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BL EED T RI M
SAF ET Y
NEARSHORE BONANZA
OUT OF PANAMA CITY
By Nick Carter
T
he rising sun revealed unaddressed devastation as Capt. Randy Cnota backed his 22-foot Pathfinder down the ramp at Tyndall Airforce Base. Less than a year after Hurricane Michael rocked the Florida Panhandle, we launched near the heart of the destruction. Just east of Panama City and a short drive from the catastrophe that unfolded at Mexico Beach, this slice of the Panhandle is a community doggedly enduring the slow process of rebuilding. The bright boards of new framing show progress in neighborhoods of single-story homes. Blue-tarped roofs, shredded metal buildings and acres of tall pines snapped like so many twigs are reminders of just how far there is to go. At the docks, bare wood pilings and concrete footings are left from what was a bustling little marina before the storm surge. But the fish don’t care. And with an eager 8-year-old angler perched on the leaning post, Capt. Randy pointed us toward the open Gulf of Mexico. This was early July, during the Gulf red snapper season, and Capt. Randy’s numbers would take us a few miles out to some hard-bottom that promised big snapper. But first we had to catch bait, which was plentiful in the form of Spanish sardines balled up around the markers just outside the pass from St. Andrews Bay. The 8-year-old would have spent all day catching sardines on a Sabiki rig, but shortly we left the other boats jockeying for position at the marker. We had our bait, and Capt. Randy now had an idea of how the boy would handle his first fishing trip on the open ocean. The kid emitted enthusiasm, and it’s a good thing we didn’t make a several hour run. The waiting would have driven him mad. Bigger boats out of Panama City can comfortably take anglers dozens of miles out to deeper water, quick limits and huge fish, but this nearshore trip was more our speed. Less than 10 miles from the coast, and even inside the 9-mile state waters, there are wrecks, reefs and hard bottom in the 100-foot depths that offer plentiful bottomfish as well as shots at some big pelagics. Within minutes at our first drop, the boy was hooked up with a big bonito, and Capt. Randy was steering with one hand, while holding the butt of the rod with the other. The kid had a death grip on the handle and cranked with all his might. “You’re gonna have to come over here and make sure this rod doesn’t get pulled out!” Randy barked at me with both hands full. But I couldn’t. On the other side of the boat, I was pumping and grunting on what turned out to be a stud red snapper. Somehow, both
fish made it onto the deck, and Randy went right back to work feeding out a freelined sardine from the stern. “Where there’s Bonnies, there’s kings,” he called the shot. Shortly thereafter, he handed me a rod with line ripping off the spool. I came up tight on a good king mackerel. It was one of three kingfish we had on that morning, but it was the only one that made it in the boat. Through the morning, the fish kept us continuously busy. We caught more red snapper than we could keep track of as well as gag and red grouper. Capt. Randy was great with the kid. Seeing the big bottom rigs were too much for an 8-year-old, Randy tied up a chicken rig on a lighter rod, showed the boy how to bait and fish it and then set him loose. Although the beeliners we were hoping for didn’t show up, the boy had a field day hauling snapper and triggerfish off the bottom. He was particularly proud of an FWC-tagged trigger he caught. “Part of the fun is you never know what you’re going to catch when you’re out here,” said Randy as he unhooked a 2-foot-long smoothback pufferfish. The whole time out, we kept eyes peeled for weeds and surface activity that might belie the presence of mahi-mahi or cobia. In the week before our trip, Randy managed to put clients on a sailfish and a big blackfin tuna. Although we didn’t encounter these species, we did watch in awe as two 10-foot tiger sharks circled uncomfortably close to the boat. We went home with a cooler full of fish. But more importantly, while those meaty chunks of snapper sizzled in hot oil, the boy regaled his grandparents with stories of the trip. His first time was an experience he will never forget. Snapper seasons may be over along the Gulf Coast, but if you find yourself hankering for a good fishing trip that’s fun and easy, consider hiring a captain out of the Panama City area. Capt. Randy said fall brings better opportunities for sailfish and tuna nearshore, and with his smaller boat, he is also well equipped to fish inshore. The fall redfish and trout bite can be off the charts. These hurricane-battered communities remain in recovery, but the fish, beaches and visitor ammenities are still there. Go spend some time at Panama City and eastward along The Forgotten Coast. You’ll be glad you did, because the fishing is pretty spectacular. Capt. Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine and owner of C-Note Charters. Check him out online at www.cnotecharters.com or call 229-834-7880.
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Urban Chrome In Grand Rapids, Michigan
Photo by Aaron Peterson Photography, LLC for Experience Grand Rapids
By Tom Werkman
W
hy do people feel the need to head to remote destinations a million miles from nowhere to fish? Some of the best fishing opportunities exist right under our noses, and many times they are very close to major metropolitan areas. The Grand River is just such a place. Michigan’s largest river runs through the heart of the state’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, and offers great fishing through its 252-mile run from rural headwaters in Hillsdale County down to Lake Michigan. Downtown Grand Rapids: Home to more than 37 craft breweries, Grand Rapids is Beer City. But there is another side of Grand Rapids that few know about. It offers the
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lure of big-river fishing in an urban environment. The river through downtown Grand Rapids offers the angler a unique opportunity to fish for steelhead in swift rapids beneath the city’s skyscrapers. On an early leg of their run up out of Lake Michigan, these fish are strong and as hot as they come. From October through December and again during March and April, droves of steelhead run through downtown as they migrate through and hold up in the rapids. Some of the best steelhead fishing lies between Sixth Street Dam and the Fulton Street Bridge. It’s not uncommon to see people wading the river, fishing from the banks or in boats landing these chrome bullets. When fishing here, the angler can expect to only move a few times to get on fish. Once you have your spot, you don’t want to move very much as it can be crowded at times. If you’re not on a fish right away, be patient. These fish get backed up at the dam and constantly move around in search of the fish ladder to pass through and continue their migration up the river. Lowell To Ada Section: Just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Grand River between the towns of Lowell and Ada offers fishing that is a little more secluded. From late spring through early fall, this section offers smallmouth bass and northern pike. There is little public access here, and the angler can expect solitude and no-pressure fishing in a remote river setting just outside Grand Rapids. A typical trip involves floating in a drift boat or jet boat from Lowell to Ada, covering a lot of water while casting to the banks, river timber and rocks. Bald eagles, osprey, blue heron and deer are common sights on this piece of river. Rarely will the angler lay eyes on another boat or fisherman. On the Grand River, one can enjoy spectacular fishing and then enjoy a cold beer and everything else the city has to offer. Tom Werkman, and his son Max, are owner/guides at Werkman Outfitters, a guide service on the Grand River in and around Grand Rapids, Michigan. Contact them at tom@werkmanoutfitters.com or check them out at werkmanoutfitters.com.
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FISH & FISHING
FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS MARK SOSIN
I
t may seem logical, but it’s not always right. My favorite example is George Westinghouse, the man who invented the air brake for oversized vehicles. Researchers relied on logical thinking and experimented continuously on using air to apply the brake. It didn’t work. Westinghouse took an opposite approach and used the air to hold the brake off the drum until the driver stepped on the brake pedal and released the air. The common approach to understanding fish behavior lies in applying human values with the assumption that a fish’s brain has the capacity to reason. Just because a particular lure looks good to us does not mean it’s a fish’s favorite, too. Few of us can boast even the slightest knowledge of the release that triggers a fish into striking or simply passing up an offering. And, we probably wouldn’t recognize it if we saw it. Repeated observations hold the key to helping us focus our efforts on techniques that have worked in the past. As an example, fish have an amazing alertness to movement. It can cause them to flee a situation or take advantage of it and feed. The same applies to underwater sound. Low frequency vibrations such as those that indicate a fish is in distress usually cause predators to investigate with the hope of finding food. The more natural a bait or lure appears to a fish, the greater the chance a strike will occur. When you can see your quarry
and observe hesitation of any type, assume that something in your offering appears unnatural. Fish may be curious, but they are seldom in the habit of wasting energy to pursue something needlessly. Many species have the ability to measure energy expended in chasing food against the value received. Because fish are creatures of habit, they tend to do the same things over and over. That’s why captains and guides boast the ability to find fish. The quarry may hold in one spot with uncanny precision day after day, month after month, and year after year. If that fish is caught or leaves for any reason, another will take its place. Those fish that work a tide follow the same pattern daily. Even offshore skippers understand reliable patterns that fish follow and troll the waters where their quarry should be. For some unknown reason, fish tend to hold at the same depth over a wide area. If another angler can tell you the depth where he found fish, you don’t need to know the precise spot. Keep in mind that water temperature can play a role. Each species has its upper and lower limits. As water temperature drops, fish tend to swim slower and chase an offering for shorter distances. Figuring out what motivates a fish to strike a bait or lure becomes a continuous challenge for leading anglers as well as the scientific community. The important thing to remember is that fish do not think like humans. Their basic approach is simple, yet it is not always easy to detect. The more you observe fish behavior and understand that it follows patterns and procedures established a long time ago, the more successful you are going to be.
