The Angler Magazine | June 2022 | Greater Atlanta Area Edition

FREE

GREATER ATLANTA AREA EDITION

@CAMTAMagazine

TWO WAYS TO

GIANT CATFISH

LOCAL LAKE & RIVER FORECASTS VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 327

F R A N C H I S E

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

A V A I L A B L E

PHOTO CREDIT: AARON CLAY IG: @BUCK_CLAY

W O R L D W I D E

JUNE 2022

20 ATM Dive Watch just $99

“You simply will not find a better made precision dive watch for such an unbelievable price.”

–– George Thomas, Noted watchmaker & historian

OUR CLIENTS LOVE STAUER DIVE WATCHES…

“...I love it. I have several Stauer watches and once again you don’t disappoint.”

— F., Jersey City, NJ

Your Greenlight to A Deep Dive Without Going in the Red E

At just $99, the Evergreen Diver goes deep without going overboard on price.

very year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces.

It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial.

But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece.

Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown.

Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.

“Whether you’re looking for something to wear in the ocean, the office, and everywhere in between, a diver’s watch is for you.”

— Business Insider, 2018

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Wear the Evergreen Diver for 30 days. If you’re not completely happy, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

Limited Reserve. A watch of this caliber, with a price that won’t drag you under, takes 6 months to create and won’t stick around for long. Call today!

Stauer Evergreen Diver Watch non-offer code price $399 Offer Code Price $99* + S&P Save $300

1-800-333-2045 Your Offer Code: GDW159-01

Rating of A+

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

• Precision crystal movement • Stainless steel crown, case, caseback & band • Screw down crown • Magnified lens over date window at 3 o’clock • Water resistant to 20 ATM • Fits wrists up to 8 ½"

Stauer

®

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. GDW159-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Protect your baby (and their toys) with coverage for fishing gear and personal property too.

1- 8 0 0 -PROG RE S S IVE / PROG RE S S IVE .COM

Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates. Additional charge may apply. Prices vary based on how you buy.

Shhhhh. No wake zone.

WHEN FISHING SHALLOWS, YOU NEED A REEL WITH A REPUTATION THAT RUNS DEEP.

Packed with more fish stopping features than ever before, the PENN ® Slammer ® IV takes a tradition of excellence to a whole new level. An 8+1 sealed stainless steel bearing system with Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearing makes the reel as smooth as it is tough.

The Slammer IV drag system was upgraded to provide wider range. And the reel body and spool are now

F

E PENN ® Slammer ® IV

“

—

PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.

© 2021

Pure Fishing, Inc.

Ca

S ki an sa S

Tri au Pla the for Ag su elig ©

FISH MAPPING NOW AVAILABLE ON

Find your

EDGE “Caught this kingfish in the gap between two storms using SiriusXM Marine.”

— Captain Jeff Fletcher “Hooked Up”, 32' Cape Horn Gulf Breeze, Florida

Captain receives complimentary service.

See recommend fishing locations for popular gamefish including kingfish, tuna, billfish, wahoo, mahi and swordfish. View plankton and temperature fronts, weed lines, and more — plus the latest satellite weather, sea conditions and forecasts. Get all that and SiriusXM entertainment on your Raymarine Axiom display.

ALSO AVAILABLE ON

Trial Offer Details: Activate a new monthly subscription to either: (i) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping or (ii) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping and the SiriusXM Platinum audio entertainment plan on the same device, and receive your first (1) month free for each activated service (a savings of $99.99 on Fish Mapping and $22.99 on Platinum plan), plus get free device activation (an additional savings of $25). A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew every month thereafter and, at the beginning of your second month, you will be charged at then-current rates (currently, $99.99/mo. for Fish Mapping and $22.99/mo. for Platinum plan). Fees and taxes apply. You must cancel your subscriptions during your promotional period(s) to avoid future charges. Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-800-985-9200. All fees, content and features are subject to change. This offer may be modified, suspended or canceled at any time. Subscription and hardware sold separately. Your Platinum subscription plan may be eligible for a multi-radio discounted rate if maintained on the same account as an activate full-price SiriusXM Marine Weather or Fish Mapping subscription package. © 2022 Sirius XM Radio Inc. SiriusXM and all related logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its respective subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Helm Photo: Color Blind Media.

B

Fu bo

T

als If y wi loo Th ex bla res Th de fea na Th in wi aro for sp Bu las co she Hu Yo Fe on cra cu 30 ite Li las Bl slip

1-

S

Ca Pr

•

Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!

T

he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.

If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman BONUS! Call today and Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty you’ll also receive this slip through your fingers. Call today! genuine leather sheath!

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade

“This knife is beautiful!”

— J., La Crescent, MN

“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

$249

Offer Code Price Only $79* + S&P Save $170

1-800-333-2045 Rating of A+

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

Stauer

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK788-01 55337 www.stauer.com Burnsville, Minnesota Not shown actual size.

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

• 12" overall length;

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

SHORT LINES

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

LEAD TO

MORE

MAHI T

he transition into the summer months brings calmer days more viable for offshore fishing. This is the season when waterways become flooded with snowbirds and weekend warriors, although current fuel prices may keep the pressure off those hot offshore numbers.

With mahi season in full swing in the Atlantic, scouting the ocean for signs of life offshore is easily most exciting this time of year.

Trolling for mahi near weedlines, diving birds and floating debris is extremely productive. These fish will eat just about anything they see, so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if you could get a hookup on a banana peel.

A trolling spread for mahi doesn’t have to be elaborate. Four lines or less will get the job done. Their penchant for jumping and swimming zigzags on the surface makes tangles in the spread an unfortunate reality.

Lines can be kept short, as mahi will eat near a moving boat. While fishing in heavier weeds, shorter lines allow lures to skip more to kick off grass. Lures that don’t like to rid themselves of grass can alternatively be more easily observed and manually cleared with this method.

Keeping the lines short also increases the chances of a hooked fish bringing the school of mahi-mahi with them to the boat. The farther back the lines are when a mahi is hooked, the more

6 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

time the rest of the school has to lose interest in following their buddy.

Once a hooked mahi is boatside, leave them in the water as a swimming, codependent chumbag.

The rest of the school often follows them, giving you a chance to hook up to more. Have something on your boat to cast out in this situation. Nearly anything will do when the school is in a frenzy. Jigs, lures, cut bait, live bait, possibly banana peels.

Sometimes mahi will turn their nose up at certain baits, but the key can be entirely within the presentation. They usually prefer a bait that is teasing them and just almost out of reach. Alternate between letting the bait fall and twitching it away from them. At times, you might get ready to leave a closed-mouth school only to finally have your bait crushed as you quickly reel in the pitch bait. If this is the case, they might just be in a mood to chase something moving more quickly, and getting back on the troll may be a better idea.

Diving frigates and floating debris attract more than just mahi-mahi, and there are epic sightings to be had in the open water, everywhere in between.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

From marlin to whale sharks, calm summer days offshore are as good as it gets. Calmer and sunnier days provide above average visibility, making once in a lifetime encounters harder to miss. Keep your eyes (and bananas) peeled.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes for Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys.

Call (504) 920-6342.

LESS IS MORE WHEN RIGGING THE BOAT

Tim Barefoot

I

n a time when we are in full-throated offshore (and inshore) fishing, I’d like to address the meaning of the title of this article. We all want to put gadgets on the boat to make it more efficient and comfortable. What I’m getting ready to say may offend some folks, but the ones who actually fish for results—rather than to look good or appease mom and the kids—will get it.

Less is more means the more open deck space I have, the better the dance floor is when the action starts. Period. I want a clean deck, free of “toe breakers” and stumbling blocks commonly referred to as seats and coolers I have to squeeze by. When there’s a fish ripping off drag and changing directions, I want open lanes to move up to the front of the boat or around back.

You see, I’ve reached a point in life that I’m going to catch the fish I want to catch, the way I want to catch them. I troll some, but it’s early in the day to locate stacks of bait and fish. When the sun comes up to the 10 or 11 o’clock position, I start posting up with the Rhodan or drifting with a kite or float baits out. I keep a bait near the bottom and baits in

the middle water column if they are marking on the recorder or when we are getting bites on the deeper baits.

What we do mid-morning is a result of how hard the current is running, the wind direction and speed or a combination of these things. If I could recommend one thing to make your boat rigging most complete, it would be a Rhodan or some other trolling motor that will keep you in place, or slow your drift with the kite directly out behind you, like you are trolling with the kite out. This will allow you to fish the lower levels of the water column for the wahoo bite in the middle of the day with lighter tackle and lighter weight jigs, and also drop a bait in front of Mr. Grouper while on the drift.

Keep an eye on the recorder as you are making these long drifts, and mark the areas of bait, fish and bites so you can run back up and make the same drift again.

I said all that to say this: Who says you have to use a ballyhoo trolled at 6 or 8 knots to catch fish? Slow it down to a drift or post up on a mark and catch the pelagic and bottom fish while flying the kite or with float baits.

When you’ve got all that going on, excess comforts or gadgetry sometimes impede your fishing rather than making it easier.

Stay tuned to upcoming videos illustrating this style fishing, but remember to keep the deck clean. Less is more.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

YOUR RODS. YOUR WAY.

F R

H In

W

int fath tho

Co aR is r fath to t val

Bu leg fas the “G

th

Ro dol coi for Gla che rec for

Bu gla bet por Th the spe on 1,6 can Sur Lat nev

Ha

Th gla Ag at t

Gov

MUDHOLE.COM 8 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

GovM The to de popu are e term Polic

when

rent is these g most at will behind sh the of the bait in while

n the making mark h and n back e drift

y this: to use 6 or 8 low it ost up h the m fish r with

all that fishing

g, but

ROMAN GLADIATORS FROZEN IN TIME FOR OVER 1,600 YEARS

Found: 1,600-Year-Old Roman Gladiator Coins Hold the Glory of Rome In the Palm of Your Hand

W

hen your famous father appoints you Caesar at age 7, you’re stepping into some very big sandals. But when that father is Emperor Constantine the Great, those sandals can be epic!

Constantius II, became Caesar at 7, and a Roman Emperor at age 20. Today, he is remembered for helping continue his father’s work of bringing Christianity to the Roman Empire, as well as for his valiant leadership in battle.

But for many collectors, his strongest legacy is having created one of the most fascinating and unique bronze coins in the history of the Roman Empire: the “Gladiator’s Paycheck”.

the Gladiators Paycheck

Roman bronze coins were the “silver dollars” of their day. They were the coins used for daily purchases, as well as for the payment of wages. Elite Roman Gladiators—paid to do battle before cheering crowds in the Colosseum—often received their monthly ‘paycheck’ in the form of Roman bronze coins.

But this particular Roman bronze has a gladiator pedigree like no other! Minted between 348 to 361 AD, the Emperor’s portrait appears on one side of this coin.

The other side depicts a literal clash of the gladiators. One warrior raises his spear menacingly at a second warrior on horseback. Frozen in bronze for over 1,600 years, the drama of this moment can still be felt when you hold the coin.

Surrounding this dramatic scene is a Latin inscription—a phrase you would never expect in a million years!

Happy Days are Here Again The Latin inscription surrounding the gladiators reads: “Happy Days are Here Again” (Fel Temp Reparatio). You see, at the time these coins were designed,

the Emperor had just won several important military battles against the foes of Rome. At the same time, Romans were preparing to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Rome. To mark these momentous occasions, this new motto was added and the joyful inscription makes complete sense.

A Miracle of Survival for 1,600 Years

For more than sixteen centuries, these stunning coins have survived the rise and fall of empires, earthquakes, floods and two world wars. The relatively few Roman bronze coins that have survived to this day were often part of buried treasure hoards, hidden away centuries ago until rediscovered and brought to light.

These authentic Roman coins can be found in major museums around the world. But today, thanks to GovMint. com, you can find them a little closer to home: your home!

Claim your very own genuine Roman Gladiator Bronze Coin for less than $40 (plus s/h). Each coin is protected in a clear acrylic holder for preservation and display. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanies your coin.

