[PIANO INTRO] - YOU HAD A BUMP TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

- I SURE DID.

I HAD A BITE AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAD A BITE.

- HAD TOO MUCH LINE, THAT-- HAD A LITTLE BIT OF STRETCH THERE.

YEAH, HE'S A PRETTY LITTLE FISH.

- ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE IT'S A KEEPER.

- [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 IS ALL ABOUT A COLD FRONT.

JOE, IT WAS SNOWING AND THE WIND WAS BLOWING THIS DAY.

- IT REALLY WAS, JOHN.

YOU KNOW, WE--THROUGH THE SEASONS WE'VE HAD THE RUN-INS WITH COLD FRONTS, BUT THIS ONE REALLY LET US KNOW AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE DAY WHEN WE GOT TO THE BOAT RAMP THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE SOME WINTER WEATHER, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS SNOWING RIGHT AT THE BOAT DOCK, RIGHT BEFORE WE STARTED FILMING, AND IT SNOWED FOR A COUPLE HOURS WHILE WE WERE ON THE WATER, BUT WE ENDED UP CATCHING FISH AND HAVING A GOOD DAY.

- JOE, WHAT ABOUT YOUR TIME TODAY?

DID THE WIND AND WEATHER HAVE ANYTHING TO MAKE US CHANGE OUR MINDS THERE?

- WELL, AGAIN THEY'RE GONNA GO OVER THE TACKLE THEY USED THAT DAY.

AND THE WEATHER DID PLAY INTO THE DAY.

WE ACTUALLY TARGETED STRIPED BASS TO BEGIN WITH, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD A BIG SURPRISE AFTER THE SUN CAME OUT AND THE SNOW MOVED ON, BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT DAY, BUT A GOOD DAY.

- ONE OF THOSE "ONCE IN A LIFETIME" TYPE OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT?

- ABSOLUTELY.

- NOW, AND THE RECIPE TODAY IS TROUT; IS THAT CORRECT?

- GOOD TROUT RECIPE FROM DONNA.

- ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

LET'S GO FISHING TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- I TELL YOU WHAT, JOEL.

WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE LAST THING I THOUGHT I'D BE DOING IS FISHING IN THE DRY OF A SNOWSTORM, BUT IT IS COMING DOWN RIGHT HERE.

- IT SURE IS.

YOU KNOW, WE NORMALLY HAVE A FEW OF THESE THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT, MY GOODNESS, IT WASN'T EVEN CALLING FOR THIS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

MY EXPERIENCE WITH FISHING FOR FISH AND LARGEMOUTH AND STRIPED BASS, THEY WILL REALLY BITE IN THIS SNOW.

- WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.

THAT'S GOOD.

IT'S MIGHTY PRETTY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING SOME.

WE'RE HERE ON BUGGS ISLAND OR KERR LAKE.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

- WHICH IS IT?

- IT IS BUGGS ISLAND IN VIRGINIA, AND IN NORTH CAROLINA, MOST OF THE FOLKS CALL IT KERR, SO WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH THERE.

- WELL, LET'S GET SOME OF THESE STRIPERS, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY SAY.

- OKAY, LET'S DO THAT.

- JOEL, WHAT'S THE MOST PRODUCTIVE RETRIEVE ON THESE STRIPERS?

- THESE FISH ARE-- THE WATER'S REALLY COLD.

IT'S ABOUT 46 DEGREES.

A MEDIUM RETRIEVE AND LOW STOP-AND-GO, YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY STOPPING IT OR TWITCHING THE BAIT TO MAKE IT PAUSE.

AND I'M LETTING IT-- COUNTING IT DOWN TO ABOUT 5 OR 6 FEET AND THEN, JUST MEDIUM RETRIEVE BACK, WITH A LITTLE SNAP AND STOP EVERY NOW AND THEN.

- AND THE DEPTH BETWEEN HE AND I IS ABOUT 15, AND WE'RE, WHAT?

THROWING INTO HALF THAT?

