose to go it alone, there are a few things recommended to ensure your best chances of success. As opposed to pelagic fishing, where a school of fish can move through, and it may be better to have lighter leader starting out just to entice a bite, you’ll want to gear-up for grouper.

8 NATIONAL

JUNE 2021

Losing that first grouper bite can result in shutting down the entire spot. When a large grouper breaks off, especially if it takes the entire rig with the hook and lead with it, that fish will swim back down to its home—where all the other fish are—and sound the danger alarm by grunting.

It’s best to start out with heavy line to avoid this, especially if you don’t have more bottom numbers nearby to bounce around to.

Make sure your drags are set tight, your gear is on the heavy side, and that you are paying attention when you first arrive at a spot. Cigars can be lit, beers can be shotgunned and rod-holders may be utilized only after you have been at a spot for the second half, or immediately after losing a big fish.

If you want to catch spotted sandwiches, or just not cripple your anchor-pulling deckhand, this is important information to apply to your trip.

When fishing for grouper, there are many ways to rig for them. Utilizing 60-plus-pound leader, the correct lead for your current and a large circle hook, many different kinds of baits will work.

Experiment with squid, shrimp, crab, sardines, live bait and pieces of fresh fish cut a number of different ways. Keep a variety going down, and pay attention to what is getting bites.

Don’t forget that if you lose a big one, you are on the right tide and are still marking fish, that you

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might have chased the bite away. This is the time to take your lunch break, light that cigar, or move spots entirely.

If you come visit Marathon this grouper season, there are several restaurants that will cook your catch, but none more specialized in preparing this species for the table than Castaway Restaurant.

Their Dijonnaise-style grouper, which is a heavy cream reduction sauce loaded with mushrooms, is top of the line. Remember to ask your crew to cut out the cheeks while they fillet your grouper, especially if you harvested enough of them to add up.

Happy hunting, and good luck out there.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Blue Magic Charters, docked at Castaway Restaurant in Marathon, Fla. Contact Blue Magic at (504) 920-6342 and keep up with Quinlyn through her social media @CaptainQuinlyn.

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JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 11

FIND SOME

SUMMER SOLITUDE S

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

chool is out! This has always been my marker for the official beginning of summer. I know the bays will be filled with everyone getting out to enjoy Mother Nature, so finding solitude is key to catching fish. My family and I will be there too, but if I’m lucky, you won’t see me. Here are some methods to avoid the crowds and catch a lot of fish!

Let’s focus on kayaks and areas only small vessels can access. Small, shallow-draft watercraft help us elude the summer crowds and find our solitude. Pushing farther back into the shallows and marsh areas requires some planning, so let’s start with some satellite scouting on the computer.

The first thing to do is find areas that have tidal movement. One way to determine this via satellite is to zoom in on the openings of bayous and drains.

If you notice a deeper hole at the mouth, this lets you know it has good current flow, which is what causes a washout in the mouth. If the mouth looks shallow or silted in, search for another spot.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

Once you have identified areas with sufficient current, find the structure. I like areas with scattered grass, shell, or both. Add in some depth changes around bends, and you are set.

Depending how deep into the marsh you are going, and if you are new to the area, taking a GPS is a great idea. Once you get in the marsh, it looks completely different on the way out. Cell phone service might not always be reliable, and I know on my phone the bright sun really makes it hard to see the satellite imagery.

Now let’s get down to the business end and talk about lures and presentation. I generally like to throw a paddle tail. If I am fishing a new area, I’ll have one rigged weedless on a weighted swimbait hook.

I prefer this style of lure for a couple of reasons. One, it is a great search bait. I can simply

cast, reel and cover a lot of water. It is also my preferred soft plastic when fishing shallow water, which is what you find in the marsh. Redfish will not hesitate to hit a lure reeled in a straight line with a vibrating tail. Adding sound into the mix really grabs their attention. Like the clicking sound of a fleeing shrimp, the Knockin Tail Lure, with its built-in tail rattle is my lure of choice in this scenario. These swimbaits rattle on a steady retrieve and can make the difference between just fishing and catching.

Be safe, find an out-of-the-way area, and catch some fish! I know my family and I will be tucked away in the backwaters in June.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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Silver Eagles have no mint mark to tell us where they were produced. But thanks to some skilled detective work, the experts at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), one of the world’s leading third-party grading services, were able to certify our coins as being struck at the San Francisco Mint during this Emergency Production run. What’s more, a number of these coins have been graded as Mint State-69 (MS69) condition—just one grade point away from perfection—and sealed with labels certifying them as being struck at the San Francisco Mint during the series’ 35th anniversary!

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IN THE LAND OF THE MAYA

t incited excited Spanish chatter from the crew when the fish’s bill slashed the surface. “Marlin blanco?” was the only phrase I could decipher.

I clung to the rod as Tony Tuz and his father Lorenzo cleared lines. “Billfish! Billfish!” Tony barked so the gringos understood.

Then my 10-year-old son gasped. A 7-foot sailfish went airborne and tail-walked for 20 yards off the stern. It was awesome, exactly what I envisioned while e-mailing Charter Fishing Cancun prior to a recent family vacation. My son and I were the only anglers aboard the 35-foot Bertram Xaviera III. We could have used some help cranking in all those fish.

Cancun, Mexico is a great place to fish. The resorts overlook the Straits of Yucatan on the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. It’s the pinch point between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, a highway for pelagic species.

In March, we were early for the headliner species. From April through July, summer is peak season for blue and white marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi—which they call Dorado.

Snapper and grouper species, as well as amberjack

By Nick Carter and huge barracuda can be caught year-round.

No matter. We just wanted bent rods, and Capt. Jorge Rivas steered us toward open water with baitwell full of small jacks and blue runners.

The action began almost as soon as Tony and Lorenzo got lines out. We pulled a spread with bird teasers, a squid chain, skirted ballyhoo and several flat-lined live baits, which almost immediately brought up a big Dorado that came unbuttoned. Then we drove into birds.

Gulls diving on flying fish were enough to get me excited. Tony was not impressed.

“Bonito,” he said with a shrug. “Sea gulls mean bonito. Frigate birds mean tuna.”

Sure enough, my son took the rod to catch bonito for the bait bucket until big fork-tailed frigate birds

started diving all around the boat. The boy could definitely tell the difference when a gorgeous 20-pound blackfin tuna took the bait.

It wasn’t even 8:30 a.m., and we had seen a lot of action. But the captain and crew had more to show us. When the tuna bite died, we stopped over a ledge in 350 feet of water. Lorenzo worked quickly to cut bonito into baits. He sliced away the entire dorsal section and tail of each fish to leave streamlined head-and-belly baits. We jigged them deep, and in short order were tripling up on amberjacks up to 40 pounds. We battled big AJs until weary arms begged for mercy and then headed to deeper water and the sailfish. We finished the day with three big barracuda, which are a ton of fun when they’re 4 to 5 feet long.

After all that activity, my son crashed in the shade for the ride back. Seeing him smile in his sleep is something I’ll never forget.

To book an inshore or offshore trip out of Cancun, contact Charter Fishing Cancun at cfishingcancun@gmail.com. Check out their website www.charterfishingcancun.com.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE GUIDE’S ANGLE

SUMMER FLY FISHING ON THE CHATTAHOOCHEE TAILWATER

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service The heat of summer is usually a good time in the Southern states to give trout a break from fishing pressure. Higher air and water temperatures stress trout out because warmer water temperatures decreases the oxygen content. Cooler water temps make for higher dissolved oxygen levels in higher elevations where most trout are found in the summer months.

Out West during drought years when flows are low in the heat of the summer, some streams will be under “hoot owl” restrictions not allowing fishing access from 2pm through midnight. Although we don’t have official “hoot owl” restrictions here in Georgia, many of the private trophy waters only fish during the first few hours of daylight when water temps are at their coolest levels.

The Chattahoochee tailwater below Buford Dam remains a con-

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stant temperature 48-49F most summer. This unusually cool water is known to trout biologists as “winter-stored-water”. It typically takes a drop of water from the time it enters Lake Lanier and then exits Buford Dam two years to cycle through this massive 38,000 acre impoundment. This cool water gushing from the penstocks of Buford is incredibly resistant to temperature change and remains cool enough for trout for 38 miles to Morgan Falls Dam. So when you run out of trout fishing options this summer, don’t feel guilty about wetting a line in the Hooch.

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JUNE FLY FISHING REPORT Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com For those wanting to pursue Lanier’s stripers in June, the south end will be the area to concentrate on. Sinking lines will be your best choice once the sun gets up.

Low light can still get you a few bites tossing a Pole Dancer fly on a floating line or launching Super Spooks and Redfins on conventional tackle. After the sun gets up, it is time to start looking in the river channel off of long tapered points that kind of butt up to the deep water.

June is also the BEST month for topwater spotted bass on Lanier. Go to any point during low light and toss any topwater fly like a Gurgler, Flat Fred or Crease fly and enjoy one of the Lanier’s feistiest combatants. If you see some topwater activity, then try to toss your fly or lure into the melee as spotted bass are suckers to leave a bait to grab your artificial. This is just perfect for a six or seven weight outfit, and this bite will continue throughout the entire summer.

Another place to target these fish are on humps that are between twenty to twenty five feet below the surface. If you own a Humminbird depth finder along with their lake master chart, you can pre-set your machine to find all the humps Lanier has to offer (contour highlighting).

North GA anglers can also look to June for three things: Allatoona topwater hybrids (hopefully), Chattahoochee River striped bass and Hooch carp. If the weather reports are for bluebird skies and light winds, then carp needs to be in your plans for the following morning. If the reports are for fairly light winds and overcast skies, anglers need to head to Lake Allatoona. The hybrids might be knocking bait up on the surface in gigantic schools!

This is one of the most fun fishing trips a fly angler can make in North GA. Anglers need to bring an intermediate fly line and a small 1 ½” to 2” long fly for best results.

I am particularly fond of my Albie Anchovy fly for this fishing or a

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Somethin’ Else as a second option.

Conventional anglers can fish the same fly by affixing it to a popping cork rig or using a casting bubble filled with water on their spinning rods. It is a deadly combination that is sure to put a few fish in the boat.

Finally, anglers can also start fishing the Hooch for either striped bass below Morgan Falls Dam or carp above Morgan Falls Dam. Stripers will be feeding on small baitfish, and it is best to toss an intermediate line on the river.

