[gentle orchestral fanfare] - THAT POCKET.

SEE, THERE SHOULD BE FISH IN THAT POCKET RIGHT THERE.

MAN, THEY SHOULD POP RIGHT THERE.

THEY SHOULD POP-- - THERE IS.

OH, YEAH.

- [laughs] OH!

- IF YOU GET CAN GET HIM THROUGH THAT... - COME ON, LITTLE SWAMPER.

COME ON, SWAMPER.

HEY, I GREW UP IN FLORIDA.

I CAN GET HIM THROUGH THIS, OH, YE OF LITTLE FAITH.

- I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE.

I DO.

I DO.

I DO BELIEVE IN-- - [laughs] THAT WAS FUN.

- YEAH.

- THAT WAS A NICE ONE.

- YOU DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THERE.

- THAT WAS A NICE ONE.

LITTLE, FEISTY MALE.

CUTE LITTLE THING.

- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING, ISN'T IT?

- YEAH.

YEAH.

YEP.

THAT WAS FUN.

THANK YOU, SIR.

- [laughs] - THANK YOU, SIR.

- NOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR TIMING BACK.

- THERE YOU GO.

[chuckling] - GEEZER GOT HIS GROOVE BACK.

- [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, AND WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM IS ABOUT BASS FISHING.

IN FACT, IT'S TOPWATER BASS FISHING.

AND, JOE, WE'RE GOING TO A SPECIAL PLACE.

- IT REALLY IS, JOHN.

WE HAD AN INVITATION GIVEN TO US ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO VISIT A NEW OPERATION CALLED THE KING FISHER SOCIETY.

AND WHAT IT IS--IT'S-- JIM MORGAN FROM THAT AREA ENVISIONED PUTTING TOGETHER A PACKAGE WHERE YOU COULD GO AND HAVE A NICE PLACE TO STAY, NICE MEALS, AND A LAKE THAT'S FULL OF HUNGRY BASS, AND MAYBE EVEN CATCH A BASS OF A LIFETIME.

AND SO WE SCHEDULED A SPRING TRIP IN APRIL, USING TOPWATER PLASTIC FROGS THAT THEY HAVE USED WITH A LOT OF-- A LOT OF SUCCESS THERE, AND JUST HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- NOW, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FROGS IN GEAR TIME.

BUT WE'LL CATCH UP WITH DONNA BECAUSE SHE'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY FOR TUNA SALAD.

- IT'S ONE OF HER SPECIAL RECIPES THAT SHE'S COME UP WITH USING TUNA, AND VERY TASTY.

- WELL, WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

LET'S GET TO IT.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FISHING TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- JIM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS RIGHT.

YOU'VE INVITED ME TO FISH TOPWATER IN APRIL.

AND WE HAD FROST WARNINGS THIS MORNING.

- YEP.

- AND WE HAD-- WHAT WAS IT?

LIKE, 25-, 30-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS YESTERDAY.

- YEP.

- AND YOU'RE TELLING ME WE'RE GONNA CATCH 'EM TOPWATER WITH WHITE FROGS?

- WHITE FROGS.

WELL, PART OF IT IS THAT IF WE HAD GONE OUT AT 6:00 THIS MORNING, IT WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED.

BUT WITH THIS BLUEBIRD SKY WE GOT TODAY, IT'S GONNA HEAT UP PRETTY FAST.

AND THIS IS A GREAT TIME IN THE SANDHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA TO CATCH A BASS OF A LIFETIME.

IT'S PRESPAWN.

THEY'RE LOADED WITH EGGS.

AND THEY'RE WAY IN THE SHALLOW WATER, STAGING FOR THE SPAWN, AND YOU'RE-- SEE ONE RIGHT THERE?

- RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OH, GEE.

OH, COME ON.

- IS THAT NOT A CAST?

- OH, COME ON.

- IS THAT NOT A CAST?

- COME ON.

- [laughs] - THAT'S NOT FAIR, MAN.

THAT'S NOT FAIR.

- WELL, WE'RE STILL IN 6 OR 8 FEET OF WATER HERE, SO... - THAT'S NOT FAIR.

RIGHT AT THAT LOG.

