FLY FARVORITE LAKE IN A LAZ-E-BOY: Now you can fly your favorite lake to see what it looks like from the air. A new website feature allows you to view any lake in the U.S.A. from your computer. Wonder what Jordan Lake looks like from the air? Click on: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=apex+nc&ll=35.730715,-79.029722&spn=0.089264,0.123081&t=k&hl=en for ariel photo of Jordan. Its easy to move, just drag curser and you can zoom in. All area lakes are available by searching a city near them. You are cleared for take-off !
all rights reserved
North Carolina ranks #2 in US States for Fishing-Related Tourism. What maybe a surprise to most, NC is second, only to Florida, as top states for fishing vacations and destination. A recent survey of nonresident fishing related tourism showed that NC derived $716,318,246.00 in total economic output. Second only to Florida, which generated $1,535,730,000. Top tourist areas for nonresident anglers include Outer Banks, Vance Co. and the Triangle area, which includes Jordan, Harris and Falls Lake. Nonresident anglers spent over $11.4 billion a year in the US.
Bass Fishermen, Bananas and Superstitions? Blaming a banana, or the supernatural during those tough times is more common than think. If you ask anyone if they have superstitions they will usually say, 'No'. Everyone knows it's even bad luck to reveal your superstitions. But if you really dig at them or go fishing with them, the truth will always come out. Every fisherman is superstitious about something. Read story here
Gold Crappie Caught: On Dec. 14, Glen Christie, 64, of Cary was crappie fishing at Kerr Lake. While dunking minnows in 18 feet of water in Grassy Creek, he lands a little golden fish. The fish is now officially recognized as a golden crappie. See a picture of the unusual fish and read details on the day courtesy of a story published by the News & Observer. Read story here.
NCSU WINS NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASS FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP: North Carolina State left no doubt who was the winner at the inaugural BoatU.S National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship held in Texas. They dominated the other schools on the final day with a solid five fish limit that weighed 13.57 pounds. The winning team members for North Carolina State were Chad Craven and Alex Freeman. They used a variety of baits while keying on windy rocky and timber filled banks to target aggressive fish. The North Carolina State team won $12,000.00 in scholarship funds with the win. More details click here.
Oklahoma State University was the last team to take
the stage and after dominating the field the first two
days it was apparent the North Carolina State team
was worried. The event format had Universitys from
all over the nation sending in two person teams to
compete for two days for an overall cumulative weight.
After two days the top 5 schools/teams competed on
one final day of the event for the title and scholarships.
For a full update with an exclusive interview, and pictures,
Wendy's High School Heisman Award: What's this got to do with fishing? Well, fishermen & fathers like to brag. This is my moment, as a father, to be proud. My oldest daughter Emily was recently nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. Like the original College Heisman, the WHSH program has set the standard for high school student-athletes. The program recognizes the nation’s most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in academics, athletics, and community/school involvement. Emily (pictured at right with the male nominee) is Academic All Conference in both volleyball and softball. She was team captain in both. Emily also was a three year player on a USA Junior Olympic Volleyball squad. She is a member of the Beta Club and Who's Who of High School Seniors, ranked 3rd in her graduating class. In her spare time, she is active with her Youth Church Group and local Animal Rescue & Adoption Agency. Emily will attend NCSU, majoring in Veterinary Medicine. Congrats Emily !
Ryan Newman Charity Tournament: The Ryan Newman Foundation Bass Tournament is in the books. Held on Lake Norman, the event funds the RNF, which caters to homeless animals needs. It was fun for all, as the day turned out to be a beautiful warm sunny Dec day. I was honored to be ask to represent Pedigree at the event, which started with a bass tournament that paired some Nascar celebs, and ended with a great meal and VIP autograph "meet & greet" session with all. Some notable names in attendance was of course, Ryan Newman, along with Tony Stewart, and other Nascar contingent like Kevin Harvicks Crew Chief. Forrest Wood was there, along with several FLW bass pros like myself. In all, 135 teams competed in the bass tournament, with the winners taking home a fully rigged Ranger Bass boat. It was sun, fun and good food for all. Everyone was all smiles, as the picture shows, even after a long day on the water.
Tony Stewart, Jeffrey and Ryan Newman
Carolina Outdoors : Hear the latest talk around the fishing world and lakes. Docktalk contains interesting tidbits, changes in rules and regulations, special events around the water's edge. Its also a great place to announce up coming events and shows. It you got something of interest, please send it to info@carolinaoutdoors.net with the word "Dock Talk" in the subject line.
