The Angler Magazine - March / Columbia

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COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS EDITION

Outdoor Apparel Spawning

Slab Crappie

Bass On The Beds

Local

Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB RICE, THE ANGLER MAGAZINE ATLANTA VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 277

F R A N C H I S E

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BOOST YOUR CATCH w/RezBoostTM Technology

Interested in getting the most out of your own trusted transducer, or not sure you’re ready for the expense of installing a new CHIRP transducer? Furuno has a solution that will get the very best performance from your traditional narrowband transducer.

Our RezBoostTM Fish Finders deliver clearer images than ever before, we’re talking up to 8x sharper. Whether it’s NavNet TZtouch2 or the FCV588/FCV628 stand-alone Fish Finders, RezBoostTM will boost your catch!

Get up to 8x sharper resolution, using a standard narrow band transducer, to more clearly define fish targets.

Assess individual fish size and depth based on echo strength for fish from 4 inches to over 6 feet.

Identify the sea floor composition from four types (Rocks/Sand/Gravel/Mud).

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BLEED TRIM

SAFETY

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

Dear Readers,

FLORIDA

BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : Chris Milner • (321) 631-1001 • cmilner@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com

flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com

SOUTHEAST

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

Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com

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

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

WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • kenny@coastalanglermagazine.com

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

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

Owning a Fishing Magazine

This edition of the magazine is being brought to you by your local publisher. Their contact information is shown on the left of this page. They’re doing a great job to make sure that you receive accurate fishing forecasts and marine related information every month. They also ensure that you can easily find a copy of the magazine throughout your community. They also make sure that this magazine continues to be available to you for free.

As you read the magazine, you’ll notice that business owners place their ads in the magazine. That’s what keeps this magazine free to the public. Your local publisher of the magazine would appreciate you letting these businesses know that you saw their ad in the magazine and that you appreciate their support of this resource.

Our publishers do a great job of providing this resource to your community. You might even consider sending them an email or a call to let them know you appreciate what they do. Everybody enjoys hearing “Good job” from time to time.

If you or someone you know would be interested in learning about our franchise opportunities, we would love to hear from you. We want to expand our magazine throughout the country. Owning your own fishing magazine requires hard work and dedication, but it can be a very rewarding profession. Some say “the best job you’ll ever have.”

We currently have over 30 locations, and we have been franchising the magazine for 10 years. If you would like to turn your passion for the outdoors into a profession, give us a call. We may have just what you’ve been looking for.

Best regards,

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

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

INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

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

SAFETY

Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com

1-888-800-9794

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Outdoor Apparel FISH HIPPIE FLATWATER COLLECTION SHUCKERHUT PLAID Those who live an outdoor life should be able to represent it in their casual lives as well as “out there.” That’s the idea behind Fish Hippie, which was created by anglers who favor good times with friends, time on the water and “drifting off course” as often as life allows.

New for spring 2018 from the Fish Hippie Flatwater Collection, the Shuckerhut Plaid blends on-the-water comfort with casual style of the highest quality. Designed with comfort and versatility in mind, the Shuckerhut delivers a silky-smooth touch with an apt range of movement and flexibility. Hidden-button collars prevent dreaded “collar flare,” while double chest pockets and two back shoulder pleats converge for an elevated level of functional, yet casual, style. The specially created four-way stretch fabric is 30+ upf, wrinkle and stain resistant and is easily worn fishing, as well as to the office or a night on the town.

The Flatwater Collection is the latest offering from Fish Hippie for those more at home on the road less traveled. Learn more about Fish Hippie and survey all the lifestyle-driven gear and apparel at www.fishhippie.com.

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L.L.BEAN ULTIMATE FISHING SHIRT L.L.Bean recently introduced its new Ultimate Fishing Shirt, and it’s exactly what you need for a long day on the flats or a wade trip up your favorite stream.

The Ultimate Fishing Shirt is a technical fishing shirt, thoughtfully designed with a combination of fabrics for ease of movement, comfort and durability. It looks good and keeps you dry with moisturewicking fabrics, but what makes it the Ultimate Fishing Shirt is its ability to provide protection from both biting insects and the sun’s harmful rays.

With UPF 50+ sun protection and No Fly Zone technology to repel insects, this shirt eliminates two of the most prominent factors that lead to discomfort on the water. It features four chest pockets to hold essential gear, it can be worn tucked or untucked, the sleeves can be rolled up and secured, and an extended collar unrolls from hidden snaps to provide added protection from the sun.

The slightly fitted design offers a relaxed fit through the chest and sleeve, with a slightly slimmer waist to both look good and provide for unhindered movement.

The Ultimate Fishing Shirt is available in Dusty Sage, Marine Blue and Graystone colors.

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CAPSMITH REEL ANGLER HEADWEAR

SHIMANO EVAIR BOAT SHOES

Do you need custom headwear? Capsmith Inc. is the No. 1 trusted source for fishing and outdoor enthusiasts with more than 33 years of experience in the headwear industry.

A wholesale distributor of fishing headwear, Capsmith has a line of stylish hats designed specifically for anglers. Their Reel Angler headwear collection celebrates life out on the water. Their in-stock Reel Angler collection comes in a variety of cool fish designs including dolphin, marlin, tarpon, sailfish, yellowfin, bass, snook, seatrout and redfish.

These five-panel caps feature sublimation printed crown and bill inspired by nautical maps. A 3D embroidered Reel Angler logo on crown adds a premium look to this one-of-a-kind cap that features an extended bill with a green undervisor to avoid water glare. A soft performance mesh back and snapback closure ensures comfort for extended wear.

Wholesalers, distributors or custom-made customers can contact Capsmith at 1-800-228-3889 or sales@capsmith.com.

Perfect on the deck of or a boat, Shimano’s new Evair boat shoes offer both style and function for all kinds of fishing. The ultra lightweight EVA midsole provides all-day comfort, and if they get wet, the upper mesh is made from a quick dry fabric. The heel can be bent down to wear like a sandal.

Relying on its expertise with cycling shoes from its bicycle components division, and Shimano’s success with its Evair marine/ fishing sandal and award-wining Evair flats boots, Evair boat shoes include design features like a exposed EVA soft material on the inside front sole to better grip a trolling motor pedal. The non-marking sole is welcomed on any boat, plus it provides traction on a wet surface.

Designed, developed and manufactured by Shimano, Evair boat shoes are offered in two colors – blue and navy – and in whole sizes from 7 through 13.

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This woven button-up, longsleeved shirt is fully featured with Columbia’s new Omni-Shade Sun Deflector and OmniFreeze Zero to help keep you cool and protected for long days on the water.

This key style for Columbia PFG is strategically zoned and offers the sun-deflecting dots exactly where you need it on the shoulders and back, to help protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. In addition, this shirt has a sun protection collar, roll-up sleeves, rod holder and Light Rail zippered chest pockets.

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CAPITAL SPORTSMAN ULTIMATE HYBRID The Ultimate Hybrid from Capital Sportsman is more than a great fishing shirt. Capital Sportsman set out to design one shirt that would be functional for any outdoor activity, while being stylish enough for indoor activities – the ultimate

hybrid shirt.

Available in three original patterns, four solid colors and limited-edition seasonal patterns, it was designed for comfort and is made of a 100% cotton twill fabric with a baby-soft hand. It also has a special “soft-as-butter” under the arms and in a back vent which provides exceptional ventilation. A relaxed fit provides freedom of movement for casting.

Other features include a roll-up sleeve tab, two easy-access chest pockets and a secured zipper pocket for important documents such as a license or passport. There is also a utility loop, which is important if you need to keep that extra fly handy.

The Ultimate hybrid already has people talking. Cory “Ruthless” Routh of Ruthless Outdoor Adventures said the Ultimate Hybrid is, “more comfortable than anything I’ve ever tried on. I can go from the field to the office, no problem.”

WWW.CAPITALSPORTSMAN.COM

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Product Reviews

SIMMS CHALLENGER JACKET

KLUCH MAKIN’ MOVES COLLECTION

From bitter early morning cold through late-afternoon storms, the outside elements can be a distraction when you’re zoning in on the end of your line. Simms’ men’s Challenger Jacket fights back against the elements with heavy-duty Toray fabric and fully taped seams for completely waterproof, breathable comfort.

Fleece-lined pockets warm your hands in the most numbing weather. An adjustable storm hood packs away in the collar, and a storm flap with water-resistant zippers adds protection from the driving rain. This jacket will keep you warm and dry while you fish, regardless of the type of fishing you do.

Whether you’re making a move toward the hot bite or looking to reset your spread, the new Kluch Makin’ Moves collection has the perfect shirt for every offshore angler. These shirts are available in short or long sleeve cotton. Each shirt sports a classic distressed design with comfort in mind. Head on over to Kluch.com today and get your hands on one before they’re gone!

WWW.SIMMSFISHING.COM

Hooked Soul is an outdoor apparel company offering premium men’s and women’s clothing, specifically designed for extended wear, comfort and with anglers and outdoor enthusiasts in mind. Hooked Soul is an extension of the wearer’s passion for sports, hobbies, and lifestyle experiences with family and friends. Whether fishing in the blue waters of the ocean or freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, each outdoorsman demands comfort and protection from the elements.

Hooked Soul was founded in 2014 by three friends and fishing enthusiasts. The inspiration for Hooked Soul came from being outside, the camaraderie and the thrill of the day’s catch. Their passion for an outdoor lifestyle led these three friends to research and bring to market superior performance clothing, the kind they always wanted for themselves.

