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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. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. 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 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. “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. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794

FLORIDA

BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com

Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com

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SOUTHEAST

ATLANTA/SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Jane A. Redden • (205) 725-9616 • jane@coastalanglermagazine.com

Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com CHARLOTTE : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com

Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA : Gregg Thompson • (864) 542-3112 • gregg@theanglermagazine.com WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • kenny@theanglermagazine.com

NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT / RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com

GULF COAST

GALVESTON/MATAGORDA/UPPER COAST : Chanci & David Mowry • (713) 446-7395 •

chancim@coastalanglermagazine.com • davidm@coastalanglermagazine.com MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com

Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com NEW ORLEANS : Dr. Dave Dunaway • (225) 400-8156 • nola@coastalanglermagazine.com

GREAT LAKES

UPSTATE NEW YORK : Frank Geremski • (518) 898-6484 • frankie@theanglermagazine.com WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com

INTERNATIONAL BAHAMAS : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com

flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.

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Best Of

By CAM Staff

Overall Best of Show - Bote Rover

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ach year, the fishing industry and anglers eagerly await ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, to see what new rods, reels, lures, apparel and gadgets companies will roll out in the show’s New Product Showcase. For the gear-heads out there, it never disappoints.

This year, 1,263 products, accessories and apparel were entered by 280 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 26 different categories. The products were viewed and voted on at ICAST in Orlando on July 13.

This year’s big winner was the Bote Rover, which took home Overall Best of Show. It also took top honors in the Boats and Watercraft category. It is a truly innovative little SUP/Skiff hybrid, powered by a small outboard to get you where you’re going.

Once you get there, it gives you all the skinny-water and stealth capabilities of an SUP. The following is a list of all the other cool and innovative products that earned top honors in their categories.

Boating Accessories: Yeti Coolers LoadOut Bucket With the LoadOut Bucket, Yeti has done for the lowly 5-gallon bucket what it did for the cooler. This injection-molded workhorse is Yeti tough and designed to exceed any need from the boat to the backyard.

Eyewear: Costa Sunrise Mirror Lens Sunrise Mirror lenses are designed for low-light conditions.

They let in 30 percent of the available light while maintaining 97 percent polarization for optimal performance and eye protection at dawn, dusk or on cloudy days.

Huk Attack

Footwear: Huk Performance Fishing Attack The Huk Attack is the most engineered, purpose-built fishing shoe ever created. It brings performance features for the serious fisherman with unique traction, bullet-proof durability and all-day comfort and support.

Giftware: The Catch and Release Print Shop Actual Size An alternative to taxidermy, these fish prints are created to the exact length of your catch and stamped with your name and information about your catch.

Lifestyle Apparel: Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs The Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs is the company’s camouflage style of its bombproof Pilot II. It is available in shoreline blue, silver mist and blackout options.

Technical Apparel: Frogg Toggs Sierran Transition Wader A zippered, flip-out chest pocket, large multi-function pocket and exterior fly storage area allow these waders to fill double-duty as a chest pack for storage of fly fishing gear.

Electronics: Humminbird Solix 15 Chirp Mega SI GPS Humminbird has achieved improved detail and target separation with Chirp Digital Sonar. With touch screen or keypad interface, the screen can be customized and viewed with up to four panels.

Fishing Accessory: Yeti Coolers Panga Duffel The Panga Duffel is a hardcore drybag designed to withstand brutal treatment and be completely watertight. It is fully submersible, and Yeti called it a gear fortress.

Fly Fishing Accessory: Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Wader Simms has built its most breathable and durable wader yet in its new G3 Guide, with four-layers of Gore-Tex fabric in the legs and three layers above the waist. They also feature a chest pocket, handwarmer pockets and built in utility tabs.

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Fishing Line: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 With four times the abrasion resistance of its original Fireline, Berkley’s thermally fused Ultra 8 comes in a range from 4 pound test up to 30 pound test.

FishSmart: Eagle Claw 2017 Flounder Sample Pack Eagle Claw jumps in for the conservation of summer flounder and catch and release with its 2017 Flouder Sample Pack.

Kids’ Tackle: 13 Fishing Ambition Combo Designed specifically with the smaller size of a child in mind, but packed with some features required by serious anglers, these salt and freshwater combos are perfect for the little angler who is really into fishing.

Tackle Management: Daiwa Tactical Backpack This tackle backpack is perfect for hiking into a stream, walking the banks of a pond, hauling down to the surf or for use as a quickgrab on your buddy’s boat. It is custom designed to hold all the gear an angler needs.

Saltwater Soft Lure: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet The Hollow Body Mullet is sure to find a place in nearshore and inshore boxes and be deadly for sea trout, redfish, snook, flounder and striped bass. It is an incredibly detailed and lifelike walking bait with great action.

Fly Reel: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel With its innovative Quick Release Spool, the Supreme QRS offers an interchangeable large-arbor cassette spool system. The polycarbonate cassettes are secured in the spool carrier by an advanced locking system enclosed by a full stainless steel and alloy construction.

Freshwater Reel: Shimano Curado K Baitcasting Reel As if the Curado weren’t legendary enough, Shimano has improved on its venerable reel with the latest in Shimano technology, such as smooth, efficient, durable MicroModule gearing. It is available gear ratios up to 8.5:1.

Saltwater Reel: Shimano Sustain Reels C4000/5000 Shimano’s Sustain Reels are a saltwater line of spinning reels that fits into the higher end of Shimano’s line. Featuring Shimano’s advanced Hagane technology, they are smooth, powerful and durable for anglers seeking to do battle with midsized saltwater species.

Terminal Tackle: Trapper Round Bend Treble With an innovative “trap,” the standard version of this odd-looking hook has proven itself by holding baits in place and keeping fish on the hook. The treble-hook version of the trapper is revolutionary.

Freshwater Hard Lure: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat This crazy-looking bait plays on the nature of predatory species to strike on reaction. It is a hard, surface-walking bait 3D scanned to mimic a bat struggling in the water.

3D Topwater Bat

Saltwater Hard Lure: Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40 Did somebody say wahoo? The new X-Rap Magnum 40 dives consistently to 40 feet with aggressive swimming action. It can be trolled as fast as 13 knots without rolling or kicking out.

Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40

Freshwater Soft Lure: Lunkerhunt LP Prop Series The Lunkerhunt Prop Series combines the design of hollow-body soft plastics with modern prop technology previously found only on hard-body lures. The Prop Series features three body styles: The Prop Frog, The Prop Fish Sunfish and The Prop Fish Shad.

Rod & Reel Combo: Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo This baitcast combo features Lew’s exclusive SLP Super Low Profile compact design in a premium 10-bearing Speed Spool reel with MSB Multi-Setting Brake dual cast control system. The combo’s onepiece IM8 graphite rod sports a Winn Dri-Tac splitgrip handle.

Fly Fishing Rod: G. Loomis IMX-Pro Fly Rod G. Loomis’ IMX-Pro series was designed for professional guides.

IMX-PRO MATRIX is a material that allows Loomis to use fewer wraps of graphite and build fast, responsive rods that are lighter and more sensitive without sacrificing power or durability.

Freshwater Rod: 13 Fishing Fate Black With crisp action, incredible sensitivity and superb balance, the Fate Black offers the benefits of a Japanese 30T HTC blank, an innovative seamless reel seat, tanglefree guides with zirconia inserts, hybrid comfort grips and handles made of hand-selected Portuguese cork.

Saltwater Rod: St. Croix Legend T o u r n a m e n t Inshore Legend Tournament Inshore rods are the blending of the sensitivity, power and durability found in St Croix’s existing Legend Tournament Bass and Walleye series with components and technology reserved for saltwater environments.

Lunkerhunt Prop series

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The amenities offered at this exceptional northwest Florida marina include transient slips, a 450ft lay-a-long transient dock, wet slips, and a dry barn facility storing boats up to 32 feet. We also have a gift shop, the popular Dockside Seafood & Raw Bar restaurant, WiFi Hotspot Internet Access, charter fishing, boat rentals, party boat fishing trips, and more!

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A boater’s paradise, Bay Point Marina is gently tucked away along the Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach, Florida, yet conveniently located just five minutes from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and 15 minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway. Fortunately for patrons and guests, Bay Point Marina is also just minutes by boat from Shell Island, which offers excellent snorkeling, superb fishing and some of the most secluded beaches available in North Florida. This quiet, full-service marina offers worldclass facilities and services including 180 protected slips, housing for boats up to 125 feet and luxury pontoon boat rentals at a relaxing price.

Boating is our business. Having fun is yours!

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Alaska’s Can’t Miss

Freshwater Fishing Adventures

By Christopher Batin

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laska sportfishing offers wilderness realized rather than imagined and quickens the pulse in all types of anglers, from panfishermen to veteran world anglers. When an angler returns from Alaska and shares an evening on the flats or at the catfish hole with friends, talk quickly turns from big catfish stories to Alaska fishing adventures.

The reason is obvious.

If you are searching for action, the roostertails of spray generated by a 50-pound chinook salmon on a five-jump run through shallow water will satisfy your need. If the sight of huge shad migrations have you tying on a lure in finger-fumbling fashion, wait until you view pristine rivers teeming with five species of Pacific salmon that are counted not by the thousands, but by the millions. Valdez anglers see the return of as many as 11 million pink salmon to intertidal waters.

Choosing the right Alaska adventure is complex, with its various runs, timing and weather. Knowing when to go, where to go and with whom is key.

I’ve fished and covered Alaska’s fishing for more than 42 years, and I’ve helped countless anglers find the trip best suited for them. Each angler has separate needs. In the freshwater realm, here are some of the top considerations for can’t miss adventure, fish-hooking action and personal service worthy of the Alaska experience.

Interior Alaska

If you’re looking for a quiet place to fish, with scenery, comfortable cabins and located far from the crowds, drive down to Denali National Park and visit Kirk Martakis at Fish Denali. He offers several lakes on private property that offer about 3,000 wild rainbow trout to 31 inches and trophy-sized grayling. They cruise the lake like sharks, and the clear water makes sight casting to them with single-hook jigs, nymphs or topwater lures too much fun. It’s some of the best lake rainbow fishing I’ve experienced. Cozy, fully equipped cabins located at lakeside offer everything you’ll need for a multi-day stay, including Wi-Fi and multiple bedrooms. It’s a good choice for large families, fishing buddies or couples who want a quiet, laid-back trip with some of Alaska’s best scenery (www.Fishdenali.com).

Float fishing offers a change of scenery around each turn in the river as well as great fishing opportunities. Alaska River Tours offers remote float trips along the road system, with neither the crowds nor the expense. Depending on the season, owner Reinhard “Reini” Neuhauser chooses the best rivers for grayling, trout, sheefish, pike, salmon and char. On overnight excursions, he provides tents, camping gear and boats. You arrive ready to fish.

I recommend the overnight float, which makes the most of Alaska’s 19-plus hours of daylight. Fish when it’s light, and float during the remaining five hours from midnight to the 4 a.m. during the twilight period, when it’s still light enough to read. It’s a heady trip that is only surpassed by his camps and food served (www.akrivertours.com).

The Kenai Peninsula For a quick day of fishing, the Kenai River offers big king salmon to 70plus pounds that sizzle drags. Guide Joe Connors was my instructor back in 10

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my college days, and he’s still as tough on catching fish as he was on me learning public speaking. He’s a long-time Kenai veteran, and his guides at Big Sky Charter and Fish Camp have a long-time, sterling reputation for helping anglers of all skill levels catch silver and sockeye salmon, char and rainbow trout in the 25- to 34-inch range. He offers comfortable riverside cabins, evening barbecues and a quiet place to enjoy the river (www.kenaiguide.com).

Bristol Bay Bristol Bay lodges offer the crème de le crème of Alaska sportfishing in these western Alaska waters, where tens of millions of salmon move into various watersheds each year. A couple hundred lodges and camps offer a variety of services, from bare-basic outfitted trips to spectacular lodges with fly-out fishing, shore lunches, and gourmet meals.

Mike Gorton runs Goodnews River Lodge, the only lodge located on the 400-milelong river that offers some of the best boat-accessible river fishing for silver salmon, rainbow trout and char you’ll find in the region. It is a mixed-bag fishery, where no matter the weather, you can fish. There wasn’t a stretch of the Goodnews when friend Mark Wade and I fished that didn’t have silver salmon hammering our flies and big rainbow trout swarming in numbers like piranhas. The guides have great people skills and are skilled in their knowledge of the river (www.goodnewsriverlodge. com).

Southeast Alaska In southeast Alaska, Marlin Benedict, of Fish Wrangell, offers freshwater fishing for salmon, cutthroat trout and char in the remote, beautiful jungle streams of the Tongass National Forest. You don’t walk long distances here, as most of the good fishing is within a half mile or so of saltwater, which also guarantees fish as fresh as they come. The most fun in fishing these shallow waters is watching salmon attacking your fly or lure. Personal service is topnotch. (www.fishwrangell.com).

Chris Batin is editor of The Alaska Angler and author of nine award-winning books and Alaska fishing DVDs. He is featured as an Alaska legend in a new book, “Alaska’s Greatest Outdoor Legends,” published by the University of Alaska Press. For over 40 years, he has run The Alaska Angler Information Service. Discover more at www.AlaskaAngler.com.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

HAMMERHEAD TUFF GRAB AMARRA

Hammerhead Tuff Grab spearfishing gloves are the toughest warmwater spearfishing gloves available.

Tuff Grabs were designed in Hawaii for use in asspetto spearfishing, which involves the diver descending to the bottom and scratching up substrate to attract inquisitive fish. In this style of ambush diving, normal diving gloves only last weeks. Tuff Grabs last months, saving the diver money in the long run.

