The Angler Magazine - January / Western north carolina

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

FREE

GEAR Guide Cold

weather Bassin'

VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 274

F R A N C H I S E

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THEANGLERMAG.COM O P P O R T U N I T I E S

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RADAR

REDEFINED Solid-State Doppler Tracking It’s The

Generation

It’s the comfort of knowing you are safe.

It’s Doppler Radar echoes changing color, showing which targets are a threat to you.

It’s instant tracking of up to 100 moving targets. It’s Furuno’s Bird Mode tracking birds to find the best fishing grounds. It’s the “NXT” innovation in Radar, the all-new NXT Solid-State Doppler Radar for NavNet TZtouch & TZtouch2.

Target AnalyzerTM function, facilitated by Doppler technology, immediately alerts you to targets (displayed in red) that pose a threat to your vessel. Simultaneously track up to 100 moving targets, displaying their speed & course vectors.

RezBoostTM beam sharpening displays higher resolution targets, similar to those from a large open array antenna.

DRS4D-NXT & DRS6A-NXT Doppler Solid State Radar Experience The

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Radar at Youtube.com/FurunoVideo

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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794

Anglers Wanted Dear Reader,

FLORIDA

BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com EMERALD COAST/DESTIN/PENSACOLA : Scott Risher • (850) 428-0996 • srisher@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com

Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com

flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com

SOUTHEAST

ATLANTA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com CHARLESTON : Jane A. Redden • (205) 725-9616 • jane@coastalanglermagazine.com

Sam Buckareff • (843) 607-8629 • sam@coastalanglermagazine.com CHARLOTTE/PIEDMONT : Mark & Haley Alberghini • (704) 651-1934 • mark@theanglermagazine.com COLUMBIA/MIDLANDS : John Lux • (803) 807-6885 • jlux@theanglermagazine.com MYRTLE BEACH : Mike Masiero • (732) 674-3019 • mmasiero@coastalanglermagazine.com SW GEORGIA : Bob & Brenda Rice • (706) 614-8231 • bobr@theanglermagazine.com TIDEWATER/OUTER BANKS : John Tiger • (757) 707-9654 • john.tiger@coastalanglermagazine.com

Laura Seitz • (757) 707-9655 • laura@coastalanglermagazine.com UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA : Gregg Thompson • (864) 542-3112 • gregg@theanglermagazine.com WESTERN NC : Debra & Joe Woody • (828) 775-9663 • woody@theanglermagazine.com WILMINGTON/MOREHEAD : Kenny Ritter • (910) 550-9094 • kenny@coastalanglermagazine.com

NORTHEAST BOSTON : George Regan • (617) 488-2842 • boston@coastalanglermagazine.com LONG ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 • lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com CONNECTICUT/RHODE ISLAND : Lisa & Michael Danforth • (203) 321-7635 lisad@coastalanglermagazine.com

GULF COAST

GALVESTON/MATAGORDA/UPPER COAST : Chanci & David Mowry • (713) 446-7395 •

chancim@coastalanglermagazine.com • davidm@coastalanglermagazine.com MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST : Adam Nelson • (228) 627-5903 • anelson@coastalanglermagazine.com

Toby Nelson • (228) 623-1761 • tnelson@coastalanglermagazine.com NEW ORLEANS : Dr. Dave Dunaway • (225) 400-8156 • nola@coastalanglermagazine.com

GREAT LAKES WEST MICHIGAN : Phil Belsito • (616) 957-1714 • phil@theanglermagazine.com

INTERNATIONAL PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS : Ace Bassue • (407) 285-9453 • ace@coastalanglermagazine.com COSTA RICA : Mike Erickson • (561) 262-2242 • mike@coastalanglermagazine.com © 2017-2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Disclaimer: Coastal Angler Magazine / The Angler Magazine will not be held liable for injuries incurred while partaking in activities described herein, or for claims made against products or services provided by advertisers.

Coastal Angler Magazine and its freshwater component The Angler Magazine are both part of a unique franchise publishing model developed 10 years ago by duplicating the working elements of the local Coastal Angler Magazine that had been publishing since 1996 in Melbourne, Fla. Today, there are more than 30 franchise locations throughout the Continental U.S., Costa Rica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

We are now one of the largest, most widely read outdoor publications in the country.

Guess what? We’re not done yet. Our goal is to have more than 100 franchise editions throughout the U.S. and abroad.

We’ve tweaked and refined our systems over the last 10 years, and now we are ready to continue our expansion.

Let’s Grow Again!

If you (or someone you know) loves the outdoors and would be comfortable running your own business, please contact us for more information about joining our franchise team.

Best regards,

Ben Martin Editor in Chief info@coastalanglermagazine.com

1-888-800-9794

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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MOTOR UPGRADES ARE AVAILABLE

Marine Wintertime Blowout $209* mon

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G3149 Caravelle 16EBo 70 HP Motor

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150 HP Motor

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www.factorydirectmarine.com *payments calculated at 180 months for well qualified buyers with 20% down. Please note: Prices do not include freight, dealer make ready, and rigging.

Pictures may not reflect actual unit and/or available inventory. Price and payment do not include sales tax or fees. Not responsible for typographical errors.

Ridgeland, SC, 401 Sycamore Drive, 844-280-9753 | Panama City, FL, 8308 Panama City Beach Pkwy, 844-278-2510 Charlotte, NC | 9204 N Lakebrook Road | 980-267-5597 | Rockwood,TN, 2475 Westel Road, 844-271-9582 Hamburg, PA, 20 Industrial Drive , 844-247-1678 | West Coxsackie, NY, 12634 Route 9 West, 844-276-8649 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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WE BUILD FUN INTO 26 FEET OF PURE EVERY NAUTICSTAR! FISHING JOY SPORT THE ALL NEW 265XTS DECKS

Step up to NauticStar’s biggest bay boat, the all new 265XTS – Xtreme Tournament Series. The carefully designed hull and deck is optimized for performance, functionality and fishability that will give you capabilities never before seen in a bay boat. Inshore or offshore, the STAR Performance hull is designed to minimize draft for skinny fishing and provide a forgiving ride through tight open chops and coastal swells. Check out all the incredible standard and innovative features of the 265XTS on our website.

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Researchers Embark On $10 Million Gulf Red Snapper Study

By CAM Staff

W

ith the ongoing debate over red snapper population estimates in the Gulf of Mexico, researchers from the University of Florida have received a $10 million grant to hopefully settle the dispute and determine what the snapper population actually is.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service and Sea Grant are funding the study, which will be conducted over two years by UF associate professors Robert Ahrens and Will Patterson along with researchers from other institutions from around the Southeast.

Currently under a federal recovery plan, the Gulf red snapper fishery has been considered overfished since the 1980s by the federal government. Under the recovery plan, coastal communities and businesses, such as charter boat operations and all the others that benefit from money spent by anglers, have been hurt by extremely limited opportunities to harvest this important recreational and commercial species. All the while, recreational anglers and biologists with Gulf state wildlife agencies have been pointing to flaws in the formal stock assessments. And the structure of the allowed catch has created a rift between recreational and commercial fishermen.

Over the vast Gulf of Mexico, it will be one of the largest and most ambitious fish studies ever conducted, and even with $10 million in funding, there are those who doubt the study will achieve its goal of a population estimate with a coefficient variation of 30 percent, according to a UF release. Meeting the requirement would require numerous supplementary samples until the numbers contract into the accept-

Jeff and Payton Oney caught their limit of beautiful Gulf red snapper as well as red and gag grouper and other reef fish while fishing off Anna Maria Island with Capt. Larry McGuire and Show Me The Fish Charters. able range of variance between locations.

Researchers will use methods beyond catch data in their study.

Remote operated vehicles, camera sleds, acoustics and divers will play a role in producing the estimate. Researchers will also be capturing some fish and taking fin clips to develop genetic tags to be used in future estimates.

Along with the snapper study, there is excitement over additional information that can be gathered in a study of this size. The distribution and size of other reef fish, as well as the invasive lionfish are of particular interest.

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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GEAR GUIDE Beach Marine Products Bay Buddy Bait pens by Beach Marine Products are not your average bait cages. Built by engineers and hard-core anglers, every care was taken to design bait pens that are rugged, durable, convenient for the angler, and stress-free for the bait.

They feature a sloped-bottom design and industry-changing false bottom, making recapturing your bait easy. Heavy duty aluminum construction with zinc anode assures a durable product. All hardware is stainless steel and doubled up. The pens are powder coated with no sharp edges to injure or red nose baits. Large oversize doors allow access for cast nets and large dip nets.

Beach Bait Pens come in many different shapes and sizes. Their smallest pen is the Bay Buddy, which is ideal for holding shrimp, crabs and multiple species of live baitfish. The Bay Buddy is 20 inches wide by 18 inches deep.

beachmarineproducts.com

Kaku Kayak Wahoo 10.5 With the release of their new Wahoo 10.5, Kaku Kayak is building on its reputation of excellent stability and performance with a more compact boat that retains all the features and performance of the larger Wahoo 12.5.

The Wahoo 10.5 tracks extremely well for a shorter kayak, is easy to stand in and responds to tight turns easily. It has all the features of its older brother, the Wahoo 12.5, with plenty of gear tracks, a raised aluminum seat and integrated mounting for the Power Pole Micro. It is also rudder ready and comes standard with a great looking deck pad.

It is an extremely versatile fishing kayak that offers a stable, roomy platform for standing to cast or sight fish. There is also plenty of storage in the bow hatch, rear tankwell and a rear day hatch.

kakukayak.com

Wilderness Systems Kayak Krate Wilderness Systems has built a reputation for producing some of the finest fishing kayaks available. The fishability of their boats is improved with a unique and useful line of accessories designed to help anglers fish harder and more efficiently.

The Wilderness Kayak Krate is the ultimate tankwell storage option. The Kayak Krate sophisticates tankwell storage with superior function and a sleek look that make storing and accessing gear hassle-free.

An open main compartment accommodates larger gear and tackle boxes and features removable dividers.

Smaller items can be stowed in the secondary lid storage. Functional and durable inside and out, the Kayak Krate is blow-molded, water resistant, is easily lashed down and comes with four rod holders.

wildernesssystems.com

Tsunami Forged 12 Lever Drag Reel Tsunami recently introduced its new FORGED 12 lever drag reel. It’s a larger and more powerful version of the popular FORGED 10, and it’s perfect for jigging, bottom fishing and live baiting.

The Tsunami FORGED 12 is built to catch the strongest saltwater game fish. Its powder-forged frame is lightweight and precision machined for braided line tolerances and strength.

The hardened high-precision stainless steel 4.3:1 ratio drive and pinion gears are strong, tough, and operate smoothly. The completely disengaged “floating” spool rides freely on two shielded stainless steel ball bearings mounted to a spool shaft, giving the FORGED extreme free-spool and maximum castability. The instant anti-reverse bearing, along with two failsafe backup dogs, ensure strong, sure hooksets with no line loss. That is when the smooth, powerful carbon fiber drag comes into play, giving you all the fighting control you need.

Look for Tsunami’s FORGED 12 online and at your favorite sporting goods retailer.

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GEAR GUIDE Vexilar FishPhone Vexilar has launched a game changer in the underwater camera market. The FishPhone takes Vexilar’s proven Fish Scout camera technology and uses an innovative new WiFi transmitting system to send high quality video directly to your smartphone or tablet.

FishPhone turns your smart phone or tablet into a fully functional underwater camera monitor by creating its own 100-foot WiFi hotspot that can be shared with friends or kept secure. The FishPhone works anywhere in the world, and you don’t need cell phone coverage to use it. The free software app works with both Android and IOS systems.

