The Angler Magazine | October 2023 | Great Smoky Mountains & The Upstate Edition

Watauga River

Home of world class fishing on the beautiful Watauga Lake, rugged Doe River and designated trophy trout stream, Watauga River PLAN

Watauga Lake

Doe River

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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

AN

GAME PLAN FOR

ARTIFICIALS INSHORE

October is one of my favorite months to fish, and the dwindling traffic on the bays is just a small reason why. September may have been a record hot month for a lot of us, but the transition of the seasons is more than just the temperature for wildlife. The length of the days play a big part in the fish transitions for the season. Although October opens several new opportunities for anglers, I am going to give you an insight as to how I plan to catch them.

The marsh should be full of life and hold an

abundant amount of the big three: trout, redfish and flounder. It will not be uncommon to find all three in the same location gorging themselves on last spring’s hatch of shrimp and finfish. I will predominantly throw smaller soft plastics in the 3.25-inch size. I like a durable lure because the action can be fast and furious, and I don’t want to waste time changing out lures after one or two fish and miss my opportunity for more. I lean toward paddletails because I can work them faster, cover more water, and the added

vibration will draw strikes since these fish will be aggressive. The cover type and water depth will determine if I rig them weedless or on a jig head. Either method is acceptable, just adapt to the structure.

I prefer to fish outgoing tides in these areas. Generally, an outgoing tide produces a better bite and concentrates fish in smaller areas where I can target them. These pinch points can be mouths of drains, bayous, pinch points within a bayou or a bend. Those are the more obvious ones, but don’t overlook points extending into a bay or cuts through a reef. The points of islands or reefs can also increase the flow of current congregating the fish in an area.

Here are some retrieves I like to use for each of these three species in October. Keep in mind none of the fish read this article, so you will catch others on these retrieves. In general, reds will hit a lure on a steady retrieve, trout like the erratic twitch-twitch, and flounder react well to my lure darting along the bottom. When darting my lure along the bottom, I hold my rod tip down or sideways to the water and give it firm twitches. I make sure to keep my lure on the bottom and not bouncing it up and down like I would for trout. I want to disturb the bottom to get their attention.

As we all know, all fish will eat any retrieve, but if you are not catching the species you want, try a different action before you change the lure. Enjoy the cooler weather and take a kid fishing, I know I will do both!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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Jetty Fishing:

TIPS ON BECOMING A ROCK JOCKEY

The presence of life was obvious long before we reached the jetty. On an outgoing tide, dingy water rushed through the channel cut from the bay to the ocean. It flushed with a brown plume that carried the detritus of marsh decay.

Diving birds were the first sign we were in the right place at the right time. As we got closer, other anglers came into view. There were a couple of boats jockeying for position off the end of the jetty, another trolled the rip farther offshore, and the beach brigade was set up fishing that corner pocket where current flowing down the shore piled up against the rocks.

Pods of pogies flickered and darted, harassed by gulls from above and by redfish, trout, small sharks and who knows what else from below. Blue crabs skittered around doing cleanup duty just outside a light surf.

With all this life, catching fish shouldn’t be a problem, right? Well, if you talk to any veteran of

By Nick Carter

the rocks, they’ll tell you putting in the time to learn a particular jetty is the key to success. Every jetty has its own peculiarities, its best times and tides, its hidden holes and mixing currents.

Here are a few tips to help flatten the learning curve at a new jetty.

1) Start in the Rocks: The food chain of a jetty is created by the stuff pushed against the rocks. The rocks also create current breaks and hidey holes where predators lay in ambush for baitfish, shrimp and crabs that feed on the buildup of organic matter. Start your search close to the rocks. Work quickly but meticulously to pick a jetty apart. You can’t see everything that’s going on under the surface, but with experience, the sweet spots will become evident.

2) Make Friends with the Old Guy: In the scenario above, it was our first time to this jetty, and we went straight in with a cast net to scoop up pogies. It seemed obvious to match the hatch, and we caught some fish… mostly stingrays

and catfish. As we clambered all over the jetty in search of the magic combination of factors to produce a more exciting catch, an old man posted up in a beach chair came tight with an enormous bull red. After helping him land the fish and jawing with him a while, he gave up a secret. He’d been fishing the jetty for years, and big reds and tarpon at this spot are suckers for half a fresh blue crab fished on the bottom. Because jetties draw anglers as well as fish, being friendly or just watching can lead to solid local knowledge.

3) Find the Current Seams: Fish where fast and slack current meet. Predators hang in the slack and wait as a conveyer belt of food is swept past them. Conversely, baitfish also seek refuge and stack up where there is current shade. Either situation makes these areas high probability targets for anglers.

For more fishing tips, go to coastalanglermag.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: WAYNE CROSS

PHOTO CREDIT: DON SHETTERLY

PHOTO CREDIT: SHANE TROTTIER

GAR CAUGHT ON 6-LB. TEST!

A283-pound alligator gar caught at Sam Rayburn Lake in Texas is set to break a 72-year-old IGFA alltackle world record. Here’s the kicker: It was landed with 6-pound-test line!

Kentucky angler Art Weston teamed up with Texas Capt. Kirk Kirkland on Sept. 2, in search of lineclass records. Weston is an IGFA record breaker who already has numerous lineclass records for alligator gar and other species. It was the first day of a week-long booking aboard Capt. Kirkland’s The Garfish Enterprise, and they hooked and landed what Kirkland called “the Holy Grail of the fishing world.”

Sam Rayburn Lake is the largest reservoir in Texas at 114,000 acres. It’s an impoundment of the Angelina River near the Louisiana border north of Jasper, Texas. According to a report on FoxWeather.com, Kirkland told Weston of an area on the lake with a sandy, snag-free bottom that would suit light line tactics well. The guide also told Weston there might not be many fish in the area, but they were obviously going for quality over quantity.

Before the pending world record showed up on the scene, the pair caught two other monster alligator gar, including a 169-pounder. When they came tight with the

largest alligator gar caught in nearly three-quarters of a century, it took about three hours, remarkable skill and more than a little bit of luck to land the fish on such light line.

“Lots of blood, sweat and tears (and broken line) went into this achievement,” Kirkland wrote on Facebook. “Angler and world record Chaser Art Weston and I did what no other alligator gar angler has been able to accomplish in 72 years.... catch a fish bigger than the all-tackle world record set so many years ago on the bank of the Rio Grande River.”

The existing all-tackle world record weighed 279 pounds. It was caught by Bill Valverde from the Rio Grande in 1951.

“We both had a look of shock when the scale just kept going higher and higher,” Kirkland said. The gar weighed 283 pounds on camera. It measured 100 inches long, with a 48-inch girth. After taking measurements, the giant fish was released alive.

To read the entire FoxWeather report, go to https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/world-recordalligator-gar-texas-sam-rayburn-lake

TENNESSEE/KENTUCKY/ALABAMA

INAUGURAL ‘BILL DANCE GIANT BASS OPEN’ SLATED FOR OCTOBER 21 AND 22 AT LAKE CHICKAMAUGA IN DAYTON

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Aug. 24, 2023 – Klear Digital announced today the first-ever “Bill Dance Giant Bass Open” will take place at Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee on October 21 and 22. Presented by Bill Dance Signature Lakes, the tournament at Bluewater Marina in Dayton offers multiple opportunities for amateur anglers including youth to win cash prizes. Anglers can register to compete at www.giantbassopen.com

The “Bill Dance Giant Bass Open” offers anglers cash prizes multiple times a day throughout the two-day event, with seven hourly payouts each day in a big fish format tournament. Anglers with the heaviest single catch over two days can take home a $5,000 grand prize payout in the adult category, or $1,500 in the youth category.

