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t was a good winter in the Atlantic off south Florida’s Palm Beach County. Capt. Austin Rowe said that bodes well for the spring season, when a convergence of several different bites typically makes for some of the best action of the year. “March, April and May are by far my favorite time of year around here,” he said in mid-February. “We’re already starting to see some blackfin tunas right now, which is kind of uncommon. It was a crazy-good winter for mahi, and it was a good for sailfish, as well. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the fish stick around for spring, and we can really put a hurting on them.” Rowe is a young captain who grew up fishing here, where the Gulf Stream sweeps warm nutrient-rich waters northward just a few miles offshore. He captains “Angler Management,” a 34’ Legend center console with twin 300s. With a crew of up to six clients, it is a perfect ride for making the short runs out of Singer Island’s Sailfish Marina quickly and comfortably.

By Nick Carter

“One of the really beautiful things about fishing around here is you don’t have to go very far to get to the fish,” he said. “A full tank of gas lasts a long time.” Most spring mornings start for clients with a run of just 3 or 4 miles out of the inlet with tanks pre-loaded with live threadfin herring and/or goggle eyes. Kite fishing is the preferred method in this part of the world, and that’s exactly what Rowe does when conditions are right. “I’m looking at water color, temperature and moving water. I’m also looking for bait,” Rowe said. “I’m a big fan of charts, and I study them religiously looking for eddies and things, but keeping your eyes open is the biggest thing when you’re out there. If you see live water, with birds diving, it’s probably time to pick up and go see what’s happening over there.” With kites—or drifting with flatlines when conditions call for them—you’re targeting anything that will eat live baits at the surface. That can produce some pretty exciting mixed bags.

“We see a lot of blackfin tunas. There should still be some sailfish around. The kingfish start to show up pretty thick this time of year, and there are also mahi,” Rowe said. “And don’t forget wahoo. Wahoo can get really good around the full moon in March.” If all else fails, or if his clients just want some more meat, the reef is just a couple miles from the kite-fishing grounds, and it’s usually no problem to load up a cooler full of snappers in short order. Big African Pompano also make regular appearances on the reef. Rowe said that by the end of the day, if his anglers aren’t too worn out, he’ll stop in the inlet and let them test their strength against some hard-pulling jack crevalle. You can pack a whole lot of fishing into a full day when you don’t have to run far to find fish. Check out Austin Rowe and Absolute Action Sportfishing Charters at absoluteactionfishing.com.

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ventilation, you’ll conquer every battle, every day. GILLZ took its Pro Series UV Hoodie to the next level. They went one step further and provided anglers with a built-in mesh mask to go along with the 3-piece hood construction. Now, you’re able to keep your gear organized in one place for when that unexpected pull on the reel turns into a clash of strength. Brand new to this collection is the Pro Series Board Shorts. Made of recycled quickdry polyester, the 9-inch inseam gives you the freedom to move without worry, and the secure cellphone hip pocket keeps your devices safe from any damage. This time, Gillz introduces anglers to a new design feature: a no-sew fabrication. This means no chafing or irritation as you charge headfirst against the waves. The Contenders Series, delivers an amazing fit and feel for each and every angler. With the Contender Series Long-sleeve or Hoodie, you’re guaranteed to have 360-degree cooling and 170 GSM interlocking polyester that gives you perfect performance every single time. Moreover, you’re given an extended range of motion that allows every angler to move freely. When facing the unpredictable outdoors, GILLZ Gear and the new Spring 2022 who want Collection will give you the power to perform to face the at your best, no matter where you and Mother elements head-on. With our GILLZTEC proprietary fabric, Nature meet. With prices starting at $39.99, there’s 4-way stretch, and the ability to modify with something for every angler from the Atlantic to the shoulder shape, the Pro Series Long-Sleeves and Pacific and every waterway in between! Hoodies fit every angler to perfection. Plus, when Check out the Gillz Spring 2022 Collection you add on UPF 50+, ultra cooling, a single seam at gillz-gear.com. underarm mesh gusset, and complete 360-degree

