[piano intro] - FELT LIKE A GOOD HIT.

DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BASS.

NO, THAT'S A GREAT LOOKING CRAPPIE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

LOOK HOW DARK HE IS.

- SMALLER.

- WOWIE!

RIGHT WHERE YOU SAID.

YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GONNA-- - NICE FISH.

GOOD FISH.

- HE IS REALLY DARK.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: "WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA" MAGAZINE HAS BEEN DELIVERING STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLES FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

- AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NORTH CAROLINA VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

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

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM'S GONNA TAKE US UP TO LAKE NORMAN.

AND WE'RE GOING FISHING FOR CRAPPIE.

BUT, JOE, IT TURNS INTO, LIKE, A CLASS.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL.

- WELL, IF--PAY ATTENTION.

WHETHER YOU'RE A SEASONED CRAPPIE FISHERMAN OR JUST GETTING IN TO THE SPORT WE'RE FISHING WITH JERRY NEELEY, WHO'S VERY WELL-KNOWN IN THAT PART OF THE STATE, THE TRIAD AREA OF NORTH CAROLINA, FOR CRAPPIE FISHING.

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO CATCH 'EM.

AND HE GIVES SOME POINTERS TODAY.

WE WERE ACTUALLY FACING SOME WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE REALLY NOT-- WE REALLY DIDN'T PLAN FOR AND SO WE HAD ABOUT THREE HOURS ON THE LAKE AND, UH, ALWAYS LOOKING OVER OUR SHOULDER.

AND YOU'LL SEE, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND, NOW, THIS IS SPRING.

THIS IS RIGHT WHEN THE FISH ARE MOVING OUT ON THE BEDS SO THERE'S SOME BIG CRAPPIE.

WE DIDN'T CATCH AS MANY FISH AS WE'D--AS JERRY HOPED TO, BUT HE DOES GIVE US SOME GOOD POINTERS SO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

- YOU'LL ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD POINTERS IN GEAR TIME, AND DONNA'S IN THE KITCHEN TODAY WITH BAKED PHEASANT.

- A BAKED PHEASANT RECIPE WHICH I'VE HAD.

IT'S VERY GOOD.

PHEASANT'S REALLY GOOD ON THE TABLE.

PAY ATTENTION TO THAT TOO.

- WELL, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

LET'S GO TO SCHOOL.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- WELL, JERRY, IT'S TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH.

WE'VE HAD SOME WEATHER ROLL IN.

I MEAN, THE CRAPPIE HAVE BEEN ON THEIR BEDS.

LAKE NORMAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

NOW THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT RESURGENT IN CRAPPIE FISHING SO, I MEAN, WELL, HOW'S THINGS BEEN?

AND WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE DAY ON A DAY LIKE-- WITH THE WEATHER ROLLIN' AROUND?

- WELL, IT'S BEEN GREAT CRAPPIE FISHING FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

THE FISH WERE PRETTY SMALL AND NOW THEY'VE MOVED INTO THE COVES AND TO THE SMALL DOCKS THAT'S BEEN HERE A WHILE, OLDER DOCKS, AND WE'RE GONNA TARGET SOME OF THESE PLACES TODAY.

SOME OF THE PLACES WE'LL TARGET WILL BE A LITTLE SMALL, SECONDARY POINTS IN ABOUT 2 FEET OF WATER.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF A DARK SPOT, LIKE A STUMP OR MAYBE A ROCK OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE-- LIMB, ANYTHING THAT WOULD HOLD A FISH.

AND THESE CRAPPIE-- THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TODAY IS, WE'RE GONNA CAST TO 'EM AND WIND 'EM BACK TO THE BOAT.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE BASS FISHING, NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE.

WE'RE GONNA CAST AND WIND BACK TO THE BOAT, AND THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE LURE.

WE'RE GONNA USE A HAIR JIG, A 1/32 JIG, AND IT'S REAL GOOD, IT'S A HANDMADE JIG, AND, UH, THEY'RE REAL GOOD JIGS.

AND I PREFER-- WATER THIS CLEAR, I PREFER A WHITE JIG WITH EITHER A RED HEAD OR A GREEN HEAD.

NOW, IF THE WATER'S DINGY OR MUDDY, I LIKE THE YELLOW, WHITE, AND THE RED HEAD ON THESE TYPE OF JIGS, AND THEY WORK REAL WELL.