The FishPhone comes with a unique holder and battery pack system that makes it easy to carry and manage 50 feet of cable. The camera used in the FishPhone system is a Sony Color/ B&W camera that automatically shifts from color to black and white when light conditions are limited.

vexilar.com

Native Eyewear Eddyline Native’s Eddyline model features a wood Trilaminate construction with silver polarized Reflex lenses. These shades are ideal for inshore adventures since they weigh less than an ounce, and their eight-base curvature fits your face perfectly while blocking side light with thicker temple arms. All Native Eyewear lenses are polarized, impact and scratch resistant, include Cushional non-slip nose and temple pads and come with a limited lifetime warranty. Whether you’re hitting the backcountry or going to the inlet, you need a pair of Natives!

Nativeyewear.com

Dexter SOFGRIP Knives Dexter has been famous for their SOFGRIP white-handle knives for years. It’s a handle other companies try to duplicate but can’t match. The handle is soft to the grip, ergonomically perfect in your hand, and the patented textured pattern makes it slip free.

The blades are made of DEXSTEEL, a high-carbon, high-alloy stain free steel that is ultra-sharp out of the package, holds its edge and can be easily re-sharpened. Dexter has been manufacturing knives in the U.S.A. for nearly 200 years. They offer proven quality, proven designs and proven reliability. That’s why Dexter is the No. 1 choice for fishermen.

The SOFGRIP comes in a large selection of designs and sizes.

dexteroutdoors.com

Phenix Rods RTS Inshore Whether you’re fishing the flats for trout and snook or pulling big reds from the mangroves, Phenix Rods’ new RTS inshore line has the power to deliver.

Super light weight and sturdy, RTS rods feature a T-40 carbon fiber blank with Phenix’s own Nanolite resins that produce excellent sensitivity, while retaining the backbone to fight big hard-pulling reds and snook.

The RTS series utilizes the new Phenix Essex T-Ring premium carbide guides with Ring Lock to FrameLok technology and premium high density EVA and cork blend grips, with a carbon reel seat.

The RTS series, meaning “reds, trout and snook,” promises to be the lightest, most sensitive inshore rod on the market. It offers 5 casting and 5 spinning models to fit your needs.

phenixrods.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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8 CIGARS

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YOUR PERSONAL LIFEGUARD...

ALWAYS ON - NEVER INTRUSIVE

FREEDOM WITH SAFETY The MOB+™ is a life-saving device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill switch, and stops the engine should you fall overboard.

Connect up to 4 people at the same time.

Now available at: &

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT FELL MARINE MOB+ WIRELESS MAN OVERBOARD SYSTEM

Fell Marine has developed a man overboard system that promises to replace the traditional kill-switch lanyard.

The MOB+ Wireless Man OverBoard system is an innovative, ABYC compliant, life-saving safety device for your boat. It provides greater freedom of movement than a traditional kill-switch lanyard, and stops the engine should you fall overboard. But its capabilities extend way beyond that.

Up to four xFOB’s can be connected to the xHUB at the same time, with one unit acting as the captain’s stop unit, and the additional three as alarm units for passengers. The system consists of an easy to install xHUB (mounted on or near the boat console) and a wearable xFOB. The two communicate wirelessly with each other and stop the engine when the xFOB is submerged in water or is beyond range of the xHUB. The xFOB can be worn on your wrist, around your neck, or clipped to your PFD using xBAND or xTAG accessories.

The waterproof xFOB has more than 300 hours of battery life and is powered by an easy to change standard coin cell battery. The xHUB connects to your boat power (12V-24V) and to your engine-stopping system.

The system is intuitive and easy to use, and it is compatible with all major outboard and most sterndrive engines.

WWW.FELLMARINE.COM

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By Matt Jorn

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’ve heard people say ‘A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work,’” said Master Capt. William Mendoza with his trademark wry smile, “I’m not really sure I know the difference.”

Capt. Mendoza is a Costa Rica-based charter captain with 30 years of experience. Since 2009 he has run over 250 trips a year on the Wanderer for the FishingNosara team from his home port on the north Pacific coast, making him the busiest charter captain in all of Central America.

This area has become a hot spot for anglers because of the nearby bluewater and virtually non-existent commercial pressure; in fact the Costa Rican government has mandated that all commercial fishing must be done at minimum 60 miles from shore.

The main fear of men like Captain Mendoza is: will this fishery last?

Many have heard stories of Cabo Blanco, Peru and its famous “Marlin Boulevard”. In the 1950s this area produced the most granders in the world, including a 1,560-lb. black marlin catch that is still the world record.

Now Cabo Blanco is a ghost town, due to human conceit and greed.

The argument still rages as to why. Some say it was overfishing of the apex predators like marlin and swordfish by sport-fishermen, while others maintain the government opened up the feeder fish, mostly sardines, for overharvesting.

Let’s look at the problem from both ends of the food chain. The Costa Rican government enforces their 60-mile line vigorously and is very strong against unlicensed commercial operations. These efforts maintain a healthy number of feeder fish.

At the apex level, the preservation of billfish has been spearheaded by groups like the International Billfish Foundation and the IGFA. Costa Rica has also taken the lead in this effort by prohibiting sportsmen from removing billfish from the water (no hero shots allowed) and by banning the sale of meat from marlin and sailfish.

“The advantage of catch-and-release billfishing is mainly economical,” noted Capt. Mendoza. “Essentially, we want to create a market where these apex predators are more valuable swimming in the ocean than they are on the scale at a fish market.”

On average, a full day of marlin fishing costs $900 and provides renewable income for the captains and mates. Conversely, the value of the same fish at an unlicensed fish market can be as low as pennies per pound.

Charter fishing lies somewhere in between the bottom-line driven world of commercial fishing and the fun-loving experience of recreational fishing.

“A good charter trip should be fun, productive and educational, especially for novice anglers,” said Capt. Mendoza. “These trips can bring together multiple generations, as fishing tactics are handed down from grandfather to father, father to son.”

Capt. Mendoza knows all about that. This season, his 22-year-old son joined him in the mate position on the Wanderer to continue the family legacy. By operating under common-sense regulations, the fishing in Nosara should stay strong for generations to come “The ocean provides me with a livelihood, and I want to protect her the way she’s protected me. My idea of a perfect day is catch billfish, get a nice photo, set it free, and get the lines back out there again. Clearly that’s not a bad day at work.” concluded Capt. Mendoza.

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SOUTHEAST

By Randy Cnota

W

inter along Florida’s Forgotten Coast has a much different meaning for anglers than it does for anglers up north. For Virginia anglers, to “winterize a boat” describes a storage process they perform; for us, it means to fill the bait box with live shrimp. Sure, we get our fair share of cold snaps, but that just helps us plan our most productive fishing days. Simply put, winters here are mild and the fishing never stops!

Don’t let the strict Florida harvest regulations fool you; if

you’re looking for great tasting fish to eat, you’re in luck! Red grouper have been making a great showing lately and are often very close to shore. Black sea bass are extremely plentiful and very easy to catch. Sheepshead, speckled trout and many others provide inshore anglers lots of action, and all these species mentioned here (and this is just a few) make fantastic table fare.

For those looking for a big fight, redfish will be running the surf chasing bait in huge schools. Find the birds, and you’ll find fish that are willing to bite just about anything you throw at them. When throwing lures or live bait to these schools, it’s not uncommon for everyone on board the boat to hook up at the same time. Typically, these are not small fish, but rather big bull reds that will test your tackle. For catching reds within the slot limits, our bays and creeks still offer excellent opportunities to harvest these tasty fish.

For freshwater fun, the Apalachicola River will be loaded with hybrids and stripers chasing abundant shad. The lower end of the river will have a mix of largemouth bass hanging around with the speckled and white trout that find their way into the warmer fresh waters. Deep bends in the lower stretches of the river load up with a variety of species that are easy pickings with artificial baits, but live shrimp is always your best option.

There’s no need to suffer from cabin fever this winter. Get away from the cold and come chase fish here in Franklin County, Fla. The many fishing options available here will ensure you have a great time regardless of the weather… just be sure to pack your sunblock, short pants and sunglasses.

For a complete list of rentals, charters, supplies and more visit www.floridasforgottencoast.com.

Your fish is waiting.

Florida’s Forgotten Coast

Boaters and mariners will find something to love in Franklin County.

Carrabelle features deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater rivers. Plan a kayak or day sailing eco-adventure from Apalachicola or St. George Island. Eastpoint and Alligator Point offer direct access to the best inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast.

Bring your own boat or rent one here; there’s no better place to enjoy Florida’s Forgotten Coast.

Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information.

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12/14/17 9:32 AM

Georgia’s Record Blue Catfish

A Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time

I am often asked when is the best time to plant fruiting plants. My answer is usually the same; the best time is 20 years ago or today. The second best time to plant is during the winter months. Plants are dormant, and can be easily shipped and planted with no stress on the plant because there is not a lot of maintenance once the plant or tree has been planted. Simply dig a good hole, water thoroughly

at planting, and take the rest of the winter off. Even though there are no signs of growth above ground, the root systems will have time to get adjusted to their new location and begin to initiate new root growth.

There are plenty of advantages of growing your own edibles. First of all, you know what has been done over the course of the growing season from a chemical stand point.

Second, the fruit just taste

better coming out of your home orchard versus buying fruit from the grocers that have little to no flavors. Thirdly, it is good for your soul and you will feel more connected to the environment and nature.

Whether it is an apple tree, muscadine vine or a blueberry bush; now is the time to plant. Let’s Grow Together.

Greg Ison, Ison’s Nursery and Vineyards, 800733-0324, www.isons.com

new state record blue catfish was recently confirmed by Georgia WRD. The 93-lb. monster was hauled from the Altamaha River in October and smashed the previous record of 80-lb., 4 oz., which stood since 2010.

Richard Barrett, of Axson, Ga., caught the big cat using a live channel catfish he had caught earlier as bait.

It was the only state record fish caught in Georgia in 2017, and Tim Bonvechio, with Georgia WRD, aged the fish at 14 years old.

Barrett’s fish was enormous, but blue cats can get much bigger. Back in 2011, a 143-pound IGFA All-Tackle World Record blue catfish was caught on Kerr Lake in Virginia.

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NORTH CAROLINA

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures.

H

ere are some tips on catching flounder that some might not have tried. The technique I am about to share has some benefits over the more mainstream methods. It is also so simple and easy to use that I rig my young son’s rod this way.

When the topic of flounder fishing is mentioned, the main issues I hear are when to set the hook and difficulty in getting a good hook set. I know there are different theories such as, count to three, count to 10, or set the hook immediately. With this method, I set the hook immediately, still get a solid hook set and injure fewer fish, which is important if you’re releasing them.

The method I want to share is a tandem Carolina rig. Here is the quick easy way I tie it. Cut 30 inches of 30-lb. mono. Fold your line together and tie an overhand knot leaving two uneven lengths of leader, one about 20 inches, the other 10 inches. Leave a loop in the overhand knot when it’s cinched. Add a barrel weight to your main line and attach it to the loop. Next, tie un-weighted screwlock swimbait hooks to each end, and rig your lures weedless. I have found that lures that can float with the hook in them outperform a lure that sinks to the bottom and sits there motionless. With a floating lure, the waves and current keep the lure moving even when you pause. This results in more action and therefore more strikes.

The main advantage to the tandem Carolina rig is the lures are not weighted, and they are free moving due to a slip weight. When the flounder inhales the lure, there is less resistance from the weight, and the lure goes deeper into the fish’s mouth. No tail grabs and short strikes to worry about. That is why I set the hook immediately.

This is also what makes it easy enough for even kids to get a solid hook set.

While targeting flounder, I also like to work my rod to the side with a low twitching motion to keep the lure or weight dragging on the bottom rather than bouncing it, as I would when targeting trout.