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MONSTER BASS ON

JURASSIC LAKE

t piques my interest when “Jurassic” appears in a nickname. So is the case with Jurassic Lake, a 10,000-acre reservoir in Fellsmere, Florida, officially known has Headwaters Lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had a goal to turn Headwaters into a worldclass trophy bass fishery. By all accounts, they succeeded. Just a little over 10 years ago, this bassfishing mecca was farmlands, cattle pastures and orange groves. The St. Johns River Water Management District purchased the lands from Sun-Ag to build a reservoir intended to provide a water supply for surrounding communities and flood control for the St. Johns River. The FWC saw an opportunity and invested $1.35 million in bass fishing “enhancements.” Prior to the reservoir’s flooding in 2015, the FWC constructed fish habitat in the form of winding channels, dredge holes, flats, islands and more, with the goal of providing the optimum combination of structure, depth and spawning habitat. The FWC planted 15,000 bald cypress and red maple trees on the numerous islands, and they stocked over a million bass, bream and crappie. If there is a downside to Headwaters, it’s that there is so much awesome, fishy-looking habitat that it can be a little over whelming trying to figure out where to fish. Since August 2020, when the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened, 103 trophy bass (bass eight pounds or larger) have been registered into FWC’s Trophy Catch program from Headwaters. Who knows how many other giants were caught that were never entered into Trophy Catch? The biggest registered catch is a 13-pound, 1-ounce monster caught by kayak angler Mary Kelly on January 24, 2022. Those are pretty impressive results for a reservoir that is not even seven years old. Jim Fallon, the Godfather of Headwaters,

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MARCH 2022

By Paul MacInnis

has probably fished these waters more than anybody. “I love this lake because of the design of the habitats, the natural beauty and all the great fishing,” said Fallon. You’ll find Fallon on the reservoir three to five times a week. He’s been fishing there since 2018, before the boat ramp opened, when he’d drag a kayak into the reservoir from the bank. Fallon says a competent bass angler should catch 15 to 40 bass on an average day with a decent shot at a trophy fish every trip. Fallon has caught almost 50 bass over eight pounds from Headwaters, including 13 in the double digits, all on artificial baits. The address for the Headwaters Lake boat ramp is 16245 Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere, Fla. Headwaters is an hour and a half drive from Orlando, making it a great diversion on a central Florida vacation. The nearby city of Palm Bay has convenient hotels, many with bass boat friendly parking lots. An internet search will bring up several Headwaters guides who can put you on a bass of a lifetime. For more information, visit MyFWC.com.

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APPROACHING THE

TRANSITION

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

s I type this article in early February, the temperature is 38 and the forecasted lows across the Texas coast will dip into the mid to upper twenties for a few nights. This should place larger seatrout into full-blown winter mode, which is a great thing. It might not be so cold where you fish, but similar patterns should exist wherever there are big trout. Predicting movements and habits is always easier when the seasons are typical. This tells me where I should start in early March versus where I should fish later in the month. In early March, I look for shallow areas with irregular soft mud and grass bottoms. I particularly like these areas adjacent to deeper water, as the night temps will still cool flats to less favorable temps for large trout. The term “deeper” will be different for each area. So, as you plan your trip, you should focus on deeper pockets in relation to the overall area. Early in the month, I will stick to a larger profile lure

like a 5-inch paddletail. The trout will still be feeding on mature mullet, and the 5-inch swimbait is a great imitation. These lures are versatile, and they are ideal due to the finicky nature of trout during the transition from winter to spring. A slow roll can be deadly when trout move onto a flat to warm and feed. Depending on the conditions, a slow roll just under the surface that creates a slight ripple can trigger an aggressive strike. If the bait is down, I will slow roll the lure in the mid to lower water portion of the water column. The versatility of these lures also allows them to be jigged and twitched; however, I prefer to do that in a little deeper water. As the water temps rise later in the month, fish become more difficult to pattern. Although high temps warm the water faster, persistent cool fronts still chill the waters, and the wind shifts can wreak havoc on the pattern. It keeps fish and anglers confused. During this part of the season, I tend to move often, not devoting too much time to a location or pattern. Changing things up often until you find them is more effective than banging it out in a spot like I would do in early March. Lures to choose from are wide open here. Small and large soft plastics in the twitch or paddletail style can all be effective. Topwaters and slow sinking hard baits can also produce. Keep moving and changing lure styles, sizes, colors and action until you find the bite. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. You will be surprised what they can teach you when they put the electronics down. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT NC EDITION

