[GENTLE ORCHESTRAL FANFARE] - ALL RIGHT, WHEN YOU GIVE IT A TWIST-- OH, PICK UP, THERE YOU GO, LITTLE GUY.

LITTLE GUY, I DON'T THINK HE CAN GET IT IN HIS MOUTH.

WHEN YOU GO TO GIVE IT SOME ACTION, JUST GIVE IT ONE TWIST.

THESE BIGGER FISH TEND TO NOT LIKE IT STRIPPING.

IF YOU GET ONE TWITCH OCCASIONALLY-- PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP.

FISH ON.

BEAUTIFUL.

OH, YEAH.

YOU GOT ONE THERE.

- HE ATE IT SLOW.

- YEAH, HE'S NOT AS LITTLE AS I THOUGHT.

HE ATE IT LIKE A SMALL FISH.

BRING HIM AROUND TO THE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

OUR FIRST SMALLMOUTH OF THE DAY.

[mumbles unintelligibly] ALL RIGHT.

NICE LITTLE SMALLMOUTH, TOP WATER.

HOPEFULLY NOT THE BIGGEST ONE WE'LL CATCH TODAY, BUT IT'S A START, FISH NUMBER ONE.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

- RIGHT.

- GOOD JOB, HONEY.

- THANK YOU.

- [ANNOUNCER] THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [Female Announcer] Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine.

ncwildlife.org/winc.

- [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.

[light instrumental music] ♪ - HELLO.

WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM'S GONNA TAKE US TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

AND JOE, IT'S ALL ABOUT SMALLMOUTH BASS.

- IT REALLY IS.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE DAY OFF WITH JUDSON CONWAY, WHO OWNS ELK CREEK OUTFITTERS OUT OF BOONE.

HE'S TAKING HIS WIFE FISHING.

AND SHE'S AN ACCOMPLISHED FLY FISHERMAN.

FLOATING A REALLY PRETTY STREAM FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS USING TOP WATER FLIES.

- AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN GEAR TIME TODAY AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY'LL EXPLAIN THE FLIES.

HE LIKES TO USE A CERTAIN FLY.

IT'S ACTUALLY TWO OR THREE OF THEM.

BUT THEY'RE REALLY LARGE IN SIZE.

AND HE--HE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN GEAR TIME.

- AND TO START YOUR DAY, DONNA'S GOT A RECIPE FOR BREAKFAST CASSEROLE.

- YEAH, IF YOU LIKE TO EAT BREAKFAST, TUNE IN.

SHE'S GOT A REAL GOOD RECIPE FOR THAT TODAY.

- WELL, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

IT'S RIGHT HERE TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- ALL RIGHT, EUNICE, WE GOT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN MAY.

THE RAINS HAVE FINALLY STOPPED HITTING US SO HARD, AND THE WATER'S STARTING TO CLEAR UP, AND IT'S TIME FOR THE SMALLMOUTH.

- YOU THINK IT'S WARM ENOUGH FOR THEM TO HIT ON TOP?

- YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY-- DEFINITELY GONNA WARM UP TODAY.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT IS A COLD START TO THE DAY.

IT'S 34 DEGREES IN BOONE THIS MORNING.

BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET UP TO ABOUT 75.

SO I'M GONNA START US OUT WITH SOME TOP WATER FLY ACTION.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T GET THEM UP.

IF WE HAVE TO, WE CAN GO UNDER.

BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUNNER ON TOP.

- FUNNY, HONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

MAKE YOUR CAST AND DON'T MOVE IT ONCE IT LANDS.

THERE YOU GO.

GOOD.

LEAVE IT.

GIVE IT ONE TWITCH SO IT COMES OUT.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, GET IT ON OUT OF THERE.

HURRY, HURRY, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE COMING UP ON THIS NEXT-- YEAH, HIT THOSE ROCKS EARLY.

THEN WE'LL GO ON THE BANK TO THIS LOG.

NICE.

ALL RIGHT, GO ONE CAST JUST RIGHT BACK ON THE BANK.

I LIKE HOW EVEN IF YOU HIT A SPOT WITH IT, THE HEAD TWIRLS IT.

EASY.

ALL RIGHT, NOW JUST GET BACK ON THE BANK.

ALL RIGHT, WHEN YOU GIVE IT A TWIST-- OH, PICK UP, THERE YOU GO, LITTLE GUY.

LITTLE GUY, I DON'T THINK HE COULD GET IT IN HIS MOUTH.

WHEN YOU GO TO GIVE IT SOME ACTION, JUST GIVE IT ONE TWIST.

THESE BIGGER FISH TEND TO NOT LIKE IT STRIPPING.