- BUT THE THING THAT'S ALWAYS A GIVEAWAY FOR ME IS, WHENEVER YOU SEE THE MASTERS HAPPENING IN AUGUSTA, THAT'S WHEN THE GREAT BASS FISHING IS HERE IN THE SANDHILLS.

- OKAY.

- THE DOGWOODS ARE OUT.

THE AZALEAS ARE OUT.

AND THE BASS ARE OUT.

AND SO HOPEFULLY-- YOU KNOW, IT'S 10:40, SO THIS'LL BE RIGHT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THEM MOVING FROM DEEP WATER INTO SHALLOW WATER AND-- - WELL, IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S THE WATER TEMPERATURE?

- THE WATER TEMPERATURE'S IN THE LOW 60s RIGHT NOW.

BUT IN A FOOT OF WATER, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED, IT'LL RISE PRETTY QUICKLY, SO THAT ABOUT LUNCHTIME OR A LITTLE BIT AFTER LUNCHTIME, IT'LL BE UP IN THE UPPER 60s.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY SHOULD SEE SOME GREAT ACTION ON THESE TOPWATER FROGS.

- YOU KNOW, I FEEL BETTER ALREADY BECAUSE I DIDN'T CATCH A THING ON THE FIRST CAST.

- OH, THAT'S BAD LUCK.

- YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

THE KISS OF DEATH, MAN.

- IT GOES DOWNHILL FROM THERE.

YEAH, YOU DON'T WANT TO CATCH ON THE FIRST CAST EVER.

- YEAH.

- THERE WAS ONE RIGHT THERE.

THERE WAS A SWIRL.

- YEP, YEP, YEP.

- THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

- YEAH, JUST CAST RIGHT ON TOP OF ONE.

- WAS THAT A HIT OR-- SEE TO THE LEFT RIGHT THERE?

- YEAH.

YEAH.

- THAT SWIRL?

- OH, THEY'RE HERE.

[chuckles] THERE'S NO DOUBT THEY'RE HERE.

THE TRICK IS WAKING 'EM UP.

LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

TALK TO ME.

TALK TO ME.

[laughs] WHOO.

- THAT'S NICE.

- OH, FUN, MAN.

FUN.

FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN.

- THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN HAVING 'EM HIT-- - THERE REALLY ISN'T.

THERE REALLY ISN'T.

[laughs] WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

- NICE JOB, BUDDY.

LOOK AT THAT, MAN.

- PRETTY FISH.

- LITTLE...BUT IT'S A FISH.

- PRETTY FISH.

- YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

- SO THAT-- HE WOULD BE LIKE THAT.

- MM-HMM.

- AND YOU GOT A LITTLE SPINNER THING ON YOURS.

- YEP.

YEP, YEP.

- FAT LITTLE THING.

- WELL, NOT ONLY THE SPINNER THING BUT ALSO-- - SEE, I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S A MALE THAT WAS DEFENDING THE NEST OR WHATEVER.

- BECAUSE IT'S NOT EGG-Y.

IT PROBABLY IS.

- RIGHT.

- BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE SPINNER THING; IT WAS THE SKILL OF MANAGING TO CURVE IT RIGHT AROUND THAT LITTLE CYPRUS TREE WHERE THAT FISH WAS WAITING.

- I MEAN, THAT WAS OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE.

- WELL, GOOD.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU REALIZE THAT BECAUSE-- - WE'LL GO ON RECORD THAT-- - WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THE SIGN OF A GOOD HOST, SIR JAMES, IS ALLOWING THE GUEST TO NOT ONLY CATCH THE FIRST FISH BUT CATCH MORE FISH, BIGGER FISH-- - AND TO BRAG ABOUT IT.

- AND--AND--RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND JUST KEEP IT GOING.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

- NOW, I LIKE THIS LITTLE PIECE OF WATER RIGHT HERE.

- SEE, RIGHT OVER 'EM AGAIN.

RIGHT OVER 'EM AGAIN.

YEAH.

I NEED-- I NEED TO LET YOU-- OKAY, HERE'S WHERE HE TOOK OFF YESTERDAY, I THINK, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT GRASS.

- YEAH.

- GOOD GRIEF.

