Spotted bass in Alabama, Rainbows in Virginia, Top Tom Spots in Florida, Crappies in Tennessee and more.
Feb 1, 2003
Smith Lake Spotted Bass
The time is now for the biggest spots of the year
Alabama Hard-fighting spotted bass are gearing up for the spawn at Smith Lake, a deep, clear impoundment about an hour north of Birmingham. "Spotzillas" pushing six pounds are caught throughout the year, but there's no better time to target them than October through April.
"February is the best time to catch lots of fish of good size," says Craig Daniel of nearby Cullman, a tournament angler and guide. "In summer you can hardly catch anything, but in February the fish will begin moving up to feed before the spawn, which occurs around Easter."
Daniel targets ledges 20 to 30 feet deep, or even deeper, for bigger spots, using 6- or 8-pound-test P-Line and a four-inch Zoom Finesse Worm. He sticks with natural colors or root beer in winter, working them on a quarter- or eighth-ounce Eagle Claw round jighead. He casts to the ledges, allowing the worm to fall and then shaking it gently.
"You just work the bait off the ledge and shake it," he says. "Raise your rod slowly, shake the rod tip four to five inches and then let it fall. The subtle shaking helps the worm wiggle just enough to make it look natural. These fish are holding on the ledges or right off the ledges, suspended in the water, but they're where they can dive to deeper water immediately."
Smith Lake has a 13-to-16-inch slot limit. State officials are urging anglers to keep smaller fish to help thin the population.
Contact: Alabama Department of Conservation (334-242-3465); Speegle's Marina (256-739-0364); Duncan Bridge Marina (205-387-1208). -Alan Clemons
River Rainbows
Hoping for high water
Virginia Late-winter rains can dictate the number of rainbow trout that run up the Jackson River out of western Virginia's Lake Moomaw. Higher river levels pull
an impressive number of five-pound trout far up this scenic river.
A three-mile special-regulation section (single-hook artificial lures only) is set aside for anglers more interested in catching than keeping, although two fish over 16 inches can be creeled per day. Try single-hook in-line spinners, Rebel Minnows and Rebel Deep Teeny Wee crayfish crankbaits. Fly-anglers do well with egg patterns, Clouser Minnows, Stimulators and Woolly Buggers.
The special-reg section is surrounded by national forest land, but access
is limited to a moderate hike along a gentle trail that parallels the river.
Contact: Warm Springs District, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest (540-839-2521). -David Hart
Big, Easy Trout
The rebirth of Pontchartrain
Louisiana Once, urban runoff and shell dredging polluted Lake Pontchartrain, but dredging came to an end in 1990 and sea grasses have sprouted again, greatly improving water quality.
Now, the lake offers an excellent chance to catch a state-record spotted sea trout. In January 1999, Kenny Kreeger landed a near 12-pounder, currently ranked second in the record book. Dudley Vandenborre landed a 101/2-pounder in April 2002.
Relatively deep compared to surrounding marshes, the lake offers winter refuge to big trout. Many anglers either troll or cast jigs near the pilings supporting the three highway bridges and a railroad trestle crossing the lake.
Contact: Dee Geoghegan Fishing Guide Service (888-773-2536). -John N. Felsher
Top Tom Spots
There are lots to pick from
Florida Two good public turkey-hunting areas in northern Florida are Camp Blanding in Clay County and Raiford Wildlife Management Area in Union and Bradford counties. For spring Osceola turkeys, Green Swamp WMA, near Tampa, is a good bet, as is Kicco WMA on the Kissimmee River and Three Lakes WMA. Kicco offers quota spring hunts, with applications available from the state. Green Swamp and Three Lakes have general open turkey hunting. Tosohatchee WMA, the five Big Bend WMAs and Nassau WMA are other choice locales.
One of the state's best Type II WMAs is Avon Park, and Osceolas are on the menu. Another good one is Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle. Three important Water Management Districts for Florida turkey hunters
are Northwest, St. Johns River and Suwannee River WMDs.
