ishering

           

- -‘

-

One in a Series NORTH AMERICA

TSJ

TexassporTingJournal .com

A heavyweight bluegill from richmond Mill Lake in north Carolina. A specialized feeding program has led to the production of numerous two pound plus gills in this lake, which is part of the king fisher

society outdoor recreation complex.

Photo by Keith sutton

I KNEW THE MINUTE I SAW IT I would love Richmond Mill Lake. Although situated in theSandhills Region of southeasternNorth Carolina, the 120-acre reservoir near Laurel Hill closelyresembles the Mississippi Riveroxbow lakes I often fish in Arkansas. Ancient cypress treesshade tea-colored water. Fishy-looking cover is everywhere. Inshoreline shallows, I saw swirls of feeding fish.

I found comfort in these things, for I had just finished a two-day drive from Little Rock to fish Richmond Mill. Had I encoun-tered a different type of lake after such a long journey, there might have been trepi-dation. There was good karma, instead. This was my kind of lake. I knew I’d catch fish there.

I traveled with my friend TJ Stallings, di-rector of marketing for TTI Blakemore Fish-ing Group in Wetumpka, Alabama. “You’re going to want to catch one of these,” he told me in a Facebook post a few months earlier. Accompanying the post was a photo

North Carolina angling 

FFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisher

theKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisherFisher

Phot

o by

T.J

. Sta

lling

s

KingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingKingKingKingKingKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisherKingFisherFisherFisherKingKingFisherFisherFisher

retreat getting better with age. STORY BY KEITH SUTTON

of TJ holding a hubcap-sized Richmond Mill bluegill that tipped the scales at more than two pounds. “There’s more where that one came from,” he said.

TJ knows I love panfishing. And he knew the moment I saw that boss bluegill, all I would think about was catching one myself. Such was the case, and fortunately for me, TJ had already laid plans to take me fishing at Richmond Mill, part of an extraordinary, privately-owned outdoor-recreation facility known as the King Fish-er Society. We arrived at King Fisher lodge late in the afternoon of March 23, 2011, where we were joined by Chuck Smock, editor of Cabela’s Outfitter Journal, outdoor writers Jeff Samsel and Vic Attardo, and Bob Lusk of Whitesboro, Texas, editor of Pond Boss magazine (www.pondboss.com) and biologist in charge of managing Rich-mond Mill’s incredible fishery.

history

As the sun set that first day, we toured the lake in boats while Lusk shared Rich-mond Mill’s rich history.

“In 1835, a year before Davy Crockett was killed at the Alamo, the lake was built to harness water to turn a grist mill,” he

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 23

On

e in a

series nO

rth a

merica

/ king

fisher

Phot

o by

Kei

th S

utto

n

Top: While fishing richmond Mill Lake, author keith sutton landed a dozen of the biggest bluegills he’s caught during 50 years fishing for the species. Bottom: Outdoor writer Vic Attardo of red hill, Pennsylvania lands a whopper richmond Mill bluegill on fly-fishing tackle. Attardo caught a 2-1/4-pound monster on this trip.

22

said. “To this day, 7,000 to 10,000 gal-lons of water per minute cascade over the spillway. The water was acidic, with pH running between 4.9 and 5.3, meaning it’s not really good for raising fish. For the first 165 years of the lake’s life, the tannic water produced a few largemouth bass, some redbreast sunfish and some chain pickerel, but was never a natural-born fishery. Essentially, the water was too sterile, so it didn’t produce many fish.

“That began to change with a series of decisions starting in 2000,” Lusk contin-ued. “Dr. Jim Morgan, a fifth generation member of the Morgan family, which has owned the property since 1872, decided to drain the lake and do some much-needed repairs to the dam. Work began in 2001, and four years later was fin-

On

e in

a s

erie

s n

Ort

h a

mer

ica

/ ki

ng

fis

her

Brown Trophy Whitetail Ranch Ad

ished. I met with Jim as dam repairs were nearing completion, and his challenge to me was, ‘Let’s figure out how to make Richmond Mill the best bass-fishing lake in America.’ That was a pretty bold goal.”

Lusk determined the lake couldn’t pro-duce an adequate food chain with “nor-mal” management efforts, so he decided to bypass nature’s offerings and provide

Phot

o by

Kei

th S

utto

n

Texas fisheries biologist Bob Lusk displays a pair of trophy bluegills—fish produced using an innovative management plan implemented by Lusk—from the king fisher society’s richmond Mill Lake.

Coppersmith

TexassporTingJournal .com24

Polar Vault 240

CaPaPaP CaCa iTy:

Polar Vault 120

CaPaPaP CaCa iTy:

PORT & MARINA,Cabo San Lucas, México

On

e in

a s

erie

s n

Ort

h a

mer

ica

/kin

g f

ish

er

a direct food chain via feeding. Biologists had recently learned the merits of stock-ing young largemouth bass conditioned to eat pelleted fi sh food, and Lusk knew if good quality food was presented con-sistently, feed-trained bass would eat it. He chose this approach to managing the Richmond Mill fi shery:

1 Establish a state­of­the­art feeding sys­tem to dispense feed to the fi sh.

2 Stock  at  least  50  pounds  of  feed­trained  largemouth  bass  per  surface acre to start.

3 Stock a forage­fi sh base (fathead min­nows and sunfi sh) just as one would if the  lake  were  to  be  managed  “natu­rally.”

