TBT: Pond Catfish Fishing with Doughbait

This throwback takes me back to a simple pond catfish trip where everything lined up just right. I had a good batch of doughbait, calm weather, and a pond full of willing catfish. It didn’t take long before the rod started bending and the fish made their presence known.

Cast after cast, the bites stayed steady. The catfish weren’t monsters, but they had enough weight and attitude to make every hookup fun. There’s something about that slow, heavy pull of a catfish that never gets old.

If you’ve ever sat by a pond waiting for that next catfish to load up the rod, this TBT will feel familiar in the best way. Here’s the quick highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own pond catfish trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

TBT: Big Bluegill at the George Bush Library

This throwback takes me back to a fun, unexpected fishing moment at the George Bush Library on the Texas A&M campus. I wasn’t on a dedicated fishing trip, but when I walked past the water, it looked too good to ignore—so of course, I grabbed a rod.

A few casts later, I was into some surprisingly nice Bluegill. For a quick, unplanned stop, they put a serious bend in the rod and turned into one of those simple fishing memories that sticks with you long after the day is over.

If you’ve ever had a “just one cast” moment turn into something special, you’ll get this one. Here’s the quick TBT highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, and tackle I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your own Bluegill trips—or just support Average Angler Life— this curated shop is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, TBT moments, and on‑the‑water adventures, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. Every cup helps keep the rods bending and the videos rolling!

☕ Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life on the water and sharing more stories — thank you.

When Everyone Catches Fish… and I Catch Bait

Some days on the water just keep you humble. In this collab meme-style moment, I’m watching another angler reel in solid fish one after another… and when my turn finally comes, I pull up a tiny little fish that honestly looks like it escaped from the bait bucket.

But that’s fishing. Some days you’re the hero, some days you’re the comic relief — and either way, you walk away with a good story and a laugh. This little moment was too good not to share.

Here’s the quick highlight from the collab.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, lures, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to gear up for your next trip — or just support the channel — this curated list is a great place to start.

Browse the AAL Gear List

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life going — thank you.

Limit Out or Go Home… It Took All Day, But I Got There!

Mobile Fishing Livestream 140 (Spotify)

Blue River, Oklahoma – November 22, 2025  

Yesterday was one of those classic Blue River grind days: cold front moving in, water low and gin-clear, trout scattered and stubborn. I rolled in at legal light with one goal: fill the five-fish limit in the fly-and-lure-only section below the dam. Spoiler alert – mission accomplished… but it was an absolute marathon.

I started the morning throwing everything in the box that’s been hot lately:

• Mop flies (yes, the infamous “banned fly” in some circles)  
• Egg patterns in peach and chartreuse
• Standard hare’s ears, pheasant tails, and prince nymphs
• Even broke out Power Worms for a hot minute (don’t judge me)

Zero Trout all morning, I was playing around with the center-pin rig just for fun. Around noon I finally had one take a white Near Deere (size 10) but lost it when I snagged a rock. I kept at it and about an hour later, I caught the biggest trout this round on the same Near Deere.

I had tied on a trailing Power Worm and drifted the tandem rig to a likely spot. I saw a trout moving past then turn and strike. Initially, I thought it went for the Power Worm; it did not... a white Near Deere stuck secure to its jaw!

More hours later, I caught and landed a trout by the rocks downriver from the Island. They were lurking in several pockets that typically hold trout each season. I caught one and kept it, striking an olive Near Deere.

I then lost the fly, tied on a white Near Deere and a trailing Rainbow Warrior, and soon hooked another trout but it was foul hooked and too small... opted to release it.

I checked other spots without luck, then settled back by the Island as the sun started dropping. There I caught another small trout that I released, fished till I caught one little bit bigger to limit out.

Afterwards I spent another 30 minutes catch-and-release fishing before heading home where I promptly broiled them for dinner!

All in all, it was a day of persistence. Sometimes you throw the kitchen sink, sometimes you just need the right fly in the right pocket. Working the rocks, reading the currents, and staying mobile paid off!

Tight lines, see you on the water (or on the live stream)! 

Tips for my next lure!

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the website and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

TBT: Jon Boat Trolling for White Bass on Lake Lavon

Every now and then, I like to dig back through old footage and revisit the kind of fishing days that helped shape Average Angler Life. This throwback takes us to Lake Lavon, out in a jon boat, trolling for white bass.

It wasn’t a high‑tech trip—just a small boat, a simple trolling setup, and steady passes over likely water. The kind of day where you watch the rod tips, feel the rhythm of the boat, and wait for that sudden bend that tells you a white bass has found your lure.

Trips like this remind me why I love fishing in the first place. It’s not always about big boats or big numbers. Sometimes it’s about being out on a Texas lake, keeping things simple, and soaking in the moment when a fish loads up and the quiet breaks.

If you missed this one the first time around, here’s the quick TBT highlight.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the rods, reels, lures, and tools I actually use on the water. If you want to support the channel while gearing up for your next trip, this curated list is a great place to start.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These recommendations are based on gear I personally use or genuinely trust. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life going—thank you for being part of the community.

TBT: Morning Bites + Epic Evening Catfish! (Old COAF Days)

Some days you just feel pulled back to the water, and today was one of those days. I started my morning at the Main Pond, bundled up against the cool air and hoping the fish were awake. They were. I picked up a few and settled into that peaceful rhythm that only a quiet morning bite can bring.

While I was working the bank, I watched another angler hook into a surprisingly nice catfish. Seeing a fish like that come out of cold water always gets the excitement going. It’s those little moments—your own catches mixed with the wins of the folks around you—that make community fishing spots special.

But the day wasn’t done with me yet. As evening rolled in, I felt that familiar tug to head back out. The pond looked completely different under the softer light. Calm water, cooler air, and that feeling that anything could happen. Even if the bite slows down, evenings like that are worth every minute.

