Recent posts

#11

The Gravel Bar / Make America Strong Again

Last post by trout-r-us - April 21, 2024, 15:01:49 PM

 Good start.

You cannot view this attachment.

#12

The Gravel Bar / Re: Unlimited Local Bands, sma...

Last post by troutboy_II - April 21, 2024, 07:06:33 AM

But the new venue is just that - wedding parties, sometimes office get togethers, etc.  Not a real music venue on the circuit like before. That's fine and all, but I would rather stand for a Handelbar concert than attend a local DNC fundraiser (wife said I had to go since we were sponsors  - what the hell!  How did that happen ?  But I digress...

You're still fortunate to have the Flat Iron close by.

TB

Well, confused the issue, didn't I?  I was referring to the Handlebar.

#13

The Gravel Bar / Re: Unlimited Local Bands, sma...

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 20, 2024, 19:13:47 PM

pre pandemic the UNCG jazz musicians would jam at the Tate Street Coffee house. The Coffee house changed their hours and closed early. In the meantime, a new brewery opened up down the street and they recently began hosting jazz musicians on Thursday evenings. We kept meaning to go but ended up forgetting or planning something else.

That changed and we managed to remember and make it out to Oden Brewing on West Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro. The building was a former soda bottling factory and is still owned by the same family that ran that business in the 1930s and 40s. After being empty for decades Bill Oden opened the brewery. Come check it out.

#14

Warm Water Species / Re: Roanoke Bassin

Last post by Onslow - April 20, 2024, 06:45:55 AM

Some may believe these are the same as Rock Bass, but I will assert that while their appearance is similar, they are not the same.  Roanoke bass are far more aggressive, they grow larger than Rock bass.  Definitely more fun to catch. A 13 inch Roanoke will put a good bend in 6wt streamer rod.

VA shat up their fishery by introducing Rock bass into Roanoke bass habitat.

The only place in VA that might still have a solid fishery is the Bannister River near Mt. Airy VA. Nottoway reportedly isn't bad. I suspect there may be a handful in Sandy River (Danville area), Seneca Creek (Long Island Va), and maybe the Falling River.

I believe they would also do well in the Mayo at the ledges (bypass water) near Mayodan, or the Smith River bypass water in Eden. They seem to favor spawning in near vertical ledge rock.

Roanoke bass were stocked officially in two watersheds outside their native range.  There are some in the Deep river between Coleridge and High Falls, Uwharrie, Little River (Pee Dee watershed).

Drifting a Kraft Clawdad is the ticket.  Only caught one on a baitfish pattern #2/0 Murdich minnow, and it was the only one that wasn't citation size.

#15

Warm Water Species / Re: Roanoke Bassin

Last post by itieuglyflies - April 20, 2024, 04:38:02 AM

Awesome Ken..."walked three miles back to the put in and I was off". One tough dude for sure and incredible fish too.

#16

Warm Water Species / Roanoke Bassin

Last post by Onslow - April 19, 2024, 20:18:41 PM

For years, I've been wanting to press a bit further down this river.  Long stretches of water can be found between bridges making it a very frustrating river to fish.  Low flow rivers fish slower, and 3-4 mile beats can fill up most of the day, but this stretch has 10 miles, and the first bridge below my starting point is way to steep to take out. Access span is 14 miles.

I had a plan to work round that. It involved depositing the canoe and gear at the put in, driving to a tributary bridged to park the van.  Walked three miles back to the put in, and I was off.



You cannot view this attachment.

After about an hour, I encountered water filled with very jagged ledge rock.  The gradient picks up here (20 fpm).  I started working shallower intermediate pools with gentle push water. PB measuring 13"

You cannot view this attachment.

The next fish looked completely black in the water.

You cannot view this attachment.

The next .7 of a mile was golden.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

15 citation Roanokes were caught, 6-7 were 13 inches.

After the first mile, the geology changed from ledge rock to more round rock. No more Roanokes. The bass were not biting either.

You cannot view this attachment.

Perched in the tree with scant foliage is a bald eagle. He circled around and came rather close.  A couple peeping sounds were made as if flew away.You cannot view this attachment.

Mile 2 water was poor quality, mile 3 was better, but still no bass.  Managed a crappie.

Made a turn in the trib, and paddled another 1.5.  It looked like a good chain pickeral stream, but no love. I did manage a couple redbreast and a yellow bullhead.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment..

Lacking pics due to upload issues.

#17

Warm Water Species / Re: Unlimited Shad

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 19, 2024, 19:48:27 PM

View this post on Instagram

#18

The Gravel Bar / Re: Unlimited Dead People; R.I...

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 19, 2024, 18:17:48 PM

Dickey Betts, hit-crafting mainstay of Allman Brothers Band, dies at 80
He was a founding member of the group and wrote and sang 'Ramblin' Man,' which became the band's only major top-10 success

https://wapo.st/448UvER

#19

Warm Water Species / Re: Strange creatures in the J...

Last post by itieuglyflies - April 19, 2024, 17:51:19 PM

The viewing window is 3 1/2  ft. wide. When you open the shad cam web site scroll down and they give all details on how to estimate size of the fish

#20

Local Trip Reports / Re: Smith-Continued

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 19, 2024, 17:50:47 PM

Last couple weeks if I call the number for generation info a lady comes on and says "Goodbye".
What's up with that?

This is the new number that I have 248-434-5508