- WELL, WE'LL TRY SOME OF THOSE TECHNIQUES, AND HOPEFULLY THAT BIG WEATHER BEHIND US WILL GET OUT OF THE WAY AND WE'LL GO--LET'S GO GET SOME!

- I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN UP THE JAWS OF DEATH TRYING TO CATCH A CRAPPIE TODAY, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT.

LET'S ROLL.

WELL, JERRY, OBVIOUSLY ON LAKE NORMAN, I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF ACREAGE.

IT'S NORTH CAROLINA'S BIGGEST LAKE.

YOU GOT TO NARROW IT DOWN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE OTHER STRUCTURES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT?

LIKE THIS--YOU KNOW, A GOOD EXAMPLE, THIS SANDY POINT COMING UP.

IS THAT WORTHWHILE FISHING?

- THIS SANDY POINT RIGHT HERE, UM, IN THE PAST WEEKS I'VE CAUGHT SOME 1 3/4 POUND, 1 1/2 POUND CRAPPIE OFF OF THESE STUMPS, DARK PLACES.

AND WHEN YOU FIND ONE OF THESE PLACES, LOTS OF TIMES YOU CAN CATCH SOME REALLY NICE CRAPPIE OFF OF THEM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REALLY WATCH AND LOOK FOR THE DARK SPOTS IN THE WATER.

THE CRAPPIE WILL HOLD REAL CLOSE TO THE DARK SPOTS OR STUMPS OR ROCKS OR WHATEVER'S OUT THERE AND USUALLY YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TROUBLE CATCHING THE CRAPPIE OFF SOME OF THESE DARK PLACES.

- LIKE RIGHT HERE.

OBVIOUSLY A PAIR OF GOOD POLARIZED GLASSES ARE GONNA HELP YOU SEE THOSE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING ALONG.

'CAUSE WITHOUT THEM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SEE THOSE.

- RIGHT.

- LET'S SEE MAYBE THAT ONE OVER THERE.

- SO WHAT I ALWAYS DO IS TRY TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

IF YOU CAN, WIND'S BLOWING AGAINST ME RIGHT NOW.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO CAST THIS 1/32.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO HIM SO IF YOU DO, IT'S NOT GOOD.

AND IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE, IT-- - PUT 'EM OFF, PUT 'EM DOWN?

- YEAH, THEY'LL-- THEY'LL, UH-- BUT, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NICE-- - THERE'S ONE.

RIGHT OFF THAT POINT WHERE YOU CAUGHT IT.

- YEP.

- THERE'S A CRAPPIE.

- YEP, YEP, YEP.

NICE ONE.

- THIS IS A BETTER ONE.

OH, YEAH.

JUST LIKE YOU SAID, RIGHT OFF THAT DARK SPOT RIGHT ON THAT POINT.

HE HIT THAT PRETTY GOOD.

NOW THAT'S A WHITE CRAPPIE, CORRECT?

- THAT'S A REGULAR OLD DARK SPECK NORMAL CRAPPIE.

NOT A WHITE CRAPPIE.

- YEP.

GOOD FISH.

MAN, HE POUNDED THAT PRETTY GOOD.

THERE HE GOES.

- BUT YOU SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, LITTLE SANDY POINTS?

- YEP.

- YOU FIND YOUR LITTLE BIT OF STRUCTURE ON YOUR SANDY POINT IT WILL REEL YOU FISH IN A LOT OF TIMES, LOTS OF TIMES.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE VERY NICE FISH TOO.

- WHAT HE IS--ANOTHER CRAPPIE?

OH, THAT'S A GOOD CRAPPIE.

- YEP, GOOD CRAPPIE.

THAT'S THE KIND-- THAT'S WHAT WE COME AFTER.

- THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

FINALLY, YEAH.

- YEAH.

- TOOK A WHILE.

- THAT DID MAKE MINE LOOK LITTLE.

NOW, THAT'S A-- NOW, THAT'S A TROPHY CRAPPIE JUST ABOUT ANY LAKE WE COULD COME TO.

AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.

- WELL, WE'VE BEEN CATCHING A LOT OF THESE CRAPPIES THE LAST THREE WEEKS, ABOUT THIS SIZE OR EVEN BIGGER.

AND, UH, THEY'VE BEEN RIGHT ON THE BANK AND, UH, THEY'RE PRETTY EASY TO CATCH BUT YOU HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT, YOU KNOW.

AND SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHER DAYS.

