Every year I go to the Alligator River in Eastern NC with my cousins. We stay at the Raleigh Honker's Club near Swan Quarter. We pass through Lake Mattamuskeet and put in at Gum Neck. We always see bears, turkeys, osprey, Alligators all all sorts of wild life. My cousins went the week before and caught a ton of big ol' bream. We always get a 1000 crickets and fish with bream busters. Well I bring the flyrod to confirm the odd duck suspicions of my cousins. Here is where we put in at Gum Neck.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8686_zpszuok2jmv.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8686_zpszuok2jmv.jpg.html)
The tannin stained water is amazing in the morning. Surronded by dead trees, cypress knees, spanish moss.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8691_zpspjjo7cke.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8691_zpspjjo7cke.jpg.html)
Here is where Gum Neck opens up into the Alligator River.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8694_zps0kkz4f8j.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8694_zps0kkz4f8j.jpg.html)
Here is where all the bream were bedded last week. As you can see snags every where.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8713_zpss2pfgzi0.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8713_zpss2pfgzi0.jpg.html)
Unfortunately the fishing was sloooooow. Either the bream were done bedding or all the rain blew them off the beds.
I did catch a few.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8755_zpsqyks4ybf.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8755_zpsqyks4ybf.jpg.html)
All meals were cooked by my cousin Jimmy. We had rabbit and rabbit gravy with mash potatoes and biscuits one nite and a country supper one night that consisted of new potatoes, butter beans, corn, fresh cabbage and hush puppies also. Because the fishing was so slow, we switched to Lake Mattamuskeet.
Cousin Jimmy, trying to catch a catfish with a pole and crickets.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8722_zps2qfyr2q9.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8722_zps2qfyr2q9.jpg.html)
We were fishing the culverts
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8727_zps3hotscth.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8727_zps3hotscth.jpg.html)
I caught this NOT ON A FLYROD. But on a bream buster and a cricket we caught some catfish until the wind stopped blowing.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8737_zpsqo4euuih.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8737_zpsqo4euuih.jpg.html)
Quite a fight on a bream buster.
Because the fishing was so slow, I took some pictures...
grass orchid
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8700_zpsi1ya3djo.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8700_zpsi1ya3djo.jpg.html)
Them things grow every where right next to the pitcher plants.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8704_zpsln56wqne.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8704_zpsln56wqne.jpg.html)
Some of the PP were at least 2 feet tall.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8708_zps900g9j8g.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8708_zps900g9j8g.jpg.html)
That water was as cool as spring water.
I have no idea what flower this is. I remember we had them on my Granddaddy's farm in Franklin County.
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8721_zps31qy6qss.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8721_zps31qy6qss.jpg.html)
A bluet
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8731_zpstelthzhs.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8731_zpstelthzhs.jpg.html)
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8741_zpsf2pxrbfa.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8741_zpsf2pxrbfa.jpg.html)
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8735_zps7qc4hvof.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8735_zps7qc4hvof.jpg.html)
In the end, we did not catch a whole lot of fish, but spending time with your cousins in a area that is like what NC used to be talking about farming and family is time well spent.
Pitcher plant - cool. I've never seen one. Good shit.
Good stuff, TC. 'c;
Passionvine, Passonflower, Maypop. Passiflora incarnata.
Cool trip for sure. See any gators?
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Only one but a decent size one about 6 feet.
Quote from: tomato can on June 19, 2017, 16:09:59 PM
Only one but a decent size one about 6 feet.
Nice.
How many cottonmouths? I've always thought that area seemed thick with them
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I saw a cottonmouth catch a catfish and eat it about 10 feet from where I was fishing. It twernt no water snake. When I wade through the swamp taking pictures of those orchids and pp its all I think about. I have talked to people who used to FF Lake Mattamaskeet back in its heyday and they said the snakes would swim right up to them as they waded. the whole lake is 2-3 feet deep. Too bad the Feds ruined the bass fishery.
Yes!
May I propose an East NC, or SC cast & blast bake early Nov.. Boats, flaming cypress trees, bass, crappie, duck, deer, bear?. I will find some gameland with some good bassin, and and terrestrial prey.
that would be a good time. I ain't never hunted no ducks.
go back and get some pics of cottonmouth action! I've only seen one close up and personal....
You guys should check your Lake Phelps, it has excellent bass fishing, especially on the fly. And the pumpkinseed spawn is awesome as well. I haven't been in a few years. But always had a blast except for losing a pint of blood to the mosquitoes.
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Quote from: tomato can on June 19, 2017, 14:07:00 PM
A bluet
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8731_zpstelthzhs.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8731_zpstelthzhs.jpg.html)
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8741_zpsf2pxrbfa.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8741_zpsf2pxrbfa.jpg.html)
(http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z458/andrewsrw/IMGP8735_zps7qc4hvof.jpg) (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/andrewsrw/media/IMGP8735_zps7qc4hvof.jpg.html)
Good stuff TC.
Always wanted to visit there.
The first dragonfly is a Blue Dasher. Male.
Did you adjust the color on the second one? Female blue dasher, I think.
The butterfly a Zebra Swallowtail.
Coolness. I love the swamplands.