Author Archives: ronniegarrison

Northland Fishing Tackle PRO SLINGS NEW PLASTICS TO WALLEYE TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

PRO SLINGS NEW PLASTICS TO TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

Pro Slings New Plastics to Tournament Success

from The Fishing Wire

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Recent exposure via tournament websites, social media, and TV has created a wildfire of interest in a brand-new line of walleye soft plastics from Northland Fishing Tackle. Aptly-named “Eye Candy™,” an extensive team of tournament pros, guides, influencers, and product designers put the paces through countless iterations of shapes and actions to provide walleye anglers with the best new soft plastics on the walleye scene.

Fact: Northland Tackle’s Eye Candy™ wasn’t intended to launch yet. However, given the success Northland team pros have been fishing the baits, the company decided to ramp up production to provide anglers of all walks with the winning walleye baits.

“We’ve been fishing the snot out of these plastics for over a year and feel super confident in the designs. Given what Tom Hunyh has been doing with them on the NWT and AIM trails and Jason Mitchell is doing via TV and social on the waters he visits, what Brad Hawthorne, Bro, and Nick Lindner are doing with them between Mille Lacs and the north, we knew we had to get them into the hands of walleye anglers everywhere now,” says Northland Fishing Tackle’s Marketing Director, Mike Anselmo.

Huynh Dials In Winnebago NWT Bite with NEW Northland Eye Candy™

Case in point, top-placing NWT/AIM tournament and Northland Tackle walleye pro, Tom Huynh, has been using Eye Candy™ since the first NWT event on the Illinois River this past March. Since, he’s used the new soft plastics to top-finishing tournament success.

“The recent NWT tournament on Lake Winnebago was my first introduction to the lake. The day before I got there I looked at my maps and put a plan together, but my plan to fish the big lake soon changed. Our Airbnb was on one of the upper lakes and there was a little two-boat launch right across the street, so I used that during pre-fishing,” says Huynh.

“Rather than trek over to Winnebago, I got sidetracked in a shallow, tea-colored lake attached to Winnebago by a river—and decided to look around. I caught a few random fish here and there without a pattern until I found an old river channel that looked almost like a shell bed on my SideVu. I was marking fish like crazy: catfish, drum, white bass, walleyes, and sturgeon. With that many species, running LiveScope wasn’t easy. I had to cast at every single fish I saw to gauge their reaction and figure out what they were,” notes Huynh.

“After a couple of days, I learned to recognize the reactions of the white bass and drum. The two species that seemed to act about the same were catfish and walleyes. So, for every two or three 10-12 pound catfish I’d catch, I’d hook a 3-pound or better walleye. After I figured that out I was catching 5 or 6 walleyes a day during pre-fish without even entering the big lake. I knew the historical weights for Winnebago tournaments, and since what I was catching were good fish, we decided to stay there. On the Monday and Tuesday before the tournament we had between 13 and 15 pounds each day, so we figured if we could do that in the tournament we’d make the top 10,” adds Huynh.

Huynh says it took him until the last day of pre-fishing to really dial in his presentation.

“Basically, I used the same black Northland Eye Candy™ Grub I used on the Illinois River—actually still the same bag of baits—and threaded it on a 1/8-ounce black Northland Tungsten Jig. It just seemed to cast the right silhouette in the stained water to get bit,” divulges Huynh.

This isn’t the first tournament that Tom has relied on black to either win or place in the Top 10.

“Every single fish I’ve caught in a tournament this year casting has been on a solid black Northland Tungsten Jig—either regular shank or short-shank. Not one fish has come on anything else. For Winnebago, I paired that Northland Eye Candy Grub in black with a black Northland Tungsten. I thought I had an extra bag of the plastics in my boat, but I left them in another tote at home, so I had to rely on the few baits I had. Luckily, they’re made of a super-tough and spongy TPE plastic that holds up to dozens of fish on just one plastic. You don’t burn through ‘em. So I had just enough to do the job. I also caught a couple fish on a minnow and Northland Tungsten, too,” laughs Huynh.

“However, if it hadn’t been for the Eye Candy™ plastics and their crazy ability to hold the scent I use, I don’t think I would have been able to dial in the first two good bites of the tournament that put us into 2nd place,” adds Huynh.

Huynh adds that the Winnebago NWT tournament May 17-18 was the first event this year where he and a partner were able to catch decent-size walleyes.

“I ended up catching two 4’s and a 5-pounder with my other fish. It all came down to the entire system—a black Northland Tungsten jighead, the new Northland Eye Candy™ Grub in black, 10-pound high-vis Daiwa J-Braid Grand X8 to 8-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon, and a Daiwa Kage 1000 spinning reel on a Rosemore rod. The 1000 size reel keeps me from horsing big walleyes in on small jigs and hooks.”

Huynh says he “couldn’t be happier” with the 2nd Place NWT finish that he ended up with, especially considering he figured out a system with no prior knowledge or experience on the Winnebago system coming into the event. Huynh cashed a $24,122 check plus a Garmin contingency award.

Northland Short-Shank Tungstens Crack Leech Lake ‘Eyes

Following the Winnebago NWT, Huynh bee-lined to Leech Lake, Minnesota, to fish an AIM Tournament—and admits the timing was “completely out of his element” although he and co-angler Nate Wolske have a history of top finishes there.

“We’d never fished Leech that early in the season,” says Hunyh. “We’d won there in the summer and knew how to seasonally pattern those fish, but cold water was completely out of our wheelhouse.”

“The water was 48-49 degrees in the morning so I knew our chance of fishing plastics was fairly slim, but we did get a few bites on Eye Candy. So we switched to minnows tipped on 1/8-ounce Northland Short-Shank Jigs—again, in black,” says Huynh.

Huynh notes that partner Nate Wolske hadn’t fished black Short-Shank Tungsten Jigs to date and was mystified by what happened with a simple change in jig color.

“Nate turned to me and said, ‘I just don’t get it. They’ll hit these black jigs a lot quicker and way more often.’ So, we both used black Short-Shank Tungsten Jigs for every single cast of the Leech Lake Tournament—and it put us in 2nd place at the end of the event,” shares Huynh.

Hunyh says the difficulty was getting the big females to bite, which had been squirting eggs only a few days prior to the event.

“The big girls were in a funk,” says Huynh. “They don’t come off the spawn and just start eating. They’re exhausted. So they go and stage somewhere. If something comes right at them and it’s convenient, they’ll eat it, but they’re not going to chase anything down.”

Huynh explains: “So we had to slow our presentations way-way down. And the fish weren’t positioned on our electronics like they typically are. They were really close to the bottom making it hard to differentiate walleyes from rocks. Then you’d see a rock move on the screen and we’d get bit and set the hook, but a lot times the jig came back clean, no fish, even though we were fishing our typical routine. They were biting and eating so light that the dense Short-Shank Tungsten was absolutely critical, especially considering we were casting 40- to 50-feet out. With the tungsten you could actually feel the walleyes put the bait in their mouth, a sensation that would carry up through our fluoro leaders, braid, through our rods, into our reels, and up into our hands. With the tungsten—as well as the rest of our gear—we could feel those subtle bites 50 feet away,” concludes Hunyh.

