[PIANO INTRO] - ANOTHER WHITE PERCH.

I WAS RUNNING THAT ONE JUST A TAD BIT DEEPER.

I KEPT GETTING BUMPS.

- I WAS WATCHING.

- OH, THAT'S A PRETTY FISH RIGHT THERE, PRETTY WHITE PERCH.

- YES, IT IS.

- HEY, KURT.

HERE'S ANOTHER NICE ONE.

- MM-HMM.

HE'S STARTING TO GET THAT HUMP HEAD ON HIM LIKE THE REALLY BIG ONES DO.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT HUMPBACK.

YEAH, I SEE IT.

POP THAT BEETLE SPIN RIGHT OUT OF HIM.

THEY'RE FEISTY LITTLE FISH.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ - [MALE ANNOUNCER] THE "CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL" IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER] "WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE."

- [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.

- HELLO, WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM'S GONNA TAKE US UP ON THE ROANOKE RIVER.

JOE, WE'RE GOING TO BE FISHING FOR WHITE PERCH.

- WE ARE; WE'LL ACTUALLY TARGET WHITE PERCH AS THEY MOVE UP THE RIVER TO SPAWN EVERY SPRING.

AND USING REAL LIGHT TACKLE, 4-POUND TEST, 6-FOOT REEL ULTRALIGHT RODS, AND USING WHITE BEETLE SPINS.

THAT'S THE BAIT OF THE DAY, THE LURE OF THE DAY.

AND ALONG THE WAY, WE ACTUALLY CATCH A FEW STRIPERS THAT ARE UP THERE MIXED IN.

THE MIGRATION--THE SPAWNING MIGRATION IS ABOUT-- HAPPENS ABOUT THE SAME TIME EVERY YEAR IN APRIL.

AND HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INTERESTING GEAR TIME TODAY TOO.

- WELL, WE'LL GO BACK, AND THE GUYS WILL SHARE WITH US, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY RIGGED UP.

AGAIN, IT'S REAL LIGHT TACKLE.

YOU'LL SEE THESE PERCH ARE NOT REAL BIG FISH.

AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE 4-POUND TEST AND THEN SHOW YOU THE BEETLE SPINS THEY USED.

SO THEY'LL GO OVER THAT.

- AND DONNA'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY FOR FISH REUBEN.

- YEAH, REAL SIMPLE RECIPE, YOU KNOW, USING THE REUBEN SANDWICH IDEA BUT USING FISH.

- ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME TO GO TO WORK.

LET'S GO UP TO THE ROANOKE RIVER ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- MAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE PRETTIEST SPRING DAYS WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR, MITCHELL.

- YEAH, WE'VE HAD A COLD WINTER AND THIS IS--YOU CAN SEE-- A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN STARTING TO POP IN THE TREES.

- THEM WAS SOME PRETTY PICTURES WITH SOME AWFUL BIG WHITE PERCH I SAW WITH YOU.

I HOPE IT'S NOT TOO PRETTY FOR THEM.

- YEAH, WE'VE BEEN--WE'RE UP HERE OFF THE ROANOKE TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN CATCH SOME JUMBO WHITE PERCH.

WE'VE BEEN PICKING THEM UP WHEN WE'RE UP HERE STRIPER FISHING, AND I ALWAYS LOVE BREAKING OUT THE BEETLE SPINS ON THESE THINGS WHEN THE WHITE PERCH SHOW UP.

THEY'RE SPAWNING.

THEY'RE ON A RUN RIGHT NOW SO EVERY DAY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT CAN BE HIGH VOLUME, BUT WITH A BEETLE SPIN, YOU MIGHT CATCH WHITE PERCH.

YOU MIGHT CATCH ROCK, AND YOU MIGHT CATCH HERRING.

YOU MIGHT CATCH SHAD.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD FISHING THOUGH.

- I'M A LIGHT TACKLE KIND OF GUY, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

- YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO RUN UP HERE-- COME UP HERE A LITTLE BIT REMOTE, AND WE'RE GOING TO FISH OUR WAY BACK OUT.

