The Angler Magazine | June 2023 | Greater Atlanta Edition

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Field Dress For Success

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Trophies Traditions !

or those of us afflicted with the fishing bug, nothing will deter us from returning to the ocean. We’re often planning our next trip before the current one is over. There is no difference between fishing daily, or being deprived for weeks, the fisherman’s mind will never stop nagging to get back out there.

Fishing stories and trophies are a great way to keep the inner fishing-monster soothed in between trips.

Photographs are an easy way to relive moments, and should not be overlooked. It doesn’t take much effort to get out a camera and capture the catch when it hits the deck while its colors are vibrant and the smile is fresh on the angler’s face. Friends don’t let friends take deadfish dock photos without at least a few taken out on the blue.

When it comes to fishing trophies, there is a whole lot more to be taken home than just some good photos.

The standard go-to trophies are wall mount replicas, which can easily be reproduced with some measurements and photos. This provides the opportunity to release the fish and also be able to take it home with you. Gray’s Taxidermy does excellent work with this type of customization, and outfits most charter companies with the

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

required paperwork to get you started on this process. Make sure to ask your captain about mounting your catch before you release the fish.

There are still people who work with the tried and true art of fish taxidermy, utilizing the fish itself, but these services are harder to find, and the product doesn’t last forever.

Gyotaku fish rubbings are another way to accredit the true size of a trophy fish. The fish itself is painted and printed on paper. This method does not allow you to release the fish, but if you work quickly, and utilize acrylics, the fillets may still be consumed. This is a fun method to try on your own, but there are artists you can hire for this as well. These trophies work out better when wall space at home is more limited.

Various parts of the fish can be taken and treated, such as bills, tails, skeletal systems and even eyeballs transformed into epoxy shot glasses. These trophies can have some of the best outcomes, but require some involved and stinky DIY processing. There are a variety of techniques for this, and endless creative potential.

Participating in fishing traditions is another great way to boost the excitement of a first catch, and add to the memory. Who knows how these got started, but it is our communal obligation to keep them alive.

I’m sure there are some I have missed, but here

are the ones I know of, and practice.

When you catch your first tuna, it is customary to eat the heart or, at very least, take a bite out of it. It’s not bad with a bit of lime and a chaser. Tastes a bit like what I would imagine tuna-jerky to taste like.

When you catch your first marlin, you earn a celebratory jump in the ocean. Usually, this is done back at the dock for safety reasons. This is the most refreshing dip you’ll ever take.

When you catch your first swordfish, your crew will hollow out the eyeball, as to make a cup out of it, and you then take a drink from it. I highly recommend being quick about this before extra slime leeches out into your drink. Don’t worry, it all tastes like victory.

However deep your commitment to your fishing affliction may be, the best trophy will always be memories of having a good time. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy being out there. Your local captains understand that it’s difficult to manage life between fishing trips, and we are here for you. Blue Magic Charters is available for your next fix, out of Marathon, Florida Keys.

Capt. Quinlyn, of Blue Magic Charters, is also a Gyotaku artist and a Gray’s Taxidermy agent. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

Electric AN GREEN DRAKE HATCH

small green drake just as it was annihilated by a frisky brown trout.

I hurried to tie on a Colorado Green Drake and caught a brown on my first cast. My second cast was taken as soon as it hit the water—a nice rainbow. By then, drakes were all over the surface and the trout were feeding without hesitation. One trout went airborne, and I swear it was looking for the next green drake on its way back down.

It was dry-fly heaven fishing my 7.5-foot “Perfectionist” bamboo rod (made by “Preacher Jim” Beasley, of Crossville, Tenn.) and a green drake tied on 5X tippet. But over the ridge came ominous blue-tinged storm clouds. The pyrotechnics began immediately, with lightning pinging down all around me. Seeking safe haven, I dove into a shallow creek bed that emptied into the river. Elk, deer and bear tracks had beaten down the bed and formed foot-high banks. It was muddy but much safer. At first, it was too dangerous to even sit up, so I lay in the mud and watched the hatch, which was still in full swing.

In 25 years fly fishing, I’ve only experienced two bona fide green drake hatches. The second time I witnessed one of these hatches it was spectacular, the stuff of legends.

Green drakes are large mayflies that, under the right conditions, hatch in huge numbers and send trout into feeding frenzies. It happened for me one afternoon at about 8,750 feet of elevation on a Colorado river. The left bank hugged the base of a mountain ridge and the right bank opened onto a flat meadow of grasses and wildflowers. It was hot and windy—a tough day for fishing dry flies, but I’m a stubborn dry-fly bigot. I refused to nymph and hadn’t caught a single fish until the weather changed. Clouds floated over the ridge and the temperature and pressure dropped. A bright-white flash and instantaneous rumble sent me toward the truck, but on the way I spotted a

Eventually, the lightning lessened, and I was able fish. Once, two fish—a rainbow and a brown—came from opposite directions and arrived at my fly at the same time. A violent collision of noses ensued, and both fish quickly retreated. My drake was partially submerged after impact, but a different brown appeared, circled once, and daintily took the fly. He was not happy when I hooked him!

Once, I was surprised when my drake drifted almost back to me without a strike. Just as I was picking up the fly to cast again, an upstream brown came like a freight train. It took the fly on the uptake, went airborne and hit me in the chest. When you get nailed in the chest by a 16-inch brown, it’s gotta be a green drake hatch!

This short story (copyrighted by the author) and many other true-life fly fishing adventures can be found in Michael Fitzsimmons’ book “Adventures of a Dry-Fly Junkie,” available only on Amazon. Contact the author at dry_fly_junkie@hotmail.com.

By Michael Fitzsimmons

PHOTO BY GAIL HAMPSHIRE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS

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MITZI SKIFF: Affordable Performance on the Flats

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.

Going back to the mid-1990s, Mitzi Skiff has led the industry with no-nonsense flats boats for skinny-water anglers.

In the very beginning, Tom Mitzlaff’s intent was to design the boat he needed to fly fish the flats. He couldn’t find an affordable boat on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability he needed, so he designed and built the original 15-foot Mitzi Skiff.

That boat revolutionized 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

From hideaway pushpole holders to flushmount 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. For nearly three decades, Mitzi has built skiffs for anglers more interested in fishing than in spending a lot of money. It’s a philosophy that works.

Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. For more on Mitzi Skiffs, go to www.mitziskiffs.com.

CHATTOOGA RIVER

Provided By: Karl Ekberg Chattooga River Fly Shop www.chattoogariverflyshop.com

864-638-2806

The month of June looks to be much the same as May as far as weather goes. This has been one of the best Spring seasons we have seen in quite some time. The major ninety-degree heat has held off this Spring and the trout fishing has been spectacular. The cooler spring weather and sporadic rainstorms have kept the trout waters cool and the water levels at good flows. Evening fishing is a delight, with evening hatches being the highlight of nature. Many fish are exploding out of the river to catch the many bugs trying to take flight.

June brings summer vacation, wet wading, and taking the kids fishing like at the free, Kid’s fishing Rodeo at Burrell’s Ford Campground on the Chattooga River, put on by the U.S. Forestry Office. This event is all about kids fishing. It’s on June 3rd, with registration from 8:00AM and the fishing starting at 9:00AM. Many prizes for the

kids and a lot of fish to be caught. Taking the kids to fishing derbies and events like this is a great way to introduce children to fishing, in areas where many fish have been stocked, to keep their interests and excitement high.

The first light and last light of the days of summer are best for the trout. Get out at daybreak, with dry flies, nymphs, and emergers. In the evening the dry fly is the way to go. Dry dropper rigs for the day are very popular, with high floating foam dry

flies which will suspend nymphs through any type of water situation. Having plenty of dry fly flotant for the day or evening, whether it is powder or gel, is a must. Pretreating the dry flies prior to going to the river and having the dry powder to dry the fly out after catching a fish is a great plan. Find the riffle areas which then lead into long glides to find the best dry fly fishing.

Warmer months also means it’s Bartram’s Bass time! Top water fly fishing for these gems of the bass family is an absolute treat for one of the Redeye Bass family. The water temperatures are above fifty-five degrees, and these fish are out and about, and readily available to eat some top water presentations. Water levels on the lower Chattooga can be tricky, but a good rule of thumb is, anything below 1.25 feet on the

FULL MOON JUNE 4, 2023

NEW MOON JUNE 18, 2023

Burrell’s Ford gauge, then the river is safe to wade below the West Fork confluence. Finding slower moving water for the bass is best, along with back eddies with a lot of over hanging trees and brush. The most tropical fish of the Chattooga, the Red Breast Sun Fish, may be caught in these areas as well. Their fire-orange breast with blue coral colored masking from their mouth to their gill plates makes this fish a treat to catch. These fish are finicky, but will take small top water poppers, and some small streamers.

Keeping hydrated and sun protection is key to having a great day out on the rivers. Let all of us remember “Leave No Trace”, as we can always bring out a little more than we walked in with, and the entire forest will be a better place for ages to come.

Clay Herron with a great Chattooga Brown.

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

I Can Do That!

‘I can do that!’ That is how several of my biggest accomplishments in life started. I saw an article in a fly-fishing magazine that said, ‘ Federation of Fly Fishers- Casting Instructor Certification testing at The Atlanta Fly Fishing School this weekend.’ Yep, I said to myself.... And so, I went. A beautiful venue with friendly faces and well organized. First was the written test. A lot of words and math that I had no idea what it was about; Rule of 9’s, Rule of 3’s, tailing loops, 6 step method.... Thank goodness it was multiple choice and I guessed correctly. I passed. Now out to the field to show them how good I was.