In This Issue…. Local Fishing Forecasts The Science Line Catch of the Month Unsteady Footing Three Baits to Try Billy Raines, Publisher TheAnglerMagCLT@gmail.com

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MARCH 2022

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FRESHWATER FORECAS

Forecast for Lake Norman By: Captain Craig Price The spring bite is on at Norman! Longer days, warming water, & the full moons in March and April make all of our gamefish species very active. The spawn is in full swing by early mid-month, and anglers can go shallow for mixed bags of hybrids, stripers, bass, catfish, crappie, and perch. Even needle-nose gars and bowfins might be encountered this time of year. Water temperatures are typically in the 60• to mid-70•F range come April. Primary and secondary points, protected bays or coves, shallow flats, and banks with tree laps near the back of major creeks are prime spots to look for fish. Try fishing humps along the creek banks during the middle of the day. Depending on the time of day and light conditions, fish your live baits on or near the surface down to 20-25 ft deep. Medium to large herring and threadfin shad are the most effective live baits on Norman. Bream and crappie, even perch, make good baits too, but make sure you know and observe the regulations anytime you use gamefish for bait. As for artificials, topwaters can be deadly at dawn and dusk, and old school bucktails and roadrunners still work when you need to fish deeper in the water column. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerk baits will also fish from shallow to deep, and soft plastic worms, lizards, and craw designs are great offerings for pre-spawn bass, when they’re on the beds, or post-spawn.

(herring), cut baits, or mussels fished from top to bottom in the current, while on anchor or adrift with the flow, can produce some of the year’s best creels. I must advise anyone who’s not familiar with the “old river channel” up north to exercise caution to and from this area due to the increased current, and shallow areas that can be quite hard and destructive rocks or logs. Floating or sunken debris is also a constant navigation hazard. It’s best to go with an experienced friend or guide to learn how to operate your vessel and fish safely in these areas and conditions before going it alone. Main lake or up in the river, April kicks off 8-12 weeks of beautiful weather and prime fishing. Tune up your gear and your cranking muscles and go get’cha some Fish On! 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.Capt. Craig is a master rated USCG licensed captain, fully insured, and trained in first aid/CPR. Visit www. fishonguideservices.com or call 704-996-0946 to book your fishing adventure today.

Shad and herring colors are standbys, along with bream, and various greens, pumpkin, and crawfish colors for the worms and creature baits. And don’t ever overlook red on white and chartreuse! By mid-month, hybrids make their annual false spawning run to above I-40. Bass, cats, and perch are often found in the same areas. Live baits

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THREE BASS BAITS for March

March is finally here, and is mostly a prespawn month. This is a transition time with warming trends. While the lower states have spawned, you should start to feel the sun a little more and should be able to find fish moving again. These bass should be starting to stage. They should transition onto the flat or deeper water into shallow and ledges. These fish are moving up and their feeding times and patterns will change as the water slowly gets warmer. This also a great time to find them in grass or on the sides of grass. Here are THREE baits that I would suggest using this time of year that will hopefully help you catch 'em. 1.Reaction Innovation Little Dipper or Bruiser Baits Super Swimmer: Since we are still seeing smaller baits, matching the size is extremely important. Both the above baits have great action, yet are still in that smaller size. With a weighted belly hook these baits should attract fish to attack. Action means BITES!

2. Culprit Flutter Craw or Riots Baits Little Fuzzy: With the water starting to warm up, creature baits are very successful for anglers in March. Texas rigged soft plastic creature bait with lighter line and putting it into wood, brush piles, grass or under a dock will entice that bass to come and eat it . 3. Z-Man Chatterbait: I LOVE the Jack Hammer from Z-Man. While it is more expensive, the components, sound and more make it one of my favorite baits ever made. In March, a chatterbait is a great bait. Bass are moving a little more, but they are also looking for an easy meal. Finding the right cadence will be the only issue with a vibrating jig. I would suggest trimming the skirt a little and using a smaller trailer on it too. Again matching the size is going to be key, but allowing the bait to run in the deeper water column, and also finding grass to swim it around will make bass seek it out and eat. Good luck, tight lines and remember to take a kid fishing.... GET UR FISH ON! And we will see you soon!!

