Posted: May 11, 2003  11:09

Spring has sprung and while the stream fishermen have to wait a little longer, the Panhandle lake scenario for trout looks (and is) great!

Took a sneak peek at the most recent batch of Kamloops waiting for stocking out of the Sandpoint Hatchery holding runs. Largest and fattest batch of rainbow trout I’ve seen our F&G team stocking for us in the five years I’ve been monitoring lake stocking.

Rode out with John Suhfras to stock Smith Lake with the last batch of April’s trout allocation. These fish were nice size also, but nothing compared to the size of this month stocking. Here is the allocation for May:

5/1 - Mirror – 1,000
5/2 - Crystal – 1,000
5/8 - Fernan – 1,850
5/9 - Upper Twin – 250 Lower Twin – 1,450
5/12 - Freeman – 1,125 Kelso – 1,450
5/13 - Bullmoose – 750
5/14 - Kalispell – 500 Round – 1,000
5/15 - Mirror – 1,000 Lower Twin – 1,000
5/16 - Hauser – 2,500
5/19 - Brush – 1,000 Smith 500
5/20 - Robinson – 1,000 Sinclair – 400
5/21 - Post Falls (Pond) – 750
5/22 - Solomon – 500 (Thank you Lord!)
5/23 - Freeman – 1,000 Kelso – 1,000
5/26 - Jewell – 3,000
5/27 - Bull Moose – 750
5/28 - Hauser – 1,950 Lower Twin – 1,000
5/29 - Brush 1,000 Smith – 500
5/30 - Robinson – 1,000 Sinclair – 400 Post Falls (Pond) – 750

Go get ‘em … you deserve them!

Let’s get into some catfish … and I mean some real catfish. This story really started last year when I reported Jamie Pluid’s catch of a 14.5-pound channel cat out at Smith Lake. Anyway, my friends back east started ragging me about "we use 14 pounders for bait out here," etc. This went on for over a year, but I wound up the winner as I met the famous Captain Darryl Smith via this interchange of who has what when it comes to catfish.

The good Captain and I quickly became cyber friends as reflected by the numerous times I have posted photos of his catches and shared some of his fishing expertise with you. As the year went on I vowed that I would some day fish with this guy, as I’ve always wanted to fish with a professional guide. Those of you who have floated our rivers and streams with professionals know what that means to a novice fisherman.

Late last month that dream came true for me.

Here is our good Captain Darryl holding up my 41.9 pound, 46" long flathead catfish taken from Lake Marion near Santee, South Carolina. The locals refer to Lake Marion as the "Cooper – Santee." This particular cat weighed 43 pounds when landed, but by the time we got into the landing for an official weigh-in he was certified at 41.9 pounds. I shall never forget the good Captain’s words – "We have us a record here, get all the poles in, we’re heading in to get this fish registered."

More on this "record" fish a little later on.

This big flathead was the last fish we landed that day, and what a morning it was. We landed a total of 213.9 pounds of blue and flathead in less than six hours on the water. The smallest fish came in at nine pounds. Yours truly caught two 36-pound blue catfish, another flathead that came in at 39 pounds, and a runt blue at 12 pounds.

Here is Paul Spescia and I holding up a couple of our catches just prior to releasing them back into Lake Marion. Yes, my good friends … we released every single cat we caught that morning.

All 213.9 pounds of them, as we all agreed catch and release was the best way we could pay homage to these tremendous fighters. Here is my big cat being released by Captain Darryl after weigh-in.

It is with a large amount of personal pride that I introduce two old soldiers to you. We were soldiers once … a long time ago. This great day of fishing was made even better by the fact that I was once again reunited with these two beloved comrades in arms after 40 years. Some day I’m going to tell you about these two old soldiers, and other comrades from those days of long ago, but for now I’m going to continue to bask in the emotional high this reunion gave me.

From left to right … our fishing skipper captain Darryl Smith of Rock Hill South Carolina, master sergeant Edmund "Buck" Buchanan of Fort Mill, South Carolina, and command sergeant sajor Paul S. Spescia from Rockledge, Florida.

Now let’s dwell on catfish a little longer.

"Noodling." Remember that term from my last column about the guy from Oklahoma with the large cat? Well, I sure was taken to task on that report. The good Captain took the time to explain to me that "noodling" was a technique pioneered by southern boys where you simply took a long pole, (actually marketed as noodle poles) and jigged around cypress knees for bream and crappie and whatever else you can get. So, dear fishing friends, I stand corrected. (Just goes to prove people from Oklahoma don’t know how they really caught those catfish.)

Was my big cat a record? Nope, I cannot accept that even though I did smile all the way back to Idaho. We’ll just have to let the folks at the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame sort it out. Checked the local record book when I got home, as something just was not right about this record catch of mine. Sure enough, found that a flathead catfish taken from the Brownlee Reservoir in ‘94 weighed in at 58.8 pounds and was 48’ in length. So much for my record cat at 46."

Did not get a chance to field test Tyger Leader as the good Captain was out of it and all I had with me was 10- and 15-pound test. Anyway, Paul talked me out of the Tyger Leader I had so he could try it out when he got back to Florida. Seems Tyger Leader was made to land some of those bad snook Paul bragged about. We’ll soon find out, as Paul has been hitting the Indian River lately looking for a record and promises us a full-blown field report on Tyger Leader.

Meet some of Harvey Brannigan’s fine future stewards of our fisheries from Naples sixth Grade. Standing by the class’s Kokanee project tank from left to right: Tony N., Jody W., Breanna M., Erin B., and seated in the foreground is Tiffany B. Harvey told me the class will be releasing this years’ class project into Deep Creek on May 20. I shall be there to watch, as these youngsters are pretty proud of their project and rightfully so.

Had a pastor tell me of some slab-sided crappie he caught at Cave Lake recently. Would a pastor lie about something like that?

Discovered a great service while back in South Carolina. Just before meeting Captain Darryl at Polly’s Landing at 5:30 a.m. it dawned on Paul and I that we did not have a South Carolina fishing permit. Captain Darryl saved the day by getting on the telephone and calling 1-800-377-7776, where he arranged for temporary permits for us. This hot line is to the Pro Bass Shop, and is available to issue temporary non-resident fishing licenses for every state in the U.S. via data from your drivers license and by charging the fee to a credit card.

So, when you are on the road and fishing fever strikes you out of your home state, simply dial 1-800-377-7776 and avail yourself of this practical and efficient service. Stay legal … strange things happen to people who fish in strange waters without a license.

In closing let me confess that I am not a good fisherman, so don’t be fooled into thinking I am just because of one great fishing day in my life. My pleasure is getting you and yours out there fishing. Hey, anyone who has fished with me will tell you I can’t fish. The big cat? Ha! Buck had to tell me which pole to grab. See, your Uncle Bud plays well with others and responds to instructions (sometimes.)

Deep into spring with a great but dry summer (again) facing us. Streams are already showing signs of clearing up in anticipation of opening day. Take Mom fishing instead of to some brunch where she’ll have to dress up. Real moms like jeans better.

Keep those lines tight, wet, and deep.

Uncle Bud