Currently, Northland Pro Tom Huynh is pre-fishing in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, for the AIM National Championship Shootout to be held on Friday, June 2. You can bet Northland Tackle Eye Candy™ and Tungsten Jigs will be very much in play…

ABOUT Northland® Fishing Tackle

In 1975, a young Northwoods fishing guide named John Peterson started pouring jigs and tying tackle for his clients in a small remote cabin in northern Minnesota. The lures were innovative, made with high quality components, and most importantly, were catching fish when no other baits were working! Word spread like wildfire, the phone started ringing… and the Northland Fishing Tackle® brand was in hot demand! For 40 years now, John and the Northland® team have been designing, testing and perfecting an exclusive line of products that catch fish like no other brand on the market today. Manufactured in the heart of Minnesota’s finest fishing waters, Northland® is one of the country’s leading producers of premium quality jigs, live bait rigs, spinnerbaits and spoons for crappies, bluegills, perch, walleyes, bass, trout, northern pike and muskies.

POTENTIAL WORLD RECORD CATFISH LANDED

POTENTIAL WORLD RECORD CATFISH LANDED

Wels Catfish


from The Fishing Wire
Unbelievable! MADCAT Pro Staff Alessandro Biancardi (ITA) shocks the whole catfish world with a monster caught in river Po a few days ago! Alessandro’s huge kitten beats the previous world record by 4cm and the fish is a result of 23 years of hard work! We’re sooo proud of you, Alessandro! Grazie! You have written history in the world of catfish angling! You situated the MADCAT brand on the top! Read how Alessandro described his incredible adventure below!

“Hi everyone, I’m Alessandro Biancardi from MADCAT ITALY team, I’m here to describe with trembling voice and eyes full of joy, what happened just few days ago, after 23 years of intense catfishing!

Everything started as a normal day of fishing, I went to the great river Po. Before leaving I checked knots, hooks, each connection, because I’m extremely meticulous. I always need to be 100% sure that everything is in place if a dream fish decide to bite my lure.

I was alone on my boat, the water level was starting to drop after a big flood, I decided to fish with spinning technic so I started casting my lure in the muddy water… I used to start with a crank bait to quickly understand if fish are active or not, this time I had a different feeling and I started with a Savage Gear Cannibal Shad on a 12/0 (40 gram) jig head.

In silence I approached the first spot and after few casts a powerful bite arrived, the fish stood still some seconds before starting a very complicated fight, between strong currents and a lot of submerged obstacles. I calmly managed to fight what I felt to be a prehistoric fish. I followed it for 40 endless minutes, when it surfaced for the first time, I really realized that I hooked a monster, adrenaline started pumping hard and the fear of losing it almost sent me into a panic, I was alone facing the biggest catfish I ever seen in 23 years.

I tried gloving its mouth 2-3 times, but it was still too strong, I decided to go in shallow water trying to land it from shore and after few tries, I managed to land it!
I tied the fish to let him recover from the long fight then I suddenly realized that the boat was not anchored, and it was going away in the current, I was forced to have a swim to recover it with all my stuff.

I called my friend Marco to reach me and to warn the guys at the near WELS-CAMP AM PO, I was sure that the fish I caught was special, but I never imagined what would happen next when we measured the fish on the mat. Under the incredulous eyes of many anglers, the meter stopped at 285 cm, it was the new WORLD RECORD catfish!
I was very curious about the weight but I feared to stress too much that rare specimen so I decided to safely release it, hoping it could give another angler the same joy he gave to me.”
Gear used to catch this world record monster:

World Record Catifh Jig

• Rod: MADCAT XTAAZ Spin 2.70m
• Reel: Savage Gear SGS8 8000
• Line: MADCAT prototype braid
• Lure: Savage Gear Cannibal 15cm
• Jig head: MADCAT (12/0) 40g

Alessandro, you have the respect and hearty congratulations of the whole MADCAT team! You’re simply the best!
Please give Alessandro an applause and a follow:

https://www.facebook.com/alessandro.biancardi.18
https://www.instagram.com/alebiancardi_catfishing_madcat/

: In the presence of 10 witnesses, an official measurement that was thorough was done. Additionally, documentation was sent to the IGFA so they could officially record this large fish! Although this procedure takes some time, what matters to us is that our consultant captured the largest catfish ever— catfish world record!

Where and How To Catch August Bass On the Alabama River

August Bass at Alabama River with Mike Presley

     The singing bass that was so popular a few years ago begged you to “Take me to the river.”  Maybe it knew something.  In the heat of August you would be wise to take yourself to the Alabama River for some fast action for largemouth and spotted bass.

     Officially named R.E. Bob Woodruff Lake but also known at Jones Bluff, most locals simply call the long, winding backwaters above the Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam “the river” or “the Alabama River.” 

     Starting near Prattville, the lake runs through Montgomery all the way to its headwaters where the Coosa and Tallapoosa join.  It is a narrow river lake so any power generation at the dam quickly creates current that puts bass in a feeding mood and positions them on structure and cover the whole length of the lake.

     As the uppermost of the Alabama River Lakes, Woodruff is the most river-like lake and winds its way for 80 miles and covers about 12,800 acres.  There are 11 Corps of Engineers parks with various facilities like campgrounds and boat ramps as well as several other private and public facilities on the water, so the lake is readily accessible for all of its length.  Last year there were over 2 million visitors to Woodruff.

     There are some good largemouth in Woodruff but spotted bass will make up most of your catch.  In the 2008 Bass Anglers Information Team (BAIT) report there were only three club tournaments reported on Woodruff but the success rate was very good at 89.80 percent. Club anglers averaged just over four bass a day in tournaments. That does not sound high, but it was one of only seven out of 29 lakes over four fish per day in the survey.  The average bass weigh was 1.63 pounds, respectable for a lake with a 12 inch limit, and about two thirds of the bass weighed in were spots.

     Mike Presley has lived in the area most of his life and loves bass fishing. He was hooked on the river when, at five years old, he caught a 4.5 pound spotted bass while fishing with his dad.  Until they moved to Florida Mike was Tournament Manager for the Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society. Now he works in the area and fishes as many tournaments as he can on the river.

     In early summer Mike had a streak going of two first place wins, a second and two third place finishes in six tournaments on the river.  He fishes the Fishers Of Men trail, the Weekend Angler Tournament Trail, the BASS Weekend Series and as many local tournaments on the river as he can.

     “In August you can average a 2.5 pound per bass stinger pretty easily,” Mike said.  It takes a string of 16 of 18 pounds to win most tournaments, so you need a couple of kicker four to five pound bass to do well.  And the river can produce big fish. Mike’s best spot from the river weighed six pounds, he landed a 7.5 pound largemouth there, and his best tournament catch of five bass pulled the scales down to 24 pounds.

     “In August most of the bass are set up on deep structure and relate to the current,” Mike told me.  You can always catch a few good bass shallow by flipping heavy cover, and many times your kicker fish will come that way, but for numbers you will be fishing the main river structure.

     Mike has a wide variety of baits rigged and ready to cover any situation he finds on the water each day in August. He will have a half to three quarters ounce football head jig in green pumpkin with a green pumpkin trailer, a deep diving crankbait, a shaky head jig and finesse worm tied on his rods.  Those baits allow him to cover the deep structure quickly.  He also keeps a flipping jig on a heavy rod ready to probe shallow cover for a kicker fish.

     Fluorocarbon line is a key to getting bites in clear water and Mike rigs all his plastics and jigs on it, even when flipping pads.  He also runs his deep diving crankbaits on it since it will allow them to run a little deeper and the lack of stretch makes them work better.

     We fished the following ten spots a few weeks ago and bass were on them.  Most of the morning we tried smaller baits and got a couple of small bass, but, as predicted, the bigger fish started hitting after the current turned on at noon.  Within an hour we put three largemouth in the boat that would have pulled the scales to about 12 pounds. That shows how important the current can be.

     Check the following places Mike likes to fish on the upper river. You can put in a Cooter’s Pond and fish them without too much running. There are similar spots all over the river but if you want to fish the lower lake it would be easier to trailer down to Swift Creek since it is a long run in a boat.

