The Angler Magazine - April / Charlotte-Piedmont, NC

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT, NC EDITION

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Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events

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Fishing SUP FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN MORE PHOTO COURTESY OF FELICIA SCOCOZZA VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 277

F R A N C H I S E

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A V A I L A B L E

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W O R L D W I D E

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THE LIGHTEST PENN REEL EVER MADE The Lightest PENN Reel Ever Made. The all new Conflict II matches an extremely light weight design with PENN’s legendary durability. Featuring our RR30 body, CNC Gear Technology and HT-100 Drag system, the Conflict II is the ultimate inshore reel.

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Solar Shade™ ZERO Long Sleeve Shirt

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CEO / EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com COO : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Derrick Oppelt • 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 : Chris Milner • (321) 631-1001 • cmilner@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 ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@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

flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com

SOUTHEAST

ATLANTA : 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/PIEDMONT : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com

Laura Tiger • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com

WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Charlie Lamm • (252) 205-6472 • clamm@coastalanglermagazine.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 MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com

You guys are everywhere.

A

nglers share some very unique commonalities.

One trait that seems standard across the board is that whenever we find ourselves in a new destination, regardless of why we’re there, we always want to find out about “what’s biting.” Normally a quick trip to a local tackle shop gets us up to speed. I often hear from readers that they were in a different state or a different region and found a copy of our magazine at the tackle shop they went into. One such reader recently told me, “I live in Wilmington, North Carolina, and I read your Wilmington edition every month. I was in Mississippi recently on business and I saw a copy of your magazine at a local tackle shop. The next month I was in Key West, Florida and saw a copy of the magazine at a tackle shop there. I just landed in Connecticut today and can’t believe that I just picked up another copy of your magazine at a tackle shop here in Connecticut. You guys are everywhere.”

It is true; we are available for free in over 30 market areas, but we’re not everywhere yet. Our franchise publishing model is changing the way American anglers view a local fishing magazine, and we’re looking to further expand our footprint. If you think owning your own business as the publisher of your area’s local fishing magazine is something that would fit your career and lifestyle goals, give us a call for information on potential franchise opportunities in your area. Previous publishing experience is not required. We have a complete training program and ongoing support system that enables our co-publishing partners to quickly establish the magazine as a primary resource for the avid angler nearly everywhere.

Best regards,

Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com

GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com

INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2018. 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.

Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com

1-888-800-9794

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Engines sold under special pricing / promotions are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice.

SAFETY COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM I APRIL 2018 I NATIONAL 7 © 2018 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels.

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WHO CARES ABOUT PUTTING YOUR LURE RIGHT ON TOP OF FISH?

All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.

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For over a century, a league of canned crusaders have been fighting to keep boats safe from barnacles, slime, algae and other aquatic evils that rob your boat of its true performance. With advanced know-how and unique capabilities, each antifouling is tailored to different conditions, and has the power to defeat fouling in all its forms.

Micron® Extra leads the charge in all waters. Using its signature dual-protection with boosting Biolux® technology, it provides high-quality, multi-season protection that survives hauling and relaunch without the need for repainting.

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Paddlesports Product Review CARIBE TIBURON INFLATABLE SUP You’ll be slithering through the waves with ease and gliding along in true mariner style when you hop on Caribe’s inflatable SUP. Decorated with a shark silhouette and further amplified by a cool camo print, this blue and black paddleboard is always a hit among water-lovers with a penchant for adventure.

The Tiburon Inflatable Paddleboard comes with 6 D-Rings on the softpad so you can attach a variety of accessories like a cooler, 2 Kayak Seats, dry bags, etc. it also comes with a D-Ring on the front bottom deck, excellent for anchoring or towing the board.

A very wide 34” design provides stability like no other board on the market. It’s ideal for fishing and long rides and has a smooth non-slip softpad that provides grip as well as comfort. Concerned about hooks on board or punctures from oyster beds? No worries! Double deck Tarpaulin layers protect the board from punctures while providing the most rigid inflatable experience out there.

All Caribe’s boards come with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

WWW.CARIBESUP.COM

AIRHEAD SUP BONEFISH 1138 True to its name, the Airhead SUP Bonefish 1138 is a paddleboard specifically designed for fishing. This super-stable fishing SUP has two inflatable sponsons that give anglers the firm platform they need for fighting big fish and navigating rough water.

There are four strategically placed mount pads on deck to accommodate four rod racks, Airhead SUP Fishing Racks and Bucket Racks. Two smaller accessory mounts are perfect for small rod holders or other accessories, and two stainless D-ring cooler tie downs round out endless possibilities for equipment customization. A classic teak-look EVA decking provides sure footing.

At just 41 pounds, transport of the Bonefish 1138 is easy, and two molded handles fore and aft make carrying it to the water a breeze, even when it’s fully loaded. There is versatility built in with 10 stainless steel D-rings and two stretch tie downs.

The Bonefish 1138 comes with a mesh backpack for transport and storage, a Hi Pressure hand pump for quick and easy inflation, a pressure gauge, valve wrench, board strap and repair kit.

WWW.AIRHEADSUP.COM

KAKU WAHOO 10.5 The new Kaku Wahoo 10.5 may be the baddest little ’yak on the water. It is a compact version of the Wahoo 12.5, which has proven itself as a superb fishing kayak.

Kaku went and shaved a couple of feet and more than 10 pounds off of the original Wahoo to create a boat that is easier to transport and paddles very well in the tight environs kayak anglers often find themselves in. And while the Wahoo 10.5 gives up size, it does not sacrifice fishability or performance. It has all the features of the Wahoo 12.5.

By flattening the rocker and lowering the keel, Kaku has designed a boat that tracks well and is easy to stand on. A sick deck pad rounds out the look of a quick little ’yak that is stable, comfortable and easy to handle.

KAKUKAYAK.COM

MANTA RACKS Whether it’s a mother-ship expedition offshore, a day-cruise to some isolated islands or exploration deep into the mangroves, there are a lot of places paddle-sports enthusiasts want to be that are too distant to access under paddle power. SUPs and kayaks take up a lot of room on the deck of the boat, and Manta Racks has come up with the perfect solution.

The Manta Racks system stores your kayaks or SUPs securely to your boat, where they are out of the way, and it utilizes the boat’s rod holders, so there’s no need to drill any new holes for mounting.

With a patented 360-degree locking swivel feature, paddleboards, wakeboards, kayaks, kiteboards, water skis and surfboards can be easily stored on the gunnel of the boat without drilling extra holes. All of your boards are out of the way of your passengers, securely fastened to your Manta Racks system. Go farther when you take your boards.

WWW.MANTARACKS.COM

WILDERNESS SYSTEMS RADAR SERIES With its new Radar Series, Wilderness Systems continues to build on its legacy of innovation, performance and quality in fishing kayaks.

The Radar Series is Wilderness Systems’ first tri-powered kayak, which means it has paddle, power and pedal capabilities. It features S.M.A.R.T. Hull Technology that combines stability, maneuverability, acceleration, responsiveness and tracking throughout the entire design for ultimate

performance in multiple water environments.

In addition to a flat platform for standing and freedom of movement, the Radar boasts state-of-the-art outfitting including expansive SlideTrax rails, a multitude of storage opportunities, and scupper options to deploy the Helix MD motor drive, Helix PD pedal drive and multiple options for electronics, including down-imaging, side-scanning or both.

With Helix PD, a built-in steering control system allows for easy navigation that leaves your hands free for fishing. The AirPro Max seat complements the package with optimized positioning for any mode of travel.

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Paddlesports Product Review NUCANOE FLINT NuCanoe made waves when it introduced its new Flint kayak at iCast. Here is a boat jam-packed with features for serious anglers, yet the price tag is way below what you’d expect for such a high-quality kayak.

At 11’3”, and less than 70 pounds, The Flint is the perfect boat for exploring creeks, rivers and backwater marshes. It is agile, responding nimbly to the paddle, and it also tracks very well despite its shorter length. Light enough for easy one-man transport, this boat is amazingly stable, and unique scupper hole design provides a firm deck.

The Flint cockpit is wide open and fishes like a much larger kayak. There’s plenty of room and stability for standing to fish on an uncluttered deck, and the new Hawg Trough channel keeps your measuring board handy but out of the way.

With five gear tracks, handy spaces for tackle boxes and angled flush-mount rod holders, NuCanoe has come up with a simple yet efficient and customizable layout for everything an angler needs. The side handle that doubles as a quick-clip paddle holder is a handy innovation someone should have come up with long ago.

Cap it all off with the comfy custom-height Pinnacle seat NuCanoe is known for, and this is a top-notch fishing platform for a reasonable price.

WWW.NUCANOE.COM

PERCEPTION PESCADOR PILOT 12.0 Perception’s pedal-powered Pescador Pilot is a fishing machine that is extremely comfortable and functional for anglers. It excels in flat water and is an excellent kayak for inshore and bay fishing as well as on freshwater lakes and ponds.

The Pilot Drive propeller system effortlessly propels the boat, even in reverse, while leaving both hands free. The spacious, sit-on-top design with generous storage and accessory mounts make the kayak easy to customize. Superior stability allows anglers to cast and fight fish while standing.

Comfort is absolutely necessary for serious anglers spending long hours on the water.

The Pescador Pilot is built for that. A roomy captain’s chair features zonal mesh to promote cooling airflow. On-the-fly seatback adjustment tilts back for relaxed pedaling or forward for sportier pedaling.

With performance, comfort, features, and storage that outdistance its price point, especially for a peddle-driven kayak, the Pescador Pilot is also a great value. This boat is proudly designed, molded and hand assembled in the USA and is backed by a 5-year warranty.

WWW.PERCEPTIONKAYAKS.COM

OLD TOWN PREDATOR PDL Prepare yourself for a totally new fishing experience. Old Town has taken boat control to new heights with forward and reverse via an efficient and easy-to-use propriety pedal-drive system.

It gets you to the spot fast, and keeps you on the spot without paddling. With forward, reverse and agile maneuverability, you’ll experience precise boat control while your hands remain free to focus on fishing. The removable pedal drive installs in seconds and tips up instantly for shallowwater docking. The Predator PDL’s specially-designed hull combines the perfect balance of smooth pedal stroke speed and stand-up stability.

The Old Town PDL pedals exactly like a bicycle, converting modest pedaling into maximum propulsion. A 10.3:1 gear ratio means that anglers can reach speeds up to 5.5 mph to reach fishing spots fast and efficiently. It also makes trolling through a range of useradjustable speeds easy and effective.

The Predator PDL is infinitely customizable with rigging accessories from Cannon, Scotty, YakAttack, RAM and more.

WWW.OLDTOWNCANOE.COM

SEA EAGLE 350FX FISHING EXPLORER For anglers who like to go it alone, Sea Eagle’s 350fx is a terrific choice. The most stable and rugged entry in Sea Eagle’s Explorer Series of inflatable kayaks, it’s a lightweight (51-lbs.) and easily portable one-person fishing machine.

