[Greenmonster]

Looks like I'm going to be able to sneak out this weekend for a first-trip-since-moving-to-G'ville. Had a chance to attend the Pamlico Seminar in Washington last night and picked up a few pointers, but probably left knowing more about what I don't know, so now I have even less idea of where I should go this weekend!

I'd like to take my boys, so that means:
- Need to stay w/in an hour or so drive from G'ville
- Ideally would like to put some fish in the boat in rapid enough succession to keep a 6 and 9 year old interested.

I also see that we've got rain coming in today and tomorrow, which I am told may blow the tar river out and make it too muddy to fish. I was thinking about putting in at town commons and scouting for shad, but if it's going to be a mud bath, I think I'll probably wait!

Any suggestions? I am pretty open to anything from Perch to shad to striper, to heck, anything. Just want to get the boys out and start getting to know the lay of the land.

Jedwards, it was great to meet you last night, btw! The Roanoke river is definitely on the list of possibilities!

 

[sundrop]

Masons landing boat ramp is on Clarks neck rd in Washington. Launch there. you can go right from the ramp up into Tranters creek, or go left and follow it along to the Tar river. The city of Washington is to your left, upriver towards Greenville will be to your right. With kids I would go either up Tranters or upriver to fish. Tranters has all the freshwater goodies bass perch bream cats crappie etc. Tar will too and you can go upriver to the first "Y" and that creek to the left is called Bear creek. I have caught lots of panfish and bass in there. It is scenic too and you feel like you are in the middle of no where so its kinda cool for the kids. As you approach Bear creek watch your depthfinder closely. Striper will often be in that 20ft hole at the entrance and you can throw a white paddle tail or even jig it and catch them. If you go upriver right as you pass Bear you see an "S" curve ahead and that stretch is pretty deep. I catch striper there too and after you approach those curves you will see a shallow area to your left that has bass in it at times but be careful it gets shallow. Keeping kids in mind its always good to have some live bait like nightcrawlers or red wigglers for panfish and I like to toss out a rod or two on the bottom when we are anchored for catfish. Bass and Stripers will nail a nightcrawler too.

this website will come in handy. I always use it in satellite mode so it shows me the tributaries better and surroundings. http://webapp.navionics.com/

 

[Greenmonster]

Sundrop - as always thanks for the great information. The navionics web app has been my best friend (in addition to the GMCO Chartbook!) since you recommended them earlier.

Tranters sounds like a pretty good option - assuming I can figure out what it is! Apparently Google, GMCO, and navionics are not sure what "Tranter's" actually is - none of them use that name! Am I right in concluding that Tranter's is basically the northern arm if you were going upstream from Washington? So, the ramp is actually ON Tranter's creek. Navionics and my chart show it as "Kennedy Creek", google refers to it as "Tar river" and "Cherry Run" connects to it. Who knows what my GPS will call it!!

Assuming I figure out what it is , do you think that it will be in good enough condition to fish after rain on Thurs/Fri?

Thanks Sundrop

 

[sundrop]

Fri not so great , weekend looks good. I would stick with Tranters creek if I go on Fri, less water pushing through as it isn't a direct part of the Tar. Lots of structure along the shorelines and plenty of water for even a larger boat.

google map 462 State Rd 1403


Washington, North Carolina the ramp is ON Tranters Creek. I see some maps call it cherry run and some tar river, that's odd..lol


* come into Washington on 264 from G'ville turn right at the SHEETZ (Clarks Neck RD) ramp is just down a bit on the left. Hit the Sheetz before you get there *no bathrooms at ramp..

 

[trigger22]

Unless I have an option to choose between "today or tomorrow" I never let the weather conditions dictate whether I'm going to fish or not. If I have the time to fish, I fish. Rain or shine, blizzard or hurricane. There's fish somewhere feeding on something. It's absolutely worth giving it a shot.

 

[roostertail24]

If I would have let the weather scare me I would have missed out on a good evening of shad fishing this eve. Comfortable pair of chest waders, rain jacket with hood, pfd and i'm set.

 

[sundrop]

If it's me, I agree but bringing kids requires more thought to prevent a miserable trip for everyone..

 

[trigger22]

I take kids fishing with me A LOT. I don't take them if it's cold or rainy. Aside from that, they're coming with me. They don't care if it's rained for a week straight and the water is muddy. They are fishing. They know that fishing does not mean catching and are also aware that they are outside on the boat and spending time with loved ones. That's what matters most to them. The fish are just a bonus.

