North Carolina Wild Trout

 Even a fishing guide has to "get away" once in a while so last week Carol and I headed up to the Blowing Rock, NC area to take in some hiking, waterfalls, antiquing, and we may have found a micro brewery here and there!  Of the seven days we spent away we got in 4 good days of long and sometimes strenuous hikes and one day of wading a mountain stream fly fishing, and a short hike back to the guide's truck. I weighed this morning and it looks like I lost 5 pounds during the trip!

After a few days we had made a move down to the Newland area and on Monday had set up the guided fly fishing trip with Dustin Kemp who works with the Mountain Bound Fly Guide service. When we talked over the phone Dustin had asked some key questions and when I said I'd prefer to wade for some wild trout he said he had just the perfect place in mind. The fish wouldn't be big or all that plentiful, but we could wade a half day, catch some wild fish and experience the North Carolina mountains as they should be.

We met Dustin outside of Banner Elk and got in his truck which was immaculate, clean, and set up for fly fishing with a lockable rod rack on top, and a "Cap" on the back that kept all of his waders, boots, and tackle safe and dry. We drove just a short distance then down a long lane along the mountain stream, and found a parking spot up in the bushes right beside the water. Although I had my own waders and boots, Dustin had brought a spare set for Carol and he laid out a changing pad for her to suit up on. Dustin unloaded a Mystic 4w Rod with a TFO reel and Weight Forward Floating line. He had taken a tapered leader, left about a 4' butt section, but tied in another 4' section of 6x leader where he tied on a floating #18 dry fly. From there he went to 7x leader with two dropper Midges, #20's, one after the other, about 12" apart.

The plan was to work up stream with Carol tagging along behind (and taking pictures). We didn't want to above the fish - they'd spook, run, and never bite.  Dustin pointed out the small pools behind rocks, shutes, runs, and tails and advised where I should "drop" my fly(s). The strategy was to sneak up the stream and "drop" the fly up ahead of the fish who (we hoped) were pointing up-current looking for something to sweep down-current where they could gobble it up!

At first, when I had a chance I'd strip some line and try to get an actual fly cast in. I could do it but I soon found out that wasn't going to work. The water was ripping thru here and there and as soon as it caught the floating fly line it would sweep the whole shebang out of the target zone. Afterwards, I realized that I had met my match in patience- Dustin gently reminded me that we were "dropping" the leader into the target zones and after a bit, it finally clicked!  The 9'-10' leader with dry and fly and dropper flies was all I needed to fish the pools and runs - pitch it with a slow roll cast, left it drift, then pitch it again or a time or three, and move on. The fly line rarely hit the water.

For a 63 year old man it was strenuous work to keep my balance - I fell  in once,  and cracked my shin another time - and I kinda wondered if I need to invest in some felt bottom wading boots - mine have rubber soles and were quite slippery on the submerged rocks.

We worked the stream for about  4 hours and had numerous "hits" and "spits", hooked up and landed a small Rainbow, hooked up and played a couple of Browns, and each time Dustin had pointed out where they would be. As the morning wore on I was getting tired and hungry and thirsty - should have taken Carol's advice and brought along that Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich she had offered to make.

But Dustin had a couple of spots left that he wanted to try, and both ended up producing fish. One spot was a huge boulder that had a small pocket behind it then another smaller boulder. I had flipped the fly(s) into the pocket 2-3 times, had something take it and run on the 2nd time, but missed it, then I went back a 4th time, right up beside the big boulder and BAM! Fish On! It put up a quite a tug for a 8" fish but boy was it fun! Dustin netted it, a Brown, and after Carol snapped a pic, we released it. 

We moved up a ways and after we got to a huge slab of stone, Dustin advised that I would probably have to climb up on the slab, lean over and flip the fly(s) over into the pool just beyond. I think it was my first cast and BOOM! I didn't see it but felt it and, Fish On! This one put up another good fight but Dustin had jumped up ahead of me, leaned in and netted a beautiful wild Rainbow trout, boy what a beautiful fish! Again, pictures and release and then we called it a day, another great one to be fishing a mountain stream in North Carolina!

If your every up in the Banner Elk, Boone, Blowing Rock area of North Carolina, contact Dustin Kemp with Mountain Bound Fly Guides. He was professional, friendly, accommodating, and patient. I got the impression that he would travel a bit to get to you if at all possible. They also offered an array of longer float trips. You can Email them HERE, or call 828-292-3882

Recipe of the Month: Cajun Potato Salad

 This recipe came across Facebook, presented by Blue Plate Mayonnaise and it looked pretty good. 

