[PIANO INTRO] - SEE US TO THE RIGHT.

I'M GONNA GET YOU TO DROP THOSE FLYS RIGHT BEHIND THAT ROCK.

- RIGHT HERE?

- YEP, YOU GOT IT.

AND ANOTHER CAST DOWNSTREAM RIGHT OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: THE NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESCOURCES COMMISSION.

A FISHING LICENSE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

OVER 38,000 MILES OF MANAGED STREAMS AND RIVERS, AND 250,000 ACRES OF LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND BY EZ BAIT AND TACKLE, FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND AD VICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT AND TACKLE.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NC VI EWERS LIKE YOU.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] ♪ - HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM'S GONNA TAKE US DOWN THE CATAWBA RIVER.

WE ARE GONNA BE FLOATING TODAY.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA FLOAT A STRETCH OF THE CATAWBA RIVER RIGHT BELOW LAKE JAMES.

IT'S A STRETCH OF THE RIVER THAT'S ANNUALLY STOCKED BY THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION.

THE ONLY THING WE HAD TO DEAL WITH TODAY WAS, THE DAY BEFORE IT RAINED A LITTLE BIT, SO IT MUDDIED THE WATER A LITTLE BIT, SO WE DIDN'T PROBABLY CATCH A NUMBER OF FISH THAT OUR GUIDE HOPED TO CATCH THAT DAY, BUT WE CAUGHT A NUMBER OF FISH AND JUST HAD A REALLY NICE DRIFT DOWN THE RIVER.

- ARE THEY GONNA TALK ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE RODS IN GEAR TIME TODAY?

- YEAH, WELL, THEY'LL GO OVER THE FLYS THAT WERE PRODUCED TODAY AND ALSO THE SIZE FLY ROD AND REEL THAT YOU'LL NEED FOR THIS RIVER.

- AND WHAT ABOUT THAT RECIPE DONNA'S GOT TODAY USING TROUT?

- IT GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE RIVER TODAY.

IT'S A RAINBOW TROUT RECIPE USING A SPECIAL SAUCE.

- ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THAT AND A WHOLE LOT MORE TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- WILSON, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT HERE AND FISH WITH YOU DOWN ON THE CATAWBA RIVER.

I KNOW IT'S KIND OF COOL THIS MORNING.

HOPEFULLY IT'S ABOVE FREEZING NOW, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE REAL NICE DAY OUT HERE.

- I THINK THE SUN'S GONNA HELP US OUT A LITTLE BIT, DON'T YOU?

- OH, YEAH, OH, YEAH.

- YEAH, YEAH.

- BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING RUMORS ABOUT SOME GOOD FISHING ON THE CATAWBA RIVER, AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO FISH IT FOR A LONG TIME, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY.

- YEAH.

- WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TODAY?

- WELL, WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY START OFF WITH SOME NYMPHS.

WE TYPICALLY NYMPH THIS RIVER.

THERE'S A LOT OF BLACK STONE FLIES IN HERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THAT, AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A FEW CADDIS HATCHES LATELY, SO WE'RE GONNA TRY, WELL-- WE'RE HOPEFULLY GONNA RUN INTO A HATCH, AND IF WE DO, WE'RE TRY OUT SOME DRY FLYS, BUT NYMPHS AND STREAMERS ARE GONNA BE THE BREAD AND BUTTER FOR TODAY.

- IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A VARIETY, BUT I LIKE THE SOUND OF THE HATCH, THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, I'M BASICALLY A DRY FLY FISHERMAN.

I LOVE IT, BUT I DON'T MIND GOING DOWN DEEP, YOU KNOW, WITH THE NYMPHS OR THE STREAMER, EITHER ONE, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A VERY VERSATILE DAY.

- THE CATAWBA IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS HATCHES BY ANY MEANS, SO HOPEFULLY, WE'LL RUN INTO A HATCH; THAT'D BE GREAT.