Competitors must come to the mandatory registration check-in at Real Deal Tackle (7787 Rhea County Hwy, Dayton, TN 37321) between 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 20. The tournament kicks off Saturday, Oct. 21 with lines in the water at 7 a.m. Anglers can launch from any lake access point. Scales close at 3 p.m. each day, with seven hourly weigh-ins daily and 16 prizes every hour for youth and adult categories.

Lake Chickamauga has been hailed as a top-rated fishing destination in the U.S. and boasts the state record largemouth which was caught in 2015 and weighed 15.20 pounds. The lake continues to produce record bass for top competitive fishing organizations, pumping out hundreds of 10 pounders each year. Pro anglers from across the nation fish tournaments in Dayton, Tenn. each year.

For more information, visit www.giantbassopen.com and join the conversation on Facebook at Bill Dance Giant Bass Open.

About Bill Dance Signature Lakes:

Bill Dance Signature Lakes is a collaborative effort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to improve and enhance Tennessee Lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy. Tennesseans will benefit from increased stocking, habitat and fisheries management, as well as improved access for fishing and boating at 14 designated lakes across the state. multi-agency partnership has committed more than $15 million to improvements — both above and below the water — at lakes bearing Tennessee icon Bill Dance’s stamp of approval. For more information, visit www.billdancesignaturelakes.com.

KY / TN FISHING REPORT

Owner StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee and Kentucky Walleye, Bass, Crappie and Muskie Charters, Superbaittanks.com, Captain Jim Lures and Marine Electronics and much more…

DATE OF REPORT: October 2023

Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

KENTUCKY MUSKIE CHARTERS - CAVE RUN LAKE

The fall, winter and early spring muskie fishing on Cave Run Lake, in Morehead KY with Kentucky Muskie Charters, produces fantastic big muskie on many days and the occasional 25 pounder as well! We cast Captain Jim “Magic” glide bait lures concentrating on main creek channel points as well as long sandy flats with lots of “hiding place” stumps. Our award-winning guide Bob Kisler can put you on huge fish!

TENNESSEE MUSKIE CHARTERS – DALE HOLLOW LAKE

Similar to Cave Run Lake, the late winter and early spring muskie fishing on Dale Hollow Lake produces fantastic big muskie on many days, with the chance of nailing a true giant of 40 pounds or better! On Dale Hollow, as the owner I handle the muskie charters, I troll handmade antique lures (at least 100 years old), concentrating in the backs of creeks in 20 feet of water or less, following old roadbeds.

STRIPER FUN GUIDE SERVICE ON THE CLINCH RIVER

Captain Jim’s StriperFun Guide Service Clinch River Adventures in Tazwell Tennessee. The Clinch River rises in Virginia and flows southwest into TN. We fish the upper Clinch River above Norris Lake, near Tazewell TN. StriperFun guides use huge gizzard shad for bait. We also catch big stripers casting a variety of artificial lures! StriperFun offers day trips on the Clinch River year-round (weather permitting). Your limit is 2 fish a piece 24 inches or longer. Catch and release is allowed.

It is great to be alive and be a “free” American! I look forward to seeing all of you this year on the water. Always remember to stop and shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedoms you do!

Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!

With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides (16 guides on 16 waterways) can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services as well as our exclusive “online” store at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.

Wader Safety: The Staff

By Jim Parks

Ithink a lot when I’m on the stream. Probably too much, but my mind is always going. Mostly, I try to incorporate that activity into my problem-solving skills to catch the next trout. Quite often, approaching a likely pool or run is the next problem to solve, requiring an approach to best fish the water without spooking the fish. Often, that means wading through fast water over slippery underwater rocks of various sizes and shapes.

In the past few years, having not one but two-foot surgeries, my aforementioned skills have led me to a greater use of a wading staff. I’ve had one for many years, mostly using it for tailwaters as you never know about those generation schedules. Occasionally, I have used a wading staff when the water was running high in the local freestone streams. More than once it has kept me from getting stuck on the wrong side of the river when a cloudburst creates a sudden rise in the water flow which can change as quickly as two generators from one of the nearby dams.

Following the first and unsuccessful surgery on my foot in 2020, my first trip included hooking a nice, fat brown. The water was flowing good, and my foot was yet to be tested on the ever punishing and unpredictably slick creek bottom. Fortunately, I had taken my dusty wading staff. When the brown started its run downstream in the high, springtime water I thought, “Showtime…. This is gonna hurt!” And it did. It’s amazing some of the things we’ll do for fish, “Damn the foot, full speed downstream!” After I landed the sixteen-inch brown, not a bad one for this stretch of water, I sat for a while as the throbbing pain reminded me what the foot had been through just a few months earlier.

Later that summer, I was fishing the Microburst section on Rock Creek just outside of Missoula, Montana. If you know much about Rock Creek, it’s called the “fifty-mile riffle” for a reason. Seeing no holding areas for trout in the constant flow, I walked out to the middle of the fast moving, knee-deep water. Without my trusty staff, there was absolutely

NO WAY I could have made it. I eyeballed the amount of line needed to reach the small two foot wide strip of slack water along the far bank. Bracing myself with my left hand on the staff, I made a right-handed cast of my Jumpin Jack Flash. As the adjacent current pulled the fly out of

the slack water and into the current a nice brown trout slammed it! This happened time and again. I think that was the moment I got “hooked” on the wading staff.

The first surgery failed so after my second foot surgery, all the result of a broken foot from wading the same streams about fifteen years earlier, my altered and rebuilt “bionic” foot had lost roughly twenty percent of its overall contribution to my balance.

“Remember, Stevie. Every rock is out to get you and make you fall. It’s the sole purpose of why they’re in the creek, for you to bang your shins and bust yer butt on!” Dillon, in Tails of the Smokies

I realized that day that by using the wading staff on Rock Creek it gave me a third contact point of balance, enabling me to reach otherwise inaccessible areas that are less frequently fished and the ability to do so more safely. I’ve also learned the staff is also good for checking water depth. I’ve marked a spot on my staff representing my knee-deep level, for reference. More than once, I’ve questioned the next step only to find what I call my “I don’t think so” depth and wisely took the long way around.

I’ve now included my wading staff as an integral part of my wading gear, right behind a good pair of boots. Newly acquired uses have included poking around for snakes in the woods, even pole vaulting across a difficult jump! On a recent trip, I loaned it to a friend as we fished some fast flowing pocket water on a mid-sized stream. Not only did it increase his confidence in traversing the streambed, but upon his return home his first task was purchasing a wading staff of his own!

A good aluminum wading staff can be found for around $50 and can easily fold up into a pouch attached to your belt. I like the convenience of one that when pulled out, automatically snaps into place for immediate use. Don’t forget to tether it to your belt and a good accessory is a retraction cord. With the price of most fishing equipment today, that’s a great deal for the improved safety and increased capability you will glean from its use. Though nothing, not even the best boots, are slip or fall proof, a good wading staff is well worth the small cost!

