[PIANO INTRO] - THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

- YOU CAUGHT IT.

YOU SAID RIGHT OFF THAT POINT, YET AGAIN.

- RIGHT ON THAT POINT RIGHT THERE.

WOW, OOH, IT'S ANOTHER FOUR-POUNDER TOO.

- WAS IT A SUBTLE HIT, OR WAS IT ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BLASTS?

- YEAH, HE HIT IT VERY LIGHTLY.

- HERE, I CAN LAND HIM FOR YOU.

- OH, HE'S GOT BOTH HOOKS IN HIS MOUTH.

YOU GOT HIM?

- [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, WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM, IF YOU LIKE BASS FISHING, JOE HAS GOT A GREAT TREAT FOR US TODAY.

JOE, HIGH ROCK BASS?

- GOOD TRIP.

UH, WE HAD SOME THINGS WE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

AS YOU OFTEN DO WHEN YOU GO FISHING.

WE HAD A COLD FRONT COMING THROUGH.

AND THE LAKE WAS DRAWN DOWN, THEY WERE WORKING ON THE DAM, SO THE WATER WAS WAY DOWN.

BUT WORKING WITH JOE RICHTON TODAY, FROM THAT AREA WHO'S FISHED THAT AREA FOR A LONG TIME.

AND HE SAID, "IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE'RE GOING TO CATCH FISH TODAY."

AND HE PUT US ON.

- WHAT ABOUT GEAR TIME TODAY?

- HE'LL GO OVER THE TACKLE, THE CRANKBAITS THEY USED TODAY.

THEY WERE USING SEVERAL DIFFERENT COLOR CRANKBAITS.

AGAIN, HE'S FISHED THIS LAKE FOR YEARS.

KNOWS IT REALLY WELL IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.

AND IT WAS GOOD FOR US TODAY BECAUSE IF HE HAD NOT HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'D CAUGHT ANY FISH.

- AND OUR RECIPE TODAY IS ALL ABOUT A REUBEN SANDWICH.

- REAL TASTY RECIPE FROM HER TODAY.

A FISH REUBEN SANDWICH FROM DONNA, AND WE'LL JOIN HER IN THE KITCHEN.

- WELL IF YOU LIKE BASS FISHING, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU TODAY AS WE GET TO IT ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- WELL, JOE, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LATE OCTOBER MORNING UP ON HIGH ROCK LAKE.

AS ALL ANGLERS KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED WITH CATCHING BASS.

TODAY IS A RATHER UNIQUE DAY.

WE GOT A HUGE COLD FRONT APPROACHING US.

WE GOT A, YOU KNOW, A MAJOR COASTAL EVENT GOING ON.

WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE THINGS.

NOT TO MENTION, YOU HAVE THE COOLING WATER TEMPERATURES AND THE LAKE IS DOWN, YOU KNOW, 12 FEET.

SO, YOU KNOW, ON A DAY LIKE THIS, WHAT'S THE PLAN?

- WELL, MY PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THESE FRONTS LIKE THIS THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY'RE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, REALLY, THEY GET THE FISH TO BITING.

IF YOU CATCH IT AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CHANGING, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE CONDITIONS THAT ARE GONNA LEAD RIGHT INTO A GOOD DAY OF FISHING.

IF THE WIND DON'T GET SO HIGH THAT WE HAVE A HARD TIME FISHING, BUT THE FISH, THEY'RE RELATING TO THESE ROCKS.

WE'VE GOT THIS LOW WATER HERE, AND BASICALLY ALL THAT'S IN THE WATER IS A LITTLE BRUSH AND THESE BIG ROCKS.

AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH FALL TIME FISHING-- THAT ROCKS ARE GONNA USUALLY BE THE BEST, AND HERE ON HIGH ROCK LAKE, THE FISH HAVE BEEN HOLDING AROUND THESE BIG ROCKS ON THESE POINTS.

AND THEY'RE IN THE TWO- TO FIVE-FOOT RANGE.

SO I'M HOPING TODAY THAT WITH THESE LITTLE SHALLOW-RUNNING CRANKBAITS, THAT'S GONNA PROBABLY BE THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN USE TO CATCH THESE BASS IN TWO TO FIVE FEET OF WATER.

- OKAY, WELL, LET'S TIE THAT ONE ON.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU GOT PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM.