Let me start this by saying, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. On the first task, THEY KNEW I didn’t know. The task was to go from wide loops to nar-

row loops, no tailing loops (there is that word again, what is a tailing loop?). Then I was to explain how I did it, and then how I teach it. I was a fair fisherman, I was an average at best caster, but I had no idea what was needed to teach fly casting on an instructor level. I would tell my friends, ‘ Go like this’, or ‘Wait for the tug in the back’. But that was the extent of it. By the end of the task, let me restate that, by the first minute of the task they knew I didn’t have any skills or ability that would benefit anyone. They asked if I ever had professional instruction, taken classes, or studied with a group...’Nope’. ‘Wait, I had taken an Orvis weekend class and learned knots, reading water, what equipment I needed to buy and spent a little time casting!’ At that point they advised me they couldn’t

pass me, but asked if I would like to go through the rest of the test for fun (I paid to take the test, why not) We did have fun, they taught me all kinds of things. And at the end of the test, I said thank you and left. Oh, but wait, there’s more.

The next day was the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show. Peter Lami was the examiner who tested me the day before. He was there and asked if I wanted to talk more about becoming an instructor. We talked for about an hour. He asked why I wanted to be an instructor. Asked if I was willing to commit to study and practice without fail. He saw that I had potential (Potential, I hate that word. It means I’m not doing it.) Fly fishing and fly tying were things that I did all the time anyway, so I said yes, I would like to try again. He made a commitment to me and I to him, and we shook on it.

In the months that followed, we met once a week for two hours, and then I would practice and study. I hadn’t read that many books in high school and college combined. He had organized a study guide that spelled out almost everything. It was VERY in depth, and I ate it up. Loved it. It was blowing my mind. I was always into the sport, art and hobby of fly fishing, but this got into

the science, and it was great.

I wrote this article to encourage others to pursue an in-depth knowledge of fly casting. It will change your world and not just fishing. As an instructor I have been able to co-create organizations like the Atlanta Fly Fishing meetup and Veterans Fly Fishing. The network of people I have been introduced to have become some of my best friends. It’s a journey that started with, ‘I can do that!’ I always like to give a tip or trick in the Casting Corner, here it is ‘Wait for the tug in the back’. You’re welcome.

To learn these wind casts and more, check out Fly Fishers International, or let’s set up a casting session. www.flyfishersinternational.org/ Learn/Learning-Center-Resources rjhesse@bellsouth.net

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service

Now that the Spring hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies are behind us the trout will begin to look for alternative food sources on the Chattahoochee Tailwater. June is the beginning of the “terrestrial insect invasion” with “land-based creatures” like ants, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, and crickets to name a few that build their peak populations for the entire summer. Anglers will hear the odd splash in the river with bubbles left on the surface of the river, which is the first sign of a terrestrial bite. Land based insects float initially when they fall in the river and trout will quickly rise for them in an opportunistic manner. Try slamming down a hopper pattern under the drip line of overhanging vegetation along the riverbanks and you will be pleasantly surprised by the reaction from t he trout. Also, other aquatic critters in the river that spend their entire life

cycle under water become available to the trout in the crustacean family like crayfish, scuds and sow bugs. Flies t hat imitate crustaceans can be presented subsurface but jigged and twitched to mimic the swimming action of these creatures.

SUMMER YAKKIN’

By Jeff Durniak Unicoi Outfitters

As summer arrives, our trout fishing opportunities dry up. That’s when many of us flyfishing addicts launch our kayaks. You can, too. Here’s the what, where, and how of summer yakkin’.

First, you need a boat. Just get a boat that floats, on the water and in your checkbook. You can find simple, affordable yaks at big box stores or even shop online for a decent used model. My first one was a third hand “playboat” and paddle from a Craigs List ad. It was the most basic of sit-on-tops, just a piece of plastic that floated. I added a good PFD, the high-back version for yaks. Youtube was a great place for outfitting ideas. I lashed it to the top of my little Civic via pool noodle cushions and several cam straps that went around the yak and through my car windows. I made an anchor from a retractable dog leash and 3 feet of heavy chain from my hard-

ware store, and I was in business! Santa has since upgraded me to an awesome Feelfree Lure 10 from Unicoi Outfitters. It slides nicely into the bed of my pickup and its built-in stern wheel lets me roll it right to the water.

Be safe! Always wear that PFD. Consider taking a lesson from your local paddling outfitter or kayaking friends’ group and go fishing with a friend for fun and safety. Google will lead you to great sites like GA Kayak Fishing, Ga Canoeing Association, and reputable outfitters.

NO BOAT?

Where to go? Our state is blessed with many ponds, county and state park lakes, and larger rivers. Just make sure your destinations are public waters or that you have written landowner permission. Your local GADNR Fisheries office and county game warden can name some spots for you, so just call the numbers in your copy of the GA

fishing regulations brochure.

Finally, the “how.” Take advantage of the low light of dawn and dusk or shaded banks and aim your yacht toward fish cover: downed trees, boulders, and docks. Stay off the water during the midday heat; the fishing is usually slow then anyway. I carry my sling pack with a box of river bass bugs (see my August 2020 column) and a few smaller bream poppers. When it’s sunny I like to throw bream poppers/foam bugs that will also attract smaller bass. At lower light, I’ll toss a Kent’s stealth bomber in hopes of bigger bass. All my topwater bugs must have long rubber legs! When topwater action is slow, I’ll add a nymph or woolly bugger dropper. I’ll usually twitch my bug and then let it sit still rather than pop it and scare off my nervous quarry (June 2021 column).

Give yakking a go during summer and enjoy some great warmwater flyfishing. Get to those prime spots that were out of reach from the bank. Like our UO gang, you might just get hooked on yakking, too.

NO PROBLEM!

NO PROBLEM!

Gainesville’s Lake Lanier is home to the Upper Lanier Water Trail! This 14 mile water trail is perfect for kayak fishing, with 5 lake park access points. No kayak? No problem. Longwood Park is home to the Kayak Shack vending machine! Find out more at ExploreGainesville.org!

EXPLOREGAINESVILLE.ORG

Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly FishersMaster Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com

770-639-4001

Fine Tuning Presentation

Presentation of the fly is most aways more important to a trout than the fly pattern used. There are exceptions of course. Very educated trout in highly pressured water will show favoritism toward certain patterns that probably won’t result in getting their faces ripped off for the twelve time. That fly moored by too heavy or inflexible tippet causing drag will usually get passed up by almost any trout though. All that fish really care about is the last foot or so of tippet, the fly and the fact that it doesn’t scare the crap out of it. Your leader system is more important than your thousand-dollar fly rod especially if you don’t know how to use it. Czech nymphing is so very effective at close range because of the ability to eliminate drag from your drift. Using straight small tippet as your “leader” slices through the water making the contact with the fly and fish instantaneous and effective. If the need to cast the fly to a waiting fish at a bit of a distance comes up, leader design becomes more critical. Sure, you can use a typical storebought leader of monofilament or fluorocarbon and have some good results but what if you tweak that leader system and could get great results? Building your own leaders is almost a lost art used by just a few anglers out there. Here’s a system, that I use, that I’ve worked out over the past 40 years of fly fishing that

has made success on the river easier, more effective and less expensive for me and my clients. Building leader butts with a connected 2 mm tippet ring allows me to change tactics, drift depth, drift speed, buoyancy and to get 3 or 4 trips out of a leader instead of just one. Four or five feet of butt section of pure nylon or a hybrid of nylon and fluorocarbon allows fine tuning of your presentation to give the fish a fly that enters the strike zone for that particular time period a lot more than a straight up machine produced leader ever could. It is a little time consuming to tie your own but very rewarding to catch a fish on your own creation kind of like fly tying. A mono butt section of 30 lb. blood knotted to a 20lb. mono or flouro to a 12 lb. section of mono or flouro of equal lengths of 16’’ to 24’’ to a tippet ring will result in a nice casting leader that will give you a great presentation for finicky fish by adding an appropriate tippet section. Full monofilament for dries, one section of fluorocarbon for normal nymph fishing in shallow water, two fluorocarbon sections for deeper water or full fluorocarbon sections for even more depth or streamer fishing. Experiment with maybe this formula or come up with your own and I guarantee you will put a few more fish in the net this year.

JUNE ON LANIER:OFF-SHORE TOPWATER TIME!

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 offshore 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 cold April and dispersed spawn we have experienced. Keep that in mind in terms of the timing of your pursuit of this bite. Post-spawn, many fish will be relating to key features at the mouths of the major creeks as well as main lake areas and 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 (Example – brush piles, which will often concentrate the fish and can be found in 20-25 FOW), will be important to your success.

Lures and Presentation

Now that we have explored the location that the spots can be found in June as well as how to find them, let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish.

1. Topwater – There are many bait choices in the top-water category –poppers, walkers, wakers, etc. The preference of the fish will change day to day, so make sure to experiment daily to identify the mood of the fish as well as their preference in presentation. Excellent topwater baits for Lake Lanier from Berkley include JWalker, Cane Walker, Hi Jacker, Surge Shad, Choppo, and Bullet Pop. These lures as well as all the rods and reels you will need to present them can be purchased at local tackle shops such as Hammond’s Fishing in Cumming, GA. The friendly staff at Hammond’s Fishing will be happy to help you make the proper selection and match the rod and reel to the pre-

sentation you are seeking. Make sure to check out those G Loomis rods and Shimano reels - truly world class tackle!

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 Lanier Baits Magic Swimmer. Vary your retrieving speed and depth with this bait until you find the retrieve for which the fish are searching. Look for these baits to be a big producer of monster spotted bass in June.

3. Underspin from GA Blade –We have talked about this bait in previous articles. 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 sun will concentrate the fish in this type of cover and 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. Explore different worm and jig sizes, shapes, textures, and colors when you are fishing. Something different presented appropriately can make a big difference on certain days. Keep trying until you find the presentation for which the fish are searching for that day.

