The Angler Magazine | January 2019 | Charlotte/Piedmont

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT, NC EDITION

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Striper Time!

Tips for winter Bass/Trout PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK CARTER VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 287

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GETTING HOOKED BEFORE CASTING THE LINE.

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By Team Three Buoys

Photos by Michael Grant

W

hile mystic grouper can be caught year-round in the Bahamas, the winter months are our favorite time of year. Whenever a weather window presents itself, we point our bow east across the Florida Straights in search of these deep-water bottom dwellers.

Mystics are one of the lesser-known grouper species, simply because anglers don’t fish deep enough to target them. Like all grouper, they are excellent to eat and usually weigh from 15 to 50 pounds, although they can grow much larger.

It takes special gear to fish the 800- to 1,200-foot depths where we find mystics. Armed with Shimano Tiagra 80 WAs and Shimano Tiagra 50 WAs equipped with Hooker Electric Autostop drives, we string up 65- to 100-pound Power Pro braid on Crafty One Custom’s Deep Drop Rods.

We begin by paying close attention to our Humminbird Solix sonar with CHIRP HD digital technology to locate bottom structure. We look for cones, holes, drop-offs, ledges and deep-water ridges. Once viable structure is located, we position the boat above it with engines out of gear to judge how wind and current will manipulate our drift. Then the

boat is repositioned up-current from the structure and the deep-drop rigs are readied.

When targeting mystics, we use our www.ThreeBuoysFishing.com grouper deep-drop rigs made with three 8/0 VMC 3x Circle Hooks on 100-pound branch lines off of 12 feet of 150-pound main line. For bait, we prefer fresh-cut 8-inch strips of dolphin, tuna, wahoo or barracuda.

Many deep-drop anglers claim, “no light, no bite,” but our experience has proven that, especially with mystics, we catch more and bigger fish without lights.

We deploy two rods on opposite sides of the boat. Lead weights in the 10-pound range are the rule of thumb, but weight can be adjusted to the current. After the weights hit bottom, the reels are left in freespool to lay the rigs straight down on the bottom. The engines should be used to decrease the boat’s drift to a standstill, if possible. If the boat drifts, let out line to keep the rigs on bottom.

When the rod tip bumps and shakes, resist the urge to lock up the drag and retrieve line. Wait a minute or two for additional fish to sense the commotion. They’ll often eat the remaining baits. When it’s time to strike, lift the reel’s drag to strike (pre-set to 20 pounds of drag) and slowly start your retrieve.

Big mystic grouper put up quite a fight at first, and you might even think you’ve hung bottom. Be patient and slowly gain as must line as possible. When fish are about halfway up, their air bladders expand and create lift. They will begin to float your rig up to the surface.

For more tips and tactics on deep-dropping and the tackle and rigs to get tight, see www.threebuoysfishing.com. Also, keep up with all of the offshore action @ Team Three Buoys on Facebook and Instagram.

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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 : Nick Barna • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.comw ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794

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Finding bait becomes more important than at any other time of year.

Goebel likes to get out well before dawn in search of shad or herring flickering near the surface, especially when a big moon keeps baitfish active all night. Diving birds are also a dead giveaway. They are likely feeding on baitfish pushed by stripers from below.

“A lot of times if there’s bait there, I won’t even worry about marking fish on the graph,” Goebel said. “I’ll just put out my lines and start fishing where the bait is.”

By Nick Carter

T

here aren’t many anglers willing to endure the frigid early morning temperatures of winter on a large reservoir. But for those who can handle a little discomfort, right now is the best time of year to hook up with the striper of a lifetime.

Around the Southeast, in reservoirs where striped bass were introduced, falling water temperatures spur changes in behavior that make the largest fish in the lake susceptible to anglers. Those 30- to 50-pounders are feeding up right now. They’re storing up reserves that will take them through the spring spawn.

“It’s trophy striper season,” said Shane Goebel, of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. “The bigger fish are participating a little better. This time of year, we start going after those big ol’ hogs that are chasing the big baits.”

The large summer schools broke up months ago. Stripers are spread out and on the move, following baitfish into the creek mouths and up into the backs of the creeks.

Big fish move shallow when water temps hit the mid to low 50s on the lakes Goebel guides in the mountains of north Georgia and western North Carolina. It might take some searching to find them, but the rewards can be huge.

Because the stripers are continually moving with the bait, covering water is crucial. Goebel said to troll as many baits in as wide a spread as you can handle. Herring are great on lakes where they are present, but this time of year you should also work some big gizzard shad or trout into the spread.

Sometimes it takes a big mouthful to convince big fish to eat.

Goebel runs baits 30 to 40 feet behind planer boards. He’ll drop freelines 100 to 150 feet behind the boat. If the area where he finds bait isn’t too shallow, he’ll put a little bit of weight ahead of the baits on the inside boards to cover more water vertically. He slow trolls at about half a mile per hour.

This is a pattern Goebel fishes all the way into May, when stripers have moved into a pre-spawn phase. It might not produce the numbers of fish that downlining into summer mega-schools will, but the fish are generally a lot bigger than those 5- to 10-pound summer schoolies.

If catching an enormous striper sounds like fun, zip up your parka and get out on the lake. It’s trophy striper season.

Check out Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service at bigolfish.com.

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By Tom Schlichter

Capt. Carlos Arguedas (left) shows off a huge cubera snapper caught aboard the Los Suenos charter vessel, Wingman, with Lindor Jimenez. Photo courtesy of Wingman Charters, Los Suenos, Costa Rica.

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Los Suenos roosterfish come big aboard Capt. Carlos Arguedas’ charter vessel, Wingman. Photo courtesy of Wingman Charters, Los Suenos, Costa Rica.

f Costa Rica isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be. Famous for both inshore and offshore fishing, it’s also a country with incredible biodiversity and exciting eco-tourism opportunities. In short, there’s something for every sportsman and adventure seeker here.

