Coastal Angler Magazine | May 2022 | Great Smoky Mountains & The Upstate Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION

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GIANT BASS ON LIVE BAIT

BLUE CAT RECORD CRUSHED! PHOTO CREDIT: SEAN RUSH COURTESY OF CAPT. DEBBIE HANSON WWW.SHEFISHES2.COM / IG: @SHEFISHES2 VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 326

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The Workingman’s Drum By CAM Staff

Young angler Hayes Grinnell did battle with this big black drum while fishing the Texas coast with Slinging Mullet Guide Service and Get Em Guide Service.

n some circles, black drum don’t get the respect they deserve. Maybe it’s their appearance? With weird chin barbells and a humped head, they hug the bottom, looking like the hunchbacked cousins of the sleeker redfish inshore anglers adore. Or maybe it’s their reluctance to take a lure? Black drum feed primarily by scent, and while you might catch one slinging a spoon, targeting them requires bait, which is more effort than plug and paddletail aficionados are willing to put forth. However, for anglers who aren’t too prissy to get their hands dirty, black drum have a whole lot to offer. They are the workingman’s drum, found nearshore and inshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic seaboard to New England. Black drum pull hard, with powerful bulldogging runs regardless of size. And they grow quite large, reaching weights well over 100 pounds. On top of that, they provide consistent action in a wide range of areas where they can be caught. Shore-bound anglers can target them from docks, bridges, jetties and piers, where drum hunt crustaceans around structure. Surf anglers often connect with them on quartered blue crabs cast outside the breakers. From a boat, passes and inlets are prime feeding grounds as is nearshore structure. Shallow-water anglers find younger specimens way up in the estuaries tailing like redfish for fiddler crabs in tidal creeks.

Their movements are seasonal, but as long as you’ve got bait, you can pursue black drum pretty much anywhere you choose. Like most fish, they bite best on a moving tide, when your bait’s scent disperses over a wide area. They’ll eat halved blue crabs, whole fiddler crabs or mud crabs with backs cracked to let a little scent out, and also live or dead shrimp or fresh cut bait. On the northern end of their range, anglers add clams, mussels and blood worms to the array of baits a drum will eat. As long as your bait is on the bottom and smelling like food, it’s likely to draw the attention of a drum. Rigging and gear are pretty simple. A classic Carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait on bottom will get the job done in most situations. Up in the creeks, where you’ll be doing more casting and maybe even sight fishing, baits can be fished on a jighead or even a simple hook with a split shot. Tackle in the 20-pound class is a good starting point, and it’s wise to beef up to pull big drum off structure. They do get big. The IGFA world record, caught in 1975 off Delaware, weighed 113 pounds, 1 ounce. Fish in the 40- to 50-pound range are regular catches across the drum’s range. Those big fish aren’t good to eat, though. The meat is often full of worms by the time fish reach weights heavier than about 15 pounds. Smaller drum are excellent table fare. For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.

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IT’S GROUPER TIME AGAIN! By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

ay is finally here, opening grouper season for fishermen on the Atlantic Coast. For the past several months of the season closure, charter captains in the Florida Keys have been boasting incredible throw-back grouper catches. The reopening of this species enriches each fishing trip with an extra opportunity for a great fighting fish, which is also excellent tablefare. Grouper fishing can easily be peppered into a day of fishing by dropping a bottom rig down while yellowtail fishing, trolling lures or stopping offshore to deep-drop for snowy grouper while on the mahi hunt. While the fishery in the Keys may not be famous for its bottom fishing, there is no reason it shouldn’t be. Red, black and gag grouper are plentiful and close to land. Snowy grouper aren’t too far either, and can be reasonably reliable to target. Snowy grouper are found within 1,000 feet, and can be targeted with electric or hand-crank set ups. Electric reels are advisable when mahi season is in full swing, as to make quick work of the one-per-boat limit of snowy grouper. The trek offshore for a single fish might seem like a waste of time, but there is a little more to it. Snowy grouper can get quite large and yield impressively sized, excellent tasting fillets. There

are also the welcomed bycatches of rosies, barrelfish and tilefish while deep dropping in these areas. Furthermore, there should be ample opportunities for mahi fishing on the way to and from the spot. Another reason the electric reel is preferable is an 8-pound weight should be used to keep your bait on the bottom in the heavy current. Keep your weight as close to the bottom as you can and utilize a chicken rig, with multiple hooks along the leader, baited with just about anything. Continuously recheck the bottom to make sure it hasn’t gotten away from you, and bring a spare weight or two, as it isn’t overly difficult to lose one while fishing this way. Targeting red, black and gag grouper on the reef can be a little different than typical grouper fishing on the west coast of Florida. Heavy weights can easily get snagged on the rocky bottom in the heavy current, potentially making inexperience quite expensive in terms of lost tackle. There are also plenty of smaller reef fish waiting to pick apart your bait. Over-baiting can be a good tactic, but the most reliable way to bypass these conditions, is to simply freeline a live bait on a jighead. After breaking client’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, we are thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again. Right now is an excellent time to visit the Florida Keys and enjoy our full fishery. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla.

LURES

CASTING FAR: THE DYNAMICS OF LONG DISTANCE LURES

PATRICK SEBILE

’ve enjoyed fishing from the shore since I was a teen angler, and one thing that became obvious to me very quickly was there are numerous situations when casts are a tad bit short to reach targeted fish in specific situations. This is a constant truism when fishing from the bank, the beach, a pier or jetty, but it also applies to boat anglers. Quick, long casts are often required for fastmoving fish like tuna. Long casts are also useful when it’s necessary to keep the boat away from reefs, boulders and breakers for safety or to avoid spooking fish. Long ago, I began making sure to always have lures in my possession that

were especially efficient for reaching out long distances. These lures sometimes trade realistic swimming action for distance, yet there are also a few that find a balance between great range and great action. When you read the packaging of a saltwater lure, and especially a surffishing lure, it often mentions how good the lure is for longdistance casts— or how good it is supposed to be. The problem is, there is no scale. There is no quantifiable reference for comparing lures that honestly presents the real numbers of yards any given lure will deliver. Marketing promises do not

always translate into real performance. To make things more complex, there is theoretical and real distance. A lure that casts great on a parking lot with no breeze can turn into a disaster when casting into an onshore breeze at night, which are conditions many serious fishermen face in the surf. There’s no magic, and what makes some lures reach farther distances than others is a mix between their concept, their balance and, to a certain extent, the gear used to throw them when the goal is to reach a little bit farther than other anglers. This conversation is all about the physics that translates to longer casting distance for better fishing results. The key points that will help you pick the proper lures to do the job are shape, buoyancy, the position of weight on the lure, the total weight and sometimes extra appendages, such as side wings that really help a lure fly as far as possible. These elements are just a primer to a discussion on lures designed for distance. Next month, I plan to go in-depth on ways you can select lures that will truly help you cast super-long distances to reach fish other lures cannot. Arming yourself with a longcasting arsenal gives you an edge in catching fish, simply because you’ll be able put a lure in front of them.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

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Shiner Fishing for Giant Florida

LARGEMOUTHS

ass tournament anglers get excited about 20-pound five-fish limits, and a 30-pound tournament sack is a lifetime achievement for most. It takes a little bit more to impress hawg hunter Sean Rush. Rush makes a living guiding clients to trophy largemouth bass, mostly on Rodman Reservoir in north Florida. The best five fish haul his boat has seen weighed 61 pounds, 9 ounces. Think about that. That’s a more than 12-pound average. Rush said it was the best fishing day he’s ever witnessed, with two fish well over 13 pounds and the smallest of the five weighing a measly 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Most bass anglers across the country spend a lifetime seeking out a single 10-pound-plus largemouth. Rush’s anglers did five lifetime’s worth of trophy catching in a single day on April 26 of 2021. “And we probably lost between three and six fish that were that big or bigger,” Rush added after rattling off the astounding statistics. “Those guys were from New Jersey. They had never done any Florida shiner fishing before. I told them it was all downhill from there.” The downhill slide, however, is not too steep. Even a decent day using Rush’s techniques on Rodman produces results that would impress just about anyone. When it comes to catching big largemouths, he’s got several advantages over your average angler. Location is a big factor. Rodman is a 9,500acre giant bass factory. It is a 15-mile long stump field with a deep river channel running down the middle of it and the matted vegetation Florida

