The Angler Magazine | July 2023 | Greater Atlanta Edition

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FISHING DEEP DROPS AS

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Sfrequent, and the pelagics are plentiful. is time of year, you can usually point your boat o shore and eventually run into the mecca. However, these sought-a er pelagic species are moving around through their migrations and nding them isn’t always guaranteed. Sometimes you just get unlucky running and gunning all day, on the hunt for birds, debris and weed lines. Whether you are out there with no signs of life or just can’t seem to get away from schools of undersized sh, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan to save the day and make the fuel bill worth it.

Having a deep-drop rig ready to go can save a day of o shore shing. Sword shing can be an epic day saver, but it takes quite a bit of time, gear and involvement to have a good chance. ere are a lot of opportunities for shing the bottom between the reef and the sword grounds.

With a set-up that can handle shing between 500 and 1,000 feet, you will have what you need to quickly pepper in some drops during your day, without spending too much time setting it up and packing it away. ere are a variety of edible aliens that can be targeted, or even snagged as bycatch, when shing in the deep, but pretty much all

onboard, in case you get hung on the bottom, or adjustments need to be made due to the current. Having the right weight is important, and it is pretty easy to tell a er a drop if you have put on too much or too little. I would recommend having 6-, 8- and 10-pound weights to make your adjustments with. ese leads can be extremely pricey, so look into some DIY methods if this is something you plan to get into.

Depending on what you want to target, there are a few variations you will want for your rigs. Utilizing 300-pound mono and sleeve swivels, space out up to ve hooks along the leader, making the drop-down leaders short enough that they won’t tangle with each other. Play around with di erent size hooks and spacing between them. If you aren’t sure what might be living on a newfound bottom spot, drop a rig with varied hook sizes, having the biggest on the bottom. It is also a good idea to a x a 6-inch, 50-pound breakaway leader to the lead to save the rest of your gear when you inevitably get hung up.

Searching for new bottom spots can be one of the most exciting parts about this type of shing. You might see ledges full of life on your machine, or you might see nothing at all, and still nd sh.

You can even look for changes in the waves on the surface that indicate depth uctuations on the bottom. Mark your spots whenever you get a bite, and start your own collection of o shore honey holes.

Sweet E’nuf Charters’ two-boat eet specializes in deep-dropping out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Call them at (504) 920-6342 to book your trip this summer. Follow Capt. Quinlyn on social media @captainquinlyn.

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THREE DESTINATIONS FOR

For many anglers, yellow n tuna settle right into the sweet-spot of the tuna shing world. ey’re bigger and stronger than black ns, while being far more approachable than giant blue ns. ey’re fast and strong, and they school up, sometimes crashing baits on the surface. ere’s so much to like about this tremendous game sh, and it doesn’t hurt that limits are relatively liberal in most places. Did we mention that yellow ns are made of the delicious meat known as ahi in sushi bars?

Here are three of the best destinations where you can test your strength against a few yellow ns. Win the battle, and you’ll eat like a king.

Venice, Louisiana:

One of the most consistent places in the world for catching yellow ns is out of Venice, e “Yellow n Capital of the World.” Tuna are a year-round possibility here in the Northern Gulf, where the Mississippi River produces rich currents and rip lines that roll out to hundreds of oil rigs and undersea mounts known as lumps.

Summertime brings better weather and calmer seas, when getting o shore more quickly and comfortably can reward anglers with mixed bags of mahi, wahoo, snapper and tuna in the 40 to 80-pound range. However, peak season for giant yellow ns is in winter, and triple-digit sh become the norm when the bite is hot. Fish heavier than 200 pounds are a de nite possibility.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

On Mexico’s Paci c Coast, where the landmass begins to curve east, Puerto Vallarta is positioned within range of some of the most proli c tuna grounds in the world. Outside of Banderas Bay, a series of islands and deep-sea banks draw in tuna like clockwork at certain times of year. ese are some of

By CAM Sta

yellow ns here, but shing is best from July through October, with a typical peak season of August and September. With runs of 36 to 125 miles to reach the shing grounds, anglers must commit to long days on the water or overnight trips. e rewards can be huge. A low-end average sh weighs 80 pounds out of Puerto Vallarta. Big ones weigh 350 pounds or more.

Outer Banks, North Carolina:

e Outer Banks get a lot of attention for giant blue n tuna that move through in the winter months, but yellow n tuna are around all year. With the Gulf Stream averaging 30 to 45 miles o shore and all the bottom structure on the Continental Shelf, large schools of yellow ns are frequently encountered along with many other pelagic favorites.

Unpredictable weather makes the deep winter months of January and February a crapshoot, which leaves October through December and March through June as prime time for catching yellow ns. ey run a little smaller here, with 25- to 65-pound sh being normal catches, but the action is usually fast once you nd them. Charters ll limits quickly, with doubles and triples coming tight when you troll through a school of them.

For more great destination shing, visit coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. BLAKE RIGBY, TRIPLETAIL CHARTERS

CHATTOOGA RIVER

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

864-638-2806

The sounds of fireworks pop in the night skies, while the sound of poppers dancing across the back eddies of the river, break the silence during the day. Bright colors of the poppers, that are tied on the end of the leader, remind us of the colors which lit up the previous night’s skies. Most of the time during a holiday, there is much solitude to be found along the rivers, as the holiday festivities fill up the time slot of fishing. Sneaking out for a few early morning hours, or a couple late afternoon casts can be a rewarding piece of solitude. There’s no need to haul a lot of gear, sneaking out of the house, a small popper box, a leader, wading boots, wet wading socks, and your favorite four or five weight rod, and your off to the river for some Bartram’s Bass, Redbreast Sunfish, and an

occasional trout that just cannot resist a top water delicacy.

Summertime fishing along the Chattooga and Chauga are great top water days for the warm water species. Wet wading is a bonus this time of year, along with a quick swim on the hotter days to cool off and remember to carry extra fluids to keep hydrated. There is no need to worry about it being too hot for the Bartam’s Bass or Panfish, this is their time of year. Look for back eddies and slower moving currents when targeting these gems. The Redbreast Sunfish truly looks like a fish direct from the tropics, in their fiery vibrant orange fronts, with exquisite blue coral masks braided from their lips back. As for the bass, even the smallest of the yearlings to the twoyear-olds will rise from the depths to crush the top water offerings of the day. These fish will be near hanging trees, shrubs, and bushes as they are great ambush points below the surface of the water awaiting bugs,

beetles, and fly imitations to drop in. Let’s not worry about delicate fly presentations, as in presenting to wary skittish trout, as a more deliberate splat on the water is preferred, almost like the dinner bell has sounded. Larger is not always better for these fish, as the diet is of creatures falling from above, so leave the lake tackle at home.

For the early summer trout fishing, temperatures through mid-June have still been quite mild, as evening temperatures were still dipping to fifty degrees, along with cool seventydegree days. Although water levels were low in June, early morning and evenings had been best for fishing for trout. This trend will continue

FULL

for July, as long as the “big heat” does not happen, and if the temperature does start climbing, higher elevation creeks will be the best bet for trout. Once the water temperatures reach the mid-sixties, it is time to leave the trout alone, in that body of water and either move to a cooler creak or stream or start fishing in lower sections of the stream or river for the bass and panfish.

Summertime brings a lot of guests to the National Forests, State Parks, and all the rivers and waterways. Let all of us remember, “Leave No Trace”, and it doesn’t hurt any of us to carry out a little more than we walked in with, and the outdoors will be a little better for the future.

NEW

Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse

Instructor-

July Warm Water on the Fly

Trout streams are warming, and this will force some fly fishers to find another venue to fling a fly. Bass fishing is a great option for us here in Georgia. If this is something you want to do, the next few paragraphs have a tip or two to help get the right gear and generate more fish in the warming weather.

We don’t need much to fish for bass and sunfish. A 5 to 7wt rod, local pond or river and a few top water and subsurface flies. Using a 1X, 2X or 3X leader in the 7-9ft length is perfect. A 3X is @ a 6lb. Line. (To figure that out use the rule of 9’s. Take the ‘X’ number which is 3 in this example and subtract it from 9. That will give you the approximate pound breaking strength.) As far as what fly to use, that is subjective. A large or small popping bug, or a rubber legged dragon are good by them self or

as a ‘hopper/dropper rig’.

