The Angler Magazine | August 2023 | Ohio Edition

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Athe cooler waters of great depths, deep-water grouper are some of the better tasting sh in the ocean. of deep-water grouper we target o coast of the Florida Keys are snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper. ey are found in depths of 400 to 1,000 feet.

Yellowedge are open year-round, and they can be a little di cult to nd. ey congregate in localized areas in depths between 600 and 800 feet. You might nd snowies and tile sh where you nd yellowedges, but this is not true the other way around. When you nd an area with yellowedge grouper, mark it, save it, and do not over sh it. Keep your harvest light, and this honey-hole will produce for you again in the future.

When making a deep-dropping rig, use larger hooks on the top and bottom of a ve-hook rig. Mustad 11/0 circle hooks provide excellent hookup ratios for this kind of shing. A x larger baits on these hooks, with the bottom intended for yellowedge, and the top intended for snowy grouper. Pepper in smaller ones in the middle for tile sh.

e nice part about dropping ve hooks is you can play with a variety and see what works. e best

to do what it is made to do.

Bait selection can vary greatly, so use anything and everything. I use chunks of fresh sh, with skin that will stay on the hook longer, for my top and bottom hooks, and squid in the middle. At least one hook should have some greasy, oily, stinky squid for deep dropping.

When it comes to catching deep-water species such as grouper, tile sh, barrel sh and rosies, you don’t need to break the bank to get a reliable electric set-up. e lower priced reels can handle these and can be paired with a rod and stacked with line on a budget of $1,000 to $2,000. I don’t recommend buying these used, as everything electronic on the water has a shelf life, and you never know how they were cared for previously.

With mahi-mahi still prevalent in o shore waters, and with snowy grouper still in season, the timing is perfect to hunt yellowedge grouper. If you aren’t interested in the trial and error of searching the depths of the vast ocean by yourself, Sweet

Tesoro spinning reels feature a carbonite high-output DFD drag system with Cal’s drag grease that puts out over 55-pounds of fsh stopping power. Built with strength and protection in mind, Tesoro features an IPX-7 full-body waterproof design and proprietary ALUMILITE body, side plate and rotor. With an interchangeable screw-in handle system and fve models from 8000 to 20000 size, Tesoro spinning reels are sure to complement any big game saltwater arsenal.

okumafshingusa.com TA-140000HA

E’nuf Charters’ two-boat eet is available to help put you on the grouper.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET E’ NUF CHARTERS.

BILL DANCE SIGNATURE LAKES to Solidify Tennessee as the Heart of Fishing in the Southeast

Bill Dance Signature Lakes will connect the world’s most-loved angler with some of Tennessee’s most excellent natural resources – its lakes. is program is intended to make Tennessee a best-in-class destination for anglers worldwide.

With the new initiative’s goal to improve and enhance Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy, Tennessee will invest $15 million in improvements above and below the water at 18 lakes that bear shing legend Dance’s stamp of approval. Tennesseans will bene t from increased stocking, habitat and sheries management and improved access for shing and boating. e collaborative e ort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development seeks to solidify Tennessee as the heart of shing in the southeast and drive economic activity across the state.

“I’m unbelievably humbled and excited to be involved in such a helpful project that will bene t so many people and our natural resources in my great home state of Tennessee,” said Bill Dance. “You can bet your favorite lure this project will have a ripple e ect for a mighty long time, not only giving the weekend sherman but tournament anglers a wonderful shery as well, thanks to the great state of Tennessee and my friends at TWRA.”

Bill Dance Signature Lakes touches 39 counties, including 22 at-risk or economically distressed counties, and is an essential step in helping those communities create new revenue streams through increased visitation. Fishing generates $1.2 billion in economic impact annually and supports 7,480 jobs across the state.

Bill Dance Signature Lakes includes nine large reservoirs with a proven track record for quality shing for a variety of sh. In partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority, reservoirs will receive new or upgraded best-inclass ramps to improve public access for both recreational and tournament anglers. Each of the 18 lakes will see such above-water upgrades as courtesy docks, ample parking, additional access points, shing piers and signage, to name a few. Several smaller lakes, many which are located within Tennessee State Parks, will be managed intensively by TWRA for Bill Dance approved family shing with regular stocking to ensure the best chance for success.

Projects are slated to begin in 2022 and near completion by the fall of 2024. For more information, see www.tnvacation.com.

Hanapa‘a - Mahi

Hanapa‘a

Hanapa‘a - Ahi

Hanapa‘a - Marlin

Best approaches for Lake Erie Western Basin action

As we ease into August, we begin to think about the end of the hot summer days and fall being just around the corner. The fishing on the west end of Lake Erie can hit some of its toughest days in August, but don’t let that frighten you too much, great fishing opportunities still exist if you know where and how to focus your efforts. With the high amount of walleye in the system, anglers should be pleasantly surprised with the walleye fishing. As the bug hatches finish up in the deeper mud flats, the “eyes” will be scattered deep as well as on top of many of the reefs and shoals. Trolling fisherman should be in some of the same areas as earlier in the year. North of West Sister Island and near the “gravel pit” west of the island should have some eater walleye hanging around. Spoons and Tru-Trip 40 divers are a standby set up out there, be sure to use your electronics to dial in a good depth to set your lures above the fish. Don’t overlook the shallow reef bite as well. It takes a bit of work but setting up on a good “rock bite” is a popular technique this time of year. Casting worm harnesses in the shallow offshore reefs in 15ft. or less can often yield some nice fish. Once you find what side or area of a reef the fish are hanging on, be careful not to spook them, idle around and “be gentle” on these fish that are feeding shallow. The Perch bite is coming on strong this year. The west end of the lake seems to be holding the best population. Areas along the Camp Perry firing range such as near the A, B, D, G cans are popular spots to try, as well as the “Catawaba green can,” north of West Sister, and the Toledo Harbor light area to the west. I have noticed the inline 3 hook perch rigs with beads becoming a reliable fish catcher over the spreader, it may be worth a try if you pick one up. Smallmouth will be on the offshore rockpiles and will often be targeted with soft craws. The largemouth will be in their usual haunts but are getting very pressured by this time of year, so looking for an out of the way spot could improve your odds. Catfish in Sandusky bay and along the lake shoreline will provide great action from dusk to dawn. So, as always, cast a line in the western end of Lake Erie and you can expect some type of bite!

Article by: Capt. Jonny Fickert. He can be reached at Sea Breeze

Summer stream fishing can provide change of scenery

a Dennis. get slowing the Monday boat has and Fly-Fishing fly (who and on a As I The the on 4 words. This and can

do it again someday. Stage 4 cancer is a terrible thing, my prayers are with them. P.S. I have never had such a touching guide trip as this one. Sometimes we need some sunshine and a great fishing trip to help us put life in perspective.

Ron Slater is a fishing guide on the Portage Lakes in Ohio, he can be reached at 330-780-3652 or email bassfisher273@gmail.com

In the summer, following periods of dry weather, anglers on foot can stalk fish that are found within the isolated pools of northwestern Ohio’s Lake Erie tributary streams. This can offer chances to use ultralight tackle or fly rods while targeting year-round stream resident smallmouth bass, rock bass or other species. While the water temperatures are way too warm to have any chances of seeing steelhead trout this time of the year here, warm-water species like longnose gar, freshwater drum, white bass, and largemouth bass thrive in streams now. Appropriate artificial lures can be easily carried in a pocket tackle box, including spinners, roadrunner jigs, tube jigs, spoons, flies, floating crank baits, or hooks and split shot. Those who use live bait carry small containers with redworms or insect larvae such as waxworms or mousies to tip their lures or bait a hook under a bobber. Others bring a minnow bucket with screens that allow dissolved oxygen to be replenished when lowered into the water to safely transport minnows or small crayfish.

The Maumee River, the Great Lakes largest tributary, is a designated “Scenic River’ and “State Water Trail” and offers the most public access space, including where thousands of anglers fish during the walleye and white bass runs. Anglers could see just about every species of fish that can be hooked - from tiny darters to giant lake sturgeon. Most attention is given to smallmouth bass by wandering anglers, who unlike those who fish here in April and May, can wear shorts and tennis shoes in place of waterproof waders. Channel catfish remain abundant in the pools and are caught with hooks baited with raw shrimp, minnow or nightcrawler, sometimes fished

under a bobber. Freshwater drum, more commonly known as sheepshead are there too, as well as common carp and suckers. Those who would rather stay dry in a boat can find flathead catfish in their hide-outs as far upstream as you care to fish in the Maumee River. Ultralight tackle is not a good idea in this case, as these can weigh dozens of pounds!

The Sandusky River can run clear during the summer and with the Ballville Dam, formerly in Fremont now removed, many fish are now able to ascend the additional 22 miles of river all the way to Tiffin. With many public access areas between Sandusky and Tiffin, including boat ramps, there are many “honey holes” yet to be discovered. Another river to fish in the summer, which often runs clear by Ohio standards, is the upper Portage River between Pemberville and Oak Harbor. The watercraft that can be used in this designated ‘State Water Trail’ are mostly limited to kayaks and canoes with “portaging” necessary during low flows. Many anglers fish while travelling on foot. Many of the same species mentioned above can also be found in this moderately large Lake Erie tributary stream, but smallmouth and largemouth bass are most often targeted this month.

Article by: John Hageman. He now writes approximately 125 articles per year after retiring from the Ohio Sea Grant/Stone Laboratory - The Ohio State University’s Lake Erie biology station at Put-In-Bay.

Smallmouth bass were proposed as Ohio’s state fish because of their widespread distribution.

Photo:

Brag Board

Summit - Portage - Mogadore area

On July 25, 2022, I had the privilege of guiding for a very special true friend, by the name of Dr. Eric Dennis. He is in a battle with Stage 4 cancer and wanted to get out on the water when the treatments weren’t slowing him down. This trip was like no other, when I got the call, I dropped everything and made plans for Monday morning to guide for him. He wanted to use his boat too, just to give it a good workout.

Mr. Dennis is a well-known fly-tying champion and has given many demonstrations and talks about fly tying and fly fishing. One of his flies can be seen at the Fly-Fishing Museum in Vermont. He is planning on doing some fly fishing in Montana with his son and friends soon (who are all dentists), but for now, we were bass fishing, and it was a beautiful morning for it. When we pulled up on our first area, at Turkeyfoot lake, Mr. Dennis landed a huge bass that weighed in at a little over 6 pounds! As I was taking a few pics, we were all smiles and laughs. The fun and friendships we make on the water may be the best part of what fishing has to offer.

After about 4 minutes we went across the lake and on his first cast there, he landed another huge bass, a 4 pounder this time. Our excitement was beyond words. It is not often you hook into back-to-back lunkers. This will always be a special day for Dr. Eric, his wife Mary and myself. We will never forget it and I hope that we can

do it again someday. Stage 4 cancer is a terrible thing, my prayers are with them. P.S. I have never had such a touching guide trip as this one. Sometimes we need some sunshine and a great fishing trip to help us put life

Ron Slater is a fishing guide on the Portage Lakes in Ohio, he can be reached at 330-780-3652 or email

Inspiring the next generation through OSU’s 4H Sea Camp

Every July kids ages 14-17 assemble on Kelley’s Island for a week long camping adventure at the Erie county 4-H Sea Camp supported by Ohio State University and organizations that offer education and water recreation. Throughout the week they will have the opportunity to learn about aquatic science and experience a variety of recreational watersports on Lake Erie. This year I had the opportunity to provide them with a Lake Erie Kayak Fishing adventure for 5 campers and 1 camp counselor.

They arrived at the beach around 9am for a brief safety talk and kayak walkthrough before we shoved off. Not only did each kid get assigned a pedal driven fishing kayak, but each kid also received a new fishing rod courtesy of Zebco and a pair of fish grips courtesy of FishUSA. To commemorate their adventure, they also got to do a Gyotaku fish print at the end of the trip courtesy of the PaperFin.

3 young men and 2 young ladies made up the group, they were excited and eager to learn. They took to the pedal driven kayaks like fish to water and it didn’t take long for them to land the first fish. It was game on! The radio waves were filled with excited sounds of FISH ON’s! Every kid caught fish! They were landing multiple species left and right including walleye, catfish, white perch, white bass, and freshwater drum. Their excitement could be heard from the mainland and their smiles were brighter than gold.

Let’s put it this way... when the kids are exhausted but keep fishing for just one more- and the camp counselor is the last one back... you know you had a good day! Of course, that may have been “cause Chuck put him in a Torqueedo powered

Native kayak - he’s never coming back in,” said Irene Roff. Irene is an avid kayak angler who gets super excited about teaching kids how to fish and loves to volunteer her time to get kids out fishing. This trip she was over the top thrilled to have 2 girls on the sea camp team! She said “To see the smiles on these 2 girls’ faces as they got to yell “ fish on”... priceless! Chuck has a ton of patience, and he was just as excited as they were - and if you have teenagers ... you know that it’s gotta be something big to keep their attention. It’s days like this that bring out the kid in you”

After almost 6 hours on the water, they were worn out and ready to head back to land. We hit the beach and they helped each other roll the kayaks up the sandy beach to my trailer. It was now time to make their Gyotaku fish prints using the Paper Fin fish printing kits before heading up to camp to clean fish and prepare for a fish fry.

This is a day I’ll never forget and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to provide this experience for them. We are only as good as the future generation, it’s important for us to show them the way. Being a father of a 17-year-old daughter, I was excited to see almost half of my group were young ladies. It was also great to watch the anglers team up to cheer each other on and give each other pointers on what techniques worked for them. Fishing is for everyone to enjoy, and this trip was proof of the positive growth of more ladies enjoying the sport of fishing. I can’t wait for next year’s 4H Sea Camp Adventure!

Article by Chuck Earls - Lake Erie Kayak Fishing Guided Adventures LakeErieKayakFishing.com

Western US fishing vs Ohio / Midwest fishing

I think Ohioans have it pretty good when it comes to fishing. I have made a few trips to go fishing in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. I have usually caught something on those trips. Most times just a small trout or two and one giant northern pike. I have fished lakes out west with some bass in them, but they don’t seem to have large populations of them. I think Ohio has the western states beat when it comes to fun times and fishing. Trout fishing is a little tricky in Ohio. Only the Mad River near Urbana seems to hold the fish well through the summer months. Others like the Clear Creek near Logan and Clear Fork near Bellville do okay. People have reported catching trout in the summer months in those waters. The big difference about fishing in Ohio is the variety! Ohio has Steelhead trout for serious fly-fishing in the winter in the Lake Erie tributaries. Walleye all over Lake Erie. Largemouth bass, bluegills, crappie, white bass and saugeye in many lakes and reservoirs in good numbers. Sauger in the Ohio River. Catfish everywhere. Some muskie and northern pike. Some perch in a few lakes and many in Lake Erie. Good numbers of smallmouth bass in Lake Erie and nearly every river in the state. You just don’t get that kind of variety going out west. Also, you will find many different ways to fish in Ohio. Half the fun of visiting a lake or reservoir is to watch all the different ways people fish. Some look like they are going deep sea fishing with their big catfish and muskie rigs. Many folks are happy with just putting a minnow or worm under a bobber and just kicking back. Many take it a little more seriously and spend some good money on rods, reels and lures and have to keep moving to find the next bite. In the western states to go trout fishing you are kind of expected to learn to fly fish and of course buy only the finest gear. There is no peer pressure in Ohio to do that except when it comes to getting a fishing boat. There are a few purists that think if you don’t have 350 horsepower or more and all the electronics you just aren’t doing it right, but really any old boat will do the job. (I’m sure my marina advertisers love that attitude). The bottom line is that there are a million ways to fish in Ohio and they are all a good time, a great way to get outdoors and relax, even when we aren’t catching anything, which is my usual way of doing it.

Article by Steve Philpott steve@theanglermagazine.com

Ohio’s Wildlife Variety: The Eastern Spiny Softshell

Turtle

Recently we’ve gotten lucky enough to catch a few interesting creatures so far this summer. One species which I believe needs a little more attention, is the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, (Apalone Spinifera). Although it is not a fish but rather a reptile, this softshell turtle is quite unique in itself. They are one of the largest freshwater turtle species we have in North America. The most distinctive characteristics of these turtles are the flat, leathery soft shell they have, which features cone-like spikes on the top of the carapace (upper part of the shell). This allows the spiny softshells to bury themselves under the mud as a defense mechanism along rivers, ponds, and lakes. The turtle’s nose is elongated similar to a pig snout, their webbed feet assist the softshell with swimming and also in burying themselves to hide from predators. If threatened, they will burrow themselves under the mud and sand with only their heads peeking out as they watch their surroundings while hunting prey such as invertebrates like crayfish, small fish, mussels, and insects. They also eat aquatic algae plants. Their webbed feet also make them excellent swimmers, they can reach speeds of up to 15 mph! They spend most of the day warming in the sunlight and foraging for food. The adult female’s carapace is larger in size averaging 7-19 inches in length, while the male’s range smaller measuring 5-10 inches. During mating season in the summer, the males will court the females by nudging her. If the female approves her mate, the male hovers and swims above her. Female softshells lay between 4-38 eggs in shallow soft soil usually in sandy banks. The eggs hatch sometime in August or September and the turtle will live about 50 years in the wild. The Eastern Spiny Softshell ranges in colors of brown, yellow and shades of green. They are colored to their habitat surroundings for camouflage and different due to breeding genetics. Males are known to generally keep the same color pattern from birth, but hatchlings can be spotted, and females tend to darken as they get older. These turtles also have pale colored and black lines that run down from their head to the neck. Eastern Spiny Softshells have the ability to breathe air and while underwater by exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide gases. They have the capability to maintain their metabolism to aerobic giving them a better advantage while hibernating during the winter. The Spiny Softshell turtle has a broad range throughout most of the United States as well as parts of Canada, and south into Mexico.

Although they are not endangered here in the U.S., they do face threats of deforestation and habitat destruction and are listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and are a specially protected species under the Ontario, Canda Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

Author: Allison Benoit. Pictured: Gabbie Benoit Benoit Fishing Outdoors https://youtube.com/@benoitfishingoutdoors https://m.facebook.com/ groups/1171466856857523/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF

Two decades of maybe fishing

A guide for new dads and moms about what to expect from the next 20 or so years of fishing experiences or lack thereof.

During a brief summer break trip with my kids to Kelley’s Island last year my oldest son saw people getting off of a boat with stringers full of Walleye. We had been fishing all day for smallmouth off the pier near the state park beach with no success, while my younger kids played at the beach. The fact that there were actually fish in this lake and that somehow everyone else knew where to go and what to do to get them, was not lost on him and he immediately began questioning me about how we could get in on some of that action.

It’s no secret that fishing with kids is not really fishing at all. I know I said I was fishing that day but really, I was untangling lines, serving up snacks, and walking between where my other kids were playing and occasionally putting a line in the water. This is the only kind of fishing I have done at all over the last 14 years with the one glorious exception of a trip to the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota with the Boy Scouts in 2017, but I digress. What follows is a guide for what every young parent needs to know about how this sport you love changes during the years when impressionable, needy, short people start following you everywhere and calling you ‘dad’ or ‘mom’. 0-2 years - Kids cannot fish during these years, don’t bring them. You can still fish as normal during this time if you can get away. You will need to adjust to having more responsibilities and less time. Consider taking up night fishing or some other time when someone else is watching the little ones.

3-5 years - Boys or girls both are curious to know what you are doing; they will want to come with you (literally everywhere you go) and you may want to consider getting them their first pole. You might be able to fish for 15-minute stretches as long as you have snacks and there is something else for them to do like a nearby playground. The most important fish catching happening during this time will be that bluegill that they reel in and scream at.

6-13 - You will not fish during this time - especially if you have multiple kids coming with you. This is the age where the kids thinks they know what they are doing just enough for you to have to drop what you are doing every 5 minutes or so to untangle lines, deal with snags, restring poles, or up and move locations due to the sheer numbers of rocks thrown in the water. Just get comfortable with the fact that this trip is not for you.

After age 14 they are a bit more self-sufficient, and you may be blessed with a child that can figure it out before this but either way count on more than a decade of not doing this sport the way you are used to. This, however, is not to say give it up. In fact, as sportsmen and women we have a responsibility to the younger generation to give them the experiences that create a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife conservation. With the numbers of anglers and hunters dwindling * it’s more important than ever to make sure children are exposed to the experiences in nature that fishing is really all about. So enjoy the decade or two of taking your kids out to the lake, untangling lines, worming hooks and watching in dismay as more rocks are thrown in the water, because it will pay off with eventual experiences like the one pictured where we finally took my oldest on his first walleye charter for his 14th birthday and he even caught the first walleye, forever solidifying his love of the sport and appreciation for the amazing fishing opportunities here in our backyard.

Article by: Adam Philpott

Adam Philpott is a casual angler with lots of kids. He never gets to fish. adamjphilpott@gmail.com

*https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/e-team/sharp-decline-in-huntingand-fishing-licenses-hurting-conservation-efforts-in-ohio

‘’DOG DAYS” OPTIONS FOR ANGLERS

Well, we are officially here...

Midwestern anglers have now entered the weather portal most often referenced as the notorious “dog days” of fishing. This mid to late summer period is best symbolized by humid days and nights fairly regularly interspersed with notable thunderstorms. Many anglers find their existing patterns for catching their favorite species somewhat disrupted by the higher water temperatures. Well, I can assure you fish don’t cease feeding because you didn’t adjust, or simply have trouble locating any kind of concentration of them. I’d like to provide some tips that have helped me adjust to what too many anglers view as the somewhat inevitable summer doldrums.

CRAPPIES

While many anglers avoid this popular panfish in summer, largely due to its less palatable condition in warmer water, they can still be hooked readily if you realize their near shoreline cover postspawn itinerary has taken them to deeper waters, where they can be counted on to school up in the cooler water. This is when your sonar unit is all but essential in finding them. Crappies are notorious for schooling in the midst of the water column, often under smaller numbers of forage fish. When located, this is when vertical jigging off the side of the boat is your best approach, and lots of fun.

CATFISH

Channels, bullhead, and blues will all be active in the evening depths, especially just after the aforementioned rainstorms. Catfish are not sight feeders, so the newly stained water doesn’t bother them at all. In fact, their activity level is spiked by all the food newly dispersed into the water.

BLUEGILL

Gills will be found in largely the same areas they were readily found in spring, only a bit deeper out than you found them in late spring. Evening and early mornings are primary times to break out small top-waters like 2’’ Rapalas, Rebels, and A.C. Shiners on light line. Great summer fun.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

This is the time of year most bass anglers wait in desperate anticipation for: topwater time!

More book and magazine covers have featured this aspect of angling historically than all other options put together. Any of us that have spent even a short time partaking of this activity can hardly disagree. Find any cover near or off-shore, or the edge of any weed line, and make long casts, whether from boat or shore. I prefer a baitcaster loaded with 10-20lb. mono attached to a 7’ fiberglass rod; the glass rod will afford me more parabolic action for the longer casts. Keep as quiet as possible... I like to start out with a buzzbait, which affords the ability to cover a greater area more efficiently and gauge bass activity levels. If they are not hitting the buzzer-or “short-striking” it, then I’ll go to my Pop-Rs, Jitterbugs, Zara Spooks, and frogs to cover the water more thoroughly, if less quickly.

WALLEYE

Walleye will seek out even deeper water than usual, only on occasion venturing towards shore in some evenings. Cooler water attracts forage, and the walleye schools will understandably track the food fish. Current can also be a factor, as is windage. For example, at Lake Erie the summers reliably reveal big schools of walleye migrating reliably from the Western Basin to the deeper, cooler waters of the Central Basin towards Ashtabula and Conneaut.

My tolerance for near-tropical temperatures is no better than yours, but a long memory of productive and exciting summer fishing memories will always get me out there.

Article by: Jack Kiser. Host of “Buckeye Angler”. He can be reached at the Buckeye Angler Facebook site, or the new buckeyeangler. com.

By TAM Sta

CRAPPIE TIPS for Deep Summer

Spring is long gone and so are the quick limits of shallow-water crappie. at doesn’t mean you can’t go load the cooler with some slabs for a sh fry; it just means you’ll have to work a little harder. Here are a few tips to help you catch crappie when the weather and water are hot.

Trust the Electronics: Sonar is your best friend when crappie move deep. You might know where good brush and structure are on your lake, but you won’t know where the schools of crappie are until you spot them on the graph. Use side-scan to look under docks and around points, ledges, ditches and creek and river channels. Don’t even bother wetting a line until you’ve located sh with your electronics.

