FREE @CAMTAMagazine FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE THEANGLERMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2022VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 330 PHOTO CREDIT: BRETT CANNON COURTESY OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LOCAL LAKE & RIVER FISHFREAKYREPORTS DROPSHOT FOR BASS GREATER ATLANTA AREA EDITION
Experience Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River PLAN YOUR TRIP TOURCARTERCOUNTY.COMAT Watauga River Watauga Lake Doe River
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Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.
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You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.
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Drop Shot Gear: Picking the right setup for a drop shot doesn’t have to be too difficult. I like a rod around 7 foot with a medium or a medium heavy action like the 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1M. Pair up a 3,000 sized reel with some 10lb. Seaguar Smackdown braid and a 10-lb. fluorocarbon leader. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.at
There are a few different styles of baits you can use on the drop shot, depending on what your fish are feeding on. This is what I usually base my bait and color choices off of. I usually throw a small finesse worm like the 13 Fishing Joy Stick Ultra Thin or a baitfish-style bait like the 13 Fishing Vertigo minnow. Both baits are small in size and can really pick up some bites when the fishing is tough.Bait color is important, but I like to keep things fairly simple. I typically throw a green pumpkin or a black-and-blue worm style bait. For the baitfish-style lure, I stick with whites or natural baitfish colors. Remember, you are trying to be as finesse as possible to trick a bass that’s not hungry into biting, so something simple and natural will excel. This technique has worked wonders for me all across the country. From down South in Florida all the way up to New York, bass eat this rig up everywhere. Next time you’re on the lake and the bite is tough, downsize your presentation and drag a drop shot around. It will pick up a few more bites.
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The water can be a little warm this time of year, and it makes bass finicky. When the bite gets tough, a drop shot flat out gets bit. It catches fish everywhere I go, and every angler should have the technique in their arsenal.There are a few reasons a drop shot can out-perform other techniques this time of year. The first of these is because of how versatile you can be with it. I have thrown a drop shot around rock, wood, grass and even in completely open water. Smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass will all pick up a drop-shot rig, so it’s a great option regardless of what part of the country you fish or what species you target.Another factor that makes this technique excel when other things aren’t working is it’s effective on heavily pressured and sluggish fish. Sometimes getting these fish to bite calls for light line and a smaller profile bait. The dropshot rig consists of a fluorocarbon leader leading to a hook of your choosing then, below the hook, about 12 inches of line tied to a drop shot weight on the end. This creates a rig that keeps your bait up off the bottom and drives finicky bass crazy.
TYLER WOOLCOTT DROP SHOT FOR FINICKY FISH
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Throughout the summer, snook are catch-and-release-only to protect spawning fish. On the Atlantic side, snook harvest opens Sept. 1, with a 28- to 32-inch slot limit. Capt. Smith said the spawning pattern lasts well into September most years, but the big females are over the slot and must be released, anyway. He is more concerned with the beatings these fish take all summer long. His solution is to limit the number of fish he targets and to gear up heavy. Smith fishes 10,000 size reels on 50- to 100-lb. rods. He runs 80-lb. braid to a 60-lb. fluorocarbon leader and locks down the drag. The weakest link is an 8/0 thin wire circle hook, which is easier on the fish but must be changed out Heavyfrequently.gear combats a big snook’s propensity for bulldogging into structure. It also shortens the length of the fight to lessen the likelihood of fish succumbing to exhaustion or sharks. Smith said these large spawners can be 25 years and older. He urged anglers to handle them carefully for release and never to hold them vertically by their mouths.Ifyou’re looking for a snook to eat, there’s plenty of opportunity for that also. Between the moons some of the snook spread out to the bridges, docks and deep holes. The smaller, slot-sized males become more interested in feeding. Also, the mullet run will kick in toward the end of September. When mullet schools show up, everything from the fish to the anglers switch over to chasing bait. Contact Capt. Patrick Smith through his website www.swamptosea.com.
“They’re not smart fish. If they’re turned on, they’re going to eat. If they’re not, it may be five hours before they do,” he said. “But there’s going to be 30 to 40 minutes on the tide when those snook are eating. There’s not a lot of thought that goes into it. If one is interested, they all are.”
Before the Transition
Agiant snook should be on every angler’s bucket list. They’re big, they’re strong and they’re aggressive. Southern Florida boasts the most prolific snook fisheries in the world, and Capt. Patrick Smith, of Swamp to Sea Guide Service, operates in the heart of one of the best. Swamp to Sea fishes throughout Palm Beach County up to Stuart, Fla. At times, the snook fishing can be so good that the prospect is almost mundane for Capt. Smith. “If I’ve got clients who want to catch the snook of a lifetime, we’ll go out to the inlet and let them catch one or two. Then we’ll go do something else,” he said. “It’s cool to check a big snook off the list, but light tackle is moreCapt.fun.”Smith’s nonchalance about catching snook 35 to 43 inches long and up to 25 pounds is an attitude geared toward conservation of a species he loves. When big females congregate in the inlets to spawn around the full moons of summer, they are easy targets for anglers armed with big live baits like perch and croakers.
By Nick Carter
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
LURESTAILKNOCKINOFCOURTESYPHOTO
As always, the jetties are a favorite. The high current and cooler Gulf water attract every fish species that swims in our bays and nearshore waters. It’s not uncommon to catch some offshore fish there as well; it happens every year.
CONDITIONSCHANGINGTACTICSCHANGINGFOR
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
Work with what Mother Nature gives you. Here on the upper Texas coast, we’ve had about seven years of excessive rainfall which, in general terms, made some of our bays unfishable for most of that time. Due to excessive fresh water, those of us who like to fish where the tributaries enter into the bays had to seek new areas where the salinity levels were suitable for speckled trout. This year, things are back to normal, and we need to relearn old patterns and work with what Mother Nature is giving us.
The Texas heat and drought are one for the record books and can make a day on the water unpleasant if you plan to stay much past noon, but there are some methods to help you be productive until things start to cool off. Many of the estuaries that were impacted by the floods are some of our deeper bay systems, and that is a good thing this time of year. Heading out early will greatly increase your odds and give you more time on the water while it is cool, relatively speaking. I have found these bays have been forgotten by some, and they’ve never been fished by those new to our sport, which makes for less crowds on the water. I target the deeper reefs in the upper stretches of the bay near the rivers. Locating new washouts can also pay off, and those are not on the maps or public knowledge, so doing a little recon before you head out on each trip can make for a more productive day.
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Although the temps are still high, you can have a successful day on the water if you modify your techniques. Remember to apply sunblock before you leave the dock, wear appropriate protective clothing and drink plenty of water. Stay safe and have fun!
Although I prefer lures over bait, success rates lean toward live shrimp or finfish this time of year. Depending on conditions, these can be free-lined, Carolina rigged, or fished under a loud popping cork. A free-lined shrimp tossed near a granite jetty is a good bet on any day. Stepping away from the live version, cut mullet or shad can be winners for a big pull from a red, black drum or shark. A circle hook Carolina rigged on the bottom can entice those large predators to strike. This is a great method if you have kids aboard.
Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
River Through
Did you know on average it takes one drop of water two years to cycle through Lake Lanier? Trying to wrap your mind around 50-degree Fahrenheit, frigid water temps, exiting Buford Dam is hard to fathom in August and September. We call this cold water “winterstored” water from the previous two consecutive winters. The heavier denser water molecules gravitate to the bottom of the lake where the Buford Dam penstocks are located. While the planners and engineers designed the dam to help control flooding, drinking water storage, hydropower, and water assimilation, little did they know, but it could not have been custom ordered better for trout. The annual average water temperature in the river is 54-degree Fahrenheit!
