GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE EDITION
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Outdoor Apparel Review
Preview The Bassmaster Classic PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGLERS INN INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 23 • ISSUE 289
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A V A I L A B L E
MARCH 2019
W O R L D W I D E
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Giveaways Everyday for the Month of March
31 Days of
Apparel
Giveaway
Winners will be announced daily throughout the month of March 2019 via Social Media
CoastalAnglerMag.com/Contest COMMON CVRS_0319.indd 2
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Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates. Annual premium for a basic liability policy not available all states. Prices vary based on how you buy. CANGL_NAT3-NAT32.indd 3
There’s a reason they say, Curse like a sailor. That’s why we offer basic plans starting at $100 a year and options with On-Water Towing. 1.800.PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM I MARCH 2019
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Bimini Bay Sets A New Standard With BloodGuard Apparel By CAM Staff
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Bay an industry leader in today’s outdoor apparel industry. Always in the forefront of new fabric technology, Bimini Bay has also been a manufacturing leader in creating moisture management systems. Their shirts are engineered to keep the body comfortable and dry by drawing moisture to the fabric’s surface (wicking) where it can quickly evaporate. Now, with the introduction of their BloodGuard line, they have set a new standard in the industry. Try one of these new BloodGuard shirts for yourself. Blood washes right off with only water. No more bringing detergents or peroxide on the boat or dock to spare your favorite fishing shirt. Designed and tested in the field with real anglers, this new line of outdoor apparel is destined to set a new standard in the industry.
For more information on this exicting new line of outdoor apparel visit www.biminibayoutfitters.com. Check out BloodGuard in action in a video at https:// www.bloodguard.org/.
AFTER
Before
rom the offshore fishing boats of the Florida Keys to the mountains of upstate New York, Bimini Bay clothing has long been known as the first choice of the active sportsman. Their rugged line of men’s and women’s clothing combines functional outdoor styling with today’s latest technical fabrics. Now, through a patented nano technology process, Bimini Bay introduces a major breakthrough in outdoor apparel. Their new BloodGuard apparel line is nothing short of amazing. Blood and grime effortlessly rinses away. Powered by Nanotex, this new proprietary apparel forms a barrier against all types of blood, dirt and bio-stains. As with all their outdoor apparel, attractive pricing, attention to detail, contemporary styling and a generous fit are all part of what makes Bimini
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GET UP TO 700 OFF SELECT OUTBOARDS! $ JANUARY 3, 2019-JUNE 3, 2019, ONLY AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS
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*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive instant savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2014 and newer models, sold and delivered between January 3, 2019 and June 3, 2019 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. American Honda Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device• while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels. NATIONAL© 2019 I MARCH 2019MotorI Co., COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM
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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2019.
You own a boat because you love spending time on the water. Choose the outboard that allows you to make the most of it. Honda’s legendary reliability, durability, ease-of-maintenance, and powerful performance keep you going strong.
For over a century, a league of canned crusaders have been fighting to keep boats safe from barnacles, slime, algae and other aquatic evils that rob your boat of its true performance. With advanced know-how and unique capabilities, each antifouling is tailored to different conditions, and has the power to defeat fouling in all its forms. Micron® Extra leads the charge in all waters. Using its signature dual-protection with boosting Biolux® technology, it provides high-quality, multi-season protection that survives hauling and relaunch without the need for repainting.
For super-powered antifouling protection and proven performance, choose Interlux®.
The hero your boat deserves!
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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2019.
interlux.com
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Living The T
he origins of Salt Life are pure. With two simple words in a scrawling font, the iconic brand began as a tattoo inked on the backs of a couple of surfing fishermen in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Four hard-core watermen began grassroots promotion of the design in 2003, selling bumper stickers and T-shirts. During the humble early years, no one foresaw the eventual scope of the worldwide phenomenon they had launched. Salt Life has come to represent everything everyone loves about the ocean. At a glance, the now-familiar logo proudly displays a love of the saltwater lifestyle. Fisherman and diver Jeff Stillwell, who just happens to be president of Salt Life, said he is blessed to be part of the phenomenon. “Whatever attracts you to the water, Salt Life represents that,” he said. “If you happen to love to fish, it means fishing to you. I happen to be an avid diver. It means diving to me. If you’re a surfer, it means surfing. If you just like hanging out on the beach and enjoying a cold beverage, it means that.” No longer just T-shirts and decals, Salt Life has grown to include a huge assortment of gear and apparel. Two concepts accompany all their offerings. The first holds true to the original message, a devotion to the coastal lifestyle and its fashions. The second builds on those roots by coupling fashion with performance in gear and apparel that helps customers better enjoy water-based activities. From high-performance sunglasses, featuring the best Zeiss polarized lenses, to technical clothing for fishing, surfing, diving, paddleboarding and beach-sitting, Salt Life has you covered. Stillwell mentioned Salt Life’s new Fusion Performance Pocket Fishing Shirts as an example of innovative design that will appeal to anglers. It’s got UV30 sun protection and ventilation, and it’s got something else you won’t find on other fishing shirts. “It really came upon me sitting on the back of a boat, fishing a tournament,” Stillwell said. “Every time that reel goes off, you start looking for things. I don’t know why no one has ever done this, but we took one of these high-performance shirts and put pockets on the back of it. When that reel goes off, I don’t have to look for gloves or a pair of pliers. Whatever I need, I’ve got it right there with me. ’Cause once I get in that chair, I’m going to be there for a while.” Only an angler would recognize the need for this kind of design, and it’s this kind of innovation that has made Salt Life a lot more than just a cool logo. Stillwell said they’ve got a line of waterproof gear on the horizon, and he’s excited about the territory expansion of Salt Life Lager. Yep… Salt Life launched an easy-drinking beer to celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2018. “It goes hand-in-hand with our lifestyle,” Stillwell said. “We’re all out there on the water for a great fun-filled day in the sun, and at the end of the day our customer loves to kick back, as do I, with a nice cold beer.” But all the fun, and all the success, comes with responsibility. Without healthy oceans to play in, there would be no Salt Life. The company has joined with conservation organizations like Artificial Reefs International and Roatan Marine Park in protecting and enhancing the resources so that future generations can enjoy living the Salt Life.
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C
FE
PO EL
TH FE
TO SU
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CAMO FUSION
FEATURES THREE ALL PURPOSE POCKETS ON THE BACK WITH ELASTIC OPENINGS THE LEFT CHEST POCKET FEATURES AN ELASTIC LOOP
PERFORMANCE CLOTHING
TO SECURE YOUR SUNGLASSES
APPAREL, SUNGLASSES AND MORE AT SALTLIFE.COM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM I CANGL_NAT3-NAT32.indd 9
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APPAREL Product Reviews Fish Hippie Performance Trucker Hat Fish Hippie was created by anglers as a celebration of the lifestyle. Their water-based Performance Trucker Hats meld performance with classic styling that tops off the look of an angler dedicated to the water. With back venting of a classic trucker hat and a performance bend structure front, these hats are 100 percent polyester for breathability and quick drying. New for spring 2019, they are available in seafoam and navy. Fish Hippie truckers sport a classic look and an even better fit with snapback closure, a semi-flat bill, and designs and colors for everyone.
fishhippie.com GILLZ CoolCore Shirts GILLZ shirts are mechanically engineered with CoolCore patented fabric, offering chemical-free cooling technology that never washes out. They are lightweight, soft, durable and cool—30 percent cooler than the competition. CoolCore has changed cooling fabric technology by redesigning the actual fabric, so unlike shirts with applied chemicals that wear off with use and repeated washings, GILLZ gear stays cool and protects for the long haul. Get out on the water with GILLZ and have all of the fun and none of the sun!
gillz-gear.com Hook & Tackle Wicked Dry & Cool Hi-Performance Fishing Shirt Hook & Tackle’s new collection of Wicked Dry & Cool Hi-Performance Fishing Shirts are made of a superior soft breakthrough Micro-Poly that wicks moisture while keeping you cool. It also features quick dry, radial sleeves for expansive arm movement, odor resistance and UPF 50+ for maximum sun protection. Available in many styles from sizes XS-3XL.
hookandtackle.com Hooked Soul Performance Apparel Hooked Soul 100 percent microfiber performance apparel features SPF 50 sun protection, Pure-Tech moisture wicking technology, vibrant colors and vivid graphics. When you wear Hooked Soul, you will look cool and be cool, too. Hooked Soul produces many designs of performance wear for men and women and also T-shirts, hats and accessories like neck gaiters and gloves. To check out the full line of Hooked Soul apparel and accessories, go to www. hookedsoul.com. Hooked Soul, do you have it!
hookedsoul.com King Kracken Outdoor Clothing King Kracken Outdoor Clothing Co. offers a one-of-a-kind fishing shirt featuring hand-drawn designs and bold graphics in a breathable polyester blend that dries quickly and boasts 50+ SPF protection. King Kracken shirts are hand-stitched and come with a 100 percent guarantee and free size exchanges. From $45, they are available in men’s sizes S to 4XL and Women’s S, M and L.
KingKracken.com Kluch Geo Marlin Collection Check out the latest collection from Kluch Apparel. Introducing the Geo Marlin collection represented by animals escaping out of their geometric forms. This series encourages us to “unleash the beast” within ourselves, to be risk takers, wild, free and adventurous.
kluch.com
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APPAREL Product Reviews Bimini Bay BloodGuard Shirt Fishing involves a lot of dirt, bait, blood, scales and guts. Realizing the inherent messy nature of the sport, Bimini Bay has introduced new BloodGuard technology that will keep your favorite fishing apparel looking sharp no matter how good—and gory—it gets on the water. Developed with Nanotex, a provider of textile solutions for military and medical applications, BloodGuard repels all types of stains, especially blood and guts. Bimini Bay is so confident in its BloodGuard technology that it has offered a one-year limited warranty against stains on a wide range of performance fishing clothing equipped with BloodGuard.
biminibayclothing.com Old Guys Rule Old Guys Rule introduces their five design offerings for the angler. Their 100 percent cotton tees in short or long sleeve make the perfect statement for the over-40 crowd. Once considered to be primarily related to the surfing industry, Old Guys Rule now covers a complete gamut of recreational pursuits. Be the first angler on the dock making the iconic statement, “Old Guys Rule.” For more information, visit http://oldguysrule.fishing or call 866-465-9640.
oldguysrule.fishing
Poncho: “The World’s Best Fishing Shirt.” Poncho is a new company that makes just one thing: a fishing shirt. We like that focus. Poncho calls their shirt “The World’s Best Fishing Shirt.” We’re impressed with the fast-drying fabric and innovative magnetic pocket flaps, which you can easily open with one hand. Smart details like a built-in eyeglass cleaner, slot to hang your sunglasses, roll-up sleeve tabs, and hidden zipper pocket will make anglers happy. They even go the extra mile by offering both relaxed and slim sizes. Poncho founder Clay Spencer grew up fishing the humid Texas coast. He’s also a former Alaskan fly fishing guide, so he knows a thing or two about extreme conditions. Clay said, “I made the Poncho shirt for guys who are serious about being comfortable on the water and don’t want a bunch of gimmicks. I cut the velcro, loops and baggy pockets. This shirt is made to have everything you need—and nothing you don’t.” Get a free hat with purchase of a shirt with code COASTALMAG. For more information, visit www. ponchooutdoors.com or contact Clay at clay@ponchooutdoors.com.
ponchooutdoors.com
Realtree Fishing Men’s 1/4 Zip Wind Shirt The Realtree Fishing Men’s 1/4 Zip Wind Shirt provides anglers with unique colors suited for a variety of freshwater and saltwater adventures. Making use of the the new Realtree Fishing Pattern, all styles come equipped with sun protection SPF30 and moisture-wicking dry-weave ventilated fabric for increased breathability to make sure you’re cool, comfortable and protected throughout your time on the water. You can find these shirts in a variety of fishing and outdoor retailers as well as on the Realtree e-comm store.
realtree.com
Salt Life Fusion Performance Pocket Fishing Tee The Salt Life CAMO Fusion SLX UVapor performance long sleeve pocket tee features a sublimation printed all over graphic. This shirt features three all purpose pockets on the back with elastic openings to secure small items like fishing gloves and leaders within easy reach. The left chest pocket features an elastic loop to secure your sunglasses. This tee is made from 88 percent polyester, 12 percent spandex and treated for UV30 sun protection. Anti-microbial, mega soft, ultra light quick reaction fabric provides a built-in cooling and ventilation system. Machine washable for easy care!
saltlife.com
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THE STRONGEST SPINFISHER YET!!! The 6th generation Spinfisher is now stronger and more water resistant than ever. With machined CNC gearing and an IPX5 water resistant rating, the newest Spinfisher is ready for anything.
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© 2019 PENN is a registered trademark of Pure Fishing, Inc.