By Nick Carter

fisheries are known for. In more than three decades guiding, Rush said his clients have boated close to 1,000 bass better than 10 pounds. He landed 73 10-plus-pounders last year alone and has overseen the landing of eight fish on FWC’s TrophyCatch Hall of Fame list, which is for fish heavier than 13 pounds. He does 95 percent of his trips on Rodman. “If fishing is good, we commonly catch 30 to 60 fish a day,” he said. “The average size at Rodman is pretty solid. Usually we’ll have fish in the 8- to 10-pound class on the top end of that range.” Tactics are everything when it comes to catching fish like that. Live bait provides a huge advantage over the lures tournament anglers must fish. Rush fishes exclusively with live, wildcaught shiners, which he keeps lively in a huge bait tank on his custom-built, 22-foot Prodigy Razor. The tournament guys can keep their fiberglass glitter rockets. Rush’s sturdy aluminum boat is rigged out for the style of fishing he does, and it’s powered by a 150 hp Mercury with a power-assisted hand tiller. The tackle is also sturdy. Rush pairs heavy duty Daiwa 300 Lexa baitcasting reels with super heavy 7 ½- and 8-foot rods he said are essentially musky rods. He fishes straight 20-pound Berkley Big Game in green, which is thin enough for low visibility and strong enough to get the job done. He hooks his shiners through the tail above the anal fin with 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 Eagle Claw 84s, which

are standard J hooks with a slight offset. In a typical spread, his anglers will work shiners under bobbers set 3 to 5 feet deep, and he’ll throw out one or two shiners on freelines to swim up under the vegetation. For big fish, he prefers shiners 7 to 9 inches long. Rush’s big-fish reputation has gotten around, so he stays booked 300-plus days a year. His favorite time of year is fall, before the December through February spawn. “It’s prespawn, the fishing pressure is lower and the fish are feeding up that time of year,” he said. “The fish are also big then. They look like gorillas.” Late spring and summer are also good, once fish settle back into normal patterns after the spawn. Most of the year he targets them around floating mats of vegetation and deep river bends. The exception is during the spawn, when bass push up on the flats. Rush does not bed fish, though. He’ll set up on mats near known spawning flats and try to catch big females staging. One more thing: don’t call Rush if you want to eat bass or have a trophy mounted. Rodman is managed under regular Florida regulations— which allow five fish, with one fish longer than 16 inches—but Rush’s trips are catch-and-release. “I’m up front and honest about it on the phone,” he said. “If they even talk like they want to keep one, I just won’t take them.” Contact Capt. Sean Rush and Trophy Bass Expeditions of Central Florida through the website at www.floridatrophybass.com.

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Monster Blue Cat Smashes Mississippi Record By CAM Staff

he Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss. has a history of producing giant blue cats. The most recent monster catfish, caught on April 7, weighed 131 pounds and absolutely crushed the existing state rod-and-reel state record. Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, Mississippi, had just set up in a 90-foot-deep hole downstream of Natchez. About five minutes after making his first cast, the big fish took the cut skipjack he was using as bait, according to a report in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “He hit the rod and started pulling drag,”

Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. “We had to untie the boat and float down the river. “I couldn’t move him. I’d pull on him and take in a foot of line and he’d pull and take 10 feet. I just sat there like I was hung up.” After a 40-minute fight on 30-pound line, the angler’s exhaustion made hauling the fish into the boat a chore. Cronley has caught 50-pound fish from the area before, and he didn’t

realize exactly how big this fish was until he put eyes on it. Then, it was time to start looking for a certified scale with the capacity to weigh such an enormous fish. Cronley’s fish waited on ice for three days before he was able to get a certified weight. Fish lose weight when they are out of the water. The Clarion Ledger reported that the fish had an initial weight of 138 pounds on uncertified scales. Even out of the water for three days, Cronley’s blue cat shattered the previous rod-and-reel state record of 95 pounds, caught from the Mississippi near Natchez in 2009. In 1997, a 101-pound Mississippi trophy record blue catfish was caught in the same stretch of river. The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue catfish is 143 pounds. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia in 2011. Cronley’s catch, if certified by IGFA, would possibly be a new 30-pound line class record. The 30-pound line class record stands at 111 pounds. It was caught in 1996 from Wheeler Reservoir in Alabama. For more Mississippi fishing records, visit mdwfp.com.

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Captain Jim - KY 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: April 9th, 2022

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

KENTUCKY MUSKIE CHARTERS - CAVE RUN LAKE

The Spring Muskie fishing on Cave Run Lake in Morehead KY with Kentucky Muskie Charters produces fantastic big Muskie on many days and the occasional 30-pounder as well! We troll and cast Captain Jim “Magic” lures concentrating on main creek

By Captain Jim Durham

channel points as well as long sandy flats with lots of “hiding place” stumps. Look for large schools of bait. Our award-winning guide, Bob Kisler, can put you on huge fish!

KENTUCKY WALLEYE CHARTERS - LAUREL LAKE

Laurel Lake, located west of Corbin, Kentucky, is one of the top Walleye lakes in America! Our Kentucky Walleye Charters guides are Fred Hoskins, Gary Harris, and Bracken Castle. They are KY licensed guides who have many years of fishing experience for Walleye on Laurel Lake. We offer both day and night trips. The fishing is phenomenal! We fish live bait as well as troll, and cast Captain Jim “Walleye Magic” lures concentrating on where creek channels hit the river channels.

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 14 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.

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UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Lower Saluda Scenic River https://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/river/scenic/saluda.html

ten-mile section of the Saluda River in Lexington and Richland Counties, from below Lake Murray Dam to the confluence with the Broad River, was designated a State Scenic River in 1991. The Saluda Scenic River (commonly known as the “Lower Saluda”) is recognized as an outstanding recreational resource. The tailrace waters from Lake Murray reservoir provide a cold water fishery and varying river flows for recreational boating. Popular activities on the lower Saluda includes fishing for trout and striped bass, whitewater and flatwater paddling, and tube floating. Partners for the Lower Saluda Scenic River Project serve on a local advisory council, which represents local landowners, river users, community interests, and SCDNR. Participation has included Trout Unlimited, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, SCPRT (Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism), River Runner Outdoor Center, SC Electric and Gas Company, Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission, Palmetto Paddlers, Congaree Riverkeeper, Shaw Industries, American Whitewater, American Rivers, and The River Alliance. Management plans for the river include the 1990 Lower Saluda River Corridor Plan and the 2000 Lower Saluda Scenic River Corridor Plan Update. Go to the Lower Saluda Corridor Planning Project Page to see plan documents.

Recreational Access

There are currently four public access points on the Lower Saluda River. See the river map to get your bearings. Hope Ferry landing (on south bank) and Saluda Shoals Park (north bank) – These provide the only public ramps for trailered boat

launches on the river. Hope Ferry landing is accessed from Corley Mill Road which connects with SC Hwy 6 and US Hwy 378. Saluda Shoals Regional Park - Open daily, admission fees are charged. River access facilities include a boat ramp, canoe launch, decked overlook to the river, and miles of nature trails along the river. Enter the park from Bush River Road which connects with SC Hwy 6 and I-20. Gardendale/SCE&G Put-in This access is 3.5 miles downstream from Hope Ferry and Saluda Shoals Park. The site provides access for boats that can be carried in. The location is on the north bank near the Gardendale community and Rivers Edge Retreat off Garden Valley Road which is accessed from Bush River Road near I-20. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens - Open daily, admission fees are charged. With entrance to Riverbanks, you can enjoy zoological and botanical exhibits, nature trails and a pedestrian bridge with views of Mill Race Rapids, historic structures, and more within the property. Riverbanks is located off Greystone Blvd which connects with I-126. NOTE: public access for river use (paddling, fishing, swimming) is no longer provided from the Zoo parking lots. Going the Distance - Boaters can run the entire Lower Saluda through its confluence with the Broad River by taking out at landings on the Congaree River. Two carry-in boat access sites are located immediately downstream of Gervais Street Bridge (US Hwy 1), one on the east bank at Senate Street and one on the west bank at the amphitheater. Gervais Street Bridge is 10 miles downstream from Hope Ferry and Saluda Shoals Park. Public landings with ramps are located 2 and 3 miles downstream of Gervais Street Bridge on the east and

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west banks of the Congaree.

Safety Considerations

Water conditions on the Lower Saluda River can be Dangerous to all river users. Before using this river be aware of: • Rapidly changing water levels • Strong currents • Cold water • Large rapids

Consider the following ower Saluda River conditions and precautions:

• Water flow conditions can change rapidly within a couple of hours because of releases from the hydroelectric power facility at Lake Murray. Daily river flows may range from 400 to 20,000 cubic feet per second. Daily river levels may range from 2 to 10 feet. • The river water is cold, about 60 degrees F, because it comes from deep within Lake Murray. Swimmers can experience hypothermia, even in the summer. • Major rapids, up to Class V, begin downstream of the I-26 bridge. Many rapids have large hydraulics. • All river users who are boating, swimming, or wading should

wear life jackets. • Mill Race Rapids Should Be Portaged. Walk Around It! A portage trail begins in a power line right-of-way just upstream of Mill Race Rapids on the right bank (south side) of the river.