Today Hooked Soul has become an expression and a lifestyle. Hooked Soul, do you have it?

HOOKED SOUL

WWW.KLUCH.COM REALTREE FISHING HAT Realtree has always been about family, friends and the outdoors. As the America’s No. 1 camo pattern, the iconic brand has been providing quality to those who love the outdoors since the 1980s.

Last year, Realtree entered into the fishing world with a lifestyle brand ideal for sportsmen and women who trade their bows and guns for fishing rods during the summer months. Realtree Fishing gives an additional connection to the brand they know and respect.

Check out their good-looking Realtree fishing hats. They come in several different colors and designs perfect for fishing or everyday wear. These mid-profile hats feature the cool fishhook Realtree Fishing logo embroidered in the front panel, mesh backing and plastic snap closure.

WWW.REALTREE.COM SOFTSCIENCE FIN 3.0

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DICKIES WATERPROOF BREATHABLE REFLECTIVE JACKET From the job site to the boat deck, Dickies’ Waterproof Breathable Reflective Jacket has it all. It keeps you comfortable, dry and protected from the elements while providing greater visibility in low light conditions.

• Waterproof: The jacket is water resistant and its chest and lower pockets feature waterproof zippers.

• Breathable: At just 5.6 ozs., this jacket is lightweight and breathable to keep you comfortable no matter the conditions.

• Reflective: For safety, this jacket features enhanced visibility in low light conditions. It appears to light up when light is flashed upon it. 100% Polyester reflective print 10K/10K lamination.

WWW.DICKIES.COM OT WEAR CUSTOM APPAREL OT Wear designs using vivid colors and unique, custom graphics to exceed their customers’ expectations. Their professional designers create custom jerseys and athletic apparel for whatever activity you choose.

Distinctive dye-sublimated graphics combined with vivid colors on high performing, comfortable and durable apparel will give you a distinctive edge to stand out from the crowd. Your sponsors will be blown away with how their logos are showcased on your jersey.

Let OT Wear outfit you or your team in style with a range of men’s and women’s cuts and

The Fin 3.0 fishing shoe adds a four-eye textile lacing system, an easy-on pull tab and EVA reinforcements on critical toe, forefoot and ankle locations to provide maximum stability in virtually any weather condition.

Like all SoftScience shoes, it is lightweight, superbly cushioned and stable, with a woven, breathable reinforced upper. The forefoot water flow system is ideal for worryfree water activity, keeping your feet stable and not slippery.

A relaxed fit, the shoes have a removable, washable Trileon insole and Trileon nonmarking, slip-resistant outsole.

WWW.SOFTSCIENCE.COM choice of performance fabrics. They can give you true brand consistency by matching your other marketing materials. Submit your own artwork or let the designers work with your graphics to create highperformance apparel that is unique to you. You will have a stunning, unique look that won’t be matched by others.

All of OT’s apparel is made in the USA, from fabric to finished product. Contact them today and let them help you create an extraordinary new look for you or your team.

WWW.OUTDOORTECHWEAR.COM

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FISH & FISHING

Finding The Touch MARK SOSIN

T

oo many anglers blame what they consider the obvious when they are not catching fish. They reason that the fish aren’t hungry, they’re not fishing in the right spot, or the lure they have chosen is not producing the results they expected.

Sometimes, it merely takes a subtle touch to turn frustration into success.

Although my father fished around the bend many years ago, I still marvel at his skill working a yellow Upperman bucktail in the ¼- or 3/8-ounce size. To this day, I have never met an angler who could come close to matching his success with that single lure.

He caught countless species on that bucktail, from striped bass, bluefish and weakfish, to redfish, trout, bonefish, permit and tarpon. Even when I stood next to him and tried to match his every move, I fell far short. What that taught me is that some simple thing in the retrieve (or lack of one) can make a major difference.

Let me share a few examples with you. Two of us fishing side-by-side were casting MirrOlures. They were the same model and the same color. He would get strike after strike, while I could barely get a fish to hit my lure. No matter how closely I watched him, I couldn’t detect any difference in the area we fished and the speed of the retrieve. I had to threaten to physically harm him if he didn’t tell me what he was doing. The only difference was that he occasionally vibrated his wrist on the hand

holding the rod.

That caused the lure to flash just like a baitfish, and a predator reacted to that instantly.

In another example, my friend and I were both fishing a swimming plug with a lip.

During the retrieve, it would dive down, but if you stopped reeling the lure would start to float back to the surface. Once again, my partner got strike after strike, and I could barely catch an occasional fish. All he was doing was swimming the plug for a short distance, pausing for an instant, and then continuing the retrieve.

Every time he paused, the plug would start to rise in the water column and then dive again when he resumed reeling. The sudden dive made it appear the lure was trying to escape from a predator. That’s all it took.

Here’s one more example.

The successful angler would start with a rather slow retrieve and then speed it up about halfway back to the boat. If a fish happened to see the plug, the change in speed would make it appear as if the plug were trying to get away and that’s a trigger mechanism.

Seasoned anglers who fish artificials and score frequently limit the number of lures they carry and develop a touch for each one that produces strikes.

Basically, there is more than one way to fish any artificial.

My suggestion is that you keep trying a variety of subtle approaches until you become the angler that others envy and try to copy.

For more about artifical lures with Mark Sosin, visit

CAMFISHING.COM

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FLY FISHING

Fly Reel Backing

L

osing a big saltwater gamefish after it is hooked and decides to head for the horizon is, in many instances, the result of filling your reel with backing that is either too short or too light. It can ruin an otherwise wonderful trip. Also, making wrong choice in backing can lose you not only your fish, but worse, it can cost you a very expensive fly line.

Twenty-pound backing is a good choice for most inshore saltwater fly fishing situations, and 30-pound backing will more than fill the bill in getting you through a tussle with an uncooperative bluewater gamefish.

The Old School Frame Of Mind: Dacron These days there are many choices when it comes to choosing backing for your fly reels. Some anglers prefer braided backing because of its small diameter. I prefer the tested and trued performance of standard hi-vis Dacron.

Why? Because, It’s easier on the fingers while fighting big fish, and it does not have the tendency—as braid does—to dig into itself when reeled back onto the fly reel.

How Much Do You Need?

Your fly reel should house a minimum of 175 yards of 20-pound Dacron backing. Many inshore saltwater gamefish will make initial runs of from 75 to 100 yards before they turn and settle into a fighting mode.

For bluewater fly fishing, 30-pound Dacron or gel spun is standard. A minimum of 300 yards should fill these reels. Big bluewater gamefish like the tuna and marlin will run off 200

yards of backing before you’ve had time to say, “Come back and fight like a man!” These fish can also dive to great depths, thus making essential an abundant supply of backing.

One caveat to remember is “Don’t short-line your backing.”

Best Color For Backing?

The phrase “getting into your backing” always arouses excitement through a saltwater fly fisherman’s being each time he hears it. There is nothing more exciting than witnessing one hundred yards of water-shedding backing slicing through the water, pulled by a bonefish, tarpon, sailfish or marlin. It’s a common occurrence in saltwater fly fishing. When this happens, the color of your backing is essential in tracking the fish’s direction. Is it swimming at an angle or is it sounding. Make no mistake, eventually every saltwater fisherman experiences this.

High-visibility backing will help determine how to fight the fish. For instance, when tarpon fishing it is important that you are able to turn a tarpon’s head during the tussle, a move aimed at keeping the tarpon off balance and assuring the fish is brought quickly to the boat. Also, the use of hivis backing allows the angler a better sight-line in tracking the fish’s direction so pressure may be applied in an opposite direction.

The best colors? As I stated above, I prefer hi-vis backing in bright yellow or bright orange, both highly visible backing regardless of weather conditions or water coloration.

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

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

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W

hen Yamaha introduced the 19-foot 190 FSH center console boat in 2016, the company tapped into a segment of boaters who want to fish more than runabout owners, but who also want to tow and entertain more than other center console owners.

By all accounts, Yamaha’s “family sports hybrid” concept proved to be a success.

Featuring an innovative, yet familiar, center console deck design, a performance sports boat hull, and the versatility unique to jet power, the 190 FSH is attracting more younger, first-time buyers than traditional center console brands, and is already the second best seller in the category.

For 2018, Yamaha is expanding their FSH offering to include a 21-foot model that is better suited for rougher waters and delivers the added peace of mind that comes with dual engines. And because the motors and driveline are tucked in the hull underneath the captain’s leaning post, the boat provides an open 360-degree experience that fishermen love.

The 210 FSH includes all the features that fishing enthusiasts require, along with family features that are perfect for an entire day out on the water to include water sports, swimming and lounging—all in the same boat, and at a competitive price starting under $40,000.

The 210 FSH is available in three variations that include the base model 210 FSH, an upgraded 210 FSH Deluxe, and the flagship 210 FSH Sport that offers the features of the Deluxe with the addition of a custom T-top. All three models come with Yamaha’s award-winning TR-1 High Output marine engines.

210 FSH Walkthrough Starting at the bow, there is comfortable, padded seating with ample room for four adults. The padded cushions snap off, so they are easy to store or leave at home when you are heading out for a fishing trip.

Under the starboard bow seat is an insulated fish locker, and there is a dedicated locker for a full-size Danforth anchor. There is more storage below the port bow seat, in the sole, and inside two large consoles.

