Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Game & Fish South

The guys in the shiny red boat above represent more than 120 years of bass-fishing experience. They’re all smiling because they have just wrapped up a week-long evaluation of four dozen new rods and reels—the core of the annual Game & Fish Tackle Test. While they won’t go so far as to say the Tackle Test is an excruciating task (these guys did fish for a week, after all), it does come with long hours of critical attention to detail, careful analysis and objective comparison. If there is a way to make bass fishing seem like work, this is it—and we’re proud of that. Our test team puts in the hours on the water, with clipboards in hand, gauging the performance of new tackle so readers don’t have to. The…

May and its balmy weather arrive just in time for Southern outdoorsmen whose spring turkey seasons have run their course. With the great fishing available throughout the region, none of us can use “lack of opportunity” as an excuse to stay home. There are plenty of fish to be caught in both freshwater and saltwater. Heightened bass, panfish and trout activity dominate the angling landscape in lakes and rivers. In the brine, seasonal migrations kickstarted by warming waters send millions of baitfish traveling along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts, where a wide range of gamefish, headlined by crowd favorites like speckled trout, redfish, flounder, snook and tarpon, are only too happy to wait in ambush or embark in hot pursuit. 1 TENNESSEE CUTTHROATS Trout grow quickly in Tennessee’s mountain…

Few fish offer anglers as many chances for endless fun as bluegills found throughout the country in waters large and small. These colorful, hand-sized sunfish are voracious opportunists that will quickly make a meal out of any insect or tiny aquatic creature that happens by. This presents great opportunities for fly fishermen who, particularly during spring, rarely fail to score using a wide array of poppers, dry flies and nymphs. Fly fishing for bluegills doesn’t require expensive gear or tremendous casting ability. Knowing how to cast a fly definitely helps, but you don’t have to consistently lay out 60 feet of line with pinpoint accuracy. The aggressive and forgiving attitude of these panfish during the spawn translates into a considerable number of opportunities to practice and hone your casting while…

The Buford and Gainesville areas near Lake Lanier have no shortage of hotels, motels and vacation homes. And with Atlanta only 45 minutes away, lodging options are practically endless. For something more unique, Capt. Mullins recommends Mt. Plattmore on Lake Lanier Terrace (check it out on Airbnb). It accommodates parties of six and is conveniently located right on the water at the mid-lake section. Because the stripers are migrating downlake throughout May, where you launch your boat will vary depending on the time of the month: upper end early, mid-lake around mid-May, and the lower end as June approaches. Mullin’s home ramp is at the Old Federal Day Use Park, near the town of Flowery Branch. It’s roughly mid-lake and remains relatively convenient throughout the month. Live herring are available…

STRUTTING INTO MAY ACTION Turkey hunters are still chasing longbeards in many areas, and we’ve been telling readers all about it. Our weekly Regional Strut Update reports continue through late May with top local info on gobbler activity, strategies, hunt videos and more. READY TO REEL? The entire U.S. has hot angling going on this month. From largemouth bass, trout and pike to redfish, snook and mahi, we have the expert info you need. Find it all in our “Fishing” section. SPRING THINGS Check out “Great American Spring,” presented by Falken Tires and Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, for videos and articles that will help you make the most of warmer weather and water. REMEMBERING A MUSIC ICON Toby Keith, the country music superstar who succumbed to cancer in February,…

In Colorado this fall, voters could decide to outlaw hunting for mountain lions and bobcats. That’s on the heels of a controversial reintroduction of wolves—mandated by another Colorado ballot initiative—last December. In Washington two years ago, an activist fish and wildlife commission’s first act was indefinitely closing a popular spring black bear hunt. Meanwhile in New Jersey, black bear hunting has been stop and go for decades as governors flip-flop on their stances regarding bear management (sometimes for the better) and anti-hunting groups pressure lawmakers into hunting bans. On the other side of the yawning abyss that separates predator advocates from predator critics, Idaho’s legislature passed a bill in 2021 that allows hunters and trappers to kill up to 90 percent of the state’s wolf population. Over in Montana, trappers…

Most bass anglers these days carry both baitcasting and spinning tackle because each offers distinct advantages over the other that could come into play on many lakes. The dawn action might start with tossing topwaters or buzzbaits around docks, stumps, lily pads and blowdowns, where the power and accuracy of bait-casters shine. But as the sun gets high and the bite is likely to center around offshore shad schools or deeper structure located via sonar, a lighter spinning outfit gets the nod because it allows casting lightweight baits on much less visible lines—finesse fishing at its best. If you’re among the anglers whose strong predilection for one type of tackle precludes you from taking advantage of the benefits afforded by the other, this spring might be a good time to…

As I waited out a lightning storm and its accompanying downpour in the cab of my pickup, I realized I should’ve listened to the weatherman. Through the sheets of water cascading down the windshield, I caught an occasional glimpse of my intended destination on the lake. A smattering of green bushes peppered the water’s surface, evidence of the series of shallow ridges less than a quarter-mile from the boat ramp. With the storm’s passing came the calm and a slick surface. Even before I launched the boat, a flurry of 3- to 4-pound bass raiding schooling bait right on top caught my eye. The frenzy confirmed my suspicions that post-spawn bass were emerging from the creeks, and they were turning the shallows of the main lake into their breakfast buffet.…