From a fishing perspective, the west coast of this Central American country is most favored with several significant cities and ports including Jaco, Quepos and, of course, Golfito. It’s Los Suenos, however, where

my wife, Felicia and I found outstanding action on a trip last April. We worked the inshore grounds, catching huge roosterfish, rainbow runners, grouper, jacks and even mahi. We also decked a big cubera snapper. Of course, we did have an edge. Coastal Angler’s very own Costa Rica inshore reporter Capt. Carlos Arguedas and his first-mate son, Christopher, were our charter crew.

“This really is a terrific place to fish,” said Arguedas, “We have access to a lot of different spots ranging from very close to the marina to 50 miles away. The roosterfish action is unbelievable here but we also catch big cubera snapper, amberjack, groupers and huge red snappers, too.”

Arguedas loves to take clients for roosterfish because they fight so hard, are found close to port, and grow big. He’s had a 90-pounder grace his deck. For these, he’ll slow troll live baits like blue runners, herring, sardines or bonita. All of these baits, impaled on size 8 circle hooks, also attract other large predators; so you never know what to expect when the rod doubles over.

“Roosterfish are very impressive when you first see them,” said Arguedas. “They are exotic-looking with big dorsal rays, a huge mouth and striped flanks. They are stunning to see for the first time. They are also exceptionally strong. Fight a 20-pounder and you’ll think you have a 40-pounder at the end of the line. They jump, too, and shake their head, so remember to lower your rod tip when that fish comes up or you’ll tear the hook free.”

Among the other big fish that hit the deck for Arguedas’ crew on a regular basis are goliath grouper that can top 400 pounds. These are targeted around local reefs. If you want to run offshore, sailfish, tuna and marlin abound within 10 miles of port. Dorado, sometimes topping 30 pounds, can be tempted within sight of the coast.

Costa Rica’s tropical climate makes it a year-round destination. Most travelers prefer to visit during the dry season, which runs from December through April, but you’ll find lighter crowds and lower travel prices during the “green” or rainy season from May to November.

Whenever you visit, it really helps to work with a travel pro that deals frequently with Costa Rica to customize a trip here. Blue Water Sportfishing Charters (http://bluewatersportfishingcharters.com) specializes in setting up trips to Los Suenos. They can put you in the right place at the right time for the fish you want to catch, sights you want to see or adventures you want to experience. They’ll also book you with Capt. Carlos—or you can contact him yourself at www.wingmancr.com.

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Center sp Sheri Daye

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he first time I saw someone spearfishing, I was intrigued and wondered out loud how hard it would be to load a speargun.

A friend heard me and said, “I’m sure you can do it. It’s probably more about technique than brute strength.” He was right.

It’s not uncommon to struggle to load your first speargun, and you might suspect they made the bands too short. If you give it some time and use the right technique, it will become easy. First, some safety tips: 1) Never load a speargun out of the water.

2) Keep the safety on until you intend to shoot a fish.

3) Even with the safety on, treat it like a loaded weapon, never let the tip point at anyone.

4) Use tip protectors when not in use, so you don’t scratch anything.

Some spearguns are loaded by resting the butt of the gun on your hip and pulling the bands toward the shaft notches. Others are loaded by resting the butt high on the middle of the chest and pulling the bands toward your sternum. Hip-loading spearguns are commonly used by scuba divers, as chest loading can be difficult when wearing a buoyancy compensator vest. Freedivers are less constricted by gear, so they normally use chest-loading spearguns. These have longer range because the shaft tabs sit closer to the butt of the gun.

Now, some loading tips: 1) Wear gloves and wetsuit to prevent slips, scrapes or bruising.

Some wetsuits have a loading pad built into the chest.

2) Don’t look down and hunch over when loading the bands.

Push forward with your chest and pull the band swiftly with your arms, so the shaft tabs are pushed forward to meet the incoming

band.

3) Use a loading tab (if using a wood gun). This simple device makes things much easier by allowing you to first hip load the band to the loading tab and then raise the butt to your chest for the final pull. Although it’s a two-step process, it can be done quickly and will feel much easier.

4) If your bands are still too hard to load, use three longer bands.

5) Work out, lift weights, work on core and upper body. Try bench presses, seated rows, bent over rows, pushups and pull-ups.

Bands and dumbbells can be incorporated into your workout routine, whether at the gym or home.

If you want to see a band loading video, check out Coastal Angler online. And remember—you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!

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

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Preparation & Confidence

by Capt. Craig Price

E

ver fished with someone who spends as much time fiddling in their tackle box and tying on different lures as they actually spend fishing?

Then at the end of the trip this angler wonders why his/ her production is lower than those who’ve been persistently casting away? I’ve seen this behavior many times, and I’ve been guilty of it too.

Sometimes this conduct is driven by warranted experimentation, or adjustments required by changing conditions. No doubt the ability to adapt to changes is a vital angling skill. But often the constant tinkering is a result of uncertainty and lack of preparation.

Better production can also simply be a matter of numbers, i.e. one angler makes 50% more casts therefore he/she catches more fish. I know that over the years I’ve learned that I don’t catch many fish when I don’t have a line in the water.

But often better it’s preparation and confidence that makes the more successful angler.

Preparation and practice develop confidence, and confidence promotes success. It’s a premise that we can apply to fishing, or business or even academic pursuits.

While mulling over the impact of confidence on fishing results, I ran across an article by renowned angler Mark Sosin titled The Key Ingredient.

Sosin’s piece crystallizes my thoughts: “Confidence should control what you tie on your line. If you believe it will work, it probably will.”

He goes on to say that confidence is critical because it allows the angler to focus on presentation. Presentation refers to placing the lure in exact locations and making the bait resemble the predator’s natural prey as closely as

possible.

My observations confirm that the majority of anglers don’t understand how important proper presentation is. Again Sosin beats me to the punch – “This is a mental game.

Every cast should count.”

This statement alone reveals the #1 reason top anglers are better than their peers. They are making every cast count by being precise with their presentation, and making subtle adjustments of speed, depth, and direction when needed.