Unfortunately, quantities are extremely limited. Less than 2,000 coins are currently available. Demand is certain to be overwhelming so call now for your best chance at obtaining this authentic piece of the Roman Empire.

Approximately 17-20 mm

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We invite you to examine your coin in your home or office—with the confidence of our 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee.

Reserve Your Coin Today!

These Roman Gladiator Bronze Coins are not available in stores. Call now to reserve yours. Orders will be accepted on a strict first-call, first-served basis.

Sold-out orders will be promptly refunded.

Roman Gladiator Bronze $39.95 +s/h

FREE SHIPPING on 4 or More!

Limited time only. Product total over $149 before taxes (if any). Standard domestic shipping only.

Not valid on previous purchases.

Call today toll-free for fastest service

1-800-558-6468 Offer Code RGB181-02 Please mention this code when you call.

GovMint.com • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept. RGB181-02, Eagan, MN 55121 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government.

The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/ terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2022 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

THE BEST SOURCE FOR COINS WORLDWIDE®

FOR ANY

S I T U AT I O N

By Gary Turner

W

hether it’s a mess of channel catfish for supper or trophy blue cats, I love catfishing! From Texas to Virgina and Nebraska to Florida, I have caught catfish all over the country. Some of my favorite locations are the Santee Cooper reservoirs in South Carolina and the mighty Tennessee River in the stretch from Tennessee into Alabama. Here’s some information on how I catch them in lakes and rivers. These fishing styles will work for catfish all over the country.

ON THE LAKE

I use Abu Garcia 7000 reels with an egg sinker, swivel and 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook. If you are looking for smaller fish, downsize your hooks and baits. Bait can be fresh cut bream, shad, hotdogs, nightcrawlers or even chicken breast chunks. All of these work.

On Moultrie, you can anchor up and wait, but usually you can cover more area drifting. Set your rods all on one side of the boat and let them drag along beside or behind the boat. If there is no wind, you might need to troll. If there’s lots of wind, you might need to drop drift socks or a bucket to slow your drift. For this setup, you can use the same reels and baits, but you will need to change your terminal tackle. Use a three-way swivel to attach a slinky, Lindy weight to the bottom eye on 6- to 12-inch piece of 10- to 20-pound leader. You want your weight line to be lighter than your main so if the weight snags you don’t lose your whole rig. On the back eye, use 24 to 36 inches of heavier leader to your hook. Some people also put a small cork a few inches in front of the hook to keep the bait just off the bottom.

Santee Cooper is one of my favorite destinations for big catfish and smaller eaters, too.

It’s actually two lakes, Lake Marion, the upper lake, and Moultrie, the lower lake. These lakes both have giant flatheads, huge blues and eating-sized channels.

When fishing Lake Marion, I like to anchor up, cast out a bunch of baits and wait. If no bites in 30 minutes, I change locations and try again. There ON THE RIVER are flats and standing timber, and you just keep When fishing the Tennessee River from moving until you find feeding fish. Sometimes you Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee to Alabama’s mark lots of fish that aren’t feeding.

Lake Pickwick, I usually go much heavier on

equipment. I go with Penn Fathoms on Big Cat Fever Rods with 80-pound braid main and 100-pound leaders, sinker slides for bigger weights, and 8/0 to 10/0 hooks, depending on how big the baits are. Sometimes a double-hook rig improves your odds.

Skipjack, fresh or frozen, is the preferred bait, with bream and shad as backups. Don’t be afraid to use giant baits in big water. There are some giant fish down there!

In rivers, where’s there’s a good current, you can bottom bump. This technique is also popular on the Mississippi River. You slow the boat so the current carries your lines downstream. Use just enough weight so your baits walk and bounce along the bottom. This is very productive and allows you to cover lots of water. Another thing we do sometimes where the river is fairly flat and slow is to slow drift with all the rods and lines straight down and the hooks just off the bottom.

If you are marking good fish, make several passes over them. Sometimes this will fire them up.

I hope this helps you catch more and bigger catfish next time you go. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

Gary Turner is a regular contributor to Coastal Angler and The Angler magazines.

Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.

GEICO.COM/BOAT • 1-800-865-4846 • LOCAL OFFICE GREAT LOW RATES | MULTI-VEHICLE DISCOUNT | SPECIALIZED AGENTS Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2022 GEICO. 21_782312631

YOUR PERSONAL LIFEGUARD...

Use promocode CA2022 at Fellmarine.com to receive a special offer!

ALWAYS ON - NEVER INTRUSIVE

FREEDOM WITH SAFETY

The MOB+™ is a life-saving device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill switch, and stops the engine should you fall overboard.

Connect up to 4 people at the same time. www.fellmarine.com

Complies with new USCG regulation regarding mandatory emergency lanyard use 12 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Now available at: & (Online only) Or find your local retailer at www.fellmarine.com/retailers

5 YE See read

JUNE 2022 PUBLISHER:BOB RICE

A FREE PUBLICATION THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY B & B PUBLISHERS P.O. BOX 766, MADISON, GA 30650 706-614-8231, WWW.THEANGLERMAGAZINE.COM

REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS IN ANY FORM IS PROHIBITED

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: HENRY COWEN DR. ANDREW COX JAMES PRESSLEY CAPT. CEFUS MCRAE CHRIS SCALLEY GARY TURNER NOEY VINEYARD JACOB MILHOLLAND RENE J. HESSE JIMBO MATHLEY JAMES BRADLEY DAVID HULSEY WAYNE WOOTEN JAY STRIKER WAYNE MOORE JEFF DURNIAK DICKLESBY KIM NUNERY CAPT. DAVID HARE GRAPHIC DESIGN: KATHLEEN CARREIRO

TO ADVERTISE IN THE LARGEST FREE FISHING PUBLICATION IN THE U.S. WITH OVER 1 MILLION MONTHLY READERS, CALL 706-614-8231

www.facebook.com/TheAnglerMagazineAtlanta/

706-614-8231

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING SUMMER SCHOOL

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

Learning to fly fish or sharpening up on a certain tactic or weakness in your game can be pretty easy and a heck of a lot of fun! Fly casting flaws can usually be identified and normally corrected in a couple of hours with a well trained FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor. Stream craft on the river can take a longer time to get honed because of changing conditions.

Starting from zero fly fishing skills to self-sufficient on the creek can be done in a day if the students are really wanting to learn. For sure, getting to river goat status on the trout stream comes with countless days on the water under all possible conditions, and that, my friends, is a lifetime journey.

Summer is a great time to work

on your skills. Early mornings on the river will stick in your memory a little more with the awakening of the day. The scorching sunshine of midday produces the memories you will want to forget. After decades of teaching fly fishing, we know taking short instructional classes on fly fishing are easier to digest than long hours pounding information into your brain. We give a short 3 hour class on the river that fits perfectly with the summer season. The outing is very cost efficient for single anglers, couples or family groups and lots of fun. We supply all the fly fishing gear so there’s no up-front confusing gear selection. The class is also private so you won’t be with folks you don’t know, and you’ll be back at your cabin in time for lunch

and a cold one or two.

Fish activity in the heat of the year is normally best in the morning hours and can be quite good with terrestrials, which is a good thing. Beetles, hoppers, ants and others can provide lots of calories for the fish so they are a happy bunch when they come floating by!

The large size of a grasshopper imi-

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

tation is also easy to see, and high floating making learning about presentation that much easier. Waders are not usually necessary in the summer, and a cool wade feels pretty good, too!

Give us a call about our short, sharply focused classes and we will make going to summer school a blast!

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 1

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING 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 certainly be the area to concentrate on. Sinking lines will certainly be your best choice once the sun gets up. Low light can still get 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 above the tree line, it is time to start looking in the river channel off of long tapered points that 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, Howitzer popper, Stealth Bomber or Crease fly and enjoy one of the Lanier’s most feisty combatants. If you happen to 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 June will offer the opportunity for the biggest spotted bass taken on topwater for the season.

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.

If the weather 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 with schools of hundreds of hybrids trashing itty bitty threadfin shad all over the lake. 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 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.

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. It’s simply the best river striper fishing in the state of GA. Carp fishing (which may be my favorite thing to fish for with a fly rod in North GA) should be fished 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 near certain 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. See you on the pond or river.

FULL SERVICE OUTFITTER

• Fly Fishing Trips • Rentals • Clinics & Classes • Apparel 2 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

NG

ibility. well as to be u have you do issing. he past hat the easing allows nto the

months anglers on the

s l

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING TIME TO FLY Contributed by James Bradley Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide www.ReelEmInGuideService.com (706) 273-0764 As the month of May has come to an end, rising trout are quickly learning to take tiny morsels off the water’s surface. As the temperatures heat up, so will the dry fly action for trout. On our last several trips, we’ve been keying in on caddisflies.

It’s definitely dry fly time in the mountains. Let’s go into a little detail about caddisflies.

Caddis goes through different stages in their lifetime starting out as tiny eggs that are practically invisible to the human eye. They are laid onto the surface of a stream where the eggs trickle down onto the steam floor. The higher the quality of stream with less human disturbance, farm runoff, pollution and so on, the better the survive rate of the insect’s eggs. These eggs then hatch into larva where they either build a case of tiny rock around the body, use small sticks to create their case (locals call them “stick bait”) or they may be free form caddis that build a tiny web between rocks. When the cased caddis begins to hatch, it will rise to the surface as an adult emerger.

Once its wings dry, then off it will fly to return to lay eggs. After laying its eggs, the caddisfly will begin to perish and many times landing on the stream where it may get eaten by a trout. This we refer to as rising trout.

Doing a little research, I found that caddisflies have approximately 14,500 described species. The

caddis come in different sizes with most being referred to as tentwinged due to their wings being swept back over their bodies and resembling a tent. You can catch them in your hand to inspect their underneath side for what color it is. Common colors are black, tan, yellow and green.

One bit of advice to identify rising trout: Trout normally rise above the water to catch a caddisfly due to their bouncing nature while laying eggs. We refer to this as a “splashy rise”. Most mayflies will land on the water’s surface to deposit her eggs causing trout to normally sip them from the surface.

We refer to this as simply a “sipping rise” that leaves small dimple rings on the water’s broken surface.

If you are a beginner wanting to learn how to fly fish, we have a great staff of instructors who have been schooled in the art of fly fishing.

One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Don’t forget to ask about our float trips! Currently, we are doing floats on the Toccoa Tailwater and on the upper Toccoa as well. Give us a call to book your amazing trip on the water and don’t forget that we offer gift certificates!

Reel ‘Em In Guide Service operates as an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter in North Georgia’s Historic High-Country region. They have been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001.They have permits to guide in Georgia, offer over 7 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia and operate float trips on the Toccoa River in GA.

Best Western Milton Inn

A great place to stay when visiting the North Georgia Mountains Convenient to Lake Nottely,

Brasstown Bald Mountain and Vogel State Park Clean comfortable rooms Complimentary breakfast buffet Free WiFi and Cable TV Microwave and refrigerator in every room Business Center

201 Highway 515 West, Blairsville, GA 30512 Toll Free Central Reservations (800) 780-7234 Hotel Direct Number 706-745-6995 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 3

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE GUIDE’S ANGLE

GET YOUR FLY FISHING “TUNE-UP” FOR DESTINATION TRAVEL FOR THIS SUMMER!

CHATTOOGA RIVER

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service Summer is the time to travel with friends and family whether your journeys take you to somewhere in the USA or even internationally.

If you plan to fly fish at your destination, you may consider hiring a local guide to tune up your techniques before your departure.

I’ve had many clients say they wish their guide was able to work more on technical aspects of fly fishing during their trip to avoid tangles and wasting time retying fly rigs while they drift over productive waters in the “penalty box.”

Working on basic casting mechanics is always a work in progress for most of us, and your instructor may be able to tune up your “reach mend” or “double-haul”.