WE CATCH A LOT SOME DAYS, AND SOME DAYS WE HAVE TO FISH REAL HARD TO CATCH THEM, BUT THEY'RE THERE.

AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF QUALITY CRAPPIE WE CATCH ON LAKE NORMAN.

GOOD FISH.

- WOW, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.

- GOOD FISH.

- I NEED ONE LIKE THAT.

- ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK IN THE WATER.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE GOT A CRAPPIE HERE.

MAYBE WE HAVE, A BIG BRIM ONE.

- BIG BRIM?

- BIG OLD BRIM.

SHELLCRACKER.

THIS LAKE IS FULL OF THESE THINGS BUT THEY'RE A LOT BIGGER THAN THIS.

SOME OF THEM, I SEE THEM UP TO A POUND.

THEY'RE VERY BIG FISH.

- THE OLD SHELLCRACKER?

- YEP.

- WE'RE CATCHING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING ON THESE JIGS.

- YEP, IT'S A GOOD JIG.

- "GOOD JIG" IS RIGHT.

- BIG OLD CRAPPIE.

- "BIG OLD CRAPPIE" IS RIGHT.

- GOOD FISH.

GOOD FISH.

I GOT ONE ON.

- OH YEAH.

HEY, I MIGHT HAVE GOT THE BIGGER ONE.

- YEAH, I BELIEVE YOU DID.

- THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A NICE DOUBLE.

DO YOU OFTEN GET A LOT OF DOUBLES?

- YEAH, WE GET A LOT OF DOUBLES WHEN WE FIND A LITTLE PLACE WHERE THEY'RE KIND OF CONGREGATING, WHILE WE, UH, USUALLY GET TWO OR THREE, SOMETIMES FOUR AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT THESE ARE GOOD FISH, HERE.

THEY'RE SPAWNERS.

- YEAH, REALLY GOOD.

THAT'S TWO OUT, LET'S GET ANOTHER ONE.

NOW, JERRY, LIKE ANY TYPE OF FISH, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE STRUCTURE BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT WATER DEPTH IN RELATION TO THIS STRUCTURE?

- THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE CRAPPIE, THEY'LL COME IN AND THEY'LL HANG OUT IN SMALL LITTLE NOOKS LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE AND THE WATER WILL BE LESS THAN 4 FEET DEEP.

AND SO WE KIND OF TARGET 1 TO 4 FOOT OF WATER, 3 FOOT OF WATER, AND USUALLY YOU'LL GO FROM SHALLOW TO DEEP WHEN YOU THROW IN YOUR JIG.

YOU HARDLY EVER THROW DEEP TO SHALLOW.

IT'S ALWAYS SHALLOW TO DEEP.

AND, UH, MOST OF THE TIME, THE CRAPPIE, THEY'RE EITHER ROAMING THAT BANK OR THEY'RE MAKING THEIR BEDS AND THAT'S WHY WE TARGET THAT SHALLOW WATER THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IN ANOTHER WEEK OR SO, THESE CRAPPIE WILL BE GOING OUT DEEPER AND THEY USUALLY MOVE TO THE FIRST DEEP STRUCTURE THAT THEY CAN FIND.

AND USUALLY IT'S EITHER A PIER, OR MAYBE A BIG SECONDARY POINT THAT'S GOT A STUMP OR SOMETHING ON IT YOU CAN'T SEE.

BUT THEY'LL HOLD ON SOMETHING.

- THAT MAY BE LESS THAN TEN FOOT OF WATER THEN.

AT THAT POINT.

- YEAH, 10 TO 12, USUALLY.

- 10 TO 12?

- YEAH, 10 TO 12 IS A GOOD...

STARTING POINT.

THAT'S A BASS.

- ANOTHER BASS.

- NOSEY NOSE.

OF ALL FISH.

IF I'M FISHING FOR THEM-- - GOOD JUMPING, THOUGH.

- 4-POUND TEST-- MIGHT NOT GET HIM IN.

THAT'S A BIG ONE.

- THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

- WELL, WE GOT A SMORGASBORD ON THESE DADGUM... - I TELL YOU, JERRY, THESE JIGS.

WE'VE CAUGHT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON IT.

THAT'S A NICE BASS ON A LITTLE 4-POUND ULTRALIGHT.

- THESE ARE GREAT JIGS.

THEY, UM-- REALLY GOOD JIG.

AND THEY'RE BUILT WELL AND--WHOOPS!