For more from Mark Sosin, visit
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t first glance, Alphonso Jackson’s 2-pound, 1-ounce redbreast sunfish might not seem all that impressive. But when you consider the size of your average redbreast, this thing is a monster. Jackson was fishing the Lumber River in central North Carolina’s Scotland County on June 10 when he caught the fish on a cricket. It bested a 36-yearold North Carolina state record for the species by 5 ounces. The previous record, caught in 1983 by Ronald Stanley in Big Swamp in Bladen County, N.C. weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Jackson’s fish also outweighs the world record. The current IGFA all-tackle world record for the species has stood at 1-pound, 12-ounces since 1984. That fish came from Florida’s Suwannee River. Wikipedia claims the heaviest redbreast on record weighed 2.3 pounds (2 pounds, 4.8 ounces), but there’s no information as to where that weight came from or whether it was angler-caught. So, if Jackson bothers to complete all the paperwork properly, he would definitely be the new IGFA record holder. Jackson, 43, is an avid fisherman, a passion he attributes to his father Johnny Jacobs who taught him how to fish when he was a boy, and one that he has passed on to his children, ages 23, 18 and 17. They were with him the day he caught the massive readbreast. “We started fishing in a pond but weren’t having any luck, so I said to my kids, ‘Let’s go back to where I learned how to fish.’ And this is what we caught,” Jackson said. “I’d like to thank my daddy for teaching me how to catch fish and where to catch fish.” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TIPS FROM A PRO
READ GRASS MATS FOR BIG BASS
BRANDON LESTER
L
ate summer and early fall absolutely scream for a frog. With big bass holed up in thick vegetation, working a frog across grass mats can lead to some of the most explosive strikes in fishing. I always look forward to the frog pattern setting up around this time of year. This year should be especially sweet because of the reemergence of Alabama’s Lake Guntersville as one of the best bass fisheries in the nation. This Tennessee River impoundment is frog fishing heaven. Over the last decade the Guntersville bass fishery saw a bit of a decline. But the “Big G” has come back in a big way. Bassmaster ranked Guntersville the No. 2 fishery in the nation in this year’s “100 Best Bass Lakes” listings. It is fishing lights-out, with five-fish tournament sacks regularly approaching and surpassing 30 pounds. I just came off a top-10 finish in the June Elite Series event on Guntersville. Some fish came off frogs, but the best patterns I found were deep cranking and worms. You can bet the frog bite will ramp up soon, though. No matter where you fish, the key to topwater frog fishing is reading the grass. To really dial in a pattern, you need to observe what’s happening on the lake. At Guntersville, the two prominent grass types are hydrilla and milfoil. There are other types, but these are the two you will encounter
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most often. From the time the grass first tops out in the summer until the first frost of the fall, I will concentrate on milfoil. Milfoil creates a great canopy and is hollow underneath, so the bass can get through it to get to your frog. When the hydrilla is still green, it is so thick that a bass has trouble seeing your frog on top of the mat. With that said, later on in the fall when the hydrilla starts to turn brown and break up, it starts to get hollow underneath. That is the time to start targeting it more. Another key to frog fishing is to listen and watch for “active” grass. Bass school up in grass mats just like they do on ledges, points and humps, so it is important to find a mat that has activity in it. Listen for bluegill popping the mat or watch for shad to flicker. Those are signs that bass are not far away. Also, look for points, turns and indentions in the mat itself. Anything different will often hold bass. Rod selection is important for hauling bass out of matted grass. I throw a MHX-MB-874. This rod is 7’3” heavy power with plenty of backbone, but more importantly it has enough action in the tip to allow the fish to eat the bait. I use 50-pound Vicious braid and a 7:1:1 reel. Try a topwater frog on your next trip out, or better yet plan an excursion to Guntersville for the trip of a lifetime.
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IT’S TERRESTRIAL TIME ON TROUT WATERS
By James Bradley ugust is a great time of year to throw those big ol’ nasty dry flies. About anywhere you go, big dries will work from the smallest streams to the big tailwaters. Look to be casting hopper patterns, beetles, Letort Crickets and the biggest dry flies in your box.
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Many of the sparse hatches of mayflies and caddis have dissipated, and if you get lucky to see a hatch, these insects will be tiny morsels. Since trout have become accustomed to looking up for their next meal, larger flies can be very enticing for trout to engulf. Remember, breezy days in early morning or late evening will put larger terrestrials on the water. Many will be knocked off due to being careless, the wind, or being on the wrong leaf that becomes detached. One of the best things about throwing larger flies is they’re easy to see. Many anglers attempt to softly land a large dry fly pattern. Don’t worry about that. Big trout eat big patterns. First, you must get their attention. A real bug or hopper is heavy. They hit the water’s surface with what I would call a “blop.” This is the attention getter, so there’s no need for a soft landing. If you’re having no luck with that big dry, add on a dropper pattern such as a big number 6 or 8 on top with a smaller number 16 or 20 as the dropper. Any takes on that sub-surface dropper will jerk that big dry under the water. Where to fish these big flies depends on the angler. Good casters can toss these things 30 feet into an 18-inch opening under the rhododendron where a trout will be hiding. One of my favorite sayings is: “Good casters catch all the fish.” Grassy areas along the bank are a surefire place where grasshoppers or crickets might find their way into the stream. Casting a beetle pattern along a bank log can be another dandy place to float a terrestrial, and yes, even out in the wide-open middle of the stream. One of the best ways to learn about fly fishing is to spend time with those of us who are professional full-time guides. Currently, we are doing floats on Georgia’s Toccoa Tailwater, which is producing well on early morning trips. James Bradley is the only Orvis endorsed fly fishing guide in north Georgia’s historic High-Country. Reel Em In Guide Service has permits for guiding in North Georgia and North Carolina, offers over 6 miles of private trophy waters and operates drift boats on the Toccoa River and the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina. www.ReelEmInGuideService. com; (706) 273-0764.
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AUGUST 2019 PUBLISHER: BOB RICE
A FREE PUBLICATION THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. THE ANGLER MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY B & B PUBLISHERS P.O. BOX 766 MADISON, GA 30650 706-614-8231 WWW.THEANGLERMAGAZINE.COM REPRODUCTION OF CONTENTS IN ANY FORM IS PROHIBITED BOB RICE, PUBLISHER THE ANGLER MAGAZINE FISHING, BOATING, CONSERVATION “FIND YOUR OUTDOORS HERE”
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: HENRY COWEN DR. ANDREW COX JIMMY HARRIS CAPT. CEFUS MCRAE CHRIS SCALLEY GARY TURNER NOEY VINEYARD O'NEILL WILLIAMS RENE J. HESSE JIMBO MATHLEY JAMES BRADLEY DAVID HULSEY WAYNE WOOTEN JAY STRIKER WAYNE MOORE RYAN KENNEDY DICKLESBY KIM NUNERY GRAPHIC DESIGN: KATHLEEN CARREIRO PHOTO BY CEFUS MCRAE, NUTS AND BOLTS OF FISHING
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER? Contributed By: Jimmy Harris www.unicoioutfitters.com Unicoi Outfitters, Orvis 2018 Fly Shop of the Year
Guided Fly Fishing and Conventional Tackle Trips for Hybrids, Stripers, and Crappie Booking now, novice or experienced anglers. On the water instruction, top of the line fly gear!
Isn’t this the first question you get when you run into a friend whom you haven’t seen during the summer vacation period? So, what have you done this summer? For trout anglers in Georgia, summer is the time we dream of fishing in the majestic Rockies out West where waters generally remain cool, the trout grow large and the insect hatches are as dependable as a Timex watch. I’ve been fortunate to fish Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana over the years, and they all have a magic of their own. Year after year, however, I find myself planning a trip to the Yellowstone area. My first trip there was 1987, the year before the big season of fires in the Park. I’m so glad I got to see the Park before almost 800,000 acres were scorched, but I’m just as grateful for all my return trips to see the mysteries of regeneration. Mother Nature is a tough old girl. I’ve made so many trips to the area in the ensuing 33 years that I now feel very much at home out there. There are certain streams I know I’ll fish; the Madison, the Lamar, Soda Butte and others. But it’s also exciting to try new streams or new sections of old familiar streams, particularly those that don’t see much angling traffic. The opportunities are virtually endless if you’re willing to wander away from the road a ways. Just last year, I fished a small
stream that I have driven over more times than I care to count. In my arrogance I assumed it was full of tiny fish, not worth the steep hike down into the canyon it had created over the eons. It was a rough and tumble little stream that averaged maybe 20 feet wide in most places. Some boulder hopping was involved, but mostly just negotiating around the huge rocks that towered overhead until you could cast up to the next pool. It was about as much fun as a person could have while standing in a stream, and I found myself actually disappointed when we reached a 90-foot vertical drop waterfall that prohibited going any further. As we hiked out (the part I was really dreading when we decided to go in), I had enough adrenalin pumping through me, along with several handfuls of wild huckleberries, to get me back to our vehicle with a skip in my step. The little creek is now on my all-time list of favorites, and I plan to hit it again this month when I once again heed the call of the Rockies.
TROPHY FLY FISHING ON THE BEST TWO MILES OF THE SOQUE RIVER
Mix it up with light spinning tackle as well for a great combo trip!
9400 Highway 197 North Clarkesville, GA 30523 Captain Wayne Moore - Oconee On The Fly, Inc (706)-816-4281 www.oconeeonthefly.com / wmoore1700@outlook.com 2 ATLANTA
AUGUST 2019
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7/15/19 5:55 PM
LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING DOG DAYS FLY FISHING
Contributed by David Hulsey International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructor http://www.hulseyflyfishing.com 770-639-4001
August fly fishing trips can usually begin with good intentions of leaving before dawn, hanging in there all day and motoring home that night giddy with all the trout caught and released that day! Normally, it goes kind of like this. We left before dawn, beat everyone to the river, “yeah” good so far, blazing hot sun gets above trees at about 10 am, no fish even seen, can’t take the blistering heat and humidity anymore, make a break for the truck and turn the air conditioner on nuclear winter and say the heck with this and get back home about 1 pm and watch TV for the rest of the day. In the South, the dog days of summer can really beat you down pretty quick! You could fish at night. Nah, too much trouble. You could just forget it until maybe October or November and take advantage of all of the great delayed harvest streams. Come on man, you have two months of nasty hot weather to deal with. That’s just too long to wimp out and play inside. You could take up fly tying and that’d be cool, but that just seems like a wintertime deal even though I tie usually every night even in summer because there is no end to the amount of flies someone can launch into the trees on a guide trip. We just want to catch fish don’t we? It totally comes down to dropping a lot of coin and traveling out West or North or toughing it out and hanging tough down here. Higher elevation streams can be pleasant early and late in the day. Just make sure the water tempera-
ture is low enough to keep the little trout safe. Avoid the heat of the day like the plague and you should have some success and not kill any fish. Consider fishing for bass and bluegill as they normally will be munching out early in the morning and late in the evening. Small popping bugs or a slow stripped Wooly Bugger will normally get the green light. When that gets boring, turn to the shallow water areas around your local lake or pond and keep an eye peeled for carp. Yep, old pucker lips can change your life! The common carp can be the most challenging game fish in fresh water. As Lefty Kreh once said “carp are like fishing for bonefish but harder!” Carp can take pretty much any amount of heat or siltation old Mother Nature can throw at them. Flies that imitate little crayfish, nymphs, or even small baitfish can be effective on the golden ghost! When you see a ten pound carp rooting around in vegetation and then watch it see your fly and turn into a predator and pounce on it like a hungry house cat will blow your mind the first time you see it. The first run will usually put you into your backing, and you might get another run of the same magnitude. I guarantee you will have the upmost respect for what many call a trash fish. So, get out there when that old summer sun is still below the treeline or behind the mountain and tough it out a little bit longer. After all, winter’s coming! I’ll see y’all on the water!
