Inside Out Outdoors

As mentioned in the blog entry below, I was gone this past weekend camping, fishing and even turkey hunting.  Instead of taking my boat back to Conover for safe keeping at my parent's house, I decided to just come back on to Charlotte after leaving the campground Sunday and return the boat today...so I could spend a little time out on Mountain Island Lake yesterday. 

After letting my buddies Justin and Eric know of my plans, Eric decided he would join me.  I loaded up around 4:15 pm and was on the lake by 5 pm.  I trolled up and down one of the banks in the cove of the Neck Road access area until Eric showed up around 6, then we were off to check out the upper, river-like section of the lake that we had never been to.  It was evident that Duke Energy was pulling water from the lake as well as releasing it from Lake Norman due to the faster-than-typical current.  We just used it to fish the bank, quickly at that, and enjoyed our time out on the water.  I was able to navigate the boat down a creek channel that I ducked hunt this past year and pointed out one of the blinds in the area to Eric.  Eventually we worked our way through the large flat section in that general area, throwing worms at the edge of grass mats.  While doing so, we were lucky enough to have two Bald Eagles soar over us, a first for me in this area of NC and a testament to the great asset the Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refugee is to the Mecklenburg, Lincoln and Gaston County area. 

Hitting the river channel and its current again, we floated down the bank, having a whitetail doe run to the water's edge a mere 50 yards from us, looking at us like we were not supposed to be there.  During that, I managed to pick up a feisty 1.5 pound largemouth on my finesse worm and spinning gear (I love that setup!).  After letting him go and floating down the bank a hundred yards or so, a beaver popped up on the bank and swam upstream, which was a pretty cool site to see as the sun was setting.  We ended the day fishing one of our favorite little coves, where Eric somehow managed to catch a bluegill with his line stuck in a tree, the lure barely touching the water three feet below where he was hung.  As we headed back to the dock, all I could think about was how there is no better way to spend my time than with one of my dear friends out in God's creation.  Until the next fishing trip recap, tight lines!

-C.B.