Padrick/Smith/Smith Win CCA Inside Out Tournament

by Lee Padrick, October 13, 2013

On Saturday, October 12th, Dwayne Smith, Jeff Smith, and I fished the 2013 CCA Inside Out Tournament, held at Portside Marina in Morehead City, NC.  The goal of the tournament is to bring in one redfish, one speckled trout, and one flounder.  The redfish must be 18-27", the trout must be at least 18", and the flounder must be 16".  

We started fishing at 7 AM, on a falling tide.  Low tide was at 8:47 AM, so it was going to be tough to catch the trout on that tide.  As we worked down a marshbank, Dwayne catches a 3 lb redfish.  A few minutes later, we upgrade the red when I catch a 5+ lb fish, so we hit our target weight for the redfish.  Its time to catch a trout and a flounder.  

Fishing With Friends

by Lee Padrick, October 9, 2013

I had been telling some friends that as soon as October rolls around, we're going trout fishing.  But there is no greater pressure than having to put your family and friends on fish.  So when Stephen E. Smith agreed to go fishing with me and Dwayne Smith, I felt the pressure.  

When I met Stephen at the dock, I asked him if he wanted the good news or the bad news.  He chose the good.  I told him, "We're going to catch some fish."  

Catch Redfish On Popping Corks

by Lee Padrick, October 2, 2013 

The popping cork rig has proven over time to be a deadly technique for catching shallow water redfish.  This simple rig will keep the lure in the strike zone and attract predators with splashes and rattles.  It is an essential part of my approach to putting redfish in the boat.

There are many popping cork products on the market, corks that gurgle, splash, rattle, and click.  The corks come in many types of shapes and colors.  Some popping corks can even be purchased pre-rigged.  The method I prefer is the oval popping cork.  This cork produces a rattle and click that sounds much like a baitfish being eaten, or a shrimp popping.  Also, with the right tackle setup, this cork casts extremely well, in comparison to many of the other products on the market.

September 15, 2013

by Lee Padrick, September 15, 2013

Air temp:  65
Water temp: 75
Wind:  NE at 10 mph
Tide:  Falling
Technique:  Popping corks, soft plastics (weedless and on jigheads), topwater lures

Dwayne and I had a long day on the water.  We launched at Shell Rock Landing before sunrise and checked a few spots for drum for an upcoming tournament.  No fish and/or luck at our first two stops (except for two 18-20" flounder).  Then we fished a spot that Dwayne had caught a few reds yesterday.  

Dwayne sticks a small one on a popping cork, but the fish spit the hook on the way to the boat.  Then he hooks another and lands it.  I had a blowup on topwater, then I hook one when we come around a marsh point.  We fished down a bank, but the dropping tide convinced us to put the boat back on the trailer and head to Morehead City, hoping to catch a few trout on the rising tide.  

We launch the boat, run to a nearby spot, and Dwayne hooks up on his first cast.  Its going to be a good day.  Unfortunately, he had hooked a lizard fish.  He hooked up on a ladyfish soon afterward.  No trout or drum, but I did catch another flounder in the 16" range.  

A few more cooler mornings and some NE winds, and I think the trout bite will start up for the fall.

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