A full 5-finger, 2mm neoprene glove with reinforced flexible amarra (synthetic suede) palm and double-stitched gripped reinforcements offer exceptional durability without sacrificing dexterity. Anti-Slip rubberized grips are sewn into each fingertip and palm, leaving the knuckles open for flexibility.

Large batting-glove style Velcro enclosures keep the glove tight.

Tuff Grabs are available in both Deep Reef and Pelagic Shatter camouflage to help make you the ultimate predator.

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MAVERICK DARIAN YOKOOJI HYBRID SPEARGUNS Darian Yokooji made his first speargun back in 1993 because he didn’t have money to buy one.

Since then, his Hawaiian-made, handcrafted guns have become highly sought after by spearfishers around the world.

All of Yokooji’s guns are handcrafted in small batches to ensure quality workmanship, and he uses only the finest materials to construct beautiful, durable spearguns that perform to the highest level.

His best-selling guns are his Hybrid Signature line. Originally designed in 1996, this line offers the stability of wood with the maneuverability of a pipe gun. The latest rendition of this classic gun has been retooled through collaboration with Maverick America’s Mark Laboccetta to improve on the original body design, add a carbon fiber barrel and redesign the Delrin muzzle.

It is an exceptional, versatile speargun available in lengths of 53, 55, 57 and 60 inches. Check out all the specs online.

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High Performance Eyewear

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Center sp Are Log Homes Practical? Why Buy a Log Home?

Log Cabin process.

Each log is perfectly engineered in our state of the art, climate-controlled facility prior to construction.

This precise engineering of the logs prior to construction also ensures a superior thermal mass. Prior to the Blue Ridge Log Cabin process, thermal mass was affected by less than airtight construction. Ensuring exact fitting and high thermal mass has enabled our log homes to be very competitively priced with traditional construction and traditional building thermal efficiency, making our log homes View time-lapsed video at www.blueridgelogcabins.net an exceptional value, both now and into the future. bviously the number one attribute for log home owners tends Ben Martin: You’ve mentioned the “manufacturing process.” to be the aesthetics. Log homes and the feel of real wood tend to create an ambiance that tends to suit the outdoor enthu- How is it that log homes would have a manufacturing process?

Chip Smith: Blue Ridge Log Cabins is an innovator in the log siast more than the traditional American home. But what about the cost to build and maintain a log home? Is it practical? That’s the ques- home industry. We were recently voted on as one of “America’s Favorite Log Homes” by Log Cabin Hub. Our unique process of comtion that we asked Chip Smith, Owner of Blue Ridge Log Cabins.

Ben Martin: Chip, some people would suggest that the cost of pletely engineering each log in our facility has enabled us to provide a consistency previously unavailable in the log home industry. This a log home is more than that of a traditional home. Is that correct?

Chip Smith: There was a time when that would have been true has also enabled us to produce a more energy efficient log home.

Eliminating the inconsistencies normally associated with log but today with our improved efficiencies in development and construction of a Blue Ridge Log Cabin the answer is no, they are not home construction has allowed us to create a better value for our more costly than a traditional home. This innovation in the actual customers and a more efficient building process. Beautiful log homes manufacturing of the logs themselves is at the core of the Blue Ridge do not have to cost more than traditional homes.

O

7.5078 W x 3.2985 H

Visit our website: www.BlueRidgeLogCabins.net or Call: (888) 340-9782 625 East Frontage Road, Campobello, SC 29322 14

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SOUTHEAST

Mad Fish

By Capt. Chester Reese

W

e sometimes think fish are just mindless members of the environment with little tiny brains. Though it is true that brain size in fish is diminutive, they’ve had 450 million years to work out their game plan.

In the wild, fish need to be both aggressive and wary to survive.

The eye of a fish is well adapted to light conditions and motion; this gives them a unique ability to feed and fight. I’ve been a diver for many years and witnessed some wild antics of fish of all sizes. Once, there was a 3-inch damselfish in the Keys that attacked my dive glove and

fought like a bulldog because it thought I was intruding on its territory.

Here in Franklin County, Florida, we have some of the best gag grouper grounds in the state. During the warmer months, gags are somewhat dispersed, and the tried and true method of fishing for them is to troll large-lipped lures. This allows the fisherman to cover a lot of ground, plus it’s a nice way to cruise and fish at the same time.

Some of the lures that are the most effective do not look like any fish in the sea but catch fish on a regular basis. What does a grouper think a big plastic bright green shaking lure racing along the reef is? For a long time, whenever I bought a lure it had to look fishy, but maybe that’s not what is the most effective.

Many times when we get a hookup on these lures, the fish is caught on the side of the head or in some other part away from the mouth. I have talked to a lot of grouper fisherman, and we have come up with a crazy idea; maybe these lone groupers are simply defending their spot on the reef. One old captain told me he wasn’t catching feeding fish, they were just mad. This make sense to me, because I’ve seen largemouth bass defend their breeding beds in freshwater and they can be very aggressive. And don’t forget about the damselfish incident.

Color, size and movement are very important to successful lure action. Many colors appear different at depth than at the surface. Red is the first to go and looks black at 30 feet, while chartreuse green holds its color the best in low-light conditions, and you can’t go wrong with white.

So, when considering what lure or fly you want to fish with, think like a fish. What is going to stimulate a bite under certain conditions and in certain areas? It is important to realize that fish may not only be feeding, they might just be “Mad Fish.”

Be Safe Out There and Good Luck Capt. Chester Reese Natural World Charters out of Carabelle, Franklin County, Florida. Check out his website at www.naturalworldcharters.com.

Your fish is waiting.

Florida’s Forgotten Coast

Boaters and mariners will find something to love in Franklin County.

Carrabelle features deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater rivers. Plan a kayak or day sailing eco-adventure from Apalachicola or St. George Island. Eastpoint and Alligator Point offer direct access to the best inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast.

Bring your own boat or rent one here; there’s no better place to enjoy Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information.

ALLIGATOR POINT • APALACHICOLA • CARRABELLE • EASTPOINT • ST. GEORGE ISLAND COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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A Decorum Manifesto:

SHOULD I PICK THIS UP?

By Dustin Stanberry

Summer Strategies for Shoreline Bass Anglers

By Patrick Morrow

S A

t some point in our fishing excursions, we all have encountered litter on the stream. We want to believe the extra work we put into getting to that special spot will pay off with a pristine piece of water. It’s only after we arrive and fish a few yards that we quickly realize we aren’t pioneers, and we’re just following footsteps.

Traces of human presence can often be found in the form of trash in or around the water. Something we can control, as anglers, is what we do when we see this debris. I’m not suggesting everyone carry a trash bag with them while fishing just to pick up after others. But how much could we clean up if everyone picked up one more piece of garbage than they carried in?

Recently, while guiding, I retrieved a soda can, wine bottle and chip bag on the way back to the vehicle for lunch. My clients were curious as to why someone would pick up another’s trash. We ate lunch, and I placed the refuse in the trash bag along with our trash. After witnessing how easily the trash was disposed of, my clients were on the lookout for trash the rest of the evening. The point of this story is simple. Setting an example is not only rewarding, sometimes it can change the behavior of others.

Something all anglers are faced with is the scraps and snippets of leader, tippet or fishing line. Every time a lure or fly is changed, we generally need to trim the tag ends of our knot. Ideally we want to pack all of our line out. Realistically, we drop small amounts of line for various reasons. Perhaps it’s windy and your fingers are cold and wet, or maybe you are in the middle of feeding fish and trying to make a quick fly change. I make a point to stow my trimmings. I just push them into the chest pocket on my waders and throw the line away when I get home. Cutting the line up into small pieces before placing it in the garbage will help ensure it will not be a problem later on. It doesn’t take much effort, and I know the fish and wildlife will appreciate it.

Along the same lines, I am constantly on the lookout for abandoned line while I fish. You won’t have to look hard to find line on trees and snagged in the rocks. Abandoned line is tough on fish and other wildlife, so take a moment to gather what you can and pack it out. It might save the life of a critter or the fish we try so hard to protect.

If you find yourself asking the question, “Should I pick this up?” then it’s probably the right thing to do. In the quest for good decorum on the water, picking up after each other, and ourselves, is one of the most important. Preserving the resource we cherish is one of the most challenging goals we face as anglers.

ummer is a trying time of year for most anglers, but it is especially challenging for those fishing from the bank. Stranded far from deep water, shoreline anglers must overcome even greater obstacles than their boat-fishing counterparts to elicit bites.

But you can still catch plenty of bass in the summer, you just have to adjust your techniques and do a few things to maximize your opportunities.

Seek Out Shade Largemouth bass are most comfortable hunting in low-light conditions, and they tend to hangout in areas with some type of shade. Therefore, you’ll want to concentrate your efforts on deep weed beds, boat docks and tree-lined coves to get your lure in front of more bass. It is often helpful to master the art of skipping a lure, so you can get it back under overhanging vegetation or low-lying docks.

Reach Deeper Depths Bass often move away from the shore following the post-spawn period until fall temperatures arrive and they return. This means that bank-bound anglers will need to do everything they can to maximize casting distance. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of heavier weights and lures. You may also want to downsize your line choice as much as possible, to further increase your reach.

Slow Down Your Presentation Summer bass often become quite lethargic, and food is often very plentiful during the Dog Days. Accordingly, fish are far less aggressive during this time of year than the spring or fall. To help tempt them into biting your lure, you’ll want to make it as irresistible looking as possible. One of the best ways to do this is by simply slowing down your presentation; you can even let your lure stop completely at several points during the retrieve.

Fish Early or Late The intense heat of summer often causes bass and other fish to alter their activity patterns. Specifically, it causes them to adopt a crepuscular daily cycle – meaning that they become most active at dawn and dusk. This doesn’t mean that you can achieve success while the sun’s high in the sky, but you’ll have a better chance to catch more fish while the light levels are low and the temperature relatively cool.

Look for Cold Water Some of the most productive areas for bank fishers to target are the mouths of tree-lined—and therefore cool—creeks and streams.

Many of the fish that populate stream-fed lakes and ponds will hang out in these areas – including both baitfish and bass. Bass often stage on either side of points in these areas, so work crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs in all directions until you hit upon an effective trajectory.

The truth is, you probably won’t catch quite as many fish during the hottest part of the summer as you will during the comparatively cooler months of the calendar. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have enough success to enjoy yourself, no matter how high the mercury climbs. Just embrace the five strategies detailed above, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you enjoy success.

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Restore Our Battleship!

What is a Cofferdam?

• • • •

A cofferdam is a watertight structure built to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment.

The Battleship cofferdam will enable workers to repair and restore the ship’s corroded hull, which is paper-thin in places.

The Battleship’s last major dry docking and repair work was done in 1953.

The cofferdam will be constructed over 18 months by Orion Marine Group of Norfolk, VA.

The SECU Memorial Walkway • • •

•

Under construction simultaneously, the SECU Memorial Walkway will be a half mile long, 10-foot wide timber walkway surrounding the Battleship.

The walkway will be above the waterline but below the main deck of the Battleship. It will allow visitors to see the ship’s entire hull for the first time.

The walkway will include five bump-out areas to honor each of the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Merchant Marines will be honored by flying their flag on the quarterdeck.

The walkway will be open to the public and free of charge.

All Hands on Deck!

• •

To view construction updates, visit www.battleshipnc.com.

For more information on the Generations Campaign, contact Marty Feurer, Development Director, at marty.feurer@ ncdcr.gov.

Text “Battleship” to 41444

HUGE Online Store To Receive Our 98-Page Spearfishing Equipment Catalog, email info@maverick-america.com AM 11/8/16 9:55

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BLUE RIDGE

Our knowledgable staff has been serving the Maggie Valley Cabin Rental market for over 15 years helping others, like yourself, find the right vacation home in the Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee areas.

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Set Your Sights On Us On 67 acres of rural rolling terrain, among towering pines, red maples, and mighty oaks, and surrounded by the incredible Blue Ridge vistas in the heart of the gated Blue Ridge Mountain Club, lies Chetola Sporting Reserve.

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S E C T I O N S Lake Hickory & Rhodhiss Lake Lake Norman/Cornelius/Denver/ Mooresville/Mountain Island Lake Charlotte Metro Lake Wylie/Rock Hill High Rock/Tuckertown/ Badin/Tillery Lakes/The Falls Trout Deer

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the writers and advertisers in our first issue of The Angler Magazine.

It has been a gratifying experience meeting with such friendly people in the many fishing communities throughout the Piedmont region.

Please continue to send us your stories and photographs each month– we sincerely appreciate your business.

Relax and enjoy!

Mark & Haley Alberghini Publishers

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT Mark Alberghini, mark@theanglermagazine.com, 704-651-1934 | Haley Alberghini, haley@theanglermagazine.com, 704-781-5387

NROC client, John Harrison, with a topwater smallmouth caught on the fly.

Summertime River Smallmouth Tactics

ON THE TOP T

Summertime River Smallmouth Tactics

he late-summer months are an overlooked window to catch big smallmouth bass that have been lazily lying in the middle of the river after a long spawning season. Across the country, wherever smallies live, the insect hatches and emergences that occur throughout the day including mayflies, damsel flies and my favorite, the cicada, spur feeding frenzies and create an excellent opportunity to throw topwater lures and flies.