THEY'RE BUILT WELL, AND THEY HOLD UP REAL WELL.

- THAT'S A NICE LITTLE SPOT FOR, YOU KNOW-- - THAT'S A GOOD BASS.

- YEAH.

NICE BYCATCH.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON AROUND OVER HERE AND SEE IF WE CAN CAPTURE ANOTHER ONE.

- NOW, JERRY, ON NORMAN, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A DOCK EVERY TEN FEET OR SO.

I MEAN, SO IF YOU TELL SOMEONE TO TARGET DOCKS, IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

ONE VERSUS ANOTHER?

- WELL, ONE THING, I LIKE A LOT OF BIG, WIDE DOCKS.

A LOT OF TIMES A BIG, WIDE DOCK WITH A LOT OF POSTS THE CRAPPIE SEEM TO CONGREGATE AROUND THOSE MORE THAN THEY DO THE LITTLE NARROW DOCKS.

BUT THE OLDER DOCKS IS REALLY THE KEY.

THE OLDER DOCKS SEEM TO HOLD MORE CRAPPIE THAN A NEWER DOCK.

AND THE ONLY THING I CAN EVER THINK ABOUT OR COME UP WITH AS A REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE NEWER DOCKS HAVE THE TREATED WOOD, AND THE TREATED WOOD MAY HAVE A CHEMICAL THAT MAYBE BURNS THE FISH OR DOES SOMETHING TO THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING AROUND THAT KIND OF STRUCTURE.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT; IT'S JUST A GUESS.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEWER DOCK-- - DEFINITE DIFFERENCE, THE OLD ONES VERSUS THE NEWER ONES.

- RIGHT.

- FELT LIKE A GOOD HIT.

DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BASS.

NO, THAT'S A GREAT LOOKING CRAPPIE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

LOOK HOW DARK HE IS.

- SMALLER.

- WOWIE!

RIGHT WHERE YOU SAID.

YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GONNA-- - NICE FISH.

GOOD FISH.

- HE IS REALLY DARK.

REALLY DARK IN COLOR.

- SPAWNER, YEAH, BIG FISH.

- HE HIT IT HARD, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

- FISH ARE RIGHT ON IN THERE.

- YOU'RE DEFINITELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT SLOW WIND.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU CANNOT-- - YEP, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SLOW IT DOWN.

- "SLOW IT DOWN" IS RIGHT.

- GOOD FISH.

GOOD FISH.

YEAH, THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN THERE.

MAYBE-- YEAH.

OH, YEAH.

BIG OLD BLACK CRAPPIE.

- ANOTHER BIG BLACK ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

GOOD FISH.

I ENJOYED CATCHING THAT ONE, A BIG OLD BLACK CRAPPIE.

BOY, THEY FIGHT LIKE-- ALMOST LIKE A BASS.

ONE THING ABOUT IT, THEY'RE GOOD TO EAT, I PROMISE YOU THAT.

OUT OF LAKE NORMAN, THEY'RE VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER ONE.

- THAT'S THE MOST WE'VE CAUGHT OFF OF ANY ONE SPOT, WAS RIGHT THERE.

- RIGHT.

SURE.

THAT WAS A GOOD STOP.

THAT'S A GOOD PLACE.

IT GIVES YOU A GOOD FEEL FOR HOW TO CATCH THEM ON THE LAKE AROUND THESE STUMPS.

AND THESE REAL DARK STUMPS, THAT'S IN WATER LIKE TWO FEET DEEP OR LESS, THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION'S AT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO TARGET.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS KIND OF FISHING.

IT'S JUST LIKE I SAY, ALMOST LIKE BASS FISHING.

- JERRY, NOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT DOCKS.

NOW HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT PICKING-- YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY COVES ON LAKE NORMAN HOW DO YOU DECIDE OR FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES TO GO IN TO?

- WELL, A LOT OF THE COVES THAT I PICK, I FISH IT FOR MANY YEARS, AND I'VE LEARNED OVER, YOU KNOW, TRIAL AND ERROR BUT SOMETIMES YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

MOST OF THE SPAWNING OCCURS IN THE LAST HALF OF THE COVES.

BUT YOU GOT TO PICK THE COVES THAT HAS COVER.

THAT'S THE KEY.

IF IT DON'T HAVE COVER, A LOT OF TIMES THE FISH WON'T BE THERE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE PICKING A COVE, YOU NEED TO FIND ONE THAT'S GOT SOME COVER.