I prefer the northern breeches of the Hooch for river stripers early in the season. Lastly, river stripers always seem to feed best when the water level in the river is coming down.

Carp should be fished too during daylight hours when the sun is shining high for best visibility.

Small crayfish patterns as well as Damselfly nymphs are going to be your flies of choice. If you have never sight fished for carp, you do not know what you are missing.

With all the rain we’ve had the past 6 months, it is nearly a certainty that the Corp of Engineers will be releasing water all June and July which allows the carp to come up and onto the flats.

June is one of the best months to fish here in North GA as anglers have many choices. I hope everyone will get out there, get vaccinated and give our June fisheries a try.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING POPPER/DROPPERS FOR ALL KIDS Contributed By: Jeff Durniak www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year

Anglers are kids at heart. Some of us have just had a few more birthdays. And all kids like action! As we transition from spring to summer, here’s a rig that will generate lots of action and entertain kids, young and old. It’s the popper/dropper (P/D) rig.

Let’s start with youngsters who want to learn how to fly fish. Mentors, please lead them AWAY from trout streams due to swift, changing currents and tangles of trees. Lead them TOWARD the promised waters of a local pond, preferably with a tree-less bank where casting will be easier. Its resident school of hungry, competitive bream will make fast action. Rig up with a short (7.5 foot, 4X) leader and tie on the smallest white popper or rubber spider that you can find. Size 10 is good. To the bend of its hook, tie on 2 feet of 5X tippet (or 4-lb mono). On the end of that short line, tie on your dropper fly: a size 16 trout nymph, wet fly, or black fur ant. There’s your P/D rig!

Use small bugs so even the smallest bream can inhale them. Remember, with kids, everything is a trophy, and numbers are more important than size. Also, crimp down the hook barbs to protect everyone’s fingers and ears and some fish lips. Aggressive bream will slurp in the popper with a loud “tick,” while hesitant siblings will eat the dropper. The popper will twitch and be the strike indicator!

Practice first on open water. Af-

Let’s start with youngsters who want to learn how to fly fish.

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JUNE 2021

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ter your student gets the hang of it, slide closer to fish cover like weeds, dock pilings and downed trees, where bream schools hide from bass.

Retrieve the rig with a few twitches and strips, with long pauses between them. Your action will be better in the cool shade or low light of dusk, so pick those places and times to hook more fish and land your new fly-flinger. Keep the session short to match their interest and attention span. See the trip through their eyes, using THEIR value system, and they’ll ordain you as Champion Guide.

Let’s not forget our big kids.

We like P/D rigs, too! We just upsize them for fewer but bigger fish.

Before the evening shadows fall, it’s tough to convince river spots, shoalies and smallies to eat a surface bug, so we’ll put a dropper behind our bass popper or Kent’s Stealth Bomber. I typically add 2-4 feet of thin 8-10 pound mono and then tie on a #4 black Woolly Bugger or Hairy Fodder. We’ll deaddrift, twitch, and then strip the rig back in. For summer’s low-water, spooky fish, we’ll just drift with smaller droppers like a #8 Bugger or Rubberleg Stonefly.

Let the P/D rig entertain your fly fishing kids, both young and old, this summer. Call (706) 878-3083 or visit our fly shop if we can help you further, since Jake and Wes are the “Huck and Tom” of summer fly fishing!

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• • • • • •

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

NG

KIDS

CHATTOOGA RIVER

It’s a terrestrial time of year, and throwing some larger dry flies always brings great joy to all. Let’s lengthen the leaders, tie on a few terrestrial patterns and find a few overhanging bushes. Cast the bugs under the overhanging shrubbery and allow good long drifts. After the bug lands upon the water, small twitches with the rod to make the terrestrial look to be struggling will provoke strikes. As the daytime temperatures rise, so will the water temperatures, therefore driving the trout to find thermal refuge in the deeper parts of the rivers.

Streamer fishing this time of year can be very productive in early mornings and evening hours. Take notice of the small baitfish in the

back eddies and slower moving waters and use like colored and sized patterns of these baitfish. Big fish can’t help themselves, but they eat baitfish patterns. At times, a sink tip leader may be helpful in higher flowing and cloudy river levels from an afternoon thunderstorm.

This time of the year also brings bass and panfish into the river fishing picture. Switching gears from trout to bass/panfish is quite simple.

Summer means ditch the waders, have a pair of shorts, wading boots and neoprene socks, one fly box, a lanyard with a couple essentials attached, and have a cool way to spend a summer day in the water.

Topwater patterns should fill the fly box, and finding slow moving waters will make for an exciting day.

Please don’t struggle out there on the water. We offer guided fly fishing trips for these fine fish, along with all the gear as well.

As summer rolls up on us, thun-

derstorms can pop up at any given time, so keep an ear to the sky and an eye on the water level around the fishing spot. Let’s all remember to “Leave No Trace” out there, so walking out with a little more than we walked in with will always help keep our rivers clean. Stop in and see us for all your fishing needs and pet Guss on your way to the rivers.

Truman Nicholson from Mountain Rest, SC with a fine mountain bass.

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE CASTING CORNER THE ROD HAND

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

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

Previously, we spoke of the line hand and all that it can do for us; where it should be and when, as well as how it helps us cast. It is a compliment to the rod hand when casting and will help accelerate the line when we haul. The line hand keeps the fly moving when working a fly on the retrieve. The line hand will help set the hook and gather line on the reel when it is time, too. So if that hand is doing all of that, what is left for the rod hand?

For starters, it holds the rod, and that can be done several different ways. The traditional thumb on top is one way to hold the cork, but that can have its disadvantages. There is the V-grip which lends itself to more wrist rotation that can lead to increased rod tip speed through rotation. There is the finger on top that is often used for accuracy, but not much for distance casting. The good casters will use several different grips depending on the situation.

Where we place our hand on the rod is important, too. Don’t get fooled by thinking the thumb has to be on top where the cork and the rod meet. That position will reduce the amount of lever action by shortening the lever. Grip the cork as far back against the reel as you comfortably can. I have my little finger touching it or slightly

over the butt end of the cork on the grip. Get used to doing that, and it will never be something you have to think about again.

Apply a good grip on the rod with the style that fits your situation. The rod hand will need to travel in the correct direction and accelerate at the right time. As a reminder, there is a 180 degree consideration when making a normal cast. We want the rod to travel in a straight line 180 degrees away from the target on the back cast, and then 180 back to the target. It is the most efficient motion. There are casts that we make adjustments on the back cast. For example, an oval cast, but that cast will end up being 180 degrees behind us at the end of the rod travel on the back cast.

One of the hardest things the rod hand has to do is apply the proper amount of power at the proper time. We want a smooth constant rate of acceleration to a stop. That applied power will vary on the distance or if casting into the wind, but we always want to start slow with a lift and then progressively go faster until the end of the stroke. Let the rod do the work.

Get the feel of the line bending the rod against your hand. That loading or bending of the rod is the heart of the cast. Train your rod hand to feel it.

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Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001

June in the Blue Ridge Mountains can be a great time to hit the water!

The weather and water levels are usually more stable than in the transition time of spring. The water temperatures haven’t got too critically high yet in even the lower elevation trout streams. Trout feeding activity will begin shifting to more early and late day snack time. Fly hatches of light colored and yellow Mayflies, Caddis, and Stoneflies will be the main aquatic insects riding the surface of your local river. Light Cahill size 12, Tan or Yellow Elk Hair Caddis size 14, and Yellow Stimulators size 12 will excite a few fish enough to make your day interesting.

Terrestrial insects will be getting more important to the trout’s diet by the day. Tan Foam Hoppers in size 10, Black Beetles in size 12, Green Inch Worms in size 12, and Black Ants in size 16 should produce fish anywhere there is an overhanging brush or grass above the river. Careful presentation of terrestrial patterns on the water need not to be delicate. A good plop is usually better. Some fish get tuned into hearing the dinner bell and will search out

or instantly clobber a big fat bug hitting the water.

Early summer is a good time for a tune up before you head west for that lifetime trout trip! Being able to cast into the wind and getting some good distance on your cast can be the difference between a great time and a pile of frustration. We love teaching fly casting to beginners and advanced casters alike. An inexpensive hour or two can really be helpful when the pressure is on. Being able to double haul and knowing a few wind casts can keep you in the game all day long. Fishing from a drift boat is also a lot different than wading. Most trips to the big western rivers will include a day of floating to reach the best areas. If you’ve never fished from a drift boat before, we can help there too! A short half day float can get you ready for your fishing vacation. We’re on the water every day and would be glad to set up a customized trip just for you.

Check out our website for a variety of trips and classes that can expand your knowledge of fly fishing and turn up the fun factor!

A nice rainbow caught by Doug Barrett fishing with David Hulsey from the Blue Ridge Fly Fishing School.

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JUNE 2021

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING

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OCONEE ON THE FLY-JUNE FORECAST A YOUNG MAN’S FIRST FISH

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com There is really nothing quite like it, a young man or lady’s first fish. It’s true for the guide or adult who takes them as much or more so. I have written about this before, and I am doing so again in the hope that some of you will take a young person fishing and build some dreams for them.

I had the pleasure of taking Ryan and his dad Sumedh out fishing on Mother’s Day morning. You see, Ryan’s birthday just happens to be on Mother’s Day. It was a slow day to start with, but Ryan scored a small catfish, and his face lit up like he had just won the lottery. He did not care that it was a small fish, as he was just thrilled.

A little later he landed a bigger catfish and a nice white bass. He set the hook and reeled both in unassisted.

At the end of the trip, he said it was the best day he has ever had. If you know a young person who you can take out, do it! You will find it

is a priceless experience if you just focus on what they want.

June Forecast Hybrids/Stripers – For the past five years, June has been a great month for me and those customers I have who like fly fishing. The reason for this is that on certain mornings, Georgia Power pumps water up from Lake Sinclair to restore the lake levels in Oconee after generating the night before. It is an unpredictable event as there is no generation schedule, so we just head out at first light hoping we see the red lights on at the dam. If they are on, the topwater bite is outstanding.

If not, break out the spinning rods and head up lake. Just where do you go up lake?

Doug Nelms said in a recent article to fish the humps, and he is spot on. Anywhere you see a hump coming up from the bottom of deeper water, it is likely to be holding fish.