Then find the water. Got a golf course, neighborhood lake, good buddy that lives on the water? These are always loaded with action. If you want to try rivers, we’ve got them here in Ga. And most of them are easy wading. Shoal bass, red eye, smallmouth, largemouth and striper, are a few species you will find, and the top water action is in full swing. The Chattahoochee at Morgan Falls has several species. The Flint River is famous for shoal bass. The Etowah and Toccoa can produce as well. Check out The Angler Magazine each month for the guides sharing reports- It’s FREE!

Here are a few tips for hooking these fish. A bass is more likely to take the fly if it is moving. Sunfish like a motionless fly. If you are working a fly back to the rod and pause, the sunfish is more likely

to take it, BUT if you are not tight to the fly (removed the slack so when you twitch the line the fly moves), you will never feel the take. Sooooooo, here is something that I use all the time, even trout, carp or crappie fishing- I get in contact with the fly every 3 seconds. That means I can move the fly and feel if there is anything on it. If there are waves in the line, and there will be, I do as much as I can to remove them. I keep the rod tip down in the water (yep, rod tip in the water) and then feel and watch for line movement. Why the rod tip in the water? When the rod tip is up out of the water, the line is in the shape of

the Olympic ski jump as it goes down to the water. That’s slack, and it is going to hinder the ability to feel the strike. And when you do get a strike, your rod must move up and back to remove the slack. That is often when we see the fly fishers with the rod way back behind them trying to get a good hook set and stripping line like crazy to catch up to the fish. (I laugh at myself every time I find myself in that position) Go play, the bass and sunfish are anxious to strike and it isn’t as technical as trout fishing.

Summer is coming and fishing doesn’t have to slow down. Just change the target fish.

COOL SUMMERTIME FUN

Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service

It’s not too hot to fish in Hotlanta as this unique watershed sits over 1,000 feet above sea level. Did you know Atlanta is the second highest city of its size in the lower 48 states. The headwaters of the “Hooch” is known as the Chattahoochee Gap nestled in the high country in the vast National Forest at above 3,500ft. This special drainage consists of tributaries of the Chestatee and Chattahoochee south facing rivers that lead to our main drinking water source Lake Sidney Lanier. Atlanta’s burgeoning population approaches 7 million in the greater metro. Our cooler climate for this Deep Southern setting deceives most anglers who overlook this great sport fishery for wild and stocked trout near town. We have had the

pleasure of guiding anglers on this river for three decades and hope you will consider my service on your next float or wade trip.

NOT JUST ABOUT TROUT

By Jeff Durniak Unicoi Outfitters

Fly rodding is not just about trout. That’s especially true now, as our steamy Georgia summers restrict trout fishing opportunities to high headwater bluelines, or icy winter waters discharged from Buford and Blue Ridge dams. It’s a great time to pursue other sites and species like pond and river bream and bass, which are plentiful in local waters near you and can be very cooperative for anglers tossing the right bugs at the right time of the day.

Let’s start with pond bream. Bluegill and redbreast sunfish are great teaching tools for new fly anglers because they’re plentiful and competitive. The first one to the groceries gets lunch, grows larger, and survives. That competition among siblings favors the new flyrodder, and early success at fish-catching leads to flyfishing avidity!

Bream also reside in angler-friendly locales like small ponds and wide rivers. Ponds lack stream current, which

really complicates fly presentation. And the wide-open spaces of ponds and rivers have fewer tree branches to catch a beginner’s errant back casts while they wade or paddle along the bank. Grab your bream-busting flies and supplies from either one of our UO stores and guide your new fly angler or yourself around a pond perimeter soon. Watch for the pizza-pan patches of polished sand and gravel in the shallows and you’ll be in business on the bream beds. And if some folks are still a bit young for the fly rod, just hedge their bet with a spincast rod and a tube of crickets. Get youngsters on fish early and they’ll graduate to flyfishing in a few years.

Looking to make a meal of those bream, resident bass species provide nice “trophy” opportunities for new flyfishers. Slightly larger poppers and streamers will get the attention of pond largemouths and river shoal and spotted bass. Road-trippers can

NO BOAT?

also head just north of our border and enjoy NC and TN smallmouth bass. A chunky bass will put a bend in that starter fly rod and provide an aerial cartwheel, too. Some folks target our state’s different bass species here in pursuit of GADNR’s Bass Slam certificate (https://georgiawildlife.com/ f ishing/angler-resources/GeorgiaBassSlam).

Now for flies and techniques. For your bream and bass bugs, recall my tips on poppers and droppers in the June 2021 online issue of this magazine. Target shade and cover for those bream and bass. Aim for the shadows of dawn and dusk and the shade of bankside trees. Cast toward the fish

cover of boulders, submerged tree limbs, and boat docks- anywhere that fish will feel safer from their avian and aquatic predators.

Targeting “not just trout” will give you many warm season smiles. Switch your species to bream and bass and have a blast. Show young flyrodders some early success this month and you’ll create angling partners for life. Good luck with your summer excursions to warmer waters with cooperative residents. We’ll reunite with trout this fall.

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

Summer Fly Fishing in Blue Ridge

The mountainous area surrounding Blue Ridge, Georgia has hundreds of miles of trout streams with the jewel of Fannin County being the Toccoa River. This watershed lies at a nice cool elevation that keeps the blazing summer sun at bay. Fly fishers come from all around the region to enjoy the good fishing. Summertime is the perfect season for folks looking for an opportunity to try something new like fly fishing. Local streams such as Cooper’s Creek, Rock Creek, Noontootla Creek, and the Toccoa River are great areas to try out some new skills!

The Toccoa River happens to flow north towards Tennessee. We refer to the section below the dam as the Lower Toccoa River or Tailwater section. The Blue Ridge Dam is controlled by the TVA and used for production of electricity. It is very important to be aware of the release schedule for that particular day. Release schedules can be found on TVA’s app or look at the TVA website under Lakes to find Blue Ridge. You should not be in the river when the water is released from the dam. The river is not wadable and it is dangerous. Always be alert for potential generations. There are three public access points for fishing on the tailwater. Tammen Park is located just below the dam and provides pretty easy access for fishing. It is closest to Blue Ridge and has a nice park area to sit and enjoy the river. Located further down the river is Curtis Switch. It is another public access point for fishing. Wading is a bit more difficult here and access is limited. The last public access is Horseshoe Bend Park which is just upstream of McCaysville, Georgia. Here is relatively easy wading and access. A wonderful place to bring the family and picnic too. A 9 ft 5 weight fly rod with a floating fly line is about right for the Toccoa River. We use 9 ft 5X leaders made of monofilament with a fluorocarbon piece of 6X tippet usually if using a dropper. Productive flies to use on this tailwater section include terrestrial bugs such

as grasshoppers, ants, bees, and beetle patterns. A few sub-surface nymphs like Pheasant Tail, Prince, and Hare’s Ears are good patterns to always have on hand.

The Upper Toccoa River is the part of the river that flows into Lake Blue Ridge and above the dam. Public access is limited on the Upper Toccoa. The most popular public fishing access is at the Sandy Bottoms Canoe Launch area. It provides good access to about a mile and a half of great freestone stream fishing. This area has delayed harvest fishing regulations from Nov 1st to May 15th. Summer fishing is still pretty good here early in the day. Good rainfall and lower water temperatures help provide a better habit for trout in the hotter months. We recommend using the same outfit and flies as you use in the Lower Toccoa River. However, streamer fishing here in summer can also catch a few smallmouth bass in addition to trout. A few streamer flies to try might be an Olive Zonker and a Black Woolybugger.

Farther upstream on the Toccoa River are Cooper’s Creek and Rock Creek. Each of them has several access points with easy wading. Rustic camping is an option here too. We prefer shorter rods like 7 ½ or 8 ft fly rods in 3 or 4 weight for these streams. Fiberglass rods are perfect for these streams as well. A short leader works just fine to keep you from getting caught up in the rho-

dodendron cover. Pretty much the same fly patterns like terrestrials will hold the trout’s attention well enough to keep you busy almost any summer morning. You can add Yellow/Orange Stimulators, Royal Wulffs, and Yellow Humpies to your fly box. Both these streams contain some wild populations of fish but by far the usual fish encountered near the roads that parallel these creeks will have been stocked by the national fish hatchery located on Rock Creek. Matching the hatch is not as important to the stocked fish so San Juan Worms and Egg patterns can make for a fun outing too.

