Bass, Blackfish and Rattletraps

[Scott Hobbs]

I was supposed to go to Topsail this past weekend but the little woman woke up sick as a dog Saturday morning, hack and cack, all the heavy cold sickness. Ended up staying home and consoling wife for the weekend.

Not to keep a good man down I ran across the road to the sandhole and NE Cape Fear. Sat on the river for a couple of hours, not even a hit. Went to the sand hole and had 3 hard hits. Not a hook in a fish but it peaked my interest.

Sunday I had enough about 2 oclock and headed to the same spots. Tied on a Texas Orange Cordell Super Spot, 1/4 ounce that was the ticket. First cast and hit a bass. Didn't have my camera so I ran home and got it, on the way back I ran into the owner of the land that I fish. Told him what I was up to and that I had several rods rigged and ready to go. Come on down and lets give em a try.

Gave him a rod with a 1/4ounch Hot Pink rattle trap. Yes sir, them fish were hungry. Neils first cast yielded a nice blackfish, thats right I said blackfish. We continued for the next couple of hours and ended up with 3 bass, all about the same as in the picture, and about 10 blackfish (bowfin).

The largest blackfish was 27 inches or so and 15 inches in girth. Hot tip of the day was when you would feel the fish hit and not take it, stop reeling and let it lie on the bottom and they would go back and pick it up and try to run with it.

The water in this particular sandhole is from 1-4 feet deep and this is the first year we have seen or caught so many bowfin from there, last year I caught 3 Bass over 8 pounds each.

And of course Tess is along for the venture.

Tight lines <*)))))>{