AND I LIKE COMING UP HERE JUST 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO MANY-- SO MUCH WILDLIFE, FISHING'S GOOD, A LOT OF SCENERY.

- AND IT'S PRETTY.

LOW LAND.

- YEP.

YEP.

AND THE WATER'S JUST RIGHT THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT SOME WATER IN THE LOW GROUND, SO A LOT OF THESE FISH ARE STAGING UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN TARGET A FEW TODAY.

KURT, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE USING LIGHT TACKLE, 4-POUND TEST, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THROWING A VARIETY OF BEETLE SPINS AND MAYBE SOME SMALL JIGS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THESE WHITE PERCH TO FIRE UP ON THEM.

- I'VE GOT MY DRAG SET FOR WHITE SHAD.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW WHITE PERCH DOES.

- IT SHOULD BE A GOOD TIME.

- I HAD A BUMP.

- GOT ONE, KURT.

- YEAH, THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG.

YOU HADN'T GOT HIM YET.

- [laughs] - JUST SLOW REELING ALONG.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

- HE'S DIGGING, ISN'T HE?

- OH, MAN.

4-POUND TEST HERE... ON THE LIGHT RODS.

- YEAH, THAT'S-- THAT'S A LITTLE STRIPER.

- IT'S A LITTLE STRIPER?

- MM-HMM.

I BELIEVE I SAW IT ON HIS TAIL.

- SEE SOME STRIPES ON HIS SIDE.

- YEP.

- STRIPED BASS.

- IF YOU GRAB HOLD OF THAT BEETLE SPIN, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE SAFE.

- [laughs] - LET'S SEE IF WE CAN RELEASE HIM RIGHT HERE.

HEY, FISH ON THE BOARD.

- YEAH, THAT WAS ABOUT YOUR SECOND CAST.

- I HAD A COUPLE OF BUMPS UP THERE.

- I HAD ONE.

- YOU APPEAR TAIL THOSE WHITE PERCH, AND THEY'LL KIND OF BUMP IT ALONG.

WE'LL PROBABLY CATCH SOME STRIPERS TODAY TOO.

THAT'S ONE GOOD THING ABOUT IT.

- ALREADY HAVE.

- [laughs] HE'S ON HIS WAY TO WELDON.

HE'S SWIMMING A LITTLE BIT.

THERE'S THE TARGET SPECIES.

- I LIKE THAT.

- GOOD OLD WHITE PERCH.

- AND THEY UP HERE SPAWNING ALSO, RIGHT?

- YEP, THESE RUN-- THEY COME OUT OF THE SOUND.

THE SOUND IS FULL OF THEM IN THE SUMMERTIME.

THESE FISH ARE COMING RIGHT UP HERE TO SPAWN.

THEY RUN JUST ABOUT LIKE THE ROCKFISH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

JUST LIKE THE STRIPER.

THEY'LL RUN UP IN THE RIVERS HERE AND SPAWN.

REALLY, REALLY GOOD TABLE FARE, LOT OF FUN ON LIGHT TACKLE.

- HISTORICALLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ABOUT AN AVERAGE-SIZE WHITE PERCH THERE.

- YEAH.

YEAH.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE-SIZE WHITE PERCH RIGHT THERE.

AND IN, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT YEARS YOU'LL HAVE DIFFERENT SIZE CLASSES.

HE'S GOT A REAL ROUGH SCALE ON HIM, REAL, REAL SPINY DORSAL FIN ON HIM.

SO YOU A HAVE TO BE KIND OF CAREFUL WITH HIM.

I MEAN, HE'S SHARP.

BUT YOU CAN CATCH THEM A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU KNOW, BEETLE SPINS, SMALL JIGS, ROOSTER TAILS, SHRIMP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE USE BLOODWORMS ON THE BOTTOM.

- WE USED TO DO WORMS ON THE BOTTOM WHEN WE FISHING ON SANDY BOTTOM AT HOME.

- YEP.

YEP.

I'M GOING TO GET HIM BACK IN.

THERE HE GOES.

THERE'S ONE, ANOTHER WHITE PERCH.

