November Camping At Don Carter State Park and Fishing Lake Lanier

  Camping in November is an iffy proposition, as last week proved to me. I went to Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier last Wednesday and came home Monday after fishing the Flint River Bass Club tournament on Sunday.

    Wednesday afternoon was nice enough driving to the north end of the lake and setting up my slide in pickup camper. I went back into town to meet a friend that lives on the lake, get some information from him, and eat some delicious fried scallops at the Atlanta Street Seafood Market.

    On the way back to the camper it started sprinkling rain a little. By the time I showered it was getting cold and the rain was steady but light. It lasted all night and all morning Thursday and I just could not make myself launch my boat and go fishing in the cold mess.

    When the rain stopped around 1:00 and my weather radar app showed no more heading toward me, I put in at the state park ramp and fished around that area way up the river. I never got my boat up on plane, just fished around the ramp since it was cold and windy.

The water had a stain to it and was a surprising 54 degrees, but the fish bit pretty good. In just under three hours I landed six largemouth and one spot and lost two more. All hit a crawfish colored Rapala DT6 on steep rocky banks back in small creeks. Two of the largemouth were about three pounds each.

It got colder Thursday night and I slept in Friday morning, getting to the ramp in Balus Creek about 30 minutes from the park around 11:00. The water was clear and 64 degrees, but warmer water did not help. By 4:00 I was disgusted, I had tried everything I could think to do and had hooked one small spotted bass on the crankbait. That was the only bite I got.

Saturday morning was similar and I started fishing down around Balus Creek just before noon.  When I quit at 4:00 I had not hooked a fish. I spent a lot of time riding and trying to fish baitfish and bass deep, but everything that looked good did not work.

Saturday night got cold. My camper has an electric rooftop heater but it is either wide open or off, there is no thermostat.  Even though it was 37 degrees I had to turn it off, it was stifling hot after 15 minutes. The small electric heater I carry kept the camper tolerable but not comfortable.

When I got up at the new too-early time to be at the ramp at 6:30 AM there was frost on my windshield. My truck thermometer read 32 at one point driving to the ramp in the dark. 

I ran to my favorite point when we took off at 7:00 AM but never got a bite. After fishing a couple more places I seriously considered making the 15-mile run back up the lake where I had caught the largemouth, but the cold made me want to stay where I was.

At 8:30 going to a deep point to try I noticed two big pine trees had fallen into the water down the bank from it. I thought the water was too shallow but decided to fish them anyway. My first cast with a shaky head worm produced a 15-inch keeper spot and I put I point the live well. I would not zero!

My very next cast to the same tree produced another keeper spot. As I put it in the livewell I got in too big a hurry to make another cast, stumbled and stepped on my net handle, breaking it. Just my luck, if I hooked a big fish I would be in trouble.

By the time I got back up front my boat had blown into the tree, messing it up. But I went to the next tree and on my second cast to it I caught another keeper! Three on four cast – my day was looking up.

As I eased around the deep point, trying to remember more trees nearby to fish, I saw four or five fish suspended 15 feet down over 45 feet of water on my Garmin Panoptix. When I cast my shaky head to them I watched them go to it as it sank. When they started swimming off was disappointed until I realized I couldn’t see my bait falling any more, set the hook and landed a 15-inch spot.

A few minutes later on the same point there were three fish cruising about five feet off bottom 25 feet deep. When I cast to them they went to my bait and followed it down. When it hit bottom I felt a tiny little tap and set the hook on another 15 inch spot. I had a surprising limit at 9:00!

 When I went to another bank with some blow down trees with a little wind on them, I caught my sixth keeper, then hooked a big fish. I thought it was a catfish but when I got it close to the boat I saw it was a big spot. Then I remembered my broke net!

It was a comedy for the next few minutes but somehow I landed the 4.07 pound spot.  Fishing that pattern the rest of the day produced only two more fish but I was thrilled with nine keeper spots.

At weigh-in my five weighed 11.88 pounds but got beat by Don Gober’s five at 11.96 pounds. Chuck Croft had two at 7.75 pounds for third and his 4.11 pound largemouth beat my 4.07 pound spot for big fish. Alex Gober had two weighing 3.35 pounds for fourth.

It hurt to be so close but I am thrilled to have what I had after my poor luck Friday and Saturday, and glad I did not make a long cold run.

Did Au Sable Trout Disappear?

Where have the Au Sable River trout gone?
from The Fishing Wire

Spring ushered into northern Michigan an unwelcomed guest in 2018…an extended winter with an unprecedented snowfall in April. When winter finally relented, and anglers were able to get out and enjoy fishing their favorite spots, the DNR Fisheries Division’s Northern Lake Huron Management Unit started getting phone calls from concerned anglers about their lack of success on the North Branch of the Au Sable River.

The unit receives “there are no fish in my lake” calls on a regular basis, and usually they are based on an angler’s couple of days of poor fishing. This year on the North Branch, however, staff were getting calls from professional trout fishing guides who had never complained about the fishing before. They told local staff they were experiencing extremely low catch rates and weren’t seeing the feeding activity they normally would during insect hatches.The North Branch was scheduled for Fisheries Division to conduct population estimates in the late summer at three different sites. However, with the number of anglers reporting startlingly low catch rates of trout, the division decided to conduct electrofishing spot checks on May 30.

To build on the strong partnership in the Au Sable River, Fisheries Division invited several of the guides who informed the department to come and help conduct the electrofishing efforts. The first round of electrofishing spot checks were at places that are surveyed regularly. Shortly after the survey started, it was readily apparent the trout population was down from levels normally seen in late summer.

“Most anglers understand that trout can move fairly large distances, usually seasonally, so making direct comparisons of the survey results occurring at different times of the year should be avoided,” said the Northern Lake Huron Management Unit manager, Dave Borgeson. “Regardless, the decline in the number of fish surveyed at the sites corroborated the angler reports so we decided to conduct four more spot checks at other locations on June 7, and got similar results.

“For some unknown reason, it became clear the trout population in the North Branch had declined from the previous year. There was a lot of head-scratching and hypothesis-sharing regarding the cause of the apparent decline, and some of the angler’s ideas centered on the possibility of mortality due to toxic substances introduced into the stream.

While trout populations can vary widely from year to year for a variety of reasons, Fisheries Division decided to notify the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality of the angler’s observations and the electrofishing results. A working group of concerned anglers, DEQ staff, and Fisheries Division employees Neal Godby and Borgeson teamed up to discuss the status of the stream and plan a strategy for additional information gathering in 2018.The DEQ planned to do some water chemistry work and conduct aquatic invertebrate sampling in the North Branch, Fisheries Division would conduct trout population estimates at three stations on the river, and the angling groups planned to do their annual quantitative aquatic invertebrate sampling as well as cooperate with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a contaminant survey using lipid-based collection gear deployed in the stream.

The DEQ’s Water Resource Division conducted three P51 Habitat and Macroinvertebrate surveys in mid-June and found “All three sites surveyed in June 2018 scored excellent for both habitat and macroinvertebrates. All sites had excellent macroinvertebrate diversity with 37 taxa found at Dam Four, 32 at Twin Bridge Rd., and 31 at the Ford. Of these, 20 taxa at Dam Four, 18 taxa at Twin Bridges, and 15 taxa at the Ford were ephemeroptera, plecoptera, or tricoptera (EPT) taxa indicating excellent water quality.

“The USGS organic chemical sampling results are pending. Fisheries Division electrofishing surveys revealed:
At Twin Bridges the brook trout density and biomass were at the lowest recorded level in the past 30 years, and brown trout density and biomass levels were on par with the past two years.

At Eamon’s Landing the brook trout density was around the long-term average and biomass was on par with the past two years (but low compared with the long-term average).

At Dam 4 the brook trout density was well below average and biomass was at its lowest recorded level in the last 30 years. Brown trout density was about average, but the biomass was well below its average.