Perhaps you’re headed for a saltwater venue and need some help on stripstriking or you’re planning to go to the extra swift, turbulent waters of the Rockies where your mending

techniques can be the difference in catching or getting skunked.

Whether you go with a guide on a trip or consider visiting a local fly shop that offers private casting lessons and sound advice, you will likely speed up your learning curve on those distant waters you visit during your travels.

A definite deficit of rain from April and May has concern of what the remainder of the summer will have in store for us here around the Chattooga and Chauga Rivers.

Fishing has been very good with great hatches towards dusk. Cooler temperatures have had fish looking up and rising to dry flies for the delight of all. Let us all hope that the cooler temperatures stay around for the summer and Mother Nature will bless us with rain.

The morning hatches have been subtle, but the use of emergers and nymphs have done the best. We have seen the first of the Golden Stone Flies hatching, and there is nothing finer than seeing fish rise to the large dry flies. The Drake hatches are upon us as well along with Yellow Sallies.

Fishing the Drake nymphs from the riffles into the seams has been successful throughout the daytime hours. For the Slate Drake nymphs, casting upstream and using a dead drift and strip technique is very successful, as the larger nymphs pulse through the water looking for a safe haven. The Sallie hatch should continue for some time now and throughout the summer on higher elevation creeks. Swinging these nymphs into pools and calmer water and then slow stripping them back is

also another technique as well.

As a rule of thumb, as the summer heat starts to inundate the southern lower elevation trout streams and the water temperatures rise, start looking for higher elevation streams. The stress of catching the trout in warm water can kill them, and finding cooler waters is not tough to do. As the water temperatures stay above the mid 60’s, start to head a little further north or higher into the headwaters of the favorite river to find cooler waters. A day of hiking, exploring new waters, and dry fly fishing, can definitely beat the summer heat.

Bass and panfish season is heating up as the June weather graces us here. Great days of topwater fishing are upon us with many fish coming to the surface. A great day on the river is to trout fish in the early morning and then head down river mid-day and turn on the bass and panfish.

Let’s take the kids fishing! Please join us on Saturday, June 11 on the wild and scenic Chattooga River at Burrell’s Ford Campground for the annual Kids Fishing Derby. There will be a registration hour starting at 8:00AM, and then let the kids start fishing around 9:00AM. Adults will need to have a valid Georgia or South Carolina fishing license, gear, flies, lures/bait for the kids. As always, let’s practice “Leave No Trace” as we all enjoy the great outdoors this summer.

• • • • • •

Heron Outdoor Adventures Your Excellent Adventure Awaits

www.heronoutdooradventures.com www.heronoutdooradventures.com FB:Heron HeronOutdoor Outdoor Adventures Adventures FB: @heronoutdooradventures @heronoutdooradventures

4 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

Lake Allatoona Guide Service

Stripers, Hybrids, Spotted Bass, Crappie Nature Excursions, Instructional Trips Capt. Joseph Martinelli Capt. Joseph Martinelli

404-919-4918 404-919-4918

NG

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING WHAT IS FLY TYING AND WHY CAN IT MAKE ME A BETTER ANGLER?

By Jacob Milholland, Store Manager Cohutta Fishing Company (706) 946-3044

If you take a look in my striped bass fly box, you’ll notice that I have very few commercially tied flies. Most of my striper flies are gleaned from the knowledge of my mentors, Conner Jones and Cohutta Guide Garner Reid, or from time on the water. While off-the-rack flies do catch plenty of fish, I use fly tying to dial in my fishing. Fly tying is a utility; while many anglers think they’re going to save money by getting into tying flies, that isn’t my primary concern when I sit down at the vice.

A good fly tyer can duplicate productive patterns that suit their fishing, but an expert fly tyer and angler will look at problems on the water and solve them with adjustments to productive patterns or even create a new pattern to solve that problem.

Adding, subtracting, and

substituting different materials, weight, or even different glues can add that little bit of flair that makes a fly more effective to your fishery. In the same regard, if you’re learning to tie flies, trying to create a new pattern without the basic skillset or knowledge of technique will result in a bunch useless flies that end up in the throw-away box.

Over the past 10 years, the advent of YouTube has opened the doors to many a tyer’s vise and recipe book. As a result, it’s very easy to find out what materials to purchase, pattern recipes, and unique techniques that you otherwise may not have heard about, but the one thing I stress when I teach our Fly Tying 101 Course is not pattern, but instead involves learning and fine tuning technique.

If you want to learn, stay away from beginner fly tying kits! While there may be some excellent kits out there, most that I have found are full of sub-par materials and tools.

Instead, buy a quality vise like a Renzetti Traveler or Danvise for the more budget friendly. For tools, start with bare essentials: one ceramic bobbin, a pair of decent tying scissors, and a whip finish tool. Go to your local fly shop with three or four patterns that you fish most often and ask if someone at the store can select the materials with you.

Take a class! We offer 101 to advanced courses here in the shop.

Repetition is the key to knowledge, so practice tying one fly until you feel

confident that you understand both the technique and recipe intimately.

Whether you’re teaching yourself or booking a class, we are more than happy to help any new tier, so call us at the shop!

June striped bass fishing should be under full force, so call us at the shop if you’re interested in earning your stripes! Cohutta Fishing Company is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Shop/Guide Service located in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. We carry a large assortment of guide-tested fly fishing equipment and proven fly patterns, as well as have a knowledgeable and friendly staff. 490 East Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513. (706) 946-3044

YOUR LOCAL BLUE RIDGE FLY SHOP

• Guided Fishing Trips - Trout* Striped Bass* Spotted Bass* • Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Classes • Outdoor Lifestyle Apparel • Fish on Our Private Trout Water • Worldwide Travel • Cabin Rental Available

(706) 946-3044 490 East Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513 cohuttafishingco.com

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 5

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING OCONEE ON THE FLYKUDOS TO CAPTAIN DOUG AND WAYNE MOORE’S LAKE OCONEE FORECAST

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com Captain Doug Nelms that is! Doug has put together and amazing event here on Lake Oconee, the “BigFishHeads” annual fishing derby. The derby runs 8 weeks and prizes are awarded for the biggest striper/ hybrid and crappie for the week. At the end of the 8 weeks, the largest fish wins the championship.

This year’s champion for stripers was Kenny Scott weighing in a 24 pound, 5.5 ounce striper.

Justin Savage won the crappie division with a 2 pound, 3.2 ounce crappie.

Here are my top three reasons I love the derby: 1. It runs for 8 weekly periods.

This means everyone gets a chance to participate.

2. It is a friendly competition.

The derby gives us a chance to meet other anglers we may not have met otherwise.

3. The Derby party and charitable donations. The soiree is awesome with great food, good friends, and this year Doug held an auction to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. A check was issued on May 9th to the hospital in the amount of $5,740!

Congratulations to Captain Doug, the champions, and all the participants for a job well done!

June Forecast Hybrids/Stripers: June 14th has been my best day on the water for the past 4 out of 5 years. If you are fishing for stripers and hybrids, hedge your bet, throw the cast net, and get some threadfin and gizzard shad. If you hire me for a trip, I do this for you.

In June, the spoon bite is particularly good. I use a 7/8 War Eagle spoon in white or

chartreuse/white. Sugar Creek Marina has them and anything else you need. I prefer a spinning reel with Stren 12-pound low visi-green. Once you find the fish (usually on a hump this time of year) simply open the bail and let the spoon drop to the bottom.

Simply raise the rod tip and bring the spoon off the bottom a few feet and let it back down. The bite usually happens when the spoon is dropping back down.

Fly Fishing: Historically, June has been a time when you might get lucky and catch the “pump back” bite. Georgia Power pumps water up from Lake Sinclair at night to maintain the lake levels.

On some occasions, they are still pumping at first light and even as late as 8:30 AM. Go to the dam, and if you see the red lights on, you are in luck. The topwater bite is incredible as the current pushes the shad to the surface. Use a Cowen’s Somethin Else fly and hang on!

If the fish are on the humps, break out an 8 weight with sink tip and drop a Mini Game Changer fly. Use the countdown method to determine how deep your fly is.

In general, the sink rate is a foot every 2 seconds.

Crappie: In June, the trolling bite is strong. Look for submerged timber and troll at 1 mph with a single 1/16th jig or a double with a 1/16th and a 1/32nd.

Final Words: June is a wonderful time to fish Oconee.

Please call 404-317-9556 or email me at wmoore1700@outlook.com and lock in your dates well ahead of time to ensure you get the dates you want.

g

g

CONGRATULATIONS TO CAPTAIN DOUG AND THIS YEAR’S DERBY WINNERS

Guided Fly Fishing and Conventional Tackle Trips for Hybrids, Stripers, and Crappie Booking now, novice or experienced anglers. On the water instruction, top of the line fly gear!

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

When you visit or call one of our advertisers, or fish with one of our captains, make sure to tell

them you saw their ad in:

Captain Wayne Moore - Oconee On The Fly, Inc 404-317-9556 www.oconeeonthefly.com / wmoore1700@outlook.com 6 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

Monthly Recipe Provided By:

NG

ckle e

Monthly Recipe Provided By:

ave We h ree fe l-v oa haenh etW s! l-ofraete b o n r a o geatshf r boats! o gas f

4501 Monroe Hwy, Watkinsville, GA 30677 4501 Monroe Hwy, Watkinsville, GA 30677

www.striplings.com 1-770-725-7772 1-770-725-7772 www.striplings.com Certified Angus Angus Certified Steaks Steaks

!& &% &% *!'$ *!'$ !'& !'& ) & $ ) & $

& & !& ' * %& % $ !( $ !& ! % $! $ ' * %& % $ !( $ !& ! % $! $ )!! $ ! &! ' ! '%&! %& )!! &! ' ! '%&! %& % %! $ ! % % ' %

$ % &$ " +% % %!

% % ' %

$ % &$ " +% $ &!$ % ( $*& *!' !$ $ &!$ % ( $*& *!' !$ !! !'& *!' )! +& , && $ #' &* &

*) $ '& & ) & '& ' $ & !! !'& *!' )! +& , && $ #' &* & '% $ %& % &$ " +% $& , *) $ '& & ) & '& ' $ & ' % $( '& $ % !" $ % & &! ! $& , '% $ %& % &$ " +% ,$%& & & $ &&* ' % $! '& ' % $( '& $ % !" $ % & &! ! &! !$ $ ! !$ & $ & *!'$ !'& , & ) ,$%& & & $ &&* ' % $! '& !' &! ! ( *!' ( $ &! '* %& % & & $! $* %&!$ &! !$ $ ! !$ & $ & *!'$ !'&

, & ) !' &! ! ( *!' ( $ &! '* %& % & & $! $* %&!$

Ingredients:

$& , '% ! $ * !$ ! $& , '% , & ! !&& &$ " +% ! '%& * $ $ &$ " '% ! +% ! '%& * & %! $& , $ * !$ ! !&& &$ " +% ! '%& * & ' $& , '% , & !

Ingredients:

Directions:

!&& &$ " +% ! '%& * $

#' &* ! '& ! !$ $ * "' " '" & - (!$ ) & &$ " +% ! '%& $ &$ " +% ! '%& * & %! * $ & %! % " & ! & $ !( $ !& ! % & !$ !&& &$ " +% ! '%& * & ' ) '& % " $ % ) $ %" '" & !'&% ) & % %& *% ' * - (!$ '

Directions:

#' &* ! '& ! !$ $ * "' " '" & - (!$ ) & &$ " +% ! '%& * $ & %! % " & ! & $ !( $ !& ! % & !$ ) '& % " $ % ) $ %" '" & !'&% ) & % %& *% ' * - (!$ '

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING VIOLATORS

By Jeff Durniak,

Unicoi Outfitters How do you deal with violators?

I’d like to offer a few ideas on encountering folks who are violating the fishing regulations.

As a fellow angler, I try to kill ‘em with kindness. If someone is using an illegal bait or is simply crowding me in “my” honey hole, I reel up, get out of the water and observe them for a while. Then, with a smile, I slowly approach them. If they seem comfortable with my approach, I’ll speak to them: “How’s it going? Any luck?”