Contact: Kicco WMA (850-488-4676; http://floridaconservation.org/); Avon Park WMA (863-452-4254); Eglin Air Force Base (850-882-4164); Northwest WMD (850-539-5999); St. Johns River WMD (386-329-4404); Suwannee River WMD (386-362-1001). -Bob McNally
The Unknown Oxbow
The best-kept secret in Mississippi oxbow crappie fishing
Mississippi It's no secret that Mississippi River oxbow lakes are hot for early-spawning crappies. What's not so widely known is that Lake Washington, located between Rolling Fork and Greenville, is one of the best for pre-spawn and spawning slabs.
Washington is relatively shallow, but it maintains a constant water level during the spring. "For my money, it's one of the best lakes in the state, if not the entire Southeast. You just have to learn about its odd patterns. Because of its shallow water, you have to fish it differently," says A.E. Smith of the Magnolia Crappie Club.
During the pre-spawn, the fish move up on the flats in five to eight feet of water and you need to troll with minnows at varying depths to cover as much water as possible. Concentrate efforts off the shallow flats where
cypress trees provide spawning cover.
"Usually around the tenth or fifteenth of March, the spawn will start and you can move right up on the
cypress knees and switch to a jig," Smith says. "You won't believe how shallow these fish will get. They'll be in less than a foot of water and will knock the fire out of a jig."
Contact: Peggy Hammond at Roy's Store and Cabins (662-827-2588). -Bobby Cleveland
Reelfoot Lake
Kingdom of crappies
Tennessee If the wind isn't blowing-or not too badly-and you can stand a little chill in the air, now is the time to head out and fill an ice chest with fat slab crappies from Reelfoot Lake. The daily limit is 30 crappies per person with no length limit. You may even tangle with a three-pounder.
The most productive area is the Lower Blue Basin and old Bayou du Chien channel, which has silted in through the years. Submerged cypress trees offer crappies and their main forage base, pin minnows, the cover they need. You're going to get snagged, especially if you're drifting across an area, so be sure to take plenty of light-wire hooks and split shot.
Two popular tactics are drifting across the basin or anchoring in 5 to 10 feet. A depth finder will help determine any subtle breaks or structure. Bites may be subtle, so watch your line carefully. There is no limit to the number of rods you may use, and most
anglers have four to six rods stationed around the boat in holders to avoid tangles and maximize the strike zone.
One other good idea is to anchor at the mouth of a canal where wind is pushing
water and minnows through it. If you can find a downed tree near the canal, fish the limbs thoroughly. After a few warm days, cruise the banks with minnows under corks.
Contact: Blue Bank Resort (877-258-3226).
-A.C.
Alabama
Wilson Lake Smallies: Target rocky, sloping points with suspending jerkbaits for bronzebacks. The fish will be suspended off the points, 8 to 15 feet deep. Cast, work the lure down and let it sit momentarily, before
giving it a couple of sharp jerks. A couple of Storm SuspenDots or lead wire around the hook shank will help you reach better depths. Contact: Troy Jens (256-603-6140).
Rabbits on the Run: Take advantage of the last month of small-game seasons at Demopolis WMA. The 6,952-acre tract is located in west-central Alabama and offers numerous areas for both rabbits and squirrels. The daily bag is eight of each species per day. Contact: David Nelson (334-289-8030).
Turkey Season Opens: Two of the top
areas for turkeys this spring are the Black Warrior WMA in the Bankhead National Forest,
offering rolling terrain and hardwoods, and the Blue Spring WMA in the Conecuh National Forest. The season opens March 15 throughout much of the state, including Blue Spring, but not until April 1 at Black Warrior. Contact: ADCNR (334-242-3465).
State, TVA Agree: Alabama officials recently signed a 30-year lease with the TVA that will enable the state to continue management of all or part of nine public WMAs totaling 45,000 acres. The WMAs, the only ones in the state developed primarily for waterfowl, are
located along the Tennessee River.
Key Dates
February 28: Rabbit, squirrel, raccoon and quail seasons end.
March 6-9: BASSMASTER Tour, Lake Eufaula. Contact: B.A.S.S. (334-272-9530).