One of my favorite lures to target topwater smallies during this period is the Pop-R. I make long casts with a 6-foot to 6-foot, 6-inch G.Loomis medium-action rod with a Shimano Stradic 2500 C4+ reel spooled with 20/6 Power Pro braided line. On entry into the water, I let the bait dead drift for about five seconds before working it erratically back to the boat. I target current seams, eddies, corner pockets and any type of structure or current break in the middle of fast water. It is important to continue working the bait with the same cadence, even if a fish is crashing behind it. Once you feel the rod load, reel into the fish and swing the rod back. Once hooked up, keep the rod and fish down in the water. Many big fish are lost while trying to pull the fish up to get a look at it.

Another one of my favorite topwater presentations is the buzzbait.

I will target the same areas as above using a slightly stouter mediumheavy setup to drive the hook home. The key to the buzzbait is to get the bait up on the surface as soon as it hits the water. I favor a straight, steady retrieve, reeling just fast enough to keep the bait on the surface.

2 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

When a fish eats it, allow him to load the rod before setting into him with a hard hook set. I favor longer shafted buzzbaits for better hookups, as I don’t use trailer hooks because of the damage they can do to smallies. If you have a blow up on your buzzbait and do not touch him with the hook, a quick follow up with a soft plastic will often garner an immediate bite from the same fish.

If you like to fly fish, summer is an excellent time to bust out the 7- or 8-weight and go looking for smallies. My favorite presentation for smallies on the fly is dead-drifting cicada bugs. This technique has produced some of my clients’ and my personal best fly-rod fish. When dead drifting cicada bugs isn’t working, several other presentations can produce explosive strikes. Any popper in the size-4 to size-6 range can attract smallies. When they strike, remember to strip up the slack line and into them before raising the rod tip hard to drive home the hook. If fish aren’t responding to the popper, another option is a sliderstyle fly. When stripped, the fly will dive slightly beneath the surface giving a darting and diving action. The Sneaky Pete is a good example, and this type of presentation can be deadly.

– By Britt Stoudenmire

Britt Stoudenmire owns and operates New River Outdoor Co. with his wife Leigh and has been a full-time guide for well over a decade on the New River in Southwest Virginia. You can reach him at (540) 921-7438 or www.newriveroutdoorco.com.

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LAKE HICKORY FORECAST

S

triped bass are eating free lined live herring in 20-40 ft. of water early in the morning. Look for the fish around humps and points on the lower end of the lake. The bite dies off as the day brightens.

Schools of largemouth bass may be found in these same locales. In the afternoon, stripers are feeding in the upper river section when the water is moving. Free lined and down-rigged live herring or mediumlarge shad are most effective.

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1

T

DROP SHOT

Rigging is NOT just for BASS –By TAM Staff

T

he drop shot is a staple of bass anglers. But it remains a largely overlooked option for anglers pursuing other species of gamefish, including crappie. In the right situations, drop shotting can yield banner crappie catches, and even outfish standard strategies.

“Drop shotting is a great choice whenever the fish are relatively close to bottom and you want to cover water a little faster, or with more precision, than you can with slip bobbers or vertical jigging,” said veteran guide Scott Glorvigen.

The technique is effective when crappie abandon shoreline weed beds and head to the main basin. They often follow travel corridors, such as bars and points, to deeper water.

A drop shot rig excels at presenting softbaits or minnows at or just above the level of fish, and allows anglers to customize the speed of retrieve and amount of animation, without fear of the rig falling to bottom or drifting out of the strike zone.

Glorvigen had his epiphany while bass fishing.

“I was drop shotting bass with a 6-inch worm on a long finger bar leading from a shoreline saddle straight into the basin,” he recalled. “I was catching bass, but noticed on my sonar there were a lot of crappie and bluegills mixed in with them.”

Glorvigen credits the readings from his Lowrance electronics for revealing the difference between bass and panfish.

“I was also catching the occasional crappie here and there, which told me that drop shotting might be a winning presentation in this scenario,” he added.

To tempt more crappie into biting, he traded the basssized worm for a more panfish-appropriate, 3-inch Impulse Angleworm. He also downsized the business end of the setup to a size 4 VMC Spinshot Drop-Shot Hook. After threading on the worm, he added a live crappie minnow for extra attraction.

Glorvigen’s rigging also includes a 7-foot, medium-light spinning outfit spooled with 10-pound-test mainline and an 8-pound-test monofilament leader tethered to the hook’s lower line tie. Leader length should be tailored to how high crappie are above bottom. Sinker weight should be as light as possible when drop shotting crappie. Pencil-style weights from 1/8- to 3/16-ounce fit most situations.

Once rigged up, he casts and lets the sinker settle, before tightening the line for a direct connection that allows bottom detection as well as subtle bites.

“You can move the rig across by reeling, drifting or using your trolling motor to slowly cover key areas,” he noted.

No matter which means of propulsion you choose, Glorvigen recommends toning down the amount of action you give the bait.

“If the bait jumps around too fast, it’s hard for them to hit it,” he said. “I’ve had the best luck with a more subtle approach than what I’d use when bass fishing. Simply shaking and gently twitching the worm is enough.”

“Anglers get stuck in our ways and pigeonholed into certain presentations,” he said. “But it’s always good to experiment, adjust and pay attention to what the fish are trying to tell you.”

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 5

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In spotte that consid every That’s Regar bass a shot i My was fi rig. B using slowly fish to the bo to the your then time.

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The Warm-Water Drop Shot is HOT!

W

e’ve been having a blast this summer with the drop-shot tactic and spotted bass.

In many reservoirs that have them, big spotted bass live in thousands of brushpiles that litter the bottom of the lake. We consider brushpiles home for the bass, and every once in a while we come knocking.

That’s when the drop-shot tactic comes in.

Regardless of where you fish, when spotted bass are on deep structure or cover, a drop shot is what you need to pull them out.

My first experience with the drop shot was fishing live minnows on a drop-shot rig. Basically, with the drop shot you’re using your electronics to locate fish. While slowly moving above structure, wait for the fish to show up on your sonar. Then stop the boat and drop the drop-shot rig down to them on the bottom. Often, you can see your rig on the sonar as it falls. You can then watch your bait and the fish in real time. Some call it “video fishing.” Once I got used to catching fish on live spottail minnows, I started using artificial worms and fluke-type baits.

The rig itself is pretty simple and is nothing more than a small in-line hook 1 to 2 feet up from a small weight. I use 6to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon line. The idea is to keep the weight on the bottom while keeping the line tight and bouncing the rod tip slightly to make your bait on the hook dance in a suspended state. The bait can vary from live bait to artificials.

Probably the most important thing about the drop shot is location. On my home lake, Georgia’s Lake Lanier, spotted bass reside in the underwater structure such as brushpiles or timber submerged in the 20- to 40-foot range this time of year. They come out to forage for their meals. Some days they hold tight to the structure, and other days they may range out onto flats or shallow rocks.

I recently had the pleasure of an evening COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

fishing trip with one of our resident experts with the drop shot, “Lanier Jim.” Jim is the owner of lanierbaits.com and offers an onthe-water crash course on the art of the drop shot as well as offering some of his favorite baits and tackle. Lanier Jim’s Fruity Worms are a local favorite. These Fruity Worms have unique colors bass can’t resist in the ultra-clear deep water.

Jim has more than 1,000 brushpiles marked on his GPS unit, and in a few hours he can cover 20 or more of these marks. “If they are there, they’re going to bite right away” Jim said. For that reason, we only spent a few minutes in each area.

If you would like to find out more, drop by lanierbaits.com. We’ve had a lot of fun with the drop shot over the summer, and I encourage everyone to add it to their bassfishing arsenal.

–By Jim Farmer Jim Farmer is an avid fisherman and owner/tackle maker for Cast Away Baits.

AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 7

FISH PLASTIC BILLED JIGS –By Wayne Wooten

for Summer Bass Action

D

eep summer can be tough on bass fishermen. If a solid deep-water pattern sets up, a soft plastic or deeprunning crankbait fished on deep structure or cover can be good. But when this bite does not produce, it’s best to remain flexible with your fishing. And there may be no more adaptable bait out there than a plastic-billed jig head paired with a soft plastic.

A billed jig is a jig with a single hook and an oval plastic bill attached to the head. It creates vibration and a wobbling action when retrieved. There are several manufacturers, colors, styles and weights. Paired with a soft plastic swim bait, such as my Wild Goby by Wayne’s Baits, it can be downright deadly in multiple situations.

Some good billed jigs are the Sworming Hornet Fish Head Dude, Fish Head Shaker and Shaky Fish by Davis Baits. The Dude has a fish-shaped head with eyes. The Shaker is similar but has a willowleaf blade attached to the bottom. The Shaky Fish has a round head. These lures are available in a variety of weights, allowing you to fish just under the surface to deep water with a slow or fast fall.

The bill can also cause the lure to swim as it falls, which can result in vicious strikes.

I use these for swimming around blowdowns, sticks and submerged structure,

and it is deadly in grass. The bill helps prevent hangups. I use the Shaker when I need a faster retrieve and some flash provided by the willowleaf blade. For deeper water, I cast beyond the structure and allow the bait to sink to the bottom before slow rolling it back along the bottom. Sometimes I use a stopstart method, allowing the bait to drop or giving it a twitch while retrieving it.

A billed jig has been my go-to lure teamed up with the Wild Goby since 2008. I usually start with a 3/8-ounce jig because I have found it can be fished shallow to deep, allowing me to find the bite. If the bite is shallow or just sub-surface, I will change to a ¼-ounce. If the

bite is 4 to 12 feet, I stay with the 3/8-ounce, and if the fish are deeper or you want a faster fall, go to a ½-ounce jig.

In my opinion, the difference in the styles is the amount of vibration and action caused by the different bill and head designs. If I am not getting bites on a Dude, I change to a Shaky Fish.

As for colors, I suggest pearl white with a pearl white or green bug Wild Goby with the Dude and Shaker. I prefer the un-painted Shaky Fish with the colors mentioned above.

Colors, head styles and retrieving speed are subject to change with conditions and patterns.

I’m not saying these lures work all of the time, but I will say they work more often that not. Like any other lure or method, you must be patient and work with it. Don’t throw it a few times and go for the Trick Worm. It works on bass, and when you see or know hybrids or stripers are up feeding, cast one out and hang on.

The next time you buy lures, pick up some billed jigs along with some soft-plastic swimbaits. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you tried out some Wild Gobys. Fish them with confidence, and I imagine they’ll work for you like they’ve worked for me.

Wayne Wooten is a freelance writer and a lure and lure-kit designer at Wayne’s Baits. He has been fishing since 1959 and enjoys taking people fishing, writing stories and sometimes filming these trips. Contact him at wayne@waynesbaits.com or (706) 255-8504.

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AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 9

PLUCKING PANFISH M

with Modern Devices

any of the portraits twentieth-century artist Norman Rockwell painted portrayed anglers catching panfish— the rod in hand usually nothing more than a cane pole.

Why such a simple stick (literally)? It was the rod of the commoner in the early 1900s; only the elite could manage a split-bamboo casting or fly rod into their budget. To boot, wooden and metal rods wouldn’t make their debuts until the mid-1940s.

During this era, the techniques used to pluck bluegills, shellcrackers and crappie from the drink were as simplistic as the gear: 10 feet of sewing thread, a long-shanked hook, a few tiny split-shot sinkers and a cork to suspend a garden worm—fresh from an old coffee can— off the bottom.

But what could not be projected via Rockwell’s brush strokes was the fact that the catching was only grand if the fish were within a 20-foot lob from shore or a tiny rowboat.

Fast forward to what an artist would create today, and, other than the enthusiasm seen on the angler’s face, the scene would look quite different. The cane pole would be replaced with a multitude of rods in different lengths, actions and powers. Precision-made reels would adorn those rods, spooled with technically-advanced line. Sonar and GPS would be seen in the background, while insulated bait containers holding live bait and tackle totes full of artificial baits would be depicted at foot.

That era is now…

But just because the modern angler owns a boatload of newfangled equipment doesn’t mean they’re going to land a limit of panfish.

The fact is, it’s more learning where panfish roam throughout the seasons, as well as how to use all that gear to its maximum potential, which turns

fishless days into a full livewell.

If you absolutely love catching panfish, then you have something in common with fishing guide Brian “Bro” Brosdahl.

“There’s more to catching panfish than just plopping a float with a worm skewered on an Aberdeen hook out into nowheresville,” said Bro. “You first have to find those fish, then figure out what they want and then utilize your gear to present it in a way that the fish will eat it.

And the right rods will also help you get those fish out of heavy cover and to the boat.

To find fish, Bro relies on a Humminbird HELIX 10 SI GPS. But how he uses it, as well the rods he selects, depends on water clarity.

In stained water, where fish aren’t as apt to scatter with a boat’s hull hovering 10 to 15 feet overhead, Bro will utilize the Helix’s standard 2D sonar as well Down Imaging to decode the type of structure and fish. The edges of weed beds, woody areas or rockpiles are by far the best. Once over a fish, he’ll use the Spot Lock feature on his bow-mounted Minn Kota Terrova electric trolling motor to stay in place rather than toss an anchor over the

–By Mitch Eeagan

side, which, inevitably, will spook fish.

Bro then has his clients lower their baits directly under the transducer at the rear of his boat so that the offering can be seen on the sonar.

“You’ll see the fish come in, and then you can raise or lower the bait right into the strike zone,” he claims. He employs the transom’s transducer rather than the electric trolling motor’s as he feels the unit’s prop continuously turning on and off while in Spot Lock will eventually put fish down.

This is where shorter rods come into play.

Bro’s choice in this situation is St. Croix’s 5- to 6-foot ultralight-power Panfish Series rods, which keeps rod tips and baits close to the gunwale and within the sonar’s cone. His reels are spooled with 4-pound-test Sunline monofilament.