CHATTOOGA RIVER
The Dog Days of Summer have reached us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop. The rivers have received a good amount of rain, although summer temperatures have been a little warmer than we would like to see. The great part of a good amount of rainfall and good river levels is that the trout have plenty of water to seek thermal refuge from the rising water temperatures. Many fish are being caught, although you must like being on the waters at daybreak. As the temperatures rise, move to casting nymphs in the deeper runs of the rivers. The rivers are loaded with a large amount of small nymphs. While fishing, take a minute to turn some rocks over to find these and do not hesitate to tie on a nymph resembling these trailing behind a larger stonefly which will allow the flies to get deeper in the water column where the fish are holding. Don’t hesitate to pinch a small piece of split shot on your line to get deeper if you are not catching. Terrestrials have also been productive. Casting these towards the over-hanging foliage with a deaddrift and twitch method will produce for you. These patterns will continue to work throughout the remainder of the summer. If the trout are being a little tough
to catch, a great day on the rivers can be had with bass and panfish. Lower sections of the river are fishing well now. Topwater and streamers seem to be the big hit now for a successful day. Wet wading is an enjoyable way to beat the heat of summer. A small pack, plenty of fluids to keep hydrated, a small fly box, a good pair of polarized sunglasses are all that is needed to explore waters you might not normally fish. What a way to spend a summer day. While out on your day of fishing, expect afternoon thunderstorms and the river level to raise slightly. Although it may not be raining where you are fishing, the river level may start to rise as rain may come over the river upstream, so keep an eye on the water level around you. Let’s all pray for a little cooler weather and some rains to keep the rivers cooler and the water levels up. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the rivers around us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop. Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
We left before dawn, beat everyone to the river, “yeah” good so far, blazing hot sun gets above trees at about 10 am, no fish even seen,an’t take the blistering heat and humidity anymore, make a break for the truck and turn the air conditioner on nuclear winter and say the heck with this and get back home about 1 pm and watch TV for the rest of the day. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING AUGUST FLY FISHING REPORT
Contributed By: Henry Cowen www.henrycowenflyfishing.com Topwater spotted bass fishing looks like it is finally coming around some. June did not see the spots eating off the surface, but July looks much better. While the big fish have gone deep for the summer, the smaller 1 to 3-pound fish can still be caught on humps and points using poppers on floating lines. It’s a great way to have some fun fishing the hottest days of the year. During both the new and full moon periods of August, Lake Allatoona or Chatuge may be THE HOTTEST lakes to catch hybrids, white bass and spotted bass on the surface. When the hybrid topwater bite is on, you need to just head on over to either for some spectacular surface feeding. This is usually easy pickings as the fish will blow up all over the lake both early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. If you can find an overcast day coupled with the new or full moon phase, you are going to have the makings for one of the most memorable days of your fishing year. Fish will be feeding on small 1-1 ½” young of the year threadfin shad. All you need is to toss an intermediate (slow sinking) line and you will be in the game! Look anywhere in the area around the dam. This is usually where the ground zero hybrid bite can be found. If not, then just ride towards Kellogg Creek and look both left and right as you are running up the lake. Stamp Creek is another area worth looking at for surface feeding fish. Flies of choice continue to be small shad type patterns. Try any one of the following for success: Albie An-
chovy, a small Clouser minnow, Somethin’ Else, small Deceivers and Wiggle Minnows. Try using a 6 or 7 weight rod with 8 to 10-pound test tippet. For conventional anglers, try tossing any of the previously mentioned flies (except a Wiggle Minnow) behind either a casting bubble or popping cork rig. A light tackle outfit with 8-pound test will have you matched perfectly for this fishery. August is also a great time to be hitting the Hooch for some striped bass below Morgan Falls Dam. July has been on fire with these striped demons coming up from West Point Lake to summer in Sandy Springs. The river’s water temperature should be at its warmest for the entire year during the month of August, and anglers can toss weighted . baitfish patterns on intermediate (slow sinking) lines along the banks and in the deeper holes of the river to find the stripers that are summering over in the city limits. Best areas to fish will be well below Morgan Falls Dam. Start at Sope Creek and work towards Cochran Shoals. From Whitewater to Paces Mill is another good area. Another hot area will be below Paces Mill and down toward Peachtree Creek. Fishing both early and late in the day seems to produce the best results. The key is to try and fish falling water levels. For conventional anglers, try tossing ¼ to 3/8 oz. bucktails, weightless flukes or some 4-5” Rebels, Bomb-
ers and any swim bait. For topwater, try throwing a 7” Redfin early or late in the day. As we move toward the end of this month, the fishing will slow down as the fish move further south toward West Point Lake. If you happen to get there while the river is dropping water, your odds of finding feeding fish are even better. Call Rob Smith from the Fish Hawk to get in on a wonderful summertime fishery. He is Georgia’s top expert for fly fishing the rivers for striped
bass. Or you can make a trip up to Helen and ask the folks at Unicoi Outfitters to take you wading for stripers on their part of the Hooch. Finally, carp fishing is still going strong but the fish are getting pressured from all the paddlers using the river. The fish can still be caught on fly with a little patience. Carp are a tough and finicky type fish to get to eat the fly to begin with. Add the pressure of a month of anglers tossing flies to them as well as kayakers and paddle boarders invading their flats, and you can see why they are a bit skittish. The Bull Sluice section is still my favorite carp fishing location as well as the Savannah below Lake Hartwell getting a second nod. Crayfish and nymphs will still be your best fly patterns to toss at carp. A 6-8 wt. outfit and floating line along with 10-pound tippet is all that is required. Remember, you need to tiptoe around these guys as they are SUPER SPOOKY come August. The past two months have been tough to get river conditions right for these shallow water beasts, but when we have gotten out, the fishing has been really good! Get out there and give some of North Georgia’s hot summer fishing a try. Come next month we will discuss preparing for the fall striper run on the surface up on Lanier again. This will all start to happen by end September or early October. See you on the pond.
Fly of the Month
Parachute Adams
by Eli Crumley Blackhawk Fly Fishing keepemwet94@ gmail.com
• Hook: Tiemco 100 size 14/18 • Thread: UTC 70 denier (color)Dark Brown • Parachute: White Calf Body Hair • Tail: Brown hackle • Body: Muskrat Grey Dubbing • Hackle: Brown and Grizzly Whiting Saddle Hackle This fly is typically a mayfly imitation but can be used to imitate many insects.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING OCONEE ON THE FLY- AUGUST FORECAST COEXISTING WITH RECREATIONAL BOATERS
Contributed By Capt. Wayne Moore USCG www.oconeeonthefly.com As we enter into August, I am already dreaming of the fall and winter fishing here on Lake Oconee. Fly fishing for hybrids was great when the birds starting dive bombing the shad in December! Since then I have doing mostly light spinning tackle trips. One thing I feel compelled to write about is what many guides here experienced over the 4th of July holiday. Recreational boaters and jet skis filled the lake, and they have as much right to enjoy this water as we do. Unfortunately, many in their excitement forget the “rules of the road” for boaters, don’t wear life jackets, don’t have running lights on at night, and of course, some have a few too many adult beverages while at the helm. One of the most experienced guides on the lake and a master captain, had a young man on a jet
ski come very close to ramming him head-on when he was at idle speed approaching the marina to take out. If you are a parent, I urge you to think twice about letting a young adult get out on jet ski, especially on a busy holiday. If you are on a boat or driving a jet ski, it is your responsibility to know the rules of the road and comply with all boating regulations. By doing so, the life you save may be your own. Thank goodness for our DNR law enforcement officers! Hybrids / Stripers – Well, it has been slow with the rain and high temperatures. The morning pump back bite has been pretty much nonexistent. However, they often pump until around 6:00 AM. In the first hour after the pumps are turned off, downlining shad will work. My bigger fish have been taken on small bream on humps in Richland Creek,
and I look for that pattern to continue into late August. If we have a week or so with no rain and it is hot in the afternoon, I would look for Georgia Power to be pulling water late in the day. When they do, the spoon bite is usually very good. Crappie – I know of several guides here that specialize in crappie fishing that are still producing fair to good numbers of fish. Long lining in the submerged timber seems to be producing bigger fish. The other method is cruising with your eye peeled on your structure scan until you locate a submerged tree loaded with crappie and drop
minnows down to them. “Oconee Al” Bassett pioneered this method many years ago and this technique has saved many guided trips when all else fails. Fly fishing and final words- The prime time for fly fishing is in the fall and winter and I have already had a lot of trips booked especially in November and December. Check out my website www. oconeeonthefly.com for some footage of fly fishing for hybrids. Email me at wmoore1700 @outlook.com or call 706-816-4281 and lock in your dates. Tight lines and God Bless.
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING NATURE’S INTRUDER
THE GUIDES ANGLE
By: Ryan Kennedy YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing Instagram: ryankfishing ryankfishing@gmail.com
THE EVENING RISE
Contributed By: Chris Scalley River Through Atlanta Guide Service Most anglers think it’s too hot to fish in August, but tailwaters are a different story. Tailwaters, or rather rivers below bottom release dams, are typically quite cold even in the summertime. This is due to the frigid winter-stored water from the previous year is just now exiting the dam. Many anglers choose low light windows most commonly in the mornings at the crack-of-dawn and usually have some good success. If you’re not an early riser or just want to mix it up, try the last 5 hours of daylight on your tailwater. You may be surprised. For you fly fishermen who like dry fly action, tailwaters are notoriously productive for vari-
ous hatches, most notably the blue-winged-olive mayfly known as baetis tend to emerge in good numbers all throughout the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area between Buford and Morgan Falls Dams. Long leaders and fine tippets with sizes #18 down to a #26 can raise some fine browns to the surface.
As fishermen, we go out on the lake with the intention of enjoying nature all around us as we relax on one of the many beautiful places on Earth. Our minds are most likely focused on either what the fish want to bite that day or wondering if you’ve still got that two-year-old snack cake in the rod locker because you forgot to eat before getting on the lake. We get absorbed in the moment around us and completely lose sight of everything in our surroundings. Whether a bald eagle just swooped down, or fish came up schooling on the surface a few hundred yards away, you missed it because you were setting the hook into the “ten-pounder” on the end of your line that is really that gnarly stump in twelve feet of water that has enough lures on it to supply a tackle shop. My point is that we are a microscopic dot on a map of everything nature has to offer. We are simply a guest at some of the greatest fish and animal homes in the world. A consistent effort needs to be made to respect the amazing resources around us. That little bit of fishing line you threw in the water after tying on another lure or that worn out soft plastic bait you tossed off the side of the boat may not seem like much, but it adds up. If everyone was a slob on the water and carelessly threw garbage into the water, it wouldn’t take long for
our reservoirs to become dumps of floating garbage. Keep in mind the first time you experienced what a lake or river had to offer. That magic feeling of a fish at the end of your line on a massive body of water is a feeling that is truly something special. We must preserve these resources for generations to come. Beyond the fact of future generations enjoying the Earth’s natural resources, I imagine the animals certainly appreciate it too. I can’t even fathom what it would be like to have a role reversal with fish driving boats at ridiculous speeds across the roofs of our houses and dropping the hottest lure on the market down our chimneys. I doubt we would like that situation very much, but I know it would sure be better than all of that plus having them throw garbage all around us. I know that seems so farfetched, and trust me this isn’t some tree-hugging, bulldozer block attempt. This is simply a call to action for true sportsmen. The ones who truly appreciate the resources around us are the ones who accept the challenge to preserve the benefits of nature around us. The fish in the waterways, the land animals in our forests, and the birds in the sky are all among some of God’s greatest gifts to us on this Earth. Until next time, tight lines and God Bless!
