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

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This is a hard time of year for most Southern trout anglers. Water temperatures are warm all over, and most of our trout shing has slowed way down or is just plain over for a bit.

Here in East Tennessee, we are currently bringing 5- and 6-weight y rods and dri shing topwater poppers for spotted and smallmouth bass on several local rivers. We are catching some nice sh, and we’re also catching very good numbers, all on top.

It’s like hopper shing, just on the warm-water side of things. e bass are happy and should be looking up for the remainder of the summer through October, depending on water ows and weather.

It’s a nice change of pace for a bit, with many sh being in the 15- to 16-inch range and averaging a pound and a half or two, with shots at larger sh on any given dri . Giant pumpkinseed bream will also come up and hammer a popper on occasion.

If you’re getting into the bassy side of things, I recommend 2x leaders, 5- and 6-weight rods and your favorite color poppers. e occasional pop and twitch is just a way to say hello to let them know it’s there and see who comes up.

If you want to catch some hard- ghting sh and have a fun day on the water, give us a call before it’s over.

Contact Hiawassee River Guides at (423) 208-8602. See their website at http://hiwasseeriverguides.blogspot.com/.

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

Fall Snook

AND THE MULLET MIGRATION

By Nick Carter

Fall is a ne time to be an angler on the Florida coast. e summer crowds dwindle as the summer heat begins to taper o , and snook season opens Sept. 1 ahead of the mullet run.

Capt. Adam White, of St. Lucie Flats Fishing on Florida’s Treasure Coast, said this time of year o ers good snook and tarpon shing in his area. Whether he’s shing bridges at night or inshore structure during the day, there are a lot of snook to be caught around Fort Pierce and a lot of places to catch them.

“From the beach to the inlet, the bridges at night and the seawalls during the day, there’s a lot

of di erent places to sh for them,” he said. “You’ll only get four or ve bites per spot, and if you don’t get a bite in 10 minutes or so, leave. I don’t let grass grow under my feet.”

Run-and-gun tactics make for fun shing, with spurts of activity between quick boat rides. Capt. White said he can’t guarantee a one- sh-perperson snook limit because the 28- to 32-inch slot is a small window, but he said anglers can expect consistent action from under-slot snook or a shot at a big over-slot sh.

Inshore, White likes light (up to 15-pound)

spinning rigs for pitching live baits to currentswept structure, such as mangrove islands, spoil bars and docks. Snook are strong, and a decent one will take you for a ride on light tackle.

e best shot at a big snook is out in the inlet, where White will anchor up and drop baits to the bottom in hopes of just three or four bites over the course of a trip. e payo might be a snook in the 35- to 38-inch range with an outside shot at a 40-incher. ese sh might weigh 15 to 20-plus pounds.

Live bait is the best bet, and snook will eat whatever is available at the time. Live mullet or croakers are White’s preferred baits, and he doesn’t shy away from using bigger 5- to 8-inch baits, which even small snook will hammer.

Anglers who prefer arti cials will nd good action at night at the bridges. White suggested lipped-plugs like the Bomber Windcheater, which has a good mullet-like pro le in the 4 ½-inch size. Another great lure is the locally made so -plastic umper Shrimp. Rig one on a jig head with enough weight to get it down and work it slowly across the bottom.

As for the annual mullet run, when predators hound millions of mullet pushing south to spawning grounds o south Florida, White said he likes the front end of the migration. O St. Lucie County, the shing is best around the second week of September, when mullet begin trickling into the shery. Once the migration is full-blown, there are so many bait sh in the water that it’s hard to get sh to notice your bait.

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chinook are Running in the Pacific Northwest

By Nick Carter

Right now, there’s a migration gearing up in the Paci c Northwest. Chinook salmon are staged to push up out of the cold Paci c and into the inlets and coastal rivers of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Just like they do in the famed Alaskan runs, big king salmon are making a nal return to the spawning grounds where they hatched to begin the next generation before they die.

With his father, Trevor Pelland, has shed these runs on the Hoh and Sol Duk rivers of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula since he was 8 or 9 years old. His dad was doing it before him. It’s an annual event with a time window that runs from August through December, depending on the particular drainage along this long stretch of coastline. e allure is large, hard ghting sh that are delicious seared, grilled or smoked. It’s a shing tradition that existed since long before Europeans arrived on the continent.

Fall runs are famous in places like the Columbia, the rivers that feed Tillamook Bay and others. Chinook push into the main stems and larger tributaries of many coastal rivers and as far up them as the water will allow. Pelland said backtrolling plugs tempts these big sh in the rivers. He’s caught 20-, 30- and 40-pound kings,

which proves it works.

In Oregon, District Fish Biologist Robert Bradley has watched these runs dwindle in recent years. He said the sheries are still worthwhile and draw anglers from all over, but that size and numbers of sh have been falling since at least 2015, due to ocean and environmental conditions. He said the projections for this fall are well below average.

“ e draw is the size of the sh,” he said. “Historically, you could see 60- and 70-pounders, but you could still reasonably expect to catch a 20or 30-pound sh. An average is probably 10 to 15 pounds.”

e states have been hatching and releasing chinook salmon smolt for decades to coincide with the natural progression of sh moving out to sea. Bradley said chinook spend one to ve years growing up in the Paci c o British Columbia and Alaska. e hatchery sh and wild sh return with similar survival rates, but not many of the stocked sh spawn with the wild group. He said most hatchery sh return to the hatchery.

e stocking does give anglers something else to sh for. Hatchery reared chinook have clipped adipose ns and don’t count toward a wild sh limit in most sheries. e seasons and regulations can be confusing and vary widely

from place to place and year to year, but one wild chinook per person, per day is the norm. Check the regulations before you go or hire a guide who knows.

e runs ramp up when fall rains spur the sh to push upriver into the current, Bradley said. In some places, the coho salmon and chinook runs coincide. Make plans now, because runs on most rivers peak in mid-October.

For up-to-date information on Oregon’s salmon sheries, go to myodfw.com.