THE GUIDE’S ANGLE
THE CASTING CORNER WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO MY CAST? daltonmarineinc.com daltonmarineinc.com Dalton Location 1117 East Morris Street Dalton, GA 30721 (706) Two(770)Acworth,4725Acworth226-3595LocationHighway92GA30101974-0629GreatLocations: North Georgia’s Premier Authorized Ranger and Mercury Dealer daltonmarineinc.com Serving Atlanta and North Georgia Since 1968. New & Pre-Owned Ranger and Mercury Sales Service and Repair Warranty Work Certified Master Techs with over 30 Years’ Experience Dalton Location 1117 East Morris Street Dalton, GA 30721 (706) Two(770)Acworth,4725Acworth226-3595LocationHighway92GA30101974-0629GreatLocations: Special Orders Freshwater & Saltwater Models Fiberglass & Aluminum, Bass, Bay, Skiff, Angler, Reata & Inter-Coastal North Georgia’s Premier Authorized Ranger and Mercury Dealer226-3595Dalton,Morris1117EastStreetGA30721(706) 2022 2022 tying. SWEET SUMMER TROUT Contributed
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Switching from dry to streamerpoof! What just happened? I was casting fine and now it all went to hell. What are a few adjustments to make with the gear and the cast to make it a thing of beauty again? The first change to make when going from a dry fly to a streamer is the leader. Generally, when fishing a dry, we have a longer leader, 9-12 feet. It is tapered down to a fine tippet to get a soft presentation and not sink the fly. Change that to a shorter leader, 5-7 feet and reduce the tippet to a larger profile to match the streamer. Maybe a 3X or larger 1X if it’s a heavy fly. Different rules apply if you are using a sink tip, but that isn’t usually the change from a dry. Just go shorter on the leader if you do. Then Change the cast. There are several casts that deliver a weighted streamer better than the typical overhead cast. Try an oval cast, also known as a constant tension cast. You can also use a tuck cast if you need to drop the fly in a spot, let it sink and not have your line washed away by the current. The other thing to remember about the change in the cast is to slow down. With a dry fly, we can increase line speed, make several false casts, to dry the fly, and then shoot a tight loop, if necessary. With a weighted fly we generally use fewer false casts since we do not need to dry the fly and we have the weight of the line and the fly bending the rod. If we slow down, keep some tension on the line as we sweep around back, let the line extend and load the rod, the forward cast is a slow almost launching of the line. Also, open the loop a little. Check out Fly Fishers International for all the right information on fly fishing and fly By: Chris Scalley Atlanta Service
Here in southern Appalachia, the month of September is one of transition. What I mean by this is there are several things taking place. Rain is seldom seen during the month of September, until I say this…LOL! All North Georgia’s streams are running low during this month. Water is in the upper echelon of being too warm in many streams and most will be extremely clear. This usually leads to a much harder time for those of you willing to venture out to fish. But good times are coming in the months ahead. For those of you willing to head up high into the mountains, here are a few things to keep in mind: stealth, observation, and cover. You simply cannot catch a trout that you have spooked. Low water conditions require tactics like stealth in your approach. Clumsiness, stumbling, stepping on a limb that breaks underwater or even up on the bank prior to entering the stream, wading too fast, talking too loud, allowing studded boots to slip causing the grinding effect or allowing rod guides to reflect sunlight off them during a cast - these decrease your opportunities for hookups as trout have superior senses like eyesight, inner ear for hearing and even a lateral line for vibration sensing. Obser vation is a key component to know what is going on and where the trout are located. Observe the stream from a high bank by staying low to the ground or from behind an obstacle like a tree to hide your presence. Take five minutes to watch your surroundings and the stream. You’ll learn more about trout and insect behavior in this five-minute period than you can while fishing. Have a decent set of polarized sunglasses. It is easy to see a trout rise to a fly, but many will miss a trout sipping a fly. You will have to train your eyes to see that flicker of a tail or to see a shadow of a trout. Be observant, it will pay dividends in the end. Use cover for your benefit. Use any large boulder or log to help hide your presence. Most of our mountain streams descend quickly leaving white water to our front as we move upstream. Use the higher elevation of the stream for your benefit by making your approach to your casting spot as low as possible. Doing these little things will make for more hookups.
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2 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING Contributed by James Bradley Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing (706)www.ReelEmInGuideService.comGuide273-0764 DRY TIMES IN NORTH GEORGIA
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Labor Day will bring the last of the state’s stocking until the delay harvest is about to begin. If you are into big wild trout, we help anglers of all ages catch their personal best or a trout of a lifetime! Although most private waters are closed at this time, we will still be using SizeS 678-971-5607 2807 DAWSONVILLE HIGHWAY, GAINESVILLE, GA 30506
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Noontootla Creek Farms. We’ve been fishing here forever it seems and our guides know this place like the back of their hands. If you are a beginner wanting to learn how to fly fish, we have a great staff of instructors who have been schooled in the art of fly fishing. One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Don’t forget to ask us about our float trips. Currently, we are doing floats on the Toccoa Tailwater. She has been producing well on our early morning trips. James Bradley is the only Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide in North Georgia’s Historic HighCountry region. Reel Em In Guide Service has been offering their services to fly anglers since 2001. They have permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offering over 6 miles of private trophy waters across Georgia, and operate drift boat trips on the Toccoa River in GA and the Tuckasegee River in NC.
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There have even been some reports of some surfacing schools in the af ternoons when the Corp is generat ing. It’s very sporadic but folks are seeing some schooling fish in August which bodes well for September. We saw this happen last year, where the spotted bass were schooling both morning and afternoon. This seems unusual for August, yet bodes well, for September. August also means the days are slowly getting shorter. Now that we are in September, we notice that first light is closer to 7:00am and last light is closer to 8:15pm. This is how we know the change is coming. After the long hot summer, September brings with it the hope of a new striper season as the waters tend to cool down from their mid-eighties surface tempera ture. Anglers, in the know, are pre paring for what is arguably the most fun time of the year for both fly and conventional fishing for striped bass, the surface feed. Last year, the sur face feed for striper started by the time you read this report. In years past, we started seeing surfacing fish by mid-October but in 2019 and 2020 we saw the surface feeding fish begin by mid-September and in 2021 we saw them eating off the top, at the end of August. Will we see that again this year? My guess is we will! September fishing is like open ing a box of Cracker Jacks, in that, you never know what surprise you are going to get. What you positively can count on about September is that we are closer to October (which is the true start of striper season). September is the one month where you hope to start to see the changes in the season taking place on all our area lakes. You have a few options to keep an eye out for when fishing our area lakes and rivers. Fishing for carp has anglers getting in their last licks of the season. The river will be less crowded this time of year as folks have kids in school and the river water temperatures starts to cool down. If the nighttime tem peratures start to cool slightly earlier in the month the carp will again take one more look at the flats for a meal before heading back into the deeper holes in the river to find some food. Not only are the carp anglers getting in their last licks but so too are the river rats who search for stripers in the shallows before they make their journey south to get back to the part of the lake, they call home for the next nine months. The Lanier stripers that have spent most of their summer in and around Helen and Dahlonega are making their way back down toward the big lake. Same holds true for the West Point strip ers that resided in and around San dy Springs and Buckhead. August turned out to be a GREAT month for striper fishing the Hooch. For river fisherman the best news of all is that September does not have as much pressure on the river fish as July and August does. Less pressure on a river usually means better fishing! September can certainly be consid ered the transition month. It is also the time of the season when hybrids may begin their top water ritual on Lake Allatoona, Lake Oconee, and Lake Hartwell. While most of our impoundments throughout North Georgia will see cooler nighttime temperatures those impoundments further south may have to wait un til October for the changes to begin. The lakes that will see changes oc curring will begin to notice cooler lake surface water temperatures. Temperatures will start to cool down into the low 80’s and with any luck by the end of the month maybe even the upper 70’s. Combine lower sur face water temperatures with the lakes where the Corp of Engineers start to pull down water and you have the perfect environment for hybrids to start hitting the surface. This can lead to some fast and ex citing top water action. The fish are feeding on threadfin shad that range in the 1-to-3-inch size. It is a perfect opportunity for fly anglers to get in FLY FISHING REPORT
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August has been extremely hot, which is what we always expect here in No GA…add with it a bunch of afternoon thunderstorms and this is where we are for the month. This weather has changed our fishing for both stripers and bass on Lake Lani er and I assume other nearby lakes in the area. The fish are deep but not quite as deep as one would expect.
611 TWIN
Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com
AUGUST
some great fishing. The top water bite will happen at low light periods, and you can expect that from first light until 9am and then again from 5pm until dark. Combine that with a new or full moon phase and there is a good chance you will see surface feeding hybrids. Even conventional anglers can get in on this great fish ery. Just have a medium-to-medi um light tackle outfit rigged with 10-pound test and a casting bubble along with a small fly and you will be set. Fly anglers should arm them selves with a 6-8 weight fly rod, in termediate fly line and a few small flies to be in the game. Best flies are small Clouser’s, Albie anchovies and Somethin’ else patterns. Lakes like Hartwell, Clark Hill, Carters, West Point, Chatuge and Allatoona (yes, the dead-sea!) will see this top water action. Lake Lanier, while not a hy brid lake will see similar action with spotted bass schooling in Septem ber. With any luck you might even see small stripers in the 2–5-pound class hitting the surface by the end of the month. Use the same tactics that applies for hybrids, and you too can get in on this action. Smaller stripers can handle the lower oxygen levels better than their big brothers. What this means for Lanier striper anglers is that you need to keep an eye out for surface feeding fish all over the south end of the lake. From Browns Bridge south to Buford Dam and ev erywhere in-between is the area you might find surface feeding stripers. I would key in on the area around three sisters as a good starting point. The afternoons will be the time to look for these surface feeders (espe cially if they are pulling water from Buford Dam). You can call Buford Dam before you decide to go and see when they will start pulling wa ter. Once we get toward the end of September some folks will pull out their medium heavy tackle and start fishing at night for striped bass us ing Bomber Long A lures. While it might be just a tad early for this next pattern to heat up, you just never know when Lanier stripers will de cide that fall is upon us. Spotted bass will start schooling a bit more in September too. This is probably the most reliable of all bites on Lanier in September. If you have had enough of summer, now is the time to check your tackle in preparation for the fall bite. Get new leaders rigged on the fly rods and change over the monofilament on your spinning tackle if you are not using braid. One thing I love about September, is it also means our beloved National Champion Georgia Bull Dawgs will begin their new season and kick some Oregon butt THE FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR! That is why I truly love September! We are sim ply getting closer to kick off both on the field and on the pond. Hope to see you on the pond…
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For a deeper dropper, I’ll use a black tungsten bead. That tungant has passed my Smokies tests repeatedly. While the wild rainbows up there are fairly picky, the park browns are notoriously discerning. After a handful of them up to 12 inches fell for the tung-ant, I gave that pattern a passing grade. Third, I recently spotted this fancy wire ant on Midcurrent.com and have shared it with the fly tyers among you. It sure looks tasty to trout! Give it a try and see what grade you’ll give it.