Generally, tiny twister-tail bodies threaded onto 1/32- to 1/16-ounce jig heads are a good choice for vertical presentations. However, he’ll also tie on Northland’s Mud Bug or Hexi Fly and nip on a few waxworms for scent.

Small spoons, like Custom Jigs & Spins 1/16-ounce Slender Spoons, and jigs such as the company’s Rotating Power Minnow (RPM) are great choices as they have the fullness and locomotion to get the biggest panfish in the school to bite.

Another practice—similar to using those vintage cane poles—is to use the 10- or 11-foot Panfish Series and pull ’gills and crappie up and out of the mats of milfoil, thick cabbage or out of brushpiles.

“Heavy line used in thick vegetation is not a bite killer,” Bro claimed. “And this system calls for it. I’ll use 10-pound-test mono over any other type of line, and then use an 8-poundtest fluorocarbon leader. And the heavier line coupled with those long, moderately-fast-action rods will pull bluegills out of the holes before they have the chance to wrap up in the weeds, or, pull out the occasional bass that takes the bait.”

When it comes to catching panfish, cane poles will do just fine… as long as you don’t mind limiting yourself to only a few choice moments to fish.

Use sonar to your advantage, and bring along a few different rods, and you’ll be catching bluegills, shellcrackers and crappie all year long.

Photos by Bill Lindner

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AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 11

WHITE PERCH

Fishin’ with Capt. Gus!

E

ach year about this time, white perch gather offshore in large schools on Lake Norman. Reports of boats catching one, two and three hundred perch per trip are common and are not a stretch of the imagination. If you’re interested in hauling in a ton of fish that are fun to catch and good to eat, read on.

White perch are ocean fish that thrive in freshwater environments.

No one is quite sure how, but some years back, these feisty fighters were introduced into Lake Norman. Today, there so many, that some fear they will take over the lake. They multiply so quickly that the NCWRC has elected not to impose a size or creel limit on this little cousin of the striped bass. You can keep all you catch, regardless of size.

White perch shouldn’t be confused with yellow perch, another pan fish popular with northern anglers. The yellow perch has green and yellow bands around its cylindrical body, while the white perch is silver and resembles a white bass without the stripes. They are similar in that they swim in schools and are easy to catch with light fishing tackle from shore or boat.

Locating white perch is simple. They can be found near boat docks/ piers, around brush piles and in the deeper parts of narrow coves.

Big schools are easy to locate with a fish finder, but drift fishing with lines near the bottom is a time proven method that also produces nice

catches. Once schools are located, fish the area thoroughly. If there are lots of fish below the boat, anchor and enjoy your find. Otherwise, keep moving until you begin to get bites.

Hot weather perch stay deep during daylight hours, with the biggest being taken at depths to fifty feet. At night, they migrate toward shore and often swim around lighted docks and piers. Don’t be surprised if a rod doubles down while reeling in a perch. Perch are often the prey of big bass, stripers and flatheads.

Best baits to use are small shiny spoons, jigs and deep diving lures fished closer to the lake bottom than the surface. Live minnows, small pieces of cut bait, and worms attached to a small hook and light sinker are very popular with bank and boat dock fishermen. The Sabiki Rig is, by far, the best lure combination. When feeding schools are found, anglers catch multiple fish each time the rig is dropped to the bottom.

The Sabiki is a string of small flies (two to six flies) tied in tandem with a jigging spoon (3/4 ounce) attached to the terminal end of the line. The rig is best fished vertically near the bottom, or slightly above the school with a yo-yo like motion. Sabiki’s are sold pre-tied in packages at area tackle shops for a few dollars.

The white meat of the perch is tasty, so keep as many as you want to eat. The small ones should be scaled before removing the head and entrails, then batter and fry. Larger fish are easily filleted, skinned and prepared as you would a striper or crappie.

LAKE NORMAN FORECAST

I

–Captain Gus holding three white perch caught at the same time on a Sabiki Rig. 12 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

n August, bass fishing should be excellent from dusk until dawn. Best bets are the river points, coves and boat docks north of the Highway 150 Bridge. In that area, a large number of lay downs (fallen trees) are located along the water’s edge. Woody debris serves as a magnet for largemouth bass that hide among the branches while waiting to ambush unsuspecting prey. Bridge pilings, lighted boat docks and launch ramps also make excellent hideouts for summer bass.

Surprisingly, August is one of the best months for catching large blue and flathead catfish. Early in the month, blue catfish gather in the deep waters near Cowan’s Ford Dam. Their arrival usually coincides with the annual summer fish kill that begins when surface temperatures spike into the low-to-mid nineties. Anglers fishing the dam area usually drift suspended live and cut baits near the thermocline, which forms at depths from forty-five to sixty feet. While there are many catfish at the dam, the majority are taken in coves and back creeks all over the lake where the water is less than twenty feet deep.

Tips from Capt. Gus: Care should be taken when unhooking a white perch. Their fins and gills have sharp spines which flare out as you attempt to hold them. It is best to handle them from the belly side where there are fewer spines.

Capt. Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an Outdoor Columnist and a full time Professional Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his website at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.

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The Frogs of Late

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opwater frogs have become a lure that a lot of people rely on across the country for a large part of the year, but if I had to pick one time of the year that screams frog fishing it would be the late summer and early fall period. Every year I look forward to watching big largemouths bust through a grass mat to eat my frog. The strikes are so vicious and explosive that it just keeps you coming back for more.

The first key to topwater frog fishing is reading the grass. Sure you can catch a few by just going out and flogging your frog around any random grass mat, but to really dial in a pattern you need to dig a lot deeper.

Take Lake Guntersville in Alabama for example. The two prominent grass types are hydrilla and milfoil. There are other types, but these are the two you will encounter 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 almost exclusively. Milfoil creates a great canopy, but the difference is it is more 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 some, then it will start to get hollow underneath and that is the time to start targeting it more.

Another key to frog fishing is to listen and watch for an “active” grass mat. Bass will school up in grass mats just like they do on ledges, points and humps, so it is very important to find a mat that has activity in it. Listen for bluegill popping the mat or watch for shad to flicker around in the mat. Those are tell-tale signs that the bass are not far away. Also, look for points, turns and indentions in the mat itself.

Anything different will often hold bass.

As far as colors on my frog, I don’t get carried away when mat fishing. I think the only two you need are black and white. If bass are feeding on shad I throw white; if they’re feeding on bluegill, I throw black. My two favorite frogs for this are the Strike King Sexy Frog and the Spro Bronzeye 65. Both will get the job done.

For my rod, I throw a MHX-MB-874 for matted grass. This rod is 7’3” heavy power with plenty of backbone to get them out of the grass, 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. Hit me up on my Facebook page at ProAnglerBrandonLester, and I will do my best to help you.

–By Brandon Lester

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LE

LEDGE FISHING L

edge fishing the dog days takes patience and plenty of homework before the first cast. On reservoirs across the country, ledges are the best places to catch big bass in the heat of the summer, and the action can be unbelievably explosive!

It is vital that anglers do some research prior to visiting the lake. Then, employing the proper equipment allows them to effectively search for fish and interpret the bottom.

Basically, a ledge is any structure found at the edge of an old creek channel or the main river channel after the flooding of a reservoir. Spending some time at the house with a topographical map of any man-made reservoir will show you these old channels and sharp contour changes of 45 degrees or greater. Most quality ledges are rather steep drops, which are next to deeper water of 12 to 30 feet. These are not necessarily big drops. A 6-foot river channel lip is a ledge, as well as a small 1-foot drop along an otherwise uniform flat.

There are sweet spots that typically hold numbers of bass sometime during the day, depending upon sunlight penetration and current. These key areas may consist of changes such as an old roadbed, shell beds, a small stump field or rock pile that remains after flooding. Some sweet spots will be no larger than a kitchen table. Your best bet for locating these isolated areas is through using a good paper map. Look for contour lines that indicate a potential sharp drop. Once on the water, an angler really needs to have a good set of electronic such as a Humminbird 998 or 1198 HDSI/ DI. Isolated areas have the potential for making the same cast over and over, and catching one bass right after another.

Once I’ve located a school of fish on a ledge using my Humminbird, I’ll position the boat deep and throw crankbaits toward the shallower part of the structure starting at a 45 degree angle and casting up-current. If there is current pushing against the ledge or if I observe bass on the sonar suspended off the ledge, then I put the boat shallow and throw deep or upstream so my retrieve is coming with the current. Alternate steady retrieves with stop-and-go retrieves until you figure out how the bass want the bait on that day. If there is little to no current, crashing the lure into the bottom or structure and stopping the retrieve will often generate a violent strike.

My primary search baits are crankbaits. My favorite cranks for covering deep water are the Rapala DT 16 (12 to 16 feet) and the DT 20, which dives to 16-20 feet.

Color selection really depends on water clarity and sunlight penetration. If the water is stained or there is little sunlight because of heavy cloud cover, I’ll opt for more chartreuse in my crankbaits. When employing deep-diving crankbaits, it is imperative to have the proper rod and reel set up. I use Duckett White Ice Cranking rods, 7-foot, 11-inch, medium heavy action armed with a 5.4-1 LEW’s reel with 8- to 12-pound test Vicious Ultimate or Pro Elite fluorocarbon.

Once you’ve located a group of bass with a crankbait, caught a number of fish and the bite slows, a football head jig is the go-to set up. I prefer a ½- or ¾-ounce Tightline football head matched to a Missile Baits Twin Turbo Tail or D-Bomb.

Make some changes to your jig; first trim the weed guard down to two or four strands. When picking a trailer, use a contrasting color. For example, if your jig is black and blue, use a green-pumpkin trailer. I have found a slow retrieve with a shake or twitch of the rod tip on the bottom to be best. This will imitate a crawfish moving across the bottom. I will present the jig from several angles to give bass a different look at the bait.

Another excellent tactic is a Texas-rigged plastic such as an 8.75-inch Tomahawk Worm or creature bait like the D-Bomb. Both of these plastics will move lots of water during a slow presentation. My Texas rig is made up of a 3/8- to ¾-ounce tungsten weight followed by a bead and 4/0 hook. I recommend a 7-foot to 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action Micro Magic or White Ice rod from Duckett Fishing paired with a LEW’s 7:1 reel with either Vicious Ultimate or Pro Elite fluorocarbon in 15- to 17-pound test. You want a rod that provides the longest cast with the sensitivity to feel the lightest of strikes along with the power and leverage to set the hook.

While ledge fishing is not for every angler, it can pay big dividends with a little research and patience.

Capt. Jake Davis is a USCG-licensed professional guide on Lake Guntersville, visit www.midsouthbassguide.com or call (615) 613-2382. feet. Color selection really depends on water clarity and sunlight penetration. If the water is stained or there is little sunlight because of heavy cloud cover, I’ll opt for more chartreuse in my crankbaits. When employing deep-diving crankbaits, it is imperative to have the proper rod and reel set up. I use Duckett White Ice Cranking rods, 7-foot, 11-inch, medium heavy action armed with a 5.4-1 LEW’s reel with 8- to 12-pound test Vicious Ultimate or Pro Elite fluorocarbon.

Once you’ve located a group of bass with a crankbait, caught a number of fish and the bite slows, a football head jig is the go-to set up. I prefer a ½- or ¾-ounce Tightline football head matched to a Missile Baits Twin Turbo Tail or D-Bomb.

Make some changes to your jig; first trim the weed guard down to two or four

During the Dog Days of Summer

strands. When picking a trailer, use a contrasting color. For example, if your jig is black and blue, use a green-pumpkin trailer. I have found a slow retrieve with a shake or twitch of the rod tip on the bottom to be best. This will imitate a crawfish moving across the bottom. I will present the jig from several angles to give bass a different look at the bait.

Another excellent tactic is a Texas-rigged plastic such as an 8.75-inch Tomahawk Worm or creature bait like the D-Bomb. Both of these plastics will move lots of water during a slow presentation.

My Texas rig is made up of a 3/8- to ¾-ounce tungsten weight followed by a bead and 4/0 hook.

I recommend a 7-foot to 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action Micro Magic or White Ice rod from Duckett Fishing paired with a LEW’s 7:1 reel with either Vicious Ultimate or Pro Elite fluorocarbon in 15- to 17-pound test. You want a rod that provides the longest cast with the sensitivity to feel the lightest of strikes along with the power and leverage to set the hook.

While ledge fishing is not for every angler, it can pay big dividends with a little research and patience.

Capt. Jake Davis is a USCG-licensed professional guide on Lake Guntersville, visit www.midsouthbassguide.com or call (615) 613-2382.

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LAKE WYLIE FORECAST

J

uly is a hot month, so when you are out on the lake don’t forget the sunscreen and wear a hat for comfort.

The month of July is the beginning of summer fishing.

The fish head for deep water.

For the most part they stay in their comfort zone of 12 feet or deeper.

The crappie fishing can be a lot of fun. Target deep docks with brush or troll. If you dock fish you can use a 1/32 hair jig with 4 pound test line. If you troll use a 2 hook minnow rig 12-16 feet of water. Your trolling speed should be.5 or .6 MPH. Bass fishing can be a real challenge. Topwater baits early and late in the day will get you a few fish. Deep running crankbaits around main lake points works well.

Docks hold their fair share of bass, so don’t pass up a chance to cast a few plastic baits around a dock. The catfish bite is excellent in July. Target main lake flats in 20+ feet of water. Use cutbaits such as White perch. You can anchor up or drift for these fish. Lake Wylie has flatheads, channel and Arkansas blue catfish. The Bream fish are spawning, so go to the back of coves with a sandy bottoms. There you will find them in 2 feet of water. They are easy to catch. Crickets, worms and artificial baits will get the job done. This is a great way to introduce kids to fishing. There are a lot of boaters on the water, so be safe and courteous to others.