In front of the helm console is more seating, and the console lifts up to reveal a cavernous storage area that also serves as a changing room or a head compartment thanks to the curtain enclosure included on the Deluxe and Sport models.

The 210 FSH is loaded with the angling features one would ex-

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pect in a premium center console boat to include coaming pads, vertical and horizontal holders for 14 rods and a 26-gallon aerated live well. A cool feature you won’t find on other center console boats is Yamaha’s exclusive Jet Wash system that uses pressure from the jet pumps for easy cleanup of the cockpit, whether you land a big fish or the kids fill the boat full of sand.

The Helm The helm is thoughtfully designed with a simple-to-remove windshield for low profile storage, a stainless-steel sports steering wheel, easy access to all boat control switches, a locking glove box and an open area to flush mount electronics such as a fishfinder, a GPS unit and other marine electronics.

The 210 FSH comes equipped with Yamaha’s 4.3” Connext Touchscreen Display, which is NMEA compatible to send vital engine information to third-party electronics.

Behind the helm is a padded leaning post with a backrest (on Deluxe and Sport). Under the leaning post is a dedicated space for a removable cooler.

The Transom The transom area on the FSH Series is unlike any other center console boat on the market. Since the engines and drivetrain are in the hull, the entire back of the 201 FSH is open for unobstructed casting and watersports towing.

The 210 FSH features Yamaha’s signature two-tier swim platform that sits low at the water’s edge. A retractable stern ladder makes reboarding after swimming a breeze. The transom also includes a tow eye for watersports.

Like all Yamaha boats, the 210 FSH features Yamaha’s patented clean-out ports that allow for the removal of debris from the jet pump without having to get in the water or swim under the boat.

Rounding out the FSH’s list of innovations is the addition of Yamaha’s Articulating Keel, the latest in Yamaha’s Advanced Responsive Handling features. The Articulating Keel is an extension of the boat’s keel that moves and tracks along with the jet pump nozzle to provide comfort, stability and straight-line tracking at all speeds.

For buyers attracted to the iconic styling of a center console boat, but need more versatility to appease the family, look no further than the Yamaha 210 FSH.

For more on Yamaha’s 210 FSH Series, go to

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Center sp W

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

Enjoying your time on the water with family and friends starts with being safe and responsible while having fun. That’s what makes America’s Boating Club different than most boating organizations. For over a hundred years, the organization’s focus has been on providing unsurpassed boating safety education. But the organization’s leadership and members are passionate about a membership that doesn’t end on Sunday and doesn’t care if the calendar says it’s winter. It’s about being together and building a community through a variety of events like parties, meetings and even just getting together for no reason at all.

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

“We are United States Power Squadrons, but we are also America’s Boating Club,” said Louie Ojeda, chief commander, United States Power Squadrons. “This is not just a name change, it describes what we do.

We go boating and have fun doing it. Over time, our squadrons have evolved to become social clubs as well as providers of high quality boating education – allowing members to enjoy the sport and camaraderie of boating and any number of activities that keep us together. Togetherness is what this lifestyle is all about. We joined the organization for the boating education, but we stayed for the friends.”

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Power Squadrons – America’s Boating Club serves as a virtual “yacht club” with boating and social activities for all types of recreational boaters. With over 27,000 members organized into 356 squadrons across the country, America’s Boating Club is comprised of families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education.

Squadron members are vital to strengthening the communities

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

“Our commitment is to continue learning, teaching, laughing and helping our fellow members enjoy boating,” continued Ojeda. “Whether you’re passionate about cruising, racing, making new friends, volunteering in your community or learning from experienced boaters, your local squadron has the resources you need to engage your passions and, perhaps, instill some new ones.”

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

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

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llebroc_

SOUTHEAST

By Randy Cnota

S

pring means one thing to me… bedding bass! This is that magical time of the year when giant bass come to the shallows to procreate.

Depending on where you fish, the first waves of bedding bass could show up in February or earlier, and in some places the spawn stretches through the spring and into summer. Their movement is affected by moon phases somewhat, but more so by water temperature. Once it’s in the 60-degree range, start combing the shallows for white spots where they’ve fanned out a bed with their tails.

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Once you’ve located them, it is important to understand that they’ve located you. Bass are extremely aware of their surroundings. This makes it difficult at times to trigger a fish to take a lure. I like to run through an area with the trolling motor on high and put a 6-foot tomato stake right smack in the middle of the bed that’s holding the fish I intend to catch.

Then I leave the area and allow the fish to calm down.

During this waiting period, I might spend an hour doing the same thing in another area or probe the deeper areas surrounding the flat looking for pre- or post-spawn fish. Fish will be in all three spawning stages throughout spring, and any shallows that hold fish will have fish in the deeper water nearby.

After an hour or so, sneak back quietly into the area you’ve staked out. Pole in, let the wind blow you in or troll in at a very low speed.

Remember, you must be quiet, which means no banging around. Have everything you need on the deck of the boat. This is when a shallow-water anchoring system is worth its weight in gold. Minn Kota Talons and Power Poles are the premier systems available. Other less costly ways to anchor a boat are available as well, like Boatsticks at boatsticks.com.

You’ll want to position your boat far enough from the bed to not spook the fish, but close enough to cast several yards beyond the target.

You need two Texas-rigged baits—a Z-Man Grass KickerZ and a Punch CrawZ. These baits float in the upright position, which tells a bass that something is feeding on her eggs.

Swim the Grass Kicker over the bed several times. This will get the fish fired up. Then hop it right into the bed and stop it. Give it a pulsating action. If this doesn’t provoke the fish to eat, try hopping the Punch CrawZ on the bed. Sometimes you have to go back and forth with those baits to entice a strike, but often you will get them to eat right away.

When you do this enough, you’ll learn to understand the fish’s behavior. If a fish runs big circles away from the bed and is slow to come back, it might not be catchable. If she displays aggression and stays close to the bed, that’s a catchable fish.

Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.

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By Capt. Chester Reese

W

ith winter on the way out, pompano and cobia start their migration from the south, up through the Gulf of Mexico, to reach spawning areas. When the water reaches 70 degrees, the hunt for these great eating fish begins. Both are hard fighting fish, offering anglers amazing fishing opportunities all over Franklin County.

To many people, pompano are the most excellent eating fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Some anglers work to be experts, understanding what time of day and tide range is best and exactly what tackle to

Discover

pick, so that they know when it’s best to grab a rod and go. You can catch them from the shore or a boat, and they’re perfect for firsttime anglers with limited experience. When water temps get right, they come in large schools to feed and spawn. Some reside in our waters all summer, so don’t give up on them in the warmer months.

The most commonly used set-up is a two-hook dropper rig baited with sand fleas or pieces of fresh shrimp. White bucktails and special pompano lures work well too. Tip them with fleas or shrimp and work them slowly on the bottom just inside the sandbars close to the beach. As the migration moves through, you can find them over our grass flats.

Cobia get my juices flowing in the spring. These fish can go over 50 pounds and provide anglers a catch of a lifetime. Another migrating species, they’re also arriving with the warmer waters. Cobia are found worldwide and are prized for their bountiful, white delicious meat. Structure of any kind attracts and holds these fish, and it’s not uncommon to find them in schools around wrecks or buoys. They also like to cruise the beaches where they can be sight fished from boat or shore.

Prime baits for taking cobia are crabs, shrimp, fish and eels, but lures catch them all the time, too. Work baits both on the surface and on the bottom, since they inhabit all areas of the water column.

When the bite is on, it can be a frenzy to hook and fight these bruisers. Even after fighting hard for a long time, when boated they can slap and jump until subdued. Be careful of the strong tail and dorsal spines.

We have a great fishery for cobia and pompano in our Franklin County waters, and some of the best captains and guides that can put you on them. Visit our local tackle shops in East Point or St. George Island, and they’ll set you up to successfully catch and prepare these special fish.

Contact Capt. Chester Reese and Natural World Charters at (850) 228-9060. For a complete list of rentals, charters, supplies and more, visit www.floridasforgottencoast.com.

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n February, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management council took steps toward turning over management of the Gulf red snapper fishery to the Gulf states.

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These EFPs are issued for scientific studies, and this study will determine the effectiveness of state management of the recreational red snapper fishery. At the federal level, NOAA Fisheries now must rule on whether or not to approve the program for implementation.

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I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly

at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth.

There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point.

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better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature.

Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together.

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2/16/18 9:25 AM

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Tobin Strickland - CAM Special Correspondent • Photo courtesy of TroutSupport.com

pring is almost here on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Soon the redbuds and crabapples and a host of other flowering trees and plants will be budding. Where should you be fishing?

For many years now, I’ve learned to read the plants that are blooming to know if the seasonal shift of my bay would be ahead of schedule or behind. While the last several winters have had bitter cold, these cold periods still have been shorter compared to long-term trends. This leads to certain flowering trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to bloom early or later, and I’ve found over time this to be a consistent indicator correlating with forage species movements into and out of the bays and estuaries.

Redbuds, crabapples, and a host of flowering bulbs tend to be great indicators of early spring warm ups and whether or not the trout will move early from the rivers and other winter haunts to more of a spring location ahead of schedule or sometimes behind schedule.

You’ll have to begin making notes in your log as to what the fish are doing in your area and what species to watch as they bloom and stop.

Seeing the redbuds flower early compared to prior seasons could lead you to abandon your winter fishing locations ahead of your planned time. Getting on the move early can then help you find those early spring fish ahead of schedule.

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S

TOM SCHLICHTER

andy Moret pointed to port: “10 o’clock!” he said in a hushed voice. “Lead them.”