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Hook & Tackle Celebrates
30 Years
PERFORMANCE FISHING SHIRT
E
stablished in 1989, Hook & Tackle Outfitters is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary! It offers the largest selection of quality, high-performance sport fishing and marine lifestyle apparel line in the industry. Hook & Tackle is preferred by captains, top pros and fishing tournaments worldwide. The line offers innovative performance shorts, T-shirts, hoodies, button-up shirts, hats, jackets, backpacks and much more. Hook & Tackle was the first company to introduce sun-protection apparel to the industry. By introducing Solar System technology, they were able to offer UPF 50+ on a soft micro-cotton collection of T-shirts, including odor resistance and super quick dry. The company followed this up with the new breakthrough Wicked Dry & Cool, Fish Flex and the latest Cool Touch collections offering a super-stretch polyester that wicks moisture while keeping you cool. With some of the most innovative graphics in the industry, Hook & Tackle has taken it to a new level. Hook & Tackle also offers the largest collection of super high quality graphic straw hats that offer anti-bacterial and anti-odor. Also well known for their shorts collection, Hook & Tackle features the popular Hi-Tide fishing shorts with soft, yet durable four-way stretch and plier pockets as well the world famous high-performance Beer Can island shorts. Hook & Tackle is very philanthropic, working with many charities including the Miami Dolphins Foundation for more than 22 years. The foundation helps the community and gives inner-city children the chance to go out on a boats to fish and experience what life has to offer. “Many of these children live in Miami, but have never seen the ocean,” said Stan Rudman, an owner of the company. “It truly broke my heart, but also made me happy to see their faces, especially when I was able to introduce these kids to NFL players and they spent time together fishing and inspiring each other.” For more information, visit hookandtackle.com and follow them all over @hookandtackle. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Take a
ROD BUILDING CLASS
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Unforgettable Adventures.
Feel-Good Savings. Heed the call of adventure with great insurance coverage. Boat insurance serviced by the boating experts. Get a fast, free quote today.
geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. In the state of CA, program provided through Boat Association Insurance Services, license #0H87086. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO
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Gillz Apparel –
By Anglers For Anglers
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illz was started by a passionate angler, an angler driven by the need for one thing—performance. It’s evident in the style and quality of the Gillz brand. Started back in 2009, the idea was to design the perfect fishing shirt that would be lightweight, soft, comfortable and protective. This led to the first innovation – Cross Breeze Ventilation, which consisted of mesh panels under the arms and down the sides of the body. This allowed airflow through and under the shirt, making it even cooler and more comfortable. Other innovations followed, like a vented mask with “gills” for ventilation. This radical mask design offered unparalleled cooling and comfort. The technological innovations kept coming, and Gillz introduced CoolCore technology. CoolCore is a redesign of the actual structure of the fabric to make it cooler. Unlike most companies that simply apply a chemical to their fabric, which can wear off after repeated use and washings, CoolCore is a natural, chemical-free way to cool—up to 30 percent cooler than competitors. In addition, Gillz shirts are non-clinging and non-saturating. They wick sweat away from the body and offer UPF+50 sun protection. Gillz is designed for the passionate angler, the recreational fisherman, or anyone who lives an active outdoor lifestyle. The brand has grown from one innovative fishing shirt to a full apparel line. From tees, to high-performance shirts, to hats, to masks, sunglasses and hoodies, Gillz makes gear for every condition. Designs and patterns are constantly being updated, but the focus on performance is always a constant. Gillz considers making the most comfortable fishing shirt in the world an ongoing process, so innovation will always be of paramount importance. Gillz has come a long way from just making a simple fishing shirt. For more information, visit gillz-gear.com.
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Be Sure To Get Towing Before You Get Going
Once you’ve been stranded on the water, you’ll never leave the dock without TowBoatU.S. again. With 300+ ports and 600+ boats, plus the ease of using the BoatU.S. App to call for assistance, it’s a service no boater should be without.
GET THE BOATU.S. APP FOR ONE-TOUCH TOWING UNLIMITED TOWING MEMBERSHIP
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*Details of services provided can be found online at BoatUS.com/AgreeTowBoatU.S. is not a rescue service. In an emergency situation, you must contact the Coast Guard or a government agency immediately.
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Center sp A Badge of Honor
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ld Guys Rule was created to embrace a new breed of guys who have incredible energy, passion for life, wisdom gained from years of experience and the time to spend doing the activities they enjoy. Old Guys Rule gear should be worn as a badge of honor for a life well-spent, but not nearly over. Let’s face it, in today’s society if you’re over 40, you’re considered old. Old Guys Rule makes the statement: “So what?” We’re still having fun, still doing what we enjoy and, oh by the way, we’re in control. Don’t let the rest of the world try to tell you anything different. Old guys rule! Founder Don Craig brought the Old Guys Rule concept to the California surfing community in 2003. Its popularity quickly spread to include numerous genres and recreational pursuits. Now anglers can make their statement as well through a series of nine angler-themed shirts including bass, mahi, tuna and marlin. No matter where or how you fish, let the world know “You Rule.” For more information on Old Guys Rule offerings, visit http://oldguysrule.fishing or call 866-465-9640.
•
For the Guy Who Defies the Odds!
Our unique shirt design is NOT for the man who has given up on life. Our guy keeps looking better and better with age and embraces a life well-spent, but not nearly over.
• •
The Perfect Gift for Your Old Guy!
Whether it’s your husband, dad, grandpa, uncle or good friend, this is by far the ultimate gift for them.
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Quality T-Shirt for Quality Men
Made of 100% imported cotton blend that runs true to size, this premium shirt can be machine washed and tumbled dry medium. Do not iron the design.
Availability
T-shirts, caps and other accessories are available at better surf and resort shops along the East Coast. Dealer inquiries invited. Products also available online.
866-465-9640 www.oldguysrule.fishing
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Airline_CoastalAnglerAd_3-2016_Layout 1 3/18/16 1:07 PM Page 1 SOUTHEAST
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Cardinal Logistics Management Inc. More Home Time Means More Fishing Time
COMPANY DRIVERS & OWNER OPERATORS WANTED. Positions available throughout the US • • •
Home daily or multiple times per week Competitive pay Full benefits
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BLUE RIDGE
Fish Stocking for Trophy Bass By Greg Grimes
G
rowing fingerling bass into 8-pound trophies in three years is not only possible, it is probable with Aquatic Environmental’s (AES) secret formula. It all begins with a great plan. We start with lake design that includes superior water quality and well-thought-out fish habitat. We set up fish feeders and/or a lime and fertilization program. We then utilize our proven stocking formula that includes proper ratios of forage species to exceed client goals of accelerated and sustained bass growth. Generally, a traditional 10:1 ratio stocking is not adequate for superior growth and long-term forage for bass. That design quickly gets bass-crowded with limited forage available to over-abundant bass. AES has proven greater success with a ratio that is closer to 40:1. We begin by stocking the forage base of high densities of bluegill and redear sunfish. Fathead minnows are a huge boost for the initial stocking and take pressure off bluegill predation. We also stock
Lake Construction
golden shiners and crawfish for additional forage. A key species in larger lakes is threadfin shad. They really build up some biomass in a fertile lake. Once forage is established, low densities of bass fingerlings are introduced. In the following years, the addition of rainbow trout in the winter months will keep pushing bass weight limits. If double-digit bass weights are the ultimate goal, the addition of gizzard shad in year three will seal the deal. This larger prey species is key for large bass to maximize energy efficiency. Genetics is another factor. Three options are northern, Florida and F1 largemouth bass. Northerns are aggressive but top-out around 8 pounds. Florida bass reach true giant status, but they are harder to catch and cannot tolerate severe cold. F1 bass are a mix of the two and are outstanding in many ponds. We help clients decide their goals but may mix F1 and Floridas for abundant double-digit bass and increased chances of 15-plus-pound trophies. In an existing lake, the first step is a professional electroshock survey. Pending the results, there are several management steps to take. You will want to add forage unless your bass are growing beyond expectations, which is rare. We prefer bluegill stocking if middle-size bluegill populations are low. Secondly, threadfin should be stocked if they have not yet been established. If results show lots of big bass, it is time to stock gizzard shad. The most cost-effective plan for a high-protein food source is the addition of crawfish. Adding rainbow trout that are half the length of most bass will also really boost bass growth. In the hot summer months add in goldfish as a slow, plump, easy-to-eat bass meal. We are firm believers in the saying “plan your work, then work your plan.” Growing lots of giant bass requires a great plan, and if you stick to it the results will follow. Don’t waste time or money adding random fish to your pond. Utilizing the latest research will maximize dollars and results. Greg Grimes, of Aquatic Environmental Services, Inc., can be contacted at (770) 735-3523. Check them out at www.lakework.com.
Fishery Management
Electrofishing Surveys
Your Lake Deserves the Best
Fifty Years Experience • Leaders in Lake Design and Permitting Founding Member of Society of Lake Management Professionals Trophy Stocking Plans Based on Years of Expereience • Fully Licensed and Insured COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Best Baits For Spring Bassin’ W By Jay Striker hat do a frog, a dog and a Red Eye Shad have in common? They are all made for spring fishing. One of the things I enjoy most about early spring is knowing the potential exists to catch a huge bag of fish. However, early spring can humble some of the very best anglers. Why? Because springtime fishing can sometimes have you committing to false positives. I’ll explain a bit later. Using the baits that will get you a limit quicker is one key to success. The baits I use in the springtime are tried-and-true lures. If I could only take three baits in the spring, they would be a Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait, a Strike King Top Water Sexy Dawg and a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog. There will be times when locating fish will take a lot of time. When there’s a need to cover a lot of water, a Strike King gold and black Red Eye Shad is the ticket. The Southeast’s clear, deep lakes require long
casts because the fish can be easily spooked. A lipless crankbait allows for that. More importantly, it is very efficient in covering water. I like using a lipless crankbait around grass bottom areas where I can rip it from the top and then let it flutter back down. Fish tend to hit it on the fall shortly after tearing it out of the grass. Another spring staple is the KVD Sexy
Dawg Topwater bait. This bait also covers a lot of water and is great for targeting fish that show themselves by feeding on top early in the morning. The key to this bait is to keep it moving even if fish blow up on it and miss it. Many times you need to fish every level of the water column before leaving an area. If you catch a fish and don’t explore the rest of the water column, you might end up with a false positive. Just because you catch one fish doesn’t mean you’ve found a pattern that can be counted on. Delve a little deeper, and you might discover you’ve overlooked the predominant pattern because you thought you had something figured out. Frogs are another bait that tend to produce this time of year. I throw a Strike King Sexy Frog around cover, where there is brush hanging over the water and around rocks, docks or just a big open grass mat. There is just something about a frog a bass cannot stand. Spring offers the opportunity for some of the biggest bass of the year. Learn to fish these three baits effectively, and there’s a good chance you’ll haul a heavy sack of fish to the stage. Follow Jay Striker on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Check out his website at www.jaystriker.com.
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MARCH 2019 l GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
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LAKE HIWASSEE
Wicked Striper Fishing on Lake Hiwassee
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By Shane Goebel
n like a lion, out like a lamb. This ole folklore is so true for the Western North Carolina mountains. As early spring approaches and brings with it hard to predict weather patterns, one thing is sure to be consistent, and that is that the striper fishing will keep getting better on Lake Hiwassee. For us, March has always been an awesome month for catching some huge striped bass. Especially on some lite tackle. There’s nothing more exciting than reeling a 30 pound striper on an ultra-lite rod. Currently, Lake Hiwassee is 38 feet below full pool. Water temperatures have been in the high 40’s to low 50’s. Water clarity is clear in the main lake and just slightly stained in the backs of creeks. Striper fishing has been super out here lately. We’ve had a very successful February. Most of the stripers we are catching have been in the 20 to 35 pound range, and we’re catching a ton of them too. As for techniques, continue the same as previous months. Pulling planer boards and free lines with live herring and gizzard shad in the mouths and backs of creeks. As you’re trolling, it’s always a good idea to work the banks by casting a Zara Spook or a Red Fin. This pattern should continue for the next month or so and increase as the stripers start their pre-
spawn. With pre-spawn in mind, more and more stripers will start to stage in the mouths of creeks before heading back in to very shallow water. The smallmouth and spotted bass bite has been extremely good. We are catching some very nice smallmouth and spots in the 4-5 lb. range and in large quantities. We are at least averaging 20 to 30 smallmouth and spotted bass a trip. Several largemouth in the 8 to 10 pound range have been caught as well. These spotted bass and smallmouth have been schooling up on points and shallow areas around the lake. Down-lining live bluebacks has been the best technique for catching a slew of these great bass in 15-25 feet of water. For the shallow water, early morning bite, keep a jerk bait, a Flex-It spoon, or a fluke on hand to work the banks and points. March is a fantastic month for catching a lot of stripers and smallmouth on this Western North Carolina lake. Give Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service a call and let the area’s #1-rated guide service put you on some of Lake Hiwassee’s best trophy stripers during the fishing trip of a lifetime. We are Murphy, NC’s premier full-time guide service, specializing in striped and hybrid bass. We also serve Lakes Nottely and Chatuge (in North Carolina), and Lake Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge,
GA. And for all your live bait and tackle needs, check out Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA. They carry everything you need for a successful day of fishing and have the best live herring around. So, come fish with the pros for the opportunity to be featured in Angler Magazine, and let us help you get your fish on! Shane Goebel is the Owner of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service and a member of The Angler Fishing Team. Contact him at www.bigolfish. com or (828) 361-2021 / 1-(844)-4-ANGLER
SMSS has all the essentials for hunting, target shooting, home defense, reloading and more Call for date & time of monthly concealed carry class. 53 Peachtree St, Murphy, NC • 828-837-7677 Beside the Courthouse
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Early Spring Fly Fishing By David Hulsey
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arly spring in the Southern Appalachians is transition time. The shifting movement of the weather patterns and the amount of sunlight warming the landscape can produce some nice and not so nice days on the river. March can be seventy and sunny or twenty and blowing snow. The move from winter to warmer days triggers the first big bug hatches of the year. By big bug I mean size, not numbers. The Large Black Caddis hatches have all but disappeared and the large Quill Gordon and March Brown mayflies start their flights on our streams here in North Georgia and North Carolina. It’s no longer imperative to dredge the bottom of the deepest pools in order to
score a few frisky trout. After a couple of consistent days of size 12 and 14 big fat mayflies bouncing around, the trout will know what’s up, so to speak. A Parachute Adams size 12 will do the deed for the Gordons and a classic Catskill March Brown size 14 will work for the latter. Warm rainy sprinkles can also bring out Blue Winged Olives in droves. They are usually tiny but a size 18 Parachute BWO is usually small enough to get a picky Brown Trout to eat. Our Delayed Harvest streams in both states will be rocking right now with fresh uneducated fish being stocked in large numbers. This is probably the absolute best time to get a beginning trout angler on the stream and
expect some action. A Y2K Bug on the end of a 7.5 foot 4x leader is about all you need to get a few hook-ups. Drop a size 14 Pheasant Tail or Prince nymph off of that on some 5x tippet and you will probably get tired of catching fish (if there is such a thing). Easy Dry/Dropper fishing will also be getting good with a high floating Black or Royal Stimulator and a Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear swung under that. Fishing pressure won’t really start to play too much of a role in making the fishing tough until April. Private water such as Noontootla Creek Farms will be pro-
ducing some giants at this time of year so be sure to book a day on the water on the most amazing piece of trout water in the Southeast. Spring is also a great time to take the first step into learning how to fly fish. Check out the Hulsey Fly Fishing School at NCF (770-639-4001) as we can make you confident enough in your abilities to tackle any trout water out there. There isn’t a more beautiful place to be in the early spring than here in the mountains; so get out and enjoy, after all it only comes around one time a year!