–By Jerry Neeley, Carolin’as Fishing Guide Service, 704-678-1043

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 17

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SEE THE LIGHT

NIGHT FISHING is the Cure to Hot and Crowded Summer Lakes

By Nick Carter

From the bow, 15-pound braid spun off the open face of Keith’s reel when he fired his jerkbait. It landed with a plop less than a foot from the front of the dock. He had barely closed the bail when a long shadow streaked into the light and smashed the bait. Keith reared back, and a 15-pound striper erupted on the surface, thrashing around before commencing a series of explosive runs that ripped line off his undersized gear. Thankfully, the fish was headed for open water. Keith eventually brought it boatside. A beautiful long and sleek teenaged striper was just one of a dozen or more fish that made the evening well worth forsaking an early bedtime.

Whether it’s stripers, hybrid bass, largemouths, spots, walleye or even trout, scenes like this will play out in the dark on Southeastern reservoirs all summer long. As the weather warms and pleasure boaters and jetskis take over the lakes, night fishing will become both the most pleasant and productive way to fish.

This dock-light striper bite will end with a bang when the big females return briefly to dock lights from their spawning grounds on the way to deeper water. On any lake, as surface temperatures rise into the high 70s and low 80s, most of the larger predatory fish will be headed out onto the main creek channels. But that doesn’t mean the bite around lights will be over. On most reservoirs, dock lights are good areas to target largemouths year-round. For those species that seek out deeper, cooler, more oxygenated submerged fishing light cast an eerie green glow off the front of water, you’ll need to bring your own light source to the party. the dock as Capt. Wes Carlton eased us into casting range with trolling motor. On a still and warm moonless night, darkness like an enclosure drew eyesight to the center of that luminescence, where occasional flickers belied the presence of feeding fish.

“No premature casts. That’s like being premature in bed.” Wes muttered as if he sensed the impatience of the two anglers in the front of the boat. “And don’t hit the dock either. They’re spooky on nights like this.”

Conditions were dead-still in the back of the creek. It was approaching midnight, and we had been on feeding fish for several hours.

A week prior there were reports of a striped bass that weighed heavier than 45 pounds caught pitching live blueback herring to dock lights at night, but we were mainly fishing artificials. When you first pull up to a lighted dock, a big jerkbait like a Spro McStick reeled at a moderate pace through the glow is just the thing to catch the attention of a striper, big largemouth or spotted bass. Just be sure to switch out the hooks for stronger ones; a striper will straighten a hook designed for bass fishing in a heartbeat.

Once a fish or two falls for the jerkbait, the fish become wise. Then it’s time to switch it up on them. A slower, deeper approach with a 3/16-oz. Capt.

Mack Farr bucktail jig dropped all the way to the bottom and retrieved steadily will sometimes draw a follow-up bite, and you also can’t go wrong with a live When the fish move out, Wes goes to the main channels and drops two blueback herring nose-hooked and pitched weightless into the light. or more 4-foot-long green tube lights from his boat. Don’t forget the extra battery.

As with any fishing, the bite is all about the bait, and it takes from 15 minutes to an hour and a half for bait to swarm lights dropped from a boat.

Once baitfish are thick and spinning around the lights like a green pinwheel, Broker/Realtor it should be no problem to drop a sabiki rig and load up the bait tank. Then there’s nothing left to do but downline those baits to the bottom of that bait ball you’ve created. Where there’s that much bait, fish will be there ready to eat.

This is pretty hard-core fishing with specialized equipment, though.

If you’d rather take it easy, crappie are another great option for summer nights. Crappie fishermen, lit up by lanterns, will be tied up under creekchannel bridges all summer long.

No matter how you do it, night fishing is a great option for beating the oppressive summer heat on crowded reservoirs. If you’ve never done it, give 4001 East Highway 24/27 it a try one night this summer. There’s a good chance you’ll see the light.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 19

– By John Hardin

The Underrated Sport of Trophy Catfish Tournaments Bass are king when it comes to freshwater tournament fishing. The boats are fast and expensive, with hundreds of them showing up on tournament day to compete for big money. The only thing that isn’t big in tournament bass fishing is the fish, especially when compared to what we’re weighing in on catfish tournament scales. A single fish on the small side at one of our events weighs more than the entire sack of a bass angler’s dreams.

I’m not knocking bass fishing; it’s a great sport. But trophy catfishing tournaments don’t get the respect they deserve. They are, however, gaining popularity by the day, with growing crowds of spectators gathering to see a monster weighed in. The bigger events can draw more than 100 boats competing for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.

Five-fish limits weigh 200-plus pounds, and big fish awards are handed out for cats that weigh as much as 80 pounds.

20 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

The fight of a monster cat in river current is second to none. We take heavy-action rods and large baitcasters loaded with braided line, heavy weights and 10/0 hooks baited with huge chunks of skipjack herring or whole threadfin shad. We cast into the depths of the rivers, just waiting for that hard takedown.

During the times of year when rivers are low and current is slack, we turn to controlled drifting, with our baits suspended just off bottom in hopes of luring the monster from his hideout.

The big blues and flatheads hit so hard that they can bury the rod tips into the water. They put so much pressure on the rod that it takes brute strength to get the rod out of the holder.

The adrenaline rush from the aggressive bite of a monster catfish is enough to hook any angler for life.

The catfish tournament scene is also pretty family friendly. Many catfish anglers

have introduced their children and wives to the sport, and the number of lady anglers competing has really grown. The ladies have proven to love the sport just as much as most guys, and they are getting the job done, too.

Tournaments are starting to pop up in more states throughout the country, and anglers travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles to participate. If you have never been to a catfish tournament, you should find one and check it out. You will see we are just as passionate about our fish as the other anglers in competitive fishing. It just takes a little more strength for us to get our fish to the scales.

John Hardin, of Calhoun, Ky., is a catfish tournament angler who fishes mostly on the Ohio River and the Green River.

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AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 21

Building Brand Loyalty is Who We Are Becoming part of the Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine Team provides your company with access to our loyal readership Age of Reader................. 82% at 35+ years old Gender of Reader........................ 82% are Male 18% are Female Owns truck, van or SUV............................. 86% Owns a boat.................................................. 68% Owns 2 or more automobiles.....................72% Average household income...$82,301-250,495 Home Ownership of Readers................. 79.5% Reader Survey: Global Marketing Research International

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LAKE HIGHROCK/BADIN TUCKERTOWN DAM FORECAST

D

uring the hot summer months like August many people believe that it is just too hot to fish and that the fish do not bite during this time.

On the Yadkin Lakes that is simply not true. Fish are cold blooded creatures that will adapt to warm water and as the water gets warmer the metabolism of these creatures speed up. This means more food and less time between meals. This relates to good fishing if you know where to look.

Crappie often bite well in July but very few people will target them believing they only bite during the spring and fall. Crappie also bite during hot weather you just have to adapt your fishing techniques.

Deeper brush piles are often good areas to start your search. What do I mean by deeper? Well, it depends on what lake you are fishing. On High Rock Lake it can mean 20 feet deep or even deeper. On Badin Lake that can mean brush piles or other cover as deep as 40 feet. Yes, I said 40 feet. Jigging a minnow or your favorite jig with a mostly straight down approach is the normal way to fish this cover. Crappie will also travel in schools between areas of cover and can by caught by slow-trolling or tight-lining jigs or minnows or both. You will have to use heavier jigs or a drop-shot type rig when slow trolling.

Largemouth Bass will also be deeper than normal most of the time in the summer. There are many exceptions to this rule however.

For one thing grass will produce oxygen in the summer sun and also offer protection for smaller fish and insects. This means the bass will have two of the most important items they need to survive—food and oxygen. Because bass are cold-blooded creatures, they will adapt to the warmer water and still be comfortable. Spinner-baits, buzz-baits, and floating worms are good choices for these shallow fish in the grass.

If there is movement in the grass that could be caused by moving bass, then try flipping a light weight jig near the movement. Use heavy line though because you will have to get these fish out of the grass. Wind causing waves to break on a bank will create a great area to target bass. The waves work as aerators to produce higher levels of oxygen.

The wind will also blow plankton into this area which mixed with the oxygen will attract bait fish and therefore largemouth bass. If there is a lot of wind on the bank, a spinner-bait should work well. If there is no grass or not much wind then look for points with sharp drop-offs or ledges which can hold bass. Crankbaits, Carolina rigs, jigs, and other types of deep water baits will work in these areas. High Rock Lake has almost no vegetation while Tuckertown and Badin Lakes have several large areas of grass.

Catfish also bite well in the heat of July and you might be surprised how shallow they can be. I have caught channel cats and blue cats in 3 and 4 feet of water in the middle of the day during the heat of summer on High Rock. These fish were caught in the river area near deeper holes. Once again, if there is oxygen and bait then there will be predators such as catfish. Most catfish will be on deeper flats near deep water but when this is slow don’t be afraid to fish very shallow.

Cut bait such as shad or white perch are the preferred baits for cannel cats and blue cats while flatheads mostly prefer live bait.

Striped bass are often misunderstood during the heat this month.

Striped bass require vast amounts of oxygen and food because they are a constantly moving species. Yes it is true that stripers are often deep because the water is cooler and has more oxygen than the warmer water. Once again though, wind and grass can cause the shallow water to be rich in oxygen and bait. Late evening hours are good times to look for them near large grass beds and windy areas.

Hot weather does not signal the end to fishing. As a matter of fact the heat affects the fisherman more than it does the fish. Dress in light cool clothing, use sunscreen, drink plenty of water and get out there and catch those fish.

–By Maynard Edwards, Yadkin Lakes Guide Service, 336-249-6782

FRESHWATER

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 23

DEEP COVER

for Summer Crappie

E

ach spring, anglers comb the shallows, probing tiny jigs and minnows at any likely looking spot in search of crappie. Rarely do anglers leave emptyhanded when the dogwoods are blooming and the fish are spawning. But in the summer heat, fish move out of the shallows. Most anglers hang up the jigging poles or use the same tactics as spring, leaving the lake with hungry stomachs and empty livewells.

Catching crappie once the spawn has ended can be just as good as when they’re on the beds. Anglers just have to switch to deep-thinking mode. Once the water’s surface temperature begins to creep higher, crappie seek the comfort of cooler water found a little deeper.

The key is to find sunken brush and other fish attractors, many times placed in the lake by anglers and state wildlife agencies. The latest electronics can be extremely helpful in finding brush piles made of branches and woody cover, but can be tricky to read when searching for brush made of bamboo or river cane, materials extremely popular with crappie anglers.

With side-imaging depthfinders, wood shows up easily, but bamboo sometimes appears as a shadow on the bottom of the lake. Sometimes riding right over those shadowy areas is the only way to reveal what could be excellent crappie cover.

Anglers without high-dollar electronics can still find plenty of offshore options for crappie, it just takes a little more effort and elbow grease. A five-gallon bucket, some hand-cut bamboo and some fast-setting concrete is all it takes to create your own brush piles to place wherever you want. Channel edges, points, drops and midlake humps are all good spots to set up as your personal crappie hole.

A minnow suspended underneath a slip float gets the nod almost every time when its time to get serious about catching fish, although crappie jigs can also be quite effective. It pays to have a milk run of brush piles at your disposal, as moving quickly from one to the next until you get into fish is the best way to fill a cooler.

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LAKE informaPlease add membership TILLERY tion ie, gold card, lake card info and costs. Please add Captain FORECAST Ryan Smith / phone # 855-732-8691 & 910-995ith the rising 0999 temperatures email: rsmith@seatow.com and summer

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vacation upon us, so is the boat traffic. Does that mean the fish stop eating? Does that mean that we GOLD CARD as anglers should just stay home and not fish? Heck $ 169 per year no! Get out there and fish, fish early in the morning, The most comprehensive on-water late in the evenings and even at night, just be aware assistance on the market!

Full suite of on-water assistance of the extra boating activity and be careful.

Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good, “You may rest assured that your vessel will be in good LAKE CARD as the fish enter their summer pattern concentrate hands due to the trained and committed captains we $ 119 per year on primary points, main lake points along creek have on staff. Our captains are standing by 24/7 to Same benefits as the Gold Card but on ALL fresh water assist our members both on and off the water. mouths, and offshore structure such as rocks, (Excluding Florida) stump fields and deep brush. Some good numbers Give us a call any time, we can help or just say hello!“ of fish continue to hold on piers and along adjacent grass beds, especially early, Jigs are producing some solid bags, colors of choice are green pumpkin, email: rsmith@seatow.com green craw and black and blue. Give the jig a larger profile by using a chunk, crayfish or creature bait of choice to entice the larger fish to bite. Deep running thermocline develops and comes into play, look for areas where the crankbaits will also produce if you will put your time in, using baits thermocline and structure intersect. Feeding patterns on Tillery is with red and chartreuse color patterns tend to be working well. And dependent upon water flow, being the lake is long and narrow at 14 don’t forget the plastics it is time to get the big in the water. Zoom Ol’ miles fish tend to relate to the old riverbed as an ambush point during Monster worms are a good choice, black, black grape and red shad are hydroelectric generation. always good colors, fish them on a 1/2 - 5/8 ounce shakey head or Texas

rigged. Schooling fish have been hitting lipless crankbaits sometimes

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Crappie have move to the deeper brush piles in 18 to 25 feet of water Checksout Facebook Galloway’ 4WDGalloway’s | 45224 Finch4WD Rd-Hwyon52N | Richfield,&NCInsta28137 but continue to bite pretty well. Minnows and jigs work equally well gram so be prepared with several different jg colors as they change during the day. After you catch a few move to a different spot or brushpile as they seem to stop after you catch a few out of the school, of course you should return in an hour or so because they will settle down and you can catch a few more.