It took a second for me to sight in, but a moving shadow just beyond the bow brought things into focus. A pod of 70-pound tarpon were running a channel edge and we were perfectly positioned for an intercept.

Late with the cast, I dropped my streamer on the nose of the lead fish, which promptly turned and powered into oblivion across the shallow flats of Florida Bay, compatriots in tow.

Moret smiled and politely let me off the hook. “Happens all the time down here,” he said. “We’ll get another shot.”

Chalk one up to lessons learned. A heavy front was moving in, and what had been a drizzly morning suddenly turned threatening, sending us racing back to port for a round of refreshments at the Lorelei Marina (www.loreleicabanabar.com/ marina-and-fishing).

With the Florida Keys steadily rebounding from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma, anglers across the country are once again making plans for an assault on the stellar flats fishery here. Featuring tarpon, bonefish, redfish, snook and sea trout, the shallows of Florida Bay and Everglades National Park on the village’s lee side are ideal for fly fishing and Moret, one of the founding fathers of long-wand sport in these waters, couldn’t be happier.

“We still have a way to go before everyone is back on their feet, but we are getting there,” he said in a recent interview. “As for the fishing, it’s bounced back nicely.”

As a guide and outfitter, Moret (www.floridakeysoutfitters. com) logically suggests first-timers to the area head out with a professional skipper. “It’s the quickest way to learn the intricacies of tempting local gamefish,” he explained. Still, he noted that the

fishing in these parts is consistent enough that those launching a kayak or even fishing from shore around bridges and passes have a chance to score.

“The most important thing in the Keys is to practice your casting – especially when flyfishing,” he advised. “It’s vital to make a few casts in every spot you stop to factor in the wind, current and water depth courtesy of Sandy Moret before you even see the Photo Sandy Moret shows off a chunky Islamorada fish.” snook taken on the fly.

Moret, recently honored with 2018 Fly Fisherman Conservationist of the Year Award by the Bonefish Tarpon Trust (www.bonefishtarpontrust.org), works a wide range of patterns but does have several favorites. He likes a size 4 creamand-tan Merkin with lead eyes for bonefish. For silver kings, a Keys Tarpon Streamer in purple and black is his choice for murky water. To target snook and redfish, he throws purple Deceivers in discolored water and yellow and white in clear water. Concentrate your efforts on rising tides to avoid groundings, he cautions, and keep moving until you find the fish.

Getting to Islamorada is easy. Find your way to Miami or Fort Lauderdale and head south on U.S. 1. Once there, you’ll find plenty of places to stay including the world class Cheeca Lodge (www. cheeca.com) and Amara Cay Resort (www.amaracayresort.com).

Lake Erie Experienced

Record Walleye Fishing In 2017

Photo courtesy of Capt. Wes Carlton

D

uring the 2017 season, walleye anglers on Lake Erie experienced the highest recorded success in nearly 30 years.

“The New York State waters of Lake Erie are world famous for outstanding angling opportunities for walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Our Lake Erie waters have consistently ranked among

the top three most heavily fished waters in the state, and the fishery generates more than $26 million in economic activity annually. Anglers should take advantage of Lake Erie’s current conditions and experience this world-class walleye fishery for themselves in 2018.”

DEC has conducted an angler survey on Lake Erie to estimate fishing quality and fish harvest annually since 1988. In recent years, walleye fishing quality has been generally increasing.

Survey results for 2017 revealed record-high walleye catch rates that are nearly three times greater than the 30-year average. DEC estimates that anglers harvested more than 70,000 walleyes in 2017, a level not achieved since 1989.

This exceptional fishing was due in large part to contributions of strong walleye reproductive success in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2015. Recent evidence also suggests that walleye reproduction was strong again in 2016.

Walleye are one of the most popular gamefish in New York, as they put up an exciting fight during the catch and make for tasty meal on the table. Walleye are aptly named because of their unique eyes that have a reflective layer of pigment called the tapetum lucidum, which allows them to see very well at night and during other low-light periods. This layer also gives walleye their “glassy-eyed” or “wall-eyed” appearance.

Lake Erie is continually ranked among the world’s top walleye fishing destinations by angler publications, with an abundance of trophy-size walleye ranging from 8 to 10 pounds. Local tournament winners often score fish exceeding 11 lbs.

Given that walleye typically live 10 years or more in Lake Erie combined with excellent reproduction rates in recent years, anglers should experience continued, exceptional walleye fishing in future years.

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R E P O R T S

Lake Murray Lake Greenwood Lake Marion Lake Wateree Trout

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LAKE MURRAY REPORT

I

n the month of March, the water temperatures on Lake Murray will begin to warm, warming into the 60’s by the end of the month. Fish will be in full swing of Pre-Spawn and typically beginning to spawn by the end of the month, roaming the banks and into the shallows. Fishing techniques for Largemouth Bass will differ depending on which end of the lake you are fishing. Look for Largemouth lake wide to be staging on secondary points or deeper banks outside of spawning areas, as well as moved into spawning coves with sand, rock or hard bottoms.

On the upper reaches (from Dreher Island up river) of the lake where the water has more color, look for fish to be further along and shallower, in most cases positioned around spawning areas on visible cover or adjacent deep water on steeper rocky banks or points.

Techniques of choice will be slower techniques with crayfish and shad mimicking baits toward the beginning of the month, with the fish giving chase to moving baits in preparation of spawn by the end of the month. Good lures of choice are crankbaits that dive to the 2-4 foot range like an IMA square bill, Greenfish Tackle spinnerbaits, flat sided crankbaits like the Ima Shaker, soft plastics creature baits, tubes and beaver type baits such as the Reins Craw Tube and Punchin’ Predator, and finesse worms in a natural or green pumpkin color. Target moving baits during cloudy or windy conditions, switching to slower moving baits as the day gets brighter and without wind. Be sure to key on areas with rock or a hard bottom, as well as docks built on black floats.

On the lower end of the lake (from Dreher Island to the Dam), focus on slower moving bottom baits, such as a Greenfish Tackle jig, shakey head, or a dropshot like the Reins 5” Bubbling Shaker or New C-Pod in a Watermelon or Green Pumpkin color, especially during times with lack of wind. During conditions with wind, focus on suspending and moving baits like the IMA Flit, Ima Pinjack 200 and New Ima Sinking Glide Fluke 125 on points, and swimbaits like a Reins 3.25” Fat Rockvibe or an Alabama Rig with small swimbaits or grubs around docks. By the end of the month, on calm days in pockets, and around spawning areas, be sure to try the New Floating Glide Fluke 125. Look for fish to be staging more on secondary points around rock and docks with black floats adjacent to spawning areas, moving up by the end of the month to spawn.

803-567-5263

Boa

Michael Murphy USCG Approved, Merchant Mariner Licensed www.MichaelMurphyFishing.com Michael@MichaelMurphyFishing.com The month of March is when the fish start to venture from their pre-spawn staging areas into spawning coves, especially on the upper end of the lake. This is a great month to catch fish in predictable areas, as the fish can be easy to pattern. Bass will be in the backs of creeks and pockets holding on the last deep water areas around rocks and docks, and set up mostly in the 10-20 foot range off of points and in ditches. Up the river and in the backs of creeks and coves, where resident fish are more prevalent, fish could be as shallow as a couple feet in areas that hold heat. Be sure to focus on areas with bait, hard bottom areas, and North shore banks that get the most sunlight and the most protection from cold North winds. Down the lake where Bass are set up slightly deeper, they will either be feeding on Blueback Herring, White Perch or crayfish, and will be positioned on secondary points adjacent to spawning coves.

A great way to get out, enjoy the outdoors, and do a little fishing is to book a trip with one of the Lake Murray area guides. I am a certified Fisheries Biologist, Coast Guard Approved, full-time Largemouth Bass guide, have fished full-time and competitively for the past 12 years across the country on both the BASS and FLW trails, and have a lifetime of fishing experience. I offer a learning experience on multiple techniques of your choice, tournament preparation, and/or electronics education. I would love to share my knowledge with you on the water and enjoy a day of fishing.

Michael Murphy, USCG Approved, Merchant Mariner Licensed , 803-567-5263, www.MichaelMurphyFishing.com, Michael@MichaelMurphyFishing.com

LAKE MURRAY REPORT

M

arch will bring some of the best fishing of the year. Tight lining and trolling in the creeks will produce some of the largest slabs of the year. By mid March look for shoreline cover to cast or flip a jig and cork too.

The reward will be black males and big females.

As the water temperature rises the striped bass will follow the herring to the shallows. Search main lake flats for large schools of fish.

Use free lines and planner boards to cover as much water as possible.

Some of the biggest striped bass of the year will be caught during the month of March.

March means pre-spawn to spawning for large mouth bass. Some of the favorite baits to use are spinner-baits, crank-baits, and soft plastics. Cover as much water as you can and keep your eye out for fish on the bed.

Over all, March is one of the best months of the year to catch big fish on Lake Murray.

Capt. Brad Taylor, Taylor Outdoors, LLC., 151 Dogwood Shores Rd., Batesburg, SC 29006, 803-331-1354 2 COLUMBIA

MARCH 2018

803-331-1354 | www.tayloroutdoors.com

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1

m their upper areas, creeks ks and s and where couple , hard ht and where eback ndary

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R E P O R T S Lake Murray Clarks Hill Lake Lake Marion & Moultrie Lake Wateree Trout

Welcome to the Columbia/Midlands Edition of The Angler. This is an endevour I chose to pursue due to my love of the outdoors. Although The Angler is geared toward fishing, it is very much a publication about many outdoor activities an enthusiast can enjoy.