Water Levels

Water flow in the Lower Saluda changes all the time. For the latest information check the following sources: • S.C. Electric and Gas Company • U.S. Geological Survey - South Carolina stream-gaging stations: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/sc/ nwis/current/?type=flow Look for two stations: - Saluda River Below Lake Murray Dam - Saluda River Near Columbia, SC

Contacts

For additional information about the Lower Saluda Scenic River Project contact: Bill Marshall South Carolina Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202 Telephone: (803) 734-9096

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MAY 2022

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Boing, Boing, Booom!

pringtime top water fishing… my favorite time of the year. Who doesn’t like watching a fish blow up on your bait? It is a feeling that gives you chills to your bones when it happens! Time and time again, I get asked by clients when is the best time to start throwing topwater? What line should I use or what rod, and so on. Well, the answer depends on so many things, such as the type of lake you are on or the type of top water lures you’re using. If you’re on a natural lake with mud flats and shallow areas, these lakes will start much sooner for top water bites because they heat up faster than a reservoir lake with step banks and grass. If you see grass starting to pop out of the water or see the green starting to pop out of the dead cattails, it’s time! If you are wearing a tee shirt, it’s time! In the spring when

By Steve McClone

you start throwing top water you may only get 1 or 2 bites; however, they are usually big quality bass 4lb-plus fish! My lure of choice in the spring is a Boing Lures Ice Shad walking style bait. The Boing lure technology is next level with nothing else like it in the industry. The Technology creates high and low spectrum frequencies simultaneously stimulating the fish to go crazy! I mean crazy! They hit that bait with so much force that they send it through the air if the angler doesn’t hook himself. The Boing lure creates a burst of acoustic and electrical signals that convey directly to the fish’s brain and makes it go nuts! This bait is very easy to walk and very strong! You can hit it off trees, rocks, grass, boats, etc. and it still holds up! When fishing early, I target wood, flats, and shallow areas early in the spring

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and gradually go deeper when the water gets warmer. Don’t be afraid to throw this bait in 20ft of water! Especially fishing smallmouth; fish will come a very long way to hit this bait. I like using 20lb P-Line Hydrofloat Spectra or TCB Braid. You can see it easily and make long casts because it is ultra-buoyant and low stretch. I pair this with a Piscifun Phantom Baitcasting reel 7:1 Gear Ration on a Big Bear 7’6 Medium Heavy fast tip original Big Bear rod. This rod gives you good action and enough strength for a good hook set. Your fishing combo is key on fishing these style baits. It’s different for everyone however this combo works great for me and my clients. Having faith in your bait and gear will take you a long way. Just because it didn’t work one day doesn’t mean you did it wrong or it doesn’t work. Let the fish tell

you what they want. They may want the bait to walk 4 or 5 times then pause or a strait retrieve. Vary the cadence until you get a bite. Pay attention to the fish’s forage so that you’re throwing colors of what they are eating. You will get less bites fishing something they don’t eat! The next time you throw top water, remember to feel the fish before you set the hook, don’t set the hook when you see the blow up. If the fish misses, it could come back and hit it again and again until it grabs the bait… You never know it could be your new PB!

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Lake Hartwell Fishing Forecast for May 2022 By Preston Harden

Water level-full Water temp.-65

ish are shallow and eating. May is the most consistent and reliable month of the year. Most game fish have spawned and are hungry. Early mornings are the best time to find feeding fish. Hybrids and stripers are in their spring pattern. They are spread out mostly up the lake

and in the major creeks. They are feeding on shad and blue back herring. Pulling a lively herring with no weight will get slammed by any nearby hybrid or striper. Large mouth and spotted bass will also eat the herring. Herring imitations like a buck tail jig and fluke will get bit. Stay shallow all month for all game fish. Try to fish early or late or all day when it’s cloudy.

Preston Harden / Bucktail Guide Service / 706-255-5622 / bucktailguideservice.com

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 9

Small Waters Can Bring Big Rewards in The Spring

By Jay Striker

efore there was a big bass boat with a 250HP Mercury with Power Poles and high stakes to compete for, there were the small waters of Georgia, where I fell in love with fishing. Having fished so many small waters, there are some basic things to keep in mind that will help you be successful. When you go, remember to study your surroundings, be as quiet as possible, and have the equipment and the right lures to be successful. Study your surroundings: Understanding your surroundings makes pond fishing much more enjoyable. Know how to approach the body of water you are going to fish. One key is finding a remote pond, perhaps on a map, or ask some of your friends where are the good ponds to fish. Here in Georgia, there is the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center which has over 15 different ponds and lakes that have some great fishing. You can also contact your state DNR office and ask them where to find accessible waters to fish. Be sure to be safe, as some of these small waters will have you walking through some really tough brush to reach un-touched waters to possibly hang a trophy of a lifetime. Being very quiet is one key to success, especially if you are fishing from the bank. I like to stalk the bank, which means walking slowly around the pond, not making a lot of noise. You don’t want to spook them away. Be sure to stand back from the edge of the water and make long casts to the lake. On windy days, cast into the wind rather than with the wind, because pond bass like to set up where their meals drift by. Casting into the wind allows for that presentation.

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Most ponds will have clear water and an elevated shoreline, so as you rise up over the pond, they can see you. Wear some type of drab or camo patterns to break up your profile. Having the right equipment and lures: When deciding to fish these little special lakes, having the right stuff is key. If you are fishing from the bank, having a small backpack will help carry all of the lures you need to have. Baits that are musthaves are topwater baits, Texas rigged worms, frogs, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits should be more than enough to enjoy the day of fishing. Minnows will get the attention of a lot of bass in ponds, but be sure to ask permission to fish minnows. If you are fishing from a small boat, be sure that you have all the safety equipment you need. Be sure to stay back away from the bank with your boat and try not to bang your tackle and rod against the boat, as it will spook the bass near you. Places to target on small ponds are brush piles, stumps fields, channels break and drop-offs, rocks, and grass flats. This is the time of year to consider heading out to the small waters and taking a chance on bass that are less pressured and willing to bite. Knowing your surroundings, being stealthy and having the right equipment will help you have a great day on one of the local ponds. Be sure you get permission to fish private ponds, and if you get permission, be sure to leave it better than you found it. Take care, and thanks for all of the support and comments you share with me on social media at Jaystriker.52 on IG and FB. Take care and tight lines.

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Signs of The Season By Karl Ekberg

t’s full swing spring here in the Chattooga and Chauga River valleys. River levels are great, with plenty of spring rains to keep the water table at a great level headed into early summer. April temperatures have been up-and-down the thermometer all month, keeping the river from the high forties to the mid-fifties. These river temperature levels have produced great-guided fishing trips with good quantities of fish and some large fish as well. The Walhalla State Fish Hatchery has been stocking great numbers of fish in both the Delayed Harvest and other sections of both rivers. Along with the great stocking this spring, there have also been some very large fish released as well from the

Hatchery, in all sections of the rivers. Temperatures in the early mornings in the mid-forties, rising to the mid-sixties and seventies, have been producing great hatches on the rivers. As the hatches progress with the warmer weather, we look forward to seeing many more May Flies and Caddis, please stop by the Fly Shop and check out the “Hot List” for hatch updates. Streamer fishing has also been producing a good number of fish as well, and looks to continue throughout May, as many more baitfish spawn throughout the rivers. Another large emergence is of the Oak Worms. These fine little creatures are a tasty treat that even the largest of trout cannot

Continued, see SIGNS OF THE SEASON Page 12

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James Sherrill with an AMAZING Chauga Brown.

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON continued from page 11 pass up as they fall from the trees into the rivers. Casting imitations of these, into over-hanging bushes, and dead drifting them with a twitching technique will be very beneficial, to a large day on the river. Wherever you may find these worms dangling from their silk lines from the trees, do not hesitate to stop and watch the worm finally hit the water,

and see what happens! The next process is to work your way into a good vantage point to make your cast to the fish, which just ate the natural. Do not worry about a delicate cast, even splat the worm on the water, will be just as effective, as they also fall out of the trees from far above. As the late spring temperatures rise, fishing the shady areas of the

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rivers will be essential, as the fish will move out of the high sun and warmer temperature waters. Let’s all remember to “leave no trace”. Packing out with what you brought in with you is essential, and bringing something back out with you that someone else

has left behind does not hurt either, to keep our beautiful streams and rivers how they should be. Keeping them clean now, means future generations will still be able to enjoy what we are enjoying now!

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.

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Fly of the Month - Howell’s Memory Maker

By Tom Adams, Alen Baker www.rockyrivertu.org/dry-fly-patterns.html

e are blessed, in North Carolina, with a creative fly tyer who happens to own and operate a very successful fly shop in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. Kevin Howell is the son of the legendary Don Howell who is well known for creating highly productive Southern Appalachian fly patterns. This is a fly that has been proven on many streams on many occasions with many clients where Kevin’s future reputation as a guide has been on the line. We consider the fly a modern Southern Appalachian fly pattern as professionals like Kevin continue to carry on the traditions of his father and uncle Doug Howell-both legends of a past generation. “Soft hackled flies have been in existence for over two hundred years. As a guide, it has always been a go to fly for me!” says Kevin. “Over the years, you start to experiment with different colors and variations. For the last 9 years, I have been tying and fishing the Memory Maker. I originally designed the fly with a copper colored brass bead, but over the years, I have found that a copper colored tungsten bead is far more productive. The fly is designed to imitate emerging caddis larvae. For years, this was a fly that I kept in reserve for those hard days you encounter as a fishing guide and needed something to get a client hooked up on a fish. The Memory Maker can be fished both on the dead drift and on the swing. Over the years, this fly has made countless memories for my clients as well as helped me win a few fly fishing tournaments.” Wet flies were once a primary means of fly fishing for trout. Soft hackled flies are wet flies

that typically imitate or suggest emerging caddis, possibly the pupa stage of the metamorphosis. When the soft hackled fly is put to motion by the currents or by the angler, the hackles pulsate and trout are attracted to the lifelike movements. The copper color gives the appearance of an air bubble and the tungsten bead itself gives more focused weight to quickly sink the fly down in front of feeding trout in the water column or near bottom. This fly pattern may be fished much like a nymph, as a dropper to a dry fly or even as a trailer to another wet fly or streamer fly pattern. Howell’s Memory Maker- Rocky River Fly of the Month 5.14 Hook: Tiemco 2457 or equivalent Size: 12, 14, 16, 18 Thread: 8/0 Uni Black or equivalent Bead: (weight) Copper tungsten, to size Body: Peacock herl Rib: Opal tinsel Hackle: (collar) Brown Hungarian partridge Directions: Detailed tying steps may be found at the Rocky River Chapter of Trout Unlimited at www.rockyrivertu.org/dry-flypatterns.html/ 1. Bead goes on hook in regular fashion, but do not bind against the eye when making wraps to the hook bend (see step 5/6). Mount hook in vise. 2. Begin touching thread wraps to the hook bend and back to the two thirds mark. Tie in opal tinsel and wrap smoothly to the hook bend. Set the opal tinsel

out of the way and advance the thread to the two thirds mark. Let the bobbin hang. 3. Select four or five peacock herls and tie in where the bobbin is hanging. Tie the herl in by the bottom or fat part of the stem. Wrap the herl with thread to the hook bend keeping the bundle of herl on top of the hook. Take the thread back to the two thirds mark and let the bobbin hang. 4. Gather the bundle of herl and twist as you wrap it forward to the two thirds mark. Wrap it back again to the hook bend and once more to the two thirds mark. The herl will be getting thinner and more fragile, but at the same time the color and iridescence will become more pronounced. This thinner part of the herl should be the top layer of wraps, from the bend to the two thirds mark. Tie the herl in still leaving room to bring the bead back to the two thirds mark. 5. Wrap the opal tinsel forward in open wraps to the two thirds mark and secure with