On this day we set out to catch speckled trout. That proved to be slow. I was in unfamiliar water and was dealt a hand of bad water. I improvised.... PINFISH it is! Ask my son what his favorite day of fishing was and he will quickly tell you at that one spot with the rocks by maw maw's house, aka Masonboro Inlet. He was catching what most of us would consider trash fish. They weren't trash to him. I was loving every minute of it.

 

[sundrop]

I take kids fishing with me A LOT. I don't take them if it's cold or rainy. Aside from that, they're coming with me. They don't care if it's rained for a week straight and the water is muddy. They are fishing. They know that fishing does not mean catching and are also aware that they are outside on the boat and spending time with loved ones. That's what matters most to them. The fish are just a bonus.

You haven't tried to take my nephews LOL... Depends on the kid. I was one who wanted to go no matter what too. But a lot of them today?? no way...

 

[trigger22]

The kids of today aren't the way they are because they are a different kid than we were. They are the way they are because that's how their parents raised them to be. They need guidance and direction. At their age they are mold able. Make them be what you want them to be. Show them love and compassion, spend time with them. Give them praise when they do good and discipline them when they do bad. Some kids are more mature than others. You have to be aware of that and deal with it accordingly.

Or maybe I do so good with kids is because I'm a big kid myself

 

[sundrop]

I agree totally Trigger..

 

[Greenmonster]

Trigger - you and I would get along nicely.

Sundrop - Looks like Tranter's is top of the list for this weekend's trip. I can't wait and the boys got a chance to read your description of the area and they are excited too.

Final piece of the equation - anyone know where I can find corn-free gas between Winterville and Washington?

 

[trigger22]

This site is showing a few options in Washington. http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NC

 

[sundrop]

this will require you come on into town a bit and double back to the ramps but. [h=1]260 N Bridge St Washington, NC 27889 it is now called Energy Fuels. store is on the right sort of across from the tractor dealer and before the tar river bridge. 93 octane no corn.[/h]

 

[Greenmonster]

Thanks Trigger - I had just found that link as well - good stuff, think i'll save it!

Sundrop - thanks for the note - I'll probably stop there even if it is out of the way. With any luck, they'll sell night crawlers too!

I'm bringing the Go Pro, so maybe the boys and I will have some decent video to share next week.

 

[sundrop]

For live bait you will have to stop at Ginns Seafood, the store behind it is a tackle shop, you will see it on your left as you are coming through town, it is across from a used tire place with Uhauls. Next to N'er Do Wells and the hotel.

 

[philjam]

They only had big minnows for sale they were out of crappie minnows. Told me the little ones were being delivered at the end of the week.

 

[Greenmonster]

Well, we gave it a good shot - 6 hours on the water with the two boys and we got sunburned ears (that's a good thing, since we hadn't seen sun in 6 months in VA mountains!). We didn't catch a darned thing but those sunburns, but wow, we saw some beautiful water and learned a lot. Turns out there was a bass tourney on Tranter's creek this weekend, so not only did we have to suffer the humiliation of the skunk that decided to inhabit our boat, but we also got to witness first hand the catches of guys who actually knew how to catch fish on these waters!

We fished from Tranter's to the point where Chocko Bay joins the Tar river and managed to do it without a single bite. That's a whole lot of water to cover and avoid fish, so I'm going to chalk that up as some kind of accomplishment, albeit not one I want to replicate!

We'll figure it out though. I've fished harder waters and beat 'em. . . eventually.

 

[sundrop]

At least you took a look around. Sometimes its worth riding a tank of gas just doing recon. I typically do better upriver than down. If I am going to fish downriver I go to either Haven's gardens Ramp or on out to Dinah's Landing. There is a lot of water to cover and then the whole fresh/brackish/salt issue too to deal with. If we have a really dry summer you can catch salty fish 1/2 way to Greenville hit n miss. A wet season like we have had so far and you can catch Bass and panfish all the way to the Pamlico sound. Its a crazy place..LOL... Invest in the best sunscreen, hats, buffs, shirts and bug sprays money can buy you're gonna need it!! The summer sun is like lava and in only a couple of weeks the Skeeters are like Vampire Hummingbirds around here.