- COVER?

WHICH CAN BE THOSE DOCKS, THE TREES, THE ROCKS, ANY OF THAT.

OR ALL OF IT.

- RIGHT.

BLOWDOWNS, STUMPS.

- WE CERTAINLY HAVE ALL OF THAT IN HERE.

OH THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- GOOD FISH.

- THAT'S A REAL GOOD ONE.

- GOOD FISH.

OH YEAH.

HE'S A NICE ONE.

- WANT ME TO GET HIM FOR YOU?

- YOU WANT TO GET HIM?

- I GOT HIM FOR YOU ON THIS ONE.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PICK HIM UP.

- GOOD FISH.

- DON'T TAKE MANY OF THESE TO MAKE A MEAL.

- I GUARANTEE YOU, THEY'RE WONDERFUL TO EAT.

I PROMISE YOU.

LAKE NORMAN CRAPPIE ARE JUST THE SWEETEST MEAT YOU'VE EVER EATEN.

- MAKE SOME MORE.

- JOE, MOTHER NATURE WILL HAVE HER WAY.

- ALWAYS.

AND WE PLAN THESE TRIPS OUT SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE WEATHER'S GONNA BE.

BUT THAT MORNING WE HIT THE WATER WITH THREATENING WEATHER, AND THE WIND WAS ALREADY PICKING UP, SO WE COULDN'T GO TO A LOT OF THE PLACES THAT JERRY WANTED TO FISH.

SO WE KIND OF PUT IT TOUGH ON HIM TO START WITH.

BUT HE SHOWED HOW GOOD HE IS.

AND IN GEAR TIME TODAY, HE'LL SHARE A COUPLE LITTLE SECRETS, TOO, SO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

BUT WE CAUGHT SOME PRETTY FISH, NOT A LOT OF FISH, BUT WE CAUGHT SOME PRETTY FISH THAT MORNING.

- LET'S FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE SECRETS.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, JERRY, WE'VE HAD A GREAT MORNING ON LAKE NORMAN DESPITE--WE'VE HAD A COUPLE BIG NIGHTS OF THUNDERSTORMS.

YOU KNOW, SOME COLD WEATHER'S MOVED IN, BUT THE CRAPPIE BITE WAS STILL ON AND I REALLY THINK THIS JIG WAS THE TICKET.

THESE ARE GOOD JIGS.

I GET THESE JIGS OUT OF CATAWBA TACKLE ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA.

THEY'RE ON INDIA HOOK ROAD.

AND I'VE USED THESE JIGS FOR YEARS, AND THEY'RE GREAT JIGS.

ANY LAKE YOU GO ON, THEY'RE GONNA BE PRODUCTIVE.

AND I JUST WANT TO, UH...

I GUESS, TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CRAPPIE FISH, THESE ARE THE KIND OF JIGS THAT REALLY CATCH CRAPPIE.

AND I'M NOT PLUGGING THE GUY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT THESE ARE GREAT JIGS, AND THEY WORK WELL.

THESE ARE 1/32s, AND YOU GET 'EM IN 1/16s AND 1/32s, AND THE TYPE OF, UM, STUFF THAT I REALLY DO IS, I USE THESE-- THESE LIGHTWEIGHT OUTFITS THAT I USE ARE VERY LIGHTWEIGHT; THESE ARE 22s OR 33s.

EITHER ONE YOU WANT TO USE WITH A 4-POUND TEST LINE.

AND THE RODS ARE ULTRALIGHT.

AND THEY'RE REALLY GOOD OUTFITS FOR CRAPPIE FISHING.

- I HAD A LITTLE TFO ROD, JUST THE STANDARD SPRING ROD.

AGAIN, VERY LIGHTWEIGHT, 4-POUND TEST AND THEN WITH THAT COLD WEATHER STUFF IT DID GET A LITTLE BIT TOUGH.

THEY WERE A LITTLE TIGHTER TO COVER.

BUT YOU ADDED ON THAT CRAPPIE NIBBLE AND THAT DEFINITELY SEEMED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THE CRAPPIE NIBBLES ARE REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S COME ON IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT.

AND, UH, THEY WORK REAL WELL.

I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AS FAR AS DO THEY WORK OR DO THEY NOT WORK, AND I KNOW THEY WORK.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN A BITE GETS TOUGH, THE CRAPPIE NIBBLES, THEY COME INTO PLAY.

