January 2014 Archives - Page 3 of 7

Native shrimp, according to guide Jot Owens, are much preferred by black drum and red drum than store-bought, imported farm-raised shrimp.

Shrimp science: native shrimp rules!

From Bubba’s shrimp rant on the famous blockbuster movie, Forest Gump, without a doubt, there are endless ways to prepare shrimp for the dinner table. […]

WMAs around South Carolina hold plenty of squirrels when the right habitat is present.

Top WMAs for squirrels

Terry Madewell

Biologist Billy Dukes said habitat for good squirrel hunting is a key, but not all habitat is created equal. Certain Wildlife Management Areas and key areas within those WMAs provide outstanding late-season hunting. […]

A depth finder can help fishermen anchor over humps and slopes to cast to structure holding shellcrackers.

Double-anchor is key to admission to shellcracker heaven

Brian Cope

Although Tony Alexander likes to keep things simple when fishing for shellcrackers, he said some tools are very helpful in catching these fish. […]

Squirrel hunting is enough reason to get into the woods once deer season is over.

A sport with side benefits

Terry Madewell

Not only does Chuck Porter of Sumter see and take squirrels during the middle of the winter, it extends his productive hunting and scouting time considerably. […]

Holman Byrd’s scaup (left) and canvasback decoys were made from cedar and tupelo; he also uses cork, which he says is indestructible.

Indestructible decoys? Make your own

Mike Marsh

Diving ducks come into the decoys flying extremely low, often barely above the surface of the water. When using large decoy spreads, low-flying waterfowl like scaup and canvasback can draw fire from hunters that riddles decoys with shot. […]

Tony Alexander said that light tackle is a perfect match for presenting baits and lures to winter shellcrackers.

Real or fake, shellcracker baits are best presented on light line, tackle

Brian Cope

Live bait — especially worms — are choice options for shellcracker fishing in cold weather. One reason is because the worms wiggle around on the hook, drawing attention to themselves. […]

Fox squirrels

Terry Madewell

Hunting fox squirrels in legal on many areas in South Carolina, but there are restrictions on some WMAs, according to SCDNR’s Billy Dukes. […]

A good retriever can make a duck hunt on the New River even more enjoyable.

Bumpers boost canine confidence

Mike Marsh

One of the most enjoyable aspects of hunting ducks on big, open waters like the New River is watching a trained retriever making a long, difficult retrieve. […]

Chris House of Wilmington shot this drake ruddy duck or “butterball” on a New River diver hunt.

Fill out a bag limit with oddballs, butterballs

Mike Marsh

While most of the ducks on the New River are lesser scaup, other oddball ducks can help fill out a daily bag limit of six that can only include two scaup. […]

Needlenose pliers are the perfect tool for bending the line-tie eye and tuning a crankbait.

Tune those crankbaits

Jeff Burleson

Trolling can be an effective way to catch a wide range of species, including striped bass. […]