Let Carolina Outdoors Work For You Or Your Company: Need a boost in sales and brand recognition? How bout a marketing campaign that works 24/7, gives you national and global brand impressions. Think about title sponsorship with Carolina Outdoors and professional bass fishing. Bass fishing is the next Nascar marketing explosion for major companies, with a loyal fan base and brand loyal consumer group. Under these sour economic times, many consumers have cut their spending, become more cost-conscious with their buying decisions. Decisions that have led to trading down or changing brands. If you or your company wants to keep selling your product or brand, you "got to keep them in the minds of consumers". Look at the many rewards with sponsorship of a professional bass fisherman and Carolina Outdoors here: Sponsorship Info Request
Skishering For Stripers: Every heard or seen Skishering? Neither had I till this short feature video on two men who are fanatics for this new way of fishing off the surf.
Their favorite time to go into the water after stripers in at night when the weather is rough and big fish like sharks are on the feed. Not sure its too safe to be holding a bright light while looking like a floating seal in the water but who am I to judge one mans passion.
Check out this short feature video about two Skisherman who venture into the surf in search of trophy stripers.
Gaston BFL Was Lost Not Won: I've always heard of guys saying "they lost" the tournament but what happened at the Gaston BFL last week literally was lost. "One of the most bizarre fishing days of my life." says second place angler Scott Mooneyham. "Really, I won the tournament. I just couldn't find my fifth fish."
What Scott goes on to report is one of the strangest endings to a tournament I have heard. The record books will show Jeff Salmon won the BFL, but it should show Scott Mooneyham LOST the BFL. Here is his story: "I went up the river, to an area where I had found fish a week ago Friday. I started out throwing a buzzbait and my partner was throwing a spinnerbait. After 30 or 40 minutes with nothing, I switched up to a wacky Senko. Within five casts I had a keeper and 3 lber, and by 8 a.m. I had four keepers, including a 5 1/2 lber. Sometime around 9 a.m., I landed another big fish, about 4 1/2, had a limit and figured at that point that I had a top-5, top-10 weight. About 11:30 am, I decided to head east, and hit some spots here and there going back toward Holly Grove, catching a couple of shorts. About 12:30, along a drop on a creek channel, I stuck a 2 3/4 lb fish on a spinnerbait, boated it, culled a 14" fish, and threw it in the livewell.
That's when things got bizarre. Not having done it as I went along, I got the bright idea that I'd put some leashes on my two smallest fish. So I dug the leashes out of my storage compartment, and then proceeded to pull the three smallest fish, including the one that I'd just caught, back out of the livewell. So, I pull them out, look at my two big fish a few seconds, turn around, and there's only two fish in the floor of my boat. I start looking under life jackets and tackle bags. I look under the console. I looked back through the hole under the console leading to the back of the boat. I roll under the console and reach my hand all back in there and feel no fish. I pull up the back compartment lid and look all around the gas tank and batteries. My 15 inch fish is gone. I say several foul things not worth repeating. The only thing that we can figure is that the fish flipped up on my partner's tackle bag and flipped out of the boat. Well, of course, I don't catch another keeper. My four fish go 16 lb 1 oz, and my big fish 5 lb 8 oz.
Both led initially, but a 6-10 fish bumped my big fish not too long after that. The total weight held up until the final 10 bags, when a dude (Salmon) brings in 16-14. I finish second by a mere 13 ozs." said Scott. Not end of story. It gets worse. "Back home, I get my tool box, empty out my back storage box on the console side, and proceed to take the container apart from the fiberglass and pull the box out. There, at the bottom of the boat, wedged in a space that can't be more than 3 inches wide, is my 2 lb, $2,400 fish. In 21 years of fishing tournaments, I've never had something like this happen," ended Mooneyham.
Here at Carolina Outdoors, we've seen and hear just about every thing from leaving a fish in the livewell, to losing a fish from a livewell in rough water, but losing a fish that is hidden under a compartment is tops of all. It was truly the tournament that was lost not won.
Warriors on the Water Military Appreciation Bass Tournament Highlights: The 4th Annual WOW is now in the history books. Held on Jordan Lake in NC, the event pairs servicemen and women from all branches of the armed forces for some food, fun and friendly bass fishing competition. This years event paired 151 bass fishermen with 151 active duty troops from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The fishing tournament capped a three-day run of events hosted by the W.O.W. committee. On the Wednesday before the tournament, more than 400 people showed up for an icebreaker held at Sports USA Sports on Fort Bragg. Boaters met with their randomly selected military co-anglers and pro bass anglers spoke to the crowd.