Tackle

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

Monofilament (and braided) fishing line floats, whereas fluorocarbon line sinks, which makes either monofilament or braided line the best option for presenting topwater baits correctly. As far as choosing a rig for fishing these topwater baits, consider the weight of the bait as your deciding factor. Lighter poppers and smaller walking 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. I appreciate the extra rod strength to cast these big baits and manage the big fish you will catch on them. As far as the many other soft and hard swimbait options, you

can scale back to a medium-heavy rod if you prefer, but I recommend keeping the length at 7 feet or more. G-Loomis also offers some outstanding topwater rods from which to choose. I really like the IMX Pro options. Check out the options at Gloomis.com.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the best fishing on Lake Lanier during the month of June! Want Detailed Weekly Video Reports supported by Daily Video Fishing Updates? Subscribe to Jimbo’s Video Fishing Reports – learn the lures, patterns, and locations that work before you go fishing! Stay in the know with Jimbo! Subscribe here: https://jimboonlanier. com/jimbos-weekly-video-fishingreports/

Jimbo is a Full-Time, Year-Round Spotted Bass Guide on Lake Lanier. Contact him today to book a trip! Mobile - 770-542-7764

LAKE LANIER CRAPPIE

Forecast By: Captain Josh Thornton 770-530-6493

www.crappieonlanier.com | www.fishingwitheverydayheroes.org

The water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s. Crappie are still shallow, check blow downs in shallow water. Look for shallow docks less than 15 feet deep. The crappie are suspending under neath in less than 10’.

Dark colored jigs are working well. I prefer black with a chartreuse tail or a solid dark purple jig. Minnows under a bobber set at 3-4 feet deep have been working well. Crappie love the shade so cast into the shadows

or shaded areas of dock. When dock shooting the biggest fish are usually the first to bite. I use 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 Acc crappie stix. I use Garmin Live Scope and a Power Pole.

If you haven’t yet check out www.4heroutdoor.com/ Find me on the web or Facebook and like my pages.

Forecast By: Shane Goebe Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team Lakes Chatuge, Nottely, Blue Ridge and Hiwassee (828) 361-2021 | www.bigolfish.com

The long hot days of summer are finally here, and so are the insane schools of stripers and hybrids. We always tell everyone, “If you wanna catch numbers, then June is a great start”. It’s the perfect time to hit the lake and catch some amazing fish! FYI, when I say numbers it’s not uncommon to catch 30-50 of these explosive stripers in just a couple of hours. Now, 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.

Currently, Lake Nottely is at full pool. Water clarity is clear through-

out 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 earlymorning and evening bites are your best times to see action. In the early morning hours, we are still pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and shad. As the sun comes up in the later morning hours, start to focus on deeper water and switch to down lines. Target creek mouths and points off the main channel. As the top-water bite has also been excellent, keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag those surface-busting fish. By

mid-month these fish will really start to school up and we’ll switch to 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 the fish back into the water as quick as possible.

June is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and Blairsville Georgia’s premier full-time guide

service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on!

ENJOYING CLOSE TO HOME FISHING DESTINATIONS

Dr. Andrew Cox

The summer vacation time period is now beginning. Due to our economic inflationary times, travel expenses such as lodging, food, and fuel costs are way up. Unfortunately, these increased costs may impact the amount, and duration of family vacation time and locations. For many families, getting out of the home and spending time outdoors may be a welcome break but an economically difficult endeavor. However, you and your family could consider shorter family oriented day, overnight, or weekend trips. With some planning, fishing for the child, adolescent, or adult anglers in your family can be incorporated into these family trips. Such trips may be an opportunity to introduce children in your family to the joys of fishing and other outdoor activities. Fishing can be incorporated within other activities so that children do not become bored or disinterested in angling. Short periods of fishing can be interspersed with other activities that spark children’s attention when planning a family outing spanning a day, or weekend.

When on overnight family outings, some may stay in a hotel or motel. However, this may be a good time to explore and enjoy camping. There are many good camping destinations close to Georgia and Alabama residents. Some of these are close to or have fishing opportunities available for you and your family to sample. Though more expensive, there are lodges and self-contained outdoor lodging that have outdoor activities to include fishing on their premises.

Accordingly, with some research and planning, you and your family can enjoy close by fishing and outdoor activities during the summer time period. Families residing in Georgia and Alabama can access many good waters within three hours or less driving time.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources manages ten public fishing areas around the state. These waters have good fish populations, a variety of fish species, and good access for the boating or bank angler. The Department also has excellent written information describing various lakes, rivers, and streams across

the state to include access, dominant fish species, fishing forecasts, and other information of interest to the prospective angler. This information can be accessed via http://georgiawildlife.com/fishing. Make sure to check to ensure that these areas continue to be open to the public.

Other Georgia fishing opportunities are available in the reservoirs constructed for public drinking water. Many of these are located within the Atlanta metropolitan area. Some of these reservoirs allow fishing and provide boating access, usually without the operation of an outboard engine. I particularly enjoy fishing these drinking water supply reservoirs located in Fayette County, Georgia.

The Alabama Department of Wildlife Resources has a similar website (www.outdooralabama. com). This website provides information describing rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes across Alabama. This allows the prospective angler to identify and plan trips to Alabama waters within easy driving distance from your home.

Alabama also maintains twentythree public fishing lakes located in twenty counties. Some of these are quite large with boating access. Some have specialized angling regulations. These lakes provide excellent fishing success with some located within easy driving distance for Georgia anglers.

Both Georgia and Alabama have an extensive system of state parks and state lands. Many of these have fishing, lodging, camping, as well as other activities that families can enjoy. State government Internet websites are available describing these state parks, facilities, available activities, as well as any costs that may be required. Lastly, you can explore access, activities, and potential overnight lodging available on Georgia Power and Alabama Power reservoirs and properties. Power company websites are also available describing these outdoor opportunities.

This time of year provides opportunities for you and your family to take a break from your daily routine and enjoy fishing and the outdoors. You may provide opportunities for

your family and children to create memories that they will carry with them throughout their lifetime. Enjoy the great outdoor opportunities available to us in Georgia and Alabama. Remember that we must take extra steps to protect these resources so that they are available for future generations. These activities also help to support local and small businesses that have been hard hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, labor shortages, and increasing business costs.

Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia,

Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. He enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout using fly, bait casting, and spinning equipment. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@ aol.com.

LANIER STRIPERS

Forecast by:

Capt. Clay Cunningham

www.catchingnotfishing.com

770-630-2673

The water temperature is in the low 70s and climbing each day here on Lanier. The water has been clear on the south end and slightly stained on the north end. The lake is still almost full pool.

Now that June is here, look for the stripers to progressively move deeper as the water temperature rises. Start your search in 10 to 20 feet of water. You will still see some topwater action as the stripers push herring to the surface, so be sure to have a Berkley Magic Swimmer ready to cast. Several trips this past month our biggest fish has come on the Magic Swimmer over live bait. Day in and day out it is hard to beat the Magic Swimmer. All the colors in the Magic Swimmer work. On sunny days, try the chrome Magic Swimmer. The chrome is the hot new bait. Cast these lures on 10or 12-pound Trilene Big Game on

a Spinning rod. A good set up is a 7’ medium action Abu Garcia Veritas spinning rod paired with a Penn Conflict 3000 spinning reel. As the fish move deeper, look for the downline to take over. Spool up a Penn Fathom Linecounter reel with 15-pound Trilene Big Game on a Shakespeare medium light action Striper rod. Tie on a Capt. Mack 2-ounce swivel sinker, a four-foot leader of 15 pound 100% Trilene 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 bait. Key in on points to start your search. You can use traditional 2D sonar or down imaging to see these fish. Great electronics like the Humminbird units are a must. Overall, June is a great month on Lanier for stripers. The spawn will be over, and the stripers metabolism will be wide open. As mentioned last month, the fish are getting bigger so use heavier tackle than in past years. See you on the water.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

LAKE MARTIN

Provided By: Capt David B Hare

Alex

City Guide Service | 256-401-3089

2036 Cherokee Rd., Suite 205 | Alexander City, Al. 35010

davidbhare@yahoo.com

| www.alexcityguideservice.com

Fbook/alexcityguideservice/LakeMartin

Well, with spring behind us and summer upon us it’s time to focus on the lake bite instead of the river and or the creeks.

For the majority of June, I personally like from Blue Creek north, all the way to the RR Bridge. I try to be on the water as early as the clients can withstand, the later in June the earlier the bite. You need to concentrate in deeper water looking for bait fish. If you start marking bait fish, you are in the right area. For the last several years, the smaller the lures or live bait you use the more stripers you’ll bring over the rail. Also, something that has been happening here in June is a very good top water bite. It’s not rocket science finding these fish, it’s

all site fishing and running and gunning. I keep 4 to 5 spinning rods with spooks, redfins, pop r’s, etc. ready to cast, in June. When you find surfacing stripers you most likely will be able to

fish in the same area for several days in a row. As always be extra careful with multiple people on your boat while doing this because most anglers get very excited and may accidentally hook you while casting. Keep very sharp cutting pliers handy to cut hooks out if you unfortunately have this happen on your boat.

Even though I do not recommend it, due to the boat traffic, inexperienced drivers and drunk drivers, stripers can be caught at night here also. Again we do not offer night trips anymore just because of what I just mentioned but I have people ask me if they could catch stripers on their own at night and the answer is yes, but I have never thought a fish is worth chancing a bad accident or worse.

June fishing on Lake Martin is really good and if you can fish Sunday thru Friday, it’s a lot more enjoyable for you as an angler, over trying to fish on Saturday when the lake is so busy starting about 9-10 am .

I hope this June produces some good catches for you and always Tight Lines.

Full Pool Clarity is clear 80 + surface temp

CARTERS LAKE

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

| lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Last month was wide open on this big deep monster of a lake. The bait spawn was super fun as usual with lots of activity from multiple species. Walleyes, big stripers and some magnum spots were all players last month. The walleye have been in shallow water feeding really well at night, from 5 to 20ft deep. The jerk bait/crankbait bite was great last week and should continue for a while. Dark colored lures fished up against the shoreline has been our go to method. During the day the walleyes slide down into 40 to 60 feet of water avoiding the summer sunshine. Live alewives and night crawlers fished on a jig, or a small circle hook is the best way to catch them during the daytime.