On our very first interagency Chattooga trout sample (September 1986), nearly all of the wild browns captured had, you guessed it, ants in their stomachs. If you’re a topwater fanatic, then toss a parachute-style ant. Study the local bugs at your feet to match the hatch in terms of size (14 through 20) and color (red, black). That white, vertical parachute post will let you spot your dry as it drifts in the shadows below overhanging vegetation. A well-placed ant that slides along a half-sunken log will often tempt a buttery brown lurking beneath it. And while we all love dries, we shouldn’t forget the wets. A submerged dropper two feet behind the dry will enhance your catch, especially when the midday sun is high, and fish won’t rise due to predation fears. Here are three sunken ant patterns for your summer box. The first is simply a black fur ant in sizes 16 or 18. It’s just two small balls of dubbing, shaped like a dumbbell, with a single hackle wrap in the skinny middle for some legs. It can be fished shallow or a bit deeper by adding a size 6 tin shot six inches above it. Just see how much weight your dry will float. If it sinks your parachute ant, then try a small black foam beetle as your “strike indicator with a hook in it.”
Septemberyouhatch-matchingrivercoolerandant-fly-tying-tutorial/)com/videos/wire-bodied-sinking-(https://midcurrent.Trysomeantcandy,bothdrydeep,whileyouawaitlatefall’sairtemperaturesandrainyrecharges.Thatlow-watermightjustgivesomegreatmemoriesintheheat.Goodluck!
ANT CANDY
By Jeff Durniak, Unicoi Outfitters
Late summer and early fall are terrestrial time for Southeastern flyfishers. Spring’s stream bug hatches are long-gone, flows are low, and aquatic insects are sparse. The only streambed salmonid snacks in the currents are a few calories from tiny midge larvae. So how do early fall trout scrounge up a meal? Our finned targets often rely on missteps of land-based bugs to provide summer lunch. Beetles, hoppers, and earthworms are hearty dinners but are inconsistent sources, as trout need a high wind or heavy rain to serve them up. But there is one lunch special that’s always on the menu here and across the trout waters of our continent. And that’s ants! They’re abundant and available. How popular are they?
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These days, if you ask any guide or lifetime angler, they will all hark upon the “good ol’ days” on their local water. There aren’t too many fisheries that people will claim are in their heyday. There is always a reason for this, and the finger can almost always be pointed at ourselves. I was raised with the belief that conservation is something you do every day – if you’re not giving back to the re source, you’re taking from it! While we would all like to participate in big conservation efforts, but one of the little things you can do while you’re on the water is to carry a trash bag. All our guides stuff their packs full of trash they find on the river. Line trimmings are litter! Keep a cup or bag on the boat or in your wading pack to dispose of line trimmings. Another form of litter that we see too often is line and flies in trees.
While flies can be unrecoverable if they’re too high in a tree, I try to clean up any line or flies that I find on the river. It also never hurts your pocketbook to recover a few flies both from yourself and oth ers. It might not seem like much, but if we all take the time to do a few minutes of clean up every time we go out, I think we would all be amazed at our collective re sults.No one wants to see a blatant act of abuse of a natural resource. If you see poaching, report it! We’re coming up on Delayed Harvest season this fall - I have witnessed poachers keeping fish during Delayed Harvest season on some of our trout streams. No one wants to be “that guy,” but it’s just as important to do our part to protect our resources! Georgia’s ranger hotline is 1-800-241-4113. For those that trout fish this month, get out early and finish up before the heat of the day. It is para mount to handle fish properly! Use heavier tippet and fish as quickly as possible, get them in the net and keep them in the water! If you want to take a picture, do your best to keep air ex posure to a minimum. Take as much time as needed to release fish prop erly. Keep a stream thermometer on you as take water temperatures before you start your day. Water that is 67 degrees or warmer is not conducive to trout fishing and you run the risk of injuring or killing fish regardless of how quickly you land them. We’re looking forward to college football, fall colors, and another busy season here in Blue Ridge! If you want to come to our neck of the woods, the next month of October kicks off the best trout fishing of the year! Call us whether you’re just looking for a fish ing report or you want to get on the water and book a guide trip – we’re happy to help in any way we can! Co hutta Fishing Company is in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. We carry a large assortment of guide-test ed fly-fishing equipment and proven fly patterns, as well as have a knowl edgeable and friendly staff. Come by and see us! 490 East Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513. (706) 946-3044.
SEPTEMBER 2022 ATLANTA 5COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING LEAVING THE RESOURCE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT
By Jacob Milholland, Store Manager Cohutta Fishing Company (706) 946-3044
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Before I started guiding here on Lake Oconee, I had heard stories of “guide wars” on other impoundments that sounded like the TV show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” That is not the case here and I am so proud of the way guides here share information and help each other. This ultimately helps our fishing customers. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” For example, the patterns we usually see for hybrids and stripers has changed. have all had to think about and share new strategies to adapt to the change. of these strategies of this Lake Oconee Striper
below. You can get some
withSeptember,small¼includetechniquescaughttheandyourthemotorcanusingwitheither5additionMack’sumbrellaMacks”ClubaboutandforniceSinclairisespeciallysummer,changedStripers.join,techniques.andishttps://www.lostriperclub.com/ClubagreatsourcewhereguidesanglerscanshareideasandCheckoutthewebsite,cometothemeetings!SeptemberForecast-Hybrids/Wow,thesummerbitethisyear.Normallyinthewefindfishatthedam,whenGeorgiaPowerpumpingwaterupfromLakeatfirstlight.It’susuallyatopwaterbiteatfirstlightandacouplehoursafterwards.ThisyearthefisharemidlakeonetechniquethatIlearnedattheLakeOconeeStripermeetingistrolling“Mini(CaptainMackFarr’sRig).IliketheCaptainMiniMack-TR5-B.IntotheA-riggrubs,ithasspinningblades.Itrolltheseon20lbmonoor20lbbraidafluorocarbonleader.Itrollmytrollingmotor,buttheybetrolledbehindyourgasaswell.Controlthedepthbyamountoflineyouletoutandspeed.Itrollaround2.9mphfrom50feetto150feetbehindboat.ThefishpicturedherewereonMiniMacks.OtherforSeptemberwillspoons,poppingcorks,ouncebucktailjigs,andcastingwhitecrankbaits.AswemovetotheendofIthinkthelivebaitbitebassminnowsandliveshad
Final Words please call 404-317-9556 or e-mail me at wmoore1700@outlook.com and lock in your dates well ahead of time to ensure you get the dates you want. I am already booking trips for this fall, as the bite, was very strong last year October through December. Wayne Moore Wayne Moore - Oconee
DOG DAYS/LAKE OCONEE SEPTEMBER FORECAST Contributed By Capt.
intel too. The
USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com OCONEE ON THE FLYGuided Fly Fishing and Conventional Tackle Trips for Hybrids, Stripers, and Crappie Booking now, novice or experienced anglers. On the water instruction, top of the line fly gear! Mix it up with light spinning tackle as well for a great combo trip! Captain
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will pick back up. Fly Fishing - Fly fishing has been tough. We are seeing rising fish around 7:30 AM but they are not taking the flies we use on the surface. I’ve cast clouser and gamechanger flies on sinking line and still not had takers. Until the water cools, the best bet is likely going to be casting intermediate or sinking line with a 10lb leader and a Cowen’s “Somethin Else Fly.” Crappie – Right now, the crappie are still holding tight to brush piles. This means finding the fish and presenting the bait in a very small area right over the brush pile. Using small minnows or small jigs is important this time of year. I would suggest hiring a guide to learn about this technique. It’s challenging and having the right electronics is important. The Garmin LiveScope is a great tool to help you see the fish when you are stationary. I understand there is a learning curve to using the LiveScope effectively. Again, hire a guide.Aswe move towards October, the trolling bite will pick up.