September 28, 2019 Lake Lanier www.northgeorgiacrappieanglers.com
Fishin’ With Military Hero’s 2nd Annual Fall Fishing Tournament This event honors all of our military veteran men & women, who have experienced physical or emotional trauma and is free of charge to all veteran participants. Registering the first 100 - Fish with a NGCA club member - We can accommodate wheel chairs
Weigh In & Lunch - 1:00 PM, Bolding Mill Park No Fishing License Required - Awards - Prizes
To Register, Receive Flyer, Call Josh Thornton At 770-530-6493 6 ATLANTA
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LOCAL RIVERS & FLY FISHING THE CASTING CORNER-
HOW MANY FALSE CASTS?
Contributed By: Rene J. Hesse Certified Casting InstructorFederation of Fly Fishers & Atlanta Fly Fishing and Camping Meetup Organizer
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You know the visual image of fly casting. The line is flowing back and forth with beautiful loops in a cadence that flows like a willow in a breeze. It is an image that draws people into the sport, and I really enjoy watching it applied correctly. Needless false casting can create all kinds of issues. What is the right amount of false casts? It depends. The short answer to the question would be the minimum necessary to make the cast work. So, if you can make one back cast and then send the fly to the target, that in my mind is the best you could do. But that’s not always easy. A fixed distance cast with a generally short retrieve over and over lends itself to that type cast, as in working a bank with a bass bug every few feet or working a trout run over and over. However, if you are changing distances or changing directions, generally you will need to make a few false casts to pull it off.
The general thought process is that three false casts will be enough to cover a change of distance, zeroing in on a target, changing direction or drying a fly. The pick up and back cast starts the series. Slipping line for a change of distance cast is done on the false casts. Sizing up the target and loop for the target shot is done while false casting. Repositioning the rod on the back cast for the change of direction happens when we false cast. The delivery cast should be set up by the pickup and the first false cast. The importance of the false casts can’t be stressed enough, so just picking up the line and waving it in the air without specific thought behind them is not a good idea. The more the line is waving in the air, the more things can go wrong. So giving some thought to the next sequence of casts before you start will really help your casting.
Competitively priced full-day fishing charters for all levels of experience, equipment, bait, tackle and fish cleaning provided. Fish from the most comfortable, safe and stable boat on the lake.
Little River Guide Service is a three boat operation targeting stripers and hybrid bass on Clarks Hill Lake. Capt Tony Shepherd and Capt Rocky Fulmer.
(706) 210- 3474
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST WEST POINT
NORTH GEORGIA LAKE TROUT Tim Dangar Since trout season is year round in Georgia now, it makes planning a fishing trip easier and it spreads the crowd out from what once was an opening day frenzy. As soon as deer season is over, we start checking our Rooster Tail supply, putting new line on reels, make sure kayaks are plugged, and away we go. One very important thing about fishing North Georgia lakes for trout is water temperature. For February through April, the lakes will not vary in temperature that much. For that reason, I fish a lot those three months. The fish are all over the lake, sometimes no deeper that three to four feet. As temps heat up in May and June, they will seek out the colder parts of the lake and congregate. Two places that will pay off when lakes heat up is the deeper water, usually found close to the dam and if the lake has good size streams feeding it, look for the deeper runs formed by the stream coming into the lake. If the lake has more than one stream feeding it, try to visualize where those streams come together in the lake, and hang on if you find it. I wish I could tell you why some color Rooster Tails work better than others, but I can’t. What I have noticed is red and white body with silver blade and white skirt work better in the colder months. As water heats up and fish are hanging together for the most part, the preferred color can change from day to day. That’s why I tell my wife it’s necessary to have a lot of colors to choose from. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
Using spinners make catch and release easy. I like to not touch the fish if possible. Just hold the line with one hand and clamp the hook with needle nose pliers and flip the fish off. We release most of the fish we catch. As far as the lakes we fish, get a good National Forest map, and it will not take you long to find them in North Georgia. My twin grandsons and I had a great day on June 5th with each of us catching a limit of eight. We were planning a fish fry, so we decided that day to bring twenty four trout home. We probably caught close to forty that day, but only kept legal limits. That day, the fish were in the upper end of the lake feeding where the stream came in. Most of the lakes in the National Forest offer camping year round and the State Parks with lakes offer cabins. I would encourage everyone to try and leave the lakes better than when you found them. Y’all know what I mean. God Bless and keep on fishing.
As far as the lakes we fish, get a good National Forest map, and it will not take you long to find them in North Georgia.
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Bass: Fair - Some largemouth are being caught on deeper brush piles, ledges and road beds as the water continues to warm. Try big deep diving crankbaits or Texas rigged Ol Monster worms. Best fishing is around brush piles in these areas, if you can find them. Water generation always improves this bite. Downsize baits in these same areas and improve your chances for spotted bass. With the unusually high water from this summer’s rains, some fish choose to remain shallow. Topwater baits such as Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and Spro Poppin frogs can still be effective for shallow fish, especially around grass and weed beds. Try targeting areas north of the 219 bridge in the Chattahoochee. Also, have a jig handy to pitch into wood cover in these same areas. Slower than normal, but still fairly consistent, spotted bass are still your best bet. Spots are being caught by casting Spot Remover heads loaded with shaky tail worms or just dragging a Carolina-rigged Zoom finesse worm or mini lizard around sloping gravel banks and shoal markers. Also try a small Texas rigged worm or a pig-n-jig around blow down trees. Try fishing
around the bridges and bridge pilings with small crankbaits and shaky head rigs, especially during periods of water generation. Hybrids and Stripers: Fair - Hybrids and stripes are still downlake in good numbers. Expect the down-line bite on live bait to continue to be at least OK throughout the summer. Fish have been scattered with the high water this year. Some fish are surface schooling on the main lake and can be caught on Roostertails, topwaters, pop-ncork rigs and Storm Swim Shad lures. Trolling with crankbaits is also fairly effective by covering more water and can help keep you cool on a hot day! Crappie: Fair – Spawned-out fish will typically move out and hold on deeper brush and structure or under docks. Try drop-shotting minnows or shooting docks near deep water for the best results. Night fishing is usually pretty good all summer. Try under the bridges with lights. Catfish: Good - Lots of channel cat are being caught by the few anglers that target them. Live and cut baits fished on bottom will catch cats all over the lake as long as fairly deep water is nearby. Jug fishing is also fun and productive. To target flatheads, go to a larger bait like a 4-5 inch bream or large shiner and fish the same areas. Be sure to increase the size of your rigs as fish in the 20 to 30-pound range are fairly common.
LAKE ALATOONA Forecast By: Capt. Robert Eidson www.firstbiteguideservice.com eidson6260@att.net Lineside fishing is great. The bite this week has been very good and the summer bite is in full swing. All the major creeks are producing good numbers of fish right now and the down-line bite is nothing short of incredible. These fish are scattered in the water column from anywhere from 13 feet to 40 feet deep. Shad, shiners and bream are all working. Make sure you catch your
bream on hook and line. Be sure to carry plenty of bait and change it often. Frisky bait is the key to putting more fish in the boat.
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NEW AND USED BOAT SALES PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT WARRANTY DEPARTMENT
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE NOTTELY STRIPER By: Shane Goebel Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service & The Angler Magazine Fishing Team www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021, 1-844-4-ANGLER
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Warm summer weather means schooling stripers, and schooling stripers means the opportunity to catch a boat load of nice fish. Lake Nottely is perfect for some late summer striper fishing in the North Georgia Mountains. This is a great time of year to catch tons of schooling fish, and there’s no better way to do that than by booking a trip with Blairsville, GA’s #1 striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Currently, Lake Nottely is at full pool. Water clarity is clear throughout the lake, and water temps are in the mid 80’s. Striper fishing was excellent in the month of July and August should be even better for us. Currently, we are catching some decent fish in good quantities, averaging 20-40 stripers a morning out here, with the majority of them being smaller schoolies in the 5-10 pound range. However, we are starting to see some larger stripers in the 15 to 20 pound range. The early morning and late afternoon bites are your best times to see action. Target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel.
The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 7 to the dam. Down lining live blueback herring over a 30 to 60 foot bottom has been the best technique, but we’ve actually had a pretty good topwater bite lately as well. Keep that Spook or Red Fin at the ready to snag those 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. August is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers and bass on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1 rated guide service put you on some of Lake Nottely’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Blairsville, GA’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Chatuge and Lake Blue Ridge. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, 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!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CLOUD FISHING Contributed By: Noey Vinyard
LAKE BURTON
THE SERPENT
“Hello Sir.” It was the only thing that I could think of to say to the large serpent that lay comfortably on an outdoor shelf not 5 feet from where I stood. I was moving horses to our topside pastures when I came upon him, and even though seven horses weighing a half a ton or more had just passed within feet of him, he had not moved, nor was he moving now as he returned my stare. It was one of those moments when I knew that I was seeing something special. My first clue to that was the fact that the very sight of him did not cause me to do a face plant into a tree in an effort to get away. In case you have not picked this up over the years of reading my column, I do not like snakes, and yes, they scare me. I think that black snakes startle me the most because not only do they stand their ground, they dare you to take more. In his role as protector, Festus has been tagged more than a few times by black snakes, and he doesn’t like them any more than I do. Despite my dislike of all snakes though, we always leave them and let them go their way. I knew in an instant that I wasn’t looking at just any black snake. Coil upon coil lay on that shelf with the tail hanging out of sight, and I knew that I was looking at 7 foot of snake, easily the largest I have ever seen in my half a century of roaming the woods. His head was almost the size of my closed fist, and he had lost an eye long ago in some battle or another and a 3-inch-wide scar remained in its place. His tongue flicked slowly as he regarded me, and he remained calm and un-agitated. Of course, this could be due to the fact that while I had not run off squealing like a little girl who
August 17TH
just had a frog put down her shirt, I most certainly was not getting any closer. In the past few months, Mother Nature had given me many things that I had not yet taken the time to think about, so I asked the snake that if I stayed a respectable distance away could I share a few things with him. I have always heard that silence is consent, so I leaned against the tree and got comfortable. As I talked, I studied the large snake. His color had grown gray with age and there were numerous scars on his long, muscular body. Down at the creek at the bottom of this holler he probably made a pretty fearsome sight when he was on the prowl. I wondered how many gunslingers like the copperhead had crossed his path and lost. His only movement as I talked was the slow, steady flicker of a tongue. I am not a snake person, so I could not even make an educated guess at how old the snake was, but I did know that he had been a resident here at 30 Coveys for a long time, certainly longer than I have. So I figured there wasn’t much I could do or say in the way of advice for Mr. Black Snake. He had been getting by on his own just fine. It was the time of year when you first start to notice that the shadows are getting longer, so I was going to have to bid Mr. Black Snake a farewell. He was still laying on that shelf when Festus and I turned our steps towards home. I like living a life where wonderful could be just one more step down the trail, and I like the fact that I can still be surprised. Perhaps what surprised me most about my encounter with Mr. Black Snake is that I truly hoped that I would see him again. See you next month.