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thread wraps. Note : The bead is not at the head or eye. Whip finish and cut the thread. 6. Position the bead against the herl at the two thirds mark and tie in front making even wraps to the eye. Bring the thread back to the bead and let the bobbin hang. 7. Select a brownish partridge feather and using tweezers, hold the center stem at the tip and pull back the longer desirable feathers with your fingers. Tie the partridge in by the small triangular section with the natural curve of the feather cupping over the bead head. Neaten the tie in and cut any excess. Using hackle pliers, wrap one to two turns, gently stroking the feather barbs toward the bend as you wrap. Secure with two to three thread wraps, avoid trapping any barbs. Whip finish and cut the thread. 8. Trim away the excess partridge and apply head cement if desired.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA GREAT SMOKIES

Lake Chatuge May Hybrids and Spotted Bass

he hybrid bass bite is in full swing. These Lake Chatuge monsters are right in the midst of their spring spawn. Currently, they are feeding pretty aggressively on bait in the backs of creeks and in shallow areas around the mouths of creeks. The far south end and far upper ends of the lake have been pretty decent. We are seeing most of our fish in the 25 to 50 foot range. Your early morning and late evening bites will be the best. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring and shad will be your best technique. Towards the end of this month, we’ll start to see these hard-fighting fish school up in the mouths of creeks and off points around the lake. When these hybrids school up, it can most certainly make for an unforgettable fishing trip. We typically average 30 to 60 hybrids

By Darren Hughes

in a morning and sometimes in less than 2 hours. These fish will range in sizes from 6-15 pounds and fight like no other. Also, look for an awesome top-water bite to get fired up soon. I usually keep a Red Fin or a spook at the ready. The spotted bass bite has also been excellent. Fish should be coming up off their beds and are super hungry. They will be schooling up off shallow points and humps throughout the lake. Recently, we have been boating 25 to 30 fish a trip. A lot of these spots have been averaging 4 to 6 pounds. Focus on shallow areas around creeks and off points and humps. Down-lining live bluebacks has worked the best. Also, watch for a strong top-water bite to start. When these schooling spots start chasing up bait and busting on the surface, they’ll hit almost anything

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you can throw at them. May is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy hybrids and spots on this North Georgia lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Chatuge’s best trophy hybrids during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s and

Blairsville, Georgia’s premier fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Hiwassee and Nottely, 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!

Darren Hughes is a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team and a guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www.bigolfish.com or give him a call at (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

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Lake Hiwassee Monster Stripers; Springtime Striper Fishing in Murphy, NC

By Shane Goebel

t’s time for some monster trophy stripers on Lake Hiwassee. Yup, it’s May…. Our favorite time of year for the big-uns. I’m talking about those reel screaming, line pulling, explosive hits that will make you wanna’ smack your granny it’s so awesome. No offense to granny, but this is most definitely the best time of year for trophy fish. May brings in the warmer weather, which get these stripers in the mood for spawning and really fires up the bite. We’ll also start catching numbers as well. And, let me tell you about catching these beasts on some ultra-lite tackle too. Shew-wee talk about fun! There’s nothing more exhilarating then catching a striper on a crappie rod with lite line lol... So, if you’re looking for something to do or you’re an avid fisherman looking for that record fish, give us a holler and get your fish on with the area’s #1 guide service. We specialize in striper and hybrid fishing. Check out Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service on our Facebook and Instagram pages and give us a like. Currently Lake Hiwassee is around 15 feet below full pool. Clarity is mostly clear and slightly stained in the rivers. Water temps have been in the low 60’s. The striper bite has been wicked lately! We are starting

to catch some good numbers, Averaging 15 to 20 stripers a morning. The majority of our stripers have been in the 15 to 30 pound range. In the early part of the month, you’ll still find a lot of these fish in their spring spawning areas in the backs of creeks and in the river. As the month progresses, they’ll start working their way back to deeper water in the mouths of creeks and around shallow humps all over the lake. The early morning and late afternoon bite has been the best for catching these beasts. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live herring will be your best technique. As the sun comes up, it never hurts to throw out a couple of down lines. Try to pay attention to areas that are holding a lot of baitfish—the stripers will be close by. Also, watch for an awesome top-water bite to fire up. I always like to keep a Red Fin or a spook at the ready to work the banks as we troll around. Just keep an eye out for busting fish. May is a fantastic month for catching a lot of trophy stripers on this Western 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 fulltime guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake

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Apalachia for smallmouth and trout. 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

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Fishing in May

By James McManus

s I am writing this, we are far from water, visiting kids and grandkids in New Mexico. A change in scenery is exciting for a time but it also gives you a chance to re-appreciate what we have at home. All the creek beds here are dry as a chip, our rental car papers stated that, because of the shortage of rain, they are no longer washing their cars, not that my truck gets washed that often but that’s just laziness on my part. Not sure how far I would have to drive to fish but not even going there. All this is to say there aren’t many places I would rather be than the NC mountains. Most of the fish I have caught lately have had bellies reminiscent of mine at Thanksgiving. The few I have kept provided roe and scrambled eggs and fried roe and fillets; some of my favorites growing up around pond fare. By

May, many will have deposited their offspring and began to refill with shad, crickets, crawdads and everything within reach. This is one of the most productive months, with lots of top water action thrown in. My favorite are the stripers with lots of gulls still around, which makes for an exciting sight, casting to pods of breaking fish. Spooks, jerkbaits, spoons, and willow rod streamers all work when you get close enough to the action. Although Fontana no longer has a viable walleye fishery, you may slip up on one while Bass fishing. Our Spotted Bass are again in good shape after a couple of down years. This fall was as good as it has ever been and no reason to think this spring will be any different. Now’s the time to hit the banks with your favorite lure or bait, they should all work. Until the temps climb and the fish move

offshore, this time of year makes experts of us all. Remember our brown fish, the smallmouth need a little protection so please release them, keep a few spots for the table and enjoy this

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season. Not many places are as blessed to have so many fishing options available. Give me a shout if you want to get a few and bring those younguns. Later, Capt. James

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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Bumper Stickers for Trout Bums

he problem with tattoos is that I can think of few things I will never change my mind on. Get dumped by the first girlfriend you tattoo on your arm and the best you can hope for is a girl with the same name. This is somewhat the same problem I have with bumper stickers. Besides their longevity, I have problems finding a preprinted sticker that says exactly what I want. Some set the wrong tone. Others just become trite with time. For instance, “Bite Me” sounds like a good fishing slogan until you break down in front of a motorcycle bar. You might end up getting something resembling roadside assistance from fourteen guys with tire irons. “Fish Tremble at the Sound of My Name” comes across as overly arrogant for me. At the sound of my name, fish are more likely to

By Jim Mize

chuckle or smirk. Some I just don’t understand, such as “Fishin’ Impossible.” Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or a sign you fish with explosives? I like the ring of “A fish ate my homework.” Forty years ago, that would have been perfect. Today, it would be more truthful to suggest “I fish between naps.” You can start to see my dilemma. I want to be careful and exact about the statement I make because with it on my back bumper, I never know when I’m saying it or to whom I’m saying it. So I’ve been saving plenty of space on my bumper for just the right message. Rather than waiting until I see it, I’ve decided to offer up a few of my own. Should a bumper-sticker-company executive happen to read this, I’ll definitely buy one of these if you print up a bunch.

