New Friends, Good Float

I met Ken at a meet and greet last spring and was enthralled by his knowledge of the upper Tar and Neuse basin flows as we chatted by a campfire.  We've been trading messages for weeks planning to fish a small flow just outside the triangle during a trip back to his native lands. However, the targeted river wasn't in such great shape due to recent rains. We began discussing a float I'd done several times, that Ken had never seen. I think I got him siked up with visions of striped bass on a fly rod, so he agreed to try my plan instead.

The target was largemouth and striper. Ken, his 11 yr old son, and I launched on this large flow around 8 am in very nice ambient temps. High pressure was moving in, as well as some decent winds, but we made the most of it. Even though I encouraged Ken to take a spinning rod, Ken stuck to his guns and fly fished all day.

My 2nd fish of the day was my personal best striper taken on a Bomber walkie talkie (low pitch) in a gold/black color. Not sure if Bomber makes these anymore, but you can get them online.  These spook type lures are intended for saltwater, large, and a tad heavy (1 oz). I can chuck them a mile with my abu 4600 baitcaster. This bruiser (8 lbs) exploded on the lure after just two twitches, and it was on! Great fight.



A little later, Ken's son hooked a nice largemouth on a torpedo, only to have the line come unraveled. 30 seconds later, that same bass jumped and shook the lure out of it's mouth! I'd never seen this before. Since the torpedo is a floater, I quickly scooped it up and tied it back on for him. Ken's son had a few other strikes here and there, but couldn't put one in the boat. He did, however, manage all the rapids with considerable skill and ease. You can definitely tell Ken has trained him well on the NC footfills flows surrounding his current hometown of Elkin.

Ken landed several nice redbreast and a few small largemouth on the long rod as we made our way into some nice shoals. I was burning a black buzzbait over the swift/shallow water and hooked up with this healthy 4 pounder. It also put up a great fight.



After lunch, I stuck with the buzzer and landed several scrappy river largemouth, mostly in swift water eddies and shoals. This river has a fair amount of thick heavy grass in the summer, creating current breaks and terrific hiding places for fish. With so many places to hide, you can virtually catch them all over the river. Here are a few, there's Ken in the background ...




Ken did let me give fly fishing a go. I quickly learned that fly fishing from a canoe/kayak, particularly in swift water, is very difficult. I did land this colorful redbreast on a popping bug. I was contemplating a fly rod purchase prior to this trip ... I think I'll put that on the back burner, at least for now.



The weather was exceptional on this trip.  Cooler nights have arrived and great fall fishing is just around the corner. 

2013 Summer Bassin'

My last post captured a few firsts for 2013.  This post picks up most of the other excursions, mostly focused on largemouth.  Considering all the rain we've gotten this summer in NC, the fishing has been pretty good for me.  I've been able to catch some of my favorite flows at just the right time.

I had a phenomenal day in late June on a local flow.  Spent all day on the water and landed ~25 bass mostly on a spook, and a few other species.  Here are a few highlights ...

I also got out on a very small flow just north of I-40 and caught a few small bass and very colorful sunfish, including a beautiful warmouth.

 

On my way home from Charlotte in early August, I stopped by a familiar flow, but a location I'd never explored.  Turned out well, with 6 fish in 1 hr of fishing near dusk, including these guys all caught on a plastic frog ...

 

A Few Firsts in 2013

I've been traveling for work a considerable amount in 2013.  In fact, I've spent more days in FL than I have in NC.  It's been a big strain on the family, but evenso, my loving and understanding wife has granted me the opportunity to get out on the river several times.  In addition to my local haunts, I've managed to make a few trips out in the salt both in FL and NC as you'll see below ... 

Early in the year, I hired a kayak fishing guide while working in FL to gain quick access to a kayak and learn a few tips on Tampa bay fishing opportunities.  It was a slow day, but I managed 1 small redfish.  This is the first redfish I've ever caught from a canoe/kayak, and only the 2nd of my life (that I remember).  In July, during our family beach trip to Pine Knoll Shores, NC, I hooked up with kayak guide Tim (NCPierman) Taramelli.  Tim is a fellow www.ncangler.com member and all around great guy.  He took me out in one of his yaks in Queens Creek, near Swansboro, NC.  Again, I caught 1 redfish, surprisingly on a very similar lure to what I used in FL (white/gold paddle tail jig).  I also caught a ladyfish and a shark on finger mullet. Overall, a good trip.  I highly recommend Tim if you're looking to do some kayak fishing near the crystal coast of NC. 

In addition to the salt water excursions, I also targeted and caught white bass for the first time this year.  In early April, I fished the Eno river near Durham during the annual white bass spawning run.  I caught most of my fish (including my first ever white bass) trolling 3" rapala xraps in green and blue in the river channel behind the canoe.  The water was stained, but the fishing was great.  I got into a few schools and took home 6 decent sized fish to fillet.  White bass isn't nearly as good to eat as crappie, but it still made a great meal and I enjoy sharing my catch with the family.

 

Last of my firsts came in early August, when I got out with my fishin' bud Mack.  He recommended fishing a section of a river I'd never seen.  He thought there may be a few Roanoke bass in this flow ... and he was right!  My first Roanoke bass ever was an NC citation size fish, measuring just over 11".  I caught 10 or so that day, including another citation, plus ~20 largemouth.  Between the two of us, the Roanokes were landed using a variety of lures (bettlespin, crankbait, spinnerbait, curly tail grub, rapalas, and mepps spinners).  These are hard fighting fish for their size and a joy to catch. 

 

Although, there weren't necessarily any firsts involved (except for our first ride in a new-to-me Mohawk tandem), I also got to take my son out a few times and show him some of my favorite flows.  Here are a few shots of our adventures so far in 2013.

I have a feeling there may be some great trips this fall, and I can't wait.