I'LL LET YOU MAKE THE CAST IN THERE BECAUSE THIS THING'S A LITTLE-- [laughs loudly] - HE CHASED THAT TIME.

HE CHASED RIGHT-- BUT THAT WAS RIGHT BY THE BANK, GEEZ.

- UH-HUH.

UH-HUH.

- RIGHT BY THE BANK.

- OH, THERE YOU GO.

NOW, THERE--NOW, THERE-- HEY, NOW IT'S FISH TIME.

NOW, YOU FINALLY CAUGHT A FISH.

- OH, NOW I FEEL... - NOW YOU CAUGHT A FISH.

PRETTY THING.

- LIKE I'M RIGHT.

- [laughs] - HAVING A GOOD DAY HERE.

LOOK AT THE BELLY ON THAT THING.

- PRETTY FISH.

PRETTY FISH.

- STILL A LITTLE ONE, THOUGH... - PRETTY FISH.

[fish splashes] - BUT FUN TO SEE HIM RUN OVER THERE.

- SURE IT IS.

SURE IT IS.

- I LOVE IT WHEN THEY CHASE LIKE THAT.

- MM-HMM.

- SO IF I'M PUTTING TOGETHER MY RUBIK'S CUBE TODAY, I'M SAYING THAT 3 FEET, 2 FEET FROM SHORE IS WHERE THAT ONE... - YEAH.

YEAH.

- WAS COMFORTABLE ABOUT EATING MY BAIT.

BUT OUT HERE, THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE.

OUT HERE, THEY'RE SCARED... - RIGHT.

RIGHT.

- 'CAUSE THEY GOT--YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME EAGLES UP HERE.

I BET THEY'RE SCARED OF THOSE DAGGONE EAGLES JUMPING DOWN ON 'EM.

- MM-HMM.

- WE GOT SOME EAGLES-- BALD EAGLES AND SOME OSPREY.

BUT, SEE, RIGHT THERE WAS HOW FAR AWAY FROM THE BANK I WAS.

THAT'LL DO IT RIGHT THERE.

YES, SIR.

- OH, NICE.

- NICE.

- OH, LOOK WHERE HE'S GOING.

OHH, MY GOSH.

THAT FISH GOT ALL THAT STRENGTH FROM THE SOLAR PANEL.

- [chuckles] - THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

THAT FISH IS SOLARIZED.

OH, COME ON, BABY.

LOOK AT THAT PRETTY THING.

LOOK AT THAT IN THE WATER.

WHAT A PRETTY FISH.

OH, PRETTY FISH.

PRETTY FISH.

- THAT IS A PRETTY FISH.

- NICE ONE.

- AND I DID CALL IT.

- NOPE, YES, YOU DID.

YES, YOU DID.

- LOOK AT THAT THING.

- ISN'T THAT A PRETTY FISH?

- NOW, HE'S BEEN SQUEEZED RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S A BIRD.

- YEP.

YEP.

YEP.

- OOH!

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY.

- NICE FISH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

- YEAH, GOOD JOB.

- NICE FISH RIGHT THERE.

HIT ME, HIT ME, HIT ME.

- YOU GET REWARDED FOR A GOOD CAST.

- NOT THAT BIG.

NOT THAT BIG.

NOT THAT BIG.

BUT, YES, IT'S ALL IN THE CAST.

IT'S ALL IN THE CAST.

I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER FISH FOLLOWING IT.

[laughs] OH, WHAT A NETTER.

WHAT A NETTER.

- RIGHT, BABY.

I DON'T LET 'EM GET AWAY.

THAT'S A NICE FISH.

- EXCELLENT JOB.

AND YOU'LL NOTICE THE COLOR CHANGE, MAN.

- YEAH.

- THE COLOR CHANGE.

PRETTY LITTLE FISH.

STILL USING THE-- STILL USING THE RIVER FROG, BUT A DIFFERENT COLOR, DIFFERENT COLOR.

- THIS IS CALLED A SLIME TOWEL.

- [laughs] - GET ALL THE SLIME OFF YOUR HANDS.

- I BATHE IN SLIME BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO-- I DON'T WANT THE FISH TO-- - YOU BATHE IN SLIME?

- SURE.

- THAT EXPLAINS A LOT.