Kicking up a steady trail of dust can attract the fish, and when you pause and the lure starts to rise, it is a livelier presentation.

The length of the leader, distance between hooks, and the weight is a personnel preference. Some may also add a glass bead or two between the swivel or leader knot and the egg weight to give a little click. To keep it simple and quick, I don’t always use a swivel. I might just tie a large loop knot in my leader, and the egg weight will rest against the knot. Adding scent to your lures is also a great addition when targeting flounder.

Head out to your favorite flounder hole, and give the tandem Carolina rig a try. I think you will be impressed with the results.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

Be Your Own Boss

T

he N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering anglers in the eastern part of the state an opportunity to catch trout in winter clinics being held at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville.

The annual winter fly fishing clinics for novice and intermediate anglers start Jan. 6. Additionally, two fly fishing merit badge workshops for Boy Scouts will be held in March and April. The commission will stock more than 1,000 catchable-sized brook, brown and rainbow trout into the center’s ponds on Dec. 13. Loaner rods, reels and tackle will be provided for all participants.

Basic Fly Fishing Clinics are designed for anglers with limited or no knowledge of fly fishing. They will be offered Jan. 6, Jan. 20 and Feb. 3, from

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9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Intermediate Fly Fishing Clinic is for anglers who have already completed a Basic Fly Fishing Clinic or Discovery Course. It will be held Feb. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

These clinics are suitable for participants 13 years and older; however, participants 15 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Scoutmasters interested in merit badge workshops should contact Tom Carpenter at 910-868-5003 to register their scouts.

Pre-registration is required for all clinics. To register, visit the calendar view on the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center’s webpage and select the clinic you’re interested in to begin the registration process.

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BLUE RIDGE

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

F

or the first time in its five-year existence, the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship will be held below the Mason-Dixon Line—at Lake Chatuge on the Georgia/North Carolina border.

The championship will be held Sept. 20-23, 2018, and will feature the 50 top-ranked Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, based on Angler of the Year points earned during the nine-event Elite season.

The 2018 Classic Bracket tournament will be held Oct. 23-26, also in north Georgia, at 3,200-acre Carters Lake near Ellijay. The 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest tournament, one of the nine regular-season events of the Bassmaster Elite Series, will be held May 17-20 on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas.

“The AOY Championship is one of our three “majors”—along with

Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest and the GEICO Bassmaster Classic— that pay out $1 million or more and have developed a huge and loyal following,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “This year’s championship was super exciting in that Brandon Palaniuk didn’t wrap up his AOY title until the very last day of competition.”

In addition to the $100,000 prize that goes to the Toyota Angler of the Year, the contestant who weighs in the heaviest total catch of the event will receive $25,000. The rest of the $1 million prize fund will be awarded to the top 50 pros based on their final standings in AOY points. The event also determines at least 36 qualifiers for the Classic from the Elite Series.

The AOY Championship will mark the first time for a professional Bassmaster tournament to be held on Lake Chatuge, a 7,500-acre Tennessee Valley Authority impoundment, but it hosted Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship tournaments in 2013 and 2014.

Weigh-ins and other activities will be at the Towns County Conference and Recreation Center in Young Harris, Ga. The four-day Classic Bracket tournament provides one final opportunity for one Elite angler to qualify for the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Conducted entirely in front of Bassmaster LIVE cameras, the Classic Bracket follows a catchweigh-release format. Anglers compete head-to-head, trying to compile a heavier five-bass catch than their opponents until only one is left standing. Qualifiers are the first eight anglers in AOY points below the cut to the Classic.

Jacob Powroznik, an Elite Series angler from Virginia, prevailed in this year’s Bracket to earn an invitation to the 2018 Classic, to be held March 16-18 on Lake Hartwell at Anderson, S.C. Carters Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment of the Coosawattee River in Gilmer and Murray counties in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia. With a maximum depth of 547 feet, it’s the deepest reservoir in the state, and one of the most scenic.

For more information about these and other Bassmaster tournaments, visit Bassmaster.com.

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By Russ Jones

F

lorida is a tale of two worlds. Southern Florida, a region that begins somewhere between Orlando and Ocala, is vastly different than communities to the north and along the Panhandle. What some call Old Florida, these towns established way before Mickey Mouse took up residence at Disney World in Orlando.

Following Mickey came other theme parks, high rise condominium complexes, and Lamborghinis that forever changed the southern part of the Sunshine State, but communities to the north found a way to maintain a semblance of what attracted so many years ago.

In a region known as the Forgotten Coast, Apalachicola rests in the middle of the Panhandle on Florida’s northwest coast in southern Franklin County. The greater Apalachicola region is one of the earliest populated areas in Florida, dating back to 1831.

The coastal communities of Apalachicola, St. George Island and Eastpoint, the heart of the Forgotten Coast, offer an authentic taste of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Houseboats at River Watch Just a block from the main shopping and dining district of Apalachicola is Houseboats at River Watch on Water Street. Proprietor Karen Hoff offers four floating homes with waterfront views of the Apalachicola River.

One is a 500-square-foot home named “Rebels’ Rest” (VRBO – 1029857) that boasts magnificent sunrises and sunsets, a daily parade of fishing boats, and a variety of wildlife that rivaled any National Geographic episode.

Karen moved from New Jersey in 2012 as a tourist looking for permanent housing. Attracted to the history of Apalachicola, she purchased the home she was renting and the accompanying marina.

Since then she’s added three other floating homes ranging in sizes.

“People come visit because they are seeking something low key,” she said. “They like the adventure of it and looking for a place they can watch the river traffic, the wildlife and relax.”

Each home features a fully equipped kitchen, cable television, the Internet, comfortable beds, general living space and a deck overlooking the river.

Oh, and fishing rods.

Because most of the fish you might catch off the deck are likely going to be gafftopsail catfish, you’ll need a guide to find trophy fish and varieties worthy of the dinner table.

Fishing Off St. Vincent Born and raised in Apalachicola, Capt. Rudy Gay operates Apalachicola Charters. Years ago, Capt. Rudy’s family members were caretakers for St. Vincent Island, one of four barrier islands close to the mouth of the Apalachicola River.

In 1968, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the island for $2.2 million from Henry and Alfred Loomis. The 9-mile-long island was converted into a National Wildlife Refuge.

Gay often guides fisherman off the shores of St. Vincent in his 24’ Kenner searching for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and sheepshead, using shrimp as bait.

“There is a natural beauty here. It’s very pristine,” said Gay. “We don’t have trash floating around in the water. There is a lot of good fishing in this area.”

Tripletail – Love At First Bite Capt. Jonathan Creamer has fished for tripletail since he was a

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kid. With a bumper crop of this great gamefish in Apalachicola Bay over the last few years, it has come into the spotlight for anglers with fly rods as well as conventional tackle.

Aboard Capt. Jonathan’s 24’ Glasstream, we ran an extensive circuit of vertical structure seeking out tripletails where they hold.

Capt. Jonathan guides through several lines of crab traps—about 50 in all. The rig we fished was a simple live shrimp under a popping cork.

“You need to get the bait as close to the trap as possible without getting snagged,” said Creamer. “Pop the line. That rattles the cork and attracts the tripletail.”

Tripletail must be at least 15 inches long to keep.

“The tripletail puts the grouper to shame,” said Capt. Jonathan.

“It’s been like a highway down here of people trying it out. It’s become very popular lately.”

Apalachicola River Cruises Capt. Skip Shiver is a fifth-generation Franklin County resident who grew up on the water. After years in the offshore charter industry, law enforcement and as a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer, Skip launched Apalachicola River Cruises.

Capt. Skip leads tours aboard the restored “Miss America,” a Dutch-built beauty straight from the Netherlands. Skip’s love and knowledge for the area and its waters are unmatched.

During his tours across the brackish river, Skip points out the importance of the marshes to the ecosystem.

“As water comes down it floods our flood planes,” said Shiver. “It picks up the nutrients and sediments that have been waiting for the high waters.”

Those nutrients then feed the oyster beds for which Apalachicola is known. Passengers get to see the natural beauty of the Apalachicola River and learn about the area from the vantage point of Skip’s boat.

While Apalachicola rests in the Sunshine State’s so-called Forgotten Coast, the quaintness of this piece of Old Florida leaves lasting memories. This southern town with a strong maritime culture is the complete package, leaving visitors longing for more – hook, line, sinker and oyster.

For more information, contact the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center at 850-653-9419 or info@apalachicolabay.org.

12/14/17 2:37 PM

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JANUARY 2018 l WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

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MURPHY AREA

2017 Fishing in Review on Murphy Area Lakes

By Aaron Kephart

W

ell, 2018 is here, and I could not be more excited about the fishing that is going on right now and that will be coming up throughout this year. Our Murphy area lakes are in excellent health, and we have some amazing options for anglers (in fact, the diversity and number of different species available is truly remarkable). However, I would like to spend this month’s article looking back on the fishing in 2017. It was the best year on record for Mountain Lakes Guide Service in terms of numbers of trips, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of my clients. I would like to look back at my records for 2017 and give you an idea of what we caught and at what times, just in case you were thinking of planning a trip for this year and wondering when to schedule it.

January 2017 saw me spending a tremendous amount of time catching smallmouth and trout. The smallmouth bite in particular was absolutely insane, averaging over 30 per trip. We also ran into some very large brown trout, with quite a few “personal bests” caught by clients.

The smallmouth bite continued to be on fire, and the trout numbers increased a bit (per trip) in February of (although the average size declined just a bit). We also started running into some big largemouth again, and I had a client land a 31-inch walleye as well. March was a continuation of the prior two months: big smallmouth (a lot of them) with quite a few trout in the mix. The largemouth numbers also dramatically increased, and I started pursuing spotted bass more than I had the

previous few months.

April saw a shift in my focus. I personally don’t like to bother largemouth or smallmouth when they are spawning, and I usually spend the first two or three weeks of April focusing on catching and releasing huge prespawn, spotted bass (they spawn later than smallmouth or largemouth). We had an amazing few weeks on Chatuge (in fact, one of my clients made a video of our trip and uploaded it to YouTube, and if you want to see what to expect in a day of spot fishing you can just search Chatuge Lake Mountain Lakes Guide Service). We had a bunch over 5 pounds, and even a couple over 6.

The spots started bedding heavily towards the end of the month, so I left them alone and transitioned to stripers (and got on a particularly good topwater and swimbait bite for them the last part of the month). Late April was an absolute bonanza for stripers on artificials. We also started catching quite a few big walleye in this same time frame.

May was the all-around best month of the year for stripers and walleye, last year. We caught large numbers of big stripers (with some huge hybrids mixed in), and we caught more walleye than I have caught in the last 20 years. Every trip seemed to be better than the last.

June was more of the same, in terms of striper numbers, and although we still caught the occasional walleye, the numbers decreased as the water got hotter. We also caught quite a few crappie on a few night trips in this time frame.

July and early August led to a slight slow down, in terms of over-

all numbers of stripers, but we still managed to catch quite a few each trip. The striper numbers increased considerably later in August. We got back on the big smallmouth in August as well, and also started catching a ton of big largemouth. The smallmouth and largemouth bite continued to be consistent throughout September and October, and the striper bite really took back off in September and the first half of October. We started fishing quite a bit on Chatuge again, and caught tons of big spots and some good numbers of huge hybrids.

November saw us continue to catch big largemouth in big numbers (August to November was one of the best stretches I have ever seen for big largemouth), but as the water cooled towards Thanksgiving, we started finding the smallmouth grouping up in their winter locations, and we started to catch big numbers of trophy smallmouth. We also started to see some big brown trout showing up sporadically. November saw a continued strong bite for spots and hybrids on Chatuge, particularly in the early part of the month.

