Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i Game & Fish South

Some of my fondest childhood fishing memories involved floating the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania with my grandpa and brother in an aluminum jon boat. Float trips were a big deal, a highly anticipated adventure, each summer—mainly because they meant we’d be fishing for most of the day rather than just a few hours. For my brother and me, a float down the Susquehanna brought aspirations of catching smallmouth bass (and maybe even a muskie!) in what we considered nearly uncharted waters. Grandpa made sure the trips almost always included a section of river his grandsons had yet to fish in their young lives, and the unknown fostered a giddiness for days before any float. Like most trips I’ve embarked on, even as an adult, one of the best parts…

Just as sure as beads of sweat will roll down your forehead and sting your eyes, the heat of summer will spark terrific inshore fishing in many areas. Down South, for instance, popular targets like redfish, speckled trout and snook are characteristically active as water temperatures climb, feeding aggressively in preparation for their summer or fall spawning. In the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, striped bass and bluefish embark on epic feeding frenzies as they gorge on schooling baitfish. Whether you’re chasing limits of eating-size fish or a trophy for a viral photo-op, this is truly the time to tap into the inshore action. When faced with such apparent bounty, however, many anglers encounter a significant speed bump that can derail any outing before it begins. It’s precisely the number of choices…

Those of us who target bass or popular inshore species that frequent grass flats and areas with emergent vegetation, woody cover and shell or rock bottom, know that snags that interrupt our fishing and sometimes claim a lure or two are common parts of the game. They are not, however, unavoidable. We can be proactive and make a few adjustments to minimize the chances of hooking underwater structure or having vegetation foul our hooks, all of which can rob us of precious fishing time and hookup opportunities. Texas-rigging is a popular way of rendering many soft plastics weedless and snag-proof. Using jigs or other artificials that incorporate a weed guard or another anti-fouling feature—think Snagless Sally spinnerbaits, Johnson Silver Minnow spoons and various hollow-bodied frogs and swimbaits—also helps matters. Nevertheless,…

Carpenters have hammers, bricklayers have trowels and trout anglers have inline spinners, the classic lures that get the job done. Invented by French engineer André Meulnart in 1938, the spinner’s design is quite simple yet incredibly effective: a stainless steel shaft, a spinning blade attached via a clevis, a brass body for weight and a dangling treble hook often dressed with a palmered feather or fur for added attraction. These timeless fish catchers have likely brought more trout to the net than any other artificial, proving that simplicity is often the key to success. And while it’s pretty difficult to fish a spinner ineffectively, there are a few tricks that can ensure consistent success, especially as water temps rise throughout the blue-chip trout fisheries of our country’s Southeastern states. Below…

At first glance, a spotted bass closely resembles a largemouth, but it does have some distinct characteristics in its markings and physical makeup that help differentiate the two gamefish. In fact, the spotted bass’ name is derived from the rows of small, dark spots along its belly, just below the lateral line. The jawline is another identifying trait: A spot’s is shorter and does not extend past the fish’s eye like a largemouth’s. If uncertainty remains in identifying the species, running your fingertip over the fish’s tongue will reveal a coarse texture on a spotted bass, while the tongue of a largemouth is slick. SPOTTED BASS LARGEMOUTH BASS…

For information on permits for the Salmon River and all required equipment, go to recreation.gov, or contact the Salmon-Challis National Forest River Office at sm.fs.salmonriver@usda.gov or 208-481-2625. Contact Idaho Fish and Game for fishing license Information at idfg.idaho.gov, licenses@idfg.idaho.gov or 208-334-3700. All watercraft must be clean, drained and dry upon arrival at the launch site. Each boat must have an appropriate Idaho Invasive Species sticker. Information can be found at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov or by calling 888-922-6743.…

“Ever been night fishing?” asked Marvin McGhee, owner of McGhee’s tackle shop, as he wiped a stream of sweat from his forehead and sighed. Although his shop was air-conditioned, it was just enough to prevent the plastic worms from melting together in their packages. “Nope, never really even thought about it,” Shane replied. “I figure the fish have to sleep sometime, too.” “It’s the way to go, especially right now with this wretched heat wave,” said Marvin. “It’s nice and cool at night, and it’s when the big ones feed. Yessir, I caught my two best bass at night.” Shane’s head began to spin with possibilities as he swirled his lawn money around in the pocket of his Levis. Now that he could drive, he could fish every night of…

