Water Dog

In designated trout waters (streams) night fishing isn't allowed in NC. You can fish a half hour before daylight, all day, and 1/2 hour after sunset and I haven't done any lake fishing for trout but I intend to. I'm not sure about the regs. That will be a different ball game. In streams trout feeding is pretty dependant on water temp., and the hatch where I fish. In winter this will generally be about 11:00 to 2:00 on water that is not closed. When the season opens in the spring, you are liable to catch all species any time with the right fly. I usually examine one to see what they are eating. Good observation of the hatch and terrestrials will help also. If you see inch worms in the overhanging bushes than tie one up and try it. Most likely it will work. On one stream that we fish there are a lot of cottages along the stream with night lights and we tried tying up brown bugs like you see at night and we slayed um. Jap. beetle flys work in season.

Catt, the site has a great story that brings back memories of Fred, had to put it in my favorites. I feel sure that Fred Bear is the major reason for archery hunting being so popular now. If you are into hunting this is a great site and history that will likely not be repeated. I was into archery once, probably due to Fred, walked up on a black bear on my deer bait pile (on my own property) and he 'woofed' at me and ran like a bowling ball through the thicket. I froze when he woofed and the thought went through my head, "What am I doing here"? I was deer hunting at the time walking to the stand and didn't have my 357 backup. I certainly wasn't good enough to try a bear and decided to quit hunting deer with a bow since I want accurate instant kills. My hat is off to Fred for his contribution to sport hunting and anyone else who takes the time to become an accurate archer. Oh, BTW, bear meat is good to eat, a lot like beef. Our black bear population is about 3000 in NC.

Fishing opportunities have really increased in WNC since the water has been cleaned up. We used to send you all down there in Tn a lot of bad water. Our fishing has greatly improved in recent years and yours should have also. We had one stream, the Pigeon River, that was so polluted from Canton's paper mill that it was illegal to allow your cattle to drink from it in Haywood Co., NC. The level of pollutants has decreased to the point that DENR advises that fish taken from the river are safe to eat now. Things are looking up in WNC which should bode well for everyone downstream.

I have seen that shot before somewhere, seems like a magazine. I don't see how a camera angle would change the size of that paw. His hands are practically in the same plane. A regular black bear can tear up jack, let alone what a monster that size can do. I saw a film of an Alaskan Polar Bear Hunt. The hunter and guide were flying around the ice flow, located a large bear, landed, jumped out, ....All the while the bear was on a dead run to catch the "bird" before it flew off. The hunter finally dropped the bear a few feet from the plane. I don't believe the guide could have kept the bear from getting at least one of them. No death wish for me! You younger fellows can have the big boys. ;D

Trout Fisher, this link seems to work now. Just follow the steps above.

Thanks, 'Troutfisher'. I can't get it to work either. Works fine on my favorites. I have tried several different ways to make this thing work because I wanted you to see 'ole Bill's fish. I Googled: River Link, Asheville and got the address below. It won't work either here. You have to Copy and paste it in your browser window. When River Link comes up, look for the "watershed overview tab" and tap on it, A window will come up showing you the French Broad making its way to the Gulf of Mexico, via the Tenn. River, etc. At this point tap 'enter' and 'ole Bill and his fish will come up along with a loop on the history of the river, river shots, etc. There are musky in the French Broad, sizeable ones at that. Let me know if you figure it out. I guess Bream Master forgot about his post. http://216.55.154.115/default.asp

I've got a "Beaver Tail" brand 9 1/2 HP Honda pushing a 14 foot Jon. It will run fine up river but I wish I had more motor. I'm not running 35mph. You can start them in the parking lot and warm the engine. They certainly fill a need and are very economical to run. The mechanical part is straight forward and should last a long time. Easily serviced. A little noisy. I routinely hit underwater logs, sometimes rocks or gravel, and the guard will kick the prop up. Like the man said the trade off is weight. Not a problem since I leave it on the boat. They are different, try one before you buy if you get the chance!

In addition to the NC Wildlife Resource information posted above you can go to this link and I'd like to know if you have seen musky any larger than the ones that Bill Lyday is pictured with? You will pull up a vidio loop that will cycle to the musky shot in a couple of minutes, be patient, it's worth the wait. <http://seris.info/RiverLink/main.shtml> I haven't fished for them myself but I intend to, the first chance that I get.