     1.  N 32 23.590 – W 86 19.132 – Just north of the amphitheater on the river in Montgomery, Northern Boulevard crosses the river and the bridge pilings on the right going upstream are usually good for a keeper fish, according to Mike.  Fish around the pilings with a jig head worm and a jig and pig.  Work the eddies behind each piling carefully. There was a tree hung up at the upstream piling when we fished and wood cover there can be a key, so fish any you see from different angles.

     Mike throws his Davis Shaky Head on a spinning rod loaded with eight to ten pound test fluorocarbon line.  He likes a one-eight ounce head and puts a Finesse or Trick worm on it.  Green pumpkin, Bama Bug or June Bug are all good colors.  He will also flip a black and blue Arkie style  jig and pig around the pilings, letting it fall and move with the current.

     2.   N 32 22.997 – W 85 18.811 – In front of the amphitheater in Montgomery the river makes a bend and there is a ledge out from the seawall.  It is on your left going downstream.  This was a some-what secret hot spot for local fishermen until a pro was filmed catching fish on it in a big tournament. Mike says it produces good catches at times and you should fish it when in the area.

     Stop out in front of the seawall about even with the end of the walkway part and keep your boat out in 18 feet of water or so. Cast up toward the seawall and you will be casting into six feet or less about 20 feet off the bank.  There is lots of rocks and rubble here on the flat out to the drop and fish hold all in it.

     Work from the pier out to the end of the point.  Try your big crankbiat then follow it up with a jig head worm. You will get hung up a good bit here but the bass hold in the cover so you need to get into it.  Cover on spots like this is important and you should always probe for sweet spots where the bass hold.  Once you hit the cover on structure, concentrate your casts to that area.

     3.  N 32 24.517 – W 86 21.920 – Running down the river, go under the I-65 Bridge and you will see powerlines crossing way ahead of you after the river straightens out. Watch for a small opening on your right about half way down this straight-away.  The opening goes back into an old oxbow lake.  There is a water depth post on the upstream point and you can see the sand on it when the river is down a little.

     Mike says you can pull up on this point and catch 50 bass when the current is right. Sit out in 15 feet of water and cast up toward the point on the upstream side of the cut.  Work a football head jig, jig head worm and big crankbait across the drop. There is some good cover out on the point and it drops into the river. Fan cast all the way around the point.

     When fishing a football head jig, Mike goes as light as the current allows.  He starts with a half-ounce jig with a green pumpkin Netbait chunk on it and dies the tips of the chunk tails chartreuse with JJ’s Magic.  Go to a three quarter ounce jig if the current is strong and fish the jig on the bottom with a sliding motion, much like fishing a Carolina rig. 

     4.  N 32 24.837 – W 86 22.071 – Run down to the power line pilings on the left and fish them.   Mike says this vertical structure holds bass and the depth of the water around the pilings means they stay here all summer. Wood hung up on the pilings provides additional cover and makes them better.

     You will be in 25 feet of water on the river side of the pilings.  Throw your jig head worm up to the pilings and let it fall down the face of them. Count it down – if you get hit at a certain depth there is a good chance other bass are holding at that depth.  Run a crankbait across the face of the pilings, too. Try to bump it as it works along the concrete.

     Fish all the way around the pilings, hitting them at different angles with jig head worm and crankbait. When the current is strong work your bait from the current into the eddies like a baitfish moving with the current. Bass will usually hold in the eddies waiting on an easy meal.

     5.  N 32 25.868 – 86 22/071 – Run downstream to where the big opening going back into Cooters Pond starts on your right. Stop on the upstream point of this opening. There is a ledge that runs all the way across the mouth of this big opening and bass hold all along it.  Mike says you will catch a lot of keeper size bass here.

     On the upstream point there is a danger marker sitting downstream of the point and Mike will start at the bank and work out past the danger marker.  Stay out in the deeper water in the river channel and cast up onto the ledge, working your bait from shallow to deep. Mike likes to run his Fat Free shad so it bumps the bottom shallow then runs off the bottom at the drop.   Citrus Shad and white are his favorite colors in this bait.

     If the crankbait doesn’t draw a strike work the area again with a slower moving bait like a jig head worm or football head jig. Current makes this spot much better and you can catch fish all the way across it. Mike likes the upstream point best but if bass are hitting keep working the ledge all the way across.

     6.  N 32 24.971 – W 86 26.601 – Running downstream the river is fairly straight below the Highway 31 bridge.  Before you get to the bend you will see a pasture on your right and a small creek enters the river at the end of the pasture.  Stop and fish the upstream point of this small creek.  There are a couple of big stumps on it that usually hold bass. Then fish the downsteam side, working the flatter point with the sandbar on it on that side.

     Fish both sides with a crankbait then work your jigs across them.  With the jig head worm, Mike likes to shake it in one place with his rod tip. This often makes sluggish bass hit.  Try to keep your bait in one spot and make it wiggle and shake there. This action is where the name “shaky head” came from and it works well, especially on spotted bass.

     7.  N 32 24.416 – W 86 27.399 – Right in the bend of the river not far downstream of hole 6 Autauga Creek enters on the right going downstream.  It is just downstream of a water intake tower on the edge of the river.  Mike likes to fish the downstream point of this creek. There is a big dead tree on the point.

     A good ledge forms here from the river and the creek mouth with good drops to fish and mike says bass stack up on this point.  He fishes it with a jig head worm.  If you like to throw a Caroliana Rig, this is a great spot for that, too. Mike says right a finesse or Trick worm in the same colors as you use on the jig head and drag it along the bottom. Fan  cast the point, covering it from different angles and work you bait down the drops.

     8.  N 32 23.224 – W 86 27.680 – Downstream of the mouth of Autauga Creek the river runs straight and there is some water off the river channel on your left going downstream.  You will pass a small island then see an opening across a shallow flat that goes into a small creek.  A river ledge runs from downstream of that island downstream.  Further downstream is a red channel marker.

     Start fishing near the island, staying out in the river and casting up onto the ledge with crankbaits, jig head worms and football head jigs.  Work the area probing for cover.  If the current is running strong it will be easier to start down past the mouth of the ditch near the red buoy and work up toward the island. Fishing into the current helps you control the boat and allows you to angle your casts upstream so your bait has a more natural movement with the current.

     Mike says he found this placed accidentally when idling across the river ledge going into the small creek. It was a good accident – he caught enough bass here to come in second in a tournament.   This is a long ledge and the bass may be holding anywhere along it, so work it thoroughly.

     9. N 32 22.555 – W 86 27.810 – Further downstream Catoma Creek enters the river on your left going downstream.  Mike says bass stack up on the points of this creek since it is the biggest creek on the river.  The downstream point comes almost straight up out of the river and tops out at about 7 feet well off the bank.  This is the side where Mike expects to catch the most bass.

     Stay out in 20 feet of water and cast up onto the point. There are stumps on it to hold the bass. Work a crankbait across it then follow up with slower moving baits.  When you hit a stump, make several casts to it with different baits.  Mike checks this point every time he is near it during the day since current may start moving and turn the bass on.\

     10. N 32 26.415 – W 86 23.406 – For a change of pace for a kicker fish, go all the way back into Cooters Pond.  Be careful running once you get off the river, there are stumps and shallows, but you want to get back and go under the golf cart bridge.  Past it the water is full of lily pads, cypress trees and grass and several islands break up the area. 

     Mike likes to flip a big jig and pig into the pads. He says you won’t get many bites but the ones you do get will be from grown bass. One or two bass in here after you get a limit on the river ledges will give you the kickers you need to win tournaments.