CAPTAIN JIM DURHAM FISHING

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: September 2023

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

STRIPER FUN GUIDE SERVICE ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER

Captain Jim’s StriperFun Guide Service Cumberland River Adventures fishes in the Cumberland River because the Stripers are much larger in the Cumberland River system than other freshwater areas. CLIENTS HAVE COME TO SEE US FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD. Over 15 Stripers are caught annually in excess of 50 pounds and 40-pound fish are not uncommon. The smallest fish (we generally catch daily) is over 3 feet long!

These fish mostly eat high protein Rainbow Trout, large Gizzard Shad and Skip Jack and also fight the current all day, making them much heavier and stronger than “lake” fish. This fishing is not for the faint of heart however! These big fish hit like freight trains, making long powerful runs in the constantly flowing waters of the river! We use large rods, heavy duty reels, 50-pound test line and titanium hooks!

When a big river Striper comes after a large bait, the bait will be tail dancing all over the surface trying to get a way. Sometimes the “dance” will last half a minute (as you watch the big predator circling the prey!) until the Striper finally gets the big bait then its “Kabam”!! The rod gets yanked down and the reel is screaming! We also catch huge fish casting Captain Jim Special (see our website store) Striper Magic “glide” baits!

We fish all year, but September and October are great months to fish!

STRIPER FUN GUIDE SERVICE ON LAKE CUMBERLAND

The late Summer Striper fishing on Lake Cumberland (southern KY) is terrific, with limits of nice 10-to-15-pound Stripes caught on

Continued, see KY/TN FISHING REPORT Page 19

THE CASTING CORNER Practice Set Up

By Rene Hesse

If you wanted to get better at casting, you would do everything you could to make it easier on yourself. For example, the equipment you practice with, the place you practice, and even the type of practice you decide to use will make an impact on your learning curve. So let’s look at the things that can make fly casting practice fun and easy.

Starting with the rod and line, I would suggest nothing lighter than a 5 weight and nothing heavier than a 7 weight rod. The thought on that is the line is easier to see and thus easier to evaluate. The repeated casts will tend to make your arm tired, so don’t go over an 8 weight if you can.

The next thing to consider is the line, and that has several points of interest. If you can, get a bright colored line, for example, orange or yellow. Again, that is so you can see it. Also consider getting a line that has a longer head so you can carry more line. A good example of this is the Scientific Angler MasteryExpert Distance line. Then for the leader use a 7 ½ ft. 0X with a bit of yarn tied on the end.

Next, give yourself the best environment to cast. Seek a good background to see the line against it as it travels through the air. If there

is wind, set up your casting tape measure to have the wind coming into your line hand (The hand that is not holding the rod.) Set up targets at 20, 30, 40, and up to 75 feet along the tape measure.

Have a goal in mind when you go to practice. Always start with making good loops with 30 feet of line out of the rod tip. That will give you the feel of the rod that the manufacturer wanted you to feel. Until you have good loops with 30 feet of line, don’t add more line. When you practice, make sure to do 2-3 false casts each sequence. If you just do a pick up and lay down, there is no real feel of timing and tension on the line. Do not let the line hit the ground in the back. If you can have someone watch you, even better. Kids are always happy to point out our errors.

If you are going to practice on your own with targets, only cast for 30 minutes. If you want to just go out in the courtyard, plan on only about 15 minutes. If you leave a rod rigged and ready to cast, it is so much easier to get started. Take the first step to decide you want to get better, and you will.

Give yourself the best environment to cast. Seek a good background to see the line against it as it travels through the air.

Dock Shooting For Slabs!

By Perry Hensley

Dock shooting in my opinion is one of the most exciting ways to catch slab crappie. Now when you are dock shooting, it’s important to know that this will take some practice. I will be honest as much as I do it seems I’m a rookie every time for the first 10 mins or so.

One thing to remember is that crappie love shad and other organisms and also other baitfish. Do not be surprised to find large schools of baitfish lurking around most any dock.

Lets not forget that crappie love shade and cover and docks provide them with everything they need to survive.

Once you have located a dock it is best to start scanning either with side scan sonar or your live sonar unit as to not waste time. You will quickly find out that the crappie will be on the most shaded parts of that particular dock and sometimes it can be difficult to reach them. You will also find that crappie will stack on the anchor cables of the dock, and these seem to be the best

docks to shoot.

Boat positioning is key when shooting into those sometimes 3 inch openings on the dock. This is why it is important to practice at home first at a distance of 20 feet with a 5 gallon bucket and after that becomes an easy target it’s time to graduate to a coffee can at 30 ft and so on. Crappie will tend to be higher in the water column under these docks and be ready to catch a bluegill or two shooting docks.

All in all like I said before I love shooting docks year around. As always I hope that some of what I explain is helpful to most of you. Do yourself a favor and get out and enjoy all our creator has given us and make those priceless memories with those you love.

Tight Lines!

Perry Hensley

Laurel River Lake A Paradise for Fishing

Laurel River Lake features 5,600 acres of clear, deep water with 200 miles of tree-lined shorelines filled with quiet coves for a paradise for fishing and outdoor recreation. The lake has a diverse fishery that attracts anglers of all skill levels. Enjoy fishing from the shore, kayaks, and boats with 7 boat ramps for easy water access and 2 fullservice Marinas.

Escape to the sandy lake front beach at the spillway, where scuba diving is popular, and you can relax for the day and play in the water. Nestled in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the lake features the Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail perfect for hiking and mountain biking, just 15 minutes from Interstate I-75 in London, Kentucky.

Three Days in Panacea!

By Gary Turner

Ithought Matt had a Monster Snapper…. Panacea may not be paradise, but three days of great fishing, great food, and friends makes it a paradise for me! My friend Preacher Matt told me he was doing a revival meeting that week in Panacea, Florida and asked if I wanted to come down and do some fishing with them. Well, I always seem to have a lot going on between working, grandkids, traveling and fishing, but I saw a few days open and said, “Yes!” I’m getting ready to head to Alaska soon, and then Brazil not long after that, so squeezing in another trip was tough but I made it happen! I drove down on Wednesday night just in time for church, and then dinner at Angelos after. They have a dish called South of the Border Grouper that is so delicious!