Arkansas
Ouachita Lunkers: Target creek channels 8 to 15 feet deep, or shallower water after
several warm days, with half-ounce spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse; jerkbaits in natural shad, crayfish or watermelon; and half-ounce black/blue jigs. For spotted bass, work main-lake humps or creek mouths with jigging spoons or medium-running crankbaits. Contact: Chris Elder (870-867-3323); Hugh
Albright (870-767-2171); Mountain Harbor Marina (870-867-2191).
Nimrod Lake Crappies: If the water's high, fish the flooded brush along the banks. If it's low, target old creek channels five to eight feet deep. Minnows under corks and small tube jigs or hair jigs in white, gray or chartreuse work best. Contact: AGFC (501-323-6300).
Snow Geese: Bald Knob NWR has about 9,000 acres of rice lands and another 3,900 acres of bottomland hardwoods with sloughs and oxbow lakes. Also check the Cache River NWR, which has about 33,000 acres of bottomland forest and 4,300 acres of cropland. Contact: AGFC (501-223-6351); Bald Knob and Cache River refuges (870-347-2614).
Key Dates
February 8: Quail season ends.
February 28: Squirrel, rabbit and autumn archery/crossbow turkey seasons end.
Florida
Lakes Sampson and Rowell: Sampson, at 2,000 acres, and 400-acre Rowell are both filled with bass, sunfish and crappies, but rarely draw a crowd due to their proximity to more popular waters such as Rodman Reservoir and Orange and Lochloosa lakes. They connect via a navigable canal, and good-size boats can be launched from Trestle Road (SE 115th St., three miles west of Starke off S.R. 100). Contact: Slab Fish Camp (904-964-9374).
Boca Grande Sharks: Smaller sharks, in the 50- to 100-pound range, show up at Boca Grande this time of year. Jigs, swimming plugs, even topwater lures can tempt sharks, but cut mullet or ladyfish drifted in the pass is most
effective. If the weather is warm, sometimes blacktips can be found on shallow bars and grass flats inside Charlotte Harbor, within sight of Boca Grande Pass, or along the beaches on the outside of the pass. Inexperienced anglers shouldn't handle fish for unhooking. Simply cut the line to release them. Contact: Boca Grande Outfitters (941-964-2445).
Keys Cobia: Reefs, wrecks and channel markers attract migrating cobia. Cast jigs, plugs and live baits for the oversize "ling," which can weigh 15 to 80 pounds or more. During warm weather, cobia often work chum lines set up for other fish, such as tarpon, so keep your eyes open for brown, shark-like shadows of cobia. Contact: Captain Robert Trosset (305-294-5801).
Key Dates
February 1: Snook season opens.
February 15: Snipe season ends.
March 1: Turkey season opens, South
Management Zone.
March 15: Turkey season opens, Northwest and Central management zones.
Georgia
Lake Lanier Crappies: "Bow-and-arrow" or "catapult" cast with an ultralight spinning rod, sending a tiny jig on lightweight line far under docks for Lanier slabs. Orange or chartreuse 1/32-ounce jigs and 6-pound-test line are lake choices. The lake's major feeder creeks, like the Chattahoochee and Chestatee, are prime for the deep docks crappies love. Contact: Guide Doug Youngblood (770-945-0797).
Public Turkeys: Some of the state's best public turkey hunting is on popular WMAs that now require "quota" permits, in addition to other state licenses. Spring turkey permit applications must be in the hands of the GDNR no later than February 28. Application forms are in the state hunting regulation handbook and can be downloaded from the DNR Web site. You may select three different WMA hunts, increasing your odds for a "quota" draw. Among the better turkey WMAs are Big Lazer Creek, Chickasawhatchee, Clybel, Flint River and Rum Creek. Piedmont NWR also
offers a good quota hunt. Contact: GDNR (www.gohuntgeorgia.com); Piedmont NWR (478-986-5441).
Lake Sinclair Crappies: Low lake temperature is important, because the hot-water discharge from Plant Branch, in the Beaverdam Creek section, concentrates crappies. Seek discharge water in the 55- to 60-degree range, and slow-troll jigs three to seven feet deep. Submerged points are choice crappie lairs. Multi-colored "Hal Fly" jigs weighing 1/16- to 1/60-ounce are favored. Contact: Little River Park (478-452-1605).