AND THEY'LL BITE IT MORE READILY THAN THEY WILL JUST A REGULAR JIG WHEN IT'S A TOUGH BITE.

THIS MORNING, IT WAS A TOUGH BITE.

ACTUALLY, WE HAD A LOT OF BAD WEATHER THAT ROLLED IN ON US AND IT'S HIGH WINDS.

10, 12 MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS IS NOT EASY TO FISH INTO, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO CATCH WITH 1/32 OUNCE JIG.

AND SO IT MAKES IT A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

BUT WE HAD A FAIRLY GOOD MORNING, AND, UM, THE FISH, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, COOPERATED AS GOOD AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT WE WERE FISHING.

- RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY THE POLARIZED GLASSES LIKE YOU SAID WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THOSE DARK SPOTS THAT'S NOT AN EXTRA LITTLE PIECE, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE THESE SO YOU CAN JUST SEE WHERE YOU'RE THROWING.

- RIGHT, WELL, THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THE FISH ARE ON THEIR BEDS AND NATURALLY, WHEN YOU GO INTO A LAKE YOU WANT TO JUST CUT THAT LAKE OFF AND JUST GO TO THE SMALL TRIBUTARIES AND LITTLE BITTY COVES AND TAKE HALF OF THAT COVE AND FISH ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BANK AND LOOK FOR YOUR COVER ROCKS, STUMPS, STICK-UPS, OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD HOLD FISH AND YOU'RE GONNA COME OUT WITH A PRETTY GOOD DAY IF YOU DO THAT AND FISH RELIGIOUSLY DOWN THROUGH THE BANKS AND TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS CATCH YOUR CRAPPIES, SO IN THE END IT'S GONNA WORK OUT PRETTY GOOD.

- WELL, IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE WEATHER'S GONNA HOLD UP WE MIGHT GET ANOTHER HOUR IN, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

- I ENJOYED IT.

- ME TOO.

- YES, SIR.

- THANKS, JERRY, FOR THAT INFORMATION.

I'LL GIVE YOU JERRY'S PHONE NUMBER IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO FISHING, PLEASE GIVE HIM A CALL.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE THAT JOE REALLY LIKES IT'S ALL ABOUT BAKED PHEASANT.

- HI, TODAY WE'RE MAKING A BAKED PHEASANT IN THE KITCHEN.

AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE RECIPES THAT GOES TOGETHER REALLY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE THAT'S THE KIND I LIKE.

AND THEN YOU JUST PUT IT IN THE OVEN, FORGET ABOUT IT, PULL IT OUT, AND DINNER IS READY, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE'RE GOING TO START OUT WITH THREE PHEASANT BREASTS THAT I HAVE HERE, AND THIS IS SOME PHEASANT THAT MY HUSBAND AND MY SON SHOT WHEN THEY WENT PHEASANT-HUNTING SO THEY BROUGHT ME SOME BACK, WHICH I WAS GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF.

WE'RE GOING TO DREDGE THE PHEASANT IN SOME CHICKEN BREADER AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO PAN FRY THIS JUST UNTIL IT'S GOLDEN BROWN JUST TO KIND OF SEAR THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FINISH IT OFF IN THE OVEN.

SO I'M GOING TO GET MY OIL ONTO MY BURNER AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE OUR PHEASANT BREASTS AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO DREDGE THAT INTO THE CHICKEN BREADER.

AND JUST COAT IT REALLY WELL.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PLACE IT INTO OUR PAN AND SEAR THAT.

SO WE'LL-- I THINK MY OIL IS HOT ENOUGH.

THERE WE GO.

AND IT'LL TAKE PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES JUST TO SEAR THE OUTSIDE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TOTALLY, FULLY COOK THIS 'CAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT IN OUR OVEN AND COOK IT FOR ABOUT 30 MORE MINUTES.

SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT THOSE IN.

AND THEN WHILE THAT IS SEARING, WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE OTHER INGREDIENTS, WHICH ARE REALLY VERY SIMPLE.

AND USUALLY YOU HAVE THESE AROUND YOUR HOUSE.

SO, THERE WE GO.

WE'VE GOT THOSE IN AND THOSE ARE SEARING AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE CLOVE OF GARLIC, SMASH IT, AND WE'LL SAUTEE THAT SLIGHTLY ONCE OUR PHEASANT IS BROWNED ON EITHER SIDE.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE OUR CLOVE, AND I JUST LIKE TO CUT OFF THE VERY END HERE.

