The Angler Magazine | November 2023 | Great Smoky Mountains & The Upstate Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION

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LOCAL REPORTS & CATCH PHOTOS

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FOR NOVEMBER’S BOUNTY By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

ith cold fronts rolling in and the slow season phasing out, November is a special month off the Keys. Crowds of sailfish begin to move up onto our reef, and a morning spent loading the cooler with yellowtail snapper transitions easily into a trophy fish hunt. Both can be targeted at the same time. Out on the reef, filling the boat with yellowtail takes care of the grocery hunt, and it’s also an opportunity to scoop some fresh ballyhoo. Once the cooler is full, the anchor is pulled and the sailfish hunt begins in the same area. This can lead to epic trips, with dinner and a show, all on a mere half day charter. Sitting on anchor on the reef should give the captain a reasonable assessment for the next steps to take into sailfishing for the remainder of the trip. Often, you will be able to see sailfish breaking the surface around you during the snapper fishing portion of the trip. You may see them either freejumping and putting on a show or pushing up schools of ballyhoo and spraying bait into the air, indicating their presence and appetite. If this obvious display isn’t present right away, there are two viable options to pursue the sailfish.

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The captain may choose to push out to deeper water and bump troll live bait, or deploy the kite, which can be extremely productive. Alternatively, and easily the more exciting option, is to travel along the reef and look for them. As you cruise the reef looking for a sightcasting opportunity, there are a few indicators to be watchful of. First, it is possible to see the sailfish itself, but this is a little more tricky from deck-level. A sailfish in the water will appear very black and can often look like a trash bag. They can also be spotted free-jumping and cruising the tops of the waves. Looking for the fish directly is actually the least productive way to find them without a tower on the boat to scout from. The best way to find them is running and gunning. Cruising slowly while scouring the surface for bait sprays and diving frigates gives them away almost every time. When the frigates start getting down on the water or large schools of bait are spraying into the air, throttle down because it’s game on. Hauling butt over to

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the action and trying to get your bait out there before the fish eats another ballyhoo is one of the most exciting types of fishing there is. Even if you miss your shot, there’s a great chance you will see the fish. Nothing compares to the adrenaline of this type of hunt. With cooler temperatures pushing in, tourism is more focused on fishing charters. Last minute bookings become more difficult. So, if you’re planning a vacation to the Florida Keys, it is recommended to make a charter reservation beforehand. Happy hunting and Happy Thanksgiving from Sweet E’nuf Charters! Capt. Quinlyn Haddon and Sweet E’nuf Charters fish out of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Contact Capt. Haddon at (504) 920-6342 and follow her social accounts @CaptainQuinlyn.

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EuroNymphing By Nick Carter

ove it or hate it, Euro nymphing is a style of fly fishing that is growing in popularity because it is so darn effective for catching numbers of trout. Naysayers might gripe about the technique having more in common with cane-pole fishing than fly fishing, but Euro nymphers are too busy netting fish to care. It is a combination of styles employed by European tournament anglers. At the most basic level, it is a simple way to fish nymphs without an indicator. The angler remains in constant loose contact with the fly and leads the drift with the rod. Bite detection is instant, hook sets are quick, and the angler has complete control over the depth and trajectory of the drift. Grant Hawse guides out of Fish Tales Outfitters in Franklin, N.C. He honed his nymphing skills as a member of the U.S. team at the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships in Spain and Slovenia in 2016 and 2017. Here are his tips for getting into Euro nymphing.

THE BASICS

Hawse said he visualizes a 3D grid in a run. He uses a series of short flick casts to drift his nymph over every inch of that grid vertically and horizontally. Depth is controlled by the angle of the rod, making it possible to present the fly on the nose of every fish in a run. Angles, posture and smooth line retrieve are important. Rapt attention to the slightest tick of a bite leads to lightning-fast hook sets. The technique might seem tedious to traditional fly fishers, but if the goal is to catch lots of fish, Euro nymphing has proven itself superior in most situations.

BE A GEAR HEAD

You’ll need new gear to Euro nymph efficiently. Rod: Long, light rods give you reach and sensitivity. Cortland’s Nymph Series rods are 10’ 6” and come in 2- to 4-weight models. THE TECHNIQUE Reel: The reel balances the rig. Hawse said Euro nymphing is an efficient way to cover a reel rated for line one step heavier than the every inch of the water in front of you. With very rod’s rating generally does the trick. Test this by little slack in the system, the angler has complete balancing the rod with two fingers as a fulcrum on the handle. control of the path and depth of the drift.

Line: Hawse suggested spooling up with floating fly line instead of expensive Euro nymphing line. The main line rarely leaves the reel when you’re nymphing, anyway, and if you want to throw dry flies you can switch out the leader. Leader: Here’s a basic leader: 10 feet of 8-lb. mono, 6 feet of 6-lb. mono, 6 feet of 4-lb. mono, 2 feet of 6x sighter, and 4 feet of 6x tippet. Sighter is brightly colored leader material that allows the angler to see where the line is and what it’s doing. Flies: Euro nymph rigs require heavier flies. Fish Tungsten heads or nymphs with lead tied into the body. Contact Fish Tales Outfitters through their website www.fishtaleswnc.com.

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ver wondered what the depth, bottom structure and composition look like off the end of your favorite jetty, bank, beach or fishing pier? Do you fish smaller waters or from a small boat or kayak and bulky, heavy and expensive electronics aren’t an option? Deeper has brought the advantage of sonar to the masses with portable and castable fishfinders that are perfect for whatever type fishing you do, whether it’s from the shore, from a kayak or small boat, or through a hole in the ice. Deeper PRO+ can be used anywhere to show you all the fish-holding structure and cover as well as the fish themselves. Paired with a free smartphone app, this small sonar unit is smaller than a tennis ball, weighs just 3.5 ounces and can be cast out 330 feet to report back sonar readings from two beams (15 and 55 degrees). It’s the ultimate insight into where you should—or should not—be fishing.

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This extremely versatile little unit has up to six hours of battery life and connects to your smartphone via its own stable Wi-Fi signal, which provides a much stronger connection than Bluetooth. It’s durable, easy to use and comes with a two-year warranty. Deeper PRO+ pairs with the free Fish Deeper app which provides a crisp, clear display and many great features to help you catch more and bigger fish. With GPS, you can reel or troll the Deeper PRO+ around to create accurate depth and structure maps of your favorite fishery, log catches, mark spots and much more. All scans are saved in the cloud at no additional cost, and you can access them from all your devices. For boaters and kayakers, the Deeper Flexible Arm and Smartphone mount for boat/kayak turns your Smartphone into a convenient and stable display to monitor readings. Shore anglers will love

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the Smartphone Mount for Any Fishing Rod. For ice fishing, the Deeper CHIRP2 model offers the most advanced scanning and battery life, with up to 15 hours of run time and high-quality CHIRP scanning technology. Just drill a hole in the ice, drop in the cable-free unit and utilize the professional ice fishing display with a traditional ice-fishing flasher. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option for shore-based angling, the Deeper Start model is what you need. It’s perfect for the starting angler who might not fish as often and is looking for a less expensive but still powerful option. Look for special holiday deals on Deeper products in local stores, on Amazon and at https://deepersonar.com/us/en_us.