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FRESHWATER FORECAS

Forecast for Lake WYLIE By: Captain Phillip Rizzitello inally, the rain has let up! With the weather starting to warm, the rain starting to go away and the longer day light it can only mean one thing. That’s right, the spawn. Fish are already coming out of the lethargic stage and getting more and more active by the day. Spawning beds are being made, bites have picked up and water temps are on the rise. With that being said, now is the time to get out. The next month or so should be very productive and only get better. Make sure to get out and take advantage of this prime time as the recreational boaters and sweltering summer temps will be here before you know it.

year day by day. Warmer days go shallower and cooler days move a little deeper. Fish should be covering a lot of different depths with the weather so back and forth as well as while they are getting their beds ready. If you can visually see beds the fish will not be far. So, don’t hesitate, quarantine yourself into the outdoors and enjoy all mother nature has to offer! Visit www.rizzsoutdoors.com or call 803-2306309 to book your fishing trip with Captain Phillip Rizzitello

The water, while clearing, is still dingy. Utilize baits that will draw attention will be in your best interest. Whether it be something noisy, vibrating, shiny, stinky or bright in color anything that will draw attention. Spinner baits, crank bait that rattles, cut shad, live bait (not dead) are all options for most species. Water depth is doing to vary this time of

FRESHWATER FORECAS

Forecast for Lake Hickory & RHODHISS By: Captain Phillip Rizzitello

Spring is prime fishing. April is the top month to catch bass on Hickory; the heaviest waves of spawning fish will move into the shallows on the full moon and the new moon. Lake Hickory has three main tributary creeks — Gunpowder Creek and the Upper and Middle Little rivers — all of which drain the foothills along the northern side of the lake, but when fish get ready to move shallow, it’s the pockets and cuts off the main river that shine. It’s easier to target areas where bass are staging on their way to the backs of those pockets where they bed, and the little pockets and coves stay clearer.

4 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

MARCH 2022

Do most of your fishing in the pockets and cuts off the main lake, starting on the lower end and moving with the spawn as it works its way up the lake. Work your way back in coves and pockets, fishing the outside corners with small crankbaits and the deeper water in the center of the cove with a jerkbait or Alabama rig. Pitch or flip to visible cover with a soft-plastic crawfish for staging fish, and target spawning fish with the same lures. Areas with warmer water and sun-drenched banks will hold more spawning fish.

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MARCH 2022

CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 5

Catch of the MONTH Jay Lyle

Ron Jurcy

6 CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT

MARCH 2022

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The Science Line

Try a New Breed of Bait Fish By: Jake Bussolini

Live bait anglers have had some difficult times since the Pandemic since the normal supplies of shiners and shad have come into short supply for those who buy their bait rather than catching it. Fortunately for me, I accidentally stumbled on a bait fish that has filled in the shortages nicely so that I don’t have to reschedule my fishing outings due to a shortage of shiners, alewives or shad. Of course, when these standard species are available, I’ll still prefer them.

Since my first encounter with this fish, I have used them several times as bait and each time I had great success catching bass while trolling the Chub. My friend has supplied me several times with this bait and at times provided fish as long as 6 inches. I don’t use bait that long except for catfishing, but the 3 and 4 inch fish provide a food source that the bass seem to love. Keep them in mind as a backup if the normal bait fish get scarce again. They also seem to live a lot longer in a bait tank during the summer which is an advantage during hot days.

A friend of mine was working in the area this summer and his job site was close to what I call a “mud puddle.” It was Jake Bussolini is a freelance writer who has published several an unused creek bed that sometimes feeds lake Norman but books about fresh water fishing. His books can be seen at normally remains free from water flow and contains a few www.booksbyjake.com very small water pools. He spotted some small fish in one of the polls and asked me if they might be used for bait. He purchased a small bait trap and provided me with a dozen of these fish to try and try I did.