Nearly indestructible, the 350fx features a double layer of 1000 Denier reinforced protective layers on the tubes and bottom, a 40-inch fish ruler, plus two spray skirts—each with three rod holders and accessory belts that hold tools, hooks and lures. A fully adjustable foot brace is easily positioned for maximum comfort and more power per stroke while a nifty anchor system quietly locks in advantageous casting positions.

Suitable for paddling in waters rated to Class IV, 16 high-capacity self-bailing drain valves make this entry ideal for fishing in moderate whitewater rivers up to Class III. Close the valves to remain high and dry on flat waters, and insert the removable skeg to improve flatwater tracking.

Fully inflated in seven minutes, the 350fx fits in a car trunk and handles electric motors up to 34-pound thrust. This inflatable fishing kayak is 11’6” long and has a maximum weight capacity of 575 lbs.

WWW.SEAEAGLE.COM

FLYCRAFT STEALTH The Flycraft Stealth is one of the most versatile boats in the world. Its unique construction and shape give it the functionality of many boats in one. From motoring on the coast or lakes to rowing rocky streams and mild whitewater, the Flycraft Stealth is your one boat answer.

The boat’s lightweight and minimalistic design allow it to be easily carried on a roof or in a truck bed. No roof rack? No problem; this boat deflates and packs down to fit in a trunk or closet. At just 98 pounds, one person can easily transport or load this boat solo. For information, call 801-810-4022.

WWW.FLYCRAFTUSA.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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QUIK-CHANGE II ™ Our Innovative, Interchangeable Fixed Blade Cutlery System 9” FILLET 7” FILLET 5” FILLET 3” SERRATED

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FLY FISHING

Michelle Bowman with a Yucatan baby tarpon from an inflatable SUP.

For more Bowman, go to

CAMFLYFISHING.COM

GAME CHANGER Sea Eagle FishSUP Stand Up Paddleboard

Win th Sea Eagle e FishSUP Pro Moto r Fishing Rig Packa ge!

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Fits in a Bag! Paddle or Motor

Incredibly stable, the new inflatable FishSUP FS126 Stand Up Paddleboard is an angler’s dream. Lightweight, packable, portable and ready in moments. The FishSUP fits in any car trunk and inflates in just 7 minutes. Stand, sit, fish, motor, troll, fresh, salt or brackish water...the FishSUP goes everywhere.

800-748-8066 M-F 9-5 EST Dept C2048B 19 N. Columbia St., Suite 1

• 12’6” long x 40” wide for exceptional stability • Motor mount holds up to a 55 lb. thrust electric motor • EVA foam pad for secure stand up footing • 36” Built-in fish ruler • Heavy duty two layer drop stitch construction for a solid, super tough SUP board • Multiple d-rings and elastic cord for gear & accessories

MSRP $1149!

Port Jefferson, NY 11777

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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NO 26

The best fishing stories start with you getting away.

F F

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PINE ISLAND SOUND, FL

® ® ®

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Islandology is our way of life. It’s trying a new, secluded spot and finding no matter what you catch – you’re hooked.

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Plan your trip at FortMyers-Sanibel.com

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CoastalA

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2018 242CC

FISHING FOCUSED FAMILY FRIENDLY “Sailfish Boats are truly versatile. A great fishing boat and a great family boat all in one.”

2018 220CC ® Exclusive Variable Degree Stepped (VDS) Hull for Performance, Safety & Stability ® 10 year Structural Warranty ® SailTech Construction: 100% Composite, Reinforced with Kevlar® & Carbon Fiber ® Lifetime No-Rot Guarantee ® Bow To Stern Intelligent Ergonomic Design with Premium Finishes ® Family Friendly Features for Fun, Comfort and Safety

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Take a

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You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.

geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2018 GEICO

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Center sp

For a limited time, get Suzuki Extended Protection, Instant Savings and attractive financing on select Suzuki outboards from 25 to 350 horspower. See your participapting Suzuki Marine dealer for details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

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Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboard on approved credit.*

Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate form at time of sale. Instant Savings will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/18 and 06/30/18. “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. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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SOUTHEAST

By Will Clements

B

ass move shallow in spring, and kayaks are some of the best crafts to follow them. Most kayaks draft only 4 to 5 inches and can get to many places that bigger boats can’t. Culvert coves are some of my favorite places to bass fish this time of year.

On large reservoirs, culvert coves are the shallow coves cut off from the main lake by roads or other barriers. The water has to come through somewhere, and typically this is via a narrow concrete bridge or large culvert. Many of these backwaters are only accessible in kayaks or other small vessels.

On lakes with significant winter drawdowns, some of these areas are dry through the winter, which allows terrestrial grass and brush

to grow. When spring rains bring lakes back to full pool, these areas are flooded, creating havens for bass moving shallow to spawn.

A kayak can slide into these areas and escape the traffic and spring winds on the main lake. Many people bank fish from the road in these areas; a kayak can access the entire cove. Kayaks also give you the ability to sneak up on bedding fish. Often you can drift in slowly enough that the fish see your kayak as a floating log. Being quiet is the key to sneaking up on these shallow fish.

Try putting peel-and-stick foam anywhere you lay your paddle or rods. Any slight bang against the plastic hull reverberates through the water and can spook fish. Also, be aware of your shadow. Kayaks inherently cast less of a shadow than larger boats, especially when the angler is seated. Try standing in your kayak only to spot bedding bass. Then sit down to sneak in for the cast. When bed fishing, release fish quickly back to their beds to keep our fisheries strong.

For prespawn and postspawn bass, be sure to fish the creek channel and culvert leading into and out of these areas. Bass congregate in these areas before and after spawning.

My favorite baits to throw in these areas are bluegill imitations and reaction baits. In these sheltered backwaters, bass encounter less fishing pressure and can be easier to catch. When bass are up shallow or protecting beds, I like bluegill imitations. My favorite is a swim jig. You can fish it slow like a jig, fast like a swimbait or anywhere in between. It comes right through the grass and brush. I also like buzzbaits and spinnerbaits. In stained water caused by spring rains, bass will jump all over a loud and flashy bait.

These protected, stained backwaters will warm up faster than any other water in the lake. Bass will be searching for any warmth they can find. Keep an eye out for these secluded culvert coves, and keep your kayak ready.

Will Clements is an Outside World Outfitters Fishing Team member (outsidegeorgia.com/), a club series coordinator with River Bassin (www.riverbassintrail.com) and a Nucanoe team member (www.nucanoe.com).

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NORTH CAROLINA

By TAM Staff

A

ccess to skinny water and the ability to launch anywhere are the two most prominent advantages to fishing under paddle power. At no other time is this more advantageous than during the spring spawning runs.

When longer days and warming water temperatures spur the urge to spawn, many species go on the move. On reservoirs, ponds and lakes, bass, crappie and bream will all be shallow in some stage of the spawn. The shallow draft of a canoe or kayak allows anglers to sneak into backwaters to find the beds.

But even more exciting this time of year are the species that run out of the reservoirs and up the creeks and rivers. Up any tributary

By Will Schmidt

F

rom bare bones to fully loaded, a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) is a great platform to fish from. Typically coming in under 30 pounds, it is easy to transport, it’s quiet and super stealthy, and with a standing view it makes for a fantastic platform to sight fish from. The portability and ease of clean up make it great for a quick after work trip with a rod, reel and handful of lures. Add a cooler and a few extras, and you are ready for a full day of fun on the water. To maximize your time on the board, here are my three top tips.

• Paddle control is perhaps the most important thing about SUP fishing. Quickly storing your paddle to transition from paddling to

that feeds a good fishery, spring offers the best fishing of the year for one species or another.

Each spring, white bass in huge numbers push up rivers and creeks to spawn. They stage in the current breaks and provide fast action for anglers throwing spinners, curly tail jigs, small crankbaits and even flies. In a canoe or kayak, white bass make for an interesting float trip. Drift down the river, prospecting with a few casts in each eddy. That first strike tells you it’s time to drop anchor. Where there is one white bass, there is usually a whole school. They might weigh a pound on average, but they can get up to 4 or 5 pounds and fight much harder than their weight.

In many fisheries, walleye are most susceptible when they head upriver to spawn. For a fish that spends most of its time in the deepest water it can find, the spring run is really the only time a paddling angler can target them efficiently. They are consolidated in the river, where they school up near the bottom behind sandbars or other current breaks. They can be caught with deep-running lures bounced slowly along the bottom or a live baitfish fished with enough weight to keep it down near the bottom.

The king of the spring spawning runs has to be the landlocked striped bass that state wildlife agencies stock in reservoirs. There is no freshwater fish so large and powerful that can be found in such skinny water. In many systems, the spring run is just a precursor to the larger summer runs that occur when reservoir water conditions become uncomfortable for the fish. In spring and summer, chucking an oversized swimbait to eddies created by wood structure or drifting a live baitfish on a circle hook under a balloon can lead to surprisingly large results.

And the best thing about these spring runs is access to them can actually be better for anglers in little plastic boats. Bank-bound anglers are limited to one stretch of shoreline. Big boats are impeded by shoals and shallow water. With a canoe or kayak, the only limitations are private property and the distance you’re willing to carry a boat to launch. casting can be a clumsy noisy process, but I’ve found a simple and effective trick. Using a length of rope about 2 feet longer than your waist, tie a loop in each end. Then wrap the rope around your waist, putting one loop through the other. When you spot a fish, put the handle of the paddle through the hanging loop and the blade on the board, now you are ready to cast and still have quick access to your paddle if you need to maneuver while fighting a fish.

• At some point you will need to hold yourself steady to keep from spooking fish while working a productive spot. An anchor works, but I like a stake-out pole. They are easy to deploy, silent and effective.

There are nice commercial models available in the $100 range, but I made one easily for about $15. Most large gardening departments sell sturdy hard plastic tomato stakes. They have a point at one end that will penetrate on most flats. I also added a PVC T joint as a handle and a small piece of foam noodle as a float. This works well on soft shallow flats and can be tied to the board or run through an open-ended rod tube to hold you in place.

• Gear management especially during an extended outing is something you will need to consider. I opt for strapping on a cooler, preferably one that latches shut like the Orion. This gives me a secure place to put gear that will not be lost in case of an inadvertent plunge. It also offers a comfortable seat, which doubles as a safety feature to lower your center of gravity in rough situations. Furthermore, the Orion has built-in Yak Attack rails, which allow you to attach Ram style accessories like rod holders.

Light, quiet and fun, an SUP offers a great way to get to the fish whether for a quick trip after work or leisurely day of fishing.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for nearly two decades. Check out Orion coolers at Orioncoolers.com.

For more with Will Schmidt, go to

TAMFISHING.COM

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BLUE RIDGE

By Jimmy Harris

O

ne of the first things new trout anglers hear is that trout are found around the “seams.” A seam is the line of differentiation between two different currents in a stream. The most obvious places are where an eddy actually has water moving upstream in the totally opposite direction from the main downstream current. It makes the perfect place for a trout to lie in wait in calmer water and strike out into the current at any food being washed downstream. The result is the fish expends very little effort while gorging on the conveyor belt of food the stream offers.