“So, what does all this mean?” asked Borgeson. “Do we know why the trout abundance in the North Branch declined substantially? It appears the aquatic invertebrate populations appear to be in good shape, and that non-trout species are in decent numbers. Because of that, contamination or an acute toxin event is not likely the cause. Additionally, trout species are still present albeit in relatively low numbers. So, what else could it be?

“Sometimes trout populations can be impacted by extreme water temperatures. Since the decline occurred after the DNR’s fall survey, and before this summer, warm temperatures do not appear to be the culprit. Last winter, while long, did not have too many of the extremely low temperatures that can greatly affect trout. So, temperature may not have been the primary force impacting the population in this case.

Also, the area of the North Branch was the recipient of some tremendous amounts of precipitation in the fall of 2017, and in the spring of 2018. Many long-time river residents and users reported they have never seen the North Branch so high, even out of its banks. It is known that high flows can impact trout populations, especially those occurring in the spring. Fisheries Division also surveyed some other streams that had markedly lower trout abundances. For example, division crews surveyed the West Branch of the Sturgeon River and they said it was very clear the trout population had declined since 2017. The department also had reports of another small, shallow tributary to the Sturgeon River that had a much lower trout population. A tributary to the Muskegon was surveyed and the population was down noticeably.

Maybe there was a regional phenomenon that affected certain types of streams disproportionately more than others? Could the high flows have been the primary culprit? We probably won’t know with an ironclad degree of certainty, but we can make some conclusions from this situation: It occurred between early fall 2017 and May 2018. It doesn’t appear to be a toxic event. The relatively large one-year reduction in trout abundance coincided with two extremely high flow events (last fall and this spring). Also, there appears to be enough numbers of young trout in the system that with decent overwinter survival the numbers of catchable fish should improve in the coming years.

“Overall, productivity in the North Branch has declined from the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the trout population reflects that decline,” explained Borgeson. “Perhaps this has to do with the long-term effects of the Clean Water Act. Those of us old timers remember the good ‘ol days when there were more brook trout in the stream. Maybe the rooted vegetation that used to be more abundant in the North Branch provided those young trout enough cover to survive better to older ages. When a trout population begins with more 1 and 2-year-old fish, then it usually ends up with more 2 and 3-year-old trout. In the past 30 years the stream’s trout population has varied around a new lower average biomass.

“This year on the North Branch of the Au Sable highlights the importance of having a suite of streams where status and trends surveys are conducted. They help put the trout population variability of one stream in a greater context. That is, are there regional trends in all sampled streams, in certain types of streams, or is there a stream that had a unique event occur?It also points to the importance of strong working relationships with local Fisheries Division staff, concerned anglers, and other agencies or groups that can bring resources to the table to solve complex problems. Maybe we won’t always have all the simple answers, but collectively we can learn together and that is better for making informed decisions on the resource. With that collective knowledge base, the DNR and its partners will be much better informed in the future, with a greater ability to parcel out those factors that combine to shape the trout populations in Michigan streams.

Georgia Fishing Opportunities

There are many Georgia fishing opportunities

While working on an article for Georgia Sportsman Magazine I found what I consider interesting information about our state. If you live in Georgia you have incredible fishing opportunities, more than I ever expected to find.

    Game fish are those the state places size and creel limits on to make sure they are not overfished.  Bass, bream, trout, some species of catfish, crappie and others are freshwater game fish in Georgia. Rough fish are those considered less than desirable so no limits are needed to protect them. Some rough fish in Georgia include carp, some catfish, gar, suckers, and many others. All those are just in freshwater, there are many more in salt water.

    In our state you can fish for ten freshwater game fish, 21 saltwater game fish and dozens of rough fish without creel limits. The Georgia DNR says there are about 325 species of freshwater fish and even more saltwater fish.  Your choices are huge. You could target a different species of fish every day of the year and never repeat yourself during the year.

Where can you fish in Georgia? There are ten Public Fishing Areas, 21 rivers, 32 reservoirs, 147 Wildlife Management Areas, many with ponds and creeks open to you, and countless streams, creeks and branches for freshwater fishing.  There are so many bays, rivers and creeks on the coast you can get lost forever.  You could fish a different body of water every day of the year and never fish the same place twice.

You can do like me and concentrate on bass. That way I don’t get too confused. But if you wanted to you could try to catch every freshwater game fish or every saltwater game fish. And you can stick with big lakes or find many hidden gems to fish all by yourself.

Tips for Finding Fall Crappie


Tips for locating and catching crappies in the waning weeks of autumn

By David A. Brown
from The Fishing Wire

Fall is feeding time for predators of every flavor, and crappies are in full-on gorging mode; keenly aware of winter’s lurking. Knowing this, Seaguar and Raymarine pro Troy Peterson knows that finding the food means finding crappies. The fish are mostly suspended this time of year, but dialing in the likely bait-holding areas helps him narrow the search.

“We have a pretty big river system with the Wolf River (Wisconsin) and all the minnows, shiners and other baitfish are up in the rivers, scattered amid the timber, in some of the deep holes and behind dock posts,” Peterson said. “So we’re basically driving up and down the river, looking for giant schools of baitfish. They’re typically in the wood, whether it be brush or dock posts and the crappie are typically right behind them.”

Beyond the river scenario, Peterson says he employs a similar strategy for crappie on lakes where crappie will be pursuing pods of baitfish that are making a seasonal movement out of the weed beds. Expanding in size, these baitfish will be holding over deeper flats. Raymarine and Seaguar pro Troy Peterson “It’s more of an afternoon bite,” Peterson says. “We’re just using the Raymarine DownVision to look for weed edges, brushpiles and cribs (artificial habitat features comprising a rectangular log frame dressed with brush and other accents). Crappies like to sit over wooded structure, making it easier to drive across lakes and reservoirs and make a grid to find out which cribs the fish are sitting on.”

As Peterson explains, local fishing clubs build these cribs to provide habitat in otherwise barren areas of the lakes. Typically weighted with cinder blocks, these fish attractors are dropped beyond the zone of natural cover. On many northern waters, a permit is required to introduce habitat, like cribs and brushpiles. Opposingly, on southern lakes and reservoirs, ardent anglers sink their own structure, refreshing productive brushpiles, as they erode over time. (There’s an Arkansas guide who has over 2,000 brushpiles marked on a single reservoir!)   Oftentimes, all you need is a bucket of minnows to clean up on fall crappies.

TECH TACTICS

With Raymarine Axiom Pro 12 and 9 units on his dash and an Axiom Pro 9 on the bow, Peterson lauds the crisp clarity of traditional 2D sonar and DownVision images. From a simple time-management perspective, this amazingly sharp detail allows him to immediately recognize what he’s seeing and respond accordingly. “Raymarine’s signals are so clear that when you get fish suspending over deep water, you can almost count the minnows in the bait school versus a giant blob or who knows what.” Peterson says. Also, Raymarine’s interaction with Navionics SonarLogging and SonarChart Live takes scouting to a new level. Particularly critical on previously unmapped waters, the ability to record and store what he graphs proves invaluable for open water pursuits, as well as ice fishing. “This allows me to grid out a lake and create my own maps,” Peterson says.

“I can find the deepest holes or the basin, I can find the sharp breaks, I can use SideVision to find and mark the cribs.” Peterson runs a Raymarine Axiom Pro 12 on the dash and Axiom Pro 9 on the bow. Marking weed edges, wood piles and rock structures before first ice provides key perspective that guides his decisions while he’s standing on the lake. Again, it’s time management, born of understanding.

“When we’re ice fishing, we don’t have the ability to scan, we have to just go and drill holes and you have to be right on top of spots,” Peterson said. “That’s the beauty of using the SonarChart Live feature.” For optimal imaging, Peterson offers these tips: “I’ve found that on certain types of water, you need to play with the settings a little more,” he says. “If you have murky water or really clear water, settings are a big deal. I’ll play with the contrast a lot to try and identify the types of species that are mixed in with the bait. “We have walleye, pike and bass mixed in with these bait pods. Once you get good at it, you can determine the actual species of fish by the soundings you’re getting. Darkening up the contrast and increasing the gain a little bit will give you better definition.”

