Figured I would have to wade through a lot of Bass, Blue cats, and stripers to get a robust redhorse but it would be fun. Ok, just kiddin about the Robust Redhorse as it is endangered and the odds of catching one are slim to none but our plan was to float the Pee Dee and catch Bass and cats.
Scratch that. Found out I had to go to my sons football meeting at 11 am so I had to hit up some place local. We chose Buckhorn Dam on the Cape Fear because of it proximity to the both of us plus the time factor. Our quarry was going to be Blue and Flathead catfish.
One WARNING. Buckhorn is a nice place but it can be a place where a lot of hoodlums Hang out and I don't go don't there w/o a gun. Note- when Rodney arrived at the dam there was a guy smoking a crack pipe.
Met my friend Rodney there and we fished from 230- 800pm. I had to use my Frogg Toggs because of the rain which ended about 4 pm. The rain was actually a blessing as it kept the temps cool and probably increased the fish activity. Our goal was to catch bait and then catfish, problem was usually here I can catch all the bream I want to but today they were not biting.
I tried everything I had. Spinners, grubs, ul Rapalas, even red worms. Nothing. finally after a couple of hours I grabbed the ole trusty Lews Speed Spool loaded with 50 lb braid and started slinging my favorite spinnerbait. Immediately I hooked into a chunky Largemouth and that may have went 3 lbs. Ended up catching no more Largemouth but caught 3 bowfin. 3lbs to 9 lbs. only got picture of smaller one as I released the 2 bigger ones while still in the water and caught aprox 20 Spotted Bass ranging from really small to maybe 2 lbs. Lost several big gar and no lunkers caught but it was a fun day on the water.
Here is Rodney's first Spotted Bass
A nice 3 lb chunk Largemouth I caught on a spinnerbait
A nice spot
Another
3lb Bowfin
Wildlife seen was Ducks, herons(watched several catch some nice bait that I couldn't) , eagles, ospreys, 1 deer, 1 raccoon, and lots of 3 - 6 inch eels trying to do the salmon thing and swim up the dam. Some were making it 1/2 way up then falling back down. Note- I have caught eels above this dam so either some make it over in lower water or they crawl around.
*Date 8/2/2014
*Where- Cape Fear River
*Boat Used- Old Town 119
*Main Outfit used- Lews Speed Spool 7.1-1 ratio on 7' MH Daiwa rod
load with 50lb PowerPro
*All Bass caught on a Booya Spinnerbait
Thanks for lookin- Mack
