Augusta Outdoor Expo 2014

Augusta Outdoor Expo, July 19, 2014 1OVER $35,000 IN DOOR PRIZES!

JAMES BROWN ARENASATURDAY, JULY 19TH

10AM - 8PM

BUY TICKETS TODAY AUGUSTAOUTDOOREXPO.COM

FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!

guest speaker:

DAVID BLANTONOne of the most respected

and elite hunters in the country

HUNTING • FISHING • ARCHERY • SHOOTING • TAXIDERMY • OFF-ROAD & MUCH MORE

2 Augusta Outdoor Expo, July 19, 2014

MAIN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS10:00 AM DOORS OPEN10:00 AM - 4:00 PM REGISTRATION FOR DOOR PRIZES10:00 AM - 8:00 PM VENDORS, EXHIBITS, COMPETITIONS & SEMINARS10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM ULTIMATE AIR DOGS COMPETITIONS4:30 PM LEGENDARY OUTDOORSMAN DAVID BLANTON5:15 PM YAMPA VALLEY BOYS5:45 PM ANNOUNCEMENT OF DOOR PRIZE WINNERS6:00 PM COLLECT YOUR DOOR PRIZES8:00 PM DOORS CLOSE

TAbLE OF CONTENTS

Augusta Outdoor Expo, July 19, 2014 3

Guest Speaker David Blanton, Realtree .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Featured Attractions ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 & 6

Schedule of Events ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Door Prizes ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 & 9

Ultimate Air Dogs Competitions ...............................................................................................................................................................10

Monster On A Mission: Extreme Faith Based Motor Sports .......................................................................................................11

Event Layout .......................................................................................................................................................................................................12

Vendor List ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................13

National Survey Finds Most Boaters Are Satisfied With Existing Access, But Want Improvements ............ 14 & 16

Come See Team Benelli’s Janna Reeves Shooting Champion ....................................................................................................17

Bryan Brasher: So Called Trash Species Hold High Value For Those Willing To Fish For Them .................................18

Steelhead Season Is Over On Lake Superior’s North Shore ........................................................................................................20

Kayak Fishing Gaining Popularity ............................................................................................................................................................22

Missouri’s Current River Combines Mild And Wild Side ................................................................................................................24

Catfish King: Mississippi Angler Phil King Offers Tips For Locating Big Early-Summer Cats ....................................26

TAbLE OF CONTENTS

EVENT SUPPORTERS


gUEST SpEAkEr

David Blanton, Realtree

Realtree’s David Blanton is widely regarded as one of the “most respected and elite” hunters in the country today and enjoys bowhunting elk and deer the most. His “down home” Southern appeal has made him a favorite with outdoorsmen and children all across the country.

David is proud of his roots which include growing up in South Georgia, on the outskirts of the Okefenokee Swamp, “croppin’” tobacco by hand during his high school summers. It was in South Georgia where David “fell in love with hunting” but most importantly, he began to develop a close walk with God.

It was only after working several years at Realtree, Blanton began to realize that his “dream job” had become too important to him …more important than his relationship with God and family.

Blanton has a God-given way, through humor and candor, to share his story of failure that was followed by redemption through God’s love.

Since his employment began in 1990, Blanton has helped grow Realtree’s presence through outdoor television beginning with The Nashville Network, then ESPN and now oversees productions of Realtree Outdoors and Realtree RoadTrips on Outdoor Channel and also Realtree’s Monster Bucks TV on Sportsman’s Channel.

In addition to television, Blanton helped create the “most popular” deer hunting videos in history, Monster Bucks which remains the best-selling hunting DVDs of all time.

David resides in LaGrange, GA and has three sons, Harman, Alex and Lucas.

MAIN STAGE4:30 PM TO 5:30 PM


FEATUrED ATTrACTIONS

MAIN STAGE5:30 PM

MAIN FLOOR11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM

The Yampa Valley Boys are in their twelfth year of delighting audiences together. Their friendly, infectious stage presence reaches out to any audience -- no matter the size -- to make their show seem as intimate as a campfire sing-along.

Started in 1979 by Chuck and Lou Ann Best, Twiggy the Water-Skiing Squirrel has been featured on numerous television shows, newspaper articles and websites. The Bests are based in Deltona, Florida. They found an orphaned squirrel after Hurrican David and raised it as a family pet who would ride on their shoulders even as they dipped in the pool.