The Striped Bass bite has been pretty good for about an hour after daybreak, with top water action being better than usual, creek chubs and large spooks with chrome and blue are producing some awesome strikes. The fish seem to be in the 4 to 6 pound range with the occasional 10 pound fish in the mix. After the surface action is over downlines will continue to produce bites later in the morning if you have live bait.

The rig consist of a 2-3 ounce egg sinker a barrel swivel and 4-6 feet of fluorocarbon leader tied to a 3/0 to 5/0 octopus style hook, let the size of your bait determine the hook size. Please practice catch and release whenever possible and also be mindful of the number of fish you catch as mortality rates continue to rise with the water temps, if you truly enjoy these fish save some for another day and don’t keep them just to ride them around on the tailgate.

White perch action is on fire and will continue to get better as the water temps rise. Cut bait produces some large white perch, as does our famous “Joe’s rig”, and by using a larger spoon on the bottom of the rig such as a Hopkins, Flex’ it spoon in various colors, or a castmaster you can also catch large catfish, largemouth and striped bass. White perch are a favorite for table fare, with firm flesh and the fact that the schools very large and the numbers astounding make them a great choice for a summer fish fry.

The catfish action should start to pick back up this month, last month was slow on the big fish bite due to the spawning blue cats and Sales & Repair nesting flatheads. Live bait will produce well with white perch and bluegill being the favorites since they are easy to get and keep alive Check us out on Facebook & Instagram in warmer temperatures. Drifting for big blues will be key as the

CAPTAIN RYAN SMITH

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 27

Become a Better Fly Angler...Instantly!

I

’m often asked how long it takes someone to become a relatively proficient fly angler. The sport does have a bit of an image issue in that it is believed to be difficult to learn. The fact is, you can make fly fishing as easy or as difficult as you want. It’s your decision. I may become ex-communicated from the fly fishing community for this article, but here are some outright lies you’ve probably heard about it: You’re only fly fishing if you’re using dry flies, fishing upstream to rising fish. Bull! You’re fly fishing if you’re using a fly rod with a fly line with a leader. You can fish dry flies, nymphs (underwater), streamers or terrestrials (ant, beetle or earthworm imitations) at any distance or depth you want.

• Strike indicators (bobbers) are the sign of a novice angler. First, they aren’t. I know lots of great anglers who use them, and I can tell you that without one you are missing most of your strikes. I don’t care who you are and how many years you’ve fished. A strike indicator can help you detect when your fly is taken, and without it you are missing more fish than you can imagine.

• You must be able to consistently make 40- and 50foot casts with totally drag free drifts or you’ll spook the fish. Wrong! And this is your primary key to instantly becoming a better fly angler. Unless you’re fishing a crystal clear spring creek in Idaho, you can get amazingly close to a trout, and as long as you can make a 10-foot cast you can catch fish.

•

with the tip of your rod so it will float or drift as naturally as possible to any nearby trout. When you reach the end of that drift and the current causes your fly to rise to the surface, raise your rod tip to where you see your fly skating on the surface and make a simple water haul cast.

In one motion, cast your fly back into the run or pocket. No back casts, no dastardly open loops and no wind knots. Easy as pie!

I promise you’ll begin catching more fish. You can learn to make those long casts later if you want, and you can experiment fishing without an indicator to see if you prefer it. You can even learn all the scientific names of bugs if you’re so inclined. I never have been able to do so, but I can still catch some fish.

•

By choosing your position wisely, you can use the broken surface of the stream (rough water) to hide your presence. Make short casts, hold your rod high in the air to keep your fly line off the water (high sticking) and follow your fly or indicator

28 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

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Whitewater Trout on the Nantahala River

f you’ve heard of western North Carolina’s Nantahala River, it’s likely because of the whitewater rafting or the spectacular delayed harvest trout fishery, which stays full of fish between October and June each year. Relatively few people know there is also a world-class tailwater fishery running through Nantahala Gorge. It offers a good mix of wild and hatchery-reared trout, with the shot at brown trout as long as your leg.

Because access to the best stretches of water is difficult, and because wading the river is nearly impossible during almost constant high water from power generation during the warmer months, this fishery has flown under the radar for as long as it has existed. It is, after all, primarily a playground for whitewater paddlers.

But what if you could combine the two… whitewater rafting and fishing?

That’s exactly what you’ll experience on a guided trip with Ken Kastorff or Bob Gernandt, with Endless River Adventures. As one of the few guide services permitted to take clients fishing on the river, they’ve got an inflatable drift boat that handles the whitewater as well as it fishes. And catching trout while careening through fast waters in a rocky gorge is about as much fun as anyone should be allowed to have. Just know you’ll have to wear a life vest and sign a waiver to do it.

Actually, it’s not as dangerous as it sounds. Ken’s got as much time on the sticks as anyone. With him rowing, it’s the angler’s duty to concentrate on the water, flipping short casts with a fly rod into each eddy and pocket as the raft bounces down the river. In long, likely eddies along the bank, Ken will haul back on the oars, fighting

the current to allow for multiple drifts of a heavy nymph rig. Or, if they’re eating meat that particular day, one might wear out a shoulder chunking a double-streamer rig for one of the huge brown trout the river produces.

Ken’s got a photo of an enormous Nantahala brown he said might have been the state record if they hadn’t released the fish. That’s saying something. The N.C. record brown trout weighed 24 pounds, 10 ounces. It was caught from the Nantahala tailrace back in 1998.

The only thing missing from a float trip on the lower Nantahala is seclusion. Every few minutes, flotillas of whitewater paddlers float past. You have to watch your casts to avoid catching a paddler, but the fish don’t mind boats at all. If they were spooked by boat traffic, they would starve to death.

Usually there’s at least one guy in each whitewater raft who looks like he’d rather be fishing. This is the guy who inevitably asks if you’re catching any. You could tell the truth, that you’d lost count of the number of healthy rainbows and browns brought to the net. But when approached with the same question dozens of time over the course of a day, sometimes something a little more witty is in order.

You’ll have to see for yourself the variety of responses Ken and Bob have to answer that question.

Endless River Adventures can be contacted through their website at www.endlessriveradventures.com.

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By Nick Carter

AUGUST 2017

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 31

High Elevation Trout in the Smoky Mountains

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here is no better time to fish the trout streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park than fall. Beginning next month with shorter days and cooler nights, water temperatures begin to fall and stream levels begin to rise with welcomed rains.

Trout are rejuvenated after the long summer. Whether they are rainbows, browns or the native southern Appalachian strain of brook trout the park has worked so hard to successfully stabilize in its streams, all of them will be feeding up prior to winter.

The browns will be making their annual upstream runs to spawn, which can be a great time to encounter some of the larger fish that are notoriously difficult to catch at other times of year. The little brookies, known locally as “specks,” will also be engaged in spawning behaviors and decked out in all the oranges, purples and deep greens that make them some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. The rainbows won’t be spawning, but they will be feeding on a smorgasbord that is the insect life of the Smokies.

For the fly fishers and bug nerds out there, late September brings on hatches of brightly colored and sometimes large insects that are a very welcome sight to dry fly anglers. These are not the massive hatches of the West, with clouds of bugs over the water inciting a topwater feeding orgy. In the park, things are more subtle. One might see a few bright yellow sulphur mayflies flitting around above the stream, a caddis or two, or gatherings of midges or blue winged olives to clue them in on what the trout are looking for. And then there’s the October caddis, known elsewhere as the great autumn brown sedge. These big caddis hatch mostly at night. But when they’re around, the trout know it and they will be keyed in on a big orange bug.

Dry fly fishermen can try to match the naturals or go with an attractor pattern that mimics the colors and look of multiple bugs.

Yellow is a perennial favorite in the park, and it’s tough to go wrong with an orange Stimulator.

Of course there’s also the sub-surface option. A vast majority of feeding occurs underwater when it comes to trout streams, and fishing a nymph or a nymph dropped on tippet a couple feet beneath a big bushy dry fly will undoubtedly improve success rates when the fish are not actively feeding on the surface. Going for a big fish? Once trout reach a certain size, their diet swings toward heavier protein packages than a bug can provide. Streamers that imitate small fish or crayfish will often produce the larger fish from any stream.

There are 29,000 miles of streams within the more than 520,000 acres of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. About 20 percent of them hold trout. That’s a little less than 6,000 miles of trout water waiting to be explored over hundreds of miles of trails. Some streams have roadside access, where one could hop out of the truck and start fishing. Others require hikes of up to several miles to reach. An easy afternoon on the water is possible, and so is a pack-in backcountry trip to waters that seldom see another angler.

Pretty much all of these streams are small mountain flows with wild trout. Even the larger ones, like the aptly named Big Creek and Deep Creek, are small in comparison to rivers elsewhere. This is highelevation small-stream fishing at its finest.

Although some large brown trout come from the streams of the Smokies every year, it is not the place to go if you are looking for trophy trout. High in the mountains, these fisheries are infertile, and the trout do not grow very large. What they lack in size, they make up for in looks and a willingness to play. The infertile conditions mean there’s not much to eat naturally, which makes fish opportunistic. That’s not to say they’re easy to catch. They can be frustratingly difficult at times.

For most of the streams on the park, a 3- or 4-weight rod with floating line will suffice, and for some of the smaller brook-trout streams a short 6-footer is the tool to creatively serve up flies in pools beneath dense vegetation. A 5-weight might be useful on some of the park’s larger streams. But gear any heavier than that would be overkill.

Abrams Creek, Little River, Raven Fork, Oconoluftee… even the names sound like an adventure waiting to happen. It might not be swinging streamers for giant rainbow trout in Alaska or drifting huge nymphs for enormous brown trout in New Zealand, but exploring around each bend of a small flow high into the mountains has its own appeal. The fish might not be big, but they are there. And as far as places go, there aren’t many better than off the beaten path in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@ gmail.com.

By Nick Carter

32 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 33

Blue-lining For Specks Native Brookies in Southern Appalachia – By Nick Carter

B

etween Murphy, N.C. and the tiny little town of Andrews, there is a long stretch of U.S. 129 that curves gently through the lowland fields and farms along the Valley River. The Snowbird Mountains roll up abruptly on all sides to form a gorgeously stark barrier from the softness of valley below. As the strip malls fade out of the rearview mirror, the road dives headlong into a cleft, climbing miles of sharp switchbacks to dump you unceremoniously into a haggard little outpost called Robbinsville, N.C. Nearly a hundred miles from the nearest commercially serviced airport, in this almost forgotten, mountainous western tip of the state, you will find a stronghold of the southern Appalachian brook trout. These diminutive little beauties, which have been extirpated from nearly half the watersheds they were native to, have maintained a foothold in the high-elevation trickles that lie like a web over the Snowbird Mountains.

Over centuries, southern Appalachian brook trout—known as “specks” by the locals—have been beaten back by poor land management practices and the introduction of non-native species, notably brown and rainbow trout. All four Southeastern states within the brook trout’s native range— Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina—are conducting habitat improvements and reintroductions of this native strain. But for anglers, the adventure involved in finding specks is as much fun as catching them. They live in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

This is the Southeast’s version of fishing high-elevation Rocky Mountain beaver ponds for native cutthroats. The hikes in are often long and grueling, and the fish are typically a fraction of the size you’ll find on the larger, usually stocked flows closer to civilization. But for anglers with an appreciation for pretty fish and the feeling of solitude that comes with hiking farther into the woods than most are willing, it can be worth it.

Some people call it blue-lining. Get out a good topo map of a mountainous area with water temperatures capable of supporting trout populations. Look for those thin blue lines that indicate small streams falling from high elevations into known trout waters. These are your likely speck streams.

A stream’s elevation loss is key. In order to have productive speck water, there must be a barrier waterfall that prohibits upstream migration of rainbow and brown trout.

Brook trout populations do not last long

in waters where rainbows or browns have gained a foothold.

These exacting conditions exist in remote locations throughout the speck’s native range. In strictly managed areas, like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, reintroductions of southern Appalachian brook trout have created easier access to them. This is wonderful, but for some anglers who enjoy the challenge and adventure of blue-lining, it defeats the purpose. Finding and fishing a good speck stream that few others know about is the reward in itself.

Once you do find them, they are typically easy to catch. In the infertile headwaters where they reside, specks are extremely opportunistic feeders. They’ll jump on just about any dry fly or nymph you care to present, and spin-fishermen can catch them on an array of very small jigs and spinners.

There really is no need for live bait, and a fly rod is probably better suited for fishing in the thin pocket water where specks live.

If this sounds like a lot of trouble to catch trout that rarely reach lengths longer than 9 to 12 inches, it is. It takes some research.

And unless he’s your brother-in-law, don’t even bother asking the guy at the local fly shop where to find specks. Then there’s the searching. Many times finding good speck water is the result of growing bored with the main flow of a river and exploring up small tributaries. Most anglers will never do it.

Here’s a big hint to get you started. Find Big Snowbird Creek in Graham County, N.C. Drive until the road turns to dirt.

Bypass all the enticingly gorgeous pocket water that parallels the road. Drive until the road ends, and then hike in about 8 miles to Big Falls. Above Big Falls, specks have been here longer than the Cherokee. In their spawning regalia of deep purple, green and orange, with white tipped fins, they are the most exquisite and delicate of all fish. And that’s what it’s all about.