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Hunting On the Fly Gator Trout By Nick Carter

atching gator trout heavier than 5 or 6 pounds has more in common with hunting than it does with setting up on a drop and catching schoolie trout hand over fist. Add to that the challenge of hunting them with a fly, and success becomes that much sweeter. Capt. Gus Brugger knows that sweet feeling well. He’s a regular contributor the Treasure Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine who has been hounding inshore species with a fly rod for nearly 40 years. He was a full-time inshore guide on Florida’s storied Indian River Lagoon for 23 years and has a lot to share when it comes to catching monster trout on the fly. “It’s got to be all about stealth if you want to get a big seatrout on the fly,” he said. “Whether from a kayak, a boat, or just accessing areas from the bank, I always feel like you’re a lot better off wading.” The primary benefit of wading is stealth, and it also forces you to work areas thoroughly. Outsized trout are notoriously skittish and spook from hull slap, shadows and even fly line on the water. With your feet in the sand, you’re less obtrusive, and while you might not be able to cover water like you would from a boat, you can be meticulous. “Grid out pieces of open water, set up with the wind off your shoulder— so you’re not knocking yourself in the head,” Brugger said. “Cast, take two steps to the side, and then cast again. Wind helps, and a little chop on the water helps keep them from spooking.” Carefully picking apart potholes, ditches and depressions on a flat is the go-to tactic for most of the year, but cooler winter water temps bring exciting opportunities for fly anglers. Winter may be the best time to target giant trout. “In winter, gators act more like snook than trout,” Brugger said. Big trout push into the backwaters in search of deeper holes with more comfortable

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water temperatures. This could be off a canal dock or in a trough of deep water along a mangrove bank. These comfort zones consolidate fish. While wading isn’t an option in several feet of muck on a canal bottom, a kayak or small skiff can get you in quietly. Brugger and his son have had great winter days at backwater holes in no-motor zones. As for gear, a 7- or 8-weight fly rod gives you the ability to throw big streamers and baitfish patterns. Brugger said they’ll eat a shrimp, but you’re better off throwing big mullet or menhaden imitations. Whether it’s a Clouser, Bendback, Polar Fiber Minnow, or some articulated monstrosity, Brugger fishes flies that are 6 inches and longer. Some days they want flashy white and chartreuse patterns. Other days they want something more natural. A clear intermediate sinking fly line is helpful for stealth and to get flies down into the strike zone. For more tips and tactics, visit coastalanglermag.com.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GREAT SMOKIES

Shane Goebel Fishing Lake Hiwassee Stripers

MURPHY & WESTERN NC

ovember in the Western North Carolina Mountains isn’t just about Thanksgiving and filling yourself to the rim with turkey and dressing. November is also an amazing time to hit the water for monster striped bass. Fall and early winter definitely kicks off trophy striper season here in the mountains. I remember just last December we caught one heck of a 52 pounder. These big fish love the cooler water temps and cloudy days. So, after all the Thanksgiving festivities, give us a holler and see for yourself. This is the perfect time to hit the lake and experience some extreme fall striper fishing, and what’s the best way to do that? By booking a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 striper guide service: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We’ve been striper fishing these mountain lakes a longer than anyone and have what it takes to put you on some huge fish. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is 20 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear and water temps are in the upper 60’s. Striper fishing has been absolutely phenomenal. We have seen some huge schools of stripers and these monsters are hungry! We’ve averaged 20-30 stripers a morning for the last month or so on most of our trips. Talk about some exciting fishing. Plus, we’re starting to see a good increase in size. We’ve had a bunch of fish already in the 20-30 pound range! The early-morning and evening bites are your best times to see action. We’ve also had some heavy bites in the mid-day hours. With the cooling water temps, continue to target creek mouths and points off the main lake channel but also look for schools to move back into the creeks. The majority of our fish have been caught from Point 6 to the dam. For November, In the early morning hours freelines and planer boards will work great. As soon as the sun peeks through we are going right back to down lines. For those who wish not to troll, November is also a great downline month. Just keep an eye on those electronics. The top-water bite has picked up a lot, so keep a spook or a Red Fin at the ready to snag surface-busting fish. The fish will start to spread out here soon and move in to the creeks. We will then move to all planer boards and free lines. We will also start pulling bigger baits. This is also a great lake to catch some very nice small mouth and walleye. We always snag a bunch of those while striper fishing, so this can be an exciting lake to fish. November is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers

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on this Murphy North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and Blairsville Georgia’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on! Shane Goebel owns Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team. See the website at www. bigolfish.com or call (828) 361-2021

NOVEMBER 2023

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 1

Late Fall in the Mountains

______________________ By Capt. James McManus

othing quite compares to late fall in the mountains. There is still lots of color, with oaks turning last, so deep reds along with evergreen give us a color palette of holidays to come. Most lakes have turned over and fish have returned to the banks and points ready to put on pounds for the winter. There should be some top water action as well, so everything is in play bait-wise. On Fontana, I like to fish the mid portion of the lake, and although our lake is never crowded, there are beautiful days when you won’t see another boat all day. Even weekends are peaceful because of football games and usual holiday gatherings.

Not sure about other lakes, but here we have tons of bait close to the lake headwaters. Although there are always fish there, sometimes it seems they aren’t as eager to bite. The old saying, “find the bait, find the fish” is true, but if they won’t bite, what good is it. Down lake there isn’t as much bait, or really as many fish, but to me the ones there are usually

Continued, see LATE FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS Page 8

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NOVEMBER 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 3

Fontana Magic

______________ By Ronnie Parris

ey folks hope all is well. It’s finally here, the time you waited for all year. The fall feeding frenzy is on. This is the time for some fast action and mixed bags. You may catch multiple species feeding in the same school of baitfish. The lake level has dropped but the fish are on the feed. Be versatile you may want to cast jerk baits or throw worms and minnow imitations. You may want to troll or you may want to fish live bait. No matter which way you fish, you’re probably going to come home with a good catch. Usually the fish will be bunched up so pay special attention to your electronics. Depth can vary as far as species goes an may change from early morning to late evening so don’t get stuck fishing where you were catching the day before. They may be deeper or shallower according to their mood that day drop shotting is deadly at this time of year so be sure you got your drop shot rigs in the boat. Temperature usually is going to start out cold and warmup to a comfortable temp as you hit midday. This is a great time to take kids as they are going to get lots of hits, and it’s not terribly cold yet. Be sure to dress in layers so you can take clothes off as it warms up. This is a magical time of year on Fontana, so get out an enjoy. And as always, take a kid fishing!

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

1012 East Alarka Road, Bryson City, NC • 828-488-9711, Cell: 828-736-9471

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NOVEMBER 2023

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.

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utdoors y, N.C., -9711.