I must thank the local and regional writers that contributed to this first edition and also invite others to contact me if interested in contributing to the publication. I must also thank the advertisers who helped me launch this first edition. This being my first rodeo at publishing, it may be a little rough around the edges, however, we

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MARCH 2018

COLUMBIA 3

LAKE MURRAY & GREENWOOD REPORT

BOWDLER GUIDE SERVICE

L

ake Murray: March in Murray means primetime striper fishing action . Some of the biggest fish of the year will be caught this month. The fish will be scattered from dam to dam however. Look for the same signs bait , birds and boats.

The midlake area from Buffalo creek to Dreher island will be a good starting point. But fish can be caught from up the rivers to the Murray dam. Try fishing shallow like 5 ft or less pulling unweighted free lines with blueback herring. Also flukes and topwater baits will get the job done. If you encounter a cold front the fish may stay in the ditches and channels until later in the day. So downrod fishing with a 2 oz egg sinker and marking fish on your graph will be your best bet. If you are not catching fish try something different.

Lake Greenwood: The reedy river area will be full of crappie this month . Pulling and tightlining jigs tipped with minnows will put the slabs in the boat. From this same area to midlake the stripers will be caught on umbrellas and A-rigs trolled or casted. Keep an eye out for schooling white bass.

Good fishing!

Capt, Andrew Bowdler, Bowdler Guide Service, LLC, 810 High Point Rd., Saluda, SC, (864) 992-4705

O Striped Bass Fishing on Lake Murray, Lake Thurmond and Lake Russell by USCG Licensed and Insured Captain Andrew Bowdler $400/day – Large groups available

810 High Point Rd., Saluda, SC, (864) 992-4705

STRIPER REPORT

T

emperatures are warming up - Spring is right around the corner. Time to start chasing schooling fish on Lake Murray.

Find the birds and bait fish and you have found the striper !

Start early - best schooling action will take place shortly after sunrise. When you see water boiling and baitfish leaping out the water slam on breaks and start casting. Don’t run your boat up into the schooling fish - that will spook them - stay a respectable distance from the schooling action and PLEASE shut off your big engine motor.

Some advice - next time you go shopping purchase some super size ivory colored flutes AND large pencil popper top water lures. Respool your reels with a minimum 15 lb Berkeley Trilene Big Game line.

Make sure your knotts are tight - top water bite will be aggressive.

Hold your rod tight in hand or be prepared to lose it!

When the sun gets up fairly high top water action will slow. Pull out your planner boards - place them on lightly weighted lines. Stagger the bait at different depths - suggest 5’, 10’, 15’, 20.’ Plan to pull the boards between .7 and 1.0 mph. Blueback herring will work nicely, but 5 to 6 inch gizzard shad will work better.

Pull your PB’s in waters 15’ to 35.’ Put a couple free lines out the back of boat while pulling planner boards. Think creeks, points and humps when targeting areas to fish and you will do well.

March is a good month to fish Lake Murray !

Whether you are an amateur or a pro you will have fun.

Leave the hard work to me - all you need to do is show up ready to have a great time!

CAPTAIN MIKE’S GOALS: • • • • •

To make certain you & your guests have a safe trip!

To make absolutely certain everyone has fun!

Do everything possible to ensure you catch the legal limit of fish!

To make certain your trip is memorable!

To provide you with the one-on-one attention required to grow your knowledge of Lake Murray & fishing!

Captain Mike | 803.609.0066 | www.StriperMike.net

Capt. Mike Glover, (803) 609-0066, www.StriperMike.net 4 COLUMBIA

MARCH 2018

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R E P O R T S Lake Murray Clarks Hill Lake Lake Marion & Moultrie Lake Wateree Trout

Welcome to the Columbia/Midlands Edition of The Angler. This is an endevour I chose to pursue due to my love of the outdoors. Although The Angler is geared toward fishing, it is very much a publication about many outdoor activities an enthusiast can enjoy.

I must thank the local and regional writers that contributed to this first edition and also invite others to contact me if interested in contributing to the publication. I must also thank the advertisers who helped me launch this first edition. This being my first rodeo at publishing, it may be a little rough around the edges, however, we will be fine tuning as we go.

John Lux, Publisher

John Lux, Publisher jlux@theanglermagazine.com

803-807-6885

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COLUMBIA 5

By Matt Stewart

Tight-Lipped Tar Heel Toms H urdle Mills, North Carolina, has some fine homemade pickled okra if you can find the hands that make it. It was also home to a wannabe Bruce Lee gobbler that landed its final karate spur kick this past April.

That longbeard had given me a courtesy gobble minutes before sundown after I’d arrived in Person County for a three-day hunt with Hunters Specialties. It sounded like the tom was 300-plus yards out going to roost. I’d find out the next morning he was half that.

EARLY EXIT

I was joined the first morning by Craig Cushman, vice president of marketing for Hunters Specialties, and Steve Cobb, a Hunters Specialties pro-staffer and South Carolina champion turkey caller. All was quiet at daybreak, and we had been warned that the birds were tight-lipped on this property. Cobb and Cushman had heard little gobbling during scouting sessions the previous days.

That changed when Cobb let out his first owl hoot, and a gobble covered us up from about 100 yards away. The bird had been on the ground in a creek bottom when I heard it the night before, and the 6 COLUMBIA

MARCH 2018

gobble was masked by the canopy.

At the sound, we did one of those squat-and-shuffle runs to find the nearest tree. Cobb gave a soft tree yelp, and the gobbler let us know the game was on. After a few minutes of silence, the tom flew down and began hammering at Cobb’s aggressive clucks and excited yelps.

Cobb, kneeling behind the tree I was perched against, could see slightly above me and saw the tail feathers of the strutter’s fan over a small crest. The drumming and spitting commenced, and the bird made a bee line for the H.S. Strut Jake Snood decoy. The longbeard circled the decoy and came back around, executing a swift kick that knocked the fake jake three feet in the air.

As it stood admiring its handiwork, I squeezed on the Remington 870 SPS Super Mag Turkey Predator, and the Winchester Longbeard XR No. 5s went to work.

The bird never flopped. It was 6:42 a.m., and my one-bird daily limit in North Carolina was filled.

The next morning was as advertised: Little gobbling, although Cushman, Mike Capps, senior account executive at Howard Communications, and I watched two hens inspect our decoys before

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COBB-ISMS

scurrying off.

BACKYARD GOBBLER

My counterpart on the trip, Outdoor Life’s Gerry Bethge, had heard next to nothing the first two mornings. He and Cobb came in from the second morning’s hunt looking for grub when the highlight of the trip occurred.

Capps, who had been in the upstairs bedroom “scouting,” as he called it, awoke to a faint sound out of the bedroom window. It almost sounded like a gobble. He closed his eyes and heard it again. It was a gobble, and it was close. Capps ran downstairs and found Cobb.

“Steve, step out on the back porch and call,” Capps said.

Cobb gave him a look.

“No, really. Call off the back porch.”

On the first yelp, the bird gobbled in a hardwood bottom a little more than 100 yards off the back deck. The race was on. Cobb and Bethge scrambled to get out the door and circled around the perimeter of the longbeard. Capps and I grabbed the popcorn (actually trail mix) and watched from the kitchen window. Cushman and John Trull, chief executive officer at Hunters Specialties, went to the catbird’s seat upstairs and prepared for the show.

Cobb worked the bird under the hardwood cover for 10 minutes or so before it stalled and wouldn’t budge. A few minutes of silence passed before we heard a blast echo from the bottom. Bethge trotted out with a nice gobbler and the best story of the week.

THE STREAK

The next morning, Bethge, Cobb and I heard a gobble in the distance and cut through the woods to within 100 yards of a roosted gobbler with hens. His sweet talking coerced the bird to about 70 yards before I heard what sounded like a deer running through the woods. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur of feathers scream by at 25 yards as Ray Stevens’ “The Streak” played in my head. Turns out, Trull had been hunting the same birds as us on the other side. As they worked away from him, he backed out, and the turkeys likely sensed it.

We snuck out to the edge of a nearby field and spotted what appeared to be three hens feeding at a distance. Cobb decided to pique their interest by floating the Jake Snood decoy in the air, and the birds came within 10 yards of me to get a look at the 6-foot turkey. As they closed the distance, all three heads turned red, and I made out the bearded stubs of jakes.

GOBBLE OR BUST

The final morning, after a mouth-watering rib dinner served by a neighbor of the property, we traveled down the road to listen at an outparcel of the Hunters Specialties property. I forgot to set my alarm and overslept, missing the morning coffee and other pre-hunt rituals.

Sure enough, about the time we stopped to listen, the previous night’s ribs came calling, and no gobble was worth that wait. As soon as I propped against a tree, a bird gobbled within 150 yards on the edge of an old food plot. Capps and Bethge were off, and I was stuck tending to business.

I managed to get a view of the setup as Capps called, and I hoped to watch one more Tar Heel tom fall, but the longbeard’s hens would have none of it. They carried him off, and we had to follow their lead back home.

Despite the warnings of quiet birds, we scared up a few gobbles during the week thanks to the fine calling of Cobb and advanced scouting by Cushman and Trull. The birds weren’t extremely talkative all week, but as we learned, you only need one big mouth to close the deal. After that, you only need to use your own big mouth to gobble up some of that homemade North Carolina pickled okra.