Noontootla Creek located on the Blue Ridge Wildlife Management area is a special place with only wild trout in the stream. The year round catch and release special regulations on this creek are a safe haven for the native fish populations. You can use the same equipment and flies recommended above for this pristine fishery. You will enjoy summer fishing here with high floating dry fly patterns such as Thunderheads, Grizzly Wulffs, Yellow Hammers,

and Tellico Nymphs thrown in there for good measure. Spending a cool summer morning with a professional guide or certified fly-casting instructor can make learning fly fishing easy and fun. If you’d like to learn to fly fish or try it for the first-time visit www. blueridgeflyfishingschool.com. We offer various classes for beginning or experienced anglers. We have been teaching fly fishing for over 30 years and can definitely shorten your learning curve for a lifetime of fly-fishing adventures!

LANIER IN JULY – WATER TEMPS DICTATE APPROACH

Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com

Depending on the water temperatures, there are several techniques you can utilize to stay on top of the fish, sometimes literally, and remain successful on Lanier during the hot summer months. Let’s review the locations, techniques, and lures you can utilize to ensure you keep catching fish in July.

By July, the majority of the spotted bass are normally in their traditional summer patterns. While some fish will be relating to key features at the mouths of the major creeks, you will begin to find more and bigger spots active on the main lake. The fish tend to relate to either schools of bait or to some of the thousands of man-made brush piles that can be found around the entire lake. Look for brush

and other fish-attracting features around the steeper side of longrunning points, rock, steep banks, rocky ledges, as well as underwater humps throughout the lake. Locating these areas and the man-made cover that is often found on them, which will often concentrate the fish, will be important to your success.

Now that we have explored the location where the spots can often be found in July, let’s examine some of the techniques and lures that can be used to catch these fish.

Top water lures and swimbaits remain a viable approach until the surface temperatures hit the mid 80’s. At this point, most of the bait goes deeper as do the fish. Until then, look for this bite to remain

solid around the man-made brush. The gunfish and chug bug are two of my favorite topwater lures. When the fish are stubborn, try a weighted fluke as a great second option on missed fish. Swimbaits such as the Lanier Baits Hard Swimmer and the offerings of the Sweet Bait Company are two of the best choices for the hard Swimbaits.

When the topwater/swimbait bite slows, pick up your GA Blade Underspin. Tip the underspin with a Super Fluke Jr. trailer and fish the bait over and around offshore brush for your best success. Vary your retrieve speed and depth until you hit on the right combination for that day.

When you see fish in brush on your Humminbird electronics, try the worm and jig. I like the Georgia Blade ball head. Explore different worm sizes, shapes, and colors when you are fishing. Something different presented appropriately can make a big difference on certain days. Georgia Jigs in 3/8 oz. are my favorite jigs on Lanier. A PB & J color pattern is often a

good bet.

A Drop-Shot is also a great tool when fishing gets tough, and the water temperatures soar in the middle of summer. I opt for this offering when fish are suspended in or around brush, or when they are suspended on points or humps. This presentation can be made vertically, or it can be cast or pitched toward the feature. I prefer the Lanier Baits options –they have a tremendous selection of soft plastics! Check them out at LanierBaits.com.

Want Detailed Weekly Video Reports supported by Daily Video Fishing Updates? Subscribe to Jimbo’s Video Fishing Reports – learn the lures, patterns, and locations before you go fishing! Stay in the know with Jimbo! Subscribe here: https://jimboonlanier.com/jimbosweekly-video-fishing-reports/

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 NOTTELY STRIPER

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

If slaying schooling summertime stripers and hybrids is what you want, then look no further. Lake Nottely offers some of the best striper fishing in the southeast and we are so privileged to be slap-dab in the middle of it all here at Big Ol’ Fish Guiding service. July’s warm summer temps really get these deep mountain stripers & hybrids schooled up. It’s definitely the time of year to catch tons and tons of hard fighting fish. When I say “tons” I mean it’s not uncommon for us to catch 40 to 50 fish in like an hour. I’m talking crazy fun! Checkout our Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service Facebook and Instagram and see for yourself.

Currently, Lake Nottely is at full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the low 80’s.

Striper fishing has been excellent. We have been loading the boat with some big fish in good quantities, averaging 25 to 35 stripers and hybrids every morning. The early-morning hours and evening bites are your best times to see action. As far as technique, it’s been all down lines for us. With water temps on the rise the fish are moving to deeper water. Target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel. Also, during the hot sunny days of summer, search out areas with some good shade. The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 7 to the dam. The top-water bite has been amazing as well, so keep a Spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag surface-busting fish. The fish will continue to school up through the next couple months and will move to even deeper water. Just remember to keep an eye on your electronics and watch for schools of stripers when cruising the lake. Also, remember to try to get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible after they are caught. These warm summer water temps are hard on stripers and often they’ll die if you don’t get a quick release.

July 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 Hiwassee’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 (in North Carolina), Chatuge , 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!

Heron Outdoor Adventures

FISHING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS

Dr. Andrew Cox

When you read this, summertime weather and temperatures will be here. Though we experienced a somewhat cooler than normal May in Georgia, June is only the beginning of summertime heat and humidity that we will have to endure for the next four months. Fishing during daytime hours in July, August and even into September can be uncomfortable. For many, fishing is limited to early morning or evening hours. Some anglers even focus upon fishing during nighttime periods. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed during this month but one has to be prepared to handle the warm temperatures and humidity with plenty of liquids and sun protection.

Despite the heat and humidity, anglers can still enjoy fishing during this time of year. Though I find it extremely uncomfortable attempting to fish on area lakes during the heat of the day, good angling can still be found during early morning and evening hours. From daylight until about 10:00 am and those hours after 5:00 pm can be more comfortable for the angler. Fish seem to be more active at these times as well.

Anglers can also explore fishing during evening hours. Fish can

often be found somewhat shallower during these hours. You may need specialized lighting equipment on your boat or at your fishing locale to illuminate your fishing area. Tying knots and managing your fishing equipment can be impossible without adequate lighting. Some of the waters that I fish have lighted docks. These attract fish during the evening hours making them easier to target. Crappie, bream, bass, and hybrids can be caught in such locales. Larger lakes and reservoirs will also be less crowded and quieter during evening time periods. Remember navigation lighting rules when operating a boat during low light time periods.

The summertime months can also be good times to explore other waters. Fishing rivers and streams with shade and tree cover on the banks will extend your fishing time during daytime hours. Generally, rivers and streams will have somewhat cooler waters and their shaded banks will provide more fish holding structure during morning and evening time periods. Flowing water over shoals will provide fish holding areas not found on lakes and reservoirs.

Summer months are also good times to fish smaller lakes and

ponds. These waters are usually not crowded and may be easier to locate fish even in deep water as the lake is smaller in size. During these months, I enjoy fishing some smaller lakes located in East Alabama and West Georgia. These lakes have a maximum depth of around 15 to 20 feet. Fish can usually be found in the deeper waters of these lakes. Both Georgia and Alabama, have several public fishing areas with smaller lakes where the fish may be more active and easier to locate. Internet searches on state wildlife agency websites can provide the locations for these public fishing areas.

Don’t give up on fishing during the hot summer months. If you adapt to fishing a variety of waters, the time of day when you are fishing, and your fishing techniques, fish can still be found and caught. Be safe. Look out for other boaters and other recreational water users and remember to re-hydrate yourself.

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

Lake Lanier has dropped more than a foot, but the lake is predominantly clear, and the water temperature has risen into the upper seventies. June has been a mixture of spotted bass and striped bass. As the month has progressed, the stripers have separated from the spotted bass. The stripers have moved deep, and the schools are getting larger and larger each week. Typically, July is one of the best months of the year for numbers for stripers. The south end of the lake will be your best bet.

With the schools of stripers being deep, good electronics and great bait are the essential ingredients to success. With the newest electronics, you should be able to see your bait swim on the hook. After picking up blueback herring at the local bait stores like Hammonds, Sherrie’s, and Oakwood Bait you just need a few key items. The key set up is a

Shakespeare striper Rod, a Penn Fathom II Linecounter reel, Captain Mack swivel sinkers, Berkley 100% flourocarbon leader material, and Gamakatsu 1/0 red Octopus hooks. You should be able to see your sinker drop into the schools of stripers.