- [laughs] I DON'T-- I DON'T WANT THE-- - THAT'S THAT WHOLE THING ABOUT YOUR MYSTIQUE.

[both chuckling] - OH, GOOD GRIEF.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE-- - BUT REMEMBER, YOU WERE 4 INCHES OFF OF THAT LOG RIGHT THERE, WHICH MEANS IT WAS TIGHT TO SHORE.

- MM-HMM.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ - THAT POCKET.

SEE, THERE SHOULD BE FISH IN THAT POCKET RIGHT THERE.

MAN, THEY SHOULD POP RIGHT THERE.

THEY SHOULD POP-- - THERE IS.

OH, YEAH.

- [laughs] OH!

- IF YOU GET CAN GET HIM THROUGH THAT... - COME ON, LITTLE SWAMPER.

COME ON, SWAMPER.

HEY, I GREW UP IN FLORIDA.

I CAN GET HIM THROUGH THIS, OH, YE OF LITTLE FAITH.

- I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE.

I DO.

I DO.

I DO BELIEVE IN-- - [laughs] THAT WAS FUN.

- YEAH.

- THAT WAS A NICE ONE.

- YOU DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THERE.

- THAT WAS A NICE ONE.

LITTLE, FEISTY MALE.

CUTE LITTLE THING.

- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING, ISN'T IT?

- YEAH.

YEAH.

YEP.

THAT WAS FUN.

THANK YOU, SIR.

- [laughs] - THANK YOU, SIR.

- NOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR TIMING BACK.

- THERE YOU GO.

[chuckling] - GEEZER GOT HIS GROOVE BACK.

- WHOA.

HELLO.

- YEAH, HE-- - YEAH.

- HE LET IT GO, AND THEN HE CAME BACK FOR IT.

- YEAH, SHE-- YEAH, WHEN SHE CAME UP, I SAW A STOMACH.

THAT IS ONE NICE GIRL.

COME HERE.

OH, SHE'S WON'T COME IN YET.

GOT YOU, BABY.

- THERE WE GO.

- OH-HO-HO!

NICE FISH.

NICE FISH.

WHERE IS MR. BOGA?

RIGHT HERE.

- OH, YOU DON'T NEED TO BOGA THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY ONLY ABOUT 2, 3, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

- OH, THAT'S AT LEAST 3.

SHE'S PROBABLY MORE THAN 3.

- OH, YEAH, SHE'S STILL GOT SOME EGGS.

- YEP, YEP, YEP, YEP, YEP.

LITTLE OVER 3 1/4.

- 3 1/4?

OKAY.

- PRETTY FISH.

PRETTY FISH.

- LET ME TALK ABOUT THE LURE... - YEAH.

- WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

SWATCHED--I SWITCHED UP-- WHITE WASN'T WORKING THE WAY I WANTED IT TO, SO I SWITCHED UP TO A DIFFERENT COLOR AND A DIFFERENT-- THIS IS THE ZOOM, AND... - YOU HAVE THE TOAD?

- BULLFROG COLOR, RIGHT.

- OKAY.

- AND THAT'S JUST A RULE OF FISHING.

IF SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING THE WAY YOU WANT TO-- IT'S THE RUBIK'S CUBE-- MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE'LL WORK.

WE CAUGHT A COUPLE ON THE WHITE, BUT-- - HERE, LET ME TRY A DIFFERENT COLOR FROG, MAYBE.

- AND THIS ONE IS QUIETER TOO.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS, WE WERE SCARING SO MANY WITH THE BIG RIBBIT SPLASH, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD SOME OF THE TIME.

THIS ONE IS NOT QUITE AS LOUD.

- ALL RIGHT, I WILL-- - THE ZOOM HORNY TOAD IS THE NAME OF IT.

- I'LL PUT ON ANOTHER ONE.

AH, JEEZ.

OH, I MISSED IT, MISSED IT, MISSED IT, MISSED IT, MISSED IT.

- I DIDN'T.

- [laughs] OHH.

- OOH, THAT'S A BIG UN.

COME ON, BABY.

LOOK AT THAT.

- NICE FISH.

NICE FISH.

WHOA, THAT FISH IS FULL OF-- FULL OF VIM AND VIGOR.