     Flip a black and blue jig with a blue twin tail trailer on a heavy rod.  Mike sticks with fluorocarbon line even in heavy cover like this. He thinks the invisible line gives you a slight edge in getting strikes, even when flipping.

     Work all around the islands and fish as many of the pads as you can. The water in the channels is deep enough to keep bass in here all year long, and big largemouth love this kind of cover.

     These spots give you an idea of the kinds of places Mike fishes in tournaments. Check them out and see how they look, then you can find many other similar spots all over the river.

     To give you an idea how important current is, Mike told me we needed current to turn on the fish. He called 334-682-4896 and found out they were turning on one generator at noon.  Sure enough, within 15 minutes Mike got a solid 4.5 pound bass, then I got a three pounder, then Mike got another four pound plus fish.  We left soon after that to get out of the heat. You can call and plan your trip around the generation schedule.

THEY CAN’T ALL BE BIG ONES

THEY CAN’T ALL BE BIG ONES so enjoy every one you catch, no matter how big

People go fishing for varied reasons. Some want to be outside; others want to spend time with family or friends. Anyone who goes fishing wants to catch a few, and some want to catch a really big fish. Some of those goals are easily accomplished, some are more difficult.

It’s easy to spend time outdoors when you’re fishing. Fishing is done outdoors. If your interest is spending time with family or friends, you just have to invite them to join you. Another easy task. If you’re not concerned about species or size, you can usually catch a few fish. But the big fish goal, that’s an entirely different deal. The reality is the chances of catching an enormously big fish of a certain species every time you go fishing are minimal. However, there are things that an angler can do to increase the odds of catching a gigantic fish of the targeted species more often.

First off, if your primary goal is to catch a lunker of a particular species, you need to go fishing where the lunkers live. Some bodies of water are home to lots of fish, others are known as big fish lakes. For instance, the biggest walleyes usually are found in lakes that have oily baitfish as a primary source of walleye food. Do some research to learn which bodies of water have a history of turning out big fish.

The next thing to do to catch a trophy is to use baits or techniques that will appeal to the larger fish. Much of the time, big baits catch big fish. A trophy can certainly be caught on a small bait, but for most of the open water fishing season, big fish want a big meal. If you want to catch a bunch of bass in the summer, find a deep weedline and tie on an eighth ounce jig head and thread on a four- or five-inch Ocho worm. You’re going to catch’em. Maybe not the biggest ones, but you’ll probably get bass-thumb, and every now and then, a lunker will eat your jig-worm. But if big ones are the goal, find the heaviest vegetation, tie on a Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig, attach a KVD Rodent plastic, and work it in and around that heavy cover. You won’t get as many bites as you would on the weedline with a jig-worm, but your big bass odds are going to go up.

Last thing: Remember that big is relative. A five-pound bass in some locales is a big one. In other places an eight pounder is needed to turn heads. And, in a few regions or bodies of water, it takes a ten pounder to get a bass-chaser’s attention.

Really the last thing: Fishing is supposed to be fun. If a lunker is your goal, go for it. But also remember that with some luck, that little fish that you just caught will one day be a big fish. Also remember that it’s just fun to catch fish. Many, many fishing guides and tournament anglers have had successful and profitable careers by catching lots of smallish to medium sized fish. If you are set on catching the biggest fish of a particular species, use big fish baits and techniques in big fish waters. But never forget, they can’t all be big ones. It’s fun to catch fish of any size any time, and fun is the best reason to go fishing.

How To Catch May Bass at Wedowee with Eric Morris

May Bass at Wedowee

with Eric Morris, Wedowee Marine owner

    May is an amazing month for bass fishermen.  Many big bass are hungry after the spawn and feed heavily. Some are still on the beds early in the month so you can sight fish if you like that. And males are guarding fry, making them aggressive and easy to catch.  This is a good month for catching lots of bass as well as landing one big enough to brag about.  You would be hard pressed to find a better May lake than Wedowee.

    May bass fishing on Lake Wedowee is a pleasant surprise to many who have not tried it.  Limited access keeps big tournaments off the lake so it is not real crowded.  The lake is full of good sized spots that are very aggressive.  And you can catch some big largemouth if you target them.

    Dammed in 1983, Wedowee is the newest Alabama Power Lake and is officially known as R.L.Harris Reservoir.  It is on the Tallapoosa River and covers just less than 11,000 acres on it and the Little Tallapoosa River and has 270 miles of shoreline.

    The steep, rocky banks and clear water favor spotted bass and they are the predominate species on the lake.  Wedowee is not a real fertile lake so the Alabama DNR set a slot limit, requiring the release of all bass between 13 and 16 inches long to give that group of bass a chance to grow.  Spots became so common that they are no longer included in the slot and fishermen are encouraged to keep spots to eat. You are also encouraged to keep largemouth under the 13 inch limit to give more food for the bigger bass.

    In the 2008 Bass Angler Information Team (BAIT) survey, Wedowee ranked first in angler success in club tournaments.  That means club anglers caught more bass per fisherman on Wedowee than any other lake in Alabama.  It ranked third in bass per angler day and a surprising fourth in the amount of time it took to catch a bass weighing over five pound.  So, you will catch a lot of bass and have an excellent chance at landing a five pound plus fish.

    Due to all those factors, Wedowee was ranked as the best lake in Alabama for bass fishermen in 2008, and it seems to be getting better and better.  Plan a trip in May to take advantage of some excellent bass fishing.

    Eric Morris loves bass fishing. Right now Eric is service manager of All Pro Auto Group in LaGrange. A few years ago he, his father and brother bought and now operate Wedowee Marina on Highway 431 right at the bridge on the Little Tallapoosa River.  They are taking on Legend Bass Boats this year and Eric is on the Legend Pro Staff. He is also sponsored by Falcon Rods.  He visits a wide variety of lakes and fishes more than 40 tournaments a year but Wedowee is his favorite lake.

    Although he never fished a tournament until he was 25 years old, the first one his father took him to got him hooked to the point of addiction.  He loved it and now fishes tournaments every chance he gets. He has fished with a couple of bass clubs and now competes with the Harrelson Hawg Hunters bass club in Georgia, where he won the point standings two years. He also fishes every pot and charity tournament he can enter on Wedowee. 

    Eric has won four straight January club tournaments on the lake, but May is his favorite time to fish Wedowee.  He loves topwater fishing and it is excellent this month, and he catches some big fish on Spooks and Zell Pops all month long. And he can catch numbers of bass on a variety of baits.

    We fished Wedowee on a rainy day the second week of April and some bass were already on the beds.  There should be a big wave of bass moving onto beds in late April around the full moon on the 28th, and some will bed even after that. So, for the next few weeks, you can catch bedding bass, a few pre spawn fish, and a lot of hungry post spawn bass.

    An 8.5 pound largemouth is Eric’s best from Wedowee, and he has landed a 4.45 pound spot there. His best tournament catch on Wedowee was five bass weighing 21.36 pounds and, surprisingly, included three largemouth and two spots.  And that weigh gave him third place in the tournament. It often takes well over 20 pounds to win on Wedowee.

    Largemouth are Eric’s target in tournaments since they get bigger and weigh more, but he may fish all day for five or six bites to win.  For fun catching lots of bass, Eric will go after spots, especially when taking kids and inexperienced fishermen out.  He separates the methods and areas of the lake to catch each although you can catch some bass of each species on either pattern.

    For largemouth, Eric says fish the upper stretches of either the Tallapoosa or Little Tallapoosa Rivers.  There is a higher percentage of largemouth to spots up the rivers so you are more likely to catch them.  And Eric uses baits that bigger largemouth eat, like a full size Spook.