I

f you’ve met Steve Cobb, pro-staffer with Hunters Specialties, you’ve likely heard one of his great turkey hunting stories. If you haven’t, well, get your priorities in order. Cobb is a turkey tactic encyclopedia and a calling machine in the woods. He goes nonstop until a late-night toddy puts him to roost. Sharing hunting camp with Cobb should be on every hunter’s bucket list.

Here are a few tips gleaned from Cobb’s wealth of turkey hunting knowledge during a recent hunt in North Carolina.

• Cobb likes to tree yelp lightly after a gobbler has given away his location from the limb. Then he stops until the bird flies down. Birds can generally tell if a yelp comes from the ground early while they are still roosting and might be tentative to investigate.

• When one gobbler hung up out of range after answering calls multiple times, Cobb scratched in the leaves and caused the bird to break toward the hen decoy. It’s common knowledge among turkey hunters, but this simple tactic is sometimes forgotten.

• Cobb’s advice for using a friction call: Make a backward J with the striker for sharp clucks and cutts. For consistent sounds, keep the fatty portion of your palm on your striker hand flat against the surface of the call, and don’t move it.

• Cobb prefers to run and gun and advises staying within a short distance from the truck if possible during peak gobbling hours. If there’s no gobbling, you always can get back to the truck quickly and check another spot where you’ve heard birds.

• The veteran guide likes to stand or kneel above the hunter he’s calling for to improve his vantage point and give more direction on gun hold and positioning.

• When birds are silent, many times it can be because of a dominant gobbler in the area. If you can take out that dominant bird, sometimes that opens the mouths of submissive gobblers.

• Cobb is a big believer in the red wattles on the Jake Snood decoy from Hunters Specialties. Nine out of 10 times, an incoming longbeard will be so focused on sizing up the fake jake that a hunter can get away with more before the shot, he said.

• Quality of calling matters. When you sound like a hen, birds might be less tentative to commit. Master the yelp, Cobb said.

EASTERN WILD TURKEY

E

astern wild turkeys are the most widely distributed subspecies east of the Mississippi River. They are also the most abundant. In fact, you can find them in 38 states and numerous Canadian provinces.

Characteristics Chestnut-brown tips on tail feathers White and black bars on the wings Adult males weigh 18 to 30 pounds Adult females weigh 8 to 12 pounds Very strong gobbles (strongest gobbles of all subspecies) Very long beards (longest beards of all subspecies) Second to the Osceola in difficulty of calling in Get more wild turkey information and insight at NWTF.org.

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MARCH 2018

COLUMBIA 7

LAKE WATEREE REPORT

C

atfish will be starting to move towards the north end of the lake and the best technique is to anchor and fan cast cut gizzard shad in different depths. Stripers will be scattered so watch for the birds and pulling live bait on planer boards works well.

Jason Wolfe, Wolfe’s Guide Service, 803-487-3690

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COLUMBIA

R E P O R T S Lake Murray Clarks Hill Lake Lake Marion & Moultrie Lake Wateree Trout

Welcome to the Columbia/Midlands Edition of The Angler. This is an endevour I chose to pursue due to my love of the outdoors. Although The Angler is geared toward fishing, it is very much a publication about many outdoor activities an enthusiast can enjoy.

I must thank the local and regional writers that contributed to this first edition and also invite others to contact me if interested in contributing to the publication. I must also thank the advertisers who helped me launch this first edition. This being my first rodeo at publishing, it may be a little rough around the edges, however, we will be fine tuning as we go.

John Lux, Publisher

John Lux, Publisher jlux@theanglermagazine.com

803-807-6885

C O N TA C T U S !

Jodi Connor Ad Consultant 803-319-7222

Building Brand Loyalty is Who We Are

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

8 COLUMBIA

MARCH 2018

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shad d alway durin are no Cr will be the sh Do else fa S& filling

Capt D

wards e best ast cut will be ng live

7-3690

LAKE MARION/MOULTRIE REPORT

I

t’s time to book a trip with S & S Guide Service for catfish, bream or crappie. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are great places to catch catfish in the winter months by using butterflied shad drifting in 25-30 ft. of water. If you have no luck, then you can always move to deeper water. The catfish will be going back and forth during the warmer winter days. Water levels have been low, but they are now rising.

Crappie can be caught using minnows in shallow water. The crappie will be spawning soon. During that time of year, you should try fishing the shallow water in the creeks.

Don’t forget to find old river channels by fishing the ledges. If all else fails, Lake Marion is a good place to stump jump this time of year.

S & S welcomes you to book a trip. This time of year the books start filling up quickly.

Capt David Adams, S & S Guide Service specializing in catfish bream andcrappie, 803 308 3635, sandsguideservice@gmail.com, www.sandsfishingguide.net.

Specializing in Catfish, Bream and Crappie!

803-308-3635

Building Brand Loyalty is Who We Are Becoming part of the Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazine Team provides your company with access to our loyal readership Age of Reader................. 82% at 35+ years old Gender of Reader........................ 82% are Male 18% are Female Owns truck, van or SUV............................. 86% Owns a boat.................................................. 68% Owns 2 or more automobiles.....................72%

sandsguideservice@gmail.com | www.sandsfishingguide.net.

Look for our Brag Board next month!

Send your

Average household income...$82,301-250,495

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Home Ownership of Readers................. 79.5%

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MARCH 2018

COLUMBIA 9

Anglers: Clifton Mangum and Paul Evans on a Lake Wateree Trip

10 COLUMBIA

MARCH 2018

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MARCH 2018

COLUMBIA 11

TROUT REPORT

Teaching the techniques and tactics of fly fishing and casting as well as the use application of conventional tackle to catch the species of fish found in the rivers in and around Columbia, SC.

Jake Howard , Saluda Valley Guides LLC , (803)312-2435 www.saludavalleyguidesllc.weebly.com

W

e saw a lot of change in February with hot and cold weather, rain and wind. This trend may continue in March as typical South Carolina weather may bring one more freeze in befor letting go to the warmth of spring.

The Saluda River will see its final stocking of the year. The bight should stay pretty consistent until the stripers show in May. All the typical artificial lures including Mepps and Rooster Tails will produce.

Try a small Rebel WeeCraw if things slow on what you normally use.

If the temperature drops then go small and deep. This holds true with fly tackle as well. With clear water on cold days, tie on a small Midge nymph or tiny Hare’s Ear and Pheasant Tail. Change flies often. If you dont seem to be getting consistent bights then change. The fish are there, you just need to find the right fly.

As always, watch for changing water levels. The speed of the current can change during the cold months so staying aware of those changes is important. The daily limits remain five total trout with only one over sixteen inches. There is a section of the river that may see this change to catch and release only. Updates on this will come as more information is released. Until then look for characteristics of the wild fish with clean dorsal and pectoral fins, no nubby fins, and let them go. These are the future of the fishery so let’s take care of them.

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Welcome to the Columbia/Midlands Edition of The Angler. This is an endevour I chose to pursue due to my love of the outdoors. Although The Angler is geared toward fishing, it is very much a publication about many outdoor activities an enthusiast can enjoy.

I must thank the local and regional writers that contributed to this first edition and also invite others to contact me if interested in contributing to the publication. I must also thank the advertisers who helped me launch

Jake Howard , Saluda Valley Guides LLC , (803)312-2435, www.saludavalleyguidesllc.weebly.com

this first edition. This being my first rodeo at publishing, it may be a little rough around the edges, however, we

MARCH 2018

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John Lux, Publisher

jlux@theanglermagazine.com

will be fine tuning as we go.

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New IGFA Observer Training in Mattituck, Long Island

Photo courtesy of Casa Vieja Lodge, Guatemala ver wonder what it would be like to sit on a big, beautiful sportfishing boat and watch a top-notch crew work their magic against monster marlin and schools of sailfish?

Can you hear the lines going off?

Can you hear yourself screaming “release!” Then you’re ready to become an observer.

All observers must take the IGFA Observer Training Course.

It takes about four hours, it’s a great way to meet other fishing enthusiast and there’s no test or exam.

The International Game Fish Association will conduct an observer training courses in New York on Long Island at Strong’s Water Club and Marina in Mattituck, Long Island, New York on Saturday, May 19.

The half-day session teaches observer responsibilities and duties, billfish identification, and IGFA’s International Angling Rules. The class will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes a training manual, two DVD’s, a one-year IGFA membership and costs just $150.

Take the course, and observe in luxurious resorts in Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To learn more, go to igfto.org. To sign up, go to igfa.org/Educate/ Observer-Training.aspx.

E

By Doug Haddaway

Photo courtesy of Capt. Mike Weinhoffer

For more about the Dry Tortugas, go to

CRYSTALSALTWATERS.COM

By Will Robinson

C

hoosing the right fly reel can really make your head spin.

From basic drags to sealed-disk braking systems, the prices and quality vary dramatically. My gut always tells me to get the best that I can. Buy it once and you won’t be replacing it in a couple of years.

While this typically holds true for fly reels, there are instances when it can be overkill. If you are looking for an inshore 8-weight and will be typically chasing snook in the backcountry, the need for

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a reel with a silky smooth drag and 300 yards of backing is pointless.

You will likely be fighting most fish within 50 feet of you. And much of the time, you’ll be hand-lining them and have no need for a fancy drag system. In these situations, the reel is more of a line holder and can be much less expensive than their highly tuned cousins.