I can usually tell their mood and intent with their first response.

A few folks are gruff, defensive and may indeed be knowing violators.

I handle those folks by getting good descriptions (person, act of violation, vehicle tag number) and passing that info along to our fine GADNR wardens via their 24-hour hotline (800-241-4113) or website (https://gadnrle.org/find-ranger).

More than half of encountered

anglers, however, simply do not know the rules. In their haste to the Promised Land, they did not study every regs booklet and read every stream sign. They are, quite simply, blissfully ignorant. They’re just happy to be away from life’s responsibilities and overjoyed to be standing knee-deep in a little bit of heaven. Can we relate?

For those undereducated folks, I’ll approach them or wait until they’re done and coming up the bank to me. I’ll tell them what’s working for me, so that the conversation is about the fishing and is non-confrontational. Then I’ll politely explain the error of their ways, whether it’s using bait in an artificials stream, a treble in a single hook stream, keeping fish in a Delayed Harvest creek, or invading “my” space in the pool (poor etiquette). The vast majority of anglers usually react with surprise, concern, apology, and

gratitude for the info. They say that they “never knew,” and, by golly, I think nearly all of them are sincere!

Then I “give” them something to stay in their good graces and to keep our encounter positive. For bait anglers, I tell them where they can fish with bait and be successful.

For illegal lure users, I give them a hot fly or two, or pinch their barbs for them. For pool-crashers, I give them my pool and move to another.

Most of the time, I’ve made a new friend. I may have corrected a behavior and helped a struggling wannabe to become an avid angler. I

may have even added another troop to our conservation army! In most of my experiences, a little dose of patience and a healthy application of the Golden Rule work well. As for me, I would rather make more friends than enemies and add them to our conservation movement.

Best of luck astream. I hope that this second approach to questionable anglers provides us all with one more tool in our conservation toolbox. Life’s too short. Get outside and enjoy it.

After all, smiles and hooksets are free!

Kommander-Pro Series

A Clean Cut For Every Budget.

Kommander-Pro Series

Hwy 78 North By-Pass, Washington, Georgia 30673

A Clean Cut For Every Budget.

WWW.PALMEREQUIPMENTCO.COM

(706) 678-3200

KUBOTA IS BUILT RIGHT HERE IN GEORGIA KubotaUSA.com Optional equipment may be shown.

8 ATLANTA

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2018

JUNE 2022

EVERYTHING YOU VALUE

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

www.kubota.com

Kubota Tractor Corporation 2017

NG

troop n most ose of cation ll. As more d them nt. hope ch to ovides n our s too joy it. ets are

LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE CASTING CORNER

PRACTICE SET UP

Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer background to see the line against it as it travels through the air. If there is wind, set up your casting tape measure to have the wind coming into your line hand (The hand that is not holding the rod.)

Set up targets at 20, 30, 40, and up to 75 feet along the tape measure.

Have a goal in mind when you go to practice. Always start with making good loops with 30 feet of line out of the rod tip. That will give you the feel of the rod that the manufacturer wanted you to feel.

Until you have good loops with 30 feet of line, don’t add more line.

When you practice, make sure to do 2-3 false casts each sequence. If you just do a pick up and lay down, there is no real feel of timing and tension on the line. Do not let the line hit the ground in the back. If you can have someone watch you, even better. Kids are always happy to point out our errors.

If you are going to practice on your own with targets, only cast for 30 minutes. If you want to just go out in the courtyard, plan on only about 15 minutes. If you leave a rod rigged and ready to cast, it is so much easier to get started. Take the first step to decide you want to get better, and you will.

If you wanted to get better at casting, you would do everything you could to make it easier on yourself. For example, the equipment you practice with, the place you practice, and even the type of practice you decide to use will make an impact on your learning curve. So let’s look at the things that can make fly casting practice fun and easy.

Starting with the rod and line, I would suggest nothing lighter than a 5 weight and nothing heavier than a 7 weight rod. The thought on that is the line is easier to see and thus easier to evaluate. The repeated casts will tend to make your arm tired, so don’t go over an 8 weight if you can. The next thing to consider is the line, and that has several points of interest. If you can, get a bright colored line, for example, orange or yellow. Again, that is so you can see it. Also consider getting a line that has a longer head so you can carry more line. A good example of this is the Scientific Angler Mastery - Expert Distance line. Then for the leader use a 7 ½ ft. 0X with a bit of yarn tied on the end.

Next, give yourself the best environment to cast. Seek a good

15544 Hwy, 515, Ellijay

All SizeS of GizzArd ShAd AvAilAble for Summer LIVE BAIT WIDE VARIETY OF FISHING TACKLE FULL BBQ MENU – LUNCH/DINNER DINE-IN OR TAKE-OUT

Live Bait & Tackle Shop With An Old Time Charm • FULL LINE OF TACKLE • ALL SIZE MINNOWS • CRICKETS • WORMS • SNACKS AND ICE • FIREWOOD

Inc Sporting Goods

CERTIFIED SCALE ON SITE

104 South Broad St. Winder, GA

(770) 867-4814

CELEBRATING OUR 45TH YEAR

OWNER: CAROL ANN GREENLISH

678-971-5607

2807 DAWSONVILLE HIGHWAY, GAINESVILLE, GA 30506

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 9

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST Tournament Schedule June 4 June 12 June 18 June 25 July 17 July 30 Aug 6 Aug 7 Aug 18 Sept 1 Sept 10

BLACK CRAPPIE AND SHELLCRACKER ON ALLATOONA

by Tim Dangar

Berry’s Classic Mid Georgia Open Series Mid Georgia Mid Georgia Mid Georgia Berry’s Mid Georgia Mid Georgia Mid Georgia Berry’s

a Store - Non-Ethanol Gas - Deli- Boat Ramp -Dry t Storage - Bait and Tackle - Costa Sunglasses lothing - Boating Accessories - Skis and Tubes

ARGEST SELECTION TACKLE IN THE AREA

Marina Store - Non-Ethanol Gas - Deli- Boat Ramp -Dry Boat Storage - Bait and Tackle - Costa Sunglasses ww.sugarcreekmarina.com find us on Clothing - Boating 3 Parks Mill Road • Buckhead, GA Accessories 30625 - Skis and Tubes

Lake Allatoona is beautiful now, at full pool, clear and the fishing is out of sight! My grandson Chase and his girlfriend Gracie got into some big male black crappie recently. The black crappie come in late to guard the beds after the females lay their eggs. They are very aggressive and make for some big fun as the transition from shallow water to deep water fishing takes place. Don’t overlook the small pockets right off the main lake for the last of the shallow water fun. I like to wait until the females have laid out before I keep some for the freezer. My last catch was 28 fish and only two had eggs which is another sign they are fixing to move to deep water.

The next shallow water fishing fun is when the shellcracker come in to bed. This happens around the first full moon in June. My grandsons Chase and Tyler got on some this week and it was amazing.

They are just coming in so it should last for a while. If you miss the June moon, they will repeat it for the July full moon.

Look for shallow water out of the wind and undisturbed with grass beds. They can be hard to see, but look for dark backs in about two or three feet of water. Set up maybe fifteen yards off the bed and fish red worms on the bottom and hang on. These fish fight pound for pound more than any other panfish

The already crappie 10’-15’ I’m als brush. would a pink (electr body w retriev to sink Ten came

out there. Get on the lake when you can, and as always, stay calm and fish on!

facebook

LARGEST SELECTION OF TACKLE IN THE AREA

706-342-2231

find us on facebook

www.sugarcreekmarina.com

353 Parks Mill Road • Buckhead, GA 30625 706-342-2231 10 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

Full Service Deli Non-Ehanol Gas Snacks

Bait Boat Ramp Picnic Tables

611 TWIN BRIDGES RD. EATONTON, GA 478-968-0713

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

4 O

ST

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE LANIER CRAPPIE

A

by Capt. Josh Thornton 770-530-6493

The water temperatures are already in the low 70’s. I am finding crappie on the docks suspended 10’-15’ deep over a 20-45’ bottom.

I’m also finding crappie in shallow brush. If you are using jigs, I would recommend starting with a pink and green small body (electric chicken) or a translucent body with sparkles. Remember to retrieve slowly and give the jig time to sink to the level of the fish.

Ten percent of this week’s catch came on minnows and almost

all on jigs, but I still always put out minnows just in case. It adds a few to the box at end of the day. I am setting minnows at 5-10’ feet deep over schooling crappie. Crappie love the shade, so cast into the shadows.

When dock shooting, the biggest fish are usually the first to bite.

I’m using the Skippers Jig Moon jigs and also ATX Lure Company’s jigs. I use 5-pound test high visibility, yellow K9 braid for my line unless I am using a bobber, then it’s the K9 6-pound high-vis line and a Piscifun reel on an Acc crappie stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and the Navionics boating app. Find me on Facebook and like my pages #crappieonlanier and #fishingwitheverydayheroes.

JUNE 14TH

STRAWBERRY

MOON

Book the Fishing Trip of a Lifetime in the Beautiful Mountains of North Georgia and Western North Carolina with the Area’s Top Rated Guide Service. Fish with the Pros and Get Featured in The Angler Magazine

Serving Lakes Nottely, Hiawassee, Chatuge, Blue Ridge and more. We run trips 365 days a year. Book your trip now!

828-361-2021

4631 Smithson Blvd, Oakwood, GA 30566

www.bigolfish.com

(770) 718-1144 tandsmarine.com

THE BEST PRICE ON THE BEST BOATS

SALES-SERVICE-PARTS-FINANCING

13 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 11

Your ONE STOP SHOP for all o

Window Tinting • Spray in Bedliners • Car Audio & Ele

877-322-4

220. W. MAY ST WINDER, GA 3

WWW.WILDWILLIESAC

Customizations from

r all of your accessory needs!

io & Electronics • Wheels & Tires and SO much more!

322-4734

W. MAY STREET, DER, GA 30680

LIESACCESSORIES.COM

from Mild to WILD

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST GO OFFSHORE ON LANIER IN JUNE 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 from brush piles is unmatched excitement and fun. 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. This June may be a little different in terms of timing based on the delayed spring and spawn we have experienced. Postspawn, many fish can be found on key structure such as long running points and humps. Locating these areas and the man-made cover that is often found on them will be important to your success.

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

1. Topwater – Excellent topwater

daltonmarineinc.com daltonmarineinc.com Two Great Locations: Two Great Locations:

baits for Lake Lanier from Berkley include: J-Walker, Cane Walker, Hi Jacker, Surge Shad, Choppo, and Bullet Pop. These lures 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. Popular hard and soft swimbaits are made by several different tackle vendors, to include many local options. As far as the mechanical type swimbaits, one of my favorites is the Berkley Magic Swimmer. 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. You can tip your underspin with either a straight-tail or boot-tail style trailer.

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 Jig head and worm combinations. As far as jigs go, I prefer Georgia Jigs. Exploring different worm and jig sizes, shapes, textures and colors can make a big difference on certain days.

Tackle: For topwater action, you should utilize either a medium to medium-heavy bait-casting or spin-casting outfit, rigged with 1217 pound monofilament line. Also an option is spooling with Seaguar Smackdown Braid/mono leader combination. As far as choosing a rig for fishing these topwater baits, consider the weight of the bait as your deciding factor. Lighter baits are often better presented on spinning gear which allows 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 which is perfectly matched for these baits. As far as the many other soft and hard swimbait

options, you can scale back to a medium-heavy rod, but I recommend keeping the length at 7 feet or more.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the best fishing on Lake Lanier during the month of June! Contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www. jimboonlanier.com.

daltonmarineinc.com

NorthNorth Georgia’s Premier Authorized Georgia’s Premier Authorized Ranger and and Mercury Dealer Ranger Mercury Dealer

Dalton Location Dalton Location 1117 East 1117 Morris Street East Morris Street 1117 Dalton, GADalton, 30721 GA 30721Serving Atlanta East North Georgia 1968.