The stripers have started head-

ing deep, in the last week, as the temperatures rise. We are catching fish as deep as 50 feet already and expect to see this continue as we go into summer. Live fresh Alewives are still the choice of champions to trick them on to your hook. We have already started to downsize leaders and hook size. 12lb leaders,1/0

hooks and 1.5 sinkers are working good right now. The bigger the bait the more attention they seem to

get from the striped fish. As far as location goes the fish are still in the creeks early but are cruising humps and points after sunup. The night bite for stripers has been pretty good as well fishing over the green lights near the boat ramps.

Temperature: 72 degrees

Level: Full

Clarity: 2ft

SPOT CHOKER THE ULTIMATE UNDERSPIN

By James K. Pressley jameskpressley@gmail.com

A few weeks ago, I told you guys about catching hybrids and stripers on Sinclair with Spot Choker Underspins, Pulse jigs, and Cast Prodigy baits. Well, Mr. Spot Choker himself, Rob Williams, reached out to me and we started talking about getting together to fish. We went out about a week or so ago and hit Lake Sinclair in search of hyrbids, stripers, and whites. What we found was a catfish, big hybrid, and new friends.

Let’s start with this cool little announcement. You can now buy Spot Choker Underspins over at Sugar Creek Marina! How cool is that! I love supporting small businesses and Sugar Creek supports our community more than most will ever know. William always steps up for the Striper Club, all kinds of HS fishing teams, and numerous other functions, groups, and charities around the lake. Plus, let’s be honest… he’s got the best fried chicken around. Mr. Rob from Spot Choker is the same way. He’s as fine a man as I have ever had on my boat and he, very fortunately for all of us, KNOWS how to make an underspin! Just an FYI… I am not paid by Spot Choker. I honestly believe this is the best underspin on the market and the sheer number of spots, hybrids, and stripers my clients and I have caught on this bait is amazing.

Spot Choker just released a new Pro Model bait that has the best thing I have ever seen on an Underspin, and I fish a LOT of them. They added a screw lock to the head. You now thread the bait on and LOCK it in place. So, what does that really mean? First and foremost, it increases the life of your soft plastics exponentially. I’m not even kidding here. Want to catch 30 spots on a Keitech? Use this head. Want to catch 40 hybrids, stripers, and whites schooling on one Zoom Fluke? Yeah, switch to this head. Next, it helps you line up the bait correctly. Believe it or not, the screw lock does not bulge the head at all, so you still have a slim and compact shape. The next big thing about Spot Choker is they run true. Even if you burn them, they will not roll over. Go to my Facebook page (Southern Born Gentleman) and you can see some video testing and some catches.

Underspins are a truly versatile bait. From mid-winter deep cove and ditches to bottom dragging to the shad spawn and matching the hatch… you can do

All SizeS of GizzArd ShAd

it all. I run them along docks all year to catch fish suspended there and over rocks during the shad spawn using a Suicide Shad. I throw them to schooling fish in Sinclair and in the late summer when the whites and hybrids school on Oconee at dawn or dark I throw them with various size and styles of baits for them. This is a bait almost as versatile as a Texas rig worm.

Now, Mr. Rob and I didn’t set the world on fire that afternoon on Sinclair. We did catch a nice 3 ½ to 4 lb hybrid from right below the dam and then we managed to stumble on to a HUGE channel cat. The hybrid choked that bait. I mean it ate it, Friends! He hated that thing like I do politicians. Later in the day on the same bait he hooked up on his catfish. Now if you can catch a 20-25 lb cat and the swim bait (a keitech no less) is still on the bait and STILL in place… I think you might have figured out how to make this work. Now here’s kind of my thoughts on tackle. I almost exclusively throw these types of baits on a 7’ medium action spinning rod with a 35 series reel and 10lb power pro with a 15lb -20lb flouro leader. Mr. Rob is much more a bait cast guy on this and likes throwing 7’ to 7’2” medium action bait casters with even some pretty high-speed reels depending on the application and almost exclusively 12-15lb flouro.

Whether you chase hybrids at the dam, tournament bass fish, or love speckled trout this is a bait you need in your lineup and USE IT! Just don’t look at it! Tight Lines!

When Fish Won’t Bite

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

Raise your hand if you’ve ever spent the entire day on the water without getting a bite.

Be honest. Now look around the room at other people who are reading The Angler Magazine and see who else has their hand in the air. Probably all of them.

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s definitely happened to me. But we still come back for more, and that’s a good thing.

So, what can you do on those days when the fish simply don’t want to bite? The obvious answer is, ‘Pack it up and go home’. Before you throw in the towel, there are actually some tricks you can try that can fire up the bite, and here’s a few that have helped me put a fish in the boat.

Let me start of by saying some days are just going to be fish-less… no matter what you do. Sometimes these tactics work, and sometimes they don’t. But remember, if you’re down to these maneuvers, you really don’t have anything to lose…do you?

So don’t complain too much even if these tricks don’t work. You can still go home feeling good about the fact that you weren’t stuck in the office all day.

To me, there are three key components to re-igniting the bite…Location, Presentation and Bait Choice.

The first one’s pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people will sit on a spot and continue to flail the water because they ‘know’ there should be fish there. Well maybe there is, but after 152 casts beside the same stump, that fish is probably not going to bite on cast 153.

So, move. If you watch The Nuts & Bolts of Fishing TV series, you know that I prefer to fish moving water. It’s been proven time and time again that

fish actively feed when there’s some current. So, during slack tide, or while you’re waiting for the power company to start pulling water at the dam, take a boat ride. But before you crank the engine, get a game plan. Look at your chartplotter and pick a spot that you feel has a high percentage of being fishy. Creek mouths, structure, river bends, etc. And then hit the throttle.

Presentation is another huge factor in triggering the bite. What worked yesterday, may not work today or tomorrow. As fish deal with changes in the weather, and their subsurface environment, they can become lethargic, or they can become exceptionally frisky. So, you should consider changing up your retrieve… if you’ve been ripping a crankbait, try slow rolling a spinnerbait or working a worm on the bottom. If I’m throwing topwater plugs, instead of the typical twitch-twitch-twitch, walk-the-dog retrieve, I’ll just let it sit there when it lands on the water. And I let it sit for a long time, waiting for all the ripples to dissipate, until I move the plug. Changing your speed, the cadence of the rod movement, the depth where the lure runs, and even adding a longer fluorocarbon leader can all contribute to enticing the bite.

The third piece of the puzzle is Bait Choice. The age-old question is…what will they bite today? Fig-

If you would like to place an ad, please contact us: craig@theanglermagazine.com

ure out the answer to that question and you can quit your day job, by the way. Most folks agree that the artificial lures we use are meant to mimic natural forage. Artificials allow you to cover a lot more water both horizontally and vertically. So, there’s distinct benefits to fishing with lures; I use them at some point on nearly every fishing trip. But when these man-made creations cease to be effective, try serving up a different menu. Provided it’s legal, switch out to live bait, or even cut bait. Putting a tasty morsel in front of a big striper

will usually get your drag singing again. And a live herring will often get inhaled on the way down after the bucktails quit being effective.

The point to all this is simple. There are going to be days that fish won’t bite, no matter what you do. But don’t give up. Try thinking outside the tackle box. Fish must eat to survive. So, you have to give them a reason to eat what you’re offering and eat it now. And often times, changing it up can definitely change your luck.

Tight lines and calm seas.

LAKE BLUE RIDGE

Forecast By: Eric Crowley

Lake & Stream Guide Service

(706) 669-4973 |

lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

Is it Summertime already? The last 2 months have been incredible. One of the best spring fishing runs we have had in a few years. Lots of walleye were caught last month during both day and night fishing. We had several fish in the 5-to-6pound range come on the boat recently just stuffed with herring. The bait spawn was great with lots of big walleye showing up to feast on the spawning Blue Backs. The bait has spawned and spread back out over the main lake and the walleye have followed them. They are now set up in their favorite summertime locations. Look for fish holding just offshore in cooler deeper water, 25 to 50ft will be the area of interest. Look for bait on or around

Two Great Locations:

Dalton Location

the major main lake points and flats. Crankbaits, spoons, and live bait will all catch fish this month. It just depends on how you like to catch them. Some days they will chase down a crank or jerk bait and some days you may want to go vertical depending on their mood. Bandits, Smithwicks, and

shad raps are all at the top of the list for crankbait options and the Hopkins and Krocodile spoons are my go-to vertical baits. As we get later into June you may want to look a little deeper during the daytime as the sunlight can really penetrate the clear water of this lake or look in the grass beds in deeper water.

The Spotted bass are done spawning and are out packing on the pounds for summer. Lots of activity at sunrise with fish chasing bait on the surface in the creeks and on the main lake in open water. We

have been throwing top water plugs at them or flukes if you are close enough. Both have been drawing the attention of these hungry green fish. Cloudy days seem to draw the bite out a little longer vs the sunshine usually shutting it off early. Star creek, Green creek, and the area around points 5 and 7 have been hot at sunrise.

Temperature: 71 degrees

Level: Full

daltonmarineinc.com

Clarity: 10 feet

1117 East Morris Street

Dalton, GA 30721

(706) 226-3595

1117 East Morris Street

Acworth Location

4725 Highway 92

Acworth, GA 30101

Dalton, GA 30721

(770) 974-0629

(706) 226-3595

Certified

&

LAKE ALLATOONA

By: Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918

If you find yourself in North Georgia whether for business, pleasure, just doing life, or all the above, you should treat yourself to a view of lovely Lake Allatoona. It is an absolutely gorgeous reservoir nestled 30 minutes outside of Atlanta, yet a world apart from the city.

With a nice mild spring easing into a ‘sure to make you smile’ summer, rest assured that the fishing is some of the very best in the southeast. Naturally, this depends on your desired target species, however Allatoona has one of the finest hybrid striped bass and white bass fisheries in the state. With just the right information to capitalize on these rascals, you have a chance at a day filled with 3–5-pound hybrids, dozens of white bass and even a shot at a 20 lb. striped bass that roam the river and reservoir.