Dropping spoons works, and down

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Final Words - It is 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 404-317-9556 and lock in your dates.

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lining live shad works very well. My standard rig for this is a six-foot striper rod with a light tip with an Okuma Coldwater reel with a line counter. I use 12-pound mono on the reel and a 2-ounce swivel sinker. Below that I use a leader of 10-pound fluorocarbon and a #4 circle hook. You can get all of this at Sugar Creek Marina.

June Forecast Crappie – Most of the guides here are focusing on fishing submerged brush piles. It’s a skill I am still trying to master. I had a fellow guide, Keenan Nottingham, take me out on his pontoon for some pointers recently. He positioned us right on top of the underwater structure, and we loaded the boat quickly. Rods on the front right side of the pontoon bent steadily, but the front left hardly produced a fish. You must present your bait directly over the structure. I would strongly suggest hiring a guide for crappie fishing this time of year. You will load your

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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING NORTH GEORGIA SMALL LAKES FOR TROUT

By Tim Dangar ltdangar@tds.net

When your home big lake is flooded, which Allatoona has been for about a week now, it gives me the opportunity to hit some of the small mountain lakes for trout.

These lakes tend to drain and clear a lot faster than the bigger lakes. The trout are hungry now which provides some real fun spinner fishing.

The number of fish is also good now due to this year’s stocking program and a number of fish from previous year’s stockings. They can however be picky when it comes to color and type of spinners.

On a recent trip, I was able to narrow in on two favorite spinners that netted me around 30 fish for the day and a nice limit to bring home for my neighbor who loves to eat trout. I started throwing the bright yellow bladed Rooster Tail which worked better for early morning fishing and ended the day with a number one silver blade Mepps. Be-

lieve it not, the orange plastic skirt was much more successful than a red skirt.

That’s why I carry a wide variety of colors and makes of spinners. You just never know what the fish may have a craving for the day you are on the water. And yes, bright sunshine verses cloudy day will play into your lure selection. We hope to get back on the big water before long. Until next time, stay calm and fish on!

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LANIER STRIPERS

LAKE BURTON Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 66 degrees, lake level: full pool, clarity: clear.

Bass: The bass bite has been very strong the last few days. We have caught fish on top and shallow every trip. I haven’t seen the topwater bite this good in several years. Most of these fish are post-spawn and very hungry.

Plastic worms have been working well mid-day around brush piles (pumpkin seed Finesse worms).

We have had some luck with Sebille swimbaits working the shallows around docks for bigger largemouth. Look for this bite to continue for the next few weeks

as we head towards the summer pattern.

Brown Trout: The trout bite has been good the last couple of days.

We have caught most of the fish in shallow water in the mouths of the creeks. Try using perch colored or herring colored small jerkbaits (Lucky Craft). We are finally starting to see some bigger trout in the 5 to 6-pound range being caught.

We have caught a few rainbow trout while trolling crawler harnesses for walleye. Look for the brown trout bite to get better every week as the water warms up. These fish will congregate towards the deeper water as we near mid early June.

Walleye: The bite has been slow the last week or so. Most of the population of walleye seem to be heading towards deeper water. Look for this bite to pick up as the schools of herring get deeper. Good luck!

We have caught most of the fish in shallow water in the mouths of the creeks.

Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 The water temperature is in the low 70s and climbing each day here on Lanier. The water has been clear on the south end and slightly stained on the north end.

Now that June is here, look for the stripers to progressively move deeper as the water temperature rises. At the beginning of the month, look for them to be 10 to 20 feet deep. You will still see some topwater action as the stripers push herring to the surface, so be sure to have a Sebile Magic Swimmer ready to cast. Day in and day out, it is hard to beat the Magic Swimmer. All the colors in the Magic Swimmer work. Early in the morning, the Magic Swimmer in white liner is hard to beat. On sunny days, try the chrome Magic Swimmer. The chrome is the hot

new bait. Cast these lures on 10 or 12-pound Trilene Big Game on a spinning rod. A good set up is a 7’ medium action Fenwick spinning rod paired with a Penn Conflict 3000 spinning reel.

As the fish move deeper, look for the downline to take over. Spool up a Penn Fathom Linecounter reel with 15-pound Trilene Big Game on a Shakespeare medium light action Striper rod. Tie on a Capt. Mack 2-ounce swivel sinker, a four foot leader of 15-pound 100% Trilene Fluorocarbon and a 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook. Herring from the local tackle shops will be the key bait. Look for the stripers on your electronics before you drop baits.

You can use traditional 2D sonar or down imaging to see these fish.

Great electronics like the Humminbird units are a must. You can see your bait swim around the sinker.

Overall, June is usually a great month on Lanier for stripers. The spawn will be over and the striper’s metabolism is wide open. See you on the water.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST ATLANTA SALTWATER CLUB NO PAIN NO GAIN

By Chuck Alford, ASWSC, chuckalford@comcast.net We typically plan a Savannah tournament each year around the beginning of May, knowing there is a fair chance it will be cancelled due to weather. When we do get to go, we have some epic trips. The Gulf Stream is about 65 miles out, and this time of year the Dolphin (Mahi) are on fire along with a chance for other prizes like Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo and Sailfish. This year the tournament dates called for 6-8 foot seas which are just too much to safely hold a tournament, and the tournament director wisely cancelled, BUT you can’t hold some folks down. Two boats went out on Sunday when conditions were supposed to be better.

Mark Mleczko and crew on Persevere and Don Fletcher and his crew on Crazy Horse pushed off at 2:30 to try and make it to the Gulf Stream by daylight, and here is the story from Persevere. The

conditions were not as good as the weather apps reported with winds at 20 – 22 knots, seas at 4 to 6 footers and the planned 3 ½ hour run turned into a 5 ½ hour slugfest.

Some of the crew got pretty seasick leaving essentially two men manning the lines. With blue water trolling, that is a big workload.

When they made it to 180’ of water at 8:00AM, the lines went in and the first bait was immediately hit. The bite was on fire! The first aboard was a 25-pound Bull Dolphin, and over the next couple of hours they caught 6 more Dolphin.

The two-man crew could hardly keep the lines in the water and finally went out to try in 600’ just to take a break from the action. Nothing was home in the deeper water, so after a while they went back in and the bite picked back up when they had a quadruple hook up. Unfortunately, with the team down to

two able bodies, they only got one of the four in through the mayhem, but what a fish, a 38-pound Bull.

Fortunately, with following seas the return ride was only 3 ½ hours, and they made it back with 11 Mahi, two over 30 pounds and two under 20 pounds and the rest in the midtwenties, along with a couple of big King Mackerel and a couple of Barracuda releases. What a day!

The real story is that while Persevere is 28’, Don’s Crazy Horse is only a 24’ Center Console, and he had very little saltwater experience.

The four Mahi they caught were the crew’s first ever, and they played with a few King Mackerel, Sharks and Barracudas. Don said after the ride out he is making a dentist appointment and looking for a new kidney, but it was worth it for one of the best fishing trips he has ever been on.

This is a great example of the advantages of joining our club. As Don is new to the club, Mark said, “follow me and I’ll put you on the fish” and he did, and Don and his crew have a memory they will never forget.

We have a full slate of tournaments scheduled this year with some great locations. Check out our

website for the dates and contact us or come by a meeting to join in on some amazing fishing trips. 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”.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

T SUMMERTIME HOT SPOTS FOR 2021

By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA

Folks have been asking me about my favorite places to fish.

Since summertime is upon us, I thought I’d share my top 5 places in the Southeast to go fishing in the summer. There are literally hundreds of great destinations, but these are my go-to places where you are sure to stretch a string.

1. A neighborhood pond or lake. There are small bodies of water throughout the Southeast that are brimming with fish, and there’s probably one within a couple miles of where you live, provided you get permission from the landowner. These little freshwater gems provide a great way to spend an afternoon fishing for bream and bass, and you don’t need a boat or expensive tackle.

A spinning reel, a tube of crickets or a tub of worms, and a couple of bobbers, and you’re set. This is the perfect time to take the kids along

and get them hooked on fishing.

2. Trout fishing in the North Georgia, Tennessee and Carolina mountains. Take a break from the summer heat and spend a day on a cool mountain stream fishing for trout. Depending on the stream, you can fish with crickets or worms, small spinners and crankbaits, or learn to fish with a fly rod.

There are numerous designated public trout streams, all stocked by the DNR. There are also plenty of managed, private streams where you can go with a guide. A couple of my go-to guide services are Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, GA, and Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, GA. 3. St. Simons Island, GA. The coastal waters off Georgia’s barrier islands are an awesome fishery.

In late June, the big fish show up along the coastline. Bull redfish over 30 pounds, spinner sharks that put on a saltwater acrobatic

show, and large tarpon all roam the nearshore waters in search of their next meal. A great resource on the island is the St. Simons Fishing Center and Capt. Mark Noble.

4. The Southeastern striper and hybrid bass impoundments. There are at least a dozen reservoirs that offer excellent summertime fishing for stripers and hybrids including Lake Lanier, Allatoona, Oconee, Hartwell and Clark Hill in Georgia, Lake Murray and Greenwood in SC., Lake Martin, Lewis Smith and Wedowee in Alabama. In North Carolina, High Rock, Norman and Badin Lake are great summer fisheries. As the water warms up, the fish tend to go deeper, so umbrella rigs and leadcore line are tactics commonly used to put your baits in the strike zone.

5. St. Augustine, FL. In June,

and throughout the summer, herds of king mackerel gather just a couple miles off the coast. Mixed in with the kings will be cobia, large jacks and sailfish. Trolling large natural baits and diving plugs will draw strikes all day long. If the sea conditions keep you inshore, you can wrestle with big flounder, speckled trout and redfish in the backwaters. Call Capt. Scott Shank of Full House Charters for a great time on the water.

These are just a few places that will satisfy your fishing hunger, and there are so many more. Do a little homework and start planning your next fishing adventure in the Southeast. If you’re having trouble deciding, check out our recommended guides and destinations on the Nuts & Bolts of Fishing website.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST OFFSHORE TOPWATER ON LANIER IN JUNE-SPECTACULAR Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

It is hard to beat the topwater bite in June on Lake Lanier. Spotted bass chasing a topwater bait in wolfpacks is about the most fun a human can have. In this month’s installment, we will review the different options to take advantage of the incredible off-shore topwater fishing on Lake Lanier in June.