SO YOU PICK THE RIGHT ONE, AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.

- OKAY, LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

- OKAY, PAUL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO HERE-- AROUND THESE BIG ROCKS THAT YOU SEE, THESE LITTLE ROWS OF ROCKS COMING OFF THESE POINTS.

- MM-HMM.

- WE'RE GONNA TRY TO STAY WHERE THE WIND'S PUSHING IN ONTO IT.

THE BAITFISH MIGHT BE TIGHTER THERE.

BUT WE'RE GONNA FISH THESE LITTLE CRANKBAITS.

ABOUT A MEDIUM RETRIEVE.

TRY TO THROW IT UP THERE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SHORELINE, AND WE'RE GONNA BE FISHING LIKE TWO TO FOUR FEET OF WATER FEELING THIS CRANKBAIT BOUNCE OFF OF THESE ROCKS.

A LOT OF TIMES, THE CRANKBAIT HITTING THE ROCKS IS GONNA TRIGGER A STRIKE.

SO ABOUT A MEDIUM RETRIEVE AND PRETTY TIGHT UP TO THE SHORE.

- ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S NO SECRET WHERE THE ROCKS ARE, IS THERE, WITH THIS LOW WATER?

- YOU KNOW THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WHEN I LIKE FISHING LOW WATER BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THESE ROCKS AND USUALLY, THEY'LL CONTINUE ON OUT.

SEE HOW THAT'S LIKE A ROW RIGHT THERE?

- RIGHT.

SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TOP-- WELL WHAT YOU SEE VISIBLE IS JUST CONTINUING UNDERNEATH THE WATER.

- YES, IT SURE IS.

A LOT OF TIMES, IT JUST KEEPS GOING.

- NOT A WHOLE LOT OF NEED FOR ELECTRONICS.

- THAT'S FUNNY.

- PAUL, I GOT A GOOD FISH HERE.

- ALL RIGHT.

FISH ON.

MISSED ONE TOO.

RIGHT OFF THAT POINT OF ROCK THERE.

OH, YEAH.

OH, GOOD FISH.

- LOOK, HE REALLY DIDN'T GET IT IN HIS MOUTH.

DID YOU SEE THAT?

- THEY'VE BEEN SHORT STRIKING.

LET ME GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

- GO AROUND IT.

- THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT STRIKING AT THE BAIT VERY WELL.

A GOOD SHARP HOOK GETS HIM, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ABOUT A AVERAGE SIZE THAT WE'VE BEEN CATCHING RIGHT HERE, PAUL.

- DAMN.

IT'S A BIG OLD LARGEMOUTH.

HE'S NICE AND FAT.

- YEAH ABOUT A TWO-AND-A-HALF-POUNDER.

THEY'RE HEALTHY FISH.

- OH, I MISSED THAT ONE RIGHT THERE, RIGHT OFF THAT POINT OF ROCKS.

I MEAN, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE PLACE.

- DO YOU SEE WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO TO CATCH THE FISH?

REPETITIVELY GOING BACK AND FORTH.

- SO IT'S MORE THAN ONE SWEEP BY.

- YEAH, I MADE ONE PASS BY, WE DIDN'T CATCH NOTHING.

TURN AROUND, COME BACK AND GOT TWO FISH ON.

- PLUS WE CHANGED OUR DIRECTION, AND WE HAD-- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

- YEAH THEY'RE BEING A LITTLE PICKY THIS MORNING.

MAYBE THEY'LL STRAIGHTEN UP HERE IN A LITTLE WHILE.

- YEAH.

GO UNDER ME.

- BIG FISH.

BIG ONE.

- I JUST SAID, "WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT POINT WE HAD THAT OTHER HIT."

- OH, THAT'S A GOOD-LOOKING FISH.

GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT ONE.

HE'S NOT HOOKED VERY WELL, SO WE'LL HAVE TO BE EASY WITH HIM.

- WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU?

- OOH.

- OH, YEAH.

FALL FISHING RIGHT THERE.

THAT SUMS IT UP.

THAT IS A PIG!

- OOH.

THAT'S A NICE ONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU JUST SAID WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT ONE THERE.

AND IT HAPPENED RIGHT WHEN YOU SAID THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS LAKE IS SO FULL, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN A TOURNAMENT ON THIS LAKE.