Trophies of Grace exists to glorify God by serving and partnering with pastors and local churches in their outreach ministries, specifically to reach people who are interested in hunting and fishing.

O’Neill Williams, Television and Radio Host and Producer“Ever since I can remember I have been doing something in the outdoors. Wheter it’s fishing, hunting, no matter what it is, if it’s related to the outdoors I’ll be there! I’ve been fortunate these many years to share my outdoor experiences with you via TV and radio.

BIG GREEN EGG COOKING SEMINAR3:00 PM | WEINBERGER’S FURNITURE’S BOOTH

MAIN FLOOR EXHIBIT HALLALL DAY


COME SEE US AT CULPEPPER OUTDOOR’S BOOTHALL DAY


Individually, they are pieces of a puzzle. Often times muddy and unshaven, necks red from the work they perform under a scorching sun, faces burnt from western winds, hands raw from piercing cold. Randy Birdsong - Young, driven, talented. All words used to describe Birdsong and his desire to produce the best outdoor television available to viewers. A Missouri native who now makes his home in Illinois, Birdsong is best known for his award-winning work on one of the country’s most popular outdoor shows, Whitetail Freaks. Troy Ruiz - For almost 20 years, Troy has made his living producing outdoor video and television. From his early days with Preston Pittman Calls , to his production work on TNN’s Remington Country, Hunting The Country and the Primos Truth Serious, Ruiz is and always has been one of the most talkented producers in the business.

As a world leader in the development of clay trap machines, Laporte prides itself in looking at ways to improve our products while keeping the consumer informed and abreast of new developments. Laporte has been involved in the clay shooting industry since 1927 and remains totally committed to the sport and its future development. The Laporte name has stood for quality and first-class services since 1927.

The Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center strives to provide quality environmental education for visitors of all ages. The Center exists to support Georgia Southern University in its environmental education programs, as well as to provide wildlife encounters for the school children and citizens of this region. All species of native Georgia fauna are within the scope of the Center’s endeavors. The critical role of humans in the environment is the unifying theme for its programs.

EXHIBIT HALL10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM


SCHEDULE OF EVENTSTime

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12:30

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Room A Room B Room C Exhibit Hall OutsideMain StageUltimate Air Dogs

Ultimate Air Dogs

Ultimate Air Dogs

Team Benelli’s Janna Reeves Shooting

Champion2:00

GA DNR Wildlife Biologist Q&A

10:30

Ultimate Air Dogs

Legendary Outdoorsman David Blanton

Twiggy Water Skiing Squirrel

AdultArchery

Tournament

Skeet Shooting Archery

Competition

MonsterTruckRides

GA Conceal & Carry Permit

Seminar10:30

GA DNR K9 Demonstration

& Boating Laws12:00

NWTF Turkey Calling

Seminar12:00

Kids Duck Calling

Seminar1:30

Big Green Egg Grill Cooking Seminar with

O’Neill Williams3:00

Wildlife Animal ShowSnakes of GA

3:00



YampaValley Boys

Door PrizesAnnounced

DoorsClose

MonsterTruckRides


DOOr prIzESFIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE2 FRONT ROW

TICKETS TO

$2,500 SHOPPING SPREE

TO

PROVIDED BY


DOOr prIzESSTUDENT DOOR PRIZE

PLUS:

3D ARCHERY CONTESTCOMPETE TO WIN A NEW

HOYT FAKTOR 30 BOW

Rifles

Shotguns

Yeti Coolers

Bows

Flashlights

Knives

Gift Cards

Cross Bows

Deer Mounts

Fishing Gear

Trips

Shirts

Hats

And Much More……

LIFETIME HUNTING LICENSES

PROVIDED BY

PROVIDED BY

5WILL BEGIVEN AWAY!



© Caroline Fenton Photography © Caroline Fenton Photography

© Caroline Fenton Photography

MAIN FLOOR

10:00 AM

12:00 PM

2:00 PM

4:00 PM

© Caroline Fenton Photography © Caroline Fenton Photography © Caroline Fenton Photography © Caroline Fenton Photography © Caroline Fenton Photography


FEATUrED ATTrACTIONSCOME SEE A SHOW

MONSTER TRUCK ON SITE OR TAKE A RIDE

IN A MONSTER TRUCKALL DAY LONG

OUTSIDE JAMES BROWN ARENA


JAMES brOwN ArENA MAp

ExhibitHall

2

Hallway NearMeeting Rooms

3

ArcheryCompetition

James Brown ArenaAugusta Outdoor Expo

MAINSTAGE

TWIGGY

AIRDOGS


VENDOrS

AAA Augusta

Adaptive Garage Solutions, LLC

Augusta RV

Augusta Sports Council

Austin Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc.