- YEAH, 6 OR 8 FEET IS WHAT WE'RE THROWING INTO.

5 TO 8 FEET.

MOST OF THE FISH ARE LESS THAN 12, AND THEY'RE HITTING IT.

THEY'RE HITTING IT TO-- I THINK THEY'RE SUSPENDED, BECAUSE THEY'RE HITTING IT ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN.

- LOOKS LIKE THE SNOW MIGHT BE SLACKING UP, AT LEAST THE SIZE OF THE FLAKES HAS REDUCED SOME.

- I BELIEVE IT'S LIGHTENING UP SOME.

- YOU HAD A BUMP TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

- I SURE DID.

I HAD A BITE AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAD A BITE.

- HAD TOO MUCH LINE, THAT-- A LITTLE BIT OF STRETCH THERE.

YEAH, HE'S A PRETTY LITTLE FISH.

- ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE IT'S A KEEPER.

YES, SIR.

RIGHT.

NICE FISH.

- FAT, FAT.

- YEAH, THEY'RE EATING GOOD.

THOUGHT HE HID IN MY SHAD, THERE, DIDN'T HE?

- THAT WORKED OUT.

- THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST THROWING THESE LITTLE SWIMBAITS ON JIG HEADS AND CATCHING FISH LIKE THAT.

- YEAH, HE'S PRETTY.

- GOOD FISH.

WE'LL CATCH A LOT OF THEM THIS SIZE.

THIS IS ABOUT A LEGAL LENGTH.

WE'RE CATCHING THEM BIGGER, SO WE'LL LET THIS ONE GO TO GROW A LITTLE BIT AND CATCH US A BIGGER ONE.

- HE IS THICK, ISN'T HE?

VERY THICK.

FULL OF ROE.

I'VE BEEN SEEING, THE ONES THAT I CAUGHT LATELY, THEY'RE JUST FULL OF ROE.

- YEAH.

- GOOD JOB.

- YEAH.

YOU WANT TO LOOP BACK AROUND ON THAT?

- LET'S DO THAT.

THAT'S FOUR BITES ON THAT ONE SPOT.

- JOEL, I'M NOT ASKING THAT, BUT ISN'T THAT THE SAME BAIT I'M FISHING?

- SAME BAIT.

- I GOT YOU.

- YEAH, THEY'RE PICKY SOME DAYS, AND THEY SEEM LIKE THEY WANT A LITTLE BIGGER BAIT TODAY.

- YEAH, I REMEMBER.

YEAH, MINE'S GOT A PADDLE TAIL LIKE THAT ON IT.

JUST DOESN'T LOOK IT.

- YEAH, I'M GONNA TRY A LITTLE BIGGER BAIT MYSELF.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

A LITTLE 1/4 OUNCE JIG HEAD.

- BALL HEAD.

- YES, SIR.

THEY WILL BITE THAT.

GOOD BAIT.

- HEY, HE'S RIGHT THERE NOW.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

GOOD FISH.

- FEELS, YOU KNOW, A ROCK.

- IT'S A ROCK?

- YEAH, WELL THEY ALL GOOD FIGHTERS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHAT ARE YOU PULLING ON?

I STILL GOT SOME LINE OUT.

IT'S FAIRLY DEEP HERE.

- THAT ONE'S CLOSE TO YOUR TIP.

- MM-HMM.

- THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

RIGHT.

ANOTHER ONE ABOUT LIKE THE LAST ONE.

- PRETTY, JUST-- PRETTY FISH.

- EAT THAT BAIT UP, DIDN'T HE?

- MIGHTY PALE.

- YEAH, SORT OF DINGY WATER.

THAT'LL COME OUT.

ANOTHER FAT ONE.

- YOU CALLED ABOUT WHERE THEY'D BE, THERE.

- YEAH, THEY'RE RIGHT ON THESE FLATS.

RIGHT HERE WHERE THEY KIND OF COME OUT THE FURTHEST.