NC fishing records listed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Species Weight Location Date Angler Lure/Bait Photo longnose gar 19 lbs 10½ oz Rock Quarry Lakes 6/29/06 Sebastian Lankiewicz Rapala crankbait bowfin 17 lbs 15 oz Black River 6/21/97 Gregory A. Demery, Sr. Cut bait bream carp 48 lbs Mecklenburg Co. pond 3/11/86 William Houston, Jr. Unknown crappie 4 lbs 15 oz Asheboro City Lake #4 4/27/80 Dean Dixon Minnow freshwater drum 22 lbs Kerr Lake 11/27/06 Daniel Stotts Minnow grass carp 68 lbs 12 oz Summerlins Pond, Leland 6/8/98 David W. Stowell Rebel Pop R kokanee salmon 9. 2 oz Nantahala Lake 9/7/06 Tony Robinson fin-tail spoon longnose gar 19 lbs 8 oz Roanoke River 4/16/06 James Thomas Bryant Green bucktail muskellunge 41 lbs 8 oz Lake Adger 1/23/01 Richard W. Dodd Big Mack tiger muskellunge 33 lbs 8 oz Lake James 4/3/88 Gary Dean Nanney Buzzbait northern pike 11 lbs 13 oz Lake James 8/26/78 Keith Gilliam Storm Wiggle Wart sauger 5 lbs 15 oz Norman Lake 7/25/71 David Shook Topwater Rapala smallmouth buffalo 88 lbs Lake Wylie 11/14/93 Tony Crawford Pack bait walleye 13 lbs 8 oz Lake Chatuge (Shooting Cr.) 8/16/86 Lamar L. Cofer Old faithful spoon NCWRC website: <http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm> Through its Table Rock State Fish Hatchery in Burke County, the Commission stocks muskellunge in the French Broad, Nolichucky and New rivers as well as Lake Adger, an impoundment on the Green River. Anglers can sometimes catch muskellunge in unstocked reservoirs, such as Fontana and Hiwassee. Also Walleye <http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm> Native to Canada and the northern United States, walleye have been stocked in most states except a few in the far west and south. In North Carolina, the Commission has stocked walleye in mountain and Piedmont reservoirs. Walleye prefer clear, cool water and usually stay in deep water during the day, moving to shallow waters at night. A listing of all NC Sport Fish <http://www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_03_fishing.htm>

New Jersey heard about the boys in Minnesota knitting while ice fishing and didn't want it to happen there.

I'm a little damp eyed over that. That was pretty much my dad. We rented leaky wooden boats and he did the best he could while working 6 to 7 days a week. I miss that man. I have always regretted that I didn't take my boys fishing enough. We did camping, hiking, baseball, basketball, soccer, but not enough fishing. I intend to correct this with my two grandsons when they get big enough. Thanks

What we think based on being outside and having observed the weather in our short lives means nothing in the overall argument, much as we would like for it to. It's not about "feelings" or how we feel. I have had graduate level courses in organic chemistry, statistics, environmental sciences, botany, plant science, entomology, and ecology. Life also is an education. I have worked 37 years in the field dealing directly with environmental issues, dirt, water and air pollution, etc. What humane kind has adversely done to the earth is insignificant compared to the natural cyclic changes of a dynamic planet over eons. We need to recognize that all is not gloom and doom Many hard working Americans have done much to clean up our rivers and lakes and small streams and air over the last 50 years. These positive accomplishments should be celebrated and appreciated by all of us. Much is left to be done. Each of us can help in his or her own way. We need to find that way. The more that we do through our influence as individuals and as a group will increase fishing opportunities for all of posterity and us. We won't get to heaven on good works, but a lifetime of good work will certainly help our Nations natural resources. It would appear that some of you are too young to fully appreciate the strides that have been made, and yet, a fifteen year old boy on this post has confounded some of you with his logic and all that you can do is redirect his honest work of response to your comments with some lame joke or attempt to belittle him, while never answering his research with any of your own. I would encourage you to do better. Quit whining (those of you who are) and go do something positive for the environment. ;D

Bream Master, I just went to the NC Wildlife Resources Fishing Reg. site and they give you a lot of information on these and other species. Record catches for example tells you where the big ones have been caught, so there are hopefully a few more out there. Catch limits tell you which lakes have them and they will be running soon!

;D We are rednecks downhere but at least we put out salt and mineral blocks ;D I find myself nawing on a chicken leg now and agin, maybe I need minerals...

;D That is a good one ;D There has to be an element of truth in a joke for it to be funny and that one certainly brings to mind almost everyone's experience with some governmental entity at one time or other. ;D

Fin, you might be on to something... ;D

I don't blame him. ;D

That is right darn scary! Guess that I won't be stealing any eagle eggs. ;D Those still shots are excellent as well. Didn't realize that eagles were also scavengers. Nursed a hawk that had been hit by a truck back to health once. Had to wave a hotdog on a string in front of it. Once it had caught it, it would eat.