Nick Carter is the author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina and Georgia,” an extensively researched 218-page guide to the area’s best trout water. It includes more than 40 full-color maps, driving directions, GPS coordinates to access points and tips and tactics. It is available on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

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After the First Saturday in June: Fly Fishing in the Heat of Summer F or an overwhelming portion of Carolina fly anglers, the “First Saturday in June” signals the start of golf season. It’s no secret that the opening of Catch & Keep effectively means the end of consistent, quality fishing on our Delayed Harvest designated trout waters. Liberal harvest limits & bait restrictions, combined with warming water and the cessation of stocking, quickly turn Wilson Creek from a guide’s favorite, into a haven for jean shorts and inner tubes.

However, for an angler who is willing to drive a little further, escape from his or her comfort zone, learn something new and accept the risk of failure, summertime fishing can be absolutely bonkers. Besides the designated year round catch & release trout fisheries, Carolina anglers have access to several superb tailwaters, ample smallmouth opportunities and more miles of small stream wild trout than one could wade in two lifetimes. If your fly fishing experience has primarily consisted of drifting a Squirmy Wormy through that pool beneath the bridge and you’re ready to hang up the waders until fall, I’d challenge you to learn something new this summer.

Chuck a Deer Hair Popper toward a shady spot on the bank of the Nolichucky River.

Count to 5. One crisp, short strip. Count to 5.

Two crisp, short strips. If your definition of bass fishing isn’t completely upended by the time you count to 5 once more, pick it up and cast again.

The aggressive and hard -fighting smallmouth bass can be found in most cool water rivers and offers tremendous opportunity for anglers of all experience levels.

Watch the fog rise off the chilly, chalky-hued waters of the Smith River on a hot July morning.

Sit for a minute before stepping in and watch for the hearty wild browns that sip midges off the surface all summer long. This lesser-known tailwater requires that you hike the train tracks in, but it rewards with an excellent population of wild brown trout, as well as decent numbers of stocked rainbows and the rare brook. Be safe and call ahead to check on the generation schedule.

Open up your NC Gazetteer to any page covering the western third of the state. Place your finger on one of those small, squiggly blue lines. Go there and have one of the most unique and rewarding trout fishing experiences of your life. Our mountains are full of beautiful creeks that are chock full of wild rainbows and native brookies. Don’t worry too much about fly selection, a single size 12 Stimulator or Caddis will suffice, but step quietly. These wary mountain trout like fly fishermen splashing

through their pristine streams about as much as the owner of the moonshine still that you might occasionally stumble across.

The challenge of summertime fly fishing doesn’t appeal to everyone. That’s fine, you folks can enjoy the pool or the golf course – we’ll see you again in October. However, if you’re like me, you know that golf is boring and that some kid likely peed in the pool. For us, summertime fishing can be all about expanding our horizons, learning something new and opening ourselves up to adventure. Not every trip will work out as expected. Unpredictable summer weather, wild fish and unfamiliar water make a slow day on the water a real possibility. However, that same unpredictability is exactly what provides the potential for a truly unforgettable experience.

Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like to learn more and take some of the unpredictability out of summertime fly fishing, please contact him at madisonriverflyfishing@gmail.com or call at (704) 896-3676. Check us out on Facebook: Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters or on the Web: www.carolinaflyfishing.com –By Ryan Wilson

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 35

Early Preparation is Key for Early Season Bucks

he lives during the day. It won’t be far from where you are getting the night pictures.

Something that I think is not highlighted enough when we are talking about preparing for bow season is trimming shooting lanes.

You can do all the hard work planting food plots, scouting natural food sources and practicing your shooting accuracy. It won’t do any good if you can’t get a shot at that monster buck when he steps out, or even worse you hit a vine or limb and watch your arrow sail 5 feet to the left of your dream buck. It is easiest with two people, one in the stand directing and one on the ground cutting. I like to have at least four good clear lanes at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and a few “holes” in between the lanes where I could sneak one in if I had to. Don’t go too crazy with the saw though. It is just as important to have good cover around your stand. I believe a good background goes a long way. Get on the ground and look up at your stand. If there is blue sky behind you, they will see you, so select a good tree with a good background.

Keep these factors of preseason prep in mind this month, and it will give you a better chance at that buck next month. If you’re going to be out there fighting the mosquitoes, no-seeums and poison ivy, you might as well give yourself the best chance possible. Good luck this bow season. Stay safe, and always wear your safety harness…. always.

To see a video of the buck pictured being harvested, visit www. combatinthewild.com, or search for Combat in the Wild on YouTube and subscribe to their channel. The name of the video is “The Wide 7.”

By Corey New

Barefoot

I

f you’re like me, weekends in August are dedicated to checking stands, putting up new sets, trimming shooting lanes, checking trail cameras and doing other tasks that will prepare you for the upcoming archery season. This month is the perfect time to get out there and do the jobs that are noisy, sweaty, and let’s be honest… sometimes smelly, especially to a deer’s nose.

If you go out and bang around and sweat all around your favorite stands a couple of days before the season, don’t expect to see much on opening day besides maybe the curious fawn or four pointer. The mature bucks just will not tolerate it.

Also, this month is the time to scout for good early season food sources. It can be anything from persimmons, crabapples and scuppernongs, to green briar or any other forage that deer love to browse on this time of year. Personally, I love to combine two. One of my favorite places to hunt is where hardwoods transition into pines that have been burned in the same year. I find a place with plenty of scuppernongs on the hardwood edge and set my stand right there.

This combines the sweet grapes with the high-quality browse in the pine stand due to the winter burn. This very set is where I was able to harvest the buck pictured.

Besides my bow, probably the most important tool, especially for early season, are my trail-cams. Agree or disagree with them, they have revolutionized the way we hunt. It is important to remember that deer don’t move very far this time of year. If you set up a trail camera and are not seeing what you want to see within a week or so, he’s not there. Move your camera to a different location until you find where he is living. After you find him, you can develop your plan accordingly.

Early bow season is the only time that you have a chance to pattern a mature buck. If you’re getting daylight pictures of him, you’ve hit the jackpot! If you’re only getting pictures of him in the middle of the night, adjust you trail camera location and you might just find where 36 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

AUGUST 2017

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By Capt. Charlie Slattery

t started as just an idea for a family vacation, and it turned into a new passion for the sport of spearfishing and freedive, as well as a new relationship with some great friends.

Being a professional guide organizing and hosting worldwide spearfishing adventures, I’ve had the luxury of meeting some incredible people, but this trip was special. It started with

a phone call from a Texas number and a man on the line interested in the sport. He had been following some fishing and spearing social media pages, and I struck his interest after he noticed I live in Treasure Island, Fla. It was one of those small-world scenarios. He had previously done a fishing charter with a friend of mine.

The man on the phone, Mike Fry, said he liked my style based on what he saw on my social media pages. I always strongly stress the importance of freedive safety, while on the other hand pushing the wild side to send everyone home with a new adrenaline rush that will leave them starving for more.

5 NORTH CAROLINA

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Mike had nothing, not even a clue. He was open for anything as long as it got him a big fish. We started with weeks of emails and texts, getting him set up with the best gear on the market for him and his son Tanner. They needed everything: wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, weights and belts, gloves, freedive watches, float lines, buoys and spearguns. We started at Maverick America, my favorite one-stop shop for the best gear available.

Luca, the shop manager, took care of Mike with five-star service.

Then it was time for his gun. Mike wanted something versatile, something he could use to hunt the blue water as well as oil rigs and reefs. I hooked him up with a local gun builder and friend Travis Emory, of Flatline Custom Spearguns. Using only salvaged repurposed wood, Travis makes some of the most beautiful guns out there. Every gun holds a small piece of history with that salvaged wood, and Travis’ craft gives it the ability to live on and make more history.

Mike was set. It was time for his family’s adventure. Mike, Tabby, Tanner and Shelby Fry, a small-town family from Texas, flew to Costa Rica to spearfish. Upon arrival in San Jose, I awaited them with my van driver.

Joining them on the trip were Megan Romine, a realtor looking to get away, and a surprise friend of hers, Anthony Colettii. Both were not so fresh as the Fry family, but they were definitely beginners. We packed up all the luggage, and the journey began to Nosara, a village renowned for sportfishing on northern Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.

There was much to see on the way. The scenery is breathtaking with coastline, waterfalls, river bridges, with hundred of giant crocs underneath, and endless mountains. There was plenty of time to talk in the van and over a nice waterfront lunch. When we made it to the re-

CAMSPEARFISHING.COM sort, we settled in with a few mixed drinks, and we were already like a small family.

The next day was a relaxing training day in the pool. Blackout safety training is more important than anything in freedive spearfishing. After hours in the pool with the divers, we were all very confident and feeling safe about our dive partners who would be in the water to protect us in the event of a blackout.

After a few freedive tips consisting of breath-ups, dive techniques and gear safety, we were ready to spear some fish. Much to my surprise with a group of newbies, the first day was madness. The entire group was diving like pros. Mike, Megan and Anthony made drops of nearly 90 feet to shoot some monster snappers! I could not believe it; I was so stoked.

Even Tanner, diving with only one fin because of a broken ankle, was able to dive 60 feet. I was so proud of everyone. Megan let nothing stop her; she had never before been able to dive deeper than 30 feet. Geared up with her brand new C4 carbon fiber fins and a C4 carbon fiber speargun, she did it, making it all the way to the bottom into an unbelievably big school of pargo. She got her big fish. Breaching the surface with a huge smile, she said, “That’s what fishin’ is all about.” Anthony and Mike made it look easy, dive after dive filling the fish box.

Needless to say, the spearfishing adventure was a success. Every night we shared our fresh catch with the family back at the lodge, inviting my local longtime friends over every night, the Brandon Richardson family. Not one piece of the fish went to waste.

Catering to the non-divers on the trip, and giving our bodies a rest, we ziplined the longest line in the entire world, took surf lessons, and were dragged through all the local shops with the ladies. Parting from this group was hard, but I knew it wasn’t over. We were all lifelong friends now, and that’s what it’s all about— making memories, meeting new people and enjoying an incredible life experience. It’s all about a good time!

Spearing a trophy fish is always a bonus.

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LER DES

TIPS FROM A PRO

DOG DAYS BASS FISHING BRANDON LESTER

T

he “dog days” of summer can make for some of the toughest conditions a bass fisherman faces. Combine hot air and water temperatures with an abundance of recreational traffic on the lake, and sometimes it seems there aren’t any bass left to catch.

The big schools out on the ledges have already seen every bait known to man, and many fish have already been caught.

With all this being said, don’t let it stop you from fishing, because bass can certainly still be caught if you keep an open mind.

The old saying “the early bird gets the worm” has never been more true than during the dog days. Bass feed a lot more at night this time of year, and that bite carries over into the first couple hours of daylight. A good place to start looking for early morning bass is shallow rocky banks. Rocks cool down at night, and that slight temperature change attracts shad, bluegill, crawfish and everything else bass like to eat. Shallow boat ramps are also really good for the same reasons.

My favorite baits for early in the morning are a topwater walking bait and a popper.

My personal favorites are a Heddon Super Spook Jr. and a Booyah Boss Pop. The key is to start early and cover as much water as you can before the sun gets up. The bites will be pretty scattered, so you don’t want to waste too much time in one place.

My topwater setup consists of an MHX-EPS86MF rod that I build from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. It’s 7’2” in length, which allows for long, accurate casts. I use a high-speed reel, usually 7:1:1 gear ratio spooled with 30-pound Vicious No-Fade

braid. I also use a 6-foot leader of 17-pound Vicious mono.

Sharp hooks are key, so I change out factory hooks with #4 Mustad round bend trebles and put a feathered treble on the back for added flash.

Once the sun gets high, it gets tougher. The best way to keep up with the fish is to watch for shade lines.

That’s where the bass will be.

Shade could be boat docks, laydowns, overhanging trees,

By Chris Beardsley

W

anything in or over the water that creates shade. Shade attracts bluegills, which are up around the banks this time of year to spawn, and that is what attracts bass.

One of my favorite ways to catch bass later in the day is with a wacky worm. It is easy for me to skip this rig into hard-to-reach places. The key is to cover water and put the bait in the deepest, darkest shade you can find.

My wacky worm setup is a 6’9” MHX-EPS-81MXF. This rod is medium-power so it has plenty of backbone to get them out of cover, especially when you spool it with 10-pound Vicious Hi-Vis yellow braid with a 10-pound Vicious fluorocarbon leader.

The wacky worm I throw is called a True Center Stick from X-Zone Lures, and my favorite color this time of year is green pumpkin/ purple flake to resemble a bluegill.

Get more tips from Lester at

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Redfish From The Beach

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hen targeting redfish, the beach isn’t the first place most people think to look. It’s easy to imagine casting topwater plugs, spoons, paddletails or a popping cork with a DOA to tailing reds in a grassy flat or hijacking a big bull on the edge of an oyster bar or jetty, but what about the beach?

Redfish or red drum are a highly sought after gamefish that can be found all along the Gulf Coast and up the Atlantic Coast as far north as Massachusetts. No matter where you fish for them, fishing from the beach requires different tactics.

The good news is that redfish will eat anything that won’t eat them, and big redfish love cut bait. A 3-inch piece of ladyfish is a good start, but others prefer live baits such as menhaden. Of course cut bait is a magnet for stingrays and catfish, but more importantly sharks. You’ll want to be prepared with at least a 30-pound mono leader or better yet, an 8- to 10-inch steel leader. Whether you choose live bait or cut, the typical fish finder or Carolina rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook is all you need.