It’s pretty much what we do as we take up position in our recliner in front of the TV on game day. During commercial breaks, we make a mad dash to the fridge for more wings and beverages and land back in the comfort of the lounger before the games comes back on.

Life is good here, as it is for trout living on the slow side of a seam.

It’s fairly easy to detect a seam when looking out across a stream.

Find the places where two different current speeds align and you’re likely to find fish. And if you fish those seams all day long, you’re probably going to get into some fish. But I want you to start looking at the stream in 3D. 3D fishing simply means there are varying speeds of current that you can’t visually see but should know are there because of stream dynamics. They’re found as you go from the top of the water surface down to the bottom of the streambed. These seams are just as important and maybe more so than those seams you identify on the surface. Typically, water on the surface is the fastest. As you drop below the surface, you’ll find the speed slowing down. As you approach the very bottom, you will find the current slows dramatically and may not be moving much at all. The friction between the streambed and the water can literally stop the downstream motion of the water in those few inches immediately adjacent to the bottom. Fishery biologists refer to this as the boundary layer.

What a perfect place for a trout! There is as much cover overhead as possible to avoid predators. The fish sit near the bottom facing upstream from whence cometh their sustenance. And it takes just about zero energy to move up in the water column, grab a bite and return to the comfort of the boundary layer. Just a slight tilt of the pectoral fins and the fish glides into the overhead current to eat. It then tilts the fins downward and returns to its holding lie. You can describe it as flying in the water.

It’s as if your recliner had motorized wheels that glide you from the TV room to the kitchen and back. It is an amazing thing to watch indeed.

Jimmy Harris owns Unicoi Outfitters. Check them out at www.unicoioutfitters.com.

For a video of a 20-inch brown trout living in the zone, scan the QR code or go to...

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crisp March air was cold enough to have me bundled up tight in layers and a heavy coat. To make things a little more interesting, the previous week of heavy rainfall had the dam wide open, causing swift current and massive waves in high winds. After fishing for half the tournaBy Ryan Kennedy ment day with no success other than a few short fish, I was feeling a little discouraged. have dreamed of certain That’s when things took a turn for the better. As my partner and days that would come I approached a stretch of rocky bank, I reached for a Red Crawdad along for as long as I have Rapala DT-6 crankbait and started slinging casts toward the bank. A been fishing bass tourna- few casts in led us to a small transition area where the size of the rocks ments. Those dreams turn changed. The first cast at this transition started with a bang. into goals, and those goals My St. Croix Mojo Bass Cranking Rod, which is a glass rod, was are attainable with hard work bent heavily. I was in for the first good fight of the day. After what and perseverance. It’s beyond seemed like an eternity, I was holding a 4-pound, 8-ounce Lake Gunamazing to me looking back tersville spotted bass. If you are familiar with the lake, you know a on my most recent tourna- spot of that size is something to appreciate. It’s just 3 ounces shy of the ment to see how God’s plan 4-pound, 11-ounce lake record. came together down to the My demeanor quickly changed for the better. Back on deck, with very rock that I bumped my one cast behind me after landing Spotapotamus, I was laser focused. I crankbait into before catching slung my crankbait as far as I could cast toward a log just past the same the fish I had always dreamed transition area. Within three cranks of the reel, my dream was about about. to become a reality. Moments later, I was holding a 9-pound, 8-ounce The goal that had elud- donkey of a largemouth. ed me thus far in my tournaTo get this straight, let’s go over what just happened. In three casts, ment career was catching an a near-lake-record spotted bass was in the boat, my new personal best absolute giant in a tourna- largemouth bass was in the boat, and 14 pounds of fish were in the ment. Don’t get me wrong, I am always excited to catch a big bass, but livewell. My partner and I ended up with over a 20-pound limit with whenever it happens it always seems to be while fishing for fun on the only four fish and qualified for the 2019 FLW Collegiate National lake or while pond-hopping around my house. This all changed, as I Championship! will forever remember, during the situation I am about to describe.

Contact Ryan Kennedy at ryankfishing@gmail.com. Keep up with I was fishing at Lake Guntersville, Alabama, during the second his exploits on YouTube: Ryan Kennedy Fishing, Instagram: @ryankstop of the FLW Collegiate Southeastern Tournament Trail. The fishing and Facebook: Ryan Kennedy Fishing.

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LAKEHICKORY&RHODHISSFORECAST

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pring is finally here, and it’s time to get out of the house and on the water. There will be a lot going on on Lake Hickory and Lake Rhodhiss this month. One of the main things in striper fishing this month will be the spawn. w Stripers are going to have two things on their minds, spawn and eat. I honestly feel Iike the spawning fish are all but shut down for 3 days so therefore the actual fish I’m focused on are pre spawn and post spawn. All stripers are not going to spawn at the same time, but before and after they do if you’re around them you can catch them. The main thing I want to do is be around the spawning areas pulling live bait.

Shallow points are good, up in the river is good, if you know where shallow flats may be try them too.

You cannot get too shallow this month, freelines and planer board lines are going to be the name of the game. I will typically run 3 planer boards off of each side of the boat with my outside planer board line all but bumping the bank. Then I’ll put one or two freelines right down the middle, sit back and hold on.

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SPRING Cleaning

By Capt. Cefus McRae, Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series

I

n our household springtime means it’s time to give all the hunting gear one last cleaning and pack it up til the fall…and break out the fishing gear that has been patiently waiting for the warm weather to arrive.

Now, it’s true that I do fish year ‘round, and a lot of my fishing gear gets used on a regular basis. But I also have some gear that hibernates during the winter months and needs a little TLC in the spring.

I’ll remove line from spools in the late fall, and perform maintenance on gear that will be put up all winter. That way, you’re pretty much ready to go when spring rolls around.

On the other hand, maybe you left the boat a little chaotic back in October. All your gear has been sitting there in a damp compartment for 6 months, along with a forgotten bologna sandwich, an open bag of pork rinds and a bottle of chocolate milk. Oops.

After you deal with the mess, it’s time to get down to revitalizing your gear. Take the reels off the rods and begin with a fresh water washdown, using a soft rag to remove leftover fish scales or goo on the rod, handle or reel. If it’s really bad, use a mild detergent, but be sure to rinse it all off. Dry the rod and apply a little high quality wax polish to the blank and the guides. This will not only make your rod look great, it wax will make the rod easier to clean in the future.

Next, remove the line from your reel. Give the spool and reel a good cleaning, and lube per manufacturer’s recommendations. Respool with mono and you’re good to go.

If you have braided line on the reel, you have a couple options. The first option is to simply pull off a few yards of line, cut that off and call it a day. Unless the line is really old, I don’t typically replace the entire spool.

The second option is to ‘flip’ the braided line over and get double duty out of it. Most of the time, you’re only working with the top 25%

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of the line on a spool. All the other braided line just sits there as backing. It’s really never seen the light of day. The new superlines have a long shelf life compared to monofilament, and they don’t develop a ‘memory’. So, get another empty reel…tie the end of the existing line on it…and wind it on. You’ll be moving the used portion of the line to the bottom of the spool and all that unused line will now be on top.

Finally, take a good look at your lures, hooks, swivels, etc. in your tackle trays. You don’t need to throw away lures just because the hooks are rusty. Replace the hooks, and use new split rings. It’s quick and you can save yourself some money.

Finally, add a half cup of Woolite to a 5 gallon bucket of water.

Drop your cast net, your bait net, your dock lines and your fishing gloves in. Swirl them around a little and let them soak for a few hours.

Take them out, rinse and let everything air dry. You’ll be amazed how new everything looks and all the fishy odors will be gone.

Take care of your tackle and it will take care of you.

Tight lines and calm seas.

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APRIL 2018

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 3

THE SCIENCE LINE

Where Have The Big Fish Gone?

By Jake Bussolini

S

everal years ago I walked into the office of a Canadian fishing outfitter and was amazed by the size of the trophy fish that were majestically displayed on the wall. It was my first experience with this particular outfitter and I asked if the 72 inch Muskie that was hanging there was typical of the fish that I might expect to catch on this trip.

The old timer that was registering me looked up at that fish and responded in somewhat of a wishful voice; “No my friend, fish that size are long gone from our Canadian waters. We can only dream about catching fish that big these days.”

Since that time I have decided to better understand what has gone wrong with our lakes and rivers that has produced this result.

Unfortunately the answer is not a simple one and there really is no consensus among wildlife experts that there is an acceptable answer at all. When I first discussed this problem in my book Fishing Different, there was very little credible scientific data available that came to any reasonable conclusions. There didn’t even seem to be an attitude among anglers that a problem even existed. Today however that has changed and more and more wildlife experts are coming forth with studies to examine the problem and offer solutions.

Regarding salt water species, there seems to be no argument that nearly every ocean fish species is getting smaller. One study showed that Alaskan Halibut are showing significant size reductions. 20 years ago a 15 year od Halibut weighted 100 pounds. Today that same fish weighs about 15 pounds. That’s a 70% reduction in average size.

The average size of an Atlantic Cod has shrunk 20% in the last 30 years. Recent Minnesota studies show that the average Walleye caught in 1939 weighed 2.21 pounds. In 1950 that size went down to 1.31 pounds, a reduction of 15%. In 1970 that size reduced even further to 1.11 pounds. This is a reduction of nearly 50% in 30 years.

Bringing the problem closer to home, the Virginia fisheries experts published the data shown in the chart above.

This data shows that in a period of ten years the size of the big Catfish in the James River system has been reduced more than 10%.

South Carolina fisheries experts also published similar data for the 4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

APRIL 2018

famed Santee Cooper system showing that over a ten year period the size of the average Santee catfish has been reduced by more than 45%.

This data is shown below.

There are a couple of popular theories about the cause of this problem. Jumping on the bandwagon of “ global climate change,” some experts feel that as the ocean waters warm, less oxygen is produced in these waters and since fish need oxygen to grow, it is the warming oceans that is the culprit.

Another theory is that the gill system of a fish grows only at a rate of about 40% of the rate of growth of the body of the fish and therefore this reduced gill system again starves the growing fish of oxygen. I discount this theory since this problem has existed since the beginning of time so why has it become a problem now.

Australian studies attribute the problem to what they call “ Selective Size Harvesting.” This means that anglers are catching and keeping only the biggest fish leaving the breeding size fish with genetic characteristics that result in small fish in the hatches of new fish. Nearly all over the world, experts have addressed this problem by creating slot limits on several species of fish but that practice is not proving successful in reversing the growth problem.

What might be obvious here is that this is a very complex problem that will also require a complex solution or series of solutions. I expect that when the solutions are tested, anglers will not be happy because in some way they will be blamed for causing at least part of the problem. Last month I discussed the issue of fish that develop “hook sensitivity.” Next month I will discuss the affect of fishing pressure on the behavior of fish. Al of these subjects contribute to the problem of reduced fish growth. Perhaps we can also offer some solutions as we become more aware that the problem actually exists.