    In late April and early May Eric will fish back in the pockets, looking for fish around the bedding areas. Any small pocket is likely to hold bedding bass on Wedowee since there are not many creeks for them to go to.  Work every inch of the bank with your Foxy Shad or chrome and blue Spook or a ghost pattern Zell Pop with a feather trailer since there is a lot of underwater wood you can’t see that will hold fish. Make repeated casts to wood you can see.

    As the water warms and it gets later in May, Eric will work more toward the outer banks of the pockets and the main points at their mouths. Post spawn bass will migrate out of the backs of the pockets and feed as they work their way out to the main channel.

    Early mornings are best for topwater baits but Eric will fish them any time there is low light.  If the day is overcast he will throw a Spook or popper all day long. On sunny days, anytime there is a patch of shade on the water he will work it with the topwater baits, too.

    A spinnerbait is another good bait for big largemouth, especially during the shad spawn. Watch for shad on the rocky banks early in the morning and throw a double willow leaf bladed white spinnerbait right on the bank. If there is no activity, slow roll it from the bank back to the boat. Eric says he will reel four or five turns of his reel handle then stop the bait and start it moving again with a twitch of the bait to give it more action.

    If the bite is slow and the largemouth sluggish, Eric will pull out a green pumpkin Senko and work it weightless around all wood cover in the pockets.  A big Senko works best and he lets if fall slowly by any cover he spots. 

    Watch your line carefully for any twitches as a bass inhales the bait, and tighten up your line very slowly before moving it. If you feel weight, set the hook. Bass will often take the Senko and not move, and the first thing you feel when you move it is them spitting it out!

    The main lake below the Highway 48 Bridge is the area to fish for spotted bass.  The water is clear, most banks are rocky and it is ideal spot habitat.  A wide variety of baits will catch fish down the lake.

    First thing in the morning a small topwater bait like the Zell Pop will draw strikes when cast close to rocky bluff banks.  The strike will usually come within two feet of the rocks, so get in close and make parallel casts to the rocks, keeping your bait it the strike zone longer.

    A jig head worm is Eric’s “go-to” bait and he uses it to catch, in his words, a “whole lotta numbers” of spots on the lower lake. He fishes a one-eight ounce jig head on eight pound fluorocarbon line and puts a green pumpkin or Bama Bug color Trick worm on it.  He says the lower lake is full of rocky points that hold large numbers of spots.

    The best points are flat points at the end of a bluff wall, where the vertical rocks change to a flatter, gravel and rock area.  Eric will sit out in the channel with his boat in 20 feet of water, but near the end of the bluff, and cast up onto the flat point, working his bait from the shallows out and down the drop.

    Cast your jig head right against the bank and make sure it goes to the bottom. Eric says too many fishermen keep their line tight and that makes the bait swing away from the edge of the rocks, and many start moving the worm before it hits bottom. Eric says he makes sure the jig is on the bottom then starts moving it “a half-inch” at a time, shaking his rod tip to make the tail of the worm dance.

    Bass will often hit as the bait falls, so be ready as soon as your jig hits the water.  And move the bait slowly. Some of these points drop off steeply and if you pull your bait too far it will drop right past the fish holding on the bottom.

    Jig head worms are great baits to let a kid use to learn to catch bass. They will get a lot of bites on this bait fished on this pattern so they don’t lose interest, and they will catch some hard pulling fish.

    If the wind is strong, making it difficult to fish a light jig head worm, Eric will throw a Carolina rig in the same areas.  Fish the same worm or a green pumpkin lizard on a three-foot leader behind a heavy enough sinker to keep your bait near the bottom.   He fishes Carolina rigs on 12 pound Segar Fluorocarbon line, his choice of brand of line for all his fishing.

    Also ride the points on the lower lake and watch your depthfinder for brush piles. Eric says every point on the lake seems to have a man made brush pile. Look for them where you would make one and there is probably one there.  Back off them and fish them with the jig head worm or a Carolina rigged worm.  Brush from 15 to 20 feet deep will hold bass best, in Eric’s opinion.

    By the middle of May night tournaments start on Wedowee and night time is a great time to catch fish there. Eric fishes as many of the night tournaments as he can, and enjoys the change from daytime fishing.  He says by early June the lake will be on fire at night, with lots of bass feeding in the dark.

    Dock lights attract bait and bass in the dark and Eric will fish any lights he can find with a small light colored crankbait. He tries to match the shad swimming around the lights and works the edges of the light first, then under them in the brighter light.

    Spinnerbaits work well at night when fished on the down-lake points, too. Eric surprised me when he said he uses a white spinnerbait with silver blades in the dark. He does use a black or sapphire blue trailer on his white spinnerbait.  Make long casts across the points and reel the bait back steadily to give the bass an easier target in the dark.

    You can catch bass at night on the points and brush piles, too. Fish them like you do during the day, but fish even slower.  When you hit brush or a rock, jiggle your bait in one place longer to let the bass find it in the dark.

    Wedowee is a great lake for catching bass right now and will just bet better and better over the next several weeks.  Give Eric’s patterns a try and see how he catches them. These tactics will work for you.

CELEBRATE TIME ON THE WATER DURING NATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING WEEK

How You Can CELEBRATE TIME ON THE WATER DURING NATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING WEEK: Two Free Fishing Days!

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (May 30, 2023) – If offered a chance to go boating or fishing, most people will instantly say “yes!” Let the celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week (June 3-11, 2023), which includes two FREE Fishing Days, give you a reason to extend that invite, says the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). 

“Boating and fishing are both great activities, and offer tremendous bonus benefits for everyone who participates,” said Scott Robinson, Chief of the WRD Fisheries Management Section. “When you are out on the water, boating and fishing helps you make stronger connections with family and friends; it provides an opportunity for stress relief; and it means you are actively supporting conservation efforts with the purchase of fishing equipment and boating fuel.”

National Fishing and Boating Week began in 1979 and was created to recognize the tradition of fishing, to broaden the spirit of togetherness and to share the values and knowledge of today’s anglers with tomorrow’s anglers. 

How to Celebrate: FREE FISHING DAYS: This is a GREAT time to introduce family members or friends to the sport of angling, Georgia offers two FREE fishing days – Sat., June 3 and Sat., June 10, 2023 – during this special week.  On these days, Georgia residents do not need a fishing license, trout license or Lands Pass (WMAs/PFAs) to fish.

Where to Celebrate: There are so many great places to fish in Georgia, from trout streams in North Georgia, to large reservoirs, to lazy rivers in the south part of the state. You can always start at one of the 11 Public Fishing Areas ([GeorgiaWildlife.com/allpfas]GeorgiaWildlife.com/allpfas) or at one of many Georgia State Parks (GaStateParks.org/) that offer fishing opportunities for family and friends. There also will be multiple Kids Fishing Events during the week-long celebration (License.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/Event/Calendar.aspx).

Can’t Get Outdoors? You can still celebrate indoors. Let the kids go to the Angler Academy. At this website, developed by TakeMeFishing.org, you will find links to “fishy” crafts, games, informative videos and puzzles. Check it out at https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/fishing-resources/angler-academy-for-kids/.

“In the spirit of National Fishing and Boating Week, be sure to make it a mission to take someone new when you go, such as a child, a relative or a friend. You could be the person that inspires another person’s life-long love of the water,” says Robinson.  

For more information on National Fishing and Boating Week and all it has to offer, including free fishing days, nearest kids fishing event or places to fish, visit GeorgiaWildlife.com/nfbw . 

