Celebrating St. Patty’s Day with a big, green fish
Ralph Barton got his St. Patty’s Day off to a great start, hooking this great largemouth during a morning trip to Smith Mountain Lake.
Barton said he didn’t have a bunch of time and was mainly just hoping to do a little scouting for water condition. This was his first bite, and first largemouth of the season. At 21 inches long and 5.5 pounds, I’d say this is a good way to start the season.
I was thinking about trying to hit the Roanoke River at some point today for some trout fishing. I drove by the river a bit ago and, clearly, plenty of others had the same idea. The place was slammed.
I wonder if anyone has caught my secret big brown yet?
March 17, 2011 - 1:59 PM
Nice fish Ralph, I went out last Sunday and fought the wind on Smith Mtn. until my trolling batteries got weak and never caught a fish! We need to get together some time and try to catch a few, your boat or mine, makes no difference.
my uncle went out yesterday evening after work…he caught about a 5 lb male brown and i hooked into a 2-3 lb rainbow…we threw em both back so there are at least two good fish still in there!
sorry…that post was supposed in response to the trout stocking along the roanoke river yesterday…we were fishing along the roanoke portion
Well Ralph I went down to the river today an yes it was right busy, I caught 4 little rainbows and watched a boy catch a 5 lb brown. said he had caught 4 in that range today. he turned them all back. I didnt catch his name but a really nice guy. He gave me a gulp minnow and I started gettin hit soon after. We were set up on some nice browns. there was like 5 monsters we messed with for about 2 hours and he finally got that 5 lber to hit. Nice large mouth by the way. I will be hitting the lake real soon my self. Tight lines to all…..
Sounds good Randy….. contact me and we’ll see how our schedules look. Mainly my only free days to take on a partner are weekdays when I’m off. On Weekends my girlfriend and/or kids are fishing with me.
I’m anxious to get back out there! Bass Fishing should really get good in the next week or so if the warm weather stays with us. On the upper end of SML I was seeing 48 degree water yesterday which in my opinion is still a little cold for great fishing. I seem to really get into the bass when the water temps break 52 degrees.
Wishing Great fishing Days to all!
and don’t forget…. take a kid fishing!
“Wishing Great fishing Days to all!
and don’t forget…. take a kid fishing!”
Yea aint nothin like suffocating an animal to teach a kid about life.I bet you think about the day you killed your first animal with pride.CONGRATULATIONS!
Jack, it actually is the nature of the human hunter to look back with pride at the moment of his first kill because that event represents an important graduation from someone who must be provided for, to someone who is the provider.
I know there is some pride in growing and gathering plant-derived protein. But as someone who is both a gardener and a killer, for me the enjoyment of picking something from the garden simply does not compare to the thrill of catching a fish or killing game. Again, that’s human nature. And I also realize that human nature dictates that not all of us are wired the same way. So, while I personally can’t relate to your aversion to providing by killing, I won’t condemn you for it.
Well Jack as I read your comment I’m not exactly sure what your point is supposed to be. I’m assuming you have a problem with the death of fish and animals?? And I also assume that since you feel this way you don’t consume ANY meat or FISH, you don’t own any leather items, or use any other products made from animals. If you do of course that makes you a huge HYPOCRITE.
And for the record I don’t SUFFOCATE any animals or fish. The fish I catch are admired, photographed, and returned to the water to catch another day.
And as far as my kids go…. yes I am teching them about life! They know how to live off the bounty of the land if they should ever have to. And while most kids are playing VIOLENT Video games and getting FAT mine are out enjoying the beauty of nature.
clap clap clap clap……… Very nicely put Mark and Ralph….I amend you both for such a great comments on Mr Jack — comment… Very well put… Moe
Jack, In the book of Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 through 30 God gave humans dominion over the beasts of the fields, the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea. The way I see it, It is a God given blessing to hunt and fish and to nourish ourselves and our families. I also believe that God expects us to be good stewards of those blessings, and by that I mean we should all take special care not to abuse those creatures, kill in the most humane ways possible, and take only what we need or can efficiently use. It’s those few that can’t seem to do all these things that I have a problem with , but other than that I say happy hunting and fishing to us all!
Jack, I remember with great pride the day I killed my first animal. My (now deceased) father took my brother & I squirrel hunting on some land that his friends owned. It all seemed so serious, but I was just thrilled to feel like I was important enough to participate.
Dad didn’t shoot, my older brother got two, and I somehow managed to kill one. It was a true miracle, because I was pitiful in targeting. Regardless, we got to stuff them in the back of our hunting jackets (from Sears), and I felt like a man all the way back to the truck. Dad took our guns, unloaded them and put them up in the rack, like always.
We got home, and we ‘helped’ Dad skin them. Well, we sort of helped. We mostly watched, but he let us help clean them a little. I thought he looked pretty strong when he pulled their skins off. We got to pull out their organs and rinse them down. He took care of all the cutting.
Mom made Squirrel & Dumplings, with biscuits, soup beans, potatoes, and creamed corn. Some chow chow on the side for the soup beans. I got to eat some of the squirrel I provided for the family. So did everyone else. I was eight years old and helping to provide food for the family table.
It was a feast I’ll never forget. It was a lesson I’ll never forget.
It was less barbaric than 99% of the ‘manufacture’ of beef, pork, or poultry raised for retail sales. The squirrel at least had a happy life until its’ death. Almost all factory produced animal protein is just the opposite.
It was no less inhumane than the ripping of a tomato from a vine that gave it life sustenance. A potato that is hacked from the ground by manual labor, or churned up by massive inhuman devices created by man suffers just as much. A leaf of delicate lettuce, torn from its’ life force suffers more than that squirrel which died instantly. No protein in lettuce, Jack. None.
It was a huntin’ thing, you wouldn’t understand. Have a nice day, Jack.
abnva, great post and great story. Brings back memories of helping my father and older brothers skin squirrels and other game, ah those were the days. Gives me a hankerin’ for some squirrel gravy and homemade biscuits…let’s look in the freezer and see what’s for dinner! Also reminds me of a dish I was treated to a couple of years ago that I’d never had thought would go together…pork ribs and wild rabbit par boiled together in the same pot. Words cannot describe how good they are together, the broth is a great dipper for biscuits, rolls and any other bread. I recommend this to any of you hunters who haven’t ever tried it!
Hey guys, Jack does eat meat, he buys his at Kroger or Food lion, he has admitted as much on one of the other blogs. So yes he is a Hypocrite of the worst kind, he just pays someone else to do his killing! He and I have already had this discussion!.
WOW!!! I would have to say this is about the best blog entry Ive read all year so far…Man Ya,ll are makin me hungry again and I just finished eating my 4 little rainbows I cooked on the grill with my home made butter,garlic powder and lemen juice. Man I love it….All thanks to you Mr Mcguire…Its amazing how 1 little neg comment can turn so good with a bunch of good ol boys and gals that have the same passion for the outdoors and Gods nature….Thanks
Moe, you are the man. Making a positive out of a negative. Sunshine on a cloudy day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBQ2xc6jjJs&feature=related