THE GREAT DIVIDE OVER NEW DEER CARTRIDGES Are the new and latest deer loads any better than the tried-and-true ammo from the past? From the standbys of .308 and .30-06 to the 6.5 PRC and 6 mm Creedmoor loads, here’s a look into how these cartridges stand up to each other. Check out our “Gear” section for more. SUMMER CAMPING GUIDE From helpful how-tos on campsite tasks and family-favorite outdoor recipes to the best gear and destinations, our Summer Camping Guide sets you up for success in the great outdoors. LONG-RANGE MATH Take a deep dive into the three most common methods for compensating for bullet trajectory and wind when shooting at long distances. Find this how-to under the “Learn” category. YIPPEE KI-YAY While e-callers are great at getting the…

If you want your boat to deliver more tomorrow than it does today, it’s time to enter the spin zone, because getting your propeller dialed in is the number one way to attain the performance you’re looking for. And if you haven’t tried swapping props in the past, chances are the one you’ve been using is no longer in optimal condition and is robbing you of fishing time and money at the gas pump. IMPORTANCE OF PROP SELECTION Why don’t all boats come with the perfect prop in the first place? Because the ideal choice depends on a number of variables, including the hull’s design and dimensions, the weight of the boat and its load, and the performance aspects on which you place a premium. Top speed, fuel efficiency, hole-shot…

In three summers of guiding at Cree River Lodge, Terrell Steels (above) and Cliff Salisbury have seen the good, bad and ugly from anglers who fish the remote northern Saskatchewan waters. They sat down on the last evening of our four-day trip to discuss common but easily avoided mistakes. 1. NOT BEING READY TO FISH. “On this river system there are so many tight little spots where I pull in,” said Salisbury, “and if you’re not already casting as we’re coming in, you’ve blown the spot.” 2. CHANGING LURES UNNECESSARILY. When you’re changing lures, you’re not fishing. Change when moving from spot to spot, and ask your guide’s opinion. “Let me know when you’re changing and I’ll stay off the spot until you’re ready,” Steels said. A pet peeve: “People…

Their savagery has been compared to that of a cage fighter. Their reckless feeding frenzies have prompted comparisons to giant piranhas. Yet, somehow, jack crevalle get no respect. These fish, which can exceed 30 pounds (the U.S. record weighed 58.8 pounds) and are the toughest pound-for-pound opponents most of us could encounter in inshore and nearshore waters, deserve our admiration instead of our disdain. But countless anglers yell expletives when the monster redfish or snook they thought they’d hooked turns out to be a jack half the size. People will pay thousands of dollars and travel halfway around the world to pick a fight with a giant trevally (a larger cousin of the jack crevalle that swims in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific), when they can experience a similar…

During a trip to Dauphin Island, be sure to check out Fort Gaines, a historic site from the Civil War and the Battle of Mobile Bay. The Alabama Aquarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Bienville Boulevard is another popular attraction. It showcases the plants, animals and other natural resources found along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. You can also ride the ferry from Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan and enjoy the tour and displays at another historic 19th-century military facility. Once in Fort Morgan, you’ll be just a stone’s throw away from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, two popular beach destinations with lots of lively bars to enjoy a chilled libation (some have live music) and great eateries to sample fresh seafood. If you’d rather dine on Dauphin Island, give Islanders…

If you like lever-action rifles, we can be friends. If not, how long have you been a member of the communist party? Jokes notwithstanding, lever-action rifles are a practical choice for hunting and are also exceptionally fun. When it comes to rimfires, however, our current era is dominated by semi-autos, which may make lever guns seem at least antiquated if not irrelevant. Nonetheless, no other type of rifle has the heralded form factor and ergonomics, as well as the nostalgia, of the lever action—rimfires included. The new Savage Revel .22 LR checks all these boxes. I was predisposed to being unimpressed with this rifle. I heard it had an aluminum receiver, thought it would feel cheap and didn’t expect much from this affordable lever action. That was before I handled…