Jim Parks has spent nearly 50 years fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He is a regular contributor to The Angler Magazine and gives talks on fly fishing to various clubs and civic organizations. Jim is the author of “Tails Of The Smokies”. For copies of his book, he can be reached via his Instagram page at “TailsOfTheSmokies” where you will also find his most effective patterns and other articles on fly fishing.

Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park spent $2.1 billion in local communities in 2022

Report shows visitor spending supports 32,590 jobs in nearby communities

GATLINBURG, TENN. — A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 12.9 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2022 spent $2.1 billion in communities near the park. That spending supported 32,590 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $3.3 billion.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year. The impact of tourism to national parks is undeniable: bringing jobs and revenue to communities in every state in the country and making national parks an essential driver to the national economy,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.

The 2022 Visitor Spending Effects analysis incorporates newly available survey data for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Previous spending estimates for the park were calculated by using generalized trip and spending data from other parks in the National Park System. The new survey data revealed that people stayed longer in gateway communities and spent more money during their visits compared to the generalized estimates. This year the analysis also attributes a more conservative portion of time and spending if Great Smoky Mountains

National Park was not the primary reason for visiting the local area. Overall, the 2022 visitor spending estimates more accurately reflect local visitor spending patterns, as well as changes in inflation and visitation.

“This data gives us an even clearer picture of the positive economic impacts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in both Tennessee and North Carolina,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We’re proud to care for a national park that provides incredible opportunities for learning and recreation, creates jobs in nearby communities and contributes to local economies.”

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists at the National Park Service. The report shows $23.9 billion of direct spending by nearly 312 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 378,400 jobs nationally; 314,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $50.3 billion.

As for the economics of visitor spending, the lodging sector had the highest direct effects, with $9 billion in economic output nationally. The restaurants sector had the second greatest effects, with $4.6 billion in economic output nationally.

Fall Is Here!

By Perry Hensley

The leaves will soon start to change, and the mountains around Cherokee and Douglas Lake will also soon begin to show us its glorious fall colors. People from miles around will make the trip just to see the beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. This will also trigger my senses and get my heart pumping knowing that with all this the lakes will be in their annual TVA drawdown. With that comes shallower lake stages and better opportunities to get a limit of those Fall Slabs. If you are not familiar with “drawdown” let me explain just a little.

In the fall the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) slowly draws down certain lake levels here in our region. On Douglas, summer full pool of 990 feet above sea level drops to around 950 or even lower by winter. Basically, they open up the gates for water discharge at the dam to about double until it is around the 950 mark and hold it there through the fall, winter and early spring months.

As far as targeting slabs go, it will allow us anglers to better track down the schools to pluck them off one by one. As for methods and techniques, there is a number of proven ways to catch some giant East Tennessee slabs, such as the oh-so-ever-popular old timer method of a float n fly hair jig tipped with a minnow, or trolling soft plastics, such as grubs or small swimbaits, 8-15 feet deep.

Always a good bet would be to search out those deeper brush piles and points or, even better than this, are those same points and brush piles in the 12-20 ft range along creek and river channels. Bridge columns and stumps are hot places to find them as well but always make sure there is

bait fish in an area before wasting your time there.

A real plus this time of year is that the whitetail deer season opens up and most hunters are looking to bag meat for the freezer before they start looking for those limits of crappie, and this means with the low temps of fall not as many people will be on the lake.

Just make it a point to get up off the couch and call that friend or loved one and get out there and enjoy all our creator has given us and put those memories in the bank!

As always, May God bless each one reading this article.

Tight Lines!

Perry Hensley Sr.

Fall Turnover

By Captain James McManus

Fall is in the air; summertime busyness is behind us; leaves are starting to turn—it’s a perfect place to be up here in the hills. Also happens to be when the fish start really fattening up for the winter.

The only chink in the period is the turnover, but after a week or so of slow fishing what’s past that is worth the wait. Young of the year bait is larger now so you don’t have to go micro to produce. Top water action picks up, which is always welcome with some of the most exciting bites we have all year. A lot of points will hold big schools of fish and that will be added to as the month progresses.

As mentioned before there will be top water bites, but jigs, jerkbaits, cranks and live bait will also get bit. Look for bait and fish on points on the main channel, they may still be 45 or 50 feet deep, but they will usually move up at least early and late in the day or on cloudy, rainy days. Trolling will still produce, and I like the areas above and below Chambers Creek on Fontana. There seems to be less bait down that way, and I think the fish are a little more willing to hit with less selection. Areas with several grouped points always produce more as schools migrate around the shoreline and hang on various points as they move around.

As I mentioned before at some point we will have the turnover after the first severe cool down and the water will have a tannin look with foam on top. May as well put some miles on the boat because there is usually clearer water somewhere since not all the lake turns over at the same time

Fall Means Big Bluegills

By Ronnie Parris

Hey folks I hope all is well with you. I’m loving the cool mornings and mild days. This is my favorite time of year. I start getting excited for the coming hunting season, and also the fishing is getting really good as these fish feel the need to put on weight for the colder days ahead. One of my favorite fish to catch is the bluegill, and this is the best time to target really big bluegills.

When fall starts cooling things down, these beautiful fish will start bunching up in their areas most folks don’t usually associate with bluegill. My favorite spots will be deep cliffs and also deep cover, such as submerged

trees that are 20 to 30 feet deep. The best areas will have deep water close. Use your Panoptix if you have them and watch for big schools close to cover.

Tactics can vary, but I like throwing crickets or catalpa worms. I use small hook’s with a single split shot to get my bait to the preferred depth. Small leadheads are also very good. If you find fish, but the size is small, keep looking as they usually school with fish there size. Fish slow. It takes a cricket a long time to sink 30 feet. Hits are usually immediate when the bait reaches them. Some folks like catching them on artificial and they can be taken this way, but I’m a live bait man when it comes to bluegill. I like a good light weight rod with 4 to 6 pound test.

These little fireballs are fighters, so you’re in for some fun. It’s one of the best times to take kids, as the action is fast and once you find them they are dependable. Bluegills are great table fare so keep a few for the pan. Breaded and fried or blackened, they’re hard to beat.

The weather is awesome so get out there and enjoy. And as always, take a kid fishing

Ronnie Parris is owner and head guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, N.C., heart of the Great Smoky Mountains www.smounlimited.com; (828) 488-9711.

Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING

We o er both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.

You Can’t Eat Off a Solunar Table

By Jim Mize

Beanpole’s mood reminded me of a tire with a slow leak; he was generally deflating and sinking lower by the minute. He leaned over the café table as if holding his head up was a major effort.

“What gives?” I asked as I sat down across from him.

“Oh, nuthin’ much,” he said. Beanpole took a sip of coffee as if it might be his last.

“No, really. Why all the gloom?”

“I can’t catch a fish,” sighed Beanpole.

“Well, there aren’t any in here,” I said, figuring stating the obvious might be helpful.

“You know what I mean. When I go, I get skunked. Either I’m going to the wrong place, using the wrong bait, or going at the wrong time.”

Ronnie swung by our booth to heat up our coffee and overheard Beanpole’s comment. His two-cents-worth never cost that much so he gave it to Beanpole as he poured.

“What you need to do is get you one of them Solunar Tables,” said Ronnie. “It tells you exactly when to fish.”

“Where do I get one?” asked Beanpole.

“Down at Billy’s Bait & Tackle. He has a bunch.”