December was one of the best months I have ever experienced for sheer numbers of big smallmouth, and although a massive cold front in the middle of the month slowed things down, it managed to put the rest of the smallies, that had not committed to their winter pattern,

in the schools where they belonged.

We also started catching a bunch of trout, as we do every December. Now that the water temps have dropped considerably, cold fronts won’t have much of an impact, and I fully expect to be catching boatloads of big smallmouth until they start transitioning to their prespawn locations in early Spring. The trout bite should be consistent until mid Spring as well.

As of this writing, January is filling up, but I still have a few January and February dates left. I am also currently booking for all of 2018. If you are interested in a winter smallmouth trip you will never forget, with the possibility of the largest brown trout of your life, please give me a call at 865-466-1345 and we can make it happen, or if you want to book a trip for later in the year we can look at those dates too. You can also check me out on facebook@ mountainlakesguideservice to see what we are catching at the moment.

Either way I hope to hear from you, and thanks for your time!

Aaron Kephart is the Owner of Mountain Lakes Guide Service. To book a guided trip on one of the Murphy area mountain lakes, contact him by phone at 865-466-1345 or by email at mtnlakesguide@outlook.com Check out his website at http://www.mtnlakesguideservice.com and catch him on facebook@mountainlakesguideservice

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LAKE HIWASSEE / LAKE CHATUGE Lake Hiwassee – Monster Striper Season

By Shane Goebel

J

anuary is here! It’s time to put those awesome Christmas fishing gifts to good use, and there’s no better place to start than on this excellent Western North Carolina reservoir. Or, if Santa forgot to leave the rods and reels, book a trip with Murphy, NC’s #1 and only fulltime striper guide: Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. We specialize in striper and hybrid

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fishing on these mountain lakes be your best technique for landing are Murphy, NC’s premier fulland have what it takes to put you these wintertime monsters. Keep time guide service, specializing in an eye out for seagulls and schools striped and hybrid bass. We also on some huge fish.

Currently, the water temps are of baitfish. It’s not uncommon to serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge in the low 50’s. The water clarity is see stripers crushing bait right un- (in North Carolina), and Lake clear in the main lake area, and the der those birds. I like to cast a Red Blue Ridge. And for all your live backs of creeks are slightly stained. Fin or a fluke right into these guys bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in BlairsWater levels on Lake Hiwassee are for some nice top-water action. extremely low, about 32 feet below January is a fantastic month ville, GA. They carry everything for catching a lot of stripers and you need for a successful day of June’s water levels.

Striper fishing here has been smallmouth on this Western fishing and have the best live herpretty good lately. We are North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ ring around. So, come fish with still averaging 10 to 15 nice Fish Guiding Service a call and let the pros for the opportunity to be stripers a trip with a lot of the area’s #1 rated guide service featured in Angler Magazine, and big smallmouth to add to that put you on some of Lake Hiwas- let us help you get your fish on! number. We’ve already had see’s best trophy stripers during several big fish in the 20 to the fishing trip of a lifetime. We 40 pound range. Most of our fish are being caught early in Shane Goebel is the Owner of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and a the morning on planer boards and free lines in the mouths member of The Angler Fishing Team. Contact him at www.bigolfish.com of creeks. We’ve also had an or (828) 361-2021 / 1-(844)-4-ANGLER. incredible bite with weighted free lines once the sun gets up.

This is pretty typical for this time of year, as the fish look for slightly deeper water as the day progresses.

In the upcoming month, look for stripers to be searching for warmer water, especially on cold sunny days.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 3

Lake Chatuge Hybrids and Spots

By Darren Hughes

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ishing has been awesome out here lately. The spotted bass and hybrids have settled in to their winter patterns. If you can deal with the cold, it’s a perfect time to be on the water.

Currently, Lake Chatuge is 8 feet below full pool. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and the creeks, and rivers are stained due to the recent rains. Water temperatures are in the low-50’s.

Spotted and largemouth bass have been very active, and we are catching some nice-sized fish. You can still find these bass schooled up all over the lake from shallow to deep. Focus on shallow humps and points around the lake that hold a lot of bait, then work your way out to deeper water. Most of the creek mouths and rivers have been holding some nice fish. Pulling planer boards and free lines

with live bluebacks will work great for covering good ground and catching quality fish. Watch for an early morning top-water bite. Casting jerkbaits, spoons and spooks will also produce quality results. This bite should get even better in the upcoming months.

The hybrid bite has also been pretty good. These hard-fighting Western North Carolina hybrids have been on the move and headed for the mouths and backs of creeks in search of warmer water. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live blueback herring should land you some nice fish. Vary your lines behind your boards. Set your bait about 20 feet behind your outside boards along the banks and 30 to 40 feet on your inside boards.

Keep your free lines around 80 to 100 feet behind the boat and maintain your trolling speed at .5 mph.

It’s also a great idea to set out a few down lines as you troll.

January fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. The bigger fish start feeding more aggressively, and for us, it’s a great time of year for some great top-water action. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA carries a wide range of bait and tackle--it’s the best place around for quality live blueback herring. We also carry ethanol-free gas and have some of the best hot, made-from-scratch biscuits in North GA. For guided fishing trips on Lake Chatuge, Hiwassee and Lake Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call Darren Hughes at Hughes General Store. And whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting out, give Chatuge a shot for some of the best spotted bass and hybrids in the area. Good luck, and get hooked!

Darren Hughes is the Owner of Hughes General Store & Bait Shop and Guide for Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. Look him up at www. bigolfish.com or give him a call, (706) 745-6569 or (828) 361-2021.

Fishing… Even When It’s Freezing

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o, a few more football games, a few more trips to visit family and then what? Well, depending on the current weather conditions, this can be one of the best months to be on the water, as far as getting fish to cooperate. The weatherman, DOT, and cable guy may try and interfere, but if the roads are clear and snow isn’t covering your boat I’ve had some really great outings as long as I could get the boat launched. Before talking about fish-

By Capt. James McManus

ing, lets get the boat to the lake.

You really don’t want to pull a boat if the roads are covered with ice and snow, I’ve done it, but I’ve done a lot of things I don’t recommend. If the way is open, be sure and check out your boat, if you are parked outside, make sure your drain plug is out when you leave the water and make darn sure it is free of ice so it can be put back in before you launch. If you loaded your boat in freezing weather,

it may be stuck to the trailer and about the only thing you can do is back into the water and give it time to thaw, this is not always possible with things like steering cables and I would recommend checking them to see if you can steer before you make the move to the lake, likewise with things like bilge pumps, tilt and trim units, etc.

Now, you’re at the lake, boat is launched. Personal things like hats, gloves, handwarmers, waterproof boots, layered clothing, life preservers and even a change of clothes are a few essential items for wintry fishing. My first thing after checking in with folks that would miss me if I was late coming home, would be to check points close to the ramp, regardless of where I launch. With less fishing pressure in winter, I think fish congregate in coves, on points, along broken shorelines, that in fall may have been hit hard. Sunny sides are often loaded with bait schools where they may opt for a shady bank in less severe weather. Last

week, I was upstream on one of the major rivers coming in and typically, fish hold on the shady, southern side where cliffs protect it from ever getting direct sunlight. Nothing was there and so, as I was motoring out, I swung to the sunny northern bank and it was absolutely filled top to bottom with bait schools and aggressive spotted and white bass.

Another idea is to not try and hit the dawn bite, which I typically do, but opt for the afternoon bite, after the water has warmed and made the bait and fish a little more active. You may have some surface action but more is going on several feet down, so it pays to do a little searching instead of just throwing blindly.

The only weather factor that, in my opinion really shuts down the bite, is a hard, heavy, cold rain, which can make me stay at the house quicker than anything. Be careful, pick your days, watch the weather and enjoy being out on the water when you don’t have to share with anyone other than likeminded nuts.

Capt. James McManus is the Owner of 153 Charters. Give him a call for a great day of boat fishing!

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SWAIN COUNTY / BRYSON CITY

Leave A Good Track

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By Ronnie Parris

was reading Aaron Kephart’s article on Mr. Bill in the August issue and it really hit home about relationships with folks that come into our lives. The people I’m writing about this month have passed on from this world, but they left a lasting mark, or “track”, so to speak, on my life. There are many more that are still here today that deserve my highest praise, but we don’t have time to cover all of them. Each one of us, by the way we live our life, leaves a track or a legacy. In my life, I have, by no means, been proud of every one of mine, and quiet frankly, would not want some of them known, as I’m sure everyone else would say too.

One of the first people to take me hunting or fishing, other than my dad (who is one of the best outdoorsmen I have ever known), was a man named Frank Baines. Most folks just called him Pappy Baines.

He was my Sunday school teacher at East Alarka Baptist Church and could be found sitting on the front row every Sunday. He would take me, and my brother, on rabbit hunts when we were boys. There’s nothing more fun than listening to a pack of screaming beagles as they follow the scent of a rabbit on a good frosty morning. Frank was known throughout the community as the guy to call if you needed a dog, or other animal, worked on. If anyone in the community fell sick or needed anything, Frank was probably the first man they would call. I remember many times, him taking up money to help someone in our community that was down on their luck.

Another man that left a lasting

imprint on me was Bennet Jones.

Bennet also went to East Alarka Baptist Church. Bennet’s seat was on the back row, and I split my time sitting with both he and Frank. I have to say, I didn’t get in as much trouble when I was on the front row as the back. Seems like, at times, that back row seemed to spark my urge to talk and I knew, if dad had to turn around and look, I was gonna get it when I got home. Many a time, Bennet would crank up his old Ford tractor and up the road we would go, to get back as far as we could on the head of the creek to dig gensing. I will always remember walking these hills with Bennet and listening to tales of big patches of “sang”, as we called it. He taught me where to find it and that, if you dug the small plants, or carried the berries out, instead of planting them back, there wouldn’t be any for the future. Bennet was sort of a “Jack of all trades” and anyone with welding, painting, vehicle, or carpentry problems knew they could come to Bennet. Both he and Frank were always trying to teach me the right way to handle problems and I am the better for it.

Later on, when I was in high school, I met another man. He was my best friend’s dad. His name was Berlin Oliver. Berlin was one of those guys that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and never let a soul know he had done it. He didn’t care about recognition, he just treated folks the way you’re supposed to. I’ve spent many days and nights hunting with Berlin and his son, and I learned a lot from him.

If you were hunting or fishing with him he was always willing to step

back and give up the best spot. Many times, I’ve called on him when I needed help and he never once failed to help me in any way.

The last person I want to talk about was a man named Warren Phillips. He lived on the very head of Caney Fork in Jackson County. I met Warren after I started dating his niece. At the time, his dad Ransom Phillips was still alive and at home.

I’ll never forget the first time I went to their house. I had to go to the bathroom and as I barely cleared the room, Ransom asked, “Is he a Republican?” The answer was, “I think so Ransom,” to which he replied, “I thought so.” I figured out quick that was a pretty big requirement. I used to go stay with Warren and hunt the hills of Caney Fork for deer. Warren was a big hunter in his younger years and was always ready to tell me where the deer crossings were

and where I should watch. He was a true outdoorsmen and could always put you on the right stand or tell you the best stretches of creek to catch the wild brookies, and rainbows, of Caney Fork. Warren never got to do a lot of hunting in his later years as he had the task of tacking care of his dad as his health declined. I always had so much respect for his sacrifice, but in our talks after Paw Phillips passed, I realized that, to Warren, it wasn’t a sacrifice at all but rather a

CONTINUED, SEE LEAVE A GOOD TRACK, PAGE 6

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 5

Swainglers Swarm Deep Creek

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rout were the targets as Swainglers swarmed Deep Creek for their monthly fishing trip. A dozen plus teenagers vacated the bus as quickly as they could with fishing gear in hand. Deep Creek fishing regulations require anglers to use single hook only, no live bait or scented lures. A variety of rooster tails and flies were cast into the cool waters. Skies were a little overcast, with a few rays of sunlight peaking through, and the temperature was

By Tammy Parris

in the high fifties. Several brown and rainbow gave into temptation by taking the hook. It seemed like we just got there and it was time to board the bus and head back to school. Conversations filled the air about the “big ones” that got away.