AND THEN YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PEEL IT.

WHAT YOU DO IS YOU TAKE YOUR KNIFE AND YOU PLACE IT DOWN AND THEN YOU SMASH IT WITH THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.

AND THEN THE PEEL COMES RIGHT OFF, AND YOU'RE READY TO GO.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO FINELY-- WE'RE JUST GOING TO ROUGH CHOP THAT REALLY QUICK, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT INTO OUR PAN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A NICE RED APPLE, AND THIS IS A ROME APPLE, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD COOKING APPLE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WILL HOLD TOGETHER WHEN IT'S COOKED.

SOME APPLES WILL KIND OF FALL APART AND GET MEALY AND YOU'LL JUST END UP WITH THE SKIN, BASICALLY, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.

SO YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET A GOOD COOKING APPLE.

AND THERE IS A LITTLE, UM, INFORMATIONAL PIECE, USUALLY AT THE APPLE SECTION OF YOUR GROCERY STORE.

AND JUST FIND A GOOD COOKING APPLE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CUT IT IN HALF AND THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO SLICE IT INTO SLICES AND WE'RE GOING TO SAUTEE THESE REALLY QUICKLY, TOO.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR, UM, PHEASANT IS BROWNING HERE SO I THINK WE'LL JUST GIVE THAT A TURN, EVEN THOUGH IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BROWN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TOSS IN OUR APPLE SLICES AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THE WHOLE APPLE, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW WE'LL JUST DO THAT HALF.

WE'LL PUT IN OUR GARLIC AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD ABOUT 1/4 CUP OF APPLE JUICE OR APPLE CIDER.

I LIKE APPLE CIDER JUST 'CAUSE IT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE FLAVOR AND A LITTLE MORE BODY TO IT.

AND ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF SOME CHICKEN STOCK.

WE'RE GOING TO COVER THIS WITH A LID OR A PIECE OF ALUMINUM FOIL, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE.

BAKE IT IN A 350-DEGREE OVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTIL IT'S ALL COOKED THROUGH AND IT WILL SMELL SO GREAT IN YOUR HOUSE AND IT WILL TASTE AMAZING AS WELL.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S DONE YOU CAN SEE THE CRISPNESS ON THE OUTSIDE AND IF YOU WANT, AT THE END, YOU CAN TAKE OFF THE FOIL OR YOUR LID FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND LET IT CRISP BACK UP IF YOU'D LIKE.

AND IT HAS THE GREAT JUICE AND YOUR APPLES.

AND THEY'RE NICE AND TENDER, BUT THEY'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE BAKED PHEASANT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME, HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR THAT RECIPE.

JOE, I GOT TO AGREE WITH YOU, THAT WAS A GOOD RECIPE.

I WANT TO GO BACK UP TO THE LAKE.

A LOT OF CRAPPIE UP THERE.

- REALLY IS.

LAKE NORMAN HAS HAD A RESURGENCE HERE RECENTLY AND NUMBERS AND SIZE OF THEIR CRAPPIE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT ABOUT IT AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE LAKES THAT JERRY FISHES ON AND IT'S A BIG LAKE, ONE OF THE LARGEST LAKES IN NORTH CAROLINA UM, AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF PLACES HE FISHES.

HE FISHES OTHER LAKES TOO BUT I'D SAY HIS PRIORITY IS THE CRAPPIE AND HE KNOWS HOW TO CATCH THEM BUT, UM, LOTS OF FISH, A LOT OF BIG FISH.

- A LOT OF CRAPPIES, BUT OUR FRIENDS IN WISCONSIN THEY WOULD WANT US TO SAY "CRAW-PEE," RIGHT?

- RIGHT, YEAH, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE FROM IN THE COUNTRY THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF PRONOUNCING IT'S EITHER "CRAW-PEE," OR HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA IT'S STILL CRAPPIE.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT-- AND AGAIN, THAT DAY, TOO, WE DID CATCH WHITE AND BLACK CRAPPIE.

THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT VARIETIES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU CALL THEM, THEY'RE GREAT ON THE TABLE AND A LOT OF FUN TO CATCH.

- I'LL AGREE WITH THAT.

FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

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

- THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: "WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA" MAGAZINE HAS BEEN DELIVERING STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLES FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

- AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NORTH CAROLINA VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] ♪ ♪ ♪