Making the recipe as presented meant left overs for a day or so!.

Ingredients:

3 pounds white potatoes, peeled, cut in 1-inch cubes ( I used some deluxe gold potatoes)

1/2 pound bacon, cooked until crisp, crumbled

6  green onions, chopped, white and some of the green parts

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

2  tablespoons dill relish, or pimientos drained ( I used the dill relish)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon creole seasoning ( I used Old Bay)

1/2 cup light Blue Plate Mayonnaisse

1/2 cup light sour cream

Paprika and celery sticks for garnish.

Cook the potatoes in boiling water in a large pot over medium high heat for 15-18 minutes, until tender.

( I checked them constantly to make sure I didn't over cook them). Drain and cool slightly.

Place potatoes in a large bowl, add bacon, celery, relish, salt, pepper, creole seasoning.  In a small bowl, stir mayonnaise and sour cream until blended. Pour over potato mixture as much as you like. (I poured about half of it, stirred, added about a quarter more, stirred).  Cover and chill at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with paprika and celery sticks.

Fly Fishing Amelia Island

I fished today with James and Nicole Bush, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early. We had cloudy skies with a forecast of 60% chance of rain before the morning was over but these anglers were game to fish so we headed out and over to the back side of Tiger to try our hand with some fly gear.  James was casting the fly off the stern in deep water with an intermediate sinking line and a weighted black Troy James Fly while Nicole fished from the bow with a a jig and live shrimp on spinning gear.  James was making excellent casts and putting the fly up close to the bank, letting it slide down the river bottom before the current really got to coming in. He had a few "bumps" but no takers. We eased down the bank working in and out of the logs and it was Nicole who put the first fish int he boat,  hungry Mangrove Snapper that was just a smidgen below the size limit. 

Then it was James' time to hookup. I had just commented about a perfect cast he had made up near the shore and alongside a log when, BOOM! A slot sized Redfish hit it and

came out of the water. James had done a strip set and had the fish. He worked it perfectly out of the logs and into deeper water. I inched the boat out deeper and felt for sure that we had the fish. But James said he felt the fish "lock down" - a sure sign that it was wrapped around a log or stump and, BAP! Fish Off! Boy what a bummer.

We fished the island up and down and Nicole, fishing the bait, hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish before we moved on. Our next stop was over at Lanceford Creek. I had switched Nicole to a float rig, gave her a demo cast, and float disappeared!  I lifted the rod, hooked the fish and handed it off to Nicole who battled it valiantly from Stern to Bow and back to Stern. The fish was ripping drag and made multiple runs but Nicole was up to the task and soon brought the beast to bay - a 4' Bonnethead Shark.  Nicole added a Seatrout to her catch before we moved on.

James had been dealing with the wind that had picked up after we left Tiger but he was making the most of it, getting in some fine casts. We added another Trout and a Ladyfish before we headed in. Just as we were getting back to the ramp we spotted a Submarine cruising thru the channel up by Cumberland which made for a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Labor Day Weekend Fishing at Amelia Island Florida

We kicked of the Labor Day weekend today fishing with Kaci and Dax Gingras. We met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and made quick jump over to the back side of Tiger Island. The tide had been coming in for a couple of hours but he logs were still showing so we baited up with live shrimp and and began to work the bank with quarter ounce jigs. The "baitstealers" let us know right off that they owned the bottom so we switched to lively mud minnows and worked on. Dax "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Flounder. But that was about it for that spot.

After a short run around and up to the Jolley River we turned in and fished back up current with float rigs and shrimp and minnows. Both anglers were making excellent casts and getting good drifts but we had no takers, so we moved on up the river. This paid off! Kaci's float had disappeared and after she caught up to it she lifted her rod, set the hook and Fish ON!  Kaci played it perfectly and worked to the boat a nice 18" Seatrout. A bit later Dax hooked  up with one and landed one just a tad bit smaller. He also put a feisty Redfish in the boat and infant Cobia!