WE WERE OUT HERE A COUPLE DAYS AGO, AND THE SUN CAME OUT, AND CADDISES STARTED HATCHING EVERYWHERE.

WE GET SOME GOOD GRAY CADDISES HERE, AND SO WHO KNOWS?

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET ONE, BUT IF NOT, I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT WE'LL HOOK SOME UP ON THE STONE FLYS AND HOPEFULLY SOME STREAMERS TOO.

- SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

LET'S GO TO IT.

- LET'S GET IT.

- ALL RIGHT.

- COME ON.

- YOU WANT ME ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OVER HERE?

IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT THE-- - YEAH.

YEAH, AND YOU'RE GOOD.

GO AHEAD AND STAND UP, TOO, IF YOU WANT, AND GET IN THOSE KNEE LOCKS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

GOOD STUFF.

AND THEN I'M GONNA GET YOU OVER HERE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.

AND I WANT YOU TO CAST IN THAT FAST WATER OVER HERE.

GET OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE LINE.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

WATCH THAT.

GOT A ROCK COMING UP.

IT MIGHT GET HOOKED UP, BUT... ALL RIGHT, AND THEN...

I WANT YOU TO GO OVER HERE TO YOUR LEFT.

GO AHEAD.

NICE, NICE, NICE.

MEND DOWNSTREAM FOR ME.

GOOD.

NICELY CAST.

YEP, THAT WAS A FISH.

- THERE WE GO.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

YES, SIR, THAT FEELS GOOD.

- GOOD.

- I HAVEN'T FELT THAT GOOD IN A WHILE.

- HE'S A GOOD FIGHTER.

- YEAH, I'LL SAY.

- OH, YEAH.

- PRETTY NICE FISH.

- YEAH.

IT'S A GOOD ONE TO START THE DAY WITH.

- NOT BAD AT ALL.

YES, SIR.

- YOU CAN SEE THIS WATER COLOR IS KIND OF, A LITTLE MURKY HERE FROM MUDDY CREEK RIGHT ABOVE US.

- YEAH.

LOOKS LIKE A BROWN, MAYBE.

- THIS IS PRETTY AVERAGE.

JUST AN AVERAGE BROWN TROUT FOR THIS RIVER.

THEY STOCK ABOUT 10,000 OF THESE EVERY NOVEMBER.

- MM-HMM.

- AND PRETTY GOOD LOOKING FISH.

HE'S PRETTY HEALTHY.

- YEAH.

I THINK THE FISH ARE BEGINNING TO WARM UP JUST LIKE THE AIR'S BEGINNING TO WARM UP HERE.

- I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

YEP, GET ANOTHER ONE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THAT BANK IF YOU CAN.

I KNOW WE'RE...

I KNOW IT MIGHT BE A DIFFICULT CAST, BUT YOU MIGHT GET ON SOME FISH OUT THERE.

- OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER HOOKUP.

OOH, THAT ONE COME OUT OF THE WATER.

I LOVE IT.

- GET A LITTLE MORE TENSION ON THERE.

- I LOVE THE JUMPERS.

- VERY GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

YOU CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THEM IF YOU WANT.

HE'S... YOU GOT 4 X GOING TO THAT FIRST FLY.

- OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

- ALL RIGHT, KEEP PLANING THEM, KEEP PLANING THEM HERE.

- YEAH, OKAY, HE'S A LITTLE BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN CATCHING.

I LIKE THAT.

- ANOTHER TYPICAL CATAWBA RIVER BROWN TROUT HERE ON THE MEGA PRINCE NYMPH.

THAT MEANS YOU CAN SEE THAT BIG STONE FLY HANGING OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

SO LET'S GET HIM SOME WATER, AND THEN WE'LL LET HIM GO HOME.

- OKAY.

- OH, HANG ON, BUDDY, HANG ON.

- ALL RIGHTY.

- WE'RE GONNA LET HIM GO HOME.

THANKS, BUDDY.

THERE HE GOES.

HE'S OFF.

GOOD JOB, STEVE.