OH, THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

- OH, YEAH.

- NOW, THERE'S THE FISH.

- PHEW.

- THERE'S THE FISH.

- [chuckles] LOOK AT THAT.

- NICE FISH.

- WHOA.

- NICE FISH.

- WHAT IS IT?

- OH, LET'S SEE HERE.

OH, MY.

AT 5.

5 EVEN.

- RIGHT AT 5?

- 5 EVEN.

- NICE.

AND THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.

- NEED THE PLIERS?

- YEAH, I THINK I DO ACTUALLY.

IT'S RIGHT UP IN THE CARTI-- IT'S A GOOD HOOK-SET 'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA HURT THE FISH.

- GOT IT?

- GO AHEAD.

- GOOD.

- NICE FISH.

PRETTY FISH.

- WHOO!

- [laughs] - LOOK AT THAT.

- WHAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AFTER.

- YEAH.

- WHAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AFTER.

- SWIM AWAY, AND HAVE THOSE BABIES.

- WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF US CASTING... - [laughing] - YOU GETTING THE HOOK UP, AND ME MISSING MY STRIKE, OKAY?

THAT'S JUST--THAT WAS JUST SO ENJOYABLE, AND... - YOU KNOW, IT WAS PROBABLY JUST SKILL.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

- [laughs] - NOT REALLY LUCK.

JUST SKILL.

- YOU REALIZED I WASN'T READY, RIGHT?

DID YOU REALIZE THAT?

- YEAH, 'CAUSE YOU SAID, "YOU READY?"

AND I SAID, "YES," AND YOU SAID, "GO."

AND SO, OF COURSE, YOU'RE NOT READY.

- THAT WAS FUN.

THAT WAS FUN.

I LOVE TO-- - YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO WITH THESE FROGS IS, WHEN IT RIPS THROUGH THERE, YOU JUST TURN 'EM UPSIDE DOWN, AND YOU FISH 'EM UPSIDE DOWN.

- EXACTLY.

- AND IT WORKS JUST AS WELL.

- NOPE, THAT WAS NICE, THAT WAS NICE, 'CAUSE WE BOTH GOT-- - MAN, THOSE FISH SHAKE ME UP.

I'M SHAKING.

- OH, COME ON.

THE WATER'S A LITTLE BIT RIPPLED HERE.

THEY SHOULD BE-- THEY SHOULD BE HELPFUL.

THEY SHOULD BE MAKING AN EFFORT.

THEY SHOULD BE MAKING AN EFFORT.

COME ON, FISH.

THERE'S A LOG RIGHT THERE.

SEE, THERE SHOULD BE-- ON THAT LOG RIGHT THERE, THERE SHOULD BE A FISH.

ON THAT LOG RIGHT THERE, THERE SHOULD BE A FISH.

ON THAT LOG RIGHT THERE.

MAN, OH, MAN, OH, MAN.

[laughs] I THINK YOU SURFED THAT ONE OVER, DIDN'T YOU?

[laughs] - YOU SAID, THOUGH.

YOU SAID IT.

THERE OUGHT TO BE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT LOG.

- [grunting] YEAH, WE'LL GIVE 'EM A-- - NICE.

- YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

GOT THE FROG AND A-- WHOA, HELLO.

- HE'S PROBABLY GONNA PREFER HIS LEFT EYE NOW FOR A WHILE.

- SOMETHING IN THE TREE.

I THINK SO, YES.

I THINK HE-- - [chuckles] - THERE YOU GO.

- THANK YOU.

- PRETTY LITTLE THING.

HEALTHY AS HE CAN BE.

- YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

I CAN SEE YOU'VE PRACTICED.

- YOU KNOW, I HAVE.

I HAVE PRACTICED, AND THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING A NET BOY: YOU LEARN-- YOU KNOW, NET BOY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS-- WELL, IT'S JUST LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE.

- YEAH, YOU NEVER FORGET.

- ALL RIGHT.

- JOE, WHAT A DAY OF FISHING.