I examined the fish extensively but could not identify it, but I did try a couple of the smaller ones on the bass in Lake Norman. To my surprise the fish were very active, more so that the normal shiners that I use. More important I trolled with them on the hook for several hours and when I was finished, they were still as active as when I started. Being concerned about the possibility of putting an unwanted species into the lake, I contacted the Biologist at the Wildlife Commission to identify the fish. The Biologist Quickly identified it as a Creek Chub and indicated that it was not considered an invasive species and it is also quite common to small ponds and creeks in this area. Talking to some long time Norman anglers, I did find that it is sometimes caught in the lake when casting a net for bait fish.

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CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT 7

Unsteady Footing: Learning Safe Wading Skills By: Ryan Wilson

I’ve fallen in the river before. Actually I’ve fallen in a few times. I’m fairly steady on my feet, so it doesn’t happen a lot, but I spend enough time wading through moving water and over slippery rocks, that the occasional yard sale is inevitable. I’ve been fortunate that most of my falls have only left me wet, cold and embarrassed, but I’ve had the occasional lost fly box and one slip left me with a busted pair of waders and a gash in my leg. As a matter of course, fly fishermen will quibble about pretty much every single thing that has to do with fly fishing, but I think most of will accede that going ass over elbows into a 50 degree trout stream really isn’t great. Slips and falls present the greatest risk of injury when fly fishing. Injuries can range anywhere from minor soft tissue wounds to life threating long bone fractures and head injuries. Aside from the injury risk, you’re not unlikely to find a broken rod, lost/ ruined gear and a smart phone that is now a very expensive paperweight. At the very least, you’re going to be wet and uncomfortable, really making the day a lot less fun. So now that we all agree that falls are bad, what are some ways that we can improve wading safely and effectively? The first thing to note is that wading is an acquired athletic skill. It requires time and attention to build competence and you should try not to get frustrated because you aren’t able to master it from the get go. Being in good shape and having naturally good balance are helpful, but they aren’t everything and I have seen plenty of otherwise fit and athletic people struggle to move through water. Like any new skill, take it slow and don’t attempt something you aren’t comfortable with. If the water looks too deep or too fast, forget it and go somewhere else. A strong sense of situational and self-awareness will lead to good decision making. Learning how to read water is crucial. Not only is this a fundamental fishing skill, it will help you move through the water effectively. Take the time to study an area and develop a plan of attack. How do I want to fish this spot? What’s a route that will allow me to work up to where I want to cast without spooking the fish I plan to cast to? Is getting out as easy as getting in? Be strategic and think through your steps as you move up and across stream.

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MARCH 2022

Having the right gear is also important. The most obvious debate is rubber vs. felt sole boots. I believe that both absolutely have their place and are the right choice for different types of angles. Felt is going to be the best in terms of slip prevention, especially on rocky terrain. Felt will grip slippery rocks in a way that rubber simply won’t. However, felt is not quite as durable and will wear down after long miles of hiking and heavy use. There are also concerns about aquatic invasives that can hitch a ride in wet felt. It’s worth noting that several states have a felt sole ban in place, although a ban does not appear to be on the horizon in NC. I like this sole type for folks who are less steady on their feet or don’t plan on hiking much. A rubber sole will not offer the same slip traction as felt, but the durability and comfort make up for it for some anglers. For an angler who plans on working into the back country, or moving upstream as they fish will probably prefer the rubber soles. They won’t get weighted down with water and tend to come unstuck from muddy or soft bottoms better than the felt. I do absolutely recommend installing metal cleats or studs when purchasing these types of boots. The other essential piece of gear is a wading staff. These not only serve to catch your balance when you start to fall, they act as a third point of contact and depth finder to prevent the misstep from happening. There seems to be a misconception that sticks are just for old guys and not worth the cost if you’re young and in shape, but in my experience it’s absolutely incorrect. A wading staff makes navigating the stream significantly faster, safer and more efficient. Few things make you look sillier than slipping and sliding through the stream, while holding your arms out for balance. Like most things in fishing and the outdoors in general, competence comes with experience. There’s no shortcut to building confidence in the water and no gadget that will overcome a lack of capability. Certainly having the right tools at your disposal will make things better, but using common sense and having an awareness of your own capabilities can’t be overstated. A fall might mean getting wet and looking silly in front of your buddies, but it also might mean a broken bone or other serious injury. Moving water can exert a lot of force and all it takes is one step to get into a bad situation. The only way to get better is to spend more time in the river. Have fun and be safe!