“Thanks,” said Beanpole, pushing a buck onto the table for coffee. He then rose and walked out without a word.

Ronnie looked after him as Beanpole left. “Well, I didn’t mean right now.”

A couple days later, I bumped into Beanpole again at the café. He was hyped up on coffee and talked faster than an auctioneer paid on commission.

“I got me one of those Solunar Tables,” said Beanpole. “These things are great. They tell you when to fish right down to the minute. You have to make adjustments for where you are on the map, but I got it figured out. I won’t waste my time anymore fishin’ when the fish ain’t bitin’.”

I had settled in and ordered a burger by the time Beanpole finished his lecture.

“How does it work?” I asked.

“It’s based on the sun and the moon. Sometimes tides. But we don’t have tides on our lake. So I figure it’s just the sun and the moon,” said Beanpole.

“So if the sun don’t shine you catch no fish?”

“No,” said Beanpole. “It’s more complicated than that. Fish get more active when the sun and moon line up. They have these major and minor periods that you want to fish during for the best luck. All this was invented a hundred years ago by some fellow named John Alden Knight. But now, they do all the figuring for you and put the best times in this book.”

Beanpole passed the book across the table, and I looked through it. There were diagrams, pluses and minuses, and lists of times. It looked easier to catch a fish than decipher these tables.

“So, what are you going to do with it?” I asked.

“Tomorrow I will go fishing just during the major and minor periods to see if my luck changes. I’ll give you a call after.”

That day went by without a word from Beanpole. It wasn’t like him not to call, so the day after I hung out at the diner when Beanpole usually comes in. He was an hour late and looked like he’d been dragged behind a combine.

I let him settle into the booth before asking the obvious question.

“How did those Solunar Tables work for you?”

Beanpole looked up like a puppy passed over for adoption.

“Not so good.”

“Well, you better tell me the whole story.”

“Ok. The first major period on the table started at 5:19 am and ended at 7:19 am.

When Nell heard my plan, she decided I didn’t need to waste all that time waiting for the next period to roll around, so she told me to come on home after and mow the grass. So, I was out at 4 am to launch, fished two hours, and then scampered home and ran behind the mower to finish the yard. I had to be back at 1:12 pm to fish the minor period.”

“Then, I fished the minor period until 3:12 pm and came on home. Nell said the grass being mowed showed how shaggy the shrubs were, so I trimmed the bushes. The next major period was coming up at 5:39 pm so I had to hustle back to the lake and launch again.”

“But I hadn’t eaten all day, what with the runnin’ around and launching and unlaunching the boat. I forgot if I was comin’ or goin’. So I backed the boat down the ramp and pulled the plug out of the back. I was doin’ everything in reverse.”

“By the time I got the truck parked and came back to the boat, it was almost underwater. So, I went and backed the trailer in again and got the boat on it. Then, I pulled it out again and let it drain.”

“By then, I forgot I hadn’t even fished. I was all the way home before I remembered that I didn’t even go out. So, I just made a sandwich and went to bed.”

Beanpole looked a little sheepish by the end of his story.

“Did you catch any fish doing all this back and forth to fish by the Solunar Tables?” I asked.

“Not at first.” admitted Beanpole. “But I did end up with a mess of bluegill by the end of the day.”

“What did you catch them on?”

“Sort of on crickets.”

“How can you ‘sort of’ catch bluegill on crickets?” I asked.

“Remember when I said I almost sank the boat? Well, the cricket cage went under, and all the crickets floated out. The bluegill came out from under the dock and were feasting on them. So, when I pulled the boat back out and drained it, I had a nice mess of bluegill flopping around on the floor.”

“One last thing,” said Beanpole. “Will you take these Solunar Tables?” Beanpole pushed the book across to me.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because Nell can read them better than I can and has started figuring out what jobs around the house will fit between the feeding periods. She’s about to work me to death.”

This story is an excerpt from Jim’s award-winning book, Fishing With Beanpole. You can find his books on Amazon or order autographed copies from the author at acreektricklesthroughit.com.

Jim Mize has received over eighty Excellence-In-Craft Awards, including awards for each of his first three books: The Winter of Our Discount Tent, A Creek Trickles Through It, and Hunting With Beanpole. Also, Hunting With Beanpole was selected for the Pinnacle Award from the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), the organization’s highest honor for books.

Fishing With Beanpole is available in paperback and e-book formats from Amazon. Autographed copies of all his books may be ordered from www. acreektricklesthroughit.com.

The Hatches Of Fall

By David Hulsey

Most fly fishers view the leaf change and cool winds of October as the beginning of the trout fishing season. The pink tube hatch is long gone, and you can go to the river and not sweat your brains out! Quiet rules, with only the sound of rippling water and leaves falling. Not too many hatches occur at this time beyond a few October Caddis, Midges and Blue Winged Olives, if there is a cool misty rain falling.

October Caddis are sometimes surprisingly large pumpkin orange critters that can be up to size 10 in the Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina mountains. Dirty orange Elk Hair Caddis will usually work for fish looking on the surface for a big easy meal on the warmer days of Autumn. By far the most effective presentation to take trout on October Caddis imitation is by swinging various soft hackles in the riffle areas or other likely feeding lanes. Caddis don’t spend a lot of time on the surface sometimes blasting through the film in a second and taking flight. Trout will look for the ascending emergence of caddisflies as an easier way to fill a belly.

Single hand rods or two hand trout Spey rods can accomplish this tactic very well with proper lines and leader set ups. Floating single hand fly lines or Scandi floating lines with a fluorocarbon leader attached as a tip will get your big orange soft hackle a few inches below the surface and aid the proper swing weight and cadence of the bug. Skating an October Caddis pattern can be loads of fun also! Changing that fluorocarbon leader out to a monofilament leader will get a skater on top and skittering across the current in a trout enticing action.

Midges usually hatch out on sunny days and can be the key to catching a

fish or two or none at all. Highly pressured fish sometimes view these tiny insects as safe foods and will eat hundreds in a day’s time. Very few fly fishers consistently use midges simply because they are hard to tie on and virtually invisible on the water. Using midge threaders will help to get the little devils tied on. There are fly boxes with these built into the box that I use regularly to speed up fly changes. Seeing microscopic flies on the water is beyond my old eyes now so using an indicator fly ahead of the intended target fly is essential for my success on the stream. Large Elk Hair Caddis make great indicator flies for midges. They float well and instantly twitch or dive at the slightest tug on the target dry fly or sunken emerger. Swinging little Starling and Herl soft hackles can also produce strikes when the hatch is on.

Blue Winged Olives must taste like candy to trout for when they are hatching trout will do nutty things to eat them. I’ve seen trout rise under my fly rod tip many times during a blanket hatch. Blue Wings are pretty much the color of water and also can be very difficult to see on the stream. Parachute BWO patterns are my favorite and most consistent producers for me during these hatches. Mayflies spend a little time on top of the water to shake out of their shucks before taking flight and a Parachute BWO imitates this life stage very well. Trout will literally hang just under the surface an inch or two looking for them. The little parachute lets me see the fly good enough to get it into a sometimes very narrow feeding lane. Soft Hackle BWO’s swung around risers can also be effective for larger than average fish. Big fish sometimes are reluctant to stick their noses out of the water or may have been caught and released many times keying in on the rising emerger for a safe item to eat.

We look forward to seeing you on the water this fall!