TARGET ACQUIRED

Once Peterson locates the crappie-friendly structure, he takes a simple, yet undeniably effective approach to tempting the fish. Inspired by old-school cane poling, Peterson equips uses a telescoping 14- to 16-foot pole rigged with 8- to 10-pound Seaguar AbrazX fluorocarbon to deploy a minnow on a No. 2 long shank Tru-Turn hook with a 1/4-ounce weight, all under a slip bobber. “On the river system, crappies tuck behind brushpiles and vertical structure like dock posts and stumps, staying out of the current and just sucking in anything that gets eddied back into where they’re hiding.

“There’s nothing more effective than cane poling and dropping your bait directly on top of them without worrying about casting to them or feeding the line back. You want to get your bait as close to that vertical structure because eddies suck whatever they’re eating to the back side of that structure.” As Peterson explains, the 1/4-ounce weight serves as an escort for his bait. Precision placement is the key ingredient, so he wants to know exactly where each bait goes. “I want it to drop perfectly straight down; I don’t want any whip or resistance in that line,” Peterson says. “I want to be able to suck that bait as tight to the structure as I can, especially when I’m fishing really thick brushpiles. When I see a pocket on the screen, it’s really important to drop down in there quickly and get the fish out.”

Now, if Peterson’s fishing more around docks in the river system, he switches to a tube or a craw tube presentation. Skipping or flipping works and he’ll match his jig head size to water flow. “When the current is strong, you want to get your bait down there, so we may use a 1/16- or a 1/8-ounce head,” Peterson said. “But in average current, a 1/32- to 1/16 is what I use.”

Successful southern reservoir crappie masters will mark a brushpile, throw a marker, quickly back off, and make long casts with light jigs. 1/16th ounce is a standard, shifting up with winds and down with a still surface. One particularly effective combination is a Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ jighead with a Z-Man ElaZtech Finesse ShadZ or Trick ShotZ. The inherent buoyancy of ElaZtech slows the fall, while the material’s durability stands up to fish after fish. If you prefer hardbaits, LIVETARGET’s lipless Golden Shiner Rattlebait is a proven crappie slayer. Cast over the brushpile, let the bait sink a couple seconds, and retrieve straight back to the boat. (A new, smaller Golden Shiner Rattlebait will be available soon, too.)

Crappies don’t leave the lakes, rivers and reservoirs in late fall. In fact, if you locate fish, there’ll likely be throngs of them. Look for wood structures on the edges of current and brushpiles positioned on points and breaks, and feed them live minnows, finesse jigs and miniature rattlebaits. You’ll be glad you did…

Fishing Lake Oconee in November

Saturday, November 13, 19 members of the Potato Creek Bassmaster’s fished our November tournament at Lake Oconee. After casting from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, we brought in 32 14-inch keeper largemouth weighing about 53 pounds. There were two limits and 8 members did not catch a fish.

Sam Smith won with five weighing 9.25 pounds and my five weighing 8.46 pounds placed second. Donnie Willis had three weighing 5.84 pounds for third, fourth went to Tom Tanner with three weighing 5.81 pounds and Mitchell Cardell had big fish with a 3.55 pounder.

The cold front that came through Friday made the fish hard to find and catch. I went over Wednesday and camped at Lawrence Shoals, a Georgia Power facility that has camping, picnicking, hiking trails and a boat ramp. All Georgia Power facilities are neat and clean and great places to use.

I went out Thursday to look around and check out some different places. After about three hours I had caught one on a DT 6 crankbait about five feet deep, another on a spinnerbait about foot deep and a third one 29 feet deep on a rockpile I spotted on my Garmin Panopitx. I marked it on my GPS to fish during the tournament. Deep fish often stay in one place for days where shallow fish move constantly.

That was no pattern so Friday I spent a lot of time casting a weightless Trick worm to grass and docks and caught three keepers, so I felt like I had a way to catch some fish in the tournament.

I also rode around a lot looking at my electronics, marking rock piles in deep water. Oconee has many huge boulders on the lower lake, many you can see up on the bank but even more underwater. I found several places that had fish on them but all I caught was a big crappie that hit a spoon.

Buddy Laster came over to fish with me and we ran to the dam in the cold air where I wanted to fish. I quickly caught a good keeper on a spinnerbait off some grass, but two hours later all we had caught were some short bass and one pickerel.

At 9:00 I cast a weightless Trick worm by a dock but my line went over the corner of it. When I felt a tap I set the hook and a keeper came flying over the dock but I managed to land it.

For the next five hours we tried a lot of things but had only throwbacks to show for our efforts. At about 2:00 I saw some fish around a boulder I had marked in 27 feet of water, dropped my spoon down and caught a three-pound flathead catfish. My next drop produced anther tap and I landed a keeper largemouth. Then the third drop produced a seven-pound flat head.

No more fish hit there so I went to a shallow grassbed and a good keeper hit my Trick worm. That gave me four with 45 minutes left to fish. At 3:00 I went out to the rocks where I had caught a keeper Thursday and filled my limit with a keeper that hit a shaky  head worm 29 feet deep.

That is “junk” fishing at its best!

Alternative Ned Rigs

____________________________

By Ted Pilgrim
from The Fishing Wire

Alternative Ned Rigs elevate your finesse game


The legendary Ned Kehde isn’t likely to utter the phrase that’s made him famous; the term for the rig that’s forever transformed the bass fishing landscape. Actually, the chances of Kehde going third-person like some Prima donna wide receiver are roughly the same as his odds of playing in the NFL. That’s just Ned being Ned: the fact the humble Hall of Fame angler would rather credit those other fathers of finesse—Chuck Woods, Guido Hibdon, Harold Ensley, etc.—than acknowledge his own momentous role in bass fishing’s backstory.


Such modesty can be misinterpreted, but in Kehde’s case simply underscores the exceptional skill with which he practices the method known more broadly as ‘Midwest Finesse.’ Friend and former NASCAR driver Terry Bevins says, “Ned’s one of the best finesse anglers in the country. Put him in the back of the boat with one of his finesse jigs, and he’s likely to whoop your butt.”

To hear Kehde tell it, the bass-catching power of his “little jig” is so great there’s simply no reason to change it. “In years past, we’ve experimented with just about every new rigging refinement you can think of.” notes Kehde. “In the shallow impoundments we fish, none have been so fruitful as an exposed-hook, mushroom-style jig dressed with half a ZinkerZ or other finesse worm. Day after day, season after season, it inveigles dozens and dozens and dozens of bass.”

The Ned-Miki

The ‘Ned-Miki Rig’ has scored big bags of largemouth, spotted and striped bass for pro angler and guide, Joey Nania

Interestingly, the same simple motivation to catch more bass has inspired anglers across America to create unique and individualized versions of the Ned Rig framework—both in retrieve and the way they fasten a finesse bait to a hook.Longtime Ned Rig fan Joey Nania, professional angler and Alabama based fishing guide, has devised a couple key mods to the presentation. Recently, he’s guided clients to loads of spotted, largemouth and striped bass, wielding a concoction he calls the Ned-Miki Rig.

“As bass fans know, the Damiki Rig has been a money presentation for enticing shad-focused bass suspended in 15 to 30 feet,” says Nania. “But you need a really well-balanced, 90-degree jighead and a compact shad-shaped bait to pull it off. Having fished the Z-Man NedlockZ HD jighead for a lot of my regular Ned Rig fishing, I realized this head would really shine for ‘video-game’ fishing—working individual bass on sonar, vertically, playing cat-and-mouse. It’s versatile enough that you can cast the bait to suspended fish, too, just letting it glide and pendulum as you work it back to the boat.

“The Ned-Miki Rig: NedlockZ HD jighead and StreakZ 3.75A 1/10- or 1/6-ounce NedlockZ HD, says Nania, melds perfectly with a Z-Man StreakZ 3.75, a bait he calls “one of the best small shad imitations ever. And because it’s made from ElaZtech, the bait’s super buoyant. When you pause and let the Ned-Miki soak, the bait maintains a natural horizontal posture. Similar fluke-style baits aren’t buoyant, making them ride tail-down, rather than hovering horizontal like a live shad.

