Outdoors Back to Nature

When you go to the Wilminton/Wrightsville Beach area this summer, get in tune with nature. Go on a nature lovers cruise with  Wrightsville Beach Water Taxi. You can take a leisurely cruise or an indepth eploration of Masonboro Island.  Let the Cape Fear Naturalist take you on an enlightening guided tour of natural wonders of this beautiful coastal ecosystem. For more information call 910-200-4002 or go to www.capefearnaturalist.com

If the cool mountain breezes are calling you, check out Grandfather Mountain. They have Naturalist Programs daily at 1:00 pm. For spectacular vistas, go to the top of Grandfather and walk the famous Swinging Bridge. Hiking the 11 trails is a great way to fully experience this ancient mountain. The trails vary from gentle walks through the woods to strenuous and treacherous hikes along the rugged peaks. The Profile Trail is a must hike, it provides you with a full sample of natural features of the Mountain and a profile veiw of the rocky outcropping the mountain is named for. If you decide to visit this NC treasure, call (828)737-9522 or go to www.grandfather.com  

It is definitely time to do some fishing in North Carolina’s Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Inland Coastal waters and Oceanside Piers. You need to know the size limits and daily creel limits, if you are planning on keeping your catch. The Black Bass(largemouth, smallmouth & spotted) range from a minimum length 12″ in Lake Lure to a minimum of 16″ in Jordan, Falls of Neuse & Buckhorn Lakes, with a creel limit of 5. The Striped Bass season from June 1st - September 30th has no size limits in most locations, with creel limits ranging from 0-4, depending on location. The Crappie have a 10″ minimum in Jordan Lake and an 8″ minimum in most other public waters except Buckhorn Reservoir(no minimum size), with a creel limit of 20 in all locations. The Walleye have a 15″ minimum only in Lake James, with a creel limit of 8(except 4 in Linville River). Other Sunfish have no size limits or creel limits in most places(some designated areas have limit of 30 total(just 12 Redbreast). Spotted Sea Trout: 12″ minimum & 10 creel limit; Flounder: 14″ minimum & 8 creel limit and Red Drum/Puppy Drum: 18″ min.-27″ max. & only 1/day. For more detailed information, go to the NC Wildlife Commission website.

Camping is also on a lot of peoples mind this time of year. The Sycamore Lodge Resort offers RV sites & Cabins in Jackson Springs, North Carolina(Moore County) approximately 10 miles from Pinehurst. Activities include beach volleyball, swimming, fishing(Bass stocked lake), canoeing, hiking, relaxing in the jacuzzi, childrens play ground, horseshoes, etc. on the 194 acre resort. Ameneties include a state of the art Bath House and a Historic Lodge with wireless internet access. They have a special for first time visitors, 2 nights 3 days FREE(lunch included). For more detailed information go to www.campnorthcarolina.com       

 Lake Rim Park(Cumberland Co.) is offering 3 Archery Clinics: June 30th, July 20th & August 4th, 9:00 am-12 noon; 2 Kayak Trips: July 10th at Falls of Neuse Lake & August 7th at Jordan lake. For more details call the park office @ 910-424-6134. Cumberland County has a great escape for leisure paddlers, fisherman, nature watching and hunting, in Rhodes Pond. This Beautiful pond is just off of I 95, on US 301HWY, between Godwin & Dunn. Sampson County, NC also has some great waterways for leisure floating(canoe, kayak), fishing and duck hunting. Friends of Sampson County Waterways will announce future opportunities for group trips. 

  For those folks who prefer Mountain area recreation, check out Valle Crucis, and nearby Boone and Blowing Rock area.  The outdoor activities range from Bird Watching to Horseback Riding. The Valle Crucis Park hosts morning Bird Watching walks every Wednesday, from March-October. There is also a one mile paved Trail for walking, roller blading and running. Horseback Riding is another way to enjoy the beautiful countryside. Dutch Creek Trails is a great place to visit for new or experienced riders. The trail provides a diverse trail ride, passing through forests and old farm fields, with great Valley Views along Dutch Creek. River and Earth Adventures, Inc. will change the pace from leisurely to adrenelin pumping action. They have professional guides for Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing and Tubing trips on four different rivers. The trips can range from a mild rumble down the river to a challenging, heart pounding shoot through the rapids. For more information go to: www.vallecrucis.com and click on Valle Crucis Park and Area Information. 

Fall in North Carolina is a great time to be OUTDOORS. The Eastern Deer Season(the regular Gun season) lasts through Jan 1st. Dog hunting is still popular in eastern NC, but still(in a stand)hunting is becoming more popular among gun hunters. I have seen many deer along the roads this year, with several close calls(barely avoided collisions). The LAST segment of Duck season is December 19th-January 30th. This part of the season usually yields a wider range of duck species, compared to the early segments. Resident Canada Goose season(also last segment)runs from December 19th-February 6th.  