Give David Hulsey a call at (770) 639-4001 to book a class or a guided trout trip. See his website at www.hulseyflyfishing.com

FALL TURNOVER continued from page 11

and some years it isn’t as intense.

If you can’t find pretty water go home, get on the couch and watch the Braves as they add another pennant to their bag. At least venture out and see for yourself what shape the lake’s in, because what’s above the water will knock your eyes out with the fall colors.

Be safe, enjoy God’s blessings and catch you later.

Capt. James.

Capt. James McManus owns 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day on the water at (828) 421-8125

Rediscovering Old Fly Patterns

By Ethan Hollifield

There’s an old tin box of flies that sits tucked away in the corner of my fly tying desk that holds the magic of a bygone era. Flies that are as mesmerizing in their appearance as they are in their ability to fool trout on a regular basis. Some include your run of the mill Pheasant Tail and Wulff variants, while others such as the Yaller-

Hammer, Tellico Nymph, Coffey’s Calf Tail are endemic in their origins to the Southern Appalachians. There are even a few given to me by famous local tiers that will probably never be found in any fly tying reference, and with that said there’s one in particular I’m under a blood oath by the creator to keep secret.

The art and intricacy that takes place in these flies is something that continuously draws my gaze from the vice and makes the allure of the waltz worm that I’m tying for guide trips seem dull in comparison. I often too look back in my mind’s eye to a world before tungsten nymphs and squirmy worms when flies like these were still commonplace in most anglers fly boxes. I compare what happened to the old school patterns in fly fishing to what also took place in the bass fishing world with baits like the jitterbug, creek chub, and many others that got thrown to the wayside over the last 20 odd years. These are flies and baits you’ll hear people swear by, but never see in a modern tackle or fly box.

I took it upon myself to try and see if some of these old patterns would still work, even though it seems as if every wild fish you run

Continued, see OLD FLY PATTERNS Page 22

The Chase

By Scott Norton

Saying goodbye to those fun nights fishing was hard to do. Fishing is forever changing, and nothing stays the same, but that’s a good thing. I believe this change is what separates the beginners from the seasoned.

Beginners struggle with changing gears, and you will know when you cross that bridge and start to understand what’s happening. This can only be done by putting in the hours of work and dedication it takes to pay those dues. Anglers that night fish know exactly when the bass start to transition into fall by the cool nights ending the summer patterns. This year it happened at the end of August when you feel like you need a sweater.

Bass will start to chase forage and work together to corral the masses. The places to look will be hard structure and pockets near the secondary points. Always start at the main points and work your way in so you can catch some of those late groups coming in. There will also be bass down deep in those same areas. Some will suspend just under the bait balls breaking the surface to ambush. I find that the larger sized bass will let the smaller bass run the bait and they will hang out under the bait balls to get an easy meal of injured shad. The older they get the more efficient they become.

Pay attention to the size of shad they prefer and pick the baits that are close to that size. Be sure to add some flash to your bait, like an under-spin, to stand out from the numbers of shad in the ball. Jerk baits are such a great way to catch the ones chasing or the ones looking for an easy meal. Any bait that resembles a shad will give you much

success—just make sure you use it the right way. Match your rattles, flash, size, and color to either water clarity or ripple on the water. Once a beginner understands how this works, then they can start to put these puzzle pieces together so that they can make sense of what’s going on.

In the higher elevations of the mountains, the bass have already hit this pattern early because of the cooler water temperatures. This is how you game your plans for better catches. These lakes started the transition this year on the first full moon of August, so they are heading into the fall pattern faster than the lower elevations.

Have some fun this season and hopefully you will set new records.

Scott

Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior.

River Reflections: The Timeless Value of Wilderness Adventures

By Matt Mittan

In the heart of our youth, nestled among the Lily-pad tangled waters of a remote island on an undeveloped lake, my friends and I discovered the magic of true escapism. These were the days when we would boldly conquer that secluded patch of paradise, pitching our tents for weeks at a time. It was a journey of unbridled camaraderie, where the shrub lined shores and cool dark waters were our playground, and nature was our canvas. As the campfires burned deep into the night, we etched memories that would forever be bound to our hearts.

Our island expeditions weren’t just about camping; they were about venturing into the wilderness, living by the rhythm of the lake, and learning about the value of friendships and the art of survival. Of course we didn’t look at it that way at the time. It was just a fun break from our regular routines. There were no roads to get there. Only long paddles back across a remote lake, around long shrub islands and across a sea of thick water plants until we would get to a single island rising out of the water. We called it “Wild Island”.

So many funny things happened during our trips. On one memorable night, our peaceful slumber was shattered by uninvited guests – a band of curious otters. Underneath the moon’s gentle glow, these playful critters ransacked our supplies, turning our campsite into their own personal treasure trove. One audacious otter even dashed across a friend’s sleeping bag, sending him leaping up in bewilderment. While it may not have been the best way for him to wake up, it gave the rest of us laughs that lasted decades.

Then there was that unforgettable evening, where a touch of youthful curiosity got the better of one of our companions. A closed can of baked

beans found its way into the heart of our campfire, with all of us dashing for cover to avoid the consequences. Within moments, the tranquil night was shattered by a loud boom and as the fire exploded into a frenzied shower of hot coals, we all hollered out in primal howls from behind the cover of various trees.

But beyond these comical misadventures, our time on that island was a masterclass in the art of bonding with nature – and with each other. There’s a profound beauty in taking a leap of faith, leaving the conveniences of modern life behind, and embracing the simple joys of living by the lake’s edge. It’s in those cold swims in the middle of the lake, the endless hours spent by the campfire trading stories, and the collective groans as we vented about whatever angst filled issue was bothering us that day.

These island adventures taught us the true value of getting out into the wild with friends. It’s about creating memories that are etched in your soul, shared laughter that reverberates through the years, and the irreplaceable bonds forged in the crucible of wilderness living. It’s about embracing the unplanned moments, the otter intrusions, the exploding campfires, and realizing that these are the stories that will be told and retold around campfires for generations to come.

In a world that seems to spin faster with each passing day, the memories of these island escapes still serve as our refuge, our sanctuary. They were a reminder that, no matter where life takes us, the value of true friendships and the joy of embracing the great outdoors will forever hold a place in our hearts – even long after we stop making them together.

Matt Mittan is a licensed guide in NC and is Owner of BizRadio.US, a 24/7 Business Talk Station based out of Asheville, NC.

The Versatile Five Gallon Bucket

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

Besides all your tackle, electronics, bait, safety gear, ice, and snacks, one of the most useful items you can have on your boat is a five gallon bucket. It’s something you can use at the start of your fishing day, during your fishing day and at the end of your fishing day. You might say the lowly five gallon bucket is one item you should never leave the dock without.

At the beginning of your trip, this bucket becomes a handy way to carry gear, ice, towels and any number of loose items down to the boat. I keep mine in the back of the truck with a couple of downrigger weights in it. This keeps it from blowing out of the bed, and I never forget my downrigger weights anymore. Depending on where I’m at and what I’m fishing for, the bucket will get loaded with everything from a box of frozen squid to chipped ice to go in the fish box. Once I’ve got all the gear on board the boat, the bucket magically reconfigures itself for duty on the deck.

