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Outdoors
The following fishing re
port is compiled each
week by the Houston
Times-Journal. Lake,
weather and fishing con
ditions are reported by
telephone from contacts
listed at the end of the
report. If you would like
additional lakes or rivers
listed, please call the
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Fishing Forecast I
Freshwater rivers and lakes
Satlla River—The Satilla River has long been touted as one of the premier
redbreast rivers in the southeast. As such, the river receives a tremendous
amount of fishing pressure each spring. For instance, in the spring of 1993 alone,
anglers spent dose to 90,000 hours fishing for redbreast and harvested nearly
66 redbreast per acre, making 1993 one of the best years in reoert memory.
Even though the 1993 recbreast harvest was extraordinary, this year (1994)
should be as good, if not better (provided river levels cooperate). A high per
centage of the current redbreast population is comprised of larger-older fish and
should provide an excellent opportunity to harvest redbreast in the one pound
dass this spring.
Fishing can 'pick-up" as early as March, but usualy peaks between mid Aprii
and early May or when the river level nears six feet at Waycross. Most anglers opt
for ive baits (crickets & worms) during early spring and shift to artificial lures
such as beetle spins and rooster tails (1/32 oz.) as water temperatures rise. Fly
fishing can also be effective, especialy on larger redbreast.
Alhough biuegil do not reoeive as much attention as redbreast, there is an ex
cellent fishery for this wel known panfish. Anglers who targeted bluegpl to 1993
had a good success rate of over two fish per hour. Lire the current redbreast
population, the biuegil population also has a remarkably high percentage of older
fish, providng anglers with an optimal situation (plenty of good-sized bream).
Although bluegill are dispersed throughcx 1 the river system, the better fishing
seems to occur in the tower part of the river (Fkvy 82 to Burnt Fort).
When the bream arent biting, largemouto bass and crappie can provide Satila
anglers with alternative fishing opportunities. Some of the best crappie fishing
takes place in the fall and winter, when the river is too high and too cool to effec
tively catch bream. Likewise, in late winter and early spring river levels are stii
too high and water temperatures too cool to be successful on redbreast, but
largemouth bass fishing is at its peak
As a reminder, the DNR is currently producing a comprehensive guide to Ssh
ing the SaHa Rh/er. The map could be available as early as summer 1994.
St Marys River—The St. Marys is a good redbreast sunfish river year in
and year out. The 1994 fishing season should be no Afferent. The population
structoretoheathywithanamptenumbercf harvestabte sized tish. Alhough the
St. Marys is an excellent river for redbreast, it is not considered to be a premier
biuegil river. Biuegil fishing in 1994 should be average. There are some very big
bluegl within the population; however, the population as a whole is not abundant.
The best bream fishing should be found around Traders Nil Recreational Area
and in the tidal creeks and oxbows of the lower river.
Every year a few trophy-sized largemouth bass are caught from the St Marys
Ftiver, and in 1994 there are sure to be some real hogs taken Due to the river's
low natural productivity however, the overal abundance of largemouth bass is
considered lew. The better bass fishing can be found in the lower section of the
river downstream of Kings Ferry.
Suwannee TOver—The 33 mile portion of the Suwannee River that resides
within Georga offers some unique and dfferent fishing opporfunffies.
The dark-acidfc waters of the upper Suwannee offer SWe in the way of bass,
biuegil, and redbreast fishing. This is largely due to the addc nature of the up
per river (pH values less than 4.5), which Smits reproductive success of bass,
biuegil, and redbreast.
However, other game fish species such as chain pickerel, warmouth, and fter do
quite wel in this aquatic environment. Fishing for the Suwannee
should be fantastic in 1994, as fish ranging from 15-20 inches are wel repre
sented in the population. Shalow running crank baits Ire the Rapaia minnow are
effective on pickerel. Jointed lures, with their increased action, seem to work even
better.
Likewise, 1994 should be the year for big Suwannee warmouth. The favorable
growing oondtiens of the 1990 1 s have prodboed an exciting warmouth population
that possess many big fish. For the most part, warmouth are equally dstrtouted
forougfiout the river with a sight increase in abundance as you travel downstream
to Fargo.
on the other hand, are definitely more abundant in the upper
reaches of the Suwannee (i.e., near the headwaters) and dwindle as you travel
downstream towards Fargo.
Fishing, as a whole, in the Suwannee Fiver should be rruch improved from that
during the drought years.
Fishing Report
. - : * r '
How’s your sweet corn growing?
Is your garden sweet com crop doing poorly?
Are the stalks short with pale green to yellow
leaves? Got you puzzled?