I think the latter part of Sosin’s observation is just as critical - “make the bait resemble the predator’s natural prey.”

Many lures have great built-in swimming actions, but the more adept an angler becomes at varying the inherent action to make the lure resemble a weak, injured, or fleeing bait, the more success he/she will have drawing strikes.

Maybe the abundance of tv shows and internet videos are partially to blame for many casual anglers’ mistaken idea of how easy it is to catch fish with artificial lures. The videos show brief periods of successful catches, but they don’t accurately portray the countless hours of preparation and application it takes be a consistently good angler.

Luckily, more preparation and practice time is a blessing not a chore to those of us who love fishing. No one has to drag me out of the house to get on a boat, or even to spend time maintaining tackle or tuning lures. I’ve learned the more time and effort I invest in these activities, the more Fish On! I experience on the water.

Capt. Craig & Tommy Adkins with a bluefin tuna caught off Morehead City NC is early Dec. Tommy’s many years of experience and detailed preparation resulted in this exceptional catch when other boats hooked but lost their tuna in rough seas that day.

Visit our Website coastalanglermag.com/Charlotte Local Forecasts Fishing and Outdoor Articles Bragboard (submit your pic) Distribution Map Tournament Calendar

Simmons@theanglermagazine.com 980-333-7273

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Cold Weather Fishing Tips

Forecast for

LAKE NORMAN BY: CAPT. GUS GUSTAFSON

By Capt. Gus

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anuary thru February is a favorite time to fish Piedmont Lakes. The most important reason is that hybrid striped bass bite best when water temperatures are cool. Largemouth and spotted bass, perch, cats and crappie must eat as well, so all are fair game. The following tips might help make your next cold weather fishing trip more enjoyable and productive.

•Warm water attracts bait as well as predator fish. The areas adjacent to the power plant hot water discharge canals are likely places to find a variety of fish during the winter months.

•Cold weather fish also congregate on sunny shorelines, near underwater springs and in deeper water that is usually a few degrees warmer than the surface temperature.

•Cold water slows the metabolism of a fish. Therefore, smaller bait, combined with a slow retrieve, will result in more fish. This combination also gives the fish more time to take live or cut baits.

•Bass, crappie and perch stay near cover this time of year.

Fish closer than you normally would to docks, blow downs, brush, stumps and other under water structure.

•The best time to fish is whenever you can! Lake Norman’s bite is usually early, even in the dead of winter, so be ready to begin fishing at daylight. Most successful hybrid fishermen are off the lake before noon.

•Best live baits for winter hybrids are shad and herring. popular catfish baits are worms, prepared baits and strips of fresh cut white perch and bream. Bass fishermen use a variety of artificial lures, but crank baits, soft plastics on shaky heads, drop shots rigs, jig & pigs, bucktails and jigging spoons will take their share of bass. Crappie, like small minnows and white perch, will hit minnows as well as spoons and Sabiki rigs.

•Anglers who fish from the bank or dock will find that minnows and worms work best, but they can also use a variety of prepared baits and household foods such as hotdogs, bread and chicken livers.

•Best artificial bait colors are watermelon, pumpkin seed, blue, green, chartreuse, silver and white.

•Overdress for winter weather. It always feels colder on the water than it does on land. Pocket hand warmers, catalytic heaters and a thermos of hot coffee will help keep you comfortable on the coldest of days.

•On the coldest of days, line, rod tips and fishing reels can freeze. Dip them in the water to temporarily melt the ice.

•Last, but not least, don’t forget to bring your cell phone. The lake can be a cold and lonely place if you break down and no one but you knows you need to be towed.

Happy New Year!

B

Fishing With Captain Gus (704) 617-6812 www.fishingwithgus.com

y early January, most baitfish will have left the creeks and found their way to the river channel were water temperatures are a bit warmer. Shadowing the shad and herring will be schools of bass, hybrids and perch. What makes deep-water fishing so good, is that baitfish and predators bunch up in tight knit schools, often near S-turns in the river channel or where two or more channels meet to form a delta.

Three easy ways to locate feeding fish are: 1. Find diving seabirds eating baitfish pushed to the surface by hungry predators.

2. Look for boats clustered in close proximity. Approach at slow speed to scatter the fish.

3. Look for images of bait and fish on your sonar screen.

Once located, a variety of methods can be employed. Two of the most popular are (1) suspended live bait or (2) jigging spoons just above the fish feeding below the boat. Best live baits are bass minnows, shad and herring. Bucktail jigs and metal jigging spoons are preferred by those deep dropping artificial lures. When bass and hybrids are surface feeding, a variety of top water lures, including jerk baits, shallow running crankbaits and Alabama rigs will do the trick. On days when fish are hard to locate, trolling is a viable option. Another choice is to fish the hot water discharge channels at the McGuire and Marshall power stations.

On occasion, bass and hybrids will be boiling the surface, particularly at dawn and on cloudy days. But when they aren’t, lures fished closer to the bottom will reap rewards.

Those wishing to catch crappie should concentrate their efforts around bridge pilings, boathouses and submerged brush.

Best baits are crappie minnows and 1/64th to 1/16th ounce jigs fished to forty feet.

Captain Gus Gustafson with a Linesider on Lake Norman

The Angler Magazine Charlotte NC 2 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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12/12/18 4:32 PM

January in the Blue Ridge

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By Britt Stoudenmire

anuary is one of the coldest months of the year in the Blue Ridge, but it certainly doesn’t mean that the fishing is “cold.”

With water temperatures that rarely drop into the low-30’s, muskies will feed quite consistently during the winter period and become more aggressive as the days begin to lengthen. During this time, follows are often translated into eats as fish maximize every opportunity for a meal. Remember to execute “figure-8’s” at the end of every retrieve making wide sweeps with the rod during the bends of the “figure-8.” Big fish in the 40”+ range are like large cargo boats and can not turn quickly. I often watch clients make short, abrupt turns which will cause a fish to loose interest very quickly and drop off the bait or fly. Big sweeps varying the depth of the bait or fly up and down in the water column while keeping your presentation deep at the boat so that the fish doesn’t see you are crucial. Executed correctly, fish will eat quickly or stay with a bait for minutes at a time before eating.