Le

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Pre for s Se Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer and author of eight books about freshwater fishing. His books can be reviewed at www.booksbyjake.com.

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6 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

APRIL 2018

A

have begun calling across our state. Reading this note recalled one of my favorite fishing adages – “spring striper fishing is best when the whip-poor-will sings and the azaleas bloom”.

My old fishing partner, L’il Pete, told me he’d heard it from one or more local old-timers when he was younger. This type of fishing knowledge based in folklore is something I highly value. I’ve also heard this information referred to as “Indian knowledge”, a term I use with the utmost respect.

L’il Pete originally mentioned the maxim when we’d go out in the evenings to look for aggressively feeding stripers in the spring. After catching live bait we’d set up near flats, often in the back of major creeks in relatively shallow water. With a casting rod or two ready to target surface feeding fish we’d employ our live bait spread and “get quiet”, hoping hungry fish would show up at our chosen lair ready to get it on.

When it all came together we enjoyed every angler’s dream – an intense, full-out feeding frenzy. Though often brief, the action was exhilarating, tested our skills, wrecked our equipment, and always left us wanting more.

There are two important components to the aforementioned proverb. First, “when the azaleas bloom” refers to the time of year when wild azaleas flower along the banks of Lake Norman and other local impoundments. Spring weather patterns vary greatly from year to year so this period can be from mid-March into late April, maybe even early May. The key is that the bloom coincides with optimum water temperatures which trigger aggressive feeding associated with the the shad/herring spawns and stripers’ false spawn.

Secondly, “when the whip-poor-will sings” means the period of time at dusk when the birds are actively feeding and calling. This activity always seemed to correlate with the bottom of the setting sun touching the tops of the trees on the horizon. It was uncanny how often our first bite would come once we heard the birds calling each other across the cove. If the fish were especially frisky, the action could go from none to frantic in minutes.

On the best nights, the bite lasted until “dark thirty” and yet another aphorism comes into play. The bite would seem to slow down or even stop, but we’d stay a little longer because “the big buck walks late”. This nugget refers to the biggest, oldest members of any animal species not showing themselves until conditions are right.

They’ve learned to embrace the protection low light provides, and in the case of stripers, how to take advantage of the younger members’ efforts at crippling or cutting up food for them. Many a night we caught the biggest fish of the day right before we were ready to go home after the sun had fully set.

Surprisingly, to me anyway, our most successful outings came on clear, sunny evenings with very little wind. I credit the bright sun with keeping the predators deep where they couldn’t get to the shallow bait during the day. At the time Lake Norman was still a “shad lake” and though there were alewives present, there certainly wasn’t the number of herring out in the deep water that there is now.

Moving shallow early and late to feed was an ingrained part of the stripers’ behavior. The shad moved onto the flats in late afternoon, and as evening fell the sun’s low angle really lit up the silver-sided forage on the shallows. They were like flashing neon signs which motivated the stripers to feast before darkness arrived.

I solely mention stripers above because there were no hybrids here in those days. But hybrids turn on at dusk just like stripers do, and as I write I’m thinking it’s been too long since I heard the whip-poorwill sing across the water, or observed the wild azaleas in bloom.

Now’s the time to rig the live bait and casting rods for skinny water again. Get out there and add Fish On! to the calls of the whip-poorwill on our beautiful Carolina spring evenings.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

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LAKE NORMAN FORECAST

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nglers can expect warming water temperatures to draw all species of fish toward the banks where they’re easier to catch. Bass and crappie will either be spawning or eating recently hatched insects and small

fish.

The optimum word for April is “shallow”. If the water is deep enough for fish to swim, they should be nearby. Logical places to cast for bass are in coves with low hanging willow trees and bushes growing in the water. Crappie will also be in these areas.

Best bass lures to use are bottom bumping soft plastics and swim, jerk, spinner and buzz baits. Not to be overlooked is the Alabama rig, which has taken the bass fishing community by storm in recent years.

In addition, even though shunned by tournament fishermen, live bass minnows are deadly when pitched near a bass tending its nest. During bedding season, bigger is better. Use the largest minnows you can buy.

Crappie fishermen have two choices: small minnows or jigs. While both are productive, minnows seem to provide the best results. If in doubt, use both, by tipping the jig with a minnow hooked through the lips or eye sockets. A typical brush pile yields three to twelve crappies, sometimes more. Rather than waste time trying to catch the stragglers, move to the next spot as soon as the bite slows.

Modern sports fishing can be as expensive and complicated as you

ioned f year other m year maybe imum d with

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want to make it. If you plan to keep it simple, fish from the shoreline or rent a kayak or canoe. As far as tackle is concerned, all that’s needed is a low-priced spin-casting outfit with a hook, line sinker and wiggly worm. A carton of worms sells for about three dollars at local tackle shops and convenience stores. Remember, small baits attract all sizes of fish, while large baits can only be swallowed by big fish.

Tips from Capt. Gus! A cup or two of dry dog food thrown around the dock each day will not only feed the ducks, but serve as chum to attract fish. To prevent the pieces from floating away, allow the food to soak in water for a few minutes.

Fishing guide service with Captain Craig Price The Catawba Lakes

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

704-996-0946

Photo: Dude Starnes and Capt. Gus hold spring crappie caught on jigs.

www.folkn.com

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APRIL 2018

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 7

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MAY 5, 2018 at Badin Lake, Alcoa Landing | BLAST OFF – 6:30 am WEIGH-IN – 2:30 pm 8 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

APRIL 2018

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When Fish Won’t Bite

By Capt. Cefus McRae, Nuts & Bolts of Fishing Series

R

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

Be honest.

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

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Deer hunters spend countless hours in the woods, waiting patiently for a big buck to come along, and often never get to pull the trigger. It’s certainly happened to me. But we still come back for more, and that’s a good thing.

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

Here are a few that have helped to salvage an otherwise fish-less day.

Now let me start of by saying some days you will just go ‘fishing’… not ‘catching’. And no matter what you do, you still come up emptyhanded. Sometimes these tactics will work, and sometimes they don’t.

But remember, if you’re down to these maneuvers, you really don’t have anything to lose…do you? So don’t complain too much if even this bag of tricks doesn’t produce a monster. You can still go home feeling good about the fact that you weren’t stuck in the office all day.

To me, there are three key components to re-igniting the bite…

Location, Presentation and Bait Choice.

The first one’s pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people will sit on a spot and continue to flail the water because they ‘know’ there should be fish there. Well maybe there is, but after 152

casts beside the same stump, that fish is probably not going to bite on cast 153. So move. It might mean simply re-directing your casts to a different stump, piling, rock pile, oyster bed, creek mouth or other structure. Or it could mean a major move to another likely spot where fish might be holding.

If you watch The Nuts & Bolts of Fishing TV series, you know that I prefer to fish moving water. It’s been proven time and time again that fish actively feed when there’s some current. So, during slack tide, or while you’re waiting for the power company to start pulling water at the dam, take a boat ride. But before you crank the engine, get a game plan. Look at your chartplotter and pick a spot that you feel has a high percentage of being fishy. Creek mouths, structure, river bends, etc. Set your waypoint based on some intelligent thought and then hit the throttle.

Presentation is another huge factor in triggering bites. What worked yesterday, may not work today. If your favorite lure isn’t producing…try something different.

Slower, faster, deeper, shallower…any of these could be the magic bullet that saves the day.

And there’s bait choice. I like using live bait, cause that’s what fish eat. But if you like fishing artificial, then do that. But look at size, color, and shape to try to match what the gamefish have been eating.

Here’s a little secret. If you love fishing for bull redfish and can’t find them. Try cranking your big motor and rev it a little in neutral. If they are in the area, reds will start churning the water, and you can easily identify their location. I’ve had many occasions where a little noise helped me find fish.

Even the Pro’s have off-days. Put a couple of these tricks in your bag and maybe you can turn the bite switch back on.

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APRIL 2018

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 9

LAKE WYLIE FORECAST

A

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pril is the month to catch YOUR FAVORITE FISH. It dosen’t matter if you are dabbing a cork over a brushpile for crappie or casting your favorite bass plug along a bank searching for that big one, April is THE month to be successful at fishing.

Most all fish are shallow this time of the year. For the most part the fish are on the beds roaming around in shallow water. That in itself eleminates a lot of water on a lake. just go into a creek and fish coves.

Bass fishermen love it. They can run a creature bait across the beds or down a bank and hope mama bass will suck it into her jaws. I love to use a floating worm during this time. Its a lot of fun to see a bass inhale that worm. There are lots of ways to bass fish during April. I could fill up several pages of “how to” on bass fishing during the spawn. If you are having trouble finding fish, ask a fishrman at the boat dock.

Most fishermen will share a little knowledge. Just remember to keep it simple while fishing and you will always catch a few bass.

The crappie bite is at its best. You can longline in the creeks or you can tightline right down the middle of a cove. Sometimes shooting docks can be very productive during the spawn. When you are longline trolling and the bite seems slow, try different jig colors. Chartruise and something is usually best. Brushpiles will hold a lot of crappie during the spawn. I have caught spawning crappie in two feet of water using a jig and casting to the brush or tree while making a slow retrieve back to boat. Even a cork and a jig will work too! Just cast your cork and jig ( keep cork about 12-14 inches above jig) to the tree or brush and pop it along, stopping it for a few seconds. The crappie will come along and sink your cork.

Catfishing is very good during April. Naturally they follow the bait to the creeks. I start at the back of the creeks and troll down the creek toward the mouth of the creeks. Shallow to deep trolling will get you a few cats. I use cutbaits such as white perch for baits while trollong for catfish.

Remember the commercial....”its happening sweetheart... Oh, its happening... this is rediculous” that’s what some fishermen are saying about the new equipment that’s being offered. Another add says “ Nowhere to hide.”

The electronics that’s out there are something to behold. Down imaging, Side Image and 360 radar are some of the inovations that’s being offered. They will help you catch fish. Get the best unit that you can afford. It will pay off big time. I caught fish this winter in deep water that I could not see with my old units. How good are these units?

I went 10 times crappie fishing using my new units. Eight out of the ten times I limited out in less that three hours fishing. They are that good!!

Do your homework before purchasing anything. Youtube has tons of fishing clips using electronics. You can make the right choice that fits you kind of fishing with just a little time of research. Remember to take a kid fishing. Practice catch and release when you can! See you on the water!

By Jerry Neeley, Jerry’s Carolina’s Fishing Guide Service

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Mark Alberghini, Publisher mark@theanglermagazine.com 704-651-1934

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10 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

APRIL 2018

Age of Reader................. 82% at 35+ years old Gender of Reader........................ 82% are Male 18% are Female Owns a truck, van or SUV.......................... 86% Owns a boat.................................................. 68% Owns 2 or more automobiles.....................72% Household income...................$82,301-250,495 Home Ownership of Readers................. 79.5% Reader Survey: Global Marketing Research International

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APRIL 2018

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 11

Take it to the Street

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1236 E. Main St. Albemarle, NC

LAKE WATEREE FORECAST

I

t is no secret that April is one of the most popular months to be out on the water fishing for whatever is your favorite quarry.