Key Dates
February 28: Quail, rabbit, squirrel and snipe seasons end.
March 22: Turkey season opens.
March 30: Trout season opens on "seasonal" streams.
Kentucky
Kentucky Lake Slabs: When the water temperature hits 58 to 62 degrees, work shoreline cover in coves with live minnows, tube or hair jigs in white, white/chartreuse, pink or lime, or slowly troll shallow-running crankbaits 5 to 10 feet deep around cover. If there are several warm days in a row, work closer to spawning areas as crappies may move up a bit. Contact: KDFWR (800-858-1549); Birdsong Resort and Marina (731-584-7880; www.birdsongresort.com).
Small-Game Bonanza: Head to Ballard Hunt Unit for a late-season rabbit hunt around one of its seven lakes. You may also flush a quail or two. If grouse are your focus, go east to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Double up with rabbits there as well, working thickly vegetated areas to drive out cottontails. Bag hungry coyotes prowling for food at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Contact: KDFWR (800-858-1549).
Elk Season Expansion: Beginning with the 2003-2004 deer season, hunters will be able to kill elk outside the 14-county elk restoration zone and the 10 buffer-zone counties surrounding that area. Expanding elk populations are the reason. Hunters must abide by any deer season regulations and weapons restrictions. Contact: KDFWR (800-858-1549).
Streams Rebounding: In October 2000, near Inez, over 300 million gallons of coal-
mining sludge broke from a reservoir and literally filled in miles of Coldwater and Wolf creeks with a molasses-like muck, killing all aquatic life. Remarkably, the streams are already beginning to recover. Kevin Frey, a biologist with KDFWR, says catfish, darters, suckers and various minnows have returned, along with many aquatic insects. "The game fish are still missing," Frey says, including black bass and sunfish, and the water is contaminated. "But the numbers of fish are good, and even high in some areas."
Key Dates
February 10: Rabbit and quail seasons end.
February 28: Grouse, crow and wild hog (McCreary County) seasons end.
Louisiana
Caney Bass: Caney Lake has produced 16 of the top 20 Louisiana bass, including the top four. In February 1994, Greg Wiggins landed the state record, a 15.97-pounder. In early spring, sight-cast worms, tubes or jigs at bedding bass. Contact: LDWF (318-343-4044).
Tempting Tuna: From fall through spring, giant yellowfin tuna congregate over the Midnight Lump, an ancient salt dome 18 miles off the Mississippi River delta. It
rises from 600 feet of water to crest 187 feet deep. Currents push plankton and baitfish toward the surface, attracting predators. When tuna rise in the chum slick, sling a circle hook sweetened with a menhaden or bonito chunk. Then work the morsel over the surface like a topwater bait on a handline until something explodes on it. Contact: Captain Peace Marvel (504-534-2278).
Bow-Only WMA: In August, Louisiana created a new WMA just for bowhunters. The 2,285-acre Acadiana Conservation Corridor is a roughly 30-mile-long scenic easement along Interstate 49 in St. Landry, Evangeline, Avoyelles and Rapides parishes. Contact: Randy Myers (225-765-2351).
Key Dates
February 1-March 9: Conservation
order white goose season.
February 9: Squirrel season ends.
February 21: Snipe season ends.
February 28: Rabbit and quail seasons end.
March 22: Turkey season opens statewide.
March 30: Turkey season ends, Area C.
Mississippi
Turkey Time: If numbers are a reliable indicator, the spring turkey season will be the best in over a decade, especially in southwestern and southeastern Mississippi. Statistics indicate that statewide, the average number of poults raised per hen was 2.7. In the southwest, check out Homochitto National Forest and Copiah County WMA, and in the southeast try Leaf
River and Pascagoula WMAs. No jakes were
allowed to be taken last year, so you should see more of the gullible two-year-olds. Youths (15 and under) can take one jake during the spring season (youth weekend included). Contact: MDWFP (601-432-2400; www.mdwfp.com).