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September rolls in with Labor Day Weekend, college football, a taste of Fall in the air, and a crisp cool breeze in the mornings as the first cast is made. Kids of young and old are now back into the full school schedule, and there is some solitude during the mid-week from the hustle and bustle of summertime on the watersheds. A small dip in temperatures in August, gave us a little hope that Fall is not far away. A couple of nights the temperatures dropped into the high fifties, add in some afternoon thunderstorms, and the rivers here are in good shape headed into the Fall season.Folks have had good fishing trips on the Chattooga and Chauga rivers, fishing for the Red-eye bass and pan fish. Fishing top water has seemed to produce a lot of fish. Using top water poppers and terrestrials has proven to be a great day on the water. Small streamer patterns have proven to be a good alternative when the top water bite subsides. Fishing for trout has been good. With all the summer rains we have been blessed with, trout fishing will get much better as we receive the cooler Fall temperatures, and the water temperatures start cooling towards the high fifties. As we look forward to the cooler temperatures of the fall season, we will start to see the emergence of the first of the “Fall bugs”. The rocks in the rivers are loaded with very small dark nymphs as well. Try swinging the larger emerger imitation or a heavy nymph with a smaller nymph dropper, through the riffle areas of the river and into the heads of the pools. As daytime temperatures heat up, the fish will move further into the depths of the rivers, so getting a bit deeper with a heavier front fly or a pinch of split shot will help greatly.
The streamer bite is always a great option, as many small baitfish cruise the banks, casting patterns mimick ing these fish will turn into a great day on the river. Early Fall is a great time to knock off the rust, if the fly rod has not been picked up for the summer. A guided trip for a half or full day, new fly line, any of the necessary gear, or the flies to have a successful day, and some of the local information of where to go is what we are all about. We hope to see everyone in the shop or out on the rivers, and let’s all re member to take a little more out of the rivers than we walked in with!
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Temp 86, Level +/-6 ft from full daily, Clarity 3 ft August and September walleye fishing on Carters is about big fish. Getting down deep and getting them in the net can be a trick, but the re ward of flakey white fillets is worth the effort. It might not be a numbers game here, but the numbers on the scales don’t lie. We are seeing a good number of 5+ pound walleye come to the boat and some even bigger a few times a week. For this reason, we choose to target these bigger fish which can sacrifice numbers, but the bigger fish totally make up for it. On Carters you must contend with the pump back schedule. If it’s on and running, look for the fish to be super deep. If they are generating or the dam is closed the fish will pull up a bit and get on humps and ledges ver sus hanging in treetops. We are still fishing spoons, trolling crank baits, and fishing some live bait depending on conditions. When looking for these big ger fish, a larger presentation is key. Big spoons, lures, or even big live baits are getting the most attention. Presenta tion is more vital than loca tion right now as the fish are scattered over the entire lake. Move from spot to spot quick ly and target fish on the sonar vertically and you should see some nice eyes in the box this month.The striper bite has been either really good or non existent depending on the schedule from the Dam. We are fishing big spoons and big live baits around schools of fish in the creek mouths and main lake points when they are deep or pulling. Capt Macks URigs and bucktails in the backs of the creeks early or when we are marking fish suspended over deeper water later in the day. The bigger fish are in the smaller schools of 5 to 6 fish and the bigger schools seem to be the smaller fish in 6-to-8-pound class. Trolling, deep dropping or power reeling can all be used right now for striped fish from Wurley Creek to Fisher Creek. The daily rain has the water above the big island pretty nasty right now.
The night bite is a good option as well, because the walleye will move to feed on unprotected baitfish. Looking in 25 to 35 feet after dark is a great option to find feeding fish. The lake is still at full pool, but be aware the annual draw down will start by months end.
Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com669-4973
Temp 86, Level full , Clarity 13ft August was brutally hot and busy on the lake. We had some great days and nights fishing for walleye. Lots of average size 18-to-20-inch fish with a few 23-to-24-inch fish mixed in. The fish we were targeting were mainly in the 50-to-60-foot range.September on Blue Ridge Lake is a transaction month. The first few weeks are summer but by the end of the month it will be fall. What does this mean for the fish? It’s time to move again. Look for the walleye to start moving up with the bait fish. As the month goes on and the water starts to cool off, the bait will start to move back near shore or move down to the bottom of the lake where temperatures are more stable. Both scenarios are good for walleye fishing. For us, the jigging spoon is the weapon of choice this month. We fish a variety of colors and sizes depending on the fish reaction. The fish will start to hug the bottom on the points with bait, mark the fish and drop the spoon straight down to them on light fluorocarbon leader and give it 10 to 15 jigs. If they don’t bite, move on. Don’t waist too much time on non-responsive fish. If you prefer a live bait option, you can replace the spoon with a night crawler. First light is going to be the best time to fish, as this is when the bait will start to move. Points 1,4, & 5 have all had good schools of fish near them in the 40 to 60ft range during the early morning hours. If they are not on the bottom, look in the same depths, just off these areas, and it should reveal suspended fish. These fish are often easier to target as they will be a bit more active.
10 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
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I took a break from the big lake and heat to move north into one of my small trout lakes. As I drove up one afternoon, going over Woody’s gap, it was 68 degrees. Boy did that feel good. When I arrived, I waited out a thunderstorm in my jeep and enjoyed my lunch. Around 2:30 everything was calm, and the lake was like a mirror. A few months back my grandsons and I got into some big rainbows with spinners fished deep, but that would not work on this trip. These clear mountain lakes have a grass that grows with the heat and direct sun light that penetrates the water. By August, it gets very hard to work a spinner without getting tangled in the grass. It’s always good to have a plan “B”, which on this trip was night crawlers on a number 4 hook tipped with power bait. Find the deepest part of the lake and let this bait go deep. For this trip, I alternated between orange and white power bait. The results are captured in the photo. A limit of trout, one 15 inch, and 3 yellow perch. A local that fishes for the yellow perch told me they are great tasting fish. I will let you know about that next month. As always, stay calm and fish on! Tim Dangar
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Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” www.jimboonlanier.comMathley
Lures and Presentation
1.DroDEEPp-Shot
14 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST SEPTEMBER – A MONTH OF OPTIONS
– This is a great tool to target deep fish. This presentation can be made vertically into cover, or it can be cast toward the target and slowly retrieved. I prefer the Lanier Baits Fruity drop shot worms. Light line is a must. I prefer 6-8lbs test Seaguar Abrazx. Light line helps provide a more natural presentation and will garner more strikes.
1.Very deep (30-50 ft) off the ends of humps and points, relating to timber lines. 2. Very Shallow in the backs of creeks and creek arms in major tributaries around the lake or shallow on rocky bluff walls. 3. Suspended in the mouths of major creeks around brush in 25-35 feet of water, as well as deeper pockets near the main lake. Now that we understand where we can find them, let’s look at some of the tools we can use to catch them in each of the above situations.
A traditional September on Lake Lanier offers anglers many choices of approach. This September on Lake Lanier should be no different. The lake has been around full pool most of the year, and we may go into September down 3-4 feet, barring a major storm hitting our area. The water temperatures have been normal too high for late Summer, so the traditional late summer patterns should be in play. Often during these kinds of conditions, you can find fish very deep as well as very shallow, and some in between. Today we will look at the options for fishing Lanier this September and how to approach catching bass in this key transitional month. Location Understand that the primary concern of both game fish and bait fish are oxygen and food source, in that order. During a normal September, the “comfort zone” of both the bait fish and spotted bass become multi-faceted. In September, we often find spotted bass in 3 different types of locations:
– While Lanier is not necessarily known as a buzz bait lake, this can be a very effective tool in both shallow situations discussed above. Make your retrieve an erratic one and present around cover where possible in addition to steep rocky banks early in the morning. I like the Georgia Blade choices for a buzzbait.2.Spinnerbait-
When the water starts to cool, the topwater action can be awesome. Look around manmade brush on off-shore structure such as humps and points where fish are hanging out. Topwater baits such as a Berkley Cane Walker and Drift Walker can be an excellent way to catch these fish – and a lot of fun too! If the fish are resistant to the full topwater offerings, try ripping a fluke over brush – that can be a2.GAwinner!Blade Shad Spin – This is an excellent producer on Lanier. Fish the bait at the depth you see the fish suspending near bait balls. Understand the fall-rate for your rig and count the bait down to the depth of the fish and maintain that depth.3.Jerk Bait – Another great tool for targeting suspending fish. Choose a bait that suspends at the depth the fish are holding and experiment with your retrieve cadence until you zero in on what the fish are looking for any given day. Try the Berkley Stunna for your jerkbait – they have great action and color choices.
2. Jigging Spoon/Flutter Spoon –Always a great option when the fish are deep. A Georgia Blade flutter spoon can be a great option this time of year. Experiment with the presentation once you have located the fish. Some sort of rip/pause or fast reel/pause cadence should do the trick. Their mood and the presentation required to catch them will vary daily with conditions. Look around timber lines and treetops near the mouths of creeks.