The blooming of the dogwoods is a sure sign to old school folks that most species of fish are anxious to feed. Catfish are no exception. As baitfish move upstream in reservoirs catfish are never far behind. Fish also move laterally toward the back of creeks as well as upstream so go the blue and channel cats. Fish movements toward shallow water from the main channel is as sure a sign of spring as any. On Lake Wateree, an added bonus is the movement of striped bass into the Cedar Creek area in the northern part of the lake. Early April may produce a mixed bag of catfish and striped bass if conditions are right. Good fishing prospects result in lots of anglers and boats concentrated in a small area of the lake. Using some strategy and patience is necessary for a safe and enjoyable experience.

For those who are lucky enough to fish during the week, it is advisable to take advantage of that virtue during the month of April.

Lots of folks with cabin fever are anxious to hit the river and the parking lot is guaranteed to be full especially on the weekend. I have found that it is nearly impossible to beat a dedicated striper angler to the water, I think they must arrive around 3am but it would still be to your advantage if you are catfishing to arrive before the sun gets high in the sky or most of the choice spots up river will be taken. If you cannot get to that special spot you hoped for do not despair because fish are moving in earnest and most areas in the river section will produce when good water flow is present. Since lots of boats are moving in close quarters in the river be careful with your boat’s wake especially when your buddy is anchored up close by.

There are times when the river bite may not be good due to no water flow, too much water flow or maybe an abrupt change in the weather shuts the fish down. It is not uncommon for this to happen a few times during April. Again, don’t despair because the fish are feeding somewhere. Dropping back in the lake past the upper 1/4 of the reservoir is a good place to start. I like to anchor, but many people prefer to drift and it is arguably the best way to locate feeding fish by covering the most area. Some obvious signs to look for are cormorants and herons. The heron is usually posted like a statue in shallow water near schools of threadfin shad. Cormorants work together in groups herding baitfish and feeding heavily on them. These birds will show you to bait much quicker than your side scanning sonar and also to good places to anchor up and scatter baits both deep and shallow.

Lake Wateree goes from being very narrow in the upper reaches to being quite wide near the mouth of Wateree Creek. The moving water from releases from the upstream dam influence the fish bite significantly in this part of the lake. Most anglers who fish for catfish on Lake Wateree will anchor near the river channel in this area and do very well catching catfish both in numbers and size. Best baits for blue and channel cats are gizzard shad, white perch, threadfin shad and blueback herring. The latter two baits are excellent baits but just a little easier for catfish to get off the hook. Anchoring up in the river is easy early in the morning when water flow is present and winds are light.

Usually a single anchor off the bow will hold a boat steady. Later in the morning winds often pick up or water flow ceases and maybe another anchor will need to be deployed to keep the boat in good position to fish.

Whether you fish for catfish, crappie, largemouth or stripers there is a good chance you will be fishing in the river section this April on Lake Wateree. It is a beautiful area to fish and it really produces. Be kind to your fellow angler, he is just like you hoping to catch a nice mess of fish.

Boat ramps will be crowded and busy early in the morning and again around lunch time. Most folks will have a nice bag of fish by noon and be ready to take out. Above all be safe and have a good time.

704-982-8716 12 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

Capt Rodger Taylor, Catfish ON! Guide Service, www.catfishon.com, 803-517-7828

APRIL 2018

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

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LAKE HIGHROCK/BADIN TUCKERTOWN DAM FORECAST

A

pril is one of the best months of the year for catching slab crappies. The larger females will be coming into shallow water and will be aggressively feeding.

On High Rock and Badin lakes the numerous piers and docks lined with brush make great locations for spring crappie fishing. The standard small jigs or live minnows will work great once you find the fish. Don’t just fish piers with visible brush, many have brush or other structure out from or to the the side of the pier. Tuckertown lake does not have piers but there is a ton of brush in the lake. A good fishfinder will help you find submerged structure and brush. Crappie will most likely make “false spawn” runs. What I mean by this is that the water temperature will warm up and the fish will move in shallow but then we have a cold snap and the fish will pull back from the shallow water before spawning. During these cold snaps the fish will most likely pull back to deeper structure but still be close to the same shallow water they were in before the cold snap. If the water temperature cools and you were catching fishing in shallow water before look for structue a little deeper out. The fish will most likely be on this deeper structure waiting for the water to warm up enough to go back into the shallows. Slow trolling can find the fish again.

Largemouth bass will be in the prespawn phase. The smaller buck bass (males) will be the first ones to make there way towards the spawning grounds. They love small, medium or shallow diving crankbaits and often are very active during this time. Rapala Shad Raps and small Bandit lures will work well during this time.The bigger females will come in a week or so later. A jerk bait is a good option now.

Fish are often found around secondary points or around docks. A nice rocky point near a sandy beach can be a very productive area. Once the fish actually go to bedding they can get real difficult for a couple of weeks but after that comes the post spawn and they will be back aggressively feeding again. Largemouth bass do not all spawn at the the same time. Water temperatures in different locations on the lake can vary considerably so the spawning time in different locations on the same lake can vary by a couple of weeks.

Striped Bass on Badin Lake should be making there way up to Tuckertown dam by the time you read this article. Fishing the tail race behind the dam can be very productive but you do not have to be right up against the dam. Right up at the dam is a dangerous place for you and your boat as the rocks and shallow water make it difficult to navigate. Luckily you do not have to be all the way up to the dam to catch stripers, One tried and true method is just drifting live shiners or shad starting just below where the shallow water and rocks begin and drifting down to the railroad bridge. Casting Bucktail jigs and 4” shad bodied jigs is another proven way to catch them now. On High Rock lake striped bass migrate upstream and can be caught all the way up river to the I-85 bridge and even further up river during this time of year.

If you are taking your boat out for the first time of the year be sure and check your life jackets and fire extinguisher. Life jackets can dry rot over the winter and fire extinguishers can depressurize.

By Darin Brown, Hwy. 49 Sporting Goods, 36488 NC 49 Hwy, 704-463-7053, www.49sports.com

HWY. 49 36488 SPORTING GOODS NC 49 Hwy, New London, NC 28127 704-463-7053 Tuckertown Lake 49sports.com

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APRIL 2018

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 13

PWC | BUNK | PONTOON | ALUMINUM

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY Flotilla 26-02, Lake Wylie, North/South Carolina th

Division 26, 5 Southern Region

The Civilian Component of the U.S. Coast Guard (Authorized by Congress in 1939)

News Release The Lake Wylie Flotilla, 26-02, of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary has announced the schedule of the Boating Safety Classes for 2018. These classes are the NASBLA nationally approved About Boating Safely classes and are being held at Cabela’s Outfitters, 1000 Cabela’s Drive, Fort Mill, SC on the following dates:

LAKE TILLERY FORECAST

A

pril is here, the time has changed and spring is in the air. Now that you have some extra time in the evening go fishing! March rains had the water muddy and made fishing a little tough but muddy water is a good thing to have in the early spring months, as it absorbs more heat from the sun and warms faster. Hey, that is great news for us because the water will reach spawning temps and make the fish a little easier to pattern.

Largemouth bass will move into the shallows and prepare to spawn, look for the males to be aggressive on most baits, shallow crank baits, plastics, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and swimbaits should all produce well. If the water continues to have some color stick with square bill crankbaits with red and orange patterns. As it clears move toward the more natural colors with some chartreuse, as always don’t forget the jigs to produce the larger fish, green pumpkin and crayfish colors should be the ticket.

Crappie fishing should be on fire, with fish moving from the creek mouths toward the middle and backs of the creek. Finding shallow structure will be key if casting minnows or jigs in shallow water, grass edges, sticks and fallen trees are the most popular places to start fishing, along with docks. Trolling will also produce well and allow more water to be covered, some of the fish caught this way could also be just under the surface in open water down to 15 feet so be sure to cover the water column with different methods. As always take several colors of jig bodies as they tend to change during the day so don’t be left out.

Striped bass will prepare for their false spawning run and will feed heavily to get ready for it. Live bait will provide the protein they are looking for and should be easier to find as the shad move into the creeks. Look for these fish to be following the bait schools looking for an easy meal, primary and secondary creek points will be active early and late each day with the fish moving out to the deeper creek and river channel junctions during mid day. Trolling bucktails with worm trailers on leadcore line is a great way to find active fish. White and chartreuse with a chrome spinner blade is a top choice, also preacher jigs that have a feather along with some tensile for flash work very well and have more action than plain hair jigs.

If you have any questions about rigging or want to see some of the best lures and colors, stop in and we will be glad to help. We also have bulk line available for spooling your reels so you don’t have to do all that winding.

Good luck, wear your PFD, and take a kid fishing!

By Rodney Crisco – Joe’s Bait, Tackle & Guns LLC, 704-982-8716

March 17 April 21 May 19 June 16 July 21 August 18 September 15 These classes are all on a Saturday and are from 9 AM until about 5 PM, and are held in the Conference Room at the Cabela’s store. Upon successful completion of the course and test,, a Certificate and laminated wallet sized card will be issued. All Instructors are experienced Coast Guard Auxiliary members.

Residents of North Carolina whose birth date is later than January 1, 1988 are required to have completed a boating safety course in order to operate a vessel.

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For more information and to register for one of these courses, please contact the Public Education Officer, Barbara Wilson, at cgalakewylie.PE@gmail.com.

Mark Alberghini, Publisher

Rick Croasdale Public Affairs Officer Flotilla 26-02 USCG Auxiliary captcrow73@gmail.com

Haley Alberghini, Publisher www.cgalekwylie.org

14 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

APRIL 2018

mark@theanglermagazine.com 704-651-1934

haley@theanglermagazine.com 704-781-5387

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

Time for Bed...

By Michelle Armstrong

T

here are few less things more controversial in the fishing world than fishing for bedding Bass. My thought is that if your wetting a lure anytime between March and late April, you have the potential to catch bedding bass whether purposefully or not. With that being said, sight fishing is one of my favorite techniques. Not to be confused with intentionally snagging fish off the bed. This is when one casts an exposed hook by the bedding bass and (sucker) hooks it in the side. That’s dirty pool in my book. Sight fishing is enticing the bedding bass to bite you lure fair and square. This method takes patience and skill. Still, If it’s not your thing, I don’t judge so let’s respectfully agree to disagree as I write about this topic.

There is no rush like that of seeing your lure come across a bass bed and watch that fish annihilate and run with your bait. It sounds like an easy task but you can easily get captivated and sit trying to catch the same bass for hours, only to have wasted time and not get a strike.

A fish will portray different behavior and let you know right away if it’s catchable. If you toss your line past the bed and sneak it up to the fish, only to spook the fish and watch it run clear out of sight, chances are it’s not coming back. But if you present the same stealthy presentation and she spooks but you notice she still lurks close by, hold on and get ready for some fun! She make not strike right away but after a little enticement you can usually produce a strike.