- IT WAS GOOD.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

AND THEY HAVE REALLY ENJOYED USING THOSE PLASTIC FROGS IN THE SPRING WHEN THOSE BASS ARE HUNGRY AND--AND JUST-- YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOT A PERFECT DAY FOR WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

THIS PAST SPRING WAS PRETTY UP AND DOWN AS FAR AS THE WEATHER.

WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN, WHICH WE NEEDED, AND THE WIND--ALTHOUGH THE WIND WAS NOT A FACTOR THAT MORNING-- I THINK, JUST THAT PARTICULAR DAY, JUST WAS NOT WHAT THEY'D HOPED FOR.

THEY WERE WANTING A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOUD COVER FOR THAT-- AS YOU DO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE TOPWATER FISHING.

BUT THOSE PLASTIC FROGS WERE REAL EFFECTIVE THAT DAY.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PLASTIC FROGS.

LET'S LEARN MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ - JIM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR AN ENJOYABLE DAY OF TOPWATER FISHING.

- IT WAS GREAT.

- HAD A GOOD TIME.

CAUGHT A LOT OF FISH.

AND THESE WEREN'T THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR TOPWATER BITE.

- NAH, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, BUT POST-FRONT-- I MEAN, PRE-FRONT, I GUESS.

NO, POST-FRONT.

AND WE HAD A BLUEBIRD SKY AND HIGH PRESSURE.

AND THE FISH WERE KIND OF SKITTISH AND TENTATIVE A LOT OF TIMES, BUT WE CAUGHT SOME FISH.

- YEAH, WE DID.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST LAKE I'VE EVER FISHED IN-- EVER FISHED IN THAT YOU CATCH 'EM ON WHITE LURES.

- YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE STAINED WATER, THE BLACK WATER, THAT IT JUST SHOWS UP.

- MM-HMM, MM-HMM.

- AND THEN WHAT I THINK WE FIGURED OUT WAS, THIS WAS TOO MUCH KICK.

- THE BULLFROG.

- YEAH, IT WAS TOO MUCH.

AND THEN WE DOWNSIZED TO THIS ONE.

- RIGHT - AND THAT STARTED CATCHING 'EM.

I SWITCHED TO THE HORNY TOAD.

THIS IS A ZOOM HORNY TOAD, AND IT HAS EVEN LESS SPLASH, AND THAT SEEMED TO BE, FOR ME, THE TICKET.

AND THIS WAS JUST A DIFFERENT COLOR.

WE USED THE GAMAKATSU HOOK.

THIS REALLY-- IT'S GOT TO BE A SHARP HOOK.

- MM-HMM, MM-HMM.

WELL, STANLEY SENT ME THIS AS A BUZZBAIT.

AND I HAD GOOD SUCCESS THIS MORNING WITH IT... - YEAH.

- AS LONG THE WATER WAS A LITTLE RUFFLED... - YEAH.

- AND THE WATER WASN'T REAL SHALLOW.

BUT IT GOT TO BE TOO HEAVY AND TOO NOISY AND... - AND IT HUNG UP IN THE WEEDS A LOT.

- IT DID.

IT DID.

AND I WENT-- LIKE YOU SAY, YOU TOLD ME TO DOWNSIZE, AND I WENT TO THIS, AND IT WORKED WELL.

- YEAH.

- IT WORKED WELL.

NOW, I NOTICE WE'RE BOTH BAITCASTERS.

- BOTH BAITCASTERS.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL IN THESE REAL SPECIFIC-- YOU GOT TO BE SO PRECISE WITH YOUR CASTING SOMETIMES TO GET TO THESE LITTLE SPOTS.

AND WE GOT 15-POUND TEST LINE, MEDIUM-HEAVY ROD, THAT REALLY KIND OF-- YOU HAVE TO GET AROUND STICK UPS AND OUT OF TREES AND THAT KIND OF THING.

AND WE'RE BOTH WEARING THE GLOVES BECAUSE THOSE FISH, WHEN YOU PULL 'EM OUT, THEY'LL JUST TEAR YOU UP.

SO THESE ARE JUST WEIGHT-LIFTING GLOVES.

- DON'T YOU LOVE IT WHEN YOU CATCH SO MANY FISH, THE THUMBS ARE CHEWED UP?

- YEAH.

- BUT, MAN, WE HAD FUN.

- THAT WAS GREAT.