Twin Oaks Triple: Call it squirrel hunting's trifecta-taking a gray, red and black squirrel all in one day. And you'll likely accomplish it at Twins Oaks WMA in February. The 5,675-acre WMA is located near Rolling Fork in the heart of the south Delta. With two straight years of bumper acorn crops, squirrel populations should be extremely high. Contact: Twin Oaks, manager Brian Ballinger (662-873-2495).
Key Dates
February 28: Squirrel, rabbit and snipe
seasons end.
March 1: Quail season ends.
March 15-16: Youth turkey season (ages 15 and under) on private lands only.
March 22: Spring turkey season opens (see www.mdwfp.com for closed areas).
North Carolina
River Bass: The Neuse and Trent rivers are two of the first places where bass fishing starts to heat up, particularly the Trent, where backwater creeks and canals from New Bern to
Pollocksville can be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the Neuse. Beginning in mid-February, look for canals, creeks or pockets with aquatic vegetation, especially milfoil, eelgrass or lily pads. If the weather warms up quickly, the spawn could begin by the first of March. In March, bass are usually in pre-spawn pattern in the Neuse, upstream and downstream from New Bern, hitting spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits or buzzed grubs around the mouths of small feeder creeks. Contact: NCWRC (919-733-3633); Pete & Nikki's Tackle, New Bern (252-638-5928).
Lake Jordan Crappies: Troll the edge of flats just off creek channels in 10 to 12 feet of water with mini-jigs. Fish won't move shallow until mid-March, and bigger schools will be along drop-offs. A good alternative is dabbing mini-jigs or fishing minnows vertically next to standing timber that's close to deep water in creeks. Contact: NCWRC (919-733-3633).
Quail Country: Consisting of 58,000 acres in 31 tracts, the Sandhills Game Land is open for quail hunting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Most of the lands are planted in longleaf pines, and portions of 2,000 acres of openings are maintained for food plots. Maps are available showing secondary roads for
access. Contact: NCWRC (919-733-7291).
Norman Bass: Lake Norman can be hot in late February and early March. Use small crankbaits around the first or second points
inside major creeks, especially if you can find isolated stumps, rock piles or boat docks. The biggest fish of the year move up early to feed before heading to spawning areas. Contact: NCWRC (919-733-3633).
Key Dates
February 28: Trout season closes in hatchery-supported streams until the first Saturday in April.
February 28: Rabbit, quail, grouse and
bobcat seasons end.
South Carolina
Wreck Sheepshead: The best fishing for the largest sheepshead is available offshore, over wrecks and reefs in water 30 to 60 feet deep. A six- to seven-foot plug rod with 10- to 20-pound-test line will work. Usually a one- to three-ounce weight positioned above a barrel swivel, with a length of 30-pound-test leader tied to a short-shank No. 2 or 3 sheepshead hook is ideal. Fiddler crabs are the choice bait. Locations of wrecks and reefs are available from the SCDNR. Contact: SCDNR (843-762-5000; www.dnr.state.sc.us); Captain O.C. Polk, Charleston (843-971-9900).
Turkey Hot Spots: Bird numbers statewide are at about 100,000, including a strong population of two- and three-year-old toms. Across most of the state, birds are in good condition. For public areas, try Broad River, Fairforest Creek and Carlisle in the Central Piedmont; and Parsons Mountain, Key Bridge and Cokebury in the Western Piedmont. Contact: SCDNR (843-762-5000; www.dnr.state.sc.us).
Santee-Cooper Stripers: Drift live shiners (or shad or herring baits, if you can get them) in open water along channel edges and humps. Or just keep an eye out for diving gulls, which will dive and feed on baitfish driven to the
surface by schools of stripers. Live baits catch surface-schooling stripers under gulls, as do white bucktail jigs and crankbaits. Contact: Guide Truman Lyon (843-899-4325); guide Don Drose (888-478-2436).
Key Dates
February 3-15: Canada goose
season, third phase.
February 28: Snipe season ends.
March 1: Quail, squirrel and rabbit seasons end.