With nice steady levels controlled by the ACOE, and a multitude of other factors, we are off to the races with a fresh load of little fry after some ideal spawning circumstances for the white bass, crappie, and spotted bass. The reservoir has held fairly steady at full pool, with water temperatures in the mid-70s.

The lineside action has been great this year and we are just going to let the cat out the bag here- this fishery is on fire! Catches of 50 to 60 fish in a few hours are not unheard of, but even a slow day targeting active fish produces 2-3 dozen catches.

There are hotspots on each end of the reservoir and so many points in between. While the majority of the lineside have made their way up the river and back into the reservoir already, we have seen some recent catches of big egg laden female striped bass still in the reservoir. They don’t all run up the river and the many that return stay again until colder water refuges are desired. In the meantime, they love the abundance of bait in the main lake:)

With the continued proliferation of freshwater herring as a forage base, we are noting the linesides and spotted bass are being found deeper overall through this spring. Even into May we have found ourselves in 40 to 50 feet of water fishing 2 feet off the bottom for the best bite on many days. Down lining with 1-to-2-ounce weights, a 6-foot leader of fluorocarbon and a number o1 or 2 octopus hooks are one of the staple setups for tethering 3-6” threadfin shad or herring.

These same fish can be enticed into striking a spoon, especially in the deeper depths. We are still finding a good bite both on flats and on long points early in the morning and catching active fish even while casting A rigs and spoons as well as pitching shad. Sometimes where you start fishing may be predicated on which way the wind has been blowing day/days preceding, and some of our best mornings on the water have been facing a 10 to 15 mile an hour northwest wind coming across a flat onto the channel edges. When it’s our day to fish, we fish pretty much regardless of weather conditions but mindful of how those conditions could affect the locations of bait and gamefish.

While the crappie bite is still on, as they do eat year-round, these fish are finished spawning and are back to their both nomadic at times and

structure holding routines. We’ve even picked some up while down lining 20 to 25 feet down over deeper water with threadfin or herring and have targeted some specifically on deeper brush piles with 2-3” swim jigs and small tubes.

The spotted bass fishery has been becoming better and better each year for the past several years. Notably one of the most benefited species from the high-protein forage base, we might just give it a couple more years to see it rival other close by spotted bass fisheries with respect to both quantity and quality. We are definitely hoping to see more large-

mouth bass take root and spawn, particularly with the added efforts of state stocking just this past year.

We do hope that you may have a chance to get out on the water here on Lake Allatoona. We do hope that some information shared will point you in the right direction, and should you be in the market for a full-service guided instructional trip, we will be happy to help you there as well.

God Bless and tight lines, friends!

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.

OCONEE ON THE FLY-

Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore - USCG Licensed www.oconeeonthefly.com

Captain Keenan - June 2023 Forecast

People sometimes ask me why I write about fellow guides. The simple truth is we all learn from each other and, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Keenan Nottingham is a fellow guide and friend from whom I have learned a lot. Keenan guides out of a beautiful, fully rigged tritoon boat complete with the latest electronics including Garmin Livescope! He is a USCG licensed Master Captain and he has been guiding here on Lake Oconee for over four years. It is not uncommon for his clients to catch 50 to 60 fish on crappie trips.

I asked Keenan why he became a guide. It turns out that his son went to a guide school in Montana but decided that being at home with his new family would take priority for now. His son’s journey inspired Keenan and he has really figured out how to catch large numbers of fish consistently.

So, what is his secret to success? He focuses on structure fishing. This is where the great electronics and experience counts. He will use the electronics to locate submerged timber that is holding large numbers of fish. Once the specific structure is located, he positions his boat either directly above it or very close to it and the customer simply lowers a minnow just above the structure. In my opinion this takes a lot of skill and it’s well worth hiring him to learn about it.

You can reach Keenan via his website: https://nottinghamguideservice.com/, email - nottinghamguideservice@gmail. com or just give him a call at 770-6349101.

Forecast for June:

Crappie – June is a great month for crappie here on Lake Oconee. The trolling bite will still be strong early in the morning. Just troll 1/16th and a 1/32 jig over the submerged tree tops. The fish will have oriented themselves to sub-

merged timber (the brush pile bite), and if you locate the structure holding fish and simply drop a minnow just above them, you will catch a mess of them. This bite is good in the afternoon.

Hybrids / Stripers – Early June is one of my favorite times to fish for hybrids and stripers. There is often a top water bite at first light. Last year it was mid-lake near Riverbend. Throw a ¼ ounce bucktail jig, a 7/8-ounce War Eagle Spoon, or a popping cork with a Betts “Pop N’ Stripe Popper Fly,” and you will get bit.

After first light look for humps and drop the 7/8-ounce War Eagle Spoon (I like the white or white and chartreuse colors) or a live threadfin down to them and it can be very productive. On the shad use a #4 circle hook under a swivel sinker with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader at least 4 feet long.

Fly Fishing - The opportunities for fly fishing in June will be at first light, particularly if they are pumping water up from Lake Sinclair, or if you see the topwater activity I mentioned near Riverbend

I use intermediate line on an 8-weight rod with a 9-foot, 12-pound fluorocarbon leader. A Cowen’s Somethin Else fly is your best bet, but if the fish are rising, try a wiggle minnow.

After first light, fish the humps and use an 8-weight rod with sink tip line, a 5-foot section of 15lb fluorocarbon for the leader, and a white and chartreuse clouser tied on a #2 hook.

Final Words

Remember that at this time of year there are a lot of recreational boats out. Plan to be on the water at first light and off by 10:30 AM. Contact me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or call 404317-9556 to book your trip.

Tight Lines, and God Bless.

LAKE SEMINOLE

Forecast By: Captain Paul Tyre | Tyrelakeseminolefishingadventures2gmail.com

The Bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been Excellent through the month of May! June is one of the best months on Lake Seminole to catch big bass on topwater lures! Planning a trip to Lake Seminole in June? Be sure to have some topwater lures like buzz baits, walking baits and hollow belly frogs in your tackle box!

Buzz baits are an excellent choice for finding productive areas on the lake. One of my favorites is a 3/8oz 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 30lb 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 and heavy enough to get the big bass out of the grass! I like to fish the frog over the grass and through holes in the grass. Rod, line, and reel choices are very important with this technique! A high-speed reel is a must, at least 8:3.1, and a heavy Braided line. The one I prefer is 65lb Cortland Master Braid on a 7’3” XH Temple Fork Outfitters Tactical Bass Rod. This rod has a fast tip and has the backbone to get the biggest Bass out of the grass!

The Shellcracker have been bedding on Lake Seminole through the month of May and will continue into June! I had an AWESOME trip with Eric Boiling and his buddies Robert and Eddie from Pensacola, Florida!

For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this June give me a call at 850-2647534 or follow us on Instagram @ Capt. paultyrefishing and Facebook @ capt. paultyrefishing

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

WEST POINT LAKE

Forecast By: Capt. Keith Hudson Keith Hudson Guide Service hudsonprobass@gmail.com | www.LakeWestPointFishing.com

706-844-1483

Bass: Fair There are a few different patterns that seem to work well for largemouth in June. ---Top water baits such as Pop R’s, Whopper Ploppers and Buzz Baits can still be effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds. The shallow bite is usually better early or late or on overcast days. ---A second pattern that can still produce in June is to look for spawning shad and blueback herring. (The herring population seems to have exploded this year. So, I would expect many of the tactics that Lanier anglers use to catch open water fish to really come into play over the next couple years.) Try fishing rip rap around bridges with spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and Zoom Superflukes. Also, this year with the water being down and

clear, I expect deeper brush and cover to pay off in June. Try dragging a Texas rigged Ol Monster worm or a pig-n-jig around brush piles (a lot of deeper docks have brush piles near or under them) and old roadbeds in 12-20 feet of water. At times a big crankbait can also be effective. -- Some spotted bass are being caught by casting Shaky heads or Spot Remover heads loaded with worms into blowdowns with fairly deep water near them or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks or around the many shoal marker poles scattered around the lake.

Linesides: EXCELLENT

Spawned out hybrids & stripes are back down lake in June. I have been

LAKE SEMINOLE

Forecast By: Jeff Hamm Lake Seminole Guide | 770-912-7936

Lake Seminole fishing report for the month of May and forecast for June. The Bass Fishing on Lake Seminole is on fire. In May, we found bass in all three stages of the spawn. The shell cracker and bream are also on the bed on the sand bars in about 3 to 4 feet of water, look for the pepper grass. Schools of crappie can be found in the timber and at the edge of the grass line in 20 feet of water. The shad is spawning early in the morning on the grass lines and hard surfaces to include rocks and timber. As the end of May and beginning of June approaches, the mayfly hatch will be in full effect, that’s the time to get out that hollow belly frog and look for trees, overhanging the lake, with mayfly activity, near deep water. Spinner baits, bladed jigs and flukes in the white color are catching most of the bass. When the bite slows, it is time to get out the plastics. Zoom Trick Worms,

Speed Worms, and Senko’s produce numbers and occasionally a big fish. Colors include Watermelon Red on sunny days and Green Pumpkin or Red Bug on cloudy days. We are catching 15-35 a day. The month of June will bring on warming water temps well into the 80’s. The early morning topwater action should be good, buzz baits & prop baits should produce. Bass will migrate out to the edge of the grass lines and secondary humps off the channels and in the timber in the creek. The Jerk bait and A- Rig can bring great results. Try punching mats for the month of June, that’s where the giants live. I recommend Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in a dark color in stained water and natural color in the clear water.

“May All Your Lines Be Tight”

Give me a call to book a bass fishing guide trip on beautiful Lake Seminole.

catching them near the mouths of most of the major creeks from Yellow Jacket all the way down to Maple creek. Expect the down - line bite on live bait to stay good through June. Trolling usually gets really good in late June, especially during periods of power generation--- 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.