Fishing isn’t always about numbers. Sometimes it’s about showing up twice in one day because the water just feels right.

Average Angler Life Fishing Gear

These are the tools, tackle, and accessories I actually use on the water. If you want to support the channel, shopping through this link helps more than you know.

Visit the AAL Gear Shop

Support Average Angler Life

If you enjoy these fishing stories, videos, and gear breakdowns, you can support the channel by buying me a coffee. It helps keep the adventures going and means more than you know.

Buy Me a Coffee

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These are products I personally use and recommend. Your support helps keep Average Angler Life going—thank you for being part of the community.

Bass Eats a Dragonfly on Camera — Matching the Hatch for Real!

What pattern should I use?

Every once in a while, the water gives you a moment you couldn’t script if you tried. In this clip, Average Angler Life watches a bass come up and absolutely crush a dragonfly right off the surface — and the camera catches the whole thing. No setup, no staging, just pure topwater instinct.

Seeing that strike in real time sparked a question: if bass are willing to eat dragonflies like that, why not try matching the hatch with a simple dragonfly fly pattern? So in this video, I break down the moment, react to the strike, and tie a clean, straightforward dragonfly imitation designed to sit right in that danger zone where bass love to ambush.

Whether you’re a fly angler, a pond hopper, or someone who just loves watching nature do its thing, this clip is a reminder of how wild and unpredictable the water can be. Moments like this are why we keep casting — and why I keep a camera rolling.

Have you ever seen bass key in on dragonflies where you fish? Would you throw a dragonfly pattern, or stick to frogs and poppers? I’d love to hear your take.

Fishing Gear I Recommend

Explore rods, reels, tools, and accessories I trust on the water.

Shop Now →

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue creating content. Thank you for your support!

Freezing Day Surprise: Catfish Caught in a Stocked Trout Pond

Despite the freezing temps, I decided to hit a pond that had been stocked with trout a few days earlier. The plan was simple: make a few casts, see if any trout were still cruising, and try to squeeze in a quick catch before the cold chased me off. After working the bank for a bit, I managed to land one nice trout — not a fast bite, but enough to make the trip worth it. But the real surprise of the day wasn’t mine. A group of fishermen down the shoreline were absolutely dialed in. Between the three of them, they’d already stacked up eleven trout… and then things got interesting. Out of nowhere, one of them hooked into a catfish — in a trout pond, in freezing weather. Total curveball. Watching them fight that catfish in the cold was honestly the highlight of the morning. It’s one of those reminders that fishing always has a way of surprising you, even when you think you know what’s in the water. Some days you’re the one catching. Some days you’re the one watching the magic happen. Either way, it’s all part of the fun. Tight lines, Average Angler Life 🎣

Fishing Gear I Recommend

My go‑to fishing gear, tools, and accessories — the same stuff I use on the water and in my videos.

Visit My Amazon Fishing Shop

Disclaimer: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These funds help support Average Angler Life and keep new fishing content coming. Thanks for supporting the channel and the fishing community!

Did He Really Catch a Gar That Big? Proof Ball Fishing Collab

Gar Size Check: Fisherman vs The Proof Ball

Every angler has that one buddy whose fish “gets a little bigger” every time the story gets told. You know the type — the gar that was *maybe* two feet yesterday somehow becomes a four‑footer by the weekend. In this fun collab YouTube Short, a fisherman proudly holds up a solid river gar… and I jump in remotely with the Proof Ball to “make things official.” It’s all in good fun — a little fishing humor, a little friendly fact‑checking, and a great way to show how the Proof Ball works as a quick visual reference for your catch. No tape measure on screen, no guessing from the comments, just a simple tool that keeps the stories honest while keeping the laughs rolling. Why the Proof Ball? Because it’s the perfect way to settle those classic fishing debates. It’s small, easy to carry, and gives viewers a consistent size reference in photos and videos. Whether you’re showing off a PB or just having fun with friends, it adds a playful twist to your fishing content. The Collab Moment The fisherman lifts the gar with pride. I pop into frame remotely, holding the Proof Ball like a referee stepping into a heated game. “Looks legit… but let’s make it official.” It’s quick, it’s funny, and it gets people talking — exactly what a good fishing short should do. Would you trust the Proof Ball on your biggest catch? Drop a comment and let me know. Tight lines, friends. — Average Angler Life 🎣

Fishing Gear I Recommend

My go‑to fishing gear, tools, and accessories — the same stuff I use on the water and in my videos.

Visit My Amazon Fishing Shop

Disclaimer: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These funds help support Average Angler Life and keep new fishing content coming. Thanks for supporting the channel and the fishing community!

Micro Fly Rod Fun: Tiny Fish, Big Laugh — “Get the Net!”

Micro Fly Rod Fun: Tiny Fish, Big Laugh — “Get the Net!”

There’s nothing quite like micro fly‑fishing to remind you how much joy there is in the small stuff. In this live highlight, Average Angler Life is out chasing tiny fish with a tiny rod — and after a handful of misses, the moment finally arrives. A fish hits, the rod bends, and the excitement kicks in.

With a grin, you hold up the Proof Ball to check the size… and then comes the joke that seals the moment: “Get the net!”

It’s playful, lighthearted, and exactly the kind of humor that makes micro fishing so fun. The fish may be small, but the energy is big — and the Proof Ball adds that extra touch of curiosity and comedy.

This clip captures the spirit of Average Angler Life perfectly: enjoying the outdoors, celebrating the little victories, and finding joy in every cast, no matter the size of the fish on the line.

Fishing Gear I Recommend

Explore rods, reels, tools, and accessories I trust on the water.

Shop Now →

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue creating content. Thank you for your support!