Location: In June, most of the spotted bass have completed the spawn, and have transitioned into replenish mode. Post-spawn, many fish will be relating to key features at the mouths of the major creeks as well as main lake areas. Locating these areas and the cover that is often found on them (Example – brush piles) will be important to your success.

Please contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing Waypoints of these key brush piles.

Lures and Presentation: Let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish.

1. Topwater –Excellent topwater baits for Lake Lanier include: Lucky Craft Sammy, Heddon Zara Spook, Storm Chug-Bug, and a Cotton Cordell Redfin. These lures as well as all the rods and reels you will need to present them can be purchased at local tackle shops such as Hammond’s Fishing in Cumming, GA. Make sure to check out those G Loomis rods and Shimano reels!

2. Swimbait – Swimbaits offer great versatility as they can be fished at any depth you wish. As far as the mechanical type swimbaits, my favorite is the Sweet Herring from the Sweet Bait Company. Vary your retrieve speed and depth with this bait until you find the retrieve for which the fish are searching.

3. Underspin from GA Blade – When the topwater/swimbait bite is tough, pick up your Underspin and go to work. Fish the bait over and around brush for your best success,

especially when the sun is out. The GA Blade Underspin offers the perfect solution for the finicky fish that won’t come up.

4. Worm and Jig – When the topwater/swimbait action slows, and you see fish in the brush on your Humminbird, try the worm and jig.

I like the GA Blade shaky heads and worm combinations. As far as jigs go, I prefer Georgia Jigs. Different worm and jig sizes, shapes, textures, and colors when you are fishing can make a big difference on certain days.

Tackle: For topwater action, you should utilize either a medium to medium-heavy bait-casting or spincasting outfit rigged with 12-17 pound monofilament line. Also an option is spooling with Seaguar Smackdown Braid/mono leader combination.

Lighter poppers and smaller walking

baits are often better presented on spinning gear for easier casting of smaller baits. For swimbaits, I like to present the larger, heavier, mechanical type swimbaits on a heavy action rod that is at least 7 feet long, and I will utilize 20-pound test monofilament or Seaguar Fluorocarbon line. My big swimbait rod is a G-Loomis IMX Pro Swimbait Rod. For other soft and hard swimbait options, you can scale back to a medium-heavy rod. G-Loomis also offers some outstanding topwater rods. I really like the IMX Pro options.

Check out the options at Gloomis.com.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the best fishing on Lake Lanier during the month of June!

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 SEMINOLE Forecast By:

by Capt. Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com June is one of my favorite months to bass fish on Lake Seminole as the topwater action can be incredible! With the warmer weather comes the famous Lake Seminole grass. Be sure to bring your topwater lures like buzzbaits, walking baits and hollow belly frogs in June!

Buzzbaits are an excellent choice for finding productive areas on the lake. One of my favorites is a 3/8 oz. Strike King Pro Model in chartreuse and white. It has a very sharp hook and a sound that gets the attention of the big bass. For line, I prefer 30-pound Cortland Master Braid. It has great cast ability and is strong enough to get the big bass out of the grass. A high speed reel at 7:3.1 is a must, and my go-to rod for this technique is a Temple Fork Outfitters 7’4” MH Tactical Bass series. It has moderate action and a soft tip, but a backbone to get a great hook set.

For a walking bait, it’s hard to beat the original Heddon Zara Spook. Fish the Spook around the edges of the grass lines with a

slow walk-thedog cadence.

With this bait, I want a fast gear ratio reel, and I prefer 30-pound Cortland Master Braid. I like a little shorter rod with this bait like a Temple Fork Outfitters 7’2” H Tactical Bass series. This is a heavy action rod with a fast tip, but the tip is soft enough to work the bait properly.

If the bass are in the grass, the hollow belly frog is hard to beat! My go-to is the Spro Bronzeye Popping Frog. It has a double heavyweight Gamakatsu hook that is extremely sharp. I like to fish the frog over the grass and through holes in the grass.

A high-speed reel is a must, at least 8:3.1. I prefer 65-pound Cortland Master Braid on a 7’3” XH Temple Fork Outfitters Tactical Bass Rod. This rod has a fast tip and has the backbone to get the biggest bass out of the grass!

For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this June, give us a call at 850-264-7534 or follow us on Instagram @ lakeseminolefishingadventures and Facebook @ lakeseminolefishingadventures!

LAKE ALLATOONA Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson First Bite Guide Service 770-827-6282 eidson6260@att.net www.firstbiteguideservice.com

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18 ATLANTA

JUNE 2021

Linessides fishing is good and will only get better. The hybrids have started their spawn runs up both the Etowah and Little River. Most of the fish that are being caught are already spawned out. The main lake is also fishing well. The fish that are returning out of the rivers are starting to school up from the Little River bridge up to the delta and from the S-Turns to Kelloggs Creek. There is also a decent south end bite going on right now from Iron Hill to the bay out from 3rd Army.

The fish on the main lake are up in

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the water column and are very hard to mark on 2 D sonar. If you have a Lowrance with side scan, you can locate these fish by running your side scan setting on 60 feet on both sides. If you don’t have side scan, the best way to find these fish is to put out a spread of planer boards and freelines and pull the banks and open water until you get bit. Planer boards and freelining live shad on the main lake has been our best bite.

Small to middle size gizzard shad and threadfins has been the ticket.

Trolling has been decent but should get really good once the water temperature hits 70 degrees and the lake starts to clear. This is an awesome time to be on the water.

Grab the kids and give us a call at 770-827-6282 and let’s go fishing.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE MARTIN Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089

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Water temperature: 74 degrees, clarity: clear, lake level: full pool.

Lake Martin has produced some very good stripers for us so far this year including the 44-pounder shown here. Alex City Guide Service has been putting their clients on great catches for many years now, and 2021 hasn’t been any different with hundreds of charters already this spring with its fleet of charter boats specializing in stripers.

June water temperatures will be very warm especially mid to late month. The shallow water bites will be over, and you’ll need to be searching deeper, cooler water. All of the stripers will not be on the south end, but you can bet a lot will be. You should be able to find huge schools this month and either drop live bait on them or troll your favorite lures

through those schools. June will produce a few late spawners, and there will be some that haven’t spawned out yet.

A favorite in June is being able to catch a lot of different species of fish around your dock. Our particular dock produces catfish and bream during the day, and at night the grandkids catch crappie, bass and an occasional striper. Tight lines, and be safe while enjoying the beautiful waters.

CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973

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Water temperature: 72 degrees, clarity: not great, lake level: full.

Summertime fishing is just getting fired up on Carters. After the last 2 months of cold fronts and flooding rain, I think everyone is ready for some steady summer weather. Despite the unfavorable conditions, the fishing has been good. The stripers are schooled up in small groups cruising for baitfish early. We are not looking for big summer schools yet, but groups of 5 or 6 fish in 30 to 40 feet early in the morning. Downlined big threads or alewive has been the best bite.

The hybrids are more active and are a bit shallower right now in the 15 to 30 foot range, typically cruising on points looking to ambush bait. They will try to eat the big baits, but the better hook up ratio is on smaller baits in the 3 inch range. Most of the fish are near the creek mouths on high spots, humps or

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points. Starting early is key on Carters. The striper bite tapers off most days by 10am.

The spot bite has been on fire since they spawned. If you’re fishing live baits near shore, you can’t escape them. Our best fish on artificials have come on spoons fished vertically in 20 to 40 feet. Chrome or gold fished with a fast up, slow falling action usually triggers the bite. If the fish don’t want it, keep moving and the next ones will.

The walleye have moved to the main and secondary lake points and are most active before dawn and the first few hours of daylight. Live bait and artificials are getting them in boat. For live baits, a 4” threadfin is hard to beat. Small hooks, 10-pound line and split shot has been the go-to setup. For artificials, the spoon again is a productive approach. On overcast days, we are throwing deep diving crankbaits on the points digging the bottom with them making as much noise as you can. Two to five fish days are good ones with an average size of 22”. They make for good eating.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST FAMILY FUN AND FISHING Dr. Andrew Cox

Summer is a good time to involve the family, particularly children, in the sport of fishing. Our geographical area of Georgia and Alabama has close by family oriented destinations in which fishing could be a part. The U.S. Corps of Engineer and Georgia/ Alabama Power parks and access points on area lakes, city and county public parks, state and county public fishing areas can provide family oriented fun to include fishing.

When taking a child or young person fishing, they are not going to participate in the sport the same as an adult. Their attention span is much shorter, and they will require fish action to maintain interest. Consider the following points when taking young people fishing: • Use fishing equipment appropriate for the child’s skill level and size.

They may require starting out with

spincast reels and shorter rods, then later graduating to open face spinning reels.

• Target fish that are easy to catch in order to maintain the child’s interest. Seek a mixed bag of fish species to include panfish, catfish, and bass if fishing warm waters.

• Shorten the fishing day; short time periods are in order to maintain interest. Take frequent breaks interspersing fishing with another outdoor activity.

• Be prepared with drinks and snacks for use over the course of the fishing day.

• Be prepared to take frequent bathroom breaks.

• Plan to go fishing only when the weather is good. Children will most likely not enjoy being outdoors when it is overly hot, cold, or raining.

• Plan to use a variety of baits to in-

clude both artificial and live baits.

Be prepared to tie knots, rig tackle, and bait hooks. You may also be required to make some casts for the child if they are unfamiliar with the equipment.

• Do not expect the young person to cast perfectly. Prepare for line tangles and hooking up on shoreline and underwater obstructions.

Try to pick open fishing locations that do not have a lot of obstacles.

• Expose young people to conservation and protecting the fishing locale. Do not litter and discard trash in receptacles or take it back home with you to be discarded properly. Show and tell children about the other wildlife that they may see while fishing • Be patient and flexible; the fishing experience is supposed to be fun. The child if inexperienced with fishing is going to make mistakes. Be positive and upbeat and avoid being overly critical.

• If an adult catches a fish, consider handing off the rod and reel to the youngster allowing him or her to fight and land the fish.

• If going on multiple trips with a child, visit different waters and target a variety of fish species. The

child may develop an interest in a particular body of water.

• Be safe. Watch the child carefully and use life preservers if necessary.

Exposing your family and particularly young people to fishing can become a lifelong interest. The future of angling and the waters that we fish today will require future generations to show an interest and protect them. You may find that you have a new fishing partner.

Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. 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 CLOUD FISHING Contributed By: Noey Vinyard

CARTECAY RIVER

With summer setting in, I thought it a good idea for me and Otis the fish dog to find a little solitude. Fortunately, I knew just the place to go.

It’s one of the best kept secrets in Northern Georgia. The Cartecay River rolls through some of the most scenic parts of the North GA. The entire river offers some excellent bream and bass fishing, but it was the last four and a half miles of the “Cay” that I was headed for today. That’s because this part of the creek is part of Georgia’s trout stocking program. The fish are released at several different locations along this part of the creek.

Since this place is easily accessible from 515 and it’s practically in my backyard, I go there a lot.

The scenery is breathtaking. Rolling hills provide the backdrop for the Cay as it makes its way south.

The river itself provides shallow

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rapids and deep, slow moving pools, offering the angler a variety of places to fish.

In the past, I have used and been quite successful with small Mepps spinners. I must admit though, I am a live bait fisherman at heart. This is a fact that gets me snubbed in the fly fishing circles, but to each his own. Not only do I use live bait, some of the trout I catch occasionally end up in a frying pan. This really makes some of my fellow fisherman scream, but I like pan fried trout and so does Otis.

Today, it was wax worms, but I have used night crawlers and crickets with great success. I found a nice quiet spot, threaded my wax worm on a small, panfish hook, cast it towards a nice looking hole at the end of some rapids, sat back and forgot about the rest of the world.

Depending on what kind of

1976

mood I’m in, I think about different things when I’m fishing. Today I was putting together my “All Time Greatest Baseball Team” and had just selected Ozzie Smith as my shortstop when the twitching of my rod tip broke my concentration.

I snatched the rod and set the hook and smiled as my ultra-light rod bent double. The 14-inch rainbow broke the water just a few feet off the bank. This got Otis’s attention. He must have been putting together his list of “All Time Favorite Milk Bone Flavors,” but now he came over to offer support.

I reached down and gently lifted the fish from the water and removed the hook. Fish was not on the menu for dinner, so I let Otis sniff it one time and eased it back into the water. I was glad to see that it wasted no time in departing the area. Fish that stick around too long after being released usually find themselves

snatched back up by Otis. Hence his name, Otis “the fish dog” The rest of the day went about the same. I caught a few browns and a couple of “brookies” but mostly rainbows. The fish ranged from eight to 15 inches, certainly not monsters. This is fine with me, because nowhere on my list of the reasons I enjoy fishing will you find “Trophy Fish”.

When the fishing slowed up, I put away my tackle and moved up the creek to a place where several large boulders made kind of a waterfall. I found a place where the summer sun could get through the trees and lay back and listened to the water.

I love to sit back and listen to the river. Today it told me of the journey it had made. It whispered its many secrets in my ear and proclaimed loudly its dream of reaching the ocean. I wished it well.

JUNE 24TH

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Kee the wa gler. A ers kno ity life Device know P pants a Statisti tality a ing inc life jac you sh ter for Step priate you ar is US three a lifejack ing. Ba and we For ing riv warm one d

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST STAYING SAFE ON THE WATER

Contributed By: William Reed Nucanoe National Pro Staff Writer will@nucanoe.com IG: @wde_will

Keeping yourself safe while on the water is paramount to any angler. All seasoned boaters or kayakers know the importance of a quality lifejacket, or Personal Flotation Device. If you fish tournaments, you know PFDs are required by participants anytime they are on the water.

Statistics show there is at least one fatality a day from boating and kayaking incidents. In addition to a quality life jacket, there are a few other items you should carry with you on the water for safety.

Step one is choosing the appropriate lifejacket for the type of water you are on. Make sure the lifejacket is US Coast Guard approved. Type three and five are the most common lifejackets used for boating and fishing. Based on the water conditions and weather, I use both of these.

For the winter and on faster moving rivers, a class three keeps me warm and offers added safety. The one drawback is a standard type

three will run a bit hot in the summer and slightly restricts movement.

For the summertime and while out on my boat, I prefer a class five which is an inflatable lifejacket (also called a class three inflatable). An inflatable life jacket is much less cumbersome and almost disappears once you put it on. The class 5’s are lightweight, much smaller and fits like a t-shirt.

The noted difference is that the inflatable must be worn at all times while on the water to meet Coast Guard regulations where a class three can be stored in an accessible location on the boat. Regardless of which one I take with me, I still wear it at all times on the water.

There are many brands of PFD to choose from. For the fishing enthusiast, my favorite life jackets are Gill Marine, Astral and Stohlquist for class three standard PFDs. The Gill side zip PFD allows you to paddle easily, has great ventilation and its quality is second to none.

If one wants added visibility, the colors range from black to yellow and red. For a class 5 inflatable, the two brands I prefer are NRS and Mustang Survival. For NRS and Mustang, you can either get a model that auto inflates when it gets submerged in water or one that requires a pull tab to inflate.

In addition to a life jackets, there are several additional safety devices to consider. A loud sound device like a whistle is the best $1 anyone could spend to save their life. Other items you should consider that cater to kayaking are safety flags and lights that stick up several feet above the water. YakAttack makes the Visipole that not only has a flag but also a white anchor light that makes you night legal and enhances your visibility to fast driving boaters. A great device for anyone who ever paddles alone is a personal locator beacon known as an EPIRB or PLB. A locator will send a GPS signal if you ever get in trouble where emergency services can find your exact location.

EPIRBs are used more for offshore fishing and PLBs more for rivers and lakes. They both essentially do the same thing.

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Being a tech and safety junkie, I am always trying new accessories and safety gear while on the water.

Safety is a great concern to me because I am alone a lot of times on the water. I hope I convinced some of you to start being more safety conscious and wear your life jacket while on the water.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BASS FISHING LAKE LANIER

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The spotted bass is the small cousin to the largemouth bass and grows to an average size of two pounds. The spotted bass like to live in deeper waters and with a clear body of water like Lanier. Small lures will catch spots. Spots can get to over 5 pounds, and these larger fish will take almost anything a largemouth bass will eat, especially large lures. Spots love topwater baits when the water is warm, and it is not uncommon to find wolf packs on underwater structure lake wide.

There are a few largemouth bass in the lake, but most are caught up one of the lake’s two rivers, the Chattachoochee River or the Chestatee River, where there is more river type structure and current.

Anglers catch largemouth usually by accident.

When Lake Lanier was built, most of the bank structure was cut away. There is little typical bank structure shallow on the lake. The debris line for the old wood and stumps is at 35 feet below full pool of 1071 feet.

Selecting the right tackle for the spotted bass in Lake Lanier typically means to scale down. Starting with a spinning rod and reel combination, the reel should have a smooth drag system and be capable of handling eight and ten pound test line.

The skirted spool reels work very well and keeps the fishing line from working behind the spool. Experiment with high quality fishing lines.

The light line should be clear.

The spinning rod should be a six and a half foot medium-action, one piece rod. The IM8 graphite material will allow the angler to detect the slightest strike. A cork handle or a reel seat handle on the rod is the only other decision, but both are light and easy to cast.

Several lures will work for the spotted bass from topwater stick baits to soft plastics. Lures should be scaled down to smaller sizes to attract numbers of spots. The #5 and #7 silver/black Rapala Shad Raps will work from early spring to late fall on points and docks. Silver, blue and chrome combinations in crankbaits by Bill Norman in the Middle N are popular. Use light line

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so the baits run deeper and have more action on lighter line.

Worm sizes should be 4 to 6 inches, and the Zoom finesse worm is the local favorite. Any color worm is fine as long as it’s green pumpkin on Lake Lanier, without question.

The best locations for spotted bass are boat docks, humps, road beds and points. Depths can be from 10 to 40 feet deep year round.

A high quality sonar will allow anglers to see the offshore structure where many schools of fish live.

If you fish any lake, and especially this one, learn how to fish the drop-shot rig. This is an upside down tiny version of the Carolina rig. Small worms, small sinkers and hooks with small plastics and even live shiners are deadly.

In the warmer weather, keep some type of topwater bait handy for any surface action. Cast past the action and work the baits very fast, almost skipping these baits across the surface. Spinnerbaits are also popular. See www.southerfishing.com.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST WEST POINT LAKE

Water temps are in the 80’s over most of the lake. Water is clear and a couple of feet down.

Bass: Fair - Early in the month, topwater baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks, Senkos and buzzbaits can be effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds. Some big tournament sacks of largemouth are still being weighed in by guys who sight fish, targeting bass that are around these beds feeding on the bream. You can also try fishing rip-rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and shaky head rigs. There still could be a few shad spawning first thing in the mornings. Later in the month, some fish should start showing up on deeper brush piles and road beds as well, as the water warms. Try deep crankbaits or Texas rigged Ol Monster worms.

Some spotted bass are being caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with Shaky Tail worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks. These tactics normally work very well for numbers.

Linesides: Excellent - Spawned out hybrids and stripes showed

back up down lake in good numbers. Expect the downline bite on live bait to be awesome! Some fish starting surface schooling on the main lake and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, popn-cork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures.

Crappie: Good - Spawned out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brush and structure or under docks. Try drop-shotting minnows or shooting docks for the best results. Night fishing is usually good in June.

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 June. Look for shallow cover in the backs of pockets. Sandy flats and stump beds tend to draw the fish like a magnet. Use live pink worms, crickets and small jigs for the best results.

Catfish: Good - Lots of channel cat are being caught by the few anglers that target them. Live and cut baits fished on bottom will catch cats all over the lake, as long as fairly deep water is nearby. Jug fishing is also fun and productive. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream or large shiner and fish the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs as fish in the 20 to 30-pound range are fairly common.

LAKE EUFAULA

By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: 70’s, lake level: 189.07 msl, water clarity: muddy to stained.

The spring rains and winds continue to keep the water stirred up and the fish somewhat confused.

The extremely long lasting cold winter and spring have the vegetation growth behind schedule, but it is finally beginning to show on the surface. This has created a morning frog bite and that is always exciting.

The shallow bass are still hitting a bladed jig, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits worked in and around the vegetation cover. Lipless crankbaits and square bill cranks are all doing well.

Shaky heads with trick worms and Texas rigs, pegged, are also a good choice. In isolated grass and weed patches just offshore, use a short Carolina rig with a trick worm. In the dirtier water, red shades are good. Green pumpkin, black and watermelon candy are also a good choice. The deeper bass are hitting Carolina rigs, deep cranks and jig-

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ging spoons.