I can remember back to the winter of 2013, and the James River had been slightly iced over and very cold during the two to three polar vortexes that we had had. Although not a common winter pattern, ice out presents a feeding window for muskies that can bring extremely hot action. I had taken my neighbor and long time fishing buddy out for a trip, and we had a limited amount of time to fish a longer section, so we were covering ground very quickly. I had casted up onto a sheet of ice in a big, deep eddy pocket that normally holds winter fish. I brought the bait off the ice and noticed a fish charging it immediately as I retrieved the bait closer to the boat.

I mentioned it to my neighbor as he kept fishing, and I began to “figure-8.” The fish stayed with it for turn after turn disappearing at times and then reappearing. Every time that I could see it in the emerald green water, it looked hotter and hotter. After several minutes and several more casts by my neighbor, the fish ate and I struck him. My neighbor could not believe it as he grabbed the net and helped me land the short-lined fish that was crashing violently around the boat. I have watched many of my clients land their first musky on a “figure-8,” and after doing so, I am sure they’ll “always” do again because the excitement of landing a fish on such a short string is something you won’t forget and don’t want to miss an opportunity at.

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TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 3

JANUARY 2019

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 3

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Brenda Farmer Broker/Realtor

4001 East Highway 24/27 Midland, NC 28107

(704) 791-5437 (704) 888-6335

Winter Bass

By Michelle Armstrong

Please send us information about Sponsored Tournaments Weekly Tournaments Charity Tournaments Tournament ou a e t Results Resu ts

Simmons@TheAnglerMagazine.com

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E

ver wondered where the bass go during the winter? Me too. But the reality is, they don’t go very far, literally. They are cold blooded creatures, and they are smart. They have fattened themselves up during to onset of fall because they knew what was ahead if them. That being said, they still need to eat in the winter but they need to be more choosey during this time.

They aren’t going to leave the comfort of the warm rock bed or stump field to chase something that doesn’t gain them high caloric value. They will however, chase big balls of bait that happen to swim close by. I’m guessing, they see a big ball of bait swim by, and they know they can run through with that big mouth open and feast up quickly. And with little effort. Only to return to the warm area they left.

So what do we do? Become the bait! Sure, you can throw huge single swimbaits, big spinnerbaits, etc. But for some real fun, become a whole school of bait! You can do this with an Alabama rig... aka the “a” rig. When Mr Bass, open mouthed, runs through your bait ball, he’s got a 1 in 5 chance to get hooked.

There are several different versions of this rig and all fisherman have their favorite. I’m no exception. I fish with my spouse and we often compete (against each other) on the same boat with two….mine is the Yumbrella Flash Mob Jr. and Troy (the spouse) uses Shane’s Baits Mini Blades of Glory. I rig mine with 20lb fluorocarbon line on a Powell Endurance 7’6 Med Heavy rod. This is a heavy bait, much like trying to cast a wet beach towel, so I can depend on this rod to have control over this bait and get it as far or as close as I want. I rig the four outer arms of my Yumbrella with 16th ounce jig heads with white 3.5 Yum Pulse Swimbaits and the center arm gets a slightly larger 4.5.

The spouse (Troy) uses a similar rod with 20lb Silverthread fluorocarbon. Same jig heads but with 3.5 Keitech Easy Shiner on all arms.

In the world of “a” rigs, these are more compact and can be used where other rigs can’t. As a rule, (there are no rules in fishing) “a” rigs are open water, bait chasing baits. These two can be thrown in shallower water, along docksides, and in tighter spaces. For instance, you can cast into a foot of water, then turn around and cast out to a deep break without ever changing baits.

I have to remind myself that fish use channels like we use highways. The places they hang out off the channels are like neighborhoods. They continually revisit these places year after year. They jump on the highways to go get fast food and then quickly return to the safety of the hood. In the Winter, Bass don’t like to expel ton of energy so I revisit places I know they reside and pick it apart. These smaller “a” rigs are ideal for this. Typically, you can move through one area “being the bait” and pick up 1 to 5 fish in a single cast. Be ready for a day of fun!

Now go catch a fish.

I-40 exit 150, S one mile or I-77 exit 50, W 1 mile approx

4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 4

JANUARY 2019

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12/12/18 4:32 PM

Forecast for

BUILDING BRAND LOYALTY IS WHO WE ARE.

Hickory & Rhodhiss BY: COLT BASS

T

Colt Bass Fishing (828) 381-3426 www.coltbassfishing.com

here’s no use in telling a bunch of stories or lying about the fishing in January. If you want a day full of reels screaming and multiple fish coming over the side of the boat the best thing you can do is stay at home and watch fishing on TV. But if you just can’t stand sitting at home there are a few things you can do to get a few striper to bite on Lake Hickory. Because there is no hot hole or any kind of warm water discharge on Lake Hickory there’s no one particular area to focus on when it gets January cold. The main thing I am going to focus on is locating schools of striper early in the day. I may troll bucktails for 2 hours or more in my winter time spots just locating schools. After I get a feel on what the fish are doing that particular day and have a few schools located I’m going to get over top of them and but out the live bait. This time of year I’m running all small baits. Shad and alewife anywhere from 2 inches to 3.5 inches are perfect for this time of year. I will always put out that one big shad in the 6-9 inch range in hopes for that monster, but 95 percent of my bites will be on the small stuff. Now it’s just patience, like I said earlier it’s slow and these fish are very lethargic. All I’m going to try and do now is sit as still as I can and stay on top of the school. A good sonar unit comes in handy this time of year also. Because these fish are so lethargic, I’m trying to put this bait as close to them as I can. If I’m marking fish in 20ft. I want the bait in 20ft. It’s not like spring or summer when the fish will chase a bait 3 to 10 feet up, you literally have to have it right in its face to get bites sometimes. I may sit on a school as long as 45 minutes to 1 hour with no bites before I decide to move on to another. A day of this, a lot of patience, and a little luck and you can make a decent day out of January. It will also make spring feel that much sweeter when it gets here.

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Fishing Humor

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 5

JANUARY 2019

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 5

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Carolina Self Protection Proudly Offers

A Message to Women Who are Considering Concealed Carry

NC Concealed Carry Advanced Concealed Carry Basic Pistol Shooting

By Karen Fisher Refuse to be a Victim his one is for the LADIES! Let me start by saying that any TEENS 1st Steps Pistol questions you have about concealing a handgun are valid, and you are absolutely doing the right thing by wondering KIDS Firearms Safety and asking. Never let anyone make you feel any differently. So, FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation let’s talk woman to woman.

The three main things a woman worries about when it comes NRA Instructor Workshops to concealed carry are: what, where and how. First, let’s talk about

T

good firearms for women to conceal. Of course, every person has a preference to what size and/or caliber they like, so always go with what fits you best instead of what someone else carries or what someone else wants you to carry. It’s best to go to a local range to test fire any gun before you make a purchase. Below are some pistols that are smaller in frame, lighter in weight, and easier to conceal (in no particular order).

704-237-4487 Mooresville, NC Karen has helped over 2,000 adults and children gain the knowledge and skills necessary for keeping themselves and their families safe.

www.CarolinaSelfProtection.com

Find us in PRINT & ONLINE visit our website at CoastalAnglerMag.com/Charlotte

for advertising opportunities contact simmons@theanglermagazine.com 6 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 6

JANUARY 2019

o Glock 42 .380 $$ o Glock 43 9mm $$ o Kimber Micro .380 $$$$ o Kimber Micro9 9mm $$$$ o Sig Sauer P238 .380 $$$ o Sig Sauer P938 9mm $$$ o Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 $ o Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield 9mm $$ o Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .38 Special $$$ o Ruger LCP II .380 $ o Ruger LCR .38 Special $$$ Once you decide which pistol is for you, it’s time to decide how to carry. One thing I would like to get out of the way is my opinion of purse carry. Storing your firearm in your purse is not going to allow you to gain access to your firearm as quickly as you may need, and it could even be dangerous. Who has access to your purse? Children? Teens? Strangers in the grocery aisle?

The best and safest place to conceal your firearm is on your body.

Now, the big question is: where and how do you conceal?

A couple of easy options would be inside the waistband (IWB), outside the waistband (OWB), or even in your bra! Be sure to purchase a holster that is designed to hold your specific model of firearm rather than a universal type that holds any pistol similar to your pistol’s size. Some really great holsters are the Betty by Flashbang, Blackhawk, and the original Flashbang bra holster. A word about the bra holster – it takes a few days to get accustomed to it, but once you do, it’s really a great way to carry!

The last thing I would like to mention is body image. As women, we are our own worst critics of our bodies. It’s really unfair, because we are all created beautifully and perfectly, just as we should be. As you are learning to conceal, know that no one really looks at you they way you look at yourself. If you have a bump or a lump here or there, no one really pays attention, and they have no idea you are concealing a handgun. Be confident in your choice to protect yourself and your family.

You can view our class schedule at www.carolinaselfprotection.com

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Forecast for

LAKE WYLIE BY: JERRY NEELEY Carolina’s Fishing Guide Service (704) 678-1043 www.carolinasfishing.com

W

ell, the cold weather has arrived and along with it the water temperature has dropped into the 46-50 degree range. That means that the cold body fish will not eat as regularly as they normally do. Their metabolism slows down. This translates in to less bites for the angler looking to catch a few fish in the winter months. Not so fast my friend. They have to eat to live. The next question is when and where do you fish?

Bass fishing usually takes a hit during in the winter months. Frankly speaking, they are hard to catch during this time. I have had great success fishing warm water discharge areas on Lake Wylie when Duke Energy pulls the water. The South Fork River is one place that warms up when they pull the water and another place is Big Allison Creek nuclear discharge area. These areas will warm up the water considerable when they pull water. The bass will get active during this time and this is when I would bass fish.

Fish points and coves in these areas.

Crappie fishing is very good during the winter, you just have to fish deep. Most crappie will move into 35-40 feet of water for the winter. When that happens, I tight line with a single #6 gold hook and minnow rig. You will need a very good depth finder to locate them. Helix 10 is what I use on my boat for this. You will catch the limit most days when you find them.

White Perch fishing is easy and fun during the winter. I use a two hook minnow rig trolling at .5 MPH right down the middle of the lake or creeks. You will catch all you want most days.

Catfishing is slow most days, trolling in the main lake. I use cutbaits trolling in 30-45 feet of water. I catch a lot of big catfish doing this, but not many.

Take a kid fishing. Keep warm and safe.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 7

JANUARY 2019

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 7

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Meet Tom Thompson . . .

By Michelle Armstrong

F

or his generation, Tom Thompson was a rarity. He was one of very few teenage boys from that time to have never received a draft card. Specifically because he decided on his own to join the military. In February, 1970, Tom, at the age if 17, quit school, and joined the United States Navy.

While at sea during training, Tom was able to finish high school and obtain his diploma.

He was stationed on The USS Plymouth Rock, LSD (landing ship dock). He was trained in communications and was a radioman. Amid his duties, he was in charge of monitoring all messages and coordinated “talk” between ships. As a young seaman, he was also in charge of and trusted with relating the Captain’s orders to different parts of the ship. His ship transported the boats that carried Marine brothers to and from their training facilities. They dubbed themselves the Marine Taxis.

Tom’s Navy career came to an abrupt halt. At only 19 years old he was disability retired.

Over the next 45 years, Tom spent his time as an optician. He did everything from lab work to eventually being a Chairman for the NC State Opticians Board. He is currently serving his fourth year on the Board of Commissions for the Blind Tom can’t recall how he heard about Operation North State, but he is certainly glad he did. Tom grew up fishing ponds with corks and bobbers but had never experienced fishing at this level. He had never been on a boat, and had never caught a Bass. At his first event on the Neuse River, with host boater Greg Lemly, he remedied several of those “never’s”. He has since fished about 16 of the Operation North State events amassing two Big Fish trophies. Once in 2017 at Badin Lake with host boater Dale Borget and then again in 2018 at Lake Norman with host boater Angela Mayo.

Tom has been so amazed with Operation North State. He has witnessed first hand what the organization does for Veterans. “All of the host boater’s are so gracious and accommodating. “No matter what they are faced with, with our (veterans) disabilities, they find a way to make sure we get to fish”. “Everyone is so positive and extremely nice.” “The mental changes I have seen in my brothers that get to participate is incredible”.

Tom likes to spread the word and get others involved. His wife Janice, of 35 years, has gotten involved behind the scenes. Even with juggling between them, a son, a daughter, 3 grandchildren, and 2 (one on the way) great grandchildren, she now volunteers and handles some of the administrative duties for Operation North State.

Tom and about 85 of his closest friends, meet every Tuesday in Salisbury, at Thelma’s, a local restaurant, for coffee. Thelma, an Army Veteran herself, encourages camaraderie and opens her restaurant to all veterans. Through this, a fund raiser was formed with proceeds going toward Operation North State.

After hearing about Operation North State from Tom, a local AMVET post used a portion of their proceeds from bingo night to contribute to the organization.

Tom Thompson is one of those people that is a silent hero. He can’t see it, but others can.

Since he retired so early, he never felt like he made a difference, but I am certain he did. The fact can’t change that he was willing to serve his country, and he did. Since becoming a part of Operation North State, he has contributed so much that could easily go unseen. He has a story like so many others. He did not see the war as close as others, but he was there. His disability may not be as bad as another, but it is still a disability. His contribution may not be as big as another, but it’s still a contribution. I implore those that have a similar story to Tom to understand and hear me. You ARE a hero. You’re PART matters. To me. And so many others.

Tom Thompson, THANK YOU SIR, for your time and for your PART.

OperationNorthState.com Edenton with Greg Lemley

8 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 8

JANUARY 2019

Norman with Angela Mayo

Badin with Dale Borget

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Who are our Writers!

Colt Bass - Writes the Hickory & Rhodhiss forecast www.coltbassfishing.com ~ 828-381-3426 Colt Bass Fishing is a fishing guide service serving Charlotte NC, Winston Salem NC, Raleigh NC, Greensboro NC, Hickory NC, Morganton NC, and anywhere else you may come from. Colt offers a variety of fishing trips to suit your every need. Whatever your needs may be Colt Bass Fishing can handle them.

Jerry Neeley - Writes the Wylie forecast www.carolinasfishing.com ~ 704-867-5113 Jerry’s Fishing Guide Service is a service that has more than forty years of fishing experience. They guide on Wylie and Norman. If you are looking for Bass, Crappie or Catfishing they can provide this service at a reasonable price. Their goal is to make your outing fun and enjoyable. They make fishing fun!

Darin Brown - Writes the forecast for High Rock, Badin & Tuckertown Dam www.hwy49sports.com ~ 704-463-7053 Hwy 49 Sports is located in New London, NC on NC Hwy. 49 near Tuckertown boat launch area. Tuckertown lake is located between two larger lakes (High Rock and Badin Lake) on the Yadkin river chain. The area is very scenic and a great place to fish!

The store offers a huge selection of Fishing, Hunting, Camping and Marine items. Although they offer your more common outdoor products at great prices, our specialty is being able to bring you items not found in most large discount stores or outdoor stores.

Captain Gus Gustafson - Writes the Norman forecast and other fishing articles www.fishingwithgus.com ~ 704-617-6812 Capt. Gus of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an Outdoor Columnist and a full time Professional Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. With Capt. Gus you will learn fishing techniques that will improve your fishing and allow you to catch more fish on your own. Light tackle is used to maximize the excitement of lake fishing.

Captain Craig Price - Writes articles about fishing www.folkn.com ~ 704-996-0946 Capt. Craig Price is locally born and raised, and has been fishing the Catawba River and its impoundments since the 1960’s. As his guide business has grown, his area of operations has also grown to include numerous freshwater lakes in NC & SC, plus inshore saltwater charters along the coasts of both states. Beginners to master anglers, live bait to artificial – Capt. Craig enjoys showing his anglers when, where, and how to catch them all.

Ryan Wilson - Writes about fly fishing and responsible fishing www.carolinaflyfishing.com ~ 704-896-3676 Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. Whether you are new to fly fishing and looking for some practical advice, or an experienced angler, looking for the latest gear and apparel, Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters has exactly what you need to get out on the water. They offer a world-class guided service, as well as all of the gear that you need to get outfitted.

Britt Stoudenmire- Writes articles about the Blue Ridge www.newriveroutdoorco.com or www.walkercreekretreat.com ~ 540-921-7438 Britt along with his wife Leigh, own and operate New River Outdoor Co. featuring private, waterfront cabin rentals, and guided smallmouth and musky trips on the New River in SW Virginia.

Jake Bussolini - Writes about The Science of Fishing www.booksbyjake.com Jake has spent the last 20 years re-directing his life’s efforts toward sharing his knowledge and fishing experiences with others. As the author of several books about freshwater fishing, Jake has taken the unusual route of investigating the science behind the sport.

His books and other writings offer the unique opportunity to understand the strategies for catching more and bigger fish, while attempting to provide the scientific facts that control the behavior of the fish and their natural surroundings.

Michelle Armstrong - Writes about fishing Michelle is a freelance writer who has been fishing competitively for over 25 years at local and national levels. She loves sharing her knowledge through writing and seminars. Michelle has been part of the Bass Pro Shops fishing team since 1999. She can often be found conducting seminars at the Concord Mills location.

Karen Fisher - Writes about guns and gun safety www.carolinaselfprotection.com ~ 704-237-4487 In 2012 Karen opened the doors to Carolina Self Protection, LLC and began an incredibly rewarding career in firearms and personal safety education. In 2016 Karen expanded her training to become an NRA Certified Training Counselor and NRA CHIEF Range Safety Officer, which allows her to train and certify prospective NRA Instructors and Range Safety Officers. Karen offers many classes at her classroom in Mooresville, NC.

If you are intersted in becoming a writer for The Angler Magazine please contact Simmons@theanglermagazine.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 9

JANUARY 2019

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 9

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Forecast for

HIGH ROCK/BADIN/ TUCKERTOWN DAM BY: DARIN BROWN

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

Hwy. 49 Sporting Goods (704) 463-7053 www.49sports.com

anuary in the past has been a month most people stay off the water due to the cold. But with better winter clothing and some milder weather in recent years that has changed for a lot of anglers. Improved technology such as better fish finders and better knowledge of cold water fishing techniques means you can still still catch fish, even in January.

Most fish will be in large schools in deep water during the cold of winter. Start looking at drop offs or structure that drops off into the deeper parts of the lake. Crappie will school in large numbers in these areas. A good fish finder will help you tell exactly where this is happening. Once you find them either slow drift a jig or minnow or fish vertically. Either way slow way down. As the water temperature drops so does the fishes metabolism and they will be moving in slow motion. The bite may feel like only a slight “tick” on the line or just your line going slack for a second.

Usually two lures stand out in January for taking largemouth bass. The simple but effective jig worked a little deeper than you normally would in warmer weather and the A-rig. Jigs can vary in color and size depending on the water color and depth fished.

A 3/8 or 1/2oz. Green pumpkin or Black jig worked very slowly around deep water docks can produce some nice cold water fish.

Remember to be safe. Hypothermia is a real possibility.

Have a Great New Year.

By JD McNabb

Madison River Fly Fishing is your one stop shop for all fly fishing gear.

We proudly distribute:

Don’t forget to book your guided fly fishing trip today!

20910 Torrence Chapel Rd. Suite D5, Cornelius, NC 28031

704-896-3676 www.carolinaflyfishing.com

www.facebook.com/Madisonriverflyfishing outfitters 10 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 10

JANUARY 2019

F

inesse fishing is quite different from regular bass fishing. You use smaller baits, you fish at a slower pace, and might be fishing in the freezing weather. When I think of finesse style baits I think of the ned rig, finesse jigs, small creature baits on shaky heads, and the smallest of hard baits. Some people also use the drop shot technique. I like to use these rigs near deep holes or wooden docks only. When water temperatures are below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, I like to fish in deep holes that will take longer to get cold.

I will use either small hard baits, like a crank bait, or a finesse jig.

My jig would either have a 1/16 ounce weight or a 3/8 ounce weight. I would also use the same weights for my drop shots. For temperatures that are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, I would fish ONLY wooden docks.

The reason I stress only wooden docks is because they tend to hold heat better then metal ones. Now i’m not saying don’t fish metal docks, sometimes they can hold fish too. I would usually throw small creature baits like the Missile Baits Baby D-Bomb, in green pumpkin or black colors.

I hope I have taught some of you about finesse fishing. Tight Lines!

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

12/12/18 4:32 PM

The Science Line:

Get Your Winter Fishing Chores Done

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By Jake Bussolini

any anglers look at the winter months as a time to bemoan the cold weather and fall back to a couch potato status, locking themselves into some day time television series. What a mistake these folks are making because winter does not necessarily mean fishing stops all together. Here in the south and more specifically on Lake Norman, it takes some time for the water temperature to drop to the 40 degree level when fish began to slow down their eating habits and become much harder to catch. I originally moved to this area because Lake Norman provided twelve months of fishing opportunity because of the abundance of the Striped Bass that resided here.

Well, the Striped Bass are all but gone from the lake now because they could not withstand the water temperature and oxygen variations of the late summer months. Slowly but surely the Stripers are being replaced by Hybrid Stripers, a species that can withstand the lakes temperature variations. For several years now, the State has been successfully stocking Hybrids and from all reports, that species is doing very well and within a few short years, this lake will again provide good year-round angling opportunities. This is not to say that fish cannot be caught on the lake during the colder months, they can, they just need to be fished deeper.

Several years ago when I started writing books about fresh water fishing, I tried to find good data on water temperature variations as a function of water depth. To my surprise, no such data existed as a general guide for anglers so I decided to take a few days to make my own determinations. Using my swimming pool thermometer, I spent hours in different areas of the lake dropping the thermometer to different depths and measuring the water temperature at those depths. My conclusion was that as a general guide, the water temperature change was approximately 2.O degrees for every 10 feet of water depth. This meant that in the colder months the water was warmer at the deeper depths and in the summer months it was colder as the depth increased. For fishing in the colder winter months, I simply had to change my lure or bait depths to reach water that was at least 50 degrees to find active fish. That meant that on occasion I had to go down 50 or 60 feet to find active fish.

I started this article wanting to discuss things other than fishing that can be done in the winter months, so let’s get on to that.

Winter is a great time to re-spool all of your reels with new line.

Since I spend a great deal of time on the water, I leave my gear on my boat at all times and because that exposes my line to sunlight and other weather conditions, I normally re-spool four time a year. For most part-time anglers it is not necessary to re-spool that often and a cold winter day is a good time to re-spool. This is also a great time to clean and oil your reels before you apply the new line.

I’m often asked about the best line to use on Lake Norman. I am not a “brand guy” so I do not favor any specific brand of line because I have found that any of the four or five popular brands are all good. Buy what you can afford and it will probably serve you well. I normally use monofilament line for this lake and a line test of between 7 and 10 pounds will land any fish that resides here. For those who fish specifically for catfish, you will have to go to a much heavier line test. Don’t be afraid to fill your reel spool all the way which means spool it until the line is about the thickness of a nickel from the top of the spool. As the months progress you will be making pull tests before every fishing trip and at times you will be taking off 10 or 15 feet of line that may have weakened.