Full Sturgeon Moon
Forecast by: Capt. Wes Carlton Georgia Lake Fishing 770-318-9777 www.georgialakefishing.com Water temperature: 84 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: clear. Bass: The bass bite has been good lately. We have been catching a few fish up shallow early morning on small Heddon Torpedoes. By mid-morning, the bite seems to be best on main lake points and brush piles. Drop-shots and shaky heads have been productive. Morning Dawn Robos and Zoom Icicle Flukes have been working best. Look for the drop-shot bite to continue for the next few weeks.
JACKSON LAKE By Brian Lee leebrian16 @yahoo.com Water temperature: 85-90 degrees, lake level: full, clarity: clear/ stained. The dog days are still upon us, which can make bass fishing very tough during the day. The early morning and late evening bite is your best bet if you don’t want to fish after dark. During the night can yield some great bites if you’d like to have the lake to yourself. Early morning running and gunning your favorite topwater bait is your best bet to catching quality fish. Don’t spend too much time on one spot unless the fish have given you a reason to spend a few more minutes there. Even after the sun is up, you can run the shade with topwater. Frogs, buzzbaits and Whopper Ploppers are just a few topwater baits that are producing fish. Once the sun is high and bright, follow the fish as they will make their way to deeper water, long points or flats close to deeper water or humps will be key areas. Brush piles in the 12-20 foot range will hold small schools of bass. Electronics are a must to have this time of year, and I advise learning the full potential of your units. This is
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Trout: The brown trout are hanging on a 25 to 30 foot rocky bottom. We have had the best success using small crappie minnows downlined sitting above these fish. We have also had some luck trolling crawler harnesses. Look for these fish to start biting throughout the day. Yellow Perch: The bite has started and we have been catching some nice perch mid-way back in the creeks. These fish love structure and normally stay close. Look for the yellow perch to be in big schools over a 20 foot bottom. Use colorful jig heads tipped with small to medium shiners. Good luck!
a good time of year to broaden your horizons as to learning how to fish offshore and reading/understanding your electronics. In the evenings, look for the bass to be in the same areas as the mornings, maybe just not as shallow as they were. If you choose to fish under the cover of darkness, please be aware of your surroundings when running your big motor. Every lake at some point seems to have that one individual who doesn’t have their navigation lights on or has had too much to drink, so please wear your PFD’s and kill switch hooked up. Night time can be fun fishing the few lighted boat docks on the lake or fishing the long points. The spotted bass are very aggressive and will eat anything. Remember to be patient as the fish are sluggish due to the extremely warm water temps. Till next month, be safe and remember to take a child so they too can enjoy the outdoors.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
LANIER IN AUGUST – YOU CAN STILL CATCH ’EM!
TO EACH THEIR OWN By Billy Darby
Contributed By: Jim “Jimbo” Mathley www.jimboonlanier.com
Some people can have anything they want or need, but the rest of us must use some financial prudence in our financial decisions, especially when it comes to selecting priorities on what our expendable monetary recourses will be buying. In my opinion, some anglers get the cart way ahead of the horse by purchasing a fancy hurryup boat with a varoom engine and then skimp on the electronics. I would be just 180 degrees backwards and use all my leftover money to purchase the newest state of the art Humminbirds available along with a new Minn-Kota with dream about features, then scavenge a very second hand but dependable floater of some description to mount my new stuff on. To me, the equation would be like buying a custom-made five thousand dollar rifle and then mounting a forty dollar scope on it to head out to Africa to hunt Cape buffalo. With a dependable boat, motor and trailer, an angler can reach the desired location, whether it be lake, river, ocean, or tournament headquarters. Then is when your quest for success becomes a reality. In my opinion, which encapsulates sixty years of dedicated fishing, including thirty five years of guiding experience on Lake Eufaula, there is
While the fishing generally gets tougher in August on Lake Lanier, there are ways to ensure continued success. In today’s installment, we will review the locations, techniques, and lures to utilize to keep you catching fish during the heat of the summer. Location: Understand that the primary concern of both game fish and baitfish are oxygen and food source, in that order. The fishing traditionally changes in August because the baitfish, particularly the blue back herring, change in response to the conditions. They often go deeper in search of better oxygen content in the water. In August, I normally like to target sharp breaks and deeper water on main lake features such as ledges or sharper breaks on the ends of points and sides of humps and islands. Often in August we would work depths of 25-45 feet of water, anticipating the thermocline to establish in the 25-30-foot range, historically speaking. Even though there are fish in the deeper zones, there are also still fish located shallow all around the lake. These shallower locations are great areas to target during the early morning timeframe. Later in the day, the “normal” areas with brush are still holding fish, and there are fish starting to move deeper and relate to the timber. When fishing deeper, target timber edges in 35-45 feet of water near the same key features upon which you find the brush. If one type of area is not producing, don’t hesitate to try another location or another depth. Running and gunning several different types of places can be the key to success during this time of year. Lures and Presentation: Now, let’s examine some techniques that can be used to catch fish in August: 1. Topwater and Swimbaits The topwater bite over the brush can be good still in August, but it can be nonexistent if the weather is extremely hot consistently. The fish will let you know if the topwater bite
is working. Try using some smaller topwater baits, like the Super Spook Jr., which mimics the smaller baitfish the spots are often chasing during the summer months. The swimbait adds another dimension to your game. Work swimbaits fast on the surface or let them sink and work them directly over the brush. Experiment with both the mechanical and soft models at different depths and retrieve speeds to determine which is working best on any given day. 2. SuperSpin – This is an excellent producer on Lanier. Fish the bait over and around brush and deeper cover. Vary your retrieve speed, method, depth, and trailer type until you hit on the right combination for that day. Generally, a Super Fluke Jr. is a good bet for a trailer. 3. Drop-Shot – This is a great tool when the fishing gets tough. This presentation can be made vertically into cover or it can be cast toward the feature and slowly retrieved. I prefer the Lanier Baits Fruity Worms for the drop-shot. Light line is a must to provide a more natural presentation. I prefer 6 to 8-pound test Seaguar Fluorocarbon in most situations. I also like to experiment with leader length. I will sometimes use up to a 5-foot tag end on my drop-shot depending on the position of the fish and the feature I am targeting. 4. Jig – The jig is a bait that is apt to work through the entire summer. I prefer Chattahoochee Jigs, often in a brown and orange combo or in a PB&J color pattern. Work jigs on points and humps, around brush, as well as steep rock. If the jig is not working, don’t forget to try a Picasso Shake Down head tipped with a finesse or trick worm. I still have some dates available in August, so call me to enjoy some great August fishing. For more information or to book your trip, contact Jimbo on Lanier! 770-542-7764. Jimbo’s website: www.jimboonlanier.com.
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not now or in all of my fishing years a substitute for the latest technology in electronics, from my first flasher in 1971 to my latest, newest, best one I can afford. My boat is a 2000 519 Ranger Comanche that still floats just fine and is pushed by a 2003 Honda that still purrs like kitten with less than 10,000 hours on it. All of my tackle is old but still works. If I had to make different financial arrangements and be reduced to a 16’ flat bottomed aluminum boat, I would still keep my priceless electronics and continue to be confident in my ability to find and identify in infinite detail exactly what I am searching for, whether it is bass, crappie, hybrids or bream beds. Fishing is not an exact science but finding them is!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LANIER STRIPERS Forecast by: Clay Cunningham www.catchingnotfishing.com 770-630-2673 Striper fishing on Lake Lanier continues to be the best we have seen in several years. Water temperature is in the high eighties as expected for this time of year, and the south end is clear as usual. All the better size stripers are on the south end looking for colder, deeper water. The colder water holds more oxygen. Look for the stripers to continue to be in the deep timber on the south end of the lake. In August, look for the downline bite to continue to be strong. Stay with the Shakespeare striper rods paired with a Penn Fathom Linecounter reel spooled with 15-pound Trilene Big Game line, the Captain Mack swivel sinker, a 6 foot section of Trilene 100 percent flourocarbon and a 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook. Add a live herring to the hook, and you are good to go. It
is a very simple and effective setup that can be used year round on Lanier. The trolling bite should also become stronger in August. Leadcore is the best bet for trolling on Lanier. Talk to your local tackle shop like Hammonds Fishing or Oakwood Bait and Tackle for the specifics on leadcore. A great setup is the Penn Fathom paired with a Shakespeare Tiger rod. Once you are set up, tie up one rod with a Ben Parker spoon and one with a 1 to 2 ounce white Spro Prime bucktail. Tip the Spro bucktail with a 6 inch Capt. Mack chartreuse trailer. Let the first couple bites tell you which one is hot. It can vary from day to day. Also keep white Capt. Mack trailers, pink trailers, and all size bucktails on hand. All types of variables will dictate which is best that day. Some of these variables include barometer, wind, cloud cover and water temperature. Overall, look for August fishing to be as hot as the weather.
Jack Serafin aboard Catching Not Fishing. One last note, be sure to get the fish back in the water as soon as possible. Even a few extra seconds out of the
water can be detrimental during the summer. Try to limit pictures. See you on the water.
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www.poundersseafoodmarket.com By Paula Deen Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 10 Ingredients for grilling olive oil Four 6 to 8 oz each skin-on salmon fillets salt ground black pepper 1/4 cup maple syrup 4 tablespoons melted butter 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Directions Grease the grill grate by brushing with oil. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Generously sprinkle the salmon all over with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the syrup, butter, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon black pepper to make the glaze. Brush the salmon tops generously with the glaze and place skin-side down on the grill and cook, about 4 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook until they reach the doneness you like, about 5 minutes for medium-rare. Carefully remove the fish from the grill and place skin-down on a pretty serving platter.