The highlight of the 2009 WOW tournament day, other than getting the servicemen and women on the water for some bass fishing fun, came with the tournament opening ceremonies performed by the Army Special Forces Parachute Jump Team Black Daggers. Experience the thrill and most amazing way to present our American flag by clicking on the video link below. Along the way, see some great smiles from some well deserved military men and women. Watch in HQ: Warriors on the Water 2009 video
Remembering Dr. John Hope Franklin: Many may know Dr. John Hope Franklin for his fight for human rights and segregation. Many will remember him for his award winning teaching career as a professor. Many will remember him for his work with President Bill Clinton on the Initiative for Racial Relations. I will remember Dr. John Hope Franklin as a great fisherman. I say remember as Dr. Franklin lost his battle with cancer this week.
Come along as I go back into time with a day I was honored to spend, a day fishing with Dr. John Hope Franklin on Jordan Lake. I guided Dr. Franklin that day as he showed me his fly fishing expertise. And he showed me why he will be remembered for his many words of wisdom.
Make Your Boat Shine With Captain Gary: Sometimes a product comes along that works so well you just want to share it with others. One of those products is Captain Gary's Boat Shine. Recently I started using his products on my boat, I was amazed how well it made the boat shine and how well it protected the finish from road grime and hard to wash off stains like chewing tobacco.
Captain Gary's Marine Care Products was started by a former Head Boat and Sport Fishing Boat Captain. Captain Gary began a new career in the industrial chemical business, and in 1996 started his own company, EnviroServe Chemicals, Inc. That company now produces a line of Marine Care products from Boat Shine to Boat Wash, Carpet cleaners and even a soap for removing fishing scents.
Carolina Outdoors Show Featuring Chesapeake Stripers Now ON: Stripers.....Rockfish.... whatever you call them, everyone knows that nothing beats the winter migration of stripers from the ocean into the Chesapeake Bay. If you want big stripers, you go to the Bay.
Carolina Outdoors did just that. I experienced some of the hardest fighting fish ever. Unfortunately one also experiences some of the harshes weather conditions as wind can hinder any attempt to get on the bay. We managed to get out on the water two days even though it was windy and wet.
Thomas/Reedy Wins on Falls Lake: The team of Jeffrey Thomas and Dennis Reedy won for the third time recently. The latest win came on Falls Lake in the Piedmont Classic. The winning weight of the 5 fish limit was 22.23 lbs. "It was a fun day of fishing" states Thomas, "Falls Lake probably is the best ledge fishing lake behind only Kentucky Lake in May/June. Fortunately for us, the water was up in the bushesand fit our style perfectly". The team reported catching fish on Reaction Innovations Sweet Beavers on 3/0 Lazer TroKar hooks on 20 lb Vicious line with the new Wright & McGill Skeet Reese flipping stick.
NC State Bass Team Wins College National Championship AGAIN: The fifth annual Under Armour College Bass National Championship was held on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, Ark., with teams representing nearly 70 colleges and universities from across the country ready to claim the title of best college bass team in the nation.
When it all settled, NC State was crown National College Champions again. It was a familiar spot for NC State Bass Pack, having won the Championship in 2005. The team of Will White, a senior majoring in natural resources and Chris Wood, a senior majoring in textile engineering at N. C. State won even though they had never fished or even seen the river prior to practice for the 2009 Under Armour College Bass National Championship this week on the Arkansas River.
“I don’t think this is going to set in for another week or two,” Wood said,
“maybe once my phone stops ringing.” More to come. Go Pack !
Summertime Means Cranking Time: The spawn is over, the water and air temps are on the rise. And the bass are heading for their summertime haunts. Perfect for deep crankbait fishing when the bass come out of their "post spawn" blues. Visit Jordan Lake and learn some deep cranking techniques that work on Jordan or any lake when the fish move "out".
In this show, I am joined by special guests: Dennis Reedy and Kelly Barefoot. Dennis is considered one of the first local anglers to expose deep cranking as he gained national attention for winning a tournament with over 70 pounds of bass (10 fish limit), all caught deep cranking. Incuded are great tips for how and what to approach when cranking on Jordan lake. It all comes down to a system and techique. To watch cranking video, click on link: Summertime Cranking On Jordan Lake
USAF And Bass Pros Storm Harris: Coordinated by Bassmaster Elite Series pro Marty Stone -- top North Carolina pros Dave Wolak, Dustin Wilks, Jeffrey Thomas, Britt Myers and Stone himself, took five U.S. Air Force Airmen fishing at Harris Lake– and by day’s end – ‘catching’ – finished way down the list compared to the fellowship and full doses of respect shared between the two groups of professionals.