I WAS RUNNING THAT ONE JUST A TAD BIT DEEPER.

I KEPT GETTING BUMPS.

- I WAS WATCHING.

- OH, THAT'S A PRETTY FISH RIGHT THERE.

HEY, KURT, HERE'S ANOTHER NICE ONE.

- MM-HMM, HE'S STARTING TO GET THAT HUMP HEAD ON HIM.

- THAT'S RIGHT, THAT HUMPBACK.

YEAH, I SEE IT.

POP THAT BEETLE SPIN RIGHT OUT OF HIM.

THEY'RE FEISTY LITTLE FISH.

THAT'S ANOTHER FEMALE RIGHT THERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ROE.

- MM-HMM.

- SHE'S STARTING TO-- I LOVE THE LATERAL LINE ON THAT FISH, THOSE GREENS AND BLUES.

THEY'RE JUST AWESOME FISH.

I GREW UP AS A KID DOWN HERE CATCHING THESE THINGS.

AND SO ALWAYS--I ALWAYS LIKE TO COME BACK AND GET THEM.

- YOU WERE CARRYING THEM HOME TO EAT THEN, WEREN'T YOU?

- OH, YEAH.

OH, YEAH.

THIS GETS PEOPLE READY FOR THOSE BIG BREAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CATCHING HERE IN ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE SNAGGED ON THAT ONE, KURT.

- WELL, YEAH, THAT WAS-- - LET IT FALL BACK A LITTLE.

- THAT WAS ARTISTIC.

BROUGHT IT OUT OF THE TREE INTO THE FISH'S MOUTH.

- OH, THIS ONE'S GOT A LITTLE PULL ON HIM NOW.

- HE'S DIGGING.

BOTH THOSE FISH WERE OUT A LITTLE FURTHER THAN WHERE I'VE BEEN CONCENTRATING MY-- - THAT'S RIGHT PRETTY ROCK.

GOOD OLD BEETLE SPIN.

- CATCH ANYTHING IN THE RIGHT HANDS, WON'T IT?

- IT WILL CATCH ANYTHING.

COME HERE, BUDDY.

- IF YOU EVER WANT THE NET, LET ME KNOW.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EASE RIGHT DOWN TO THAT BEETLE SPIN.

- YEAH, POP HIM RIGHT OFF.

- THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT FUN.

- POP HIM RIGHT OFF.

CHILD, STAY STILL.

GOT A LITTLE FIGHT IN HIM.

2-POUND FISH.

- AND THAT ONE'S ANOTHER YEAR CLASS, YOU THINK?

- YEP, THAT'S ABOUT-- - MAYBE ONE YEAR OLDER?

- YEP, THAT'S ABOUT A YEAR OLDER THAN THAT OTHER FISH.

I WOULD HAVE ABOUT BET MONEY ON IT.

- I WOULD GUESS.

- THERE HE GOES.

OH.

OH.

MAN, I JUST MISSED MINE, KURT.

CERTAINLY DID.

- MAYBE SOME OF THOSE BOTTOM I FELT LIKE I WAS ON HAS BEEN FISH ALL ALONG.

- YEAH IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BOTTOM THAT YOU THINK YOU'RE FEELING THERE IS PROBABLY FISH.

THERE'S ANOTHER DECENT-SIZED WHITE PERCH.

HOW FAT IS THE BELLY ON THAT ONE?

WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME IN A MINUTE.

- I BELIEVE THAT IS A LITTLE ROE THERE.

- YEP, THAT'S ROE RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S A FEMALE FISH RIGHT THERE.

- THAT IS A THORNY FISH.

- YEAH, VERY, VERY SPIKY, ROUGH, SANDY.

- BUT NOT BY COMPARISON TO THE WHITE PERCH WHEN YOU GO TO SCALE THEM, THE YELLOW PERCH.

- THAT'S IT.

[laughs] GOOD JOB.

GOOD JOB.

- ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

I THINK THIS IS TARGET SPECIES.

- TARGET SPECIES.

- IT FELT LIKE IT.

HE HIT JUST LIKE A PERCH COMING OFF THERE.