YOU GOT TO HAVE A LIMIT OF THIS KIND OF FISH.

EVERY TOURNAMENT.

- THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- THEY REALLY GROW 'EM.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST LAKES WE HAVE IN THE STATE, AND IT STILL PRODUCES BASS AS GOOD AS ANY.

IT'S A GREAT FISH.

YOU KNOW, PAUL, THAT'S FUNNY HOW WE CAUGHT THAT BIG FISH THERE.

WE WERE THROWING THEM OTHER BAITS.

I WAS THROWING A RAT-L-TRAP AND--SIX OR EIGHT TIMES, AND NO BITES, AND THEN PICK UP A DIFFERENT COLOR LURE AND THROW IN THERE, AND IMMEDIATELY CATCH ONE.

THAT'S KIND OF AMAZING HOW THAT HAPPENED--HAPPENS.

IT HAPPENED TWICE TODAY!

- IT'S NICE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT FEW EXTRA SECONDS, HAVE THREE OR FOUR RODS RIGGED AND, BOOM, PICK IT UP, BOOM, PICK IT UP.

JUST KEEP SWITCHING THEM OUT.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR US.

- YOU KNOW, I DO THAT WITH A PLASTIC WORM TOO.

I'LL HAVE TWO OR THREE COLORS ON, AND I'LL JUST ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE THREE.

YOU'LL CATCH A FISH THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BITE A DIFFERENT COLOR.

THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT, SEEM LIKE.

I THINK I HAD A STRIKE RIGHT THERE.

- THAT'S ON THAT SAME SPOT.

- OOH, I LIKE TO FEEL THAT CRANKBAIT HIT THEM ROCKS.

- OH, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

- YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WOW, HE GOT THAT THING GOOD, DIDN'T HE?

- NO KIDDING.

- WELL, ANOTHER LITTLE BASS THERE.

- YEAH, RIGHT OFF THAT POINT WHERE THAT ROCK WAS STICKING OUT.

YOU GOT ROCK STRUCTURE, BRUSH.

HE ATE IT.

- OH, YOU GOT ONE?

- NAH, IT'S JUST-- PUT ONE OFF.

BRUSH.

I COULD FEEL IT.

- COME OUT, DIDN'T IT?

- YEAH, JUST LET IT FLOAT UP, LIKE YOU SAID.

I COULD FEEL THE BRUSH GRAB IT.

FEELS LIKE A GOOD ONE!

- IT IS A GOOD ONE.

HOW MANY TIMES DID WE THROW-- - I KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.

HOW MANY TIMES--OH, YEAH!

- WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO LIP HIM?

- YEAH.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM.

HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE THROWN ON THAT SAME EXACT POINT?

OH, YEAH.

- FISH.

- I TELL YOU, ON THIS LIGHT LINE AND LIGHT TACKLE, YOU FEEL IT SO WELL.

- WOW, HE-- - HE BARELY--THAT'S WHAT I'VE DOING ALL DAY LONG!

JUST BARELY LIPPING 'EM.

- WELL, THAT'S WHY THERE'S SOME GETTING OFF.

LOOK HOW THEY'RE JUST BARELY GETTING THE BAIT.

- I HAD LIKE THREE HITS IN THERE, AND IT STILL ENDED UP-- JUST KEEP--YOU GOT TO BE SO PERSISTENT ON THIS.

CLASSIC SPOTS.

- DAVID FRITTS COINED THE PHRASE "BLITZING THE FISH."

- YEAH.

- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE JUST MAKING REPETITIVE CASTS.

AIN'T THAT A HEALTHY FISH, PAUL?

- YES, LOOK AT THE BIG BELLY.

- THAT IS A NICE ONE.

- AND THOSE MINNOWS WERE JUMPING RIGHT BEFORE, YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE CHASING BAIT.

- LOOK HOW DARK THE FISH IS.

YOU CAN TELL HE'S BEEN UNDER THEM ROCKS OR RIGHT IN THEM.

LOOK HOW HE'S REAL DARK.

- HE IS.

- THEM OTHER ONES WE WERE CATCHING WERE WHITE-LOOKING.

GONNA JUMP.

OH, NO.

GOOD JOB.

- YEAH, MAN.

- GOLLY, HOW MANY TIMES?

