Its truly a sad day for River Rats. Today while having a great fishing trip on Lake Murray I was rudely interrupted by several threatening phone calls. Guys were calling me to make threats because of what I have written on Charlestonfishing.com They said they had been fishing the lower Saluda for years and that I was hurting their fishing by telling people about their secret spot. Folks number one its no secret that DNR stocks trout in the river every year several times. It’s no secret the location of those trout. It’s also no secret that many of you fishing that area are River Rats…yes BC and Airport Grads. I would expect better from my fellow alum. I don’t coach to win I coach because I want to make a positive impact on the lives of young folks and I love the game. I don’t fish to catch fish…I fish because I love the sport and want to see others come to know that same love. Those of you who called me might call yourselves fisherman, but the only part of being a fisherman that you have anything to do with is dropping bait and line in the water. Being a fisherman is much more than that I would expect better from folks I have been fishing with for years. Like many of you I grew up on that river too. Like many of you I know folks who fished their long before I was born. One of you called me a guide…I’m no guide…heck I’m just an average fisherman who was trying to share a good thing. Folks have been fishing that river for years, and it is no secret that big fish are there. So due to these threats I will stop posting info about this area, but it’s truly sad that some of you are as selfish as you have proven to be. For those of you not of this area…please know we aren’t all like these few rednecks…that give the rest of us a bad name. Unfortunately some of them have learned how to use a computer. Like I said a sad day for River Rats. God Bless and Goodbye,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
Coach:
I agree with you totally. These pathetic rubes that have been harassing you need to realize one thing first and foremost: “HEY IDIOTS ITS PUBLIC PROPERTY! IF YOU WANT TO HAVE RESTRICTED ACCESS THEN SAVE UP YOUR MONEY AND BUY SOME RIVER FRONT PROPERTY!” As for the “SECRET” of those spots on the river, there are no spots on the river. How the hell did THEY learn about those spots. If someone is driven enough to enjoy the sport of fishing, then they’ll find out the best spots to fish in THE PUBLIC RIVER! By word of mouth, fishing with others, and general discussion, anyone can find out that striper fishing on the Saluda River is great. Some spots in particular are better bets for holding fish than others, that is no secret. And for those who are interested in doing enough research on the river and those who are interested enough to get on this great forum and discuss those PUBLIC places that hold stripers, that’s awesome. Hopefully I can help them out too. Coach, I for one thank you for introducing me to striper fishing years ago, and if anyone thinks that I would hesitate to teach someone else how to enjoy the sport of striper fishing then they are wrong. The river is there to be enjoyed by everyone and there are way more fish in the river than we all could ever catch. So Coach, please don’t stop posting on here. I have enjoyed reading yours and everyone’s discussions on here. For those of you who have a problem with that, then that’s too bad. You’re doing it for the wrong reasons, and you’re not real fishermen.
No these folks were so cowrdly they called from an unlisted number. Thats one thing that bothers me. They know were I live and hang out, and their cowards. So you never know what they might do, and not with worry for myself but for my family. Its just sad…and I know they are going to read this…so whoever ya’ll are just know I’m praying for you…you really need to get some help if you are that uptight about any fishing spot. I’ve always thought of fisherman as a group of tight nit folks who would always be willing to help their fellow fisherman. Its a shame you don’t feel the same way. Matthew thanks for the support, and you know me well enough to know anyone wants to learn about fishing I’ll be more then happy to teach what little I know and introduce them to others that know far more. I like this site and the conversations because I learn more about the sport I love from it. I wont be leaving the site, but I just wont be telling any more “Secret Spots”. Except for the great trout fishing just above the set of Rapids above James Metts Landing. Going up stream towards the rapids see the beach on your left. Then follow that just above the rapids on that side. This is were many boats go to avoid the rocks. Its a narrow streatch but just above the rapids under the trees you can pick up tons of nice trout with corn. Just toss it out and let it drift down stream near the bank. This is far better then below the rapids were most folks fish.
