nc easter bass fishing

[jeff]

went to mattamuskeet for the easter weekend. it was a most unusual trip.
on saturday with wind gusts at 25 mph, i got caught in a snow flurry.
weird, weird weather. about as normal in april in hyde county as a
rainshower of frogs. as you'd guess, the bass bite was off.

on sunday, figuring the bass fishing wouldn't be worthwhile, i decided
to venture into the juniper bay marsh creeks in the morning. still cold
and windy, but sunny. caught a nice 15-16 inch flounder, but it bit me
as i was unhooking it and i suffered a gashed and bloodied my
thumb...hmmm. so, on the way back to pecan grove landing, i thought i'd
pull the boat to the bank and check out a canal in the refuge that i'd
noticed on previous trips. it was muddied up, but pulling a spinnerbait
along the bank yielded several bass...one a nice 3-4 pounder... well,
heck, this might turn out ok after all. then, about a quarter mile down
the canal, while concentrating on my short casts along the bank i was
walking, intent on the water, an unusual smell. sniff, sniff...hey,
what the fu**? yikes!! i almost walked into an... well, last 2 photos
tell the story. a memorable easter. hope y'all had a good holiday
weekend as well. (photos follow)

jeff

[jeff]

those white specks are snowflakes. this is just as i'm taking the boat
out. it snowed hard on my way back down the rose bay canal... didn't
get a bite in the hour or so of fishing before the snow storm...the
suddeness of the clouds and the winds made it look like there might be a
tornado. in a few hours, the sun was out.

[jeff]

mattamuskeet has remarkable sunrises and sunsets. took this sunset
photo on my way across the lake.

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:02:00 -0400, jeff > wrote:

>mattamuskeet has remarkable sunrises and sunsets. took this sunset
>photo on my way across the lake.

Beautiful shot.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

[jeff]

one of mattamuskeet's better fishermen...

[jeff]

the pumping station at lake mattamuskeet

[jeff]

easter sunday bass. caught these in a refuge canal near juniper bay
that i accessed by pulling the boat to a bank and clambering over a bit
of land. walked along the canal bank pitching a spinnerbait. i got real
intent on the fishing and almost walked into...(see next pics)

[jeff]

alligator!!! this was a huge gator for nc...at least 8-10 feet (my
conservative guess...but, then i was hyperventilating a bit at the time)
nose to tail, very fat. he was snoozing in the sun...eyelids closed. i
was walking the bank, paying little attention to anything but the water,
trying to place casts close to the bank 10-15 feet in front of me.
suddenly, there was an unusual smell...it was so unusual that it caused
me to stop and look around. i thought there might be a dead
animal...then i saw it. about 20 feet in front of me. my jaw dropped,
and i ran as fast up the grassy bank as any geezer hoping not to wrestle
with a gator on an easter sunday. i've no experience with gators up
close and personal, so took these two photos and retreated. he never
moved. i don't think he even woke up...

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:25:16 -0400, jeff > wrote:

>alligator!!!

Shoot Jeff, that little guy is barely big enough to make Wayno a pair of shoes
and a belt. <g>
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

[Rodney Long]

jeff wrote:
> alligator!!! this was a huge gator for nc...at least 8-10 feet (my
> conservative guess...but, then i was hyperventilating a bit at the time)
> nose to tail, very fat. he was snoozing in the sun...eyelids closed. i
> was walking the bank, paying little attention to anything but the water,
> trying to place casts close to the bank 10-15 feet in front of me.
> suddenly, there was an unusual smell...it was so unusual that it caused
> me to stop and look around. i thought there might be a dead
> animal...then i saw it. about 20 feet in front of me. my jaw dropped,
> and i ran as fast up the grassy bank as any geezer hoping not to wrestle
> with a gator on an easter sunday. i've no experience with gators up
> close and personal, so took these two photos and retreated. he never
> moved. i don't think he even woke up...

Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving

I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat

--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Mojo SpecTastic "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread,
Nutri Shield insect repellent. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, and the EZKnot
http://www.ezknot.com

[jeff]

Charlie Choc wrote:
> On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:25:16 -0400, jeff > wrote:
>
>
>>alligator!!!
>
>
> Shoot Jeff, that little guy is barely big enough to make Wayno a pair of shoes
> and a belt. <g>

bring your kayak up and i'll point you in his direction. you measure
him. <g>

i was a long way from him when i stopped running and took the pic, using
the little olympus stylus camera close-up...just doesn't show the scale
accurately at all. he was huge!! hell, by tomorrow he'll be 15 feet.
wish i had gotten closer and taken more photos, but as bad as my luck
had been this weekend i feared he might think i was an easter meal.

i've never encountered an alligator in the wild and up close on land
(saw one from the boat once). i've not tried to run in a long time, and
i suspect "scurrying" might not be adequate in the event he decided he
wanted a closer view of me. it was very spooky to just walk up
unknowingly on the damn thing. ...and i was catching some fish too!