- GOOD JOB, WILSON.

- YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE.

LET'S GO CATCH ANOTHER ONE NOW.

- YEAH, YOU'RE PUTTING ME ON THE FISH NOW.

- [laughs] I THINK WE FIGURED IT OUT.

WE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA WATER TO HELP US OUT, I THINK.

RIGHT AROUND THIS CORNER, YOU'LL SEE THE LITTLE BIT OF WHITEWATER UP THERE, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA FISH JUST BELOW THAT WHITEWATER.

THE BIGGEST FISH I'VE EVER CAUGHT ARE RIGHT DOWN HERE.

SO SEE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US?

SEE THAT WHITEWATER WE'RE LOOKING AT?

- YEAH, RIGHT DOWN HERE?

- YEAH, YEAH.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, I'M GONNA SKIRT THE RIGHT-HAND BANK, AND YOU'RE GONNA CAST OVER YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE, AND I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO KEEP UP WITH THE STRIKE INDICATOR, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN PICK ONE UP IN THERE.

THAT'S WHY I PUT A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA WEIGHT ON THERE FOR YOU.

THAT'S GOOD; YOU GOT YOUR ROD TIPPED NICE AND HIGH.

- COME ON, BIG BOY.

- COME ON.

- IT'S TIME TO EAT.

- KEEP IT GOING.

KEEP IT GOING.

LEAVE IT IN THE WATER.

ALL RIGHTY, LET'S GIVE THAT ONE OR TWO SHOTS.

I'M GONNA GO IN THIS BACK-- LOOK AT THE COLOR DIFFERENCE OVER HERE.

CAN YOU SEE THAT, HOW MUCH MUDDIER THE WATER IS THAT WE'RE IN NOW VERSUS WHAT'S OVER THERE?

WHAT'D WE GET?

WHAT'D WE GET?

- OKAY.

I BELIEVE WE GOT US A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND BIGGER FISH THIS GO-AROUND.

IT FEELS A LITTLE BIGGER ANYWAY.

- HE'S A HARD FIGHTER AT LEAST.

- OOH, YEAH, I'LL SAY.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS GUY-- - COMING TO YOU.

COMING TO YOU.

- ON THE MEGA PRINCE NYMPH.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

ALL RIGHT, DROP.

THANK YOU.

- OOH, HE'S GOT A LITTLE BETTER OF COLOR ON HIM, TOO, I THINK.

- YEAH, HE DOES.

HIS SPOTS ARE A LITTLE MORE DISTINCTIVE AT LEAST.

- MM-HMM.

- LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT OTHER ONE.

- GOOD JOB.

- YEAH.

GOOD TO GO.

- EXCELLENT.

- ALL RIGHTY.

ANOTHER GOOD BROWN TROUT.

GET MY HAND WET UNDERNEATH HIM.

A LITTLE BIT BETTER COLOR ON HIM, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

- YEAH, I THINK SO.

- COOL.

ALL RIGHTY.

SEE YOU LATER, BUDDY.

THERE HE GOES.

- GOOD JOB, WILSON.

- ALL RIGHTY.

GOOD JOB, STEVE.

- PUT ME ON ANOTHER ONE.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO GET ANOTHER ONE.

LET'S KEEP IT GOING.

- I LIKE THIS WATER.

- I DO TOO.

THERE'S PLENTY OF FISHABLE WATER HERE.

AFTER YOU LET THAT DRIFT, WE'RE GONNA GO UPSTREAM AND DO IT AGAIN.

THIS MUDDY, MUDDY WATER ISN'T HELPING, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF WE CAN GET THAT BIG STONE FLY IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE, THEY'RE HITTING IT.

- YEP.

- WELL, THE WATER'S DEFINITELY CLEARED UP.

I CAN SEE PARTS OF THE BOTTOM DOWN HERE I COULDN'T SEE A FEW MINUTES AGO.

- I WOULD SAY IT'S CLEARED UP.