4 Develop a high­quality feed, designed specifi cally  for  this  project.  (This  new feed,  AquaMax,  is  now  sold  nation­wide by Purina.)

“As we fed the fi sh after the fi rst stock-ing in the winter of 2005-06, I saw a num-ber of fascinating things begin to happen,” Lusk said. “The bass grew exceptionally well. Those we originally stocked, which averaged 2.2 pounds each, now ex-ceed seven pounds, with the largest one

weighed and measured at 8.2 pounds, 20 inches long and 19 inches girth.

“Bluegills have been the most surpris-ing,” he continued. “Our goal was to feed them to become part of the food chain, expecting some to grow large enough to become legitimate target species. Recently, a guy caught two Richmond Mill bluegills larger than three pounds. Those are quickly becoming a huge reason to visit King Fisher and are garnering national attention, much more than the fantastic bass fi shing. This bluegill fi shery is snowballing into some-

Polar Vault 240

CaPaCiTy: 240 -12oz. Cans, 150 Quarts

thing which could be signifi cant in the fi sh-ing world. The difference between a normal eight- or nine-inch bluegill that weighs half a pound and these foot-long monsters is like comparing a paper airplane to a fi ght-er jet. Try to rein in a fi ghter jet on four-pound-test line on an ultralight.”

fishing

The next morning, fi shing with TJ and Vic, I saw the fi sh feeders operate. Fifty are scattered around the lake, each connected to a computer network and set to disperse

Polar Vault 120

CaPaCiTy: 120 -12oz. Cans, 90 Quarts

Offshore fishing in Cabo?TSJ wants you & three friends to go. Win a 4 day, 3 night trip with 2 days of offshore fi shing with Baja Luxury Fishing Villas. Explore the depths of Cabo with a pair of Steiner Commander V Marine binoculars equipped with a built­in compass.

All equipment, food & drinks are provided on the boat. Transportation to and from the airport is included. (Airfare is not.)

Commercial-Grade Refrigeration for the Serious Outdoorsman

Phot

o by

T.J

. Sta

lling

s

Featuring GameGuard® camouflage, The Official Camo of the Lone Star State®.

TMTM ®

While fishing richmond Mill Lake, author keith sutton landed a dozen of the biggest bluegills he’s caught during 50 years fishing for the species. For Additional Product Information and Pricing, We Invite You to Contact:

817-472-8990 chris.elliott@thermell.com www.thermell.com Enter  to win at TexasSportingJournal.com/sweepstakes

26 TexassporTingJournal .comDrawing will take place on October 31, 2011. Visit site for details on the prizes.

          

        

 

                

 

   

   

   

       

They Grow Up Fast …Hybrid Catfish Largemouth Bass All Types of Perchand Minnows • Electro-Shocking and Lake Management

HennekeFish

Hatchery

Henneke Fish

Hatchery Hallettsville, TX

E-mail: info@hennekehatchery.comwww.hennekehatchery.com

They Grow Up Fast …… and they’re still growing

They Grow Up Fast …

361-798-5934Hallettsville, TX

361-798-5934

On

e in

a s

erie

s n

Ort

h a

mer

ica

/ ki

ng

fis

her

FISHING AT THE KING FISHER SOCIETY (KFS) is an experience never forgotten.  The  comfortable  lakeside  lodge,  offering  the  finest  food, drink and live music, provides an ideal place for client entertainment or a retreat with family and friends. But there’s more! From  October  1  to  April  1,  guests  can  enjoy  unparalleled  bobwhite hunting  on  a  gorgeous,  2,000­acre  nature  preserve.  The  resort  also has a state­of­the­art, five­stand, sporting­clays facility that gets rave reviews as one of the best in the nation. Add an exciting hunting or shooting session to any KFS experience just by asking. For  a  truly  unique  adventure,  let  KFS’s  trained  handlers  teach  you about  falconry.  Whether  in  a  group  setting  where  you  learn  about and help train falcons, hawks and owls, or in an exciting hunt where you experience the thrill of the chase as the birds try to catch rabbits, squirrels and quail, this is a once­in­a­lifetime experience.

Quail, Clays &Falconry

All KFS experiences are by advanced booking only. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: The King Fisher Society P.O. Box 1167, Laurel Hill, NC 28351 910­462­2324; 910­462­2328 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern)www.kingfishersociety.com  /  info@kingfishersociety.com

Photos by Mindy Morgan

TOP AND BOTTOM RIGHT: Bobwhite quail hunting can be an added bonus for those visiting the King Fisher Society from October through March; BOTTOM LEFT: The King Fisher Society offers shooting at a five-stand sporting-clays facility considered one of the nation’s best.