Now it becomes a catch-all for the day. Trash, used fishing line, soda cans and rigs that need re-rigging all go in the bucket. In reality, I usually have two buckets…one stacked inside the other, and here’s why. When it’s time to move from point A to point B, I generally remove diving plugs and big trolling gear from my rods. And I always remove weights from the line. I don’t want hooks flying around to catch someone’s hat or ear, and lead weights bouncing against my rod blanks are a big no-no. So, I’ll make the unused bucket a lure catch-all. I add a piece of pool noodle that has been sliced down the middle, so it fits snugly over the lip of the bucket. Big trolling plugs like Stretch 30’s and jig hooks get pushed into the foam and won’t bounce out. Weights go in the bottom. Nothing gets tangled, and it’s easy to re-rig when we arrive at the new fishing spot.

These buckets are great for sharing baits too. If one of us is fishing the bow and one at the stern, the guy up front has to constantly walk back and forth to get a new live bait. Put a little water in the bottom and add a dozen shrimp, herring or even fiddler crabs to the bucket and pass it to your pal up front. If we are pitching baits to cruising fish, adding a few to the bucket makes it easier to grab one, rather than reaching in the live well. If you’ve ever had a live well full of mullet, you can relate. As soon as you open the lid to get one bait…four others will jump out, and land in the transom splash well. Of course, the five gallon bucket comes in very handy for another obvious reason too. When nature calls, the bucket gets called into action. Enough said.

At the end of the day, the cherished bucket serves to haul the trash off the boat and returns to help with the cleaning chores. Whether you use bleach or boat soap, the bucket is the best thing to mix the solution. I’ll usually drop my Croc’s in the bucket too, and by the time I’ve finished cleaning the boat, my Croc’s are squeaky clean.

It’s amazing how something so simple and so inexpensive can be so versatile. But then again, fishing is supposed to be easy, right? So get yourself a five gallon bucket and take one for a spin. You may find it becomes one of the best fishing accessories you’ve ever had.

Tight Lines and Calm Seas, Capt. Cefus McRae

Alaska 2023 Is In The Books!

By Gary Turner

We caught and released hundreds of fish every day! I actually stopped fishing several times just to film my friends wearing out the salmon! It’s hard to imagine how fun it is if you have never done it. How did I get here? I caught a non-stop from Atlanta to Anchorage, grabbed a bowl of Reindeer Chili before catching the Puddle Jumper over the Cook Inlet to Kenai. The chili was delicious, but what was I thinking? I get terribly nervous in those little planes, but that’s the easiest way to the Kenia Peninsula where you can head all over for fish!

My friend Marc picked me up at the Kenai airport, and we went back to his house. My friends Blake and Dewayne were coming up in six days. I came early to get the van and boat uncovered and checked out. The battery was DOA in the van, but everything on the boat looked good. I got the oil changed in the van and then helped Marc organize his new boat, a nice Glacier Bay Catamaran.

We got the Glacier Bay ready and ran it down to Homer to try it out and see if any halibut were biting. Our friend Mike came along with us. We headed out into Kachemak Bay, anchored up, and dropped baits. Mike got a good hit! He was reeling it up, and it kept coming fishing the whole way! We were fishing 140 feet deep. We never saw color, but I think the fish saw the boat. It dove hard and snapped the line. Mike then caught an Irish lord; we threw that guy back.

Then, all of a sudden, my rod got a big hit, and I started reeling down on it trying to work it up. After a few minutes I could see color. It looked to be a good halibut. As it neared the top, I noticed something weird, it was pulling my weight and a red weight. Mike had a red weight on when it broke off! I finally got it up and sure enough, that was a hungry fish. It had taken both rigs. It was around a 40 pounder, which was great for no further than we had gone out. The wind was picking up, so we fished a little longer, catching two more halibut and several other species of cod and lords.

Later on I visited with other friends and organized our fishing gear in preparation for Blake and Dewayne’s arrival. Their plane landed in

OLD FLY PATTERNS continued from page 18

into anymore has a PHD in picking out our flies from the real ones. This resulted in me also learning and studying more about old fishing techniques such as swinging wet flies or achieving long drifts in pocket water. Neither are what I would call especially easy for most of the small mountain streams that are commonplace here, but I will say that they are incredibly effective. It’s amazing to watch a trout come out of a tight run to eat a size 12 yaller hammer wet fly with incredible aggression. This was in a stream where normally it’s difficult to convince any of the residential trout to eat something larger than a size 16 of any of the modern fly patterns found today.

I think it’s good for us as fly fishermen to not be so caught up in the constant search for the latest and greatest in fly patterns. Just because a nymph doesn’t have a bead head, or a dry fly isn’t tied with UV dubbing doesn’t mean it won’t catch fish. If anything, fishing with flies that lack these characteristics help to develop our skill sets as anglers even more.

I guess the moral of this, if there is one, is our ancestors knew what they were doing when they designed these flies. There is also something truly special about taking a fly pattern that was developed over 100 years ago, tying it on, and fooling a trout today. It’s a great way to connect ourselves to the incredible history of fly fishing and appreciate how far we’ve come today.

Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2%

a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers

Anchorage at 11:30 Sunday night. I had only been in the parking deck for a quick 10 minute nap when Blake messaged they were on the ground. We got their luggage and decided we would fish Whittier first. I drove first and then handed the wheel to Dewayne 15 miles from the Whittier Tunnel. I fell asleep instantly. We parked in a parking lot and waited for the tunnel to open at 5:30 a.m. When we woke up, Dewayne said I handed him the wheel and a moose almost crashed into us soon as I fell asleep. You don’t want to hit a MOOSE! The tunnel opened, and we headed through.

Our first destination was Emerald Cove. We drove the unmaintained road slowly in our all-wheel drive Town and Country. It was all beautiful on a rainy morning, but the rain filled the holes in the road making it hard to choose a path. We arrived at Emerald Point and the pink salmon a/k/a humpbacks, or humpies were thick. Now humpy years are even so 2024 will be a humpy year. I just can’t imagine how many there will be next year! Snagging with trebles is legal here in the salt water where they are pushing into spawn. We each caught our limit and just stood amazed at all the fish that were packed in the river and the creek.

I walked up the creek a little way and was just amazed at how far up they went and all the obstacles they had crossed to get there. I also saw some half-eaten ones on the banks. I eased back down and when some campers there emerged from their van, I asked if they had seen any bears. Oh yes, the lady from Denmark had seen three the evening before, almost bumping into one on the trail. We watched for a while but didn’t see any coming to fish yet. We drove on down the road to Shotgun Cove and had a look around. The gentleman emptying the trash cans said we had just missed two bears there.

There is so much more about the trip and all the bears and moose we saw but for now this is all the room I have. Look for the rest of the story next issue.

Get with some of your friends and take a fishing trip. Whether with a guide or just on your own, GO FISHING!

I’m not sure what next month’s article will be on but remember, if you have an empty seat on your boat that needs filling, shoot me an email and maybe it will be about fishing with you!

You can reach me at gary@purgeright.com.

My YouTube is @fishingmagicwithgary if you want to see some of the videos.

Please remember, if you are not going to eat it, don’t kill it.

“Tight Lines and Squeelin’ Reels put a Smile on my Face Every Time.”

You can reach Gary Turner at gary@purgeright.com.

For Conservation and

Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board Annual Meeting Reports Record Tourism Numbers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board’s (CCLMC) Annual Meeting was held on Monday, August 28 at Harbison Theatre. The meeting provided an opportunity for the tourism community and political allies to learn what the organization accomplished in 2022-23 by promoting tourism and economic development in Richland, Lexington, Newberry, and Saluda counties.