If you want to try artificials, spool up another Penn Fathom Linecounter with fifteen-pound Trilene Big Game line and tie on a Ben Parker spoon or a 2-ounce white Berkley Fusion bucktail. Use the Linecounter to drop to the correct depth and reel the spoon or bucktail up past the stripers. Many times, they will try to rip the rod out of your hands. Give it a try and you will be hooked as well. The last two years the spoon bite has been slow, but every year is different. Hopefully, this year they will crush it. If so, you will forget about live bait. See you on the water!

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

Oh, wow summer is here, and the stripers are still biting. Nothing like catching Lake Martin stripers and catching them in July is just a bonus. As you can see in all the attached photos from July of 2022, we have some great trips with our clients in the summer. Certain things you need to be prepared for to have summer success and I’ll give you a few suggestions now. The old saying the early bird gets the worm, well summertime fishing is the same, the earlier you go, the better chance you have to catch some fish (for instance, we as a guide service like to leave the

to come up). Patience. It takes a lot of patience some days to have a successful trip. You may have to ride and look at several of your best spots before you find them or at least find some that are biting, so bring patience and remember being outdoors on beautiful Lake Martin is what it’s all about and catching fish is just icing on the cake. Offer up lures, live baits, etc. until you find what works for you and the fish. Sure, we specialize in live bait fishing but that doesn’t mean that’s what the stripers will hit every day. There are a lot of days in the summer when we may be casting top water lures or even trolling very deep with our downriggers. We do whatever it takes to entice a bite within the guidelines of the DNR. Always keep yourself hydrated while you are out this time of year. Alabama can be very hot, and you can get in trouble before you know it. Don’t worry, if you have to put away the rods and head to a sandy beach and take a swim and cool off. Believe me, I’ve had to do it plenty of times and there is nothing wrong with taking a break while fishing.

If you have access to a dock to fish from, take advantage of the great bream (sunfish) and catfish

fishing that many docks offer. Crickets, worms or even bread dough balls are good for bream and worms, cut bait, stink bait or almost anything will get the attention of our great tasting catfish. If you have a green monster light at your dock, try your luck this summer fishing for crappie with minnows and the well-known spotted bass that swim our waters.

Regardless of what you’re fishing for if you’re like most of us anglers we get excited no matter what tugs on our lines.

Remember catching fish is fun! You don’t have to make it hard, just have fun, bite, or no bite. It’s relaxing so take advantage of it!

Y’all have a safe summer and catch one for me!

Tight lines!

LAKE LANIER

Forecast By: Captain Josh Thornton 770-530-6493 www.crappieonlanier.com | www.fishingwitheverydayheroes.org

Crappie Fishing

Fishing on Lake Lanier for Crappie has been great lately! The water temperature is a comfortable 75 degrees, providing perfect conditions for catching these fish. The best gear to use for optimal success use an ACC Crappie Stix 1 piece rod and reel with a 6-pound test k9 line, a black and chartreuse ATX Lure Company jig or a small minnow. With the current conditions, you should have no problem landing some decent sized Crappie! I also

use Garmin Live Scope and power pole. For more information and tips, check out my websites at www.crappieonlanier.com and www.fishingwitheverydayheroes. org and like my pages!

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

Forecast By: Ken Sturdivant Southern Fishing kensturdivant@att.net

Bass fishing is fair. Look for the shallow bite to get better over the next month. Top water, jigs and square bill crank baits are the baits of choice on mid lake docks. Early and late each day, throw a popper or a prop bait around sea walls, lay down trees, and overhangs that have flies present. Bream imitating colors will get the most bites. When the top water bite slows, try a Spro Fat John square bill crank bait around these same areas. Fishing the crank bait parallel to the sea wall will produce more bites and the bait will stay in the strike

LAKE SINCLAIR

zone the entire way back. Also, follow up with a jig in a brown and orange color. Fish these jigs slowly underneath dock walkways, at the base of sea walls and in any wood cover. Bass are warm shallow feeders. This is a great way to catch a big fish. Concentrate your efforts on the main river stretches for best results. Deep diving crank baits, Carolina rigged soft plastics, and drop shot rigs have all been productive on these deep-water offshore structures. Deep humps, long points, and river ledges will all hold fish this time of year. The deep bite is better when Georgia Power is moving water.!

Lake Sinclair is down 1.4 feet, temperature 80s.

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FISHING LAKE HAVASU FOR A WORLD RECORD- THE REST OF THE STORY

By Gary Turner https://youtube.com/@FishingWithGary “Tight Lines and Squeal every time.”

So, if you read the main story, you know how I got there and how hot it was. What I didn’t have room to talk about was how incredibly beautiful that area is. Lake Havasu itself is nothing short of amazing! You really will think you are in the Keys or the Bahamas because of the waters color and clarity are just unbelievable! The landscape is incredible, the mountains are so inspiring, and the desert is so hot during the day then dropping 30 or 40 degrees at night. All the wildlife will come out into the open. They have wild burros and big horn sheep and even a few bears in the area, desert cottontails and rattlesnakes too. I drove up part of Historic Route 66 to a town called Oatman, which is a very cool little mountain town. It’s in a caldera, the bowl structure that’s left when a volcano blows out all its magma and the earth collapses back. The wild burros come out of the desert into the town and people in town buy food and feed them. The shops there are so neat. They had everything, some cool antiques and old tools, old books, souvenirs, leather goods and tons more. The town has a main dirt street and boardwalks just like all old west towns

had. There was even a gunfight show twice a day in the street and a jail escape room. I had a great time and met some really nice people.

Let’s talk about the food and then I’ll get to the reason the fish are so GIGANTIC! Ron, his wife, and I dined at ChaBones, and it was Amazing! For kicks, just check out their menu online. The appetizer (tapas) list was crazy. My favorite appetizers were the chile relleno and the creole shrimp, both delicious! I had the blackened halibut for my meal, but you could just live off appetizers for sure. If you want to go there, please make a reservation. My other find was Sam’s Place, for breakfast and lunch. The homemade chili omelet was scrumptious! Even though it was over 100 degrees, I really was planning on going back for lunch to get a bowl of that chili. Unfortunately, I just never was back in town in time, they close at 2 p.m., but I’ll get there next trip for sure. Zac, his girlfriend, and I went to the Pirates Den aka the Black Pearl. The tacos and twisted shrimp were delicious. Zac had the Poseidon’s Western Burger that had all kinds of stuff on it including 1/3 pound of beef and pulled

pork. He said it was delicious. So, to say the least, we ate well at dinner since we snacked through lunch every day because we were hard core fishing!

So, why are the World Record Redear coming from Lake Havasu? Well, there are several factors. The lake really isn’t a lake but a reservoir on the Colorado River and Parker Dam backs up the river there. It is about 45 miles of lake area. In the 90’s they added thousands of pieces of structure to the lake for fish habitat. In 2007 quagga mussels were found in the lake, and soon after their invasion, the Redear started feeding on them. From 2009 to 2014 the average size of the Redear increased. In 2014 a World Record 17-inch, 5.78 pound Redear was caught. Fast forward to today - there was a 6.3 pounder caught recently and is possibly the next world record. These fish are still growing so big, and that is awesome for those of us that love to fish! These mussels are high in protein and Redear, also known as Shellcrackers, are perfectly suited to eat them. The Bluegills can only eat small ones, but they are growing too. Then there is the cross, the Redear Bluegill cross. They are also getting big. These fish, like the Redear, possess extra crunching plates in their mouth to eat the mussels. The record on these is over three pounds. How are they catching these beasts? Well, you could use jigs or worms or both. I had several other ideas for bait, but those are the easiest choices. Some people are using double hook

rigs, others use a plain weight on bottom and a single line hook, but I’m sure you can make several rigs work. The key is finding the depth these fish are at and dropping the bait to them. For Ron and me, we sight fished in up to 18 feet of water, and then we went deeper and just cast, let it sit on the bottom, and reeled it in. We caught several fish this way, including the two biggest ones. Zac and I worked in the area much like bass fishing. We cast, hit bottom, reel, hit bottom, reel and trolled our way as we did this. We covered miles of shoreline and coves this way. Unfortunately, while I was there the fishing was a little SLOW. Both Ron and Zac agreed two weeks before it was a lot better. They both caught fish over four pounds in the weeks before I arrived. This is the thing, trying to time the trip to match the bite is tough. That’s true with fishing everywhere, but when planning a trip this far from home, you just gotta go with the best plan you have and book it. I am going out five or six weeks earlier next year and hope the water has warmed enough and the fish are on fire. Lastly, if you do go Lake Havasu on a fishing trip, PLEASE throw these fish back. Even the little ones could be a world record soon. So, if you are looking for gigantic Redears, you need to go check out Lake Havasu, Arizona. It is a beautiful lake in the Desert!