We hit a spot back towards the mouth of the Jolley but had no luck then made the run back to Bell River to set up on a point to fish the last of that high and incoming tide. This turned out to be the best spot of the day. Both anglers began to hookup with Seatrout with a couple of them being of keeper size. They battled with high flying ladyfish and put an almost legal Mangrove Snapper in the boat. But boy was it getting hot! We fished out of bait then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Honeymoon Bliss

You can't get much happier than get married over the weekend and taking an Amelia Island back
country fishing trip just a couple of days later!  Brian and Kaitlyn Greenup were visiting Amelia after their wedding and I fished with them today, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran up the Nassau River, stopped at Spanish Drop and began tossing float rigs baited with live shrimp to the marsh grass.  Brian battled a couple of hard fighting Jack Crevalle and Kaitlyn put her first Seatarout in the boat.  We landed a handful of fish there then moved on.

Our next stop was down past Middle River, fishing a new spot that looked good a low tide a week ago, but it didn't pan out. I plan on trying it again, though. We continued on to Pumpkin Hill and set up to drift our floats along the marsh grass on a high and incoming tide, this time baited with Mud Minnows.  We had a nibble or two then Brian hooked up and, Fish On!  This fish was ripping drag and had no intentions of

coming in. But Brian was up to the fight, worked it penitently to the boat, let it run again, then brought it to the net. It was a big Oversized Redfish - boy what a fish. Only minutes later he had another hookup - another big Red. Brian brought this one in handily and we netted a nice 23" Slot sized Redfish.  Kaitlyn  added another Seatrout to the catch while Brian boated a Mangrove Snapper.

We ran up Christoper Creek and switched to jigs and minnows. Kaitlyn worked another Trout to the boat but that was about all we had until Kaitlyn had made a perfect cast up to the corner of some marh grass. She had snagged a couple of oyster shells during the morning and this looked almost like the same but we could tell it was pulling back!  Kaitlyn slowly reeled it in and then the fish decided to fight, throwing a huge splash. But Kaitlyn kept the pressure on and brought to the net a massive 22.25" Flounder, big enough to move Kaitlyn into 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We finished up fishing at Symore's Pointe, had no real luck but with a couple of really big fish in the boat we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Weird On The Water

It was kinda weird out fishing this morning - the skies stayed overcast the entire day, ominous storm clouds surrounded us while 10mph winds kept a breeze flowing. But my guests - Bob Lalli and his two adult sons Mark and Scott were game to fish so we had met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We ran up the Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to fish the very last few minutes of an incoming tide.  I think the fish were taking a break - we fed the bait stealers one shrimp after another!  But we stayed with it, got a few strong bites, then Mark put a feisty Bonnethead Shark in the boat.

We eased around the corner, fed some more bait stealers (the bait shop was all out of mud minnows today), then it was Scott's turn to tangle with a Bonnethead. Bob put a Seatrout in the boat to officially "knock the skunk off".   We then ran down to Twin Creeks and pt out a minnow trap, then back to Seymore's Pointe and played with some Mangrove Snapper. We caught a few but all were undersized and again, we were blowing thru our bait, so we moved on. We fished Athens Drop and picked up another Trout or two, and a couple of feisty Redfish then we stopped in to pick up our minnow trap. There were only two minnows in the trap but I was able to cast net a good handful of perfect size finger Mullet.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. These anglers were making excellent casts and it wasn't long before it paid off. Scott had baited with one of the finger mullet and had put it up near the pilings. When he hooked up and the drag began to sing we new it was a big fish. Scott put some pressure on, got the fish out away from the pilings then patiently played it to the net. I had to measure it a couple of times to make sure it squeezed in under the Slot limit of 27" - boy what a fish!

We had a few more bites, picked up a couple of Mangroves, another feisty Red, and a nice Seatrout before we called it a day. The skies were still cloudy but we had only had a few rain drops so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Slot Reds In The Amelia Island Back Waters

This young couple of anglers really got in to some fish today fishing the back waters of Amelia Island, Florida. I had met Dewey and Jenifer Lee out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early this morning and we made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some grass islands just as the tide started out. Jenifer got things going by catching a hungry Seatrout up near the grass with a float rig and live shrimp. We picked up a couple of more fish, battled with a Bonnethead Shark, then eased around the corner, back in the Nassau.

 The tide was just easing out and with these two anglers making excellent casts, it wasn't long before we caught fish. Dewey put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then as we were just about to pick up and leave, he had a strong hookup and, Fish On! The fish was big and ripping drag and immediately took Dewey from the stern of the boat to the bow then it went deep. But Dewey kept the pressure on, worked it patiently, then brought to the net a nice 24" Slot Redfish. We briefly fished Broward Island and Jenifer caught a feisty Redfish there.