Where and How To Catch April Bass At Lake Guntersville

April Bass at Lake Guntersville

with Curt Staley

    Most bass fishermen would pick April as the best month of the year for fishing. And most bass fishermen would pick Lake Guntersville as the best bass lake in Alabama for an incredible catch. So, put the two together and pick Guntersville as your lake to fish every chance you get right now.

    Guntersville is an incredible bass fishery with most major tournament trails scheduling events on it each year.  State trails, local pot tournaments and club tournaments are held there every week.  The lake is often covered with tournament fishermen practicing or fishing an event and hundreds of other bass fishermen are on the lake testing its waters.

    Built in 1939 on the Tennessee River, Guntersville is a Tennessee Valley Authority lake with 67,900 acres of bass filled waters and has 890 miles of shoreline.  But the shoreline is not as critical as it is on other lakes since the lake has vast shallow flats and grass beds even in the middle along the old river channel.  Guntersville is definitely a bass factory.

    In the 2008 Bass Information Team Report, (BAIT) Guntersville showed the highest average weight for a bass in tournaments and also was the lake where it took the least amount of time to catch a bass weighing over five pounds. 

    But it can be tough fishing. Guntersville ranked 19th out of 20 lakes in the survey in percent of success and dead last in the number of bass caught per angler day. Part of those low numbers are due to the 15 inch size limit, making it harder to bring in a keeper bass in a tournament.

    So, you have a better chance of catching a five pound plus bass on Guntersville than any other lake in the state but you will not catch a lot of keeper bass. The ones you do catch will be fat and healthy, and the 15 inch size limit insures a good future supply of bigger bass, but there will be frustrating days where the catch rate is very low.

    Good advice will help you catch more bass this month on Guntersville and Curt Staley can provide the information you need.  Curt moved to the Guntersville area as a teenager 16 years ago when his father moved there for a job. Since Curt has been fishing since he was big enough to walk, and his father was a bass tournament fisherman, competing on the old Redman trail as well as others, it was like throwing a rabbit into a briar patch.  It was a perfect fit.

    Curt took advantage of living near the lake and studied it carefully.  For the past ten years he has been guiding on Guntersville as well as fishing as many tournaments there as possible.  He fishes about 290 days a year and 240 of them are on Guntersville, so he knows the movements of bass there very well.

    Last year Curt placed second in the BASS Weekend Series Alabama North circuit, after winning the points race in 2008 on that trail.  He placed third in the regionals and then came in 18th in the nationals in 2008 and 9th in 2009.  Curt is on the Triton Pro Staff through The Boat House in Athens and is a tough competitor, and Guntersville is his favorite lake.

    “Our major spawn on Guntersville is in mid-April, but waves of bass move into the spawning flats from late March to May,” Curt said.  He expects to catch bass shallow from now through April, and will catch prespawn fish, fish on the beds and post spawn fish.

    One great thing about Guntersville is the way you can find huge spawning flats that may contain hundreds of bass at any time this month.  You can start on the contact points where the prespawn fish first move in and where they hold in post spawn, and go just a short distance and find others on the bed.

    Curt fishes shallow this time of year, fishing water two to six feet deep. But he slows down.  Curt says the bass are less aggressive now, especially the bigger ones, so gone are the rattle baits and other fast moving baits. He will have a split shot Baby Brush Hog, a Senko, and a Lil Hustler jig and Zoom Craw rigged up for catching fish now.

    Curt does not look for bass on the bed to sight fish for them but will cast to them if he spots a big female.  His methods catch bedding bass but it is often hard to spot the beds on Guntersville so he fishes the bedding flats knowing he will drag his bait across beds.

    He will also watch for light spots that indicate a hole in the grass on them, It might be a bed, it might be a stump, or it might just be a hole in the grass where the bottom is hard, but bass will be there no matter what caused it.

    On a cold, windy day the last weekend in February Curt showed me some of his best spots on the lake for April bass. The bass were still in the winter pattern but a few were trying to move up to the pre spawn areas even that early.  Check out these ten spots now, they all be loaded with fish.

    If you put in at the ramp across from Waterfront Grocery and Fishing Tackle you will be in the middle of all these spots and can get everything you need from tackle to grub at the store. The day we put in there were several tournaments out of this ramp and both parking lots were full, but a trailer set up there provided some fantastic BBQ for hungry fishermen.

    1.  N 34 31,513 – W 86 09.825 – Run up to Preston Creek and stop at the middle point between the two forks. It is a steep point with riprap around it and nice houses on the hill.  Curt likes to start on the point where the rock seawall ends and the riprap starts and work to the right, toward the fork of the creek with the small island in the mouth of it.

    “Bass move into this creek by the thousands to spawn,” Curt said.  They will hit this main point and the island then move on back on both forks to spawn.  After the spawn they move back out to the point and island on the way back to deeper water, so you can catch them coming and going off the point and island and on the beds back in the shallow flats.

    Keep your boat out in about ten feet of water and work a jig and pig, Senko or Baby Brush Hog on the rocks around the point. Concentrate on the areas where there are bigger rocks and also the wood cover.  Fish around the docks carefully, bass often hold on them. Jump over to the island and fish around it, too, working the shallows where there are rocks and blowdowns.

    After hitting these areas work on into the back of the creek, slowly working each of your baits along the bottom, dragging them through the beds that will be there even if you don’t see them. The bass will bed all over the right fork in two to six feet of water so don’t just cast to the bank, work the whole flat in those depths.

    2.  N 34 30.756 – W 86 08.419 – Across the lake you will see a line of islands across the mouth of a big slough. There is a church in the back so this is called Church House Slough and it a major spawning area.  The bass will hold around the islands then move back into the slough to bed.

    Start out in front of the islands and work them, fishing through the grass beds with one of your slower moving baits for bigger bass. We got a good keeper here the day we fished and bass will feed around the islands year round, so it is a good spot to hit.

    Work on back into the slough, fishing slowly and looking for light spots in the grass in two to six feet of water.  If you cast and hit a stump, work it hard.  Hit it from all anglers. Curt says he is sure there is at least one bass beside every stump this time or year so he does everything he can to make it hit.

    It is not unusual to catch more than one bass off a stump, too. Curt says he often takes three or four good fish off the same stump, so don’t move too fast.  Give the bass a chance to bite. Remember that these bass tend to get sluggish near the spawn, so even if they are holding in the same areas where a rattle bait worked a few weeks ago you will do better now by slowing down.

    3.  N 34 29.293 – W 86 09.654 – Head down the lake to the next big slough on your left.  Curt says this is Murphy Hill and it is just downstream of a big island. There is a small island in the mouth of Murphy Hill.

    The downsream point of this slough has some rocks and as you go into the slough on that side there are a lot of blowdowns on the right bank back in the slough.  Bass often hold in the wood cover to feed both pre and post spawn and will spawn around the trees, too.

    All over the cove in the middle you will see lily pad stems sticking up and bass will feed and spawn around them, too. Work all around these shallow flats, probing for stumps and casting to light spots. Fan cast the whole area to drag your bait by a bedding bass.

    Curt says one of his tricks it to rig the Baby Brush Hog on a split shot rig. He crimps two small split shots about 12 inches up the line from his bait and fishes it slowly over the flats. He says the split shot rig seems to catch more bass than either Texas or Carolina rigged baits. The light shot come through the grass and also makes you slow down.

    4.  N 34 29.019 – W 86 10.576 – Run downstream and you will pass two riprap points that run well off the bank. Past the second one a slough will open up on your left just past a duck blind on the point.  Go into the slough and start fishing just inside the duckblind.

    Curt said last year he and a partner fished this slough for three hours and landed 65 bass in April.  That gives you an idea of the numbers of fish that can be spawning in these coves.  This one has a little deeper water in it that some others and seems to attract bigger bass.