THE VISIBILITY BEFORE, I WOULD SAY, WAS PROBABLY A FOOT AND A HALF, AND I THINK THAT'S DOUBLED.

I THINK ALL WE NEEDED WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THIS WATER TO BLOW OUT MUDDY CREEK FOR US.

THAT'S IT.

KEEP THAT ROD TIPPED NICE AND HIGH HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

LET'S SEE.

ALL RIGHT, JUST COVER ALL THIS WATER OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.

THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHTY, KEEP SOME PRESSURE ON HIM.

- OKAY.

GOT ANOTHER FISH.

KIND OF HARD TO SAY WHAT SIZE, BUT HE FEELS GOOD ANYWAY.

- YEAH.

- YEAH, OKAY.

I LIKE IT.

- THIS IS A PRODUCTIVE LITTLE SPOT, ISN'T IT?

- I'LL SAY.

VERY PRODUCTIVE.

- I'LL DROP ANCHOR.

WE'RE GONNA FISH HERE A LITTLE LONGER.

- OOH.

YEAH.

HE'S A GOOD FIGHTER.

- I'D SAY SO.

- GOOD FIGHTER.

- COME OVER ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OVER HERE ONCE YOU CAN PLANE HIM.

- OKAY, I'M GONNA GET HIM COMING TO YOU AS QUICK AS I CAN.

- GOT HIM.

- OKAY, GOOD DEAL.

- RIGHT ON.

YEAH, HE'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

- YEAH.

VERY NICE.

VERY NICE.

- LET'S GET THIS FLY OUT OF HIM.

ALL RIGHTY.

LET'S LET HIM GO.

ANOTHER BROWN TROUT.

WE'LL TAKE HIM.

- BEAUTIFUL.

BEAUTIFUL.

I LOVE IT.

- STILL GOT PLENTY OF ENERGY.

- I LOVE IT.

- AND THERE HE GOES.

ALL RIGHTY.

- LET'S DO THAT AGAIN.

- LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

- I LOVE THAT FEEL.

- I THINK WE FOUND THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF FLYS HERE.

- OKAY.

- YEAH, THROW UP THIS WAY HERE.

BIG MEND.

- OKAY, HERE WE GO.

- GIVE HIM SOME-- THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT.

- HE FEELS PRETTY GOOD.

YEAH, HE FEELS GOOD.

- YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

- I LIKE IT.

OKAY.

- WE'LL TAKE HIM.

- LET ME SEE.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET A LOOK AT HIM HERE.

- HE'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN HIS BUDDIES.

- I THINK SO.

HE WANTS TO STAY DOWN.

I KNOW THAT.

- YEAH.

- HE FEELS GOOD ON THE ROD.

- NOW REMEMBER, YOU CAN PUT PLENTY OF PRESSURE ON THESE FISH WITH THAT TIP THAT YOU HAVE ON THERE.

- YEAH, HE IS A LITTLE BIGGER, I THINK, THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN HOOKING INTO.

- AND PLANE HIM RIGHT UP HERE.

- OKAY.

- GOT IT.

- OH, YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

- HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?

THAT'S EASY.

- PERFECT TIMING.

PERFECT RELEASE RIGHT THERE.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER, I'M GONNA GET MY HANDS WET ON THE BOTTOM OF THE NET HERE.

I'M GONNA SHOW OFF THE FISH BEFORE WE HIT THIS BRIDGE.

HERE, THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.

THERE'S OUR BROWN TROUT.

NICE.

GOOD FIGHTER TOO.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- YOU'LL TAKE HIM, RIGHT?

LET'S LET HIM GO.

THANKS, BUDDY.

SEE YOU LATER.

- LET HIM GO BACK AND MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE HAPPY ONE DAY.

- GOOD JOB, STEVE.

WELL DONE.

- THAT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

- WELL DONE.

- I WASN'T REALLY EXPECTING TO HIT RIGHT THEN.