Brashear Realty Corporation

Big Buck Sauces & Seasonings

Big Lake Duck Calls

Cabela’s

Carolina Kettles

Clemson Bass Fishing Team

Costco

Cross Power

Crossheirs Ministry

DeFoor Realty

DuckSmacker Game Calls

Elite Archery of Augusta

Escape Outdoors

Fort Gordon Natural Resources Branch

Frog’s Taxidermy

GA DNR Fisheries / Wildlife Div.

Gheppeto’s Leathers

Haywood Calls

Hunting For The Cure

JewelScent

Larry Stewarts Wildlife Art

Larson Chiropractic

LeafFilter North of Georgia, Inc

Little River Guide Service

Meadows Edge Deer Fuel

Murlab LLC/ GO VOLT Flashlights

Neptune Dive & Ski

Pawl Natural

Peyton’s Deer Processing Inc.

Rainbow of Columbia Co.

Ray Fulcher

Reliable Equipment

Rick W Allen for Congress

Roberson Brothers Guide Service

Savannah River Armory, Inc

Scentsy

Sea Tow

Snakes of Georgia

Southern Siding

Street and Trail Motorsports

Trinity Baptist Church

Trinity on the Hill United Methodist

US Army Corp of Engineers

Walker Chiropractic

William Sasser Guide Service

Weinberger’s Furniture

and more to come!

Top ConcourseAround Area

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By John Hayes

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Recreational boating is big business. Whether it’s trolling for game fish, motoring for fun or paddling for exercise, summer and boating go together like dollars and cents.

With 22,831,569 recreational boats

registered in the United States in 2012, boating is clearly a recreational option of choice among many voters in rural and urban areas.

Yet despite a large number of narrow studies, comprehensive data about boating access had been piecemeal before the release last week of a national study by a public opinion research firm. Its findings

reveal that fishing continues to be an important part of most boating trips. While the nature of boating is changing, most boaters are generally pleased with existing access, said the survey, but would get on the water more often if access and amenities were improved.

“The overall results suggest that lack of boating access contributes

to lower participation among some boaters than they otherwise would have with better access,” said the study, conducted under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant by Responsive Management, a Virginia-based company that specializes in issues regarding natural resources and outdoor recreation.

NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS MOST BOATERS ARE SATISFIED WITH EXISTING ACCESS, BUT WANT IMPROVEMENTS

cont. on page 16



The study, “Enhancing Fishing Access Through a National Assessment of Recreational Boating Access,” included a review of previously published research, focus groups with boaters and boating industry representatives, a nationwide survey of boaters including boating anglers, and a national survey of boating industry representatives and boating agency professionals.

While the needs and practices of pleasure boaters and anglers can sometimes seem at odds, the study found that “participation in boating and fishing are intertwined, with obstacles or barriers to one activity strongly influencing participation in the other.”

Fishing is an important component

of most boating trips -- 41 percent of respondents said fishing was the top reason for going, and 67 percent said they had fished from a boat in the previous two years.

The study found that most boats are launched an average of 15 miles from the boater’s home. While most boaters were generally satisfied with boating access, they were concerned about the quality of access facilities -- 56 percent reported too few boat access areas, poor maintenance of access sites or crowded launch ramps.

NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS MOST BOATERS ARE SATISFIED WITH EXISTING ACCESS, BUT WANT IMPROVEMENTS, CONT.


J. Strom Thurmond Dam & Lake at Clarks Hill

Are You Next? Expect the Unexpected. Wear Your Life Jacket.

1-800-533-3478 www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmod

COME SEE TEAM BENELLI’S JANNA REEVES SHOOTING CHAMPION

Reeves discovered her penchant for shooting when she completed the shooting requirements for obtaining her concealed carry license for a handgun. A quick learner, it wasn’t long before Reeves earned her NRA certification to teach several nationally recognized firearms courses. She spent several years instructing at an indoor shooting range with a special focus on helping women become confident and capable with their firearms.

She has also become a respected voice in the firearms community, contributing informative articles to various websites and magazines and has created a social media following of more

than 300,000 for her gun and 2nd Amendment themed pages.