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Honoring the 100th anniversary of the last year the Morgan Silver Dollar was minted, the U.S. Mint struck five different versions in 2021, paying tribute to each of the mints that struck the coin. The coins here honor the historic New Orleans Mint, a U.S. Mint branch from 1838–1861 and again from 1879–1909. These coins, featuring an “O” privy mark, a small differentiating mark, were struck in Philadelphia since the New Orleans Mint no longer exists. These beautiful coins are differO PRIVY MARK ent than the originals for two reasons. First,

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MARCH IS THE TURN-AROUND MONTH

The early part of the month will feature very cold water temps around the inlets and river mouths, and keep the trout, drum (redfish) and flounder a little on the sluggish side, but that doesn’t seem to bother the shad, rock and cats. As a matter of fact, it kicks them into overdrive. It’s not water temperature so much as it is the length of daylight in the beginning of the month, but water temps do come into play by the end Tim Barefoot of March. The end of March will see the big spawning female speckled trout his has been a winter for the books, with cold temps, constant wind and sometimes too much rain keeping us arriving at the inlets and river mouths, and the drum bite will be on from the offshore grounds weekend after weekend. In light of fire. This is the time of year when you stand to catch an egg-filled gator trout, but for goodness sakes, take some this, let’s talk about some of the things that brought a lot of good photos and dimensions/weight us to the dance, the anadromous fish that are coming home and let her go do her spawn. This can be in the month of March. the time of year for some great topwater/ If you live on the East Coast, white and hickory shad, popping cork trout and drum bites. striped bass and sturgeon are coming back to the place There are bites, then there are topwater they were born to spawn. March is traditionally a very bites. It’s exciting fishing to say the least. windy month, so on the days we can’t get offshore, there is March will also produce tuna, a safe haven up in the river for some entertainment. Truly, dolphin and wahoo when you can get some of the best to them. The wind will keep us inside memories I have a lot during March, but whenever the were made up seas lay down enough to get offshore, the river. While go for it. This can be the time to catch a not the best stud wahoo and numbers of tuna. Find table fare, white a temperature break and/or the bait, and and hickory you’ll find the wahoo and tuna. They are shad are right on the move and chewing. up there at I don’t care what the wind is doing, I the top of the can always find somewhere to get a bite entertainment and grin in this turn-around month we list. Other fish call March. that have always been at the top See more from Capt. Tim Barefoot of my favorite spring entertainment list are striped bass (rock) and blue at barefootcatsandtackle.com catfish. They come back to the upper reaches of the river to spawn in and rigandjig.com. large numbers.

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PHOTO BY SEIGO SAITO/B.A.S.S.

At Hartwell, Stage is Set for 2022 Bassmaster Classic By TAM Staff

or months the field has been set for the big show. From March 4-6, some of the world’s top professional bass anglers will fish South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, vying for a championship in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Upstate South Carolina will play host to the field of 55 professional anglers as well as hordes of fans, who will attend daily weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville and morning takeoffs at Green Pond Landing & Event Center, near Anderson. The annual Bassmaster

Classic Outdoors Expo will take place each day at the Greenville Convention Center. As for the fishing, Hartwell is familiar to the anglers. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will mark the fourth time the tournament has been held on the 56,000-acre reservoir. The fishery is renowned for excellent spotted and largemouth bass fishing. Early March is typically a transition period on upstate lakes, when bass begin moving up in preparation for the spawn. Weather will have