Sweet com is a corp that is particular in its
growth requirements, and if these requirements
are not met, com can be a disappointment in the
garden. Com plants may be small, yellow and
yield poorly for several reasons.
•Improper plant spacing—com plants have ex
tensive root systems and require adequate space to
reduce competition. Rows 36 inches apart and
plants 12 inches to 18 inches apart in the row are
recommended.
•Nutrient imbalance—com plants are heavy
feeders and require significant amounts of nutri
ents, especially nitrogen, throughout the season.
Create memories—take a kid fishinq
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Some of the best memories of
childhood revolve around fishing,
around being at the shore, or on the
water, with a fishing pole, or rod
and reel. It's time we spent more of
our time and money taking our
children fishing.
Often we do not realize how in
expensive it is to take a child fish
ing. While it is true that profes
sional and serious fishermen can
run up a huge bill for fishing
equipment, it is also true that basic
fishing can be done on the cheap.
All a person needs for a day of
fishing is a cane pole and a few
worms dug out of the garden. Cane
poles can be obtained cheaply. If
you know where cane grows, they
State explains new laws affecting jet skis
As the weather continues to warm
and summer draws closer, recre
ational boaters will head to various
water spots. The Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) encour
ages jet ski owners and operators to
know and understand the changes in
the personal watercraft laws before
they head for the water.
The first change in the law deals
with renting or leasing personal wa
tercraft. A jet ski may not be
rented, leased or let for hire to any
one under age 16.
A person 12-15 years-old may rent
or lease a personal watercraft if he
or she is accompanied by, and under
the direct supervision of, an adult at
least 18 years old. Direct supervi
sion is defined as being within
sight or hearing distance of the
adult.
Under the previous law, anyone
15 years old or older could rent or
lease a jet ski.
Another change prohibits users
operating personal watercraft after
sunset or before sunrise. In the
past, jet skis could be on the water
for 30 minutes after sunset and for
30 minutes before sunrise.
In addition, skiers may only be
towed behind personal watercraft de
signed by the manufacture to carry
three or more people. The skier
must wear a ski belt, ski jacket or
an United States Coast Guard ap
proved Type I, II or 111 personal
flotation device (life jacket), prop
erly fitted and fastened.
A competent observer, other than
the operator, must be aboard the jet
ski to watch the skier. A wide angle
mirror cannot be used in place of an
observer.
Several other changes in the per
sonal watercraft law are scheduled to
take effect July 1, 1995. These in
clude:
Old fashion flasher returns as fisherman's helper
Like so many other things, especially in the
world of fishing, what was old and outdated once
will surely make its way back around. It may
come back with a few changes, some even for the
better.
Electronics are no different. The old flashers,
which never completely faded, are making a
comeback.
I can remember back a lot of years ago when
someone took the old sonar unit used by offshore
vessels and started selling them as fish finders to
the newly found competition sport of bass fish
ing.
I'm not even sure about the first person or
company that made this transition, but the first
flasher I ever owned was made by Si-Tex. It
looked like a metal ball cut in half with a dial
which read in either feet or fathoms.
Boy, if you wanted to show just how smart you
were just tell everyone you caught the fish at 10
fathoms. They might not have believed you; but,
they certainly weren't going to dispute it.
Along about that same lime, everyone in the
fishing world started hearing the name "Dayrlc
Lowrancc." He is probably known belter than
anyone else for improving the flasher or fish
A s instructor, if
Perry High School
•Poorly drained soil—plants develop shallow,
weak root systems in poorly drained soil. Com
plants, being vigorous growers, need deep-grow
ing, healthy roots.
•Poor water supply—com needs uniform mois
ture and lots of it throughout the season. This is
especially true from tasseling to maturity. One to
two inches of water per week is a must, and
mulching would be helpful. Generally, apply
Commentary
can be free.
One of my earliest memories is
of dad taking my brothers and I
down to a cane break where we cut
several poles. We added string, a
bobber and a hook, and we were
ready to go fishing.
Yes, when you take into account
a boat and motor, trolling motor,
trailer, three or four space age rods,
expensive line, lures and hooks,
fish finders and everything else that
is possible to spend money on be
fore you ever get to the watcr, fish
ing can be expensive.
But, in this age of high tech
fishing equipment, we often forget
•No one under 12 years of age
may operate a personal watercraft.
•A person 12-15 years of age must
meet one of the following criteria
to operate a personal watercraft:
1. He or she must complete a per
sonal watercraft safety program
which is approved by the DNR; or
2. He or she must be accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old
who has met all requirements relat
ing to the operation of personal wa
tercraft, and who is not under the
influence of alcohol or drugs; or
3. He or she must be under the di
rect supervision of an adult at least
18 years old who is not under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. Direct
supervision is defined as being
jtp ► ■i&Xf Ax
Several laws and regulations regarding the use of jet skis or personal watercraft
have changed over the past year.