BUT IF YOU GET ONE TWITCH OCCASIONALLY-- PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP, PICK UP.

FISH ON.

GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A LITTLE GUY ON THERE.

- HE ATE IT SLOW.

- YEAH, HE'S NOT AS LITTLE AS I THOUGHT.

HE ATE IT LIKE A SMALL FISH.

BRING HIM AROUND TO THE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

OUR FIRST SMALLMOUTH OF THE DAY.

[mumbles unintelligibly] ALL RIGHT.

NICE LITTLE SMALLMOUTH, TOP WATER.

HOPEFULLY NOT THE BIGGEST ONE WE'LL CATCH TODAY, BUT IT'S A START, FISH NUMBER ONE.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

- RIGHT.

- GOOD JOB, HONEY.

- THANK YOU.

- COME ON, MUSKY JAWS.

ALL RIGHT, GET TO THE RIGHT OF THAT ROCK ONE TIME.

NICE.

GOOD.

GOOD ACTION.

NOW JUST IF YOU SEE ANYTHING DIMPLE THE WATER, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR FLY, SET THE HOOK.

HOOK SETS HER FREE.

LIKE THEY SAY, THE DEADER THE BETTER.

MEANING THE LESS YOU MOVE YOUR FLY, THE BETTER IT IS, THE MORE THE FISH LIKE IT.

ALL RIGHT--OH, PICK UP.

GOOD FISH.

GOOD FISH.

THERE YOU GO.

STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP.

NICE JOB.

HE MAY RUN ON YOU.

IF HE DOES-- OH, GOOD LITTLE JUMP.

ALL RIGHT.

- OH.

- OH.

- DANG IT.

- COUNT IT.

HE'S GONE.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF CATCH-AND-RELEASE.

WE GOT THE FUN OUT OF IT.

ALL RIGHT, GET ONE MORE UP ON THAT LOG JUST FOR ONE SECOND.

LEAVE IT.

[water rushing] - WHAT AM I TRYING TO IMITATE WITH THIS FLY?

- WELL, BASICALLY FOOD.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SMART ALEC ANSWER, BUT PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT THE SMALLMOUTH LIKE TO EAT, AND I TELL THEM THEY'LL EAT ANYTHING THAT'S ALIVE THAT THEY CAN FIT IN THEIR MOUTH.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY FLIES THAT IMITATE, LIKE, A GRASSHOPPER OR A DRAGONFLY, THINGS THAT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A REAL CREATURE.

BUT SOME FLIES, LURES, BAITS JUST LOOK LIKE SOMETHING ALIVE.

AND THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.

IF THEY CAN FIT IT IN THEIR MOUTH, THEY'LL EAT IT.

LOOK AT THAT SOFT EAT.

DID YOU SEE HOW SOFT HE ATE IT?

- YEAH, THAT'S SOFT.

- IT WAS JUST A DIMPLE ON THE WATER.

BOY, THAT WAS JUST THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW SOFT THEY CAN EAT.

LITTLE ONES DON'T EAT LIKE THAT.

- [chuckles] - JUST THE BIGGER ONES.

HE'S FITTING TO BEND THAT SEVEN WEIGHT.

NICE.

- MUST BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE LAST ONE.

- PRETTY.

OKAY.

- I LIKE THIS SECTION.

- WELL, WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THAT LOG RIGHT DOWN THERE.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A GOOD-LOOKING LOG RIGHT HERE.

PULLED SOME FISH OFF-HOOK BEFORE.

LET'S HIT THE FRONT SIDE OF IT FIRST.

THEN WE'LL GO OVER IT.

- OKAY.

- THERE YOU GO.

GOOD.

GOOD.

NOW HIT IT DOWN IN THAT SHADOW ONE TIME, JUST TOWARDS THE BOTTOM-- LOWER END.

NICE CAST.

THERE.

OH, NICE JOB.

NICE JOB.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY HEFTY FISH.

GET READY FOR HIM TO RUN.

NICE JOB.

BOY, HE WAS RIGHT ON THAT LOG TOO, WASN'T HE?

RIGHT IN THE SHADE.

RIGHT WHERE IT TURNED-- RIGHT WHERE IT TURNED-- WHAT?

- JUST HOPE HE DOESN'T COME UNBUTTONED.

- NO, NO, NO, DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.

HE'S RIGHT WHERE THAT LOG WENT FROM THE SHADE TO THE SUN, SUN TO THE SHADE.

THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

- WE'LL SEE.

- GET HIM ON THE REEL IF YOU HAVE TO.

HE MIGHT PUT YOU ON THE REEL.