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everything to do with how successful anglers will fish. The two normal patterns that set up that time of year are either a deeper bite on ditches and points in 30 to 60 feet of water, or a shallower bite when bass move up into the 5- to 20-foot range to stage next to the spawning flats. The prespawn bite can provide excellent numbers of fish as well as some solid size, which could potentially produce fast action and heavy sacks for Classic competitors. Lake Hartwell’s bass eat a lot of blueback herring, and Hartwell tournaments are responsible for the rise of the underspin as popular bass lure. If the fish are deep, it’s likely underspins, shaky heads and football jigs will see a lot of time in the water. If fish are shallow, jerkbaits, jigs and red crankbaits are Hartwell staples. Each of the three previous Classics have provided action-packed finishes. In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley, of South Carolina, came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic. Fans turned out in droves for all three visits, creating an electric atmosphere for the weigh-ins and packing the Expo all three days. For information on fishing Upcountry South Carolina, visit FishUpcountrySC.com.

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rom humble beginnings in a home office five years ago, GaugeSaver has flourished on word-of-mouth and happy customers. The company has found great, hardworking friends to help the business grow, and a year ago expanded into a commercial property at 5049 Hwy 17-S in Green Cove Springs, Fla. They fixed up a 1,500-square-foot building for a main office and technician space, and recently constructed a 2,500-square-foot rigging shop. The plan is to grow into this space and offer electronic installs, repairs, etc. Happy customers are the key to GaugeSaver’s growth. Eric Clayton and his wife Tammy believe in their service so much that they both left 25-plus-year IT careers to grow the brand. They now do more than just gauge restorations. They remanufacture replacement parts for Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki gauges. They restore LCDs for many devices and most major manufacturers including Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, iCOM, Volvo, Honda, Humminbird, SeaDoo, Kawasaki, and more. They can restore almost anything that has an LCD. This includes VHFS, Chartplotters, AutoPilots, Jet Skis and Side-By-Sides. GaugeSaver can even replace LCD assemblies with aftermarket or OEM parts to keep electronics out of landfills. GaugeSaver was founded to extend the lifespan of electronics and save people money. Every week they are learning new ways to do so. They offer Dealer Discounts for friends in the industry. Check out Gaugesaver.com (or drop by and meet the shop dog, Jeb) to see if WWW.GAUGESAVER.COM GaugeSaver can save you money!

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exter’s complete line of surge actuators are highly engineered, easy to use, and go through rigorous testing to ensure that you get to your destination safely. Available in capacities from 6,600 lbs. to 20,000 lbs. in both disc brake and drum brake varieties, Dexter surge actuators provide smooth and powerful operation. All you need to do is replace the trailer’s standard tongue coupler with a surge actuator and add hydraulic brake end units. The “surge” or “push” of the trailer toward the tow vehicle during deceleration automatically synchronizes the trailer brakes with the tow vehicle brakes. As the trailer pushes against the tow vehicle, the actuator compresses and applies force to its master cylinder, which supplies hydraulic pressure to the trailer’s brakes. As a trusted leader in the Marine Industry, Dexter also outfitted its surge actuators with corrosion-resistant rollers and bushings to create smoother movements and added longevity. Tow with WWW.DEXTERAXLE.COM confidence – Demand Dexter!

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WILD SALMON THREATENED BY INTERBREEDING WITH FARMED FISH

nterbreeding between farmed salmon and wild populations in Norway is changing the lifecycle of wild salmon, according to a report from the website Phys.org. Researchers with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Rådgivende Biologer studied scale growth patterns in thousands of salmon taken from rivers in Norway from 2010 to 2017. They looked at the impact of escaped farmed salmon breeding with wild salmon by collecting scales from 6,900 adult wild Atlantic salmon in 105 Norwegian rivers. The researchers conducted genetic tests on the scales to learn the genetic history of the fish. The researchers found that both farmed salmon and wild salmon with farmed ancestry mature and age at a faster rate and return to rivers earlier to spawn. It was hypothesized this accelerated maturation process puts salmon at a higher risk of predation because they venture into saltwater earlier, when they are less likely to evade capture by sharks and halibut. Prior studies have indicated that salmon with farmed ancestry are less afraid of predators. The study suggests interbreeding of farmed and wild salmon will result in reductions in wild populations, which has already been observed in some areas. To read the entire report, see phys.org

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GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.

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Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk