The Angler Magazine | August 2022 | Lake Okeechobee/Lake Istokpoga Edition

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FOLLOW THE BAIT FOR NEARSHORE WAHOO

T

Tim Barefoot

his is the time of year when water temperatures allow pelagics like wahoo, dolphin and tuna to show up right on the beach… so to speak. I live in North Carolina, and every year there are stud wahoo caught “right on the beach.” Here “right on the beach” is the 20to 25-mile area off the beach.

For some folks in Florida, “right on the beach” might be that first sea buoy right out of the inlet.

In late summer, we have a monolithic water temperature from the Gulf Stream to the beach in the mid 80s. That allows wahoo to follow huge schools of bait wherever they go. This is what we call the beginning of the end… the end of summer. The cigar minnows and sardines come nearshore, and the wahoo follow them as far in as they are comfortable with the water depth, which is usually not much less than 75 or 80 feet. They will eat whatever they want, including live menhaden or cigs pulled around by king mackerel fishermen.

We call it the beginning to the end of summer, but it’s also the beginning of a wonderful time of year for me… fall and winter. The cigs and sardines come in. The pelagics follow them for a month or so

until the water starts to cool in mid September. Then the magic happens.

When cooling water runs off the wahoo, the gags show up in numbers.

It’s all a very beautiful dance. Let’s enjoy every step along the way.

I keep talking about the nearshore activity of the cigs and sardines, but the offshore schools are also getting bigger now, and this draws the attention of everything from pelagics to bottom fish. All the grouper and big snappers shadow these schools wherever they go. This is why it’s so important to “find the bait.” Cigs and sardines are not the only thing I’m looking for offshore. I like to find a big stack of beeliners. Wherever you find a big stack of beeliners, you can bet your bottom dollar there are grouper and big snapper directly under them and wahoo and kings around them.

August is also a month to consider spending the night offshore. Yes, there are late afternoon thunderstorms that pop up, but overall weather patterns are consistent, and you can fish for days, back to back. Leave in the early afternoon, get where you are going and get acclimated to the setting sun. Anchor up on a pretty piece of bottom and bait, and turn on the lights.

This is a “National Geographic moment.” The minnows and squid come to the light, so you can easily load up the livewell before the daylight bite starts.

I will close with this: We lost a fishing pioneer and legend last month with Mark Sosin’s passing. Our thoughts, prayers and celebrations go out to his family.

See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.

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LIVE BAIT AND ARTIFICIAL TACTICS FOR

J

upiter, Fla. is a worldrenowned fishery. In the summertime it’s known for hot inshore snook. Offshore produces an epic sailfish, kingfish, tuna and pelagic bite. There are always fish willing to eat.

One of my favorite bites is for springtime blackfin tuna.

From March through May, jumbo blackfins migrate down the east coast of Florida. It is not uncommon to catch them anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds. From their deliciousness on the table to their long powerful runs, blackfin tuna are one of my favorite offshore fish to target. They are sure to send you to the tackle shop to get your reels serviced after a productive day of fishing.

Blackfin tuna are excellent hunters. Often, they work together to ambush schools of baitfish. They are equipped with massive eyeballs, which are designed for pitch black and low-light conditions. They spend a majority of their time down deep feeding on squid. However, at dawn and dusk, the tunas move higher in the water column to feed near the surface. Be on the lookout for frigates and disturbance on the water’s surface. It’s not uncommon to see them exploding and flying out of the water on a bait ball. I keep an easily accessible casting rod, with a plug or weighted feather jig tied on, for this scenario or in case a school of mahi shows up.

Blackfin tuna will often hold to areas with bottom topography like humps, reefs and wrecks. You can find success drifting over areas like these with live bait. Live sardines, pilchards, threadfins and gogs will all work. I prefer live sardines. For me, they have been the most productive bait.

Chumming is important to bring blackfins higher in the water column. Chunk up pilchards and throw a few pieces out at the bow, mid and stern every couple of minutes. The best chum is live chum. Small- to medium-sized pilchards are your best bet.

I throat-hook a sardine and send it out on a free line. The bait will swim down on its own, and you should keep some tension on it. I also drop a live bait on a down rod and wait for the bite as I drift along.

Blackfins’ excellent eyesight means they can be leader shy, so I often run a 40- to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, but will go as light as 30 pounds. A triplehook rig for freelining or a single 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook depending

By Ryan Izquierdo on the size of the bait is my hook preference.

You can also catch them kite fishing, trolling feathers/spoons, with ballyhoo rigs, cedar plugs, planer fishing, vertical jigging and slow-pitch.

Second to live bait, slow-pitch jigging is a fun and effective way to catch tunas when the hot mid-day sun pushes them down deep. My go to jig is a Jyg Pro 240 Gram strike jig. I like to jig anywhere from 200 to 350 feet. Send it down to the bottom over active areas and work your rod up high and let the jig flutter back down. You can change the pace and tempo of your jigging until you find what works. Don’t be surprised to get hit as you are burning the jig back to the surface.

I hope these tuna tips bring you success and dinner to share with your close friends and family. Keep on fishing!

Check out Ryan Izquierdo’s adventures on his YouTube channel: Ryan Iz Fishing.

You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked.

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FREEDIVER SPEARS WORLD RECORD CUBERA SNAPPER A massive 137-pound Atlantic cubera snapper speared by a Texas freediver in early June was heavier than the existing IGFA all-tackle world record as well as the Texas state record. It will not, however, qualify for either record because of the method used to catch it.

Who cares?

The diver, Braden Sherron, a student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, can rest assured that his monster cubera is one of the largest of its species ever caught by any method. It will likely be the new International Underwater Spearfishing Association’s world record. If approved, it will replace a 122.4-pound fish shot in 2006 off the coast of Brazil.

According to a Field & Stream story on the catch, Sherron first encountered the giant snapper while freediving a Gulf of Mexico oil rig about 60 miles out of Port Aransas, Texas. He did not take his shot at the time because he was not equipped to handle such a large fish. A week later, on June 3, he returned to the rig with heavier gear, dove to about 55 feet and put a dart into the fish. Luckily, the cubera wrapped the trailing line up in the oil rig, which kept the fish from diving. While the fish fought itself, Sherron returned to the surface to wait 10 minutes before diving down to secure

By CAM Staff

his prize with two more shots.

When Sherron brought his fish back to the scales at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas, it began making the rounds on social media almost immediately. It truly is an enormous fish, which outweighs the existing IGFA record—a 2007 Louisiana fish that weighed 124 pounds, 12 ounces—by more than 10 pounds. Sherron’s fish also outweighs the Texas state rod-and-reel record of 131 pounds. The only larger cubera snapper research was able to turn up was a 151-pound monster that’s listed as an “other methods” catch by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. That fish, caught by handline out of Port Mansfiled in 1984, weighed 151 pounds.

The thing is, none of these other anglers were holding their breath when they caught their fish.

Sherron’s catch is absolutely one for the record books.

“I would equate it to shooting a 200-plusinch whitetail deer on public land,” he told Field & Stream. “It’s one of those things that happens once in a lifetime, and you can’t believe it when it does.”

Check out video of Braden Sherron’s spearfishing on his Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3yKm8EP

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August is the Best Month for

GIANT SNOOK

By Emily Rose Hanzlik

A

ugust offers the best chance for anglers to catch a 40-inch-plus snook in Florida waters. With a majority of snook returning from offshore spawning grounds, the big girls will feed up to recover from the rigors of the spawn.

Right now is a good time to catch them.

Snook are widespread, but their range is limited by temperature intolerance. They are found throughout the Caribbean on the Atlantic and Pacific sides, including most of Florida.

Due to their limited cold tolerance, Snook avoid temperatures below 60 degrees.

There are 12 species of snook that can be found in just about any body of water within their range.

Snook can be caught all year long. In winter they prefer shallow flats and deep holes in bay areas. As water temperatures rise, they move out to offshore structure to spawn.

When snook are not spawning, they move inshore and travel upstream. Since snook are euryhaline, meaning they can live in a wide range of salinity, they travel upstream into brackish and freshwater areas. Snook have a special osmoregulation feature that allows them

to control the water content inside their bodies to maintain the same salinity as the outside water.

Snook spawning takes place between April and October with peak around June and July. During this time, females and males move into higher salinity locations where they broadcast spawn with the females releasing eggs into the water column and the males fertilizing them. One female snook can release up to 1.5 million eggs each spawn. All of the hatchlings are born as males and transition to females when they reach between 12 and 35 inches in length. They are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning the males change to females as they age.

Some of the best places to locate big girls in large numbers this time of year are at the mouths of inlets, bridges and piers. Heavier tackle is preferred, since you will most likely be fishing heavy structure. Some of the best baits for really big fish include croaker, mojarra, snapper, needlefish and southern sennet.

It is best practice, if you do land a big fish, to release the fish safely back into the water using a

SU

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The largest IGFA-recorded common snook weighed 53 pounds, 10 ounces. It was caught from Costa Rica.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

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Florida Overhauls Redfish Regs

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• Prohibit captain and crew from retaining a bag limit of redfish when on a for-hire trip.

• Reduce the off-the-water transport limit from six to four fish per person.

• Reduce the vessel limit in each of the management regions to be: »» Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast: four fish. »» Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast: two fish. »» Allow only catch-and-release fishing for redfish in the Indian River Lagoon region. »» Set the bag limit to one fish in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast and Northeast regions.

“With this new forward-thinking management approach, we’re trying to do what’s best for this fishery. This agency is committed to working proactively to conserve the redfish

fishery in Florida for future generations while balancing stakeholder interests,” said FWC Commissioner Steven Hudson.

The changes to redfish management regions and regulations, as part of FWC’s new management approach, will better capture regional differences and improve angler satisfaction. The new management approach includes annual reviews of the redfish fishery For more information, including the July 2022 Commission and redfish regulations may be changed each meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission year in response to the reviews. and click on “Commission Meetings.”

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f you are in the market for a new flats boat, the 2022 Hydrastepp 18’ might just be the boat you’re looking for.

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a pair of 9” Simrad flush-mounted monitors for fish-finder/ GPS and supports all the normal gauges: tachometer, waterpressure, temperature, gas and speed by GPS. They are all linked to the motor and fuel system, which is very cool! A 29-gallon gas tank allows this boat to make long runs thanks to the super high-efficiency hull design.

On a recent test ride of the new 2022 demo model Hydrastepp 18’, the boat was equipped with a 150 hp Mercury Pro XS, a 30” pitch Mercury 4 blade prop, three-quarters of a tank of gas, a Motorguide 24 volt trolling motor, 50 pounds of gear in the front compartment, three batteries and two adults. The boat’s performance was outstanding! It gets on a plane in 2.5 seconds with little effort. Top speed with load is 65 mph at 5,800 rpm, while getting 5 miles per gallon. Fuel consumption at 30 mph and 3,050 rpm was 7 miles to the gallon (best), allowing over 200 miles to the tank! To say this vessel is super-efficient is an understatement.

I’ve ridden in just about every flats boat on the market. This Hydrastepp 18’ outperforms all of them by far. If you are in the market for a flats boat, give Steve a call to schedule a test ride for yourself, and place your order for the new face of flats boats! Tell them that you read about them in Coastal Angler Magazine!

Phil Wolf is co-publisher of the Orlando edition of Coastal Angler Magazine. Check out HydraStepp boats at hydrastepp.com.

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SERVING HARDEE, HIGHLANDS, OKEECHOBEE, DESOTO, GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES

LAKE ISTOKPOGA & LAKE OKEECHOBEE EDITION

Celebrating our One Year Anniversary with

Dog Daysof Summer FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

PG 2 PG 6

PG 8 PG 10

PG 11 PG 14 PG 16 PG 17 PG 18 PG 20 PG 21 PG 23 PG 24 PG 26 PG 28 PG 30

Gambler Baits – Don Norton Lake Okeechobee Report & Forecast – Capt. Angie Douthit Ask Sara – Sara Menendez Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, Flats – Capt. Dave Stephens Force Multiplier -Jim Reed Angler Profile – Brad Day August Tournament Schedule The Florida Trail – Robert Fromhartz Bass Can Hear You – Don Norton Keeping Things Simple – Capt. Steve Daniel Angler Dog of the Month – Duke Bass Vision – Don Norton A Mind of her Own – Robert Fromhartz One of the Top Female Anglers – Tangie Neff How Fishing Changed My Life – The Jim Reed Story How BOG got his Name – mikey balzz

Don Norton Tamara Kopp Tangie Neff Paul Glass Jackie Kennedy Terri Lee

STAFF

Publisher Graphics Sales Sales Sales Sales

Robert Fromhartz Carolyn Olson Mallory McNally Amy Norton Chris Norton

Senior Writer Distribution Distribution Distribution Technical Director

The Angler Magazine is a is a proud member of

Sebring Chamber of Commerce Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce Clewiston Chamber of commerce

W

elcome to our One Year Anniversary Issue!

As we begin year two, we’re really excited about what we have in store for you.

You might have noticed our front cover angler.

That’s Tangie Neff, a bass and crappie guide on Lake Istokpoga along with her husband Corky. Tangie’s Don Norton making quite a name for herself in the fishing world and Publisher The Angler Magazine is proud to be one of her sponsors.

Last month we featured Steve Dials Company, Bruiser Baits and this month, we’re featuring Val Osinski’s company, Gambler Baits. If you’re a bass fisherman, I’m sure you’re familiar with both company’s and the great selections of baits each company offers.

The month of August is usually considered the hottest month of the year – often referred to as the “Dog Days of Summer”. In recognition of the dog days, we’ve added some stories and cartoons about our furry friends.

Hope you enjoy this issue. Tell your friends to pick up a copy and please, tell the advertisers you found them in the Angler Magazine.

CONTACT US (863) 273-4998

We want to hear from our readers!

Reach out to us with your feedback, fishing adventures, and pictures!

Advertising opportunities available!

Contact us today for information and pricing.

Don Norton don@theanglermagazine.com donorton13@gmail.com

GAMBLER BAITS

By Don Norton

O

ne of the best-known known companies in the bass fishing world has to be Gambler Baits of Pompano Beach, Florida.Purchased in 2004 by the current owner, Val Osinski, the company has seen tremendous growth over the last 18 years. Starting with only about 15 lure types when Val purchased the company, they now offer over 45 different baits.

Val, no stranger to professional bass tournaments, just finished second in the Toyota Series, a 3-tournament event on Lake Okeechobee, Santee Cooper and the Harris Chain of Lakes. He spends an average of 130 days on the water each year 2 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

and has made quite a name for himself over the years fishing the FLW events.

Gambler Lures has been a leader in the manufacturing of fishing lures for over 20 years. Gambler Lures products are sold world-wide through dealers and direct through their website. Their products have produced BassMaster Classic Championships and top finishes at all levels. But you don't have to be a professional to appreciate the quality and effectiveness of their lures.

In fact, twice a year, Gambler hosts a FREE tournament for anglers on Lake Okeechobee using only Gambler lures. The tournaments draw hundreds of

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anglers from all over the state, from weekend tournament fishermen, to mom and dad and the kids. The events are extremely well-run and offer cash prizes for the top five teams of $1000.00 for the tournament winners, followed by $500 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth and $100 for fifth place. Teams placing 6th through 10th all receive $100 gift cards for Gambler products that can be redeemed locally at Okeechobee Fishing Headquarters, Fastbreak, and Garrard’s.

In addition, Gambler merchandise is also awarded.

The tournaments are usually held in November or December. One on the south end of the big lake in Clewiston, and the other on the north end of the lake out of OkeeTantee. The tournaments are FREE and open to the public.

Gambler lures are readily available on line as well as through Bass Pro Shops, Tackle Warehouse and other large retailers.

With 45 different types/styles of lures, all in a wide variety of colors and in some

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FIS H S TO RIES AR E MADE IN O KEECHO BEE, FLOR I DA! O KEECHO BEE CO UNTY TOUR I S M cases size, it’s hard to know which is the best lure to choose. When I asked Val, he had to think a moment and then replied, the Big EZ. It’s a bit of a challenging question since Gambler baits are used all over the country – and all over the world. So, lures that are more effective for largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee might be far different than the best lure choice for smallmouth bass in Tennessee. Or, for that matter if you’re after Redfish, Trout and Snook in saltwater, you may prefer a completely different style bait.

Val did admit that for saltwater fishermen, nationwide, the Little EZ used as a trailer with swimbaits is the most popular.

I can remember 10 years ago when I had my own fishing tackle store, REDS II. We carried hundreds of different brands of plastic baits, but overwhelmingly, Gamblers were the choice of most fishermen.

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 5

Capt. Angie Douthit ’s Lake Okeechobee

REPORT & FORECAST

F

ishing Lake Okeechobee in August can be challenging, but fun! Challenging due to hot temperatures, possible afternoon thunderstorms and low water levels.

Current water levels are just under 13 feet.

Now is a good time to brush up on your deeper water angling skills, whether its fishing in the Kissimmee River or the Okeechobee Canal System.

Bass like the deeper, cooler water temperatures and it’s a great time to dust off and tie on those deep-diving crank baits you’ve been waiting to Lisa S. of SC landed this 6.4 lb use all year. Along with crankbaits, a bass on a senko Carolina rig (c-rig) can produce some really nice size, quality bass as well as a Texas-rigged worm.

In the early morning hours, have a hard, topwater lure tied on, like a Bang-a-Lure or Devils Horse and aim at the rock-bottom that the river and the canals are known for. If you’re fishing the lake, some areas of the lake are showing signs of algae, which is normal for this time of the year.

What’s biting now? I’ve been taking bream trips; fingerling catfish and bass trips which are typical for this time of the year.

The month of September is when to start thinking of booking your bass

fishing trip, as the females start to feed up while they make their way into the shallows for the early spawn time. It’s also a good time to book your fall crappie trip as well.

Some good areas on the lake to try are: parts of the shoal; a few spots around Dupree Bar; some areas around Dyess Ditch and around Horse Island and parts of Indian Prairie. Tin House has been solid throughout the season for crappie, bass and bream, working your way up to the second and third points where you’ll find some bass feeding on the bedding bream.

A few areas on Kings Bar have been good and the water looks perfect.

I fished around Grassy getting very few bites but that can all change as September approaches. Areas around the pier will start to produce as well as some areas on the east side such as Nub and Slough and Hendry Creek and some areas south to J&S. From what I’ve been reading, per the Corps of Engineers, no water releases are planned but I would not be surprised if that changes, depending on the weather (storms). If you’re boating on the lake use caution coming off/on plane, especially around the rock-bottom areas of the lake. When in doubt, idle to a safe depth, then continue on.

Lures to try are worms, Senko’s, creature-style baits for flipping/pitching, deep/mid running crankbaits, swim jigs and swim baits, some frogs, hard top water lures, spinnerbaits and rattletraps for more open water presentations.

Colors: black/blue, junebug, redbug, watermelon red, green pumpkin, white shad and Okeechobee craw.

To book your next fun-filled, productive and educational fishing trip, call me at 863-228-7263, or log onto my website to check out the up-to-date pictures of customers and their catches; hotel recommendations; and guide rates.

Thank you to my sponsors!

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The odds were more than a million to one - but she beat the odds to become a legend.

— Dedicated to my brother Bill who inspired me to write the story, but didn’t live long enough to read it.

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A Bass Fishing Guide and Tournament Angler, Don Norton’s knowledge and passion for Lake Istokpoga rings true in this story.

8 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

ASK SARA In Lake Istokpoga, when you do electro-shocking, what percentage of bass, bluegill, shellcracker, crappie, gar, mudfish and pickerel do you catch (and maybe golden shinders, or other baitfish)? What I'm really looking for is the number of shellcrackers versus bluegills.

Maybe in the answer you could mention how often you electro-shock (I think it's spring and fall), how many man-hours are involved. How many fish do you actually capture and how many do you register??

I

f you have been on Istokpoga and seen an FWC boat with long arms extended out of the front, those are our electrofishing boats. Electrofishing is a non-lethal sampling technique that allows fisheries biologists to collect valuable data on fish populations. FWC uses two standardized electrofishing sampling events to understand fish populations. These sampling events can average two or three days to complete, depending on how many fish are collected (and if weather is nice!). In the fall, FWC samples the entire fish community. This means collecting all fish from the smallest mosquitofish to larger forage like shiners, non-game fish such as gar, pickerel, and all of our major sportfish. All fish are collected, counted, measured, and weighed to estimate their abundance. Data from fall electrofishing is used to see the proportion of fish species in regard to the entire lake fishery. For example, for the past several years, Lake Istokpoga has remained fairly consistent in the top four most abundant fish caught during community electrofishing. These fish are threadfin shad, bluegill, largemouth bass, and mosquitofish. While the exact number of fish collected will vary from year to year, the important part is that the proportion of these species collected remains relatively the same year after year and there isn’t a decline in one species. We also use our community electrofishing to see if there is any change in the abundance of exotic fish. So far, there has not been any new introductions and exotic species have remained relatively stable.

In the springtime, FWC performs electrofishing sampling specifically for largemouth bass. Springtime is the best to sample this species as these fish have moved into the shallow waters of the littoral marsh for spawning. We only target largemouth bass during this sampling event, so those are the only ones that we collect data on. For each bass that is collected, lengths and weights are taken. From the data collected during this event we can look at population size structure of this species through length-frequency graphs and relative weights of individual fish to ensure the population is healthy. After our standard sampling is complete, we target specific areas around the lake that we know have big fish and any fish over 8 pounds we tag with a yellow external tag. If you catch one of these, read the instructions on it to claim your cash prize!

While electrofishing is a very powerful tool FWC uses to monitor fish populations, it is important to have other types of data to get a well-rounded idea of how our fisheries are doing. FWC will also use trawl net surveys, creel (angler surveys), collection of fish carcasses, and other important tools to best assess the state of a fishery.

— If you have any comments on any information related in this article, please reach out to Sara Menendez at sara.menendez@myfwc.com. Next month I will be discussing the panfish – shellcracker and bluegill – populations on Lake Istokpoga. If there is a topic you’d like me to discuss in a future monthly segment, please contact Don Norton at donorton13@gmail.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Bait ofthe Month POWER NED 3/8OZ

T

he Power Ned combines all of the finesse fish catching ability of your classic Ned Rig jig with a standard wire hook and thicker brush guard so you can fish the Power Ned anywhere! Skip it under docks, fish it around wood, cast it to emergent vegetation - it's designed to go where a normal Ned Rig could never even dream of going. Also incorporating a screw on keeper which means no more soft plastic lure slippage when you catch a fish or skip it.

Power Ned Worm Black Blue Tail

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 9

Capt. Dave Stephens'

Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats

REPORT & FORECAST

So far this summer the tropics have been on the quiet side.

W

ell, I’m sure that is going to change as we head into the heart of hurricane season. Normally that means an abundant amount of rain in our area. This has its pluses and also its negatives, the plus side is the flow of freshwater can help cleanse the harbor of all the loose slim moss floating around. It's kind of like flushing the toilet, but if we get to much rain in a short period it could wash away more of our grass flats like in the past.

It can also turn our water to fresh and have effects on our fishery.

Fortunately for us most of our targeted game fish can tolerate high levels of freshwater. Fish such as snook, tarpon and redfish can survive in water with no salinity. Other fish like mangrove snapper, sea trout and our bait schools however need higher salt levels to survive.

Mother nature has a way of taking care of herself, and the fish just don’t disappear during the wettest times of the year. We just have to change our approach up a little bit. When we get a big dump of rain the shock factor shuts them down for a couple days, as they get adjusted the hunger pains take over.

History has proven over the years that our harbor requires a balance of rain water to make our fragile ecosystem work. As anglers we must adapt to what is given to us. Every year mother nature gives us something different to work with. As we move into the heart of hurricane season we will see what hand has been dealt to us this year. Just remember thunderstorms develop very fast along the coast, so keep an eye on the sky.

M

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to the volunt for rel tourna interfe

USING VOLUNTEERS AS A

FORCE MULTIPLIER

T

he creel surveyor had been working for FWC’s Okeechobee office when he was asked to add a new task – get biometric data from bass tournaments. The process was to set up a measuring board, measure the length of each tournament fish, then return the fish to the angler, and do this without interfering with the flow of the weigh-in.

It would take at least two persons – one to measure and one

BY JAMES REED to record -- so for the first few tournaments he tried asking someone from the audience to write down the lengths as he called them out. This didn’t work well, because as soon as his helper’s spouse or boyfriend weighed in the helper would leave to take pictures. Then, at one tournament, the surveyor asked a young man, perhaps 10-12 years of age, to help. The young man agreed, and then the tournament weigh-in started. Positioned next to the weighmaster, the surveyor received each fish and called out their lengths in millimeters.

“495, 520, 535, 460, 510, etc . . .”. Then there was a break in the action. The young man turned to the surveyor and asked, “Mister, how do you make a five?”

At that point it was obvious -- there had to be a volunteer program. (Full disclosure -- a few minutes later the boy’s mother came over and explained that her son knew how to write a five but was dyslexic and sometimes reversed the number.)

That’s how the FWC Highlands Lakes Volunteers were started, indirectly by a young man who said he didn’t know how to write the number five. Until Covid-19 interfered, the Highlands Lakes Volunteers were involved in a variety of activities such as helping with electroshock sampling, taking dissolved oxygen readings and other items which helped the FWC biologists. But one of the major activities continues to be getting biometric data from tournaments.

The volunteers have Above: Some of the bass tournament team (L organized a data collection to R: Paul Graham, Joe Fairfield, Joe Webb, team that attends selected Ann Graham, Gary Ferry). Team Leader, tournaments in-season.

Mike Elter, off-camera. Note the diamond shaped opening in the holding bin, effective in The team captain keeps the team’s equipment -preventing escapes by the tournament fish. primarily a holding tank, Top Right: Another team view, (L to R: table with measuring board, Jennifer Swain, Joe Webb, Team Leader Mike and a couple of pails used Elter emptying weigh-in basket, Joe Fairfield) to fill the holding bin. The tournament team sets up next to the weighmaster. After the tournament weighs the catch, it is moved to the volunteer team’s holding bin, measured, and returned to the tournament team for release, while the tournament is weighing in the next boat’s results. The tournament team has their procedures down pat and can do their work without interfering with the tournament weigh-ins.

As the team has matured, tasks have been added. This season the team also examines each fish for sores or disease problems and records any serious problems. This health and length data become part of the FWC fisheries longterm monitoring program. The data is also used to chart a parameter known as fish condition, a topic which will be explained in a future column.

Besides the long-term monitoring data there are additional benefits:

• The volunteer team helps the tournament director set up or tear down equipment.

• The team leader can certify TrophyCatch-eligible fish.

• When the tournament is over, unless the tournament has their own charity, the FWC team leader takes any tournament dead fish to the kitchen of a local homeless shelter.

There are a variety of other volunteer opportunities within FWC. To get involved, go to the FWC contact page at https://myfwc.com/get-involved/ volunteer/contact/.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 11

ANGLER

of Boat theMonth Owned by

Gerry Brousseau

G

If you'd like your boat featured in the Angler Magazine's "Boat of the Month" please submit your pictures and information to The Angler Magazine at donorton13@gmail.com or don@theanglermagazine.com.

erry Brousseau has made a lifetime of memories in the BASS fishing world. Gerry was added to the Ranger Boat & Mercury Marine Pro Staff at just 23 years of age and is still a member of each of these teams.

Gerry has a smile on his face every time he is asked “How many Ranger Boats have you owned” that smile is due to the fact that he has no idea how many new boats he has had through the years. Presently Gerry owns 7 boats of which three are Rangers and he has owned as many as four Rangers at one time.

When asked who makes the best bass boat, Gerry will be quick to say there are many great companies out there but hands down Ranger has always stood behind him and has added so much to this great sport. He will be quick to tell you they are not the fastest, they are not the driest ride but they get the job done and a top fishing platform is the most important item of a bass boat to him. What does that mean, it has a stable ride in rough water, it sits flat on the water while fishing and it offers a huge front deck for when they are shooting TV shows or UTUBE videos.

How e to as of s four

will be but has ell but most mean, er hey

Talking Dog

for Sale

I

’m out taking a walk with my wife and as we pass a nice-looking bass boat parked in a neighbor’s driveway, I noticed a sign in the front yard, "Talking Dog for Sale." I looked at my wife and said, we got to check this out!

We walk up to the front door and I ring the doorbell and a guy comes out. I ask about the dog and he says, the dog is in the backyard.

So, we walk through a small gate into the backyard and we see a beautiful Golden Retriever just sitting there.

We walked up to the dog and I said, "You talk?"

"Yep," the dog replies.

"So, what's your story?"

The dog looks up at me and my wife and says,

"Well, I discovered my gift of talking pretty young, while I was on the boat with JT Kenney and I wanted to help, so I watched closely as he tried fishing with different rods, reels and lures, and it wasn’t long before I understood the whole process. I began suggesting what lures to use and before long, he was catching more fish than he’d ever caught.”

“When we weren’t fishing, I started reading all the different books and magazines that JT had on fishing, and we watched all the Mikeybalzz video’s on YouTube.”

“Finally, I realized I had kind of a sixth sense, and I could “smell” whether there were bass in the area or not, and this saved JT countless hours of fishing in non-productive areas. Ultimately, it

was because of me that he finally got a hold of the biggest bass in the lake.”

“He fought that fish for a solid 15 minutes, as I guided him through the process of giving the huge fish some line and not “horsing it in” too fast.

Then, just as he got it to the side of the boat, his line snapped and the record-breaking fish got away.”

I looked at my wife, and we were both just amazed! “This dog is amazing, how much do you want for him,” I asked.

The owner didn’t hesitate and said “ten dollars.”

"This dog is incredible.” I said. “Why on earth are you selling him, so cheap?"

The owner replied, "He's just a big liar. He didn't do any of that stuff."

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 13

The Angler Profile

I

've been fishing bass tournaments for a long time, and I’ve been writing about the guys who win, or take second and third place in both my newspaper columns and in this magazine.

One of the top anglers in the past few years has been Brad Day. Brad doesn’t live in Highlands County; in fact, he lives in Sarasota.

But he has definitely made a name for himself fishing bass tournaments on Lake Istokpoga.

As a child, growing up on a lake, Brad would watch Roland Martin and other famous bass fishermen on television, and then spend the day using the new techniques he’d just learned.

He’s quick to credit his dad and close friend, Rick Knapek as his bass-fishing mentors.

When he was just 22 years old, a truck pulled out in front of him and he totaled both his truck and boat. When he went to the next meeting of the Sarasota Bass Club, he asked if anyone wanted a partner for the next tournament and Rick Knapek raised his hand. They’ve been close friends and fishing partners ever since, fishing tournaments on the Winter-Haven Chain and the Braden River.

Brad not only learned bass fishing techniques from Rick, but saltwater tactics as well.

Like most of us, he’d like to be fishing every day, but as the owner of Air Service of Manasota, he figures he’s on the water about 100 days a year.

Brad Day

By Don Norton

Brad’s biggest bass was a 9.15 giant that he caught in a bass tournament, along with another, 9.12-pound bass giving he and his partner a 37-pound total weight to win the John Woods Tournament on Lake Istokpoga.

No stranger to a “dirty thirty” Brad actually lost a tournament where he and his partner had 33 pounds, only to lose to Buddy McDuffie who weighed in five fish at over 35 pounds.

Brad has fished most of the bass tournament circuits over the years, including the BFL, ABA, Xtreme, John Woods Tournaments and The Big Show. He is a fierce competitor!

His boat is a 2002 20’ Storm with a 250 VMAX outboard motor. His favorite rod and reel combo is a Fitzgerald Rod and a Lew’s baitcasting reel.

Brad’s sponsors include Wiley Sunglasses, Bruiser Baits, Ocean Grip and Flat-Out Tungsten.

He’s also been married for 17 years to Colleen, and together, they have three daughters.

I’ve been around bass fishermen my whole life and many of the “great’s” have learned the true secrets of bass fishing. In my interview with Brad, he mentioned two of the most essential secrets; the wind is your friend, and if your lures not hitting the bottom, you’re wasting your time.

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BASS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE August 2022

CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER Sunday, August 14, 2022 LaBelle Public Ramp

(Wayside Park) 3:15 PM South Florida Elite Team Series weigh-in 60 Anglers

LAKE ISTOKPOGA Sunday, August 7, 2022 Istokpoga Park

2:00 PM Xtreme bass series weigh-in 60 Anglers

Saturday, August 13, 2022 Istokpoga Park

2:00 PM Bay area Bassmasters weigh-in 90 Anglers

LAKE OKEECHOBEE Saturday, August 6, 2022 Harney Pond Canal Boat Ramp

1:00 PM South Florida Bass Club weigh-in 25 Anglers

Saturday, August 20, 2022 Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina

3:00 PM BASS BUSTERS weigh-in 150 Anglers

Sunday, August 21, 2022 Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina

3:00 PM BASS BUSTERS weigh-in 150 Anglers

LAKE PLACID Saturday, August 20, 2022 Public Ramp Placid View Drive

LAKE JUNE IN WINTER

1:00 PM Beeline Bass Busters weigh-in 28 Anglers

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Public Ramp Placid View Drive

H.L. Bishop Ramp 2:00 PM Bass Assassins of Polk County weigh-in 60 Anglers

2:00 PM Highlands Bass Anglers Tournament Trail weigh-in 30Anglers

Tournament directors have until the day before their tournament to schedule or make changes to their tournament exemption. This exemption allows the tournament participants to have an exemption from fish length limits, but not bag limits, while participating in the tournament. All fish are required to be handled as stipulated in the permit, while doing everything possible to ensure a live release. Any dead fish are normally provided to a charity, such as a homeless shelter.More information about black (largemouth) bass fishing tournament exemptions can be found here: https://myfwc.com/license/freshwater/bass-tournament/. Many of the bass tournaments are coordinated through local fishing clubs, reach out to the group specified for additional information. Weigh-ins are typically open to the public.

Prepared Saturday, July 9, 2022

I TRAINED MY DOG TO FETCH BEER. IT MAY NOT SOUND TOO IMPRESSIVE, BUT HE GETS THEM FROM THE NEIGHBOR'S FRIDGE? 16 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

The

Florida Trail

WHY DON’T YOU TAKE A HIKE?

By Robert Fromhartz

W

hen you hear someone say that phrase to you, they probably want you to go away. I’m not asking you to leave though, I’m just suggesting you take advantage of our nearby, almost 10,000-acre State Park. Highlands County and especially Sebring, are fortunate to have a place to “take a hike” or maybe just a leisurely stroll.

Highlands Hammock State Park is the perfect place to begin your hike.

With summer temperatures already here, there are several hiking trails where you can stay cool under the oak, cypress, pine and many other varieties of trees. The trails are filled with the beautiful scenery that will remind you of what Florida looked like before man arrived and “paved paradise to put in a parking lot”. The most popular trail is the “Cypress Swamp Trail” where I’ve seen baby otters swim right up to me and look at me as curiously as I looked at them. You’ll usually see alligators, birds and snakes. If you stay on the boardwalks and the trails, the critters will stay in the swamp and you’ll both be safe and happy. Bring your camera (or your phone) and get some great pictures.

I moved to Sebring in 2009 and the first thing I did was volunteer at the park. I worked in maintenance clearing trails, repairing rental bikes and splitting firewood for sale in the park. That was 13 years ago and I still enjoy being in the park no matter what “job” I’m doing. The volunteers and Park staff are great to work with and new friends are met every day.

Make sure you visit the Hammock Inn where you can purchase refreshments and park related merchandise. They also handle the bicycle rentals and the firewood sales to the folks camping in the park and the local tourists and residents. The Hammock Inn is also where you will find a great selection of books about Florida history, birds, wildlife, hiking and other local topics. My personal favorite is “A land Remembered” by Patrick Smith.

While visiting the park, be sure to take the tram ride. The tram tickets can be purchased at the Hammock Inn. The tram guides are very knowledgeable about the wildlife and the park history. You’ll almost surely see all the birds, alligators, turtles, flora and fauna you can imagine.

Hiking in Highlands County is not limited to the park however. Two years ago no my 75th birthday in August, I went with some friends to a trailhead on US 98 called “Hickory Hammock”. We planned to take an 8- or 9-mile hike on the old “Florida Trail”. Because the trail has been relocated and the old section of the trail has not been maintained or marked, we

made a few wrong turns and after 11.5 miles we found our way back to the trailhead.

The Florida Trail also goes around Lake Okeechobee. Due to Covid, there was no organized group hike around the lake in 2020. The Florida Trail Assn. has a great 109-mile hike called “The Big O Hike” around the lake every year. I talked my neighbor Wally Ward into taking the hike with me in 2010. He was in good shape but after 75 miles, I came down with a blister that was as big as the lake. Wally was a couple years older than I and when I had to give up, he kept going and finished the 109 miles. The next year Wally joined me again as I tried to complete the hike. With his encouragement, help and some duct tape stopping the blisters, I finally finished the hike with Wally. He completed it for the second time. Wally is a good friend and he knew how important it was to me to finish the hike, so he completed the 109 miles twice. The hike took 9 days over Thanksgiving week. The 40 plus hikers gathered on Thanksgiving Day at the Clewiston Inn to celebrate, and the hike ended where it started in Pahokee.

New sports, and hobbies usually develop into something more. Once you start day hiking, then progress to multi day supported hikes you will probably be hooked on hiking and ready to start short backpacking hikes.

The Florida trail has about 1500 miles you can enjoy and if that’s not enough of a challenge, the Appalachian Trail has 2189 miles from Springer Mountain Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

Dan Healy, a good friend of mine and I have hiked many miles over the past 20 years on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and North Carolina. In 2018 he decided he wanted to hike the 2189 miles of the Appalachian Trail. At 73 years old he left Springer Mountain in Georgia in late April 2018 and after some unexpected setbacks had to leave the trail a couple times. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy allows you 12 months for your hike to be considered a thru hike. He broke his ankle in November 2018 and after a lengthy rehab, he was back on the trail and completed his thru hike in March 2019. He has since (with my help) written his story in a book titled “The Long Way Home”.

He listed me as co-author, but it is 100% Dan’s story. He had the book printed and for now it’s available in the Hammock Inn book section.

Enjoy your hike (and your life) wherever it takes you.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

— Bob Fromhartz | twohartz1@gmail.com AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 17



By Don “Red” Norton

I

can remember when I was a kid, fishing out of an aluminum boat, and the loud noise when you dropped a lure or anything fell to the bottom of the boat. My dad would shoot me that look, like “shush! You’ll scare the fish!”

I never really gave it that much thought, and as the years passed by and I got older, I moved from an aluminum boat to a bass boat with plush seats and padded carpeting. The idea of “noise” effecting my ability to catch fish never really occurred to me.

I mean think about it. Bass don’t have external ears like humans. Sure, I’ve heard that they can “hear” or sense sound through their lateral lines, but I never really thought it was that important. ...the bass may come looking for A couple of nights my bait – the original source of the ago, as I walked out to my dock to feed the fish, sound, only to find that I’m already I noticed the fish coming in from every direction as flipping to a new spot, but my I walked across the dock. client’s bait is now where The water wasn’t that clear, it had just rained, so mine was. And they get bit!

I don’t think they “saw” me, but I’m sure they “heard” me, or at least they felt the vibrations from the dock as I walked across.

It reminded me of a story I’d heard years ago that took place in California.

Back in the late 90’s there were a lot of articles written about the huge bass being caught in many of California’s lakes. The Florida-strain bass were close to world record size due to the fact that they ate trout, almost exclusively. Bass are much faster than trout, and since the state stocks trout into their lakes, bass quickly discovered they made a pretty good meal.

But the interesting part of the story was when the trucks arrived to dump the young trout into the lakes, the bass were actually stacked up waiting for their release.

How did anyone figure this out? Well, a couple of scuba divers dropped below the surface prior to the trucks arriving to witness what would happen when the trout were released.

The divers said they could actually “feel” the vibrations in the water as the huge trucks drove down the old, dirt roads to the water. As the trucks approached, scores of bass began showing up. One diver said hundreds of bass were lined up before the trucks even got there.

When the trout were released, it was a feeding frenzy. Very few trout survived.

It’s an interesting story, and it does make you think about a bass’s ability to hear and what impact that might have on your fishing.

I’ve heard that trout are now being “dumped” into the lakes with planes.

I wonder if the bass can figure that out.

I’ve fished with guys who believe the splash of your lure frightens a fish, Continued on page 29

18 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 19

Steve Daniel

The Voice of Okeechobee Fishing KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE

I

n looking back at my tournament history one thing jumps out at me. In almost all of my tournament wins came when I just kept things very simple. When I first started my fishing career I was as one dimensional as one could be, I carried my jigs and a bottle of pork in my pockets. If they didn’t bite my jigs they didn’t ride in my boat and that thought process worked very well. I can remember when a lot of the best anglers on Lake Okeechobee were just worm fishermen. Why does that not work today or does it still work. The only thing I do know is you will never know if you don’t go fishing with just your favorite worm rod and a bag of your favorite worms. There is a lot of really good lures on the market today and sometimes they get in the way of some of the very basics of bass fishing. I’ve rarely seen on the big O an area that had a lot of bass that would prefer anything better than the ole standard plastic worm. Next time you go fishing on the Big O leave all that other stuff in the tackle box and put that old standard worm rod in your hands, you might be surprised at the outcome.

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ANGLER

of Dog theMonth By

Don Norton

S

ince this issue is “going to the dogs” it seemed like a fitting time to introduce our newest monthly column, The Angler Dog of the Month. It could be about anybody’s dog, but I’m going to start the column telling you about my daughter’s dog.

I’ve had dozens of dogs throughout my lifetime, starting when I was six or seven when my brother Bill and I shared an old beagle named Paulie. I’ve had mutts, strays, cross-breeds, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and my all-time favorite, a 150-pound black Lab/Rottweiler named Ranger.

I always liked big dogs, the bigger the better. But big dogs come with their share of problems. One of which is, they don’t live as long as small dogs.

Ranger passed away a few years ago, and I truly miss him.

I’ve thought of getting another dog, maybe a Rottweiler, but I’m getting old too.

My daughter Amy got a puppy last year and named him after one of my idols, John Wayne. Duke is a tough little 65-pound American Bulldog. How tough, well last year when I walked him, I looked over to speak to my neighbor and he decoded to take off, leaving me face-first in the grass.

Four broken ribs later, we now have an underground invisible fence, which he doesn’t much care for.

Duke was born January 22, 2018, in a litter of 8 puppies. He was the smallest and the calmest of the puppies. He loves balls and frisbee’s, and he especially likes to play tug-ofwar. He does not like a spray bottle with water, or loud noises like fireworks, gunshots and howling wind.

Amy has been pretty sick this past year, with repeated chemo and radiation treatments. Duke has been her constant companion.

Jimmy G’s

Stop in and see us!

If you’d like to nominate your dog to be the Angler Dog of the month, send at least three pictures and some information to donorton13@gmail.com.

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OKEECHOBEE 21

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Recipe ofthe Month Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Ingredients

1 lb (453g) peeled, seedless watermelon 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 small (27g) red onion, very thinly sliced 3 tbs (44 ml) fresh lemon juice 1 tbs lemon zest, finely grated 2 tsp honey 2 tbs olive oil Black pepper, to taste 3 cups (2 ounces/57g) arugula or baby spinich 1/3 cup (38g) crumbled feta cheese 4 tbs (5g) torn fresh mint leaves Cut the watermelon into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle with salt and place in an even layer in a large zip-top plastic bag. Press out as much air as possible and lie the watermelon flat in the freezer. Place a few items on the to weigh the fruit down (such as bags of frozen vegetables). Freeze for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, soak the sliced red onions in a large bowl of ice water. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, zest and honey. Slowly whisk in the oil and season with pepper.

Remove the watermelon from the bag and transfer to a large serving bowl. Drain the red onions, pat them dry and add them to the bowl. Add the arugula and dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle the cheese and mint over the top of the salad and serve.

Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 2 cups Nutrition (per serving):

Calories: 132; Total Fat: 10g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 11mg; Sodium: 410mg; Carbohydrate: 15g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 14g; Protein: 3g

BASS

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e with ip-top and lie items ags of

large gether in the

ansfer ns, pat rugula se and

VISI N

By Don “Red” Norton

I

s I sat down to write this column, I thought I’d reference a recent call from a friend of mine named Jim who was concerned about the color of his fishing line in clear water.

I’ve written about this subject many times, and I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not sure anyone knows for sure if color is a factor in catching bass.

My old mentor, Buck Perry – The Father of Structure Fishing, claimed color, at best, played a very insignificant part in whether a bass would strike a lure.

But he also addressed the issue of fishing line, and whether color or clear line made a difference. He believed it did not.

Buck was always fascinated by fishermen and how much credit they gave bass for their intelligence. He often stated, “A bass has a brain the size of a pea. It has never had an original thought in its life and the only two things its brain dwells on are eating and mating. Both are genetically hardwired into every bass.”

He would go on to explain that bass did not possess the ability to “think” as we humans do. He believed if a bass even noticed the fishing line, regardless of the color, it wouldn’t give it a second thought, assuming it was no different than any other vegetation or debris in the water.

Contrary to what many fishermen believe, a bass doesn’t have the ability to see a fishing line and think, “Oh no, that’s fishing line, which means there must be a hook on the other end.”

To further illustrate his point, Buck would suggest to the audience that they hook a minnow by the tail, or a live nightcrawler through the egg sac – in both cases, exposing the silver, black or bronze hook. If the bass was smart enough to understand what a fishing line is, wouldn’t you think they would most certainly back away from an exposed hook? Of course, they don’t give it a single thought. All they see is food. If it moves it must be alive, and the only question that remains is whether it will fit in their mouth.

On the other hand, according to Doug Hannon, the Bass Professor, in his book “Big Bass Magic,” he claims that “bass are daylight feeders and that they can detect colors and that is why more big bass are caught in the middle of the day than at any other time by live bait fishermen. The period from 10am to 2pm is the best time to shiner fish because a bass can see best at this time of the day, with full light, and can tell a shiner is a shiner.”

Bass are prone to make more mistakes early and late in the day when their vision is poor, explaining why many bass are caught first thing in the morning and just before dark.

Night fishing is the absolute best time to fish with an artificial lure because a bass doesn’t have enough light to know whether the lure is real or fake.

Hannon goes on to say, “Nature uses warning colors to protect creatures from predators and usually they are in the yellow and orange range. Bees, wasps and coral snakes are examples of creatures with warning color patterns. Many manufacturers purposely do not use these colors for fear that bass will respond negatively.”

I’m sure if Buck Perry and Doug Hannon were alive today, they could certainly have a lively debate about the importance of color.

I’ve argued on the side of Buck Perry ever since I worked with him back in the 70’s, but I too sometimes question the importance of color.

What I don’t question, is the intelligence of a bass. I believe Buck Perry was right when he said a bass has a pea-sized brain and has never had an original thought in its entire life.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 23

A Mind of Her Own

By Robert Fromhartz

S

aybe I should have been looking for a male dog that day at the Highlands County Animal Control. I’ve been married for almost 55 years, so I’ve slowly learned that the male brain works differently than the female brain. The female brain questions everything and has a memory like an elephant, maybe even better.

We adopted Maggie May that day in 2013. We had to pay a little something to free her from the prison cell she shared with her mother and her sister. Since that day we’ve wished a thousand times that we took all three and kept a family together. She seemed calm but scared. She had been picked up by animal control in Lake Placid Florida running wild in a wooded area. Before we could bring her home, she had to go to the vet and be spayed. Two days later we picked her up at the vet’s office. The vet assistant carried her out and said “You know she can’t walk”. I told her “We wanted a dog to take walks with us and she was walking okay at Animal Control”. She said they had to carry her in and I’d have to carry her out. So, I carried her

out to my car and put her on the back seat. We drove home wondering if we did the right thing.

We walked her to the back yard where we were joined by our neighbors and friends, Bob and Donna. We all sat under our big oak tree with Maggie and began to experience her quirks and idiosyncrasies. She started licking my beer bottle so I gave her a sip. She liked it and wanted more. There was nothing wrong with her physically, but she was so scared at the vet’s office, she just refused to walk.

She quickly made the wire cage on the kitchen floor her home. From day one she would go into the cage on her own because she felt safe. Terry put a foam cushioned pad in the bottom so she’d be more comfortable. A few days later our daughter Melissa came to see her. Terry and Melissa went out shopping for a couple hours and when they returned, they found Maggie sitting in the cage full of shredded foam and torn fabric. She had one of those “I didn’t do it” looks on her face.

We had about 2 months to get to know her before we headed to the mountains in N. Carolina. For the next few weeks, I’d take her out to get her to walk on a leash. She didn’t want anything to do with the leash. She wanted to walk me, not the other way around. She would apply the brakes hard, lower her head and give me a dirty look. I’d try pulling, dragging, scolding, bribing and any other way to get her to move. Then I’d give up and carry her for 100 feet. It took about a month where she would walk a block without complaining.

It was at this time I realized how smart, or observant she was. She would stop and growl at things that were out of place. If a neighbor had a visitor she would stare and growl at their car because it didn’t belong there. If someone put out a garbage bag on the wrong day for pickup, she’d do the same thing. She must have read Waste Connections schedule. She still does this eight years later.

It was about this time we saw an ad for a “dog obedience school” at the YMCA in Sebring. We signed her up as fast as we could.

Maggie May goes to School

Maggie loved school. She met 13 new friends and would sniff just about every square inch of each one. Not all the dogs got along, but Maggie loved them all. She wasn’t into learning, but she wanted to play the whole time. Terry began teaching her tricks at home. We were surprised how fast she learned.

Continued on page 27 24 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

B

Braggin’Board Submit your pictures to The Angler Magazine don@theanglermagazine.com nn

Russell O'Qui

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This little guy told his Dad that he wanted to learn how to train his dog and his Dad said there were lots of dog training videos on YouTube.

So here he is, showing them to the dog!

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 25

ONE OF THE

TOP FEMALE ANGLERS ON LAKE ISTOKPOGA

by Don Norton

S

ome people grow up fishing, while others are introduced to the sport by their fathers, older brothers, uncles or friends of the family. But Tangie Neff didn’t start bass fishing until about seven years ago, in 2015, when she met her husband, Corky Neff.

Originally from Aberdeen, a small village on the banks of the Ohio River, she and Corky would come down to Florida in three-week intervals until they finally moved to lake Istokpoga in 2017.

Together, they started a company, appropriately named Corky and Tangie’s Bass Fishing Guide Service. It wasn’t long before both Corky and Tangie started making a name for themselves in bass-fishing tournaments like The Big Show, where they not only won the first couple of tournaments, but Tangie caught the biggest bass.

Spending hours learning to flip and pitch, she learned quickly that bass

26 OKEECHOBEE

AUGUST 2022

fishing was pretty serious business to Corky. She learned quickly.

Last year, Tangie started a second business named “Poga Boats,” where she takes clients out in her pontoon boat to fish for bass or crappie, and she also rents out the pontoon boat.

As a female angler, Tangie is most proud of how well she’s been accepted by the fishing community. “It means a lot to me,” she said.

“I love taking clients in my pontoon boat. It’s got so much room and it’s far more comfortable than a bass boat,” she Crappie season on Lake Istokpoga said in a recent interview.

“And as much as I is normally the best from January love bass fishing, catchto May, but Tangie knows the ing crappies is a whole crappie don’t just disappear. lot easier.”

“Sometimes the acThey simply move out of the tion is so fast, furious, vegetation into deeper water. the time just fly’s by, and the customers have the time of their life catching braggin’ sized crappies.”

Crappie season on Lake Istokpoga is normally the best from January to May, but Tangie knows the crappie don’t just disappear. They simply move out of the vegetation into deeper water.

“You can catch crappie all year long, but it takes a little more patience.

Drift-fishing and slow-trolling are the best techniques throughout summer and fall, with the added bonus of catching bluegills, shellcrackers, catfish and an occasional bass.”

Tangie has three children, Cameron, Brianna and Devon, and with Corky’s two boys, Justin and Taylor, they have a pretty big family. She also has three grandchildren, Aria and Silas and just recently Ivy Shae Mitchell.

— If you’re interested in a bass fishing trip, or an opportunity to catch some good-eating crappies, give Tangie a call at 606-584-0144, or email them at corkyff2014@gmail.com. You can also check them out at www.nefftours.com.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Continued from page 24 All it took was an endless supply of cookies (treats).

Within a week she was sitting, down, shaking hands and “high fiving on command. Terry and I took turns at the once-a-week class putting her through the paces and preparing for her final exam.

We didn’t really work with her much because her attention span was even shorter than mine.

Finally, the big day arrived. We joined the other dog owners for the last time. Terry and I were both nervous because we had to lead Maggie through some paces. The two that counted the most were the “sit” and the “down” command. Maggie had to sit when told and not get up or move for 3 minutes. Then she had to do the same thing with the “down” command.

Then the unexpected happened. A dark cloud rolled in and it began to pour. We were in an open area but it had a metal roof. There was wind, heavy rain, thunder and lightning, Maggie had already seen storms, probably while she ran loose in Lake Placid. We thought she was done for as she was so scared, she began shaking and crawled under the picnic table we sat at. I doubted she’d even be able to continue. But the storm stopped and because her 13 new friends were there, and most of them weren’t afraid, she came out from her safe place. I told Terry she should be the one putting Maggie through her paces, and she thought I should make a fool of myself.

I lost the coin toss and Maggie and I stepped up to the line. We completed all the basic exercises and she seemed to be okay. We were now ready for the “big events”. All the dogs lined up and had to sit when given the command. They had to stay on the line without getting up. If a dog got up, it had to be taken off the line and the whole thing ended in 3 minutes. I told Maggie “Sit” and she did. I tried not to show my shock and so did Maggie.

After 30 seconds some of the dogs started getting up and moving off the line. Maggie was as calm as I’ve ever seen her and soon, I looked around and she was the only dog left. I looked at Terry with a “did you see that” look.

Next was the same thing with the “down” command. Maggie laid down and again aced it. She was the only dog on the line again. Terry had the scorecard and when it was over, they announced “Maggie May” as the “Top Dog”.

We were both in shock and 9 years later we are still trying to figure out how she passed, never mind finishing first. Looking back, I think she decided to show us she could do anything she wants. But if she doesn’t “want”, she can be very stubborn. Sometimes it’s even a problem to get her to come when we call her.

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 27

Just

ADD WATER

By Don "Red" Norton

HOW FISHING CHANGED MY LIFE - JIM REED A TRUE STORY

I

was in a special 12-person class at the test pilot school at Edwards AFB, California when our next assignments were announced. We had all qualified for space flight and were waiting for openings. Two of us, Ed Mitchell and Ken Mattingly, were going to NASA as Apollo astronauts. A third, Bo Bobko, would wind up as a pilot of the Space Shuttle. Eight of the remaining nine had assignments to experimental flight test positions in California, Ohio, and Florida. Mine was different – I was going to be an exchange test pilot with the Canadian forces Aeronautical Engineering Test Establishment (AETE).

This would be a great assignment because it would let me fly a variety of different airplanes -- the reason I had joined the USAF. So, with my school diploma signed by Chuck Yeager in hand, in May 1966 I left the family with in-laws in Denver to drive to my new assignment in Ottawa, Canada. After the intense program at Edwards, I had weeks of unused leave time that I had to use or lose by the end of June, and enroute I realized I was travelling during the opening weekend of the trout season in Canada.

On the spur-of-the-moment, I went up through Minnesota and Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and then to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and boarded a train that serviced the fishing camps in the Canadian bush. I spent a week at a bush camp without radios or telephones, just fishing for brook and lake trout. At the end of the week, I returned to the Soo in the late evening.

Early the next morning I hit the road for the long drive to Ottawa, and went directly to the Exchange Office, but it had already closed for the day, so I went to the Canadian base to stay overnight and have dinner at the Officers’ Club.

As luck would have it, the Officer of the Day (OD) was from AETE, and we had

28 OKEECHOBEE

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dinner together. I explained why I was there, and he invited me to come out to AETE in the morning and meet the commander.

The next morning the OD and I walked into the Commander’s office, and I introduced myself. He looked startled and said, “I thought you weren’t coming!” Surprised, we talked for a few minutes before I left to go to the Exchange Program office in downtown Ottawa. They were just as surprised as the Canadians to see me and explained that my orders had been changed and I was to report to Wright-Patterson’s flight test group in Dayton, Ohio.

Apparently, the police in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio were watching for me but my revised path meant I had missed being notified.

The Exchange Office called USAF Personnel to explain what had happened, and that I had already met the Canadian commander. After a discussion, it was decided it would be better if I just stayed in Canada with the exchange assignment, and so I spent the next three years in one of the most interesting assignments anyone could hope to have, and which changed the shape of the rest of my career in the USAF. I would have missed all of that if I hadn’t decided to go fishing.

It’s funny how certain things that happen in our lives, often decisions we make alter the course of our lives. A grateful nation thanks you Jim for your service!

I have a large framed poem hanging in my office by Robert Frost, THE ROAD NOT TAKEN. I often look up at that poem and think about my own life and the many choices I’ve made, often changing the course of my life as well.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And I looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how many leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost Jim Reed is a past-president of The Friends of Istokpoga and is currently a member of their Board of Directors. He worked with the FWC for years on Lake Istokpoga and Lake June as a creel checker. There aren’t many fishermen who haven’t met Jim on the water. He continues to work as an FWC volunteer and he has assisted me personally on many of my projects, including providing the tournament schedules every month, as well as writing a column for the Angler Magazine, and providing me with the cover photo for my most recent book, Queenie – The Legend of Lake Istokpoga.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

Continued from page 18

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and that the softer you can enter the water, the better. I think that may be partially true, but my observations of bass in large aquariums proved that it does seem to scare the fish, but only momentarily. In most cases, as quickly as they appear to swim away, they turn and quickly attack the source of the noise.

In fact, after years of pitching and flipping, I think the louder the sound of your lure hitting the water the better. I believe the bass hears the sound and comes looking for the intruder. In many cases, where I have one or two clients behind me flipping and pitching their own baits, the bass may come looking for my bait – the original source of the sound, only to find that I’m already flipping to a new spot, but my client’s bait is now where mine was.

And they get bit!

Everyone knows that hawks and eagles can spot a mouse 1000 yards away because their sight is so keen. Fish do not see that well, but their hearing compares favorably with the sight of these predator birds.

While bass have no “ears” their sensitivity to sound is so remarkable that they can easily determine whether a noise many yards away is one of their cousins striking a forage fish or a distress pattern after an encounter with a fisherman’s lure or other predator.

It’s easier to understand this when you realize that water is a better conductor of sound than air. Sound travels only 1087 feet per second in air, but flashes 4800 feet per second (almost a mile) in water, many times more efficiently.

According to Doug Hannon, the Bass Professor in his book, Big Bass Magic, “the bass, with its ear inside its body, hears everything and has the added advantage of a lateral line along its sides. Bass do not hear with this but there is a close relationship between hearing and feeling in fish. They can actually feel the water with this line and use it for schooling and orientation in moving water. Nerves of bass come all the way to the surface of their scales. They have tiny holes visible as a thin line above the dark lateral stripes. They feel with this organ, like a human with his fingertips, and react more quickly than they could be hearing and having to think. Like humans who instantly jerk a finger from a hot object by reflex, bass will shy away from danger instantly, without thinking. They act automatically when the lateral line picks up a message.”

Don “Red” Norton has been a professional bass fishing guide for the last 25 years on Lake Istokpoga, and other lakes in Highlands and Polk County.

His boat is a 2021 Ranger Z520 L, with a 250 h.p. Mercury outboard motor.

He provides state-of-the-art equipment, artificial lures and safety equipment .

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863-273-4998 So, if you’re a “noisy” angler, maybe that’s why you’re not catching any fish. On the other hand, maybe that’s why you are catching them!

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 29

How BOG Got His Name by mikey balzz

863.633.7335

floridatrophybassguide.com | @morrellfishing vmorrellfishing@gmail.com

H

is name is kind of an odd story. At the dog pound he was called Cooper. He's kind of dopey so we played with a few names like Meatball, Kufta (Meatball), and then decided on Goose. It was never perfect though; in the way a name rolls off your tongue and suits the personality of the one you’re calling to.

So, we always called him random made-up words and names. Everything from Bogwin to Gorbachev (yes the former soviet leader LOL).

The girl at one point called him Bog and it just seemed to endure and fit.

I think part of the reason is he's sort of a galoot and a goof and we've always imagined him living in a culvert, roaming around, before he was picked up

by Animal Services in South Florida - thus it seemed to capture personality and his imagined history.

— Check out Bog and Mikey on YouTube at mikey balzz fishing.

30 OKEECHOBEE

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GOOD NEWS FOR TOURNAMENT ANGLERS

A

By Don Norton

large number of bass tournaments go out of Istokpoga Park, on the north side of the lake, just off US Highway 98, in Sebring, Florida. The good news for many of the participants, is they can now pick up a hot sandwich, drink and sides at Jimmy G’s BBQ located just down the road from the park entrance.

Jimmy G’s address is 1807 US Hwy 98, Lorida, Florida – just south of Istokpoga Park, but for many tournament anglers, they know the location well, because he’s located in the same building that housed John Woods Fishing Tackle store for years.

Jimmy G’s specializes in BBQ Chicken, BBQ Ribs, BBQ Pork, as well as pulled pork, sliced pork, rotisserie chicken, and of course, chicken salad, baked beans and cole-slaw.

The good news for tournament anglers is, they can call ahead and place their orders before the tournament is over, load up their boat, collect a check and swing by Jimmy G’s to pick up their order. The parking lot isn’t huge, so if you’re pulling a boat, you can pull into the empty lot next door, or just pull off the road to run in and pick up your order. It will be hot and ready to go!

The owner, Jimmy G wants to work with tournament directors, so guys, give him a call to discuss possible discounts for your tournament members.

Call 863-655-1084. You’ll be glad you did!

L

PHOENIX BASS FISHING GUIDE SERVICE

ooking for a guide that can put you on some fish? Give Jay Madden a call. Jay moved down here a few years ago from New Hampshire and lives on Crooked Lake, in Polk County. A professional bass fisherman, Jay has fished the ABA, FLW, MLF, regional and local bass tournaments and will be fishing the BFL, Toyota Series next year. He fishes out of a Phoenix 721 Pro XP with a Mercury Pro XS, V8 250 hp Mercury outboard motor. The boat is well-equipped with two Power Poles, Lowrance 12 “Live” depth finders and a MinnKota Ultrex, 36 volt electric motor. And for the comfort and safety of his clients, his boat has a double console. Jay provides all the equipment you’ll need to have an enjoyable 4, 6 or 8 hour trip.

— To learn more and to book a trip, give Jay a call at 978-877-1231

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AUGUST 2022

OKEECHOBEE 31

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Full of excitement, tarpon fishing is a bucket-list item for many fishermen, but it can also be extremely taxing on fishing gear for those who do it. If you’ve ever hooked up to a giant tarpon, 4 you understand that they are big and mean fighting machines. For that very reason, Okuma has worked to perfect a rod that is designed SILVER SLAYER TARPON RODS to allow anglers to - Specifically, designed rod blanks for Tarpon fishing - SeaGuide double locking Alien reel seat - Powerful and responsive 24-ton carbon rod blanks - Tapered cork fore and rear grip with rubber cork inlay go toe-to-toe with Silver Slayer specific models. The four models include a 7’ heavy, 7’ extra-heavy, - UFRII: Ultimate Flex Reinforced rod tip technology - Premium Fuji gimbal for support fighting big fish these beasts of 7’9” heavy and a 7’9” extra-heavy. These rods have the backbone to tarpon rodsby a Limited areLifetime - Fuji K-Concept deep press frames help reduce tangles - Silver Slayer rods are backed warranty - Silky smooth performance from Fuji FazLite guide inserts the salt. We built with powerful and really work your fish to the boat and feature a tapered cork fore and give you responsive 24-ton carbon full-rear grip design with a rubber cork inlay. the Silver SILVER SLAYER TARPON RODS With the brute strength that tarpon possess, Silver Slayer rods rod blanks that feature Okuma’s SLAY-S-701H-FG H MF 7' 0" 15 - 30 lbs 1/2 - 2 oz 12" 1-pcs 7 + Tip A Slayer have all the components to match. Each rod is designed with Fuji UFRII rod tip7"7" technology.

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Legendary Angler Mark Sosin Dies

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he fishing world is mourning the death of Mark Sosin, a legendary fishing writer and television personality who was a long-time columnist for Coastal Angler Magazine. Sosin died on Thursday, June 30 in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 88 years old.

Mark Jessurun Sosin was born on July 7, 1933, in Highland Park, New Jersey. He was introduced to fishing at an early age by his father, whose tactics and dedication to conservation were frequent topics in Sosin’s writing.

Before making his way into the fishing industry, Sosin graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master’s in business administration from New York University. He then spent four years in the U.S. Navy and after being discharged worked in several different positions.

All the while he fished and dreamed of earning a living from his passion for fishing.

Sosin’s long and illustrious career as a writer began in the 1960s, when he began writing magazine articles and books on fishing. Sosin is estimated to have written more than 3,000 magazine articles over his career and more than 20 books on fishing.

After moving to Boca Raton with his wife, Susan, in 1979, Sosin launched his TV show, “Mark Sosin’s Saltwater Journal,” in 1983. The program ran for 27 years.

Much of Sosin’s work was geared toward education and conservation. His legacy in the fishing industry is that of an educator who helped generations of anglers enter and improve in the sport we all love.

Go to www.coastalanglermagazine.com to read Mark Sosin’s columns for Coastal Angler Magazine.

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LURES

LURE APPENDAGES FOR LONGER CASTS

PATRICK SEBILE

W

hen it comes to lures designed for longdistance casting, some are built with appendages that truly help reach distances other lures can’t achieve. These appendages might be located inside or outside of the lure.

One popular appendage on minnow-style baits is a mass-transfer device. A weight located inside the lure moves to the tail when the lure is held vertically in the casting position, and once it hits the water the weight slides back to its original location for better swimming action. Typically, these lures are best when they use a magnetic mass transfer device. Some billed minnows use a heavy fixed weight in the tail and can achieve longer casts than mass-transfer lures. Either way, one thing is sure: minnows not built for distance do not cast as well as those designed for this purpose.

The external shape of a lure also plays a large part in the distance it is capable of reaching. Remember: a floating lure does not perform as well as a sinking or super-long-distance model because of its low density. Denser lures cast better as a rule of thumb, but they might not be best for catching fish because of where they swim in the water column or because they lack seductive action.

Appendages can help achieve the best of both worlds by providing

for long casts as well as swimming well at the desired depth. Side wings are an incredible advantage. They add water lift, which helps compensate for a heavier lure and generates great swimming motion. This is how some SK and SLD poppers and pencils can weigh 25 to 100 percent more than similar floating lures and still be able to be used on the surface. The added weight allows for significant increase in casting distance.

In the case of a 160mm (6 3/8”) pencil, the floating model weighs 2 ½ ounces, while the sinking model weighs 3 ¼ ounces. This weight increase translates into 50 percent longer casts. On the typical topwater retrieve, the sinking model does everything a floating one can. Actually, the walkthe-dog action is a bit superior, and it’s also possible to fish the heavier pencil like a swimbait with a slow steady retrieve. Those appendages provide great fish-catching action.

But there’s a catch. Sinking lures sink. When you need a lure that floats at rest, floating lures with pointy noses cast farther. The physics are simple. Any lure flying through the air generates turbulences in front of the lure, where the line attachment is.