The next morning, we were at the dock before sunrise meeting our friend Tanner of Panacea Outfitters. We headed out to the flats looking for grass where the speckled and white trout would be. Well, there were some good trout in there but there were also a ton of 16–24 inch sharks, a few skates, and flounder. We caught several good trout then headed in search of some redfish off the grass lines and oyster bars. Matt hooked a good redfish, and was reeling it in when I got bit, but mine came unbuttoned. The next cast I hooked a monster, it took off, line peeling off the reel, I couldn’t slow it down! When I was almost spooled Tanner said, “That’s got to be a big ray.” I should have known it wasn’t a record redfish, but I said I was gonna reel it in any way!

Thirty minutes later I had it almost in the net, but it kept digging in

the mud. A little trick to get them out of the mud: when the line is tight, pluck the line making it sing, they don’t like this. Finally, he was right in front of the boat, and we were going to net it for the video I was shooting, but when Tanner had it next to the net it swirled, hit the line with its tail, and cut the line. I was lifting on the rod so you can guess what happened next. The rod flew up and whacked me in the forehead! My friend Roy has always said, “If you are gonna be dumb, you got to be tough.” (LOL, that’s what came to my mind.)

We caught a few more reds, releasing all but two. Then we cleaned up and headed to Porter Island Seafood Restaurant, my favorite place to eat when I’m in Panacea, to eat with Pastor B.B. and some friends. The shrimp, oysters and grouper were delicious, everything there is always great. Junior sitting next to me ordered a steakburger, and it looked and smelled delicious too. Before we left, I ordered burgers for us for after the revival meeting that night and ended up ordering burgers again for after the revival meeting the next night – so good! The revival that night saw a packed house at the church.

Later that night our friends Melton and Daron arrived, and the next morning they found us at the dock early where we were meeting Tanner. We loaded up and headed for the rock piles. We caught a ton of Key West snappers, rock bass, trigger fish, blue fish, and several other species and filled the cooler up. We had to throw back the triggers though because they were out of season. That night the revival was good with Matt preaching and Matt, Melton and Daron singing. They were all formerly with the gospel quartet The Inspirations and now sing together with the Resurrection Quartet. Matt’s son-in-law John David (the fourth member of the Resurrection Quartet) came down and joined us, and the next morning we met up with B.B, his son Chris, and his wife Stacy on their boat.

We headed out into the bay to catch some red snappers. When we got to the first drop, the red snappers were on fire! We caught several before it slowed down. A shark was attracted to our catches and shut down the fish, so we moved to another spot and caught a couple more and that’s when Matt hooked a Beast! He was hanging on as line pulled off the reel. I thought this was going to be a really big snapper, then I saw it, it was a giant shark with a huge snapper in his mouth with just the snapper’s lips sticking out. Then the line went slack, and

Continued, see THREE DAYS IN PANACEA Page 20

The Heat of Summer is Almost Gone

By Karl Ekberg

The unofficial end of summer comes with the arrival of Labor Day weekend. The kickoff to college, high school, and professional football, seems to create the big excitement of conversation, as every team starts the season with championship dreams. Trout fishing in the lower elevation streams and rivers, are like teams starting fall practice, not quite ready for a game or to be fished until the water temperatures drop. This is the preseason to Delayed Harvest—tune ups for equipment, end of summer vacations, tying flies, and purchases of new equipment and getting ready for the “championship trips” to the rivers during the Fall fishing season.

As the heat of the summer passes by the streams and rivers start to cool down and the trout become a bit more active throughout the river instead of seeking thermal refuge in the depths of the river bottoms. Early mornings tend to be the most opportunistic times to fish, prior to the heat of the day warming the waters and the fish returning to the depths. Fish can be very wary at times, with gin clear water conditions, low river flows and heights and minimal hatching bugs. Longer leaders and smaller diameter tippet sizes can lead to a great day. Longer casts with drag free drifts will be an essential asset as well to these wary and skittish fish.

As we look forward to the cooler temperatures of the fall season, we will start to see the emergence of the first of the “fall bugs”. The rocks in the rivers are loaded with very small dark nymphs as well. Try swinging the

larger emerger imitations or a heavy nymph with a smaller nymph dropper, through the riffle areas of the river and into the heads of the pools. As daytime temperatures heat up, the fish will move further into the depths of the rivers, so getting a bit deeper with a heavier front fly or a pinch of split shot will help greatly. Baitfish are abundant in the watershed, and the streamer bite will be quite rewarding. Try swinging and retrieving small bait fish patterns in the deeper pockets, back eddies, and off of the seam lines throughout the watershed.

While waiting on the fall water temperatures to kick in, the fall bass and panfish season is underway. These eager fish are awaiting meals to drop from the riverside foliage, wet wading is still in gear, and there is no better way to cool off from some late summer or early fall heat, than casting some top water terrestrials and poppers to these awaiting fish.

A guided trip, fly tying lesson, or new gear can be a great tune up for the upcoming fall fishing season, all of which can be found through our shop. Let’s all remember while we are enjoying the great outdoors, let’s “Leave No Trace”, and it does not hurt any of us to bring out a little more than we walked in with. We hope to see everyone out on the water.

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.

Smart Tricks

By Scott Norton

This time of year things slow down and the bite is tricky. With the water temperatures at their peak you will notice that bass in these conditions will get very finicky about what they eat. The reason they are hard to find is because they start to chase shad again. You have been used to finding them in their ambush spots but that is changing as you start to see this transition into fall starting to emerge. The name for this time of year is the dog days of summer. When you hear this you need to change gears and switch your normal game.

Let’s talk about your plan to escape this condition. I always talk about playing the elevation game. When moving up in elevation the average water temperatures get lower and lower. You can still get into mid to high 70’s in early August but that doesn’t last with higher nighttime temperatures climb. The hot temperatures do not last in higher elevation because it is the last water to warm up, but it will be the first water to cool off close to winter.