SEVEN CASTS?

EIGHT CASTS?

JUST KEEP BEATIN'.

- AND I HAD TWO OR THREE HITS IN THERE.

I MEAN, I--YOU KNOW, YOU GET-- IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO GET USED TO WHAT YOU'RE FEELING.

- YEAH, IT DOES.

VERSUS THE ROCK.

VERSUS A BRUSH PILE OR... - TELL YOU, A GOOD THING YOU-- OH, WHAT WAS THAT?

SOMETHING JUMPED RIGHT THERE.

- RIGHT THERE, JUST WHERE I SAID BEFORE WHERE THEY'RE JUMPING ON THOSE-- - YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT OUGHT TO DO TOO?

I'D CHECK THAT LINE.

THEM SOME AWFUL ROUGH-LOOKING ROCKS.

- GOOD POINT.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER-- - I'M STUCK ON SOMETHING.

- JOE, AS THE MORNING GOES ON, YOU KNOW, THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS, THE WIND, YOU KNOW, THE FRONT AND EVERYTHING, I'VE NOTICED THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BE REALLY PERSISTENT ON ONE PARTICULAR SPOT.

I MEAN, WE FOUND A PATTERN, AND WE'RE STICKING WITH IT, BUT, I MEAN, I'VE NEVER REALLY STAYED ON ONE PARTICULAR SPOT AND CONTINUED TO GET BITES.

I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU NORMALLY SEE, OR IS IT A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL?

- WELL IN THE FALLTIME, I DO SEE THAT QUITE A BIT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH LOW WATER, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE A WHOLE SCHOOL OF FISH RIGHT THERE ON A LITTLE SPOT OF ROCKS NO BIGGER THAN THIS BOAT.

I MEAN, THERE COULD BE A DOZEN OF THEM.

IT COULD BE EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE PERSISTENT, YOU KNOW, STEADY CASTS, MAN, AND CATCH 'EM.

YOU GOT A FISH, PAUL.

- I JUST HAD A BITE RIGHT UP IN THE SAME SPOT.

HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE THROWN IN THERE?

- YEAH, THEY'RE LAID UP IN THEM ROCKS REAL TIGHT, AND WE'RE CAUSING REACTION STRIKES.

JUST CONSTANT CASTING RIGHT THERE.

AND BEATING THEM ROCKS.

OOH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- OH, BIG, BIG BASS!

- IT'S A BIG BASS!

IS IT A BASS?

- THAT'S A BASS.

- OH, THAT'S A BIG BASS.

- MAN!

- DON'T GET OFF.

DON'T GET OFF!

- WE SEEN THAT BOIL, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT KIND OF BOIL.

WOW!

- GOLLY!

NOW, I WANT TO TELL Y'ALL, REMEMBER WHEN I SAID, "THEY'RE COMING DOWN ON THE BAIT"?

LOOK WHERE THE HOOK'S AT.

UNDER HIS MOUTH.

- YEAH.

- THEM FISH, THEY'RE IN WATER, LIKE, THIS DEEP.

AND THAT BAIT'S GOING ALONG THE BOTTOM, AND FISH ARE COMING DOWN ON THAT LURE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOSING THEM.

I BET YOU THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

- AND WE SAW, I MEAN ALL THE MINNOWS JUMPING IN THERE.

WE SAW THE FISH FREE-JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER, CHASING BAIT.

WOW, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

- MAN, HOLD HIM UP.

LET'S TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT ONE.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THAT.

- THAT'S A FALL FISH IF THERE'S EVER BEEN ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

- I GOT IT, YEAH.

- NICE FISH.

WE'LL LET IT GO, LET SOMEBODY COME DOWN HERE AND CATCH THIS FISH.

IT'LL BE BIGGER NEXT TIME.

- YEAH, I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN THERE ON THAT SIDE.

- YEAH, YOU KNOW, I SEEN A LOT OF MINNOWS JUMPING.

I SEEN A BIG BOIL.

THAT FISH, THEY WERE IN THERE FEEDING ON THEM SHAD RIGHT OFF OF THEM ROCKS.

I BET THERE'S SEVERAL MORE.

LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.

- THAT WAS THE SPOT.

- OH, BOY.

- THAT'S BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE.

- TELL YOU WHAT, I COULD STAY ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

- CATCHING THOSE.

- THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

- YOU CALLED IT.

YOU SAID RIGHT OFF THAT POINT.

YET AGAIN.

- RIGHT ON THAT POINT RIGHT THERE.

WOW.

- WAS IT-- - OH, THAT'S ANOTHER FOUR-POUNDER TOO.

- WAS IT A SUBTLE HIT, OR WAS IT ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BLASTS?

- YEAH, YEAH, HE HIT IT VERY LIGHTLY.

- HERE, I CAN LAND HIM FOR YOU.

- HE'S GOT BOTH HOOKS IN HIS MOUTH.

YOU GOT HIM?

- OH, YEAH.

- LOOK AT THAT!

- ANOTHER GOOD ONE.

OH, YEAH.

- WOW, PAUL.

- HE GOT BOTH HOOKS.

BETTER HIT ON THAT ONE FOR SURE.

- YEAH, I BELIEVE--IF I WAS YOU, I'D GET THAT MOUTH SO HE DON'T FLOP ON YOU.

- YEAH, LAST THING YOU WANT IS A CRANKBAIT IN YOUR HAND ON A FLOPPING BASS.

- YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS LOSING THE FISH.

I BET IT WOULDN'T LOSE YOU IF IT GOT IN YOU.

- YEAH.

- NEED SOME PLIERS?

- PLIERS YEAH.

- PLIERS.

RIGHT HERE THEY ARE.

- YOU KNOW I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME.

- GOOD JOB.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER NICE, HEALTHY FISH.

- OH, YEAH, NICE AND FAT.

- THIS LAKE IS FULL OF THEM THAT SIZE.

- WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT.

- GOOD JOB.

OOH, GOOD JOB, PAUL.

- OH, YEAH, RIGHT AT THAT TRANSITION ZONE THERE, RIGHT WHERE THAT ROCK GOES INTO THAT SMOOTH-- AWW.

COME ON.

I ALMOST LOST HIM.

- HE'S STILL THERE.

- THE WAY OUR LUCK'S BEEN GOING TODAY, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA LOSE HIM.

- ALL RIGHT, YOU OWE ME A LANDING.

ABOUT TIME.

- OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT.

ONE IN THE BOAT FOR ME.

- THAT'S A FAT BASS!

LOOK AT IT.

- IT IS.

WELL, HE GOT IT GOOD.

FINALLY, HUH?

- RIGHT WHEN IT LANDED ON THE SURFACE, IT BOILED UP ON IT.

OH, SO HE BIT IT OFF THE TOP?

- JUST AS SOON AS IT LANDED, IT JUST BOILED ON IT.

- WOW, SO HE WAS RIGHT AGAINST THE ROCKS.

- THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BLACK ONES.

- YEAH, LOOK HOW HEALTHY-- YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S A FUTURE TEN-POUNDER.

- THAT'S A HEALTHY-LOOKING FISH.

- THAT'S A FUTURE TEN-POUNDER RIGHT THERE.

- WELL DONE.

- WOW.

GOLLY.

SO HE WAS RIGHT ON THE ROCKS-- - I'D NO SOONER HIT IT, AND BOOM.

- WELL, GOOD DEAL.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE GETTING THE BOAT UP IN THERE CLOSE EVEN BOTHERS THEM, DOES IT?

- YOU HAD THE TROLLING MOTOR IN THERE, THE MUD SHOOTING UP.

I MEAN, WE BEEN IN HOW MANY TIMES GETTING SNAGS-- - YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE GO UP THERE AND MAKE A LITTLE COMMOTION, WE CATCH A FISH!

MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

- YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA FISH CRANKS, YOU'RE GONNA GET STUCK.

YOU'RE GONNA GET SNAGS.

AND SOME OF THESE LURES ARE EXPENSIVE, SO YOU GOT TO GO GET THEM.

BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER.

IT HAS NOT MADE A SINGLE DIFFERENCE.

- IT'S A GOOD ONE.

- OH, THERE IT IS.

ON THE POINT.

OH, YEAH.

GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

- OH, HE'S BARELY HOOKED-- MAN, LOOK AT THAT.

YOU TALK ABOUT A... YEAH.

COME HERE, FISH.

COME HERE, FISH.

AH.

OH, HEY, LOOK.

