The Negotiator

My son turned 3 a few weeks ago. We had a negotiation going ... 3 deuces in the toilet in return for his first fishing trip with dad.

Last night was #3 (should have negotiated 3 in a row ), so I held up my end of the bargain and took him to a farm pond that I have access to. We dug up earthworms in the backyard this morning and headed out just before lunch to try our luck.

Unfortunately this area has plenty of poison ivy and fireant hills, and keeping your 3 yr old out those isn't easy ... but look at his first fish!




According to him, this monster almost pulled him in the water. I tend to agree as I had to assist or at least the rod was going in. There was only one other small bluegill caught (also by him) in the hour or so we spent, but I think I've got him hooked! I was teaching him about fish anatomy and let him handle the bluegill. We were so into it, that I forgot to take a photo of our other fish. No worries, I'm sure there are many more to come.

He's already asking about going in the canoe and I sense future negotiations .

3 Days and 7 Species

On Wednesday of last week, my wife informed me that she had decided to take the kids up to MD to visit her family. She was to leave Thursday and return Monday, so I couldn't go.  Instead I immediately started divising a plan to fish every waking hour possible during her absence .

Friday, I fished a Piedmont river with a collegue in his canoe. Bass weren't so interested and I only caught 3, including this guy, all on a buzzbait.  Water temp was 68 F.

Species 1 - Largemouth


Saturday, I fished another Piedmont flow, solo. I launched before sunrise in a chilly mid-40 F ambient.  Water temp was 55 F to start, 60 F to finish.  My hands were freezing as I paddled downriver to try and catch a few largemouth and jack. I was rewarded with ~4 bass and 3 additional species before lunch.  I then headed home to take out the dog.  Caught the crappie trolling various minnow plugs and cranks. Largemouth on plastics and swimbait. Jacks on spinnerbait.

Species 2 - Black Crappie


Species 3 - White Crappie


Species 4 - Chain Pickerel (Jack)


That evening, I headed to the lower Haw to attempt to catch my first white bass. I was almost skunked, but instead landed my 5th species, a first for me.

Species 5 - Gizzard Shad or Threadfin Shad ... not sure


Early the next morning, Mack and I headed west in search of a few smallies. We met up with 3 other NCAngler members for an all-day (9 hr) float. The fishing was tough and the catchin' was few and far between.  However, I landed two fish, species 6 and 7 for the weekend.  Smallie on a spinnerbait, Spotted bass on a weightless senko.  Water temp was 58 F to start, 62 F at finish.

Species 6 - Smallmouth Bass


Species 7 - Spotted Bass


No big fish and not big numbers, but I got my fill of seat time in the canoe and enjoyed a few of many of the beautiful rivers that NC has to offer.

More Green Grass

With our success early in the morning on our last float, I decided to go back to the same place last weekend for some more largemouth.

I launched around 7 am and started hot with a bass on my first cast! I followed that up with the biggest bass of the day, around 4 lbs.




I got the measuring board for Christmas from my family. I finally committed to using it and I measured every fish I caught that was ~12" or more.

I ended up with ~20 bass on a variety of lures. Spro BBZ-1 Shad swimbait was hot early, as well as a black buzzbait. I caught a few on t-rigged plastics (grub and trick worm) banging the bank. I also caught several trolling jointed floating rapalas, including a double.





Wrapped up around 2 pm and headed home. A great day for catching and weather. One of my favorite spots did not disappoint!