So here are my bumper stickers for discriminating trout bums like me. 1) Fly fishermen strip on every cast 2) Honk if you have fins 3) I’m not as old as I look . . . these are water wrinkles 4) Give a man a fish and he’ll throw it back 5) I’d rather be lying 6) A bad day fishing reminds me of a story . . . 7) Vote your drift 8) A good fly is like a martini . . . dry 9) Tie one on 10) Hey fish, want me to take you to my leader? 11) Get your hackles up 12) I’ll give up my gun when my pawnbroker gets in a nice 4-weight Sage 13) They are ALL afraid of my big, bad Wulff 14) If you can read this, will you tie on my midge? 15) My cat hacked up a flymph 16) If you like my casting, call 1-800-GOT-FISH 17) I brake for backing 18) My Honor Student has a trout stamp 19) I came, I saw, I got hung 20) If you’re a nymph fisherman, your fly is always down Note to the bumper-stickercompany executive: Being a nymph fisherman myself, I’m partial to that last one. And if at all possible, please use colors that look good on a medium-gray truck. Now that I’ve taken care of

that, all I need to do now is either have this tattoo removed or meet another girl named Penelope. You can probably guess why I started with the bumper stickers. -THE END-

A Creek Trickles Through It A Collection of Fly-Fishing Humor

A Creek Trickles Through It was awarded First Place in the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Excellence in Craft Competition. This humorous collection delves into such topics as carnivorous trees, persnickety trout, and the dangers of fly-tying. Whether you are an armchair fisherman or one with well-earned leaky waders, A Creek Trickles Through It will be a welcome addition to your fishing library. Jim has received over eighty Excellence-In-Craft awards including one for his first book, The Winter of Our Discount Tent, and most recently, Hunting With Beanpole. You can order his books from Amazon or purchase autographed copies through his website at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com 18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 19

Adapt and Overcome

By Ronnie Parris

hether it be life throwing you a curve in your work or your personal life, it’s inevitable that it’s gonna’ happen, your gonna’ have 2 choices: Number one, you can give up and feel sorry for yourself or number two, you can look for the best option to

change the situation and make it a “glass half full” scenario. I choose number two. You can always look around and see someone else that has it worse than you. Same thing applies to fishing; one day your killing them and can’t seem to do anything wrong and then, you guessed it, you hit the water

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

smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com

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and either the fish have moved or just plain won’t hit or won’t hit the way you were catching them. You got a couple of choices to make. You can either go home and wait ‘till you hear they’re biting well again, which if you’re a guide is not an option. Number two, you can try a different lake, which is not a bad ploy, or you can try and figure out a method that works where you are. Fontana is notorious for this, as it can offer a wide-open bite or as some guys say, the Dead Sea. With the lake level fluctuations, it’s no wonder. Also, the overabundance of bait causes the fish to get awfully picky at times. Sometimes it’s as simple as riding around, slowly watching your fish finder, which is usually

best. Another great source is your angler buddies that fish. Usually if you got 4 or 5 people fishing, someone will figure out a pattern. Just remember if you’re the one that finds it, you better let your buddy know or he won’t be so fast to help when he figures it out. Sometimes it’s a barometric thing and they just don’t hit well. Same with hunting pressure, as it really plays a big role in movement. Bottom line? Don’t give up and usually you will figure it out. I’m bad to keep notes of stuff to try and come up with patterns. Just cover ground, and watch where, and what, you catch; usually you will figure it out. Hope everyone is having a great year and as always, take a kid fishing.

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

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21

The Casting Corner By Rene Hesse

Brief Terms and Descriptions

ere are some sayings that may stick in your head. These are things that we use to help simplify casting terms and situations.

Loading the rod:

SLP:

The stroke length and arc must increase as the amount of line out of the rod tip increases. The power application is a smooth constant rate of acceleration to a stop. This is after the lift portion on the back cast, and then be smooth but constantly accelerated on the forward cast to a stop.

Straight line path of the rod tip. This will give tighter loops.

RSP:

Rod straight position: The point in the cast that the line starts off the rod tip to form the loop.

Loops:

The shape of the line as it carries the fly to the target.

Remove the slack:

Start the cast once the fly is moving.

Drifting:

The rearward movement of the Bending the rod against the casting hand after the stop in the weight of the fly line. back, to lengthen the stroke. This Short cast, short stroke is a good method of curing creep.

and long cast, long stroke:

Pause on the back cast:

Creep:

An early rotation of the rod toward the target before starting the forward casting stroke. A casting error.

Pop and stop:

Refers to the delayed rotation of the wrist at the end of the casting stroke

Down-up, down-up:

The line hand movement in a double haul.

Let the line extend without Tailing loop: losing tension or falling too Caused by the rod tip dipping much.

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and coming back up. Things that cause the dip are; An erratic or abrupt application of power, too short of a casting stroke for the amount of line out of the rod tip, creeping (see above) and trajectory.

&*%^&#$@#:

Generally said after missing an easy cast due to excitement. These are helpful descriptions to know when you go to get a casting lesson. Getting to know the terms, cause/corrections are important if you want to become a better caster. The only thing that will really help is practice and doing it right. Forming bad habits is easy to do and hard to correct. Go fish!

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23

Ready For Action

e have reached the three seasons of spring. We have prespawn, spawn, and post spawn and you can find bass in all three stages at the same time. If you see fisherman controlling bedding areas, there is nothing to worry about. You can hit bass in so many directions that the chance of not catching bass is very slim. Once you see the water temperatures hit 50 degrees, you will notice a change in bass behavior has already started. The urge to feed and procreate is so strong that bad weather conditions are not even a factor at a point. We all know that postfrontal conditions are the cause of a nonproductive day until you get near the spawn. If you’re just getting into bass fishing, you need to understand

By Scott Norton

the basic fundamentals of the life cycle of your fish. Bass this time of year will migrate much like a bird do when flying south for the winter. They will migrate to different features of the lake based on temperature and time of year. In the spring, when bass think about the spawn, nature tells them to make their pilgrimage to back to where it all began. To make it simple for the beginner, hit the usual spots like the secondary points leading into the backs of creeks where the spawning bays are. Do not sit in one area too long because this is counterproductive. You just need to get a clue where the bass are concentrating. Lots of times when you find one, you will find a school of them and firing up that school is so easy. To fire up a school, you just have to get these

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bass back in the water as fast as you can and get that lure back in. They will get very aggressive when they are in a competitive atmosphere. Now, for those with experience, you can play that elevation game. Here in the mountains, the water temps will stay cold for a longer time period than water in the lower elevations. Starting further south or just going lower at the end of winter will put you ahead of the season, with the water temperatures rising earlier in the season. You will want to move up in elevation or go north to extend that part of the spawn season you desire. Once you reach the end of the season, you can

move back down to get past the post-spawn funk. Having experience will pay off once you figure this out. You can also target just the big bass by using those big baits. The problem with warming temperatures is that all the small bass get a ferocious appetite. You will catch a lot of small ones before catching you quality sizes. To eliminate this ratio, start with using your big baits or upsize as much as you can. Your red colors are good for those big females looking for the iodine in crayfish that aids in breaking those egg sacks free for the spawn. Try these methods and have fun this year because that is what it is all about.

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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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 25

EAST TENNESSEE GREAT SMOKIES

We Catch, We Release… But Why?

oo many times to count, I’ve knelt in the shallows of a river or mountain stream, earnestly chanting, “Come on, buddy—come on, buddy.” No, I wasn’t trying to coax a reluctant retriever puppy into the water, though I’ve done that too. I was practicing a ritual, devoutly adhered to by millions of fishing brethren, the purpose of which was to preserve the fragile life resting in my hands. I had caught, so I had to release—alive and well, if at all possible. Lately, seems I’ve been pondering on that ritual more than ever. I’m in my fourth decade now of doing this catch and release thing, having begun well before Brad Pitt fake-fished his way into cinema and angling history in the movie that made “fly fishing” virtually a household phrase (to be fair, it’s said that Mr. Pitt later became a pretty good angler.) So, I was an early true believer, including C&R in my largely self-administered flyfishing education, much because it was the gospel being preached far and wide at the time. Resistors of the word, as it were, (and even the unenlightened) were but infidels to the purists and their followers. Self-righteous times, they were. We fly fishing newbies embraced the idea and practice with little questioning, as the indoctrination was pretty intense. Fishing friends, guides and outfitters, magazines, TV shows,

By David Ramsey

instruction schools, equipment makers— all were proselytizers. Now, all these years later and like many other anglers, apparently, I find myself drilling down on both the concept and its practice and examining more closely whether it is truly a good thing for fish and fishing itself. Consider that when Lee Wulff, the legendary father of C&R, proclaimed, “Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once,” it was, after all, the 1930s, and the state of fishing and health of fish populations in America were very different from that of today. Something, many things actually, were needed then to counter the severe impact of extreme overharvesting, rapid industrial, residential and commercial development and massive pollution and degradation of streams, lakes and other waters. C&R, both deliberately and inadvertently, became one of various tools and practices that helped mitigate and reverse these impacts, particularly overharvesting, and ensure sustainability of affected fish populations.

There is little question that C&R has proved highly successful as a conservation mechanism. That success can easily be measured by the decades of increasing local, national and international awareness, interest, work and money, directed toward preserving specific fish populations and vital stream, river, lake and marine ecosystems (I, myself, was fortunate to be part of the successful and permanent preservation of a 10,000-acre Blue Ridge watershed that is a vital and historic brook trout fishery.) And, of course, the growth and success of conservation happened synergistically with the extraordinary growth of sport fishing and the massive industry and economy that came with it. For all of this, C&R was arguably a primary catalyst. Fast forward to the present and we see the C&R waters seem to have gotten a little muddy, certainly on the ethical front and the ecological, economic and political as well. The phenomenal popularity of sport fishing (and fly fishing in particular), to which C&R has greatly contributed, is itself having an ecological impact on fish populations and habitats, which in turn, spurs those social and political controversies. On many famous Montana trout rivers, for example, they call this problem of overcrowding and overfishing Rivergeddon. Where I live, the South Holston

and Watauga Rivers often look like $500-a-boat theme park rides, minus the characters in goofy costumes (actually, they’re out there some, too). Then there’s the serious ethical stuff, like whether fish feel the pain of the hook (science now says they do); or whether they are typically played and handled carefully enough to keep them from dying anyway after they’re released (up to 20% or more are not); or exactly why we play with fish, often to their distress and/ or demise, and let ‘em go, but we don’t lasso wild deer, antelope or elk or pop turkeys and geese with paintball guns for our personal entertainment. Hmmm—want to tackle that one? I didn’t write this piece to even pretend to have answers to the countless big questions swirling around C&R. But all the pondering I mentioned doing has helped me to answer perhaps the biggest question of them all. Namely, what would happen if we ended the practice of catch and release tomorrow? I’ll wager the answer will be obvious to you, too. So…until somebody comes up with a legitimate, feasible scheme that can equal C&R’s incredible track record of global conservation success; keep bazillions of dollars flowing to conservation causes everywhere and tens, maybe hundreds of millions of people, worldwide, passionately engaged with the great outdoors—and defending it—I will continue to crimp my barb, play her carefully and swiftly when she strikes and go to her without letting her miss a breath. I will keep her and the ritual alive, if I possibly can.

