Features from December 2019
Late season doesn’t have to be a deer disaster in the Carolinas.- A few decoys are just not enough when hunting big waters in the Carolinas.
- Think you’re a great dove hunter? Kill a limit after Thanksgiving.
- Don’t give up on winter redfish just because the sun isn’t shining.
- December fishing is twice as nice at Santee Cooper with crappie, bream feeding in the same spots.
Columns - December 2019
- The perfect Christmas gift for a fisherman? There may not be one, but a guided trip might come close.
- Fall fishing patterns still reign in Carolinas in December.
- Winter can be productive time to fish for mountain trout.
- Keep your deer population balanced by filling harvest goals.
- It takes a big-fish mindset to successfully target big speckled trout.
- Cold weather should move kayak anglers to open-water areas for better success.
- The best equipment in the world pales in comparison to a bowhunter’s ability to pick his shot for the best result.
- Santee Cooper’s great blue catfish population needs the protection of new regulations.
- Nachos made with venison sausage and shrimp are a great holiday dish.
Outdoor Update - December 2019
- Ryan Russell of Irmo killed his biggest gator yet during a Pee Dee unit hunt with Hunter Neeley and Crick Hooker on Oct. 5, 2019.
- Hunter Neeley and Crick Hooker killed a 13-foot, 6 1/2-inch gator at Santee a week after guiding a friend to killing a 12+ footer in the same area.
- Big gator was 1/2-inch shy of 12 …
- Chas Morton of Rock Hill, S.C. killed a big 10-point buck in York County on Oct. 27 with a shot from his .270, and won the October Bag-A-Buck contest.
- South Carolinas has opened up a new, 782-acre Wildlife Management Area in Richlands County.
Field Notes - December 2019
- With less and less daylight and cooler water temperatures settling in, slowing down your presentation is often key to catching December speckled trout.
Hot Spots - December 2019
- Cooling December waters bring bottomfish like grouper and snapper closer to shore and within reach of more fishermen.
- Find bait this month and you’ll load the boat with Lake Russell fish.
- Stringing outdoor Christmas lights and stringing up big December crappie are annual festivities on North Carolina’s Shearon Harris Lake.
- December is a great time for catching weakfish along the nearshore reefs out of Little River, S.C.
- Creeks in the lower end of Lake Gaston fill up with bait and blue catfish in December.
- Warm fall has given speckled trout bite around Murrells Inlet a late start.
- Badin Lake gives up plenty of good bass during winter months.
- Deep holes in the Wateree River are great spots for big blue cats during December.
- Fish deep, clear water for December bass on Lake Murray.
- It’s all catch-and-release fishing, but winter striper action on the Neuse and Trent rivers around New Bern, N.C., is still good.