Give David a call to book a class or trophy trout guide trip at Noontootla Creek Farms. We can make learning to fly fish easy and fun! You can make the switch
Lake Chatuge Hybrids and Spots
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ard winter has held off thus far, and we’ve seen some unseasonably warm days. This has led to some great winter fishing on Lake Chatuge this season. Remember to book your trips now for this spring because we are booking up quickly. We guarantee you’ll have the fishing trip of a lifetime with us, and the spring is an excellent time to hit the water for some nice hybrids and spots. Currently, the water temps
By Darren Hughes
are in the mid to upper 40’s. Lake water levels are slowly on the rise due to the recent rains and are presently around 6 feet below full pool. Clarity is clear to stained in the creeks. The spotted bass bite has been really good for this time of year, and we’re seeing an awesome early morning to midday down line bite. We’re still averaging about 20 to 30 spots a morning out here. Live blueback herring has been the key here. Top water has been
decent and should pick up in the next few months. Look for these fish to be holding off points and ledges off the main channel. We’ve also seen some nice schools of bass on shallow flats throughout the lake. Look for these spots to really fire up in the up-coming months. Last year we had several, 50 plus fish days. Remember while fishing in the spring, these bass are bedding so try to quickly get them back in to the water. Preserving the quality of the bass will ensure years of great fishing on this lake. Our hybrid bass bite has also been fantastic, with early morning being the best time to target these fish. Pulling planer boards and free-lining live bluebacks and shad have been the best techniques. We have also been catching some nice fish in the 10 to 13 pound range in the backs of creeks
and off some sloping points. February fishing on Lake Chatuge is always exciting. Remember, live bait on this lake can be the difference between a successful day of fishing and a horrid one. For all of your bait and tackle needs, come visit us at Hughes General Store in Blairsville, GA-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-fromscratch biscuits in North GA. For guided fishing trips on Lakes Chatuge, Hiwassee, or Nottely, or questions about the bait shop, call me, 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 a member of The Angler Magazine Fishing Team 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 4 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
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Early Spring Forecast on Hiwassee & Chatuge
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By Aaron Kephart
hile there is still some winter weather to be endured, there have definitely been some hints of spring lately, and with that comes the excitement of a change in seasons and fish behavior. Please don’t get me wrong: this has been a wonderful winter for myself and my clients, and we have caught some awesome fish. Trophy stripers, smallmouth, spotted bass, largemouth, and giant brown trout have all made an appearance in the red boat, and I have been blessed to see a lot of happy, but bundled up, faces. Personally, I am ready for the kind of weather that requires fewer layers, and with that in mind, I would like to look at what to expect over the next couple of months. My primary species of interest in the spring months are stripers and spotted bass, followed by largemouth and walleye. The stripers will be feeding, often aggressively, and this is THE single best time of year to catch a monster. Primary methods for big stripers this time of year are planer boards, big bait (gizzards, trout, and jumbo herring), and heavy line. There is also often a schooling bite this time of year, which translates to an awesome topwater bite. However, these fish, while not necessarily in shallow water, will be feeding shallow (by that, I mean feeding in the top part of the water column), and therefore,
they are more accessible to light line tactics than at any other time of the year. My absolute favorite way to catch these fish is on spinning rigs, rigged weightless, and simply pitching to fish holding areas. Nothing in freshwater compares to the pull of a striper on a light spinning outfit. Largemouth and spotted bass, meanwhile, are both thinking about gorging themselves for the upcoming spawn. They have been lethargic and difficult all winter, but a couple of good warming trends completely changes their mindset. They will follow creek channels and ditches to likely pieces of cover and secondary points adjacent to spawning flats. This is the time of year to catch the biggest spot or largemouth of your life, and depending upon conditions, a number of methods can work. Walleye are the single most difficult fish to pattern in any of our area lakes, and because of that deserve their own article. I will say that March and May are traditionally the two best months to catch them, and if you are interested in giving them a try, please just give me a call and we can have a more in-depth conversation than I have space for here. While the recent warming trends may have me jumping the gun and declaring winter prematurely over, I do know that there is more warm weather in the
immediate future than cold, and I am excited. I love it when the warm afternoons start bringing up the water temperature and fish go on the prowl, looking for another big meal before they undergo their annual spawning ritual.
If you would like to get out on the water and experience everything that one of our Murphy area lakes has to offer please give me a call at 865-466-1345. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for reading The Angler Magazine!
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 or by email at mtnlakesguide@outlook.com Check out his website at http://www.mtnlakesguideservice.com and catch him on facebook@mountainlakesguideservice
Murphy North Carolina’s
premier trophy smallmouth and spotted bass guide service
Mountain Lakes Guide Service
Hiwassee - Apalachia - Chatuge Aaron Kephart 865-466-1345 mtnlakesguide@outlook.com
Crappie, Trophy Trout, Stripers, and more available COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
MARCH 2019
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Nantahala Getting Ready to Heat Up By Ken Kastorff
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pring is just around the corner and after a relatively mild winter of great trout fishing, delayed harvest streams will be restocked at the beginning of March, April and May. Anglers can check the North Carolina Wildlife website to check on the stocking dates for all of the DH sections of rivers here in North Carolina. For those anglers looking to find quality trout fishing escapes with more solitude, head into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and fish the upper reaches of Deep Creek or boat into Noland Creek, Forney Creek, Hazel Creek or Eagle Creek on Lake Fontana. These are just a few of the 800+ miles of wild trout waters available to the trout angler not afraid to do some hiking. There is one other exceptional river to check out for quality trout fishing in our area, and that is the Nantahala River. The three mile Bypass section of the Nantahala was the first DH section that was initiated in North Carolina and is still one of the best wade fishing streams available. Wayah road follows the river here, making it easy to access the river. The tailwater section of the Nantahala River is eight miles long and starts in Macon County, below the powerhouse, and ends at Lake Fontana in Swain County. The river here drops almost 30 feet per mile, which is much more than most tailwater streams. If you are planning to fish it during a generation period, definitely remember your supply of split shot or tie some special weighted flies. This is nymph-fishing paradise. It is challenging to fish the Nantahala during power generation releases unless you do a float trip via raft or driftboat. This is by far my favorite guide trip as it gives me an opportunity to show both new and experienced fly anglers different techniques on how to fish this unique kind of river. The
consistent, 50-degree year round water temperatures makes the Nantahala River the best summer trout fishery in the area as well and has been referred to as one of the top 100 trout steams in the United States. The only month that is not open to fishing is March. It has a great population of both native and stocked rainbows and browns with a population nearing thousands of trout per mile. Two state record brown trout have come from its waters. Three years ago, a guest caught a brown trout that would have easily been another state record if we had kept and registered the fish. This 34 inch beautiful female brown was returned to the river and I hope she will produce many more just like her. The Nantahala River has a fixed release schedule for each day of the week. Normally, early mornings and late afternoon/evening, river levels are perfect to wade fish. On normal days, depending on the time of the year, Duke Energy will be releasing water from the Nantahala Power Plant from 10:00 AM through 3:00 PM starting in March and 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM during the summer months. When generating, the river normally will have too much flow in it for most anglers to wade safely but this is prime fishing time! Typically, more fish and bigger fish are caught during the power generation releases. Hands down, the best way to fish the river at that time is to do a float trip, which gives the angler the opportunity to fish the entire eight miles of the tailrace section. There are Forest Service licensed outfitters that offer float trips on the Nantahala River. Outfitters must have a permit in order to legally offer float trips on the Nantahala River. This helps ensure there are not too many boats fishing the river on a given day, thus providing a much better quality trip for guests. Guides also have to have a
minimum number of trips on the river and must have first aid, CPR training, and carry insurance. While the Nantahala is a popular rafting river during the summer months, don’t let that discourage you, with a good guide at the oars, you will not have any trouble catching a memorable day’s worth of beautiful rainbows including
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the occasional monster brown. The trout are so accustomed to the river traffic that it is not unusual to catch fish out from under a passing raft; nor is it unusual to have a morning of great nymph fishing and follow up with an afternoon of outstanding dry fly fishing. Book your trip early if you plan to do a float trip. Tight lines.
Ken Kastorff is a Guide and the Owner of Endless River Adventures. To book a guided trip near The Nantahala Gorge or the Cheoah River, give him a call at 1-(800) 224-7238 or look him up at www.nantahalariverflyfishing.com.
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Simplify, Diversify, and Organize
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hen I sit down to write these articles I often look first at my archived pictures to jog my memory of what happened this time over the last couple of years. It reminds me there are definitely seasonal patterns but it also reveals there is a ton of diversity in success rates, weather conditions, cooperating species and techniques. I use this time of year to sort of clean up my act, things like boat and trailer maintenance, rod and reel servicing and as always, acquisition of anything new that strikes my fancy and promises to be this year’s secret weapon. What came to mind today was that almost every picture I looked at had some different aspect to contend with, from which I concluded that to catch consistently,
By Captain James McManus
you must be prepared for every scenario. I bought a “new to me” Ranger Bay boat a couple of years back and it has a lot more storage space than my previous boat. What I have done since owning it is fill every possible cavity with whatever I could shove into the space. It had gotten to the point that even though I knew I had what I needed to change tactics, I couldn’t put my hands on it. So the other day, I took everything out of every compartment. That was a trick in itself because the deck of the boat was triple stacked with coats, anchors, tackle boxes, oxygen tanks, trailer parts, extra bilge pumps, you name it, I had it. The question is that if I had been in an emergency, would the ship have gone down while I was trying to put my hands on the extra pump? Even more common was the question of if the fish were not biting a chartreuse jig and fluke would a perch crankbait do the trick? Ever ything being equal, the jig and fluke is my go to bait at Fontana. I would rather throw and feel that little bait walk down the steep banks
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and feel that little TICK that means you had better set the hook, than any other presentation or system there is. The “biggie” is that while that works most days, sometimes you have to change it up. There are windy days where fish are holding off a point like the mouth of Forney Creek or the mouth of Hazel Creek and my little jig just won’t get down far enough to reach the fish. That’s when an ice jig or heavier spoon may come into play. To find that blue and silver ice jig or spoon in amongst five tackle boxes requires way more effort than should be necessary. An even more dire situation comes up if the wind is really howling and you need to set up to troll to get down to the fish with downriggers. I have found that pairing down the amount while still maintaining the diversity is key. I may not have every color of jig head on hand, or every weight of rod for specific situations but I do have enough of each and even
more importantly, I know where they are. There will still be times when I can’t believe I don’t have that 5 bladed A-rig, but I do try and keep a couple of 3 blade ones handy. So before you go out next, try and simplify, diversify, and organize so you will be ready to change tactics at a moments notice. The only problem now is that my boat shed bench is overloaded with everything that came out of my boat, but I feel a yard sale coming on once the weather warms, maybe I can make enough to get some of those new_______; I hear they are the new secret weapon, guaranteed to work every time. Well, have fun, be flexible and enjoy God’s gift to us in these beautiful mountain lakes, Later, Capt. James
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
Pizza on The Tuck By Tammy Millsaps
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he Swainglers had a treat for our January fishing excursion. I supplied them fresh, hot pizza! Students usually miss lunch unless they pack it and eat it on the bus. Skies were cloudy and temps were cool, so fresh, hot pizza on the riverbank was a bonus! We ventured to the River Road where the Tuckasegee River and Deep Creek connect. A few chose to fish the river while others headed to the creekside. A lone fisherman was already in the creek side when we arrived in our huge yellow taxi bus! I apologized if we invaded his spot. He said with a huge smile, “Oh no, this is a great sight to see all these young people
outside fishing!” It’s not every day you see over a dozen high school students unload from a school bus with fishing gear in hand! Aside from stuffing our faces with pizza, fish were caught too! Fish were defenseless when two diehard anglers cast into their home on the upper end of the River Road. Sophomore Nich Bishop caught a twelve-inch rainbow. He was using a Panther Martin single hook gold spinnerbait. Kinley Biggs, ninth grader, caught two trout. His tackle of choice was a Panther Martin single hook grey spinnerbait. His first fish was snagged right at the bank. Kinley describes his last catch; “I threw in a dang good current, reeled it
slow, the fish come up and it hammered it!” His advice is to “never have a bad attitude, always feel confident and it’s always a good day when you’re on the water!” We always have fun on our trips. Whether we catch or not, but this trip was extra fun and special! I went a little overboard ordering the pizza, as each student took extra pizza back with them to school. DJ, a junior and veteran of the club stated; “I came for the fish, but stayed for the pizza!” Sophomore Stefan Haymond, second year in the club,
Kinley Biggs with one of the trout he caught
explains it well; “Crystal clear water, pizza in hand and good company, makes for a good time!” and I agree!