Servingand Atlanta and North Since Georgia Since 1968.

(706) 226-3595 (706) 226-3595 Morris

New &New Pre-Owned Ranger & Pre-Owned Ranger

Street

Sales Sales and Mercury AcworthDalton, Location Acworth Locationand Mercury 4725 Highway 92 4725 Highway 92 GA Acworth, GA 30101 GA 30101 Acworth, Service and Repair Service and Repair 30721 (770) 974-0629 (770) 974-0629 Warranty Work Work Warranty (706) 226-3595

2022 *2017 Tournament 198P with Mercury® Pro XS150L Optimax *2017 Tournament 198P with150L Mercury® Pro XS Optimax Certified Master TechsTechs with with Certified Master S over 30 Years’ Experience over 30 Years’ Experience Serving Atlant

N a

New & Pre and MercuS

Special Orders Special Orders Special Orders Available Available Available Freshwater & Saltwater Freshwater & Freshwater & Saltwater Saltwater Models Fiberglass & Models Fiberglass & Models Fiberglass & Aluminum, Bass, Bass, Bay, Skiff, Aluminum, Bay, Aluminum, Bass, Bay, Skiff, Skiff, Angler, Reata Reata Angler, Angler, Reata *2017 Ranger Z 519 with Mercury @ 225 Pro XS Optimax 2022 *2017 Ranger Z 519 with Mercury @ 225 Pro XS Optimax & Inter-Coastal & & Inter-Coastal Inter-Coastal

W

Service anC o Warranty W

14 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

S

Certified MR Special over 30 Ye

orders available for all Freshwater and Saltwater Ranger Boats to include

Tw D

ST

c.com

SUMMER IS HERE - IT’S TIME TO GET OUTSIDE & EXPLORE

PINNACLE CREDIT UNION CAN HELP YOU GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE WITH LOW LOAN RATES FOR AUTOS, BOATS, RVs, ATVs, MOTORCYCLES and MORE Pinnacle Credit Union also has low rates on real estate loans!

zed horized aler

ptimax 0L Pro XS Optimax

Serving Atlanta and North Georgia Since 1968.

g Atlanta and Georgia Since 1968.

New & North Pre Owned Ranger Call our Lake Oconee office at and Mercury Sales

& Pre706-485-2039 Owned Ranger and our Atlanta office Service and Repair Mercury Sales at 404-888-1648 or visit us at Warranty Work 5timax Pro XS Optimax www.pinnaclecu.org ice and Repair Certified Master Techs with over 30 Years’ Experience anty Work for more information

Specializing in Mercury and *2017 Tournament 198P with Mercury® 150L

fied Master Ranger Techs with 30 Years’ Experience

Freshanger e

*2017 Tournament 198P with Mercury® 15

Two Great Locations: Dalton Location Acworth Location

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST BE PREPARED WITH A READY ROD

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

I spent my growing-up years in the Boy Scouts. Through it all, the motto “Be Prepared” was driven into us at every troop meeting.

While we can’t prepare for every eventuality, we can learn from our experiences to help in a variety of situations.

For us anglers, being prepared covers a lot of ground: having a seaworthy boat, the proper safety gear on board, and having the right tackle for the day. How many times have you witnessed a feeding frenzy on the surface only to realize everything you have tied on are crankbaits or jigs?

Some years ago, I finally got smart, and today I always have a ready rod at arm’s length. What’s a ready rod? It’s simply a rod rigged with something you don’t really plan on fishing with but have standing by just in case.

Here’s an example that convinced me to change my ways. I was fishing for grouper in the Gulf. All our rods were rigged with heavy weights and either live bait hooks or big jigs. After all, we were bottom fishing and that’s what you use. The ledges and rock outcroppings in grouper country take their toll on leaders and mainline, so we had a bunch of rods pre-rigged the same.

When a leader broke, you could simply grab another rod and continue fishing.

Mid-morning, a large cobia swam by the boat within casting distance. Not one rod was rigged for casting a jig or freelined live bait, and before we could rig anything up, the cobia calmly swam away. A spinning rod with a bare hook for a frisky live bait or a jig with a trailer tail would have been sufficient to put some tasty filets in the boat.

That changed my way of thinking. Having the option to quickly react to a fish-catching opportunity can be the difference between a high-five and a dang-it!

Oftentimes, the biggest fish of the day will be caught on your ready rod. For my arsenal, I rig up two spinning outfits: one with a heavy jig that I can quickly attach a plastic trailer to and another with a live bait rig that I can attach a live bait or even a piece of cut bait.

I also keep a downrod handy rigged with an egg sinker and a live bait hook. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve trolled over an area, hooked up, and then discovered the main group of game fish is about 30 feet below the surface. Having a rod ready to drop a bait immediately can be the difference between fishing and catching.

All these rods stay out of the way in my t-top rod holders, but anyone can grab one when the opportunity arises.

One other thing that I put in the ‘ready’ category and that’s having

pre-rigged leaders. The night before my trip, I tie up twenty leaders with hooks on one end and a swivel on the other. When I lose a rig, I can slide an egg sinker on the main line, and tie it directly to the leader swivel, and I’m back fishing in about 15 seconds.

If you make a habit of changing out your leader when the slightest signs of leader abrasion show up, you’ll bring more fish to the boat.

The point with a ready rod is to have ‘something’ ready to throw to a fish that only presents itself for a brief moment. Not being ready can equal a missed fish, so before your next trip, think like a Boy Scout and be prepared.

Rece a day on and tou Oconee. newcom a good th a fresh p for me a Now, have gr around on TV w lando W spotted b ter in L and seein shotting Yet the c perience shaky he around guys like Mack Fa bass on

Yeti Coolers and ClothingH Costa Sunglasses and Clothing Full Line of Fishing Tackle

We Carry

770-539-9356 M-F 9-7/SAT 9-6/ SUN 1-5

EVERY

Great Brand!

WE HAVE A FULL LINE AND ARCHERY SHOP WITH FULL TIME

250 JOHN MORROW PKWY

GAINSVILLE,GA 30501

ARCHERY TECHNICIANS ON STAFF

THEOUTDOORDEPOT.NET 16 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

404

ST

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST A DAY WITH KEVIN UNDERWOOD

By James K. Pressley, jameskpressley@gmail.com

Recently I got a chance to spend a day on the water with a new guide and tournament angler at Lake Oconee. Kevin Underwood is a newcomer from Lake Lanier. That is a good thing in my opinion. It brings a fresh perspective to the lake. It did for me anyway.

Now, I am from this area and have grown up bass fishing all around plus watching bass fishing on TV way back to the days of Orlando Wilson. I remember as the spotted bass fishery was getting better in Lake West Point and Lanier and seeing all kinds of stuff on dropshotting, ditch fishing, and the like.

Yet the closest thing I was able to experience at Oconee was a really good shaky head bite, but that was always around docks and rocks. Watching guys like O’Neill Williams and Capt.

Mack Farr on TV catching these big bass on deep ditches and the like

always intrigued me. Well, when Kevin offered a spot in his boat for me to practice with him before the March BFL on Oconee, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be interesting to see how a dedicated tournament angler practiced.

The first stop was a spot I had fished many times before, but Kevin went at it a little differently. He put his boat closer and hit specific points in the structure rather than fan casting or working any offshore areas.

He hit it close and with a spinnerbait. It wasn’t long before a 4-pound female pounded that bait, and the first fish was in the boat. I’ve never been with an angler who, while holding a solid fish, said “dadgum, I wish she hadn’t bit today!” It was hard for me to grasp that.

We hit two or three more similar spots and got follows and rushes.

This confirmed the pattern Kevin

SERVICES

• Mercury Outboard REPOWER/ Service/Repair • Mercury RACING Outboard REPOWER/ Service/Repair • Mercruiser Repower/Service/Repair •Volvo Service & Repair • Yamaha Service & Repair • Garmin Dealer • Transom Assembly Repair/Rebuild • Outdrive Repair/Rebuild • Electronics Installation & Sales • Pre-Purchase Inspections • Winterizations

wanted to see. We went from way up the river to a spot at the mouth of Richland Creek with Kevin tossing some crankbaits around. I was standing behind him on the deck watching the Humminbird 360 and MegaLive scopes. We saw tons of bait and fish hitting bait. A few tosses and we were out of there, this time hitting spots around the Ritz.

There we found a real ditch bite, just like the videos on Lanier. He landed a couple of smaller buck bass chasing bait in the ditches on an underspin.

The final stop of the day was up past Harbor Club. Kevin was hitting docks, rocks, and laydowns with a mixture of shaky heads and a DT-6 crankbait. That was a first for me.

I’ve never seen anyone have success throwing a crankbait into laydowns and working them out. Sure enough, Kevin pulled another nice bass out of there. This is a tricky technique, and if you don’t use the right bait, line, and rod, you will end up hung up more than catching fish. Be prepared to lose baits and bang the dickens out of them as well.

Here’s the takeaway for me.

Tournaments are different than fun

fishing with a specific period of time you must use to your advantage.

Don’t waste time on unproductive water and learn to quickly decide where your productive water is.

Pay close attention to details. He brought my bass fishing up a level that day.

Check out Lipsticker Fishing on Facebook, and tell Kevin I sent you.

Quality Marine is a Mercury Repower and Service Center that specializes in service and repair on Outboards, Sterndrives, and Inboard boats. Quality Marine is the ONLY Mercury Repower Center on Lake Lanier. Operating on Lake Lanier since 2015, the Quality Marine team focuses on QUALITY service at competitive prices.

Quality Marine LLC

6490 Bell Dr., Flowery Branch, GA 30542

404-402-3129 facebook.com/QualityMarineLLC COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 17

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE EUFAULA jigs are getting a good mess. Bluegill are doing really well on red wigglers near cover on the bank lines. Some good numbers are being caught.

The shellcrackers should be really active on the next full moon on June 14th. Native Americans call it the Strawberry Moon. You will be able to smell the beds on the flats. Anchor away from the bed and drop a wiggler on it. The fight on light tackle is always great.

Catfish are doing well on jugs baited with cut bait. If you can, use a cast net and get some live shad. They are good for the jugs and bottom fishing. Night crawlers are good also.

Check out www.alclassic.com and register for our October tournament.

Sign up for the newsletter and stay up to date with upcoming announcements.

Remember what we have been told by our game biologist that we can help our bass to grow bigger if we take our fish home and eat them or share with a friend. We are over populated with mid-sized fish.

We have the power to improve our fishery.

Springtime is here, and it is the perfect time to take your kids and grandkids fishing. Be safe on the water and use your life jackets. They will save your life. God bless and good fishing.

By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: 70’s, lake level: 187.61 msl, clarity: good stain.

The water level is holding fairly steady. The heavy shad hatch and the many fronts and constantly changing barometric pressure have the bass in a confused state, and they are not reacting to the lures presented in front of them. It is taking some slow presentations and a lot of patience from the angler to provoke a strike.

The deeper fish are hitting large worms, lizards and creature baits on a Carolina rig. Try rigging a floating hard bait on your Carolina rig and work it slowly through the deeper trash piles. The shallow bite is really early. Frogs and topwater lures are getting bit before the sun gets up very high. Blade baits and soft plastics are also a good choice on the shallow cover. Watermelon candy, green pumpkin and June bug are good colors.

Crappie are beginning to settle in on the natural structure and man-made structure in 10 to 18 feet. Minnows and minnow tipped

CARTERS LAKE

WE ARE NOW A CAYMAS BOAT DEALER

www.GeorgiaMetals.com

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

lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Water temperature: 77 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: 4 feet.

The walleye bite has been steady.

The majority of the fish are back on the main lake or in the main creek pockets set up in 40 to 60 feet of water near bait balls.

Striper bites have been good early on big fresh baits. Fish are feeding on the big schools of herring. We are fishing half way back in the creeks early then out on the main lake by sunup.

The trolling bite is getting better daily.

