Pickerel Fishing

Hank and I hit a local chain pickerel creek Saturday. Had a little fun with this one:

River Bass on a Buzzbait

Went out Saturday morning to my favorite section of the Haw. Landed 4 bass. Each one caught on a Sexy Shad Buzzbait. One of the fish pulled me off the rock I was leaning against. I nearly fell in. Summer wet wading is fun. Top water buzzbait action is hands down the best. Thanks Dean.


A little perspective on how we fish the rivers.

First trip with my custom Weavercraft rod.

I had just picked up my new custom rod from Eddie at Weavercraft Fishing. I couldn't resist taking it out for a trial run.

I went down to a favorite spot on the Haw River. It was hot out there. The water was hot and the rocks were scorching. It felt like a sauna. On my third cast I missed a small male bowfin. He went airborne almost immediately. With an incredible display of power he hurled himself from the water and almost as if he was gliding on his tail he flung the lure from his toothy jaws.

I hiked up around the river jumping from rock to rock and across small roaring waterfalls. As soon as I made it to the middle, I cast below a small riffle. Instantly I hooked in to a monster. The strike brought my lure to a dead stop and then with incredible force the fin headed downstream. I pulled myself together and prepared for a fight. Almost as soon as I began to set my hook on this freshwater river predator, I felt the line slacken. Disheartened, I analyzed my gear and tried to make sense of the situation. The heat was getting to me and I was about to pack my gear and head back to land. A small breeze kicked in and brought with it a much needed cloud cover. I tweaked my drag slightly and set out to prove myself and my new gear.

It wasn't long before I found myself once again in the midst of a battle. My lure was struck violently as it came between two large, jagged boulders in the river. The fish headed down stream. I prepped myself and set the hook as hard as I could manage. It felt like a good hook-set. I eased out my drag and let the fish tire itself. As I brought her up onto my rocky perch, she flung my lure and slid into a closed off pool in the granite field.

I couldn't leave her in there. She would surely have died from the heat. After a half dozen attempts I was able to gently grab her from under a rock. I brought her back to the current and when she felt revived I watched as she gently swam away to the depths. It felt great to know she was ok.

The new rod is incredible. Great distance and enough backbone for muscle tearing hook-setting power. It looks high class. I'm very picky about my fishing rods and Eddie did an outstanding job with it.

2010 Highlights - 5/28/2010

A nice pond bass. I caught a dozen or so that day from this pond.

2010 Highlights - 5/9/2010

I didn't take a lot of photos during 2010, but I had a stellar year. It seemed like the river bass I caught averaged between 3-5 pounds.

2010 Highlights - 3/14/2010

7.0 lb. Largemouth Bass caught by Mike S fishing on Sunday March 14, 2010 at 11:05 near Apex in Wake County, North Carolina (NC), United States North America using a AlluringBaits.com Shimmering Shad a Worm

11/16/2009 FOTY

My personal best. She was massive. My hands were shaking, I couldn't breathe. I tried to get my fish grabber on her while she was in the water but her mouth was too big. I've lost so many bowfin in that hole. I think I lost this same fish a few weeks ago. What a beauty.

It was an incredible fight. I was listening to some music...zoned out and when she hit I thought I had hooked a beaver or something. I got all caught up in my headphone cord. I know I looked like an idiot.

Once I saw how big she was I couldn't breathe till I got as far away from the water with her as I could. What a blast.