Copyright 2000 The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta
Journal and Constitution
December 17, 2000, Sunday, Home Edition
SECTION: Sports; Pg. 18E
LENGTH: 806 words
HEADLINE:
OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK: Wind helps Canton's Millsaps win by pound
BYLINE: Scott Bernarde, Staff
SOURCE: AJC
BODY:
The wind
was Jimmy Millsaps' friend in his win last weekend in the BASSMASTER Alabama
Eastern Invitational. The Canton angler found a strong spinnerbait bite each of
the three mornings near the dam on Lake Martin near Alexander City, but
Saturday's gust helped him catch a final-day limit of 10 pounds, 7 ounces to
overtake leader Danny White of Milledgeville and win by one pound. Millsaps had
a three-day total weight of 24-0; White had 23-0.
"When the wind picked
up, I found some success fishing red clay banks in the pockets next to points,"
said Millsaps, who earned $ 51,000 for his first BASSMASTER win. "I was moving
it pretty fast over dropoffs, and when the bait came out of shallow water, the
bass would come up and hit it. . . .
"The bass would only bite a
spinnerbait for about the first 30 minutes the first two days. (Saturday) was
different because we had some wind, and they kept biting for about 2 1/2 hours."
White, who totaled 5-15 on the final day, won $ 32,000. His strategy of
focusing on spotted bass almost paid off. "I took a gamble and concentrated on
the spotted bass, because I knew it would be tough to win on the largemouths,"
White said. "I fished offshore locations rather than bank spots because I knew
that I needed enough fish to last for three days." Although White's bid to win
the tournament fell short, his son, Daniel, won the 11-14 age group in the
Casting Kids competition, which allows youngsters to test their skills in the
basics of casting, pitching and
flipping.
CARA not completely dead
The Conservation and Reinvestment Act died in the 106th
Congress, but it is expected to come back in the next. The legislation would
have provided long- term funding for conservation in all
states, including about $ 40 million per year for Georgia. CARA passed the House
but stalled on the Senate floor. It proposed using more than $ 3 billion per
year from offshore oil and gas leases to fund programs for 15 years. "We have
simply created the groundwork for the next session," David Waller said. Waller,
past president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,
is director of the Wildlife Resources Division of the state Department of
Natural Resources. " This historic legislation made considerable progress in one
legislative session. We look forward to another successful session (starting) in
January."
Elkins sets Georgia record
Thomas Elkins of
Fayetteville has filled one of the vacant Georgia line- class records recognized
by the International Game Fish Association. Elkins' 4 pound, 1 ounce hybrid bass
--- called a whiterock bass by the IGFA --- caught on West Point Lake was
approved as a record in the 4-pound line class. Georgia still has nine open
line-class records in the 4-, 12- and 20-pound categories. IGFA members can
submit a catch for record consideration without a fee. The fee is $ 35 for
non-members.
Seminole still producing
The final Seminole Lunker
Bass Club tournament of the year on Lake Seminole was evidence that, despite a
recent case of lockjaw, the south Georgia impoundment is a big-bass producer.
Johnnie Reynolds of Bainbridge won with five fish weighing more than 21 pounds,
an average of 4.2 pounds per fish.
Assistant chiefs named
The
Wildlife Resource Division recently promoted two conservation
captains to assistant chiefs of law enforcement. Eddie Henderson and Terry West,
who have a combined 33 years of experience with the state, also have been
elevated to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Henderson has been with the state
since 1982 and was most recently supervisor of Region II, headquartered in
Gainesville. West joined the division in 1985. He was
conservation captain of the special services program until the
recent appointment.
A tip for the stream
Winter is when most
premature riverine invertebrates or nymphs become the main entree on a trout's
menu, according to Chattahoochee River guide Chris Scalley. The offspring of
last spring's insect hatches are nearing midway in their lifecycles, meaning
that caddisflies, mayflies, stoneflies, craneflies, hellgremites and others make
up most of the smorgasbord.
"During this interim stage of growth, these
critters become larger and easier prey for the fish," Scalley says.
Try
a weighted and barbless Kauffman's stonefly nymph in sizes #14 and up, depending
on what you find grubbing under a submerged rock. Trail a small pheasant tail or
caddis larvae pattern a couple feet behind the stonefly (point fly) with a
simple clinch knot off the bend of the hook. Strike indicators should be
fastened above the point-fly about twice the average depth of the water to be
fished. Straight-up-stream casts with a natural-dead- drift presentation is key.
Matching the "subsurface hatch" can make for some wonderful nymphing.
LOAD-DATE: December 17, 2000 