David Arthur Ramsey is an outdoor photographer, writer and conservationist, born and raised in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee. His outdoor writing and photography have been published locally, regionally and nationally and are most often associated with work to preserve and protect threatened lands and waters throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains. 26 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 27

An Unlikely Journey

oone Reservoir, located at the conflux of the Holston and Watauga rivers in East Tennessee, is named after famed frontiersman, Daniel Boone, who explored the area. Now the lake christened after him is being explored by another pioneer – F1 bass (F1 bass are a first-generation cross between a Florida largemouth and a northern largemouth, the latter a Tennessee native.). This fast-growing, hard-fighting largemouth bass path into Tennessee waters started in an unusual way. A large sinkhole developed near Boone Reservoir dam in 2014, creating an opportunity for this strain to tantalize Tennessee anglers. In order to repair the sinkhole, the Tennessee Valley Authority lowered the lake 30 feet below full summer pool, providing an opportunity for the TVA and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to plant grasses and install other structures to

By Larry Woody

improve habitat. With the best possible habitat in place, TWRA wanted to make the most of the opportunity to stock F1 largemouth bass in the lake. The F1 strain of largemouth has been a big reason for the great bass fishing in Chickamauga Reservoir over the past decade, and the agency hopes to expand that success. Last year, TWRA stocked 50,000 two-inch F1 fingerlings in the 4,500acre Boone Reservoir. Reservoir manager John Hammonds says some of the fingerlings reached eight inches in a year’s time. “That’s a phenomenal growth rate,” he says. “That’s one of the advantages of F1 bass – they grow fast. And not only do they grow fast, they are very aggressive…Fishermen like big, aggressive bass. The F1 bass stocking had the support of most of our local bass anglers who were consulted about the stocking.” How big do F1 bass get? The

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state-record largemouth, caught in Chickamauga Reservoir in 2015 by Gabe Keen, was an F1 product. The Chickamauga lunker weighed 15 pounds, 3 ounces, shattering the former state largemouth record of 14 pounds, 1 ounce, that had stood for over a half-century. Chickamauga was one of a few selected Tennessee impoundments to receive Florida-strain stockings 15 years ago. Assuming there were other bass in Chickamauga the size of Keen’s in 2015, imagine how big they are now. But, what’s the difference between a Florida bass and an F1 bass? It’s the latter’s genetic ability to thrive in colder environments. Pure Florida bass prefer Florida temperatures, while F1 are at home in cooler waters. The state-record Chickamauga bass was caught on a freezing day in February. “That’s the advantage of F1s,” Hammonds says. “They do well in cooler lakes where the pure Florida

strain can’t.” TWRA fisheries biologists deemed Boone Reservoir wellsuited for the fish, especially once the habitat was enhanced, and the incredible growth rate of the F1 fingerlings seems to bear that out. Hammonds, who has managed the reservoir for 17 years, says time will tell. “We don’t have a lot of long-term data,” he says. “Most F1 stockings have been done further south and southwest in smaller bodies of water, including private ponds. Virginia, which has lakes similar to East Tennessee’s, has done some F1 stocking and we are monitoring the results. So far they seem promising.” The TWRA received its initial 50,000 F1 fingerlings from the American Sport Fish hatchery in Alabama. (It would not be costeffective for the Agency to produce such a limited number in its state hatcheries). A second F1 stocking in

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Boone is scheduled for in 2022. “We will evaluate it as we go along, in terms of cost and success,” Hammonds says. “That will determine if more area waters might be stocked.” There was concern by some fishermen that the aggressive Fl newcomers might adversely impact the lake’s other species. In order to grow a lot, they have to eat a lot, and anglers who favor equally-voracious striped bass and hybrids fretted that the F1 would hog the chow line. Hammonds says there’s plenty to go around. “Boone has a good supply of forage fish, including gizzard and threadfin shad, alewives and sunfish,” he says. He believes the F1 stockings will further enhance the lake’s reputation as an alreadygreat fishery. Boone Reservoir’s largest largemouths have weighed in at around 10 pounds, and its smallmouths topped out at about seven pounds; the cold-water results in slow growth rates for them. In contrast, the lake’s F1 bass are expected to grow not only much

faster but also much bigger. Some fishermen question whether Florida-strain and F1 bass, with their inherit growth advantage, should be in the same category as native Northern largemouth for record consideration. Biologists insist there’s not enough difference to quibble over. “They look so similar to each other that it’s impossible to tell the difference between them without genetic testing,” Hammonds says. “The only differences are the F1s faster growth rate.” Most fishermen probably won’t bicker about catching bigger bass. “I’m all for it, and so are all the other bass fishermen I know,” says veteran angler Andy Jennette of Nashville, who for 17 years has officiated local bass fishing tournaments. “I’ve followed it (the F1 and Florida bass stocking program) pretty close. In fact, some friends and I went to Chickamauga three years ago specifically to fish for the big bass we’d heard about. My biggest of the trip was a 6 ½-pounder. We plan to go back and try for some bigger ones.”

Fishermen willing to travel long distances in quest of F1 lunkers indicate the potential for Boone Reservoir and similar stocked impoundments to enhance the state’s reputation as an angling destination. Tennessee is already famous for its whopper Dale Hollow smallmouths, including the world record. “I wish we had those (Florida and F1 bass) in Percy Priest,” Jennette says, referring to his hometown lake. “But Priest doesn’t have a lot of grass and other vegetation, so maybe the habitat’s not suited for them.” As for drawbacks, Jennette doesn’t see any. “To me, it seems all positive,” he says. So far, so good, but might there be unforeseen developments down the road? “Anytime you introduce genetic alterations there is that potential,” Hammond says. “But based on how things have gone so far, we don’t anticipate any problems.” TWRA Chief of Fisheries Frank Fiss adds, “Given our experience stocking Florida largemouth bass at other locations, we do not expect any negative

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MAY 2022

impact – at worse there would be no improvements. Florida largemouth have already been stocked in reservoirs throughout the Tennessee River, so this introduction to Boone Reservoir is not new to the drainage.” Fiss sees the Boone Reservoir stocking as a “unique opportunity.”“It would take 2-3 years to produce F1s as a natural offspring had we stocked pure Florida strain,” he says. The fingerlings tend to remain in or nearby the areas in which they were released, making it easier for biologists to monitor their development. Fiss says they will gradually disperse throughout the lake. There is a 15-inch minimum limit on Boone Reservoir largemouth, so even with their fast growth rate, it will be a while before F1s start showing up in live wells. Will the program be a success and lead to further stockings in other lakes? As Hammonds says, only time – and the bowed rods of some lucky anglers – will tell.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 29

Haunted Waters

By Jim Parks

egardless of where you fish, how you fish, or the number of years you’ve fished, it’s good to occasionally take a moment to reflect. If you’re a newbie, consider where you started and contemplate your future. Will there be 100 fish days? Or maybe ponder for a moment those individuals you’ve yet to meet in your future. Your dream trips you’d like to take. Ask yourself, “Why am I here?” There’s really no wrong answer if you’re honest with yourself. I’ve been fishing nearly 50 years now, most of my days in the Great Smoky Mountains. I am now at a point where I realize there are more days behind me now than ahead. I’ve had many great moments, a few injuries and painful emotional losses of huge trout, so I see my situation as one who’s blessed to have seen and experienced what I have. In his novel, A River Runs

