Posts by John N. Felsher
Cougars Move East
One afternoon, my son and I drove through a WMA. Canals paralleled both sides of the road. We spotted a large dark long-tailed animal crossing the road about 75 yards ahead of us. Both of us immediately said “cat!” I stepped on the gas. Seconds later, we reached the spot where the long-tailed black animal…
Read MoreChasing Giant Catfish
Anglers can’t just launch into a river or lake, throw out a few baits and expect to catch a monster whiskerfish, although that can happen. To fish specifically for giant catfish, anglers must first find them. Even outstanding catfish waters like the Altamaha River, Lake Oconee or the Satilla River (see page 14) only hold…
Read MoreBowfishing Lake Eufaula
Out of the gloom, a large, scaly creature materialized at the water surface in the transition zone where a bubble of light merged into clutching darkness. Suddenly, a heavy barbed projectile flashed through the thick, humid air, smacking into the beast. Water churned as it went through its death throes. Another very large carp met…
Read MoreBamboo Fly Rods
Anyone can buy a ready-to-fish fly rod outfit complete with a reel, line and maybe even a few flies at any sporting retail store for less than $100, but many people want something different. A good custom fly rod might cost several thousand dollars and could take months to arrive. However, Bill Oyster, owner of…
Read MoreRedfish Crushing Spinnerbaits
Running just below the surface, the lure bulged the water, making a wake. Occasionally, the rounded metal blade broke the surface, causing a sputtering disruption similar to the flicking of nervous baitfish. Highlighted by sunlight glinting off the golden metal, the fluttering blade resembled a rear swimmer leg on a blue crab. About 10 feet…
Read MoreBack Seat Bass
Practically every person who ever held a fishing rod spent some time in the back of the boat at some point. Even legendary anglers like Kevin VanDam, one of only two men to win four Bassmaster Classics, not to mention his numerous other titles and honors, began his illustrious career standing closer to the gasoline…
Read MoreMayfly Bream Frenzy
One hot June afternoon, we struggled to find fish in a sweltering backwater off a major river—until we noticed some activity up ahead. A sight any fly fisherman longs to see, millions of mayflies covered bushes growing along a cypress-lined stretch of shoreline about 10 yards long. As if a million piranhas attacked a bleeding…
Read MorePlaner Board For Better Crappie Spread
The old favorite methods still work in any Georgia waters, but if Southern crappie anglers want to catch more fish, they might want to get on board with a northern walleye technique—and that’s the “planer” truth! “Planer boards are fairly new to crappie fishermen, but the technique has been around for a long time,” commented…
Read MoreWest Point Bedding Bass
About 25 years ago, West Point Lake was a prime largemouth bass impoundment that produced many double-digit fish, including at least one exceeding 14 pounds. Impounded in 1974, West Point runs about 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River and covers 25,864 acres near LaGrange. The lake spans part of the Alabama-Georgia line about an hour…
Read MoreWest Point Fishing Guide Serving Veterans
In 2001, Ken Bearden met Joe Gilham, a Vietnam War veteran. The two men became close friends and frequently fished West Point Lake. Gilham suffered from exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant used to thin jungle growth during the war. Gilham’s declining health didn’t stop them from fishing as often as his condition would allow.…
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