March 15: Turkey season opens in Game Zones 6 and 11, private land.
Tennessee
Small-Tract Gobblers: There's no shortage of turkeys in the south-central portion of the state. Take a look at Heartwood Public Hunting Area in Perry and Wayne counties, southwest of Nashville. More than 12,000 acres are available. A permit is required. The season opens March 29. Contact: TWRA (731-423-5725; www.state.tn.us/twra).
Cherokee Bassin': In late winter and early spring, target largemouths and spots on main-lake points and boulders in 5 to 10 feet with Suspending Rogue jerkbaits and three-eighth-ounce jigs in black or green pumpkin. The topwater bite will improve as water temperatures increase, and a Carolina-rigged watermelon or green pumpkin lizard on secondary breaks will work well if the bite is tough. Contact: TWRA (423-587-7041).
Mountain Grouse: Hunt the 635,000 acres in the Southern and Northern districts of the Cherokee National Forest. The best grouse sites are where timber harvesting has been done and growth is 5 to 15 years old. Get a map of those areas from the U.S. Forest Service. The forest also offers good trout fishing. Contact: TWRA (423-587-7041 or 423-476-9700); Cherokee National Forest (423-476-9700; www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/cherokee/).
Key Dates
February 15: Raccoon season ends.
February 28: Squirrel, snipe, crow and rabbit seasons end.
Texas
Lake Fork Crappies: Brush piles near the dam are stiff with crappies now. Small hair jigs and live shiners produce best. With shiners, use a light wire hook above a weight attached with lighter line to minimize re-rigging after hang-ups. In February, the minimum-length limit is waived and the first 25 crappies caught must be retained. Contact: TPWD (800-792-1112; www.tpwd.state.tx.us).
Granbury Catfish: Channel cats gather at the warm-water discharge of the power plant. Work the edges of the discharge channel with commercial cheese bait on a No. 6 treble hook. Start close to the fence and work outward until you find the "sweet spot." Contact: Thom Whitlock (817-326-5719; www.dcregistry.com/users/
whiskers).
Panhandle Snow Geese: Bird numbers in the High Plains have been good. The best hunting is when geese are moving back north. Scout plowed or standing sorghum, corn and wheat fields southwest of Hereford in the evening to hunt the next morning. Unplugged guns and electronic calls are allowed. Contact: Jim Steiert (806-364-1855; www.panhandle qualityhunts.com).
Key Dates
February 2: East Texas squirrel season ends.
February 23: Javelina, coastal pheasant and statewide quail seasons end.
March 30: Special Light Geese Conservation season ends.
Virginia
Briery Bass: Use jig-and-pigs, jumbo shiners or Carolina-rigged lizards to tempt Briery's
trophy largemouths. As the water warms, add spinnerbaits and suspending jerkbaits to the lineup. Be prepared to lose lures and fish-Briery is 845 acres of standing timber. Contact: Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce (434-292-3939); VDGIF (434-392-9645).
Potomac Perch: Silver Buddies, Mann's avocado Stingray Grubs and medium shiners worked along the bottom of deeper holes in
the Potomac's tributaries will produce jumbo yellow perch now. Nearly all of the river's major feeder creeks have an excellent run of spawning perch in February and March. If you don't catch fish in five minutes, move, says guide Bob Parker. Contact: Reel Bass Adventures (301-932-1509); Potomac River Fisheries Commission (800-266-3904).
Kerr Crappies: A few warm days can push big crappies into the backs of sun-warmed coves. Use as many as eight rods at a time and drift for suspended fish with live minnows or several different colors of jigs. Look for sunken brush in Grassy, Eastland and Rudd's creeks. Keep moving until you locate fish. Then target similar areas in other parts of the lake. Contact: Bud Haynes (434-374-0348); Clarksville Chamber of Commerce (434-374-2436).
Key Dates
February 8: Grouse season ends.
March 31: Coastal striped bass season ends.
Reporting by Alan Clemons, Bobby Cleveland, John N. Felsher, David Hart, Dan Kibler, Brian McCombie, Bob McNally and Don Zaidle.
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