For over 16 years, CCLMC has produced a national TV ad that airs all across the U.S. This year it went international on Careco TV through the reruns of the XVI World Bass Championship along with airing on various television shows and over 6 fishing tournament events shows. “Recently the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts selected our TV ad for the 2023 Communicator Award. This award serves as a strong validation that what we are doing is resonating with visitors and our industry,” stated Miriam Atria, President/CEO of CCLMC. She went on to include that “Bassmaster has named Lake Murray #1 “Best Southeastern Bass Lake” and #4 in the US in their 2023 100 Best Bass Lakes Revealed list.”

The organization’s marketing investment continues to pay off resulting in over 200 articles published on the region resulting in over 409 million impressions.

CCLMC had a bustling year hosting thousands of Anglers, family members, and fans during the Bass World Championship. For the first time on US soil, 25 nations came together and the region delivered! CCLMC also hosted the SC Welcome Centers Conference and the SC

Congressional Fam Tour – all in the month of October 2022. The impact continued into 2023 with CCLMC hosting Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series resulting in a combined economic impact of $6 million along with national TV coverage on Fox Sports 1 featuring Dreher Island State Park in Newberry County. Other significant events hosted by CCLMC include the Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament, the Lexington County Ag+Art Tour, Golf media writers, and the Jewel Tri. Additionally, CCLMC reported that over 170,000 room nights were booked in 2022-23 and $37 million in revenue was generated by short-term rentals. More travelers stayed in short-term rentals this June than any June on record. Demand nights rose over 14% from the previous year and revenue from June 2022-23 increased by $1 million. Stays in June 2023 resulted in $4.6 million in revenue equal to quadruple the rentals of Lakes Marion, Moultrie, and Norman combined.

2023-24 will prove to be an even more successful year bringing 2 of the top 3 fishing tournament trails to the region (soon to be announced), one that we can announce is the USA Bass Kayak Tournament,” stated Vickie Davis, VP of Special Events & Funding at CCLMC. Additionally, CCLMC will host Fishing University, BAMA Q Steak Cook-off, the SC Outdoor Press Association, Bass Nation and the Queen City Kayak Championships. Save the date for Taste of Lake Murray on March 21, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton. This annual event is the signature fundraising event for the 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray.

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COOK ISLANDS GRANDER CAUGHT SOLO FROM A 22-FOOT BOAT

Catching a grander is one of the most sought-after feats in sportfishing. Boats, crews and anglers enter rare air when they hook and land a 1,000-pound-plus marlin, and untold time and money are spent chasing the dream.

Fishing solo from a 22-foot boat, angler Arnold Pauro achieved his lifelong dream Aug. 25 when he hauled in a 1,128-pound blue marlin that is a new record for the Cook Islands. According to the Cook Island News, Pauro came tight with the huge blue fishing just 3 miles off the southern end of the island Rarotonga.

Rarotonga is the most populated of the Cook Islands, which is an archipelago nation out in the middle of the South Pacific northeast of New Zealand. Rarotonga is renowned for excellent flats fishing, especially for bonefish, and like many volcanic islands, the water drops into thousandfoot depths just a few miles offshore. This creates a situation where bluewater fishing is very accessible, even for anglers in smaller boats.

According to the Cook Island News, Pauro managed to subdue the giant fish solo in his small boat, Haurua, by keeping a short line. He first brought the fish boat-side after just 3 minutes, and then all hell broke loose. Arnold told the news outlet that the fish jumped 40 or 50 times and ran out of steam after about an hour and a half.

“I kept it to 50 metres of line, kept it short, I don’t like letting my marlin go,” he told the Cook Island News.

Arnold’s fish topped the Cook Island weight record of 1,045 pounds, which was set by angler Paku Poila in November 2020. The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue marlin was caught off Brazil in 1992. It weighed 1,402 pounds.

To read the original report, go to www.cookislandsnews.com.

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a - Ono

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Fish flags inspired by Sun Dot Marine Flags.

@fishflags

For the third time in the last 13 years, serious flaws have been revealed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) data collection programs for recreational fisheries. A recent pilot study conducted by NOAA itself and published in August found that estimates on angler effort might be overestimated by 30 to 40 percent.

These inflated estimates are important because they are part of the equation used to manage our fisheries. The data is used in stock assessments, and to estimate harvest numbers and recreational discard. By overestimating angler effort, catch data is also inflated, which means the data erroneously reflects a larger harvest by recreational anglers than actually exists.

In a nutshell, the pilot study found that the Marine Recreational Information Program’s Fishing Effort Survey is confusing to respondents, which led to “reporting errors” and “illogical responses.” NOAA said this survey, which is mailed to licensed saltwater anglers, “remains the best and sometimes the only available science for tracking relative year-to-year and long-term effort trends.”

The immediate reaction to this revelation from some outlets was a call to reduce restrictions on recreational anglers. The estimate means fewer fish were actually caught, which means there are more fish still in the water, right? Not so fast. This catch and effort data also figures into stock assessments. The inflated effort numbers translate to an overestimation in fish populations.

“The news of this significant overestimation has serious implications for all of our fisheries. Since every species is managed differently, the ramifications of this information cannot be quantified under a singular umbrella,” reads a

report from the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA). “It does not mean that because fishing effort is less than originally expected, there must be more fish to harvest. In fact, it will mean there needs to be a major re-calibration because effort is used to help determine stock size. If we have overestimated effort, we also overestimated the stock. We must go species by species to understand the best path for management moving forward. Now more than ever, we need to be precautionary in our management approach.”

NOAA has indicated it will initiate further studies into the findings of its pilot study, according to the ASGA report. Meanwhile, a group of marine conservation and recreational fishing organizations has ramped up its call to wrest control of recreational data collection from the federal government and turn it over to state agencies.

“Yet another major revision to the federal recreational data collection system is upon us, and it should bring a realization that NOAA is just not capable of doing this job,” said Ted Venker, conservation director of the Coastal Conservation Association. “At best we are looking at several more years of questionable revisions, recalculations, and recalibrations based on a suspect data system that has never proven it can produce accurate information. This is no way to manage a public resource. It would be irresponsible to continue down this road rather than exploring and supporting state-based options to better manage the recreational sector wherever feasible.”

HIGHWAY 17 SOUTH, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043

31-INCH LIMIT ON ATLANTIC STRIPER EXTENDED

New Management Plan Delayed Until at Least January

Recreational anglers in Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast must continue to release all striped bass longer than 31 inches after fisheries managers extended an emergency regulation that was set to expire on Oct. 28. The extension’s new expiration date is Oct. 28, 2024, which gives the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) more than a full year to grapple with a complex management plan intended to rebuild the coastwide striper population by 2029.

The emergency measure was first implemented in May, after estimates showed recreational harvest nearly doubled in 2022 over 2021’s figures. At the time, projections plummeted from a 97 percent chance the stock would be rebuilt by 2029 to just a 15 percent.

NOAA’s Fisheries Effort Survey, which was found recently to have overestimated angler effort by 30 to 40 percent, is an important part of recreational harvest estimates. It also plays into stock assessments for the striped bass fishery.

However, scientists still believe striped bass reproduction has been down since 2015. The 2015 age class was strong, and those fish are now the larger fish in the population that contribute most to reproduction. The emergency measure was implemented to protect the larger breeding fish.