LET THIS ONE GROW A LITTLE BIT.

I GOT AN IDEA.

I'M KIND OF SEEING A LITTLE PATTERN HERE.

THESE FISH, THEY SEEM TO BE ON THESE POINTS THAT RUN OUT ACROSS THESE LITTLE COVES.

THEY'RE KIND OF ON THIS BACK SIDE OF THEM.

AND IT'S FUNNY.

SEVERAL TIMES, WE CATCH A FISH, WHEN ONE OF US GETS A FISH AND THE OTHER ONE WILL GET A BITE, I REALLY BELIEVE--WE'RE ONLY CATCHING ONE OR TWO PER SPOT.

I REALLY BELIEVE, THOUGH, THERE'S PACKS OF FISH UP THERE, BUT WHEN YOU CATCH ONE OF THEM, AND WIND HIM BACK TO THE BOAT, YOU'RE PULLING THE REST OF THE FISH BACK.

SO MAYBE COME BACK TO A SPOT THAT YOU CAUGHT A FISH ON AN HOUR LATER OR 45 MINUTES LATER, PROBABLY CATCH ANOTHER FISH WHERE THEY MOVE BACK UP.

- I WOULDN'T ARGUE THAT.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO PULL THEM RIGHT BACK UP THERE, LIKE A BUNCH OF POUNDS OF SOMETHING, RIGHT THEN.

THEY JUST KIND OF FOLLOWING THAT FISH OUT THERE.

THEY'LL EVENTUALLY DRIFT BACK UP THERE.

- YEP, THEY SURE WILL.

I THINK WE'LL GO BACK AND HIT THAT POINT YOU CAUGHT THAT LAST FISH ON HERE IN A LITTLE WHILE.

- OR THE LAST TWO.

- ALL RIGHT.

- IF I CAN CATCH UP ON IT.

- IS IT A GOOD ONE?

- [grunts] HIT A LOT OF ROCK-- THEY ALL TOUGH.

FEEL LIKE THAT SAME CLASS FISH.

MY DRAG MIGHT BE A LITTLE TIGHT.

HE HAD A LOT OF STRETCHING LINE 'CAUSE HE WAS PRETTY FAR OUT THERE WHEN I...

I'VE INCREASED MY RETRIEVE JUST A LITTLE BIT, JOEL.

- A LITTLE FASTER, HUH?

- A LITTLE FASTER.

- THEY'RE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

- SAME CLASS FISH.

- RIGHT.

GOOD JOB, KURT.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL MEASURE.

- HE'S PRETTY.

THEY'RE ALL ABOUT-- THE NICE, THICK FISH.

- YES, SIR.

HE EAT IT GOOD, DIDN'T HE?

ALL RIGHT, KURT.

YES, SIR.

- MAKE A STEW OUT OF HIM, WON'T WE?

- YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO US ANOTHER ONE.

- I'M FOR IT.

I TELL YOU, JOEL, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT SNOW, BUT THIS SUN SURE IS WELCOME.

HOW YOU THINK THAT'S GONNA AFFECT THE FISHING?

- WELL, HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE FISHING HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD IN THE SUN.

HAD A FEW DAYS ON CLOUDY CONDITIONS THAT-- I CAUGHT THEM, BUT I DIDN'T CATCH THEM AS GOOD AS I HAVE BEEN IN THE SUN.

- WE STILL GOT A LITTLE BREEZE TOO.

- YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE WATER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COLD IN THE LAST MONTH, AND I BELIEVE THE SUN WARMING IT UP IS HELPING, YOU KNOW, THE FISH GET A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE, AND THE BAIT FISH ARE MOVING UP SHALLOWER WHEN THE SUNS SHINES, SO THAT MIGHT BE THE REASON I'VE BEEN DOING BETTER IN THE SUN.

I TELL YOU, WITH MY FEET FEELING LIKE THEY DO, I'M READY FOR SOME SUN MYSELF.

GOT ANOTHER ONE.