1.BuzzSHALLOWBait
An old favorite that can be deadly around flooded shoreline cover, by shallow docks and blow down trees, as well as, steeper rocky banks. Try the new offerings from Georgia Blade – they offer a nice variance of bait sizes and blade 3.Crantypes.kbait - Opt for a shallow to medium diving plug and work the same areas as you would the spinnerbait. Try the Berkley Bad Shad and Fritts Side crankbaits!
4.Jig/Worm - When the fish are not chasing, don’t be afraid to pitch Berkley Power worms on a Texas rig or jig head and/or GA jigs to the flooded shoreline cover. This can be a very effective technique to catch fish with a smaller strike zone. Georgia Jigs rule!
4.Spy Bait – This bait has become popular in the recent years. It is a great option when the fish are not hitting your topwater or jerkbait presentations. Cast this bait out, count it down to ten and then begin a very slow retrieve. This technique is the epitome of finesse fishing. Slow and methodical is the key. I like the Duo Realis offerings in the G-fix 80 size which you can purchase at Hammonds Fishing or through Lanier Baits. I still have a few dates available this September so call me to book a trip! See you on the water! Jimbo Jimbo is a full-time, year round Spotted Bass Guide on Lake Lanier. Contact him today to book a trip! www.jimboonlanier.com
1.ToSUSPENDEDpwater–
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There will be times when even Plan B, or Plan C doesn’t work. That’s fishing. But try to look at this day on the bright side… you will have ex plored some new fishing areas that could be productive on the next trip, and you will have tried some new tac tics.Sometimes you can turn a bad day into a better day with just a little bit of pre-planning, and perhaps a little bit of luck. In our case, Plan B turned out to be the right plan, and let us turn lemons into lemonade. Tight lines and calm seas.
Many of us don’t live right next to our favorite fishing spots. They could be an hour, or several hours, away. Even if those spots are relatively close by, we can’t always drop everything and go fishing at a moment’s notice, so most of us plan our fishing trips weeks, or even months, in advance. We plan trips to film Nuts & Bolts TV episodes sometimes 6 months in advance, hoping the fishing (and the weather) will be good when we get there. But things don’t always work out like you hoped. That’s when having a “Plan B” becomes a tremendous asset. Just because the weather looks ‘iffy’, doesn’t mean you have to completely cancel your trip, although sometimes that’s the only option. More often, the change in the weather occurs right before your trip, or perhaps it’s a pattern that develops and lingers throughout your stay. It doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘bad’ weather that can require you to adapt to the circumstances. Perhaps there’s been a week’s worth of rain prior to your trip, and that normally crystal-clear water has just turned into chocolate milk. Maybe a high-pressure front has stalled right over your destination, leaving the fish uncomfortable and less likely to eat. Or perhaps a front just pushed through, bringing bluebird skies, but 25 mph winds. Any of these conditions can make fishing a challenge. I’ve experienced all of them...and more. Conditions like these have generated a lot of frustration among anglers, including me. Tournament anglers can attest to the trials of dealing with adverse conditions, and yet there is usually one or two anglers who manage to bring in a respectable catch. There are going to be days when the best option is to stay on the porch; especially those where the wind and waves make boating unsafe. And there will be days you’ll simply go ‘fishing’ all day, instead of catching. I’ve had plenty of those too.Over the years, I’ve learned to develop a Plan B, that I can implement in case Mother Nature and the fish make my initial plans difficult to execute. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Last spring, we attempted to film a TV episode off the Florida coast. The trip was scheduled about three months in advance, and of course a front blew through the day before we arrived. On the back side of the front there were blue skies and a LOT of wind. Still safe for boating, but it was a little choppy. We hit the usual spots and nobody was home. We moved to several more spots that always held fish, and still nothing. So, we re-grouped, and put Plan B into motion. These were places that had some protection from the wind which made maneuvering the boat a bit easier, plus it was a lot more comfortable for us. Much to our surprise, we discovered what was comfortable for us, also seemed to be comfortable for the fish. Plan B came through. In fact, we had a fantastic day, fishing in places that we would have never visited if the weather had beenDebetter.veloping a Plan B is simple. Crank up your chart plotter and look for places that might be out of the wind. Conversely, identify points that could accumulate bait that is pushed there by wind or current. Mark those spots as waypoints, and when your “A” spots don’t pan out, you can quickly go into Plan B mode. Now you might be saying, “Those spots you just named are my Plan A spots.” And that could be true, but the point here is to identify some additional places that look promising but might not be on your most-favored list for the Plday.an B can also be true for the style of fishing you’re doing. If the bite seems to be sluggish, try a slower pre sentation, a smaller bait, a light wire hook, or longer leader. It’s a matter of adapting to the conditions and ex perimenting until you find out what the fish are keyed in on.
By Capt. Cefus McRae Nuts & Bolts Fishing Series Hartwell, GA HAVE A PLAN B
in service and repair on
Repower
Lanier. Operating on
The Big Bass have been biting on Lake Seminole this Summer and we expect it to continue through the CurFall!rently the Bass have been biting topwater lures in the morn ings and afternoons. Walking baits like a Heddon Zara Spooks and Buzzbaits continue to gener ate some explosive strikes on the grass lines on the main lake. Plas tic worms like a 10” Ol Monster in June-bug, fished along the grass lines have been very productive af ter the topwater bite slows. The September forecast, the topwater bite should continue and get even better as the bass start the fall feed. If you are coming to Lake Seminole in September, make sure to bring swimbaits, crank baits, and jerk-baits as they can be very productive, especially if the shad are running. Also, don’t forget your hollow belly frog, as it is a must in the Fall on Lake Seminole! As the bite begins to slow down that’s when I like to pick up the frog rod and start working the thicker grass, especially paying attention to any holes in the grass beds. My favorite frog for doing this is a Spro Bronzeye Popping Frog. When fish ing the frog, you need a rod that has enough backbone to get the big
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Line-side fishing is Decent! We are still catching decent numbers, but we are having to run and gun right now. The fish are on the move and aren’t staying in one location for more than five minutes. Down lining shad is still working, but shad are dying very quickly on a hook, so be sure to take plenty of bait with you. Down lines fished at 14-21 feet deep are working best. The dissolved oxygen level is so low below 21 feet, bait is dying in less than five minutes on a hook. I have caught fish this week as far north as Kellogg’s Creek and as far south as Allatoona Landing. These fish are on the move and never seem to be in the same place the next day... Hopefully this is just a minor setback in what has been a great summer live bait bite on Lake Al latoona.Trolling has been good! The trolling bite has been my bet ter bite the last few weeks. I am pulling nothing but umbrella rigs right now. Color doesn’t seem to matter as it is more of a reaction bite right now. I have been having my best luck at 145 feet behind the boat at speeds of 2.4 - 3.1 miles perClhour.arity clear Water temp 87° Bass out of the grass. My go-to rod is a 7’3”heavy action Temple Fork Tactical Bass Casting rod in fast ac tion.This rod has a soft tip and enough backbone to get Lake Seminole’s big gest Bass out of the grass. For an exciting Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure, email us at@capt.paultyrefishingcoseminolefishingadventures@gmail.@lakemorfollowusonInstagram@andFace-bookcapt.paultyrefishingGiveusacall850-264-7534tocheckavailability!
After an August with lots of afternoon rain showers, it will be interesting to see what weather September brings this year. So far, the water is clear. The lake is down a couple feet and the water temperature is still in the low eighties. The lead core bite has been the dominant pattern this summer. Lead core is a weighted line you pull behind the boat. It is color coded to help you dictate your depth. On the end of the lead core line, tie a thirty-to-fiftyfoot piece of 20-pound Trilene 100% flourocarbon tipped with a white Berkley Fusion bucktail, or a Capt. Mack white chipmunk jig. You need a wide selection of these bucktails from 1 to 2 oz. because some days they will key in on a particular jig or color. Tip the bucktail with a 4” chartreuse Capt. Mack Shad Body as a starting point. Every bait store around the lake has these bucktails and shad bodies. Be sure to purchase several colors of the shad bodies as well. Some days a certain color will outperform other colors due to numerous factors such as cloud cover. That being said, white is the primary color and starting point each day. The Capt. Mack Shad bodies are fairly cheap, so purchase several colors to be prepared for changing weather conditions.