In 2013, she stepped into the ring of competitive shooting, entering her first shotgun match, which was soon followed by her first 3-Gun competition. Reeves won High Lady at the Rockcastle ProAm; Amateur Division, a major national match and has raced down the path to success with top-5 finishes in every match she has entered. She is pleased to accept Benelli’s invitation to join their 3-Gun Team.

NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS MOST BOATERS ARE SATISFIED WITH EXISTING ACCESS, BUT WANT IMPROVEMENTS, CONT.

1:30 PM TO 2:30 PMROOM B


By Bryan Brasher

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- When I was a kid, about 12 or 13 years old, a bunch of us were gathered at a little lake near my home in Alabama, grilling, talking and fishing for carp along the shoreline.

Since carp were known for sometimes yanking rod-and-reels

from the forked sticks we used as rod holders -- and since he was more into fellowship than fishing that day -- my grandfather’s friend, Hubert Isbell, had his Zebco One tucked safely beside him with no hook in the water. But his granddaughter, Stephanie, kept pestering to use it until he finally gave in.

Hubert’s wife, Ruth, agreed to watch the rod to keep it from ending

up in the lake. But when a carp doubled the rod over in the forked stick and we all shouted at her to grab it, she looked up the shoreline like she thought we were pointing at a deer or a bird.

I took off running toward the rod, but I reached the shoreline just in time to see it shoot into the water, leaving only a trail of bubbles behind.

Ruth slinked up the bank toward Hubert and offered a sincere, “I’m sorry.”

Hubert’s reply still stands as one of the most comical moments I’ve ever experienced outdoors.

“There ain’t no need in worrying about it,” he said. “It was just the best one I had.”

Several people who’ve heard me tell that story through the years

BRYAN BRASHER: SO-CALLED TRASH SPECIES HOLD HIGH VALUE FOR THOSE WILLING TO FISH FOR THEM


have suggested I should change the details to say we were fishing for catfish instead of a species that so many consider nothing but a trash fish.

But I’ve never been hung up on appearances when it comes to fishing. If it pulls, I’ll fish for it.

I realize that’s not the prevailing attitude during an age when tournaments are held weekly for bass, crappie and catfish. But I do feel sorry sometimes for people who totally overlook certain species of fish because they know there’s no chance they’ll ever help them in a tournament or because they don’t make for the best eating.

My friends and I spent thousands of hours fishing for carp when I was younger. These were native common carp that usually topped out at 20 pounds -- not the Asian variety that grows to 60 and 70 pounds -- but they were still sometimes more than you could handle on a rod-and-reel.

I’ve caught tons of them, and there were days when I caught more pounds of fish on one cast than any bass fisherman on the lake did all day long.

Did we have anything worth having

when I was done?

No. But if you’ll keep a check on local bass tournament standings, you’ll see that most tournament anglers don’t either when the day’s over -- and they haven’t had nearly as much fun as we did with those carp.

In the headwaters of Wilson Lake, just below Wheeler Dam on the Tennessee River, I’ve caught as many as 13 species in one day of live-bait fishing.

A lot of people fish over there just for the smallmouth bass, striped bass and hybrids. But if I’m releasing fish anyway -- and that’s usually the case -- I value the white bass, catfish and drum just as much as the others.

Using ribbon lures for gar, fishing oxbow swamps for bowfin and trolling multi-hook rigs for white and yellow bass during the dog days of summer when nothing else is biting are all things I’ve enjoyed. The last time I was at Reelfoot Lake, I heard some people talking about snagging for buffalo -- the fish, not the animal -- and I think that sounds like fun, too.

I understand it takes a lot of time and effort to be successful on these

ultracompetitive tournament circuits these days. But don’t let the desire to deposit a check cause you to overlook fishing for other species that offer little beyond pure fun.

You won’t have to worry about keeping them in a live well all day.

You won’t have to worry about whether you’ve got more total weight than all the other boats on the lake.

And best of all, you’ll have a boat load of fun on your own schedule without having to pay an entry fee.