- A LITTLE NICER FISH THERE.

- OH, YEAH.

HE PULLED A LITTLE DRAG OUT OF THERE.

HERE WE GO.

THAT'S A NICE WHITE PERCH THERE.

- NOW, YOU FISHED FOR HIM.

YOU HAD THAT BITE OVER THERE AND KEPT GOING BACK TO THAT SAME SPOT AND DROPPING IN THERE.

- KEPT GOING BACK TO THAT SAME SPOT, YEP.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SCHOOLING FISH, SO IF YOU GET A BITE, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY WORK THE AREA.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

DEFINITELY WORK THE AREA.

AND THOSE ARE--I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY FISH, A LOT OF FUN TO CATCH.

HE'S STARTING TO GET THAT HUMP ON HIS HEAD TOO.

REALLY NICE WHITE PERCH.

- WE'LL CATCH ONE IN A LITTLE BIT WITH A PRONOUNCED HUMP.

- YEP.

- I ASSUME YOU'RE ALWAYS FISHING FOR WHITE PERCH PRETTY MUCH THIS TIME OF YEAR.

DO YOU ALWAYS USE BEETLE SPINS FOR THEM?

- YOU KNOW, KURT, WE USE BEETLE SPINS A LOT FOR THEM, BUT THESE FISH ARE, I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST LIKE THE STRIPED BASS FISHERY.

A LOT OF GUYS TARGET THEM ON ARTIFICIAL SPINNER BAITS LIKE YOU SEE HERE.

YOU CAN EVEN BOTTOM FISH FOR THESE JUST LIKE THE STRIPED BASS.

SOME GUYS USE, YOU KNOW, JUST SET UP AND ANCHOR OUT AND PUT LINES OUT ON THE BOTTOM USING WORM OR SHRIMP OR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND GRASS SHRIMP.

SO PEOPLE CAN BOTTOM FISH FOR THEM.

YOU CAN CAST FOR THEM.

WE CATCH THEM ON FLY.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF WAYS YOU CAN CATCH THEM.

- LATER IN THE SEASON AS THE WATER TEMPERATURE PICKS UP, DO YOU SEE THAT THEY COME UP HIGHER IN THE SURFACE OR-- - EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

SOME OF THE BITES WE'RE GETTING TODAY ARE RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM WITH THE BEETLE SPINS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HERE IN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO THESE FISH ARE GOING TO COME RIGHT ON UP IN A COLUMN JUST LIKE-- JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SPECIES OF FISH.

- THAT ONE HIT A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVELY.

MAYBE A LITTLE ROCK WOULD BE MY GUESS.

- HE FIRED IT PRETTY GOOD, HUH?

- JUST FELT A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVELY WHEN HE HIT IT.

BUT I MAYBE MISTOOK HIM.

- THIS MUDDY WATER IS KIND OF LIKE A CHRISTMAS.

SOMETIMES YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU GOT ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

AND HE IS RIGHT OVER THERE AT THE VERY EDGE.

IT MUST BE A PRETTY PRONOUNCED DROP-OFF... - YEP.

- FROM THE LOWLANDS.

- GOOD FISH.

OH, THERE'S ONE.

THIS ONE CAME OUT OF THAT-- ABOUT THE SAME SPOT THAT YOU CAUGHT YOURS AT A WHILE AGO.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

A LITTLE HEAD SHAKE GOING ON DOWN THERE.

- THEY LIKE THE BOTTOM.

- YEAH.

AS MANY MORE DAYS LIKE TODAY, THEY'RE GOING TO COME ON UP ON TOP.

YOU KNOW, WE MESS AROUND WITH THESE FISH FROM SPRINGTIME, YOU KNOW, RIGHT ON INTO THE SUMMER.

- HOW FAR UP THE RIVER DO THEY GO WHEN YOU CATCH WHITE PERCH?

- YOU KNOW, I'VE TARGETED THEM UP TO WILLIAMSTON.

I HEAR GUYS THAT CATCH THEM RIGHT ON UP ABOVE.