I prefer to use weightless tubes on a spinning reel with light line for this presentation. The light line is a little dangerous since some bedding fish are quite large. You’ll need to “baby” the landing so you don’t break your line. Pitch your lure just past the bed and work it slowly until you reach just above. If it’s a catchable fish she will usually slowly move toward you bait and possibly make a large circle around her bed. Slowly move your lure further into the bed and let it sit still to

see how the fish reacts. If she points her nose down, she will either flare her gills and blow the bait out of her bed or grab it and run with it. If she runs, set the hook! If she blows it out, repeat the above step but this time, when you reach the bed, lightly twitch the tube by shaking your rod handle. Almost like your shivering from cold or your nervous.

This will create a vibration and make the tentacles on the tube bait move and aggravate the fish. Typically this will create a reaction bite, so hold on. An old school tactic is to take a small broken edge from an Efferdant denture cleaner tablet and pack into the tube opening.

When you cast this out, as it dissolves in the water, the fizzing action creates a perfect scenario for a reaction bite. Though it may cloud the water a little you should still be able to see what the fish is doing.

Speaking of seeing, one of the most important tools you can have for sight fishing is a good pair or polarized sunglasses. That’s a whole other article and we will cover another time. A good “go to” lens color for sight fishing is amber. You will be surprised how much you can see past the surface of the water. Good luck this spring, stay safe, and go catch fish.

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 15

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Ho w an d Wh e re to Fin d Trou t Wh e n t h e Wea t h e r Does n’t Coo p erat e

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e’s had the date circled on the calendar for weeks. He spent two hours organizing his fly boxes and cleaning out his pack.

He even picked up some extra chores around the house, to build up a little good will with the wife. Then almost out of nowhere, the weather forecast comes in like an uppercut straight to the gut. He pulls up three different aps, but all they do is confirm that the fishing trip he’s been looking forward to, is about to get rained out.

But don’t despair, my fly fishing friends. There can still be a fairy tale ending to this story. Our intrepid angler can still salvage his trip if he’s willing to make some adjustments. A little bit of rainy weather doesn’t have to mean that the day is a bust. After all, the fish are already wet, what do they care if it’s raining?

I do need to use this space to add a disclaimer. Obviously there are weather conditions that simply make fishing unsafe and unproductive.

Lightening, heavy winds and turbid water can all make for a great day to sit inside and tie flies. Use some sense and don’t take needless risks.

If you aren’t sure, consider calling your local fly shop and ask the staff if they would fish in the given conditions.

That being said, outside of extreme circumstances, there is rarely a

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weather reason to bail on a day on the water. By knowing the region & the water, being flexible and having the right gear, you can ensure success in most normal conditions.

The biggest potential issue with rain is “blown out” river conditions.

When the water clarity is on the Yoo-Hoo / Ovaltine spectrum, you need to go somewhere else. You can avoid the unnecessary travel time by having an idea of the flow before arriving. Some of our rivers are monitored by USGS flow meters. Simply Google “stream name + flow” and find the appropriate USGS link. You can see current flow (Cubic Feet/ Second = CFS) in relation to average flow. If it’s way above average, or if you see a sharp increase in flow, it’s probably best to find someplace else. If your stream is not monitored, you’ll have to do some guesswork. Note that yesterday’s weather will have more of an affect than today’s. It could be pouring today, but if yesterday was clear, the river will probably still be viable.

If your first choice destination is blown out, you’ll need to find an alternative. Fortunately, our mountains can provide a weather buffer and keep streams segregated from smaller storm systems. Be aware of the Continental Divide. If it’s dumping on the Eastern slope, see what it’s doing on the West. Weather conditions might be totally different only an hour’s drive away. You should also try to learn about the clear out rates of your favorite streams. How long does it take for high water to pass through? Most streams take about 24-36 hours, however there are some that clear in only 6 and others that might take 3-4 days to come down.

When you’ve found some fishable water, it’s important to have the right gear. A good hat and wading jacket are a must. A full brim will keep the rain from draining down your collar and several brands make jackets ideal for even the worst conditions. One of my favorites is the new Orvis Ultralight Wading Jacket. Staying warm and dry will allow you to focus on the fishing.

The good news is that a little bit of rain can really turn the fish on. A healthy flow, surface disruption and the influx of terrestrial food sources can make for an outstanding bite. This is a great time to break out the girdle bugs and squirmy worms. Work terrestrials near the bank or small tributaries. Make sure to use additional split shot to get the flies down in faster water. If the water is off color, up the size of your flies and make sure to use an attractor pattern, like a Scrambled Egg. Finally, keep an eye on changing conditions. A tried and true method is to find a rock that’s barely sticking out of the water. If that rock goes under, you need to make your way to the bank and re-evaluate. Keep a change of clothes in the truck, and as always, let someone else know where you’re going to be.

Inclement weather will push many anglers off the water. Just the possibility of driving all the way to the stream to find that it’s blown out, will keep many folks at home. By keeping a close eye on the weather, knowing how your stream will react to it and being properly outfitted, you will get extra days on the water and might end up having some of your best days of the year!

Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like to hear about our guided trip options,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

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f this photo of a happy kid with a humongous fish doesn’t make you smile, nothing will. Chase Stokes, 11, caught his 33.25-pound, 40inch carp on a nightcrawler while fishing at Otter Creek in Panton, Vermont in April 2017. It is one of the three state records caught by Vermont anglers last year. All of them are species not typically targeted.

In May, angler Mike Elwood landed a record redhorse sucker while fishing on the Winooski River in Colchester, Vermont. The sucker, landed on a live worm, weighed 9.9 pounds and measured 29 inches long with an 18-inch girth.

The third record for 2017 was a cisco, also known as lake herring.

Alan Franchot caught his 2.25-pound state record while trolling on Lake Champlain in September.

“We saw some incredible catches in 2017, especially Chase’s carp,” said Shawn Good, fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “It was an impressive looking fish, but what’s really exciting to me is that we’re starting to see more Vermont anglers fish outside of the box, as I like to call it, by taking advantage of many of the overlooked fishing opportunities we have in our state.”

Good said fishing in Vermont remains excellent for traditional species like bass, trout, salmon and pike, but that anglers should take a look at some of the oddball fish like bowfin, drum, gar, fallfish and suckers that can provide great action as well as trophy potential.

It’s Tarpon Time In The

Florida Keys

By CAM Staff • Photo by Pat Ford

I

t is the heart of the tarpon season in the Florida Keys. With the annual migration in full swing, there should be silver kings everywhere over the next couple of months. The big spring run begins most years in February. It can last deep into the summer when conditions are right.

This is when the big fish are most vulnerable. Averaging 80 pounds and sometimes running much larger, tarpon in the keys offer a fishery unlike any other in the world. The west coast of Africa might have the world record 286-pound, 9-ounce tarpon, but nowhere in the world has the opportunities to sight fish tarpon like the Keys. Poling the flats, there is a very real possibility of encountering tarpon up to 200 pounds and heavier in shallow and ultra-clear water.

Migrating tarpon will push up into the backcountry in the thousands, skirting the edges of the flats and channels. Staking out or anchoring the boat in an ambush point where the angler is likely to encounter numbers of hungry tarpon is best accomplished through a local guide who stays on top of the movements of these giant fish.

One thing you’ll notice is that while some captains might guarantee “shots” at tarpon, none promise you’ll actually bring one boatside. With a fly, enticing a big tarpon to eat is something that takes a lot of skill and a little luck. First-timers are probably better off fishing live bait, and a crab fished under a float in the passes and around bridges where fish are

concentrated can lead to multiple hook-ups in a day’s trip.

What follows is a fight that cannot be matched by any fish anywhere. The powerful runs and repeated jumps of a hooked tarpon are what made them so highly prized as a game fish. Even experienced anglers are frequently left broken hearted when the line falls slack.

Winning a battle with Megalops is an achievement to be remembered.

Winning the battle comes with a heavy dose of responsibility, as well. Tarpon have a life span of 50 years or more. They are slow growing, and it takes them seven to 13 years to reach sexual maturity. This and their value as a game fish make them susceptible to population decline. Every effort should be made to release them with the best chance for their survival.

All Florida tarpon must be released, with an exception for anglers who have purchased a state tarpon tag for the purpose of achieving an IGFA world record. Large tarpon should remain in the water at all times, which means unhooking and photographing them should be done quickly, with an effort to keep the head and gills in the water as much as possible. Never attempt to drag a tarpon over the side of the boat.

Tarpon will often fight to exhaustion, so reviving them after the fight will greatly increase their chance of survival. Hold them horizontally in the water with their mouth open, moving them forward to push water over their gills. Do this until they are able to swim off on their own.

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TIPS FROM A PRO

DON’T FORGET ABOUT SPINNERBAITS

M

BRANDON LESTER

any great lures have come and gone in the bass fishing world over the years. Some seem to take the whole industry by storm and then die down once the next best thing comes along. Some prove themselves and become a

with dirty water, I like a red Colorado blade for extra visibility and a skirt with a lot of chartreuse. In clear water, I can throw double willowleaf blades for a subtler thump, and I’ll opt for a more

By Nick Carter

N staple in everyone’s tackle box.

There is one lure, though, that doesn’t get the attention it deserves on the tournament scene these days. With all the fancy square-bill crankbaits and bladed jigs, it’s easy to forget about the tried-and-true spinnerbait. Few baits are as good at covering water as the spinnerbait, and this time of the year that is half the battle.

Early in the spring, warm days will cause water temperatures to rise. Bass move shallower to look for places to spawn. Water conditions also play a big role in this. More fish move up earlier in dirty water, which warms faster than clear water. When these fish move shallow, they like to get next to a stump, laydown, dock, rock, really anything that holds heat and gives them a place they feel safe.

The spinnerbait is my favorite bait for targeting prespawn fish for two reasons.

Reason No. 1 is they are virtually weedless. I can throw spinnerbaits in pretty thick cover, and as long as I’m careful it will come right through. It comes through wood especially well. Reason No. 2 is the unlimited options. If I’m faced

natural skirt color.

Having all those options is important with the everchanging conditions of spring.

When you’re actively searching for fish, keep an open mind.

I’ve caught them anywhere from bluff banks to shallow flat pockets and everywhere in between this time of year, so let the fish tell you where you need to be and what you should be throwing.

My favorite spinnerbait rod is a 7’2” medium heavy (EPS86MHF) MHX Elite Pro Series rod that I build. It is a great all-purpose blank. It has plenty of tip, so I can make precise casts to targets, and it also has plenty of backbone.

I use a 7:3:1 bait-casting reel spooled with 17-lb. Vicious ProElite fluorocarbon.

If I could only choose one spinnerbait for the rest of my career, it would be a ½-ounce tandem willowleaf/Colorado combo with one silver and one gold blade and a chartreuse and white skirt. My favorite is made by a new company called Kinkee Baits. It has a combination of wrapped wire down to 18/1000-inch wire, which creates vibration bass have never felt before.