18 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

TM

Capt. Mack’s U-rigs pulled back at 150 feet is the go-to choice.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

alityatters! u Q re M Whe TEEL S

ST

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LANIER STRIPERS Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 The water temperature is in the mid-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. We are still seeing some topwater action as the stripers push herring to the surface, so be sure to have a Berkley Magic Swimmer ready to cast. Some of our biggest fish this past month have been on 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 green back ghost color Magic Swimmer. Walking baits like the Berkley Jaywalker will also be a good choice. Cast these lures on 12-pound

Trilene Big Game on a spinning rod. A good setup is a 7’ medium action Abu Garcia Veritas spinning rod paired with a Penn Conflict 3000 spinning reel. Don’t be afraid to blind cast the points. You do not have to see them schooling on the surface. That being said, we have been seeing some schools of 2040 fish schooling on the surface on a daily basis at random times throughout the day.

As the fish move deeper, look for the downline to take over usually around the first week of June. 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 Flourocarbon 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.

Points will be the key structure

in June. 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 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.

LAKE BURTON Forecast by: by Tyler Clore tyler.pps@hotmail.com www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 72 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: clear.

Largemouth: With the bass spawn finishing up, fish the shallows early in the morning with topwater. I prefer a white ¼ oz. doubled blade buzzbait. I also have success around the tree tops and boat docks with a Pop R. A weightless methiolate trick worm just under the surface is also a good technique for largemouth.

Spotted bass: Start early fishing points and humps with a white Zara Spook and weightless white Super Fluke. Keep your eye out for fish schooling on the surface. As

the sun gets higher, skip the Flukes under docks.

This is also the month for the herring spawn. The bluebacks will spawn on solid surfaces. You will see these rolling along the sea walls. If you get close enough, they will actually follow the back of the boat around and will be so thick it blacks your graph out.

You can fish white double willow leaf spinnerbaits, Super Spooks, Super Flukes or jerk baits around this spawn. You can literally throw anything that resembles a blueback into the massive schools of bait and catch fish. Keep an eye on your bait while you crank. You will feel the bait hitting your lure and they will follow it all the way to the boat.

This is a great month to get out on the water and fish.

Capt. Bill Wheeler (706) 914-9859 • (706) 444-6365

Striper/Hybrid Trips on Lake Oconee for only $250

$300

“I’ll give you your money’s worth to go fishing.”

www.gonefishingstriper.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 19

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST FISHING AND YOUR FAMILY VACATION PLANS Dr. Andrew Cox If reports are correct, it appears that the upcoming summer months will once again be a record breaker regarding Americans traveling this summer. Gasoline, hotel/motel rates, restaurant and meal expenses are all up even when compared to last year.

Accordingly, summer travel will be considerably more expensive than in years past.

Careful planning may be in store for those of you planning trips across the United States. In addition to experiencing increased travel costs, in some locales, there may be shortages of camping spaces, hotel/motel rooms and other accommodations, and rental automobiles that are available for travelers. Making advance reservations for your travel needs may be necessary.

If you and/or your family are traveling this summer, you could include some family fishing time at the locales to which you are traveling.

Plan ahead and take some fishing equipment with you that may be appropriate for the type of waters and fish species that you may encounter over the course of your travels. Better to have some equipment on hand rather than having to purchase or rent complete fishing outfits as an afterthought.

Do some internet exploration regarding fishing opportunities available at your travel locations.

Reviewing state natural resources/ wildlife resources departments for those states to which you are traveling will provide information regarding fishing opportunities, tips on fishing techniques and equipment, and other necessary information. Travel information/visitor centers located in the locales in which you will be spending time are other sources of angling information. Sporting goods outlets within your travel areas are a good source for angling information.

Advance preparation for angling trips can make the trip enjoyable or a source of irritation. After all, who wants to spend the extra time and money to purchase essential fishing items that are in your garage or storage areas at home? I adapted a packing tip from a friend who 20 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

is a backpacking enthusiast that made backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail where convenience stores and other commercial outlets are not readily available to purchase essential items. These lists aided in packing essential clothing, camping, and food items that may be needed over the course of the trip.

I store similar fishing lists on my computer and telephone for review in packing and preparing for a particular angling trip. I have several lists to accommodate both freshwater and saltwater day, overnight, or extended fishing trips.

If food preparation is required during the trip, inclusion of cooking utensils and items are included on the list. As these lists are stored on my computer and cell telephone, they can be continually updated to reflect changing fishing preferences and destinations. With advance preparation searching out the type of water that you may encounter on your family trip, you can have essential angling equipment available for your family’s use.

Use of these packing lists have customized and streamlined my fishing preparations. I usually have everything I need on the water rather than making a side trip, wasting time and money to locate needed items.

With these lists I can optimize my time on the water and make the difference between a good or bad fishing excursion.

Remember that family vacation outings are good opportunities to introduce fishing to children. Make sure to include angling equipment appropriate for use by young people in your vacation planning. Happy travels and be safe.

Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama.He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.

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

lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Water temperature: 75 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: 9 feet.

As we transition from spring to summer, all I can say is wow.

This lake has made such a great recovery from past years and is back to being a fishing destination.

The walleye population is doing great. We are seeing good numbers of fish. They have moved back to the main lake points and flats now and will continue to move deeper as we get into the month. Look for them in 40 to 60 feet of water holding tight to the bottom.

Crankbaits and spoons are my main tackle choices right now.

The fish will typically feed best in low light situations morning and night. We caught a handful of smallmouth last month that were confirmed to be successful stocked

fish from 2017 and 2018 stocking efforts. This is great news for the smallmouth fishing future.

The spots are finally done spawning and are on the hunt.

We had several double digit days of spots while walleye fishing with spoons last week.

LAKE MARTIN Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089 Water temperature: 74 degrees, lake level: 490.21 (full pool 491), clarity: clear to very clear.

For catching stripers in June, we will be slowly working our way down to the southern end of the lake to some of the deeper areas searching for a little cooler water temperatures. The bite will be getting earlier and earlier and almost nonexistent by mid-afternoon. We will then start back right before nightfall with a good bite throughout the night.

Live baiting will be the number one choice for us as a guide service, but sometime this month we will also be dusting off the Scotty Electric Downriggers and giving the trolling motors a little rest and do some trolling with our outboards. Never underesti-

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

Tommy Widemer weighs in a huge 45-pounder while fishing with Capt.

David Hare. mate the fun you can have trolling.

I have several clients who prefer this type of fishing, and you can catch some trophy size stripers trolling. As always, don’t forget keep your topwater plug tied on an extremely good spinning rod, because June will produce a few stripers busting on top.

Until next month, be careful and tight lines!

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST

ocking or the

done hunt. t days g with

rolling. fer this n catch ing. As ur topy good ill protop. ful and

Forecast By:

by Capt. Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com June is one of the best months on Lake Seminole to catch big bass on topwater lures! If planning a trip to Lake Seminole in June, be sure to have some topwater lures like buzzbaits, walking baits and hollow belly frogs in your tackle box!

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.

When 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. For this technique, a high-speed reel is a must, at least 8:3.1, and a heavy braided line. I prefer is 65-pound Cortland Master Braid on a 7’3” XH Temple Fork Outfitters Tactical Bass Rod. The shellcracker have been bedding on Lake Seminole and will continue into June and is an excellent way to get kids involved with fishing and the great outdoors!

I had an AWESOME trip with the West family from Thomasville, Georgia.

For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this June, give me a call at 850-264-7534 or follow us on Instagram @ Capt.paultyrefishing and Facebook @ capt.paultyrefishing

Hawk’s

Fishing Guide Service ON BEAUTIFUL LAKE EUFAULA

BASS -BREAM -BREAM BASS CRAPPIE-CATFISH CRAPPIE-CATFISH CAPTAIN SAM WILLIAMS

CAPTAIN SAM WILLIAMS

334-355-5057 334-687-6266 HAWK184@EARTHLINK.NET, WWW.HAWKSFISHING.COM HAWK184@EARTHLINK.NET, WWW.HAWKSFISHING.COM

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

By Gary Turner

Johnny Stabile and Laura Battye were picking me up and then we were going to drive to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and fish a day for trout and other fish that might be biting.

The mountain was closed, so we came in from the Knoxville side. As we made our way in, the GPS said to avoid an accident on the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge Highway. If you have never been on the back roads of that area, you are in for single lane steep roads.

Johnny brought his Pathfinder 2300 along for us to fish Lake Cumberland, our final destination.

Gatlinburg was just a stop for them to try and catch their first trout and see Gatlinburg. So here we are as the beautiful day turns to sleet, hail and snow. We come around a curve near the ridge over Gatlinburg and the big F250 starts spinning pulling the boat straight up this hill, so we had to stop and engage 4WD to continue.

We make it over the mountain and Gatlinburg is a parking lot. A combination of spring break and a car show are jamming the parkway. Welcome to Gatlinburg. We checked a few spots and headed to Pigeon Forge to a hole I know. We get there and it’s sleeting. We work down to the river and I catch a nice trout right off. Then Laura has one repeatedly follow hers in but no bite. The sleet turns to rain and we pack it in for the day. We have all had these days. You drive 1,000 miles dragging the boat, and the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate!

Early the next morning we hit the river and Laura catches her first smallmouth, and I catch a large redhorse. We pack up and head to Somerset, Kentucky where we catch up with Damon Melcho, the owner of Xtreme Bait Tanks. We tour the plant and see the tanks in progress, including my new 80 gallon. It was really cool to see them all being fabricated and assembled. We then head to Lake Cumberland.

The next morning, the wind is howling with intermittent rain. We launch anyway only to find giant waves and cold rain. We go back to the houseboat and hang out. Repeat

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

and repeat again for 2 more days.

The 5th day we ran to the Wolf Creek Dam and Johnny and Laura caught their first trout! The 6th day we packed it up and head to Guntersville.

We get to Guntersville just as a large band of storms rolled in and now we are under a tornado warning. The storms raged most of the night. The next morning we finally have some nice weather and fish! We caught fish all day with lots of hybrids, drums, skipjack and catfish. Laura even caught a 25-pound blue catfish.

The next morning, we met up with our friend Rocky Drake of Rocky Drake Outdoors to catch some big smallmouths. On the first cast Laura hooked something big on the little Daiwa 1000. After some work, Johnny netted a very nice striper. Rocky was dialed in and put us on the smallmouth. We all caught at least three fish over 5 pounds. We continued to catch lots more species and numbers. It was an epic day of fishing.

The next morning, we all headed home but are planning our next trip already. You can reach me at gary@ purgeright.com. Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 21

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE NOTTELY STRIPERS Trophy Striper Season is Here!

Forecast By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com

The long hot days of summer are finally here, and so are the insane schools of stripers and hybrids that this warm weather brings with it.

If you want to catch numbers, then June is a great start. 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. Check out our Facebook and Instagram page to see just what I mean, and of course read these awesome articles.

Lake Nottely is unbelievable for summer striper fishing. There’s nothing like starting your day off with the morning fog lifting and 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-

50 fish per trip 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 low 70’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 topwater bite has also been excellent, keep a Spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surfacebusting fish. By mid-month, these fish will really start to school up and we’ll switch to an all down line bite.

Just remember to keep an eye on your electronics and watch for schools off stripers. Also, remember to try to get

K

NOBODY SAID IT HAD TO BE FAIR FOR THE

FISH

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!

the fish back into the water as quickly 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

LAKE SINCLAIR Forecast By: Ken Sturdivant kensturdivant@att.net

gps & navigation

audio system design satellite & tv systems led lighting security systems custom installation manufacturer certified

Lake Sinclair is down 1.3 feet with the water temperature in the 70s.

Bass fishing is good. Bass are biting the all-white spinnerbaits or buzzbaits early in the creeks and just off the river. Middle of the day fishing is run and gun with trick worms half way in the creeks and off the river coves. Down lake in the creeks, the Rebel Deep Wee R in the parrot color is fair and cast it around any dock or bank cover.

On overcast days, the all-green Zoom trick worm or a buzzbait with silver blades and a white skirt is fair.