Provided By: David Hare Alex City Guide Service 256-401-3089 June and July daytime trips were record-setting for us this year. The quality and the quantity of these early morning trips in most part couldn’t have been better. August brings on much hotter temperatures, but the good part is that this sure doesn’t stop great fishing here on Lake Martin. In fact, looking back on August 2018 catches, it was a very successful month. Whether we were trolling or live bait fishing, our trips were productive. I predict that 2019 August fishing will be as good as or better than the 2018 trips, and the quality (size) of the catches will be better. We will be fishing two tech-
niques. One, as always, will be live baiting, and the other will be running our Scotty Electric downriggers (best we have ever had) on a daily basis. If you’re fishing on your own boat, then concentrate on looking for stripers in deep water and finding them suspended anywhere from 40-60 feet deep. My experience is, if they are suspended, they are much easier to catch. Things not to forget to have with you on any summer trip is plenty of ice for both you and the fish, bottled water, Gatorade and a fully charged cell phone. Do not get yourself overheated and put yourself in a dangerously awkward position. If you’d like to try your luck at some great August fishing, give me a call or you can text me at 256401-3089. Tight Lines.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST
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LAKE CHATUGE HYBRIDS AND SPOTTED BASS Report By: Darren Hughes Owner: Hughes General Store & Bait Shop The Angler Magazine Fishing Team & Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service www.bigolfish.com 828-361-2021 This summer has been off the charts for us out here on Lake Chatuge! We’ve had one of the most productive and exciting hybrid bites in years, and now that August is here, it should get even better. So, if catching an insane amount of hybrids is on your bucket list, give us a call. Currently, Lake Chatuge is at full pool. Water temps are in the mid 80’s, and water clarity is clear throughout the lake. Hybrid fishing has been phenomenal lately. Late summer patterns are in full swing. The fish are schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities (40 to 60 a morning.) Most of our hybrids are averaging 6-10 pounds. These are some of Lake Chatuge’s hardest-fighting fish, and we’re having a blast wearing them out. The early morning and mid-afternoon bite has been prime. Look for schools of
fish along the main channel and off points. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. Topwater bite has slowed down considerably but you can still find a few busting. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, Spook, or Red Fin at the ready. Look for this same pattern to continue for the next month or so until water temps begin to fall. August fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. You won’t regret booking a trip with Blairsville GA’s #1 guide service, Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. It’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. So book your hybrid and striper fishing trips now with Big Ol’ Fish and come get your fish on!
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LEDGE FISHING Contributed By: Jay Striker www.jaystriker.com Fishing ledges in the summer months can provide some excellent fishing if you understand three things: how to fish ledges, how to set up on them and what baits to throw. Back in 2011, one of my bass club members asked me how he should fish ledges and what part should I fish. What baits should you throw? I decided to take him to the lake and show him the basics of ledge fishing. What is a ledge and how to fish them? A ledge is a permanent piece of structure in a body of water that is usually marked by buoys on both sides of a channel that can run the length of the lake. On the edge of the channel you will find shallow water that will help you easily identify where the drop of the flat will be into deeper water channel (ledge). When I set up on the ledge, I like to fish it from all different angles, be it deep to shallow, from shallow to deep or just throwing my bait parallel to the ledge. What I’m looking for is something irregular on the ledge to concentrate on as the structure will be key to finding bass. You have to have plenty of time as it may take some to find that
one spot that looks good enough to warrant a cast to. Throwing the right baits on the ledges is key also. The ledge bite on a few of the lakes in the South can start any time after fish have spawned. One of the keys to finding a lot of bass is to locate the baitfish. I like to throw deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs, swim jigs, and big football head jigs. When throwing these baits, I will usually have the deep diving crankbait tied on 12-pound test Suffix Tritium line with a Denali 7 foot cranking rod and allow my bait to run to the max depth on a 6:8:1 gear ratio reel. On my swimbait and jig I will have on 20-pound test line with a little bit stiffer rod which gives me more confidence and control. Ledge fishing can be a very productive pattern here this summer as the fish have moved back to deeper water. So get to the lake early and put some of the baits as described in your hand and hold on. Till next time, fish some ledges and catch some big fish. Good luck and please continue to follow me on social media on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and www.jaystriker.com.
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A ledge is a permanent piece of structure in a body of water that is usually marked by buoys on both sides of a channel that can run the length of the lake.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST SARDINES TO SAILFISH
SEMINOLE
By Gary Turner
Forecast By: by Paul Tyre paultyrefishing@yahoo.com At the time of this writing and with the recent weather and water conditions, Lake Seminole is at full pool. The rainy and cloudy conditions have dropped the water temperature down several degrees which has the big bass looking up and feeding on the surface! On recent trips we have had some explosive strikes on a variety of topwater lures from buzzbaits to frogs. The grass on Lake Seminole is healthy and is growing fast in areas that were devastated from hurricane Michael this past October. As we move into August, a variety of lures should continue to produce. A buzzbait is a great topwater lure to be efficient in covering water to find active areas along the grass lines. One of my favorites is a Strike King Pro model buzzbait in white 3/8 ounce. This lure has an extremely sharp hook and a unique sound that drives the bass crazy! A hollow belly frog is a bait that has been producing for our customers all summer! There are a lot of hollow belly frogs on the market today and one of my favorites is a Spro Bronzeye 65 for its durability, action and the 2x strong Gamakatsu EWG Double Frog Hook that can stand up to a big rod and heavy braided line which you need to get big bass out of the grass on Lake Seminole! My choice for a super line is Cortland Master Braid in 65-pound test. I have found
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that Cortland Master Braid stays true maintaining its strength, low stretch and color in cast after cast and day after day on the water. The bream fishing has been great this summer on Lake Seminole with some bream still bedding and being caught on red wigglers and pitching crickets along the grass lines on the Flint and Chattahoochee River arms of the lake. We have seen limits crossing the docks at Mac’s Point Lodge and Marina, formerly known as Wingate’s Lunker Lodge. For a Lake Seminole fishing adventure, give us a call at 850-2647534 or email us paultyrefishing@ yahoo.com. Follow us on Instagram @lakeseminolefishingadventures and Facebook @paultyrefishing.
The rod tip twitched twice. Joe looked at me since it was my turn, but he was standing closer to that rod so I told him to get it. Just as I said it, the rod slammed down fast. Joe lifted the rod, and as he tightened the line, a giant sailfish went airborne not 20 yards behind the boat. We had just set that freeline out with a large sardine on a Penn Slammer 8500 spinning reel with a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. Who knew there was a giant sailfish following our boat in 100 feet of water? For what seemed like forever, that fish ran and we followed with the boat, gaining back line and then lost line again. Several times I was sure that he had lost it when it flew out of the water, but the 4/0 circle hook was holding on to that fish so far. The big fish came close to the boat several times only to burn off the line and run again, coming down to the last bit of line on the reel several times. I was staying behind the console in case the fish decided to become airborne over the boat because I’ve seen the videos on YouTube. Sailfish are unpredictable. Andy and Stacy were standing on the fish locker, and at one point the sailfish came up out of the water and tail walked right down the side of the boat coming about a foot from Andy’s face. They got that on video! After a couple more passes, Jimmy got one hand on the leader for just a second and then the fish was gone again with the drag screaming. Two more runs and the mighty fish was giving in a little. As Joe steered him past the boat, Jimmy grabbed him and pulled him into the boat. Joe was exhausted and we were too. We quickly got behind the fish and took a couple of quick pics and back in the water he went. In the picture, Joe is the guy exhausted sitting down on the cooler in the middle. That was one exciting fight with that
sailfish! It was a little over 8 feet long and somewhere around 85-90 pounds. In our haste to get it back in the water, we didn’t take time for real measurements. This is how it all started. I had a business trip coming up to go to Miami, FL, and so I called my friend Jimmy Dean in West Palm to see if I could go fishing with him for a day or two. Jimmy said he had one other friend that wanted to go with us, so I could bring up to five friends. Soon there were airplane tickets, hotels and rental cars booked. Jeremy and Andy Aaron, Joe Melton, and Stacy Fleming could hardly wait to get down there and fish. I drove down and worked Monday, and then waited on them to fly in. Tuesday morning we met up with Jimmy and did some trolling and bottom fishing and caught several species. We ate dinner at U Tiki. The hogfish is recommended, and we called it a day. The second day was a little overcast, and as soon as we put out baits, we were catching fish. We hadn’t been fishing long when Joe got on the sailfish. We had an amazing trip and can’t wait to go back. Jimmy is getting his Captains license soon for guiding and should have his license by the time this article comes out. You can reach him at 706-2963553. I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on, but if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you! You can reach me at gary@ purgeright.com.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LEARNING ESSENTIAL FISHING KNOTS Dr. Andrew Cox Tying knots is an essential skill in fishing. For almost every aspect of this sport, knots are used to attach lures and other terminal tackle, make live bait rigs, attach lines to fishing reels, and joining lines together. If you consider the knots used in boat handling, the angler’s repertoire of essential knots is quite extensive. Though the above sounds like remembering and mastering a large array of knots is required, the angler can reduce required knots used over the course of the fishing day or season to just a few. Most knots can serve multiple purposes. I have favorite knots that are used extensively within my fishing. For attaching lures and terminal tackle, I like the following knots: • Improved Clinch knot; an extensively used knot within the fishing world.
• Palomar knot; my preferred knot over the Improved Clinch knot. It is easy to tie with practice and can be used to attach lures and terminal tackle to braided line • Rapala knot; can attach lures with a loop making them swivel better through the water. I use mostly braided fishing line but like to attach monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders of various lengths to the braid. The UniKnot is an easy knot to join various lines, even those that have different diameters. The Arbor knot is easy to tie for attaching lines to reel spools. It does not leave a bulky knot that can interfere with casting under the line as it is reeled onto the reel. With disuse, I experience difficulty remembering the knot tying steps. Accordingly, I made copies of pictures for the tying steps for the
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Internet based source for details on tying knots. This also has detailed drawings and pictures for a wide range of knots to include those used in fishing. Do not forget about YouTube videos. There are multiple videos providing detailed tying instructions along with the uses for various angling knots. Various angling magazines will also provide descriptions for tying knots and their applications. I have found such in BassResource.com that includes instructions for essential knots. Take time to learn knots and their applications in various fishing techniques. You certainly do not want to lose the fish of a lifetime due to poorly tied knots. Author’s Note: Dr. Andrew Cox is a contributing writer to outdoor publications and newspapers. He is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writer’s Association. He has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as Professor Emeritus at Troy University, Phenix City, Alabama. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.