Find the Shade: Crappie don’t like the sun, and deepwater docks or piers can be the mother lode on bright days. Even underwater structure like ledges, humps and creek channels provide shade. Pay attention to the location of the sun, and then start searching the side of a given piece of structure that will provide some shade.

Go Early: ere’s no sense baking in the sun for a few sh when you can load the boat in just a few hours before and a er daybreak. Boat tra c and water temps are both lower in the morning, which means crappie and the small bait sh they feed on will be most active. In the morning, crappie move shallower up on the humps and ledges to chase bait. ey are more likely to bite when they are actively feeding.

Troll the Humps: O shore humps that top out at 15 feet or deeper will hold crappie this time of year. ey’re even better when there’s brush on them. Early and late, or if there is some dam-generated current, the sh will move

up to feed on these humps. ey suspend o the sides when the sun is high or the water is still. Slowly pull a spread of jigs or small, deep-diving crankbaits or spoons over and around humps where you’ve located sh. Pay close attention to how deep your lures are getting and add weight if you need to get them deeper.

Shoot Docks: Main-lake docks with 15 or more feet of water under them are comfortable places for crappie to hang out when the water is warm. Shoot lightweight jigs as far under these docks as you can, and let them sink slowly to the bottom before beginning a steady retrieve. If there are sh under a dock, they usually won’t let that jig hit the bottom.

Drown a Minnow: A school of crappie suspended o structure at 15 or 25 feet over a 40-foot bottom can be a frustrating scenario. You see them on your electronics, but they are slow to bite. Try dropping a live minnow down there where you’re marking sh. en just let it sit. e bites will be light, so pay attention.

PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

n a dark, muggy morning, we eased into Campo’s Marina in Shell Beach, Louisiana.

By Gary Turner

We picked up 150 live shrimp for our rst day, and every morning began the same way for the rest of the week.

5 a.m., and it would be getting light at 5:30.For some of us— Dewayne and Blake Pro t, Darrel and I—this was the rst time we had been to Shell Beach in search of giant red sh,

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massive sheepshead and gator trout. Touted as the “Best Inshore Fishing in the World,” Shell Beach did not disappoint! e red sh shing was incredible! We hooked some giants, some we never even saw!

We shed spinning gear and 17- to 20-pound line with 2/0 circle hooks baited with either live shrimp or chunks of fresh blue crab. We also used two di erent techniques. Some of us popped a Cajun under cork. I used a Carolina rig, with the weight on my line, then a barrel swivel and an 18-inch leader terminating in my 2/0 BKK circle hook with a live shrimp.

Now… back to the sh we never saw! We shed some ats right where the tall marsh grass met the canals. e water was usually less than a foot deep. We would cast right next to the grass and wait for sh that were cruising this edge in search of food. en it was on! Your line would cut a wake as the sh ran for deep water and peeled drag. ese sh used any structure or rocks they could nd to break o . Even when they ran to deep water, they just kept going. We broke several lines before deciding to pull up anchor and chase the next big one.

at worked well, so we started chasing down lots of big red sh. Blake hooked one with the popping cork that broke him o . Later, we spotted the cork in the shallows and eased up to try to net it. Just as we got to it, the sh took o and was never seen again.

e days were hot, in the low to mid 90s with pop-up thunderstorms every day. One day we even spotted two waterspouts. We did our best to dodge all that, but we did get wet a few times. e last 30 minutes of daylight were always the most productive. We shed rock walls and hooked up several big red sh each evening. Mixed in with the red sh were some giant sheepshead that fell for the same tactics as the reds. Blue crabs are everywhere. You can catch them with a long-handle dip net or rod and reel.

Shell Beach is in St. Bernard Parish on the Gulf Outlet Canal near Lake Borgne, just 30 minutes from New Orleans. We plan on going back next year.

Check out Gary Turner’s YouTube channel @FishingMagicWithGary.

O

NORSE BY NORSEWEST?

Embrace your Scandinavian side with a 7" blade

If you looked out your window a thousand years ago and saw a fleet of Viking longships coming your way,you knew you were in trouble. For roughly two centuries, the Vikings voyaged, raided and pillaged wherever they pleased. As expert sailors and navigators, they reached as far from Scandinavia as Iran, Constantinople, North Africa and the New World in their quest to expand their kingdom.