- NOT BAD.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN CATCH A FEW MORE OF THOSE AND MAYBE HIS BIG BROTHER, TOO, WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

- OKAY.

OKAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

- CAST ON OVER HERE TO THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.

WE HAVE A NICE RIFFLE OVER HERE THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THOSE NYMPHS.

GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER FROM THE BOAT IF YOU CAN.

THAT'S IT.

I'LL TRY TO SLOW US DOWN.

- IT IS A NICE-LOOKING DRIFT.

LET'S HOPE IT PAYS OFF.

- TELL YOU WHAT, PULL THOSE IN.

I'M GONNA RE... RENEGOTIATE THIS RUN.

ALL RIGHT, BACK OVER TO THE LEFT AGAIN.

THAT'S GOOD.

SEE, I WAS MOVING TOO FAST.

I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN.

- OKAY.

- THERE WE GO.

GOOD STUFF.

- MM-HMM.

I LIKE THE SPEED OF THE WATER THERE.

- YEAH.

HOPEFULLY THE TROUT DO TOO.

WE CAUGHT ALMOST ALL OF THEM ON THAT ONE FLY TODAY.

THAT'S BEEN THE TICKET.

- OKAY, LET'S SEE IF I CAN KEEP THIS ONE ON.

OH, YEAH, NICE JUMP.

NICE JUMP.

- NICE, THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

- YEAH, SIR.

- YOU CAN PLANE HIM A LITTLE BIT IF HE'S NOT READY YET.

THERE WE GO.

AS SOON AS YOU GET HIS HEAD UP, I'LL BE READY WITH THE NET.

- OKAY.

HE WAS GIVING ME A GOOD TUSSLE.

I LIKE IT.

- HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB.

- I LIKE IT.

- LIKE HE MEANS IT.

THERE YOU GO.

ONCE YOU GET HIS CHEEKS UP.

- OKAY, COME ON IN, BUDDY.

- OH.

GOT HIM.

- GOOD DEAL.

- ALL RIGHTY.

- YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER QUALITY FISH.

- IT'S A GOOD BROWN TROUT.

RIGHT BEFORE THE RAPIDS TOO.

- YEAH.

- WE'RE GONNA LET HIM GO.

HE'S GONNA GO ON A RIDE WITH US.

THANKS, BUDDY.

SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHTY.

- GOOD DEAL.

- I'M GONNA GET BACK ON THE ROWING BEFORE WE HIT A ROCK.

- THANKS.

- PROBABLY BEST.

AND KEEP THAT FLY ROD OUT.

LET'S KEEP FISHING.

THIS IS A GOOD LITTLE RUN RIGHT HERE.

TRY OUT YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE.

- LEFT-HAND SIDE?

- YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE DEPTH, AND THEN PULL THAT IN A LITTLE BIT AND GET IT KIND OF CLOSE TO THE BOAT HERE.

RIGHT THERE, THAT'S GOOD.

NOW DROP IT.

ALL RIGHT.

MEND UPSTREAM FOR ME.

GOOD.

- OKAY, THIS IS A LITTLE MORE EXCITING FISHING GOING THROUGH HERE.

- YEAH.

- I LIKE IT.

YEAH, A LITTLE WHITEWATER FISHING.

- YEAH, GIVE US ANOTHER CAST UPSTREAM.

- WHICH SIDE?

- YOU CAN KEEP FISHING TO THE LEFT.

- OKAY.

- GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

- JOE, AS WE SAY, THAT WAS A NICE DRIFT.

- IT REALLY WAS, AND YET WE WERE FISHING AT THE END OF MARCH WHICH WAS STILL--THE LEAVES WERE NOT ON THE TREES.

IT WAS STILL KIND OF COOL BUT A REALLY PRETTY STRETCH OF THE RIVER, AND I THINK ONCE IT LEAFS UP, IT'S GONNA REALLY, REALLY BE NICE, BUT WE HAD A LITTLE MUDDY WATER TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE OF THE RAIN THE DAY BEFORE, BUT WE STILL CAUGHT FISH.