Through It, Norman MacLean said, “I am haunted by waters.” I remember watching the movie in 1992 thinking, “What the heck does that mean?” Ever the wordsmith, I looked up the definition of “haunted” in Webster’s dictionary. I found one pertinent entry that defines it as “to visit often”. Whether good or bad (I’m still not sure) I have an incredible long-term memory where I can remember with such detail it is as though I’m actually there. I can remember the sights, smells, and emotions of the moments. My earliest memory is as an 18 month old and being in a canoe on a pond with family members as it flipped over. I mostly remember bobbing up and down in the water. It’s a good thing “baby fat” floats! I thought for years it was a dream until I asked my mom, who confirmed the incident actually happened. My wife swears I can remember being

in the womb. Personally, when trying to remember that far back, all I get is darkness! I noticed, about ten years ago, while walking up the trail along Little River above Elkmont Campground, that I began having flashbacks of trips past. I remember taking my wife’s eightyfive year old grandfather, Pop, on our first trip together. Pop got snagged and in an attempt to retrieve his lure, he nearly slid into a deep pool! Needless to say, I immediately jumped to his rescue. As I walked further upstream, I remember hooking and landing what was then my largest trout in the Smokies, a nice 24” brown, from beneath a rock on the far side of the stream. Still further upstream, while crossing a bridge, I remember fishing with a 16 year old I was teaching. We were sitting on the bridge changing into our hiking boots to walk back to the car when we saw three college-aged girls clad in bikinis walking up the trail, each with dead campfire wood balanced on their shoulders. Needless to say, he was speechless. My only comment was, “Well, you don’t see that every day!” “A Man’s real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, In nothing else is he poor.” Alexander Smith Many of my most fond memories are of my earliest trips with my now deceased mentors. One particular

moment that haunts me is of my first trip across Fontana Lake to fish Eagle Creek in a cold, early spring downpour. As a thirteen year old, I was boating across the lake toward the creek with my dad and his coworker, Sanford Williams. My dad and I were “hunkered down” in the front of the john boat with our backs to the pouring rain, having given up on staying dry, but still striving to retain what precious warmth we possessed. Peering toward the back of the boat beneath my cheap Big-K poncho, I see Sanford steering the outboard. To my surprise and amazement, he was facing directly into the sheets of cold, driving rain as it rolled off his face all the while singing at the top of his lungs in his best Elvis impersonation… “Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell, It’s down at the end of Lonely Street, At Heartbreak Hotel” I have learned over the years, that these “hauntings” are more often than not, wonderful reminders of why I’m out there. I look back to where I came from, what I’ve learned, and with whom I’ve shared those special times. Sanford has long since passed from this world, but he, as with others with whom I have shared an unforgettable moment, make me realize it is the people more than the places that make me smile.

Jim Parks is a frequent contributor of Costal Angler Magazine. He has fished the Smoky Mountains forty-four years and has written the book Tails of the Smokies, available on Amazon and in Kindle and iTunes formats. Instagram Page: TailsOfTheSmokies 30 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE

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An Adventure Through Monroe County, Tennessee

By Blaina Best, Monroe County Tourism

ometimes you can just hear the mountains calling. They cry out to you like an old friend. Regardless if you were born and raised in the mountains or not, most everyone can relate to this calling. The need for breathtaking views, heart pounding adventures, and fresh air is embedded in all of us. A charming, small county in east Tennessee, Monroe County, offers folks the opportunity to enjoy their getaways off of the beaten path in places that enrich your soul and help you rediscover the wild living inside of you. As you turn off of I-75 in Sweetwater, Tennessee and arrive at the Lost Sea Adventure, you can already tell you have discovered an American wonder. Deep inside of the mountains is an extensive and historic cave system that opens up to America’s largest underground lake, a Registered National Landmark you have to see for yourself. Just a short drive from the Lost Sea, you will happen upon Tennessee’s

largest muscadine can step back in vineyard, Tsali time to one of the Notch Vineyard. earliest British The picturesque fortifications on views of the Unicoi the western frontier Mountains from - Fort Loudoun. the vineyard paired Fort Loudoun with their award State Historic Park winning wines and not only features juices are what a completely great vacations are reconstructed fort, made of. If you but the mountain Bald River Falls - Tellico visit during harvest views over Tellico Plains. Photo: GypsyDreams season, you will Lake are too Photography. even be able to stunning to not enjoy the sweet aroma from the ripe stop and take in. Across the road muscadines hanging from the vines. the historical encounters continue After sipping on your muscadine at the Sequoyah Birthplace wine, it would only be fitting to Museum. Here, you can witness stop in at Benton’s Smoky Mountain how Sequoyah gave his people, the Country Hams. Benton’s meats Cherokee Nation, a gift that will are internationally recognized for endure forever - a writing system. their delicious dry-cured hams and Afterwards, immersing yourself bacon. These meats are slow-cured into the gorgeous blue-hued to perfection and always ready for mountains of Tellico Plains is travelers to take home to enjoy. necessary. As you drive into this Down the road, history lovers small town, the mountains feel like

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they are rising from the earth to greet you. Anything and everything related to the great outdoors awaits you here - hiking, kayaking, tubing, gold-panning, cycling, fishing, hunting, and more. A ride up the Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway will provide you with 40+ miles of scenic views and elevations rising over 5,400 feet above sea level. It is truly a drive above the clouds with beautiful views of the Unicoi Mountains. All of this adventure’n calls for a wonderful place to stay. We invite you to make plans to experience Monroe County and stay at one of our unique lodging facilities. From treehouses, glamping, and RV camping to cozy cabins and hotels, we have a place for everyone. Explore your options at visitmonroetn.com/lodging. To plan your vacation with us, please visit us at visitmonroetn. com or find Visit Monroe TN on Facebook and Instagram.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 31

Big Horse Creek

Highlands of Roan, Land Protection and Landowner Stories

ig trees, big streams, big open field — everything about Big Horse Creek is a big deal! This stunning 134-acre mountain cove harbors the cool cascades of a trout stream and plentiful places for birds and wildlife to thrive. Nestled amongst national forest land and SAHC conservation easements, the property had once been worked as a small farm and remained in the same family from the 1940s until it was recently listed on the open real estate market. Thanks to generous supporters, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased the tract to permanently preserve the pristine water and habitat resources, and views from the Appalachian Trail. We look forward to sharing the property as part of our outings and education programs in the future. Tucked away on the southeast slopes of the Roan Massif, SAHC’s

new Big Horse Creek Preserve borders the Pisgah National Forest. The acquisition preserves habitat adjoining the national forest and mountain stream headwaters that support wild trout. “Over a half mile of Horse Creek flows along the edge of the property,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “Its rushing wild trout waters, and those of its tributary Camp Branch, are now protected forever. These waters originate on the eastern slopes of Big Yellow Mountain and Little Hump

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Mountain. The Big Horse Creek property joins an extensive network of protected land in the Roan Highlands, with its high elevation 4,100-foot ridgeline lying in the shadow of the Appalachian Trail.” If you’ve ever hiked along the AT at Little Hump Mountain, you’ve probably looked down on this property. The Big Horse Creek Preserve is located within the Audubon Society’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. A former tree farm area and openings along the forest edge

create early successional habitat that supports neo-tropical migratory songbirds, along with a variety of other wildlife that depend on young forests. The mixture of multiple springs and streams, forested mountainside, and sunny openings creates a variety of habitat for plants and wildlife to thrive. Securing this large-acreage tract with ridgelines, varied topography, and thriving habitat in an important network of conserved land helps preserve critical corridors for wildlife movement in the region. SAHC is excited to be working with our new neighbors on Big Horse Creek to conduct a bioblitz to inventory the species onsite, and we will continue to manage the property to protect the natural resources in perpetuity. Thank you for continuing to help add to the permanently protected landscape in the Highlands of Roan!

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n Illinois angler broke the Missouri state record for paddlefish in March. He snagged a 140-pound, 10-ounce paddlefish at Lake of the Ozarks. It beat out the previous record— set in 2015 at Table Rock Lake—by just one ounce. Record-breaking angler Jim Dain, of Pittsfield, Ill., was on a family fishing trip and almost decided not to take the boat out because of shifting weather conditions the day he caught his monster fish. “The forecast was calling for storms, and then it changed to no rain, so we went out, but it just kept getting colder,” Dain said. “We weren’t having much luck, but decided to fish for another hour. So we took another turn, and that’s when the drag on the reel started. It felt like a tree was on the line!” Paddlefish are an interesting target for anglers because they are filter feeders and will not take lures or baited hooks. The most popular method for catching them is to troll large, un-baited treble hooks to cover water and hopefully snag one. “We got 16 one-gallon bags of meat out of this catch,” laughed Dain. “We’ve fried it, grilled it and made paddlefish tacos the other night. We’ll be having paddlefish for a while!” Missouri’s paddlefish seasons run March 15-April 30 on its major paddlefish snagging waters: Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake and their tributaries. There is a minimum length limit of 32 inches. The paddlefish season for the Mississippi River is March 15 through May 15 with a fall season of Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. For more information, see the Missouri DNR website at dnr.mo.gov.

PHOTO BY PATRICK DOLL

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OAA Fisheries has proposed establishment of a flexible retention limit for shortfin mako sharks with a default limit of zero in commercial and recreational highly migratory fisheries. This measure follows a 2021 approval to ban mako shark harvest in the North Atlantic in 2022 and 2023 in a decision handed down by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT’s juridiction is over highly migratory species, like sharks, which cross international boundaries. NOAA’s flexible retention limit would fulfill ICCAT’s recommendation, while allowing flexibility if conditions change. During the fishing year, NOAA Fisheries could increase the shortfin mako shark retention limit from the default, or subsequently decrease the retention limit, for the commercial fishery, the recreational fishery, or both, based on regulatory criteria and retention allowed by ICCAT. Strict conservation measures have been on the table for mako sharks since 2017, when a stock assessment indicated the species was being overfished. Annual take from both sides of the Atlantic ranged between 3,600 and 4,675 tons, mostly caught with commercial gear. ICCAT warned that catches must be kept below 1,000 tons to rebuild the population. Off the U.S. east coast, Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are found from New England to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and in the Caribbean Sea. For more details or to comment on the proposal, see www.fisheries.noaa.gov.