Tammy Millsaps is the Leader of The Swainglers fishing club at Swain County High School in Bryson City, North Carolina. They fish once a month of the school year during club time. Contact her at tmillsaps@swainmail.org for more information or to support this popular club.
Artificial Verses Live Bait
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By Ronnie Parris
hether it’s trout fishing in a mountain trout stream or fishing your favorite bass lake, if you survey anglers you will undoubtedly find a wide range of baits and tactics that will probably catch fish at certain times of the year. And I’m sure each angler will be adamant that his way is the best, or the only moral way to boat a fish; this really seams to ring true with fly fishing for trout. I’ve had guys get really upset if they saw someone using live bait in a trout stream. And I’ll admit, during the warmer months, if I’m in a trout stream, I’m going to be casting a fly and if it’s wild fish, it’s probably going to be a dry fly. If I’m getting a hankering for a pan full of wild rainbows in February, you’re probably going to catch me pitching a red worm or a baby night crawler under those overhanging laurel bushes. This time of year, a trout’s metabolism slows and so does his need to feed, so he’s gonna want something he can taste and a juicy crawler fits the bill pretty good.
Now you may say if you can’t fool him with artificial then he shouldn’t be caught, but in my opinion, if the wild life biologist classifies a stream legal for using live bait, I don’t have a problem with it. The same goes for the lake- I know tournament guys that would look at you casting a live minnow like you were dropping a stick of dynamite in the water but truth is that sometimes artificial works better. I think it’s up to the state to make the rules and us, as sportsmen, to abide by them. Wintertime can be wide open bites, or dead, and a lot of this depends on the weather. I’ve had weeks where I was doing great on Repalas and Flucks to hang fish after a cold spell, or a 3 day rain, but if you didn’t put some live bait that the fish can smell and take its time to get, you were probably going home empty handed. Another scenario where I would suggest live bait is when getting kids started fishing. Nothing can turn a young person off of fishing more than taking multiple trips where they don’t
have any success. I like to at least have some crickets for a backup so if the bass or walleye aren’t hitting, I can usually find a bluegill hole so they can get some confidence and get used to getting bites and knowing when to set the hook. Always be sure to check local laws for the
stretch of water you intend to fish but don’t let someone make you feel bad if your fishing technique doesn’t go along with theirs. What’s important is spending time on the water and having fun in the outdoors. Have fun and as always, take a kid fishing.
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)
Fontana Lake Fishing Guides – Ronnie Parris, Owner & Head Guide LAKE, CREEK & RIVER FISHING • FLY FISHING • CAMPING We offer both full and half day trips with the most competitive rates available. All tackle and supplies you will need while you are on your trip is covered by our listed price.
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1012 East Alarka Road, Bryson City, NC • 828-488-9711, Cell: 828-736-9471
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ASHEVILLE / HENDERSONVILLE / BREVARD
How to Become an Accomplished Angler: “Study to be Quiet”
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By Ethan Hollifield
ow do you become a good angler? Or really, how do you become good at anything? Our perceptions and ideas of what it means to be a good angler can come in many forms. More often than not, we associate those who catch the most fish, or the biggest fish, or win the most tournaments as those who are the best in their field. This does have merit, as it takes a certain degree of skill to win something like a bass tournament or a fly-fishing competition. I’ve learned a great deal myself from some accomplished anglers in both of those pursuits, and there was one common denominator between all of them that has influenced my fishing and guiding career more than anything. They were all quiet in both their practice and their pursuit. Isaac Walton coined the line “Study to be quiet” in The Complete Angler, and ever since having read that, I cannot contemplate a more appropriate phrase to describe, well, “a complete angler.” The best anglers I have had the privilege of learning from and fishing with were all students themselves as they were teaching me. They didn’t seek praise through shallow attention on
social media or aspiring to be sponsored by every rod and lure company on the market, but rather would spend hours themselves in quiet study and reflection. I was taught by men like my great grandfather who told me, “Trout are learned about more in afterthought than in the present.” Being a good angler means being a good student. The beauty about the sport is that you are in a perpetual state of learning regardless of your skill level. The best anglers and guides I have ever met have spent hours watching fish, studying water, and reading through old maps and journals before even beginning to make a cast. Many of their names are not famous, nor do they have any real desire to be. The people who taught me how to fish have a shared desire to learn, and because of that, they are and always will be the best in my mind. Fishing is the most humbling of pursuits that I think a person can ever engage in, which is why I believe the appeal of it has haunted me for my entire life. More often than not, I’m reminded by nature, after losing to either a trophy fish or the elements, that I myself still have much to learn, and I’m thankful for those lessons and
the people who were willing and patient enough to teach me. To those who did and continue to do so, I thank you. To other anglers reading this: rather than aspiring to be the “best” fisherman, take the time to sit. Take time to reflect
on past experiences in the outdoors, and learn to listen to those who are wiser than you are when it comes to the pursuit of what I believe we all want to obtain when we’re in the outdoors: a genuine sense of peace and freedom.
Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers
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Competition & Reward
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By Wilson Love
ART 1. As I sit down to put pen to paper, two days have passed since Super Bowl LIII. I know who played but not who won. It doesn’t matter to me who won because I’m not fanatical about pro sports. In short, I don’t qualify as a “fan”. On a personal level, I’ve never entered a fishing tournament or a big buck contest. Fishing and hunting are not sports. They are much more important than any sport. Nevertheless, these time-honored pillars of our heritage have been reduced to contests for the fortune and glory of contest winners (and their sponsors). Note: before you wade into me to straighten me out about all this, just keep reading. The activity in question appears to be irrelevant. Whether singing, dancing, cooking, dating, trivia, blacksmithing, or just surviving; everything is now a competition. So it’s not enough to just be a good
solid charades player anymore, wanted as a teammate by your friends. You must work your way up through the local, state, and national charades playoffs – or nobody knows your name. We’ve gotten way too serious about ranking ourselves among ourselves. Some years ago I played a little softball in a city wide church league. The rules allowed each church’s team to field two “ringers”; players who were not church members. Every team in the league openly transgressed this rule in order to be more competitive. Last year I watched a few episodes of America’s Got Talent and really enjoyed some of the performances. As the finals approached, reports flew that hardly any of the contestants or judges were born in or live in America. Why was I surprised? Oh well, let’s face it. Most anything is okay these days if it makes for a good rowdy head banging
contest, right? Drum roll… lights up… applause… and who are you rooting for? Who indeed. Stay tuned as I attempt to bring some balance to this. But first, to state it plainly, not everyone cares who catches the biggest fish, or owns the newest truck, is the best shot at the range, or makes the most money. Competition doesn’t motivate some of us. In fact, the only person I’m competing with is me, because life isn’t about proving I’m the best; it’s about becoming the best me I can be. Part 2. The late great football coach Vince Lombardi said,
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“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. You don’t have to be a football fan to admire his level of intent and determination. Coach Lombardi produced numerous championship teams by keeping his highly talented players focused on performing the basic fundamentals of the game. And competition with other teams brought out the best in his teams. Many men are characteristically competitive and that’s a good thing because without this drive their ship would never sail. It’s the spirit of striving to win that keeps them going and brings the best out of them.
CONTINUED, SEE COMPETITION & REWARD, PAGE 17
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Tough Bites
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By Scott Norton
inter is on its way out and the bass are already on their beds in the far south, so the light at the end of the tunnel is near. The water temps have been in the lower 50”s and the days are getting warmer. Bass are in a funk even on warm days and don’t seem to want to bite at all. So how can you figure this puzzle out when all odds are against the angler. I like to start out with reaction baits such as crank baits, jerk baits, and lipless crank baits to test the temper of cold water bass. This will tell you if they are active and willing to feed or if they are shut down and not interested in anything. If they are not interested, there are a few avenues you can take to prevent leaving the day empty handed. Most anglers go straight to finesse applications but if that doesn’t work, what can you do? Go to big baits that can
be dragged on the bottom. This means they are lethargic and don’t want to chase bait. A big easy meal is what they want. Just like finesse applications, the same applies to big baits. You have to have the gear and the right big bait to throw. If bass are deep, you know you don’t want a floating or even a slow sinking bait. Select a bait that’s heavy and more than likely, it will be a rubber paddle tail 6 to 8 inches. Drag that bait on the bottom like a Carolina rig. You want to present an easy meal and this technique looks like a big easy fish that’s struggling. When bass see a meal that’s weak or dying, it kicks in an instinctual response that we all know bass are known for. The gear typically is very heavy. 7’11 to 8’ rods that can handle up to 6 ounces of weight. The action you’re looking for is a fast action, since your bait has a
single hook and you’re dragging it through muck on the bottom. You really need a good heavy reel that’s around 300 to 400 in size. It has to accommodate the line size and the weight of the bait. You’ll need 20 to 30 pounds of fluorocarbon or monofilament to get the job done. I have been seeing big fish next to rock and wood in the main lake next to the main points. Fish this pattern slow or you will pass
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some good bites. This will take lots of patience, confidence, and concentration to produce a good yield. One other thing you can try is going further south where the elevation drops. You’ll see warmer water temperatures and hungry fish in these areas but if that’s not an option, use these tactics to guide you through tough conditions . Hope this helps and remember pre-spawn is on the way.
Scott Norton is a native of Western North Carolina. Born in Asheville, NC, he is a long time avid hunter, angler, and weekend warrior. He is a member of Southern Raft Supply’s prostaff team representing them in his Jackson Kayak Coosa FD
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 15
The Natives Are Proud of This True Irish Pub
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ransylvania County, located in the western mountains of North Carolina, is proud of the wonderful fishing opportunities available. But talk to a native, and they are equally proud of the True Irish Pub located in the middle of Brevard – Dugan’s Pub. The Pub, as it is known locally, has a full bar with a large selection of Single Malt Scotch, Irish whiskies, and smooth Bourbons, as well as 20 beers on tap, featuring many local Craft Beers. They also have a full menu including several Irish dishes: from Fish and Chips to Corned Beef and Cabbage, as well as the best Corned Beef Reuben Sandwiches you have ever had. There are also astounding Burgers and terrific wings. The Pub opens at 11:30 AM, Monday through Saturday, and the kitchen is open until 10:00
PM, with a limited late night menu from 10:00 PM until close. Sundays feature Brunch from 10:30 AM until 1:00 PM, including specials on Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. Kitchen is open until 9:00 PM. Check out the calendar on the web site for dates and time of special events as well as the music schedule. From the 150 year-old barn wood and the Notre Dame memorabilia, to the authentic Irish dishes and libations, you will find the rustic atmosphere true to an Irish pub. Take a look around at the Irish treasures collected over time from visits to Ireland, antique stores, and gifts from patrons and friends alike. So, whether you end a successful fishing day with dinner and libations, or you take a midday break for lunch, enjoy this ‘wee bit of Ireland’ that Dugan’s
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has brought to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. They look forward to seeing you time and time again! Visit their web site for more information: Duganspub.com
Dugan’s Pub®, 29 W. French Broad St, Suite 101, Brevard, NC 28712 (828) 862-6527 Do dheagh slainté
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COMPETITION AND REWARD To me, competition can be good or bad, depending on the outcome you’re after. It’s like a sharp knife that can be used either to prepare food for living – or as a weapon to kill. Take any ten people who enter a fishing tournament and you could have ten different motives for doing it. One is there for the prize money; another hopes to get his mug shot in The Angler Magazine. Yet another competes to prove something to his brother/spouse/friend. And then there’s the fellow who’s out there just because he loves the whole experience and he wants to win of course, but if he wins nothing yet learns something that makes him a better angler, he still goes home happy. Now that I think on it, the folks I consider friends are probably divided about half and half as to whether or not competitive. CONCLUSION. Competition as motivator could be debated. Regardless, its footprint on world
Fly of the Month
continued from page 13
culture is huge, and it continually affects our experiences. But there is a bigger question than the value of competition: what reward do we ultimately seek? Competitive or not, we all want good things to happen at the end of the journey. And like it or not, we are rewarded one way or the other for the choices we make and the values that fostered those choices. People who would train children by rewarding them with “participation trophies” live in a fantasy land. Trophies (good rewards) are given for excellence, not for showing up. Participation is acknowledged by commendation, not with a winner’s crown. The empty handed angler understands this. In a generation where electronic media has turned wholesome competition into a three ring circus, we would be wise to consider our personal priorities. Are we more under compulsion to compete, or rather to fulfill our God given roles in life? (Revelation 22: 12)
Wilson Love is Owner/Operator of The Practical Outdoorsman.