Gone i
Fishing I
xRr JjgjS David and
Susanne Andel
finder to its highest standard.
Since those days, many companies have tried to
capitalize on the growing demand for improved
electronics for the bass fishermen. Everyone
claimed to have the best on the barket, but the
fact still remained that the flasher would never be
more than a depth finder.
There is no doubt, with a lot of practice, a per
son could distinguish the different bottoms,
brush piles and fish. Most anglers weren't will
ing to put that much practice into it, and so the
full range of use was never achieved.
Many companies came from nowhere, and the
market was soon flooded. As always, most of
these companies fell by the wayside when the
marine industry started taking so many hits from
a failing market.
Houston Times-Journal
Saturday, May 28,1994 Houston Tmes-Journal -
how elfective the simple cane pole
can be. Some of the largest catches
I’ve seen were caught by someone
sitting on a river bank using cane
poles. They caught their catch
without the benefit of range finders,
high tech rod and reels, etc.
While others go for expensive
rigs, my father used nothing more
complicated than a Zebco 808 or,
later, Zebco 33. With one rod and
one reel he brought in many, many
pounds of catfish.
Zebco offers a complete begin
ning rig for under S2O, the Zebco
202, which includes line, rod and
reel.
Perhaps in learning to fish I was
in a better position than others. My
father worked on a lock and dam for
the Corps of Engineers in Monroe
within the sight or hearing of the
adult.
•No one who has temporary or
permanent responsibility of a child
or ward may permit him or her to
violate the personal watercraft laws.
Jet ski operators should also re
member the personal watercraft
laws which have not changed. For
example, each person aboard the
personal watercraft must wear a
properly fitting and fastened Coast
Guard approved personal floatation
device.
Personal watercraft must be
equipped with a fully operational
self-circling device or lanyard-type
cutoff switch attached to die opera
tor's clothing, body or personal
enough water at each irrigation to wet the soil
eight to ten inches deep.
•Nematodes—These are microscopic worms that
live in the soil, damaging com roots, reducing
plant vigor.
The damaged roots can't supply enough water
and nutrients to above ground plant parts, so the
plant is stunted or slowly dies. No chemicals are
available to homeowners to kill nematodes in
planted soil; but, they can be controlled before
planting by soil fumigation with products such
as methyl bromide and Vapam.
If your com is not doing so well now, maybe
you can correct the problem and still have time
to make a good crop. If not, better luck next
year!
County, Ala. For most of my life,
I could go outside to my back yard
and see the river. It was not until
my early teens that my family
moved into the big city of Monroe
that we left the river bank.
Many of my early memories
with my father center around fish
ing from the lock wall, catching
shad for other fishermen, fishing in
the middle of the river or jugging in
the middle of the night down a de
serted river.
Fishing is, in some ways, a bor
ing activity. While I’ve seen people
who could sit on the river for hours
without catching anything, I have
never been able to.
But, it the quiet times that click
between a father and son or daugh
ter. Take a child fishing.
flotation device.
Since jet skis are considered a
Class A vessel, they must be regis
tered and equipped with fire extin
guishers.
Lastly, operators cannot use per
sonal watercraft in excess of five
miles per hour within 100 feet of
any moored or anchored vessel,
shore, wharf, dock, pier, bridge
structure or abutment or person in
the water.
For more information on the
personal watercraft laws, contact the
State Boating Safety Office at 404-
918-6408.
The two main companies left today, Lawrence
and Eagle, a subsidiary of Lowrance, have all but
quit manufacturing the flasher unit mainly be
cause of the unavailability of the motor use to
drive the unit. No one thought 20 years ago the
motor would go out of production, and no re
placement would be found.
Lowrance started putting all their efforts into
promoting the LCDs, and so did the other com
panies. The flashers and paper graphs disappeared,
and the LCDs aid LCRs took their place. For the
most part the change was welcome, although a
new train of thought processes had to take place
within the fisherman's mind.
I have personally kept my flasher unit. Call it a
crutch, or call it what I do, "I don't want to give
up what works." It looks like that I hung on for
just cause. The flasher is making a comeback
just like other good fishing tools.
Someone has solved the motor problem or
found another motor that will work, and the push
is on. I guarantee it will only be a short time be
fore the flasher will be a top seller to those of us
who really didn’t want to give them up in the
first place.
Until next time ... we’ve gone fishing.
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