Now for the baits, you want to get away from the conventional size

baits and instead go bigger or smaller. There is a huge selection of baits you can use this time of year, just think subtle action. A few to know about will be spy baits, jerk baits, spinner baits, under spins, drop shots, swim baits, hover rigs, glide baits, and burrito baits. There are lots more not in this list, but it is a starting point so that you can build on it.

When you start seeing blow ups in the deeper water the bass have already switched patterns. They will suspend over deep water to push these balls of shad in places easy for them to feed. You will observe them pushing these shad to the surface and then the blow ups you typically see with this pattern. If you have forward facing sonars this will make things much easier but for those who do not, just fan cast the blow up areas and where you see shad swimming on the surface.

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

Fishing the Transition

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

As summer gives way to fall, the days begin to get shorter, nights become a little cooler and football season goes into full swing. These factors, except maybe football season, signal fish to start their semi-annual migrations to their winter hangouts. Basically, you’re dealing with springtime fishing, in reverse.

In September, and even into October, water temperatures can still be quite warm. But to a fish, just a couple degrees can make a difference. As an example, on offshore trips looking for king mackerel, I’ve found a two degree temperature differential meant the difference between fishing and catching. Inshore, the trout and flounder that have been hanging out in deeper holes will move onto the grass flats and oyster bars. Stripers and bass will start to move from their deep water haunts up to the shallow humps and points looking for bait schools as they put on their winter feed bags.

While water temperatures do have a distinct effect, I think the amount of daylight hours also plays a significant role. Fish don’t care about daylights savings time, but as we go from 15 hours of daylight down

to 12 hours, they sense a changing of the seasons, and the transition begins. Now, I’ve never actually had a fish tell me all these things in person, but when you’ve done this as long as I have, you begin to see the pattern. The summer to fall seasonal change is one type of transition for us anglers to think about, but the word ‘transition’ also conjures up several other thoughts as well. Another key factor in finding fish would be the transitions that occur underwater. Offshore, we are constantly looking for ledges, rock piles, sandy bottom transitioning to live bottom and reefs, and other things that stick out on an otherwise flat landscape. In freshwater, we’re looking for similar transitions like clay banks to rock piles, stump fields, grass beds and the like. These places become congregating areas for bait fish that attract the game fish.

And when you’re trying to locate these places, your best friends are DownScan and StructureScan. They become your underwater eyes,

Continued, see FISHING THE TRANSITION Page 22

Sons of Fall

By Captain James McManus

Noticed the other day the Joe pye weed was blooming. Along with ironweed those mark the beginning of the end of hot weather and the start of fall with all of the comforts that come as mates.

The favorite with me is the improved appetite of our little slimy friends. Young of the year shad and herring are abundant and have moved into open water in schools. This lends itself to trolling as the most effective means of filling your boat. We typically will troll and station someone on the front of the boat to cast to breaking fish. To succeed with casting you need to be quick, accurate and have a match the hatch bait. A nonchalant reaction to breaking fish and you will come up empty every time.

These spotted bass corral little bait pods with a group of 6-10 brothers and sisters. Holding 25-30 feet deep they crash the surface and immediately go back down so if you are 10-15 seconds late they are already gone. Our spots are in really good shape now. They have healed up from their spawning scrapes, have plenty to eat and with cooler weather are much less lethargic than a couple of weeks back.

Continued, see SONS OF FALL Page 21

Earlier is Always Better

By Ronnie Parris

Hey folks I hope everyone is doing well an getting ready for some good fall weather. I know for sure I am. I titled this article earlier is always better. This could go for a lot of things but in this case I’m talking about getting your kids involved in the outdoors and building a love for fishing, hunting, camping or hiking. I guess I’m a little prejudiced, but I really feel like there’s nothing you do more important than spending time with your kids when they’re young and impressionable. And I don’t think there’s a better place than in the outdoors without the distractions of all the other stuff that can pull them away.

The young man pictured in this article is Kaison and for his birthday

he wanted to go on a fishing trip with his mom and dad. I absolutely love that he could have asked for anything, but he wanted to spend time with his folks fishing. And the fishing was good. He caught a variety which included walleye white bass and spotted bass. One thing I learned watching him was he has done a lot of fishing and caught on really fast to the patterns we were using.

I know I’ve said it before but I always try to make it as fun as possible when you take younger ones fishing. I take my grandkids as soon as they start wanting to go and I want to end the trip on a good note and hopefully they keep wanting to go with me. Last time I took them we decided after we pulled the boat out to park and go play in the water a little while and the 2 year old was wanting to put the boat back on and fish some more. So leave them wanting more. Also be sure to bring lots of snacks and drinks, anything to make sure they have a good time.

Right now the water is still a little warm on Fontana so start early and try to beat the heat. Trolling is still the preferred method for several species but if you’re wanting some fast action the bluegill are tearing it up close to the shoreline. TVA will start dropping the water level soon and it seems to really kickstart the bite so get them young ones out there and get them hooked.

Take care, be safe and as always take a kid fishing.

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

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;

New State Record Confirmed for Channel Catfish

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 10, 2023) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has certified a new channel catfish state record. On May 21, 2023, Justin Hall of Reidsville reeled in a 27 lb. 7 oz. channel catfish, from a local farm pond near his home in Rockingham County, breaking the previous record of 26 lbs. caught in the Neuse River, July 2021.

Hall has been fishing this pond for years, but rarely caught channel catfish from it. Until May 2023, when his 13-year-old son caught, what he estimates to have been, a 25+ pounder. They returned it to the water, unaware of the record held at that time. “I told a friend about my son’s catch, and he told me it might have been big enough to beat the state record,” said Hall. A week later, using bread dough as bait and his Big Cat Fever Casting Rod and Zebco Big Cat XT reel, he got the record-breaker. “My wife went down to the waterline to bring it in with the net – and it bent the net.” The fish measured 36 1/4 inches long and 24 7/8inches in girth.

To qualify for a N.C. Freshwater Fish State Record, anglers must catch the fish by rod and reel or cane pole. The fish must be weighed on a scale certified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and witnessed by at least one observer. It must be identified by a fisheries biologist from the Commission and the angler must submit an application with a full, sideview photo of the fish for record certification.