Deep Creek is a part of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

It’s located in the heart of the small, but booming, town of Bryson City NC. The streams are wide and shallow enough to wade in most places, with a mix of large, open pools, numerous shoals, and plenty of pocket water. It’s ideal for fly fishing. Fishing is permitted year-round in open waters. Daily possession is five, with seven inch minimum in length. Always remember safety first. The rocks can be slippery with moss and “fish snot”. Hypothermia can quickly set in from wading too long and

Freshman Stella Grant enjoying a fishing break during a school day.

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JANUARY 2018

draining your body heat. Always be a clean angler. Don’t leave tangled line or any other trash lying around. The

natural beauty of the park needs to shine through and stay that way.

Tammy Parris is the Leader of The Swainglers fishing club at Swain County High School in Bryson City. Contact her at tparris@swainmail.org

LEAVE A GOOD TRACK

continued from page 5

privilege.

Warren is gone now, as are all the others I wrote about, but their legacy or “track” is still here and is as imprinted on me as it ever was.

With each one of these people, I bet you can’t find two people who knew them that have a bad thing to say about them. I can only wish that, some day, I may be half the man, friend, and neighbor, that each one of them was. One of the wisest men I know told me something that always sticks in my mind. “We are where we are in life by the choices we make.”

I know I haven’t always made the right choices, but my track’s not finished and as long as I can still draw a breath, I want to try to work on making it a better one. One my kids and grandkids can be proud of.

One thing all these people had in common was that their whole life was unselfish. I hope that you have someone in your life, who leaves an imprint on you, the way these men did on me. And I hope someday they can look down and be proud of the track I leave.

Ronnie Parris is the Owner and Head Guide of Smoky Mountain Outdoors Unlimited-Fontana Lake Fishing Guides, headquartered in Bryson City, North Carolina, heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. (www.smokymountainoutdoorsunlimited.com)

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RIVER REFLECTIONS

The Bagged Lunch

I

By Matt Mittan

will swear by it until the day I go to fish the heavenly lakes in the sky... Food tastes better when you’ve been outdoors all day and your lunch has been sitting in a bag waiting for you. There’s not even any debate about it. PB&J sandwiches melt in your mouth. Frito’s, Doritos or Lays taste like a five star chef cooked them right there on the spot - in a kettle – just for you. And Pop Tarts? Jerky strips? Forget about it!

Manna from heaven. And if you are able to parlay one of those sandwich lunch bags with the zipper sealed, insulated bottoms that you can pack a drink in with an ice pack then you, my friend, can rest assured that the first sip of that beverage is going to have you closing your eyes and offering up a slow motion smile to God, with the deepest and sincerest level of satisfaction that one could ever derive from a pop tab can or hand held juice-pouch.

With these truths laid out be-

hind us, imagine my delight the first time I was invited to partake in a riverside fish fry. I was in the Service at the time, stationed in Europe. I had gone out on a fly fishing day with some locals I met days before. (Anglers, I find, can overcome language barriers very quickly.)

The day before our outing, I got a call from one of the guys letting me know that I needed to bring a few ingredients, enough to cover my share of the cooking for all four of us. I was confused. We were going fishing. What was this talk of “cooking”? What about my PB&J? What about my chips? What about my Pop Tarts? I knew being out on the banks of the river all day would bring heightened value to these low cost meals. He responded, “You’re going to catch your lunch!”

Stop the presses!

Now, I am not one to lack for confidence in my catching capabilities but when you start talking

about either producing fish or going hungry after several hours on my feet, well... that’s just not a very funny joke. He had You will never see more excitement over PopTarts, than you a balanced will when they are stashed in a bagged lunch, at the end mix of humor several hours spent fishing. and frustration in his voice when I suggested ple confessions of days that ended that, “just in case”, I should bring with some rumbling tummy’s. I was a box of neatly packaged, frosting starting to wonder if I was going on covered, breakfast goodness. There a fishing trip or a foodie tour. was no fooling with his expecta- Once on the water, we all spread tion. out. Laughter, teasing and good On the ride to our destination, chatter all subsided. We each got I got to hear lots of stories of their absorbed into our own zones. Nafavorite waterside meals, their best ture has a way of blurring out the river born recipes and even a cou- rest of the world when you let it.

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CONTINUED, SEE THE BAGGED LUNCH, PAGE 9

JANUARY 2018

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 7

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THE BAGGED LUNCH

continued from page 7

And I did just that. The extra pressure of knowing that I had to produce, if I was going to eat, started entering my mind. These were native waters. No stocked fish here.

These trout were tough. (Did I mention that it was also about an hour drive out into the middle of nowhere and not a single store or restaurant was seen the whole way?)

As the gentle hum of the bugs and bees around me mixed with the ripple of water over rocks and the breeze wrestling through the trees, I began to feel something stir inside of me. And it wasn’t just hunger. It was a deeper appreciation for how fortunate we are to have so many things and for the ease at which we can get, pretty much, anything we want. But I also started realize something else... How precious and fragile true survival in nature is.

Can you imagine if we all had to ac-

tually catch, kill, or harvest our own food? Could the wilds even sustain so many of us? I’m betting either we would go or the natural world around us would.

While I won’t deny the immense enjoyment of a fresh caught meal on the banks of an ancient river or the deep appreciation that producing my own meal brings, I decided that day, for the preservation of such natural beauty and sustainable wilds, I’d stick to my bagged lunches moving forward when fishing on non hatchery-supported fresh water. There’s only going to be so many wild fish produced in any water body year to year, but the super market shelves are pretty flush with Pop Tarts, Chips and the makings of a great PB&J. So, I learn the skills but spare the kills. I like to let the fish go and my lunch still tastes pretty awesome!

Overcoming Winter Challenges

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By Aaron Motley

inter is here, and with the season change, comes a cold change. Fly fishing can become a bit harder, detecting subtle strikes of trout is another challenge winter poses for anglers. Bug life in the river tends to be only a few Blue wing olive may flies, little black stoneflies, and midges. These insects are ones that you should stock in your fly box for the cold months. Blue wing olive adults may be as big size 16, but are more commonly sizes 18 or 20.

Little black stoneflies are size 16, 18, or 20. These can mean great action on a warm winter day!

Midges can be seen throughout the winter. Two of my favorite zebra midges are black body with silver wire, and a silver bead, the other is a purple body with silver wire, and a silver bead. Many other color combinations work too.

If you’re thinking about getting into fly tying, then this would be a good pattern to start with. Minimal materials, and you can fill a box up quickly. A simple streamer to tie this winter is a slumpbuster, which is effective in olive, natural, black, and brown. Hunter Banks Fly shop has an amazing fly tying selection, and helpful staff with a vast knowledge of fly tying.

The winter is a great time to throw streamers. Big fish move for big meals!

Woolly buggers, slumpbusters, and articulated streamers can produce great fish in the winter. Come by Hunter Banks Fly shop and let us show you a few patterns for this winter. Take a look at sinking line options with one of our knowledgeable staff members, and let Hunter Banks Fly shop help make this winter your best ever!

Matt Mittan is a long time broadcaster in WNC, an entrepreneur and USAF veteran who has fished all around the world. He can often be found aboard his classic red Old Town canoe in search of mountain Bass. Matt Aaron Motley is Operations Manager at the Waynesville location of Hunter currently has an insurance business, partnered with AFLAC, providing Banks. His waterfowl hunting addictions supports his fly tying addiction. benefits and tax solutions for area businesses. Email MattsFishingDiary@ He learned his fly-fishing craft from “fishy” people and pursues large trout, gmail.com with story ideas or feedback. bass, and musky on a daily basis. He teaches others to do the same.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 9

ASHEVILLE AREA

Seize the Moment

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By Scott Norton

his is the time of year that most anglers have been waiting for - Fall to early winter fishing for aggressive bass.

The fish are feeding heavily to pack on weight for the cold winter days ahead. Schooling bass are ripe for the catch. This is the time to catch numbers and trophies for all types of anglers.

This year, the fall patterns have come and gone for lakes in the higher elevations. We had about a month of great fishing and then the cold snap happened. Mornings in the lower 20’s caused the water temperature to nosedive. Bass are still biting moving baits, but you need patience and a slow cadence to move the fish.

The best strategy I found, was to find lakes in lower elevations.

The water will be about 10 degrees warmer and the fish are not in the winter transition yet. This is good for the kayak angler due to the warmer climate, although, it’s

a challenge for the kayakers in the cold, strong winds with the lack of body movement to keep blood circulating. It gets unsafe at a point and you don’t want to risk hypothermia setting in. Staying low is just a better idea all around and you can prolong that aggressive bite.

This is how you seize the moment.

The baits that are doing great right now are jerk baits, spy baits, spinner baits, chatter baits, crankbaits, and flukes. There are lots of other baits, but these are the most common. Running these baits in the creek channels near the backs of the creeks to the secondary points will yield a lot of fish. I like to use a reaction bait, like the jerk bait, when they are feeding heavy.

When the bite slows down, I like to switch gears and use a spinner bait or something more silent without rattles. When they turn off and start suspending, I like to use a spy bait to run through them and sometimes, it will fire up a school of bass

10 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

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and start a feeding frenzy.

Once the winter sets in, slower moving baits are ideal. The jerk bait will do great during the cold days, as the shad start to die off from fringed temperatures, and this is what the bass are keying in on.

Going to a drop shot, shaky head, or a Carolina rig will get you some quality bites as well. You’ll find you don’t need a lot of poles with you

this time of year since the setups you have will allow for a variety of similar baits to use.

Keep in mind, safety is a big factor for kayakers in the winter, so plan ahead and don’t take risks this time of year. It’s good to have a partner or a cell phone signal in case you need help. Always pack an emergency pack in case you get stuck overnight in the cold.

Scott Norton is a native of Western North Carolina. Born in Asheville, NC, he is a long time avid hunter, angler, and weekend warrior.

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SENIOR SPORTSMEN ARISE!

S

By Wilson Love

ixty five years passed and then it happened: senior citizenship.

Yep, as of last month, I am officially an “old guy”. That “Old Guys Rule” T-shirt in the bottom drawer is finally going to see some action.

But hey, wait a minute! Houston, we have a problem. I don’t feel old. In fact, I don’t feel any older than I did a year ago, or five years ago for that matter. Sure, I look my age (depending on who you ask), but what do looks have to do with anything? “Just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s no fire in the furnace”.

As silly as it sounds, this whole senior citizen thing took me by surprise. Three years ago, when I was turning 62, a friend asked if I was going to wait till age 65 to collect Social Security. I hadn’t given it any thought. Then, just a few weeks ago, another friend asked what supplement I had. I really didn’t know for a minute if he was asking about vitamins, or…what? Then he held up a plastic card with the name of an insurance company on it.

So yes, I’ve done the required Medicare sign-up now and I can

recommend Byron at Smoky Mountain Group, who made that process easy for a country boy, turned senior citizen, to understand. Do I plan to need medical attention? No. I haven’t seen a doctor in fifteen years. I don’t plan to have a flat tire either, but there’s a spare and a jack in the truck.

The “number crunchers” say that over three and a half million of us Americans reached the 65 mark during this past year. I don’t know what other types will do, but as an outdoorsman I’m going to keep on keeping on.

The woods and the water still call me back for more adventure. The challenge of scouting a new stream or ridgeline awaits me. I refuse to consider that, because of too many birthdays, I should not do now what I have always done.