- WE HAD FUN.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

- YEAH, ME TOO, MAN.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

- WE KNOW WHO CAUGHT THE MOST, BUT WE WON'T TALK ABOUT WHO CAUGHT THE BIGGEST, A'IGHT?

- [laughs] YEAH.

- WELL, I HOPE THAT INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU WITH YOUR NEXT BASS FISHING TRIP.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S GOT A RECIPE FOR TUNA SALAD.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ - HI.

TODAY WE'RE MAKING TUNA SALAD IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THIS IS A FUN RECIPE TO MAKE.

IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR NORMAL TUNA SALAD.

BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

WE HAVE THIS GREAT SASHIMI TUNA, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S GOT GREAT COLOR, AND IT IS JUST FABULOUS, AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY-- YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY GONNA ENJOY IT ON YOUR SALAD.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR SPICY BREAKER OR OUR MEDIUM BREADER, DEPENDING ON HOW SPICY YOU LIKE IT.

AND WE'RE GONNA PLACE THAT-- ABOUT A CUP OR SO-- ON OUR WAXED PAPER.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR TUNA, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS-- YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO NICE RESTAURANTS OR FANCY PLACES, THEY HAVE THE TUNA THAT IS, LIKE, RARE IN THE MIDDLE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO HERE.

WE'RE JUST GONNA SEAR THE OUTSIDES.

SO YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT NICE CRISP ON THE OUTSIDE AND THOSE GREAT FLAVORS FROM THE MEDIUM-HOT BREADER, BUT WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE IT BE SEMI-RARE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT THAT WAY, JUST COOK IT JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

ON OUR FINAL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT'S KIND OF ALMOST MEDIUM TO WELL.

SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS RARE AS SOME LIKE IT.

AND YOU CAN KIND OF ADJUST THAT DEPENDING ON-- OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY MIGHT LIKE IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR TUNA, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA DREG IT IN OUR BREADER HERE, JUST TILL IT'S COATED.

AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO USE ALL THESE GREAT SPICES AND NOT HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THE PORTION OF THE SPICES THAT YOU NEED, WHICH, FOR ME, IS GREAT 'CAUSE IT'S A NO-BRAINER.

SO THEN WE'RE GONNA SHAKE IT OFF.

AND MAKE SURE-- LET'S SEE.

MAKE SURE-- YEAH, OUR OIL IS NICE AND WARM.

AND YOU CAN SEAR THIS ON THE GRILL, OR YOU CAN SEAR IT IN A NICE CAST IRON OR A NICE HEAVY PAN.

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA PLACE THAT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR PAN AND SEAR IT.

YOU'RE GONNA USE ABOUT FOUR 3-OUNCE PIECES OF TUNA PER PLATE.

SO THIS RECIPE WILL MAKE FOR ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE.

AND THEN YOU CAN SLICE YOUR TUNA IF YOU'D LIKE, OR YOU CAN JUST PLACE IT WHOLE.

YOU CAN KIND OF BREAK IT APART IF YOU WANT.

SO WHILE THIS IS SEARING, WHICH-- WE ONLY NEED IT TO REALLY SEAR FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE, DEPENDING ON THE RARENESS YOU WANT.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT THIS OVER HERE TO THE SIDE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR SALAD PART OF THIS RECIPE.

AND WE'RE GONNA USE SOME GREAT CONVENIENCE ITEMS, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA USE SOME FRESH ITEMS.

SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH A CAN OF BUTTER BEANS.

AND YOU CAN USE FRESH BUTTER BEANS.

IF YOU HAVE SOME LEFT OVER AND IT'S BUTTER BEAN SEASON AND YOU HAVE--YOU COOK SOME AND YOU HAVE SOME LEFT OVER, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO USE THOSE UP.

SO WE HAVE OUR CAN OF BUTTER BEANS, AND THESE ARE THE LARGE ONES.

THEN WE'RE GONNA USE SOME CELERY THAT IS CUT ON THE BIAS, OR CUT ON THE DIAGONAL.

SO YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR KNIFE AND JUST KIND OF CUT SIDE-- YOU KNOW, SLANTED.

SO IT GIVES IT A NICE LOOK.