For anglers who catch a catfish that doesn’t quite measure up to this latest record-breakers but still meet minimum size and length requirements, the Commission has catfish classifications for its North Carolina Angler Recognition Program (NCARP). NCARP officially recognizes anglers who catch trophy-sized freshwater fish that do not qualify for a state record with a certificate featuring color reproductions of fish artwork by the late, renowned wildlife artist and former Commission fisheries biologist, Duane Raver.

For a list of all freshwater fish state records in North Carolina or more information on the State Record Fish Program, visit the Commission’s State Record Fish program webpage.

KY/TN FISHING REPORT continued from page 1

many days and the occasional 20 pounder as well! We troll live bait on planer boards 10 to 30 feet deep concentrating on main creek channel points. We also cast Captain Jim “Striper Magic” lures. With multiple full-time guides StriperFun offers day trips on Lake Cumberland yearround (weather permitting).

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 18 waterways in 4 states) 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.

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.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities.

Get N.C. Wildlife Update — news including season dates, bag limits, l egislative updates and more — delivered free to your Inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Casting for Life Lessons on The French Broad River

By Matt Mittan

Let’s take a stroll by the French Broad River in WNC and explore how fishing from its banks can teach us a thing or two about life. This river, with its twists and turns, slow moving deep stretches and rocky rapids, green pathways, and handy boat launches, is like a natural classroom where you’ll learn about adapting, being patient, connecting, and growing – all while trying to hook into one of its many trophy species, which include Smallmouth Bass, various Trout, Largemouth Bass, Catfish and even Tiger Muskie.

The French Broad River isn’t your ordinary fishery. It’s like a puzzle that keeps changing its pieces. One day, it’s calm and clear, showing you everything beneath the surface. The next, heavy rain runoff from the mountains can turn it into a wild, muddy ride. Lesson number one? Adaptability. Life throws curve-balls, and just like changing your bait or gear to match the river’s mood, you need to adjust to whatever life throws your way.

Imagine you’re on the riverbank, casting your line into the water. You might use a flashy lure to mimic a tasty snack for the bass. You might tie on a tiny dry fly and delicately land it in the eddy of a river stone seeking an elusive Rainbow. Sometimes, you get a bite right away, and other times, you might work all day for just one strike. This is where lesson two comes in: patience. Just like in life, not everything happens in a flash – or the way you timed it. You’ve got to wait for the right moment, be patient, and let things unfold at their own pace.

But the French Broad River is more than a fishing destination; it’s a place to connect with nature and others who love the river’s magic. Life works the same way. It’s not just about your destination; it’s about the journey. The sounds of birds, the rustling leaves, the laughter of children playing, and the conversations with fellow anglers create memories that color our experiences. Lesson three? Connection. Life’s better when we share it with others.

Here’s the kicker: the French Broad River keeps changing, just like we do. It’s been flowing since long before any humans fished it, yet it’s never the same. And that’s true for us too – we’re always growing, evolving, and learning. So, remember, whether you’re casting your line or navigating life’s twists, growth is a constant companion. And just like you can’t stop the river from being what it is, neither can we stop nature from shaping and shifting us along the way. So don’t fight it. Go with its flow. Accept that each person is being shaped by currents themselves too. Show grace.

THREE DAYS

IN PANACEA

continued from page 6

we never saw that shark or snapper again, but it was very exciting! We also caught and released several big groupers and several other species of fish, even an octopus. It was such a fun trip. The water was some of the calmest seas I’ve seen, however, it was also sweltering hot! Days like this are hard to beat, good people, great fishing, and calm seas. We ate one last time at Porter Island, I had the shrimp and catfish, delicious!

The Resurrection Quartet, Matt, Melton, Daron and John David, sang that night at the church and it was great! If you are in town on Sunday or Wednesday, you can visit Pastor B.B. at Panacea Full Gospel. For information on fishing with Tanner Plouffe of Panacea Outfitters, you can call him at 850-778-6769. You can reach me at

As you stand there, casting your hopes into the river’s twisting ebbs and currents, keep these lessons in mind. Adapt to change, be patient, connect with the world around you, and embrace the growth that comes from the journey. Life, much like fishing on this riverbank, is about learning from each experience and reeling in those moments that make you feel alive.

Matt Mittan is a Licensed Guide in NC and is Owner of BizRadio.US, an online commercial talk radio station devoted to entrepreneurs and community businesses. He lives in Asheville, NC.

gary@purgeright.com, and check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@ FishingWithGary.

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

“Tight Lines and Squealing Reels Put a Smile on My Face Every Time.” Gary Turner

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

Matt Mittan, showing off a recent Smallmouth Bass caught from the banks of the French Broad River, in Asheville, NC.

SONS OF FALL continued from page 16

Seems like we are catching fewer and fewer smallies every year which is a shame and taking the limit off the spots doesn’t seem to have changed their numbers although the size seems to be rising. Not sure if that’s a trend or if it’s just that the larger fish are becoming more active.

With all the bait we are seeing I sure would like to see stripers introduced, but the minds of the wildlife folks are dead set against it. With almost no white bass, walleye or small mouth, guess they have decided we are going to have a spot lake and need to be satisfied with that. The bream and catfish are down, as well as the herring gobble up any eggs that are laid anywhere, any time. Stripers would at least break up the herring and give them something else to think about other than species annihilation.

Our folks would do well to look to Tennessee and their stocking programs. Their lakes have extremely diverse fisheries with stripers, walleye, all kinds of trout including lake trout, smallies and spots. A monoculture lake is not the worst thing in the world, but some new species would be nice, maybe some lake trout, coho salmon and of course stripers. Let our wildlife folks know and maybe someday... Later, Captain James

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

Trout Aren’t Everywhere

By David Hulsey

Trout seek out specific areas in a stream to feed, hide from predators, and to rest. Anglers can really cut down the time it takes to find them by keeping a few things in mind.