[jeff]

Rodney Long wrote:

> jeff wrote:
>
>> alligator!!! this was a huge gator for nc...at least 8-10 feet (my
>> conservative guess...but, then i was hyperventilating a bit at the
>> time) nose to tail, very fat. he was snoozing in the sun...eyelids
>> closed. i was walking the bank, paying little attention to anything
>> but the water, trying to place casts close to the bank 10-15 feet in
>> front of me. suddenly, there was an unusual smell...it was so unusual
>> that it caused me to stop and look around. i thought there might be a
>> dead animal...then i saw it. about 20 feet in front of me. my jaw
>> dropped, and i ran as fast up the grassy bank as any geezer hoping not
>> to wrestle with a gator on an easter sunday. i've no experience with
>> gators up close and personal, so took these two photos and retreated.
>> he never moved. i don't think he even woke up...
>
>
> Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving
>
> I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat
>

don't think so...one of his front legs was still wet. but, i don't
know. my first such encounter. it wasn't rotting meat...but a definite
odor that caught my attention.

[Rodney Long]

jeff wrote:

>>
>> Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving
>>
>> I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat
>>
>
> don't think so...one of his front legs was still wet. but, i don't
> know. my first such encounter. it wasn't rotting meat...but a definite
> odor that caught my attention.

As cold as it was, he was probably trying to get warm in the sun then, I
bet he could have barely moved since it was so cold


--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Mojo SpecTastic "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread,
Nutri Shield insect repellent. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, and the EZKnot
http://www.ezknot.com

[Bill & Sue]

I don't know about NC but the Gators in FL are starting to come into
breeding season and they get REAL cranky then. Gators use the heat from the
sun for body heat and will sleep on the bank after a heavy feed (the heat
helps them to digest). Doc (who relocated to NY State after hurricane
Charlie)
================================================== ===============================

"jeff" > wrote in message
...
> Rodney Long wrote:
>
>> jeff wrote:
>>
>>> alligator!!! this was a huge gator for nc...at least 8-10 feet (my
>>> conservative guess...but, then i was hyperventilating a bit at the time)
>>> nose to tail, very fat. he was snoozing in the sun...eyelids closed. i
>>> was walking the bank, paying little attention to anything but the water,
>>> trying to place casts close to the bank 10-15 feet in front of me.
>>> suddenly, there was an unusual smell...it was so unusual that it caused
>>> me to stop and look around. i thought there might be a dead
>>> animal...then i saw it. about 20 feet in front of me. my jaw dropped,
>>> and i ran as fast up the grassy bank as any geezer hoping not to wrestle
>>> with a gator on an easter sunday. i've no experience with gators up
>>> close and personal, so took these two photos and retreated. he never
>>> moved. i don't think he even woke up...
>>
>>
>> Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving
>>
>> I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat
>>
>
> don't think so...one of his front legs was still wet. but, i don't know.
> my first such encounter. it wasn't rotting meat...but a definite odor that
> caught my attention.

[jeff]

Rodney Long wrote:
> jeff wrote:
>
>>>
>>> Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving
>>>
>>> I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat
>>>
>>
>> don't think so...one of his front legs was still wet. but, i don't
>> know. my first such encounter. it wasn't rotting meat...but a definite
>> odor that caught my attention.
>
>
> As cold as it was, he was probably trying to get warm in the sun then, I
> bet he could have barely moved since it was so cold
>
>

he looked like a sprinter to me! <g> no doubt he was basking in the
sun. i've no experience with gators...my bet is he was a man eater,
playing possum til i got close enough. <g>

i wish i'd been more stalwart now that i'm safely home...but at the
time, since i'd already been bloodied by a flounder, i figured i'd
better not test an alligator's patience.

[Rodney Long]

jeff wrote:

>
> he looked like a sprinter to me! <g> no doubt he was basking in the
> sun. i've no experience with gators...my bet is he was a man eater,
> playing possum til i got close enough. <g>
>
> i wish i'd been more stalwart now that i'm safely home...but at the
> time, since i'd already been bloodied by a flounder, i figured i'd
> better not test an alligator's patience.

Probably a wise move :-)


--
Rodney Long,
Inventor of the Mojo SpecTastic "WIGGLE" rig, SpecTastic Thread,
Nutri Shield insect repellent. ,Stand Out Hooks ,Stand Out Lures,
Mojo's Rock Hopper & Rig Saver weights, and the EZKnot
http://www.ezknot.com

[Opus--Mark H. Bowen]

"jeff" > wrote in message
...
> alligator!!! this was a huge gator for nc...at least 8-10 feet (my
> conservative guess...but, then i was hyperventilating a bit at the time)
> nose to tail, very fat. he was snoozing in the sun...eyelids closed. i
> was walking the bank, paying little attention to anything but the water,
> trying to place casts close to the bank 10-15 feet in front of me.
> suddenly, there was an unusual smell...it was so unusual that it caused
> me to stop and look around. i thought there might be a dead
> animal...then i saw it. about 20 feet in front of me. my jaw dropped,
> and i ran as fast up the grassy bank as any geezer hoping not to wrestle
> with a gator on an easter sunday. i've no experience with gators up
> close and personal, so took these two photos and retreated. he never
> moved. i don't think he even woke up...