Crappie: GOOD. The crappie fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brush & structure or under docks during the summer. Shooting or pitching under the shade of covered docks or on bridge pilings is the way to go. The crappie almost always like the shade on a sunny day. ---- Night fishing is usually awesome in June as well!

Bream: GOOD Don’t forget about our bream & shellcracker. The shellcracker population over the last few years has exploded with some really nice sized fish and good numbers being caught. They seem to really love worms fished on the bottom. Finding an active bed can take a little effort but when you do, you can have a ball! Bedding usually

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

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

The lake is a couple feet below full pool. Water temps are in the 80’s. Water is very clear over most of the lake.

By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266

The water level remains low. The CORP states they are trying to keep the river at 187.00 msl. This has taken the shallow grass cover bite off the table for the most part. The only benefit to this is if the water remains low long enough, we will have new growth on the bare banks when the water does come back up. Spring fishing has been really tough and tournament weights are far below normal. The dirty water has depleted the surface oxygen causing the fish to go deeper and the continuing fronts and switching barometer have the feeding patterns off. When the bass are feeding, we have such a huge supply of shad, you rarely find them hungry. Slow presentations are necessary to aggravate a strike.

The grass cover, up North, in the bigger creeks still has some good water around it. The normal shallow presentations are a good bet up there and the water is also a little clearer where you find deeper shore cover. The frog, spinner bait, chatter bait and Texas rigs are what you want to throw. Swim jigs and traps are another good choice. Green, green/reds and methylate, as well as shad colors on the traps and hard baits are all good colors to work with. Shallow square bills are good, worked around the riprap.

The deeper fish can be located on your electronics and a Carolina rig with a large plastic in dark color and a chartreuse tip tail. J.J.’s magic is good. Heavy jigs bounced on the bottom with a big trailer and a large spoon

LAKE EUFAULA

worked vertically in suspended fish will also create some action.

Crappie, are not liking the dirty water. Minnows tipped on a jig suspended in the school will get a bite.

Pan Fish will be eating crickets, the normal shallow bedding areas are high and dry now. Shell crackers will be on the flats bedding on the next full moon, wigglers are the bait of choice here, you will also get a good mess of squealer cats as they feed on the “Cracker’s” eggs. These are the best eaten fish in the river.

Mud fish are spawning and hitting everything thrown at them, including eating any cut bait on a catfish jug. They do put up a good fight.

Remember the 23rd annual Lee King Memorial Bass Tournament coming up September 16th. Go to www.alclassic.com and get an early boat number. The river promises to be up and in good shape by then. Help us support our efforts to find a cure for Niemann-Pic disease and support our post 9/11 combat wounded and PTSD heroes. Enjoy God’s great outdoors.

Take your kids, grandkids or your neighbor’s child fishing and make those memories you will hear around the supper table for years to come.

Pray for all our folks in uniform and their families as they go out daily to protect us. Pray for one another. God taught us to love all mankind, not all this hate, we are hearing from our leaders.

God Bless & Good Fishn’

Water Level 187.18 msl Water Temperature mid 70’s Water Clarity Heavy stain to muddy

LAKE NOTTELY

Forecast By:Will Harkins- Getfishingguide.com | Williamharkins11@gmail.com

We made it! Finally, to the warm, sunny days of summer. On Nottely, this means one thing…topwater time! June is typically the best time all year for aggressive, heart pounding blowups from giant bass. Up shallow, offshore, schooling bass, or bream eaters, they will all hit on top. While bass will eat on top all day, the key times are early in the morning and right before dark. The low light conditions are perfect for bass ambushing prey. As the sun gets higher, these fish will become more lethargic, not quite as willing to chase bait as they are in the mornings. When chasing big largemouth, I will start with a buzzbait and a popper style bait. The Tackle HD buzzbait or the old Pop-R popper are two baits I will have on the boat all June. A tip for the buzzbait is removing the skirt and adding a soft frog or swimbait as the trailer. This gives bass more definition and substance to key onto. If they are not eating the buzzbait, I will slow down with the popper. While pockets and creeks are typically most productive, these baits will work anywhere there is shade and cover. Overhanging trees, laydowns, and docks will all produce quality bites. As the sun rises and the day warms up, you may have to slow down or fish a little deeper than you would typically. Dragging the ol trusty shakey head or drop shot will always generate bites. Once again, shade lines or cover, like brush piles or creek beds will hold the most bass in the middle of the day. For seeking a truly gi-

ant bite, look for bluegill beds. These spawning bluegills are easy meals for big bass. The same bait can catch these fish, but I like to throw in a big glide bait or bluegill imitator, like a jig. June can be some of the best fishing all year for numbers of bass, so get out there early and Get Fishing! #Godsgotthis

Lake Level: full pool.

Temp: 75-78 degrees

Clarity: Clear

FISHING THE EVERGLADES AND MORE!

By Gary Turner “Tight Lines and Squeal every time.”

Blake yelled “IT’S A FISH, IT’S A FISH!” I could hear the reel screaming, then it dawned on me, it wasn’t on Blake’s rod! It was on a rod I had baited with a big threadfin shad, cast out, and then stuck in the rod holder. The rod was bent over as far as it could go. I pulled it up hard and cleared the rod holder. I hollered at Amy to come get this fish! She came and grabbed the pole and started reeling, but the fish was still pulling out more line than she was reeling in! She was yelling excitedly that this was a good fish, and I told her I thought it was probably a good Clown Knife! She was gaining on it now! We got it boatside and netted it. Her first Clown Knife fish!

We fished all over Lake Ida in Delray Beach, Florida. Blake, Amy, Benji and myself were exploring some new canals and docks that I don’t usually fish on Lake Ida. Normally when I go with my guide friends, Capt. Johnny and Capt. Adam, they hit the best trophy Peacock Bass spots. Benji had brought his boat from South Carolina, and so we were going to check lots of other small canals and docks. We went to the back of one canal and Benji reels in a Jaguar Cichlid! That has been on my bucket list for several years and has been more elusive than my first Sailfish! We saw a couple more Jags but they scattered in the clear shallow water. We also saw several Blue Tilapia, but didn’t catch them either. We all caught several good Peacock Bass, some Largemouth Bass, Mayan Cichlids, and several other species.

The next day Dewayne and Tina, Blake’s parents, arrived with their boat with a slight problem. Just as they arrived in Palm Beach the leaf spring on Dewayne’s trailer broke. They limped it to the hotel. The next morning, Dewayne, Benji and myself set out for Home Depot for a temporary fix so we could continue on our mission, some serious fishin! With an 8-foot 2x4 cut in half and a pack of ratchet straps, after a few minutes jacking up the trailer, we placed the boards in the frame, ratcheted down to secure the boards and off we all went to the lake. Oh, and along for the

adventure was Zim, Blake’s dog, the 100-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback. We all launched on Lake Ida and set out to catch some fish. Everyone caught fish all day, and then we decided to go to the Everglades the next day!

The forecast for the next few days was rain, and when I say rain, I mean serious rain! We hit the Glades wide open, we had 2000 crickets! Those fish whacked all the crickets and tons of worms. Then we went to jigs. Capt. Johnny has given me some Zman jigs and we started wearing out the fish on those too. Benji caught another Jaguar and then Dewayne. I saw where they were and BOOM! My first Jaguar Cichlid was on the line! We went on to catch tons of everything! We fished the Glades for two days in the rain and sun and rain! We caught over 500 fish! Benji and Blake cleaned over 100 of them. That evening Benji and Amy headed home for an appointment that had been overlooked. Dewayne, Blake, and I headed back to Lake Ida, in the monsoon, to fish. I caught my biggest Snakehead yet that day. We also caught some really nice Peacock Bass. Dewayne went to the trailer place and got parts, while Blake and I fished a little more. When Dewayne got back, he took the old springs off and we came and helped him reassemble the boat trailer for the trip back to South Carolina. That last evening Blake and I were headed to Capt. Johnny’s in Pompano Beach, Florida to pick up a kayak and to eat at Calypso. Well, it was raining pretty hard, and I missed several exits landing us in FT. LAUDER-

DALE. The skies opened up and the water poured out. The roads were filling up, small cars were flooding out. We pulled into a gas station to watch the wake made by cars going past. It was crazy! We eased along to Johnny’s, avoiding stalled cars, and picked up the kayak. Then we eased back up to Boca Raton and called it a day. We didn’t know it yet, but we had witnessed the 1000year flood. This was quite the epic adventure fishing trip! Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip. Whether with a guide or just on your own,

GO FISHING!

I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you!

If you want to see Amy’s catchon video or other videos I have done, check out my YouTube channel here youtube.com/@FishingWithGary.

You can reach me at gary@purgeright.com

Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

JIGS IN JUNE

Contributed By: Jay Striker | www.jaystriker.com

June is an excellent month for bass fishing with jigs, and it’s no secret why. Jigs are versatile lures that can be used in almost any situation, making them a staple in every angler’s tackle box. When it comes to bass fishing in June, jigs can be incredibly effective, but it’s essential to know which sizes and colors work best and where to use them.

In terms of sizes, anglers should consider using jigs ranging from 1/4 to 3/8 ounces, depending on the water depth they’re fishing. As for colors, natural hues like green, pumpkin, and brown are reliable options, but black and blue can also be productive in murky water or low-light conditions.

Regarding locations, slowing down and fishing rocks and docks in varying water depths are key to catching bass in the south. Look for areas with a mix of structure and cover, such as drop-offs, weed beds, and submerged logs, and

target them with your jigs. Focus on presenting your lure at different depths, starting shallow and gradually working deeper until you find where the bass are holding.