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NOVEMBER 2023

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 5

Alaska 2023: The Rest of the Story

______________ By Gary Turner

e finished fishing and checking out places at Whittier and then drove the 50 miles over to Hope to see what was going on there. When we arrived at Hope, it was like a ghost town. We went first to our favorite restaurant there, only to find it closed up and for sale. We asked around and found out the owner had retired. Sad face… but good for her! Luckily the Salt of Hope Food Company was open and ready for our order, Gourmet Tacos - delicious! While we were eating, a car full of people asked us where was a good place to fish? We told them just to go to the parking lot at the end and get in the river! After eating, we went down to Resurrection Creek and found the people had found the river and the fish! They were having a blast. We went on down to our usual spot, closer to the mouth, and saw salmon everywhere. We caught and released fish for a few hours before deciding we should eat again! I am diabetic, so that’s my excuse for eating every few hours, lol. We went to Creekbend Café, and a guy that had waited on us last year at the Seaview was working there. We ordered burgers and onion rings, and it was also delicious! After eating, we loaded up and headed out for Soldotna two hours away to where our cabin at Fish For Health Lodge was at. The next morning, we hooked up our 14-foot Smoker Craft and headed to Skilak Lake. Just as we were backing in the boat, two black bears came running out of the woods into the water, grabbed a salmon, and headed back into the woods – Wow! We boated across the 500 plus foot deep Skilak Lake to the north end where Hidden Creek feeds in. We landed the boat on the gravel shore and waded across the swampy area to get to the fish! We caught lots of silvers, reds and even a trout. We didn’t see any people out there, but we did see another black bear and some geese. It got to be evening, so around 10:30 p.m. we headed back across the lake to the boat ramp, loaded up and headed back to base camp in Soldotna. The next day we fished on the Kenai River with my friend Robert and his dad. We caught several silver and red salmon. Robert’s dad caught a big Dolly Varden trout. We even saw some eagles in the trees on the river banks. It was a blast fishing on the beautiful Kenai River. That evening we went into the city of Kenai to shop and on the way back saw several moose and their calves. They are such amazing animals. The next morning found us back on the road to Skilak. We boated to our favorite fishing hole and proceeded to catch fish. On this day we met some nice people from Minnesota that had hiked in to fish, and some rafters came by too. That’s a lot more people than we usually see here, though sometimes seaplanes come with people too. The next day we went to Seward and fished several spots. At 4th of July Park, we went to the left and there were fish stacked in the creeks coming in. We fished this awhile, then moved to another spot nearby

where a steep creek fed in. There we could see the fish stacked in the waves waiting for high tide before running up this creek. We caught a bunch of the fresh fish from the salt. The next day we picked up my good friend, Marc Zimmerman, who talked me into coming to Alaska 20 years ago, and the four of us headed to Homer to do a little surf fishing for cod, halibut and flounder. At Lands End we ran into our hiking friends from Minnesota and chatted for a bit. We fished low tide and cast for the shelf, and we caught a ton of Pacific cod in less than two hours. There we met a couple from Minnesota on the beach, the husband said he is a walleye guide at home. We told them about Seward and where to go fishing there and gave them some fish. The next morning, we did some work on the van and, long story short, people thought we had a 454 in it! We got it fixed, then we changed the oil and tuned up the 25 hp Mercury on the boat. When I say we, I mean Dewayne - I was the tool carrier and video guy. With all the repair work done, we headed to the Russian River. It was our last day fishing, so we weren’t gonna waste it. We got to the Russian and there were people fishing everywhere. reds and silvers were running. We waded in and grabbed a spot. Blake caught the first fish, then Dewayne and I found some too. We went down river looking for more fish and found a grizzly bear! Well, you know I take lots of pics and videos, so I checked out the bear, giving him plenty of room. When I walked back up river he followed along. I went past Blake and Dewayne who were in the river fishing. When I turned around, I saw the bear had actually headed out in the water toward them to see what they were doing! He finally went back down river, so we moved back up river closer to the parking area. An hour later we saw him coming up the bank toward a lot of us fishing. I stood with several other people as he walked close to us. So close in fact that when he picked up a fish and started eating it, you can hear the bones crunching in my video! That was an exciting day! The next day we headed to the airport and flew home. That’s how Alaska 2023 went. I can’t wait for the 2024 trip. We have several more friends coming up with us next year! 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 @TakeMeFishingGary 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.” Gary Turner

6 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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NOVEMBER 2023

You can reach Gary Turner at gary@purgeright.com

CAPT. CRAIG HENSEL

hat’s going on everyone? Capt. Craig here, with AWOL Fishing Charters. First off, I want to apologize for missing last month’s issue. I have been wide open none stop fishing. We ran a total of 28 trips straight. Some day trips and a few nighttime trips also. But I finally have a rainy day to play catchup on calls and write this article. But guys, please forgive me. I look forward to this every month; writing a story and reading what’s going on everywhere is exciting for me. The Angler, and The Coastal Angler Magazine has helped me plan trips, book trips, and meet like-minded individuals in several states. So I just want to give a huge shout out to my boss, Joe Woody, for making this all possible. Thank you for letting me continue to be a part of this community and publishing my stories. You have been so easy to work with and have made this so easy for all of us. So without further ado. Let’s jump into what’s been going on in my neck of the woods. Well things have definitely started to cool off, FINALLY!! I am so excited for these cool nights and brisk mornings, the days are still hit or miss with temps flirting with 80 degrees or so but that is ok, it’s better than 90-100 degree temps. Am I right? These temperatures have been keeping our water temperatures at a steady downfall as opposed to a fast drop. And let me tell you the fishing has been on fire. We are seeing big numbers of crappie starting to post up on that fall pattern, the bass and catfish are staging up as well. I have run several bass trips this month, and most of them have still been shallow and tight to structure on the River. The crappie have been suspended in about 14 feet of water over submerged structure. My last trip boated over 200. A lot of 8-10” but we had a bunch of 12-14” crappie. Things are really starting to fire up for sure. We have seen a few gar here and there but this time of year you won’t find them in numbers like in the springtime. We have been seeing low numbers of catfish being caught. With the water levels down the catfish aren’t moving around as much. Here on the Cape Fear River we have very little current right now and you know what that means for the catfish. You have to have current to produce some good numbers. I have had many calls about catfish trips and I’m not the charter business to go out and take people’s money just to go fishing. I like to catch and be out there at the right time to produce numbers. It doesn’t always work out that way, but I know the right times to be there and right now the catfish are slow. Tonight I’m going out by myself. They’re calling for rain tomorrow, so we will see what happens. I want to take a minute and mention a trip that I took out this past month with 3 kids that have never been fishing. Or so they say. I think they have ‘cause they were little pro’s for sure! I want to say their ages were 5, 6, and 8, I can’t remember exactly. But these kids were beyond amazing and had the time of their lives. A day they will remember forever. When you guys see the pictures you will understand why I wake up every morning and do what I love to do. Their faces speak a million words. If you guys get a chance to get a kid involved in fishing do not pass up that opportunity. It is life changing. So, I had a guy call me on Saturday, October 7th wanting to book a trip for Sunday, October 8th. Well that Sunday morning the temps were supposed to be in the 40’s, I had planned on having a maintenance day on the boat and COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