MAN, I BELIEVE THAT'S A LITTLE BIGGER ONE.

- YEAH, HE'S GOT A LITTLE TUG IN HIM.

- I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT A BIGGER FISH.

- THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN FISHING FOR.

HE KIND OF--OF COURSE, THIS LINE'S KIND OF SLACKING, BUT HE CAME TO ME.

- OH, YEAH.

IT'S BIGGER.

- HE IS PRETTY.

- THERE'S YOUR SOMETHING TO EAT.

THAT'S A NICE ONE, THERE.

YEAH, HE IS.

LOOK.

- SPOTS BROKE UP ON HIM A LITTLE BIT.

HE'S A LITTLE BIT BEAT UP THERE.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

- OH, HE IS.

- LOOK HOW--I LIKE WHEN HE'S THAT THICK, RIGHT TO HIS TAIL.

YOU KNOW HE'S A HEALTHY FISH.

- YEAH, HE IS.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- APPRECIATE IT.

- GOOD ONE.

THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM IN HERE THAT SIZE.

IT'S AMAZING HOW BIG THAT FIN REALLY IS.

YOU DON'T NOTICE IT UNTIL YOU DO THAT.

THAT'S PRETTY.

- LOOK HOW FAT HE IS AT THE TAIL THERE, THOUGH.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

PRETTY FISH.

- OKAY.

- WE JUST SAID WE NEEDED A MORALE BOOST TODAY, DIDN'T WE?

- YEAH, THAT'LL DO IT EVERY TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY.

SEEMS LIKE ALL THE FISH ARE ON THE SIDE THAT THE WIND'S BLOWING IN ON.

- IT HAS BEEN TRUE.

- IT HAS.

- WE'RE TRYING TO PROVE THAT THEORY WRONG RIGHT NOW, BUT... A LITTLE EASIER FISHING OVER THERE.

OF COURSE, THIS IS THE TOUGHEST WIND WE'VE SEEN RIGHT YET, RIGHT HERE.

- YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT IN THE SPRINGTIME THE WIND WILL BLOW THE SURFACE WATER OVER TO ONE SIDE.

IT MAKES IT A DEGREE OR TWO WARMER.

I'VE SEEN THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LARGEMOUTH FISHING.

AND MAYBE THE BAITFISH WILL BE ON THAT SIDE A LITTLE MORE SO.

- DO YOU SEE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES IN A ROCK FISH?

IN A BASS?

- WHEN THE STRIPERS ARE IN THE SHALLOW WATER, I'VE NOTICED THAT THEY WILL BE WITH BIG LARGEMOUTH IN THE SAME AREAS, AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY-- I'VE PATTERNED THEM TO WHERE IF I WASN'T FISHING A POINT THAT HAD STUMPS ON IT, I WOULDN'T CATCH A FISH.

SO I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE HOLDING ON THE STUMPS, JUST LIKE A LARGEMOUTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE THINK STRIPERS ARE AN OPEN WATER FISH, AND THEY ARE A LOT THE TIME, BUT WHEN THEY'RE SHALLOW, THEY WILL HANG AROUND COVER.

- AT HOME, THEY'RE VERY STRUCTURE-ORIENTED.

- OH, I GOT A GOOD FISH THIS TIME.

OH, MY LORD, WHAT A LARGEMOUTH.

THAT'S ONE GIANT FROM BUGGS ISLAND LAKE RIGHT THERE.

- MERCY SAKES.

- LOOK AT THIS LARGE MOUTH.

- SHOW HIM TO ME.

- OOH!

- I CAN'T SEE HIM; YOU GOT TO SHOW HIM TO ME.

- I TELL YOU, THAT IS A GIANT.

- MERCY SAKES.

MAN, HE'S A LOOKER.

- LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT LARGEMOUTH.

- I WOULD RATHER CAUGHT HIM THAN A ROCK.

