Member Mike Hayes gives an Outdoors Report

Mike starts out with this verse:

Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

It's Spring again, that means it's time to knock the dust off the fishing and hunting gear and get out into the Lord's playground. Crappie are heading to the bank this time of year. They will hit about any small artificial spoons, minnow baits, spinners, jigs, flies, streamers, and live minnow is hard to beat.

This time of year, fish artificial baits slow and near the bottom. Live bait should be fished under a float. I fished Jordan two weeks ago and had good luck landing 17 nice Crappie ranging from one pound to three pounds. Fish were found ten to fifteen feet off the bank, three to five feet deep. I was fishing minnows under a slip float.

This time of year, cold fronts can push fish off the bank, so you might have to adjust your game plan due to the weather. With the Dogwoods blooming, look to the lake's head waters for the White Bass spawn. Water temperature is key to finding fish, and I look for water 58-64 degrees. The same artificial baits used to catch Crappie will work fine on White Bass.

Clouser Minnow type flies and streamers work well for flyfishing. Don't forget about the poor man's tarpon, the shad, they are in all your coastal rivers this time of year and are great fun on lite tackle and on the fly. Shad darts, trailed 6 to 10 inches behind a small spoon, work well on ultra light gear. Any type of bright shad fly will work well, but it must be weighted if fished on a floating flyline. I prefer a slow sinking flyline on a six weight flyrod with a fast action.


Largemouth Bass are leaving their deep winter holes in all our local lakes to spawn and will be heading to shallow water backbays and coves; look for water temps of 65 degrees to get things started. Small ponds warm earlier this time of year, so if you don't have a boat they can be a great place to find some quiet action. Largemouth will hit a variety of baits from soft plastics to hard baits. When asked what is the best bait to be using, I say the one you have the most confidence in.

Ed Strickland and myself were out on Harris this past week and had five fish from about 1.5 pounds up to one that weighted 7.5 pounds. It was a great day.

Turkey season starts April 11, through May 9, 2009. So cut that TV off and unplug that computer and get out into the Lord's playground. You will be truly blessed.

Mike has graciously offered to speak to anyone if you want to call him at 919-481-0331 for help on rigging and gear selection as he's happy to give anyone a hand. I'd take him up on it if I were you!