truck and to take that day off to make some calls and get some more trips booked. Well, when he told me he wanted to take his 3 kids fishing, I literally stopped what I was doing and made arrangements for these kids to be on the boat. These were the youngest I have had on the boat yet. So I wanted everything to be in line to accommodate his trip. I went to Academy Sports and got all new tackle, rods, and reels for them and bought them little tackle box’s to take with them after the trip. I always try to give kids something to take home with them. Everyone loves free stuff right! So I told the father, let’s do an afternoon trip when the temps warm up a little. The highs were going to be in the 60’s, a cold front came through, and I didn’t want those kids going to school with a runny nose after their trip. So fast forward a bit, we get to our first spot, and I teach them how to use their rods and reels and show them how to bait their hooks, how to cast, where to cast and let me tell you guys, these kids never got hung up once. Other than picking up a stick off the bottom every once in a while, which happens, they were casting like professionals. They boated around 60-70 fish in totality. They ran me around the boat taking fish off the hooks left and right. I’d be taking a fish off of one kids hook and look up and two more were in the boat, lol. I needed a first mate on board that day for sure. These kids paid attention to every move I made and by the first hour they were basically doing everything on their own. I was beyond amazed. Words cannot describe the laughs, the smiles, and the joy these kids had fishing that day. I don’t know who had more fun, to be honest, me or the kids. I love days when the fishing is like this. Back to back rod bending action, and the competitiveness between all of them was hilarious. There were a few times where it slowed down for a few mins, but you can expect that when fishing. But they stayed with the fish. They started learning their patterns. If they weren’t catching them close to the bank they would move those baits a little deeper. It was amazing watching them learn so quickly and watching them figure these fish out.

Continued, see LOCKS TO THE ROCKS Page 8

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LATE FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS continued from page 2

LOCKS TO THE ROCKS continued from page 7

more willing to eat. I also think the size is better, but that’s probably because of less pressure. Always like to catch them on jigs but was taught something this past week. We have been trolling and doing really well with lots of fish off of points. My client caught some, but he pulled out a pack of worms (can’t disclose exact brand, was sworn to secrecy) and asked if we could pitch some just to see if they would work. I told him sure, but the fish weren’t on the banks yet. He wore me out. I stayed with my swim baits until giving in and borrowing one of his baits—I am never too proud to beg. It reminded me that fish don’t always stick to a singular plan. Well, enjoy the holidays and thank God for our beautiful country. Get out, up off the couch and catch you some fish. Later, Capt. James.

All in all it was an amazing trip. I hope that when they see this they will remember this forever and keep this Magazine so they can one day show their kids. Mr. Carter, I just want to thank you for booking your trip with us, and I hope to see you guys again. I will never forget you all. You guys are welcome onboard any time! So guys, I will have a few pictures tagged with this article. Check them out! If you’re interested in booking a trip with AWOL Fishing Charters, give us a call at (910) 916-3138, or visit us online at www.awolfishing.net. Follow us on Facebook at AWOL Fishing Charters. On Tik Tok, check us out at AWOL Fishing Charters and don’t forget to hit that follow button. Thank you for reading my article, I look forward to seeing y’all on the water. Until next time, keep those lines tight, drags set, and catch a BIG ONE!! We will see you on the next one, Capt. Craig

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

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

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Fast Food

______________ By Scott Norton

eing a seasoned angler gives you so many opportunities just from the knowledge gained through the years. We can find a time or place to give ourselves advantages that no one has. In this day and age there is so much technology to help us with planning and tools to hunt the hunters. People learning from the beginners perspective can learn so much easier and faster than any angler three or four decades ago. It is a great time for a young kid or someone, who did not have someone to show them the ropes, to understand the nuts and bolts to bass fishing. Right now we are passed the transition from summer to fall. This means it is going to be easier to catch a bunch of bass and I will explain why. In any seasonal transition, you will notice that all of the sudden your numbers of catches either stop or slow way down. When this happens bass get spread out thin, because some bass stay and some start to move from those spots they were always in. Pay attention to the temperatures at night and the water temperatures in general. At the end of summer from 70 to 60 degrees the fishing can be tough but from the 60s to the mid 40s the bite gets really good. These bass are chasing forage such as shad, panfish, and trout. They are schooling up, so they corral their prey for an easy meal. Some will be shallow and some deep so be ready to cast a rig for that situation. If you are a beginner make sure you know and understand what your graph is showing you. If you see blow-ups those will be smaller bass. Big bass that are deep under the small bass feed off the dead or stunned shad after those blow-ups that happen on the surface. Shallow bass will corral shad in the pockets or the backs of coves. You will also see trout

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getting in on the action as well and will give big bass the opportunity to pick them off too. You will need both top water and submersible baits on deck ready to go. Baits like top water walkers, jerk baits, frogs, crank baits, swim baits, and spinner baits being the main go to baits. Once you locate a school of bass then you can dial your bait in by size, color, and sound. This also is the time of year you want to speed your cadence so be fast and burn those baits in. You should be having the time of your life this right now, because it is the best time to fish other than the spawn season to just catch numbers of bass. Hopefully that lightbulb will turn on for a beginner this year and knowledge will carry you for the rest of your life. Scott Norton is a Western North Carolina native. Born in Asheville, N.C., he is a long-time hunter, angler and weekend warrior.

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TN Department of Health donates lifesaving ‘Stop the Bleed’ kits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Tennessee Department of Health recently donated 20 ‘Stop the Bleed’ kits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stop the Bleed kits have all the necessary materials to treat and control bleeding injuries. The kits include tourniquets, trauma dressing, gauze, gloves and instructions for park employees and visitors to use in a traumatic injury before professional help arrives. “Time is of the essence for traumatic injuries, and early intervention can save lives,” said TNDH team hands kits off to NPS rangers the park’s Emergency Manager Liz Hall. “In some areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where emergency response can be delayed, these kits will help rangers and visitors treat traumatic injuries early.” The kits will be divided up between park campgrounds, patrol vehicles and rangers to ensure faster access to the lifesaving resources.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the National Park Service,” said Chase Watts, East Tennessee Regional Emergency Response Coordinator. “We are always looking for ways to work together to help reduce injuries to visitors, employees, and the community.” Watts and other members of the TN Department of Health hand-delivered the kits to park rangers at Elkmont Campground. Watts also gave a brief training about what is in the kits and how to use tourniquets.

What’s in the kit

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CAPTAIN JIM DURHAM FISHING KY / TN FISHING REPORT

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

DATE OF REPORT: November 2023 Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

WALLEYE FISHING ON THE POWELL, CLINCH AND HOLSTON RIVERS IN EASTERN TN CHEROKEE LAKE STRIPERS AND HYBRIDS CUMBERLAND RIVER SAUGER - WALLEYE IN TN! POWELL, CLINCH AND HOLSTON RIVERS IN EASTERN TN Tennessee Walleye Charters offers Walleye charters on the Holston, shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they Powell or Clinch Rivers in Eastern TN. This walleye fishing begins are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can November 15th and running through the end of March! We troll enjoy the freedoms you do! Captain Jim Special Walleye lures! Be sure to book your walleye trips on Until next time, blue skies and tight lines! the Powell, Holston or Clinch Rivers in Eastern TN! You are really going With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service to love this exciting way to fish in these beautiful rivers!