When I approach a new piece of water, I immediately look for trout visibly feeding on or near the surface but also towards the bottom. Amber lenses in a high-quality pair of glasses are as important as your fly reel. If a feeding fish is spotted, the “locating” part is already done. What if there are no visible signs of fish? How do you find them? Reading the water is an art in itself as much as learning to fly cast well. Feeding trout aren’t everywhere in a stream but in sometimes very tiny spots in a trouty looking area. I usually tell beginning fly fishers to fish where they can’t see the bottom of the river clearly. This could be due to water depth or riffles that give the trout protection from predators. Fishing the green colored water also accomplishes basically the same thing. This is a very broad way of looking for fish because locating that spot within the spot is what separates the folks that catch fish occasionally with the ones that catch fish consistently.

Bubble lines are also good places to look for feeding fish. “Foam is home” is a saying you will hear a lot from guides trying to coax a good drift or give your client a target to toss a fly at. Bubble lines on the surface of the water is just oxygen trapped in the surface tension but is also where ninety percent of what a trout eats on a given day will be found.

Seams where fast water meets slower water is also a good spot to drift a fly. Trout will hold along these areas and slip in and out of the current to retrieve food items. Much like deer or rabbits, trout are creatures

of edge. Edge of current, edges of rock to sand, even the drip edge of streamside vegetation can concentrate numbers of fish.

Spots with combinations of more than one of these can be that target area that holds numbers or larger than normal fish. Actively feeding trout will hold in these areas but will spook to the nearest deep water, log, ledge rock or undercut bank at the first sign of danger. Approach these areas carefully with a well-executed cast and you might be rewarded with a sweet hook up.

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

showing you even the most subtle anomalies in high resolution. By way, you can also see depth changes, bottom composition and many notations related to structure on the good ‘ol NOAA paper charts too. You do keep an updated paper chart of the waters you’re fishing on board, don’t you? You should.

Earlier, I mentioned the seasonal water temperature changes will herald in fish movement. And that’s true. And slight changes can make a big difference. There are a number of technology tools available to us anglers that can point us in the right direction. SiriusXM Marine Weather’s interface is selectable as an overlay on my Simrad chartplotter. Beyond contemporary weather radar, it shows water surface temperature so I can set a course for locations that are more likely to hold billfish, kings, or mahi. And I can see how far the Gulf Stream is offshore on any given day.

A synonym for transition is…change. For me, the summer-to-fall transition is a good time to change the line on my reels. By September, I will have put a lot of miles on my reels and changing out the mono is a good idea. It’s also probably time to change the oil in my outboards and change my fuel filters. I’ll also grease the wheel bearings on my trailer and all the grease fittings on the outboard tilt/trim assemblies. The lesson here is to look at the changes that are about to occur and take advantage of them. These transitions are key factors in a fish’s environment and understanding what makes them attractive to your quarry will definitely improve your catching potential this fall.

Tight lines and calm seas.

Capt. Cefus McRae – Nuts & Bolts of Fishing

FISHING THE TRANSITION continued from page 14

CAPT. CRAIG HENSEL

What is going on guys and gals? Captain Craig here with AWOL Fishing Charters. First off, I just want to thank all of you for coming back month after month to check out my article. Without you all this wouldn’t be possible. I just want everyone to know how thankful I am for the support and following. So let’s jump into things.

I’m going to touch base on current fishing conditions, but more importantly I want you guys to come out to a very special event that will be at Deep Creek Outfitters in Fayetteville NC, on 09-16-2023. So please continue to read this article and come and show your support for this event.

Fishing Report

So July has been hotter than it needs to be for sure. I think most of us can agree. At this point I am ready for some cooler weather. If it got down to 30 degrees tonight my feelings would not be hurt one bit. Ok, maybe not that cold, but you guys feel my pain . With the hot temperatures this month, it has had water temperatures hovering in the upper 80’s. The hottest I saw the water surface temperature in July was 91 degrees. Now we caught fish that day but they were coming up to the boat with a side of hush puppies and slaw. These fish were already cooked lol.

The Cape Fear River has been producing some good amounts of

Spotted Bass on that early morning bite, the bigger largemouth have been doing most of their feeding late in the evening on into the night and throughout the night as well. You can hear the bass busting frogs anywhere you go all throughout the night on the surface. So that top water bite is key late in the afternoon and throughout the night. I have been doing more night time trips as opposed to day trips due to the heat. Nighttime feels so much better, the sun is not beating down on you, the boat traffic is very minimal, and the fish are plentiful and hungry.

The catfish bite has picked up big time this month as well. There have been a lot of blue and flathead catfish caught. We have been targeting these catfish with cut bluegill, live bluegill, and live eel’s. Guys if you’re not using live eels this time of year you can be missing out on some amazing rod bending action. Now every trip has been different where we have caught more on one or the other, cut bluegill, live bluegill, or eels. So if you’re targeting these catfish make sure you have a variety of baits placed out right up next to log jams and the shallow flats.

This time of year these catfish come up shallow to feed at night. DO NOT be afraid to fish 2 feet or less of water. Place multiple baits out from shallow to deep. Those drop offs where the water goes from shallow to

Continued, see LOCKS TO THE ROCKS Page 24

LOCKS TO THE ROCKS continued from page 23

deep drop offs can be your hotspots on the river. Use your contouring maps to find those shallow flats with drop offs to deep water. Even if you find a hump in the middle of the river, either side of that hump could be a highway for big fish to travel at night on their way to finding food.

If you guys are interested in booking your September Fishing Trip please visit our website at AWOLFISHING.NET. We fish quite a few bodies of water including saltwater. COME ON AND GET BOOKED UP!! Spots are filling up fast. That early fall and fall bite is on the way! Don’t miss out!

Special Event In September

So guys this was brought to my attention after I wrote by August article, so I do apologize for such a short notice but, I want to bring this to everyone’s attention. On September 16th, 2023 Deep Creek Outfitters will be Hosting a Benefit Bream Tournament for Jenesis Dockery. You can fish anywhere in NC, Blast off is at 8am and weigh in will be at 5pm at Deep Creek Outfitters 1122 Person St. Fayetteville Nc.