“Northern anglers fish a similar method, keying on suspended or rock-hugging smallmouth bass. The Ned-Miki has even evolved into a superlative substitute for a dropshot rig, which isn’t quite so precise for big sluggish smallmouths hunkered down between boulders.”Watch the bait drop on the sonar screen until it’s about 1 foot above the fish’s head,” Nania explains. “Hold the bait still. When a bass begins to rise and chase, lift the bait to take it away. Sometimes, a bass will chase the Ned-Miki up 15 or 20 feet, absolutely crushing it on an intercept course. Other times, you have to entice them a little, using the bait’s super-soft, high-action tail to close the deal. Almost like a dropshot, but even more dead-on.

“All-Terrain NedGoing where no Ned Rig has gone before, Nania is ecstatic when he mentions another new finesse device. “What can I say about the Finesse BulletZ, man? This jighead is off-the-charts cool. Rig one with a Finesse TRD, MinnowZ or TRD CrawZ and fish simply can’t tear it off. I’ve had the same bait on the same jighead for the past week, and dozens of bass later, it’s still going strong.

“Made to snake Ned Rig style ElaZtech baits through the thickest cover, the Finesse BulletZ sports a subtle bullet-shaped head and a slender keel weight molded precisely onto a custom, heavy-duty size 1 VMC EWG hook. “People look at this jig and wonder how the heck you rig a bait without tearing it. It’s funny because it’s actually a non-issue with ElaZtech, which is pretty much tear-proof. And once the bait’s in place, it’s there until you take it off.

“Goes without saying that the bait’s weedless,” says Nania. “But I’m also just discovering how well the little jig skips under docks,” he adds. “Regardless of the cover— rocks, brush, grass, manmade structures, etc.—this is one incredible jig-bait combo for finessing big bass in places you couldn’t previously throw a Ned Rig.”I like to rig a 1/10-ouncer with a TRD MinnowZ—Smelt and Hot Snakes are two of my favorite patterns—and skip it under docks. Rigging the same bait on a 1/6-ounce Finesse BulletZjig also shines for casting into deeper schools of bass.

“Nania notes how the jig’s keel weight makes the bait glide and slide horizontally, rather than nose-down. “It’s like some radical, improved version of the slider head, except this jig perfectly matches 2- to 4-inch finesse-style baits. And you can pull it right through the thickest brush piles with no problem at all.”From southern impoundments to northern lakes and rivers, the Finesse BulletZ jig may be at its best when rigged with Z-Man’s authentic mini-crayfish bait, the 2.5-inch TRD CrawZ.

“The TRD CrawZ is a subtle, unassuming little critter,” says professional angler Luke Clausen. “But rigged with the Finesse BulletZ jig, the bait rides in this freakishly lifelike, claws-up posture. Put it in the water and its buoyant little claws flap and wave, virtually taunting bass to bite—and they do,” Clausen laughs.

Ned-Neko Rig

Blurring boundaries between Ned-style and other finesse presentations, creative anglers have concocted what we’ll call the Ned-Neko Rig.

Coupling a Finesse TRD, Hula StickZ or other buoyant finesse bait with a Neko hook and Neko weight yields astonishing action, and an intriguing underwater posture.Hooking configurations depend on cover and bass activity level. The simplest is to Texas-rig your chosen finesse bait onto a #1 to 2/0 Neko style hook. Finish the Neko-Ned Rig by inserting a 1/32- to 1/8-ounce Neko weight into the bait’s tail-end, resulting in a compelling pogo-stick-action along bottom.

Also effective is a drag-and-deadstick retrieve, particularly in small, high-percentage zones.Or, you can get extra wacky (pun intended), and hook the worm right through the middle, leaving the Neko weight in the tail. The toughness of ElaZtech even eliminates the need for an O-ring; just a 1/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap hook, your favorite TRD and another alluring look bass can’t say no to. Ned inspired. Ned approved.

Fishing Lake Weiss, Lake Allatoona, Mobile Bay and A Visit To Battleship Park and the Battleship Alabama

    I love my job!  The past week – in October 2017 – gave me a chance to fish Weiss Lake, the Mobile Delta and Lake Allatoona.  Its tough work, but I’m glad I get to do it.

    Last Friday I drove up to Weiss and met Cal Culpepper and his dad Saturday morning to get information for a Map of the Month article that will be in the November of both Georgia and Alabama Outdoor News.  Cal is a high school senior and on the Harris County High School fishing team, and a very good fisherman.  Weiss is on the state’s borders and if popular with bass fishermen in both states.

note – Cal has gone far since this trip!

    We had a good day, catching largemouth and spotted bass.  The best five we landed weighed about 13 pounds.  All were in shallow water around grass, docks and wood cover and hit chatterbaits, topwater and shaky head worms.

    On Sunday I drove to Mobile to meet Captain Dan Kolenich, a guide there on the bay, to get information for a saltwater fishing article.  I don’t fish saltwater much so I was looking forward to the trip, hoping to catch my first redfish. I knew I would eat some great seafood and I definitely accomplished that goal.

    Unfortunately, Monday morning the wind was strong and it was raining.  I talked with Captain Dan and we decided to try to go out Tuesday morning when the weather guessers said conditions would be better.

    Since I had the rest of the day with nothing to do I went to Battleship Park.  This military park has a variety of exhibits, including aircraft, a World War 2 submarine you can tour, and the battleship Alabama docked so you can tour it, too. I spent almost six hours there.

    Walking through the submarine I could not imagine being on a crew. The tiny, cramped work and eating areas were bad enough but the racks, or bunks, hung along the walls one over the other, would never have allowed me to get a good night’s sleep.  And I could just imagine the smell during missions.

    The aircraft fascinated me since I always wanted to fly a fighter for the Air Force.  One especially interesting display showed one of the fighters the “Tuskeegee Airmen” flew in World War 2 and a video had very good special effects.  It took me several minutes to realize I was not watching actual videos of the dog fights.

    Tuesday morning was clear but still very windy. We tried to fish but the wind made it very difficult so I did not catch a redfish.  Maybe next time.

    On Thursday Wyatt Robinson and his dad met me at my house and we drove through the horrible traffic to Lake Allatoona so I could show them what little I know about that lake.  Wyatt is A senior at CrossPointe Christian Academy and on the fishing team.  He is a very good young fisherman.

    I had a lot of fun and we caught several keeper bass and even more short ones under the 12-inch limit, on topwater plugs and shaky head worms.  But the catch of the day was a four-pound channel cat that thought my jig head worm was lunch. Turned out he became dinner. Although that trip was not really part of my job it was fun, except for the traffic going and coming back, and I was impressed, as I often am, with a young fisherman’s ability and knowledge.  It is kinda scary that high school fishermen often know more than I do about bass fishing.

REPORT WINTER MONARCH SIGHTINGS

PUBLIC’S HELP NEEDED IN REPORTING WINTER MONARCH SIGHTINGS

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (Nov. 18, 2021) – We asked and, thankfully, you delivered.

Now we need your help again.

Last winter, volunteers from across the Southeast and Gulf states provided more than 5,800 observations of monarch butterflies. This winter, the partnership of universities, agencies and other organizations called Monarchs Overwintering in Southeastern States is requesting the public’s continued involvement in reporting sightings.

Sonia Altizer, a University of Georgia ecology professor and director of Project Monarch Health, said the information can help scientists determine if these iconic but declining butterflies “can overwinter as non-breeding adults in the southern U.S. and how this might affect future population numbers.” The monitoring will also help document how winter-breeding activity might be affecting the annual migration to Mexico.

Understanding migration and overwintering behavior is crucial to conserving monarchs, a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Thousands of monarchs stream across the South each fall on their way to wintering grounds in central Mexico. In the spring, this eastern population of the butterfly returns to the U.S. and Canada to breed.