CHEROKEE LAKE The striper – hybrid fishing on Cherokee Lake (near Knoxville TN) is very popular with our clients. Throughout the fall we troll Captain Jim Special Umbrella rigs 10 to 30 feet deep on suspended schools of fish, concentrating on main creek channel points. The striper and hybrid fishing is simply off the charts! 20 and 30 fish days are frequent (TN allows catch and release! With three full-time guides StriperFun offers day trips on Cherokee Lake year-round (weather permitting).

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.

CUMBERLAND RIVER SAUGER - WALLEYE IN TENNESSEE! We begin each fall sauger - walleye fishing on the Cumberland River (north central TN). Our techniques include jigging live bait and trolling Captain Jim Special Walleye lures. These trips begin December 1st and run through March 31st. The fishing is phenomenal! All of these above trips book up far in advance! 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

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Looking Back on 7 Years of ‘River Reflections’ ______________ By Matt Mittan

even years have flowed by like a river’s gentle current, carrying with them a collection of “River Reflections.” These columns were a cast net, not only into the waters where fish and angler met but also into the depths of life’s experiences, revealing moments of frustration, elation, and the beauty found in the simplest details. Today, we wade into the waters of memory and perspective, revisiting the themes and lessons that coursed through these pages.

ups and downs of life. Through these experiences, we gained a sense of resilience and fortitude. Life’s journey may not always lead to the catch we desire, but the effort and the frustration encountered along the way became part of the rich tapestry of our existence.

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6. The River of Life

The metaphor of the river transcended angling, symbolizing life’s ever-flowing current. Just as the river continued its journey, we too 1. The Pursuit of Passion navigated our unique courses. The columns offered a reminder that One unshakable truth echoed through these columns: the pursuit we must adapt, stay engaged, and never shy away from what life of passion. Whether it was the relentless chase of the elusive Muskie presented. The river taught us to keep moving, to cherish the beauty of or the thrill of a riverside fish fry, passion was the current that kept the journey. the angler afloat in the 7. Growth Through ever-changing waters of Reflection life. Like bait on a hook, the These “River promise of fulfillment and Reflections” didn’t merely discovery drew us in and recount fishing adventures. urged us to keep casting, to They urged us to examine keep exploring. life’s experiences. Like a 2. Lessons of fisherman scrutinizing the Preparedness riverbed, these columns “Always be prepared,” inspired reflection. To gain an essential piece of wisdom and insight from angler’s advice, served as our adventures, we had to a life lesson. The tales of revisit the depths, trace the missed opportunities and currents, and decipher the unforeseen challenges on truths that lay beneath the the river underscored the surface. importance of readiness. As we gathered up the Every encounter, every lures, lines, and memories situation, demanded our of these seven years, it attention and preparedness. Whether it was having the right tools became clear that these “River Reflections” were more than angling for Muskie fishing or staying vigilant when life’s waves seemed calm, tales. They were a metaphor for life’s journey. They illuminated the preparedness was key. passion that propelled us, the lessons we collected, and the beauty that surrounded us. They underscored the importance of preparedness, 3. Embracing Nature’s Gifts From the quiet solace of a riverbank to the thrill of the first cast, the joy of connection, and the resilience that blossomed amidst life’s these columns reminded us to embrace the gifts that nature offered. frustrations. The river of life flowed onward. With these reflections as our guide, The mesmerizing beauty of raindrops dancing on the water’s surface, or the vibrant life of a small creek brought solace and happiness. we cast our lines with renewed vigor, appreciated the moments of Nature, ever-generous in its offerings, provided a space for reflection, solitude, and treasured the bonds we built along the way. After all, just as in angling, it wasn’t always about the fish we caught but the connection, and reinvigoration. moments, memories, and wisdom we gathered along the journey. 4. The Power of Connection And so, we “fished in the rain,” embraced the “little big fish,” and Throughout these years, the importance of connections was woven persevered along the “frustrating miles” of life. I look back with like a fishing line through the tales. Family, friends, and fellow anglers immense gratitude to the readers, the sponsors, and the team at gathered around a tackle box to share stories, laughter, and memories. Angler Magazine who have blessed me with a platform to share these The act of trading lures, sharing triumphs, and even braving the rain stories, lessons, and encouragements over the past seven years with together deepened bonds. These columns reminded us that life’s most you all. I eagerly anticipate the next seven years of “River Reflections” cherished moments were often found in the company of loved ones. and the shared journey we have ahead of us, together, in the pages of 5. Resilience Amidst Frustration Angler Magazine. What was the angler’s path without frustration? These stories were Matt Mittan is a licensed guide in NC and is Owner of BizRadio.US, a 24/7 filled with fish that got away and unexpected mishaps, reflecting the Business Talk Station based out of Asheville, NC. NOVEMBER 2023

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 13

Let’s Talk About Snot Otters

____________ By Joe Woody

opefully, some of you who’ve spent time creeping around mountain streams in the Southern Appalachians, will have an encounter with the Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis or the Eastern Hellbender. I say “hopefully” because they are quite rare and endangered. I know quite a few folks who’ve spent years fishing in our mountains and have never seen one. Many locals call them “Snot Otters”. Personally, I think Snot Otter is the only way we should refer to them from here on out and is by far the coolest nickname of any animal in our mountains. As a matter of fact, I think we should rename our minor league baseball team the Asheville Snot Otters. Now that would be a cool tee shirt. No matter what you call them, they are a sight to behold. According to some experts, they can grow to almost two and a half feet long and weigh four to five pounds. Something that big crawling along the bottom of a clear stream toward your Simms fishing boot might cause a “WFE”, or Wader Filling Event, especially if you are not aware of their existence. The first time I caught a glimpse of one was in Eastatoe Creek, which flows through a remote section of Upstate South Carolina. It was 1987, give or take a few years. I’d spent the day fishing and exploring. I didn’t know what I was doing but I was determined to catch something. Towards the end of day, I came to a small sandy beach resting in the bend of the creek and had stopped to take in my surroundings. I studied the water, looking for a spot to toss my small Rooster Tail, when something caught my eye resting in the water near the sandy beach. At

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first, I thought it was a log, but then the log turned toward me and made a dash right towards my feet. Luckily, I wasn’t wearing waders. At that point in my life, I’d never heard of a Snot Otter or Eastern Hellbender and remembered thinking to myself, ”Wow, that’s a huge Salamander”. It was many years later when I actually did some research and figured out that I had not discovered the world’s largest Salamander.

