The absolutely key factor for catching Blue Ridge bass is the wind. "The wind has to be blowing for the fishing to be good," Pack noted. "Not only does the wind concentrate the bait and predators, but the wave action cuts down the light penetration, which is important on a clear lake like Blue Ridge."

Success at Blue Ridge requires paying attention to the details; know which way the wind has been blowing the last several days so you know which points and flats should be holding the fish. Also, look for white rock patches. Just what, exactly, the attraction of dirty white rock (as opposed to the usual sandy-brown rock) might be for the fish is anybody's guess, but Blue Ridge regulars know to exploit it. Many of the best honeyholes have white rock.

Pack suggested that anglers in a hurry to catch some fish might want to look at the fish attractors that the Wildlife Resources Division has been constructing and placing in the lake. "The smallmouth tend to kind of loosely associate to the attractors, so you want to fish up high and around the attractor," the angler said. "Largemouths bury down in them, so for them you have to drop a worm or something right into the middle of the attractor."

Biologists from the WRD are concerned about the impact of spotted bass on the lake's smallmouth population, and encourage anglers to do their part by harvesting their limit of spotted bass whenever possible. More information on the lake's fish attractor program, including maps and underwater video is available at www. gofishgeorgia.com.

Blue Ridge Lake is just a few miles east of the town of Blue Ridge in Fannin County. To get an update on what the fish are doing or to pick up some last-minute supplies, visit Tri-State Bait and Tackle on Lakewood Highway in nearby Mineral Bluff, or give them a call at (706) 374-2030.

THE GOLDEN ISLES
The Georgia coast is a neglected saltwater fishery, and there's no better time than autumn for going after redfish in the Golden Isles. How you go about doing it is up to what you think your tackle boat and shoulders can stand.

For bull redfish topping out well over 30 pounds, fishing cut bait in the breakers on sandy shoals off the barrier islands is the ticket. The fish are recovering from the rigors of the early-fall spawn and feeding heavily. The high-energy environment created by surf meeting sand is a fertile feeding ground: Mullet and pogies pour out of the estuaries into the confused currents of the surf; bluefish and other toothy critters tear into the bait schools, while bull reds vacuum the bottom for leftovers from the feeding frenzy above.

The surf line is no place to be if your vessel, seamanship and tackle aren't up to the challenge. A V-hull of at least 17 feet and a healthy respect for the ocean's power to show you how insignificant you really are in the natural world should be considered prerequisites for this fishing. However, the reward is huge fish in so wild and untamed an environment.

The basic idea is to drop anchor, positioning the boat just outside of the breakers. A piece of mullet or other cut bait is then rigged on heavy tackle with 3 to 5 ounces of lead to keep it pegged to the bottom. You cast the rig right in the confused currents of the rip and hold on tight. If the fish are there, it won't take long for a biceps-bulging, shoulder-aching brawl to get started. Redfish are incredibly powerful fish, and when they have a strong current to help them out, the odds are even more in their favor.

All of Georgia's barrier islands have potential redfish hotspots. Perusing a good chart should reveal numerous potential areas. Even better, talking to tackle shops and local anglers can tremendously speed up the process of finding a good bar. The best ones have shallow water with a deeper trough running through the bar. Throw in some diving birds to show you the way, and you can pinpoint a good place to try out.

If the rough-and-tumble world of the surf is a little more than you care to tackle, head into the shallow estuary bays and creeks for fast action with smaller redfish -- "smaller" being a relative term. While you aren't likely to find huge schools of 40-pound bulls prowling the extreme shallows, 5- to 10-pound fish are a dime a dozen here. When afternoon sun warms the shallow mudflats on a crisp fall day, the redfish prowl these areas soaking up the warmth and looking for small crabs and baitfish.

A craft with a shallow draft is perfect for prowling the skinny water, but make sure you can get back across the big water when the afternoon breezes kick up.

Cast artificial lures like spinnerbaits, gold Johnson spoons and soft-plastic jerkbaits to fish that are stirring up mud. These fish are feeding hard, but aren't totally stupid -- too much commotion sends the whole school scurrying out of the tidal pond or creek in a mad dash for the safety of deeper water.

Beach access by vehicles isn't possible on Georgia barrier islands, but numerous launches and marinas serve boating anglers, leaving a usually short run to the surf zone. Too, all of Georgia' sounds and estuaries have boat ramps in protected water that are great jumping-off points for exploring the marsh in search of shallow redfish.