Big drum pull especially hard in the surf. Typical hardware consists of an 8- to 10-foot medium-heavy rod and 5000 series reel. This combination provides plenty of backbone for chunking big baits but also provides enough cranking power for all but the largest fish. I have found that the rolling waves can work to your advantage, as the surf will often push the fish onto the beach.

On the other hand, the undertow can work against you just as easily. Just be sure that whichever reel you choose has a smooth, powerful drag.

Depending on your location, the tide will affect conditions on the beach differently. In most cases, it won’t have as much influence when fishing the surf as it might in shallower water around oyster bars or grass flats. My best success has been at high tide, which is contrary to most flats fishing, where low tide is preferred for spotting tailing fish. Look for deeper holes away from the beach or breaks in the sandbar. Deeper water is often preferred by bigger fish, and I like to cast to the far edge of the sandbar; the trough, or gut, just isn’t as productive. This takes a little effort, and might require some wading to reach, but you’ll greatly increase your chances of catching fish.

Later in the afternoon or early evening is preferred regardless of tide conditions. Of course, there are other, more willing fish out for dinner at this time too. This makes fishing for reds on the beach that much more fun, because like someone once said, “The surf is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” At least that’s how I remember it.

Chris is a freelance writer from Wisconsin with an obsession for all things saltwater. He does most of his fishing on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

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Rockin’ Bass In The Adirondacks

By Rich Ortiz

Rich Ortiz, the “Fishin’ Musician,” shows off a nice Adirondacks largemouth. Check out Rich’s music and outdoor adventures at richortiz.com. Photo by Louis Torres Photography.

B

y the time I was 12 years old, I knew and fished at least two dozen bass waters, most of them from a canoe with my Pop. Usually there were no boat ramps, no houses and seldom another fisherman. That’s the beauty of the Adirondack region of Upstate New York.

There’s tons of water and lots of fish.

Often when the Adirondacks (ADKs) are mentioned in fishing circles, pristine secluded trout rivers or brook trout ponds come to mind.

Our secret is that the ADKs have countless bass fishing options, as well, with any kind of water you could think of.

Three renowned waters within my 30-minute fishing radius are perfect examples of the great bass fishing in our area. Lake George, Lake Champlain and Saratoga Lake provide varied and endless opportunities for both largemouth and smallmouth action, with a spectrum of habitats that could keep any bass enthusiast occupied for a lifetime. Additionally, if it’s a secluded canoe/kayak adventure you’re after, I dare say the ADKs have more backwoods bass waters on public land than any state I can think of. These woods are the same natural forests they were in 1885, when they were deemed untouchable thanks to Teddy Roosevelt.

Imagine fishing secluded, crystal-clear waters with green mountains as a backdrop, moderate temperatures and a relaxing breeze. Since the founding of our country, these waters have provided sanctuary from the heat and congestion of the growing East Coast industrial cities. Summer retreats to the ADKs to fish and hunt were the norm, and coupling

these outdoor activities with attractions like Saratoga horse racing or a Lake George steamboat ride created traditions of the American summer vacation.

Today, if you are serious about bass fishing, yet want to include family on the vacation, the Saratoga/Lake George area is the spot. I feel qualified to endorse the attractions, since when I am not fishing or hunting, I’m performing music at many of the area’s top resorts and restaurants.

Though my profession as a traveling musician has allowed me to fish all over North America, my heart is still at home fishing the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park.

Let’s start with Lake George, which is a large deep-water lake that is the ultimate finesse bass water. This beautiful 32-mile-long glacially carved lake has rock shorelines and is speckled with islands that provide endless bass structure. Lake George has AAA reservoir water quality and is crystal clear. Light 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon line is a must while drop-shotting 30- to 50-foot rocky bottoms for big numbers of smallmouth and some nice 4-pound-plus fish. When drop-shotting I prefer natural presentation baits like the Berkley’s Gulp! Nemesis in the Smelt color. The lake temperature remains cool all year, and shaky-head worm presentations or small bass jigs will score a mix of largemouth and smallmouth in ultra-clear 20- to 40-foot depths.

This is a great training ground for teaching your family or friends to fish. Shore fishing is a bonus, and many others and I make trophy catches all year from shore. I rely on my Costa sunglasses on this lake as much as my Lowrance Sonar. It’s so clear that I can watch strikes in 20 feet of water. I keep three pairs of Costas on board. I prefer yellow lenses for sunrise, low light and cloudy days. These lenses work wonders sighting fish and contrasting bottom structure. I use blue mirror on bright days and amber green mirror lenses for most other situations on the lake.

Just to the north of Lake George, Lake Champlain offers everything a fisherman can imagine. Many experts rank Champlain among the top fisheries in the country for largemouth and smallmouth bass. You can fish just about any presentation in this vast lake, which combines natural and man-made structure like sunken ships, submerged train tracks and dock cribbings. My fishing concentrates on the southern end of the lake, where the water is usually very stained. Vast water chestnut beds yield many 5-pound-plus largemouth bass. Heavy abrasion-resistant line is a must; I prefer fluorocarbon or braid, depending on presentation. I normally punch the weeds with 1- or 2-ounce tungsten and big 10-inch Power Bait or Yum worms. Dark colors work best. Topwater and flipping are also go-to tactics, with countless backwaters providing breathtaking views and heart-pounding hook sets.

To the south, Saratoga Lake is much smaller than George or Champlain. It is slightly stained and can be highly pressured but still provides large numbers of largemouth in the 3- to 5-pound range. Dense concentrations of cabbage and mixed milfoil create great opportunities for tossing plastics and jigs on the edges of long weed lines. Saratoga Lake’s close proximity to the City of Saratoga Springs makes it an ideal morning or evening getaway for those visiting during track season, which lasts through Labor Day. While the tourist season winds down, the fish really turn on, which make for some magical days in fall.

The big lakes are great, but to me the gems of this area are the smaller lakes and ponds I learned to fish on. The unique chance to toss a lure to unpressured fish on public waters is a reality. The Adirondack Park features countless opportunities perfect for canoe and kayak fishing. With today’s lightweight watercraft, you can be alone with 2- to 5-pound bass after just a half-mile hike to numerous ponds and lakes. Many canoe and kayak waters are also roadside or within a state park. New York does a wonderful job providing trailhead access and parking areas for anglers with car-top boats. Research access at www.dec.ny.gov.

The amount of good bass water in the Saratoga/Lake George is staggering. With its proximity to so many metropolitan centers, a short drive up I-87 can have you setting hooks on some beastly bass in no time.

For an overview map of the area, go to

THEANGLER.ROCKS

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FRESHWATER Mille Lacs Ranked No. 1 Bass Lake By B.A.S.S. Photo by Doug Kerr

M

innesota’s Mille Lacs Lake has long been known for exceptional walleye fishing and ice fishing, but the smallmouth bass fishing on this more than 130,000-acre lake north of Minneapolis is what catapulted it to the top of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings.

According to B.A.S.S. research, 20-pound five-fish limits of smallmouth bass are a regular occurrence, 30-pound sacks show up in some events, and two 36-pound limits were weighed in during events last fall. Those numbers are almost unbelievable on a smallmouth lake, considering a 36-pound limit would average out to more than 7 pounds per bass.

Here’s the rundown of Bassmaster’s top-12 bass lakes in the nation: 1. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota 2. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas 3. Clear Lake, California 4. Shearon Harris Lake, North Carolina 5. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California 6. Lake Berryessa, California 7. Lake Erie, New York 8. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina 9. Lake St. Clair, Michigan 10. Falcon Lake, Texas 11. Thousand Islands area St. Lawrence River, New York 12. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

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Focus On Redfish In August

By Tobin Strickland

A

big question on all the Internet message boards lately is, “Where are the midrange trout in the heat of summer?”

One of the indicators of either fishing too shallow or fishing in the wrong part of the bay for the season is catching mostly undersized trout. So, if you’re catching nothing but “dink” trout in August, fish deep structure with current.

I don’t like catching dinks, so I’ll focus on upper-slot redfish and sight casting to the big shallow trout I see while I’m fishing for reds.

The summer heat finally forces redfish to go in search of food in the marsh and grass flats. Shrimp are now mostly gone, except large white shrimp, so while there are main-bay, open-water redfish chasing those fish-big shrimp, some reds will now begin to work over juvenile white shrimp and shad in the marsh and grass flats. They’ll also be eating mullet and crabs when the opportunity presents itself.

Redfish are simple. They use current to feed, and the faster you learn about where the niche is, the more consistent you’ll be catching redfish in shallow waters. Follow a current from a marsh cut to the bank of a marsh pond it’s flowing too, and you’ll find redfish. Also look for eddies behind structure and where the current edge crosses structure, and that’s good as well. Big trout are similar in the summer in shallow areas. They are there for the big mullet and to eat little trout but are in small niche areas of their own.

Tobin created the TroutSupport.com weedless, snagless, long casting, walk the dog soft plastic for fishing shallow grass, shallow oysters, rocks, and mangrove where reds and snook live.

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MAKO SHARK ON THE FLY

I

f you’re looking for some spectacular fly fishing for toothy critters, mako sharks are tough to beat as a game fish. They can be found pretty much worldwide, but right now is the time of year to visit southern California, where shortfin mako sharks show up off the coast every year within easy range for fly rodders with a small skiff.

The mako shark is one of saltwater fly fishing’s outstanding but unappreciated game fish. Found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a smaller mako in the 20- to 30-pound range can be the perfect-sized fish 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, and the equipment also differs.

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 will reduce pitch and roll to a minimum, offering a much more stable casting platform.

A good chum line is the most effective way of attracting makos to within casting distance of your boat. Chumming attracts the larger makos and will place you in the position of being able 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 5-gallon bucket and lower this mess over the side. Then sit back 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 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 a 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 or an hour and a half before moving to another spot, but there have been occasions when the sharks made their appearance within a few minutes of 1 ½ hours.

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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FISHING 23 7/6/17 10:35 AM I FLY NATIONAL 23

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SCALLOP SEASON IS OPEN! DAVID MANEY, FOWLER’S SUNGLASSES

Value Versus Ego In Sunglasses

A

t Fowler’s, we know sunglasses. We sold more than 25,000 pairs last year, and we represent more than 30 companies, all clamoring for attention in the marketplace. This gives me intimate knowledge of most of what’s offered, and I have some insight to share on what makes a pair of sunglasses the right pair for you.

There are two types of

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Realize that frames represent very little in the cost of production for a pair of sunglasses. What you are paying for--or should be paying for-in an expensive pair of glasses is lens technology. A better set of lenses is going to cost more and last longer. Those inexpensive glasses with sprayon lens protection will serve you almost as well as the expensive ones off the shelf, but they might

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A 71-Room Lodge with Meeting Rooms • Group Rates Available Located 30 miles south of Tallahassee • Just minutes to the Gulf of Mexico Restaurant & Bar for Private Events • Banquet and Meeting Rooms for Groups Boat Parking Available • Centrally located for several Nature Tours

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sunglasses shoppers. One views sunglasses as fashion accessories, to be matched to an outfit or activity. This is all well and good.

Good-looking glasses do help you look cool. The second type of shopper, which is a group I have found many anglers fall into, is more interested in sunglasses as an essential tool. All-day comfort and performance are considerations that come before style or brand for people in this second group.

If performance is more important to you than ego, do not lock yourself into one particular brand of glasses.

They can range from $5 to $500, and all manufacturers promote their own bells and whistles.

Sometimes you get what you pay for, other times you are paying for a brand logo on the side of the frame.

only maintain that performance for a year.

The single most important consideration with frames is they are essential to fit and the resulting comfort for the wearer.

This is why you should not be locked into a certain brand.

Everyone’s face is different, and so are everyone’s sunglasses needs.

Do not be a branded person, choose a pair of sunglasses that fits your face and your needs.

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3896 Coastal Highway • Crawfordville, FL 32327 850.926.4455 or 800.878.1546 www.WildwoodResortFL.com

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David Maney is an expert in the general field of Sunglasses. He has appeared in Southern Living Magazine, USA Today and US. World Report. Fowler’s is a longtime leader in the sunglasses industry. For more information on Fowler’s and David Maney, visit www.fowlerssunglasses.com or call 888-340-9021.

6 Reasons Why Fowler’s Sells More Sunglasses than Anyone Else in the U.S. Over 250,000 Pairs Sold #1. Price #2. Selection #3. Price #4. Selection #5. Price #6. Selection

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7/18/17 PM 7/7/17 12:24 2:36 PM

1,000-Pound Tournament Hammerhead Shatters Texas Record Photo courtesy of Texas City La Marque Jaycees/Facebook nglers hauled some big sharks out of the Gulf of Mexico during this year’s Texas City Jaycees Tackle Time Fishing Tournament. Chief among those sharks was a 1,033-pound great hammerhead that shattered a 37-year-old Texas state record.

Tim McClellan obviously took first place for the giant shark he entered in the annual fundraising tournament for the Texas City La Marque Jaycees. The tournament awards the top three fish in multiple inshore, offshore and youth divisions. This year, it ran June 30 – July 9, and 964-pound and 817-pound tiger sharks rounded out the top three in the shark division.

McClellan’s fish beat out the 871-pound Texas state record great hammerhead, which was caught

by Mark Johnson in July of 1980.

The current IGFA world record great hammerhead weighed 1,280 pounds. It was caught from the other side of the Gulf by Bucky Dennis fishing out of Boca Grande, Fla. in May 2006.

Texas City is on Galveston Bay, just southeast of Houston, and offers easy access to the open Gulf of Mexico through the pass between Galveston and Goat islands.

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