Beat The Heat – Mountain Trout Fishing

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

It’s hot outside! Here’s a cool way to spend a day on the water and enjoy some beautiful scenery… take a trip to the mountains and do some trout fishing.

Maybe you’re thinking you need to head out west or to the northeast to find good trout fishing, and while those are good options; the southeastern states have an abundance of awesome trout fisheries.

In the north Georgia mountains, brook trout are actually native fish to the area. Now most of these fish live in small, secluded streams where adventurous anglers target them. And for the most part, these are smaller fish. But they are beautiful and can be challenging to catch. For the rest of us, we have the good fortune of easier access and easier fishing, thanks to our state DNR Fish Hatcheries that regularly stock these streams with rainbow and brown trout. To fish for them, you’ll need a freshwater fishing license that also includes the fee for trout fishing privileges.

The mountains of Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas have clean, clear streams that look much like the streams of Vermont and Maine. Slow riffles, gentle falls and placid pools will be within a few hundred feet of each other. You can walk the banks (be aware of private property), you can wade the streams, or you can even float the larger streams and rivers in drift boats or fishing tubes.

Tackle can be as simple or as ‘purist’ as you want. Fly anglers will occasionally need to be careful

on their back-casts for overhanging branches. Light tackle spin anglers will test their casting accuracy to perfectly retrieve a small in-line spinner or tiny spoon across the current without getting hung on a rock. And of course, there’s the old standby’s…corn, crickets, and worms…all will draw a quick strike from these hungry stockers. There are regulated streams that require barbless hooks, or artificial bait only, or catch and release only. So, check the regulations before you jump in the water. The fines are kinda pricey.

One of the best ways to begin enjoying the cool temperatures and experience the excitement of catching some true monster trout is to book a guided trip on the water. There are outfitting companies that offer everything you need…tackle, rods, waders, and expert guides that will show you the ropes, whether you’re an accomplished angler or it’s your first time.

One of my favorite destinations is Helen, Georgia, home to Unicoi Outfitters. They have a full fly shop and manage literally miles of pristine, private trout waters in the area. And their streams hold

some monsters! If you want a truly unique experience, book a day on a float boat casting to bows and browns on the Toccoa River. The scenery is beautiful, and you’ll be catching wild, stream-raised fish. Check ‘em out at UnicoiOutfitters.com Great people, and great fishing!

Another cool option, that will also let you put dinner on the table, is what I call ‘Public Access Fishing’. These are public streams where the hatcheries regularly release fish. And in most of these streams, you can keep what you catch. State parks, like Unicoi State

Park in north Georgia is a great place to start your trek. The road that winds through the park has numerous shelter areas where you can park and wet a line just steps from your car. Perfect for bringing the kids and teaching them the fun of trout fishing. Plus, you can stay at the lodge, go zip-lining, shopping in Helen, and do it all in the cool mountain air.

So, plan a trip out of the heat and into the naturally air-conditioned comfort of the mountains this summer. You’ll love it.

Tight lines and calm seas.

LAKE ALTOONA CRAPPIE

Contributed By: Tim Dangar

Great day on the Toona! The full moon in May put the shellcracker on the bed and the crappie into deep water summer pattern. My grandson, Tyler and I, got in on some bedding action and boated 50 nice shells and a few big crappie. These fish are at the top of my list when it comes to pound for pound fight and table fare. When looking for beds, be sure to look in pockets or coves, out of the wind, and grass beds are a big plus too. Red worms and crickets work, well if fish are in grass, but if you find beds in open water, artificial lures such as small beetle spins will do the trick. The action should pick up again as the June full moon approaches. More on deep water crappie and how to catch them next month. Until then, stay calm and fish on!

DOCKSIDE AT THE LAKE

By James K. Pressley jameskpressley@gmail.com

An entertaining thing to do is just sit by the dock on a Friday afternoon.

Last Friday, I was out at the Boat House on Lake Oconee. You know the place. In the old days it was a catfish joint and now it’s got storage and gas right off the backside of Harbor Club. It was a beautiful afternoon, and I was out peddling boats. Which for me means I talk a lot. Not a stretch to those who know me…

Well, a good friend of mine from Henry County was camping with his wife and they stopped by to say hello. Another good friend, whom I met by buying his old Pathfinder Bay boat last year, came over to work on his pontoon, which meant I chatted and helped him a little. Well, maybe we just stopped working all together and talked is a more accurate description. Then I met a guy who had been a vice cop in Miami in the 70s up till just a few years ago. What an interesting life he had led!

Imagine seeing the Cocaine Cowboy days up close and personal, the boat chases, car chases, and shootings of the 70s and 80s in Miami. Imagine being the commander on the scene of the Versace murder and the suicide of the murderer. Seeing the Cuban immigrants flooding in, the Haitians, the Dominicans. Miami is the last of the wild pirate towns some people say and to be honest for a long time that was not too far from the truth, and we aren’t talking that long ago either. These days while it’s lost a lot of the wildness it’s still one of my favorite cities. The food, music, coffee, cigars, oh man!!! And it’s got great fishing too!

But back on track… I have always had a fascination with the rise of the drug trade in the late 60s through the 90s. Probably because I grew up watching Miami Vice, Magnum PI, Rockford Files, and the like. I remember going to Florida in the early 80s and seeing mullet and crab fishermen with huge gold and diamond bracelets, brand new caddies, and big houses. For a short time, I honestly thought that the fishing business was a sure ticket to wealth untold! However, I quickly learned they were running in loads for the Columbians, Mexicans, Cubans, etc. I have friends who did time for running for Pablo, whose fathers died in Columbia on bad airstrips, or got their start in life by running in enough dope to pay for their skiffs or offshore boats then they went legit. The smuggler’s life still has an appeal it seems. In fact, I can see it. The Florida fishing guide life is intertwined with the smuggling life.

Once, while in Florida on a dolphin trip, we found a “square grouper” and after catching a limit of Mahi off it, of course we turned it in to the Coast Guard. We got our limit first! If you don’t know what a Square Grouper is I am sorry… You have led a sheltered and land locked life. I can honestly say though that the fish didn’t taste like oregano. I’m personally glad we still have a few renegades, smugglers, pirates, rum runners, old school lawmen, and beat cops around. They are always a lot of fun to talk to, no matter which side of the law they worked for.

Tight lines and following seas to all of you!

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

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

Welcome to the heat of summer! Long hot days are the perfect excuse to make an escape to the lake. If your employer asks, tell them The Angler Magazine said to go fish! With the heat comes the flood of pleasure boaters upon Lake Nottely, which can certainly be a nuisance to fisherman. As such, there are steps you can take to ensure a productive, stress-free time before those pesky ski boats even make it to the ramp. One of these is to get out early! The first hour or two of daylight is by far the best time to fill the boat. These early morning fish will bite almost anywhere. Points on the main lake with a topwater will nearly always produce bites. A buzzbait or spinnerbait in the creeks is another way to pursue the ever elusive largemouth. The secret is to keep moving and fish fast. Once the sun gets out, turn to noticeable shade lines and slow down. Fishing a wacky rig under docks is my favorite way to do such. No docks? No problem. Trees and steeper banks naturally cast shade into the water, so make sure to make a cast or two with a Zoom trickworm or a drop shot to get the bites you want. As the day wears on and boat traffic increases, look for places with fresh, cool water flowing into the lake. These are found in the very backs of the creeks, where largemouth lurk for the unsuspecting bluegill. A jig or wacky rig will nearly always generate bites during this time. The fish this time of year are fairly spread out, between docks, creeks, and points. So, get out there early, pick what you want to fish, and sling a topwater around for some awesome memories! Get out there and

Lake Level: full pool.

Temp: 80-83 degrees

Clarity: Clear

CARTERS LAKE

Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service

| lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com

It’s finally summertime on Carter’s Lake. This means start fishing early or fish at dusk, or at night even, to beat the heat and boat traffic. The bait is super thick, after the spawn, so the fish are spread

out as usual. The walleye are on the move from the creeks to the main lake points and humps looking for bait balls. They like to eat in low light situations where they have the advantage. Spoons, crank baits, live alewives, or threadfins are all great options for targeting walleyes this month. Get the bait to the fish holding just below the bait balls but off the bottom. These are

the actively feeding fish. After sunrise look for them pinned to the bottom and fish with a more vertical presentation where they don’t have to chase anything. Chrome, purple, and orange seem to be the hot colors in June.

