Lee Stokes

• Rites of passage are simple to attain in the Lowcountry
  There are very few instances where one is not granted a rite of passage these days. A few letters behind your name, a parchment on the wall, a social position or elite club membership, a degree of status available for a price. Those rites of passage had to be earned and in the manner appropriate for the position.

• Anglers can keep taking advantage of this weather
  Fishing Trends

• Mild winter weather is confusing for angler and fish alike
  Fishing lately has been a stage of enthusiastic actors playing to an audience of uninterested critics. While the fish are present, their willingness to participate has left a good bit to be desired.

• It pays to know the game before you start playing
  Often, fishing introduces me to those new to the game. On occasion, I have stopped to identify fish, offer assistance and have been known to aid in landing a few larger-than-angler varieties.

• Saltwater fishing can teach you some harsh lessons
  It's no secret I used to be an exclusive freshwater fisherman. Long after my arrival in the Lowcountry, I still failed to grasp the concept of water that was here one hour and gone the next. Tides were my nemesis, as well as the vastness of the waters before me.

• Mission accomplished: Office clutter eliminated
  A few weeks ago I mentioned that access to my office was becoming somewhat difficult. With it came numerous calls by perfect strangers inquiring about items I may wish to part with.

• Yellowfin tuna made long journey, grew along the way
  A report of a tagged yellowfin tuna last year came as a surprise to fisheries biologists.

• Desperate hunting: Not a very bright idea
  Squirrel, raccoon, possum and rabbit were plentiful in the late 1960s. We hunted often during those early years, and Jerry Searson, Bill Neil and I hunted more than most. We were always hunting something, building something or planning something grand, which made our mothers nervous and our neighbors cautious.

• An angler, a hunter and a gatherer
  I desire many things, I need very little -- words said, yet seldom practiced.

• Even down here outdoorsmen must heed hypothermia
  Hypothermia is a serious threat during cold winter months. As a survivor of hypothermia, I can attest to its symptoms.

• Fishing is about the pursuit as much as the catch
  Many have tried to define their love for the outdoors; even the most eloquent have fallen short of the mark.

• Take a kid fishing, learn a lesson
  I never fail to learn something when I fish with a youngster, especially a newbie to the sport. With questions and constant breaks, the lack of attention and occasional setbacks, everything doesn't always work as planned. With my focus being more on the child and less on what I presume to get from the venture, I gain a new perspective of what is really more important.

• Fishermen have a tendency to go overboard
  There are fishermen and then there are fishermen. You know you are among the latter when:

• Around Lowcountry, autumn is for anglers
  Fall fishing has arrived, and with it an array of fishing opportunities. There will be exceptions, followed by excuses, but the time will be shared with enthusiasm, optimism and the promise of some outstanding meals and worthwhile memories.

• Cooler weather is a good time to go find some flounder
  Cooler weather gets my adrenaline going, with the anticipation of knowing that some of the best fishing of the season will come in the next month or two.

• Some news and notes for Lowcountry anglers
  At the onset of my limited journalistic ramblings, I discovered it was better to add detail, using nouns and verbs, rather than over-do adjectives. With this in mind, and considering the fact that fishing has been everything but productive the past week, perhaps a break from routine would benefit both reader and participant.

• October is good time for Lowcountry anglers to go with the flow
  October is a month of transition in terms of weather, fishing and angler attitudes. A variety of inshore and offshore gamefish are eager to take the hook.

• If you're going to be late for fishing, at least have a good excuse
  I am rarely late for things, but have a problem when others fail to show the same consideration. Although some may see it differently, I consider myself a fairly patient individual. But fishing tides do not wait and I tend to get a bit testy.

• Exactly how do you pronounce Pocotaligo?
  A tourist arrived in the Lowcountry and was stumped pronouncing some of the local names. They noted the strange spelling of the town they were approaching -- Pocotaligo -- and tried to figure how to pronounce it: Po-cot-ala-go. They grew more perplexed as they drove into the town.

• Clearing waters mean new fishing opportunities
  Fishing conditions continue to improve as temperatures become more tolerable. Humidity levels remain high, but cooler days and gentle breezes make fishing more enjoyable as we head out of the summer season.

• Protect your fishing gear now, or pay for it later
  Fishing tackle is expensive, and rods and reels top the list of gear that need replacement due to negligence.

• Local fishing in transitional phase right now
  Fishing has slowed considerably. There are a number of species still in search of the hook, but targeted species are more a hit-and-miss proposition.

• Fishing finally starting to pick up around Beaufort waters
  Fishing reports have been slow but are beginning to show promise. With oppressive heat during the day, the best times for saltwater fishing tend to be before 10 a.m. and, depending on the rains, after 5 p.m.

• There's more to find outdoors than fish and game
  There are a number of things I enjoy about fishing. I enjoy returning to waters that hold memories and casting to the same spot hoping my luck remains. I've been fishing for many years, and enjoy both how it stays the same and how much it has changed over the years.

• The angler's dilemma: Dock tyranny or owner's rights
  For years you have fished a spot known to harbor take-home species; you have found the proverbial honey hole. Now a dock has been placed directly over your presumed territory and you take exception to the intrusion.