Crappie are staging on the trash piles in 18 to 25 feet. Minnows are doing the job. Bream and shellcrackers are on the flats eating wigglers. Catfish are doing well in the creeks on jugs baited with cut bait or shad. The bottom fishing has picked up on worms. We have been getting into some good numbers of squealers.

These little babies are the best you can get for a great meal.

Be sure and check out www.alclassic.com for our latest news. We have moved the June tournament to October 16, 2021 and will remain on the third Saturday of October from now on. Our new title sponsor has guaranteed the first place team $5,000 for their winning catch bringing our total payout to $15,000 for the top 15 teams. God Bless and good fishing.

Water temperature: high 70’s to low 80’s, lake level: full, clarity: stained in the rivers and clear on main lake.

The bass bite has been slowing down a bit for me, as I’ve been following the fish from the shallows to their deep hideouts. I’ve been running and gunning a prop bait and a Rico with some extremely vicious blowups, but the fish aren’t really eating the bait well. A Fluke has been killing the fish the last few weeks, and I still can catch the bass on it, but just not the quality fish like I was. The shad spawn has been sporadic as the weather is playing

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a huge role in that. If you can find what’s left of a shad spawn, the fish will be there.

The next big thing will be the mayfly hatch. I look for the bite to really pick back up then. Look for the topwater bite to be good through June. After the sun gets up, it gets tough. Honestly, that’s when I’ve been loading up and calling it a day, but you can drop out deep and crank a Strike King 6XD on offshore structure and cast a Dirty Jig on deep brush and catch a few.

Look for the bass to be more concentrated on deeper structure next month, and your electronics will be a huge deal in catching fish.

Drop-shots and C-rigs will be your primary baits, so knock the dust off of them and get ready for some tough outings. Don’t be surprised if you load the boat if you can find the bigger schools willing to play.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST INFORMATION OVERLOAD Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com No matter where we are today, you can find technology invading your headspace. There is so much information in today’s world of tournament bass fishing that it can really start to be overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong about having information.

I believe that having knowledge is necessary to be successful. We have technology infused in many aspects of the industry. Our trolling motors can see underwater, Google Earth is on our phones, and we even have a way to see 360 degrees around the boat. How do you take all the information and find ways to catch fish?

Let’s discuss some ways to navigate some of the information overloads that can easily lead to analysis paralysis.

Information is key to having an idea of what you may want to do on the water at any given time. On our phones, we can just about do a whole week of pre-fishing without

even getting on the water. Google Earth is mapping software that allows you to look anywhere on earth using satellite imaging. This technology enables an angler to know where he wants to fish before heading to the lake. However, this can be a blessing and a curse. Google Earth can show you what the lake looks like but can’t give you current lake conditions, such as if the lake level is down or if a sandbar has formed along a certain route, and other factors. Using such technology is helpful, but it does not beat just good old fashion being on the water to determine what is happening in real-time.

Having 16” fishing graphs on the boat are lovely tools. Knowing the bottom composition and seeing fish below you helps break down water quickly. More importantly, it helps eliminate water that you would otherwise waste time fishing. Today, graphs provide details that are amaz-

ing and connect to computers to make your own map of the lakes.

It’s great to have, but for most, it’s something that many can get by without.

Trolling motors that link to satellites in space keep your boat anchored, keeping you on the bite longer. This is one of the biggest game-changers in the world of bass fishing. The technology will continue to evolve. There is a need for anglers to upgrade their knowledge and ability to use all the latest and greatest gadgets, if they wish. However, the cost of this technology is the price you might pay for a small used car and will set you back $10,000 for a set of graphs and trolling motor installed.

Today’s technology in bass fishing can and will be ever-evolving. The data that is received from all of the technology carries the information that can shape our thinking to the point that we forget to just go fishing. It’s great to have the latest technology, but catching fish is still a game

of chance since the beginning of time. The quantity of information can overload the circuits in our brains. Just go fishing and lower the information noise volume, and you will do just fine catching fish.

I am genuinely blessed and humbled to write for the Angler Magazine. I hope you enjoy it.

Please take some time to follow me on Instagram at JayStriker52 and on the web at www.jaystriker.com.

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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST FISH EVERY CHANCE I GET

By Gary Turner

Stacy Fleming and I booked a couple of quick trips to go fishing with our friend and guide Dewayne Proffit. When I say quick trips, it means we get off work, drive over to Summerton, South Carolina, crash at the hotel a few hours, meet Dewayne at the dock around 6:00 a.m., fish all day, and get the fish cleaned with Ms. Yoi while we grab a bite at either the Goat Island Restaurant or the Lake House. Once dinner is done, we pick up the fish and start homeward. We usually get back home around midnight, tired, a little sunburned, and smiling. Why do we do such things?

Because we love fishing on Santee, and we have to save our extended times off work for West Palm, Florida!

So, the first trip we hit the weather right. We arrived at the

dock, loaded up and headed out to find hungry fish! We caught a cooler full, with several over 20 pounds and lots of fish under 20. The added bonus was two bald eagles we saw several times. We also saw a few large gators, one over 10 feet. It was a great day on the water. We told Dewayne about some of our West Palm trips, and he said he wanted to go with us sometime.

Fast forward a couple of weeks.

Stacy and I are driving toward Santee, and Dewayne calls and says, “Where are you?” I say, “Well, we are about an hour out of Athens.”

He says, “Y’all need to be here now!

I’m out by myself, and I’m loading up. I just released a 40 pound flathead!” I’m like, “Well shoot, we are rolling!” He says, “The weather is changing tonight, and y’all should have been here today.” That’s always

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us should get down to West Palm soon. We are headed down there this week, so stay tuned!

Hopefully my next article will be about all of the fish we caught on some of my upcoming trips, so remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe I will come fishing with you! If you want more information about fishing, you can reach me at gary@purgeright.com.

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the way it is. You should have been here yesterday! I told him we would see him in the morning.

We met at the dock at 6:00 a.m. as usual. The wind was pretty still as we headed out. We got to the first spot and set up. Lucky for us the fish were still biting and we caught some nice blues! One was a little over 30 pounds! We caught several 10 to 20 pounders. Then the wind turned.

Sometimes the wind turns them on and sometimes it turns them off. We decided to set up some drifts. Here is where things got interesting.

We were marking large schools of fish, some large fish and lots of small. We are using 7/0 circles meant to catch bigger fish. All of a sudden, the baits are getting hit over and over. We started holding the rods and trying to hook the guys. The big fish have all quit biting and now it’s amateur hour. All the fish are 12-16” blues with the occasional large bullhead mixed in. We are still marking the large fish, but none of them are biting. Those who have fished a lot know exactly how it goes. We started talking about trips again and decided the three of

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Fold up each piece of foil tightly into a nice little bundle to avoid any fluid escaping. Bake in a 350-degree oven or in a grill for 35 to 45 minutes until the meat is cooked to desired doneness and veggies are tender.

If you’re baking them in your oven, I recommend placing the packets onto a nonstick cookie sheet with sides, rather than directly on the oven rack.

This ensures that any leaking fluid doesn’t make a mess in your oven.

Open the packets carefully while wearing hot mitts on your hands to avoid steam burns and enjoy!

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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

For us, the most exciting trips of the year begin in June. With warmer water temps, the hybrids and bass really school up, which means we are able to load the boat with 30 to 50 hybrids a morning. These hybrids are Lake Chatuge’s hardest fighting fish, and we can definitely put you on some.

Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the mid 70s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake.

Hybrid fishing is great as the fish are schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities.

Most of our hybrids are averaging 6-10 pounds. The early morning bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish off shallow humps along the main channel, clay banks, and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique.

When you mark fish on your electronics, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move deeper by mid-morning. Topwater bite remains

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very good as well. Have a Spook or Redfin at the ready when these fish start busting on bait.

Spotted bass fishing remains excellent, too. We are still catching some huge spots throughout the day, and it’s not uncommon to put 30-40 of these feisty fish in the boat in one trip. Early morning topwater bite has been strong. Topwater plugs, Spooks, and jerk baits have worked well. Our downline bite has also been very productive, especially in the mid-morning hours.

Look for fish to be schooled up on shallow clay banks, humps, and off points. The upper end of the lake has been producing slightly better numbers than the lower end.

June is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids 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 Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville Georgia’s premier fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee, Nottely, 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!

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST

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th for ids on ve Big all and service atuge’s g the We are r fulling in We also y, and h with to be e, and n!

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 Summer is finally here! The weather is beautiful, the water is warmer, and the fish are going crazy. It’s the perfect time to hit the lake and catch some amazing fish!

What’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with North Georgia’s #1 striper guide service: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service.

Lake Nottely is unbelievable for summer striper fishing. There’s nothing like starting your day off with an explosion of stripers slamming all your rods. It’s a feeding frenzy of schooled-up stripers and mass chaos of loading the boat with tons of fish. It’s not uncommon for us to boat 30-40 fish per trip out here on this serene North Georgia lake.

Currently, Lake Nottely is slightly over full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the mid to upper 60’s.

Striper fishing remains excellent. We have been loading the boat with some big fish in good quantities. Several of our fish have been in the 20-35 pound range.

The early morning and evening bites are your best times to see action.

In the early morning hours, we are still pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and shad. As the sun comes up in the later morning hours, start to focus on deeper water and switch to down lines. Target creek mouths and points off the main channel. As the top water bite has also been excellent, keep a Spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surface-busting fish. By mid-month, these fish will really start to school up and we’ll switch to all an all down line bite. Also remember to try to get the fish back into the water as quick as possible.

June 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!

SEARCH FOR THE BIG AZZ BASS HIDING IN ALLATOONA!

By Dicklesby dickg@theanglermagazine.com It was mid-April and spring had sprung but still a chill was in the air as Capt. Joseph Martinelli from Heron Outdoor Adventures hosted a trip for us to try to chase down the BIG AZZ BASS lurking in the depths of beautiful Lake Allatoona.

Publisher Bob Rice along with his lovely wife, Lynn and your adventure loving staff writer, Dickelsby, were happily up for the trip!