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above knots, had them laminated between plastic waterproof covers, and keep these laminated cards in my fishing boats. I have a step by step guide to tying a desired knot with me at all times. Some resources providing details for tying useful fishing knots are as follows: McNally, Bob. The Complete Book of Fisherman’s Knots, Fishing Rigs, and How to Use Them. This book has detailed diagrams with steps for tying each knot. This is the source for my laminated plastic cards with step by step tying instructions for selected knots. Budworth, Geoffrey. The Complete Book of Fishing Knots. This book has detailed tying instructions with pictures detailing tying instructions for a wide range of fishing knots. Wilson, Geoff. The Complete Book of Fishing Knots and Rigs. Revised edition. Another book with tying instructions with illustrations. www.animatedknots.com A good Internet based source for details on tying knots. This website has videos with step by step tying instructions. www.netknots.com. Also an
AUGUST 2019
ATLANTA 23
7/15/19 5:56 PM
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CARTERS LAKE Forecast By: Eric Crowley Lake & Stream Guide Service (706) 669-4973
lakeandstreamguideservice@gmail.com
Water temperature: 88 degrees, lake level: full +/- 3 feet, clarity 8 feet. Man it’s hot. The stripers have moved down below the 60 and 70 foot mark and are in relatively small schools off main lake points and humps as well as in the river channel. Live bait, basically hitting them in the face, will get you a bite. Larger baits that are super fresh and frisky are key to drawing the bite. We are still catching bait with the Hydro Glow Lights in 70 to 100 feet of water. The hybrids have been in almost the same areas as their bigger striped cousins but in 45 to 55 feet of water usually between the deep fish and the shoreline. Again, large baits, either alewives or threads, are getting the attention of the bigger fish in the school. We are also having good luck
with the big Parker spoons and Capt. Mack’s u-rigs and jigs on both the striped species. If you’re looking for green fish, deep is still the answer. Spots are holding in 50, 60, even 80 feet of water. Look for big schools of bait in those depths and there are spots around it, I promise. They like the areas near timber and the bends in the river where the bait is congregated late in the summer. Smaller fish are usually a little shallower and can be seen busting the schools of bait, but the bigger fish are definitely going to be below them. Spoons, jigs, drop-shots, that big Parker spoon and live bait will all get bit when the bite turns on. The night bite is on and it’s one of our favorite bites of the year. It’s also the best time to target walleye. From now until October, the fish will really feed at night more so than in the daytime. If you have never fished at night on Carters, it can be a blast. Hope everyone has a great month on the water.
LAKE CHATUGE Eric Welch Welch’s Guide Service www.welchsguideservice.com 706-455-2323
15544 Hwy, 515, Ellijay
24 ATLANTA
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Water temperature: 84-87 degrees, lake level: 1 foot above full, clarity: clear. Bass: The bite has been getting a little tough. We’ve not seen much rain the past month and our water temps have jumped up to 84 starting out in the mornings and by mid-day they are at 87 degrees. The fish are really scattered, due to us not having any cool nights to cool the water down so the baitfish have not been schooling up and feeding at night. It’s been so hot that the baitfish are scattered just like the bass. Not much of a topwater bite is happening. I’m still keeping a Strike King Sexy Dawg and a Whopper Plopper tied on for any breaking fish I find. Since the water has been so warm, I’m just starting out of the gates fishing deep brush, long points and humps. The key baits I’ve been throwing is a shaky head green pumpkin and drop-shotting a 6.5” Roboworm
and a Z-Man Ned rig. I’m also keeping my eye on my electronics, and when marking fish, drop the dropshot on their heads. With the water already this warm, if you’re looking at getting extra bites, you may consider scaling down on your line size. On my drop-shot rods, I’m using 12-pound Sunline braid with a 5-pound Gamma Touch fluorocarbon leader, and on the Shaky head I’m using Gamma Touch 7-pound fluorocarbon. If I’m throwing a jig, it’s on 8-pound Gamma Edge line. The best advice I give all my clients is when the water temp gets this warm, you should fish just like in the winter when the water is cold. Fish slow, then slow it down again. These fish are deep and are hanging at water levels where it’s easy for them to breathe. They are not in the chasing mood. Fish main body points, humps and laydowns, then when the sun gets up, target creeks as far back as you can get. We guide on 8 different lakes, so if you’re looking for some great fishing, give Welch’s Guide Service a call. We’re your #1 guide service, and we’ve been doing this since 2001. Good luck.”.
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LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST LAKE LANIER STRIPERS Forecast By: Steve Scott http://TeamLanier.wordpress.com/menu August average water temperatures this year will remain in the high eighties, but the water quality will not be able to support the baitfish at any depth. This means that your best bet is to switch to artificial baits like lead core trolling, umbrella rig trolling and a variety of jigging spoons like the 8” Ben Parker spoon, the 7/8 ounce War Eagle spoon in either silver or white, or the ¾ ounce Super Shad spoon. Early in the day, you should fish the creeks, lake coves and bays targeting 75 to 90 foot bottoms. Mid-morning, you should fish the deeper water in the creek channel. Try lead core trolling 8 to 9 colors over a 100’ bottom near the trees using a 2 ounce white chartreuse bucktail jig and a 5” Lime Ice paddletail swimbait. If you are umbrella rig trolling, be sure to use all the same size jigs with or without curly tail trailers to be able to determine what depth you are pulling. This way you won’t get into trouble getting hung in a tree.
Be sure to bring the umbrella rig retriever and never turn the boat to go back to get it. Always back the boat up. This way it won’t wrap around more limbs in the tree. Targets to hit are points and humps that go from shallow to deep dropoffs early in the morning. Some places to try are Chestatee Bay from 2SH to LM29, Two Mile Creek from the No Ski buoy to the humps, Six Mile Creek SM1-SM6, the mouths of Shoal, Baldridge, Young Deer Creeks, the furthest point in the river channel in Flowery Branch to LM18 and the Saddle Dike in Shoal Creek. The trolling bite should be better in the afternoon. Tip of the month: Never leave fish to find fish. If you get on fish, remember to use the Spot Lock feature or Anchor Lock on your trolling motor. And another tip: always check out what’s at the ramp where you are launching. See more details at TeamLanier.com. Steve Scott 404-2733481
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LAKE EUFAULA By Capt Sam Williams hawk184@earthlink.net 334-687-6266 Water temperature: upper 80’s, lake level: 189.81 msl, clarity: clear to light stain. The afternoon rains have kept the water a few degrees cooler. The early morning topwater bite near cover is holding true. Frogs and blade baits in tight are getting action. The deep cover is good on Carolina rigs. Big plastics are a good bet. Punching tight grass and reeds with creature baits is also working. Work an area slowly and thoroughly as bass are holding tight in the cover and need to be finessed. This heat has them lethargic, and they are feeding mostly at night when it cools off. Slow presentations are the answer for now. Crappie are still holding on deep brush piles. Minnow tipped jigs will catch a mess. Catfish are always dependable with cut bait on jugs. River cats are the best you will find to eat. Keep a close eye on the afternoon
storms. The lightning will come up on you fast. Plan to fish close to the ramp you launch from on your afternoon trips. Don’t get caught in a dangerous situation. Drink plenty of water and keep the sunscreen with you. Please visit our foundation website www.alabamachildrensclassic.org and find the ways you can support our efforts. There are opportunities to win a Henry Golden Boy rifle and a Power Pole. Register for our newsletter while you are there. God Bless and good fishing.
Blake Milligan, a new member of the Auburn Bass Team, fishing Lake Eufaula with Capt Sam Williams. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
LOC_AUG_ATL_2019.indd 25
AUGUST 2019
ATLANTA 25
7/15/19 5:56 PM
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST BEAT THE HEAT IN Capt. Bill Wheeler (706) 914-9859 SUMMER (706) 444-6365 Capt. Bill Wheeler (706) 914-9859 • (706) 444-6365 By Capt. Cefus McRae
THE DOG DAYS OF
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This summer has definitely been a hot one, and the dog days of summer are just beginning. By mid-morning, temperatures are hitting the 90 degree mark and higher. The high humidity just exacerbates things to the point that you’re uncomfortable fishing in a sweat-soaked shirt and wondering if you would have been better off staying cool in your favorite recliner watching Nuts & Bolts of Fishing episodes on TV. When the air temps rise and we have several days of sunny skies, the surface water temperature rises Lake Oconee for only as well. Just like us humans, fish don’t particularly care for the heat, especially when the water temperatures rise to near 90 degrees. Game fish will go deeper to find the comfort of cooler water, and that’s where you need to be fishing. You can use jigs, weighted plastics or downline live baits to target those fish hanging lower in the water column, and you’ll most likely catch fish. But that doesn’t help the fact that you’re still, essentially, standing in the sun and dripping with perspiration. Here’s a potential solution that works for me and countless other anglers who have figured out how to alleviate some of the stagnant heat of the summer. Try trolling. Whether you’re fishing for bass gps & navigation and stripers or fishing the along the coast for flounder or mackerel, audio system design trolling can be an extremely prosatellite & tv systems ductive tactic. Those deep diving crankbaits
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AUGUST 2019
LOC_AUG_ATL_2019.indd 26
can be trolled just as easily as they can be cast and retrieved. Simply troll over those same open lake humps and points where you would normally stop and cast toward. Flukes and swimbaits can also be trolled deep with the addition of a trolling weight or large egg sinker rigged a few feet in front of the lure. Umbrella rigs and casting umbrellas like the Project X X-Rig are super effective ways to catch deep-dwelling fish. You can vary the depth of the rig by varying the distance behind the boat and with boat speed. If you’re fishing nearshore in the salt, a diving plug like the Mann’s Stretch 15 or Stretch 30 will dig deep and usually catches larger fish than smaller live baits like pogies or pinfish. Trolled spoons like Clark Spoons and Drones come in a variety of sizes that will draw amazing strikes from Spanish mackerel, kingfish, bonita, dolphin and more. Match your spoon size to the prevalent bait in the area. To get them deeper, use a Scotty High Performance Downrigger, and with the built-in digital depth counter, you can put your lures exactly in the strike zone. Trolling has a number of benefits. First and foremost, you can cover lots more water compared to drifting or stealth-trolling with an electric trolling motor. You’ll be pulling baits from 2 ½ mph, up to 7 mph. Secondly, when you get a strike, it’s usually a solid hook-up, because the boat is helping to set the hook. And finally, you’re putting a breeze across your face. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how wonderful the breeze created can feel, even trolling at 2 or 3 mph. No drippy brow, and no soaked shirt. So leave your bowmounted trolling motor stowed and crank the big motor to find fish in the dog days of summer. You’ll be in for a much cooler and potentially fishier day on the water.