But not all monarchs migrate to Mexico. Volunteer observations over the past two decades have helped scientists better understand how and why some monarchs breed throughout the winter in the southern U.S. Scattered reports also suggest that some monarchs can overwinter in coastal regions in a non-breeding state, similar to their wintering behavior in Mexico.

The goal this winter is to collect more data for a growing partnership that has expanded to include organizations such as Florida Natural Areas Inventory and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.

Gabriela Garrison of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said the monarch is a species of greatest conservation need in North Carolina’s Wildlife Action Plan, as in the action plans of many other states. “So monitoring overwintering populations and learning more about their behavior is critical.”

The public is encouraged to report monarch sightings from Dec. 1-March 1 in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

Observations are entered in Journey North’s online data portal, where they are transformed into real-time mapping visualizations of monarch migration and breeding. Journey North is an organization designed to engage people across North America in tracking wildlife migration and seasonal change.

Program coordinator Nancy Sheehan said the public has a long history of being a part of scientific discoveries. “Journey North is excited to provide a platform for engaging citizen scientists in this targeted monitoring effort.”

Susan Meyers, cochair of Monarchs Across Georgia agreed. “Volunteers are vital to this effort. If you enjoy being outdoors and exploring your local ecosystem, this is an easy activity that can be done alone or with your family.”

Wildlife biologist Anna Yellin of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said project partners are grateful to all who reported sightings last winter. “When we come together as a community as we have with this effort, we stand a better chance of protecting the monarch butterfly for future generations.”

HOW TO TAKE PART

  • Step 1: Create a free account at journeynorth.org/reg.
  • Step 2: Learn how to report monarch sightings at journeynorth.org/monarchs.
  • Step 3: From Dec. 1-March 1, submit monarch observations at journeynorth.org/sightings.

Garmin Panoptix Review Update

 I continue to be amazed at what my Garmin Panoptix shows while I am fishing. The Panoptix Livescope has a transducer that sends out sonar pulses and receives them back from three different angles at the same time. It then combines and interprets the resulting “pings” from objects the pulse hits as lights on a screen.

    You can watch dots of lights indicating fish move on your screen. It shows how far from the boat they are, the angle they are at and how deep they are. Any stationary object shows as a solid light image that resembles the object. For example looking under a dock you can see the post, cross bars and any brush or fish under them.

    The size and shape of the image give you a good idea of the size and shape of the fish out there. There is no doubt what a long, thin  gar is when it is in the beam.  Crappie, bluegill, bass and hybrids show similar images, but their position relative to the bottom, way they move and how they are positioned to each other give you a good idea what they are.

    From what I have observed, a school of baitfish looks just like it does from above when near the surface. The small dots move and flash in sync with each other, and move around a lot without going anywhere.

Crappie usually hang in groups over or near cover like brush or pilings. You can see the individual fish as they slowly move within the school.

Hybrids stay up from the bottom, move around a lot and move fast. There are often a dozen or more fish in the school, and they are generally bigger than the crappie.

I target bass, and they can show up as different things. Often a single bright spot at the top of a brush pile or against a post under a dock is a bass. Sometimes a small school, six or so fish, move in unison, going up and down as they look for food.

We always thought bass moved in tight to cover when the water is muddy and are out from cover a little in clear water. I saw this proven the first couple of months I had my unit.

The first time I used it at Jackson, the water was clear and I saw what I was sure were bass suspended just over some brush I often fish. Another place with big rocks I could see the fish holding just above them and saw several stumps with fish on top of them, too.

A couple of weeks later a heavy rain had muddied the water. The same brush pile with fish just over it now had bright dots down in the brush. I know they were bass because I caught two by repeatedly casting a worm to the brush and slowly working it through the limbs.

The rock pile now showed bright dots right at the bottom tight to the rocks. Stumps showed the fish tight against them near the bottom.

The most worrisome thing was the fact I could see fish near the cover in clear water but they were slowly moving around like they were looking for something to eat.  But when my boat got within about 30 feet of them, they sank down into the cover and became inactive. I just knew the fish knew I was there and would not hit. Maybe they picked up sounds from my boat, a shadow from it or some other reason that spooked them.

At Martin last week I was fishing a point and saw five or six dots slowly moving just off the bottom. They would swim up a couple of feet then go back down as a group, like they were searching for food.

When I casts a shaky head worm to them, knowing the angle and how far to cast from the picture, I watched my bait start to sink toward them. As has happened dozens of times, one came up to meet my bait.

Time after time I have seen a fish do this, follow the bait to the bottom and never hit it. Usually the bait separates from the fish and the fish follows it down.

But this time was different. The bait did not continue to sink, the fish dot and bait dot stayed together. I realized the fish had hit it and tightened up my line and set the hook, landing a 13-inch keeper spot.

I like watching my crankbait run through the water. The unit lets me know exactly how deep it is running. And I can see fish follow it, but so far have not seen one eat it.

Topwater baits skim across the top of the screen. I can watch a Zara Spook twitch back and forth and see the wake produced by a Whopper Flopper.  And watch fish come up to them.

All this is very exciting but also very frustrating. I never realized how many fish are out there, they are everywhere. But getting them to hit is another story. Knowing a fish is sitting by a stump or in a brush pile will make me keep casting to it, sometimes wasting way too much time trying to make a fish eat that just will not.

But at times changing the size or color of a bait will make the fish hit. So at times it makes the difference between catching a fish and just blind casting.

Expensive electronics are not for everyone, and they definitely have good and bad points. But technology continues to improve, even if you don’t want to take advantage of it.

St Croix Rods for 2022

Best Rods on Earth® Better than Ever
Available now, new-for-2022 St. Croix series and models combine new materials, technologies and ergonomics to deliver anglers more performance and more satisfaction on the water
PARK FALLS, WISC. (November 3, 2021) – St. Croix Rod of Park Falls, Wisconsin – America’s premier, family-owned fishing rod manufacturer for nearly 75 years – makes it its mission to provide every angler with the tools they need to maintain the upper hand in any fishing situation. The most-recent results of this mission were showcased to the fishing industry at last July’s ICAST show, where St. Croix introduced three all-new rod series – Victory, Seage Surf, and Tundra Ice – along with four completely reimagined and expanded rod series – BassX, Eyecon, Panfish, and Trout – and two all-new Legend Xtreme freshwater models.

Today, all of these new, handcrafted, high-performance fishing rods are available to anglers, online at stcroixrods.com, and at St. Croix dealers worldwide.

Most of these new rods are crafted from all-new materials, feature new technologies or new combinations of technologies, and incorporate improved ergonomics. All of them exemplify Best Rods on Earth, and anglers can trust and expect them to deliver new levels of performance and satisfaction on the water, wherever and however they fish.