Personally, I use the Penn Fathom or Squall with an Ugly Stick Tiger Rod.If the weather stays hot, as men tioned, keep the downlines handy as well. With the right electronics like the Humminbird Solix Series you can see the fish feeding through the schools of bait and biting your her ring on the hook. To catch these fish deep, you need a Carolina type rig Forecast by: Clay www.catchingnotfishing.comCunningham 770-630-2673
18 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LANIER STRIPERS
using a Capt. Mack Swivel Sinker, a six-foot piece of Trilene 100% Flou rocarbon leader material and a 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus straight eye hook. The key rod being the medium light Shakespeare Ugly Stick striper edition paired with a Penn Fathom 15 Linecounter reel. When you are all set up, hook the herring between the nostrils and drop them right above the schools of stripers on your electronics. I can see the Capt. Mack swivel sinker and the bait swimming around on the hook. You can even many times see the fish come up from the bottom and call the strike before it happens. Rely on your elec tronics for success right now. If you do not see fish on your unit, do not stop the boat to fish. With that being said, many times we are dropping on two or three fish. Lastly in September the weath er will begin to cool off. Be sure to have several topwater rods loaded with topwater baits and swimbaits for any early topwater action. Baits like a Berkley Canewalker and Berk ley J-Walker and the Berkley Magic Swimmer are essentials. The Berkley Magic Swimmer in green back ghost or chrome are both deadly on Lanier. We really expect the topwater to take off early this year. They are already coming to the surface at random times this August just like last Au gust.A great casting reel like the Abu Garcia Revo makes the difference. With the large number of fisher men on Lanier a little extra distance makes a difference. Be ready for the fun. This Fall is setting up just like last fall.
Also of note, the leadcore line requires a larger diameter reel than downlining. Check with your local tackle shop like Hammonds Fishing or Oakwood Bait and Tackle for the appropriate size reel and rod.
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BASS: FAIR September, expect the shallow bite to slowly im prove, especially if we get a lot of rain or a little cooler temperature. Shal low-water baits such as unweighted Trick Worms, flukes, Senkos, buzz baits and Rebel Pop-r’s usually seem to catch at least some bass in early fall. The trick is to fish these baits in or near cover. It is usually an early or late bite. Another productive pat tern is to fish jigs around blowdown trees. It won’t produce a lot of bites, and you are going to lose or break off some jigs, but a kicker fish might be your reward. --- A few of the large mouth should remain on the deeper structure patterns as the water temps creep downward over the next few weeks.
SEPTEMBER 2022 ATLANTA 19COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST “I’ll give you your money’s worth to go fishing.” Capt. Bill Wheeler (706) 914-9859 • (706) 444-6365 Striper/Hybrid Trips on Lake Oconee for only www.gonefishingstriper.com “I’ll give you your money’s worth to go fishing.” Capt. Bill Wheeler (706) 914-9859 • (706) 444-6365 Striper/Hybrid Trips on Lake Oconee for only $250 $300 A Fa mily Oriented Fishing Club Proud Sponsors Of Fall Children’s Fishing Classic Military Hero’s Fishing Tournament www.northgeorgiacrappieanglers.com Fishing Tournaments Social Activities Good Fellowship Check Out Our Web Site Below For More Information WEST POINT LAKE
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Zoom Ol Monster worms -ei ther Texas- or Carolina -rigged, or a Bomber Fat Free 7 or 8 crankbait in citrus shad are a couple of the favor ite baits for exploring the offshore structures. Old roadbeds, pond dams, channel ledges, etc., espe cially those with fresh brush piles, will hold some good bass. --- Most of the tournament-winning sacks continue to come from brush piles. ---The spotted bass can at least keep the day interesting for you. Carolina-rigged finesse worms or a Spot Remover Head rigged with a Zoom speed craw are good choices for them. Try fishing bridge pil ings, blowdowns, gravel banks or shoal markers. Also, look for them to school in packs on small shad at times. Usually when you catch one, there are others in the same area.LINESIDES: GOOD-- Expect the topwater fishing to continue to be the best very early and very late or on overcast or rainy days. A popping cork rig has been work ing well on these schooling 1 to 3-pound fish, while surfacing. A 3/8 or 1/2-oz. Rooster Tail, a chrome C.C. Spoon and several other small shad imitators will produce when they go down. The flats near the pumping stations, the mouths of most creeks, south of the 109 bridge and the flats around Amity Park have been holding fish. --- Trolling with mid-depth crank baits and Flash Mob Jr Rigs have been producing some linesides in these same areas. --- Downlining with shad or bass shiners should continue to be effective. Freelining a live bait will also work at times. Most of the fish seem to be holding 20 to 30 feet deep when they are not schooling on the surface and are moving around a lot.
CRAPPIE: GOOD---Yellow Jacket, Wolf and Whitewater creeks are still producing some crappie. Try fishing the smallest minnows you can find or a 1/16oz. or smaller jig around brush piles and blowdowns in 10 to 15 feet of water. Concentrate on trees and brush that are close to the old creek channels. Pitching or shooting docks with small tube or feather jigs around or under the docks is also a very good technique during the early fall. As usual, crappie seem to love shade and cover. Cooler temperatures or a lot of rain should improve the fishing drastically.
Level: Full pool. Temp: 84-87 degrees. Clarity: Clear Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports: Fishing is still good, but the top water bite has slacked off some. You will see some fish breaking throughout the day, so you want to keep a top water bait handy on the deck of your boat. I always have a Whooper Plooper or Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr tied on. If it’s a cloudy day, I will throw something in a natural color or shad pattern, but if its sunny, I like throwing chrome. I will also keep a 2.75” or 3.25” Strike King Sexy Swimmer swim bait on a 1/4 or 3/8oz swim bait head to cast and swim across offshore structure and to cast where fish have jumped. Most of the fish we’ve been catching this past month are spitting up Herring bait fish around 2.5” to 3.5” long. Since the water temps have been so warm, I have mainly been running an offshore pattern, using my Garmin Livescope to narrow down the best structure to fish. If I pull up and scan the area and don’t see many fish, I don’t waste my time on that spot. We have been finding some areas close to deep water holding a lot of fish. The most successful baits have been a dropshot rig with a 6” Roboworm and a shaky head with a 5” finesse worm. Most of these fish have been coming out of 12’ to 40’ of water. You will see on the Garmin Livescope the fish bunched up around the structure and you can watch them follow the bait down. You must be patient and fish super slow, just like you are fishing in the winter months. But it seems once you get a couple to bite it gets the others ready to bite and you can catch multiple fish off one spot. If we start seeing some cooler mornings going into next month, you should see the top water bite increase as well as the deeper bite. Good Luck.
Even New Mexico has beautiful flowing streams with desert views interspersed among snowcapped mountains.Thistrip through a large swath of south, middle, and western United States impressed me with the fact that fishing opportunities exist virtually everywhere in the United States. A review of maps and the Internet suggests that all states have reservoirs, streams, and rivers that are open and managed for angling. All the angler has to decide is the fish species and the type of water desired to wet a hook. There is obviously more water than one can visit and fish in a human lifetime within this great country. Though I like to sample new waters and catch fish species that I have never or rarely caught, this trip made me realize that I do not have enough years left to sample fishing opportunities available in even the seventeen states that I traveled. Good fishing and be safe.
Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. His writing interests specialize in angling and travel, human interest, and general fishing technique-oriented topics. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. He has also fished the waters of most states within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and several Caribbean islands. He enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout using fly, 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.
REVISITED Dr. Andrew Cox I recently made my annual trip to the western United States, fishing for trout. This time around, I went to a new locale, a fishing lodge on the North Platte River in Wyoming. Rather than taking air transportation with its hassle of airports and crowded flights, I like to drive via automobile. Traveling through seventeen states in making the round trip from Georgia to Wyoming requires several days driving time. In my travels, I have always been one to look over highway bridges that cross over en route waterways. On this trip, I crossed over many waters within the continental United States. The United States is a vast country with varied landscapes, terrain, and climate. Varied waters are found to include brooks, springs, streams, farm ponds, rivers and both natural and man-made lakes of multiple sizes. My thoughts are that it would be nice to sample these various waters and the fish species inhabiting them. Some of these waters have fish species not found in our local Southeastern waterways. My son, his spouse, grandson, and a friend accompanied me on this trip and shared in the driving duties. To pass time in the automobile, as we traveled through a state or observed a particular body of water, I would look up fishing opportunities and descriptions for the state’s waterways. The internet still amazes me with the wealth of information available through this technological medium. There is much information describing fish species to target, fishing techniques, water access, and optimum time of the year for fishing bodies of water within each state. Over the course of my travel to Wyoming, I was particularly impressed with Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake, and the Land between the Lakes region of Tennessee and Kentucky. These are large lakes with good fishing for a variety of warm water species as well as other water and land based recreational opportunities. On several occasions, I crossed over the Missouri River as we traveled through Missouri and Nebraska. This waterway ranges from a large river surrounded by high limestone bluffs to a flat urban waterway. In Nebraska and Wyoming, we viewed various portions of the Platte River. This river has fish species ranging from high caliber trout fishing in Wyoming to warm water fishing throughout Nebraska. I was also intrigued with South Dakota’s fishing opportunities. As I spent several days in Wyoming fishing, I was able to sample a variety of waters within this state. Wyoming with its varied terrain and climate has diverse waterways ranging from muddy to clear streams and rivers as well as lakes suitable for angling and other water sports. It is interesting to see small to large streams and rivers traversing through a desert landscape. Each state through which we traveled had multiple fishing opportunities. These included the rugged, flowing mountain streams, and alpine lakes of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains, the large reservoirs of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and the lakes and rivers of Mississippi and Alabama.