Up both rivers and on deeper creeks

Your resource for everything electronics, on & off the water.

Sales, Service and Installation 3292 McEver Rd. Buford, GA 30518 | 770.906.7331 | avcmarine.com

22 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

on points, use a bright Shad Rap in the #7 size in both shad and black back and baby bass. Down lake, work the main lake points with a Fat Free Shad in baby bass or a Lucky Craft Redemption spinnerbait with gold and silver combinations in willow leaf blades.

Day fishing is fair in the creeks on the ends of points. Worms in smoke and red colors on a Carolina rig are fair. Soft plastic crawfish imitations are working.

Berkley has the PowerBait Gilly and use it on a drop-shot rig and use dark colors next to docks or shallow cover for a fast strike.

Cast to any bank cover with the watermelon green floating trick worm half way in the creeks and the off river coves. As always, have a Zoom pearl Super Fluke ready.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

ST

rsville, guide d and Lakes e Blue e pros atured us help

KIM’S KITCHEN

WEST POINT LAKE

www.poundersseafoodmarket.com

HOME MADE FISH STICKS Ingredients • 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon paprika • 1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1 large egg, beaten • 3/4 pound cod fillets, cut into 1-inch strips • Butter-flavored cooking spray Feel free to add your favorite seasonings.

Directions: Preheat oven to 400°oven In a shallow bowl, mix bread crumbs and seasonings. Place flour and egg in separate shallow bowls. Dip fish in flour to coat both sides; shake off excess. Dip in egg, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere.

Pounders Seafood Market

Black Angus Beef and Fresh Seafood

The lake is close to full pool.

Water temps are 70s and low 80’s.

Water is clear over most of the lake.

Bass: Good - Largemouth are being caught on several different patterns. Topwater baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and buzzbaits can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds. A second pattern that works really well is to look for spawning shad and blueback herring. (The herring population seems to have exploded this year). Try fishing rip-rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and Zoom Super Flukes. Some big tournament sacks of largemouth are still being weighed in by guys targeting fish that are locked on bed. Try an unweighted merthiolate Zoom Trick worm or an unweighted ZLINKY. One other pattern is to look for fresh blowdowns with the leaves still on them. Try a jerkbait or Zoom Super Fluke worked around the outer limbs. Lots of spotted bass are caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with Ultra Vibe Speed Craws or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around

LAKE CHATUGE

Beef • Pork • Seafood • Produce • Poultry • Veal and Lamb

Catering Service • Cooked to Order

Meat And Seafood At Their Very Best 1210 Commerce Drive Suite 111 Greensboro, GA 30642

Phone:

706-453-4445 •

Fax:

706-453-2334

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 Pm Major Credit Cards & Debit Cards

www.poundersseafoodmarket.com

sloping gravel banks or around the many shoal marker poles scattered around the lake.

Linesides: Excellent - Spawned out hybrids and stripes are back down lake in June. Expect the downline bite on live bait to be awesome! Some fish have started schooling on the main lake and can be caught on small crankbaits, topwaters, Pop-n-cork rigs and Gotcha Swim Shad lures.

Also, fish can be caught trolling.

Crappie: Good - Spawned out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brush and structure or under docks for a while to recover. Shooting or pitching under the shade of covered docks or on bridge pilings is the way to go. Night fishing is usually awesome in June as well!

Bream: Good - The shellcracker population over the last few years has exploded with some really nice sized fish and good numbers being caught. Bedding usually takes place on the full moon cycle in June. Use live worms, crickets and small jigs for the best results.

Catfish: Good - Live and cut baits fished on bottom will catch cats all over the lake, as long as fairly deep water is nearby. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream or large shiner. Most of the big flatheads are caught in the Ringer/ Grayson’s Landing area north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee and the mouth of the smaller feeder creeks in that vicinity.

Water temperature: 68-70 degrees, lake level: full pool, clarity: clear.

Fishing has been good. Most of the fish have spawned and are starting to feed and move back out where they will spend the summer. I’m starting my mornings out fishing flats and small pockets off the main body of the lake where the bass will push the baitfish into during the night and wait to feed on them as they start back out at daylight. I’m targeting

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

these areas with a Whopper Plopper, Ima Stik, Zoom fluke and Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr. Since we’re just coming off the spawn, you should also see fish around brush and docks, I target these fish with a Zoom trick worm and Zoom fluke.

There will also be some fish that have already started staging out off points and offshore structure. I’m targeting these fish with a 3/8 oz. pb/j jig, drop-shot with a 6”morning dawn Roboworm, shaky head with a 5” green pumpkin finesse worm and a Ned rig.

Night fishing should really start picking up since the water is getting warmer. That means Texas rig worms and black spinnerbaits. Fishing should be good all month. Good luck!

JUNE 2022

ATLANTA 23

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS Trophy Striper Season is Here!

Forecast By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com

For us, the most exciting trips of the year on this lake begin in June.

Summer fishing on Lake Chatuge, which borders North Georgia, really gets fired up. 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. It’s not uncommon to do that in less than a couple hours, too.

These hybrids are Lake Chatuge’s hardest fighting fish, and we can definitely put you on some. You’ll have the fishing trip of a lifetime!

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. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines.

Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by midmorning. Topwater bite remains very good as well. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a Spook or RedFin at the ready.

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 on 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. In terms of location, 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!

Wall of Fame WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP! One will be given Twelve-year-old Mason Daniel matched his brother with his own 12-pound Lanier striper.

Scott Sisk with a gorgeous brown from the scenic Chattooga River.

24 ATLANTA

JUNE 2022

Six-year-old Logan Daniel with a big 12-pound striper caught on Lake Lanier.

Cohutta Fishing Company Owner Andy Bowen with a hybrid bass caught with Coosa Fishing Company Guide Tim Barr.

away each month for the best reader submitted photo!

Tony Brown from Villa Rica with a nice bass caught on Lake Wedowee.

Cohutta Guide Austin McDonald with a striped bass caught with Jacob Milholland of Cohutta Fishing Company

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/

Andy Micacchione from Fairfield Plantation with a 4 pounder caught in Carroll County

PARTING WATERS

LIKE NO OTHER INNOVATION DRIVES SUZUKI ON THE WATER Unparalleled throttle response and silky-smooth shifting along with the outboard is in a class of it’s own. With Suzuki Marine’s reputation for going to make memories that will last for years to come.

YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2022 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2022 Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament!

L

ong considered the granddaddy of all kingfish tournaments, the 42nd year of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament (GJKT) is slated for July 22-23 out of Jacksonville, Fla.’s Jim King Park at the confluence of Sisters Creek and the St. Johns River.

Started by local businessmen in 1980, the GJKT has spawned the interest of generations of anglers, and the inaugural event was held in July of 1981. Out of its success, Jacksonville Marine Charities was born and serves as the operating arm of the GJKT. Proceeds from the event will support marine science research, preservation and education. To date, well over $400,000 have supported these ventures.

Traditionally the tournament draws thousands of spectators, who enjoy the daily events and the parade of boats arriving to weigh their catch. This is as close to stadium spectating as it gets, because boats of all sizes and almost every make will make their way to weigh in. It’s great to root for the underdogs in the small boats. There will also be good food and plenty of drinks in the Liar’s Tent as well as entertainment. And don’t forget the Boatique, where you can purchase some very nice tournament shirts.

Since it’s inception, the GJKT has been a multi-day event, but with the

uncertainty of fuel prices, as well as a sputtering economy, the board of directors of the GJKT has adopted a format change. This year we have moved the tournament fishing days to Friday and Saturday. Friday will be the General Tournament Day. That’s right, it is a one-day general tournament day. Anglers may weigh in two of their biggest fish and the Ladies can weigh a Lady Angler fish. The Largest Kingfish and Largest Aggregate places, as well as Largest Ladies will all come from that one day of fishing. Saturday is dedicated to the Kids Jr. Angler Tournament, and fishing will end at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

All awards will be Saturday evening.

These changes will save you the whole second day of expenses that normally come with tournament week, such as lodging, fuel, bait, etc., as well as saving you from using up vacation days from work.

The tournament payout will still be the same! Anglers still fish for the best prize in the game, a 25-foot Contender with twin Yamaha 150s, rigged out and valued at over $160,000. Also new this year, the tournament will pay down to 20 places in Big Fish and 20 places in Aggregate as well as 10 places for Ladies!

The rewards are bigger than ever, and you’ll save the added expense and wear and tear of that second day. So do your homework and be ready for game day! The GJKT looks forward to having a great event.

For more information, please visit kingfishtournament.com

SPECIALIZING IN RESTORATION OF AGED, SUNBURNT, OR FADED LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS.

WE SERVICE MORE THAN JUST GAUGES! CHART PLOTTERS, VHF’S, RADARS, SOUNDERS, AUTOPILOTS, JET SKI CLUSTERS, AND MUCH MORE.

904-701-9726 • GAUGESAVER.COM 5049 HIGHWAY 17 SOUTH, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043

14 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

If your device has an LCD that has faded over time, or want to inquire about possible repair options for your unit, give us a call or visit our website!

ard of e have ay will eneral sh and sh and come Kids Jr. urday.

When things go south on the water, make sure you have towing from TowBoatUS. It’s the biggest and best towing service around, with 600+ boats on the water, the red boats are ready to help at a moments notice.

es that as well

GET UNLIMITED TOWING TODAY! BoatUS.com/Towing 800-395-2628

he best ut and own to Ladies! se and r game

Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/Agree. TowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service.

In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately.

REEL LIFE SUN & WATER COLLECTION

T REELLIFEGEAR.COM

his summer, staying cool and protected from the sizzling heat is no sweat for the Sun & Water Collection from Reel Life. The collection features a cooling, quickdry fabric with 360 degrees stretch that will keep you super comfy on and in the water.

From hoodies and long sleeve tees to boardshorts, the Sun & Water Collection has something for everyone willing to dive off the boat or relax on the white sandy beaches.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

NATIONAL 15

LURES

THE EARLY EARLY THE BIRD GETS GETS BIRD THE BAIT. BAIT. THE NETS FOR EVERY LIVE BAIT NEED AT

CASTNETS.COM OR FINER TACKLE SHOPS AMERICA'S BEST-SELLING CAST NETS 16 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

LURES

CASTING FAR FROM SHORE: THE DYNAMICS OF LONG DISTANCE LURES PATRICK SEBILE

If you read my column last month, I introduced the topic of true long-distance lures. This month, I’m going to present the elements of a lure that allow it to be cast a long way. I hope this helps you select lures that achieve excellent distance and action.

Shape: A lure that’s built for distance is elongated so that the widest diameter or width is no more than a quarter of the lure length. Width adds air resistance, which results in lost momentum and poorer performance.

On the other hand, counter to what some may think, very slim lures are also not the best.

Unless most of the weight is at the very end of the tail, a super slim lure will These see-through pencil lures illustrate tumble with air resistance weight placement for an optimized on a cast, which has balance of casting distance and fishing a negative effect on action. They also demonstrate proper distance. ratios between length and width.

The longest distance lures have their widest diameter at a fifth and a third of the length of the lure, from the tail.

Buoyancy: There is no doubt that sinking lures cast farther than floating lures with a similar shape. Within reason, the more dense a lure is, the farther it will fly. Depending on the brand, these can be called “Super Long Distance,” “Bullet” or “Rocket” type lures.

Unless you specifically want a topwater presentation, you want a lure that sinks at rest if you’re after distance.

Weight Position: To impart the most momentum to a lure in the casting movement, the majority of weight should be located between the tail and a third of the length from the tail.

Total Weight: This one depends on angler preference as well as the rod being used. There are situations when light tackle is called for. However, for pure distance, regardless of a lure’s dimensions, there’s a weight range between 1.5 and 4 ounces for most anglers and most rods to deliver the most efficient casts.

That can be narrowed down to a sweet spot of 2.5 to 3 ounces in most cases. Only trial and error will dial in what works best for you and your needs.

