NEWS CASTS Newsletter of the Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club Volume 112 April 2018 President s Message Fishing Girl of The Month Isla Gustafson DIIFC Meeting The next meeting will be Tuesday April 24th. We needed to move the meeting back a week from normal date. Our presenter is Drew Hedlund, local chef, avid angler, and Director of Culinary Operations of RockIt hospitality. Times & Venue To be announced soon ------------------------------------------------ Not having a chance to get out in the boat the past week and wanting to try my new Shimano rod, it decided to play in the ponds. I think it s a good sign when on the very first cast with the new combo I reeled in this little guy. Todd
Fishing Report Dan Mendini The annual family shad fishing excursion at the Tail Race Canal. The shad didn't cooperate so we loaded up with plastics and went to the rice fields and caught a number of bass up to about 3 pounds and this soon to be a delicious cat on a plastic worm. Long may the tradition run!
Fishing Report Trent Gustafson The family had some good luck in March. I get very little patience from my girls on the boat so I've got to get them on the fish quick. A couple trips out of Beresford Creek produced a few black drum and trout. Drum were caught on frozen shrimp at low/incoming tide. Shrimp is my "go to" during the transitional spring warm up. Grant and I spent a morning testing some new areas using artificials and got a few trout. We lost a big old red under a dock, but we will be back to get him soon. Trent Gustafson
BIG FISH AND GOOD FRIENDS By Ron Silverman I came up to our house in Brevard on March 31 st. I needed to get the house in order after not being here for almost 6 months and then return to Charleston. So, of course, the first order of business was to plan to fish with my friend Bill the next day. (After all, what are a fisherman s priorities?). We were going to fish one of the small lakes in our subdivision, Lake Ticoa. It had recently been stocked with rainbow trout Stockers, mostly 14 or so; but there are usually some bigger holdovers around. I had two special light action rods with me that I wanted to use on the stockers. One was a St. Croix Ultra Lite Fast Action rod rated 2-6 lb test with a Shimano CI4+ 1000 Stradic reel. It was a gift to me from Greg Peralta. There is not a kinder more fun-loving guy than Greg. I got the other rod from another good friend, Randy Hamilton. I had bumped into Randy at the Shallow Water Expo at Omar Shrine Temple a couple of months ago. It was good to chat with him again. He was now a rep for St. Croix. I asked Randy to sell me a light rod for Seatrout and came away with a St. Croix Trout Series Extra Fast Action 7-foot rod rated 4-8 lb test. Randy insisted that I try a Diawa Balistic 1000 reel to go with it and I took his recommendation, which turned out to be a good one. I liked the idea of fishing with two rods from good friends. I will keep one of the rods in Brevard and bring one back to Charleston. So, on April 1 st, Easter Sunday/April Fool s Day, Bill and I headed out to Lake Ticoa. We had an absolute ball catching rainbow trout stockers. They would jump, twist, and turn in mid-air. First, we trolled them with spinners. Then we found a cove where they were dimpling the surface and caught a bunch casting to them. We probably caught about 18-20 trout between us. I alternated fishing the rod Randy sold me and the rod Greg gave me. They were perfect for these 14 trout and the few small bass we caught. Both outfits were rigged with 8-lb braid and a 10-lb fluorocarbon leader. Bill often acts as my guide. We usually fish in his pontoon boat as he has a trailer and I do not. Bill is happy to see me catch fish. Near the end of the day, Bill said he had a plan for me to catch a big trout, so I picked up the rod that I had gotten from Randy. Bill gave me a special 1/16 th jig head with a minnow like grub on it and said to prepare for a big fish. We went over tactics. I cast where Bill pointed to. On the second cast, I felt a tap and set the hook, with the light rod making a C bow. I landed the trout, the biggest so far for the day, probably about 3 lbs. We were very happy with this result, took a few photos, and released the trout. Bill said it is not over yet. I put on a new jig and minnow-like grub and made a couple of casts to the same spot. I felt a tap and this time the rod tip almost made contact with the rod handle with the big sweeping hook set. I immediately knew this was a big trout. The smooth drag of the Ballistic was singing as the trout took off. Bill and I were shocked when we first saw this trout in the clear water of this mountain lake. Its flashing side was turned to us
and it was running away from the boat at 90-degrees and pulling drag. The light rod was bent like a pretzel with the rod tip in the water to keep the trout from jumping. I had the fish close to the boat several times, but it took off again. It took me a full 10 minutes to maneuver the trout to Bill s net. Bill had a wet rag ready to handle the trout. The trout measured 23 and had a huge girth. Bill estimated that it weighed at least 6 lbs. A few photos and the trout was released. Hi Fives! This was the biggest rainbow that I have ever caught. Thank you, Bill, for being my friend and personal guide. I am grateful to be 79 years old and still fishing whenever I can, fresh or salt. I have made many good friends through fishing. Every day that you fish is an antidote to today s crazy world. Let s all keep on fishing! Ron Fishing Report Jim Brinkley My grandson, Lucas Osada, with a nice 5 pound red that he enjoyed fighting on April 4th in Martins Creek. Jim Brinkley
Fishing Report Greg Peralta An inshore slam I picked up in March. Glad warm weather is finally here!
East Coast Paddlesports Symposium April 20-22, 2018 at James Island County Park The 28th annual East Coast Paddlesports Symposium is a 3-day immersion in the history, technique, hands-on experience, and fun of kayaking, canoeing, SUP, and more. The symposium is the heart of the Charleston Outdoor Fest, and paddling enthusiasts will not be disappointed. On-water classes are designed to enrich your symposium experience. Symposium participants will also have access to unlimited boat demos from the world's leading manufacturers, social opportunities with the world's top instructors, an event t-shirt, and much more. Registration packages begin at $145. The Ralston Dock received a face-lift and looks very nice!
Membership Application ($40)* If renewing, please update information only as needed. Both renewal and new members, please print current email address. Name: Home Phone: Address: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Spouse s Name: Email address: Boat Owner? Yes No Type/Make: Length: If Yes, DICA License number on boat/trailer: Names of other family members: Comments and Suggestions: I am a resident of Daniel Island or currently work on Daniel Island and at least 18 years of age. Please accept this application for membership in the DIIFC. Enclosed is my payment of $40 calendar year annual dues. * Dues are for calendar year (e.g. JAN-DEC). Payment of dues allows for the member and immediate family living at the same address to attend meetings, cookouts, fish-fries, and parties. WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY DIIFC events, trips, and activities are undertaken at the member s sole risk. Any risk or injury is the member s entire responsibility. The DIIFC, its officers, and its other members are not liable to any member for any claims, demands, injuries, damages or actions arising due to injury to member s person or property arising out of or in connection to any event, trip, or activity. The member further holds the DIIFC, its officers, and its other members harmless for all claims which may be brought against them by the member or on member s behalf for such injuries or claims. I have read and understand the above waiver and release of liability. Signature of member / / Date Please return to Club Treasurer: Donna Widener, 8009 Gibbon, Daniel Island, SC 29492