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Tag Archives: catfish

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!”

Food Glorious Food, Travel Writers “Roll” on Their Stomachs

Golden Girls Restaurant in Clinton famous for “Broasted Chicken.”
Our deck overlooking Norris Lake at Pinnacle Point. What a view!
Deans Restaurant & Bakery in Oak Ridge. Ribs, steaks, chickens.

AmericanPressTravelNews-May 20th,-Bob & Barb “On the Road Again”-Anderson County, Clinton, & Oak Ridge, TN.-Besides enjoying a great condo experience on Norris Lake, at Pinnacle Point with “Vacations on the Water” , we also had to eat didn’t we? So Our first day in Clinton we we headed for dinner at Golden Girls Restaurant (Barbs favorite sitcom)  with the rooster outside. Great veggies, chopped steak with grilled onions the way we like them and plenty of good rolls, as opposed to nasty rolls just out of the micro. Before dinner I fished the morning with Guide Scott Manning described in a previous post as very professional and a great big catfish finder. Then it was home to lunch at Hoskins 1940’s Soda Fountain (as previously reported in last weeks post) for a malted and a tuna sandwich, um, um good. A bit later we visited the Appalachian Arts and Crafts Center. We love crafts; talented people who learned by trial and error to make all manner of wood, ceramic and woven items that just plain fit as gifts and as home-ware.  The next evening we drove over to Oak Ridge and met Mark De Rose & Ray Smith from Oakridge Visitors and Explore Oak Ridge.  We had dinner at Dean’s Restaurant & Bakery for some ribs and specials. Oak Ridge as we posted a few days back is a terrific place to visit. Museums and a true more modern America will be your host here. You know, and feel that history was made here that changed the course of human destiny. This is the place the nuclear age was born! Go: www.exploreoakridge.com and check out dean’s at: www.deansrestaurantand bakery.com

NOTE* Stay tuned more coming about Anderson County.

Hoskins 1940’s Soda Fountain after lunch time!

 

 

 

Catfish-big ones hang in the current bottoms of the Clinch River.

Scott Manning a TN. Professional River and Lake Guide

AmericanPressTravelNews-May 15,-The Clinch River and Norris Lake-Bob & Barb “On the Road Again”  & ” Stopping to Bend a Rod.” When we met up with Scott Manning, my very professional guide on the Clinch River, he explained that as I had mentioned; you fish the conditions, not the fish! He agreed, conditions for striper action in very high water from the constant early May rains, were just not good for anything but big “cats” of the fin and grunt kind. Scott even makes and markets a bottom rattle bobber that keep the baits off the bottom and waving in the currents. They work! We popped a 50-pound flathead catfish and then a much bigger one on the next drop and stop. We were anchored close to one of Scott Manning’s pals and his family and friends. They were catching some fine river cats for the grilling and had recently caught a large striper before the weather turned south. Well, I was able to take and make some images of our morning jaunt- I love it when guys and dolls are pulling on the big ones with or without whiskers! Scotts boat was nice and wide, well powered by a big Yam. and had the very best custom and off the shelf rods and reels. To get in touch with Guide Scott Manning give a call: 865-680-7672

Florence, SC, So Many Ways To Enjoy a Visit and So Many Venues For Tourists and Others!

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Yes, great Kayaking and WOW do you get hungry after getting some prime, upper body exercise! SEE BELOW

APtravelnews-November 16th—Florence, S.C.—We met Holly Beaumier on a drive up  I-95 towards our ultimate goal of visiting Vermont again. We stayed and played in her dog-friendly city enjoying great foods and fine accommodations, but most importantly: very friendly caring locals.

Last week,  we had occasion to meet up with her again at the 5oth Anniversary of SEOPA held at Fontana Lake in N.C. She was in attendance to assist in spreading the word, along with other Counties CVB’s from all around the South about their respective excellent travel opportunities for tourists and other visitors.

Holly is a true professional and very passionate about Florence, S.C. and surrounding locals ability to offer great travel opportunities to everyone and anyone “stopping to smell the roses” off I-95 and from all around the USA and the world!

She introduced us to a whole set of opportunities that should encourage us all to make a reservation and head to Florence when possible. Here are some of them:

  • Farm to table and what’s in season? The SC climate lends itself to agricultural produce year round. Local restaurants (we agree having enjoyed many of them) often change menus to serve locally sourced, in season foods.
  • Middle Sparrow Ranch, SC’s only producer of farmstead cheese. Crafted on site from grass fed cows. The cheese has its own unique flavor. Other products are dairy and whey-fed pork.
  • U-Pick farms offer strawberry, muscadine grapes, blueberries are ready from April through October.
  • Tours are available at Ovis Hill Farm where they graze 250 sheep and provide high quality, natural foods.
  • Fishing in local rivers how about giant catfish? Shad are caught in Hoop nets and even drop lines for “cats.”
  • Hog Hunting on horseback? Inquire and Give it a go in SC.
  • Cooper Black Recreation Area has National Sporting Dog field trials: there are equestrian trials in endurance and runs in this 7000 rolling acres of longleaf pine forests and the fields provide the ultimate venue for these and much more events.
  • Birding: More than 100 species of migratory birds to spot at. Take your binocular to Woods Bay State Natural Area.
  • There are so many other things to see and do: Camp, be an Archeologist, check out enigmatic Carolina Bays, the Darlington Marathon races, Marsh Tacky Horses, a South Carolina Horse with stripes dating to Revolutionary times, Heart of Carolina’s 3-day horse competitions, The Kings Three Trails with great jockeys, Lancing tournament on horseback started in 1899. These opportunities and too many others are in and around Florence, SC. For more info. Go: visitflo.com  843-664-0330
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    As pet friendly a city as you can find!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!
    Lamb Chops from Colorado, Risotto, goats cheese. Unreal tastes!

    New York Cheesecake and strawberries. Terrific!
    New York Cheesecake and local strawberries. Terrific!