THESE FISH REALLY LIKE THIS LOW GROUND DOWN HERE.

THE MAIN RIVER, BACK CREEKS YOU CAN FIND THEM.

YOU CAN FIND THEM PLENTIFUL.

THAT'S A FAT FISH RIGHT HERE.

I MEAN, LOOK HOW THICK THEY ARE.

- BEAUTIFUL.

BEAUTIFUL.

- AND, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT YEARS THEY RUN DIFFERENT SIZE CLASSES.

BUT THESE ARE SOME PRETTY WHITE PERCH WE'RE CATCHING HERE.

- CAME TO THE RIGHT SPOT THIS TIME.

- I GOT A GOOD ONE THERE.

- YOU GOT A LITTLE MORE-- YOU DON'T HAVE THE SPECIES OF-- - OH.

- WHAT IS IT?

SPECIES OF THE DAY.

WHAT WAS YOUR TERMINOLOGY?

- BETTER CATCH UP WITH HIM.

CATCH UP WITH HIM.

OH, MITCHELL.

MINE'S OFF, BUD.

I THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH ON HIM.

THAT WAS A BIG FISH, MAN.

- I FEEL LIKE THIS ONE'S A WHITE, THOUGH.

- I'M GOING TO REACH OVER HERE AND GRAB THE NET JUST BASED OFF WHAT I HAD ON.

- NO.

ROCK.

ROCK.

- ROCK.

THINK YOU CAN GRAB HIM, OR YOU WANT ME TO SCOOP HIM?

- I CAN GRAB IT.

- ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

MM-HMM, MIGHTY PRETTY.

- THAT BEETLE SPIN, THAT LITTLE PIECE THAT STICKS OUT IN IT... - THAT LITTLE-- - FITS RIGHT IN MY THUMB.

- I OFTENTIMES TAKE A PAIR OF PLIERS AND BEND IT OVER.

IT'S PUSHING CLOSE TO 18 INCHES, ISN'T HE, 17?

- THAT'S PROBABLY A PAIR TO THE ONE YOU HAD ON.

- MM-HMM.

THE ONE I HAD CAME OUT IN THE CURRENT, AND IT TURNED RIGHT BACK AT ME.

AND I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH HIM THEN.

RIGHT OFF THE BASE OF THAT TREE.

- GOOD JOB.

- THEY'RE RIGHT UP AGAINST IT, TUCKED UP.

- THAT'S A PRETTY BLOODLINE THERE TOO.

AND HE'S A WHITE PERCH.

- YES, SIR.

A HEAD-SHAKER.

PRETTY LITTLE WHITE PERCH.

THERE HE IS.

- LITTLE REDFIN TOO, ISN'T HE?

- MM-HMM.

- MAYBE ALREADY BEEN SPAWNED.

- YEAH, THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE DO LATELY.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER ONE FROM OVER THERE.

- I'M TRYING.

- JOE, WE CAUGHT SOME PERCH BUT, HEY, THE STRIPERS WERE JUST A BONUS.

- WELL, THEY REALLY WERE.

ACTUALLY, THEY HIT THE BEETLE SPINS JUST AS GOOD AS THE WHITE PERCH.

CAPTAIN BLAKE HAD CALLED ME A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY DID THIS PARTICULAR TRIP, AND HE WAS ON SOME REALLY LARGE WHITE PERCH.

THAT DAY WE REALLY DIDN'T FIND THE BIG FEMALES.

BUT WE CAUGHT SOME PRETTY-- I MEAN, THESE WERE NICE REPRESENTATIVE AS FAR AS THE SPECIES IS CONCERNED, WHITE PERCH.

BUT HAVING STRIPERS UP THERE KIND OF ADDED TO THE MORNING.

AND WE JUST HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- MITCHELL, THAT'S A FUN LITTLE TRIP THERE, EARLY SPRING, TARGETING WHITE PERCH, WHICH I SELDOM DO, LIGHT TACKLE, WHICH I DO A LOT OF, 4-POUND TEST, AND JUST A DIFFERENT FISH FOR US.