Five two-man teams, and collectively the 10 guys spent the day fishing at Sharon Harris Lake, with several bass over five and one over ten lbs weighed in. View photo gallery and story from the day at Harris Lake: Air Force and Bass Pros Storm Harris Lake
USAF men and NC Bass Pros teamed up at Harris Lake
NC State BASS Team Honored: The 2-Time National Collegiate BASS Champion NCSU Bass Pack got an standing ovaition as they were honored center court during the home ACC basketball game vs. Maryland at the RBC Center.
Team members were recognized individually for their accomplishments which includes two National College Bass Titles, a FLW National Guard Regional Championship and several top finishes.
The team is headed to Tennessee's Ft Loudon Lake in Knoxville to try and win a record 3rd National Championship. Lets hear it for the (Bass) Pack !
Kevin VanDam WOW's The Troops: In the bass fishing world, there is no one bigger...better and more dominate than KVD. In the fight for our freedom and homeland safety, there is no one bigger....better and more dominate than our men and women who volunteer for military duty. They both came together for opening ceremonies of 5th Annual Warriors on the Water Military Appreciation Bass Tournament at Ft. Bragg, NC.
I was honored to also be a special guest for the event, but like all, I was also in awe of KVD. For a glimpse into the event as KVD addresses what he calls the "real hero's" being the troops who either just returned or preparing to be deployed to continue the fight for our freedom, click on the video to the right.
Stone Cold Jerkbait Fishing 101: Some of the most common questions I get from fishermen at shows and via email is "when and how do I fish a jerkbait "? And honestly, I have ask those same questions. I know its one of the best techniques for catching bass in cold water and pre-spawn conditions, just not sure how. So the question was ask to Elite BASS pro Marty Stone who by most consider an expert for cold water jerkbait fishing.
In this Carolina Outdoors exclusive, watch and listen as Marty gives an indepth seminar on jerkbaits. From important aspects of water temps and line, even down to the cadence of the jerk. Its a great one on one seminar for jerkbaits, filled with great tips and some light hearted moments.
Help Support Carolina Outdoors The Website: First, "THANK YOU" so much for choosing to spend your time and interest here at Carolina Outdoors. I hope that you have enjoyed many of the upgrades made in 2009 and I continue to strive to improve in 2010. Carolina Outdoors hopes to add more video content, more current info on area lakes and expanded resources both fun and productive. Traffic and unique visitors to my site continue to amaze all in increased numbers. Unfortunately, the cost of hosting fees and maintaining the site Carolina Outdoors.Net has also increased.
I want to ask you to think twice about the following small things that you can do to help support and improve Carolina Outdoors:
(1) Please take the time to click on some of the Google advertisements. Maybe just a couple of clicks a day on some of the ads. Whether it be from the main page, dock talk or the boats for sale page. If everyone just clicked on a couple of ads a day my rankings and stature would rise with our ad partners.
(2) Please don't hesitate to email updates or ideas for future improvements or features. All comments are welcomed. Just remember one or two simple clicks on Ads by Google helps maintain Carolina Outdoors for all to enjoy. Thank you
Click on pictures to view larger versions of the NCSU Bass Team center court and featured on the Scoreboard Jumbotron.
Bass'n On The Cape Fear: In this new episode of Carolina Outdoors, we are "rollin', rollin', rollin down a river". As in the Cape Fear River in the heart of Carolina. This place is where I grew up fishing, were I spend hot summer afternoons casting dough balls for carp with my grandfather. Up until the late 80's, it was the only place to fish other than ponds, no Harris, no Jordan, no lakes except Kerr. Back then, if you had a boat, it was named jon. Joining me is Kelly Barefoot as we break out the Zero Gravity jig. Can you hear the CCR? Click: Rollin' Down A Cape Fear River
NCSU & Surf Sharkin Adventures: What does NC State Bass Team member Ben Dziwulski do when school is on break? He goes shark hunting of course. And you can go with him with his Surf Sharkin Adventures Guide Service.
Learn more about Ben (photo insert to right), his quest for trophy sharks from the surf and the research he is providing about this feared creature of the deep. Check out the short feature video that explains it all while showing Ben in action in the surf.
Extreme Fishing At Its Best 101: Whats "EXTREME" Fishing? I classify it as anytime Matt Smiley from Eagle Claw and I get together to fish. One of the main factors is determining if something is an extreme sport is the weather conditions. A 133 degree temperature difference would by any ones definition be called "extreme" fishing.
Thats exactly what Matt and I experienced as we recently spend a day together on Jordan Lake. The last time we fished together, the actual air temp was 33 degreee minus zero. On Jordan Lake, it was 100 degrees with a heat index of 110. Still, under both of the extreme conditions, we managed some trophy fish. Check out this feature about our day(s) fishing together along with some great photos. Read more: Extreme Fishing At Its Highest Degree
