Bassmaster Elite Series April 20-23 on Lake Murray

Columbia, S.C. – Lake Murray was selected from a list of national fishing destinations to serve as one of nine stops in the series. Anglers from around the country will compete for the title of “Bassmaster Champion.” The Bassmaster Elite series is one of the most viewed fishing tournaments on television, garnering an audience of over twelve million viewers. Coverage of the series can be found on Bassmaster.com, FOX Sports channels, and streaming services.

Join in the angling fun at the family-friendly FREE Community Expo, April 22-23 from 12-5 PM at Dreher Island State Park. Enjoy booths/ exhibits from SC DNR, The Gamecock Bass Fishing Team, Realtor-Cat Thornton, Big Lake Outdoors, Lews/Strike King fishing simulator, Peak Drift Brewery, and many more. Come hungry and thirsty for Big Boys BBQ & Sarah’s Rockin’ Kitchen food trucks. Exhibits from B.A.S.S. sponsors include the Toyota Experience, AFTCO, Power-Pole, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Ranger Boats, Yamaha Trailer Experience, Daiwa, Garmin, Demo rides from Nitro/Ranger/Mercury & Skeeter/Yamaha.

Don’t miss the FREE Concert during the Expo Saturday, with MULTIPLATINUM-selling, two-time GRAMMY Award winner Kristian Bush! Kristian Bush is most known for being half of the record-breaking Country duo Sugarland. The Sevierville, TN native launched his professional music career in 1994 with the Folk-Rock duo Billy Pilgrim. Within the decade, Kristian moved on to form Sugarland with Jennifer Nettles. The pair, who released their debut single “Baby Girl” in 2004 went on to chart five No. 1 hits and 12 Top 10 songs. His “Southern Gravity” solo debut in 2015 produced Top 20 hit “Trailer Hitch.” Kristian made a foray into television theme songs in 2016 with “Forever Now (Say Yes),” which he penned and performed for TLC’s popular show “Say Yes to the Dress.”

Parking on Dreher Island is $3 (per adult), $1.50 (Adults 65 years and older), and $1 (Ages 6-15) and space is extremely limited. Save your money and take the complimentary shuttle. Shuttles will run from 11:30-5:00 PM from St. Peter Lutheran Church (900 Dreher Island Rd, Chapin, SC 29036) to Dreher Island State Park. Shuttle vans within the park will run from 11:30-5:30 PM.

Lake Murray Country is where a Bassmaster champion will be crowned and is a key stop in the series for Elite pros competing for the title of “Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year”, as well as “Rookie of the Year.” The Bassmaster Elite Series is a stepping stone to the coveted “Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota”.

“This prestigious event brings the nation’s top anglers to the region for a week of high-stakes fishing. Each angler will be challenged to deliver on their expertise on Lake Murray. We cannot wait to see how they break previous records,” states Miriam Atria President/CEO.

CCLMC is the official source for all things Lake Murray Country. Find information on attractions, dining, hotels, outdoor recreation, fishing, golf, and events to plan your next trip. Explore The Top Southern Destinations of Columbia, Richland, Lexington, Newberry, and Saluda. For more information about CCLMC visit LakeMurrayCountry.com or call 803781-5940 | 1-866-SC-Jewel.

UNTANGLING KNOTS continued from page 18 most circumstances, but more and more I find myself building my own leaders. The wealth of knowledge in leader formulas now is substantial with a quick google search. For the most part, hand-tied leaders are more cost efficient and cast much more efficiently. A quick fix for premade leaders is to add a longer butt section, as mentioned above.

5. Never pull the ends of a tangle away from each other. This can turn an easy fix into a massive knot quickly. Most tangles are simply the leader/tippet wrapped around itself anyways.

Ethan Hollifield is a member of a conservation organization called 2% For Conservation and a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers

SPRING PATTERNS continued from page 24 warms the water first. Rock and wood are a good thing to focus on to start with. If this does not work, look for isolated cover and see if they are there. I have seen lakes with too much wood, so this would be a good place for isolated cover. You can break down a lake by grouping your options, so you don’t waste too much time trying to fish everything you see.