    One of the reasons Curt likes this slough so much is he landed his best Guntersville bass here. He caught a 12 pound, 4 ounce beauty here in April and released it to spawn, and possibly be caught again.

    As you fish this slough work both arms of it. As you round the middle flat point with another duck blind on it, you will see a refrigerator on the bank, which will tell you this is the right area to be working.  There are also some blowdowns on the bank past it toward the river that hold fish.

    5.  N 34 28.172 – W 86 11.321 – A little further downstream a string of islands sits out from Mountain Lakes Resorts and you want to fish around them.  Go in behind the first island, the one out from the campground, and fish the back side of it up to the firs gap. Work the gap, especially if some wind is blowing through it. Wind will move the baitfish through gaps like this and bass will follow to feed on them.

    Fish the front side of the next island and work it carefully. Wind blowing in on this bank will improve the fishing it is not too strong.  Keep your boat well off the band make long casts, probing for underwater cover like rocks.

    Behind the islands look for shallow flat points running out and you will find bass spawning on them.  Fan cast all over shallows you find here.  Stumps hold bass here as in other places.

    Curt likes to fish his Lil Hustler jig on 17 to 20 pound fluorocarbon line and uses 15 pound fluorocarbon on his split shot Baby Brush Hog and Senko. The heavier line is necessary for the big fish you will hook and the grass they can get into.  But the clearer line helps you get more bites.

    6.  N 34 33.605 – W 86 07.947 – Head back up the river on the other side to the first opening into Mink Creek.  There are several islands across the mouth of the creek and the main channel is upstream, but go in through the first gap you come to running upstream.

    Ahead of you when you come through the gap you will see a shallow flat point with a two door beige boat house to the left of it.  Out on the end of the point there are several stumps and rootballs piled up on the bank right at the water’s edge.

    There are lots of shallow flat points covered with stumps in this area.  Curt starts at the boathouse, fishing around it then working out onto the big flat point.  Work all around it, staying way out on one pass then closer in on the next. Try to cover all the water two to six feet deep in the area.

    There are some incredible five-fish limits caught at Guntersville each April.  Curt’s best was five weighing 27 pounds, nine ounces and he sees 30 pound plus limits in many tournaments.  Fishing areas like this are where many such limits are caught.

    7.  N 34 34.644 – W 86 07.255 – Go to the bridge and under the tunnel in Mink Creek and start fishing the riprap on your right. Work it to the bank, crawling your jig and pig along the rocks and grass in this area. The riprap holds both pre and post spawn fish.

    When you get to the bank fish across the mouth of the small inlet and up the bank past the area where people fish from the bank. Further up the bank you will see an old boat filled with tires in the shallow water. Fish past it, working the grass. Curt got two nice keepers here on his jig and pig and a smaller keeper on a rattle bait the day we fished.

    Toward the bank of the creek you will see a power line crossing and on the right bank there is a sign about dredging.  If you head toward the sign, as a 90 degree angle to the power lines, you will find a spring.  You can see it by the green water coming out of it.  The bottom around it is two to four feet deep but it drops to 15 feet in the spring. 

    The GPS coordinates on the spring are N 34 34.885 – W 86 07.335.  Fish all around the spring.  Fish often hold in the deep hole and feed on the edges, and the water coming out is a stable temperature.

    After fishing this hole ease toward the power lines there is another hole that drops to over 20 feet deep. There is no water flow here to see but fish still hold in the deep water and come to the edges to feed. The holes are just a few yards across so you may have to look hard to find them.

    8. N 34 32.266 – W 86 06.314 – Run across to South Sauty Creek and go in between the upstream bank and the first island. The main channel is downstream and there will be big open water to your right past the island.

    Ahead of you there is a group of houses then banks with trees and some pockets with reeds in the back.  Curt starts fishing on the clay point on the left  across from the last house and works around the point, then across the big flat. Fish into the pockets with reeds in the back. Bass bed all over these flats and in the pockets between the clay point and the houses.

    If the water is fairly clear Curt likes a watermelon, watermelon/purple flake and watermelon candy Baby Brush hog on his split shot rig. He will use a black and blue jig in stained water but go to a watermelon jig and trailer in clear water. For his Senko fishing Curt usually uses green pumpkin or black.

    9.  N 34 31.723 – W 86 06.573 – Out in the middle of the big open water the creek channel makes a sharp bend around a four foot deep hump and bass hold on the channel and feed on the hump, and will bed around it, too.  To find the hump line up the last downstream island out in the mouth of the creek with the red boat house on the far bank.  Also look to the bridge and line it up with the last upstream gap in the islands. That will put you near the hump.

    Fish all around this area, watching your depthfinder until you find the shallow hump. Then work around it, fishing the edges of the channel and on top of the hump, too.  This area is especially good when water is being pulled at the dam and current moves across it.

    10.  N 34 31.154 – W 86 05.252 – Run to the bridge in South Sauty Creek and go under it. To your left you will see a campground on a big point across from a big two story house sitting by itself on a flat bank. Go toward the front of the house and look for a seawall just to the right of it, going into the big cove there.  There are two big trees standing in the open behind the seawall.

    The seawall is hard to see but you need to start fishing out in front of it and work all the way around the cover to your right.   Fish to the big shallow point on the other side of the cove. Bass will hold on the points and bed all over this shallow area.

    These ten spots will give you a starting point for catching April Guntersville bass. Fish them and get an idea of the kinds of places Curt likes to fish, then you can find similar places all over the lake, from the day all the way up the river.  Get in on some of the fabled spring fishing at Guntersville right now.

    To book a trip with Curt to see how he fishes the lake call him at 256-990-0376 or visit his website and email him through it at ww.gundervillebass.com. 

FISHING ETIQUETTE FOR EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER


Everybody should practice these tips on FISHING ETIQUETTE FOR EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER

Fishing Etiquette for Every Type of Angler

A great day fishing is as much about catching what you’re after as it is about the experience you had while away from home. But to keep your fishing trip memorable for only the best reasons, follow Nebraska Game and Parks’ rules of fishing etiquette.

Etiquette for every angler

Remember the Golden Rule

It’s easy to get tunnel vision, especially in pursuit of a big catch, but always treat others how you’d wish to be treated. Staying considerate helps others stay considerate, too.

Communicate

When in doubt, ask. Not sure whether someone is working a shoreline north to south? Or if he or she thinks you’re too close? A simple question — “Mind if we fish here?” — can help avoid conflict.

Share the water

Don’t hog one spot or stretch of water all day and don’t get too close to other anglers — either on shore or on the water. Public waters are meant for everyone to use, so be reasonable about sharing the space. At the same time, remember some people just want to swim, kayak, ski, or leisure boat, and have the same rights to the public waters as you.

Respect the fish

Not intending to eat the fish you catch? Work hard to ensure the fish stays alive by taking care of your catch. Limit time out of water, remove hooks quickly or while keeping it in water, and do your best to prevent damaging the fish’s protective slime coat.

Leave no trace

Did you pack it in? Then pack it out, too. Your spent line, broken lures, hooks, Styrofoam bait containers, snack wrappers and cans have no business being left on shore or in the water. It risks the lives of wildlife, is bad for the environment and ruins other’s experiences in nature. Instead, leave the place better than you found it.

Follow the law          

In addition to purchasing your fishing permit, know what type, how many and what size fish you can keep at water bodies across the state. Following the law helps sustain the state’s fisheries resources for the future. Find current rules in the 2023 Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

For the shore or pier angler

When fishing from shore or pier, it can get tight. Be aware of where you are, where your hook is and the direction of your cast. Never cast over or under someone else’s line. If you’re unsure of your skill, move away from the crowd so you can build your casting skills safely.