THEY'RE UP HERE SPAWNING WITH THE ROCK, AND WE CAUGHT RIGHT MANY ROCK WITH THEM.

BUT LIGHT TACKLE IS ALWAYS PRETTY MUCH MY FORTE.

I'M ASSUMING WHITE WAS THE COLOR CHOICE TODAY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU HAD ME TIE ON.

BUT WE GOT A VARIETY.

- YEAH.

DEFINITELY WHEN WE COME OUT TARGETING THESE WHITE PERCH THIS SPRINGTIME, WE USE-- ALWAYS BRING A BOX OF DIFFERENT PLASTICS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE YOU GOT CURLY TAILS, SPLIT TAILS, COUPLE DIFFERENT SIZE JIG HEADS.

YOU CAN EVEN SWITCH UP FROM SILVER BLADES, GOLD BLADES DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE SPECIFIC TO TODAY, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CATCH A LOT OF WHITE PERCH DOING IT THIS WAY.

- THEY WERE NICE CALIBER FISH TOO.

- YEAH, SOME PRETTY WHITE PERCH.

- MOSTLY ROES, FAT, THICK FISH.

- YEP, IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD TIME, DEFINITELY A GOOD SPRINGTIME EVENT.

YOU NEED TO-- IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ON LIGHT TACKLE, AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

- ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS NEAT WAS THE WAY WE WERE FISHING, AND THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE LOWLANDS WAS REALLY CLEAR, AND YOU COULD ALMOST SEE THE BOTTOM.

AND IT MET MUDDY WATER.

AND WE WERE FISHING, THROWING INTO THE CLEAR WATER AT THE BANK.

AND IT WAS COMING-- RIGHT AT THE BREAK A LOT OF TIMES IS WHERE WE HAD OUR FISH.

- YEP, WE LOOK FOR THESE CONDITIONS A LOT OF TIMES WHENEVER WE-- WHEN WE'RE TARGETING THESE WHITE PERCH'S.

IF THE LOW GROUND IS FLOODED AND THOSE CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT, THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN-- YOU REALLY SEE SOME NICE FISH.

AND THEY'RE COMING THROUGH ON A SPAWN SO, I MEAN, ONE DAY, YOU CAN CATCH A LOT OF THEM, THE NEXT DAY, THE VARIETY OR THE SIZE MAY CHANGE.

BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY HERE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING.

- WE HAD PRETTY GOOD ACTION, GOT UP LATE, AND DIDN'T FISH ALL THAT LONG.

- NOPE.

YEP.

- I ENJOYED IT, AND I HOPE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND MAYBE CATCH SOME ROCK OR MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IT WAS A GOOD-- GOOD WHITE PERCH TRIP.

- APPRECIATE IT.

- YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

- THANKS, CAPTAIN BLAKE, FOR THAT VALUABLE INFORMATION.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN HIM ON A FISHING TRIP MAYBE IN THE SPRING, GIVE HIM A CALL.

HIS NUMBER IS RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY OF FISH REUBEN.

- HI, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING A VARIATION OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE SANDWICHES, THE REUBEN, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, WE'RE GOING TAKE SOME STALE PUMPERNICKEL BREAD, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT INTO SOME BREAD CRUMBS.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD IT WITH OUR IN-YOUR-OVEN HOUSE-AUTRY BREADER, WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO COOK YOUR FISH IN YOUR OVEN.

IT'S FABULOUS.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET A NICE CRUNCH ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT WILL BE NICE AND TENDER AND MOIST ON THE INSIDE.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

I'VE GOT MY PUMPERNICKEL BREAD IN HERE.

AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST GONNA PULSE IT SEVERAL TIMES IN MY FOOD PROCESSER.

AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PUT MY BREADER-- MY IN-YOUR-OVEN MIX-- IN HERE, SO WE CAN MIX IT UP REALLY WELL.

AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO USE SOME STALE BREAD THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

YOU CAN ALSO USE RYE BREAD IF YOU LIKE, BUT I JUST LIKE THE PUMPERNICKEL, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE AS STRONG.

SO WE HAVE ALL THAT MIXED UP.