- I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE CATCH A LOT OF LARGEMOUTH FISHING FOR THESE STRIPERS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HOW I DISCOVERED TO CATCHING THE STRIPERS, FISHING FOR THESE THINGS.

SO WE CATCH A LOT OF FISH.

THAT IS A GOOD ONE FROM BUGGS ISLAND.

- HE'S A GOOD ONE FOR ANYWHERE.

- YES, HE IS.

WOW.

- LET'S LET HIM GO.

- AND LET'S SEE WHICH WAY HE GOES.

- YEAH, LET'S SEE WHICH WAY HE GOES.

- LOOK AT HIM.

- THERE HE GOES.

- GOLLY, WAY TO FIND THAT FISH.

- NICE FISH.

- YOU KNOW, I HAD A BITE RIGHT AROUND THE POINT THERE TOO.

I TOLD YOU I THOUGHT I HAD A BITE.

- I THINK WE NEED TO THROW BACK.

- I WOULDN'T BE SCARED OF LOOPING BACK AROUND THERE AND THEN COMING UP THIS SAME POINT ON THAT SIDE.

SUN'S KIND OF SHINING OVER THERE.

- STRIPERS AND BIG LARGEMOUTH.

THEM BIRDS RIGHT THERE ARE SITTING ON TOP OF A SCHOOL OF FISH.

AND THEY'RE GONNA SIT THERE AND HOVER.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR THEM STRIPERS TO PUSH THE BAITFISH TO THE SURFACE.

THEY JUST SITTING THERE WAITING ON THEM.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T CATCH ONE RIGHT THERE.

GOLLY, THAT'S AWESOME.

- IT'S NOT VERY DEEP HERE?

- YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 10 OR 12 OUT THERE.

I THINK I WANT TO THROW MY BUCKTAIL OUT THERE.

- WE KNEW WE WERE COMING TODAY.

WE WERE GONNA BE FACING A FRONT COMING IN.

THE SNOW WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE.

ENDED UP BEING OVERCAST, AND THEN THE SUN POPPED OUT AND THE WIND REALLY ROLLING IN-- I GUESS THE BACK OF THE FRONT.

I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION, BUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE LAKE, HOW'S THAT AFFECT THE FISHING HERE?

- YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE I'VE EVER FISHED, ANY TIME A FRONT'S COMING, IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT BEFORE THE FRONT, THEY REALLY BITE GOOD, AND AS IT'S PASSING, THEY'LL BITE GOOD, AND THEN, AFTER IT GOES THROUGH, THEY SEEM TO SLOW DOWN AND THEY SEEM TO GO DEEPER OR EITHER GET TIRED OF COVERING, YOU REALLY GOT TO MAKE ONE BITE LIKE A REACTION STRIKE.

I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY EAT SO MUCH RIGHT BEFORE THE FRONT.

- MAKES SENSE.

IS HE BIGGER THAN THE ONE YOU CAUGHT?

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.

- IT'S A GOOD ONE, BUT HE AIN'T AS BIG AS THE ONE WE CAUGHT EARLIER.

- I LIKE THE "WE" PART.

- ALL RIGHT.

- MM.

- YEP, GOOD JOB.

- HE'S A PRETTY FISH.

KIND OF PALE, ISN'T HE?

- YEAH, THEY BEEN IN THAT DIRTY WATER.

THE GET WHITE-LOOKING.

[water splashes] - I'M LOOKING FOR HIS COUSIN.

MIGHT BE SOME FISH THERE 'CAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD A TACK DOWN THERE TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

- YEAH, I HAD A BITE, LIKE, THE CAST BEFORE THAT.

SURE DID.

YOU HIT IT PRETTY HARD?

- HIT IT PRETTY GOOD.

- JOE, IT WAS A COLD DAY.

- IT REALLY WAS, YEAH.

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE SNOW AND AS THE FRONT PASSED, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED AND THE WIND PICKED UP.

AND SO WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE WIND, WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THERE.

AND THEN, THE TEMPERATURE.