by Eli Crumley
Blackhawk Fly Fishing, keepemwet94@gmail.com
March Brown Emerger Hook: Tiemco TMC2457 size 14/16 Thread: UTC 70 denier (color) red Tail: Pheasant Tail
Body: Hairline Dubbin (March Brown) Segmentation: Brown Micro Tubing Hackle: Hungarian Partridge
This is a great emerger pattern for March/April when the water temp starts rising. This has been one
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MARCH 2019
of my go-to flies for spring. Keep a few in your box to save the day when the fishing gets tough.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 17
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA
Winter Trout Fishing in SC
B
ack in December, a friend of mine asked me if I knew what he was getting for Christmas; I replied, “No, I don’t have a clue.” That was not entirely true however, I guess I may have told a little fib, as I actually did know at least one thing he was going to be getting- a new fly rod. My friend tends to buy most of his toys from my shop, either in the form of new knives or fly fishing gear. For that reason, it was not a strange question for him to ask about his Christmas present because there was a good chance that someone buying gifts for him would have gotten it from my shop. As it turns out, he contacted me shortly after Christmas and said that I needed to take him fishing now so he could try out
By Brandon Barber
it his new fly rod. When you are itching to play with a new outdoor toy, you will sometimes decide to do so in conditions that you normally wouldn’t be choosing to go out in. In this case, a cold weekend day in January to fly fish for trout in an Upstate SC trout stream. We knew that the water would be high from all the recent rains, and that we would possibly have to work around other anglers, being that it was the weekend. But it seems you deal with less than ideal conditions when you want to try out a new rod. We headed out early in hopes of getting to the water before anyone else. As we approached the parking area and saw no other vehicles, we figured that part of our goal was at least accom-
plished. We took a few minutes putting on our waders and boots and then rigged up our fly rods for the hike in. About a 10 minute walk through the woods got us to our destination. The river looked about as we expected, higher than usual water flow, but still relatively clear in color. Neither one of us had ever fished downstream very far from this access point so we decided to walk for a few minutes downstream to scout out some unfamiliar water. Fish in this river in the month of January can be rather few and far between so we thought maybe we could at least scout out some new water at very least. With the fish being scarce to begin with, the higher water really makes them difficult to pin
down. Our best bet to cover water and try to find one was to throw streamer pattern flies. If we found any fish by this method, we could switch to drifting nymphs in the current to catch them if they were not willing to take the streamer. As we settled into the water to fish our first section, I moved slightly upstream to fish the head of the run. My friend started about 20 yards below me, working the tail of the run. After 10 or so casts that were unproductive, we were about to make our way upstream to keep fishing but I wanted to show my friend the best technique for using the streamer fly he had tied on. I asked to borrow his rod for a second and proceeded to show him how to cast the fly as close to the opposite bank as possible,
CONTINUED, SEE WINTER TROUT, PAGE 22
Locally Owned and Operated
1398 Boiling Springs Road, Suite 1, Spartansburg, SC
864-699-9433
www.riverbladeknifeandfly.com 18 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
MARCH 2019
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MARCH 2019
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 19
Fly Fishing the Middle Saluda River South Carolina
S
By James Marsh
outh Carolina’s Middle Saluda River became the first stream in the state to be designated in the Scenic River program. The Middle Saluda River and its tributary stream, Coldspring Branch, are both included. This portion of the stream lies in the Jones Gap State Park. It is a beautiful stream and one of South Carolina’s best wild trout streams. Fly fishing the Middle Saluda River can be both fun and rewarding. The Middle Saluda River begins in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. From there it flows through two state parks, Jones Gap and Ceasars Head. The stream has both stocked and wild rainbows, browns and brook trout. There is a catch-and-release section that starts at the footbridge at the Jones Gap State park line and continues downstream to Hugh Smith Road. The upper part of the Middle Saluda River drops on a good decline and has lots of fast pocket water with some runs and a few riffles. It is mostly completely covered with a canopy of tree limbs that helps keep the water cool. The wild trout are on the small side, probably averaging only about 5 or 6 inches but they can go up to 12 inches. Access is fairly easy in the upper section of the stream but you will have to do some hiking. Jones Gap Trail follows along the stream for over five miles. The state and the Mountain
Bridge Chapter of TU arranged for the trout to be fed in the catch-and-release section of the stream, so the trout do grow large. It is managed as catch-and-release on a year round basis. Below the special section, the lower Saluda River flows to its confluence with the South Saluda River. Most of the property along the lower section is private. You can access the lower section in the town of Cleveland at the U. S. Highway 76 Bridge. This area of the stream is stocked and does get warmer in the summer.
Seasons:
The trout season follows the general South Carolina regulations except for the special regulation areas.
Spring:
Spring is the best season for fly fishing the Middle Saluda River.
Summer:
The water can get a little warm during the hot summer in the middle and lower sections but it stays well oxygenated and cool in the upper area.
Fall:
Autumn is a good time to fish the river for large holdover brown trout.
Winter:
Fishing during the winter can be good on warm days.
James Marsh is the Owner of The Perfect Fly online and catalog mail-order store. www.perfectflystore.com
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Bear Lake, A Bald Eagle and The Great Spirit By Joe Woody
I
know what you’re thinking. You’ve read the title of my story and have braced yourself for a somewhat sappy tale of spiritual awakening or Christian outreach. Just the mention of a great deity or a supreme being will just turn some people off. No worries…This is a story about Father-Daughter Time. I spent a lot of time with my Son and Daughter out in the woods just wandering around. We would talk about plants… which ones you could eat… which ones not to touch… which ones you could use for medicine. We would talk about animals, their tracks and the stories they left behind. Many times, our wanderings would involve a canoe and a body of water. If you ever want to delve into the deep inner
workings of your child’s thought processes, spend a day paddling them around a beautiful lake. Barriers come down…Imaginations expand…questions are asked and answers are given. Memories are made. On one of our excursions, my daughter, Kelsey, and I found ourselves paddling around Bear Lake in Jackson County, just outside of Cullowhee North Carolina. If you’ve never been there, make a plan and go. There’s a waterfall falling from a high cliff that will make it seem like you’re in Yellowstone. The water is crystal clear. You’ll catch Bass and Trout and Walleye from its depths. You’ll see wildlife like bear and deer on its shores. There’s a story about wild goats climbing up and down cliffs overlooking the lake.
I’ve never seen them, but I’m told they were once there. Kelsey and I spent the day paddling up to small creeks running into the lake. We talked about the trout that were undoubtedly swimming in their waters. We paddled out to a small island and climbed up its banks. We spent an hour checking out Wild Orange Daylilies. We
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located bass beds on the lake bottom. They were easy to spot in the clear water from our elevated location. However, we ran into a large number of biting flies that made us skedaddle back to our canoe. We then paddled down to the waterfall and walked the short trail to where it splashed into a large pool. We spent a half
CONTINUED, SEE BEAR LAKE, PAGE 23
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 21
What’s In Your Tackle Bag? By Capt. Cefus McRae
I
t’s around this time of year that I take a hard look at the mound of tackle bags and boxes I have in my garage and have a serious heart-to-heart chat with myself. Do I really need all this gear? The answer is usually, “sure I do”. In my own defense, I do fish both fresh and saltwater, and I fish for a variety of species from crappie to tuna. Each warrants its own category of hooks, lures, and rods. For the uninformed, it may look like I have a sporting goods store in the garage, but when you dig a little deeper, I’ve got a couple crappie rods, a few bass rods, and striper gear for freshwater and similar gear for saltwater expeditions. In pure numbers, that’s a lot of stuff. But if someone said, “you can only fish for spotted bass from now on”, that would significantly diminish my stockpiles. In reality, I probably only use about twenty percent of the tackle I have hanging around. I’m not averse to trying new tactics or tackle, but I typically fall back into using what I have confidence in. There was a time when I carried as much ‘stuff ’ on the boat as I possibly could fit in it, and I wound up spending a lot of extra time just loading and unloading gear that never came out of the
compartment on a fishing trip. A few years back, I made the active decision to carry two medium-sized tackle bags for a day on the water. Between the two, I have eight medium-sized trays, six zippered pockets and two top pouches. Believe it or not, that’s a lot of stuff. I’ve learned to work out of one or two of those trays at a time. I’ve got everything for bottom fishing in one tray, jigs in another, plastics in yet another, and so on. Now, I spend more time fishing, and less time digging through compartments for tackle that’s buried beneath other tackle that I seldom use. The net-net is I’m more efficient at re-rigging, or if I decide to change out lures or rigs, I know exactly where everything is. Like a lot of bass anglers, I
prefer to have rods pre-rigged with what I anticipate might be appropriate for the day. Now that my rod compartments are no longer over-stuffed with tackle boxes, I have the ability carry a couple of extra rods. When the conditions change or the fish decide they want something different, I don’t have to re-rig as often. Less is more, at least in my case. By limiting what I have on the boat, I believe I’ve actually become a better angler. With fewer choices, I tend to select rigs in which I have confidence,
WINTER TROUT
and I’ve learned the keys to working lures and rigging baits more effectively. The side benefits are pretty obvious too. With less stuff, it’s quicker loading and unloading gear each day, and I’m not tripping over tackle bags or other stuff on the deck. The only thing I haven’t found a solution for yet, is how to ‘downsize’ my 128-pound, four-legged buddy, Buck the Wonder Dog. Then again, he could probably say the same about me. Tight lines and calm seas.
continued from page 18
at about a 45 degree angle downstream of our position. As soon as the fly hits the water, hold the rod straight out in front of you, reaching and pointing the tip at the opposite bank. This allows the fly to swing across the strike zone and remain there in the current for a longer period of time. No sooner had I gotten the words out of my mouth of what I was doing, I saw a flash in the river near the fly and then felt the tug. “Oh, that’s a fish,” I exclaimed as I quickly handed the rod back to my friend. “No way am I going to be the one that catches the first fish on your
new rod!” As it turns out, the fish came off the hook during the exchange, but we were redeemed about 2 casts later when my friend hooked and landed his first trout on his new fly rod. For the next few hours we were fortunate to pick up about ten more fish. It was encouraging to find a fish at just about every spot in the river we felt would hold one, however after only one fish in each spot, we had to move on. The name of the game in high water in January in a South Carolina trout stream is: Cover water with streamers and keep moving.
Brandon Barber is the owner of RiverBlade Knife & Fly Shop in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 22 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
MARCH 2019
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Lake Hartwell Fishing and Marine
L
ake Hartwell Fishing and Marine is a one stop bait and tackle store. We offer 3 grades of ethanol free gas and 6 pumps for your boats, lawn equipment and other needs. Located less than a half mile away from the lake we are in a great location to come in and get everything for your day on the lake. On top of the 10 aisles full of tackle, rods and reels for stripers, bass, and crappie, we also have a full selection of cold beer, drinks, snacks and clothing. The in stock selection of live baits are green and regular night
crawlers, Red worms, small medium large minnows and up to 4 tanks of live herring. We have several striper guides who start their trips from our store, and some of them can do trips for spotted and largemouth bass also. Come in and see one of the best all-around tackle stores in the state of South Carolina. Call (864)287-9782 for any other question and availability of bait.
BEAR LAKE
continued from page 21
an hour just staring into its mist. Our paddle back to our car was magical. Just a Father and Daughter alone with a connection that was so deep and rare that I was absolutely sure that any question about a great spirit had been laid to rest. She then asked me a question… Dad, How do you know when God talks to you? Wow…what’s the answer to that question? All at once I had the answer. I told her that God, or The Great Spirit, or whatever you decide to call him will speak to you in a way that you will understand if you choose to let it happen. I continued to tell her that anytime I thought God had sent me a message, it was usually in the
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form of nature like an animal sighting. On cue, a Bald Eagle flew around the point and buzzed our canoe. It then circled us and flew away. Kelsey turned and looked at me and said, Wow!!! Is that how he does it? I said, “It sure is” then said a quiet prayer of thanks. I asked Kelsey about that experience the other day. Her memory was sketchy on the whole thing but she did remember seeing an eagle from a canoe and something about a waterfall…she’s 22 now. I remember it like it was yesterday. Take your kids out in the wilderness…your faith in the Great Spirit will be restored.
Joe Woody is Co-Publisher of The Angler Magazine WNC with his wife Debra. He is an Army Veteran and a self proclaimed “Adventure Angler”. You can usually find him wandering around Western North Carolina telling fishing lies. He is also a baseball nut and a crazy FCS Football fan. He has a Bigfoot magnet on the back of his truck.