You big sissy! I'm not sure that you are man enough to jump-start one of my
vehicles, ever again!

Love,
Op

[asadi]

Hey you got a high rez of that one?

got my e-mail?

thanks john....

"jeff" > wrote in message
...
> the pumping station at lake mattamuskeet
>

[Charlie Choc]

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:09:06 -0400, jeff > wrote:

>bring your kayak up and i'll point you in his direction. you measure
>him. <g>
>
Willi and I saw a bunch in the Everglades, and you did have to watch where you
were walking (and paddling). They said the only reported 'incident' in the park
was when a kid hit one on a bike. Here's a 'close up of one. ;-)
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

[jeff]

asadi wrote:
> Hey you got a high rez of that one?
>
> got my e-mail?
>
> thanks john....
>
> "jeff" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>the pumping station at lake mattamuskeet
>>
>
>
>

i'll check.

jeff

[Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers]

"Charlie Choc" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:09:06 -0400, jeff >
> wrote:
>
>>bring your kayak up and i'll point you in his direction. you measure
>>him. <g>
>>
> Willi and I saw a bunch in the Everglades, and you did have to watch where
> you
> were walking (and paddling). They said the only reported 'incident' in the
> park
> was when a kid hit one on a bike. Here's a 'close up of one. ;-)
> --
> Charlie...
> http://www.chocphoto.com
>
>

That's a cool picture. The last time I fished a tournament in Florida on
Lake Okeechobee, I had a 7 footer eat my Zoom SuperFluke. I was using a
flipping stick with 50 lb. PowerPro line and managed to get it up to the
boat three times before it broke off! I don't know what I was going to do
with it at the side of the boat, because I certainly wasn't going to try to
get my fifty cent lure back!

But they sure do fight good! :-)
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[Willi]

jeff wrote:
> Rodney Long wrote:
>
>> jeff wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>> Maybe the gator was dead, might explain the smell and it not moving
>>>>
>>>> I can't remember ever smelling a gator that smelled like rotting meat
>>>>
>>>
>>> don't think so...one of his front legs was still wet. but, i don't
>>> know. my first such encounter. it wasn't rotting meat...but a
>>> definite odor that caught my attention.
>>
>>
>>
>> As cold as it was, he was probably trying to get warm in the sun then,
>> I bet he could have barely moved since it was so cold
>>
>>
>
> he looked like a sprinter to me! <g> no doubt he was basking in the
> sun. i've no experience with gators...my bet is he was a man eater,
> playing possum til i got close enough. <g>
>
> i wish i'd been more stalwart now that i'm safely home...but at the
> time, since i'd already been bloodied by a flounder, i figured i'd
> better not test an alligator's patience.


First picture is one swimming next to the kayak on a small pond we were
fishing. I got used to them and comfortable with them swimming around
the kayak. I even had one swim under it. However, I think I would have
freaked if I had tipped the kayak.

The second picture is of a salt Croc. Now those you have to be a bit
more concerned about. Charlie probably has a much better picture using
one of his big close up lens.

Willi

[Charlie Choc]

On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:45:35 -0600, Willi > wrote:

> Charlie probably has a much better picture using
>one of his big close up lens.
>
Here's one of the croc. The only time I got nervous around the gators was when I
almost paddled into one at the takeout at 9 Mile Pond, although I did try and
keep track of where they were while we were paddling. ;-)
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

[Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers]

"Charlie Choc" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:45:35 -0600, Willi > wrote:
>
>> Charlie probably has a much better picture using
>>one of his big close up lens.
>>
> Here's one of the croc. The only time I got nervous around the gators was
> when I
> almost paddled into one at the takeout at 9 Mile Pond, although I did try
> and
> keep track of where they were while we were paddling. ;-)

Those things are just incredibly mean looking! If ever a creature looked
like it could cheerfully eat a human, it would be a croc, even moreso than
an alligator in my estimation.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[jeff]

Willi wrote:
>
>
>
> First picture is one swimming next to the kayak on a small pond we were
> fishing. I got used to them and comfortable with them swimming around
> the kayak. I even had one swim under it. However, I think I would have
> freaked if I had tipped the kayak.
>
> The second picture is of a salt Croc. Now those you have to be a bit
> more concerned about. Charlie probably has a much better picture using
> one of his big close up lens.
>
> Willi
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

neat photos... where were they taken?

there is simply no way i'm going to kayak around gators, much less a
croc. i don't think i'd have a problem with gators as long as i'm in a
proper boat. i think crocs are best viewed on film from the relative
safety of a theater seat. kayaking around them? yikes!

jeff

[Charlie Choc]

On Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:32:15 -0400, jeff > wrote:

>neat photos... where were they taken?

Everglades NP
>
>there is simply no way i'm going to kayak around gators, much less a
>croc. i don't think i'd have a problem with gators as long as i'm in a
>proper boat.

Here's Willi with a nice cichlid on. IIRC there were a couple of gators about 20
yards away to the right of the picture.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com