I MEAN, WE WERE DRESSED FOR IT, BUT IT WAS STILL COLD.

PROBABLY BETWEEN 15 AND 20 DEGREE WIND-CHILL FACTOR, WHICH IS PRETTY COLD WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE OUT IN IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE-- WHEN THE SNOW STOPPED, IT WAS STRANGE HOW THE STRIPER BITE STOPPED.

AND--BUT WE STILL KEPT FISHING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE BONUS WAS THAT BIG BASS THAT YOU SAW, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES THAT JOE'S CAUGHT IN HIS CAREER FISHING ON THAT LAKE.

- WELL, IT WAS AN UNUSUAL DAY, BUT IT WAS A COLD DAY.

- IT WAS.

- LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME AND GATHER SOME INFORMATION.

- WOW, JOEL, THAT WAS FUN.

- YEAH, IT WAS.

A LOT OF FUN.

- ADVERSE CONDITIONS.

IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING DAY.

I FISHED THE SAME BAIT ALL DAY LONG ON JUST 10 POUND CAST ON A BAITCASTER.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH A TROUT ROCK, AND SOME OF THOSE ROCK GAVE ME A GOOD PULL.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE CHUB THAT YOU CAUGHT.

THE LARGEMOUTH, HE WAS A NICE FISH.

- YEAH, HE WAS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES I'VE CAUGHT OUT HERE IN A LONG TIME.

THAT FISH WAS EIGHT OR BETTER.

- HE WAS PRETTY.

HE WAS PRETTY.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT BAIT I WAS USING OTHER THAN THE PADDLE TAIL ON WHAT WENT THROUGH ITS HEAD.

- IT'S A SWIM BAIT, IT'S ABOUT 4 1/2 INCHES LONG.

AND IT'S GOT WHAT THEY CALL A BOOT TAIL ON IT.

IT'S NOT REALLY MADE BY ANY COMPANY.

THERE'S OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT MAKE THEM THAT'S VERY SIMILAR AND...

IT'S A SWIMBAIT.

AND WE GOT IT ON LIKE A 1/4 OUNCE JIG HEAD WITH A PRETTY LONG-SHANK HOOK, 'CAUSE THAT BAIT'S PRETTY LONG.

YOU NEED A HOOK COME ON BACK IN IT A LITTLE FURTHER.

AND NOW, I'VE BEEN CATCHING A LOT OF FISH ON A 3/16 AND 1/4 OUNCE BUCKTAIL.

- THAT'S A PRETTY BAIT IN THE WAITER.

- YEAH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BAIT.

- PRETTY BAIT IN THE WATER.

- AND BUCKTAIL'S ALWAYS REAL GOOD IN COLD WATER, WHICH WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

AND I'M USING SPINNING OUTFIT WITH 8 POUND TEST ON IT.

YOU KNOW, THE FISH ARE MAYBE A LITTLE DEEPER AND A LITTLE MORE FINESSE, BUT I'VE BEEN USING THE SWIMBAIT LIKE YOU HAVE TOO AND BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT THE FISH WERE BITING BEST TODAY.

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN CATCHING THEM REAL WELL ON THIS AND THIS IS GOOD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THESE BUCKTAILS AND SWIMBAITS.

- I WAS USING PRETTY MUCH A STEADY RETRIEVE, BUMPING IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

I NOTICED WHEN YOU GO SWIM-- FISHING THE BUCKTAIL, YOU KIND OF LETTING IT SINK AND JUST ALMOST FLOATING IT UP.

A LITTLE HEAVY FISHING.

- YEAH, WHAT I DO, IF WE GO THROUGH A LITTLE PERIOD THERE WHERE WE'RE NOT CATCHING 'EM, SOMETIMES THEY'LL GO A LITTLE DEEPER AND I'LL LET THIS BAIT GET CLOSER TO THE BOTTOM AND JUST KIND OF HOP IT UP OFF THE BOTTOM AND FISH A LITTLE DEEPER WITH IT, AND WHEN THERE'S LESS WIND, I TEND TO DO BETTER ON THAT BUCKTAIL, AND WHEN IT'S WINDY, I SEEM TO DO BETTER ON THE SWIMBAIT.

- AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH FISHING WHAT I WOULD CALL "POINTS," BUT THEY WERE ALL PLACES WHERE YOU KNEW HAD FLATS OFF OF THEM.

COULDN'T BE 30 FEET OF WATER RIGHT OFF THEM, IT WOULDN'T BE GETTING UP TO 15 IN FISHING IN, WHAT, 8 TO 10 FEET OF WATER?

- YEAH, YEAH.

BASICALLY WE WERE FISHING-- THE PATTERN WAS FLAT.

AND A LOT OF THEM WERE POINTS, BUT THEY WERE REAL BIG POINTS AND THEY RUN OUT IN THE WATER A PRETTY GOOD, LONG WAYS.

AND I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE BOAT OUT IN 15 FEET OF WATER, AND CASTING INTO ABOUT 8 FEET OF WATER, AND THE FISH SEEMED TO BE HITTING US SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THAT RANGE.

- DO YOU THINK THEY WERE HOVERING THERE OR... JUST COMING IN THICK?

- THEY WERE-- THEY COME UP ON THEM FLATS.

- I THINK THE BAITFISH WERE UP THERE.

AND THEY COME UP THERE CHASING THEM BAITFISH AND FEEDING.

- IT WAS A FUN TRIP.

I ENJOYED IT.

I HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO DO IT AGAIN.

- I DO TOO.

- BEEN GOOD MEETING YOU.

- GOOD TO SEE-- GOOD TO MEET YOU.

- MIGHT CATCH ONE MORE BEFORE WE GO.

- LET'S TRY.

- WE HOPE THAT YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION HELPFUL.

NOW, HERE'S JOEL'S NUMBER IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM A CALL, AND HE'LL PUT YOU ON SOME FISH.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE, WHICH MAKES FOR A GREAT BREAKFAST.

IT'S USING TROUT.

- HI, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING A BREAKFAST TROUT RECIPE IN THE KITCHEN.

AND AS I WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, I WENT TO THE GROCERY AND THE RECIPE CALLED FOR, YOU KNOW, YUKON POTATOES THAT YOU CUT YOURSELF, BAKE THEM IN THE OVEN.

I THOUGHT, "THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS THAT'S QUICKER," BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE BAKING POTATOES, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME LEFTOVER POTATOES FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, THEN THAT'S GREAT, 'CAUSE THEN YOU CAN MAKE THIS GREAT RECIPE QUICK AND EASILY IN THE MORNING.

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT, YOU KNOW, BREAKFAST FOR DINNER KIND OF RECIPE TOO.

SO I FOUND SOME POTATOES THAT WERE IN THE REFRIGERATED SECTION.

THEY WERE ALREADY COOKED AND SEASONED, WHICH IS FABULOUS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M USING HERE.

THESE ARE CUT INTO WEDGES, WHICH I THINK LOOK REALLY GREAT.

THEY ALSO HAVE SOME DICED ONES TOO.

SO WHAT I'M DOING IS, I'M JUST GONNA SAUTE THESE IN MY PAN, JUST WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OLIVE OIL OR A LITTLE BIT OF OIL, JUST TO GET THEM WARM.

AND THEN WE ARE GONNA ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PAPRIKA TO THIS.

THESE ARE ROSEMARY AND GARLIC, SO THEY HAVE SOME GREAT FLAVORS GOING ON ALREADY.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SOME CHOPPED ONION, IF YOU WANT.

YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND AS THAT SAUTES, YOUR ONIONS ARE CARAMELIZING AND YOUR POTATOES ARE WARMING UP.

THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD SOME SMOKED TROUT THAT HAS JUST BEEN CRUMBLED.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE SMOKED TROUT, YOU CAN USE ANY KIND OF LEFTOVER FISH YOU MIGHT HAVE.