Now for my fan club that likes to make calls…keep it up and I’ll tell more spots…cause I know were the Striper are too. Fishing is for everyone to enjoy and not just you. Get a grip and get a life. This is the last spot I tell on here if I never hear from you again, but let me hear from you again or come near me or my family and I’ll spill the beans on the whole river to anyone and everyone who will listen. Including media who would love to find out what kind of RedNeck would make threats over a fishing spot. I can see the Headlines now "River Rat Gon
You go Coach!!! All of us had to learn from someone, be it Dads or Grandads or fishin’ buddys. I’ve asked advice, given advice to anyone that would share. It’s all a learning process, and having a little “local knowledge” helps shorten the curve. I don’t think any of us are going to disturb anybody already on a spot, there are lots of other places to go. All that beside, I’ll have to say Richard @ Lake World has been a great help to me for years, Great advice, even loaned me a battery one morning to prevent a “busted” trip. You won’t find that very often!!! You fishin’ the tourney next Sat. or has Richard got you working??? Might come down & fish Fri or Sat, would like to meet you sometime. Keep the good post’s.
coach, are you serious? you should call the police to have it documented, but i would not let these little b!tches stop you from posting. send me the reports and i’ll gladly post them.
Thanks for the support guys. I know it’s not a lot of folks that are like those few, but stuff happens. Anyhow to answer your question about the Tournament this weekend. I am going to be working it and it has been completely moved to the Dam and not Jakes. Currently I am visiting a friend in Pensacola, FL. The fishing was nice today, but could have been better had my friend not missed a 6 Foot+ shark. Anyhow we are off to the longest pier in the Gulf tomorrow. Back in the Spring I tore up the Spanish and Kings…I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes soon. God Bless,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
Well this morning we are sitting by the door waiting for a break in the weather. Things look rough right now, but we are heading out in an hour or so. My friend that I am visiting is a real fire cracker. Back in Sept I fished with her on this pier. I caught a Sailcat, and was taking the hook out of its mouth. She got tired of waiting on me to pull it out with pliers and walked over to me. She yanked the fish out of my hands, grabbed the line, yanked the hook out, tossed the fish back in, and handed me the rod saying “quit being a wuss.” Just friends right now, but that’s the kind of girl I could marry so we are trying to go again. Did I mention she’s about 4’11, less then 100lbs, and tight coke bottle figure? I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes. God Bless,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
Coach…I think I fished off that pier a few years ago the week after I graduated from college. Try using sabiki rigs to jig up bait around the pylons on the pier and use those herring for bait. Anything that was in the water crushed 'em.
We did aight today, but most of what was caught was either big bait fish or trash fish. We had tons of that though so for the younger kids we took to introduce to fishing it was great. There were six of us and I had them all on fish the entire time. We’ll be trying it again in the morning weather permitting. Best baits today were Sabiki Rigs, Squid, and Gottcha lures. Kings and Spanish were no were to be seen by anyone. Anyhow I’ll update tomorrow on how the last day goes. God Bless,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
Hey Coach! Glad to hear you’re having fun down there. I am jealous. I did swing by your place and took the depth finder for you. It’s in a safe place so you can get it when you get back. Take care of that coke bottle! Call me when you get back and let’s get some fishing done.
Well we went late last night to the Pier. It was my last shot fishing down here at least for this trip. I took my friend and her sister. We picked up tons of Catfish and some other small fish. I did hook one of the small fish on and picked up about a 4 foot black tip shark. It at least gave me a nice fight to finish on. Anyhow I’m hitting the road after we grab some lunch. I hope to see ya’ll at the Tournament tomorrow. God Bless,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
Kevin Taylor…class of 96 from BC? Man it was you calling me and acting like that? Do you know who this is? Kevin this is Brian Herring. Listen no hard feelings, but man you know that river is no secret. Anyhow take care bud…and don’t forget fishing never was just about catching fish…it’s about spending time with the fellas enjoying what God has given us. There were days you and I shared some spots…those days had little to do with the fish and more to do with hanging out with good friends.