We all met at Cabelas parking lot at 0-dark-30 and then made the short ride to the marina where Capt. Joe was waiting with his fishermen-friendly, comfortable pontoon boat loaded with big lively shad bait. It didn’t take very long before the rather chilly trip to Capt. Joe’s recommended starting spot was reached. It was light enough to see we were near the big Allatoona dam and Joe was preparing the freeline spinning rods with the live baits for each of us to cast and retrieve.

With the big boat now under control of the trolling motor, we soon had some real action going!

Angler Publisher Bob, as usual, was the first to land a sweet 3-pound hybrid! Then it was my turn for another and many other hybrids after that. They were boiling with action as we stayed there for almost an hour coming away with the agreement that fighting a 3-pound hybrid is more fun than a 10-pound striper!

Just in case you were wondering, here is the current list of Lake Allatoona record fish: • Largemouth Bass: 16lb, 9oz - 1982 • Spotted Bass: 7lb, 11oz - 1974 • Hybrid: 13lb, 10oz - 1990 • Striper: 42lb - 2002 • Crappie: 3lb, 2oz - 2021 • Flathead Cat: 35lb - 2008 • Blue Cat: 52lb - 2020 Not a bad scorecard for a lake with the nickname “The Dead Sea”!

You can be sure with talented guides like Joe Martinelli using their very modern electronic fish finders, the old label is long out of date!

Capt. Joe announces that we have some real Big Azz Baits still swimming in the tank, and it was

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time to go hunting along the rocky banks! Off we went to work the banks with giant baits looking for the BIG AZZ BASS! It didn’t take too long before we found some bank feeders waiting to pounce on our tasty offerings.

The fight was on as Capt. Joe really got to show off his fancy new adjustable landing net going back and forth from Bob and me, again and again! Unfortunately, Lynn was relegated to photo op duties as a recent shoulder injury prevented her from taking part in the frequent fish landing activity.

We were happy to catch and release some real nice spotted bass along with the morning hybrids but didn’t really challenge any of the Allatoona records. The closest we came to our BIG AZZ BASS challenge was when your humble correspondent hooked into a beauty that fought like a tarpon on drugs, but when finally reeled in was a nice 9-pound catfish!

We really hope you enjoyed the story of our adventure and especially the pictures of our great time! Please contact Capt. Joe at 404-919-4918 or visit www.heronoutdooradventures.com.

JUNE 2021

ATLANTA 31

Wall of Fame Bill Rath had a great day fishing for stripers on Lake Lanier.

Anya Turner caught this 18-pound striper on the Coosa River in Rome, GA.

.

Ron Wilson with a fat Hooch rainbow from Nacoochee Bend in Helen.

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

Richard Carpani caught this striper fishing Lake Lanier.

WINNER!

Unicoi Outfitters’ Jimmy Harris with a great river shoalie.

Donnie Brock caught this rainbow fly fishing on a float trip with Reel Em In Guide Service.

Carolina Slay caught this brown trout in Lake Appalachia fishing with her brothers and dad.

WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP!

Joe Dudewicz with a nice 7+ pound largemouth caught while fishing Lake Eufaula.

Bryce Walton from Marietta on his birthday fishing trip to Lake Eufaula fishing with Capt Sam Williams.

WHEN YOU can feel it in your hands, you see it in your mind, and the angler within you goes to work.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 17

CustomBilt Pondtoons

The Pondtoon is the perfect small-water boat for the avid river and pond angler, duck and bow hunter, as well as the family with children or grandchildren.

It’s easy on, easy off, so it is the perfect boat for the elderly. All boats are all-welded aluminum construction made in the USA with premium options LENGTH: 14’ to 16’ to meet every fisherman’s needs in boating.

BEAM: 5’ to 6’ With a vision to build MAXIMUM HP: 9.9 innovative, durable and CONSTRUCTION: comfortable aluminum .090 Marine-Grade Aluminum boats, CustomBilt has emerged as a leader in the design and building of small to mid-sized pontoon boats. Steve J. “Bassin” Bynum, designer of the all-welded aluminum Pondtoon boat, strives to offer quality, premium options to meet every fisherman’s need in boating.

Pondtoon boats are factory assembled in three standard sizes with options and additional features that allow you to equip the boat for your fishing and hunting style at a very affordable price. Contact us at (334) 684-2210 or pondtoonboats@gmail.com with any questions to help “customize” your very own CustomBilt Pondtoon boat.

SPECIFICATIONS

LEARN MORE AT BOATSANDFISHING.COM

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Come experience Scallop Season in Crystal River and Homosassa. Be a part of the tradition that creates memories of a lifetime with family and friends. discovercrystalriverfl.com/scalloping

18 NATIONAL

JUNE 2021

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HOOKER ELECTRIC DELUXE LIVEWELL SEA CHEST

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ooker Electric’s Deluxe Livewell Sea Chests are essentially plumbed boxes installed in the bilge by the boat builder or dealer. One or two supplies fill the sea chest that contains two to four livewell pumps that, in turn, deliver clean, bubble-free seawater to the individual bait livewells. There are many advantages to this type of system. It helps remove air and prevent air locks, especially if you have a lot of aeration with stepped hulls. With the pumps mounted outside, you have more volume of water and the ease of swapping a pump quickly should the need arise.

Hooker Electric’s Deluxe Livewell Sea Chests are manufactured with corrosive-resistant 316L stainless steel and powder coated for extra protection.

They are affixed on top with ¾” thick high-grade acrylic for quick visual inspection. Stainless steel boxes are simply more durable than the mainstream “X” fiberglass competitor models. Precision tapped seal ring and neoprene gaskets combined with stainless steel fasteners assure a lifetime of use in the corrosive saltwater environment. Hooker Electric’s 2,500-, 4,500- and 7,500-gallons-per-hour pumps are variable flow and can run multiple livewells and tuna tubes through a Hooker Electric manifold.

Hooker Electric’s Sea Chest simplifies the entire system. It allows you to run all your livewells and raw water feed from one system.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 19

SUMMER IS HERE Time to Get Out There!

T

he long days of summer are here, and we all know what that means—more time to fish. It also means blazing sun and stifling heat. That’s reason enough to take inventory of your gear to make sure you’re prepared to take on the summer heat. GILLZ technical fishing apparel is designed in Florida, one of the hottest places on the planet in summer. Gear that keeps you cool and comfortable here will keep you cool anywhere!

Constant innovation has led to superior fabrics and designs that push performance to new heights. This gear is designed with the single goal of allowing you to fish longer and harder in total comfort.

Consider the Flex Mesh Woven Short Sleeve shirt. On the boat or at the bar dockside, this shirt is up to the task. The incredibly unique fabric has thousands of micro holes acting as vents, keeping you cool and comfortable.

Performance features include UPF 30+, two chest pockets, snap collar and quick dry. Plus, the shirt comes in three colors: Aquatic Water, Hawaiian Ocean Grunge, and Hi Rise Grey Grunge. So, you don’t have to wear the same one every day, because trust us, you’ll want to.

Next, check out the new Men’s Tournament Short Sleeve. Proprietary, chemical-free GillzTec fabric provides 30 percent better cooling than other shirts. The revolutionary cross-breeze ventilation system brings another blast of cooling air, making it the coolest shirt you’ll ever own! Featuring incredible stretch that effortlessly moves as you move, this is a must-have shirt for any serious angler.

Check out the website at gillz-gear.com

20 NATIONAL

JUNE 2021

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22 NATIONAL

JUNE 2021

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

HYDRASTEPP’S NEW 18’ FLATS-BOAT

By CAM Orlando Owner Phil Wolf

T

he new Hydrastepp 18’ is a high-performance flats boat resulting from years of trial and improvement by renowned racing boat designer/ builder Steve Stepp. With 35 years in the industry, Stepp racked up 14 world records with his company, Velocity Powerboats, of Sanford, Fla. His advanced designs achieve performance and efficiency most manufacturers are unable to match. His latest venture, Hydrastepp Boats, manufactures this new vessel in Lake Mary, Fla. As owner and co-publisher of the Orlando edition of Coastal Angler Magazine, I wanted to see if Stepp’s newest production vessel could measure up to claims made in their advertisement with us. Eager to climb aboard, I met Stepp at Lake Monroe and the I-4 Bridge on the St. Johns River.

The boat was equipped with a 140 hp Suzuki 4-stroke with half tank of gas,

Coast Guard-required equipment and a modest amount of gear. Stepp said it would get on plane in less than three seconds with both of us in it. Each of us weighs more than 200 pounds, and it did just that… effortlessly.

Heading into a moderate quartered-sea chop at about 32 to 34 mph, the ride was extremely smooth and incredibly dry. With those boxes checked, we returned to calm water in the river.

This boat has a large gunnel and a 94” beam, extremely wide for an 18’ boat.

It was very stable when I walked around on the gunnel. It has a huge storage compartment up front, with a removable tackle-storage system, and two large storage compartments in the rear. There are front and rear livewells. The custom, divided sport seat with a removable backrest is like those on offshore racing boats. The console is sleek and sports a 9” monitor screen/fish-finder/ GPS and all the normal gauges: tachometer, water pressure, temperature, gas, speed by GPS, all linked to the motor and fuel system. Very cool!

This boat gets up to 10 mpg while cruising between 30 and 32 mph at 3,400 to 3,600 rpms. Back in the river, we cruised at about 32 mph and the monitor read 3,400 rpms. Then Stepp hammered the throttle, and the boat quickly achieved over 65 mph at 6,200 rpms with a little throttle left. It was very impressive for a stock 140 hp engine with a rear poling platform creating drag.

I jumped at the chance to drive back to the ramp. Once acquainted with the throttle and trim, I drove with confidence. Cruising over 55 mph, we only burned about 6 gallons per hour on the gauge.

This boat also floats in 10” or less and has room for four anglers with a huge front deck. If you’re in the market for a flats boat, the new Hydrastepp is worth a test ride.

Hydrastepp is taking production orders, so get in line! This vessel is nicely equipped at around $60,000 for boat, 115 hp motor and custom trailer by Ameratrail. Or, you can upgrade to the fully loaded version with a 140 hp for $75,000.

See this boat online at www.HYDRASTEPP.com.

How important is STABILITY to you?

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 23

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JUNE 2021

Angler Lands World Record Shellcracker

W

hen sunfish get this big, are they still considered panfish?