NEW St. Croix Victory Series Models Available NowConceived for tournament anglers competing at the highest level, passionate recreational bassers, or anyone in between, St. Croix’s all-new Victory Series of high-performance American-made technique-specific bass rods are poised to deliver more wins on the water – however they’re defined. The NEW Victory 17 expands St. Croix’s landmark Victory series to 25 total models, giving bass anglers of all levels unprecedented choice in selecting the proper tools for a complete range of bass presentations. From finesse techniques; bombing hair jigs and spy baits; to crankbaits; chatterbaits; flippin’, pitching and punching; to heaving and retrieving 8-ounce swimbaits, it’s all there in this complete and balanced assortment of high-performance, technology-laden, American-crafted rods – backed by a 15-year transferrable warranty – that cost a fraction of other “elite-level” rods in the marketplace. 
Handcrafted from scratch in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA from an all-new, sensitive and durable SCIII+ material and incorporating St. Croix’s top technologies (FRS, ARTTM, IPC®, and TET), each distinct Victory spinning and casting model is purpose-engineered and built to excel in its intended applications. Combining lightweight and balanced performance with top-tier ergonomics and uncompromising durability, Victory rods are accessible to all at a sweet mid-range retail price. Victory rods retail between $180 and $260, and 19 of the 25 models cost $200 or less.
St. Croix Victory Series Models*
Tactical / VTS68MXF – 6’8” M power, XF action spinning – Retail $180 Lite-Weight / VTS610MLXF – 6’10” ML power, XF action spinning – Retail $180Finesse / VTS71MF – 7’1” M power, F action spinning – Retail $190*
Max Finesse / VTS71MHF – 7’1” MH power, F action spinning – Retail $190*Max Lite Weight / VTS73MLXF – 7’3” ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $200 Max-Tactical / VTS73MXF – 7’3” M power, XF action spinning / Retail $200*
Crosshair / VTS710MLXF – 7’10” ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $200*Open Water / VTS73MLXF – 7’3” M power, MF action spinning / Retail $200*The Jerk / VTC68MXF – 6’8” M power, XF action casting / Retail $180
The Grunt / VTC71MHF – 7’1” MH power, F action casting / Retail $190*
Cranker / VTC72MHMF – 7’2”” MH power, MF action casting / Retail $190Power Target Cranker / VTC72MHM – 7’2” MH power, M action casting / Retail $190*
Rip’N Chatter / VTC72HM – 7’2” H power, M action casting / Retail $190Full Contact Finesse / VTC73HXF – 7’3” H power, XF action casting / Retail $200The Marshal / VTC73MHF – 7’3” MH power, F action casting / Retail $200*
Flip’N / VTC7HMF – 7’3” H power, MF action casting / Retail $200Full Contact / VTC74HF – 7’4” H power, F action casting / Retail $200*
Max Marshal / VTC75MHF – 7’5” MH power, F action casting / Retail $200*Power Flip’N / VTC76HMF – 7’6” H power, MF action casting / Retail $200*Mid-Cranker / VTC710HM – 7’10”, H power, M action casting / Retail $220*Max-Cranker / VTC710XHM – 7’10”, XH power, M action casting / Retail $230*S.B. Ranger / VTC710HF – 7’10”, H power, F action casting / Retail $250*S.B. Avenger / VTC710XHF – 7’10”, XH power, F action casting / Retail $260*S.B. Brutus / VTC710XXHF – 7’10”, XXH power, F action casting / Retail $260*Knockout / VTC711HMF – 7’11”, H power, MF action casting / Retail $230*All-new model
Reimagined and Expanded St. Croix BassX Series Available NowDriven to continually improve and heighten the angling experience, St. Croix resolved to take what it has learned from recent product introductions – Legend Xtreme, Victory, and others – and put that intel to work in improving its angler-favorite BassX Series. The result is a new lineup of BassX rods for 2022 that are stronger, lighter, and more comfortable, with sizzling new aesthetics and more choices for new presentations than ever before, while retaining and compounding their exceptional value in the $120 to $150 retail-price range. Headlined by a trio of powerful, all-new swimbait models, St. Croix’s redesigned and comprehensive BassX Series expands from 14 to 16 models for 2022, setting a new standard in affordable, high-performance bass rods. Retail prices range from $120-$150 with a five-year warranty.
The BassX transformation begins in the blank itself. Crafted from a brand-new formulation of premium SCII carbon that increases flexural strength while reducing weight, new BassX is then made even stronger with the addition of St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology. “Our use of FRS in the new BassX Series in combination with our new, lighter and stronger SCII material represents a quantum leap forward with respect to performance,” says St. Croix Product Manager, Ryan Teach.

