Mountain Island Lake fish are awake

26-May-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake ~ Fish are awake

With water temps finally warming up, the fish, including the panfish, are all awake now.  We caught a lot of bass, a few catfish, a bunch of sunnies/bluegills.  Most of the fish were caught on Gulp minnows, Charlie Grubs, and some on spoons.  We had a few 'triples'; 3 bass caught by the 3 of us at once.

Momma Snapping Turtle

23-May-2013 ~  Momma Snapping Turtle preparing to lay some eggs.

19-May-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake

Fishing solo from about 8am to 12pm on a cloudy, rainy Sunday.  Water temp was 63F.  Fish were awake.  Channel Catfish and Longear Sunny caught on Gulp yellow minnow, and the Spotted Bass was caught on a spoon.   The panfish are starting to bite finally.

 Beautful trees in the spring along the Catawba River.

 Mountain Island Lake crappie.

 Mountain Island Lake blue catfish caught by Sir Sean...a 15 pounder...

Our newest pet, Trever, the baby snapping turtle.

12-May-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake ~ Mother's Day Fishing

Me and the boys were up at 4am and on the water well before 6am.  The sun came up around 6:25am.  Spotted and largemouth bass were caught on spinner baits and Gulp Minnows.  The crappie was caught on a Gulp Yellow Minnow, and the 15 pound catfish was caught on Gulp Minnow and ultra-light 4lb test line.  Water temp was from 59 to 63F.  Sunny 70F day.

Collard Greens ~ Chef Stefan

Collard Greens ~ Chef Stefan Recipes

Collard Greens look like a big weed that grows along a creek next to the Skunk Cabbage.  They are usually inexpensive, and they be one of Chef Stefan's favorite veggies here in the South. 

Ingredients:
-1 bunch of Collard Greens, cut in 1 inch strips
-pot o'boiling water
-1/4 cup diced onion
-1/4 cup diced bacon' (pre-cooked or left over from the weekends breakfast)
-dash o'salt
- tbs butter
-oliver oil
-white wine

Boil water in a caldron and add a dash of salt.  Toss those Collard Greens into the boilin' water for a while, maybe 10 minutes or so, until leaves are soft and well cooked.  Fetch a skillet, and throw in a dash o'olive oil, tbs of butter, and the onions.  Stir and saute the onions until they are soft and 'carmelized'.  Throw in the bacon and a dash o'white wine.  Stir.   Drain water from the Collard Greens, and add them to the skillet and stir all the stuff together.  Serve as a side dish. 
Enjoy.

17-April-2013 ~ Local Pond Panfish ~

A quick bike ride to the local pond yielded a little crappie on a little white minnow on a jighead.
Fishboy caught many bluegills and crappie. Weather is now in the 80F range.  Love it. 

14-April-2013 ~ Mountain Island Lake ~

Two of us out early on a beautiful Sunday morning.  Bite was slow for first hour, then the spotted bass started hitting, along with a largemouth, a channel catfish, and more spotted bass.  Not a single bluegill or sunny to be found.