- I SEE HIM.

- ALL RIGHT.

- A LITTLE BETTER.

- A BETTER FISH, HONEY.

- YEAH, HE PULLED ON ME A LITTLE BIT.

- LOOK, THE FLY'S ALREADY OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

GOOD 15, MAYBE 16-INCHER.

IT'S A GOOD ONE.

- PRETTY.

- ALL RIGHT, NICE FIGHT, BUDDY.

OKAY, LET'S GET BACK ON IT.

- LET'S GET BACK ON THIS LOG.

- GOOD WORK.

WAY TO BRING IT INTO THE BOAT.

- SO WHY DO YOU THINK THESE FISH HAVE SUDDENLY TURNED ON?

- WELL, THEY HAD BEEN TURNED ON GOOD EATING TOP WATER FOR THE FIRST PART OF MAY.

AND THEN IN THE MOUNTAINS WE JUST GOT A BIG COLD FRONT.

MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD A FROST IN BOONE THIS MORNING.

THERE WAS ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD.

IT WAS 34 DEGREES.

AND SO WAKING UP TO IT THIS MORNING, THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAD SHOT DOWN TO 61.

SO IT TOOK IT A WHILE FOR THAT SUN TO BAKE THE RIVER AND WARM IT UP.

BUT NOW THAT IT'S GOTTEN UP TO 67 DEGREES, THESE FISH ARE DEFINITELY MOVING AND LOOKING UP, WHICH IS JUST LIKE FLIPPING A SWITCH IF YOU'RE GETTING THAT WATER TEMPERATURE UP.

YOU KNOW, THESE SMALLMOUTH ARE FUNNY ABOUT PRESSURE SYSTEMS AND THAT--ALL THAT STUFF.

SO I'M JUST GLAD THEY'RE ON NOW.

OOH, ONE MORE CAST, THEN GET READY FOR THIS LOG.

THERE YOU GO.

LET THAT DRIFT.

NOW YOU CAN PLAN ON GETTING ONE HIT IN THIS LOG.

THERE YOU GO.

NICE.

GO OVER IT ONE TIME.

KNOCK, KNOCK, NOBODY'S HOME.

GOT TO USE THE FORCE.

TRUST YOUR FEELINGS, EUNICE.

YOU DON'T NEED VISION.

JUST FEEL THE FISH EATING.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SHADE BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO THE GEAR TIME SPOT.

PICK HIM--OOH, GOOD FISH.

GOOD FISH.

KEEP HIM TIGHT.

KEEP HIM TIGHT.

KEEP THAT ROD BENT.

ALL RIGHT.

[chuckles] AIN'T NOTHING BORING ABOUT THAT.

NICE WORK.

ALL RIGHT, I'M DROPPING THE HOOK.

KEEP HIM ON THIS RIGHT SIDE IF YOU CAN.

- YEP.

- OH, LOOK AT THAT.

- SO CAN WE GET A BABYSITTER TOMORROW TOO?

- [giggles] I LIKE THE WAY YOU'RE THINKING.

- OH, COME ON.

- BOY, LOOK AT THAT SEVEN WEIGHT BEND.

[grunts] - SALMON ONLY.

- OLD MOUNTAIN BRONZEBACK.

I LOVE IT.

[grunts] NICE.

- [sighs] - ALL RIGHT, NICE SMALLMOUTH, EUNICE.

- THANKS, JUD.

- YEAH, GOOD HOOK SET.

GOOD HOOK ON HIM.

PRETTY.

LOOK AT THOSE RED EYES.

HE'S NOT ALL BARRED UP LIKE SOME OF THEM.

LOOKS LIKE HE'S CHAMELEONIZED TO THE SAND BANK HE WAS SITTING ON.

- YEAH.

- HE'S PRETTY.

- AND HARDLY A STRIPE ON HIM.

- GREAT FISH FOR TOP WATER.

ALL RIGHT.

- AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COLD THIS MORNING.

- I DID THINK IT WAS TOO COLD.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU STAY ON THE COUCH.

- JOE, WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER UP THERE.

- YEAH, WELL, THAT DAY, AS JUDSON SAID EARLIER, IT WAS COLD.

AND SO WE HAD TO-- WELL, THEY HAD TO WORK A LITTLE BIT EARLY ON.

BUT AS THE MORNING PROGRESSED AND THE TEMPERATURE CAME UP, THE BITE STARTED PICKING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TOP WATER.

SO THEY STUCK IT OUT.

AND AS--LIKE I SAID, RIGHT AFTER LUNCH, IT REALLY PICKED UP.

AND WE ENDED UP CATCHING QUITE A FEW FISH.