For more Information or to become a sponsor of this event please call (910) 237-1343. I will be donating a 4 hour freshwater inland fishing trip at this event to be auctioned off. The proceeds from that auction will go to the Dockery family. I will also be onsite that day so if you want to come meet and greet and talk fishing please come and join us. I look forward to seeing a huge turnout for this event and meeting with you all. Come out and have fun and celebrate the life of Jenesis Dockery. See you all there.

Captain Craig

Captain Craig Hensel, AWOL Fishing Charters with Capt. Craig Inc. - 910-916-3138.

When

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With our limited edition River Canyon Bowie Knife you’re getting the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers. What you won’t get is the trumped up price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an outstanding, collector’s-quality knife that won’t cut into your bank account.

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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik FLOUNDER

September is a new beginning of sorts when it comes to saltwater shing on the Gulf Coast. First, it is somewhat cooler, although some of our visiting northern neighbors might not agree. Many anglers nd themselves torn between other passions and obligations, some of which include school in session, weekend sporting events, dove and deer hunting, and the list goes on. ese activities thin the herd of boats on the water and opens the bays back up for those of us who focus all of our free time on the water.

is is de nitely noticeable at the boat ramp the rst weekend a er Labor Day, and I can’t wait!

Less boat tra c means shing the mouths of bayou drains is wide open. I avoid these areas for safety reasons when there’s heavy boat tra c. I just don’t like boats driving over my lines or waking me, which is what happens if you sh in a boat lane during peak season. I like drains in back lakes this time of the year, because they hold “the big three”: trout, red sh and ounder.

I will speci cally target ounder in these areas in September and early October. Since the spring migration, these tasty morsels have been working their way as far back in the marsh as they could get. With autumn around the corner, they start to congregate in these drains. Outside of the fall run, many anglers do not target these ground huggers. With the pressure light,

the ounder bite can be lights out for those who know where and how to target them. part is you might not see another boat all day!

An outgoing tide is optimal to stake out one of these drains. e tide carries bait out of the deeper bayou and adjacent marsh grass and sends it on a deadly path with hungry ounder fattening up for their winter spawn. When the bite is on, it is not uncommon to see ounder breaking free of the water’s surface chasing a meal. e time I witnessed this years ago, it took me awhile to gure out what was jumping. I will never forget that day!

Paddletail so plastics are my go-to in this situation. I like bright colors such as white lightning, chartreuse with glitter, or pearl with a chartreuse tail in a 4-inch or 3.25-inch bait. Keep the lure twitching along the bottom. Quick jerks with the rod tip pointing down activates the tail vibration and kicks up clouds of mud, which really grabs their attention. A so plastic with a tail rattle adds an extra attractant.

Get a jump start on your ounder x before the rst cold front and the long lines of anglers targeting them during the fall run.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

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

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a - Ono

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Fish flags inspired by Sun Dot Marine Flags.

@fishflags

why get towing?

THEY KNOW FALL IS COMING

Tim Barefoot

Fish know fall is coming because of the reduction of daylight minutes in a day. e shorter days make a lot of species start a whole new pattern of activities. For example, the grouper complex will start the process of moving into traditional spawning areas. at migration mirrors the cigar minnows, sardines and squid. I’ve always said this and will say it again: Find the bait, nd the sh!

e cigs and sardines form large schools that attract a number of predators including kings and sail sh on the surface, and the big snappers and grouper will be on them as well. e shortened daylight hours become obvious during the middle of this month, when it triggers the “feed” to fatten up for winter and the spawn. Go to the traditional areas you’ve found bait in the past, and that’s a great place to start shing.

Another thing I’ve said in the past is: don’t go to a Chinese restaurant and order a pizza, meaning don’t drop baits that are foreign to sh that are working a school of cigs and sardines. Always have a couple boxes of frozen cigs and/ or sardines just in case you can’t nd the

bait. At least you’ll have bait that “matches the hatch” of what they normally eat.

I try to stay on the sabiki catching baits while everyone else on the boat is shing with grass grunts, sailors choice, cigs/sardines, etc. If you get on a big knot of cigs or sardines, it might be helpful to have two people on the sabiki lling the livewell. e best bait of all is whatever is there. Just put it right back down.

is is also the time of year to nd squid inshore, mixed in with cigs and sardines. If you have a live squid for bait, its life expectancy is under 10 seconds once it touches the bottom on a jig. It’s an instant bite, just like several other baits mentioned above.

e only problem I have with the live or frozen minnows is everything on the bottom will give them a whack, and you wind up catching a lot more snapper and smaller bass than if you use a larger live bait. We almost always have live pin sh from the marina that eliminate most of the trash bites. If you have a larger pin sh, grass grunt or sailor’s choice on the jig, nothing but larger bass, grouper, jacks and big snapper can put it in their mouth. I like to speci cally target grouper by putting the larger live baits down on the jig that eliminate the undesirable bites. Of course, this is a very attractive bait to the sharks, also. Every now and then you have to pay the “tax man” in a grey suit, but that’s just the chance I take. Check out some of the rigging and shing videos on the website or on youtube to see what I’m talking about.

See more from Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

ALASKA STATE RECORD OUTWEIGHS WORLD RECORD

Alaska’s new state record shortraker rock sh was caught in late July. On uncerti ed scales at a remote shing lodge, it weighed 48 pounds, which would have crushed the existing IGFA world record by about 4 pounds. e angler, charter guide Keith DeGra , however, chose to preserve the meat by bleeding the sh instead of waiting to get an o cial weight on certi ed scales.

Days later, when DeGra nally got a certi ed weight in front of an Alaska Game and Fish representative, the sh weighed 42.4 pounds, which was good enough to set a new Alaska state record.

“It feels like the biggest accomplishment of my shing career,” DeGra said. “ is species takes time and dedication to drop down to such huge depths, and I spent a whole lot of hours and reeled miles of line trying to break this record, and it nally came to fruition.”

