april fools on me

[richard labounty jr]

april fools on me let a 7 or 8 lb. channel cat flip back into the water after 20 minutes of being in the bottom of my boat.I tried to toss him in a bucket head first but he said hasta la vista baby with one kick from his tail he was free to grow another day.My son said if he had caught it i would have had to jump in after it.he said that was the biggest cat he had seen ever but i had to remind him of a couple he caught over 13 lbs. last year.Any way we had a blast and we let the big one go so we could catch him another day.heres a couple pics of what we did today before the wind started blowing in that chilly air.

http://images.snapfish.com/34355%3C8723232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2345%3D%3B93%3D83%3C %3DXROQDF%3E23237%3A93384%3A7ot1lsi

my son with two whiteys over 12 inches.the little red fins were gill hooked so we are gonna eat them to,

http://images.snapfish.com/34355%3C8723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2345%3D%3B93%3D83%3C %3DXROQDF%3E23237%3A9339575ot1lsi

you are looking at the greatest fishing partner a man could ever ask for even if he did back my truck halway into the creek getting the boat out.well thats all for today we are going frog gigging tonight and i hope to have some pics of the masacre or skunk whichever it might be.

[Roadmaster]

Richard,
Looks to me like ya'll had a great time of it. You had best watch that fishin partner. Before to long he may be outdoing the ole man.:)
Tell me about the white perch, please. I know me and my dad caught them years ago when I was a kid but I can't for the life of me remember what bait we used or where we caught them. Structure and such. I guess I have spent to many years saltwater fishing and now ready to go back to my freshwater roots.
Thanks,
Karl

[richard labounty jr]

we have been catching them on night crawlers.I use my fish/depth finder to mark fish around the corners.Usually where the water hits the bank at the straighest point before you lose sight of the straight away.I put my Carolina skiff on the bank bow first.I fish any where from 4 to 8 rods depending on if my little man is with me or not.Night crawlers on a home in line tied bottom rig.I put a sinker usually 1 oz or less on the bottom pass the line threw a 1/0 hook or maybe smaller but the larger hook helps with the catfish you will catck.Then tie a simple square not to keep it from slipping up and down the line.add a second hook 6 inches higher and vwala a home made bottom rig thats cheep and in-expensive so i dont have to say there goes aniother dollar every time i find a tree or stump.Early in the year the fish will be in the deep hole.later they will be around the ledge.(now)and later they will be in 8 foot of water or less.I start with one rod as far as i can throw it.then adjust each one 15 or so yards closer.When mr whitey strikes i look for the pattern of there depth.they are spawning so they come and go but they will usually follow a pattern.Sometimes we will crowd all 8 lines in one area because that area is producing.I cant tell you enough about the spot you are in.Fan your baits until you find them then concentrate your effort on that spot.we have caught these perch in the same spots for atleast 35 years.I recently started applying the same area we fish to every corner in the river and some produce more then others but all will produce some whiteys.It may be as simple as casting farther down the river or moving your boat 20 or 30 yards so everyone can get to that majic spot.I am very patient but have found that you almost always will pick up 6 to 8 quick fish in any hole.so if the action slows move .on several occasions we go from the guy in the front of the boat to the guy in the back of the boat who is in the right spot.thjey have really spread out the last two weeks so we went from 60 or 70 a day to twevle or so quality fish with several dozen small guys.The bite has moved a little since the first of the week as we caught several dozen redfin and whiteys on bobbers with the worm betwwen a foot or two beneeth the bobber.I to am a converted saltwater guy who has gone back to fresh water but only when salwater is slow,my boat is need of repair,i cant afford the gas for that 156 gallon tank in my hydra sport,or i just dont have no one to go and share expenses with me.with the red fins , grenels,catfish,white perch,bream(to me they taste better when the water is cold),carp,and rockfish there is always something biting from Jan to May when i get serious about saltwater again.I hope this helps everyone and remember the channel cats are next on the list of spawning fish that will group up and give you a serious tug as soon as them crappies get done doing the nasty.

[BBCroaker]

Geesh the Carolina fresh water fishing is a lot better then Va.
Went up here fri. caught about 4 small blue cats up in the Appomatix which was rolling like the Colorado River.
>Went out to the Mudddy James which was a big mistake all we did was dodge logs and trash which got caught up in the motor.
Think i need to move. Lol!

[richard labounty jr]

get a carolina license ill show you where to go.lol

[Roadmaster]

Well the speckle perch are certainly heating up along the banks this week. Couple more degrees of water temp and a bit less wind and it might actually get going real well down here.
Karl

[john latham]

It sounds like it's time to stock up on some Cane poles and some shiners. It's Crappie time! Save some for me Gents.[excited]

[GATOR MAN]

the water has warmed up and it is on in nc just as richard has showed ya. had some luck friday the 1st after work myself. found the crappie in 2 ft @ 64.8*. hit a school and ended up with 23 keepers out of 50+ fish.....4 over 2lbs. of course, i got rained on hard but it let up. no fishin sat or sun for me......man did it blow!!!!!