LET'S TAKE IT OFF AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO POUR IT INTO OUR BAGGIE.

AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TOO TO KEEP YOUR HANDS FROM GETTING REALLY, YOU KNOW, MESSY TOO.

IT'S EASY CLEANUP, WHICH IS WHAT I LIKE.

I CAN JUST TOSS MY BAG AND GO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR-- KIND OF JUST MIX IT UP.

THEN WHAT I DO IS, I FOLD DOWN THE TOP OF MY BAG.

THAT HELPS KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT CLEAN.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE FISH FILETS.

AND I WOULD JUST DO ONE AT A TIME SINCE THESE ARE PRETTY BIG FILETS.

AND I WOULD USE A FISH THAT IS A MILD WHITEFISH, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING-- THE SAUERKRAUT AND ALL THE FLAVORS ARE GOING TO BE KIND OF STRONG SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE COMPETING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SHAKE THIS ALL TOGETHER UNTIL IT'S COATED WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO PLACE IT ON A BAKING SHEET THAT I'VE COATED WITH AN-- LINED WITH MY FOIL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BAKE THIS AT 450 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

IT'S GOING TO BE NICE AND CRUNCHY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY QUICK BAKE.

ONCE IT COMES OUT, WE'RE GOING TO-- THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TOP IT WITH SOME THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING JUST LIKE YOU WOULD AND PLACE SOME SWISS CHEESE ON THE TOP.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT BACK IN THE OVEN OR UNDERNEATH A BROILER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, JUST UNTIL YOUR CHEESE IS BUBBLED.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SERVE IT WITH A TOPPING OF SOME SAUERKRAUT AND MAYBE A GERMAN SLAW WITH SOME CABBAGE.

IT'S A GREAT DISH.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS YOU DO YOUR REGULAR REUBEN.

IT'S A GREAT VARIATION.

AND THAT'S SIMPLE COOKING.

ENJOY.

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR THAT RECIPE.

AND IF YOU LIKE THAT ONE, THERE'S A WHOLE BOOK CALLED OUR FAVORITES OF JOE AND MY FAVORITE RECIPES.

YOU CAN PICK IT UP AT CAROLINAOUTDOORJOURNAL.COM.

WE HAD A GOOD DAY OF FISHING ON ROANOKE RIVER, CAUGHT SOME STRIPERS, BUT THE PERCH THAT DAY, JUST A GOOD DAY.

- WELL, THAT WAS OUR TARGET FISH OF THE DAY.

IT WAS WHITE PERCH.

AND THEY DO MAKE THAT SPRING RUN EVERY YEAR IN APRIL SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE STRIPER RUN, WHICH IS WORLD-FAMOUS NOW ON THE ROANOKE.

AND THAT KIND OF ADDED TO THE MORNING.

WE NEVER FOUND THE LARGER WHITE PERCH THAT MITCH HAD BEEN ON A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE, THE BIGGER FEMALES, BUT WHAT WE DID CATCH WAS REPRESENTATIVE, YOU KNOW, OF I'D SAY AN AVERAGE-SIZE WHITE PERCH.

BUT TARGETING THAT FISH WITH 4-POUND TEST AND 6-FOOT REALLY ULTRALIGHT RODS, THEY GIVE US A TUG, AND THEN YOU THROW IN THE STRIPERS THAT WERE THERE THAT MORNING THAT REALLY TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT, IT MADE FOR A GREAT MORNING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE NEVER FISHED THE ROANOKE RIVER, THAT MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO GO TRY IT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES TO FISH FOR.

YOU HAVE, AGAIN, THE WHITE PERCH, THE STRIPED BASS.

WE DIDN'T CATCH ANY CATFISH THAT DAY.

WE WEREN'T REALLY-- BUT THEY WERE IN THE AREA TOO.

AND--BUT A GREAT RIVER THAT WE'VE GOT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND IF YOU'VE NEVER FISHED IT, GO TRY IT.

- AND THE OLD SAYING, "BOY, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE YESTERDAY."

- EXACTLY.

- 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.

- [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] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