By Dennis AndersonStar Tribune (Minneapolis)ON THE NORTH SHORE, Minn. - As I pulled on

my waders here, watching the rushing river far below that I would fish, I thought again how just how wacky spring’s biological clock has turned the past couple of years.For the next eight hours, I would chase

steelhead with my son, Trevor, 21, who was home from Montana for a couple of weeks, and I was hoping at this late date - May 28 - we could still find a fish or two that would take a yarn fly.In most years, such

an effort wouldn’t be worthwhile.Steelheading is a long-

shot game in any event, pursued, oftentimes, in April’s bitterly cold rain and sleet, with North Shore stream banks still covered in snow. Ditto those along Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline not far away.But fish, like other

wildlife, and also people, respond to weather variations in ways large and small; some so minute as to be barely perceptible.Steelhead that enter

North Shore streams and rivers in spring to spawn, for instance, behave differently than many of those that spawn in Wisconsin rivers that empty into Lake Superior. And not just because Wisconsin rivers are farther south, and warm more quickly.Example:Wisconsin’s Brule River (Minnesota’s North

Shore also has a Brule River, north of Grand Marais) receives its biggest runs of steelhead

in fall; fish that overwinter in the river before spawning in spring and slipping back downstream, sometimes tail-first, to Lake Superior.But the same fish that enter Minnesota’s

North Shore streams do so in spring, before returning again days or weeks later to Lake Superior. These fish have little choice: Unlike watersheds drained by the Wisconsin rivers, those emptied by Minnesota rivers and streams into Lake Superior are fairly small, and once they’ve deflated the region’s snowmelt,

and spring’s heavy rains, their levels drop precipitously. And their temperatures rise.Neither of which is good for steelhead,

which prefer cold water, and also favor rivers pockmarked with deep pools capable of providing protective cover from various predators, including eagles and ospreys.Many anglers consider steelhead (migratory

rainbow trout) among the world’s strongest and most beautiful freshwater fin-bearing

critters, and they start looking for these fish along the North Shore when stream temperatures nudge 40 degrees. It’s then that mature (3- or 4-year-old, or older) steelhead begin to filter into the region’s rock-strewn rivers.For anglers, the trick is to locate spots where

the fish “hold,’’ while running upstream. Springs that unfold fairly slowly, with river temperatures rising only gradually, and water levels remaining fairly high, usually provide the most consistent fishing, and the greatest

number of days steelhead can be found in North Shore rivers.Consider now this spring,

which arrived late, especially in northern Minnesota, and,

when temperatures finally did rise, produced peaks of incredibly raucous river flows north to south, along the

North Shore.Steelhead can fight their way up raging

rivers. But anglers can’t fish these waters very well, efficiently or safely.So this spring, steelheading got a late start.

Which is the bad news. The good news is steelhead have been around in some North Shore streams in reasonable numbers much later into May than is usually the case.Proving the point, Trevor, along with Dave

STEELHEAD SEASON IS OVER ON LAKE SUPERIOR’S NORTH SHORE

“We’re going to have to work our way downstream to the lake, to see if we can find any fish holding on their way out,” I said.


Zentner and Mark Kilen of Duluth, on Tuesday hooked eight steelhead. Four were landed, an admirable percentage.Now it was Wednesday morning, and Trevor and

I would try our luck. But as we hiked upstream a mile or so along one of our favorite rivers, we worried that fast-changing conditions might prove our undoing. The water level had dropped from the day before, and the river temperature was higher by about 3 degrees, hovering near 60.Still, in a pretty run of water bracketed canyon-

like by steep banks, we waded into swift water.“Let’s try it here,’’ Trevor said.And we started casting.

SEASON’S ENDFive hours later, having fished upriver to a

barrier falls and failing to hook up, we knew any steelhead we would catch on this day would be well-earned.North Shore steelheading, it seemed, was

ending for the season before our very eyes. Or had ended overnight.The day before, at these same falls, Trevor,

Dave and Mark had seen a handful or more of steelhead jumping or porpoising in the pool below the falls in vain attempts to swim farther upstream.Wednesday in that pool, only one fish showed

itself.“We’re going to have to work our way

downstream to the lake, to see if we can find any fish holding on their way out,’’ I said.So it was beneath a cloudless sky, with trees

budding and ravens yapping overhead, that we bounced egg-pattern yarn flies through likely-looking lies, or holding spots. This wasn’t fly casting of the iconic variety, with long floating lines looping overhead, and tapered leaders and flashy streamers trailing.Instead, our fly reels were spooled with

monofilament, and our leaders weighted with split shot. Thus rigged, we “walked’’ our flies

downstream, bouncing the weights along the river bottom, hoping our flies would entice pick-ups.After so many strikeless casts, I had been lulled

into complacency, and was slow to set the hook when I felt a telltale tug.It was a steelhead, and the fish’s broad side

flashed in the bright water.As quickly, my line went limp.As darkness blanketed Highway 61, we headed

for home, tired. I had driven up that morning, a four-hour run, and Trevor had made a similar jaunt the morning before.Between us, for two days of fishing, we landed

one steelhead - a dandy buck Trevor took the day before.“A great time,’’ I said. “But I think the season is

over.’’