In summary, jigs are a great option if you’re looking to catch bass in June. Use sizes ranging from 1/4 to 3/8 ounces, with natural colors like green pumpkin and brown, or black and blue in murky water or low-light conditions. Slow down and fish rocks and docks in varying water depths, targeting areas with a mix of structure and cover. Following these tips can increase your chances of landing a big bass this June. As always, thanks for following me on Instagram jay.striker.52 and at www.jaystriker.com

LAKE ALTOONA CRAPPIE

Contributed By: Tim Dangar

With Crappie fishing shallow water winding down, we got into some fun bow fishing. This year water level and water temperature happened to hit at the same time for Gar and Carp to move into shallow water to spawn. That’s not always the case on Lake Allatoona but when it happens, have the bows ready for some big fish action. The water level needs to be at full pool or higher, and the water temp is best around 71 degrees. Clearer water, of course, is best but not essential because most of the time the fish are really shallow. If you got a tail or fin out of the water, it makes for an easy shot. If fish are submerged, judging the depth can be challenging. The best rule of thumb is to aim low. When you stick one of these lake monsters, be ready for the fight of your life. When landing a big Gar, gloves are a must due to the sharp teeth on the long nose, hence the name long nose Gar. The scales on a big carp are also very sharp so gloves are also a good idea when landing them as well. On this outing, in the pictures, my grandson Tyler and I were fishing, and his twin brother Chase

LAKE CHATUGE

Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service

www.welchguideservice.com

706-455-2323

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports: “ Fishing has been good, There is still some late spawning fish, but for the most part we are in post spawn and fish are starting to move out to the areas they will spend the summer months. Try using a Zoom trick worm or a fluke in and around docks and laydowns for fish that are still guarding fry. I’ve been catching fish on shaky heads, 3.5” tubes on long

points, and rocky banks. This is the month you want to keep a topwater bait tied on like a Whopper Plooper and a Sexy dawg jr. Since the fish are done spawning, you should start seeing them chasing bait and see fish blowing up. With the fish moving back out to the offshore structure, I like to throw the dropshot rig, and my Garmin Livescope to find them in these areas. Good Lucky!

Lake Chatuge: Level: Full pool. Temp: 63-65 degrees. Clarity: Clear

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Georgia Bass Nation High School AOY Standings

Top 20 Teams

was running the camera. I wish you could see the video which would give you an up-close look at how challenging it is to boat a 25-pound long nose. The lake is beautiful now and we anticipate some shell cracker bedding being the next fun activity. Until next time, stay calm and fish on!

Wall of Fame

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

Dan Good with a walleye from Hiawassee

Dalton with a HUGE Chattooga Brook Trout. Picture supplied by Karl Ekberg-Chattooga River Fly shop

31 lb Striped Bass caught by Anya Turner after a 4 1/2-minute fight to land it.

20 lb Striped Bass caught by Gideon Turner Caught with Captain Cy - Extreme Stripers Guide Service

Ricky Wilson with a big Allatoona Cat!

Bennett Mitchell, Brantlee’s twin, with a nice catch of his own!

Jim Gillespie from Acworth with a giant Lake Jackson cat!

Logan Daniel with a personal best striper from Carters Lake.

Trout caught on the Toccoa River with Toccoa River Outfitters and fly-fishing guide Laura McGivney

Mason Daniel, with his personal best striper of 25 pounds, caught the same day as his brother. Sounds like a great day on the lake!

Michael Faircloth with a 2.55 lbs 17in long crappie caught 4-14-23 At Lake Eufaula AL

Steve Ciccarello from Blue Ridge with a huge trout!

9yo Brantlee Mitchell from Jefferson, GA with a nice cat that almost pulled him in!

OKUMA CAVALLA OFFSHORE REELS

For anglers looking to conquer the toughest offshore conditions, Okuma’s Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reels are the ultimate weapon of choice. Over the past decade, Okuma has cemented its position as a leader in the saltwater market, starting with the groundbreaking Makaira line of reels. Today, the Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag is yet another example of Okuma’s unwavering commitment to providing top-tier, reliable products for saltwater anglers.

With its compact, machined aluminum frame and side plates, the Cavalla is a reel that can withstand the toughest conditions Mother Nature can throw at it. The rigid one-piece frame ensures stability and durability, while the cold-forged, type-II anodized machined aluminum spool adds to the reel’s sleek, rugged design. Whether you’re targeting monster grouper, sailfish, giant snapper or other offshore saltwater species, the Cavalla is the reel you want in your offshore arsenal.

The Cavalla reels feature a battle-proven carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease that can put out an impressive 24 to 34 pounds of drag at full. The 17.4 grade stainless steel main and pinion gear, along with the CRC coating process, make this reel virtually corrosion resistant. With four corrosion-resistant stainless-steel bearings and a silent retrieve system, the Cavalla operates

smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

Okuma’s Cavalla

2-speed reels feature a 6.4:1 and 3.8:1 gear ratio on the 5 size reels and a 4.7:1 and 2.1:1 gear ratio on the 12 size, allowing for versatile performance across a range of fishing styles. The 5 and 12 size reels come in both left- and right-hand retrieve and feature an on/off bait clicker. The reel’s compact size and comfortable Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm make it easy to handle and use for extended periods of time.

So, why should you choose the Cavalla lever drag reel for your next offshore fishing trip? Here are five reasons:

• Durable Construction: The Cavalla’s machined aluminum frame and side plates, along with its corrosion-resistant components, ensure that this reel can handle the toughest offshore conditions with ease.

• Versatile Performance: With its 2-speed capabilities and variable gear ratios, the Cavalla is a reel that can adapt to a range of fishing styles and conditions.

• Smooth Operation: Thanks to its silent

the Cavalla operates smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that you never miss a catch.

• Strong Drag System: The Cavalla’s carbonite drag system with Cal’s drag grease can put out up to 34 pounds of drag, making it a reel that can handle the biggest and toughest fish in the ocean.

• Comfortable Handling: With its compact size and Ergo Grip handle knob and anodized aluminum handle arm, the Cavalla is a reel that you can use comfortably for extended periods of time, even during the toughest offshore fishing trips.

The Okuma Cavalla 2-Speed Lever Drag reel is an all-around, top-of-the-line reel that every saltwater angler should have in their arsenal.

For distributors and retailers, Okuma Fishing Tackle Corporation will be available to meet at ICAST 2023 in Orlando, Fla. July 11-13 at Exhibit Hall Booths 1202 and 1308.

FISH THE GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT

JULY 17-22

GrandPrizeValuedat$160K!

It’s Kingfish Time! The 43rd annual 121 Financial Credit Union Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is slated for July 17-22, 2023. For five days, with four tournaments and $400,000 in prizes, the “Grandaddy of all Kingfish Tournaments” will keep the docks buzzing with fun events for everyone from die-hard anglers to casual spectators.

The cornerstone of this historic and thriving event is the general tournament, which launches Friday, July 21 with a boat package valued at $160,000 going to the team that lands the largest kingfish. The grand prize is a sweet 25-T Contender with twin 150hp Yamahas, a custom T-top by Custom Marine and an Ameritrail trailer. The tournament pays through 20 places for largest fish and aggregate, as well as a Lady Angler division that pays to 10 places, totaling nearly $250,000 in cash and prizes.

All the boats and the fish coming into the docks at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek Park in Jacksonville creates a festival atmosphere. Traditionally, the tournament draws thousands of spectators who enjoy cold beverages, hot food and vendors at the Liar’s Tent. Awards Day on Saturday, July 22 is all about celebration, with Kids Zone activities, drawings and a fishing seminar, followed by eye-popping fireworks in partnership with the City of Jacksonville.

Also for the kids, there is a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament on Wednesday, July 19, as well as a Junior Angler Dock Tournament. The grand prize in the Junior Angler Offshore Tournament is an Ohana 14’ skiff with a 25hp Yamaha and trailer, and this tournament pays through 25 places.

popular Redfish Tournament fishes on Saturday, July 22, with weigh-ins at 2 p.m. during the Awards Day activities.

Through its history, the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament has been all about putting on a great tournament and helping to provide access to marine resources and promoting education, preservation and research in partnership with its junior anglers and Jacksonville University’s Marine Biology Department. Jacksonville Marine Charities is the operating arm of the event, and it supports non-profits throughout the state. Recently, Child Cancer Fund, the Down Syndrome Association and the Child Guidance Center have benefitted from the organization, which also supports other local charity fishing events like The Premier Trout, Flounder Pounder, Wounded Heroes on the Water and others.

For complete details, go to https://kingfishtournament.com/.

Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine, Suzuki Marine and Sea Eagle have come together to offer readers a shot at this Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 paired with a Suzuki DF4 outboard that’ll take you wherever the fish are. The FishSkiff 16 is an inflatable fishing boat that is lightweight, sturdy, stable and extremely packable. It rolls up small enough to fit in the trunk of a car and quickly inflates into a fishing machine. Powered by Suzuki’s four-stroke DF4A, you’ll have to hold on to your hat as you scream over the flats. Designed for efficiency and performance and portability, the DF4A provides all the speed and acceleration you can handle. It’s lightweight and can be attached or removed with ease.

Images for illustration purposes only and prize may vary from what is shown. Contest runs May 1st through July 31st 2023. Winner till be announced on Facebook July 31st.

breakdowns happen why get towing?

Breakdowns are unpredictable, make them less stressful with an Unlimited Towing Membership from TowBoatU.S. You can relax, we’ve got your back.

SWIM JIGS AND SPAWNING BLUEGILLS TIPS FROM A PRO

This is the time of year when bass gorge themselves on bluegill. One of the best ways to catch bluegilleaters is with a swim jig.

The swim jig is a versatile bait. It can be used in different colors and actions that drive bass crazy. All the variety can make jig shopping a bit overwhelming. There are thousands of color options, countless styles, different hooks and line-tie variations. When I’m looking for the perfect swim jig, I keep a few things in mind. I only throw two different color combinations, bluegill duplicators— the greens, browns and oranges—and a black and blue. You want a jig with a slender head style with a vertical line tie that will come through the cover you’re fishing. I also like a jig with a stout hook. Throwing a swim jig around heavy cover calls for heavy line, and you don’t want your hook to bend out or break when you hook into a big one.