Get more tips from Lester at

FISHINGMAGAZINE.FISHING

ot many people know that much of the southern Appalachians are classified as a temperate rainforest. With average precipitation of about 60 inches a year, there is a swath of mountains from north Georgia up through western North Carolina and into east Tennessee that is a very wet place.

Those rainfall statistics might be hard to believe during drought years, when low flows and high summer temperatures leave southeastern trout lethargic in the lower elevations. But even on the hottest days, it is wet and cool in the lush creek bottoms of the high mountains. It’s what allows our wild trout, and our only native salmonid—the southern Appalachian brook trout—to thrive.

No one is thinking about low flows in spring, though. Creeks and rivers are usually full with heavy spring rains. The tailwaters are flush, sometimes blown out with dam releases. Flash floods are a dangerous possibility where small mountain creeks fall through their gorges. If you’re going fishing in the mountains this time of year, you better bring a rain jacket.

You should also make sure you bring your streamer box. Sure, we’re in the middle of some of the best dry fly action of the year.

The Hendricksons, March browns, sulphurs, caddis, drakes and giant stones might all be flitting around right now. But when the sky grows dark and those first fat drops of rain begin to fall, take time to don your rain jacket and tie on something big and nasty.

The fishing is getting ready to get mighty fun.

On multiple occasions, I’ve seen trout go absolutely bonkers in rising waters on the front end of a heavy rainstorm. All those raindrops are impending doom for the little crawling things that cling to rhododendron leaves. Flushed from the leaf litter or rolled out from the stones on the streambed, everything a trout likes to eat is stirred into the flow as the water rises and becomes stained.

Although the window of opportunity might be short, as the trout and the angler must both take cover at some point, the opening moments of a torrential downpour can be magical.

On the larger flows where there is the potential for large brown trout, bigger is better. I keep a few big, heavy, white Buggers in my box that only get wet when the water is rising. Those big bunny flies and articulated streamers you bought on a whim but never used? Now is the time to try them out.

Even on the smaller streams, rising water can spark a sub-surface feeding frenzy. Smaller streamers or double-nymph rigs with a big black stonefly as an anchor are both good options for fish that are frantic to gobble all the protein they can get while it is available.

Fishing in heavy rain requires the angler to use some common sense and not be literally carried away, though. Keep an eye on the conditions. Lightning is dangerous, as is rapidly rising water. Don’t put yourself in a situation you can’t get out of.

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By Conner Jones

E

Look for Shadows: A trout’s camouflage is effective, designed to hide it from predators with better eyesight than humans possess. Sometimes the best way to spot a fish is by looking for shadows. If a fish is suspended any distance off the bottom, it will cast a shadow that contrasts against the bottom more so than the fish itself.

Find the shadow, and you have found the fish.

Find the Right Water: This means using the angle of the sun to your advantage. Try to position yourself so glare is minimal. Heavy currents and deep water can obscure what is hiding below, so be sure to check the shallows. Tail-outs are the shallow stretches at the end of a pool, usually with a uniform current and gravel or cobble bottom in free-stone rivers. These features make the tail-out ideal for spotting fish, but their shallow nature can put fish on edge, so be sure to go slow!

The Gear: It’s hard to overstate the importance of good sunglasses on the water. Good sunglasses will not only cut the glare off the water, allowing you to see the underlying structure of the river, they will also enhance your ability to see fish. Good sunglasses are the key to being able to spot fish and also the easiest way to step up your sight fishing game, so invest in a good pair.

Conner Jones is with Cohutta Fishing Company. Contact him at cjones@cohuttafishingco.com and visit their website at www.cohuttafishingco.com.

ven out in the open, trout are remarkably adept at hiding their presence. The muted colors and speckles of their backs are beautiful out of the water. In the water, these features make them invisible to the untrained eye. Most of their predators come from above, so spotting and stalking trout is difficult, which is what makes it so much fun.

Here are a few tips to help you successfully sight fish for trout.

Go Slow: This cannot be overstated. The easiest fish to see is the one you just spooked. As the fish bolts you will inevitably ask yourself, “Why was I in such a rush?” Go slow, start at the tail of the pool and work your way to the head. Be methodical.

Look for Motion: It’s amazing how little motion it takes for a trout to keep its place in the current. However, these small movements are sometimes all it takes to give away a fish’s location. Look for unnatural movement like the side-to-side pulse of a tail or the telltale white of an opening mouth. Sometimes, this is the only clue Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 a trout will give to its location.

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While fishing from a kayak or SUP, storage space is at a premium. That’s why Popticals are a perfect fit for paddle sports and kayak anglers. They are premium quality shades that fold down to a compact size and fit into a protective case small enough to be slipped into a pocket or clipped to just about anything with an attached carabiner.

Popticals uses NYDEF nylon lenses manufactured for Popticals by Carl Zeiss Vision. Nylon has the same clarity as glass, but it’s much lighter. The light weight makes them more comfortable for all-day wear, and the clarity of these polarized lenses will help you see and catch more fish.

“With other sunglasses, I’ve spent too much time second-guessing about what I’m seeing… or think I’m seeing,” said Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Scott Suggs. “With Popticals NYDEF lenses, there’s no guessing. I can see details more clearly, cover a lot more water over the course of a day, and put my baits in front of a lot more fish.”

It’s time to stop storing your glasses on top of your head, where they can fly off or get scratched. Poptical’s award-winning design allows them to fold down into a compact hard-shell case. The case floats, and it’s small enough to fit into a pocket comfortably. Or, clip the case to your gear, where your glasses will be small enough to be out of the way but right there when you need them.

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On The Water With

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By Capt. Ryan Drygas

T

arpon Springs, a small town on the west coast of Florida an hour north of St. Petersburg, is a best-kept secret for redfish and snook. It sits within a web of waterways connecting the Gulf of Mexico to rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes and eventually Tampa Bay. This vast system offers excellent inshore opportunities, and it’s a ton of fun to explore under paddle power.

I know a local who grew up there and knows the water like the back of his hand. Kevin Hawkins, owner of Kaku Kayaks, invited me out on the water to try his newest SUP, the Voodoo. Kevin lives, eats and breathes fishing. When he’s not fishing from one of his kayaks or SUPs, he’s thinking about ways to design these boats so they’re better to fish from. The Voodoo is a hybrid that melds the best qualities of an SUP, a kayak and a micro-skiff.

We launched from his local ramp on a Saturday afternoon a cou-

ple hours before sunset. I don’t have the words to describe the picturesque setting that spread out before me. Mangroves, oyster beds and hidden shoals were in abundance.

We paddled to the tip of a mangrove island where a smaller canal led to docks, sandbars and windbreaks. We had to cross the main channel to get there, and there was a 1- to 2-foot chop with the boating traffic and winds. The Voodoo was stable and fast, tracking straight as it cut through the channel. I was surprised the chop didn’t offer more of a challenge, but the hull design of the Voodoo is flawless. It also features a chair, which—without adjustment—offers two seated positions and can be used as a poling platform. The boat paddles well from a seated or standing position, and the ability to make powerful strokes with a low center of gravity came in handy during the crossing.

As we rounded the tip of the island, we found wind-shade in a pocket. We poled down to cast right under the mangroves and docks. The Voodoo’s stern has five molded-in Power Pole mounts that allow for dual or single Power Pole Micros. And from a stability standpoint, the boat might as well be the deck of a skiff. Kevin hooked into a 25-inch redfish and fought it with ease from the open deck.

As we paddled through the backside of the mangrove islands, we cast to oyster beds and under docks. The final spot Kevin had planned was a back corner of an area with a long sea wall and sand flats. Kevin wanted to hit it right at sunset, when the redfish bite is best. We could see reds tailing over the shoals as the tide went out.

If you are looking for a perfect fishing machine, look no further than Kaku. These boats are a fisherman’s Cadillac. Kevin’s obsession with crafting a superior fishing vessel is evident in the sleek, stable versatility of his boats.

For more on Kaku Kayak, visit kakukayak.com.

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By Tom Schlichter

Y

ou couldn’t tell by looking in the tannic-stained water, but Capt. Gary Dubiel was convinced redfish were holding just a few feet from the bank. “Toss your line up tight and see what happens,” he instructed.

My cork popper landed with a splat and the trailing DOA shrimp settled toward the bottom. I waited a second, gave a “pop” and watched the cork slide under with an 8-pound red in full protest. “They’ll smack that setup every time,” smiled the skipper.

It’s no secret that the coastal waters of North Carolina teem with redfish and stripers, but many visiting anglers focus their efforts solely on inlet and ocean waters. For truly amazing topwater action, the bays, creeks and river systems are also well worth exploring.

“There’s amazing variety on the inside here,” said Dubiel, of Spec Fever Guide Service (www.specfever.com), who specializes in putting light-tackle and fly-fishing fans right in the mix. Dubiel especially enjoys working the Neuse River area because it hosts stripers and seatrout year-round, plus redfish from spring though mid-October.

“These stripers are estuarine and don’t run to the ocean,” he explained.

“They typically measure up to 32 inches, which makes them perfect for light gear and fly rods. Even better, they mix in with the specks and slot-sized redfish. We often catch all three on the same trip.”

The striper action really heats up in late April when the bass return from spawning farther upriver to offer outstanding surface action from Oriental to New Bern, N.C. Much of the fun takes place in knee-deep depths here in the river’s mouth at Pamlico Sound, and that makes for a ton of topwater thrills.

Interestingly, the Neuse River—America’s widest at 6 miles across the mouth— doesn’t have a lunar rise and fall in tides. Rather than look for current, Dubiel works around structure while using a trolling motor to quietly get in and out of

potential hot spots. He likes casting at old wood when possible, often using a Bob’s Banger Capt. Gary Dubiel of Spec popper. “Because the fish often Fever Guide Service works hang in the shallows here, you can call them from a considerthe long wand for shallow able distance if you make a litwater Neuse River stripers, reds tle noise,” he said. “This is also and specks. Photo by Felicia a great lure for covering a lot of Scocozza. water. Some of our wood fields are pretty expansive.”

Push up into the Neuse River tributaries above and below New Bern and you’ll also find largemouth bass, crappie and perch. The creeks stay warmer than the river in the winter months, so there are times in late winter and early spring when you might catch any of these along with a striper, redfish or speckled trout as well.

“It certainly makes for an interesting mixed bag,” quipped Dubiel.

Just an hour drive from Moorhead City, N.C., the Neuse River is easily accessible from Oriental, New Bern or the ICW. For accommodations, consider Bridgepoint Marina (www.bridgepointe.com) in New Bern. It’s within 500 yards of public launching at both Lawson Creek Landing and Union Park Point. For more info on the New Bern area, visit www.visitnewbern.com.

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United States Power Squadrons–America’s

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ho doesn’t have a smile on their face when they’re spending time on the water? You can’t help yourself. Boating is the definition of getting away from it all. And getting away from it all is always more fun with friends. This is where the United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club comes in.