IF YOU LIKE TO SMOKE A CERTAIN TYPE OF FISH, THAT'S GREAT TOO.

SO JUST ADD WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU LIKE.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA SAUTE THAT ALL AROUND.

AND WHILE THIS IS SAUTEING, I HAVE A PAN GOING HERE ON MY LEFT.

AND I'M JUST GONNA BE FRYING UP SOME EGGS AND I LIKE TO MAKE MINE SUNNY-SIDE BECAUSE I THINK THEY LOOK PRETTY, BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE SUNNY-SIDE UP EGGS, YOU CAN USE SCRAMBLED EGGS, TOO, OR YOU CAN DO POACHED EGGS, AS WELL.

WE'RE GONNA ADD A LITTLE BIT OF SOME LEMON JUICE TO THIS, AND I LIKE TO USE FRESH LEMON JUICE, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, JUST USE SOME OUT OF THE BOTTLE.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE.

A LITTLE BIT OF SALT.

AND PEPPER.

AND THEN A LITTLE BIT OF SOME DILL, AND YOU CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, TEAR THIS UP WITH YOUR FINGERS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE FRESH DILL, USE THE DILL, YOU KNOW, DRY DILL OUT OF YOUR PANTRY.

THAT'S FINE TOO.

SO LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST GONNA SAUTE THIS UP.

ONCE IT'S ALL WARM, WE'RE GOING TO SERVE IT, EITHER IN A CASSEROLE DISH AND TOP IT WITH OUR EGGS, OR, IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN PUT IT IN A NICE LITTLE INDIVIDUAL CAST IRON SKILLET OR AN INDIVIDUAL RAMEKIN AND TOP IT WITH AN EGG AND SERVE THEM INDIVIDUALLY IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, AS WELL.

YOU CAN ALSO BAKE THIS IN THE OVEN A LITTLE BIT IF YOU WANT TO CRUNCH UP OR CRISP UP THE TOP.

SO THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S FINISHED.

YOU CAN SEE I HAVE ALL THE GREAT FLAVORS FROM THE POTATOES THAT I BOUGHT, AND I'M JUST HEATING THEM UP.

I'VE TOPPED IT WITH MY EGGS.

IT'S A GREAT BREAKFAST RECIPE OR IT'S ALSO GREAT FOR DINNER IF YOU WANT, AS WELL.

I KNOW WE LIKE TO EAT A LOT OF BREAKFAST FOR DINNER AT MY HOUSE.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS BREAKFAST TROUT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR ANOTHER GREAT RECIPE, AND RECIPES LIKE THAT ARE IN OUR COOKBOOK.

JUST GO ONLINE AND PICK YOURSELF UP ONE.

I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY IT.

LET'S GO BACK TO KERR LAKE.

- IT WAS COLD.

AND IN FACT, WE KNEW THE COLD FRONT WAS COMING.

WE DRESSED FOR IT, AND JOEL KNOWS THE LAKE.

WE KNEW WE COULD GET OUT OF THE WIND, WHICH WE KNEW WAS COMING.

BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY PLAN ON THE SNOW, SO WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND ACTUALLY SHOT IT, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE CAME UP WITH.

WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THE FACT THAT WE LOST THE STRIPER BITE SOON AFTER THE SNOW QUIT, AND I'M SURE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BAROMETER.

ALTHOUGH JOEL HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S CAUGHT FISH IN THE SNOW PRETTY READILY, BASS AND STRIPED BASS-- LARGEMOUTH BASS AND STRIPED BASS.

BUT THAT DAY WAS UNUSUAL.

WE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE WENT ALONG.

AND THE BONUS AT THE END OF THE DAY WAS THAT BIG BASS.

SO WE HAD, I THINK, A RELATIVELY GOOD DAY CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS WE WERE FORCED TO FISH IN, AND WE JUST MADE THE BEST OF IT.

- SO ONE FISH MADE IT WORTHWHILE.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS 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] ♪