:'( Global warming is affecting all of our lives in a horrible way, and will be the end of bass fishing as we know it. Why we will have to use larger rods to bring those rascals in. ;D Here are a few links for you LBH: This is a good example of the Government enforcing environmental laws and doing a good job of helping to clean up air pollutants up to a point and then letting the enviromental wacko's in the EPA run amuk. <http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/agreements/caa/cafo-agr-0604.html> <http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a8f952395381d3968525701c005e65b5/a3b628e23af32f68852571d200618474!OpenDocument> "EPA granted the extension in response to requests to provide interested operators adequate time to complete the paperwork necessary to participate in the agreement. This agreement is part of the Agency's ongoing effort to minimize air emissions from certain animal feeding operations, also known as AFOs, and to ensure that they comply with the Clean Air Act and other laws. To date, more than 1,000 operators have signed agreements. The participants represent a cross-section of the animal industry sector, including swine, egg-layers, and meat birds, and dairy operations..." Yes, but what about the politicians? ;D One more scary article <http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2062484.ece> Some may want to go directly to the wacco websites, here's one <http://www.climateark.org/blog/2007/01/into_the_global_heatingglobal.asp> One day it's automobiles and CO2, the next day industrialization, American prosperity; whatever is the flavor of the day, is causing all this climate destruction and so forth. My advice would be to look at the main stream media with a jaundiced eye, take what they say with a grain of salt or however you would like to put it. Today it's the cow: and we can't leave out chickens and the rest of the barnyard crew. A United Nations report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife." Now, that is just extreme to the max. It is nonsensical, it's insulting. "The 400-page report by the Food and Agricultural Organization, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, also surveys the damage done by sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. But in almost every case, the world's 1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together." Obviously the EPA has bought this and is making the farmers jump through another hoop. Vegetarians have become militant in recent years, and this will fuel their militancy. I have a nephew and his wife who will not let their five year old boy eat meat. One day he will rebel as all kids do. So what's global warming all about? As Americans we are despised because of what we bring to the world and because of what we offer to the world,and we need to be cut down to size. What this is about is a new global community with the United Nations in control. You see, apparently to the world's socialists, dictators, and tyrants it is fiscally impossible to bring the rest of the planet up to United States living standards. Our FREEDOM allows us to to accomplish great things. This can't happen in socialist countries, under communism, or any of the other 'isms'. Therefore the only way to equalize things is to lower Americans' living standards. It's about getting rid of the American middle class. At no previous time in history has a middle class been so large. We, as a People, have the leisure time and wealth to do a lot of things and the UN wants to level our income and distribute our wealth across the world. Socialism is the ultimate goal of global warming. "Global warming" is a 'slight of hand' maneuver to suck us in. The car will continue to be attacked because it's not about pollution, it's not about cars, it's not about cows, it's not about emissions, global warming or greenhouse gases, it's about cutting America down to size. Any country who wants its' people to accomplish great things should try giving them FREEDOM !

I predict global cooling in about a week... ;D Remember the concensus of scientists at one time was that the earth was flat, well so much for concensus in the scientific community. ;D The Government has been granting studies on cow flatuance by some of our major universities for years and its effect on greenhouse gases. ;D Now this has been a big joke but recently these scientists have determined that cows release more polutants than SUV's. ;D Coincidentallly these same 'greenies' want us to stop eating beef. ;D Do you see a pattern here? These same people don't want you to hurt a fish with a hook, let alone fish for sport. How heartless and cruel can you be!!!! Hurting fish for the fun of it, how awful. We need to take stock of how much the enviroment has improved over the last 40 years. My State's streams are much cleaner due to the passage and enforcement of some good common sense laws. As an individual it amounts pretty much to: "Do Unto Others as You Would Have them Do Unto You." and "Love Your Neighbor As Yourself". If we would all adhere to that there wouldn't be any pollutants going down stream.

President Ford was also an important and valued member of the community where he retired. Both he and his wife made many valuable contributions to that community. President Ford set an example, he was Presidential, and as someone said after a lifetime of public service he had earned the right to play golf once in awhile. He and his wife both supported many worthy causes and he will be missed by that community. There were a lot of people from that community lining the fence at the airport to bid him farewell and show him the respect that he deserved.

I agree on "Knowing Bass" by Keith A. Jones,PHD as a must read for anyone serious about bass fishing. There is a lot of technical stuff on bass that I skipped over but there is also a lot of technical stuff that they turned into practical stuff that everyone can benefit from. Go to B&N and smoke it over.

They tell me that if you feel air when you reach up under there that you stand a good chance of being bit by a varment. Make sure the hole doesn't have air space... Anyone who catches catfish that way would probably like to catch a snapping turtle for the pot and you can do that by bending a heavy wire into a hook and attach a chunk of meat to it and stick it into those holes that have air in them. You'll know when he clamps down. ;D Just hoist him right out of there! ;D

In WNC there are Walleye in some of the rivers that drain into the Tenn. and some of the lakes in the TVA system. There are some sauger in the French Broad and Muskie above Asheville. There are Muskie and Walleye in the Little T. and Tuckaseege above Fontana lake. There are Walleye that run the Hiwassee at Murphy. They come out of Hiwassee lake. You might want to check out "North Carolina River Fishing" <http://americanriverfishing.com/northcarolina/NCindex1.htm>. There is as much water west of Asheville as in the rest of the State. You are about 1 1/2 hours from Asheville. There are Smallmouth in all of these rivers. They are all relatively cold some holding Trout, even Sauger, I hear. These fisheries have improved as the water has been cleaned up. No need to go North.

"Certainly not a gambler with my money. Just women." And you say that you don't gamble.....ROTFL ;D Money and women mix real well, I predict that you might need some. Forget the "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" stuff, we need a report when you get back! ;D