05-09-2020
Crabtree Creek near the Lake Crabtree spillway
Rhodes Creek at a road crossing in Eno
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I had to drive to Cary today, to pick up my new rifle (ordered online) from Bass Pro Shops. Of course while I was there I succumbed to temptation and spent way too much money on fishing tackle, and a new tacklebox. But I needed it. All of it. No, really, I did. I am not an addict. I do not have a problem with buying fishing tackle I don't need. I can quit any time. Really. I mean it. Quit looking at me like that, daggum it!
Anyway,since I was already in the Cary area, after leaving Bass Pro with my new rifle and a bunch of new tackle, I made my way around to the back entrance into the Lake Crabtree County Park / Umstead State Park area, where the trailhead parking lot is. Made my way down to the spillway and fished just below that in Crabtree Creek for a bit. Started off with a hook/bobber and the pink Berkley crappie pellet stuff, and caught two bluegills, and one fish of which I'm not sure about the species identification. If anybody can confirm for sure what this is, I'd appreciate it. Looks a bit like a Pumpkinseed, or maybe a Redear Sunfish? Or maybe something else? I dunno.
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After that I tried that little Rebel Hellgrammite mini crankbait for a while, but no takers. Then tried a shrimp lure that is technically considered a saltwater lure, but I figure the fish don't know what anything is "technically" considered. But no takers. Then another blue/white/chartreuse themed crankbait, also with no takers.
By then, even though I'd only been fishing an hour or less, I was feeling tired and hungry... I had not eaten yet for the day, so instead of exploring further downstream I decided to pack it in.
On the way home, the urge hit to go fish my namesake creek - Rhodes Creek. I'd never fished there before, and I have no reason to believe that the creek or any Rhodes family members from this area are related to my branch of the family, or at least not closely enough for me to know anything about it. As far as I can tell, my branch of the Rhodes family have been predominately in Brunswick, Columbus and Horry (SC) counties since the late 1700's.
Anyway, I found a bridge I could fish from, and gave it a whirl. The water was really shallow right under the bridge, no doubt due in part to the presence of a beaver dam about 15 yards upstream. There was no convenient way to make my way back there, so I just fished off the bridge. I stuck to the hook/bobber and the Berkley Powerbait stuff, and caught this amazing little specimen:
![Image]()
And so ends another chapter in this saga. Not exactly material that bards will be singing about, nor anything worthy of entrance into Valhalla. But not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening.
Crabtree Creek near the Lake Crabtree spillway
Rhodes Creek at a road crossing in Eno
---
I had to drive to Cary today, to pick up my new rifle (ordered online) from Bass Pro Shops. Of course while I was there I succumbed to temptation and spent way too much money on fishing tackle, and a new tacklebox. But I needed it. All of it. No, really, I did. I am not an addict. I do not have a problem with buying fishing tackle I don't need. I can quit any time. Really. I mean it. Quit looking at me like that, daggum it!
Anyway,since I was already in the Cary area, after leaving Bass Pro with my new rifle and a bunch of new tackle, I made my way around to the back entrance into the Lake Crabtree County Park / Umstead State Park area, where the trailhead parking lot is. Made my way down to the spillway and fished just below that in Crabtree Creek for a bit. Started off with a hook/bobber and the pink Berkley crappie pellet stuff, and caught two bluegills, and one fish of which I'm not sure about the species identification. If anybody can confirm for sure what this is, I'd appreciate it. Looks a bit like a Pumpkinseed, or maybe a Redear Sunfish? Or maybe something else? I dunno.
After that I tried that little Rebel Hellgrammite mini crankbait for a while, but no takers. Then tried a shrimp lure that is technically considered a saltwater lure, but I figure the fish don't know what anything is "technically" considered. But no takers. Then another blue/white/chartreuse themed crankbait, also with no takers.
By then, even though I'd only been fishing an hour or less, I was feeling tired and hungry... I had not eaten yet for the day, so instead of exploring further downstream I decided to pack it in.
On the way home, the urge hit to go fish my namesake creek - Rhodes Creek. I'd never fished there before, and I have no reason to believe that the creek or any Rhodes family members from this area are related to my branch of the family, or at least not closely enough for me to know anything about it. As far as I can tell, my branch of the Rhodes family have been predominately in Brunswick, Columbus and Horry (SC) counties since the late 1700's.
Anyway, I found a bridge I could fish from, and gave it a whirl. The water was really shallow right under the bridge, no doubt due in part to the presence of a beaver dam about 15 yards upstream. There was no convenient way to make my way back there, so I just fished off the bridge. I stuck to the hook/bobber and the Berkley Powerbait stuff, and caught this amazing little specimen:
And so ends another chapter in this saga. Not exactly material that bards will be singing about, nor anything worthy of entrance into Valhalla. But not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening.