NOT INSIDE THE MOUTH.

- WOW.

- THAT'S A GOOD FISH THOUGH, PAUL.

- I'LL SAY.

- GOLLY.

- YOU CAN STILL SEE THE BAIT INSIDE HIS MOUTH.

- YEAH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY BITING-- THEY'RE REALLY BITING STRANGE.

THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

- JOE, ALL I CAN SAY IS, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD DAY.

- IT REALLY DID, AND I GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO JOE AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAKE, AND FISHING THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAD TO FISH WITH-- YOU KNOW, WE PLAN THESE TRIPS OUT MONTHS IN ADVANCE, AND YOU NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AS I SAID EARLIER, WE HAD THE COLD FRONT, AND, REALLY, THE MOST DRAMATIC PART OF IT WAS THE DRAWDOWN OF THE LAKE, HOW SHALLOW IT WAS, BUT HE KNEW WHERE TO GO.

HE KNEW WHAT BAITS TO FISH.

AND WE HAD TO EXHIBIT A LOT OF PATIENCE TO MAKE IT THROUGH-- YOU KNOW, IT WAS A 3/4 DAY.

IT WAS NOT ALL DONE IN A MORNING TRIP.

BUT WE STUCK WITH IT, AND CAUGHT SOME PRETTY FISH.

SPEAKING OF STICKING WITH IT AND CATCHING THE FISH, LET'S LEARN MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, JOE, WE'VE HAD A GREAT DAY HERE ON HIGH ROCK LAKE.

THE WEATHER HAS THROWN A LITTLE BIT OF WIND AT US.

THE SUN'S BEEN OUT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CLOUDY CONDITIONS.

YOU KNOW, DAYS LIKE THIS, A LOT OF ANGLERS WOULD'VE STAYED HOME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT OUT HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE PUT SOME TIME IN, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR PERSEVERANCE PAID OFF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TECHNIQUES AND THE PLACES YOU HAD US FISHING TODAY.

- YEAH, WE GOT IN AN AREA TODAY AND STAYED PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME AREA ALL DAY.

A LOT OF BAITFISH PRESENCE.

AND WE PICKED ON THE HIGH-PERCENTAGE AREAS LIKE THE LITTLE ROCKY POINTS, ROCKY SHORELINES WITH A LITTLE DEEPER WATER CLOSE TO THEM.

BAITFISH, WE SEEN THEM FLIPPING ALL DAY.

CAUGHT PRETTY MUCH BASS ALL DAY.

WE HAD TO REALLY BEAT AT THEM TO CATCH THEM, THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, WE MADE A LOT OF CASTS TO THESE LITTLE SPOTS TO CATCH THESE FISH.

WIND, WE WERE KIND OF OUT OF IT AS MUCH AS WE COULD BE.

BUT I THINK THE WIND HELPED US TODAY.

WHAT WE DONE WAS, WE WERE FISHING SHALLOW-RUNNING CRANKBAITS ON THE ROCKS.

THIS HERE'S, LIKE, A LUCKY CRAFT CRANKBAIT.

I THINK IT'S CALLED A TOMATO SHAD COLOR.

IT'S A REAL GOOD BAITFISH IMITATOR.

THIS LURE RIGHT HERE REALLY COMES THROUGH THE ROCKS WELL.

AND I THREW ALSO A SMALL LIPLESS CRANKBAIT.

KIND OF A SHAD-LOOKING COLOR.

A LITTLE CHARTREUSE TO IT.

BUT WE WERE WINDING THESE FAIRLY SLOW.

TICKING THEM OFF THE ROCKS, AND THE FISH WERE BITING THEM.

I MEAN, THEY WERE IN, LIKE, TWO FOOT OF WATER TODAY.

- YEAH, THEY STAYED SHALLOW.

AND WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THAT BAITFISH-- YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE WE SAW THOSE, THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT HAPPENED.

AND I JUST THREW THIS BAGLEY'S KILLR' B, YOU KNOW, A CLASSIC STANDBY LURE.

THAT ONE-INCH SIZE, LIKE YOU SAID, MATCHED THAT BAITFISH REALLY WELL, AND EVERY TIME WE SAW THAT-- AND IT, AGAIN, BOUNCED OFF THE ROCKS, AND I JUST THREW IT ON LIGHT SPINNING GEAR.