A mini sword. Too organized and too aggressive, no one stood in a Viking’s way. That’s exactly the message that our Viking Blade sends. Crafted from Damascus steel with brass inlay, this 12" full-tang knife is essentially a mini sword. Paired with its hand-tooled leather sheath, this knife belongs in the collection of any avid aficionado.

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The steel of legend. For centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded respect. Renowned for its sharp edge, beauty and resistance to shattering, Damascus steel was the stuff of legend. While the original process has been lost to the ages, modern bladesmiths have been able to re-create Damascus steel to create the best blades imaginable.

Sure to impress, naturally. Combining natural strength and natural wonder at a price that’s hard to beat, the Viking Blade is a study in Damascus steel that’s sure to impress. And should you ever find yourself facing a Viking horde, a flash of this knife will show that you’re not to be messed with.

Don’t delay: Order within the next week and we’ll offer this blade to you for just $99, a savings of $200! That’s the best bang for your buck we can possibly offer: our Stauer® Impossible Price. Get your hands on one of the fastest-selling knives in our company’s history today.

Knife Specifications:

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Tennessee Angler Breaks His Own State Record

Aer a grueling 15-minute battle while shing solo, angler Micka Burkhart successfully netted and boated a 122-pound blue cat sh from Tennessee’s Cumberland River on June 28. e sh is a pending state record that should top the 118.7-pound record mark, which Burkhart set himself at Barkley Reservoir last September.

e whole ght can be viewed on a video posted to Burkhart’s YouTube channel, with the action climaxing as Burkhardt breathlessly pleads with the sh and promises to release it if he can just get it in the net.

Burkhart’s monster blue o cially weighed 122.3 pounds and measured 57.5 inches long, with a 42.25-inch girth. It ate a white bass head shed on 40-pound-test line. A er transporting the sh in a large livewell on his trailered boat to get o cial measurements, Burkhart returned to the Cumberland River and successfully released it back to the Stewart County stretch in northwest Tennessee near the Kentucky and Missouri borders. In a Facebook post, Burkhart reported that he also caught 69- and 72-pound blue cats on the same day. at’s a mighty ne day of shing.

e IGFA all-tackle world record blue cat sh weighed 143 pounds, even. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Virginia by Richard Nicholas Anderson in June of 2011.

The Return of a

To watch Burkhart catching the new state record, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ni4BPAaEng&t=1s

This Is How You Walk the Walk

Comfort and class go hand in hand with our Walking Stick Collection. Yours for ONLY $59 each!

They call walking the “perfect exercise.” It gets your heart pumping, clears your head and fills your lungs with fresh air. Not bad, but we found a way to make it even better. Before you take your next 10,000 steps, add a little strut to your stroll. Take a Stauer Walking Stick anywhere and I promise that you’ll feel like a conquering hero. Heads will turn. Doors will open. Its powers will astound you.

What’s the secret? Pure class. Our Stauer Walking Sticks are a tip of the top hat to turn-of-the-century tradition. Today these tributes to a gentleman’s power, prestige, and posture are fetching as much as $200,000 at auction. But only Stauer can deliver a modern version of these vintage classics that looks and feels as good as the original for $59 each!

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A Time of Porpoise

Amemorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea.

There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and human-like creatures in their natural habitat.

Why not re-create that special moment with our Balinese Dolphin Pendant? We’ve captured two dolphins mid-jump in sterling silver crafted in the Balinese style. Tucked between these beloved sea mammals is a full carat of shimmering blue topaz. Made by some of Indonesia’s finest artisans, this pendant is an absolute steal at JUST $29! That’s what we call our Stauer IMPOSSIBLE PRICE!

Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling, clear blue color and high reflective index, blue topaz is one of the world’s top-selling gemstones. The Gemological Institute of America lauds topaz for its hardness, noting that blue topaz is known for its intense color that’s better than aquamarine. With this special price, you can score quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Balinese Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

Limited reserves. This pendant is already one of our best sellers this year. A full carat of genuine blue topaz set in .925 sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today! This offer is limited to the first 1,900 responders to this ad!

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• Made in Indonesia

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Balinese Dolphin Pendant (1 carat)

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