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7/15/19 5:56 PM
LOCAL LAKES AND FORECAST CLARKS HILL STRIPED BASS, HYBRIDS AND CRAPPIE by Capt Tony Shepherd and Capt Rocky Fulmer Little River Guide Service lrguideservice@gmail.com (706) 210-3474 There is no doubt that if you are looking to catch a lot of fish to eat, then Clarks Hill Lake should be your destination. The hungry hybrids and striped bass are eating the bottom out of the boat this summer. We anticipate a terrific August and September bite on a variety of presentations. Live bait is always the ticket for creating havoc on a school of stripers, but trolling artificial baits can be productive as well. Captain Mack’s 4 arm 9 rig umbrella rigs will allow you to cover a lot of ground and may result in several fish hooked up at the same time. There is also an option of trolling bucktail jigs or swimbaits using leadcore line to acheive the desired depth (25-30ft) to trigger a strike from a nomad striper. If you want to experience the chaos of catching 50 to 60 fish in a short
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AUGUST 2019
ATLANTA 27
7/15/19 5:56 PM
Wall of Fame WINNER!
This feisty brown was caught by Jake Pugh at Noontootla Creek Farms fishing with Reel Em In Guide Service.
Young Caden Hodges with his first fish caught on a fly.
WIN A FREE ANGLER MAGAZINE CAP! A Angler Magazine cap will be given away each month for the best reader submitted photo!
Rachael Usry with a 21 inch bass caught from a kayak on a spinnerbait in Lake Horton in Fayetteville.
Len Slay with a 6 lb largemouth caught on a Fish Head Spin on Lake Blue Ridge.
Darryl Harris with a big Carters Lake striper caught with Capt Len Slay at Fish Slayer fishing guide.
Justin Martin with a big largemouth taken on topwater on Lake Lanier. Woodie Malone with the North Ga Crappie Anglers with a pair of big Lanier slabs.
LOC_AUG_ATL_2019.indd 28
7/15/19 5:56 PM
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DIVER STICKS WORLD RECORD SHEEPSHEAD
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n June 2, Quentin Turko, of Kitty Hawk, N.C., speared this 16.8-pound sheepshead while diving off the coast of the Outer Banks. It is a new International Underwater Spearfishing Association world record (IUSA). Turko officially weighed the fish at TW’s Bait and Tackle in Nags Head the day of capture and sent in the paperwork to IUSA, which officiates international world records for spearfishing. A month later, on July 2, he was officially awarded the new IUSA world record, beating a mark of 15 pounds, which had stood since 2011. By comparison, the IGFA all tackle world record for sheepshead weighed 21 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught on rod-and-reel out of New Orleans in 1982. The North Carolina state record for sheepshead caught on rod and reel is 19 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught by Chris Robbins off Oregon Inlet in 1999. To view more spearfishing records, go to www.iusarecords.com.
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Catch More HAVALON TALON Memories
Since it came out last summer, Havalon has been dedicated to making the Talon the most versatile, sharpest, easiest to clean and all-around best fishing knife ever
made. Havalon has continued to strengthen the Talon platform by developing 10 different blade types that all seamlessly interchange onto any Talon handle. The latest addition to that collection of blades is the new Talon Fish Serrated Combo pack. Each pack comes with 3 multi-function blades all created to make life easier after a day on the water. The pack includes a 5-inch fillet with back serration, a 7-inch fillet with back serration and a 5-inch scaler. Like all Talon blades, the three new blade types are made of stainless steel and can be easily resharpened after extensive use and can be easily swapped on to any Talon handle with the press of a button. The new Talon Fish Serrated Combo pack is available now at Havalon.com.
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, KINGFISH BACK TO THE BASICS Photos by Gene Dyer
By Gene Dyer
K
6 barrel swivel. I like to stay on the long side with my leader to be a bit stealthier. This step will help to avoid line twist, especially when using a spinning reel. Now it’s time to put together some rigs. You’ll need some #5 stainless steel, coffee-colored wire, and depending on the bait that is available, octopus hooks ranging from 3/0 to 7/0 and some treble hooks in size 4 and 6. If you are using smaller baits like pilchards, you’ll want to use a smaller main hook and smaller treble hook for your stinger. For bigger baits like goggle eyes, blue runners and speedos, step up your hook size for your main hook and stinger. Use a haywire twist to attach a 20inch length of wire to the main hook. Don’t over do it, as four to five twists on a 45-degree angle will suffice. Finish off your haywire with three to four straight wraps to secure the connection. Now it’s time to attach your stinger to the main hook. Again, depending on the size of your bait, attach 4 to 8 inches of wire to your stinger hook with a haywire twist and then attach the other end of your stinger rig to the eye of the main hook with another haywire twist. It’s extremely important to rig your stinger with enough slack so that your bait will swim naturally. Now you are ready to attach your rig to your leader. Use an albright knot to connect your rig to your leader. If you don’t know how to tie an albright knot, do an Internet search and plenty of pages and videos will pop up. You can fish this setup a couple of different ways. If you will be drifting, fish at least two rods. You’ll want one bait on the surface and one deeper, from 30 to 60 feet. Send your surface bait out first and allow it to swim away from the boat. You can attach a balloon to your main line to help keep track of where your bait is. Depending on conditions, add 4 to 8 ounces of lead to your deep rod. Slip your lead on above the swivel or attach it to the main line with a rubber band. If you utilize the rubber band method, it’s highly likely that you’ll lose your sinker on the strike. These rigs can also be used for slow trolling baits. Slow trolling can help determine what depth the fish are in. Start trolling in about 60 feet and head out to 200 feet and then back to 60 feet. Once you find the fish, set up your drift at the depth. When kingfish strike, they typically go on a long run away from the boat. Take your time and slowly work the fish toward the boat. Don’t be surprised if you get it close and it takes off on another short run after it sees the boat. Let the fish run and tire out. You should then be able to get your fish back to the boat for a gaff shot to the head.
ing mackerel are aggressive predators with extremely sharp teeth. To catch them with consistency, you must prepare accordingly. Though there are many ways to rig your rods for kingfish, I’d like to focus on a few techniques that have worked for me over the years. These techniques can be utilized on both spinning and conventional tackle. To start, you’re going to want a rod in the 7-foot range that has a sensitive tip, so you can feel the bite, but also some backbone to turn the head of a smoker that just peeled off 100 yards of line in 20 seconds. Sometimes, a big king will swim right back at the boat after a blistering run, and you will have a better chance of coming tight with a higher speed reel. You’ll want nothing less than a 5-to-1 gear ratio. When it comes to line choice, you can certainly spool your reels with braided line, but I prefer 20- to 30-pound monofilament, as I’m kind of old school and learned to fish for kingfish before braid became so popular. That said, you’ll want to connect your main line to Gene Dyer is co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s Fort Lau4 to 10 feet of 40- or 50-pound fluorocarbon leader with a size 4 or derdale edition. Contact him at gene@coastalanglermagazine.com. 14
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FLY FISHING 16
CHUMMING UP MAKO SHARKS One of the greatest adversaries on the fly rod in saltwater is the shortfin mako shark. The mako is considered by many as the fastest of all sharks, but what makes this great gamefish stand out is not only its fighting ability but its tendency to leap 20 feet in the air once hooked! The mako shark is one of saltwater fly-fishing’s outstanding but unappreciated gamefish. Found on both in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a smaller mako in the 20- to 30-pound range can be perfect for the beginning saltwater fly fisherman; of course, fishing for sharks is a tad different than fishing for bluegills in your Uncle Ned’s farm pond. First, you’ll need a boat, preferably a boat over 18 feet that can handle fairly choppy seas. Most center-consoles will do; however, a skiff with a beam of 8 feet or wider and a not-too-deep V will settle in the water better and reduce pitch and roll to a minimum, guaranteeing a much more stable casting platform. A chum line is the most effective way of attracting makos into casting distance of your boat. Chumming attracts the larger makos and will allow you to sight-cast to them. Into a chum bag, place the belly sections or fresh carcasses of tuna, bluefish or bonito. Then place the bag into a milk crate or five-gallon bucket, lower this mess by rope over the side and listen for the musical score from the movie “Jaws” to begin. You won’t have long to wait once that chum slick begins to spread. Ideally, you should use fresh carcasses, but store-bought chum will suffice. One bit of important advice: Less is more when chumming; you don’t
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need much; no matter how small the slick, a shark can smell it from miles away. Now that you have the boat and chum, the next thing to do is find a mako. On the West Coast we are fortunate to have the continental shelf only a few miles offshore. On the east coast, you’ll have to venture bit farther offshore. Keep your eyes peeled for working birds and surface-busting bait; constantly check the water temperature, looking for readings between 66 and 70 degrees. But, be patient when chumming. I will wait at least an hour and a half before moving to another spot, but there have been occasions when the sharks make their appearance within a few minutes. Once in the slick, makos will stick around for most of the fishing day. Drifting allows you to cover more water and, in the process, attract more makos to your boat. By choosing the right season, having the right chum and chumming the right areas, you can count on hooking and releasing a good number of makos during the course of a single day on the water.
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Steel Yourself
Limited Collector’s Edition
At $59, this blade of legendary Damascus steel is a real steal
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amascus steel is the stuff of legend. Using a technique first mastered in the ancient city, swords made from Damascus steel were known to slice gun barrels in half and separate single strands of hair in two, even if the hair simply floated down onto the blade. Now, you can be a part of the legend. The 7 ½" August Knife features a blade of modern Damascus steel, inspired by the production techniques and legends of history. Damascus steel blade knives can cost thousands. So, at $59, the price itself is also legendary.
What customers are saying about Stauer knives...
êêêêê “Very hefty, well-built knife and sheath. Extremely goodlooking and utilitarian.”
Once a lost art, we sought out a knifemaker who — R., Lacey, Washington has resurrected the craftsmanship of Damascus steel to create the August Knife. The elusive, ancient production technique mixes different steel alloys to form a super steel–– the outcome is a beautiful one-of-a-kind pattern of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. With the August Knife you’re getting the best blade money can buy. What you won’t get is the inflated price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an outstanding, collector’s-quality knife that won’t cut into your bank account. Limited availability. Only a handful of artisans make these blades, with each handcrafted knife taking months to perfect. We currently can get less than 1500 this year, so we can’t promise they’ll stick around for long–– especially at this price. Call today! Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe once you wrap your fingers around the August’s handle and experience the BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this beauty of its Damascus steel blade, you’ll be ready genuine leather sheath! to carve out your own legend.
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• 7 ½" overall length • Genuine Damascus steel blade • Stainless steel guard • Leather handle • Includes genuine leather sheath
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.™
Start the new boating season off right with the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard from Suzuki. Buy during our Spring Sales Event and get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Extended Protection at no extra charge.There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details.
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To learn more, visit www.suzukimarine.com. Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/19 and 06/30/19 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/19 and 06/30/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/19 and 06/30/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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