- LET'S FIND OUT MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WILSON, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING ME OUT ON THE CATAWBA RIVER TODAY TO CATCH SOME OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BROWN TROUT THAT WE CAUGHT TODAY.

- YES, SIR.

- I KNOW IT'S BEEN KIND OF A TOUGH DAY.

YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WEREN'T IDEAL, BUT ANYWAY, WE STILL MANAGED TO CATCH A FEW FISH, AND YOU'LL KIND OF TELL US ABOUT HOW THE DAY WENT AND WHY WE CAUGHT THE FISH WE CAUGHT.

- WELL, THE DAY WAS PRETTY NICE.

IT WAS JUST THAT YESTERDAY, WE HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF RAIN, MORE THAN I WAS EXPECTING, AND THREW THE WATER CLARITY OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE THREW SOME BIG FLYS TO 'EM, WHICH HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT.

THESE TROUT LOVE BIG STONE FLYS, SO WE WERE USING SOME BIG STONE FLIES TODAY, SO--AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAUGHT MOST OF OUR FISH ON, THE MEGA PRINCE NYMPH WHICH IS A FLY THAT I USE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS ON THIS RIVER, IT CATCHES A LOT OF FISH, HAS A LOT OF RUBBER LEGS AND MOVEMENT TO IT, AND I THINK THE FISH REALLY KEY IN ON THAT, AND THEN WE ALSO CAUGHT SOME ON A CADDIS EMERGER AS WELL, BECAUSE WE DID SEE SOME CADDISES AROUND, SO...

BUT AS FAR AS THAT GOES, WE TRIED THE STREAMER, DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LUCK ON THE STREAMER, BUT SO THE NYMPHING WAS THE KEY TODAY.

- YEAH, WHAT ABOUT ROD AND LINE AND SUCH?

- WELL, WITH THE ROD AND REEL, WE USED A 9 1/2-FOOT 6 WEIGHT.

I ALSO USE 9 1/2-FOOT 5 WEIGHTS ON THIS RIVER.

THE EXTRA LENGTH, I THINK, HELPS WITH MENDING, HELPS WITH CASTING AND DEFINITELY MAKES IT EASIER ON YOU AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND JUST MATCHED IT UP WITH A 6-WEIGHT REEL AND 6-WEIGHT FLY LINE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED WELL FOR US TODAY.

- IT WORKED WELL FOR ME, I KNOW THAT, AND, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME DOWN HERE.

I'D LIKE TO COME BACK SOMETIME AND TRY IT AGAIN IF THAT'S OKAY.

- YOU GOT IT.

LET'S DO IT.

- ALL RIGHT, THANKS A LOT.

- YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

- APPRECIATE IT.

- UH-HUH.

- IF YOU'D LIKE TO TRY THE CATAWBA RIVER OUT, HERE'S WILSON'S TELEPHONE NUMBER.

GIVE HIM A CALL.

NOW LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE USING TROUT.

- HI, TODAY IN THE KITCHEN, WE'RE MAKING RAINBOW TROUT WITH A PECAN BUTTER TO TOP IT WITH.

IT'S GREAT; IT'S REALLY A QUICK AND EASY RECIPE.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR LARGE SKILLET, AND WE'RE GONNA HEAT OUR-- I HAVE SOME CANOLA OIL OR VEGETABLE OIL IN HERE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD-- BECAUSE IT HAS A HIGH SMOKE POINT, SO THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BUTTER JUST TO GIVE IT THAT FLAVOR THAT WE LIKE.

SO WE'RE GONNA JUST MOVE THAT AROUND A LITTLE BIT, GET THAT GOING.