For those wanting a more tranquil OUTDOOR experience, check out Rhodes Pond in north Cumberland County, just off of Interstate 95, near Godwin. Rhodes Pond has been part of the landscape since the 1740s. It covers 460 acres of the Black River Township. Around 5 years ago the future of the pond was in question, but the NC DOT came to the rescue and puchased the property as a wetland mitigation deal. Now generations to come can enjoy fishing, birdwatching or just floating along enjoying the scenery(ancient Cypress trees,lilies, blackwater, etc.). The property is now managed by the NC Wildlife Commission.  Another place to enjoy some Largemouth Bass and Crappie fishing is Harris Lake, in Wake County. A Bass tourney angler says the areas of aquatic grass on Harris Lake are great places to catch some lunker bass. I will try to remind you of this in my Spring edition, which is usually the best time to fish the floating grass mats. This time of year be looking for the schools of shad and you will probably find some big bass. I also want to mention Specaled Trout fishing along the Sounds and Coastal Rivers/Creeks. This is a great time of year to try catching some of these beautiful and tasty fish.  

The North Carolina Mountains are some of the most beautiful places in God’s Creation. The Snow Skiiing/Boarding season will start before you know it, several snow falls have already blanketed the region.           

Summer is not my favorite season, but many families enjoy spending summer vacation in North Carolina’s Great Outdoors(from the Mountains to the Coast). It is a great time for a host of water activities: white water rafting/kayaking/tubing, water skiing, sailing, surfing, boogy boarding, fishing, canoeing, pleasure boating, etc… and North Carolina has some great recreational Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Sounds and Beaches. The word is Flounder fishing is still productive at Carolina Beach, the Cape Fear River, and Tubbs Inlet(southern coast). All the Piers on the southern coast are reporting decent catches of Sea Mullet, Pompano and Spots. The Oak Island & Topsail Island Piers are reporting decent catches of Spanish Mackerel. Specaled Trout fishing is improving in the southern portion of Cape Fear River, with the bonus of good Red Drum catches. The John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center (Lake Rim, Fayetteville, NC) is hosting two events in September. The first event is Ducks Unlimited’s David Varnedoe Greenwing Adventure on September 13th(2-5 pm). This is a fishing day for children under 17 yrs.old. The cost is $20.00/person, which includes: rod&reel, tackle, T-shirt, hat and 1 yr. membership in Ducks Unlimited Greenwing(call 910-237-5951). The 2nd event celebrates National Hunting & Fishing Day(September 26th). The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is sponsoring a Wildlife Expo. Families are invited to come learn about Wildife Conservation, with 14 exhibits and demonstrations and enjoy fishing at the old Hatchery. Call Kris Smith @ 910-868-5003, ext. 14.     
 

A little news for canoe and kayak enthusiests. The Sampson County Parks and Recreation and Friends of Sampson County Waterways are teaming up again to offer another Community Paddle Trip, on Sunday, September 13th. The trip will be on the South River, for more information call 910-299-0924. The Cape Fear River offers a decent whitewater trip(for the Peidmont) between Buckhorn Dam and Erwin. A good place to put in is the Ross Road Wildlife Ramp. The 7.9 mile trip starts off slow and speeds up several miles down stream with more rocks and faster current. The last 2miles are the most exciting, where the river drops 10 feet/mile and some ClassII rapids. Of course the Mountain Rivers offer big fun and challenges to more adventurous paddlers. Rivers of note are: French Broad, Nantahala and the New River(preported to be one of the oldest rivers in the World). The coast is also a fun place to KAYAK. On September 19th, the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation is offering kayaking trip to Zeke’s Island, which is close to Fort Fisher. Interested people ages 8 & up must pre-register by September 4th. The group will leave at 6:15 am and return around 7:00 pm. The cost is $45.00/person, which includes all equipment and transportation. For more information, call Lake Rim Park @ 424-6134.   

 This year is the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The park covers 520,000 acres on the mountainous border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It boasts one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth(designated an International Biosphere Reserve). A September 2nd ceremony at Newfound Gap will celebrate the park dedication by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The park offers over 800 miles of hiking trails including a long section of the famous Appalachian Trail. If you love camping, there are four different types of camping: Front Country(10 areas, near parking, bathrooms, fire grates & picnic tables); Back Country(17 sites,for back packers, shelters, reservations #865- 436-1297); Group Campgrounds(7 sites, tents only, reservations #877-444-6777) and Horse Camps(5 sites, reservations #877-444-6777). For people who want more amenities, they can hike 5-8 miles(depending on the route)to Le Conte Lodge, at the summit of Mount Le Conte(elev. 6,593 Ft.). For reservations call 865-429-5704.       

The warm days and cool nights of Spring are coming in little spurts, but should get more consistent soon. The Second Annual Cabin Lake Youth Fishing Tournament is April 11, 2009, at Cabin Lake Park, Beulaville, NC. The tournament registration starts at 8:00 am, the fishing lasts from 9:00 am - 11:00 am and prizes are awarded at 12:00 noon. The tournament is free for ages 4 - 14 years old. Pre-registration and information can be accessed by calling 910-296-2120 ext. 3. The tournament is hosted by Duplin Soil and Water Conservation Office and Duplin County Parks and Rec.   