Water clarity is also important when selecting the right bait. We will get some rain during this time, so this means the water will be muddy in some of the places. If you find yourself with muddy water, do not use a swim-bait. You will want something bright in color with a rattle or vibration. If you really want to use a swim-bait, make sure you use one with a large size profile, so that it displaces water. Bass will be able to key in on a silent lure, as long as they can detect a presence in the water. Have fun this season and use your head to find large numbers of quality fish. Make a plan and keep it simple.

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

SPRING CLEANING continued from page 26 braid just sits there as backing, and that line is virtually brand new. The new superlines have a long shelf life compared to monofilament, and they don’t develop a ‘memory’. So you can get double mileage out of that expensive line. To do this, get another empty reel…tie the end of the existing line on it…and wind it on. You’ll be moving the used portion of the line to the bottom of the spool and all that unused line will now be on top.

Finally, take a good look at your lures, hooks, swivels, etc. in your tackle trays. You don’t need to throw away lures just because the hooks are rusty. Replace the hooks using new split rings.

Spring cleaning is somewhat of a ritual for me. It’s something I look forward to each year, because it heralds in a new fishing season. It’s also a great way to spend some quality time with your kids and teach them about tackle maintenance. Take care of your tackle and it will take care of you.

Tight lines and calm seas.

Capt. Cefus McRae

LOCKS TO THE ROCKS continued from page 19 the 20lb cylinder of propane with the buddy heater, dropped the boat in the water, and we were off. We pulled up behind the “no boats allowed” buoy, I dropped the Garmin Live Scope in the water and saw a few shad sitting in the current, just behind some riprap along the bank. We made 30 casts and limited out.

So, on the Cape Fear River, the limit is 5 American shad, per person, per day. We were the only boat on the water, so we stayed on them for a little bit longer and caught and released probably 75-100. It was constant rod action for about 2 hours. I looked at my customer and said, “Are you ready to go try for some catfish? I want to be set up before dark, so after dark we will be reeling in fish.” And that’s just how it happened.

We fished 2 different spots, from sundown to 11pm. He put the first flathead in the boat about 20 mins after dark. After that first fish hit the deck, it was one after another. We were apparently sitting on a school of catfish in 20 ft of water, off a ledge in the river channel. I couldn’t believe it. They just showed up out of nowhere. I had no intention on catching that many fish in one spot. The biggest fish was around 25lbs, but we caught and released well over 30 fish. It was an incredible night. But that’s how things happen.

You can scan an area that may be holding one or two fish, or none at all, and then all of a sudden they just pile in your area. Just remember guys, if you see a location that looks good, don’t pass it up just because your electronics don’t show anything in there at that time; those fish may move in within minutes. Always trust your gut and instincts.

I’m running a couple of specials this month on trips. Give me a call at 910-916-3138, and we can talk fishing, or you can book a trip and come fish with me. Either way, I hope you all have an amazing fishing season. Check us out on our social media platforms. Be sure to like, share, follow, give a thumbs up and subscribe. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my column. If you guys have any questions or want to read about a certain topic in next month’s column, feel free to reach out to me anytime.

SPRING TACTICS continued from page 22 drift, which is critical.

If fish are coming to the surface and refusing to eat, try a couple of the following things: Downsize the fly by one size, try the next size down of tippet, change color and, lastly, change the position of the cast for a slightly different drift. Dry flies not working? Full swing ahead with emergers or heavy tandem nymph rigs on the Euro side will still produce many fish throughout the day.

For a day or two following a heavy storm with lower water clarity, heavier flows, and elevated water heights, heavy steamers are also a great idea, with a weighted leader. The streamer side of things will be great, especially with the emergence of many small baitfish as the waters warm again.

As the weather warms, trees, bushes, and wildflowers are abloom throughout the river corridors, which brings out many folks, some new and some who haven’t visited in many years. Along with added foot traffic, there also seems to be added litter along riversides and parking areas. Please, let’s all remember we only have one outdoors, and while we enjoy it, “Leave No Trace” will leave a better place for all of us, tomorrow and for years to come.

Karl and Karen Ekberg are co-owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at 6832-A Highlands Hwy, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 and visit their website at www.chattoogariverflyshop.com.