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Category Archives: Fishing

Baxter Tennessee Catfish Fee to Fish Pond

American Press Travel News–June 26th, Bob & Barb Stopping to Smell the Roses and the catfish–Cats for a Fee On another planet (or so it seemed as I spent two years in the Congo) I fished nearly every day in creeks, ponds and even the deepest river in the world at 1290-feet deep.  I had catfish take my baits and lures along with all manner of other actual game fish that jumped, put on a great acrobatic show and had teeth, such as the tiger fish made of nightmares in this striped biter and slasher.  But the catfish dove, pulled and bulldozed their way towards the bottom.  On a dock at the Congo, I saw a 600-pounder being cut up for the pot. These wild-ones put up a fine fight, and smaller ones that didn’t break my line or rod, roasted over bamboo coals, were excellent fare.

There are nearly 3,000 known species of catfish in the world, but it is thought that the actual number of catfish species could be as high as 4,500, as many species of catfish are found in areas where there is little or no human contact. I counted about 30-different catfish species that I caught during my time in Africa.

Here in the states there are many varieties, but the ones most of us like to catch and eat are Channel Cats. Twin Lakes Catfish Farm is your spot!  They have Channel Cats, Blue Cats, Flatheads, and farm fed fish as well. They stock 10-15-thousand of them and they are ready to catch and keep, or catch and release for a fee.

It’s the first week of summer, and that’s what fishing is all about; togetherness sharing quality time in the summer outdoors. What we witnessed during our visit were families enjoying time together fishing.  The catfish farm has an RV park, a stage for events, a restaurant, a tackle shop where you can buy or rent gear if you forgot yours and a bait shop too! The Pippin Family, Greta Hurst, Greg Pippin and Lesette Pippin all work and manage what started in 1946 by J. Fred and Evelyn Pippin who purchased the first part of the farm. In 2000 the rest of the family moved onto the property and decided to take the idea of a catfish pay lake and make it a reality. They did!

April through October each Saturday they run a tournament where participants can win a trophy and some cash too! They also host special tourneys for kids and veterans, ladies and special partner’s tournaments.  Greg told me that once in awhile, someone hooks up catfish to 90-pounds in his lakes, and then its pandemonium of fun for the angler, and everyone watching, as well.

Yes, catfish is on the menu at their restaurant, but so is all other non-catfish fare as well!

You pay one fee for all day catch and release, and another fee for catch and keep as well as paying by the pound for your fresh caught catfish. Open Thursday through Sunday, and they’re located at Exit 280 off of I-40, go north 2.5 miles on highway 56 to 580 Gainesboro Hwy. This is fun for you and pals, or for the whole family. Call 931-858-2333 for any additional information.

Great thing about fishing is “God does not deduct mans time on earth when he ( or she) is fishing!”

Bob’s Reverie At The Farm

 

Barb loves to fish when she has an edge and doesn’t have the whole day to hopefully hook a neighbor with shoulders enough for us to spar with! 

APtravelnews-May 16th-Crossville, TN.—Goose Holler’ Farm—Bob’s reverie at the farm–I Woke up this morning to chirps from at least a dozen birds: Blue, red, black, gray, mottled, white, yellow, striped black and gray. Their songs and calls were sweet, some raucous, some sounding playful and a few staccato as in three different kinds of woodpeckers including a bright red headed one with a real attitude that come to our feeders and the older trees with lots of dead wood near the fence-line of Goose Holler Farm.

Today was especially auspicious, as the deer with and without antlers and testicles were feeding along a weed whacker line I made near the pond (the pond brings many varieties of ducks and geese over the year to rest and feed)  to keep our paths from growing wild and hiding some other unsavory visitors. These serpent critters such as water moccasins come looking for a red- eared, or blue-gilled sunfish, or a bass fish dish alongside the weedy shallows, along with some other potentially poisonous water snakes that we all prefer not to tread on, or brush by, by accident.  Sure, I have more squirrels and chipmunks per acre than probably anywhere in our area, as I have at least 150 trees per acre on our ten acre little farmstead, but until they get into our attic, I don’t shoot at them with anything more powerful than a stinging B-B gun to keep them from clearing the bird feeders within an hour or less.  