How about rod maintenance? There really isn’t much that you can do to keep your rods in good condition. Most important is to inspect each of the eyes on the rod insuring that there are no wear points on the inside loops. The most important eye is the one at the tip of the rod since this eye gets the most abuse by the line. Make sure that this eye has no nicks or scratches on the inside loop. The tip eye is the easiest to replace if rough spots are found.

One of the most neglected items in your equipment box is the actual fishing hook. Believe it or not hooks get dull. If you are using terminal tackle that includes a hook, throw the old one away in the winter and tie on a new hook. Also check your favorite lure of jig to see that the hooks are not bent or damaged. It takes some time and care but the hooks on your favorite lures and jigs should be changed every year as a minimum. You would be surprised Like to show off your fish? how many fish are lost due to dull or damaged hooks.

Share on our Website for the whole country to see If you run out of things to fix in your fishing box during the winter months and you don’t want to weather the cold, go to my www.CoastalAnglerMag.com/Bragboard book store at www.booksbyjake.com and buy one of my poplar fishing books. You may be surprised what you will learn. (select Charlotte as your territory)

Jake Bussolini’s grandson John Townsend, Naval Aviator, with a Lake Norman Winter Bass.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THE ANGLERMAG.COM

TAM Charlotte 2019 01.indd 11

JANUARY 2019

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 11

12/12/18 4:32 PM

Stringers and Swearwords: Poaching is not a Victimless Crime

By Ryan Wilson

This article is being reprinted in it’s entirety. We accidentally cut off the end of the article in December. Our apologies.

I

recently had the unpleasant experience of running into a poacher on one of the Delayed Harvest streams that I frequent on guided trips. This individual was dragging a stringer full of trout, while leaving a pile of bait buckets in the area he had been “fishing”.

Without going into detail, I’ll just say that I chose to use this encounter as an educational opportunity for my clients and for the poacher. My clients learned about the real impact that poaching can have on our public waters and the poacher was educated about how much fish costs at the store, because he didn’t bring any home with him that day.

This isn’t the first time that I’ve encountered this situation and it most likely won’t be the last. The unfortunate fact is that there are people out there that believe that it is acceptable to take fish and leave garbage. Another unfortunate fact, is the lingering outlook amongst the angling community that poaching is just a part of life and beyond general grumbling, there’s very little one can do to actually curb it.

I’d like to argue that responsible anglers absolutely can make a difference in stopping this kind of behavior and that we have a responsibility to do so.

The good news is that this group is an extreme minority, making a wildly outsized impact. Because we observe the trash by the stream, or notice a steep decline in fishing quality at certain places, there is a tendency to believe that poaching is widespread and endemic – a problem too big to solve. In reality, it’s just a few individuals, making a series of selfish decisions that screw over the entire angling community and the local industry.

Let’s break down the damage that can be done to a particular spot with just one bucket of worms. One bucket contains 18 nightcrawlers. Each wiggler can be cut into about five appropriately sized sections. That means that each bucket of worms sitting on the riverbank has the potential to cull out ninety fish! Of course that’s not to say that poachers are generally having those results, but it does illustrate the damage that one individual can do. Multiply that over a period of a few weeks and one can see that it only takes a handful of thieves to completely wipe out a trout stream.

The good news is that we only have to change the behavior of a few people to make a measurable difference. Every poacher stopped will have a real impact on the quality of our fisheries.

So what can the responsible angler do when encountering these folks? I absolutely do not recommend engaging in a confrontation if it has the potential to turn physical. There’s not a trout in the state that is worth getting shot over. However, if you possess the temperament and can effectively read the situation, you can use an interaction to educate the scofflaw about angler ethics and specific regulations. Be respectful and non-aggressive, but also don’t let them off the hook. They’re doing something wrong and it has a direct impact on you and the entire angling community. Let them know that.

For most situations, a direct confrontation is not advisable. If you can do it safely and discretely, snap a picture of the illegal activity taking place and even of the poacher’s vehicle/ license plate. Report the activity & evidence to authorities. Be as detailed as possible on time, location and observation. If you can call immediately, you may even be able to get a wildlife agent there before the poacher leaves.

The angling community needs to be self-policing. Although the folks in the wildlife service are dedicated and highly competent, they simply can’t be everywhere at once. The budget and the manpower to monitor every square inch of our public lands and waters at all times will never exist and we shouldn’t want to have to spend our resources that way. As anglers, we need to firmly state that we will not accept the destructive and illegal actions of a small minority. We need to call out bad behavior when we see it and teach how to do things the right way at every opportunity.

It’s important to remember that this matters. It’s not a victimless crime and it’s not something that should be overlooked. The fish in these streams belong to everyone who purchases a fishing license. There are literally thousands of miles of water in the state of North Carolina where catch and keep fishing is allowed almost year round and no excuse to poach in the limited catch and release sections. Our DH streams are managed to provide a high quality experience from the months of October – May and we should expect that to be the case every time we hit the water. For those of us lucky enough to try to scrape an income out of the industry, our livelihoods depend on it. Poaching is not fishing, it is stealing. It is stealing from me, it is stealing from you and it is stealing from the future of a sport that we love. The behavior will only change when the individual realizes that there’s a significant chance he/ she will face real consequences. We don’t have to accept it and we can stop it.

The state has a program that will actually reward reports of wildlife violations. The Turn In Poachers program allows you to anonymously report suspected violators. You can submit tips via text, an app, online or over the phone (1-800-662-7137). For more information, check out

https://www.ncwildlife.org/Blog/wildlife-resources-commissionintroduces-new-turn-in-poachers-program

Step up and protect our shared resources Ryan Wilson is the Owner and Operator of Madison River Fly Fishing Outfitters in Cornelius, NC. If you’d like to learn how to do things the right way, 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 12 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

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