By Steve Waters

Sun Sentinel

SANIBEL, Fla. -- One of the great advantages of inshore kayak fishing is you can get to places that powerboaters cannot.

That realization came to me when I had an entire bay in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge to myself.

I was making cast after cast after cast to wherever I wanted along the mangrove-lined shoreline from a 12-foot Hobie Outback kayak. It wasn’t until I landed a keeper redfish on a Sebile Stick Shadd that I realized the downside of my solitude.

There was no one to whom I could show off my catch. The best I could do was take several really bad selfies of me and the fish before I let it go.

Fishing from kayaks has grown tremendously in popularity over the past 10 years according to Keeton Eoff. He handles fishing-focused marketing and development for Hobie Cat, which builds many different kayaks just for fishing.

Hobie got its start in the 1950s making surfboards, then expanded in the late 1960s to making sailboats. Eoff said the California-based company started making kayaks nearly 15 years ago.

“The main concept was recreation,” Eoff said. “As kayak fishing got more popular, we started developing kayaks to suit that need and then it got better and better.

“What I think is cool is that in kayak fishing it seems like the age range, we see from 25 to 65. You don’t have to be a punk kid to do this.”

One of many companies to make kayaks, Hobie is the only one with Mirage drive, which employs pedal-driven flippers for propulsion.

You sit in your seat and use your feet to pedal the kayak forward. A hand-controlled tiller provides steering.

The Outback and Revolution were Hobie’s two main fishing kayaks. Then the company came out with the Pro Angler, which this year surpassed the Outback to become Hobie’s top seller. It has horizontal rod-holders, lots of storage and an elevated seat.

“You have more room than you need,” Eoff said, “and it’s not difficult to move.”

I fished in a Pro Angler my first day, following Eoff and magazine editor Polly Dean out of the refuge to McCarthy’s Marina in Captiva, which has a fleet of rental Hobies.

We did a lot of pedaling, which was much easier than paddling, and I caught fish trailing my favorite kayak lure behind me: a

KAYAK FISHING GAINING POPULARITY

“What I think is cool is that in kayak fishing it seems like the age range we see is from 25 to 65. You don’t have to be a punk kid to do this.”


D.O.A. Deadly Combo, which consists of a plastic shrimp suspended under a noisy foam float.

Holding my fishing rod in my hand as I pedaled, I caught and released a jack, an undersized sea trout and a good-sized bluefish.

Hobie does make paddle kayaks, which start at around $1,000. Eoff said you can start off much cheaper with a lesser quality brand to see if you like kayak fishing.

“Those that become passionate will upgrade,” said Eoff, who noted that a Mirage drive kayak starts at around $2,000, but also warned that some cheap kayaks can get expensive when you have to pay extra for a paddle or a seat, which Hobie includes.

He added that Hobie kayaks can be upgraded with accessories such as depthfinders; livewells; H-bars to hold on to or lean against while standing and fly fishing; and even a Power-Pole electric anchor.

A big consideration in choosing a kayak is what type of fishing you plan to do and where. Eoff

likes the Revolution for offshore fishing because it launches better and when you’re fighting a big fish, “you can throw your legs over the sides and ride it like a horse. When you’re fishing the flats and wading, it’s easy to get in and out of because of its low sides. The Pro Angler has higher sides, but it’s more stable and you’ll stay drier.”

The best thing, said Eoff, is to go to a Hobie dealer, such as Nautical Ventures in Dania Beach, and try out different kayaks to find the one that best suits your needs.

Another valuable piece of advice: don’t buy a tandem kayak for fishing just to gain the approval of your significant other.

“He wants the kayak and he’s going, ‘Honey, look, we can both go out.’ How often are you going to fish with your wife?” Eoff said. “One person trying to pedal a tandem is not a great experience.

“Spend $1,000 more and get two kayaks, so when you go out you’re still together, but you can be independent. And when you go fishing, you get the experience you want.”

Jeff Weakley’s excellent book Sportsman’s Best: Kayak Fishing ($19.95, floridasportsman.com), which includes a DVD, covers all the basics of the sport. The executive editor of Florida Sportsman magazine, Weakley talks about everything from paddles, pedals and pushpoles to safety gear, roof racks, tackle and tactics.