- WELL, IT DID TURN OUT TO BE A GOOD DAY.

LET'S FIND OUT MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ - SO THE MORNING STARTED OUT A LITTLE SLOW.

- YEAH, IT DID.

BUT IT WAS 34 DEGREES WHEN WE STARTED.

AND THAT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL TOP WATER TEMPERATURE TO START WITH.

DEFINITELY KEPT THE FISH SLOW FOR A WHILE.

BUT BY THIS AFTERNOON THEY WERE EATING TOP WATER GOOD, WHICH AS YOU AND I KNOW, IT'S OUR DEFINITE FAVORITE FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH ON FLY ROD, TOP WATER.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE FLIES THAT WE USED HERE.

THIS BLACK BEAUTY WAS YOUR CHOICE.

IT WAS ALMOST--WE MISSED A LOT OF FISH, IT WAS SO BIG.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE AFTER, WERE SOME OF THE BIG GUYS.

AND WHEN THE DRAGONFLIES DID START FLYING THIS AFTERNOON, THIS LITTLE BLUE BOMBER HERE IS A GOOD ONE.

AND THE STEALTH BOMBER BY ALL MEANS CAUGHT MOST OF OUR FISH IN BLACK.

- MM-HMM.

- AND THAT'S A GREAT FLY.

SO MANY PEOPLE GO FLY FISHING FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS, AND ALL THEY THROW ARE POPPING BUGS.

AND POPPING BUGS DO WORK, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE BAIT FOR TOP WATER SMALLMOUTH.

BUT IT'S SO MUCH FUN IF YOU'RE A FLY FISHERMAN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN BUGS.

AND YOU CAN GET REAL INVENTIVE WITH FOAM AND LOTS OF NEAT MATERIALS, MAKE A LOT OF COOL TERRESTRIALS AND FROGS AND THINGS THE SMALLMOUTH DO EAT.

- MM-HMM.

- HOLD THAT, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE FLY RODS.

I LOVE G. LOOMIS.

I THINK THEY'RE THE FINEST FLY ROD MADE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR FLY RODS FOR THEIR SMALLMOUTH IS, THEY GO A LITTLE LIGHT.

YOU WERE THROWING TWO SEVEN WEIGHTS TODAY.

THIS IS A GLX CROSS CURRENT, WHICH IS A STIFFER ROD.

WE WERE THROWING WITH THE HEAVIER, BIGGER BUGS.

AND THEN WE STARTED USING THE CLASSIC GLX WHEN WE WERE THROWING THE LIGHTER BUGS, WHICH IS A LITTLE SOFTER PRESENTATION.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THEY WERE SEVEN WEIGHTS.

SIX WEIGHTS ARE FINE.

AN EIGHT WEIGHT WILL DO.

BUT I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE GO OUT AND STRUGGLE WITH A FIVE-WEIGHT ROD, THINKING THAT THE HEAVIER ROD'S GONNA WEAR THEM OUT, WHEREIN ACTUALLY A HEAVIER ROD, THEY CAST LESS, IT'S A LOT EASIER, AND THEY DO LESS WORK WITH THE HEAVIER ROD THAN STRUGGLING WITH LOTS OF FALSE CASTS FROM A FIVE-WEIGHT ROD.

AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT FEATURE OF A STIFF ROD AND A HEAVY ROD IS THE HOOK SET.

SMALLMOUTH HAVE HEAVY MOUTHS AND HARD MOUTHS.

AND IT'S EASY TO MESS UP THAT HOOK SET WITH A SOFT ROD.

- THOSE RODS WERE BENT OVER PRETTY GOOD TOO A COUPLE TIMES.

- YEAH, THEY WERE.

THERE WAS A COUPLE FISH THAT I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS GONNA BREAK YOUR ARM.

BUT OVERALL, THAT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY OF TOP WATER FISHING, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A COLD FRONT.

- MM-HMM, THERE WASN'T A SINGLE FISH IN THE MOVING WATER TODAY.

- YEAH, THEY WERE IN THE SHADOWS IN THE SLOW WATER.

- WE HOPE YOU CAN USE SOME OF THAT VALUABLE INFORMATION.

NOW LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN.

SHE'S GOT A RECIPE FOR BREAKFAST CASSEROLE THAT'S GUARANTEED TO START YOUR DAY RIGHT.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ - HI, TODAY IN THE KITCHEN, WE'RE MAKING A BREAKFAST CASSEROLE.

AND WE'RE GONNA USE SOME VENISON SAUSAGE IN THIS.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO DO.

AND WE'RE GONNA USE SOME UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS.