The cold days are great for Snow Skiing in the NC Mountains. If freestyle Snowboarding excites you, check out App Terrain park at Appalachian Ski Mountain Resort, in Boone, NC. The Park boasts more than 50 features, including a 16-foot rainbow box, 30-foot up flat box, 40-foot flat-down T-top box, just to name a few. These cold days in March are extending the snow sports season. The milder days are great fishing days from the Piedmont to the coast. A great fishing opportunity started in February in North Carolina Rivers(mainly in coastal plain area). The Hickory Shad and the American(white) Shad start their annual migration from the ocean up the rivers. The American Shad is the best tasting of the two.

North American Fishing Club is a great source of useful fishing tips. Check out fishingclub.com

Winter time in the NC Outdoors is great for many activities. The North Carolina Mountains have some great  Resorts for Snow Skiing and Snow Boarding(Beech Mountain, being my personal favorite). Hunting is also great from the mountains to the coast. Deer and Bear season are in full swing, lasting until January 1st. Duck season comes back in December 13, 2008 and lasts through January 24, 2009(Youth Day 1/31/2009). Squirrel season stays in until January 31(Fox Squirrel ends 12/31/08). Canada Goose season runs from 12/13/08-2/7/09(west of US 17 HWY); while Snow, Blue and Ross’ Geese seasons last until 2/28/09. Some people just enjoy watching the beautiful Water Fowl visiting our state. Lake Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Lakes Refuge and Pea Island Refuge(Outer Banks) are all great places to veiw large flocks of migrating water fowl. Wild Boar hunting is legal in only a few Mountain Counties: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain. Feral Hog hunting is becoming more popular in some areas; it is not regulated by the NC Wildlife Commission. Do not forget fishing, winter is still a fun time to fish in NC, especially on those mild days.    

The peak Fall colors have passed in the NC Mountains, but the Piedmont and Coastal Plain still have some beautiful Fall colors. The Hickory & Cypress are at peak color here in Cumberland County. Deer season is wide open in the Tarheel State. Many Hunt Clubs are killing more Doe deer now days, to improve the quality of Buck deer. This deer management stradegy is definitely starting to show positive results. The Bass fishing is still productive on many NC lakes. Saltwater fishing is great on the NC coast. Virginia mullet, speckled trout, blue fish, red drum and spots are favorite catches this time of year. The NC Duck Season reopens Saturday November 8th and stays open through Thanksgiving weekend. Mourning Dove season also reopens in November. This month is the peak for Wood duck population in North Carolina. The other duck species usually start peaking in December and January. Other great outdoor activities in the NC Mountains are Snow Skiing and Snow Boarding. When the weather is cold enough the snow making machines create winter wonderland if mother nature does not precipitate.  

I want to start a new subject today, the importance of Forestry in North Carolina. Private Forest Landowners in NC can have a big impact on the future enjoyment of Outdoors in NC. Good Forest Management practices by NC Forest Landowners will help provide habitat for many wildlife species. Controlled fire, harvests and herbicide use are major tools in forest management. Please support your neighbors, by tolerating some short term inconveniences. The ability of landowners to practice sound forest management, will determine the amount of acres staying in productive forests(for wildlife, hunting & recreation).        

July is quickly coming to a close, but we have all of August and most of September to enjoy a Variety of summer outdoor activities across North Carolina. On the Coast the fishing will get better as fall approaches. The NC beaches are also the premier location on the East Coast for surfing. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is great for surfers who prefer less company. Wrightsville Beach and other Beachfront Towns along the coast, have good waves but more fellow surfers, swimmers and sunbathers. The NC coastal waters are aslo a great place to scuba dive. While we do not have any barrier reefs, we do have plenty of shipwrecks to exlpore(many are off Cape Hatteras). A popular destination for Sailing Vessels(and crew) is Oriental, NC on the Neuse River and Inland Water Way. In Wilmington, NC the paddle boat Henrietta III offers Cape Fear River Cruises(including dinner cruises)April-December.

Heading inland you can find plenty of watersport opportunities. White Lake in Bladen County is a popular destination for waterski enthusiests. In the piedmont we have many large lakes that can handle waterskiing traffic and still provide quiet fishing in the numerous coves along the shorelines(Kerr Lake, Lake Gaston, Falls Lake, Lake Norman, Jordan Lake, etc.). Largemouth Bass is the most sought after prize. The serious Bass Fishermen(and women) start 30 minutes before sunrise and usually prefer an overcast day. Buzzbait is the lure of choice in the summer months. The bass are more active this time of year and excitement from an explosive strike, can add to the experience. The mountain region of NC is usually cooler during the summer months(than the other regions). It has many great places for the hiking enthusiests, rivers for rafting and kayaking, and trout fishing streams. THE DAN RIVER