A good starting point is deciding if you need a sealed drag reel.

They are nice, and most are very well made with super smooth drags, but that comes at a price. A great advantage of these reels is that they are virtually maintenance free. The sealed drag keeps water out, so rinse them down well after fishing and, you are pretty much done. The negative is they are typically higher-end reels and a bit pricey. For nearly two decades I have fished with non-sealed drags and have never had an issue, but I need to do a little more maintenance and cleaning on those reels. Also, if you primarily fish from a boat where dunking a reel is not likely, this could be a great way to save some dough.

Another important question is size, which often has to do with how much backing you think you will need. Since the tackle is lighter, it’s nice to have the line for long runs when fishing open areas, but again, if you typically fish tight spots there might not be a need for 300 yards of backing.

Conversely, if you are looking to chase large tarpon or go offshore, you need plenty of backing. Larger arbors are great, even with limited backing. They allow you to pick up line at a much faster pace, making life easier on both the fish and fisher. Finally, opt for ported reels, as they are lighter and allow your backing to dry much faster. This is important for the longevity of the line.

Smooth drags and plenty of backing are always nice. But be honest with yourself, this is an instance in which you can save a considerable amount of weight and money depending on the type of fishing you will be doing.

Will Robinson is a seasoned tournament angler and has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. His picks for the best reels can be found at Galvanflyreels.com and Nautilusreels.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

2/16/18 9:26 AM

By CAM Staff

T

o many inshore anglers, springtime means flatfish, and there’s no destination fishery more closely associated with giant doormat flounder than Murrells Inlet, S.C. When waters begin to warm into the mid 70s, the inlet fills up with glass minnows, pogies and mullet. Flounder follow the bait, and they’ll set up in ambush points waiting for an easy meal. Murrells Inlet becomes the epicenter on the Atlantic coast for anglers seeking tasty flatfish. Most years, the flounder bite begins as early as April and will reach its peak in June.

But flounder aren’t the only game in town. The same influx of bait draws all sorts of gamefish into this closed system of marshes and backwater creeks. Speckled trout fishing heats up, and as the crabs get more active on the flats, large schools of tailing redfish provide excellent sight fishing opportunities on light tackle as well as on the fly. With lures,

For more information on fishing, golfing and the Inlet Sports Lodge at Murrells Inlet, S.C., go to www.inletsportslodge.com/ or call 877-585-9360.

esy of Photo court utting C im Capt. T 6

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flies or live bait, the grass edges, creeks and oyster bars offer an almost surefire shot at an inshore slam of flounder trout and reds, and hard-pulling black drum will likely be in the mix as well.

In the sound, there is even more sight fishing to be done. Triple tail and some big sharks will be taking advantage of all that bait. There’s good news from the federal fisheries managers, too. After almost a year of no harvest, cobia are again fair game. There is not much in fishing as exciting as spotting and casting to cruising cobia, but big bull reds definitely give them a run for their money in terms of pure strength.

Along with the famous fall run, bull reds show up at Murrells Inlet in spring. Fish in the 20- to 40-pound range are a common occurrence.

Outside the inlet, with a run of just a few miles, the nearshore reefs can be easily accessed, even on a half-day trip. Mackerel, sharks, black sea bass, reds, flounder, bluefish, spadefish and more make for an exciting cooler-filling outing.

A little farther out, there is excellent trolling for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia and amberjack, as well as bottom fishing for snappers, groupers and sea bass. And serious anglers should look into a full-day or overnight trip to the Gulf Stream. From 55 to 70 miles offshore, opportunities for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, marlin and sailfish abound. Trolling the Gulf Stream for big-game species off the lower end of the Grand Strand is tough to beat anywhere.

If all that fishing isn’t enough to pique your interest, the area is also world famous for its golf courses, and there’s a vacation destination on the inlet that caters specifically to the needs of anglers and golfers. Located at the heart of Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports Lodge is a comfortable and classy boutique hotel with the finest amenities in the area. It’s minutes away from three marinas, works closely with the area’s best charter captains and can accommodate boats up to 25 feet. There’s a fish cleaning room for prep, as well as gas and charcoal grills available in the courtyard to cook your catch.

Or, for those who’d rather let someone else do the cooking, the COSTA Coastal Kitchen and Bar on-site offers up fine, fresh Italian and seafood fare. There are also several other restaurants nearby that prepare the kind of delicious right-out-ofthe-water dishes that have made Murrells Inlet the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.”

If days on the water paired with a days on the links sounds like the perfect way to relax, the Inlet Sports Lodge has you covered. With golf packages booking a wide variety of the Grand Strand’s famous courses, there’s more golf than you can swing a stick at, including two award-winning courses with the same ownership as the Inlet Sports Lodge. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation are two of the finest courses in the area as well as the nation.

For more fishing at Murrells Inlet, go to

ANGLERSLIFE.CO MARCH 2018

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ver the last five years, Columbia, South Carolina’s Lower Saluda River has been on the rise as a trout fishery. Fed by the cold waters of Lake Murray, it took work by South Carolina DNR as well as habitat improvements to turn what once was a purely put-and-take fishery into viable year-round tailwater trout fishery.

With improved dissolved oxygen levels and a new flow program, anglers began catching large holdover fish back in 2012. Where stocked rainbows were once expected to die off during summer months, rainbows and browns are now thriving throughout the year. Trout exceeding 20 inches in length are now a real possibility for anglers fishing the tailwater.

South Carolina stocks this stretch of river with about 18,000 rainbow and brown trout by helicopter in winter. Regulations allow for no bait or tackle restrictions, and there is a daily harvest limit of five trout per day, per person. It would be interesting to see how stricter regulations might affect the fishery.

That’s exactly what South Carolina DNR has proposed. In February, public meetings were held to provide information and gauge opinions on a catch-and-release-only section of the Saluda. A 1.3-mile special catch-and-release zone has been proposed on the river’s nearly 10-mile run from the dam at Lake Murray to its convergence with the Broad River. Regulations would remain unchanged for the rest of the Lower Saluda.

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Angler Chuck Hanford and Capt. Alex with a 60-pound roosterfish released on the Harvester in February.

T

he 2018 season is in full swing in Nosara, Costa Rica. The five boats of the FishingNosara team have already run 225 trips since our season kicked-off in November, and show no signs of slowing down.

As usual, the flagship Wanderer has led the charge with great action this season. One of our favorite anglers Leah Merryfield helped the Wanderer ring in the New Year with a great day of action on Jan. 1. Capt. William found a 40-plus-pound dorado lurking offshore, and Miss Merryfield was there to land the monster. Mate Johnny had his work cut out for him to filet this big green beast. With dinner on ice, Mike battled a big sailfish all the way in for the release. Filets for the table and another trophy release for the scrapbook… that’s a perfect day of fishing to kick off 2018.

On Jan. 9, Soren and Marianne Dalberg-Pedersen had a big day with

Capt. William, highlighted by a pair of awesome marlin releases. They added a big dorado for the icebox, and all of this happened on just a fivehour, half-day trip!

Our big battleship Discoverer also has been delivering big fish and big smiles. Our dear friend Jerome McKown continues to add to his FishingNosara Hall of Fame resume with a great day of action for his group on Feb. 1. After a sweet sailfish release, these Texas anglers scored a nice yellowfin tuna with a baitcaster reel he brought from home.

Ryan McPherson joined Capt. Carlos and had the best five-hour trip you can imagine on Jan. 31. First up was a big blue marlin release. The blue water kept producing with an excellent sailfish backed up by a tasty yellowfin tuna.

Our newest weapon, the 32-foot Eduardono mega-panga Harvester, has already redefined the potential of panga fishing in Central America. After three full days of fishing, angler Chuck Hanford saved the best for last with a mammoth roosterfish release on his final day of action on Feb. 5. This monster was a legitimate 60 pounds, proven by Captain Alex’s Bogagrip. Great work by the mega-panga to photograph and release this monster.

Meanwhile, our smaller pangas, the Explorer and Adventurer, are delivering the best bang-for-your-buck fishing action in all of Central America. The Explorer put on a show for Maurycy Krzastek, of Poland, with a wonderful day of action on Jan. 12. The fish were fired-up as the Explorer released not one but two mighty marlins. This amazing feat was backedup with plenty of dorado, so these boys will be well fed. Great work by Capt. Fico!

The Adventurer scored a swarm of permit, snappers and yellowfin tuna on Jan. 6. Want to have ceviche, sushi and filets all in one meal? Capt.

David is known for delivering a wide variety of edible delights every time he hits the water.

Daily updates on the team’s catches are available at blog.fishingnosara.com and on the major social media platforms.

For more on FishingNosara, go to

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FRESHWATER

By TAM Staff

T

his is the time of year when crappie anglers flock to the water.

The predictability and seemingly never-ending abundance of these tasty fish make them a springtime tradition with a community feel. No one’s going to fight you for crappie; there are plenty for everyone.

Here are a few tips to help you load a cooler this spring.

• Fish The Right Areas: This time of year, crappie are either shallow or thinking about moving shallow, depending on where you fish.

With warming waters, the spring spawn will find them right up on the banks in water as shallow as 1 ½ feet. Explore backs of the creeks that feed reservoirs or the flats adjacent to creek channels. Crappie use those channels to travel in and out of their spawning areas, so they’ll be stacked up in shallow brush near those slightly deeper areas when they move up. They’ll be holding in those slightly deeper channels before and after the spawn.