Continued, see SNOT OTTERS Page 18

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Thermocline And Understanding It

_______________ By Perry Hensley

irst, let me state that I am still learning and although I have fished for crappie most of my life, I have been trying to dig into where and now why crappie do what they do. Let’s start with the word, stratification, which basically means there are 3 stages of depth in a lake. First, there is what is known as the Epilimnion Layer. This layer will be found in the upper or shallower layer of the lake, which has the most oxygen content believed to be caused by the growth of vegetation in and around the lake. Second we have what is known as the Metalimnion Layer and this layer while not having as much oxygen it does however have adequate

Looking at your down imaging with your sensitivity set higher than normal you will see a cloudy layer with most of the fish being in that cloudy range. This is the thermocline. levels to hold crappie. As a bonus this layer also has the most drastic temperature change of any other layer that will be described here. Needless to say this is my favorite layer. Finally the Third layer known as the Hypolimnion has the least

oxygen content and is much cooler than any other layer and doesn’t hold many fish if any due to those conditions. Here is the kicker though, as confusing as it can be to some Anglers you can find the thermocline on your depth finder/sonar unit. If you will notice on your unit, most aquatic life will be showing up starting at a certain depth band. For instance, looking at your down imaging with your sensitivity set higher than normal you will see a cloudy layer with most of the fish being in that cloudy range. This is the thermocline. With fall and winter arriving, along with those cooler water temps, your lake may go through what is called the turnover. The turnover simply is when oxygen levels in the lake will flip-flop, or the thermocline will disappear or become a much deeper or larger layer in the water column. In some cases the oxygen will even out from the top to the bottom. Putting the fish in a wider depth band as mentioned above. In closing I recommend that you research all the characteristics and patterns of the fish you target in your own lakes. Do some homework to maximize your angling abilities. As always, I encourage everyone to get out there and make those memories with that friend or loved one and enjoy all that the creator has given us. God Bless and Tight lines, Perry Hensley Sr. 16 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 17

Little Cove Creek Preserve – 17 Acres Added

eorge and Jean Nilsen donated their 49acre Little Cove Creek Farm in Carter County, TN to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) on December 19, 1984. Almost 40 years later, SAHC has purchased a 17-acre tract to add to the preserve. This new acquisition closes a gap between SAHC’s Little Cove Creek Preserve and Cherokee National Forest. “This special slice of land was an important addition to our wonderful Little Cove Creek Preserve,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “The property can be seen from the Appalachian Trail, and the main branch of Little Cove Creek, classified as a Tennessee Exceptional Stream, flows along the western boundary. It has been SAHC’s long-time goal to acquire this tract to bridge the Little Cove Creek Preserve with the national forest.” The protected portion of Little Cove Creek and a small waterfall are special features of the newly acquired land. During our June Jamboree partnership hike with Pathways to Parks this summer, hikers enjoyed seeing the new tract and waterfall in person. The intrepid Challenge Hike participants for the June Jamboree charted an off-trail course, descending from the Hackline Trail on Cherokee National Forest and following Little Cove Creek into SAHC’s preserve. It is a lovely destination for guided hikes in our Connecting People with Land Program! “Acquiring this tract will enable SAHC to maintain a short interpretive trail loop, allowing guests to our Little Cove Creek Preserve to visit the cascading waterfall as well as historic gravesites, rock walls, and foundations on the original property,” adds Associate Director Kristy Urquhart. Closing the gap between SAHC’s preserve and national forest land helps secure unbroken habitat corridors for wildlife and plants and protects a crucial link in protecting the Doe River Watershed, one of the best trout fishing areas in the entire state.

CONTINUING THE CONSERVATION LEGACY Donated in 1984, the original Little Cove Creek tract was the first nature preserve acquired by SAHC for long-term ownership. Although SAHC had purchased other tracts of land in the Highlands of Roan prior to 1984, these other tracts were transferred to U.S. Forest Service ownership or other public land entities. According to an interview by Sarah Fraser in 2006, “George and Jean Nilsen learned about SAHC by reading an article written by Rick Patterson in the September 16, 1984 issue of the Johnson City Press Chronicle. They wanted their land to be preserved forever, so they donated it to SAHC.” “I enjoyed hiking this property years ago with George Nilsen, and I was excited to share this remarkable place and stories of SAHC’s leaders with guests at this year’s June Jamboree,” recalls Jay Leutze, Senior Advisor to the Board. “Some of the early meetings to plan SAHC’s land protection and stewardship of the Highlands of Roan took place on the Nilsen farmstead. The preserve was used for nine years to house the botanist and stage the goats for the Baa-Tany Goat Project. It was such an important place for some of the early stewards of the Roan that they chose to be buried there — including Ed and Barbara Schell and SAHC founder Stan Murray.” 18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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With the recently protected tract, SAHC’s Little Cove Creek Preserve now totals 66 acres. We are thrilled that the property is part of SAHC’s Connecting People with Land Program, and deeply grateful to the conservation-minded leaders and SAHC supporters who made the purchase and permanent protection of this land possible!

SNOT OTTER continued from page 14 Over the years, I’ve had three or four other memorable encounters with large lizard-like creatures. I once had one come up to investigate a Wooly Booger I was stripping through a deep hole on the North Fork of the French Broad River, near Rosman, North Carolina. It was quite surprising because I did not know one could be caught on the fly. If anyone has actually accomplished this feat…please let me know. Perhaps my coolest encounter was on another section of the North Fork. I once again found myself standing in the bend of the river near a sandy beach…there’s a trend here if you’re following along. I looked down and resting right next to my boot was a no BSin’ Snot Otter. Now this was twenty years after my first encounter. I didn’t have a WFE and the Snot Otter didn’t bolt away. It was kind of pleasant; just me and this big salamander creature, peacefully coexisting. It was so calm that I took time to investigate further. I looked around and discovered at least 5 to 6 other smaller Snot Otters within spitting distance of the first one. I was standing amongst a Snot Otter convention. I now know that I was standing near the den of a male Snot Otter, who was dutifully guarding his den from other sneaky males trying to infiltrate the den and take over his fatherly duties. A Snot Otter dad will remain at his post for up to two months fighting off all intruders, including clueless trout fishermen. There are some videos on YouTube of this behavior, if you care to look. Generally, it happens in the fall of the year. But here’s my point… If you take the time to contemplate and study the mountains and valleys of our Southern Appalachians, you’ll discover all kinds of epic life-and-death struggles taking place, sometimes right at your feet. Don’t even get me started about the “skullduggery” of Crowes. The only way to truly start this journey is to get out in the woods and find your adventure…WFE’s will come. Joe Woody is Co-Publisher of The Angler Magazine Great Smoky Mountains with his wife Debra. He is an Army Veteran and a self proclaimed “Adventure Angler”. You can usually find him wandering around Western North Carolina telling fishing lies. He is also a baseball nut and a crazy FCS Football fan. He has a Bigfoot magnet on the back of his truck. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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SOUTH CAROLINA Lake Murray Country to Host the Bassmaster College Series Fishing Competition – January 26-27, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. — Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board (CCLMC) is proud to announce that Lake Murray will be one of six stops on the Bassmaster College Series Tournament Trail. The series will set up shop on Lake Murray, January 26-27, 2024. “We know Lake Murray will deliver a challenging event to the collegiate anglers and the final weights will be strong,” said Miriam Atria, CCLMC President/CEO. Named the country’s fourth-best bass lake on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2023 “100 Best Bass Lakes list”, Lake Murray will kick off the Legends Trail, Jan. 26-27, 2024. From there, the tournament trail will continue its national tour through early June. “We’re really pleased with this schedule,” said Glenn Cale, tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “It is fun for both the anglers and their families to explore some of the country’s historic fisheries and the communities surrounding them.”

2024 Bassmaster College Series Schedule Legends Trail January 26-27, Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. April 18-19, Kentucky Lake, Paris, T.N, June 6-7, Saginaw Bay, Bay City, M.I. Lunkers Trail February 1-2, Clarks Hill Reservoir, Columbia, G.A.