Selection of jig trailers can also be overwhelming. Guess what? I only throw two different styles of trailers. I usually put a swimbait-style trailer with a boot tail on the back, but occasionally I’ll use a craw trailer with two kicker legs. At the end of the day, you just want something back there kicking

and giving your jig some action, and these two styles are my go-to. I match the color of the trailers to the color of the jig.

The cover to target with a swim jig can be endless. They are great in vegetation as well as around docks, wood, rocky banks and for covering water over expansive flats with wood and grass. You can cover a lot of water with this bait, and typically covering more water leads to more bites. You should throw it anywhere bass are chasing bluegills or where bass are actively feeding. I always keep one tied on and ready.

A retrieve I find myself using a lot is a yo-yo retrieve. Point the rod tip high and vary the retrieval speed by either cranking fast and slow or moving the rod tip. This gives the bait some erratic movements and drives them crazy. I also use a steady retrieve. Depending on the part of the water column you are trying to target, you can reel the bait fast and keep it up high—even on the surface—or slow it down and creep it deeper, maybe to keep it around some submerged cover.

Swim Jig Gear

Fishing cover requires heavier equipment. I fish a heavy action rod with a length between a 7’3” and 7’6”. The 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’5H is a super affordable rod and is awesome for the job. Pair the rod up with a fast reel like the 13 Fishing Concept A 7:5 spooled up with 50-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, and you are ready to put some fish in the boat.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Roll-Up Fishing Skiff

The super sleek, super stable inflatable FishSkiff™ 16 now features a patented drop-stitch outside keel for precise steering and better open sea motoring performance! Due to the new ultra-light, ultra-strong fusion technology that bonds two layers of reinforced PVC together the FishSkiff™ is super tough and super stable. Great for 1, 2 or 3 anglers.

Whether you use a gas or electric motor, the in atable FishSki ™16 will get you to the sh. Add a canopy for protection from the sun or rain. Add a solar panel for perpetual power that can keep your electric motor battery charged; whether your camping, live on the water or just love the idea of solar power.

With the NEW drop-stitch keel, you’ll have less course correction and improved performance. The low gunwales give you superb access to the water for landing sh, releasing sh, and getting on & o the boat.

ORANGE BEACH BOAT LANDS

MASSIVE BLUEFIN

In early May, a 600-plus-pound bluefin tuna was brought to the docks at Alabama’s Orange Beach Marina. It was not a world or state record, but it was a giant fish and a first for Capt. Johnny Greene who has been a charter captain for the last 33 years.

According to the story written by David Rainer for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Greene and his crew aboard the Intimidator were hosting a group of anglers from Georgia on a three-day trip deep into the Gulf of Mexico. Greene said he has encountered big bluefins before in the April and May timeframe, when they arrive in the Gulf to spawn, but he’s never managed to put one in the boat or even “slow one down.”

“Last year we hooked one about noon and fought that fish four or five hours. We had 10 people on that charter, and they ended up changing the rod between anglers probably 20 or 25 times,” he told ADCNR. “We ended up breaking a rod after fighting him that long. We were so close, so that one was really a heartbreaker.”

This recent trip did not end in heartbreak. After hooking the fish, the Intimidator chased it for about 2 miles before getting to within 100

feet of the leader. Then the fish dove deep. They managed to stop the dive with a Shimano 50-wide and a stand-up harness, and after battling it for about four hours they could tell the fish had died. They began the laborious process of winching it up on 80-pound-test mono.

“When you have to pull a 600-pound animal up, it’s not the easiest thing to do,” he told ADCNR. “It requires communication between the angler, everybody in the cockpit and the wheelhouse. It’s basically a momentum game. You’ve got to get the fish coming up, and you have to keep him coming. If you take a break, the fish is going to start sinking again. It’s tricky.”

The celebration began when they finally brought the giant fish to the surface and tethered it with a tail rope. They used a come-along to hoist it into the boat.

Knowing their fish was not a record, the crew went ahead and gutted it and iced it down to preserve the meat during the ride home. It weighed 579 pounds gutted, with an estimated total weight of 625 pounds. The Alabama state record, caught in 2006, weighed 829 pounds.

To read David Rainer’s entire account of the catch, go to www.outdooralabama.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTIMIDATOR

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

believe the popping cork found its beginnings in the 1930s, and it’s still a mainstay in most saltwater anglers’ tackle boxes. Many versions have been introduced along the way and undoubtedly more will come. One thing is for certain, if they didn’t work, they would not have lasted for nearly a century. In Texas, a popping cork typically finds itself dragging a live shrimp, but there are other options. What makes the popping cork stand out is the cupped top, which creates a popping sound and splashes water forward when twitched. It simulates a fish feeding on the surface.

I was once no different than the masses tossing live shrimp under a cork, but in the early 2000s— when I had already turned my focus to exclusively lure fishing—I found another place for the simple but effective popping cork.

At that time, our famous Baffin Bay was plagued with brown tide, an algae bloom that turns the water, well, brown. The water had nearly zero visibility, which made fishing soft plastics difficult at best. Looking back, I wish I had already invented my Knockin Tail Lures with the built in tail rattle, but better late than never. At the time, I started using lures under a cork instead of live shrimp. I realized a noticeable increase in the number of fish I was able to catch. Depending on the circumstances, I would use a jighead, a weighted weedless hook or an unweighted hook about 24 inches under my cork. Although I heard

a lot of grief from my buddies who would not touch a popping cork, it worked and I continued to out fish them on most trips. I stayed with this technique in Baffin until the brown tide cleared.

A lure under a cork is also a great way to introduce kids to lure fishing. Paddletails, twitch baits and artificial shrimp all work well with this strategy. The method takes a lot of the hand coordination out of the picture for children and lets them realize that you don’t need live bait to catch fish.

Another of the many options this cork gives the angler is a way to effectively fish jetties. At times, trout will suspend 8 to 10 feet deep off the rocks. In this situation, the popping cork’s sound creating ability is still important, but it needs to be modified. Casting a cork with 10 feet of leader to get your lure down to the fish creates a challenge. This is where the slip cork method comes into play. With a slip cork, you can cast a 2- or 3-foot leader or less, but the cork will have a rubber stop that allows your bait to sink to the desired depth where the bite is. Look up slip cork for more on this method.

The weather is warm, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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FAT COLORADO LAKER OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

If this potbellied 73.29-pound lake trout isn’t a new world record, it should be.

Scott Enloe and his son Hunter were fishing an undisclosed Colorado lake in early May when Scott hooked into the 47-inch-long monster on a 6-inch tube jig and 10-pound test. According to Free Range American, it took 13 tense minutes to fight the huge laker boat-side, and both men had to haul it over the side because their net was too small to land the fish.

The fish was full of eggs and had an incredible girth of 37 inches. After some photos and measurements, they released it to go lay those eggs and spread the genetics for obesity.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for lake trout weighed 72 pounds, even. It was caught in 1995 by Lloyd Bull at Great Bear Lake in Canada. With the strict procedures required by IGFA for record consideration, it is unlikely Enloe’s fish will break the all-tackle world record, but there is a chance the organization will consider it for a world length record.

The current Colorado state record weighed 50.35 pounds. It was caught by Donald Walker in 2007. We’re not sure about Colorado’s record submission requirements, but most states require a weight taken on certified scales.

Regardless, it is the fish of a lifetime for Enloe, and if it doesn’t qualify for a record… it should.

To read the full report from Free Range American, go to https:// freerangeamerican.us/world-record-lake-trout-enloe/

NORTH CAROLINIAN SMASHES U.S. SURF CASTING RECORD

There’s no doubt these guys can get it out past the breakers. The Carolina Surf Casters Association gets together four times a year to hold distance-casting competitions. In an April contest, North Carolina’s Ryan Lambert set a record for the longest fishing cast in U.S. history. He launched a massive 889-foot, 4-inch cast.

Lambert is a frequent competitor in the sport of surf casting, known in Europe as long distance casting of sea weights, in which participants gather on a large marked field with surf fishing tackle to see who can cast different sizes of large sinkers (3.5 to 8 ounces) the farthest.

Though the sport originated in the U.S., reportedly as far back as the 1890s, it has become more popular in Europe and South America in recent decades. Only three surf casting clubs exist in the U.S. today. They are SurfCast USA (SCUSA), based in Maryland, Surf Fishing & Casting Club International (SFCCI), on Texas’ Gulf Coast, and Carolina Surf Casters Association (CSCA), in eastern North Carolina.

Lambert is the vice president/secretary of the CSCA – a more than 10-year-old organization with members from North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and Texas. The club organizes four competitions per year in spring and fall. These events are open to surf casters of all skill levels.

Lambert, a sales representative for a large agricultural supplier, lives in Angier, N.C., with his wife Blair and their two daughters. He’s an experienced saltwater fisherman who, like most competitive casters, originally developed long-distance casting skills to improve catch rate from piers and the beach. He learned those skills under the tutelage of fellow North Carolinian and long-time U.S. surf casting champion Tommy Farmer.

Tapping into his athleticism from playing baseball for N.C. State University, Lambert is able to generate huge power using a pendulum cast. This highly specialized technique involves swinging the sinker into an orbit around the tip of a long 12- to 14-foot surf rod, and at a precise moment, rotating the body and rod through a large arc, ending with a powerful punch-pull motion with the right and left arms.

“It’s great that one of our own from North Carolina—someone from our club, no less—was able to set this new benchmark,” said Matt Tuers, president of the CSCA. “One of the main objectives of this organization is to grow a community where U.S. casters can develop and start taking back the international records. Casters like Ryan are in a position to do that, as well as inspire the next batch of elite American competitors.”

The current world record longest cast is held by “Big Danny” Moeskops of Belgium with a 940 foot cast made in the early 2000s. The previous U.S. record was held by Will Nash of Texas, with 873 feet.

Check out CSCA at carolinasurfcasters.org.

Popular on the tournament field, but rarely seen on U.S. beaches, the pendulum cast is Ryan Lambert’s preferred casting style for launching heavy sinkers long distances.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUNTER ENLOE

Watauga River

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River PLAN

Watauga Lake

Doe River