God Bless, Brian
Guys if this is who made the calls and if this is who I think it is…then the calls and attitude were way out of charicter for him. This is one of my old fishing buddies from HS, and a really good guy. He’s new on here so ya’ll take it easy on him for me. God Bless, Brian
by the way…river has been so stinking high I flew up and down from I-20 to the Dam wide open not touching anything…and catching about the same as I was touching. The Striper Tourney went great Sat…even drama at the end with a huge winning catch being pulled in with seconds left. God Bless,
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
I just really think these guys and me included don’t want to see a great fishery ruined by floating comments and telling everyone to fish the river. Look what happened to Arkansas world class duck hunting. It is ruined because everyone and their brother in law and their sister now hunts out there. Just have some respect for the people who cherish the saluda river and call it home. For the next three months just quit posting stuff. No need for any more rubberheads up there. 10/4
Coach, How 'bout a report on the tournament, it sounds like it was an adventure. We fished all over from Bomb to the dam & back up to Susie Ebert, caught 3 (too short) 1 Gar & 1 Chain Pickeral (didn’t know what it was till I looked it up). Had fun any way with granson, let him catch most of 'em.
Go figure…Trevor you know as well as anyone that spot hasn’t been a secret in years. So what if a some folks on here that aren’t locals or are new to the area find a spot to catch some fish. There are plenty of spots on that river and for those of us like you and I who grew up here we know far more spots then that one. Plus some jerk took my number and started calling me making threats due to me telling a few guys about one spot that tons of folks already know about anyhow. As for the Duck hunting so I hear its not as good as the past but a few post on this one web site isn’t going to turn the Saluda into the same thing. Anyhow its not like you and I have ever really seen eye to eye on anything so why should that change now. I’ll give you that you can catch fish as good or better then most folks I know, but if you think that spots been a secret the past 10 years then you’ve been on the lake too much. Before I made that post I had gone down there to fish on a normal weekday around 5pm and within an hour there were over 15 guys fishing that one spot…thats no secret spot. God Bless
As for the Striper Tournament: I didn’t get the guys name, but some folks held a cooler out until the last seconds and then weighed in bringing out a +22lbs. I think the total weight was just over 50lbs. Anyhow I haven’t seen much in the way of striper this week…I did however pick up a 9lbs Jug Head tonight about 7:30 between Bomb Island and the Lex side. Whoops sorry guys another secret out the bag.
Coach B Herring
Columbia, SC CoachB@TeamFCA.com
Is it any wonder Jesus choose Fisherman for his disciples?
I have no problem with people using the river. I just moved to Charleston, but I spent the last 3 years fishing up near Corley Island from Saluda Shoals Park and being a part of Trout Unlimited there. At first, I used corn for the trout. I didn’t know any better. I quickly stopped however, when I learned that the corn kills trout. Those fish that get off the hook but swallow the corn are most likely destined to be dead fish soon. I went exclusively to Panther Martin. In fact, PM began making a pattern that I came up with while fishing the LS. I have a ton left, so if you want to try some, let me know. (These are the ones they sent me as payment for using my colors) All that to say - I love the fact that people use the river. It was meant to bring some aspect of joy to our lives. But, I developed a better respect for the river and it’s fish over the years. If you really want to enjoy the trout/striper…learn to fly fish. It is amazing. Please don’t use corn if at all possible. That is just me asking a favor. Otherwise, here is my best striper tip: Behind the zoo, right under the bridge that connects the zoo with the gardens…cut herring on a bottom rig with one 2oz. egg weight tied above a swivel…1 1/2 foot leader…20 lb test (low vis green…Gamakatsu red EWG hook, 5/O…you will catch many striper and large channel cats early and late. Good luck.
“If you have a friend who is a tight-rope walker, and you two were walking down the sidewalk and he fell…that would be completely unacceptable.”
I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes. God Bless,