“For the BassX angler, it ultimately means they’re buying a rod that is lighter than ever with all-new levels of strength and durability. Our engineering team has proven and validated these performance enhancements in testing.”Those critical attributes are further enhanced in new BassX models by an all-new hybrid guide train combining SeaGuide® Aluminum Oxide guides with SeaGuide® Atlas Performance stainless steel guides for reduced weight, improved balance and greater performance with braided line. New SeaGuide reel seats integrate with all-new handle designs, optimized by model, for improved ergonomics and better balance.
St. Croix BassX ModelsBAS68MXF – 6’8”, M power, XF action spinning / Retail $120BAS610MLXF – 6’10”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $120BAS71MF – 7’1”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $120BAS71MHF – 7’1”, MH power, F action, spinning / Retail $120BAC66MF – 6’6”, M power, F action, casting / Retail $120BAC66MHF – 6’6”, MH power, F action, casting / Retail $120BAC68MXF – 6’8”, M power, XF action, casting / Retail $120BAC71MF – 7’1”, M power, F action casting / Retail $120BAC71MHF – 7’1”, MH power, F action casting / Retail $120BAC72MHM – 7’2”, MH power, M action casting / Retail $120BAC74MHMF – 7’4”, MH power, MF action casting / Retail $130BAC74HF – 7’4”, H power, F action casting / Retail $130BAC710HF – 7’10”, H power, F action casting / Retail $150BAC710XHF* – 7’10”, XH power, F action casting / Retail $150BAC710XXHF* – 7’10”, XXH power, F action casting / Retail $150BAC711HMF – 7’11”, H power, MF action casting / Retail $130*All-new model
NEW St. Croix Seage Surf Series Available NowSt. Croix’s all-new tech-forward Seage Surf Series includes 12 two-piece spinning rods, handcrafted for unparalleled strength and durability in a slim and lightweight design. Seage models range from 7’ to 12’ with medium-light to heavy powers and retail between $210 and $380 with a 15-year warranty.
New Seage rods begin with a brand-new formulation of premium, light, and sensitive SCII carbon material, which increases flexural strength while reducing weight. From there, St. Croix adds ARTTM and all-new Veil technology. ART is an exotic carbon fiber material that adds a significant magnitude of hoop strength to keep the rod section from ovaling under load with virtually no increases in blank diameter or weight. Veil is a tri-blend of carbon fiber, fiberglass and explicit resin, combined to exponentially reduce the effects of impact on blank integrity. Veil protects rods from bumps, lure knocks and other impacts that could otherwise cause damage and lead to rod failure. For the surf angler, all of this means they can enjoy fishing a slim, lightweight, and sensitive Seage rod, which also maintains extreme, next-level strength and durability.In addition to slim, lightweight performance, extreme strength and rock-solid durability, surf anglers will notice an all-new handle design on new Seage surf rods comprised of X-Flock-covered slim-diameter handles and Winn® comfort-focused foregrips which are minimalistic, sleek, and tech-forward. X-Flock is essentially a textured shrink tube that St. Croix forms directly over the blank. This gives the handle a slim profile with a very grippy and tacky feel, combined with slight compression for added comfort. Meanwhile, comfort-focused Winn polymer foregrips reduce hand fatigue for longer, more-comfortable fishing.The 12 distinct models in the all-new Seage Series lineup cover the most popular lengths, powers, and actions, as well as some new configurations surf anglers were specifically requesting. Some of the 7’ to 9’ models were engineered and delivered to meet the unique needs of the Western coastal markets, where surf anglers have been asking for new rods better suited for smaller species, lighter lures, and fish closer to the beach. These smaller two-piece models give anglers the 50/50 splits they requested. At the other end of the spectrum, the new Seage Series also includes a 12’ heavy power model that’s capable of bombing a full one-pound payload beyond the bar. Longer Seage two-piece models feature angler-preferred 60/40 or 70/30 offsets.
All-New St. Croix Seage Series ModelsSES70MLMF – 7’0”, ML power, MF action spinning / Retail $210SES70MMF – 7’0”, M power, MF action spinning / Retail $220SES80MMF – 8’0”, M power, MF action spinning / Retail $230SES90MLMF2 – 9’0”, ML power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $290SES90MM2 – 9’0”, M power, M action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $290SES90MMF2 – 9’0”, M power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $290SES100MMF2 – 10’0”, M power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $300SES106MLMF2 – 10’6”, ML power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $300SES106MM2 – 10’6”, M power, M action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $300SES106MHMF2 – 10’6”, MH power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $300SES110MHMF2 – 11’0”, MH power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $320SES120HMF2 – 12’0”, H power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $380
NEW St. Croix Tundra Ice Series Available NowThe exciting new, semi-custom Tundra Ice Series is a culmination of ice-centric features and technologies wrapped in an extremely durable package at a retail-price range of $100 to $130 with a five-year warranty. Featuring nine distinct spinning models ranging from 26” to 36” in light to medium-heavy power, new fast and extra-fast action Tundra Series rods offer anglers different blanks and thoughtfully designed handle configurations for optimized comfort and performance in multiple ice presentations.
Extra-fast action, light-power Tundra models get strong, Xtreme-Flex solid glass blanks with supple, hi-vis strike-indicating tips. Fast action, medium-light through medium-heavy models are built on crisp and powerful Precision-Taper solid carbon blanks for trophy-landing performance. All Tundra blanks are matte finished in a new and covert Glacial Gray color.Handle designs are customized per model. Light and medium-light power Tundras are equipped with angler-preferred premium cork split-grip handles for optimal control and maximum versatility in panfish presentations.Medium and medium-heavy power models are equipped with premium full-cork handles by angler demand. With the exception of the medium-heavy model which includes a SeaGuide NPS reel seat for peace-of-mind and extra security while doing battle with heavy predators, all other Tundra ice rods are designed without reel seats to allow precise and balanced, custom reel placement in accordance with individual angler preference.The guide trains on new Tundra Series rods have been engineered and executed to be durable, lightweight and trouble-free in the most-demanding conditions. A strong REC Recoil® stripper guide meets SeaGuide® light-wire running guides that reduce surface area to minimize ice buildup. Tip-tops are SeaGuide® stainless steel with a slick PVD coating.
All-New St. Croix Tundra Ice ModelsSCT26LXF – 26”, L power, XF action spinning / Retail $100SCT30LXF – 30”, L power, XF action spinning / Retail $100SCT34LXF – 34”, L power, XF action spinning / Retail $100SCT27MLF – 27”, ML power, F action spinning / Retail $115SCT27MF – 27”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $115SCT30MLF – 30”, ML power, F action spinning / Retail $120SCT30MF – 30”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $120SCT36MF – 36”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $130SCT36MHF – 36”, MH power, F action spinning / Retail $130
Reimagined and Expanded St. Croix Eyecon Series Available NowDurability and angler comfort define this improved, comprehensive walleye series. The totally reimagined Eyecon Series features heightened performance, improved technique-specific comfort and ergonomics, and all-new aesthetics. The angler-favorite walleye series also grows by two with the addition of industry-first Jig-N-Rap and Rip-N-Rap models for a total of 18 distinct choices. Retail prices range from $140-$160 with a five-year warranty.
Eyecon’s premium SCII carbon blanks get even stronger and more durable for 2022. The SCII material itself is a new formulation, featuring both increased flexural strength and reduced weight over St. Croix’s previous-generation SCII carbon. From there, new Eyecon rods are made even stronger with the addition of St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology. “We know that walleye anglers often employ aggressive jigging tactics that not all rods can stand up to,” says St. Croix Product Manager, Ryan Teach. “Our all-new SCII carbon material combined with FRS takes the performance of these new-generation Eyecon rods to the next level. In addition to being stronger and more durable, they also fish noticeably lighter than previous Eyecons.”Aggressive techniques demand more than superior strength. They also require carefully considered ergonomics that minimize angler fatigue. New Eyecon rods bring versatility and comfort to any walleye angler’s arsenal without compromise; all-new hybrid split-grip handle designs and lengths are designed to optimize comfort with the intended technique, helping anglers fish longer without getting sloppy in their presentations. “The new modified split grips on these new Eyecon spinning rods take the best features of split grips and full-cork handles and marry them in a hybrid design that optimizes comfort and performance on each specific model,” says Teach. “No matter which model you choose, you’ll notice great balance and comfort, as well as an overall handle length and foregrip that are right-sized so walleye anglers can fish longer without the fatigue that can cause presentations to turn sloppy.”New Eyecon Series (non-trolling) rods also get a new hybrid guide train that decreases weight, increases overall durability, and reduces the noise and disruption that often comes from fishing braided line. They employ durable Sea Guide Atlas Performance stainless steel guides in the upper portions of the rods to eliminate the troubling possibility of loose or dislodged inserts and SeaGuide Aluminum Oxide models with black frames at the lower ends to minimize noise and knot disruption. Guide spacing is optimized on each model per technique.For the first time ever, all-new, dedicated 7’1” medium power, moderate-fast action Jig-N-Rap and 7’1” medium power, fast action Rip-N-Rap Eyecon models allow walleye anglers to fish these two popular techniques without compromise to handle design, length, power, or action.
New St. Croix Eyecon ModelsHEAVY METAL / EYS58HF – 5’8”, H power, F action spinning / Retail $150VERTICAL JIG / EYS63MLXF – 6’3”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $150VERTICAL JIG / EYS63MXF – 6’3”, M power, XF action spinning / Retail $150JIG-N-RIG / EYS66MLF – 6’6”, ML power, F action spinning / Retail $140JIG-N-RIG / EYS66MLF2 – 6’6”, ML power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $150BIG WATER / EYS66MF – 6’6”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $140BIG WATER / EYS66MF2 – 6’6”, M power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $150SNAP JIG / EYS68MXF – 6’8”, M power, XF action spinning / Retail $150FINESSE / EYS70LF – 7’0”, L power, F action spinning / Retail $150RIGGIN’ / EYS70MLF – 7’0”, ML power, F action spinning / Retail $150RIGGIN’ / EYS70MLF2 – 7’0”, ML power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $160CRANKIN’ / EYS70MM – 7’0”, M power, M action spinning / Retail $150JIG-N-RAP* / EYS71MMF – 7’1”, M power, MF action spinning / Retail $150RIP-N-RAP* / EYS71MF – 7’1”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $150SLIP-N-RIG / EYS76MLXF – 7’6”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $150SLIP-N-RIG / EYS76MLXF2 – 7’6”, ML power, XF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $160DRIFT-N-FLOAT / EYS80MLF2 – 8’0”, ML power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $160BOUNCE-N-TROLL / EYC70MHM – 7’0”, MH power, M action casting / Retail $140*All-new model