When fly-fishing for bluegills, good depth control and bite detection are often the two factors that make the difference between a decent day and a great one. That’s where a strike indicator comes in handy. Not all are created equal, however. To serve both aforementioned purposes, you should opt for one of the following three types, all of which are available in several sizes and bright colors. Thingamabobber strike indicators (westwaterproducts.com) are very light floats with a molded tab that incorporates an eyelet through which you thread a loop of your leader and then pull tight to secure the indicator. AirLock strike indicators (fishairlock.com) come in two models. One is the Classic, which has been updated and is now made of a biodegradable, lightweight foam (instead of plastic). It has…

After chasing bass for nearly 40 years, I’m aware of my proclivity to jeopardize any fishing trip as a weather jinx. When extended the offer to captain the 2024 Game & Fish Tackle Test in sunny central Florida, I jumped at the chance to try all the best new rods and reels on shallow, pre-spawn bass in mid-January. The subsequent midwinter suntan being the envy of friends and family upon my return home would be icing on the cake. Instead, we were greeted with temps in the 40s and 50s, sustained winds exceeding 30 mph and even a tornado warning. With apologies to my fellow Tackle Test team members, I even managed to jinx a trip to “sunny” Florida. However, the weather challenges proved beneficial in a couple of ways.…

The Henry rifle helped us begin our love affair with the lever-action rifle more than 150 years ago. It brought fast and repetitive fire to the American shooter and was often described as a rifle you could load on Sunday and shoot all week. It wasn’t long until Winchester and Marlin introduced lever-action rifles, and even with the introduction of more precise-shooting bolt actions and semi-automatics, the lever gun remains a favorite with American hunters. Surprisingly, given how long the lever gun has been around, some hunters still don’t know how to best manage one. To help with that, here’s the proper manual of arms for the traditional, tube-fed, lever-action rifle with an exposed hammer, along with some accessories to make it better. LOADING AND UNLOADING You load most traditional…

My native Kansas didn’t have a deer season until I was a teenager, so my first real whitetail lessons came when I was stationed at Quantico. Those deep-woods Virginia deer kicked my tail. My main takeaway: I didn’t know nothin’. Later, I hunted whitetails in various places. I was never foolish enough to think I had them figured out, but by the time we bought a farm in Kansas I thought I knew a bit. I soon learned it wasn’t as much as I thought. Nearly 20 years later, I know my Kansas woods and their deer OK. You probably know your deer country, too. I won’t tell you how to hunt whitetails in your area. Instead, let’s think about stuff that should apply to whitetail hunting everywhere. Things that…

Still several hundred yards from the island before us, we noticed a grassy cove erupting with activity. Predators were herding hapless prey and taking their shots. Thousands of terrified menhaden desperately tried to escape the carnage, and with nowhere else to go, they vaulted from the water in waves. That got the attention of sharp-eyed seagulls that wasted no time in joining the melee. It took us a couple of minutes to get within casting range, yet the ferocious aggression on the tightly packed baitfish, commonly called pogies along the Gulf Coast, was still going strong. Seconds after our lures splashed down, the culprits were revealed when a pair of nice speckled trout grabbed our offerings and shook violently in their futile attempt to throw the hooks. That productive May…

James King had never caught a carp over 10 pounds before he moved from England to Texas, where he found a group of likeminded anglers within the American Carp Society (americancarp society.com). In the 20 years since his relocation to the southern U.S., King has become an expert at catching trophy-size carp and smallmouth buffalo (commonly called buffs). King recently caught a giant 71-pound buff after a three-month campaign that entailed fishing and baiting (chumming) a new spot several times a week. UNUSUAL SUSPECTS Three types of buffalo are native to the US: bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus) and black buffalo (Ictiobus niger). And while people sometimes refer to them as carp, they’re actually members of the sucker family. Their range spans from the Gulf of Mexico…

Shorter rods, high-speed reels and either monofilament or braid with a mono leader make ideal setups to fish poppers, surface walkers and prop baits. Rod lengths of 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet provide a quicker response when imparting the necessary twitches. And baitcasting reels geared for a 7:1 or faster retrieve take up the slack line faster, making it easier to achieve the desired cadence with any topwater lure. The higher density of fluorocarbon causes it sink and makes it a poor choice to fish any of the aforementioned topwaters. You want a line with some buoyancy so it won’t hinder the action of the lure. Monofilament stays on the surface, and since line visibility isn’t a concern when fishing topwaters, why not opt for 17- to 20-pound…

Each spring the small town where Shane lived held a trout derby. In years past, participants were encouraged to keep the fish, which would then be fried in the park pavilion that evening for everyone to enjoy. But this year was different. There was a new mayor, and there were new signs about rules posted all over the park. As Shane rode his bike to his favorite spot along the river, he couldn’t help but notice them. “Notice: Trout Derby contestants must practice catch and release only.” Shane pulled his bike over to read the fine print. Underneath the large words it said: “All entrants will be entered into a drawing for all prizes.” That seemed very odd to the boy. For as long as he could remember, contestants tried…