Enjoying your time on the water with family and friends starts with being safe and responsible while having fun. That’s what makes America’s Boating Club different than most boating organizations.

For over a hundred years, the organization’s focus has been on providing unsurpassed boating safety education. But the organization’s leadership and members are passionate about a membership that doesn’t end on Sunday and doesn’t care if the calendar says it’s winter. It’s about being together and building a community through a variety of events like parties, meetings and even just getting together for no reason at all.

Driven by this passion, United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club, the country’s largest nonprofit boating organization, just launched its new logo. This is the first of several planned updates in the organization’s new brand image and identity. Changes to the organization’s website, social media platforms and collateral are expected in the coming weeks.

“We are United States Power Squadrons but we are also America’s Boating Club,” said Gary Cheney, chief commander, United States Power Squadrons. “This is not just a name change, it describes what we do. We go boating and have fun doing it. Our squadrons are social clubs as well as providers of high quality boating education— allowing members to enjoy the sport and camaraderie of boating and any number of activities that keep us together. Togetherness is what this lifestyle is all about. We joined the organization for the boating education, but we stayed for the friends.”

Offering classes For Boaters, By Boaters in boat handling, navigation, boat maintenance, weather and related subjects, United States Power Squadrons— America’s Boating Club serves as a virtual “yacht club” with boating and social activities for all types of recreational boaters. With over 27,000 members organized into 356 local clubs across the country, America’s Boating Club is comprised of families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education.

Members are vital to strengthening the communities they live in and know it’s important to live their values by giving back through public service and volunteer opportunities. Members provide courtesy vessel safety checks, help the NOAA’s National Ocean Service keep nautical charts accurate and organize beach cleanups.

“Our commitment is to continue learning, teaching, laughing and helping our fellow members enjoy boating,” continued Cheney.

“Whether you’re passionate about cruising, racing, making new friends, volunteering in your community or learning from experienced boaters, your local squadron has the resources you need to engage your passions and, perhaps, instill some new ones.”

In February of 2017, the United States Power Squadrons announced its America’s Boating Club co-brand to its squadrons, following an almost yearlong renaming exercise.

To learn more about United States Power Squadrons–America’s Boating Club, visit www.americasboatingclub.org.

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FRESHWATER Jordan Lee Wins Back-To-Back

Bassmaster Classics Bassmaster photos by Andy Crawford

I

n sixth place headed into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic on March 18 at lake Hartwell, S.C., Alabama’s Jordan Lee was in striking distance to do what only two anglers have ever done—win the Super Bowl of bass fishing twice in a row.

And he did it. With a final day surge that took him to the scales with 16 pounds, 5 ounces, Lee tallied a three-day total of 47-1 to edge out California pro Brent Ehrler by a single pound.

With his Classic win last year at Lake Conroe, Texas, Lee joins Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam as the only three anglers in the history of the sport to win back-to-back classics. With the $300,000 purse, Lee pushed his career earnings with B.A.S.S past the million-dollar mark.

“It was just a perfect week for me,” Lee told Bassmaster. “I caught fish on five different baits and a lot of different techniques.”

Boat docks were the ticket to Lee’s success.

Following poor practice rounds, he could not nail down a strong pattern. From Day 1, Lee reverted to his comfort zone and his strength.

“I just wanted to cover as much water as I could to give myself the best chance of putting a bait in front of a fish,” he told Bassmaster. “On this lake, I knew boat docks were going to play because they always do—and that’s what I like to do.”

Live on Day 1, video showed Lee pumping his fists over a chunky largemouth he finessed out from under a dock with black floats. Black floats tend to warm the water around them, and the fish were staging up prior to the spawn. A strong sack of 18-10 on Day 1 must have buoyed Lee’s confidence in the dock pattern.

Despite catching nothing but smaller spotted bass and just 12-2 on Day 2, Lee was still solidly in the top 25 to make the cut to fish Championship Sunday.

Lee found his magic pocket on Day 3. Fishing a Strike King Rage Swimmer, a Strike King Ocho and a Strike King Shimmy Stick, he stuck to that one little pocket and pulled fish from beneath almost every dock. Green pumpkin was his primary color.

Jason Christie, of Oklahoma, who led through the first two days of competition, dropped back to third place after the final day with a three-day total of 45-15. Ehrler’s 46-1 earned him second place.

Alabama pro Mark Daniels Jr. caught the Berkley Big Bass of the tournament, a 6-pound, 11-ounce largemouth that won him $2,500.

Reporting by Bassmaster’s Bryan Brasher.

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UNDER THE SEA

Tricks of the Trade

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ike land hunters or rod-and-reel fishermen, spearos also study and perfect some tricks of the trade. Spearos immerse themselves into the fishes’ environment, so the first skill to master is to look like you belong there. Beginners tend to exhibit aggressive behavior, chasing and spooking fish. If fish scatter when you get near, study how calmly an experienced diver moves in the water.

Until you achieve a non-threatening aura, all other tips and tricks will be useless.

After achieving smooth diving technique, here are some techniques to get near fish.

1) Aspetto (Italian for “wait”)—It starts from the surface with a smooth duck-dive into the water while removing the snorkel.

You descend with soft kicks until you begin to free-fall as you scan the bottom. By turning your fin blades, you maneuver to the right spot, perhaps where the reef meets sand. You lie motionless on the bottom until curious fish come to check you out. Moving only your eyes, you pick out the prey, move your gun slowly, and make a well-placed shot. A good spearo will make this technique look easy, but it is not. This is especially effective with evasive fish that become curious when you do not move, such as mutton snappers in Florida, stripers in the northeast, and bigeye emperors in Hawaii.

2) Agguato (Italian for “ambush”)–This is a dynamic stalking technique to get closer to prey without being noticed. The diver navigates the bottom using the environment to get closer to the prey. The diver must consider current, visibility and available bottom structure while moving from one object to another, blending into shadows or hiding behind reef formations. If your body can be hidden while closing the gap, the fish will remain unaware of your presence.

3) Flashers/ Sheri Daye practices “aspetto” technique. chum—Especially Photo by Joe Marino effective for hunting pelagics such as jacks, tunas, dolphin and wahoo.

Multiple mirrors dangle below a float, and the flashes of light in the water imitate the reflective glare from a school of baitfish. The fish come in to investigate. Chum can be used in combination with a flasher to bring them even closer and keep them interested.

In addition to these techniques, serious spearos are likely to train in a pool, use meditation techniques, and do cardio exercises to increase their breath hold capacity. Many take freediving classes to increase bottom time and safety. While there is no certification required to do it, classes should be a pre-requisite, as freediving is a sport that can lead to “blackout” and death if not practiced correctly.

Spearfishing is a beautiful, selective way to catch fish, but it is also physically and mentally demanding. Above all, be safe and happy hunting!

Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

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hen Jesus Chavarria was a small boy nearly 60 years ago, he remembers a giant silver fish with huge scales brought to the dock at his home in the small Pacific river port of Sierpe, Costa Rica. No one had any idea what it was.

He went on to captain offshore sport fishing boats all over the west coast of Costa Rica for the next 35 years and retired a few years ago to taking guests fishing the backwaters of the Sierpe River. His specialty is snook but now and then he began to catch tarpon.

Tarpon are not indigenous to the Pacific Ocean, but over the years anglers began to encounter a tarpon now and then. The thought is that over more than a century since it was constructed, the Panama Canal has provided passage for tarpon, which now reside in the Pacific. Tarpon capture has been recorded as far south as Colombia and as far north as El Salvador.

Saul Porras’ capture of a tarpon that weighed barely 3 pounds at a creek mouth in southern Costa Rica changed the whole thought process. Chances that a fish that small swam through the canal and that far are slim. Are tarpon now breeding in the Pacific?

FECOP, the sport fishing advocacy and conservation group in Costa Rica, agreed to sponsor a project to find out more about tarpon in the Pacific. They contacted Didiher Chacon, who had worked on a Costa Rican Caribbean tarpon project almost three decades ago in Barra del Colorado for Dr. Roy Crabtree, of Florida. He agreed to work on the science part of the project.

“The Sierpe Wetlands are perfect habitat for juvenile tarpon,” explained Chacon. “That very well may account for the increase in numbers of tarpon caught there in the last few years.” Most of the river tarpon are small, less than 30 pounds, but fish as large as 100 pounds have also been taken.

Phase 1 of the project will concentrate in southern Costa Rica. A DNA comparison will be done between Pacific-caught tarpon and tarpon taken from different parts of the Caribbean side of the country. They will also study what the Pacific tarpon have been feeding on. Today this can be done with a small tissue sample without sacrificing the fish. All Pacific caught tarpon will also be tagged.

Chacon noted that there is a possibility over time for tarpon to change the ecology of the rivers. It is not yet known what they are feeding on or how they will affect native fish. The Pacific-side tarpon are now showing with enough frequency to make it worth finding out.

Tropical storm Nate delayed the project when the massive amounts of rain that fell not only caused major landslides but also completely flushed everything out of most of the country’s rivers.

Find out more about Pacific tarpon and other FECOP projects on sport fishing conservation at www.fishcostarica.org.

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The Trident 11,13 and 15 now feature the new Active Comfort System 2.0 seating that is all-day comfortable. A re-designed Mod Pod stores your tackleboxes, while providing sliding access inside the hull, a cup holder and locking dry storage for valuables. The new Mod Pod is slightly slimmer to provide more leg room and to make standing to fish easier.

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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

3/19/18 3/2/18 8:33 2:53 AM PM

GET A GRIP • Safer • Easier • Better

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Photo courtesy of Outcast Sport Fishing/Facebook

N

ot long ago, people didn’t know there were great white sharks off the coast of South Carolina. Now, thanks to the obsessive pursuit of them by Outcast Sport Fishing Charter Capt. Chip Michalove, everyone knows they’re out there, and in numbers during the winter months.

Michalove seems to have figured it out, and he’s not sharing his secrets for fear of hurting the species he spent more than a decade trying to pattern. The captain has caught nearly 30 of these apex predators over the last three years. His most recent catch has made national news after a post about him catching a 16-foot-long, 3,000-pound white shark went viral from his Facebook page.

Journalist Mandy Matney wrote in Hilton Head Island’s Island Packet about Michalove’s giant fish. She reported that with a two-man skeleton crew, Michalove had to radio to another fishing boat for backup to bring the giant fish boatside where it could be tagged and released.

Michalove tags great whites for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy in Chatham, Mass., according to the Island Packet report. They are working to study the movements of the sharks in the Atlantic, and through technique Michalove does everything he can to put minimal stress on the animals.

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THE PLANET’S

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©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. * Fuel economy claim based on BRP-conducted ICOMIA testing of Evinrude E-TEC G2 250 H.O., Yamaha 250 SHO® and Mercury OptiMax® 250 HP in a test tank to determine ICOMIA average cycle. Actual fuel economy dependent on engine model.

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