 We then ran down the Nassau to Spanish Drop and fished a large double run out. The wind was picking up but we still had some good bites. Jenifer found her own personal fishing hole off the stern and put one Seatrout in the boat after another. She also caught a small Flounder to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder. But she wasn't done yet!

After fishing Twin Creek briefly we moved on. Our next and final stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and boy was it a good one! The duo put a handful of Mangrove Snapper in the boat, one of which was keeper size, then Jenifer battled a BIG fish that got up in the pilings and broke off. Dewey followed that up with a "Tournament Redfish" catch, one that measured at 26 7/8". He added a keeper sized Black Drum for his Slam, then Jenifer put a Black Drum in the boat for her "Grande Slam", and then she hooked up and expertly played another Slot Redfish to the boat. Before we knew it we had a "mess" of fish and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Sisters Crab Artichoke Hot Dip

 We used to visit the Florida Keys with my sisters and other relatives and every once in a while they'd

break out a hot Crab Artichoke Dip.  Here it is..

(1)  14oz can of artichokes, drained and chopped roughly(

(1)  Cup mayonaise

(2/3) Cup grated Parmesan cheese

(8oz)  Shredded Mozzarella cheese 

(1)  Teaspoon Konricko seasoning

(1)  6oz can crab meat

(1)  Teaspoon Hot Sauce

Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly in a 8x8 pyrex baking dish.  Bake in oven set at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Top should brown and cheese should melt.

Early Fish Bite Frenzy

I was back at this morning, fishing with Frank Wytiaz and his wife Joanne after I had met them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We made a quick run up the Nassau River and stopped at a large marsh run out. The bait was getting "popped" all along the bank so we set up to fish with float rigs and live shrimp.  It only took minutes and we were catching fish. Ladyfish, Jack Crevalle, Seatrout, small but feisty Redfish, Pinfish, Catfish -it was a smorgasbord.  Frank was fishing out of the stern and had drifted his float long when something big hit it. He worked it to the boat and landed big Seatrout that was just a tad bit under 20". Later, Joanne had made an excellent cast to the bank, hooked up and when her drag began to sing we knew it was a big fish. Joanne played it patiently, worked it to the boat, let it run, ripping drag, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish.  I had looked at my watch and we had been fishing this one spot for well over an hour, and catching fish!

We did move up the way, switched to jigs and shrimp

and picked up one more feisty Redfish. We then fished some dock pilings and caught Black "puppy" Drum, another small Redfish, a Croaker, and Joanne added to the variety with a couple of Mangrove Snapper catches. We eased around the corner, switched back to float rigs, and fished some rocks but only found one small Mangrove.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. Fishing with jigs we added to the catch one more Redfish. The sun was getting up and getting hot so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Fish Thursday

I fished today with the Hendrickson family, Brian and Sherrie and their son William. I met them early down at the  Sawpit Creek boat ramp and after making a short run up the Nassau, we made our first stop at Spanish Drop to fish the incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. The shell was covered and the anglers were able to get good drifts along the marsh grass. William "knocked the skunk off" with a good battle with a Jack Crevalle then his dad put a small Flounder in the boat. From then on we were catching fish. Sherrie landed  a feisty Redfish while Brian and William teamed up on small Trout, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish and feisty Reds.  We left 'em biting when we moved on!

The water was up and I thought it'd be a good time to hit Pumpkin Hill and boy was it a good guess! We were drifting the bank again with shrimp under a float and again, the fish catching was on fire. Brian put a 20" Seatrout in the boat and later William followed that up with one of his own. Sherrie put a couple of Mangrove Snapper in the boat then William hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum to round out their Amelia Island Back

Country "Grande" Slam of Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and Drum.

We had drifted down the bank a bit when William had a strong hookup and his drag sang, Fish On!  This was a big fish but it was no match for William. He stayed patient, worked it slowly to the boat, held it when it ran, worked it to the boat, held it when it ran, then brought it to the net - a big 30.5" Oversized Redfish! Boy what a fish. Then it was his dad's turn! Brian hooked up and this fish took him from the bow to the stern then dug deep for a good battle. But Brian was up to the task and soon landed a 29.5" oversized Redfish.  Shortly after Brian had made an excellent cast to behind a grassy point. He said his float gook off with the current and he lifted his rod to set the circle hook - another big fish on! Brian worked this one to the boat and landed a 24" Seatrout - a fish big enough to move Brian into third place in the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights

Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We made a couple more brief stops on the way back to the ramp, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.