AND WHILE THAT'S HEATING UP, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR RAINBOW TROUT FILLETS THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT LOOK NICE AND BEAUTIFUL, AND WE'RE GONNA DREDGE THOSE IN SOME SEAFOOD BREADER.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY SIMPLE RECIPE, BUT THEN WHILE IT'S COOKING, WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR PECAN BUTTER, AND THAT IS CHOPPED PECANS WITH SOME BUTTER AND A LITTLE HOT SAUCE, SOME MINCED ONION, AND WE'RE GONNA PROCESS THAT, A LITTLE BIT OF LEMON JUICE, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT IN OUR FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL IT'S ALL NICE AND PUREED, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA TOP IT ONTO YOUR NICE WARM RAINBOW TROUT THAT YOU COOKED, AND IT KIND OF MELTS ON IT.

IT'S JUST REALLY NICE.

REALLY NICE AND YUMMY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DREDGE OUR TROUT IN OUR BREADER.

YOU JUST WANT TO COVER IT REALLY NICE AND WELL, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA JUST SHAKE OFF OUR EXCESS.

MAKE SURE OUR-- I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

MIX THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DROP IT SKIN-SIDE DOWN.

AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TO COOK THIS I SEVERAL BATCHES, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO TURN YOUR OVEN ON TO WARM OR TO THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE JUST TO POP THOSE IN THERE AND KEEP THEM WARM WHILE YOU'RE COOKING UP THE REST, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT THESE IN A SINGLE LAYER IN YOUR PAN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LAYER THEM ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

SO THERE WE GO.

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA COOK THOSE.

SINCE THESE ARE PRETTY THIN, WE'RE JUST GONNA COOK THEM A COUPLE, THREE MINUTES ON EACH SIDE JUST UNTIL THEY'RE NICE AND GOLDEN BROWN.

THEY'RE GONNA COOK UP PRETTY QUICKLY.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT GREAT BUTTER FLAVOR BUT NOT GET THE BURNTNESS OF THE BUTTER.

AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE GOLDEN BROWN, WE'LL HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND FLIP OURS OVER.

AND IT'S STARTING TO BROWN UP.

AND SEE, SO THEY'RE NICE AND GOLDEN BROWN IN YOUR PAN.

AND THEN YOU JUST SERVE THEM.

I JUST SERVED MINE WITH, LIKE, A SIDE SALAD OR WITH SOME LETTUCE OR WITH SOME GREAT SLAW WOULD BE WONDERFUL TOO.

AND THEN YOU JUST TOP IT WITH YOUR PECAN BUTTER.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, YOUR PECAN BUTTER.

AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE NICE GREAT CHUNKS OF PECANS AND ONIONS IN THERE, AND YOU SEE YOUR TROUT IS NICE AND GOLDEN BROWN.

SO IT'S JUST A GREAT NICE QUICK DINNER FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RAINBOW TROUT WITH PECAN BUTTER, AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE NEXT TIME ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR THAT RECIPE.

I DO BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

JOE, WE HAD LITTLE BIT OF RAIN TODAY BEFORE, BUT IT'S STILL GAVE US A GOOD DAY OF FISHING.

- IT DID.

IT DID.

EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHEN THEY STARTED GENERATING FROM THE DAM, WE NOTICED THE CHANGE IN WATER CLARITY, AND IT DID, I THINK, SLOW DOWN THE FISHING, BUT WE STILL CAUGHT THE FISH WE NEEDED AND JUST A GREAT DRIFT.

IT'S ABOUT SEVEN HOURS, ABOUT A DAY-LONG DRIFT, THIS STRETCH OF THE RIVER, AND WILSON'S BEEN GUIDING IT NOW THREE YEARS, DOES IT WELL, AND IF YOU'VE NEVER DRIFTED A RIVER, GIVE HIM A CALL.

HE'LL SHOW YOU A GOOD TIME.

- ALL RIGHT.

FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: THE NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESCOURCES COMMISSION.

A FISHING LICENSE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

OVER 38,000 MILES OF MANAGED STREAMS AND RIVERS, AND 250,000 ACRES OF LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND BY EZ BAIT AND TACKLE, FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND AD VICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT AND TACKLE.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NC VI EWERS LIKE YOU.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] ♪