Two helpful items that I used while kayak fishing: an All Weather Wallet from Coghlan’s (coghlans.com) made of heavy-duty PVC with two zip-seal pockets that kept my money and fishing license dry; and an SPIbelt (spibelt.com) that I wore around my waist. It has a zip-seal plastic pouch that I put my car keys and cell phone in, then placed into an attached zippered pouch so they stayed out of my way, dry and convenient.


By Brent Frazee

The Kansas City Star

EMINENCE, Mo. -- Moments after launching his johnboat on the Current River, Billy Smith took a few seconds to admire his surroundings.

There are ugly places to cast a line, where you can catch fish like crazy. And there are beautiful places, where the scenery can connect a fisherman with what he or she is really chasing.

It’s almost a spiritual experience, Smith will tell you, being able to float the Current River on a spring morning.

The woods glow with an emerald color, almost shouting that spring is here. The sound of gurgling riffles carries through the cool air. And deer pause to get a drink, and wild turkeys fly low across the surface.

The crowds? They will come later. For now, the Current is calm and showing its mild side.

For Smith, that translates to the

perfect time to go smallmouth bass fishing.

“I grew up on these rivers, and I’ve fished them since I was a kid,” said Smith, who lives in Piedmont, Mo., and works as one of the maintenance supervisors in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. “I was brought up fishing for smallmouths, and we had some good fishing back in those days.

“But I think it’s better now than ever. We have a lot of big smallies in here just waiting to twist your arm.”

Smith uses results of local bass-club tournaments as proof.

“Used to be, it would take five smallmouths weighing a total of 8 or 9 pounds to win it,” he said. “Now it will take 14 or 15 pounds.

“That’s pretty darned good fishing.”

Smith chased some of that good fishing on a recent cool, overcast day. Floating the section of the Current from Twin Rivers to Powder Mill, he guided his boat through the swift current until he reached the end of a hole. He launched a

MISSOURI’S CURRENT RIVER COMBINES MILD AND WILD SIDE


large brown tube bait with purple flecks and let the bait drift along the current line.

The plastic bait hadn’t gotten far before Smith felt a jolting strike. He set the hook and watched as a bronze-colored torpedo shot out of the water.

The fish fought for a few seconds, straining to use the current to its advantage. But it wasn’t long before Smith had the 16-inch fish in the boat.

“I just love fishing for smallmouths,” Smith said. “I don’t think there’s a meaner fish in the water.”

Smith and I ran into plenty of those mean-spirited fish this day. As he used his trolling motor to keep from drifting through productive places too quickly, we steadily caught fish.

“We’re only getting one shot at some of these places because of the water being up,” Smith said. “But

they’re wanting to bite.”

That came as no surprise to Smith. Several days earlier, he had caught and released one smallmouth measuring 20 inches, another 19 inches, two more 17 inches and two others in the 15-inch range.

His cousin Jeff Williams shared in that success. On a recent evening, he caught a 3-pound, 11-ounce smallmouth on a suspending Rogue. The following day, was casting for more.

“Right now, the Current has the best fishing,” said Williams, who lives in Eminence. “The Jacks Fork is losing a lot of habitat. Some of the holes are filling with gravel, and that has an effect.

“Still, there are smallmouths in both rivers. You just have to catch it right.”

Smith and Williams take a routine progression. They target

smallmouths at the ends of holes in spring, then move to the backwater areas where the fish spawn. Later, they move to the cover along the current line.

They use big tube jigs, but they also use other crawdad imitations,

crankbaits and topwater lures. High or muddy water can throw off the bite, but the fishing returns to normal a week later.

“We lived in St. Louis when I was growing up, but my dad decided to move back this area, where he was from,” Smith said. “He was fed up with city life.

“I’m so fortunate he did. I’ve had a chance to move from here, but

I’ve always stayed here. There isn’t a place where I’d rather fish.”


By Bryan Brasher

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.)

COUNCE, Tennessee -- When 82-year-old angler Rheuben McGee boarded Phil King’s 24-foot SeaArk below Pickwick Landing Dam on Tuesday afternoon, he told King the biggest catfish he’d ever caught weighed a modest 12 pounds.

King, a longtime catfish guide and winner of numerous major tournaments, took that as a challenge.