SO I THINK YOU'RE GONNA-- YOU'RE GONNA LIKE THIS.

SO WE'RE GONNA START OUT WITH SIX EGGS, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA MIX THOSE TOGETHER.

WE'VE ALREADY GROUND AND BROWNED AND COOKED OUR VENISON SAUSAGE, AND IT IS LAYING IN OUR BAKING DISH.

AND THIS IS A GREAT RECIPE YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER FAIRLY QUICKLY AND HAVE IT FOR GUESTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

SO IT'S GREAT.

WE'RE GONNA ADD A LITTLE BIT OF SOUR CREAM TO THIS, WHICH WILL GIVE IT A NICE CREAMINESS, AND ALSO SOME SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE AND THEN TWO CUPS OF MILK AND A LITTLE BIT OF DRIED MUSTARD.

PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.

AND JUST WHISK IT TOGETHER.

SO THAT GOES TOGETHER REALLY QUICKLY.

AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD-- IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THE MORNING OF WHEN YOU ARE HAVING COMPANY, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND BROWN MY VENISON SAUSAGE AND JUST HAVE IT IN THE FRIDGE SO THEN YOU CAN JUST POUR IT OUT IN THE MORNING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOING THAT.

THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR BREADING--OUR TOPPING THAT GOES ON HERE.

WE'RE GONNA USE ONE PACKAGE OF HUSH PUPPY WITH ONIONS.

I KNOW.

ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

IT'S GONNA GIVE IT A GREAT FLAVOR AND A GREAT SMELL WHEN IT'S COOKING.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD ONE CUP OF MILK TO THAT AND SOME MORE OF THE GROUND, DRIED MUSTARD.

THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA MIX THIS TOGETHER.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA POUR IT ON TOP OF OUR CASSEROLE.

SO HERE WE GO.

WE'RE GONNA MIX THIS TOGETHER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO POUR OUR EGG MIXTURE ON TOP OF THE SAUSAGE HERE.

AND EVEN IT OUT.

AND IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE MORE CHEESE ON THE TOP IF YOU'D LIKE.

THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR-- THE HUSH PUPPY MIX HERE, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA PLACE IT ON TOP OF OUR EGG MIXTURE.

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA SPREAD IT OUT.

AND THEN IT WILL ALL MOVE TOGETHER KIND OF LIKE AN INVISIBLE PIE, IF YOU'VE EVER MADE ONE OF THOSE.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT THAT ON TOP.

THEN WE'RE GONNA BAKE IT AT 375 FOR ABOUT 40 TO 45 MINUTES UNTIL IT'S SET.

AND WHEN YOU BRING IT OUT OF THE OVEN, IF IT STILL KIND OF JIGGLES A LITTLE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT IT BACK IN.

BUT IT WILL JIGGLE A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN IT WILL CONTINUE TO COOK AS YOU ARE LETTING IT COOL A LITTLE BIT.

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

YOU CAN TELL IT'S GREAT.

IT'S A NICE GOLDEN BROWN.

AND THE SMELLS ARE GONNA BE FABULOUS.

AND YOU'RE GONNA GET RAVE REVIEWS, IT THINK.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS BREAKFAST CASSEROLE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- THANKS, DONNA.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE RECIPES YOU WANT TO KEEP HANDY.

JOE, LET'S GO BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS.

AND JUST A GOOD DAY OF FISHING.

LIKE YOU SAID, STARTED OUT COLD, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE PRODUCTIVE.

- RIGHT, THIS WAS IN MAY, AND IT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN WARMER EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND ACTUALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BUT THAT MORNING, IT WAS IN THE 30s.

AND SO IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE FOR THE STREAM TO COME ALIVE.

BUT IT DID, AND SHE STUCK IT OUT.

SHE'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHED FLY FISHERMAN, AS IS JUDSON.

BUT ELK CREEK OUTFITTERS WILL TAKE YOU SMALLMOUTH FISHING.

IF YOU WANT TO GO, HE SAID GIVE THEM A CALL IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT.

- I'VE ALWAYS SAID FLY FISHING IS JUST A WORK OF ART.

- WELL, IT REALLY IS.

IT TAKES-- YOU JUST DON'T PICK UP A FLY ROD AND CATCH FISH.

IT TAKES PRACTICE AND KNOWING HOW TO PRESENT THAT FLY JUST RIGHT AND MAKE IT AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE FOR THE FISH TO TAKE IT.

- AND THE BEST PLACE TO FLY FISH OF COURSE IS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

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

- [ANNOUNCER] THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [Female Announcer] Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine.

ncwildlife.org/winc.

- [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.

[light instrumental music] ♪