The trees are mostly big trees of nut and flower, oaks, black walnut, maples and almond, the billions of leaves- each one slightly different than the other, keep us shaded and cool in the summer. Together with the blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry bushes and a sundry, seed bushes, not to mention our grown fresh veggies and herbs, we have a fine cornucopia. I guess that in the great profusion of wild plants, it would take a true horticulturist to be able to name them all.  I love waking and spending my day writing, looking out and on our land and up-keeping and gardening here.

 I guess the reason for this post is I really feel blessed to wake up to nature, and the honeysuckle, roses, peonies and lilac bushes blended a sweet natural aroma to a day full of promise that anyone could enjoy if they gave their I phone, laptop and TV a rest for a day or, two a week!

Best Western Plus River Escape Inn & Suites, Dillsboro, N.C.

Best Best Western we ever stayed at. Fly fishing out the back door, hot breakfasts, very friendly and helpful staff, and comfortable beds!

American Press Travel News-April 26th-Dillsboro, N.C.-“Bob & Barb On the Road Again”  and “Stopping to Smell the Roses & the trout.” We found out first hand why this Best Western Plus has so many great reviews. We are now one of them, too! With close up views, just feet away from, & on the trout infested Tuckasegee River, and great Smokey Mountain views, we enjoyed everything about this great country hotel. The price is right, the staff were extremely friendly (even got my lost cell phone back to me by mail from Josh) the pool was great, the included hot breakfast was as good as it gets from any hotel, the parking was most convenient. We sure enjoyed those fresh cookies and hot coffee anytime, as we headed to and from our room every day. Rooms have premium channels, the view and sound of the river off the rear of our suite was a treat to remember. I was even able to stretch a fly line on the river, just behind our accommodations  (see the pics of that episode) and then headed to the cute little city of Dillsboro, for a great dinner at Kostas and the next night at Haywood Smokehouse too! So many rivers and streams in this area, which includes the delightful city of Silva, loaded with great shops such as antiques, gift and country home decor businesses. Every one of these shops had delightful owners and shopkeepers that we met. Of special note, we really enjoyed, or should we say our “sweet teeth” loved Dillsboro Chocolate Factory. Is this area recommended?  Very highly, especially if you like to fish for trout!  Contact the hotel direct at: 828-586-6060 Their website is bwriverscape.com  or you can call their reservation number 800-528-1234.

Barb and I loved living just off the Tuckasegee River. Quite peaceful eating the Best Western hot breakfast overlooking this great trout river.
24-inch Brown trout. What a fight on a light tippet!
Rainbow Trout from the “river that runs through it.”
Face to face with a 24-inch brown trout off the Tuckasegee River on a Wooley Bugger!

Dillsboro, N.C., And a River Runs Through It! Note* First Installment of our 4-day Sojourn

Best Best Western we ever stayed at. Fly fishing out the back door, hot breakfasts, very friendly and helpful staff, and comfortable beds!
At Haywards Barbeque we truly pigged out on great barbecue. Ribs, smoked brisket, and side dishes that only fit a great N.C. barbecue.

American Press Travel News-April 21st, Dillsboro, N.C.-Bob and Barb “On The Road Again.” A small town with character, and a crossroads to so many places, yet Dillsboro and adjoining town of Silva, has plenty for the adventurous, and the laid back rocker folks too!

 

What a layout of great barbeque; Ribs, smoked brisket, beans, tater salad, Cole slaw, greens, chopped pork, sausage-garlic bread-WOW!
Barb and I loved living just off the Tuskegee river. Quite peaceful eating the Best Western hot breakfast overlooking this great trout river.
Gordon is going fishing! Gordon works at Silva’s fly fishing shop. He’s locked and ready for a mountain stream or for the rivers that run directly through Silva and Dillsboro.

 

 

Over at Kostas in town, we chowed on great Greek fish and Barbs favorite Italian dish, Chicken parm with al dente’ spaghetti. Fabulous food for my fabulous lady, and the laid-back, as well.