Two TOUGH Mastercatters!

[bigcatsc]

I had the pleasure of meeting up and fishing with Michael (catfishrus) and Eric (Live Baiter). They drove down for a wildcat venture, and exploratory trip here on the Great Pee Dee. Michael brought his jet boat so we could access the river above Cheraw. The river north of Cheraw harbors some mega blue cat populations as it is inaccessible to most folks. The day started well, with enough water to get above the bad rock shoal above Cheraw. We got upriver about four miles and commenced to fishin'. Well, the bite was off, I am assuming due to the rapid FALL of the river. As more rocks started rearing their ugly heads out of the river, we decided to head back downstream. Well, the river having dropped two to three feet was almost beyond navigation! The boat got hung up on numerous gravel and boulder shoals, in treacherous current. Fortunately, Michael and Eric had brought chest waders and they wrestled and manhandled the boat back down through the boulder fields. It got real ugly for a long while. I thought at one point that I was going to have to hit the river with no chest waders to help them. With his boat having a dry weight of 1436 pounds, fully loaded with gear, plus the four stroke motor weight, it took the courage and strength of two true river men to get us back to civilization. After getting back through the shoals and having been skunked thus far, we decided to fish on downstream. Live Baiter finally landed a small channel. He then hooked up with what appeared to be a 30+ pound fish, but he came unglued. Shortly after that, he landed a 10 pound or so blue. The bite was picking up, but darkness forced us to call it a day and return to the landing. In closing, all I can say is "What a trip"! I think you would be hard pressed to find two catters any tougher than Michael or Eric. They are certainly "Hardcore", all the way to the bone. I welcome them here or anywhere to fish anytime. They certainly gave me a trip I will never forget!

Bill in SC
'Team 'Hardcore'

[circle hook]

Thanks Bigcat for the story. Fishing trips come and go then most are forgotten. Fishing adventures etch there memory in your brain forever....... CRUS,LIVEBAITER.... ask me about the rose vienna's and saltine crackers one day, to this day it's still the best meal I ever eat.

[catfishrus]

I will never forget that adventure. My arms wont let me this morning...they are a tick sore including the rest of this fine tuned body of mine....lol. I wanted to see it and we seen it. Eric and I was to leave my house at 1.00 am to get bait at belwitt falls...well 11.30PM Im too excited about our trip..so got on mastercatters and livebaiter was up...I sent him a Pm to come on. Down the road we went...stoped at the power plant to check on bait there first...found a few gizzard and was working on it when I noticed a light up at the parking lot...so better go check on things...found three mexicans up there...I acted like I come to get something out of the boat. I talked to one of them....said he was bass fishing(odd)...its 1.00 am. Then they got to talking sign lang. to each other...didnt feel comfortable..so we left...noticed they had a colorado tag as we was pulling off. So to the boat ramp we went..found bait including alot of small blues in the cast net...livebaiter had 8 in one throw...little ones. Then about 5.00 we had plenty of bait and headed to cheraw. Just as we got there....Bill pulled up too. We met and waited a few minutes and off we went. We was doing good until Bill said the water level was going down...now..Im thinking hard. We came across alot of 2-3 ft water to get here. It was already down a foot according to the bank line...so we headed back and had all kinds of fun. I found one hole that was deep...little water over the top of the waders...lol. We got in one tight spot...livebaiter saved us on that one. We was hung on one rock sideways and had another coming up as soon as we could get past this one...he nailed the gas and cut it just right to clear the next one...Richard Petty eat your heart out is all I can say about that..livebiater was driving like he had just stold it. We had alot of action yesterday..even Bill done a prayer for us. It worked because I dont think we could of done it without it. Words of advice....if you ever in the Pee Dee and you see a deer come walkng across the river in front of you and the water is going down...you better find some deeper water.

On a side note..I got up this morning..throat didnt feel right. I thought ol'man I hope Im not getting sick from being wet..so I look at my throat in the miror. That little flapper deal is swallow up big time...hanging down on my tongue...so I do a search on the net..it comes from eating salty food(pistachios in my case) and being really tired to the point of going to deep sleep(snoring hard) and your throat is very dry. Not a good feeling to have but the cure is to eat plenty of ice cream and it should correct itself in 8-12 hours. I have already eat ice cream breakfast. According to what I read..this happens to everyone at least once in there life....my first time.

Bill it was great to meet you and do some fishing finally...we have talked about it for along time. Folks Bill has the patience. When we left....he said we will stay until morning if you fellows want too..as long as I can go to chruch in the morning..we will fish. We had fun!

[countryboy79]

Great post!!! I'am glad yall caught bait at blewett. I hate telling someone info on anything and it not be true...

[catfishrus]

Thanks for the help CB...we found bait right where you told us to go.

[BigBird]

fun trip it sounds like up until the receding water part. Them PD cats are a fickle bunch-stands to reason why they are so at badin also. It must be the water-lol!

[goodtimes]

Congrats to all of you, adventures like that are sometimes more fun than actually catching a trophy! Call me next time I want some action like that!!

[bigcatsc]

Trust me. You DON'T want action like that.

BB in SC

[rivercatsc]

Yal should have known what you were getting ino going fishing with the better half of Team Hardcore. That soundslike 1 heck of an adventure. Yall come on down a little further south and dont worry about rocks just an occasional sand bar.

[Live Baiter]

All i can say is WOW.... I will never forget this one. Still had a good time. Bill, it was very nice meeting you. If Michael would have let us out in that one spot, i think we would have found a rock if you know what i mean......
We will have to do it again. Thanks Michael and Bill for a great trip.....

[AllenOK]

Sounds like a great adventure, even if you all didn't catch a bunch.

Do you think a kayak would have easily made it through?

[catfishrus]

Allen depends on how good you paddle. I would still take some waders. Heard alot of folks talk about using them in there. I think you would be alright.

[rivercatsc]

Allen you go up there in a kayak you better have your paddling arms on cause when thy release that water it rolls. I hve beat around up ther in them rocks a couple of times and caught some nice fish but my wifes Uncle family owns alot of land on the left side of the river all the way up at the dam and they have a private landing and that is how I accessed it. I use to go up there camping every year with them in the spring.

[catfishrus]

James do they have a pier on the river?

[rivercatsc]

Not that I know of.

[catfishrus]

Thanks..I seen one in that area once close to a private landing..thought it might of been the same place.

[WVBowhunter]

I thought the definition of a tough Mastercatter was a "numbskull" I know that applies to Mike but I think Live baiter was suckered into it

[catfishrus]

Either way...livebaiter got tuff...hes quick at it too.

[jerry9497]

Originally Posted by WVBowhunter

I thought the definition of a tough Mastercatter was a "numbskull" I know that applies to Mike but I think Live baiter was suckered into it

yep thats two of the tuffest

[chuckie333]

Sounds like a crazy day and one you wont forget any time soon.