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March 7-8, Douglas Lake, Jefferson, T.N. May 16-17, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, T.X. Learn more: Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops at https://www.bassmaster.com/college About B.A.S.S. B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events, and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs, and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation, and youth fishing. About Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board: CCLMC is the official source for all things Lake Murray Country. To plan your next trip, find information on attractions, dining, hotels, outdoor recreation, fishing, golf, and events. For more information about CCLMC visit LakeMurrayCountry.com or call 803-781-5940 | 1-866-SC-Jewel.

NOVEMBER 2023

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21

When Your Dentist Likes to Fish

___________ By Jim Mize

hen the phone in my office rang, its tone cut through the drone of business voices down the hall. It was the dentist’s office. “Sir, just a reminder that we’re expecting you for your first visit with us on Monday at 9 a.m. Looking forward to seeing you.” Then she hung up. I remembered I had booked my next appointment with a fishing dentist. Something like a trance fell over me as I rested my eyes and envisioned my first appointment. Walking into the dentist’s office left no doubt in my mind that this person fished. Around the walls, waist-high, ran a rubber strip separating a blue metal-flake upper half from a pale lower white half. This lower wall had a film running around the room marking the waterline. As I signed in A Humorous Book for Fly at the counter, the receptionist responsible for Fishermen. Awarded First Place in scheduling looked me up on the Solunar calendar, the Southeastern Outdoor Press and since there were no major feeding periods Association Excellence in Craft showing, checked me in. I sat down momentarily, Competition. glanced at the coffee tables, and saw that every magazine had a fish on the cover. Muzak played an instrumental of

“You Get a Line, I’ll Get a Pole, Honey.” Pretty soon the dental hygienist, or as the receptionist called her, “the first mate,” showed up to lead me back to another room. She wore a fishing vest that rattled with gadgets as she walked. A captain’s chair stood in the center of the room on a pedestal. I was seated and a Gore-Tex poncho was thrown over me. The hygienist retrieved and flipped open a tackle box, removing her cleaning tools. She had variations of all the usual stuff, like fly-tying floss she spooled off to floss my teeth. Apparently, I was a Royal Coachman as the floss was bright red. Before she could get down to business, the dentist waded in, greeting me with an “Ahoy . . . so you’re in for a floss and release?” He then grabbed me by the lower lip to hold me still and took a look in, like he was trying to see where I was hooked. All the time he worked, he asked the usual questions, “Catchin’ any?” “What are they bitin’?” “Dry or wet?”

Continued, see WHEN YOUR DENTIST LIKES TO FISH Page 24

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23

WHEN YOUR DENTIST LIKES TO FISH continued from page 22

As my checkup concluded, the dentist glanced at The Weather Channel, saw a northeaster approaching, and scribbled a note to the receptionist to pencil me in for a filling on Wednesday. I was visualizing myself standing at the receptionist’s counter with an appointment date scribbled on a fake fishing license when, luckily, the phone in my office rang again, jolting me out of my trance. The papers still held siege to my desk while I contemplated the urgency of the phone. The phone pleaded with a third ring. I decided to ignore it, however, and let it go to voicemail. For all I knew, it could have been the nurse with results from my physical telling me she had booked me with a fishing proctologist.

Abruptly, he started asking for tools, using a language I understood, not the usual dentist jargon. I felt reassured. First, he scanned my mouth and watched for cavities to show up on the sonar. When he found one, it beeped, and a tooth showed up on the screen. The first mate recorded it on my chart in what sounded like Loran coordinates. “A little bilge pumping needed,” he said softly, and the first mate responded by hanging the flexible spit-sucker over my lower lip. He turned on the Q-Beam overhead for additional light. His patient manner lulled me into watching my reflection in his polarized glasses, and I could easily have nodded off. I snapped to full alert at a sudden thought, however. “What kind of This story is an excerpt from Jim’s award-winning book, A Creek fisherman is he?”, I worried. Trickles Through It. You can find his books on Amazon or order If he goes after bass, I could picture him pulling teeth by cranking autographed copies from the author at acreektricklesthroughit.com. down to remove all the slack and yanking swiftly to “cross some eyes.” Or if he’s a catfish angler, I wasn’t sure that I really wanted his fingers Award-winning author, Jim Mize, has written a humorous book in my mouth. Imagine some of the bait he had no doubt handled. specifically for fishermen. Titled, A Creek Trickles Through It, this Livers, gizzards and Uncle Raford’s stink baits would probably leave a collection delves into such topics as carnivorous trees, persnickety trout, taste that forty-seven brushings and a half-bottle of Scope couldn’t kill. and the dangers of fly-tying. Whether you are an arm-chair fisherman or Or what if he fishes offshore? My bill would probably be outrageous one with well-earned leaky waders, A Creek Trickles Through It will be a to cover just his gas expenses. I’m not sure I want to subsidize someone welcome addition to your fishing library. else’s fishing bills, when I have such a tough time with my own. And what if he fishes for sharks . . . or carp? Jim has received over eighty Excellence-In-Craft awards including My mental wandering ceased when the hygienist stepped up with the Pinnacle Award from POMA for his book, Hunting With Beanpole. a Minn Kota foot-controlled power scrubber to clean my teeth. The His articles have appeared in Gray’s Sporting Journal, Fly Fisherman high-pitched whine drowned out all other sounds. She then flossed Magazine, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal, South Carolina Wildlife, as well as with the Royal Coachman floss, had me rinse with some solution called many conservation publications. You may order copies through Amazon Bite-Mate, and I spat into a livewell. or his website at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com

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FLY FISHING FOR BASS

ly fishing for bass can be extremely productive and really fun. Growing up fishing for saltwater and freshwater species, I was introduced to fly fishing by some friends and got extremely hooked. While presenting a fly to fish can sometimes be tricky, a fly is a much more natural looking presentation to a fish than an artificial lure is, and I have seen fish eat flies much better than normal lures many times. There are times when a fly rod just isn’t an option. Having fly line everywhere and stretching the line 50 or 100 feet behind you and whipping it forward probably isn’t best if you are fishing a bass tournament. But if you are fun fishing a lake by boat or fishing a pond or stream or river by foot, fly fishing can be a rewarding experience. Like I said before, a small natural-looking fly, whether it be a baitfish or a topwater fly, can produce more bites than normal lures in some circumstances. I realized how productive fly fishing for bass can be while fishing ponds around my house when I was younger. These ponds got hammered by people throwing lures with

I’m sure you could take a deep dive into all the different gear and fly selections for different scenarios, but I keep it simple. White and silver baitfish patterns work wonders when you strip TYLER WOOLCOTT the line with small movements to make them swim like a fleeing baitfish. Topwater poppers conventional bass gear, and are extremely fun because you get to watch the fishing could be pretty them come up and eat it. Fish it with the same tough. It really impressed me when I fished them with a fly rod because I action as a conventional popper. I can’t exactly teach you how to fly fish in this article; YouTube is a great place for that. My hope is this will spark someone’s interest. Coming from someone who has done pretty much every kind of fishing, fly fishing is something every angler should try. Targeting bass and similar-sized species calls for a 6- to 8-weight fly rod. You can fish sinking lines to get down deep, but I prefer a regular floating line to fish for bass that are feeding shallow. I like premade tapered leaders in the 10- to 12-pound range. Feel free to contact me on social media with any questions or do some research online. I hope this caught more fish than I did with conventional convinces someone to go out there to target gear. I assume the bass grew wary of seeing big bass with a fly rod. It’s really fun! worms and crankbaits. A tiny baitfish fly or a Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament tasty-looking, easy-to-eat topwater with natural angler and guide. Check out his website at movement got these fish more excited to eat www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. than I had ever seen.

