TBT Pond Catfish Fishing with Homemade Doughbait!

This throwback takes me back to another pond catfish trip where my homemade doughbait recipe really got to shine. I mixed up a batch, headed to a local pond, and before long the catfish were finding it cast after cast. Nothing fancy—just a simple setup, steady bites, and that classic slow, heavy pull that makes pond fishing so relaxing.

There’s something extra satisfying about catching fish on bait you made yourself. It turns a regular pond session into a little experiment that pays off in bends, runs, and a few more memories for the Average Angler Life story.

If you’ve ever rolled your own bait and watched it work, 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.

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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 Tenkara Fishing Gone Wrong: I Caught Goldfish!

This throwback takes me back to one of the funniest fishing moments I’ve had in a long time. I grabbed the tenkara rod for a simple, light‑tackle session… and somehow ended up catching goldfish. Not exactly the target species, but absolutely a memory worth keeping.

It was one of those moments where you’re fighting a fish, look down, and your brain needs a second to process what you’re seeing. All you can do is laugh, shake your head, and enjoy the surprise. Fishing has a way of throwing curveballs, and this one still cracks me up.

If you’ve ever had a fishing trip go sideways in the funniest way possible, this TBT will feel familiar. 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 adventures—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 Pond Catfish Fishing — From Daylight to Night

This throwback takes me back to a pond catfish trip that rolled from daylight into the night. I started with a simple setup and some doughbait, just enjoying the calm water and steady bites. As the sun dropped and the sky shifted colors, the catfish kept feeding, and the whole trip turned into one of those peaceful sessions where time slows down.

There’s something special about pond fishing after dark — the sounds change, the water feels different, and every tug on the line gets your attention. It wasn’t a complicated trip, but it was one of those honest, everyday fishing moments that sticks with you.

If you’ve ever fished a pond from day into night, you know exactly the kind of vibe this TBT brings. 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 Pond Fishing: Bass and Bluegill Mix

This throwback takes me back to a laid‑back pond trip where the fish were in a generous mood. I set up on a small pond with a simple setup and started working the water, just seeing what wanted to bite.

Before long, I was into a fun mix of Bass and Bluegill. The Bass brought those quick, sharp runs that jolt the rod to life, and the Bluegill added that steady, determined pull that always feels bigger than it looks. Cast after cast, there was just enough action to keep things interesting.

Trips like this are a big part of what Average Angler Life is all about—no big boats, no complicated plans, just a pond, some time outside, and a mix of fish willing to play along. 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 pond Bass and 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.

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.

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.

Caught a Big Bass Just a Few Months Ago... #fishing #snowday #bass

Snowed yesterday but go figure... just a few months ago kicked off the Vintage Lure Series with this nice one!  Fun stuff... time to shift to cold weather fishing and start targeting the trout stocking in our area. Do stay tuned as we are out about this Season!

TBT Beavers Bend Trout Fishing #shorts

YouTube Shorts video of a TBT to Beavers Bend State Park before the big flood or was it floods that changed the entire river.

Lots of brush and greenery with a few Rainbow and Brown Trout caught and released. See the full video at https://youtu.be/8KePd_ZH-ic

In the past, designated Blue and Red zones were used to separate sections of the river. The Blue zone allowed bait fishing, non-barbless hooks, and more liberal daily limits compared to the Red Zone.

As of 2021, the rules have changed. Strongly suggest checking out Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s eRegulations for the latest update before fishing the area.

See the Lower Mountain Fork section of the eRegulations for more info. (Trout Area Information).

More TBT time... Don't forget Trout Stockings at Turner Falls!

Another fun trip to beat the heat; this one is a TBT to Turner Falls Park in Davis, OK. The OPST Commando Head made for ease of casting by the Waterfall using an “air anchor” to avoid the metal railing along the walkway. See full video at: https://youtu.be/n-vkX-REKkc

TBT - Lower Illinois River Trout Fishing Anyone?

Another fun trip and a good one to remind us cool weather is coming soon and so is trout stocking season! See video at https://youtu.be/rO1GSkrhwPo

TBT - Denison Dam Fly Fishing | Personal Best on the Fly!

More beat the heat with TBT to Denison. See full video at Denison Dam Fly Fishing on YouTube!

Got lucky… plan was to fish the Blue River but recent rain diverted us to the Red River – specifically, the tailrace to Lake Texoma at Denison Dam!

Fun time fly fishing at Denison Dam!

• Echo Ion Fly Reel 4/5 wt: http://amzn.to/2ql1EhN
• Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod (9′-4pc-5wt): http://amzn.to/2rENFHu
• OPST Commando Head (200 grain): http://amzn.to/2zftMuC
• OPST Lazarline Running Line: http://amzn.to/2gTrjOU

TBT - How We Fished the Blue River, Oklahoma Saturday... Limited Out!

Beat the heat with a Throw Back Time to the Blue River last year. See video at: “How We Fished the Blue River, Oklahoma Saturday… Limited Out!”

Catch and Cook Pan Fried Habanero Trout

Throw back Wednesday to celebrate “Hump Day” and get us through the midweek blues… how about a catch and cook of trout we caught last season?

Froze the trout in ice, and they stayed as fresh as the day we caught them last Winter. Used a Rubber Legged Near Deere to get them to strike!

For cooking, decided to try a new recipe – Pan Fried Habanero Trout!

Ingredients:

• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Chopped Habanero (with or without the seeds, proceed with caution)
• Stocker Sized Rainbow Trout fillets

Directions:

• Season fillets with salt, pepper, and garlic powder
• Sprinkle chopped Habanero over fillets
• Let sit in the refrigerator for two hours or more
• Pan fry in oil on high heat for two minutes each side. Three minutes if crunchy fillets are desired