NOTHING SPECIAL.

YOU KNOW, EIGHT-POUND TEST, FAIRLY LIGHT LINE.

I PREFER THE SPINNING GEAR.

I MEAN, IT WAS ACCURATE FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, VERY FEW BACKLASHES.

IT WORKED GREAT FOR ME.

- YEAH, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING I FAILED TO MENTION THERE, ALWAYS IN THE FALLTIME, USUALLY YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF SMALL BAITFISH.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO DOWNSIZE YOUR BAITS, LIKE YOU SAY.

THE QUARTER-OUNCE RAT-L-TRAP, SMALLER THAN, MOST OF THE TIME, WHAT I'M USING.

AND THESE LITTLE CRANKBAITS, LIKE, A ONE- TO ONE-AND-HALF-INCH SIZE, FIVE FOOT OR LESS, RUNNING CRANKBAITS SEEM TO WORK THE BEST.

- WELL, THE SUN'S BACK OUT, AND THE WIND'S DOWN.

LET'S TRY THAT OTHER POINT.

- ALL RIGHT.

YOU GOT 'EM GOOD, AND I'M READY.

- JOE CERTAINLY KNOWS HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

HERE'S HIS NUMBER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM A CALL, AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO CATCH SOME FISH, I THINK HE IS THE MAN TO PUT YOU ON SOME BASS.

NOW, SPEAKING OF FISH, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY FOR A FISH REUBEN SANDWICH.

- HI, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING A VARIATION OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE SANDWICHES, THE REUBEN.

AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME STALE PUMPERNICKEL BREAD, AND WE'RE GONNA 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 GONNA DO IS JUST GONNA PULSE IT SEVERAL TIMES IN MY FOOD PROCESSOR.

AND I'M GONNA 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'D LIKE, BUT I JUST LIKE THE PUMPERNICKEL BECAUSE IT'S NOT QUITE AS STRONG.

SO WE HAVE ALL THAT MIXED UP.

LET'S TAKE IT OFF.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA 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 GONNA 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 GONNA TAKE OUR 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 WHITE FISH, BECAUSE THE SAUERKRAUT AND ALL THE FLAVORS ARE GONNA BE KIND OF STRONG, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE COMPETING.

SO WE'RE GONNA SHAKE THIS ALL TOGETHER TILL IT'S COATED WELL.

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

AND WE'RE GONNA BAKE THIS AT 450 DEGREES FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.

IT'S GONNA BE NICE AND CRUNCHY.

SO IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY QUICK BAKE.

ONCE IT COMES OUT, WE'RE GOING TO-- THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA 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 GONNA PUT IT BACK IN THE OVEN OR UNDERNEATH THE BROILER FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, JUST UNTIL YOUR CHEESE IS BUBBLED.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA 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 MUCH YOU DO YOUR REGULAR REUBEN.

IT'S A GREAT VARIATION.

AND THAT'S SIMPLE COOKING.

ENJOY.

- THANKS, DONNA.

A GREAT RECIPE.

AND OTHER RECIPES ARE IN OUR COOKBOOK THAT YOU CAN FIND ONLINE AT CAROLINAOUTDOORJOURNAL.COM.

AND, JOE, LET'S GO BACK TO HIGH ROCK.

GOOD DAY OF FISHING AFTER ALL.

WE REALLY DID, AND AGAIN I GIVE CREDIT TO JOE, KNOWING THE LAKE.

AND HIGH ROCK IS ONE OF OUR BETTER BASS FISHING LAKES CURRENTLY.

IT'S GOT A GOOD, HEALTHY POPULATION.

AND WE HAD TO DEAL AGAIN WITH THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE.

WE HAD TO DEAL WITH-- WHICH, ALONG WITH THAT IS WIND.

A LOT OF WIND THAT DAY.

AND WE KIND OF WORKED AROUND THAT.

AND THEN THE DRAWDOWN OF THE LAKE DROPPED THE FISH DOWN IN SOME DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THEY NORMALLY DON'T HANG OUT.

SO HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THAT LAKE PAID OFF THAT DAY.

AND YOU SAW, WE HAD SOME REALLY NICE FISH AND HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- WELL, JUST ANOTHER DAY OF GOOD FISHING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

- 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.

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