The striper have been feeding good from 5am to 9am in 50 to 70 ft of water. Live fresh alewives and big threadfins are still the preferred bait but not the only option. Light lines and small hooks always out produce heavy gear here. Move slowly in the

creek mouths targeting the bait balls early. After sunrise, I like to throw out the Capt. Macks URigs and pull them in the same areas around 3mph. Most of the creeks are holding fish right now, so location isn’t that important. Some fish are starting to show up in the river looking to stay cool. Look for fish here after big rains that attract the bait fish.

Carter’s Lake

Temp: 84; Level: Full Clarity: 3 ft tops

LAKE SEMINOLE

Forecast By: Jeff Hamm

Lake Seminole Guide

770-912-7936

June Fishing Report: Water temperatures in the mornings were in the low to mid-70s, reaching the 80s in the afternoons. During this time, bass were actively biting hollow belly frogs around bream beds. The May fly hatch lasted for about three weeks, resulting in explosive topwater frog bites. Bass were also feeding on chatter baits and A-Rigs in the ditches and on the first drops from the spawning flats.

July Fishing Forecast: As the water continues to warm in July, expect the bass to transition to their summer haunts. Look for them on the edge of creek channels in depths ranging from 10 to 17 feet. The crankbait bite should be productive on the humps near the channels.

daltonmarineinc.com

Two Great Locations:

Two Great Locations:

Dalton Location

Additionally, bass will relate to balls of bait in the channels, presenting an opportunity for a quick limit when located. Keep a Zara Spook or Gunfish handy for surface action.

In July, search for offshore stumps, rocks, and brush piles in depths of 15 to 20 feet. Drag a Carolina Rig (C-Rig) or your favorite jig through these areas to target larger bass. Utilize side imaging on your fishfinder, such as Garmin LiveScope, to locate structure and use LiveScope to pinpoint active fish around brush piles. If the fish are being finicky, consider using a drop shot or wacky rig. Surprisingly, even in 20 feet of water, a wacky rig can be visible on Garmin LiveScope and prove effective.

Remember to stay updated with

1117 East Morris Street

Dalton Location 1117 East Morris Street

Dalton, GA 30721

Dalton, GA 30721

(706) 226-3595

1117 East Morris Street

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Acworth Location

4725 Highway 92

Dalton, GA 30721

Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 974-0629

Acworth Location 4725 Highway 92 Acworth, GA 30101 (770) 974-0629

(706) 226-3595

Certified

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 still a few different patterns that seem to be working right now. Top water baits such as Whopper Ploppers and Buzz Baits and Zoom Horny Toads can be extremely effective for shallow and aggressive fish, especially around bream beds, shallow cover, and grass. A second pattern that works really well is to look for schools of blueback herring on the surface. 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 in open water with topwater lures and Zoom Superflukes. Another working pattern is to concentrate on docks and blowdowns. Try an unweighted Merthiolate Zoom Trick worm, an unweighted ZLINKY, Senko type bait or a pig-n-jig around this type of cover. Water generation can play a factor in improving the bite as the water warms up, so if you have the option, base your trips to the lake around that when possible. Some fish can still be caught deep on old roadbeds and in brush piles. Lots of spotted bass are caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with ultra vibe speed craws or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks or around the many shoal marker poles scattered around the lake.

Linesides: GOOD - Spawned out hybrids & stripes are back down lake in July. Expect the downline bite on live bait to be decent throughout the month. The linesides have started schooling a little on the main lake and can be caught on Roostertails, Pop n Cork rigs and Gotcha Swim Shad lures. Also, fish can be caught trolling with the Flash Mob Jr or West Point trolling rig.

Crappie: GOOD - Crappie like deeper water in the summer and will typically move out and hold on deeper brush & structure or under docks. Shooting or pitching under the shade of covered docks or around bridge pilings is the way to go. Tube type jigs seem to work the best. The crappie almost always like the shade on a sunny day. Night fishing is usually awesome in July 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. 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 July. 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 20-30-lb. range are 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 3 feet or so below full pool. Water temps are in the upper 80’s. Water is clear over most of the lake.

OCONEE ON THE FLY-

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

I have been asked many times about what factors affect the fishing here on Lake Oconee. In my opinion, it is moving water. Georgia Power drains the lake to generate electricity and of course this creates current in the water. They also pump water back up into Lake Oconee from Lake Sinclair to replenish what drained out.

Unlike the corps of engineer lakes like Lake Lanier, there is no announced schedule for generation. I understand that Wallace Dam here is more of “on demand” type facility and therefore there is no schedule.

A good rule of thumb is when its hot enough that folks have their air conditioning running, they will likely generate late in the day. For hybrid

bass and stripers this usually triggers a good bite even if the water temperatures are high. I have seen shad coming to surface in this current and it can be quite impressive. The spoon bite on humps during these circumstances is very strong.

There are occasions when they are still pumping water back up after first light. If you are lucky enough to be there when this happens, there is usually a strong topwater bite.

Moving water is great for hybrids and stripers however, it can have the opposite effect on crappie fishing. Timing can be in your favor as you might get moving water at first light then when the pumps turn off, the crappie fishing turns on.

Forecast for July:

Crappie – Its brush pile / structure fishing time. The crappie will be tight on submerged structure. I would suggest hiring a guide for this type fishing. There may be a stand of submerged timber with hundreds of trees that are in say 30 feet deep water and are 15 to 20 feet below the surface and only a few trees that are loaded with crappie. The trick is to find those trees, mark it with a buoy, and fish in an area directly over that tree. If you fish directly over that tree, you will get a bite, go a few feet away and you will not. I think this requires a great deal of skill. You can troll jigs over the same trees and have success as well.

Hybrids/Stripers – July can be

a tough time to target hybrids and stripers. As mentioned above, moving water will play a key role. Having fresh threadfin or gizzard shad is a huge plus. But if you don’t want to throw a cast net, try fishing a 7/8-ounce War Eagle spoon vertically over the humps. Late in the day if they are generating, this works well. Also, trolling a Mini Mack umbrella rig can be productive. Get them at Sugar Creek Marina.

Fly Fishing – Is largely dependent on the moving water. If you see topwater activity, throw a wiggle minnow on an 8-weight rod with intermediate line. I actually use a Betts Pop N’ Strip popper as well with a Cowen’s Somethin Else fly as a dropper.

If you are fishing the late afternoon and mark fish, use sink tip line with a 15 lb piece of fluorocarbon about 5 feet long as your leader and tie on a chartreuse and white clouser.

Final Words

Watch carefully for recreational boats, fish early or late and go on weekdays if you can. Contact me at wmoore1700@outlook.com or call 404-317-9556 to book your trip.

Tight Lines, and God Bless.

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

LAKE EUFAULA

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

The water level is holding near normal for this time of year. The shad hatch has been good, and the fish are good and healthy. The shallow bite for bass early and late is getting better every day. Blade baits, bladed jigs, frogs, and flukes worked over and around the vegetation are getting some good fish. The fish are full of shad, so a slow or repeated presentation is necessary to aggravate a strike.

Jigs and Texas rigged soft plastics are also a good choice. Green pumpkin, black with chartreuse tail, watermelon candy are all good colors to work. White or pearl trainers or creature baits on the jigs are doing great. Deeper bass are hitting large spoons worked in front of them when you find them on your electronics. Continued jigging will aggravate a hit. Carolina rigs with big dark plastics will also work. Deep cranks are ok but need to be worked fast to reach the deeper fish and it is hard to get them to chase it when they are full. A jerk bait twitched through the schooling bass are doing well. You will catch a bunch of shorts, but the keepers are there. Top water noisy plugs like the Whopper Plopper are also a great choice.

Crappie are still deep and eating minnow tipped jigs. They are deep around any structure you find with

your electronics.

Bluegill are in the shallows eating crickets. Remember, if you have leftover crickets from a fishing trip, freeze them when you get home. Next trip out, keep the container you froze them in, in your cooler. They stay on the hook better than live crickets and catch just as many fish. If you think about it, when you hook a cricket, he is going to die, and they do not breathe under water anyway. I wasted a boat load of them over the years.