At this writing, I’ve deer hunted four days more this season than last, and it is not over yet. Come spring, my little bunch of seniors plan to turkey hunt two states, same as last year. And, there will be as much fishing in fresh and saltwater as we can fit on the calendar.

Does any of this sound like bragging? Not at all. I’m thankful to God and humbled by the blessing of good health and longevity. Killing the big buck or gobbler doesn’t motivate me anymore. Those who stand over me, young and old, flipping through countless images of their trophies have missed the point entirely.

Our outdoor excursions are an end, in themselves, not a means to validate ourselves by a kill or a catch.

If just “getting out” isn’t enough satisfaction – unless we make meat or have a photo op – then maybe we need to get honest and ask ourselves why we do what we do.

I firmly believe that a gracious attitude has everything to do with enjoying the outdoors as seniors.

The seventy- and eighty-somethings I know (who still venture out) carry an excellent spirit along with their rod and gun. When they needed to strike a different pace as seniors,

they wisely moderated. One cool thing about the supposed “second childhood” is that speed yields to fulfillment.

If you have let the easy chair and remote capture you, escape and return to the wildside. God bless the Bucket List, which isn’t getting any shorter. In fact, it is growing. If it wasn’t my Bucket List, I’d think things were getting added to it when I’m asleep. Ice fishing? Alligator hunting?

See you on the trail.

Wilson Love is Owner/Operator of The Practical Outdoorsman, a retail and consignment store.

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 11

Fly Fishing South Mills River

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By James Marsh

ly fishing the South Mills River requires some hiking to access its remote waters. The river begins just below the Blue Ridge Parkway near Ashville, North Carolina. It’s a tributary of the French Broad River. The South Mills River is listed in Trout Unlimited’s “Guide to America’s Best 100 Trout Streams” Book. Its trout are all wild brown and rainbow trout and the state of North Carolina manages it under its “wild trout” regulations.

This area is a popular hiking, horseback, mountain biking, camping and hunting area as well as a fly fishing destination. The lower part of the stream flows through private property. The South Mills River has one major tributary, Bradley Creek, which is also a good wild trout stream to fish.

The South Mills River runs for about twelve miles through Pisgah National Forest land. It can be accessed from several points but basically, it amounts to the lower end of the stream that’s on public land,

or its upper end near the Forestry Discovery Center. You can access the stream from the lower end from the Turkey Pen Gap Trailhead at the end of the Forest Service Road #297, which is off Highway 280. You can also access it from the end of Forest Service Road #476 in the Pink Beds area. You have to ford the stream several times (or use suspension bridges) through its entire length.

There are other ways to access the stream but they require long hikes.

You wouldn’t get very far during high water. The trail is also a very popular horseback riding trail and that takes its toll on parts of the trail.

The stream consists of one deep pool after another, all at the ends of relatively short plunges. The decline of the stream is moderate and the trail is fairly easy to hike. It has both wild rainbow trout and wild brown trout that grow rather large. The trout probably average about eight inches, but they get much larger. Only single-hook artificial lures/flies are permitted on the South Mills River.

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JANUARY 2018

Bradley Creek is also managed as a wild trout stream and it flows entirely on public land. About three miles of its uppermost waters can be easily accessed from Forest Service Road #1206 and about three miles must be reached by hiking. Trails follow its entire length. Fly fishing Bradley Creek produces mostly rainbows.

This stream flows through evergreen trees and mountain laurel.

There are several small waterfalls and cascades along the way. You will find most of the rainbows in the fast water plunges and short runs. The browns hide in the deep pools and in crevices underneath boulders and rocks. The trout stay active during the hot summer because the stream stays well oxygenated.

The South Mills River has an aquatic insect population consisting of a large diversity of insects, but only a few of them exist in large

quantities. As with any small stream with wild brown trout, the larger brown trout are difficult to fool.

They tend to hide throughout the day and feed only during periods of low light conditions. The rainbows are easier to approach because they tend to hide under the fast water surface turbulence. None of them are easily fooled and you must make sure you’re not spotted.

Season: The season runs yearround.

Winter: Trout can be caught on warm days during the winter.

Spring: Spring is the best time for fly fishing the South Mills River because of its hatches.

Summer: Summertime is okay but some of the water can get too warm for good fishing on the hottest days.

Fall: Fall is the best time for big browns in the lower section.

James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog mail-order store. www.perfectflystore.com

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HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD

Why the Guiding Community Needs to Self-Examine

By Ethan Hollifield

I

remember, as a kid, always being fascinated with the guides in the fly shop I frequented in my small mountain town (I probably annoyed the heck out of y’all back then, sorry about that). I remember seeing them, and looking up to them, as the ultimate: who I wanted to be as a fly fisherman growing up. To me, they represented the best aspects of what fly-fishing is about. Now that I’m older, and as a guide myself, I’ve noticed a certain trend that I think is detrimental to our sport.

Guiding has lost its sense of pride and integrity, and it’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Its mentality now, is that of money, self-indulgence, and being notable as “insta-famous.”

Granted, the majority of guides out there are genuinely good people who work hard and care about their fishery. On the other hand, it seems that guiding, as a whole, has lost its lackluster due to the actions of a grievous few, who want the title without the work involved.

I’ve met some “guides” who were frankly rude, arrogant, and have their bottom line as more of a priority than, at the least, just teaching people how to fly fish correctly. And by correctly, I don’t mean just the techniques to catch fish.

Fly-fishing is the ultimate bridge

that we can introduce new comers across, as to why the streams that we fish are important to everyone.

We should be stewards of those things. Many “guides” that I see couldn’t tell the difference between a good cast and a bad cast, be able to guide on anything but Delayed Harvest water where the fish will eat anything pink, and are more concerned with how they look on social media as opposed to their own reputation. The behavior of some newer guides I have witnessed has been somewhat appalling: ranging from cutting people off fishing in streams, as well as physically mishandling fish, or allowing their clients to do so.

Now, by no means do I consider myself as the world’s best fly fishing guide, but I understand that it takes more than just paying ten dollars a month to the government to earn that title. Guiding is an honorable profession. What makes it a profession is the skill, the patience, and the ability to be adaptable in all situations. It’s hard work that requires hours of patterning fish, figuring out access points, and above all, having the ability to modify the art of teaching on the water. And believe me, watching clients catch their first fish on the fly along with the elation that it brings, makes it all worth it.

The mentality present in guiding has to change. This isn’t a profession to take lightly. We are the caretakers of these rivers and streams that make Western North Carolina so special.

You’re not a guide to be cool. You’re not a guide because it’s the latest “hipster millennial trend” that’s crept its way into fishing. Guiding is, and should be, serious business.

The future of fly-fishing is on our

shoulders, and it’s time the guiding community takes that responsibility to hand.

Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers.

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JANUARY 2018

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 13

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2018 Southern Sixer Kickoff Hike

oin us on a classic Roan hike with a winter twist! This Southern Sixer Kickoff Hike on Saturday, January 13, is offered as part of our “For Love of Beer & Mountains” Partnership, celebrating Highland Brewing Company’s seasonal release of Souther Sixer IPA — which is named for the 40+ mountains rising over 6,000 ft elevation in the Southern Appalachians. Through the “For Love of Beer & Mountains” Partner-

ship, Highland Brewing Company partners with SAHC to support our conservation efforts and heighten awareness of the rare and threatened natural treasures of the Southern Appalachians.

This hike is an adventure through the Highlands of Roan, following the Appalachian Trail through spectacular spruce-fir forests. Our trek will begin at Carvers Gap at 9 a.m., climbing up to two Southern Sixers:

Roan High Knob and Roan High Bluff. Roan High Knob has an elevation of 6,286 feet and Roan High Bluff is jus a bit shorter at 6,267 feet.

Along the way we will pass the highest elevation shelter on the AT and the site of the old Cloudland Hotel. This winter hike may even have beautiful snowy views into North Carolina and Tennessee!

Please be prepared for cold weather hiking, as temperatures in

the upper elevations of the Roan can be much colder than in surrounding areas. Weather on the Roan can also change dramatically in a short period of time.

Leader: Emily Adler, AmeriCorps Conservation Education & Volunteer Outreach Associate. For questions or more info, contact Emily at emily@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 205.

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Orville Got It Right!

A

By Danny Maybin

dear friend of mine once said, “The only thing worse than someone who can’t sing, is someone who don’t know they can’t sing”. I think it was a gentle nudge in my direction, but after much consideration and self-examination, I think it was a wise observation. I am very aware my wife and kids applaud his insight in this matter. After many polite yet obviously unappreciative audiences and one incident of what I would label as an intervention, I am completely confident singing is not one of my gifts. Upon hearing myself recorded in a studio, the matter was settled once and for all. What sounded great in the earphones, upon replay, more closely resembled a dying cat in a hailstorm. The only wisdom I did glean from this shattering revelation is that my ears are perfectly fine.

Then there are the automotive and mechanical abilities. As someone who has always felt confident and self reliant in this area, I was always puzzled when my wife would roll her eyes when I declared that I was going to fix something on the car. Upon my query, she produced receipts for auto repairs from the local mechanic. As I studied the costs, I felt fully vindicated in my abilities to repair the car and save money! The parts costs were about even, and I had saved money on the labor portion of the bill. My wife then brought to the forefront my cost in bad temperament, skinned knuckles, foul language and a general degradation in my overall spiritual commitment to life and my community. “A broken sparkplug can send you to a really dark place,” she said.

Considering my vocational choices, It is becoming more and more clear to me that, as we humans have many gifts and talents, I find little correlation between what we naturally do best, and what we want to do. Just like the tenor singer who sings flat yet holds the last note longer the he should, or the guy who spends four hours doing what a gifted mechanic could do in thirty minutes, we seem to think if we give enough effort and

keep going, our belabored efforts will somehow bring us up to snuff.

They never do.

Back in the last century, Orville Redenbacher, the king of popcorn, [did you catch that?] popcorn, of all the unnoticeable things to be king of, said, “Do one thing and do it better than anyone else”. Orville was obviously a giant in his industry so I took this to heart and endeavored to be the best in at least one thing in the hopes of cornering the market, as it were and becoming the leader in my chosen field. After many attempts I had yet to find that elusive gift or talent with which I could take the world by storm.

So it set me to thinking. If someone, such as myself, imbued with such a vast array of talents, could be humbled by such simple statements, how could I ever discover that talent at which I might excel?

My first thought was to join the clergy, but then the memory of the horrified and bewildered looks of my friends and neighbors and women clasping their hands over children’s ears came to mind, the many times they had watched me work on my car in the driveway. I figured this could prove to be an insurmountable obstacle in my endeavor to become a spiritual giant amongst my piers.

I then considered my natural outdoor prowess and entertained the possibility of starting a dangerous game guide service. On the surface, it’s a “no brainer”. All you have to know is where the bears are, carry big guns, and make sure you can outrun at least one person in your party. That last point is where my plan fell apart. After a lifetime of pursuing the greatness hidden in my undiscovered talents, my body has paid the high price of blunt force trauma from charging my countless windmills. Consequently, I would only feel confident in running a geriatric dangerous game guide service, but the numbers just don’t support it as a viable business.

I then turned to my love of the water. With time served on the wa-

16 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

JANUARY 2018

ter, I have learned that I’m qualified to proceed with the written phase of the U.S.C.G. exam for a Captain’s license. All I would need now is around two thousand bucks for the fees and security endorsements, and of course a forty thousand dollar boat, first mate, and knowledge of the art of tending to intoxicated tourists to start making about half of what I need to break even!