Appendages: The denser the lure, the better it is for the distance. The catch is, high density may impact swimming action.

The best lures offer the best of both worlds. Appendages such as side wings provide lift in the water when a lure is retrieved, which provides action without sacrificing casting distance.

Next month, we’ll speak about types of long distance lures.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear.

Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

Franchise Opportunities Available Nationwide!

PUBLISH YOUR OWN FISHING MAGAZINE! If you love the outdoors and dream of being in business for yourself, now is the time to choose a Coastal Angler or The Angler Magazine Franchise.

Established Brand • Proven Systems Training & Ongoing Support Work From Home • Be Your Own Boss • • • • • • • • • •

Alabama Connecticut/Rhode Island Charlotte, NC Destin/Pensacola, FL - SOLD Georgia (Coastline, Savannah) Lake Erie, Ohio - SOLD Lake Michigan Long Island, NY New Jersey Okeechobee, FL - SOLD

• • • • • •

Miami, FL - SOLD! Panama City, FL - SOLD! Tallahassee, FL/SW GA New Hampshire New Orleans, LA North Carolina (Raleigh, Wilmington) • South Carolina (Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach) • Texas (Coastal, Houston) • ...YOUR HOMETOWN!

Don’t see your location? Ask one of our specialists about franchise availability in your area.

321.777.2773

info@coastalanglermagazine.com

franchise.coastalanglermag.com

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

NATIONAL 17

Enter To Win! DF2.5 PORTABLE OUTBOARD

DEXTER VERSA~FLEX

FEATURES • DIGITAL CDI • ANTI CORROSION SYSTEM

T

he Suzuki DF2.5 portable outboard is the smallest Suzuki 4-stroke to date. Weighing just 30 pounds, the DF2.5 is the lightest Suzuki 4-stroke motor ever built. Suzuki is also proud to note that the DF2.5 meets the rigorous EPA 2010 and CARB 3-Star Ultra Low emissions standards. A 2.5 HP single cylinder OHV 4-stroke engine, with 4.15 cu. in. displacement, generates plenty of power for small tenders and inflatables. It features easy-to-pull recoil starting with Suzuki Pointless Electronic Ignition. No battery is required for this remarkably simple and reliable system.

Drawing held 8/1/22. Winners announced on Facebook.

CoastalAnglerMag.com/contest 18 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

D

exter’s Versa~Flex provides a superior ride utilizing patented torsion technology. Uniquely designed with independent suspension, Versa~Flex allows your boat trailer to pull smoothly and safely, matching all types of road conditions.

Versa~Flex mounts direct to the trailer frame to add stability and reduce flex. Each wheel-end is attached with a splined system that delivers maximum adjustability for your ride height. The one-bolt design can also be easily changed if damaged. Dexter offers Versa~Flex in capacities ranging from 3700 lbs. to 7000 lbs. to match your application. For peace of mind, Versa~Flex is backed by a 5 Year warranty.

Dexter is committed to providing its customers with the most durable, highest level quality, and performance torsion axles on the market. All axles go through rigorous safety and quality testing, so you’ll have no concerns of damage to precious cargo due to road shock. Their unique independent axle suspension means a smoother ride for your trailer and a greater peace of DEXTERAXLE.COM mind for you.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MITZI SKIFF:

the marketplace. Mitzi Skiff became the brand for skinny-water anglers who value simplicity and functionality. A Mitzi does everything the pricier skiffs do, yet they are affordable enough for any angler to own and operate.

About 30 years later, Mitzi has expanded to offer 15’, 16’ and 17’ skiffs that all perform the purposes of the original design exceptionally well. Continued innovation has made Mitzi a boat other builders imitate, and they still come at a significantly lower price point than the competition. The 17’ and the 17’ Tournament have become the brand’s hottest sellers.

“The 15’ took the micro-skiff market by storm,” said Brad Grubbs, who owns and manufactures Mitzi Skiffs in North Carolina. “Since then, the brand has sort of evolved toward the 17’, which works just fine as a multi-purpose boat. It really is a very nice boat, notwithstanding the price point.”

The Mitzi Skiff 17’ is a stripped-down and customizable version of the 17’ Tournament, which comes with the options Grubbs said most of his fishing customers were asking for. Both boats draft just 7 inches loaded, they pole easily, they pole straight, and they reach speeds into the 40s with a 60 hp engine.

While the 15’ is a one or two-man boat that’s at-home on the flats, the 17’ can fish three people and it’s got better range. The 17’s primary purpose is still as a flats boat, yet it also doubles admirably as bay boat.

“It’s not just a flats boats; it’s a little bit of an open water boat, too,” Grubbs said.

The 17’ features a modified V-hull with an 11-degree deadrise at transom.

There’s no hull slap, and rolled gunnels knock down spray for an exceptionally dry ride. They are built for light weight to run shallow, yet they are solid and durable to stand up to long years of heavy use.

From hideaway pushpole holders to flush-mount hardware, Mitzi has obviously put some thought into making decks clean and fishable for fly anglers. Large, clean and stable casting decks are something Mitzi has become known for.

“Keep it simple stupid, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” Grubbs quipped. f you’re a shallow-water angler, you might already know the story behind the legendary Mitzi Skiff. In the mid-1990s, Tom Mitzlaff started toying For nearly three decades, Mitzi has built skiffs for anglers more interested in with ideas to build a boat for his own use. There was nothing affordable fishing than in spending a lot of money. It’s a philosophy that works. on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. needed for fly fishing the flats. So, Mitzlaff built the original 15-foot Mitzi Skiff.

For more on Mitzi Skiffs, go to www.mitziskiffs.com.

It didn’t take long for anglers to take notice, and that boat revolutionized

PERFORMANCE ON THE FLATS THAT ANYONE CAN AFFORD

I

SPRINGTIME FISHING...

www.

.com

LET’S GO! 25’ C-Hawk CC

tented nsion, safely,

reduce imum easily m 3700 Flex is

urable, l axles erns of nt axle

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DEALER, VISIT US ONLINE:

www.MitziSkiffs.com • www.CHawkBoats.net COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

NATIONAL 19

AndAlusiA MArine & powersports inc.

Headquarters For All your Boating needs Xpress

1707 River Falls Street, Andalusia, AL 36421

Alweld

stingrAy

(334) 427-1428

VerAndA

Quest

All kinds of parts and accessories in stock and ready for delivery!

certified full line YAmAhA deAler!

GreAt service!

www.andalusiamarine.com www.facebook.com/andalusiamarine

t

CHOOSE FIBERGLASS PONTOON HULLS FOR THE BEST BOAT RIDE EVER StyleCraft Boats Makes Proprietary Fiberglass Pontoon Hulls

A

luminum has dominated the platform boat industry for years, until now. Move over aluminum, fiberglass pontoon hulls are the way to go for so many reasons.

StyleCraft Boats creates multiple versions of the popular pontoon boat, all based on proprietary fiberglass pontoons with a racing hull design. The advantages of fiberglass over aluminum are great for the boat owner.

Starting with the design, StyleCraft Boats uses A&M Manufacturing fiberglass pontoon hulls with a successful track record of a quarter century.

The unique design is not round but flat on the bottom. This produces a very shallow-running boat with a draft of just 8 to 10 inches. The flat bottom pontoon also enhances the boat’s performance. Getting on a plane is much quicker, and the boat quietly glides across the water with less friction. As a result, less engine horsepower is needed. Less horsepower means less fuel demand. With today’s gasoline prices, this is a huge plus.

Ever see an aluminum hull with welding scars that weaken the aluminum, bent fins or creased sides? The durability of fiberglass eliminates these issues.

The fiberglass on a StyleCraft Boat is 1/2 inch thick, with much more body than aluminum of equivalent weight. StyleCraft Boats can take the abuse and mishaps with little to no harm. And should the boat have an accident, the fiberglass can be repaired back to new condition.

No one enjoys boat maintenance, and fiberglass pontoon hulls are extremely user friendly. The very nature of aluminum causes electrolysis in saltwater, which deteriorates from corrosion on the hull surface in a big way. Not so with fiberglass. StyleCraft even coats the bottom of the pontoons with a special “SharkSkin” paint layer to reduce biological

growth of both plants and animals such as algae and barnacles. StyleCraft fiberglass pontoons always look clean, sleek and higher end.

So, what’s it going to be? The smart STYLECRAFT BOATS.COM choice is fiberglass pontoon hulls from 1-855-STYLECRAFT StyleCraft Boats for that next boat purchase.

m

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

JUNE 2022

NATIONAL 21

H

f A r s w d m

W B b i

N m a g

The Return of a

S T s

L s c

L t Custom Built Quality Outdoor BBQ Products Since 1989

Pig Cookers, Patio Grills, Smokers, Customized BBQ Trailers

For More Info 1-252-236-4464 www.BQGRILLS.com 6043 Hwy 301N, Elm City, NC 22 NATIONAL

JUNE 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

S

Flip Flip Hooray!

A perfect symbol of fun in the sun for only $79

H

ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation.

As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of the day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.

Why not re-create that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz.

Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch.

Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver

Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!

Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only!

To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size.

Chain sold separately.

“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.”

— Dolphins-World “This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean” — Vivian, Cabool, MO

Stauer

Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 Offer Code Price Only $79* + S&P Save $316!

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DPP336-03 *Special price only for customers using the offer code.

® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP336-03, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw The Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Rating of A+

BUSINESS

PARKIT360°:

BUILDING THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED TRAILER DOLLY

S

uccess stories are often driven by individuals with the ingenuity and work ethic to recognize and fill a need in the marketplace. The longevity of a dream results from a commitment to quality and continued innovation.

Parkit360° is such a story. In 2009, when founder Steve Houle brought his electric trailer dollies to market, it was the culmination of years working to fill a niche need. About a decade later, with business booming, Steve has passed down the same work ethic and problem-solving spirit to his son Stefan Houle, who now manages the company and continues to produce the planet’s most advanced trailer dollies for happy customers worldwide.

None of this happened overnight. Steve is a problem solver and the son of a millwright. He grew up around a machine shop using his mind, hands and machines to build things. He credits his father for instilling in him work ethic as well as the business sense to turn good ideas into marketable solutions.

“I’ve always enjoyed building solutions to problems I saw around me,” Steve said. “Being able to turn this hobby of mine into a career has been hands down the greatest experience of my life.”

Years ago, a problem manifested itself in dramatic fashion when Steve and his wife purchased a 27-foot cabin cruiser. On their maiden voyage, the wind blew them into another boat while maneuvering out of the docks. That costly mishap set Steve on a career path devising tools to maneuver large objects safely in small spaces.

“The same week, out of pure necessity, I developed my own bow thruster, spending countless days testing, developing, and finally bringing this product to the market,” he said. “We received great feedback from the release.”

That bow thruster became Sideshift, which revolutionized bow and stern thruster technology to make docking large boats easier. But Steve didn’t stop there.

“Backing a trailer into a tight spot can be the most frustrating experience in the world. I know firsthand,” Steve said. “I found this gap in the market and I aimed to do my best to fill it.”

Thus, Parkit360° was born. Steve started small, collecting feedback from RV enthusiasts and boaters and building prototype trailer dollies in his garage shop.

“My number one priority was to help individuals trying to fit their boats or RVs into a small spot in their garage or yard,” he said.

After seven prototypes, Steve finally built a product he was satisfied with. He began selling units one-off on ebay. Since then, Parkit360° has grown along with its reputation as a superior product. The company now

occupies a 12,000 square foot facility with numerous employees building thousands of units per year.

And as the passion for a product passes on to the next generation, Stefan is tasked with continued improvement to trailer dollies that are already more powerful, more versatile and easier to use than anything else on the market.

Check out Parkit360° at https://parkit360.ca.

PARKIT360.CA

©2022 Sea Tow Services International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Proven inshore. Proven offshore. and for those who catch.

We’re standing by to

Are you a member?

JOIN NOW seatow.com/angler

P360-COAS-FP-JAN-2021-OUTLINED.indd 1

1/12/2021 12:00:28 PM