This turbulence acts as a suction cup, dragging on the lure and diminishing casting energy. Like on a jet plane, a pointy nose helps limit this effect.

Floating lures with pointed noses consistently cast farther than floating lures with similar style and length.

Pay attention to these appendages next time you’re buying lures.

They will reward you when it comes to distance—and fish caught!

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STAY AHEAD of the Weather

“I took the kids fishing because it wasn’t supposed to rain, but mother nature decided otherwise.

I was able to monitor the storm path using SiriusXM on our display, wait ‘til the storm cleared and kept the kids dry!”

— Rob Lupola, Raymarine/Strike Two Fishing Team, Pensacola, FL Boater receives complimentary service.

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CCA FLORIDA STAR AWARDS $80K RIG TO FLORIDA ANGLER

I

n early July, CCA Florida, the state’s leading organization dedicated to marine fisheries conservation, education and advocacy, named and verified the first Tagged Redfish division winner in the 2022 West Marine CCA Florida STAR competition presented

by Yamaha. Jeff Moore, of Punta Gorda, selected a prize package from Pathfinder Boats and Yamaha Outboards valued at more than $80,000.

“I still cannot believe I landed a STAR 2022 Tagged Redfish and that it won me a new Pathfinder!” Moore said. “I almost released the fish when I noticed something on its back, which looked like a parasite, so I brought it back over the edge of my ’yak for a better look. You can understand my excitement when I realized it was a STAR tag. I knew I needed a photo on the measuring device to submit my catch through the STAR app and follow the rules to win. I was jazzed that I had registered for STAR. It is like an insurance policy for fishing; don’t fish without it because you could win a boat!”

This year, nearly 160 Tagged Redfish were released across Florida’s coastal waters, giving participants more opportunities to win. Remaining

22 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2022

prizes in the Tagged Redfish Division include a Contender 22 Sport and a Spyder Vapor 19FX, all powered by Yamaha along with $50,000 cash from Alta Equipment Company. Additionally, STAR’s other tagged division, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division, will award $10,000 to the first registrant who catches a tagged dolphin.

Unlike traditional fishing competitions, CCA Florida STAR focuses on conservation and offers $500,000 in prizes and scholarships during the 101-day event. Recognized as a “catch, photo and release” competition, STAR’s smart phone app eliminates the requirement for anglers to harvest or capture and transport fish.

“Not only is STAR about having fun and winning awesome prizes, but it is also dedicated to fishing smarter to help restore, preserve and improve Florida’s marine habitat and water quality,” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Implementing a catch-photo-release competition is just one way to continue fulfilling our organization’s mission and protect our coastal waterways.”

STAR is also focused on youth participation, with its Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing, offering $100,000 in scholarships.

Youth anglers (ages 6-17) can register for free with a current CCA Florida youth membership ($10) and are eligible for prizes in both tagged divisions.

Youth winners in the Tagged Redfish Division will be awarded a new boat with Humminbird Electronics, MinnKota trolling motor, Yamaha 40HP motor and trailer. Additionally, if the first registered angler to catch one of the 20 tagged dolphin (mahi mahi) is a youth, then he or she will win a $10,000 scholarship in the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division.

The STAR competition includes 17 divisions and 12 species and most winners are determined by a random drawing, giving anglers of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to win. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $75 for non-members.

For more information or to register for STAR, visit Facebook, Instagram or ccaflstar.com.

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By Will Schmidt

Your Grouper Grounds

F

inding new spots to fish has been one of the biggest issues facing us since… well, since fishing started. For years inshore fishermen have used satellite views to find points with cuts, oyster bars and other features that can be seen from above in the shallows. The good news is offshore anglers can now take advantage of similar imagery to make finding new spots feel like you’ve got it made in the shade.

High-definition relief shading like that in the new Garmin Navionics Vision+ package gives anglers insight into spots they would have never known about unless they just stumbled across them. There are countless examples of offshore spots where I’ve marked and caught fish without knowing that just a few hundred feet away were even better looking spots.

It’s hard to know every ridge or well-defined bottom feature, so getting a view of what is down there can be extremely beneficial. Of course, not all

spots that look good hold fish, but it’s a start.

Once you find something of interest, spot lock trolling motors make it easy to move and drop baits to see if anyone is home. For larger areas, such as long ridges, sometimes trolling makes a bit more sense to cover more ground.

When chasing bottom fish such as grouper, there are a few techniques that work well. Downriggers and planers with jig heads and large paddletail baits work well, but I find deep diving plugs to be even better. There are a host of deep divers out now that provide an accurate depth to which they will dive.

The Nomad DTX Minnow is one of my favorites. It is deadly on grouper and does double duty with its high-speed capability for chasing pelagic species as well. I also love the fact that they come rigged with single hooks versus treble hooks. The key is to just graze the sandy bottom next to the rocks to get the groupers’ attention. They have keen sight and will charge out quickly to grab a meal, and the bonus is you start with them already away from the rocks.

Just a few hundred feet away The great thing about using highfrom where the author has definition relief shading and trolling marked and caught grouper for grouper is you might have one is a massive ledge that holds even more fish. spot that quickly turns into four or five locations to drop baits in a relatively small area. Sometimes the spots are within a few hundred feet and sometimes farther. Regardless, this technology is a game-changer, and by covering new ground quickly it can make finding new productive spots much easier.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing from more than two decades.

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them carefully when dog-day temperatures peak. Fish are fighting for their lives with every ounce of their strength on the end of a line. The stress can kill them when water conditions are less than ideal. That, along with blazing hot sun on the back of the neck, is enough reason to strike out in search of a more appealing environment when it gets hot.

My 11-year-old son and I recently spent a couple days on the headwaters of North Carolina’s Nantahala River at a place called Standing Indian. Standing Indian Mountain tops out at close to 5,500 feet, and its slopes feed the river with plenty of cold water from numerous headwater branches. This area, upstream of the U.S. Forest Service’s Standing Indian Campground, is off of U.S. 64 west of Franklin, N.C. The Nantahala at Standing Indian bears little resemblance to the big whitewater river it becomes downstream near Bryson City. In its headwaters, there are about six miles of public water that might be 20 feet across in the wide spots. It’s a great little stream for folks who enjoy slinging dry flies on a four-weight fly rod for pretty little rainbow and brown trout.

The fishing wasn’t exactly stellar the two days my son and I fished in mid-June. There were thunderstorms each night, so the river was a little high and stained. My son is also new to a lightweight fly rod, and overhanging rhododendron and river birch are hardly easy terrain for a beginner. Still, we managed to catch numerous gorgeous rainbows slinging a dry-dropper rig with a small Pheasant Tail fished beneath a yellow Stimulator. There were little yellow Sally stoneflies in the air, so our selection of dry fly matched the hatch.

Good small-stream browns in the 14-inch range come from this stretch of water pretty regularly, but all we caught were rainbows with a couple measuring maybe 10 or 11 inches. That’s a pretty good fish in terms of little

By Nick Carter wild trout streams in the Southeast. We considered our mission accomplished returning to a riverside campsite each evening.

While my son might not be old enough to appreciate it, the cool mountain rout anglers have two options when it comes to deep summer. They can air and bedding down to the gurgle of the creek were the highlights of the trip. either hit tailwater fisheries, where dam-controlled flows provide stable The air temperature was easily 20 degrees cooler than back home, and I don’t year-round water temperatures, or they can seek out high-elevation know if I’ve ever slept better. headwaters, where both fish and angler find comfort in rhododendron-shaded For information, check out Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to creeks with water conditions perennially perfect for little wild trout.

North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon or by Big fish and big hatches of tailrace trout fishing are certainly appealing. contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

However, anglers should play fish intended for release quickly and handle

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TIPS FROM A PRO

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TYLER WOOLCOTT

ass are on the move in deep summer.

Throwing search baits, especially topwater, is one of the best and most fun ways to find groups of feeding fish. A style of lure that was created a long time ago but still works wonders today is an old-school topwater popper. You can throw this just about anywhere around rocks, grass, wood, docks and in open water to get bites.

When the weather gets hot and more people get on the water, getting fish to commit to a surface lure is sometimes almost impossible. What I like to do is put away the bigger topwaters like walking baits or Whopper Ploppers and take out a smaller Pop-Rstyle bait.

There are a few reasons this bait gets more bites in the right situations. The first is it’s smaller and quieter. A smaller profile and less noise is sometimes what these finicky fish want. I have seen many situations when throwing a big noisy topwater won’t get a single bite, but throwing a popper in the same area makes fish eat.

Another reason popper-style baits are very good is the speed at which you can work them. There are many topwaters that require highspeed retrieves.

With a popper, the slower you work it the more it drives them crazy. I vary my retrieve and see what the fish are feeling, but usually I’ll pop the bait subtly a few times and vary the action to make it look like a dying baitfish. Then I’ll let the bait sit for a few seconds before creating another movement. This absolutely drives them crazy.

One last reason poppers are deadly is that feathered rear treble hook. When fish are feeding on tiny baitfish or bugs, the feathered treble makes them bite. Sometimes even the small profile of the bait is still too big for them, but they come up and see the feathers and eat those instead.

Fishing the right rod and reel with a Pop-R makes a huge difference in landing fish. You want a rod with a good amount of bend because you don’t set the hook. Instead, you just reel into them. I use a 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’ cranking rod. For the reel, you want something that is able to cast a light lure as far as possible.

You also need one that will pick up the bait fast for another cast in case a fish misses or you spot surfacing fish. I use a 13 Fishing Concept with an 8:3 gear ratio. I spool it with 30- to 50-lb. Seaguar Smackdown Braid.

Next time you get on the water, pick up a popper style lure like a 13 Fishing Poppy McPop Face and see how deadly it can be in the summer months.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide.

Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

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