As a hunter, I’ve killed a lot of bears, but I’ve never had to shoot one that was trying to chew on me. I’ve also done a lot of hunting with handguns and have conducted a lot of terminal ballistics evaluations. However, few things are as valuable as first-hand experience, and Tim Sundles, who owns Buffalo Bore Ammunition, has had a lot of firsthand and up-close experiences with bears and handguns. Anyone curious about protecting themselves from bears with handguns would be wise to hear his thoughts on the subject. Before I share Sundles’ advice, though, I want to tell you about Ian McMurchy, who had more experiences with bears—black bears, brown bears, little bears and big bears—than anyone I’ve known. Ian retired from the Saskatchewan Department of Wildlife in…

For decades, Montana hunters have gotten the opportunity to relive their big-game season months after it ended when contracted phone surveyors call to learn whether hunters were successful. The surveyors don’t call every Montana hunter. Instead, they phone a subset of hunters that’s large and randomized enough to be considered statistically valid. The information they glean is used by wildlife managers to estimate total harvest, key data that helps them recommend bag limits and seasons for the year ahead. Critics of the phone survey have slammed Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for what they consider an antiquated system that collects dubious data, and discontent with the system escalates when big-game populations drop but hunting seasons aren’t adjusted accordingly. That very dynamic is happening now, with mule deer populations crashing…

The heat of summer is here, and while June and July can be brutal in the South, they bring a defining shift that also offers new opportunities. Summertime does demand adaptation. It calls for making the most of the day’s waking and waning hours, for rising before dawn to chase trout in dwindling cool flows, for digging deep for bass holding on ledges and for braving the midday scorch to stalk four-legged quarry. Despite the heat, there’s no shortage of adventure. So load up on water and sunscreen and go bomb topwaters for largemouths at first light, battle sharks in the surf or fill a cooler with squirrel meat. Embrace the challenges and you’ll reap the rewards. 1 OKIE BUSHYTAILS For hunters eager to get back into the woods, Oklahoma’s squirrel…

Constant competition for forage with their schoolmates usually makes gray snappers respond quickly to fresh baits presented in a natural, non-threatening fashion. But fishing pressure, a slow current and weather changes can put these fish in a finicky mood. When that happens, chumming can jump-start the action by offering the fish a combination of appetizing scents and small freebies. Loading a block of frozen chum (available at most bait shops) into a mesh bag and hanging it from a stern cleat is usually all it takes to ignite the snapper bite. For land-based fishing, secure a rope to the mesh bag with the chum and hang it from a pier or bridge railing, or anchor it with a PVC pipe secured to shoreline structure. Be aware that not all frozen…

Growing up on the banks of a well-known smallmouth bass river in West Virginia, I have been fishing for that species nearly my entire life. My introduction to fishing was a simple affair—a walk down to the riverbank when Dad got home from work with a closed-face reel to cast a worm I gathered by flipping rocks along the way. My fishing career trajectory was boosted when float fishing replaced bank fishing, utilizing canoes and running sections between bridges that provided easy access to the river for put-ins and take-outs. Learning to paddle the shoals and minor rapids was a learning curve; doing it correctly kept us dry and prevented the canoe from sinking and losing our gear. It took many years to become efficient at running the river, competently…

The Weatherby Model 307 bolt action introduced in 2023 reminds us that the Weatherby family gene of doing things their way is still present in their DNA. But why would the company take on another bolt-action product line with the Model 307? The defining Mark V introduced in 1958 and the Vanguard in 1971 would seem to have the market covered. However, after 50-plus years, Weatherby felt it was time to introduce something new. The 2019 move from California to Wyoming facilitated onsite machining and engineering resources so Weatherby could consider a fresh design and more importantly the manufacturing capacity to make the Model 307 at the new Sheridan headquarters. By the way, 307 is the area code for Sheridan—a nice way to pay homage to Weatherby’s new community. Weatherby’s…