DeGra caught the sh from Prince William Sound on July 28 with his ancée and some friends from a rented boat. DeGra was shing 1,000 feet deep with a conventional (non-electric) Avet 2-speed 30/2 reel, a custombuilt Adventurous Custom rod built by Derwood Roberts, 3-pounds of weight, 80-pound braid and a circle hook baited with salmon and herring. e previous Alaska state record shortraker rock sh weighed 39.1 pounds. It was caught by Henry Liebman in 2013. e IGFA all tackle world record weighed 44.1 pounds. It was caught in 2017 by Angelo Sciubba at Cross Sound, Alaska, but it’s not recognized in the Alaska Game and Fish list. For more information, see www.adfg.alaska.gov.

Industry leader Dometic is o ering a “new turn” on steering for a whole new category of cable-steered boats that have o been overlooked when it comes to driving innovation.

Designed to integrate with a boat’s existing SeaStar cable steering system, new Xtreme Power Assist (XPA) steering provides smooth, e ortless electric power steering for a range of boats with single outboard motors from 90 to 200 hp. is makes it ideal for smaller ats boats, center consoles, shallow water open ski s and other coastal shing vessels that currently use mechanical steering.

Dometic’s XPA mounts easily to all outboard brands and works with all types of SeaStar mechanical steering (including rack and rotary,

need to replace the existing steering. Installing XPA requires only simple wiring and can be done by DIY boaters in about 30 minutes.

Once XPA is installed, the steering cable only turns the power assist unit—while an advanced electric steering actuator moves the engine load. is eliminates steering torque through the wheel and provides smooth, nearly e ortless steering at any speed.

While an ideal upgrade, this new system is being adopted by top boat builders as a factory standard feature or optional upgrade on new boats.

MOBILE BAY

ARE EASY PICKINGS

right, shrimp, crabs, ounder and more oat to the surface in the shallows, where people just scoop them up.

In one of his weekly columns, David Rainer, with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources explained these uncommon events: e event starts with an incoming tide with very warm, still water, followed by organic load that creates a situation that depletes the oxygen in the water. O en, jubilees follow an a ernoon rain shower and an easterly or northeasterly wind. e Mobile Bay National Estuary Program explains that phytoplankton also contributes to this phenomenon by consuming oxygen near the surface of the water. When the easterly breeze starts blowing, this creates a water current that causes the oxygen-poor water to migrate toward the shore. is has a corralling e ect, herding the bottom-dwelling species into the shallows. ere those species become so lethargic that people can just pick them up. ese events usually lasts two to three hours.

Because they are short lived and rare, jubilees are a source of excitement for some Mobile Bay families who send word out to friends and loved ones to drop what they’re doing and go collect some seafood. However, Rainer warned in his column that a jubilee is not a free-for-all. Normal size and creel limits remain in e ect during the phenomenon. Alabama Marine Resources Division Director Scott Bannon said most species survive to swim or scuttle away when dissolved oxygen levels return to more normal levels.

or most folks, a jubilee is an anniversary celebration, or maybe it’s a ambe dessert made with cherries. For people in the know on the Eastern Shore of Alabama’s Mobile Bay, a jubilee is a natural phenomenon that leads to ridiculously easy seafood. When weather, water and tidal conditions occasionally align just

In case you were wondering whether Mobile Bay’s jubilees are the result of climate change or pollution, know that they have a very long history going back to a time when bells would ring to sound the jubilee because locals were dependent on seafood to feed their families.

“Nowadays, it’s more of an interesting phenomenon that occurs in only two places in the world, Mobile Bay and Tokyo Bay in Japan,” Bannon said.

August and September are the best months to encounter an Alabama jubilee, but it’s not the kind of thing you can predict. You just have to be there and hope to encounter it… or have friends in the know on social media.

For more information, see Rainer’s detailed article on jubilees at www.outdooralabama.com.

ADCNR PHOTOS BY DAVID RAINER

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

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TYLER WOOLCOTT

If you aren’t familiar with it, a Carolina rig is when you put a bullet weight and then a bead on your line and then tie a swivel to the end. To the swivel, I use about a 2-foot section of leader and then a worm hook to put a bait on. is rig gets deep, and the leader with a weightless bait provides a more subtle presentation than a traditional Texas rig.

Obviously, you want to drag this rig around some sort of cover that bass are attracted to. I use it everywhere from Southern largemouth in deep grass to deep smallmouth on rock up north. With the weight clicking against the bead and the free action of the bait, this old-school rig still dominates a lot of tournaments to this day.

ere are two presentations I go for when choosing a so plastic to Carolina rig. I like either a bait sh or a craw sh. If the available forage is bait sh, I use a uke-style bait in a natural bait sh color. If the bass are eating craw sh, I like a Zoom Speed Craw or a Strike King Menace grub in green pumpkin or some type of brown or orange color. ese two baits have a lot of action and small bodies to keep the bait streamlined while dragging. My go-to hook is a 4/0 Hayabusa WRM956 wide gap.

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eptember is supposed to be the beginning of fall, but the reality— at least in the South—is the month is just a continuation of summer. Bass can be pretty tricky, but there are ways to target sh in cooler, deeper water. Dragging a Carolina rig is one of my favorites.You can play around with the size of the weight and the diameter of your leader line. In shallower 5- to 10-foot depths, a lighter weight can help your bait look more natural. I’d suggest ¼ to ½ ounce in that depth range. If you’re shing deeper water in 15 to 30 feet, shing a heavier ¾ to 1 ounce weight gets you down more quickly and allows you to cover bottom more e ectively.

I like the leader between my swivel and hook to be lighter than my main line because it’s less visible to the sh and allows better bait action. If I’m shing 15-pound mainline, I’ll use a 10- to 12-pound leader.

Carolina Rig Gear:

When using this rig, making long casts to cover water is a must, and being able to hook a sh at the end of a long cast is critical. For these reasons, I use a pretty long rod. My go to is a 13 Fishing 7’6” MH Omen Black Casting rod.

You’ll also need to pick line up fast with the reel to remove slack on the take. I use a 13 Fishing Concept A 8:3:1 reel, which eats up line quickly. Spool this reel with 15-pound Seaguar uorocarbon, and grab a small spool of 10- or 12-pound line for leaders.

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

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TIPS FROM A PRO

DRAG A CAROLINA RIG

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