LAKE CHATUGE
20 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ FISHING ACROSS AMERICA:
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Lake Allatoona water levels have been quite consistent at a full pool of 840 ft. since summer. Fishing will also be good in the Upper and Lower Etowah through September, and we expect it to be fantastic in the reservoir!These past weeks have us excited as the fish are starting to school up nicely and there is a fantastic topwater bite beginning that we hope to enjoy now and into October. We have seen a start of topwater boiling of hybrids, stripers and white bass in recent weeks. Sometimes for just moments yet at times sustained for 15-20 minutes. Always stand prepared for some great topwater action. Have a rod ready to cast with a topwater lure or spoon attached. While they are in a feeding frenzy, most any artificial you can get in front of them could produce. A lot of these fish are chasing and devouring small young-of-year threadfin shad and alewife, though they do not seem to hesitate on striking a larger topwater lure being walked or even up to a 5” spoon being pulled across the top or worked subsurface through the school. It should be noted that working any of the ‘larger’ top-waters and stickbaits slowly may be ignored by the smaller ‘schoolies’, even when in a frenzy, but trigger the largerDowfish.n-lining for linesides: For the most part, the target start depth for downlining has been at around 15-20 feet down with live threadfins on a #1 or #2 octopus or mosquito hook. We have even been catching as deep as 25-30 feet down over waters of up to 100’ depths. Frisky bait is hard to top. Also, free-lining threadfin or small gizzard shad is a proven and effective technique nearly year-round. This is exercised easily in conjunction with fishing live bait on the downlines moving at approximately .4-.7 mph. Toggling your speed a little bit might tell you exactly what the fish want. Another notable application of a freeline shad working exceptionally well has been after sunset in the flats or up on long points. There has been a great bite extending well into the dark when these fish have settled to the bottom in 5-12’ of water in flats and running the banks on points. They are often actively feeding and a freeline shad can typically outproduce most anything else. There have been a few evenings that we noted a small BB or 3/0 split shot on a lighter line presentation with a threadfin has been the ideal approach. Moving the boat at .1 mph and slow reeling the threadfin shad back to the boat are triggering hard strikes. A small A-rig such as a MiniMack will do the trick when you have confidence and patience with it. While the larger U-rig bite is al ways an effective method of locating and triggering bites from fish across points and humps, we have not been utilizing this method much lately as so many other go-to techniques have been proving effective. This U-rig method is being applied when scout ing and when higher wind speeds de crease the effectiveness of the other proven and currently effective tech niques.The spotted bass bite has been amazing all year long. The multi-spe cies forage base really has these and all other species fattening up very well, and many of these summertime spots look just like springtime gorge feeders with big fat bellies. When targeting these specifically, I do have to say that the spoon has been one of our best producers through the late summer months. There have also been periods when a slowdown is called for and just fishing a small 1/16 oz. Ned rig with a small finesse worm or creature bait has triggered bite after bite after bite in a school. The Catfish bite will be in full swing by now and we are having a blast tangling with the catfish and gar alike. We are pleased to include Catfish Adventures on the menu during this season and running two boats for double the pleasure on a nighttime adventure. We will do our best to share some nightly catches and tips with everyone on our blog as the month progresses. Please continue to help us keep our waterways clean and calm. Take out one thing besides your own when possible. If you are fishing from a boat, you likely even have a net to catch some floating plastic bag or bottle. Shore fishing almost always produces the opportunity to pick up some refuse. Thanks in advance!
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Forecast By: Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918
Capt. Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918
SEPTEMBER 2022 ATLANTA 21COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE ALLATOONA
Capt. Joseph Martinelli 404-919-4918
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LakeGuideAllatoonaService Stripers, Hybrids, Spotted Bass, Crappie Nature InstructionalExcursions,Trips
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Lake Allatoona has continually fished excellent all summer. We are ever so thankful to have this wonderful and thriving fishery. Now, headed into September, we get a little more excited for the Autumn bite. It shall not be long that leaves will have peepers and the peepers will have leaves to peep. We will be peeping them from the slow rolling reservoir with a fishing rod or 4 out and hopefully a lot of tight lines.
Please let us continue to be re spectful of others whatever their preferred watersport/pastime or wa tercraft type. Feel free to reach us by call or text to 404-919-4918 to set up a full-service Adventure. God bless you all and tight lines!
Just as I lifted the rod it hit, nearly pulling the rod out of my hand. My first slow pitch jigging trip. I was just working the jig, thinking, I probably should put on some bait. You know the first time you try something new you always have doubts. I have fished bait most of my life, so using just big metal jigs seems odd. It was really a moot point though since there was no bait on the boat. That first Bonita hit like a train and nearly took my rod. I still had my doubts, but as the day went on and I caught a ton of fish with just a jig, I could see how addictive this was. Johnny said he could out fish me with jigs if I wanted to bring bait next trip, but I’m a believer now! I squeezed in a little more South Florida fishing and then ICAST before heading off to Alaska.Myfriends, Capt. Johnny Stabile and Viktor Hluben aka LandShark Outdoors, and myself went fishing on Lake Ida for big bluegills. We found them, lots of them. It was a blast fishing with these guys and Viktor filmed a video for his YouTube channel, LandShark Outdoors. Johnny and I also went out of Hillsboro Inlet where we did that slow pitch jigging in about 200 to 300 feet of water with JYG Pro Rods and jigs, and we found several Blackfin Tuna, Bonita and even a King Mackerel biting. The Blackfin became fresh sushi for supper. We also did a little Everglades fishing for peacocks and oscars using crappie jigs and topwater lures. Both species are so much fun to catch! I caught a couple of nice Snakeheads too. I was able to attend ICAST this year. Several times over the years I was supposed to attend, and something always came up. This year I finally made it! What is ICAST? It’s the world’s largest sport fishing trade show, the premier By Gary Turner ON THE JIG
22 ATLANTA SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEANGLERMAGAZINEATLANTA/ LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST NOBODY SAID IT HAD TO BE FAIR FOR THE 3292 McEver Rd. Buford, GA 30518 | 770.906.7331 | manufacturersatelliteaudiogpsavcmarine.com&navigationsystemdesign&tvsystemsledlightingsecuritysystemscustominstallationcertifiedYour resource for everything electronics, on & off the water. Sales, Service and Installation FISH
showcase for the latest in gear, tackle, accessories, and apparel. All I can say is it was Amazing! I worked with the JYG PRO FISHING guys in their booth but also had time to walk the show. There are so many new and cool fishing items coming to the market. The lithium batteries continue to improve, and Dakota Lithium has some neat products. I brought one of their portable power boxes to Alaska with me. JYG sent rods and jigs to use in Alaska, and I also got an Aftco Barricade bib and jacket for the Alaska trip. Look for my report from Alaska next month. I’m writing this from Soldotna, Alaska, and in a few hours, I will be up and headed to fish Skilak Lake on the upper Kensi River. ‘ I’m not sure what future articles will be on or where I’ll be fishing, but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe one will be about fishing with you! If you are ever interested in info on any guides or places I fish, you can email me at gary@purgeright. com.Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it. Tight Lines and Squealin’ Reels put a Smile on my face every time.
BLACKFINS
FULLSEPT.MOONHARVEST10,2022 Fishing Guide HawkService ’s ON BEAUTIFUL LAKE EUFAULA BASS HAWK184@EARTHLINK.NET,CRAPPIE-CATFISH-BREAMCAPTAINSAMWILLIAMS334-687-6266WWW.HAWKSFISHING.COM
Looking back over the summer bite, I can honestly say, the catches of stripers we have been producing this year has been amazing to say the least. My guide service has had its best luck with live bait; however, I have heard reports from the other anglers that they too have done well while trolling with artificial lures.Moving on to September forecast, here on Lake Martin, in a normal year, this month starts the transition period for stripers changing from the summer bite to the fall ball bite pattern. This doesn’t mean you can’t, or you will not catch stripers, I’m just saying you will more than likely work harder this month than some of the other months of the year. I probably spend more on boat gas in September, than any other time, solely due to the fact, that each morning you must start over scouting to locate them. It’s like yesterday they were here and today they are not so the search begins. Sometimes the easiest or most productive way to locate stripers in September is by trolling, to cover a lot of big open water. If this technique is producing bites, then stick with it. While trolling, mark way points of schools you see and if you’re not catching anything, then simply go back to those way points and drop live bait on them. One of these techniques is going to produce a bite. This month, you will want to concentrate on areas of the lake with the deepest water. I personally like to be fishing in water ranging from 70-120 feet deep. One thing I don’t do in September is waste much time in water shallower than 50 feet, as it has not been very productive for us, over the years. I hope you have a successful month here on our beautiful Lake Martin.
