Travis holding an 8 pound, 9 ounce largemouth bass

Travis with 8 lb. 9 oz. largemouth bass

Wow, what a title! The best in the world? You be the judge. Let me tell you about it.

The lake is located at the King Fisher Society. Check out KingFisherSociety.com. The lake is 115 acres of cypress-filled black water in Laurelhill, N.C. and it is owned and operated by Jim Morgan and managed by him and his family for the last 150 years.

I could give you all the particulars about its origin back to the Civil War and all that, but you can read as much on its history as you like on the internet. That’s not the point.

King Fisher Lake was recommended to me for a television show subject by T.J. Stallings, one of the kingpins at Tru-Turn Hooks and Road Runner Lures. He knows his stuff, and I trusted him on this location and its fruits without the slightest reservation.

I was there one fall day to shoot an O’Neill Outside television show, so I thought I’d spend a few minutes in the boat with Jim Morgan, the owner, to get our discussion started. You know, what I’d like to cover in the show, just get our communication on the way so the show would move smoothly. It’s better when you talk with someone for a while, you know what they mean and establish the more relaxed feeling that friends have when they’ve fished together a while.  Responses like “What?” “When?” and “Huh?” do not translate reliable information and it sounds stupid on a television show.

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. With daylight Savings Time in place, I didn’t think we’d really get into any quality bass until four o’clock or so, and thought we’d have at least two hours to get acquainted. The cameraman came along just to get some ‘beauty’ shots of the lake and surrounding landscape. By four that afternoon, Jim and I had already caught and released 20 largemouth bass between two and six pounds. Yes, you heard me, about 60 to 80 pounds. None below two pounds, and no giants over six. The show was completed, and it has aired several times on “O’Neill Outside” Television over the years. Get my drift?

On the second visit to Kingfisher, during a cold February day, the air temperature was 24 degrees and the water temperature was 42. Cold! I thought, what the heck, let’s give it a try. Anywhere else, it would be a day that you claimed you had a bite but truly didn’t. I had recruited Davy Hite, sponsored by Buckeye Lures, designers and manufacturers of the Mop Jig. That’s the lure we were using and is a great “big bass” bait.  As you read this, you must take into consideration that Davy has won the Bassmaster Classic, has been awarded Bass Angler of the Year and is a consummate pro.  OK? Not your average afternoon fishing buddy.

In three hours that afternoon, with me in the front of the boat and Davy at the stern, under those conditions, WE caught seven largemouth bass that totaled well over 35 pounds. OK, Davy caught five and I caught two which is about right since he’s at least 150 percent better than I am but, never-the-less, the lake produced them.

I’ve been to King Fisher Society now six times. Largest bass? Eight pounds. Most bass in one day: 50 between four and six pounds. I took Travis, my grandson and TV show co-host, to Kingfisher too. A photo is included in my narrative.  That bass was 19 inches long, 18 and ½ inches in girth and weighed in at 8 pounds and 9 ounces.  Travis caught him on a Mop Jig of course.

Like to catch Blue Gill, not hybrids, Blue Gill? The lake record is three pounds, 5 ounces, but that’s a story for another day.

Oh, too, you don’t have to bring your boat. Jim has 20-foot Stratos bass boats with electric motors, the lodge will accommodate your party and a gourmet dinner is provided.  Only four fishermen per day are allowed on the lake.

Am I kidding? It’s the bass fishing trip of a lifetime at the best bass fishing lake in the world.  Read about it and go. I’ll see you there one spring day.