Catfish are eating crawlers and cut bait on the bottom and cut bait on jugs. They really make a great meal with some grits and biscuits.

Remember to go to www.alclassic (http://www.alclassic) to sign up for our newsletter and register for the Lee King Memorial Alabama Classic Bass Tournament. This is our 23rd year and we are praying y’all will come back and support our efforts to find a cure for these precious children with terminal Niemann-Pic disease. Because of the support from you fishermen, the scientists are on the verge of finding the possible cure after all these years. Please continue to support these efforts with your participation, we will also have a lot of great products for bidding and ticket sales at the safety meeting on Friday Sept 15th. Check out the website for all the new sponsors and we will also have a great clothing package from Reel Skipper for the lady angler on a team that

finishes highest in the tournament weather she is in the money or not, so come on ladies, get registered. We also invite the High School teams to compete with their captain onboard.

Pray for all our folks in uniform and their families as they go out each day to protect us. School is out now, take a youngster out fishing or working on your hunting land. Enjoy God’s great outdoors and make those memories you will hear talked about for generations. Pray for our tournament, please.

God Bless & Good Fishn’

Water Level: 188.23 msl

Water Temp: 78 degrees

Water Clarity: clear to perfect stain

Bill Hare with a nice 6 pound caught on Eufaula.

Mike Miller from Tignall, GA with a nice Eufaula bass fishing with Capt. Sam Williams.

Bowen Miller from Watkinsville, GA with a nice Eufaula bass while fishing with Capt. Sam Williams.

Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchguideservice.com 706-455-2323

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports: “Fishing has been good. The fish are done spawning and are somewhat scattered moving out to their summer areas. There has been a little bit of top-water action going on, but I’m still marking a lot of bait deep. The bait has not been staying up in the water column to get a really good top-water bite. I’m starting to find fish out in ditches and on offshore structures while using my electronics. To catch these fish, I’m throwing a shaky head, drop shot, and swimbaits. This month you should start seeing fish chasing bait and blowing up, so I always keep at least two topwater baits tied on and on the front deck, so I can get to them quickly. I like to use the Berkley Cane Walker and Strike King sexy dawg Jr. Now depending on the size of the bait fish, I will also have

LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST

LAKE CHATUGE TOURNAMENT RESULTS

a Strike King sexy swimmer on a 1/4 oz jig head to cast where the fish have blown up, but they won’t hit a topwater bait. Now if you like fishing banks, lay-downs, and points, try throwing a shaky head, Texas rig, and drop shot. They will all work. I also have been pitching a 3/8 oz jig around lay-downs and brush. Good Lucky!

Level: Full pool.

Temp: 72-74 degrees. Clarity: Clear

Georgia Bass Nation

High School/Jr State Classic Results

Lake Eufaula, June 2023

Top 20 Teams

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

submitted photo!

Molly Ann Cobb with a nice mess of Lake Allatoona crappies!

Chris Scalley and his 12-year-old twins, in the Outer Banks, with their first blue water fish!

John Scalley with a Bull mahi-mahi.

Ryan Braggs and his service dog Murphy, caught and established the Lake Allatoona record with this 1lb 8oz Redear Sunfish.

Steve Ciccarello of Blue Ridge with a huge trout!

Mike Brown, Robbie Robinson, David Waid and Robert Waid with a mess of Apalachicola grouper and red snapper.

Matt Glander with a nice bass from a small lake in Northeast Georgia.

Carson Holbert spent a nice weekend on Lake Lanier with a nice bag of bass and a striper to top it off!

Score From the Shore in Calm Conditions

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

The surf can be bountiful and as easy as shing can be when the seas are calm. On a recent trip to the Gulf of Mexico’s calm shores, I was certain I was going to catch them at will. To the naked eye, conditions were as good as it gets, but many fellow anglers fell short of their dreams on this beautiful day. Here are some modi cations I made on the y that allowed me to come out ahead of most others.

is day provided us with glass-calm seas, clear water and bait everywhere, but one key ingredient was missing, substantial tide. What most of us focused on, including myself, were the calm conditions. is is always the draw for trout shing on the beachfront in Texas, and it is seldom the norm.

I did research the tide, and it was an early high

heading out, which, once again, seems perfect. However, the slope on the graph was a slow outgoing tide, not one that was going to trigger many bites on its own. Once I realized this and watched others leave empty handed, I decided to search for places that would encourage the slow outgoing current to increase in velocity. I sought out guts in the bars perpendicular to the shore. ese same guts have the potential to cause dangerous riptides, and they can also be the best place to sh. You typically see these guts by studying the waves, but with no waves I had to use my polarized glasses. ankfully, the water clarity made this an easy task. I drove along the beach looking for these, and once I spotted them, I stood on the back of my truck to increase my elevation to identify the best ones.

I’d found my pattern. Now the catching could begin! Keep in mind, as slow as the tide was moving, it did not create a dangerous situation

(always be cautious of rip tides on the beach), but it did speed up the current enough to trigger a good bite. I thoroughly worked all edges of these guts, nding most bites on the back side where the tide pulled bait from the shallow gut to the deeper second gut.

When the tide is slow, I like to try and get a reaction strike by throwing something a little di erent or working my lure erratically. On this day, I was throwing a rattling so -plastic paddletail. I also picked one with a bright green tail to stand out from the millions of bait sh traveling the rst and second guts. All of these tactics combined allowed me to salvage a day when most le with empty stringers.

e beachfront can be a great place to sh, and it’s fun for the kids. My boys enjoy wading beside me, and when the shing is over it’s time to play at the beach!

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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

By Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Alaska shing season started o with a bang for anglers visiting Ketchikan, Alaska. Halibut shing charters produced great catches of halibut, paci c cod, lingcod and rock sh. Salmon shing trips resulted in big king salmon while we awaited the arrival of silver salmon and pink salmon.

Early season typically is more inconsistent than the deep summer months of July, August and September. With that being said, our guests enjoyed better than average shing to start o the 2023 Alaska shing summer.

Fishing tours for cruise ship guests and y-in anglers spent the majority of May bottom shing. ese sheries consist of shing near and o shore waters for halibut, cod and rock sh. Deep-water jigging for halibut had guests reeling in keeper-sized halibut as well as oversized halibut ranging from 10 pounds to 120 pounds. ere’s nothing quite like the thrill of hooking into these deep sea dwellers, and the delicious white meat holds up well when frozen and shipped back home to the lower 48.

Halibut weren’t the only species caught during our halibut shing charters. Paci c cod were a staple while bottom shing for halibut. Cod were concentrated in large numbers on the sandy ats eating a variety of bottom rigs. Traditional halibut shing rigs with glow-in-the-dark squid and cut herring caught the majority of Paci c cod. We also found great success jigging for cod with metal jigs and so plastic swimbaits.

Following up halibut shing with rock sh and lingcod jigging made for a combination catch that had everyone smiling. We do this in shallower water with light tackle. While catching pelagic rock sh such as yellowtails and duskies, we also caught big lingcod. With such a phenomenal bottom shing area, you’re never quite sure what will grab the end of the line. Giant lingcod make a trophy catch for anyone visiting Alaskan waters.

King salmon shing opened June 1. Everyone rejoiced at the opportunity to pursue this iconic sh. Big king salmon catches came in throughout the entire southeast Alaska region. Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world, and it didn’t disappoint. Herring Cove and Mountain Point were the rst areas to open up. is resulted in large numbers of anglers trolling for prized king salmon. As we look forward for the entirety of the region to open, these were the rst areas where big catches came in.

Over the next couple months, the shing will continue to heat up! Halibut will continue to show up in larger numbers as the water temperatures increase. In addition, the salmon shing will see a big burst of silver salmon and pink salmon to combine with the larger king salmon. It’s all happening now!

For more information, visit www.ketchikan shingtrips.com or call (907) 617-4717.

Most of the time the saying is true, bigger baits equal bigger sh! Although elephants eat peanuts, a big bait pro le is something big sh sometimes can’t resist whether you’re shing the open ocean or the Great Lakes. I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple years experimenting with lures that are larger than what my previous comfort zone was for bass. It is pretty special to see what gets curious to come look at or bite these big baits.

ere are many di erent types of swimbaits on the market, but I’ll break them down into two styles to keep it simple. ere are hard, gliding-style swimbaits with treble hooks and there are so -body swimbaits. Each has a time and a place, and both attract some very big sh.