For the boat angler

While it can be tempting to troll where you see others having success, don’t. Give anglers ample room. Don’t cut them off or intersect their path when you see them working a shoreline or honey hole, either. Respect those who arrived before you to snag a productive spot.

For the bow fisher

When your adrenaline is coursing at spotting a big one, it can be easy to overshoot — and end up hitting a dock or a boat. Always look beyond what you’re aiming to hit. When in doubt, don’t shoot and wait for the next safe opportunity. Being aware of your surroundings and practicing caution is extremely important when archery fishing.

NSSF, USFWS, AND TAURUS RELEASE LATEST VIDEO IN THE “PARTNER WITH A PAYER” FILM SERIES

NSSF, USFWS, AND TAURUS RELEASE LATEST VIDEO IN THE “PARTNER WITH A PAYER” FILM SERIES: Highlighting Manufacturers and Their Support of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 24, 2023) – NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, highlights a partnership with Taurus Holdings, Inc., in support of the “Partner with a Payer®” initiative by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). In the video, titled “Building Our Partnerships,” the world-class manufacturing facilities at Taurus are showcased, which have been vital to assisting the state of Georgia and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in their economic development of creating and maintaining resources for the public to utilize for outdoor activities.

Companies including firearm and ammunition manufacturers and importers contribute to the USFWS initiative by paying excise taxes into the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (known as the Pittman-Robertson Act). More than $16.1 billion (over $25 billion when adjusted for inflation) have been contributed and distributed to individual states to allocate funds toward wildlife conservation, hunter-education programs and target shooting programs.

“This is a win-win situation for everyone involved, but especially outdoorsmen and women who are passionate about these activities and creating additional opportunities that future generations can utilize too,” said Tom Decker, Brand Manager, USFWS. “It enables manufacturers to also be active participants in managing wildlife areas and improving resources and facilities such as target shooting ranges. In return, the available facilities encourage the local community and industry partners alike to increase their regular participation and recruit others to use them as well.”

Employees from Taurus, Georgia DNR, NSSF and USFWS came together to nourish relationships and gain insight on each partner’s industry challenges. Through these shared experiences, the partners find ways to work together, support one another to overcome challenges, and understand each other’s opportunities for the betterment of wildlife resource management and public hunting opportunities. Understanding how each partner contributes to the American system of conservation funding is essential to the overall success of the initiative.

Taurus Holdings, Inc., whose 205,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is located in Bainbridge, Georgia, produces high-quality firearms with the support of employees who are passionate about the industry. A portion of each of its sales contributes to the excise tax, thus making public target shooting facilities and natural habitat more accessible to outdoorsmen and -women.

“Having more public resources, like this shooting range, made available around the country is very important to our business,” said Bret Vorhees, President and CEO of Taurus Holdings, Inc. “It makes these activities more accessible for current owners and new shooters to hone their skills, learn and practice proper firearm safety, and ultimately help expand the shooting sports and hunting alike. Without our contribution of excise taxes and the state fish and wildlife agencies’ dedication to managing these funding opportunities, initiatives like these wouldn’t be possible.”

These latest videos and others in the series were produced by Shine United LLC / Kingdom Filmworks for NSSF through a Multistate Conservation Grant administered by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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About NSSF: NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visitnssf.org

Visiting Lake Nottely, Blairsville and the Georgia Mountains

Want a nice get-away to the mountains for some scenery, cool air and fishing? I just got back from a few days around Blairsville and Lake Nottely. On the trip I ate some good food, looked at scenic views and fished for bass.  And I was constantly having flashback memories of my youth.

All the years I was in elementary school, grades one through eight back then, my family went on summer vacation for a week in the mountains.  We would load up the 54 Bel Air – and later the 1962 Bel Air – and head north from Dearing. All the roads were two lane back then and it was a slow, enjoyable trip.

Each night we would stay in a cheap roadside motel, four of us in one room, and eat at a local diner. Daddy insisted on country food just like we ate at home no matter how much I wanted a hamburger or hotdog.  At lunch we would stop at a picnic table, often right beside the road but sometimes at a scenic overlook, and mama would make sandwiches.

My most vivid memory of lunches is not about the food.  We always had Cokes in small bottles back then. I picked up mine for a swig and didn’t notice the yellow jacket on the mouth of the bottle. It took exception to being pressed against my lip and, after the burning sting eased a bit, I swelled up for two days!

The roadside attractions back then were not politically correct.  At many you could buy a nickel Coke or candy bar and give it to a chained bear cub to drink and eat.  I never wondered what happened to those cubs when they got too big, the owners probably ate them.

I learned about scams on one of those trips. A sign said give the owner a nickel and he would open the lid of a box cage and let you see the baby rattler and copperhead inside.

Sure enough, there was a baby shake rattle toy and a penny inside.

I loved the mountain streams and lakes but we never stayed in one place long enough for me to fish. But the year I was eight we changed our plans and I could not wait for my dream trip.

My family and another family, close friends, rented a cabin at Vogel State Park for a week. It was right beside a small stream that had trout in it, and only a couple hundred yards from the lake.

The other couple had a baby girl and she had colic.  Her loud crying kept me up all night and almost ruined the trip. That is when I decided I never wanted kids of my own!

One morning before daylight I put on my overalls, slipped out of the cabin without waking anyone, picked up my cane pole and can of worms and headed to the lake.  Where the stream entered it several row boats for rent were chained up.  One was half full of water with its back end in the lake.

I sat on the edge of that boat for a couple hours as it got light, catching small bream, yellow perch and trout with live earthworms.  I put my fish in the end of the boat that was full of water and it was supposed to work like a livewell.

Mama came hustling down the path to the cabin calling my name. When they woke and I was not there they panicked and went looking for me. Mama found me after she asked two teenage girls out walking if they had seen a kid.

Apparently they answered that yes, Huckleberry Finn was fishing down by the lake the lake!  I guess that fit me with my bare feet, overalls and straw hat!

Many things have changed, you will not see chained bear cubs or baby rattlers. But a trip is still fun and fishing is good on Nottely and other area lakes. 

My trip was to go out with guide Will Harkins and get information for my June Georgia Outdoor News article. Although Will is in college he is a great fisherman and knows Nottely and Chatuge well.

I stayed in a nice fifth wheel camping trailer through brooksiderv.com in a retirement camper community.  It was cheaper than area motels and more comfortable and quieter than a motel would have been.  It was only a few miles from Nottely and Blairsville.

About a mile from the camper and Nottely Dam is Papaw’s Bac-yard BBQ where I got some of the best brisket I have ever eaten, delicious and tender enough to cut with a fork. He has a wide variety of sauces and his Brunswick Stew was very good, too.

Next door at the Amish Store some interesting jelly is available. Frog jelly is fig, raspberry, orange and ginger.  Toe Jam is tangerine, orange and elderberry.  Traffic jam is mostly strawberry for some reason. There are also many other things, from furniture to funny signs, for sale too.

The first night I drove into Blairsville and ate at Mike’s Seafood. The scallops were delicious, cooked just right, and the bite of grilled tuna I tried was excellent. I always like walking into a place like Mike’s and see you order at the fresh seafood counter.

I planned on eating there on Saturday night before I left. Although Google Maps said they got less busy after 8:00 PM, an hour before the close, at 8:00 that night the wait to order was 90 minutes!!

Sicily’s Pizza & Subs Pasta was just down the street and there was no wait. The pizza I got was great but it was not the scallops I wanted! Till next time – Gone fishing!