To that point, I have decided to take up poetry as my newly chosen profession. If you think about it, it’s perfect. First of all, the entry cost is nonexistent and secondly, I don’t know any poets and as far as I know, none know me. In my circles I will be considered, if only by default, the leading authority on the subject. I can write and rhyme to my hearts content and if my poems don’t make sense, folks will just

say, “You have to think about it” or “He’s such a deep thinker”. And if I can’t sell any of my works, all I have to say is, “Well, you know how tough the publishing game can be”.

Yes sir, it’s pen and paper from here on out for this ole boy. Another positive point is that poetry doesn’t have to be happy or end well. With all the “experiences” I’ve embraced down through the years chasing my bliss, I could quite possibly write the next Great American Tragedy! My struggles with being too broke to fish, skinned knuckles and the humiliation of my singing abilities only scratch the surface of the massive library of my disappointing endeavors that will surely come together to become the literary masterpiece of the century, not likely to ever be rivaled! And if it doesn’t, I think I’ll take up politics.

Danny Maybin’s family have fished and hunted in the area of Lake Summit for at least six generations. He is a state firearms instructor a, blacksmith, musician/luthier, and his favorite, a fishin’ and hunting resort facilitator. He also does voice acting, copywriting, and short story humor.

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he International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame Class of 2017 was honored on Sat., Oct. 28, in a ceremony held at the new IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mo. The 2017 inductees include Rick Clunn, Larry Dahlberg, Peter Fithian, Mike Levitt, and Dr. Eric Prince. These anglers join 116 fishing greats in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

Rick Clunn is a four-time Bassmaster Classic winner and is a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. When he’s not fishing, Clunn shares his love of the sport with children across America. He was recognized for his endless enthusiasm for bass fishing, his unmatched four decades of winning B.A.S.S. events and his amazing bass fishing prowess.

Larry Dahlberg has fished for more than 50 years in 80 countries and is the host of The Hunt for Big Fish. He created the unique Dahlberg Diver fly and is responsible for many other fishing innovations.

He’s received the Henshall Award by the Federation of Fly Fishers, is

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a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the 1999 IGFA Conservation Award. Dahlberg is recognized for his lifetime of fishing innovations, his award-winning television career and his conservation efforts.

Peter Fithian is best known as the founder of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT), the “Grandfather” of all billfish fishing tournaments. The HIBT is one of the longest running tournaments of all time and the birthplace of countless innovations in angling tactics, tournament management and billfish conservation. Fithian also founded the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation (PORF) to learn more about Pacific blue marlin, and was instrumental in the foundation of the Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA).

Fithian is recognized by the IGFA for his lifelong commitment to improve tournament sport fishing and for his efforts in conservation.

Mike Levitt developed a passion for light tackle in the 1960s, which led him to the IGFA. He has held 16 world records, including light tackle records for black and white marlin. A former Chairman of the IGFA, Levitt spearheaded efforts to build the IGFA Headquarters in Dania Beach, Fla. Levitt led the design and financing of a succession of custom sport fishing boats, which helped to develop the prototype for boats widely used today. The IGFA recognizes Levitt for his angling achievements, charitable acts and innovations in sport fishing.

Dr. Eric Prince is considered one of the world’s top fisheries scientists, and is an angler, researcher and proponent for the sport of fishing. He’s had a 35-year career as a billfish biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Dr. Prince has been a driving force in the Adopt a Billfish satellite tagging program and a leading researcher and proponent of the use of circle hooks. He’s served conservation through his research and helping to create The Billfish Foundation, which earned him the IGFA Conservation Award in 2016. Prince is recognized by the IGFA for his research on important recreational species to ensure sustainable management.

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By Patrick Sebile

I

n the early 1980s, I enjoyed fishing at mid-day on Fridays. I grew up in southwest France, in the Bordeaux region, where my mom was a baker. On Fridays she would go to farmer’s markets to sell her pastries, so she would not be home for lunch.

My school schedule included a break of three hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., which was enough time to ride my bike to a nearby pond and fish with a telescoping rod that fit into my schoolboy’s satchel next to a small lure box that held my treasures: a couple of Rapalas, some Mepps spinners and a few of my own homemade jigs and poppers.

As an 11-year-old boy, these few hours of fishing were worth much more than a mid-day meal. One day in particular, I remember peddling as fast as possible, dropping my bike against a bush, stringing my rod with a steel leader and a lure and hurrying down to the bank to cast.

I remember the weight on the line that stopped my retrieve.

I set the hook, and the fish started fighting. It was a good one! I landed a 6- or 7-lb. pike and was as happy as a boy can be with thoughts of how proud Mom would be as she cooked it for our supper. I had no cooler, no bag, just my school satchel, which held the school books my mother had covered in plastic sheeting to protect them just in case I decided to do something like fold that pike up and stuff in my satchel.

The bag itself was made of green U.S. Army canvas and decorated with KISS and Van Halen patches. I thought it was a very cool satchel, and surely we could just throw it in the washing machine. A little soap and water would fix those book covers. Problem solved. I biked back to school, where my pike was supposed to remain hidden in my satchel for a few hours until the end of the school day.

The trouble began back in the classroom. One of our classmates complained that her calculator was missing. Our teacher assumed one of the children had taken it and began a systematic search of all our satchels.

“Not that! Not today!” I remember thinking.

As she searched and cleared each satchel one by one, I prayed she would find the calculator before it was my turn. The closer she got to me, the more I shrunk into my seat. At one point she made eye contact with me and must have seen the panic in my eyes.

“Sebile, open your satchel,” she said.

I remember shaking my head and pleading with her, “No ma’am, please don’t…”

She snatched my satchel and opened it wide to reveal an indescribable mess. All my classmates gathered around, laughing out loud at the crazy fisherman. I had never before experienced such deep shame. The human brain is a fantastic thing. All that remains of that the horrible feeling I had back then is a funny story of who I was then and who I am remain: a passionate angler.

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(An abbreviated excerpt from “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia”)

By Nick Carter

A

s a trout fishery, Amicalola Creek west of Dawsonville, Ga. is perfectly suited for a delayed harvest section. The original intent of these very popular fisheries was to create wintertime fisheries in streams that grow too warm for trout during the summer. For most of its length, from its highest public access point at Wildcat Creek Campground to its junction with the Etowah River, Amicalola is not great trout habitat. In Dawson County, it’s on the southern edge of Georgia’s trout waters to begin with, and its impoundment in Fausett Lake upstream of Dawson Forest WMA does not help the situation. So the potential for reproduction and holdover fish in Amicalola Creek is not great.

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As a hatchery supported fishery, however, it’s a pretty good stream. Amicalola receives a steady almost year-round flow of hatchery fish from the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. The DH section is heavily stocked in the winter months, and regular stockings begin in March and last into the summer.

During the DH season, Nov. 1 through May 14, thousands of trout are stocked into a roughly 2.5-mile stretch between Steele Bridge Road and the Georgia Highway 53 bridge over Amicalola Creek. Around these two bridges is where anglers will find most of the fish late fall through early spring, especially after a recent stocking, but foot access by gated WMA road as well as a streamside trail offer access to less pressured fish and water.

With catch-and-release, single-hook, artificial-only regulations, many of these fish stay in the creek through the delayed harvest season. Early on in the season and when there has been a fresh stocking, anglers can have banner days with the standard DH fare—bright and flashy nymphs, streamers, egg patterns and San Juan-style worms.

But like all the DH streams, it does receive some fishing pressure.

Successful tactics transition to more natural ones as the fish grow wiser.

Amicalola Creek is quite large through the DH stretch. Deep holes and bedrock ledges characterize the fishery. Through shallower areas, systematically picking apart the ledges, seams, runs and other holding areas from bank to bank before moving upstream can produce fish many anglers miss as they plow ahead upstream making long, cross-current casts. The deep holes can also be extremely productive during the winter when fish are hugging the bottom. Use enough split-shot to get your offerings down to the fish, and adjust depth according to the water you’re fishing.

For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of all North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@gmail.com.

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12/13/17 4:48 PM

(An abbreviated excerpt from “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia”)

By Nick Carter

B

ecause it looks and fishes a lot like a high-mountain wild trout stream, the North Mills is a personal favorite delayed harvest fishery. The bonus is, North Carolina keeps it chock full of rainbows, brookies and browns that are larger than the little wild rainbows you’ll catch on most wild streams of its size.

Between Asheville and Brevard, N.C., the North Mills is one of the smallest delayed harvest streams in the system. From October into June it is managed under catch-and-release, artificial only regulations. One would think the kill-and-grill crowd would clean the fish out of a creek this size as soon as DH regulations ended and harvest was allowed. That’s probably true on the lower end of the North Mills. Not so much on the upper end. I’ve had banner days up there

deep into the summer.

It is small water. Skinny pocket water and plunge pools require anglers to use their small rod and a good roll cast. A friend once brought his 5-weight into the top end of the North Mills because it was already rigged and he was too lazy to string up his small rod at the truck. It was a mistake. I repeatedly gave him first crack at the best holes because he hadn’t caught much. Just about every time, he would hang up in the rhododendron allowing me to move in and catch the fish while he played monkey in the trees. If you can, convince your buddy to bring his big rod. It’ll equate to more fish for you.

The North Mills Recreation Area is a pay-to-park area on North Mills Road. The camping area there is popular during the summer, and there will likely be swimmers and tubers in the water on this lower end of the publicly accessible water when the weather is nice.

The river upstream and downstream of the recreation area is larger than it is higher up toward the reservoir, so it can be a good place to fish when recreational traffic is down. During the delayed harvest season, this stretch gets the most fish from the hatchery as well as much of the fishing pressure.

On the upper end, the North Mills is really a medium sized creek. It does not receive as much fishing pressure because access is difficult to find and requires a short but relatively steep hike. There is a trail that runs almost the entire length of the river from one of the lower parking areas to the reservoir. This trail can be accessed less than a mile downstream of the Hendersonville Reservoir Dam via a walk of less than a mile from a gravel parking area at the end of Wash Creek Road (FR 5000). This is the Trace Ridge trailhead parking area.

For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of all North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@gmail.com.

By Ben Rayner

T

aking an inadvertent swim is nothing to laugh at during the winter months. Hypothermia, although it can be dangerous, rarely leads to death. The greatest water hazard this time of year is cold-water shock. Survival time is often measured in seconds, as symptoms are instantaneous and can rapidly lead to drowning.

The most critical stage of cold-water immersion is called the cold-water gasp reflex. When thrust into cold water, humans involuntarily gasp uncontrollably. This can lead to aspiration of water and rapid drowning. The next stage, the mammalian dive reflex, occurs as the body cools. Capillaries are constricted as blood is drawn from extremities and shunted to body’s core. Fine dexterity falters and simple tasks like grasping a lifeline become impossible. These symptoms lead to swimming failure and drowning.

What to Do

To combat the gasp reflex, hold your breath and try to keep from gasping for as long an interval as you can. This is difficult. However, if you hold of your breath for short durations, the effects of the gasp reflex will slowly ebb. Do perform any other actions until your breathing is under control.

The HELP Position

Always wear a life vest while on the water, and understand how it works before emergency strikes. The technique that works best for hypothermia mitigation is the Heat Escape Lessening Posture/Position (HELP). This position cannot be accomplished without a life vest or flotation aid, and is useful when immediate rescue or self-rescue are not options.

Grab the front or back of your knees and ball up. Don’t squeeze too tightly; that wastes energy. A moderate grip is sufficient. Then simply lean your head back and go with the flow.

The HELP position minimizes water flow across the body and keeps the survivor in the warmest part of the water column. This lessens heat loss and extends survival time. You cannot effectively move in the HELP position, but saving energy is the point in some situations.

To further lessen heat loss, a 3 mil or thicker contractor’s grade bag can be kept in or on your life vest. Get completely into the bag, including the lobes of your vest and in the HELP position

Carpet Formation

A group of survivors can mitigate hypothermia using the carpet formation. Whether it’s two survivors or 20, it is the best way to stay alive longer in cold water. Survivors link arms to those on either side and interlock their legs with the person across from them to share as much body heat as possible. Grab the feet of the person in front of you, and put their feet on your chest.