Hybrid Catfish • Largemouth Bass • All Types of Perch

Texbo @ 3 Maxbo X TR W58

co-owned w/ Rancho Trinidad

Voodoo @ 1 Texbo X Dreambuck/ Royal Flush Right G-2 broken off 7/19/2010,

Dam sold for $225K to Brown Trophy Whitetail Ranch

wide clyde @ 3 Cadillac X Rattler

Absolute @ 2 Blade Jr. X Dreambuck/

Royal Flush

Home to Some of the Best Mamas

in Texas

All Bucks Shown Were Born and Raised at The Refuge and are 

out of Deep­Pedigreed Refuge Doe.

Consistent Producers of Good Looking, Big Framed, High Scoring Bucks andthe Doe that Produce them!

RefugeWhitetails.com

The Refuge Whitetails

Ranch (903) 396-2848 or (903) 396-2849

Heath Reynolds(903) 467-8707

heath@refugewhitetails.com

Chris McSpadden(903) 229-8787

chris@refugewhitetails.com

buster @ 1 Texbo X Blade/ 2Wide’s Sister

Texbo @ 3

food pellets in the morning and afternoon. When the feeder by our boat went off at dawn, there was instant pandemonium. Fish food shot in all directions, like corn from an automatic deer feeder. Instantly, the water started boiling as scores of bass rushed in for breakfast.

Vic fired a lure into the melee, and wham! Bass on—a high-jumping six-pounder TJ and I quickly hooked up, too—a four-pounder and a five. For the next 30 minutes, every cast each of us made resulted in a hookup with a three-to six-pound bass. In another boat by another feeder, Jeff, Bob and Chuck were enjoying similar action.

Nice thing was, when the feeding frenzy was over, the bass catching wasn’t. Only in the famed bass lakes of Mexico have I ever caught more bucketmouths during a day of fishing. The biggest pushed seven pounds, with dozens of three- to six-pounders. We all savored the incredible action.

The next morning, TJ and I headed out with one goal in mind: catching a two-pound-plus bluegill. We had caught sev-eral huge specimens the first day (“ginor-

TexassporTingJournal .com28

On

e in

a s

erie

s n

Ort

h a

mer

ica

/ ki

ng

fis

her

Chuck smock of sidney, nebraska lands one of richmond Mill Lake’s whopper bluegills.

Phot

o by

Kei

th S

utto

n mous” TJ called them), but not the fabled two-pounder.

We began casting to a steep bank with Road Runner’s Natural Science Trout and Panfish spinner, the same lure TJ had caught his big ‘gill on six months earlier. This produced several one-pound-plus bluegills (and some hefty black crappie), but not the monster panfish we sought. A change in tactics was in order.

I suggested we fish around some grass mats offshore in deeper water. Each of these floating islands is an ecosystem unto itself, full of grass shrimp, insects and other bluegill favorites. And sure enough, larger bluegills were feeding there.

TJ cast a Yellow Coach Dog Road Runner beside one mat and nearly had his fishing combo yanked from his hands. His rod tip bent to the water, making me think he’d hooked another big bass. But when the platter-sized fish started swimming in tight circles, I knew he had a bluegill. Little did I realize, however, this would be the biggest bream I’d seen caught during almost 50 years spent fishing for the species—a skil-let-sized behemoth weighing just a shade over two pounds.

Meline's Lodge Ad

TexassporTingJournal .com30

 

Outdoor writer Vic Attardo of red hill, Pennsylvania lands a whopper richmond Mill bluegill on fly-fishing tackle. Attardo caught a 2-1/4-pound monster on this trip.

Phot

o by

Kei

th S

utto

n

While fishing richmond Mill Lake, author keith sutton landed a dozen of the biggest bluegills he’s caught during 50 years fishing for the species.

On

e in a

series nO

rth a

merica

/ king

fisher

Author keith sutton is all smiles after landing this hefty bass in north

Phot

o by

Jef

f Sam

sel

Phot

o by

T.J

. Sta

lling

s

On

e in

a s

erie

s n

Ort

h a

mer

ica

/ ki

ng

fis

her

During the next few hours, casting Road Runners to the shady side of cover, we en-joyed several double hookups on bluegills this size. It wasn’t like shooting fish in a barrel. Catching these giants was challeng-ing, which made the fishing even more re-warding. But when all was said and done, we had caught and released two dozen blue-gills the size of jumbo tortillas, including one beautifully colored coppernose bream that weighed two pounds even—my big-gest bluegill ever. Our buddy Vic waylaid one on a fly rod that weighed two pounds, four ounces!

There are other waters where you might

few with so many hawgs in so few acres. When it comes to trophy bluegill fishing, however, I dare say no lake in the world produces more two-pound-plus specimens. Richmond Mill Lake is best of the best, bar none.

The combination of giant bream and ex-traordinary numbers of heavyweight bass makes the North Carolina’s King Fisher Soci-ety one of the top destinations in the United States for anyone who loves fishing. And the transformation of this once-barren millpond into a blue-ribbon bass and panfish lake is testimony to the possibilities when fisheries biologists and lake owners work together to Carolina’s richmond Mill Lake.

Edgecraft Ad

catch as many trophy largemouths, but create a paradise for anglers. Picture description tag

Edgecraft Ad

32 TexassporTingJournal .com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 33