IT'S KIND OF SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, A LITTLE NICE EYE APPEAL.

SO THEN I THOUGHT IT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF RED COLOR TO IT, SO I'M ADDING SOME RED BELL PEPPER.

OR YOU CAN USE SOME ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS THAT YOU BUY IN A JAR, WHICH WOULD BE YUMMY TOO.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA TOSS THAT TOGETHER.

AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA ADD SOME CHIVES.

AND WE HAVE SOME ONION CHIVES THAT GROW IN OUR BACKYARD, SO I'M GONNA ADD THOSE TO THAT, THAT I'VE JUST KIND OF CHOPPED UP.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE A LITTLE DRESSING TO GO ON THIS.

WE'RE GONNA USE SOME DIJON MUSTARD, AND YOU CAN USE HEAVY-- YOU KNOW, GRAINY MUSTARD IF YOU WANT.

WE'RE GONNA ADD A LITTLE BIT OF VIRGIN OLIVE OIL OR EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AND SOME LEMON JUICE.

AND THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA WHISK ALL THAT TOGETHER.

AND WHEN WE'RE JUST GONNA POUR THAT ON TOP OF OUR BEANS AND CELERY.

AND TOSS IT, AND YOU'RE READY TO GO.

THEN WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS, YOU'RE GONNA PLACE IT.

LET'S TURN THIS TUNA AND SEE HOW GREAT IT LOOKS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SEE, IT'S-- SEE, IT LOOKS GREAT.

IT'S NICE AND CRISPY AND BROWN, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE NICE RARENESS INSIDE, WHICH IS GONNA BE GREAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA LET THAT FINISH COOKING.

BUT THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S FINISH.

WE JUST SLICED THE TUNA AND THEN TOPPED IT ON TOP OF OUR BEAN SALAD.

SO IT'S A GREAT SUMMERTIME DISH, IF YOU WANT, OR JUST SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU WANT TO SERVE SOME TUNA SALAD AND KIND OF CHANGE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TUNA SALAD.

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

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR THE RECIPE.

JOE, TAKE ME BACK.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT OPERATION.

- YEAH, IT'S REALLY-- REALLY A NICE SETUP.

AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY, IF YOU WANT TO GO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW-- IT'S SET UP FOR COUPLES AND GROUPS UP TO SIX, IF YOU HAVE A SMALL GROUP THAT YOU WANT TO GO AND ENTERTAIN AND GET 'EM OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW.

AND A REALLY NICE PLACE TO STAY, ACCOMMODATIONS.

AND THE FOOD IS JUST OUT OF THIS WORLD.

AND THEY HAVE ELECTRIC BOATS.

EVERYTHING'S ELECTRIC.

YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC TROLL MOTOR AND THEN AN ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE BACK OF THE BOAT.

SO EVERYTHING'S ELECTRIC.

BEAUTIFUL LAKE, I MEAN, AND JUST FULL OF FISH.

AND YOU PROBABLY NOTICED ON SOME OF THE SHOTS, THEY HAVE FEEDERS OUT IN THE LAKE.

THIS IS LAKE IS VERY ACIDIC, MEANING THE FOOD SUPPLY FOR THE NUMBER OF FISH THEY HAVE IN THE LAKE IS PROBABLY NOT SUFFICIENT.

SO WHAT THEY DO: THEY HAVE A FEEDING SYSTEM THAT SUPPLEMENTS WHAT MOTHER NATURE GIVES THESE FISH, IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT, ALONG WITH WHAT THEY GIVE 'EM.

AND SO IT HELPS IN THE GROWTH OF THE FISH, AND...

BUT RAY SCOTT, WHO MADE HIS NAME WITH THE ORGANIZATION B.A.S.S., WHO STARTED THAT, WAS A-- THEY BROUGHT HIM IN FOR HIS INPUT AND HELP IN PUTTING THIS THING TOGETHER.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'LL GIVE YOU THEIR ADDRESS.

AND GIVE 'EM A CALL IF YOU WANT TO CHECK 'EM OUT.

YOU KNOW, THE WEBSITE-- YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT IT.

BUT A REAL SPECIAL PLACE TO CATCH BASS, IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT.

- SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD WEEKEND TO ME.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- 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] ♪