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n late September, NOAA Fisheries announced early closure dates for gag grouper in federal waters of the South Atlantic as well as the Gulf of Mexico. These closures came tight on the heels of a revelation that the data NOAA uses to manage these and other fisheries could be severely flawed. In the Gulf of Mexico, recreational harvest of gags was closed on Oct. 19. It called an early end to a season that had already been shortened on the front end. The normal season runs from June 1 through Nov. 10. However, this past spring, NOAA announced an interim measure to delay opening of gag grouper harvest to Sept. 1. Initially, three months of gag harvest were taken from recreational anglers, and now—with the early closure—the season was effectively cut from 162 days to just 48 days. In the South Atlantic, in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, NOAA called an early end to gag grouper harvest on Oct. 23. The recreational season was scheduled to run from May through December. This move shaved 69 days off the regular 215-day season at a time when charter captains rely on grouper to keep clients on the water. In both instances, NOAA said its projections of recreational catch and effort data indicate the recreational annual catch limits would be reached by the early closure dates, which is their justification for shutting down the fisheries. In an explanation that seems contradictory to reason, a NOAA statement blamed high harvest of Gulf gags on the already shortened season. “Preliminary reports indicate high catch rates of gag this year, in part because of changes in the start from June 1 to September 1,” the statement reads. If that doesn’t seem to make sense, neither do NOAA’s data collection surveys that are used to determine angler effort. In a pilot study conducted by NOAA itself, the surveys, which are mailed to licensed saltwater anglers, were found to be confusing and led to “illogical responses” and “reporting errors.” The study showed that the resulting angler effort data was overestimated by 30 to 40 percent. Angler effort is a factor used to determine total harvest, which means NOAA’s harvest data is likely significantly flawed. Perhaps more concerning than that is the idea that harvest data is used in stock assessments. Estimated populations of our favorite sport and table fish are also likely inflated. For the third time in the last 13 years, significant flaws have been revealed in NOAA data collection, and this is the data being used to manage our fisheries and the industries that rely on them. For more information, see coastalanglermag.com.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSEMARY WHITE

GROUPER CLOSURE CATCHES ANGLERS OFF GUARD

Tim Barefoot

t what point do we say enough is enough? I’d say THE TIME IS NOW! NOAA has shut down our gag grouper fisheries based on inaccurate data, and coastal communities are hurting because of it. The recent grouper closures—in the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico— caught everyone by surprise. There was very little notice given to anglers, whether they be recreational, charter or commercial. Incomplete—at best—and more than likely completely erroneous data was used to shut down the livelihoods of fishermen at a crucial point in the year. The fall grouper bite is always the best. Many commercial anglers make a good portion of their annual income in fall and winter. Charter captains book trips specifically targeting grouper this time of year. This closure also adversely affects the entire coastal economy. There is an entire industry based around fall and winter bottom fishing, and this is a substantial financial hit for the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. As a former commercial fisherman, I know this also screams of mental and physical stress. Anglers are forced to fish more and rougher days just to get some days in before the season closes. When the news of these October closures spread,

I got calls from upset charter and commercial captains. For brevity, I’ll share just a couple comments I heard from North Carolina captains. “I’m a 61-year-old man, and I’m out here humping it hard as I can to get these last few

days in before it all shuts down,” said commercial Capt. Joe Hifko. “This is gonna hurt… both in my wallet and in my shoulders. The data is completely skewed, and based off those numbers are huge extrapolations. This is what they are basing their decisions on?” Capt. Riley Adkins is feeling the sting of charter cancellations. “My primary income in fall and early winter is based around taking clients within 30 miles of

the beach to specifically target gag grouper. This puts us captains in a bind because we are already booked out to Dec. 31, which historically was the closing of our gag season,” said Capt. Adkins. “We are having to cancel charters due to the short-noticed announcement of our gag season closing. “My clients feel like it is a waste of their time and money to book a charter because we can’t keep gag grouper, and the seabass population is in decline due to the rise of the American red snapper, which you can’t harvest either,” he continued. “This closure is detrimental to captains who rely heavily on the gag quota to keep their heads above water in winter.” The last time we had a fisheries issue of this magnitude settled, it literally took an act of Congress. The Gulf red snapper debacle showed us you can’t trust a federal bureaucracy that uses obsolete—and frankly, lazy— methods to collect data. The technology exists, and we should be hiring talented researchers from our universities to go out and collect accurate data to be used in decision making. It’s time for the recreational anglers, commercial anglers, equipment manufacturers, and the seafood industry to get together and say enough is enough. I know it’s a tall order, but we are stronger united. As soon as you finish this article, call your senators and congressional representatives to make sure they know how you feel on this issue.

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To see more from Tim Barefoot, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com. NOVEMBER 2023

NATIONAL 13

SOLUNAR TIME!

’ve studied the solunar fishing timetables since I was a child. In the early years, these were the black, white, or striped fish images on my grandparents’ calendars and have evolved into more advanced illustrations depicting the moon phase, tide, time of day, and their effects. Some tables provide a simple one- to four-star rating of predicted fishing success. One day I was a believer, and the next I was a skeptic. I’ve played this tug of war over the years, and as I have become a more seasoned angler, I lean more toward the validity of these calculations in predicting the aggressiveness of fish and their desire to feed. Removing luck, which never hurts, it still boils down to angler skill, knowledge of the area and techniques for targeting desired species. However, over the years I have noticed better bites correlating with solunar feed times. I try not to move from one location to another during peak solunar feeding times. I’ll put myself in what I perceive to be the best spot in a general area during that time and hold tight. I save the running and exploring for non-bite windows, which make up a majority of the day. Each solunar feed cycle has a peak that is typically two hours or less, and there are usually two per day. On a recent trip with my two boys, we missed the first bite of the day due to other responsibilities. We launched the boat around 9 a.m., and the next bite was not until 1:30 p.m. We wanted to try some

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

new spots, so we explored those first, and laid down some tracks for future reference. The fish were not active. As the morning moved on, I tried areas that had been holding nice fish recently. Once again, everything looked right, but we couldn’t get the bite. The boys were getting agitated and ready to leave, and I bought myself as much time as I could, while still trying to find the bite and waiting for the next feeding time. I headed toward the ramp to give them a cool breeze and to try a location with much deeper water, just hoping to find some activity. Unfortunately, the current was too strong in this area. I frantically studied the chart in an area about a half mile away so we could make one last move because the next solunar feed time was only minutes away. I chose our final location based on satellite imagery and little tribal knowledge, and we were off. I anchored the boat so my boys could cast downwind and fish the edge where grass met a large sandy area. They caught redfish and averaged one every six minutes for 70 minutes of the afternoon solunar feeding cycle. They doubled up twice! Take a kid fishing and tune into the solunar time!

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