The New River trip went on as planned and day 1 proved to be a great day. The water was up and murky, coffee colored. This made the water swifter and a little more difficult to fish but I believe everyone did catch some fish. I will speak from my own experience and I'm certain you will see alot more photos and discussion of what went on as everyone gets home tomorrow. My poor planning had me at the entrance gate of the 221 New River Park at 6:30am with a locked entrance gate. Not wanting to just hang at the entrance for an hour I went down to the next road and rode along it until I came to a wooden bridge that crossed the New River. This was my first view of it and I saw it was moving fairly fast and pretty stained. I threw a white grub and hooked a redeye bass which was a nice little chunk. I had some line issues and was glad they happened at the bridge early so I could fix them before the day really got started. I went back to the campground and located the RED X Camping Compound and found YakAttack and Wings making breakfast for the group. After breakfast we made our way to the put in under the bridge by Zalloos Canoes. It was great the way everyone worked to get organized and safely underway (thanks Eddie for your help). Things started out very slowly for everyone the water normally crystal clear was anything but and the bite was hard to come by. NCPierman landed the first smallie (fuzzy picture included in this post, they were booking by). As the day went on more fish were being caught. All in all I caught 11, 4 smallies, 6 redeyes and my first ever rainbow trout (caught in the wild). Got to get reacquainted with those from last years trip and met some really great new people this year. Got to spend time getting to know Linda, Wings (Doug), NCPierman (Tim), Catawba (Mike) a little better and Finstalker is always there to help as well, it’s appreciated. Thanks to everyone for making it a successful day. My apologies for the photos at the campground I don't know what caused the water spots.
RaymondWells
Linda, learning how to fish in fast water will get easier to you. I am still not so good at it, but was better this year than last. Hopefully, if we're luicky enough to make another trip next year, I will be even better. This year, I could get in some still water and make a few casts to the same area. I was also a bit better at getting behind rocks and fishing there. I also did a lot more floating, and fishing this year, than paddling.A big thanks to all my red X brothers who helped me out on Saturday - first time in a yak on a river trying to fish - it would have been fun to try Sunday (c'mon, bring on some real rapids!) but work always seems to get in the way! Thanks for all the yakking tips at the put in, without which I would have been stranded or sideways plenty of times - your advice made it easy. Except for the fishing, which was tough in muddy water with a rented 12' yak (too long! kept getting caught in the current and I couldn't "hide" in an eddy to make more than one cast!). Live and learn. We did get more than 40 fish that day which is amazing considering the water conditions. I'm proud to have represented the slo (somebody had to!) as the real true newbie on the Saturday adventure.
Here's a pic of my first smallmouth, thanks to you all - please note, it really IS a smallmouth and not a croaker, a shellcracker, a red or a pinfish. SMALLMOUTH - small, but ya gotta start somewhere. See? I'm learning!I also caught my first redeye (he was bigger) but didn't get a pic of him because I thought for sure I'd catch more. Next time for sure!
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Doug, it was me last year, with my anchor antics. I am sure there will never be a year that no one will do something that will be fun to talk about. Getting hung up on rocks is very easy to do., especially when you're trying to fish. The way I look at it, it is a good teaching lesson for all of us to learn from because we all are very capable of doing it also. Mike got an awesome pic of you on those rocks. Luckily enough for me, everyone was too busy fishing to take a pic of me with my anchor hung up.
Doug, I also have to tell you it was great fishing with you again, and meeting up with you on tuesday. I also wanted to tell you how good your halepenia pepper poppers were. I have the ingredients to make them, if I don't mees them up. I thought I would share them with my son and his family to see how they like them.
Doug, I also have to tell you it was great fishing with you again, and meeting up with you on tuesday. I also wanted to tell you how good your halepenia pepper poppers were. I have the ingredients to make them, if I don't mees them up. I thought I would share them with my son and his family to see how they like them.
YAHATTACK and Wings, thaks so much for the food prep. Everything was just great. Eddie knows how much I like hie Canadian steak seasoning and the chipotley seasoning, GOOD STUFF!
Too many people to thank on here to give everyone the credit they deserve. Thanks eveyone for a great trip.
Too many people to thank on here to give everyone the credit they deserve. Thanks eveyone for a great trip.
H2o, it is just good to see you on ncangler again. Can't keep a good man down for long. Sorry I missed your call on friday. I was cutting my lawn, and managed to drop my cell phone on my mower. Didn't even notioce it was missing until Sunday morning. Had to keep calling it to locate it.
One thing I would like to point out about directions, if someone were to take 221N from 421. Last year, H2o mentioned taking 16N to Tom Fowler road. That was right, but Tom Fowler Road runs into Shatley Springs rd. So, if you're coming back from the campground, you need to look for Shatley Springs road 1st. Everyone else may already know this. Just thought I would throw this out.
One thing I would like to point out about directions, if someone were to take 221N from 421. Last year, H2o mentioned taking 16N to Tom Fowler road. That was right, but Tom Fowler Road runs into Shatley Springs rd. So, if you're coming back from the campground, you need to look for Shatley Springs road 1st. Everyone else may already know this. Just thought I would throw this out.
H2o, I saw a lot about the historic stuff in the papers while I was there. There was a giy who was staying next to us that was in management at one of the local papers. He gave me about 3 issues, and a couple of them were coving that, and also a group has been paddling the entire length of the river. Not sure if they are doe with that yet. They offered anyone who wanted to paddle with them to do any part of it, and as much as they wanted to paddle.
Linda, good hearing from you again. Hope your work load levels off. If I don't see you on again, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New year.
I use my old boot waders for my kayak fising, during the cold. Dopn't recommend those, but they are what I have. I would not use them if my yak wasn't as stable as it is. I think either the neoprene waders, or the breathable waders, with the stocking feet would be a lot safer. I stay warm when I layer my clothes and have my life vest on. I usually have to open my clothes or take some off. Been fishing in the Queen when Hadnot creek was totally frozen over, and there was ice on both sides of Pediford creek.
I use my old boot waders for my kayak fising, during the cold. Dopn't recommend those, but they are what I have. I would not use them if my yak wasn't as stable as it is. I think either the neoprene waders, or the breathable waders, with the stocking feet would be a lot safer. I stay warm when I layer my clothes and have my life vest on. I usually have to open my clothes or take some off. Been fishing in the Queen when Hadnot creek was totally frozen over, and there was ice on both sides of Pediford creek.
I said that to be teasing a bit, but after I thought about it. it did sound like a good idea. Hope to see you on this years New River Stae park trip, if it works out for you.
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