He set out trying to put McGee on the catfish of a lifetime and by the time they left the water around 9 p.m., they had boated one cat that weighed 12.5 pounds and two that weighed more than 20.

“I’ve spent a lot of time out here bumping bottom for catfish, and I’ve caught a lot of them,” McGee said. “But I never caught any really big fish. That’s what we were hoping to get on today.”

McGee and his son, Jimmy, who both live near King in Corinth, Miss., came to fish with the famed catfish guru because of his reputation for catching big fish. He rarely goes without catching at least one big cat, and he knows how to find them during any season.

Right now, he’s targeting catfish in the post-spawn phase.

“A lot of the catfish have just finished spawning, and you’re catching fish that are just coming off

the beds,” King said. “The fish that I’m catching from deep water right now are all scratched up with scars that are scabbing over. That tells me they’re just now coming off the beds, and there’s a certain way you have to fish for post-spawn catfish that are just getting back into their regular feeding habits.”

A DELICATE APPROACH

After a harsh winter that saw the surface water temperatures on Pickwick dip into the 30s for the first time since 1988, King expected the blue cat spawn to happen a little later than it has in years past. But when he went out looking for blues in deep water during April and early May, he found they had already moved shallow to spawn much earlier than usual.

While that threw a kink into King’s typical springtime routine, it’s made for some excellent fishing during this valuable portion of the year

when school has just let out and daytime temperatures are still relatively mild. But a delicate approach has been necessary for catching catfish that are still a little ragged after the rigors of the spawn.

“The females we caught Tuesday night were still slick and in pretty good condition except for the weight loss and egg loss,” King said. “But the male fish are really beat up, and they’ve lost about a third of their body weight. Their tails are all beat up and cut up, and they look pretty rough.”

Since post-spawn fish have usually gone long periods without eating, King said it’s important to downsize your bait.

“In a normal situation, we use some really big baits because we’re trying to catch really big fish,” King said. “But in a post-spawn situation, the catfish don’t always feel like eating a whole lot. If you use too big a bait, they might just grab the end of it and then let go as soon as you pick up the rod to set the hook.”

One of the 20-pounders King and the McGees caught on a recent Tuesday bit a one-inch piece of cut bait.

“Think of a person who just lost 50 pounds in a short time,” King said. “That person is likely to be a little weak and probably won’t feel like eating a whole lot. It’s the same way with catfish.”

LOCATING POST-SPAWN FISH

Unlike crappie and bass -- two species that move slowly back toward deep water after spawning in the shallows -- King said catfish don’t waste any

CATFISH KING: MISSISSIPPI ANGLER PHIL KING OFFERS TIPS FOR LOCATING BIG EARLY-SUMMER CATS


time making their way back to the deep-water structure they call home for most of the year.

He uses a Humminbird 1199 depth finder with a 10-inch screen to identify big fish -- and there’s no water on local fisheries he considers too deep.

“In a smaller river, ‘deep water’ might mean 20, 25 or 30 feet,” King said. “But on the Mississippi River, it might mean 60, 70, 80 or up to 100 feet. The Tennessee River has some 70-80 feet water, and all of it holds big catfish.”

Besides searching for deep water, he also looks for dramatic structural elements along the bottom.

“The bigger the structure, the better for big cats,” King said. “Instead of a slow, sloping drop-off that tapers from 40 feet to 70 feet over a half a mile, I prefer one that goes immediately from 40 to 70 feet.”

King looks for all types of structure -- ledges, drop-offs, boulders, sunken brush, standing timber, etc. -- and he uses the side-scan and down-scan features of his Humminbird unit to actually distinguish between “good” fish in the

20-pound range and “really good” fish in the 40- to 60-pound range.

“The electronics we have available today really are amazing,” King said. “If I’ve got my unit on 4X or 6X zoom and I lay my hand next to the screen and see an arc the size of my little finger, that’s a good indication there’s a 40- to 50-pound fish I just rolled over.

“That takes a whole lot of the guess work out of searching for big fish.”

___

PHIL KING’S CAREER

Besides building a reputation as one of the top catfishing guides in the country, Corinth, Mississippi, resident Phil King has won a long list of major tournaments, including the 2007 and 2009 Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest events on the Memphis portions of the Mississippi River. During that 2007 event, King and his partners became the first anglers to land a 100 pound-plus catfish in an organized event with a blue that weighed 103.10 pounds.

His website at h2ow.com/catfish/ features tips and tricks to help anglers catch more and bigger catfish.


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