This formation keeps survivors at the surface, where water is usually warmer, it shares body heat and conserves energy, it provides comfort and keeps the group together. Additionally, it makes a larger target for rescuers to find, provides 360-degree skyward visibility for spotting rescuers and creates a platform for an injured survivor or someone without a life vest.

Ben Rayner is executive director of Water Emergency Training, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to drowning prevention. He is a former survival instructor and an award winning investigative journalist. For more information, see www.wateremergencytraining.org/.

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inter is a very important time for the southern California saltwater fly fisherman. This time of year means transition, and with this transition comes the seasonal migration of Pacific bonito to the nearshore waters off southern California.

Although SoCal has a yearround population of bonito, many of the fish who take up residence here from early fall and through winter are the larger pelagic bonito that trek to our coast from southern waters. These fish can range in size between 5 to 15 pounds and are probably the hardest fighting fish readily available to fly fishermen off the southern

can be put in the path of the moving fish.

The fly tackle best suited for bonito fishing includes 9-foot, 6- to 10-weight rods matched with a good directdrive saltwater fly reel with a minimum of 120 yards of 20to 30-lb. Dacron backing. In terms of fly lines, a shooting head with a built-in running line in weights of 175 to 350 grains will work best. Tippets should be 8 to 12 pounds, and abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon works wonders on leader-shy fish.

As for flies, Clousers, Deceivers, Crazy Charlies and any anchovy pattern in sizes

California coast. These fish are found both inshore and offshore, however, most of the offshore bonito are in 30 fathoms (150 feet) or less.

When fishing for openwater bonito, the angler’s best approach is to look for birds and schools working along current or temperature breaks. Once these areas are found, look for bonito chasing anchovies or sardines near the surface.

Bonito can be very shy, so cutting the engine and sidling up on the fish is very important.

Once the boat is in position, a 40- to 80-foot cast placed to the outside edge of the schooling fish is best. The angler should make sure the fish are moving either toward the skiff or in a crossing direction so the cast

8 through 2 will do the trick.

Color is an important factor, so match the fly color to the color of the bait being taken. Green/ white and blue/white are great choices, however, chartreuse/ white is always a great attractor color.

Fighting a bonito once it is hooked is an exciting and sometimes exhausting experience for the fly angler.

Because the bonito is built like a mini rocket, it will make some amazing runs and will usually take line well into the angler’s backing.

It’s worth a trip to southern California where fly anglers can take part in the famous bonito run.

For Tackle Box Essentials from Bowman, go to

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HAVALON REDESIGNS

SURGICAL CUTLERY FOR USE IN THE OUTDOORS

I

n their profession, surgeons require the most accurate and precise cutting tools. Professional taxidermists figured out long ago that a scalpel is the best tool for carefully cutting through all kinds of fish and animal hides. Now sportsmen can enjoy the same level of precision in knives designed to be taken into the field or out on the water.

Havalon has revolutionized the market for sportsmen’s knives with surgical-edge technology redesigned for use by hunters and anglers. And they know their business. Havalon’s parent company, Havel, provided surgical cutlery to doctors and hospitals long before they brought them to the outdoors market.

What Havalon dreamed up was a line of high quality folding and now fixed-blade knives that feature replaceable surgical-quality cutting edges. Whether gutting and skinning game or filleting fish, sportsmen can now enjoy the advantages of a scalpel edge in the field.

And the easily replaceable blades not only ensure the knife will be scalpel sharp and ready for use without any sharpening, it opens up the opportunity for one knife to serve many purposes by switching out the style of the blade. Need a fine-bladed fillet knife that doubles as a limb saw and game-skinner, Havalon has you covered with products like the Havalon Hydra Kit, which includes 17 blades in seven different styles to fill all your needs with one tool.

The latest innovation from Havalon, which every angler should have in the arsenal is the Havalon Talon. Set to hit the market this spring, the Talon is the first high-quality, surgically sharp, longest lasting replaceable fixed blade knife system.

The Talon provides a firm, safe grip on heavier, stronger, larger sized

versions of the company’s already proven fillet blades, as well as a few new ones. It is the most versatile and sharpest “in-the-wild” quick-change cutlery set there is. A military-grade polymer handle has many functional features, from a Easy-Clean opening chamber to a super easy, strong and safe Quik-Change II Thumb Release Blade System.

Within a water resistant roll-up pack, the Talon Fishing Pack includes the Talon handle, a serrated blade, two 5-inch fillet blades and a 7-inch fillet blade. A separately sold 9-inch fillet blade is also available.

Professional captains, guides and outfitters have already discovered the benefits of using surgical-grade cutlery in the field and on the water, making Havalon a staple in the market for serious outdoorsmen. Which leaves the question: Why wouldn’t you want the most precise, accurate and versatile cutting tools in your pack or on the deck?

Check out all the innovative tools Havalon has to offer at www.havalon.com.

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UNDER THE SEA 18

King of Sling – Art Pinder

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n the spearfishing community, there is one man everyone agrees deserves the title of “legend.”

That is Art Pinder.

Art was born in Miami in 1929, the fourth of five children. He looked up to his father and older brothers and wanted to follow in their footsteps. His father was an outdoorsman and worked his way up to captain of the Miami Beach lifeguards. Naturally, the children grew up around the water, and they learned to hunt at a very young age with homemade equipment.

Their slings were different from modern spearguns, and consisted of a free-flying shaft inserted into a cylindrical wooden “shooter.”

Similar to a slingshot, the shaft was powered by pulling a band back and letting go. This primitive form is making a comeback, and is the only allowable method of spearfishing in the Bahamas.

The Pinder brothers dove and speared at a time when the ocean was considered mysterious and dangerous. The brothers dominated and won every tournament. Meanwhile, Art worked as a lifeguard and crewed for big-game fishermen such as Walter Clay, Bob Stewart and Tommy Gifford. He later served in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed at the Carysfort Reef Lighthouse.

In the water, Art accomplished feats that might never be duplicated. He slinged a 7-foot sailfish, a 135-pound cubera snapper and a 584-pound Goliath grouper. Outside of spearfishing, he was credited with saving many lives, including a challenging rescue of 23 people whose boat had capsized in rough waters.

As Art became known for his spearfishing achievements, opportunities arose. He appeared in magazine and TV ads for liquor companies even though he didn’t drink. He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955 and was featured in a three-part series.

His most uncomfortable assignment was modeling Jantzen bathing suits. They paid more in one day than he got in a whole month of lifeguarding, so he put up with the embarrassment. He did

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several shoots with Frank Gifford (NFL MVP), Bob Cousy (NBA MVP) and Ken Venturi (golfer).

Art wondered why they picked him alongside these sports giants, though he did believe spearfishing combined the best of many sports. It required strength and coordination, involved body contact with 300-pound fish, had danger and excitement—all set against a backdrop of unimaginable beauty.

In later life, Art became a pilot, a professional captain and a business owner, and he never stopped Above: Even later in spearfishing. I had life, Art Pinder could the honor of diving capture fish like a with him in his 20-year-old. Photo by sunset years, when Chad Carney. he could still capture Left: Art Pinder fish like a 20-yearappeared on the cover old. Art passed away of Sports Illustrated in 2014 at the age of in 1955.

84 and is survived by his loving wife, Alice. Rest in peace, Art. Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter, and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.

For more Sheri Daye, go to

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S

ome people don’t go fishing when it’s cold. That’s a huge mistake. Some of my most memorable days on the water have come this time of the year.

If you outfit yourself properly, it will increase your winter fishing success astronomically.

The Proper Gear First, dress properly. Layers are important, but don’t bulk up so much that it affects your mobility. I start with thermals, both the shirt and pants. My next layer is jeans and a thick hooded sweatshirt. I sometimes add a fleece jacket and then put on an outer-layer suit. You want a suit that blocks the wind and is waterproof. There are a lot of good Gore-Tex suits on the market.

Headgear is also important.

A fleece beanie and a neck gaiter make all the difference. A good pair of thick socks, boots and a pair of gloves, and you will be good to go. Last winter, a friend and I went fishing when it was 12 degrees.

We caught 19 smallmouth. It was

cold, but we were dressed properly and had the lake to ourselves.

Use Proper Equipment Fishing tackle needs to be finetuned for winter. First, I use Winn grips on all the rods I build. Most gloves have a sticky grip material on the palms. When that material meets the Winn material, it gives you unbelievable grip on your rod; it does the same for bare hands.

Winn also has a new product called Winn Reel Sleeves. They are made of the same great grip material and slide over the handles of your reel. When it comes to finicky fish in the winter, you can’t afford for your hand to slip off the reel for a split second. I will have Reel Sleeves on every reel I own for the 2018 season.

Check out all the Winn products and custom rod building materials at www.mudhole.com.

Winter is a great time to learn how to build your own rods for 2018.

Get more tips from Lester at

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FISH & FISHING 22

Words Of Wisdom MARK SOSIN

D

id you ever wonder how leading charter captains produce consistent catches on a daily basis in heavily fished waters. I asked a long-time friend of mine who chartered for years out of a center console, and I think you’ll find his answer of interest. By the way, his methods can be adapted to any segment of coastline and a wide variety of species.

Success centers on three primary approaches. You must constantly cover the maximum amount of water with your baits.

They must be fished in a totally natural manner. And, baits must be kept in the productive zone or proper depth as long as possible. One way of doing this is to fish two or three baits from a kite or two kites.

By using small weights in a corner of each kite, you can keep them spread so that they do not tangle in the air. For the starboard kite, the weight goes in the upper right hand corner and just the opposite for the port kite.

Assuming the seas are moderate, start by positioning upwind from the spot you want to fish. By working the engines between neutral and reverse, you can back into the wind when necessary to keep the boat at a predetermined depth. This allows the baits to hang directly below the kites and look natural. Currents will push the boat over new areas. While the kites are flying, this skipper streams a couple of flat lines 50 to 125 feet from the boat. Finally, he works two more lines, one at a depth of 50 feet and the second at a depth of 75 or 80 feet.

Rougher seas dictate the use of sea anchors and they also make sense when maintaining a specific depth is not paramount. A single sea anchor tied off midships will keep the boat broadside to the wind or current. One off the bow and a second off the stern is an even better setup. At times, this captain will drag a frozen block of chum in a mesh bag in front of one or two of the baits. All this is a lot of work, but you are covering close to 100 yards of water from

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a depth of 100 feet to the surface, and this approach can produce strikes when many anglers go fishless.

Weekenders often wonder why professional skippers succeed day after day, even with boats all around them. Some observers simply suggest that regulars know the spots. That’s partially true, but there is much more to the total package. It takes continuous effort to tend all those rods, monitor conditions, and handle the boat all at the same time. You can certainly get by with less, but in the tradeoff, you can expect fewer fish.

Whether you decide to follow this method, modify this skipper’s approaches to your needs, or you decide you really don’t want to work that hard, you can’t overlook the obvious. Aggressive anglers catch more fish consistently, even when Lady Luck isn’t sitting on their shoulders.

For more about artifical lures with Mark Sosin, visit

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At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

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SUZUKI MAKES IT EASY AS

1-2-3

1.

Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.

2.

SEL

These are limited time offers.

See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

N SO S NG ARD AVI TBO T S I OU TANUZUK INSECT S

Instant Savings of up to $800 on select models.

See your dealer for details.

3.

Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*

REPOWER FINANCE

Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/18 and 03/31/18 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska.

Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase.

If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/18 and 03/31/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate form at time of sale. Instant Savings will be applied against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account). There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 01/01/18 and 03/31/18. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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