On Tuesday, May 4, Thomas Farchione, of Wisconsin, caught this 6.3-pound redear sunfish at Lake Havasu on the Arizona/ California border. The fish, which measured 17 inches in length, with a 20inch girth, is a potential world record if accepted by the International Game Fish Association.

The existing IGFA All-Tackle World Record was caught in Feb. 2014 by Hector Brito. It weighed 5-pounds, 12.8 ounces (5.8 pounds). Brito’s fish was also caught from Lake Havasu.

Wait… it gets better. Before Brito caught his fish, the world record for redear was 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Can you guess where it was caught? You got it. In May of 2011 Robert Lawler landed a 5-pound, 8-ounce record redear at Lake Havasu to set the mark at the time.

Obviously, this 19,300-acre impoundment of the Colorado River has earned its reputation as the best place in the world to catch enormous redear sunfish, which are also known as shellcrackers because they feed on snails, mussels and other mollusks using teeth in their throat to crush the shells.

According to USA Today, invasive quagga mussels were discovered in Havasu in 2007. The fast-spreading mussels have provided an abundant food source to grow the largest shellcrackers in the world.

Farchione caught his monster redear drop-shotting a nightcrawler in 25 feet of water.

For more information, see www.azgfd.com.

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TIPS FROM A PRO

FROG FISHING FOR HUNGRY POST-SPAWN BASS

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hat a fun time of year to fish! In most parts of the country, bass are finishing up with spawning.

This leads to awesome fishing as bass feed up after coming off the beds. You will find very aggressive fry guarders, often times a shad spawn, and also fish roaming the banks feeding on bluegill and other forage.

There are many ways to catch these hungry and aggressive bass, and a hollow-body frog is one of the most fun and effective techniques.

A frog duplicates many different types of baitfish, it can be fished through a wide variety of cover, and it flat out puts big fish in the boat!

There are many different styles, sizes and colors of frogs on the market. When choosing, think about the forage, the type of cover and the size of fish you are targeting. My favorite frog is a 13 Fishing Trash Panda. It comes in a walking model and a popping model in a variety of colors.

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JUNE 2020

LOCATION 1

A fry guarder is a bass guarding a big ball of tiny bass hatchlings.

These bass are extremely aggressive and territorial and will chase and eat pretty much any fish that gets near the babies. In this scenario, I go down banks through areas where bass have recently spawned. I stay off the cover and cast a frog through it. I like a bluegill-colored walking frog in this scenario, which means the lure will have a yellow or orange belly. Bluegill are a common nemesis to the bass and their fry. This color pattern drives bass crazy when they spot it near their babies.

Often, you can find a shad spawn in the low light of early mornings and evenings. Look for birds lined up along the banks to find spawning shad. The shad often relate to hard cover (rocks and wood), grass lines and slow tapering points. A shad-colored popping frog in a white or silver color is an awesome lure to pick up bass feeding on shad. With the hollow-body frog being so weedless, it can be thrown where many other baits would get hung up. These are the places where shad spawns occur.

A hollow-body frog is an awesome way to cover a lot of water, and it can produce some extremely fun topwater strikes. Whether you’re targeting late spawners, fry guarders or fish that are on the feed, a frog puts fish in the boat this time of year.

Frog Fishing Gear: Typically, you will be fishing a frog around some type of heavy cover, which calls for some heavy gear.

I like to throw a 13 Fishing 7’4H Omen Black rod paired with a Concept A 8.3 reel spooled with Seaguar 50-pound Smackdown braid.

This setup allows you to haul fish out of heavy cover and into the boat!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide.

Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 25

G o to An ch or Pu lle ri st he W ay or Be lo w ,E -Z D ec k Ab ov e Above-deck on the 3025 GFX or below-deck inside the rope locker of the 35’ Sea Chaser HFC, the Rebel drum anchor winch is included as the standard or optional upgrade feature on these and other 2021 models. The compact design and 316 stainless steel components ensure E-Z Anchor Puller drum anchor winches can be retrofitted into tight spaces and perform in harsh, saltwater environments.

E-Z ANCHOR PULLER MFG. CO. America’s Anchor Winch Since 1990 Call 1.800.800.1640 | ezanchorpuller.com E-Z Anchor Puller’s drum anchor winches are complete 316 stainless steel with patented motors. This jam-free, hands-free solution neatly stores any diameter rope and chain right on the spool - no more tying off to a cleat!

30

Y EARS ANNIVERSARY

E-Z ANCHOR PULLER MFG. CO. DEBUTS NEW PRODUCTS IN 2021 New Offers Include Pre-Spooled Rope Kits, Bowsprits and a Break-Away Anchor Design

A

fter 30-plus years of specializing in the windlass-replacement anchoring solution, E-Z Anchor Puller debuts its branded anchoring products engineered to suit each drum anchor winch.

Widely used anchoring accessories such as hawse pipes, bowsprits, guide rollers and more have been added to the catalog, manufactured specifically to accommodate the Hero, Patriot and Rebel drum anchor winches.

“To offer improved level winding of the rode onto the drum, we now have 4-inch wide flat rollers that let the rode wander back and forth to create a better spooling onto the drum,” said company President Aaron Knopp. “The 4-inch wide flat rollers allow more travel to ensure the rope is not centered onto the drum.”

“We knew our catalog needed to include inventory totally unique to our drum anchor winch dimensions,” said Sara Hitchins, Office & Trade Show Manager. “The standard anchoring accessories you see on the market now cater to the traditional windlass, for example, narrower guides on the roller, however, narrower guide rollers mean pile-up in the middle of the winch.”

Hitchins said the company’s expanded inventory will enhance boaters’ experiences on

the water, as well as improve the buying process for customers who prefer a “one-stop-shop” experience over researching and selecting other brand accessories.

“For a while, we’ve identified ourselves as the drum anchor winch experts, but really, having dealt with various consultations and unique boating experiences over the years, we’ve really become boat anchoring experts along the way,” Hitchins said.

Two other notable products, the Shear Magic galvanized plow anchor and the pontoon anchoring solution are also on sale. The 15-, 22and 35-pound anchors were designed with a shear pin designed to break, so boaters no longer have to worry about cutting away their anchor rope and anchor when they get caught in coral reefs or other obstructions on the seabed. With the pontoon anchoring solution, an under-deck mounted configuration utilizes the structural integrity of the pontoon and is powered by the drum anchor winch. To further compliment the

catalog, the company will begin offering spools of anchor rope in July, 2021, further eliminating guesswork and wait time for customers. Vice President Christy Funk said the pre-cut nylon and dyneema will be shipped the same day as the customer’s anchor winch.

“We’ve offered consultations on winch size and appropriate rope configurations based on boating needs for years,” said Funk, “so it’s exciting to be able to provide them with what they need right off the bat, when they need it, rather than ordering the winch first, then ordering the rope and having to wait for that.”

E-Z Anchor Puller will attend the in-person ICAST boat show, July 20 at Booth 3817 as well as the 30th anniversary IBEX show in late September, Booth 3-2130. The “Trade Only” Tampa-based event caters to marine industry professionals and is “dedicated to advancing the business of boating.”

For information, go to www.ezanchorpuller.com.

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JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 27

GULF SNAPPER SEASONS OPEN FOR 2021

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. GREG RAPP

n April, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approved a slight increase in the annual catch limit for red snapper for 2021. It’s nowhere near the increase some expected after the Congressionally funded Great Red Snapper Count (GRSC) indicated an abundance of red snapper far higher than estimates being used to set regulations in the fishery.

The Gulf Council’s scientific review committee chose not to include GRSC data in its 2021 acceptable catch recommendation.

However, the Gulf Council requested catch level recommendations for 2021 and beyond be revisited with consideration of the GRSC final report.

The Gulf red snapper season for federally permitted vessels is June 1-Aug. 2. Each Gulf state sets its own season for private recreational angling and charter operations without federal permits. Check state regulations for gear and reporting requirements.

The daily limit is two fish per person, with a 16-inch minimum size, except in Texas state waters, where the limit is four fish per person with a 15-inch minimum size.

State seasons are as follows: Florida: June 4-July 28.

Alabama: Four-day weekends, Fridays-Mondays, beginning May 28 and continuing until the private angler quota is projected to be met.

Mississippi: Opened Friday, May 28, with an expected mid-season closure on July 5 to compile data and examine the potential for a season extension.

Louisiana: Weekends only (Friday-Sunday), including Memorial Day, Labor Day and the 4th of July regardless of the day of the week; Season subject to change.

Texas: Open year-round in state waters until the quota is met.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. GREG RAPP

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- Fish Fishburne JUNE 2021

NATIONAL 29

Parkit360°: The Ultimate Trailer Parking Solution

S

ave the parking headaches—one-shot your boat into position every time with one of Parkit360’s electric trailer dollies. The Force and Transformer models are compatible with almost every trailer right out of the box thanks to their ball-mounted Stablelock technology. Just freewheel the dolly to the trailer, connect to the hitch and steer your trailer into place. With weight capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, these portable powerhouses can handle the most difficult parking challenges with ease.

Unlike a driver who relies on mirrors and backup cameras, the user faces the trailer, giving them complete visibility and control while parking. See exactly where the trailer is at all times and steer within inches of any obstacle if needed.

Park in ways that were once impossible with a truck, and have the flexibility to move around the trailer at any time to check its position. The dolly’s compact design also allows the user to park hitchend forward as a serious theft deterrent, something that is nearly impossible to do with a vehicle.

All models include Intelligent Speed Control, a great feature for those looking to move through open areas quickly, and more precisely in tight spaces. The high and low speed option starts and stops the motor gradually to prevent potential damage from sudden movements, something that makes these dollies stand out above the competition. Switch speeds any time during parking and get things done faster!

Have a unique trailer hitch on your boat

trailer? Easily move any ball mounted, fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer up to 15,000 pounds with our standard adapters, or try the Telescopic Hitch Adapter. It’s a non-invasive, alternative connection point that bolts around your existing trailer frame.

Parkit360° dollies are built strong and secure to safely move on firm grass, packed gravel, and 4- to 6-percent inclines.

Want a Dolly that’s ready to park, right out of the box? Most models include a 12V U1 Interstate Battery with all required cables and hardware.

With existing features like the Built-in Battery Charger, Electric/Surge Brake Controller and a full 2 Year Warranty, Parkit360° has truly made parking simple for every trailer.

Parkit360° has been in business for more than 10 years and has shipped more than 15,000 trailer

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NATIONAL 31

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