Depending on where you are in the country and the size of the forage in your lake, a normal meal for a bass is usually much bigger than you would think. Bass have huge mouths to accommodate large prey items. A two- or three-pounder has no problem at all swallowing a 6- to 8-inch bluegill whole. I’ve seen 10-plus-pounders eat gizzard shad up to 14 inches long! Trying to exactly duplicate the larger bait sh in your lake with a natural presentation is the key to drawing attention to your arti cial lure.

With hard swimbaits, my rst choice is a shad imitation. Most of the places I sh are full

of shad, and shad seem to be a favorite food source for bass.

THROW BIG BAITS FOR BIG BASS TIPS FROM A PRO

Crappie are another forage species people sometimes forget about. Lately, when throwing big baits

over deeper water, I’ve caught some big sh with crappie down in their throats.

With so swimbaits, I usually go to a bluegill imitation. I like so baits because they are more weedless, and you can creep them through the grass or along the bottom in places where bluegills live.

Big swimbaits can get mighty expensive. If you are just getting started with them, I would suggest sticking with the more a ordable baits that get good reviews until you get your con dence up. en you can dive into some of the larger, more customized lures.

Learning to sh big baits is best done by getting on the water and doing it. Just get out there and experiment with retrieves until you nd out what works. Of course, throwing giant lures requires special equipment. I like 13 Fishing’s a ordable Defy for a rod. It’s an 8-foot swimbait rod that handles most big lures with ease. I pair this with a 300 sized reel, like the 13 Fishing Concept A3 and some 20- to 25-pound Seaguar Abrazx.

I hope this article sparks someone’s interest to get out there and throw a big bait. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I discovered it to be one of the coolest and most fun ways to target big bass all year long. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media if you have questions about these tactics or any others.

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

TYLER WOOLCOTT

RECORD WELS

really realized that I hooked a monster. Adrenaline started pumping hard and the fear of losing it almost sent me into a panic. I was alone, facing the biggest cat sh I ever seen in 23 years.

Italy’s River Po has done it again.

Last week, MADCAT pro sta er Alessandro Biancardi caught a 9-foot-long wels cat sh that will likely replace the IGFA world length record for the species. e monster wels measured 285 centimeters (9 feet, 4.2 inches) in length and stands to beat out the existing record by just 4 centimeters, or about an inch and a half.

Biancardi is a veteran cat sh angler who has targeted wels for more than two decades. He landed his potential new record a er a more than 40-minute battle while shing solo in an aluminum

jonboat.

e giant sh ate a so -plastic paddletail shed on a jighead.

“In silence, I approached the rst spot and a er few casts a powerful bite arrived. e sh stood still some seconds before starting a very complicated ght, between strong currents and a lot of submerged obstacles,” Biancardi wrote in a blog post. “I calmly managed to ght what I felt to be a prehistoric sh. I followed it for 40 endless minutes. When it surfaced for the rst time, I

“I tried gloving its mouth two or three times, but it was still too strong,” he wrote. “I decided to go in shallow water trying to land it from shore, and a er few tries, I managed to land it! I tied the sh to let him recover from the long ght then I suddenly realized that the boat was not anchored, and it was going away in the current. I was forced to have a swim to recover it with all my stu .”

Biancardi then called some friends from a nearby sh camp to come help him get a good measurement on the beast. A er taking measurements, the sh was released. Without a weight, it will not be considered for the all-tackle world record, which stands at 297 pounds, 9 ounces for a sh caught from the Po back in 2010.

For more, go to https://madcat- shing.com.

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IN SEARCH OF HAVASU’S WORLD RECORD REDEAR

By Gary Turner

The sun was just cresting the mountains and the moon was low in the west as Capt. Ron Ratlief, of Ron’s Fishing Guide Service, and I began shing for redear sun sh on Arizona’s Lake Havasu. is trip has been on my bucket list for years. I just never made the time, which is ridiculous considering Havasu is pretty much the Holy Land for bream shing.

Havasu is a large Colorado River reservoir on the Arizona/Colorado border. In recent years, the lake has produced a series of world-record redear sun sh, with the current mark standing at 6-pounds, 4-ounces. Havasu’s freakishly large redears are due to a plentiful food source of invasive mussels that have in ltrated the system. e lake also holds some enormous bluegills, which I came to nd out over two days shing with Ron and a third day with my buddy Zac Mickle.

You could feel it was going to be a hot one—over 100 degrees— as the cool morning air evaporated with the sun. A er all, Havasu is an oasis in the middle of a desert. We started the morning sight shing coves. Havasu’s water is as clear as the Keys, and I half expected to see bone sh swimming by. We searched several coves and saw lots of sh, including bluegills, carp, cat sh, giant gizzard shad, tilapia, green sun sh and small stripers, just

to name a few. We also found some redear sun our target species, but they were small, a pound or less, and we were looking for big ones!

We moved to plan B and headed to deeper water. Havasu has the most man-made attractors and brushpiles I’ve ever seen. might be a bunch in South Carolina’s Santee, but you would never see them. e crystal-clear water makes everything visible, and as the sun got higher, we could see even more. We saw structure clearly in 18 feet of water with large redears on it. I dropped a night crawler on a jig head down, and BAM! I had a good bite! We landed a nice redear heavier than two pounds and continued hitting deeper brush, where we saw some big ones and caught a thick 14-incher that was pushing 3 pounds. A er several other sh in the 1 to 1 ½-pound range, Ron suggested we move back to a cove for a few last casts before heading in.

In the cove, I got hammered by a good one, which upon landing was about the same size as the 2-pounder from earlier, but it looked more like a bluegill. I was thinking it might be a hybrid between the two species, which was later con rmed.

If you like bream, you need to check out Havasu. It is a beautiful lake in the desert with some giant redears and bluegills. I might not have

caught a world record this year, but I’ve already booked next year’s trip.

Check out Gary Turner’s shing adventures on his YouTube channel at youtube.com/ @FishingWithGary.

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ELEVATE YOUR CHUM!

By Capt. Judy Helmey

BLOTCHY BASS SYNDROME IS A VIRUS

Check out the crazy markings on this Pennsylvania bass!

Recently the American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee (BBCC) posted photos of this striking, black-splotched largemouth bass on its Facebook page.

During the old days of chumming, lots of shermen used glitter in their chum, but we sure didn’t talk about it. Why? It was a serious sh-catching secret, and it works as well now as it ever did.

Of course, back then we hadn’t heard of microplastics. We didn’t equate those tiny ashy akes with pollution. Traditional glitter is made with aluminum and plastic, which is a really bad thing to be throwing in the water. ankfully, today there is biodegradable glitter made of plant cellulose. is more environmentally friendly product enables us to keep using our old tricks without doing harm to the ocean.

When you add biodegradable glitter to your chum, the oils coat

every single small piece of glitter. When it hits the water, each piece of glitter becomes sh attractant. As it slowly spreads through the water column, it catches sunlight and re ects it. e oil onboard each small piece of glitter leaves a trail that only a hungry smart sh would care to follow.

You might ask how do I know that glittering chum works? Well, when you start getting hits and landing sh, open the sh box and take a look. You know how glitter is. It gets everywhere and sticks to everything. Well, your sh box and the sh in it will be coated in glitter. Trust me.

Capt. Judy Helmey runs Miss Judy Charters o the Georgia coast. Check them out at missjudycharters.com.

e photos, by professional bass sherman Grae Buck, show his wife Jessica Buck holding a sh with melanosis. e post goes on to explain that this condition is when something a ects the pigment expression in the skin, turning it black. Termed blotchy bass syndrome, it has been found in black bass species in waterbodies across the United States with increasing frequency.

“While a truly melanistic sh would be all black, we more commonly see parts of the sh black, irregular blotches, spots, or ns,” the post reads. ese crazy colored sh show up from time to time, and previously it has been explained as a genetic mutation. In its explanation of this sh, however, BBCC pointed to research being conducted at the U.S.G.S. Eastern Ecological Science Center in West Virginia.

e research found that this blotchy skin condition is actually caused by a viral infection, an emerging novel adomavirus. Researchers have not pinned down a cause yet, but a U.S.G.S. report suggests higher incidences of blotchy bass syndrome in disturbed-water systems, with a potential link to chemicals. ere is currently broad ongoing research to try and determine the causes and e ects of this infection.

TheReturn of a

Follow the BBCC at www.facebook.com/AFS.Black.Bass.

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