By Capt. Cefus McRae
NutsAndBoltsFishing.com
Now that we’re able to move about the country a little more ‘freely and safely’, folks have been asking me about my favorite places to fish. Since summertime is upon us, I thought I’d share my top 5 places in the Southeast to go fishing in the summer. There are literally hundreds of great destinations, but these are my go-to places where you are sure to stretch a string.
1. A neighborhood pond or lake. There are small bodies of water throughout the Southeast that are brimming with fish, and there’s probably one within a couple of miles of where you live, provided you get permission from the landowner. These little freshwater gems provide a great way to spend an afternoon fishing for bream and bass, and you don’t need a boat or expensive tackle. A spinning reel, a tube of crickets or a tub of worms, and a couple of bobbers, and you’re set. If you can arrange to fish on a full moon, the bream will likely be on bed, and this is the perfect time to take the kids along and get them hooked on fishing.
2. Trout fishing in the North Georgia, Tennessee and Carolina mountains. Take a break from the summer heat and spend a day on a cool, mountain stream fishing for trout. Depending on the stream, you can fish with crickets or worms, small spinners and crankbaits, or learn to fish with a fly rod. There are numerous designated public trout streams, all stocked by the DNR. There are also plenty of managed, private streams where you can go with a guide and learn the ropes of fishing for trout. A couple of my go-to guide services are Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, GA, and Cohutta Fishing Company in Blue Ridge, GA. Give these folks a call for an exciting adventure on the water.
3. St. Simons Island, GA. The coastal waters off Georgia’s barrier islands are an awesome fishery. In late June, the big fish show up along the coastline. Bull redfish over 30 pounds, spinner sharks that put on a saltwater acrobatic show, and large tarpon all roam the nearshore waters in search of their next meal. A great resource on the island is the St. Simons Fishing Center and Capt. Mark Noble.
4. The Southeastern striper and hybrid bass impoundments. There are at least a dozen reservoirs that offer excellent summertime fishing for stripers and hybrids including Lake Lanier, Allatoona, Oconee, Hartwell and Clark Hill in Georgia, Lake Murray and Greenwood in SC., Lake Martin, Lewis Smith and Wedowee in Alabama. In North Carolina, High Rock, Norman and Badin Lake are great summer fisheries. As the water warms up, the fish tend to go deeper, so umbrella rigs and leadcore line are tactics commonly used to put your baits in the strike zone.
5. St. Augustine, FL. In June, and throughout the summer, herds of king mackerel gather just a couple of miles off the coast. Mixed in with the kings will be cobia, large jacks and sailfish. Trolling large natural baits and diving plugs will draw strikes all day long. If the sea conditions keep you inshore, you can wrestle with big flounder, speckled trout and redfish in the backwaters. Call Capt. Scott Shank of Full House Charters for a great time on the water.
These are just a few places that will satisfy your fishing hunger, and there are so many more. Do a little homework and start planning your next fishing adventure in the Southeast. If you’re having trouble deciding, check out our recommended guides and destinations on the Nuts & Bolts of Fishing website.