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE 23
Transitioning to Spring in Upstate Waters
A
s we prepare for the spring hatches here at Chattooga River Fly Shop, February has graced us with some spring weather, and the heavy rains have subsided some. We are sure that Old Man Winter still has a little cold weather left in store for us here in the South. Although we may not receive any snow, the temperatures will sure dip below freezing, and our winter fishing techniques, will have to be in place. Low and slow, with nymph rigs will be the trick, along with slower retrievals of steamers. As spring pushes winter to the back burner for another year, spring rains and the warmer breezes from the south and west warm our days. The water temperatures of the rivers start
By Karl Ekberg
to rise from the mid 30’s and stay in the mid 40’s and climb into the 50’s during the day, which makes a day of wading a delight. As the waters start their warming trend, the first emergence of the mayflies and caddis start to appear on the rivers. As everyone enjoys the “top water” dry fly fishing, let’s remember, there are a lot more fish feeding on nymphs and emergers “down under”. Fishing a tandem rig with a nymph and an emerger while awaiting the hatch will be very productive. Fishing these tandem rigs, casting up stream, and mending the line for a “dead drift” is key. After the flies have drifted past your stance on the river, let them “swing” down-stream, and let your line straighten, which allows the flies to rise to the surface, as the
24 GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS & THE UPSTATE
MARCH 2019
naturals do. Fishing flies on the “swing” is very productive, and will reward you greatly. Once you see a few of these flies in the air and a few rises, switch to a dry fly and drift your fly to these rising fish. Let’s not forget that streamer fishing is still very productive as well. Lately, with the colder water temperatures and higher water conditions, sink tips or weight pinched on to the leader have been necessary to keep the streamers down in the water column. Many large fish have been caught in the delayed harvest sections of both the Chattooga and Chauga Rivers using these on the dead drift & twitch technique, and by striping the
streamers back through the pools and seams. As the water temperatures rise and water levels decrease, floating lines will be adequate. We have expanded our fly tying material walls, whether you are tying for trout, bass, or pan fish, we have a wide array of materials to do the trick. We offer hands on, one-on-one fly tying classes to help you along in your journey of tying, here at the Fly Shop. You will receive expert advise on what to tie, when to fish the bug you are tying, and other tips and techniques. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the rivers, and let’s remember, “Leave No Trace”.
Karl and Karen Ekberg are Co-Owners of Chattooga River Fly Shop, located at 6832A Highlands Hwy, in Mountain Rest, SC 29664. Give them a call at (864) 638-2806 or look them up on the web at chattoogariverflyshop.com
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Six Springtime Tips From Crappie Pros By Terry Madewell
P
North GA’s Full Service Fly Shop
rofessional crappie tournament anglers must learn the secrets of patterning crappie year-round on lakes all over the country. But over the next few months, catching slab crappie is easier than at any other time of year. The keys to success are understanding where to find fish and using the best techniques. A large gathering of professional crappie anglers fishing out of Black Camp on South Carolina’s Santee Cooper lakes provided the opportunity to glean information from several veteran crappie pros. Their strategies will work on any lake with a healthy crappie population. Matt Morgan and Kent Watson make up a successful tournament team, and they have a game plan in place before pre-fishing any lake for the first time. “First, I research the Internet to see what information is available on a lake in terms of crappie,” Morgan said. “Next, I use Google Earth to literally look at the lake from above, and I can even go back in time and see what the lake looked like during a drawdown or drought. This can provide views of underwater cover that’s exposed at low water but may be covered by fishable water when I fish it. Plus, I can see creeks and ditches that may not be marked on maps.” Watson said that after off-lake research is complete, it’s time to get on the lake and narrow the focus. “We can eliminate over 50 percent of the water before we launch the boat,” Watson said. “The next step is to use electronics, along with lake maps, to actually look at channels, ledges, drops and brushpiles to actually find fish we believe to be crappie. We use our Hummingbird graph with side and down scan to pinpoint areas we feel can be productive. “We’re often looking in or near deep water, and it may be in any part of the lake,” he continued. “During spring, we often take a hard look at the mid-to-upper portion of a lake since that water warms first.” Dave Hilton, a veteran crappie guide at Santee Cooper, said that in addition to finding crappie it’s important to find forage. “If I’m in doubt about where to fish, I’ll spend time on the water finding forage,” Hilton said. “If not guiding, I’ll be looking at various targets such as brushpiles, submerged stumps and other woody cover using electronics before I actually fish a specific target.” Morgan uses jigs, minnows or a combination of a jig and minnow to give the fish what they want. “We typically fish an 8-rod spider rig with quality rods. Quality makes a difference in detecting light bites typical of crappies,” he said. “When pre-fishing for a tournament, we only catch a couple crappies from a place then move and look for larger crappie.” If they’re not pre-fishing, they might stay with a hot spot until it slows. “Even being totally prepared, it may take several attempts before we find fish of good quantity and quality, so patience can be crucial,” Morgan added. “We know we have a proven process that Sept_NS_COHUTTA.indd works year-round, and if we stick with it we’ll find fish.”
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MARCH 2019
BLUE RIDGE
3
2/15/19 11:47 AM
Dead Drift or Streamers?
Streamers aren’t the only way to catch big brown trout. All of these fish were caught on nymphs.
By Chris Scalley here I fish on the Chattahoochee tailwater in Atlanta, the main targets are stream-born brown trout that can reach epic size in a nutrient-rich environment. Although many large trout are caught on large streamers, trophy anglers should not overlook dead-drifted nymphs as way to catch large fish. Yes, I agree that the “pounds of meat” or “big bait, big fish” theory is usually a sound approach to target better-than-average fish, but just think about the numbers game. With 25 years of guiding experience, I would say a third of our biggest fish were caught on nymphs. Now, the reality is that most of our clients would rather catch numbers than catch one to three better-sized fish. Usually, my first question to customers is: “Do you want to catch quantity or quality?” I explain that big fish are predators, and if you want better odds for a monster, you will have to “chuck and duck” large weighted flies with large weighted sinking fly lines. On the other hand, if you’re a dedicated nymph angler who fishes methodically, where mending line properly, setting the hook emphatically and reading water are paramount, you could very likely catch a trophy as well. It’s all about placing odds in your favor, but you have to be dedicated with either tactic, streamer or nymph. If you choose to streamer fish, one out of three trips could hook a pig. With nymphs, you’ll hook a large fish about every eight trips. I am not trying to solicit more trips here, I am just being honest with the law of averages. Guides have the luxury of going fishing just about every day, so for us the law of averages works to our favor as we simply spend more time on the water. So which will it be? Would you rather catch more fish on a nymph with the outside chance of catching a bruiser, or would you prefer to eschew the smaller fish and chunk meat for one monster brown trout? Chris Scalley owns River Through Atlanta Guide Service. Check them out at riverthroughatlanta.com.
W
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r spread Great Streams and Craft Beverages Await in Hendersonville, N.C. Photo by Nick Carter
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f you’re an angler who enjoys following up a day on mountain trout streams with a refreshing craft beverage or two, cast your attention to the Blue Ridge mountain town of Hendersonville. This North Carolina town, about 22 miles south of Asheville, offers miles of stocked trout waters, as well as the popular Hendersonville Cheers! Trail. The two resources make it possible to spend the day catching three types of trout – rainbow, brown and brook – while spending an evening exploring three types of craft beverages – beer, wine and hard cider. First, the fishing part. North Mills River is the prime trout stream in the Hendersonville area. The river’s 4-mile section of delayed harvest waters receives an annual infusion of 11,000 trout from N.C. Wildlife, divvied between brook, rainbow and brown. Spring is a great time to fly fish the delayed harvest waters of North Mills River because no trout have been harvested since Sept. 30. Another hot spot for trout fishing is just across the Henderson County line toward Brevard. The Davidson River offers miles of public trout waters that receive annual stockings of 16,500 fish. Other lesser-known spots for fishing near Hendersonville include
three streams on the eastern side of Henderson County, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown. Rocky Broad River has a 1.2-mile stretch of hatchery support waters from Rocky River Lane to the Rutherford County line near Chimney Rock, while Cane Creek, near the Fletcher community, has 1.5-mile stretch of hatchery supported waters. For those who really want a unique experience, Little River in DuPont State Recreational Forest provides not only a scenic setting for trout fishing, but also a unique one. Delayed harvest waters flow through undisturbed mountains and over several notable waterfalls. Those waterfalls were immortalized on Hollywood’s silver screen in The Last of the Mohicans, as well as the backdrop for the exploits of Katniss Everdeen in the original Hunger Games movie. When the fishing is done, the Cheers! Trail awaits. The trail is one of North Carolina’s best, featuring 16 craft producers offering a variety of experiences. Beer fans love Sierra Nevada’s tasting room, which is one of the largest on the East Coast and features an expansive patio and outdoor amphitheater, while Bold Rock Hard Cider has emerged as a national leader in the hard cider industry and regularly hosts live music (indoors and outdoors), along with cidery tours and a food truck. Several craft producers on the trail create small-batch beverages prized for their quality and originality. Three breweries – Southern Appalachian, Triskelion and Guidon – are within a few blocks of each other in the Depot District, while Sanctuary Brewing Co. is only a few blocks away on Main Street. Sanctuary is pet-friendly with a commitment to pet rescue. Three wineries produce high-quality wines from European varietals. The newest – Point Lookout Vineyards – is located atop a 3,000-foot mountain with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, the area’s first vineyard, is on farmland that’s been in the family for more than nine generations. And two miles from Saint Paul, Burntshirt Vineyards offers tastings in its renovated farmhouse overlooking rolling hills of vines. For complete Hendersonville information and lodging details, call 800-828-4244 or go to: www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org.
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Flip Pallot:
Fish Hippie Ambassador
F
ew names resonate as deeply in the world of light-tackle fly fishing as the name Flip Pallot. Many of us remember waking up on Saturday mornings to watch Flip’s show, Walker’s Cay Chronicles. Fish Hippie, the North Carolina-based outdoor lifestyle brand, has teamed up with Pallot, who plans to put Fish Hippie apparel and accessories to the test during his on- and off-thewater adventures as the brand’s ambassador. Pallot’s unparalleled passion for fishing has paved the way for his successful career and has inspired fishing enthusiasts worldwide. He is widely recognized for Walker’s Cay Chronicles, which aired for 16 seasons on ESPN, a TBS series titled Saltwater Angler and his most recent Fishing the Keys show on VERSUS network. Each show is centered around Pallot’s fishing insight as he travels around the world on angling adventures. “I smile, knowing that most of my life is spent in a glow of solar energy reflected by the world’s most beautiful wet spots,” said Pallot. “Montana meadow stream or shimmering, tropical bonefish flat, I’m stacking sun drenched miles on my Fish Hippie wardrobe. I’m enjoying the function of the product along with the fashion attention when I return to the dock!” In spring 2017, Fish Hippie launched the Solarhaze Performance Collection, which has become a fast favorite among outdoor and fishing enthusiasts nationwide, including Pallot. Function and fashion meet on and off with water with the Solarhaze Performance Collection, which has set a new standard of luxury and necessity in the performancewear industry. Technical features—including slick, moisture-wicking fabrics, UPF +40 and ultra-lightweight materials—are coupled with modern cuts, ultimate comfort and effortless style for those who appreciate the finer side of outdoor living. From hunting and fishing to work and leisure, this collection is designed to fit into your everyday agenda. The collection includes performance button-downs, technical performance hoodies, technical performance crews, performance shorts and a variety of hats. “We are honored to have such an incredible fishing icon wear and enjoy our Fish Hippie clothing,” said Ben Webb, co-founder of Fish Hippie. “We’re excited to hear how Flip’s new Fish Hippie wardrobe will serve him as he tracks many miles on and off shore.” For more information about Fish Hippie apparel and accessories, visit FishHippie.com.
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FRESHWATER
Surprising Winter is the Best Planting Time
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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
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Sheri Daye
s past president and current board member of IUSA (the organization that ratifies world records for spearfishing), I get to share the excitement of big fish applications. The entire IUSA board was amazed by a recent submission. We received word that Luis Viyella had speared a 480-pound yellowfin off the Dominican Republic on Dec. 23, 2018. If approved, this fish would not only be the new spearfishing world record, but it would also beat the current IGFA All-Tackle rod-and-reel record! The All-Tackle stands at 427 pounds, held by angler Guy Yocom and caught off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Viyella supplied the required photos of the fish, the measurements, the weighing, and the certified scale. He provided witnesses and documented the “Story of the Hunt” which was well-written and riveting. Viyella was new to freediving and bluewater hunting but accompanied by an experienced friend. They were targeting wahoo that day when the tunas showed up. He was excited when his buddy speared a 125-pound yellowfin. As requested, Viyella added a second shot to the fish—a common practice to secure the fish and make the extraction quicker and easier. A bigger tuna showed up, but Viyella’s speargun was already discharged and embedded in the 125-pound tuna, so he called out for his new Daryl Wong speargun from the boat. It wasn’t a bluewater gun, and it wasn’t the ideal set up, but he needed to act quickly. Viyella attached a line and float to the reel gun, dove down, and fired a well-placed shot into the tuna. After attaching additional floats, he made headway in raising the tuna toward the surface. His buddy dove down and placed a second shot to the head, helped manage the lines, and kept sharks at bay until it was landed—all the things a good buddy does.