•1Placeegg
Lake
Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Form the fish mixture into patties, and fry in the hot oil. Drain on paper towels, and serve hot.
Catfish
Cakes
•1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning or to taste
•1 tablespoon creamy salad dressing (eg. miracle whip)
SEPTEMBER 2022 ATLANTA 23COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM www.poundersseafoodmarket.com Meat And Seafood At Their Very Best 1210 Commerce Drive Suite 111 Greensboro, GA 30642 Phone: 706-453-4445 • Fax: 706-453-2334 Meat And Seafood At Their Very Best 1210 Commerce Drive Suite 111 Greensboro, GA 30642 Phone: 706-453-4445 • Fax: 706-453-2334 Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 Pm Major Credit Cards & Debit Cards www.poundersseafoodmarket.com Black Angus Beef and Fresh Seafood Beef • Pork • Seafood • Produce • Poultry • Veal and Lamb Catering Service • Cooked to Order Pounders Seafood Market Pounders LOCAL LAKES ANDLAKEFORECASTMARTIN
/ Clear
•1 medium onion, chopped •1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
•2 1/2 cups coarsely crushed buttery round crackers
Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Temp 92 +, Level 490.4 (full 491), Clarity to very clear
256-401-3089Service Surface
catfish in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until fish flakes easily with a fork. Drain off water, and mash up the fish. Stir in the onion, mustard, salad dressing, Old Bay, cracker crumbs and egg. Mix until evenly blended.
•1 pound catfish fillets
pool
Purple Heart recipient Larry Bailey’s first ever crappie catch!
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Emily Adams and Mallory Magrino on Lake Eufaula, Alabama. Robbie Robinson from Fairfield Plantation with an Apalachicola Snapper.
Blakely and Piper Sweatt crappie fishing on Lake Eufaula, Alabama.
Tony Adams with some bream and shellcracker on Lake Eufaula
Bill and Angela enjoyed a wonderful day fishing on Lake Lanier Emily Adams and Mallory Magrino on Lake Alabama.Eufaula, Tony Adams with a bream.
On June 28, 15-year-old Edwards Tarumianz caught a gorgeous, almost pure white blue catfish on the Tennessee River near downtown Chattanooga, Tenn. It was the latest in a string of such fish to come from one small stretch of river. While catching a white catfish has been likened to winning the lottery, it seems the odds are much higher on the Tennessee River below Chickamauga Dam.“It’s become pretty clear to us that we’ve got a little recessive gene floating around in the river right here in the Chattanooga vicinity,” said Richard Simms, owner of Scenic City Fishing Charters. “I actually saw another one just a week or so ago. A guy, just a regular fisherman, caught a piebald. So, yeah, we’ve got a recessive gene floating around.”
Contact Scenic City Fishing Charters via www.sceniccityfishing.com.
PHOTO BY RICHARD SIMMS
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The Tennessee River’s WHITE BLUE CATS
White catfish are rare anomalies that never fail to set social media abuzz each time an angler catches one. In most instances, biologists attribute the looks of these beautiful pinkishwhite fish to leucism, a genetic trait that results in reduced pigmentation and the pale, sometimes patchy coloration they display.
By TAM
Scenic City has three captains who specialize in guiding anglers to catfish. They’ve encountered four of these white catfish since 2018. Simms keeps records of his catches, and he estimated Scenic City catches about 5,000 catfish a year. While one white catfish in 5,000 caught is hardly good odds, it’s a lot better than one in a million. This one stretch of river is producing more of these strange fish than anywhere else we’ve heard of.
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With their aggressive nature, willingness to hit almost anything, and ability to make drag screaming runs when first hooked, king mackerel are just a bunch of fun. Because of these qualities, there is a king mackerel tournament somewhere almost every weekend. Plenty of boats head out in pursuit of them from every port, and plenty of tackle dedicated to them is sold in coastal shops.
He recommends using a sea surface temperature chart and seeing where the water is hovering in the 70-degree range and starting your day at a reef or wreck in that zone. If you see bait working—and especially if you see kings feeding—give it a serious shot. If you have seen kings feeding in open water, you’ll never forget what it looks like; they skyrocket out of the water like a submarine-launched missile.
Gamefish Royalty
By Capt. Gordon Churchill
CATCHINGKINGSISABUNCHOFFUN
To get an idea of what a day chasing kings is like, I spoke Capt. Matt Paylor, of Sound-N-Sea Charters in Morehead City, N.C. For gear, he likes a 7-foot, live-bait trolling rod with a Shimano TLD reel filled to the brim with 20-pound line. Smaller, school-sized kings eagerly hit trolled spoons and frozen cigar minnows, and you can catch a lot of them.When 10- to 20-pounders are hanging out around a structure, such as artificial reefs, wrecks or ledges, casting to them with swimming plugs and topwaters can lead to fast action. For a challenge, try a 10-weight fly rod rigged with a sinking line and a big streamer fly attached to a wireAleader.20-pound king mackerel can make a fly reel sing, Paylor said, however, if you want to get the big ones, you have to use live bait. His go-to is live menhaden, but he also uses live bluefish in the 2to 3-pound range. For trolling live bait, tie 15 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon to the end of your main line, and to that attach a double hook live bait rig made with No. 5 single-strand wire and size 4 “quad strong” trebleCapt.hooks.Paylor said kings are very predictable.
Paylor said a rule of thumb is to troll live baits at around 2 miles per hour. When you get a bite, the rod slams down and the reel starts screaming. Make sure your drag is not set too tightly or it’ll be over.You’ll get a nice long run when the fish is first hooked. The smaller fish of less than 20 pounds will run out of energy pretty soon. Bigger ones, from 30 to 50 pounds, won’t tire as readily, and the real monsters may do it a few times before they tire. Keep your drag set light and let the fish do its thing; follow it with the boat if necessary. A fish (besides sharks) that is the bane of king mackerel anglers is the amberjack. If you troll near any high spot, usually the top of a shipwreck, there may be a school of them there. Their detractors call them “reef donkeys” with disdain. When you are trolling with a carefully prepared trolling rig and putting in hours looking for trophy kings, one of these bad boys can mess you up. Tournament anglers especially dislike them. If you are out trolling for kings and a school of amberjacks show up in your trolling spread, don’t get mad. Have fun! These fish are a blast and hit topwater plugs with abandon. Cast soda-bottlestyle poppers in the 5- to 6-inch-long range such as the Rapala Magnum Xplode or the Yozuri Bull Pop, retrieve them with a big pull and a pause to make a huge splash, and be prepared for an amazing display. Often a group of them will come up together and slash at it with reckless abandon until one finally gets hooked. Be prepared with a heavy casting rod. I’ve caught them on 12-weight fly rods with the biggest popper I could make. They can show up at any time over any wreck or reef. You just have to be ready. If you’re not fishing in a tournament, why not go have fun with them instead of cursing at them. They will come in fast, hit hard and then keep you occupied for about 20 minutes while they try to pull you out of the boat. This article was reprinted from CoastalReview.org.
“They are so consistent with their yearly patterns that if you caught them in a spot in previous years, they are probably going to be there again,” he said.
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An angler from New Jersey caught a North Carolina state record for cubera snapper on Aug. 3. Thomas Madsen caught the 58-pound, 8-ounce fish offshore of Hatteras while fishing with Capt. Tyler Fleetwood and Sea Dream FishingMadsen’sCharters.big fish measured 49.5 inches total length and had a 41-inch girth. He caught it using a Shimano jigging rod, and a Diawa Saltist reel with 80-pound test. It replaces the previous record, which weighed 58 pounds and was caught off Beaufort Inlet in 2016.The IGFA all-tackle world record for Atlantic cubera snapper was caught off Louisiana in June of 2007 by Marion Rose. It weighed 124 pounds 12 ounces. For more information on North Carolina state records, find the State Saltwater Records webpage at deq.nc.gov.
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“Until I caught this guy, I didn’t even know [xanthic bass] existed,” Chrenko wrote in a Facebook post. “For someone that lives and breathes fishing for smallmouth, this is one I’ll remember my entire life… I can only imagine that this little guy had to overcome crazy odds to survive the first couple of years of his life from predation. Being neon-orange would make for a tough life as a small freshwater fish.” Chrenko released his orange smallie after taking a few photos. For more weird fish, go to coastalanglermag.com.
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This is not someone’s escaped goldfish; it’s a bright orange smallmouth bass. Angler Josh Chrenko caught the rare genetic anomaly this summer from the Muskegon River in Michigan. Biologists explained that the fish’s odd coloration is due to a rare genetic condition called xanthochromism, which— like albinism or leucism—is usually caused by a recessive gene.
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Xanthochromistic fish are orange because the red pigmentation in their skin is replaced by yellow pigmentation.
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