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t’s tarpon time, and as big fish flood the channels, bays, flats, beaches and passes up the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, every angler with a monster silver king on the bucket list hopes to get a piece of the biggest show on water. Most of the time, all they’ll get is the aerial show. Whether it’s a thrown hook from a head-shaking leap, a sharp gill plate that cuts the line, or a big hammerhead that makes the line go slack, hooking a big tarpon is a lot easier than putting hands on one. Studies have shown less than 40 percent of hooked tarpon make it boatside to have their photo taken. Here are a few tips to help you turn a hook-up into a great release photo.

TARPON FIGHTING TIPS By CAM Staff

1) Bow to the King:

If you have any interest in tarpon at all, you’ve heard this one already, but let’s just get it out of the way for those who don’t know. When a tarpon jumps, stop reeling, drop your rod tip and point it at the fish. When the fish is doing all its head shaking and tailwalking, a slack line doesn’t provide as much leverage to throw the hook. When the fish lands, lift the rod tip back to about 45 degrees and reel quickly to take up the slack.

2) Predict the Jump: Watch the fish’s behavior and you can often predict when it will go airborne. A hard run usually culminates with a big jump. Also, when you see the line angling up, it means the fish is headed to the surface. Pay attention and you won’t be caught off guard.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. JEFF MAGGIO

3) Go Hard on Them: Tarpon are big and powerful. If you don’t break their spirit quickly, they just might break yours. Use heavy tackle and do everything you can to get them in quickly. Use an anchor buoy to quickly unhook and chase fish down. This allows you to gain line and maintain the upper hand. By adjusting the drag, you can let the fish tire itself out more quickly. Start with the drag lower in the early stages of the fight, when the fish is still making long powerful runs that can break the line. As it begins to tire from running and jumping, start ramping up the drag pressure and continue pumping and reeling. If you’re good enough, palming the reel allows you to manually control drag pressure without committing to a higher setting. This can save you if a fish has a sudden second wind. Keep the heat on a big fish from start to finish. If it runs to the right, swing your rod to the left and vice versa. By keeping constant pressure against the direction the fish is trying to go, it is sometimes possible to convince them to give up.

4) Don’t Feed the Sharks: Sharks always seem to show up when there’s tarpon fishing going on, and it’s a pity so many big tarpon end up getting sharked on the end of a line. When sharks show up, ethical anglers pull lines up and move. Reeling in half a fish is worse than reeling in no fish at all. If a big shark shows up during the fight, clamp down on the drag and try to break the line. For more, go to coastalanglermag.com.

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THE SCREEN TELLS ALL

Tim Barefoot

s you should know by now if you read my articles or subscribe to my YouTube channel, I like to fish for everything with fins. From offshore in 300plus feet of water to creeks, there is one thing that makes us more effective now than we were years ago: electronics! When I was very young, we went to the very first mark off the beach and loaded up on sea bass, gray trout (weakfish), flounder and whatever else would bite a crude chicken rig with cut mullet. Those days are gone. Now, we have evolved to using the most advanced electronics available to locate and stay on fish. We’ve got side imaging and live imaging technology, which is not (almost) cheating, to… screw it… It’s cheating, and I’m doing it. I love a gag grouper like Peter loved the Lord, and I also like to fish for bass as well as drum, trout and snook. Electronics like side scan make me dangerous. They are the difference between being close to a good place on a ledge or wreck versus being ON THE SPOT. It’s now possible to see whether you’re close to a stack of baitfish or on it. The stack of bait is the key to catching instead of just soaking baits. Look for the giant stack of bait, because that is what holds

predators, bottom fish below and pelagics above. For example: The video link at the end of this article as well as the blue photo on this page are a prime example of electronics telling us what’s below us and how deep. The marks near the bottom are African pompano and other bottom fish. The marks in the 100-foot range are blackfin tuna. The other photo is of crappie in a creek. I was watching them in real time using Garmin LiveScope. Regardless if you’re fishing in 300 or 15 feet of water, having the correct electronics will make a huge difference. We rely on our fishing instincts to catch fish. I’m a believer in the “cleanest” terminal tackle being the most effective tackle. The most important thing of all, though, is to position your boat on top of fish. For this, proper electronics have become essential. Check out barefootcatsandtackle.com, and watch this video https://youtu.be/qGzW6QFZHKE on using electronics offshore.

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MAY 2022

NATIONAL 19

Making Memories M

ay is a great month to take or introduce a child to the sport of fishing. The summer crowds haven’t arrived, the weather is tolerable, and there should be a nice breeze to keep it comfortable. If your child is already catching more than you, this is a great time to teach them some new techniques or how to use a new lure. Jetties, piers or docks are great locations to target this month, and sheepshead can be an entertaining target for the beginner. They can be corporative, and a nice trophy for a child. At times, they can be easy to catch and will provide a solid fight for the saltiest of anglers. Sheepshead love structure. Focus your attention on the most barnacle-encrusted structure you can find. At times you can hear them munching on those barnacles! If it is legal in the area you are fishing, scraping barnacles off the structure is a great way to chum for sheepshead and really gets them fired up. Small live or fresh dead shrimp are great, readily available bait. Small jacks, croaker, pinfish and whitting are also good options to give young anglers a strong tug and a good time. Once again, live and dead shrimp are a good choice to lure in these aggressive feeders. Beach fronts, jetties and structure are good areas to target them. If your child is up for a challenge and wants to learn something new, like my 11-year-old, May

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

is a good month to explore. With optimal water temperatures that keep fish aggressive, May is ideal. My son and I were in our favorite local tackle shop one day, and he picked up a custom painted lure and showed it to me. The owner, Mike, had painted these and they are renowned for catching big trout. My son had never fished one, but wanted to learn and catch a big one! For a few weeks, every time my son walked into the lure room and saw the Corky hanging on the rack, he would say, “Dad let’s go fishing.” He wanted to use the lure from Mr. Mike and catch a big trout. When we finally had a chance to hit the water, conditions were not ideal. We went to learn how to work the lure, if nothing else. My son did accomplish catching his first fish on a Corky. Even though it was not the big trout he planned on, it gave us a good laugh and memories that will last forever. This photo shows his first fish on that style of lure… the first of many I am certain. Go grow up little pinfish. Hopefully the next time we meet you are in the belly of a big trout! Take a kid fishing, leave the electronics at home, and everyone will have fun learning something from each other!

The Return of a

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

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conversations. Satellite phones are an option but are cost prohibitive for most of us. Luckily, the satellite network has created a new choice with two-way texting devices like the Garmin inReach Mini, which I find offers a great mix of features, affordability, size and peace of mind. All these devices require a subscription plan, but most are affordable and allow you to pause them during off seasons. There are several manufacturers and options on the market, and they have many different features. Some have built-in keypads for easy composition of messages, but that makes the size larger. Most will pair with your cell phone, making it simple to create and send messages. They all also have SOS buttons that send a distress message along with your location to a communication center. Like EPIRBs and PLBs, they will continually transmit your location to By Will Schmidt search and rescue, helping them to find you quickly. Unlike the others, you are notified when your SOS is received. You can also communicate the nature of your emergency and answer vital questions from rescuers via text. The small size and waterproof rating means you can clip these devices to a life vest and continue sending and receiving information should you need to abandon ship. Furthermore, you can send non-emergency messages to check in with others. The inReach Mini allows you to create three preset messages that can be quickly sent and have unlimited sends on each of their data plans. This is a great feature for sending useful updates and non-emergency messages such as: “Just checking in, everything is fine.” Or “Everything is ok, but we are running late.” Other features many of these devices offer are waypoint navigation, tracking and weather reports. If navigation features are of primary importance to you, a larger device with a bigger screen might suit you better. Since mine is a backup navigation device, the connection to my phone is sufficient. I can even pair my inReach with my chart plotters to quickly send and read messages while underway. Whether you travel offshore, into the backwoods or to a remote island ith technology helping us get farther away from shore, it is lodge, if you want the ability to summon help or just check in at home when imperative that we have a reliable way to communicate with others. off the grid, these satellite devices offer great usability in an affordable easyIt’s not unheard of for people to take a bay boat 40 miles offshore to-use option. where VHF might not be heard. While Emergency Position Indicating Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing Radio Beacons (EPIRB) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) are a great about fishing from more than two decades. way to request assistance in an emergency, they lack the ability for two-way

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IT MIGHT JUST BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK! Berkley played a pretty good gag for April fools that likely sent a group of very specialized anglers to the store looking for a product that doesn’t exist. The company, which produces scented and flavored artificial baits, announced the release of the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove. “Infused with PowerBait, this glove is designed to give noodlers a way to successfully wrangle catfish and give the fish a flavor so good, they’ll never let go,” read the press release. Berkley went on to tell sportsmen the following: Originally designed to withstand the fight of giant catfish, the team at Berkley Labs quickly discovered that the PowerBait Noodling Glove can be effective on more than just catfish. Extensive field testing proved that the PowerBait Noodling Glove increased angler catch rates for bass, trout and other species. The team even tested the glove with local hunters and found it’s just as effective in luring white-tailed deer as it is in luring catfish. There is nothing that can’t be caught using the PowerBait Noodling Glove. The Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove may also get its time to shine on the bass tournament trails this year thanks to Berkley Pro Angler John Cox. Cox says, “The way I fish is very similar to noodlers; they go down the bank and look for holes. Well, I go down the bank looking for a 5 or 6 pounder either on a bed or chasing bluegill. So, when I heard about noodlers using the Berkley PowerBait Noodling Glove, I thought ‘Hey, this might work really well for me.’ Noodling is definitely not for just catfishing anymore. That was a pretty good one, Berkley.

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