Reimagined and Expanded St. Croix Panfish Series Available NowAnswering anglers’ calls for more high-performance options for panfish presentations, St. Croix’s lighter and stronger, reimagined Panfish Series expands to 10 models for 2022 with two all-new medium-light models for power presentations. Retail prices range from $115 to $175 and include a five-year warranty.
St. Croix Panfish Series rod blanks are now crafted from a new formulation of premium SCII carbon that increases flexural strength while reducing weight, combined with strategically placed super-high-modulus SCVI carbon fiber reinforcements, providing the basis for crisp actions, improved strength and durability, and lightweight sensitivity. These new rods are made even stronger with the addition St. Croix’s Fortified Resin System (FRS) technology, which combines a fortified super resin with computer-operated curing ovens that provide improved temperature and time management through all stages of the critical curing cycle. This prevents micro-buckling of individual carbon fibers by keeping them in proper alignment.Ultimately, the all-new SCII material with FRS results in Panfish Series rods that are lighter and more durable, performance attributes that have been proven and quantified by St. Croix’s engineering team in testing.Anglers will also notice that new Panfish Series rods feel better balanced and more sensitive, thanks to carefully considered new handle designs, reel seats and guide trains.New Panfish Series rods receive all-new Sea Guide® Atlas Performance guides with stainless steel rings and frames and a PVD coated tip top. These are lightweight, durable, and trouble-free guide trains designed to maximize performance in light-line applications, while minimizing noise and disruption from knotted-line rigs used in many panfish presentations. They also wear durable and slim, Sea Guide NPS reel seats with an integrated rear nut – a design component proven to excel in supporting micro techniques on St. Croix Legend Black Ice and Premier Ice rods.New Panfish Series rods now employ angler-preferred premium-grade split grip handles on all models except the 8’ and 9’ models, which retain premium-grade full cork handles and foregrips. “With the increase in popularity and transposition of bass anglers to crappie anglers, may panfish anglers indicate preference for the bass-centric styling of skeleton-type reel seats and split grip handles,” says St. Croix Product Manager, Ryan Teach. “Our new Panfish Series rods reflect this trend and look more than ever like miniaturized bass rods. Style preferences aside, the performance benefits are real, as we’ve designed them to shed weight, improve balance, and aid in increasing sensitivity. They’re a pure joy to fish with.”In keeping with current trends, cosmetically, new Panfish Series rods also receive new label designs and an attractive, new Copper Slab color to differentiate the series.
St. Croix Panfish Series ModelsPNS50ULM – 5’0”, UL power, M action spinning / Retail $115PNS54ULF – 5’4”, UL power, F action spinning / Retail $125PNS60ULF – 6’0”, UL power, F action spinning / Retail $125PNS64LF – 6’4”, L power, F action spinning / Retail $135PNS69ULF – 6’9”, UL power, F action spinning / Retail $135PNS70LXF – 7’0”, L power, XF action spinning / Retail $135PNS70MLXF* – 7’0”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $135PNS73MLXF* – 7’3”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $135PNS80LMF2 – 8’0”, L power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $165PNS90LMF2 – 9’0”, L power, MF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $175*All-new model
Reimagined and Expanded St. Croix Trout Series and Trout Pack Models Available NowFor 2022, St. Croix has improved and expanded its popular Trout Series. The light-line centric collection is now stronger, lighter, and more comfortable, supplemented with new lengths, powers and actions that support an even wider range of trout techniques, including several all-new two- and three-piece Trout Pack models. Retail prices range from $115 to $180 with a five-year warranty.
Thanks to a new formulation of premium SCII carbon material with strategically placed super-high-modulus SCVI carbon fiber reinforcements and FRS, Trout Series rods are now lighter and more durable than before. Anglers will also notice that new Trout Series rods feel better balanced and more sensitive, with carefully crafted new handle designs, reel seats and guide trains.New Trout Series rods receive all-new Sea Guide® Atlas Performance guides with stainless steel rings and frames and a PVD coated tip top. These are lightweight, durable, and trouble-free guide trains designed to maximize performance in light-line applications, while minimizing noise and disruption from the knotted-line rigs used in many trout presentations. They also wear durable and slim, Sea Guide NPS reel seats with an integrated rear nut – a design component proven to excel in supporting micro techniques on St. Croix Legend Black Ice and Premier Ice rods.New Trout Series rods now feature split-grip handle configurations crafted from comfortable, lightweight, and durable EVA. “The premium EVA material we selected for the new Trout Series perfectly complements their new split-grip handle designs,” says St. Croix Product Manager, Ryan Teach. “Balance and control are the keys to making accurate finesse presentations to selective trout, and both are enhanced by the design and materials of these new handles.”A stealthy new Ebony Twilight color completes the Trout Series’ aesthetic transformation and will resonate with trout anglers who need to fly under the radar in clear-water intimate-stream settings.St. Croix’s refined Trout Series grows by eight to include a total of 14 spinning models, including two, all-new three-piece Trout Pack models (TFS66MLXF3 and TFS73MLXF3), two all-new light-power models (TFS510LF and TFS66LF2), three all-new medium-light power choices (TFS66MLXF2, TFS66MLF2, and TFS69MLXF2), and an all-new medium power model (TFS70MXF2).“Our expanded Trout Series brings an array of lengths, powers, and specific actions to anglers looking for sensitivity, controlled performance and casting accuracy with a range of light lures, from inline spinners to crankbaits to single egg imitations,” says Teach. “Casting accuracy is supreme with all of these highly controllable rods, and we’re offering an unprecedented range of choices for anglers to match to the specific conditions and presentations they encounter.”All Trout Series rods feature fast or extra-fast actions for accurate casting with light baits and are stronger and more durable than ever with no increase in weight. Powers range from ultra-light to medium, giving trout anglers crisp performance with ample backbone to control big trout on light line. New models for 2022 focus primarily on an expanded offering of versatile two- and three-piece selections.“Our new three-piece Trout Pack spinning models are handcrafted for one-piece performance and allow adventurous trout anglers to get in and out of remote locations and streams,” continues Teach. “They feature slender profile split grip configurations and – like our two-piece models – use slim ferrule connections to marry multi-piece convenience with one-piece performance.”
St. Croix Trout Series ModelsTFS410ULF – 4’10”, UL power, F action spinning / Retail $115TFS54ULF – 5’4”, UL power, F action spinning / Retail $125TFS56ULF2 – 5’6”, UL power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $135TFS510LF* – 5’10”, L power, F action spinning / Retail $135TFS60ULF2 – 6’0”, UL power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS64LF2 – 6’4”, L power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS66LF2* – 6’6”, L power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS66MLXF2* – 6’6”, ML power, XF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS66MLXF3* – 6’6”, ML power, XF action, 3-piece spinning / Retail $170TFS66MLF2* – 6’6”, ML power, F action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS69MLXF2* – 6’9”, ML power, XF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $145TFS70LXF2 – 7’0”, L power, XF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $155TFS73MLXF3* – 7’3”, ML power, XF action, 3-piece spinning / Retail $180TFS70MXF2* – 7’0”, M power, XF action, 2-piece spinning / Retail $155*All-new model
Two NEW St. Croix Legend Xtreme Series Models Available NowHandcrafted in the USA for extreme sensitivity using St. Croix’s most exotic materials and technologies, the Legend Xtreme Freshwater Series grows for 2022 with a new 7’3” MLXF spinning model and a new 7’6” MHMF casting model. Retail prices are $660 and $670 respectively and include a 15-year warranty.
The reengineered SCV carbon found in Legend Xtreme rods is an example of St. Croix’s constant drive to obtain the unimaginable – proven Xtreme durability with proven, unprecedented sensitivity – so anglers can fish without compromise. Engineered as a result of a new proprietary manufacturing processes, Legend Xtreme employs a resin that significantly increases strength in compression during the hookset, as well as flexural strength when the rod is under load. The new SCV carbon construction also incorporates an improved, overlaid ART (Advanced Reinforcing Technology) to yield the highest levels of carbon fiber density found on any fishing rod on earth. Simply put, Legend Xtreme offers an unquestionably pure and dense carbon, to transmit the slightest vibration through a Daiwa AGS carbon fiber guide train and proprietary Gen2 Xtreme-SkinTM handle.The expanded Legend Xtreme freshwater series now includes 13 rods – six spinning models and seven casting models – supporting anglers in an even wider range of freshwater presentations and techniques with pinnacle St. Croix performance.Rated for use with 12-25-pound line and lures from 3/8 to 1-1/4 oz., the new Legend Xtreme XFC76MHMFis designed and handcrafted for versatility and is ideal for presenting football jigs, Carolina rigs and more. The new Legend Xtreme XFS73MLXF is rated for 6-10-pound line and 1/8 to ½-oz. lures and is ideal for Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and other finesse presentations.
St. Croix Legend Xtreme ModelsXFS63MXF* – 6’3”, M power, XF action spinning / Retail $650XFS68MXF – 6’8”, M power, XF action spinning / Retail $650XFS610MLXF – 6’10”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $650XFS70MF – 7’, M power, F action spinning / Retail $650*XFS73MLXF – 7’3”, ML power, XF action spinning / Retail $660XFS76MF* – 7’6”, M power, F action spinning / Retail $670XFC68MF* – 6’8”, M power, F action casting / Retail $650XFS68MXF* – 6’8”, M power, XF action casting / Retail $650XFC70MF – 7’, M power, F action casting / Retail $660XFC70MHF – 7’, MH power, F action casting / Retail $660XFC71MHXF – 7’1”, MH power, XF action casting / Retail $660*XFC76MHMF – 7’6”, MH power, MF action casting / Retail $670XFC74HF – 7’4”, H power, F action casting / Retail $670* All-new model
You’ve heard about them; now you can make them your own. St. Croix’s new-for-2022 rod series and models are here, poised to help all anglers earn more success and satisfaction on the water with all-new combinations of materials, technologies, and handcrafted St. Croix performance. Wherever and however you fish, an elevated experience awaits at your local St. Croix dealer, or online at stcroixrods.com.
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