News of this magnificent fish traveled fast. Viyella was told that, if approved, his fish would eclipse the current spearfishing record of 353 pounds. During the application process, he learned the rules the hard way. In order to qualify, one must shoot and land the fish without assistance from others. It was heartbreaking for Viyella and the board, but his catch is still outstanding, and IUSA awarded a meritorious award. Viyella accepted it with grace and gratitude. He said, “Inside the boat, we realized it was a very extraordinary, giant yellowfin tuna. I cannot describe our feelings of gratitude to God, our emotions, joy, sense of achievement, cheers, hugs, screams of happiness. It had been the most amazing day at sea, and the most exciting catch ever, and I had caught, on rod and reel, a 900-pound blue marlin and 600+ pound swordfish before. This bluewater apnea spearfishing catch was a higher dimension, another level of joy and sense of achievement. Glory goes to God for His love and generosity.” Amen to that, Mr. Viyella! May you continue to be blessed with that same sense of wonder and joy, for that is the real treasure of the sea. 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,
CAMSPEARFISHING.COM
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VISIT AND Visit andEXPLORE Explore Burnsville, NC Burnsville, N.C.
W W
hether you’re hiking, exhibits. The restaurant, conces- through Yancey sion stand gift shop are fishing you’re or camping County.Toe hether hiking, fishing or and Mountains andopen the South May thru October. Campground in the mountains or camping in the mountains, at- River Valley. Stretching Enjoy nearlya fun 9 tent sites only. attending atending performance at Park- at has day on the a performance Parkway 500 miles through the filled mountains Playhouse or coming to to thethe Mt. Mitchell North Virginia way Playhouse or coming Winding ofalong the Carolina southern and water, catching Crafts Fair orCrafts Carolina Mountains Literary without a single red light, Mt. Mitchell Fair or Caro- edge of Yancey County, the Blue thethe fishBlue native to Festival, there’s always a good day waiting Ridge Parkway is one of the best lina Mountains Literary Festival, Ridge Parkway gives travelers an our mountains. for you in Burnsville, North Carolina, espe- scenic drives in America. there’s always a good daylike waiting amazing the Black Moun-Parkway We isguarantee cially for travelers who to discover their view ofThe Blue Ridge the for you in Burnsville, North Cartains and the South Toe River fishing own journey. only access to Mountyour Mitchell Yancey County is homewho to waterfalls, State Park at Hwy andwill mileolina, especially for travelers Valley. Stretching for nearly 500128trip be full campgrounds, backroads, hikingmiles trails, postthe 355. It’s five miles sumSnakeroot Ecotours offers custom tours like to discover their own journey. through mountains of to of the fish-catching clean rivers,County and six isof home the 10 highest peaks mit. The by Civilian Con-Observation platform at Mount Mitchell Park. of one of the wildest and most State scenic corCarolina and Parkway Virginiawas – built Yancey to North experiences! in the eastern United States. servation Corps labor in the 1930s. Workers ners of Western North Carolina. They invite and not one single redlight – the waterfalls, campgrounds, backToe through River, the Located in southern Yancey County, used dynamite to blast tunnels Southern Appalachian Mounyou into astoundingly diverse habitats and Ridge Parkway is one the a road roads, trails, cleanfeet) rivers, Carolina Hemlocks, Black Mounthiking Mitchell (6,684 is theBlue highest mountains andofcarve through rough, and reveal the mysteries of the Southern Appatains. More info at www.snakescenic in terrain. America.The Parkway and six of the highest peaks in best mountain east10of the Mississippi River. It drives remote risesCampgrounds to an el- lachian Mountain are all lo-Mountains. See more info at www. rootecotours.com. was designated over 5,000 as it passes through The Blue evation Ridge Parkway is thefeet cated Eastern America.the first state park in North snakerootecotours.com. off Highway 80 in the South The Burnsville-Yancey ChamCarolina 1916. Today Yancey it featuresonly an obCounty. access Yancey to Mount Mitchell Toe River area of Yancey County. Locatedin in southern servation platform on the summit next to Enjoy a fun-filled day on the water, ber of Commerce and Visitor County, Mount Mitchell (6,684 State Park at Hwy 128 and mile- Mount Mitchell State ParkThe and Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Elisha Mitchell’s grave and an interpretive catching the fish native to our mountains. Commerce and Visitor Center is located at Center is located at 106 West Main post 355. It’s miles your to the feet) is thewith highest mountain Crabtree Meadows by Main museum historical andEast environmental We five guarantee fishing trip will be full are of accessed 106 West Street in Burnsville. Inside Inside you’ll find a helpful Parkway was built by the Blue Ridge Parkway. you’ll find aStreet. of the Mississippi River. It was des- summit. exhibits. The restaurant, concession standThefish-catching experiences! helpful staff and lots of inforstaff and lotslodging, of information on and giftthe shop through OctoRiver,Workers Carolina Hemlocks andEcotours Black offers CCC labor in theToe 1930s. ignated firstare stateopen park May in North mation shopping, Snakeroot cus-on attractions, ber. The campground is limited to only nine Mountain campgrounds are all located off attractions, lodging, shopping, and local businesses and services. The Carolina in 1916. Today it features used dynamite to blast tunnels tom tours of one of thedining wildest tentobservation sites. in carve the South Toe River area of Visitor Center and office are open Monday& dining, and local businesses mountains80and an platform on the through the Highway and most scenic corners of WestWinding along the southern edge of Yancey County. Mount Mitchell State Park through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call road through remote ter- ern summit to Elisha Mitchell’s services. Visitor Center and office Carolina. Yancey next County, the Blue Ridge aParkway andrough, Crabtree Meadows areNorth accessed by theWe invite (828)you 682-7413. rain. The Parkway rises Parkway. to an ele- into astoundingly diverse habitats open Monday thru Friday 9am to grave, and an interpretive museum gives travelers an amazing view of the Black Blue Ridge with historical and environmental vation over 5,000 feet as it passes and reveal the mysteries of the 5pm. Call (828) 682-7413.
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Anglers Seek To Cement Legacies At 2019 Bassmaster Classic
T
he 2019 Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for March 15-17 on the Tennessee River, will feature the usual mix of established pro fishing superstars and hungry young pros who are destined to be the stars of tomorrow. The 52 anglers converging on Knoxville will be gunning for the largest share of the $1 million prize fund, and they’ll be aiming to establish their angling legacy by winning the most important title in professional fishing. Among the field are eight former Classic winners, including four-time champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., and defending champion Jordan Lee of Grant, Ala., who last year became one of only three anglers to claim back-to-back wins in the event. Seven of the pros have hoisted the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of
the Year trophy, including 2018 AOY winner Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., and Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., who has claimed the award three times. “The Classic is a showcase for some of the most accomplished bass anglers in the world,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “You’ll have veteran pros out there who’ve experienced the huge stage that is the Classic and excelled in that environment in the past. But you’ll also have some young guys who are just chomping at the bit to make a name for themselves. “That’s one of the most exciting things about the Classic—it literally will change someone’s life forever.” Anglers hungry for first-time Classic glory include Florida’s Drew Benton, Tennessee’s Brandon Lester and Arizona’s Clifford Pirch — just to name a few. Whoever wins the event, the immediate effects will be easy to see. There’s the world-famous Classic trophy, which weighs more than 40 pounds and is easily the most coveted piece of hardware in professional fishing. Then there’s the $300,000 first-place check and the chance to stand before an arena full of screaming fans as confetti cannons set the stage for the accomplishment of a lifetime. This year’s weigh-ins will be held in Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee. As always, the Classic will be held in conjunction with the fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Known as the most important consumer show in the bass fishing world, the Classic Expo will be held in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall. Companies from across the fishing industry use the Expo annually to debut new products, and fans will be able to purchase many lures, rods, reels and accessories for the first time anywhere. For more information about the Bassmaster Classic, go to www. bassmaster.com.
Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo
T
he Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo is south Florida’s premier watersports expo. It is coming to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28, with 65,000 square feet of exhibitors and activities for water lovers. The indoor event attracts 5,000 attendees and more than 150 exhibitors specializing in fishing and spearfishing, scuba and freediving, surfing and paddleboarding, boats and kayaks, underwater photo and video, adventure travel, beach apparel and more. The event features one of the most extensive marine art exhibits in the country. Daily interactive workshops hosted by industry experts offer proven techniques and tips including fishing techniques, speargun rigging, fish filleting, knot-tying and more. The popular Kids Zone offers free face painting, art classes and crab races. On Saturday, April 27, the show will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an after party from 7 to 9 p.m. On Sunday, April 28, show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $20 a day and includes entry into the Saturday night Blue Wild After Party. Kids under 12 are free. For more information, see www.thebluewild.com and find The Blue Wild on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Baja’s Inshore Action
On The East Cape
By Nick Carter Big cubera snapper are just one of the species waiting inshore on the East Cape. This one was caught by Jim Rodriguez, a cameraman with the TV show Livin’ The Dream. Photo by Jimmy Nelson.
J
ust looking at a map will tell you the Sea of Cortez is a fish trap. Separated from the Pacific Ocean by Mexico’s nearly 800-mile long Baja California Peninsula, it’s a 62,000 square mile canyon that drops to depths approaching 10,000 feet. The sportfishing out of Cabo San Lucas, on the Peninsula’s southern tip is legendary. It is a bustling destination where marlin, sailfish and tuna abound. But Capt. Jimmy Nelson, host of the TV show Livin’ The Dream, pointed to a quieter destination and some awesome fishing up the Peninsula’s East Cape. Out of the Buena Vista Beach Resort about an hour’s drive north of Cabo, the Sea of Cortez drops to 1,000-foot depths just a few hundred yards off sand beaches. There’s a fleet of sportfishing boats waiting to take anglers offshore to chase all the big pelagics, and the inshore action borders on unbelievable. Even shorebased fishermen can catch some species typically associated with long runs offshore. At a place renowned for billfish, Nelson said the inshore action is as much of a reason to go as the marlin. “You never know what you’re going to get. There’s all kinds of things that will be right there on the edge,” Nelson said. “Roosterfish, African pompano, cubera snapper, Sierra mackerel, even dolphin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna will hit your popper right off the beach.” Never knowing what’s on the end of the line requires anglers to gear up. This is not the same as inshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic. Nelson said casting 8-inch poppers or live lookdowns from shore is a ton of fun and requires 8000 size spinning reels. A big cubera snapper slamming your popper is a fight you’ll never forget. “It’s a rush,” he said. “You’re catching a bottomfish on top, so they go straight down to the bottom. You have to gear up with some pretty heavy tackle.” Trolling just off the beach is another tactic that puts anglers on a surprising array of the Pacific’s best sportfish. Big roosterfish might be primary target, but again, you never know what will eat when you’re pulling lookdowns and goggle eyes. Big yellowfin tuna have been known to surprise anglers just off the beaches, so 30 wide reels and heavy tackle are required. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Customer Rating
WITH
26" x 22" SINGLE BANK ROLLER CABINET
RED
ITEM 64163 64162 shown BLUE
9,800 CU.IN.
STORAGE CAPACITY
10,000 CU.IN.
1,000 LBS.
WEIGHT CAPACITY
1,300 LBS.
26-5/8"
WIDTH
26"
22"
DEPTH
20"
40-1/2"
HEIGHT
ITEM 64434 64433
YOUR CHOIRCE OF COLO
$
$ 9 9 SAVE 1,415
$249
37"
8
DRAWER COUNT
8
DRAWER DETENTS
YES
YES
PRE-CUT DRAWER LINERS
YES
YES
LOCKING SWIVEL CASTERS
YES
YES
AVAILABLE TOP CHEST
YES
YES
BALL BEARING SLIDES
YES
174 LBS.
WEIGHT
183 LBS.
BLACK
299 99
PRICE
1" x 25 FT. TAPE MEASURE • Thumb Lock • Rubber Wrapped Case
YES
ITEM 64432 64431
ANY PURCHASE
COMPARE TO
1,665
$
*41999845 * 41999845
6
MODEL: L4825HV
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/3/19 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.
HEAVY DUTY FOLDABLE ALUMINUM SPORTS CHAIR NOW
$1 999
$
29
$
COMPARE TO
COLEMAN
• Lifts from 5" to 18-1/4" Customer Rating • Weighs 74 lbs.
