[greggofish]

Put in at the Wildlife ramp off 87 Friday afternoon. Had a couple dozen big Gizzard Shad we caught at Jordan Lake that morning with us. Headed downriver and caught a couple dozen Bream for the livewell. Looked around for good spots and found a nice hump (9 1/2 feet on top) that dropped into a hole (15-16 feet deep). Set up so we were throwing to the shallower water and proceeded to have about 10 bream hit and killed. Thinking they were gar since we saw a few before dark. The bite was slow with a few hits on the cut shad and I did catch a 10 pound blue about 10:00 PM. It was awful bright out with the full moon and that probably didn't help. Should have kept going farther downriver to lock three I guess. Here are a few questions I have from the trip:

1) What type of area on that part of the river tends to produce the best and what depth? Log jams, holes, etc.....

2) What the hell is that pink liquid being dumped into the river a mile or so downstream from the ramp on the right side. Man, that stuff smelled like laundry detergent and burned our noses just about. That can't be good going in the river...but who knows, maybe it's catfish cleaner.

3) Is there a boat ramp at lock three? How do you get there, 87?

A few things we noticed were there are indeed mosquitos occupying every millimeter of air space in NC and when I go fishing, 92% of them are latched on to my skin at some point during the night, Hoot Owls do know how to scare the shad guts out of you if you let em....., dropping a 45 lb. anchor on your second smallest toe will make you emit a noise you will be embarassed about...even if the only other person in the boat is your brother, and finally, if you eat a giant bag of pizza flavored combos even though you aren't hungry, you'll wish you didn't.

Thanks in advance for your input....

 

[joe0580]

lock 3 is not that much futher down. go down highway that you went to riverside a little more and get on 87 south. you will see signs for it ok. if need more than that let me know. as for stuff being dumped in riover. not sure but everyone does and they dont get checked to much. could have been the dog food plant. what was hitting you was maybe gar or bowfin. might have been small cats. well good luck and talk to you soon

 

[Kittyhunter]

Hey Joe, where did you get the molds for your weights? The flat ones? Me and Ponykilr talked about going down there this weekend but he had a family member get sick so he had to stay home. We were going to use his jon boat though, wouldn't have had an empty seat this trip. Hopefully we can get down there again soon.

 

[joe0580]

that is ok i have to work anyways. if you need some of those weights let me know. i got the molds from do it. they run about 35 a piece. but if you need some let me know we can work something out. ok. good luck. you going to the gathering? hope to see you there
'

 

[JAYNC]

Joe, I have a 12# downrigger weight for you, will you be able to melt a block of lead that big.

 

[Kittyhunter]

Probably not going to the gathering, if we get down that way, I'll let you know.

 

[joe0580]

i can melt any size block. try to make it for gathering. if we cant do it at lock one we all can try to get together down here at lock 2 and do something.

 

[bluecat69]

greggofish,

1) What type of area on that part of the river tends to produce the best and what depth? Log jams, holes, etc.....
A: If you go down to where you see a spot on the right where they used to tie barges to, fish the willow trees in that area. Use live bream close to the willows and try some cut shad out in the deeper areas.

2) What the hell is that pink liquid being dumped into the river a mile or so downstream from the ramp on the right side. Man, that stuff smelled like laundry detergent and burned our noses just about. That can't be good going in the river...but who knows, maybe it's catfish cleaner.
A: I am not sure which plant that is but I have caught some fish there. I think it is a water treatment plant. There is a mess of logs under the water. The dog food plant up north of the boat ramp about a mile, you will know that smell when you get there.

3) Is there a boat ramp at lock three? How do you get there, 87?
A: There is a boat ramp at Lock 3 but it is on the south side of the ramp. The lock is about 21 miles down the river from the wildlife ramp. There is some great spots down there if you are willing to travel that far in your boat. The Dupont plant is about 1 mile above the lock and I have caught some big fish there also.

Hope this helps some.
Mike

 

[greggofish]

Yeah that helps alot....I saw the poles and wondered what they were for...I did think to tie up some type of big boat. I'll give that a try. I guess I need to get the fact that I don't need to look for the shallowest water (that comes from fishing for Channel Cats in lakes). Headed back down Friday night in my bigger boat so at the very least, my back won't hurt after being skunked.

Thanks again for the help and for being where you are.

Greg

 

[bluecat69]

Greg
Just doing my job and also helping out the catfanatics.
See you on the river in December.
Mike