• Brush, Brush, Brush: The necessity for cover cannot be overstated. Crappie seek out hard bottoms with abundant cover to hide and

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protect their beds. Laydowns on the bank, shallow docks, timber and brush stacked up by currents, angler-placed brush in shallow water, all of it will hold spawning crappie as long as there is firm bottom for them to build their nests and something to conceal them.

• Tactics: Male crappie are usually the target when fishing during the spawn. Males are the ones that guard the beds, and while they are in protector mode they are aggressive. They are not necessarily feeding; they are attacking.

Minnows under a float are the traditional bait for crappie fishing, and it is a tactic that works any time of year. But during the spawn, minnows can actually hurt your productivity because fishing them out of the livewell and hooking them up is time consuming. If they will take a jig, there is no reason not to use one. Jigs are just more efficient.

This time of year, bright and gaudy colors are the way to go. Angry fish don’t need to be enticed into feeding, just getting their attention is often enough to make them strike. Whether you’re vertical jigging thick cover or casting to the banks, move quickly until you find crappie and then slow down to catch all of them that will bite.

• Remember: When you find a good spot, mark it on the graph or remember where it is. Crappie know where to go to spawn successfully and comfortably. They will utilize the same areas year after year, and so should you.

This holds true on a short-term basis also. Catch a limit one day, and you might think you’ve fished a particular bank out. Don’t count on it. Those good spawning sites reload. New fish will move in to take the place of the ones you took home to the fryer. That spot is worth checking again as early as tomorrow or even this afternoon.

For more on fishing Crappie in the spring, go to

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TIPS FROM A PRO

FRESHWATER PUNCHING MATS

BRANDON LESTER

T

he first pro event of the 2018 Bassmaster schedule was the Bassmaster Eastern Open in Kissimmee, Fla. I love Florida in winter, and love it even more now. I finished the event in second place, my highest professional finish to date. To notch that result, I had to adapt. Here’s how I did it.

In practice and early on day one I was catching fish on a prop bait. The fish were eating it, but I started catching smaller fish as time wore on.

I knew big fish were in the area but weren’t willing to hit a topwater. They were buried in the cover, and I needed to go in after them. That meant punching the heavy mats.

My arsenal for approaching the thickest Florida cover is simple but vital. I like to

use a MHX FP936 flipping stick with a 1 ½-ounce tungsten weight. I like a 4/0 Mustad 3X Grip Pin Max flipping hook, which helps keep a compact creature bait on the hook shank while penetrating abrasive cover. I pair it with 65-pound Vicious No Fade Braid to a high-speed reel to ensure I can muscle trophy fish from matted cover.

A big key to punching heavy cover is the bait. It must have a compact shape to slip through the mats behind that big weight.

I worked with X Zone Lures to create a new punching bait that does just that and is a new look for the fish. The Muscle Back Finesse Craw is the result. You can find them on the X Zone website (www.xzonelures.com).

I relied on the Okeechobee Craw and Black/Blue Flake colors, which are both Florida staples.

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FRESHWATER PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Fishmaster has unveiled a new line of folding aftermarket T-tops suitable for inshore or offshore applications. The first model in Fishmaster’s new Pro Series features industry leading 2.25-inch aviation grade 6061 T6 schedule 40 aluminum for optimum strength-to-weight ratio. Its patent pending design features sleek lines, integral grab handles and lateral support bars for superior stability. The top provides more than 35 square feet of coverage and features Sunbrella fabric for weather protection and comfort.

The top can be folded without the use of tools to accommodate storage, trailering and low bridge or tree clearance. It is available in bone white powder coating or polished and anodized finish for maximum corrosion resistance. This Pro Series model adjusts from 24-50 inches wide to fit virtually any center console on the market.

Each Fishmaster top can be customized with a wide array of accessories including rod holders, lights, antenna brackets, an electronics box and more.

Fishmaster T-Tops can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer or by a dedicated Fishmaster marine dealer.

For more information about the new Pro Series or the name of your local Fishmaster dealer, call 877-777-8693 or visit Fishmaster.com.

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UNDER THE SEA

What To Wear?

W

ho says you can’t have it all? When it comes to wetsuits—whether man or woman, warm or cold water, scuba or freediver—there are many great choices on the market. They are more comfortable, better-fitting, and more fashionable than ever.

Pioneers in the dive world had to endure cold temperatures sometimes. Finally, in 1952, a University of California physicist invented the wetsuit. Water conducts heat away from the body about 20 times more efficiently than air, which is why an unprotected individual feels cold even in “warmish” water. The inventor created a foam-like material to cover the body, which reduced the water’s ability to conduct heat away from the body.

This, plus the fact that water is warmed by your body and trapped inside the suit, made for a more comfortable experience.

Previous materials were very fragile or very rigid. Due to product innovation, wetsuits are more flexible, warm, and come in many different colors—even camouflage patterns. Better-fitting designs and new methods of joining the seams make today’s suits even more waterproof and reduce “flushing,” which is the seeping in of cold water.

In the warmest parts of the world, divers may opt for a simple “lycra skin” for protection from jellyfish, coral and sunburns.

However, even in the summer, most will still wear at least a 2-mil wetsuit. On the other end of the scale, my very admirable friends in northern California wear two-piece 8-mil wetsuits complemented by thick neoprene boots, gloves and hoods. As an example, someone in the Bahamas might wear a skin for the summer and a 2-mil in the winter. Someone in Florida might own a 3-mil for the summer and a two-piece 5-mil for the winter.

A Californian would probably own a two-piece 5-mil for the summer and 8-mil for winter.

The rule of thumb is that you want to wear the thinnest possible wetsuit, but enough to feel comfortable throughout the dive. That’s because you want to maintain maximum Photo by Jose Fernandez flexibility and reduce the amount of lead needed on your weight belt to submerge (wetsuit material is buoyant). The beauty of owning two-piece suits (hooded top and farmer john bottoms) is that you can switch pieces around for the perfect combination—such as wearing a 5-mil bottom with a 3-mil top. Along these lines, it’s also possible to buy a sleeveless vest for more layering options. With just a few basic pieces, many different combinations are available. This is especially handy if traveling and exact conditions are unknown or could change.

The following brands are available at your local dive shop: Yazbeck, Mares, Riffe, Omer, Cressi and more. If an off-the-rack suit does not fit, there are several affordable custom manufacturers who will tailor one to your measurements, such as Polosub or Elios. These days, there’s no reason to be uncomfortable in the water.

Happy diving!

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

For more Sheri Daye, go to

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The Professional Choice For 200 Years

By CAM Staff

M

ichael Clark’s 9.66-pound sheepshead might not be the biggest ever caught, but it’s the heaviest officially recognized sheep ever caught on a fly rod in Louisiana.

Clark, of Charleston, S.C., and his father-in-law Craig Pagels booked a couple days with Louisiana Low Tide Charters and Capt.

Lucas Bissett last January to fish the marshes of Delacroix.

The big sheepshead came on the second afternoon of the trip. The day had dawned clear and calm, but when winds picked up in the afternoon it stirred up the mud bottom they were fishing. Capt. Bissett made the call to move in search of a sand bottom and clear water. It was a good call.

Bissett spotted two sheepshead from the poling platform.

“He told me to strip out all my line and said ‘four o’clock, four o’clock,’” Clark said. “I threw it out there and dropped it right on the shadow. Then I waited for what seemed like forever. Then I twitched it once and it took the fly.”

The fish ate Bissett’s own pattern, a Bissett’s Mud Bug, which has a deer hair head and a baitfish profile. It was caught on a 10-weight Orvis Helios. The Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) recognized it as the fly-caught state record.

The all-tackle LOWA record for sheepshead was caught in 1982 by Wayne Desselle. That one weighed 21.25 pounds.

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Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1

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By Tobin Strickland - CAM Special Correspondent Photo Courtesy of Capt. Ernest Cisneros - Simms Ambassador

pring temperatures can swing widely; the morning can start very cold with late season frontal passages, or strong winds with clouds or fog. Even warm days can feel cold due to the water’s ability to cool the near surface layer of air.

However, those cold mornings can warm to hot afternoons and back to cold.

First, start with a thermal layer that breathes well that can be worn on its own if it warms up. I prefer merino wool for this, but cotton thermals are fine as well if that’s your budget. The merino seems to wick and dry better and is comfortable in a wider range. Next comes a hoodie of some sort, whether that be heavy cotton, fleece or poly, and on your legs either poly sweats or jeans are usually enough for spring.

The hoodie will be a welcome addition over your hat of choice at dawn, during high winds, or evening low-light conditions. The final layer should be some sort of windproof and waterproof layer. For wade fishing or rough water conditions, I like a pair of Simms fishing waders and a jacket. I can’t stress enough how important it is to block the wind and water on the top layer.

Spring fishing brings variable conditions that require you to layer your clothes so you can adjust through the day. The mornings may be cold, but the mid afternoon leaves you peeling off clothes and sweating.

You’ll be ready if you layer.

Tobin created TroutSupport.com - Tech Support for inshore fisherman wanting to take it beyond the basics.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT LLEBROC GAME CHANGER Llebroc Industries teamed up with Shockwave to create Game Changer, the ultimate shock seat.

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Shockwave’s shock-mitigating suspension has won more military awards after extensive review than any other manufacturer. The Game Changer is a combination that will allow you to fish longer and harder.

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CANGL_NAT3-NAT34.indd 33

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2/16/18 PM 2/1/18 12:35 3:26 PM

SUZUKI MAKES IT EASY AS

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