NOW
$
4999
Customer Rating
MODEL: 2000020293
ITEM 62314/63066/66383 shown
8999 $74
POWERBUILT $ 27
135
MODEL: 647593
NOW
COMPARE TO
SAVE $60
BLUE HAWK $ 99
19
MODEL: 77280
ITEM 64260/64261/64265 64875/69227/62116/68048 shown
$
COMPARE TO
8
WARN
17999Voted Best Winches
*42028928 * 42028928
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
99
$22 29
$
COMPARE TO
PELICAN
73
18
8" HUNTING KNIFE WITH SURVIVAL KIT
MODEL: 1400
Customer Rating
• Includes compass, sewing kit, safety pins, fishing line, matches, fire starting paper, lanyard & sheath
20 VOLT LITHIUM CORDLESS Customer Rating EXTREME TORQUE 1/2" IMPACT WRENCH KIT
SAVE 470 COMPARE TO
NOW
SAVE 22%
ITEM 64551 63926 shown
ITEM 61733/90714 shown
Customer Rating
SNAP ON
99 $ 99 $71085 8
$6
MODEL: CT8850PDB, CTB8185, CTC720
• 225 lb. capacity
NOW
9 $2399 $
$1 999
SAVE $ 99 40% 29
26999
$
COMPARE TO
ITEM 67514 WERNER
ITEM 63537/64195/63852 shown
*42034921 * 42034921
*42039269 * 42039269
*42048240 * 42048240
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
CLICK-TYPE TORQUE WRENCHES
SUPER COUPON
E YOUR CHOIC
84
MODEL: H2DTWA
$999
SAVE $ 99 88% 19
Customer Rating
$99
Item 239 shown
COMPARE TO
HUSKY $ 97
SUPER COUPON
6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV 4 PIECE, 1" x 15 FT. HORIZONTAL SHAFT RATCHETING TIE DOWNS GAS ENGINE • 400 lb. working load NOW NOW 99
Customer Rating
• Reversible DRIVE ITEM 1/4" 61277/63881/2696/94735 3/8" 61276/63880/807/94892 1/2" 62431/63882/239/94850
$ ITEM 60363/69730 ITEM 69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY
$6
119
99
$
SAVE $230 COMPARE TO $
HONDA
32999
MODEL: GX200UT2QX2
ITEM 63094/90984 60405/63056/63057 63150/61524 shown
SAVE 87%
1199 $
COMPARE TO
ATE TOOLS
SAVE $ 38% COMPARE TO
5488
SUPERSTART
MODEL: 33079
5799 $
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SUPER COUPON
ATV/LAWN MOWER LIFT
21 GALLON, 2.5 HP, 125 PSI 12" TOOL BAG WITH VERTICAL OIL-LUBE 21 POCKETS AIR COMPRESSOR Customer Rating NOW
229 SAVE $ 69
$
99 SAVE 75%
17499
ITEM 61454/69091/62803/63635/67847 shown
1998
MODEL: 3L-2216
8
$ 99
ITEM 38168/62163/62349/61467 shown
NOW
$499
SAVE 67 $
Customer Rating
COMPARE TO
MAX LOAD
$
142 08
MODEL: 38028
ITEM 60395/62325/62493/61523 shown
*42091693 * *42092569 * *42096035 * 420916 42092569 42096035 NATIONAL I 9 3MARCH 2019 I COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
CANGL_NAT3-NAT32.indd 32 hft_coastalangler_0319_spread_M-REG163325.indd 2
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
24
MODEL: F
Customer Rating
4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER
NOW
99 4 7 $ $8999
Tools sold separately.
COMPARE TO $
AWP
• 300 lb. capacity • Weighs 72.5 lbs.
6499
COMPA
GAME $ 9
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
COMPA
CELES
ITEM 38391/62376/64083/56349/62306 shown
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
$
HUSKY
MODEL: 55001
*42075458 * 42075458
MODEL: C201H
7
3388
$3999
99
*42064386 * 42064386
COMPARE TO
$
3-IN-1 PORTABLE POWER PACK WITH JUMP STARTER NOW
*42063047 * 42063047
$159
$5
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
*42049320 * 42049320
• Air delivery: 5.8 CFM @ 40 PSI 4.7 CFM @ 90 PSI Customer Rating
YOUR
MODEL: S322A-1
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
Customer Rating
Custom
NOW
*42032746 * 42032746 SUPER COUPON
9 PIE COM
TWO TIER EASY-STORE STEP LADDER
• 4.0 amp hour battery $
SAVE 68%
MECH
ITEM 6
SUPER COUPON
Case contents and locks not included.
99
COMPA
ITEM 61384/61605/68144 shown
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
• 11-7/8" L 9" W 5-5/16" H
15
SAV
32639 SAVE $186
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SUPER COUPON
$
MODEL: WAR89040
*42027965 * 42027965
NOW
32
$
99
$ 99
ITEM 69505/62418/66537 shown
Custom
COMPAR
*42017328 * 42017328
ULTRA-LIGHT, CRUSH PROOF WEATHER-RESISTANT LOCKABLE CASE Customer Rating
HUSKY
$5
SAVE 70%
$13999
*42011606 * 42011606 MODEL 2800
$
99
COMPARE TO
SUPER COUPON
72" x 80" 5000 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH MOVING WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND BLANKET AUTOMATIC BRAKE Customer Rating W O N Customer Rating
RAPID PUMP® 3 TON STEEL HEAVY DUTY FLOOR JACK
SAVE 60%
99
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trencher/backhoe, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/3/19.
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
CAM PERF WOR
*41996487 * 41996487
ITEM 69030/69080/69031 shown
*41988998 * 41988998
* Snap-on KRA4008FPBO stated specs
20% OFF ANY SINGLE ITEM*
KOMELON $ 98 Snap-on KRA4008FPBO
SUPER COUPON
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SAVE 65%
NOW
COMPARE TO
PERFORMAX $ 99
28
MODEL: 2411-1
$
1499 $9
99
ITEM 69645/95578/60625 shown
*42101783 * 42101783 LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
2/15/19 11:37 AM
Custom
ON
%
F
ANY INGLE TEM*
ed. *Cannot ands: Inside tem, 3 day ge cabinets, auer, Cobra, piter, Lynxx, purchases. ugh 7/3/19.
Rating
SUPER COUPON
10 FT. x 17 FT. PORTABLE GARAGE
CAMO TOUCHSCREEN PERFORMANCE WORK GLOVES
$
15
99
99
$
COMPARE TO
MECHANIX
34
COMPARE TO
99
SHELTER LOGIC
MODEL:MPT-78-009
ITEM 64414, 64415 shown
$
$1 69
MODEL: 76377
ITEM 62859/63055/62860 shown
*42110148 * 42110148
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SUPER COUPON
9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS
100 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT
Customer Rating
NOW
$ 99 SAVE 66% HUSKY
$
17 97
MODEL: HCW10PCSAE
TYPE ITEM SAE 69043/63282/42304 METRIC 69044/63171/42305
*42111883 * 42111883
$1 4999
35719 SAVE $207 $ 19999 ITEM 64335/63585 shown COMPARE TO
SUNFORCE
$
MODEL: 50180
2.6 GAL
TANK SIZE
3.4 GAL
4
OUTLETS
4
YES
OVERLOAD PROTECTION
YES
212 cc
ENGINE SIZE
196 cc
YES
LOW OIL ALERT
YES
YES
PARALLEL CAPABLE
YES
YES
POWER SAVER
NOW
769 99
YES
HONDA EU3000iS1A
1,999 99 * SAVE $1,299 *42111492 42111492 $
Customer Rating Cu
$699
ITEM 63584
PRICE
$
*HONDA EU3000iS1A stated specs
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
RECIPROCATING SAW WITH ROTATING HANDLE
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
1750 PSI ELECTRIC PRESSURE WASHER
• 1.3 GPM • Adjustable spray nozzle
$
COMPARE TO
PORTER-CABLE $ 98
59
MODEL: PCE360
$7999
Blade sold separately.
Customer Rating
SAVE 66%
2899NOW
$1 999
ITEM 65570/61884/62370 shown
$
9999
Customer Rating
COMPARE TO
44 SAVE $94 BRIGGS & $ STRATTON MODEL: 20600 ITEM 63255/63254 shown
174
*42134743 * 42134743
*42140471 * 42140471
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
20-60 x 60mm SOLAR ROPE LIGHT Great outdoor SPOTTING SCOPE • accent lighting WITH TRIPOD • Super bright light Customer Rating $ 99 OW N W NO 99
Customer Rating
12
$3999
$
COMPARE TO
CELESTRON
$ 99 97 99 SAVE 59% 54
MODEL: 14593491
ITEM 62774
8", 5 SPEED BENCHTOP DRILL PRESS NOW
SUPER COUPON
COMPARE TO
29
$ 97 COMPARE TO HAMPTON BAY MODEL: 82056-055SR
SAVE 70%
ITEM 62533/63941/64625/68353 shown
NOW
$1 999
$54
BUFFALO BLACK $ 95
110
$
SNATCH BLOCK Customer Rating
99
SAVE $55
$8
Customer Rating
6499
$
COMPARE TO
WARN $ 99
SAVE 52%
41
MODEL: DP5UL
MODEL: WAR88898
ITEM 62520/60238 shown
2799
ITEM 62435/61673 shown
*42141480 * 42141480
*42145287 * 42145287
*42146232 * 42146232
*42149321 * 42149321
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
.50 CAL METAL AMMO CAN
4" x 36" BELT/ 6" DISC SANDER NOW
Customer Rating
Customer Rating
ABLE WITH RTER W COMPARE TO
24
MODEL: FSGWHE1030
$
SAVE $1599 48% ITEM 63750/63181 shown
TRI-FOLD ALUMINUM LOADING RAMP • 1500 lb. capacity
NOW
7499 $ SAVE
NOW
7499
COMPARE TO
ITEM 64778/97181 shown
Customer Rating
Customer Rating
$64
$1299
GAME WINNER $ 99
MAGNESIUM FIRE STARTER
79
NOW
COMPARE TO
RYOBI $
COGHLAN'S $ 59
MODEL: BD4601G
MODEL: 7870
SAVE 119 $54
SAVE $ 49 84% 2
9
$1 49
$
74
$
COMPARE TO
REESE
9999 $
149
MODEL: 74554700
ITEM 69595/60334/90018 shown
ITEM 69457/63733/66560 shown
*42149713 * 42149713
*42159999 * 42159999
*42164869 * 42164869
*42165772 * 42165772
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
NOW
$
9
4999 $3 129
99 Customer Rating COMPARE TO $ HOBART MODEL: 77054
SAVE $90
ITEM 61610/63122/91214 shown
Customer Rating
NOW
99
7
$ 99 COMPARE TO
$5
PERFORMAX
$
NOW
99
$3499
3197 SAVE 81%
MODEL: 48201
COMPARE TO
K TOOL
ITEM 61259/90764 shown
SUPER COUPON
6 TON HEAVY DUTY 20 OZ. GRAVITY FEED STEEL JACK AIR SPRAY GUN STANDS Customer Rating • 1.4mm tip
BLUE DESIGN 32 PIECE SCREWDRIVER SET AUTO-DARKENING WELDING HELMET Customer Rating
NDER
99
131 LBS.
SUPER COUPON
PER PON
W
WEIGHT
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
: S322A-1
06 shown
2800
100 LBS.
*42132662 * 42132662
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
388
EL: 55001
PREDATOR 3500
3000
NOW
99
COMPARE TO
RUNNING WATTS
Item 42305 shown
YOUR CHOICE
7
MAX. STARTING WATTS
3000
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
$5
3500
99
270 SAVE $100 $19999
*42108202 * 42108202
99
6499
3500 WATT SUPER QUIET INVERTER GENERATOR
NOW
$12
SAVE 62%
W
799
As rated by a leading consumer product testing publication
Customer Rating
NOW
TORE DDER
9 99
BEATS HONDA*
SUPER COUPON
BEST BUY WINNER
Customer Rating
es
999
SUPER COUPON
$
7450 SAVE 53% $4699
MODEL: KTI61205
ITEM 38847/69596/62393/61197 shown
NOW
included
$999
SAVE $ 99 80% 15 COMPARE TO
KOBALT
$
4998
MODEL: SGY-AIR88TZ
ITEM 67181/62300/47016 shown
*42173284 * 42173284
*42176176 * 42176176
*42177712 * 42177712
*42179089 * 42179089
LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 7/3/19*
At Harbor Freight Tools, •the “Compare to” price means that the specified which is an item I withNATIONAL the same or similar function, 1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM I comparison, MARCH 2019 33was 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
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 7/3/19.
CANGL_NAT3-NAT32.indd 33
may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
2/15/19 11:37 AM AM 2/1/19 10:57
FROM SHIP TO SHORE
© 2 0 1 9 H AVA LO N K N I V E S
AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
34
The new Havalon® TalonTM Quik-Change IITM Multi-Blade Cutlery System brings together nearly 40 years of expertise in the surgical field and decades of quality time spent out in open waters. This innovative platform features a variety of reliable add-on blades designed to make clean work of the dirty work all the way from ship to shore. NATIONAL
I
CANGL_NAT3-NAT32.indd 34
MARCH 2019
I
BY
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
2/15/19 11:37 AM
L E A S S EVEN R E T IN T W With Special Offers For the 2019 Boat Show Season Your Suzuki Marine Dealer has exceptional deals in store for you when you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 350 horsepower during the winter Boat Show Season. Get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3 years of Extended Protection at no extra charge.There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details.
INST
SELEC ANT SA VING T SUZ S UKI O UTBO ON ARDS
REPOWER FINANCE
SIX YEARS OF PROTECTION
INSTANT SAVINGS
REPOWER FINANCE
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 350 HP.
Instant Savings on select models when you buy at the boat show. See your dealer for details.
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards on approved credit.* [60 Months]
3 Years Limited Warranty + 3 Years Extended Protection
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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19 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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s 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 01/01/19 and 03/31/19. “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. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
COMMON CVRS_0319.indd 3
SZ_2019Q1Promo_1PG_WIP.indd 1
2/15/19 11:37 AM
12/9/18 12:09 PM
1782-18B Coastal Angler.indd 4 1 COMMON CVRS_0319.indd
For: Coastal Angler
12/19/18 11:37 3:50 AM PM 2/15/19