The Chesapeake Bay “Trophy” season, which has historically been an important fishery for bay anglers, is exempt from this emergency regulation. The short early May season in Maryland has allowed anglers to keep one fish longer than 35 inches per person. A press release from ASMFC warned anglers that this special season might change once the emergency measure is replaced by a management plan that is supposed to come from ASMFC’s Addendum II of the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan.

Addendum II is a complex document with a range of management options intended to rebuild the striped bass stock by the end of the decade. It was hoped Addendum II would be ready for implementation in October. After five hours of back and forth at an August commission meeting, the decision was made to delay action. Now, the earliest a new management plan can be implemented is January 2024.

“Moving the emergency action forward was an important stop-gap measure to balance fishing mortality in the recreational fishery,” said David Sikorski, a Maryland delegate to the ASMFC. “Unfortunately, the delay in advancing draft Addendum II leaves uncertainty in our ability to meet our rebuilding goals and reduce overall fishing mortality ahead of the 2024 fishing year. Between now and the October 2023 meeting, draft Addendum II will be updated and provided to the board and posted online.”

The 31-inch maximum emergency rule will remain in place until Oct. 28, 2024, or until it is replaced by restrictions in Addendum II.

For more information, go to http://www.asmfc.org/

SNELLING A HOOK

Snelling a hook is an age-old way of attaching it to your line. It is a technique that pre-dates the invention of hook eyes, when hooks only had flattened tops and snelling the hook was required to create a good connection to the line.

Thanks to hook eyes, this is no longer necessary, but a snell knot remains one of the best connections out there for simple line-to-hook connections. The knot’s ability to orient the point of the hook in the right direction for octopus and circle hooks makes it a go-to knot for live and cut bait fishing. You’ll get more solid hook sets when you snell circle hooks.

A snell knot is quick and easy to tie and it provides a strong connection. The only real disadvantage is the knot is on the shank of the hook, where it is vulnerable to the teeth of toothy critters. It’s probably not the best choice if you’re fishing for muskie or barracuda.

For more information, go to usangler.com.

HAVE

YOU CAUGHT A LENGTH-RECORD SMALLIE?

This gorgeous Colorado River smallmouth bass is a new IGFA alltackle world length record for the species.

The chunky smallmouth measured 53 centimeters (20 inches) on an official IGFA measuring device, which tied the fish for the length record with two other officially recognized smallies. Sarah Harris landed her big fish while night fishing on the Colorado River in Arizona. It slammed a topwater lure and was boated after a short fight. After snapping some photos, Harris released it safely.

Harris’s bass tied a smallmouth caught by William Brent Evans from Alabama’s Lake Guntersville in 2014 as well as one caught from Washington’s Osoyoos Lake by Shane Hoelzle in 2020.

The IGFA all-tackle world record smallmouth by weight is a longstanding 11-pound, 15-ounce mark that was set in 1955 by David Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee.

Hayes’s Dale Hollow fish is a record that might stand forever, but those length records can be beaten. While a 20-inch smallmouth is definitely a trophy fish, 20-plus inchers are caught pretty regularly. It’s a matter of time before someone with an official IGFA measuring device puts one in the boat. For more, go to IGFA.org.

SEARCH WITH A BLADED JIG

TYLER WOOLCOTT

This time of year, when bass are feeding up ahead of winter, it’s tough to beat a bladed jig—or Chatterbait—to find hungry fish.

In most cases, the Chatterbait is in my arsenal as a search bait to cover a ton of water. There isn’t a piece of cover that I can think of that I haven’t thrown it around with success. Docks, wood, grass, rocks, anywhere a bass might live and feed is a good place to throw it. Most of the time you can locate fish with this bait and then go back through the same area with something else and pick up some more bites. If there are hungry bass around and you present this bait in the right way, you will get a bite.

A lot of times I am trying to duplicate an injured baitfish with a Chatterbait, whether they be shad, shiners or bluegill. Whites, golds and green pumpkin colors are my go to baitfish imitators and are what I have tied on most of the time. If the water is dirty or when fish are feeding on crayfish, I’ll switch to a black and blue or even an orange or red color. Match a trailer bait of your choice on the back like a swimbait or a craw trailer, and you’ll be good to go.

Chatterbait bites are usually reaction strikes, so I vary the retrieve to create erratic action while keeping the lure in the strike zone. I do this by speeding up my retrieval speed and then pausing for a very short period of time and then resuming a normal retrieval rate. Believe it or not, there are way more fish that follow your bait and don’t commit than you think. A very small adjustment in the speed can make the difference and convince these fish to eat. A 3/8-oz. and a ½-oz. are pretty much the only two sizes I throw. This covers all different depth ranges from a foot of water down to 10 feet. Cover as much water as possible until you pin point a healthy population of feeding bass then slow down with a different bait that you can work slower.

Chatterbait Gear

A moderate-action rod makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping fish hooked up. The 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’4mhm is absolutely perfect for fishing a Chatterbait. I pair a 7:5:1 gear ratio Concept A 13 Fishing reel with this and spool it with 17-lb. Seaguar Abraz X. I throw some bigger line with this, as you are usually around some type of cover and are working the bait fairly fast, so they won’t get a chance to see your line anyway.

Hope this fishing tip will give you some confidence to try this technique, if you haven’t already. It flat out catches them. Good luck out there and tight lines!

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

THROUGHOUT!

RECORD MAHI CAUGHT OFF WASHINGTON STATE

A20-pound mahi might not be surprising off the coasts of Florida or Mexico, but this 21-pound, 48-inch-long dolphinfish is a super rare catch off the coast of Washington State. It’s the largest one anyone’s ever caught there.

Angler Wade La Fontaine caught his state record mahi 42 miles out in the Pacific off the Washington coast on Aug. 25. He was on a charter trip with Capt. Keith Johnson aboard the Tunacious. They were trolling for tuna with plastic squid lures behind a spreader when the mahi hit.

Upon landing at the dock in Westport, Washington, the dolphinfish was checked by a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, then weighed on a certified scale. After review, the record was certified on Aug. 30.

Dolphinfish are sporadically caught by recreational and commercial fishers targeting albacore tuna and other species off the Washington and Oregon coasts, including a handful recorded last year at the ports of Westport and Ilwaco and at least two this summer.

“Most mahi mahi caught off our coast are smaller fish in the 6- to 12-pound range,” read a WDFW press release. “La Fontaine’s fish — which was 48 inches long and 40 inches to the inside fork of the tail — was more reminiscent of large

dolphinfish caught in warmer waters off southern California, Mexico and Hawaii.”

The previous Washington state record weighed 16.27 pounds. It was caught by Albert DaSilva in 2013.

The charter reported 70-degree water temperature in the area where the fish was caught, which is warm, even for the warmer offshore currents, though not unprecedented especially during El Nino years, explained the release.

The Return of a

“I’m blessed beyond comprehension,” La Fontaine said. “I’ll be getting another tattoo of a mahi!”

Albacore tuna are the primary target for Pacific Northwest offshore anglers, with large schools of these “longfin tuna” abundant off the coast of northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in the summer and early fall. Albacore are found in the blue water, a mass of warmer Sea Surface Temperature water typically found off the West Coast of North America during summer and fall, and off Southern California yearround.

For more information, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/