The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

Related Photos

  • Rick Goines

    Rick Goines.jpg
May 20, 2011

Dagwood Opens bait and tackle shop

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Rick Goines

The Daily Southerner — Those of us fortunate enough to see our eighth decade on God’s green earth will probably be looking for an easy chair and someone to wait on us. Not Dagwood! John Abrams, called Dagwood since he was a toddler, is 82 years young and has recently opened Dagwood’s Bait And Tackle at his home on Bogey Street, a block off North Carolina highway 33 near Tarboro: Make a right turn on Dowens, just past the Edgecombe-Martin EMC, then a right on Bogey. Dagwood’s is down on the left. Look for his yard signs.

Dagwood is well known in these parts as a very skilled carpenter. It’s like a Tarboro catch phrase to hear, “Dagwood built that...” It’s hard to drive around Edgecombe County, and not see some of his handiwork. This very talented man is also quite well known as an accomplished pool player.

Dagwood built a cricket box for his son, John N. Abrams, II, of Tarboro, who said, “Daddy, that’s too pretty to put in my garage.” The well-built cricket box got the bait shop idea going.

Conveniently located near Etheridge Pond, Dagwood’s Bait And Tackle has everything you need for a successful pond outing. Minnows, crickets, worms, bait containers, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, cane poles, even Nabs & drinks. Dagwood offers reasonably priced bait to pond anglers, some of who are not fishing just for fun, but for food.  

Customer service, the likes of which is unheard of in this day and time. I asked his open hours, and he said just toot the horn any hour day or night, and I will come out to help you. He even offers curb service, if you don’t want to get out of the car.  

If you want to, pull up a chair, sit, talk, rest your face and hands; Dagwood’s is the place to do it. He loves to chat, and talk fishing. Enthusiasm pours out of this man. This is not a high profit venture for Dagwood, but I will guarantee you he didn’t get in this business for the money. You can tell right away that he flat-out enjoys what he is doing. Dagwood and his wife of 46 years, Frances H. Abrams, just love people, and it shows in everything they say and do.

I intend to support Dagwood Bait & Tackle, and I encourage you to do the same. This nice man deserves your business. Stop by and let some of that wonderful, contagious enthusiasm rub off on you.

Etheridge Pond is a great place for family fishing fun. Open 24/7 it is free, and always provides you plenty of fishing space, pier or bank. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has recently installed a floating fish feeder that feeds the fish 14 times a day.  In addition to that, the NCWRC stocks the 27-acre pond with bream, catfish, cass, and crappie April through October.  

Etheridge Pond is officially part of the Robert Barnhill Public Fishing Areas. From US 64 near Tarboro, take Exit 487 and go south on N.C. 33. Go .2 mile and right on Dowens St. (SR 1624). Go to the first street and turn right on Bogey St. (SR 1625), follow Bogey St., go past bend in the road to left and road will proceed along bank of pond.

 Hotspot of the Week: We are still getting good reports of Rockfish action in Roanoke River at Weldon. Of course, all catch and release now.  

Ponds and lakes are providing nice springtime action for the worm, cricket, and minnow dunkers. This is a wonderful way to introduce the joys of fishing to the younger set. Kids need to catch fish to hold their interest, and this type of fishing is right on target.  

Saltwater fans are enjoying a good run of Bluefish on the Crystal Coast.  These Blues are being caught at piers, and in the surf. Can’t miss with Gotcha Plugs. All the bait and tackle stores have them. Of course, they come in an assortment of sizes, colors, and styles. I miss the Mystery head boat out of Beaufort. I caught a ton of fish wandering the decks of that noble lady before she succumbed to modern times and the skyrocketing cost of doing business. I felt like I lost a good friend. Anybody recommend a good head boat on the Crystal Coast?

Rick’s Soapbox: Ever wonder what really separates the very rich from average people like you and me? It’s the little things. They don’t worry and concern themselves with the mundane tasks that we encounter every day, because they have someone to perform those little irritating jobs for them. I’m talking about shopping at retail stores, and standing in line. Sitting around while they service your car. Having your driver’s license renewed, or maybe simply paying bills.  

However that being said, when I am out on the water catching fish and loving life, one of my favorite expressions is, “I don’t know what Donald Trump is doing today, but he’s not having more fun than I am right now.”  I truly believe that nature is a big equalizer in many ways, and when I am out fishing I feel like a multi-millionaire sampling nature’s beauty and bounty.  Money just can’t buy some things.

Catching fish?  Tell us about it.  Better yet, send us a picture with all the details.  We love to hear from you at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.

See you on the water, my friend!

Text Only
Sports
  • Julie Hayes.jpg Hayes, Harris Co-Players of the Year

    When you have two dream players on your team at the same time, a coach can usually build a strong program through those two players. That is what first year Tarboro Lady Vikings head coach Leshaun Jenkins has done with the soccer team with the help of dream players Julie Hayes and Chandler Harris.

    May 23, 2012 2 Photos

  • Tim Cunningham.jpg KARATE

    The students of Cunnningham Isshinryu Karate represented Tarboro and Edgecombe County well on Saturday, April 28th at the 14th Annual ECU Open Martial Arts Tournament. The tournament was held at the ECU Student Recreation Center and is one of the area’s largest martial arts events. It is open to all martial arts styles and systems. This year, more than 75 martial artists competed for medals.

    May 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • Kailyn Abrams.jpg Abrams to play at Peace

    Tarboro Vikings senior softball slugger Kailyn Abrams had decided to take her talents to the next level and play college softball at NCAA Division III William Peace University in Raleigh.

    May 17, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athletes of the Year.jpg Cougars Athletes of the Year

    SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars athletes from left, Damien Bryant, Kelsey Page and Alexander Derby were selected as athletes of the year for the school on Monday during the awards banquet..

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • HOF.jpg Three inducted into SouthWest Hall of Fame

    PINETOPS – The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars honored three distinguished women Monday night during the annual athletics banquet. One inductee was an athlete and the other two spent more than 20 plus years coaching for SouthWest.
    All three inductees were very dedicated to the Cougars athletic program and felt very honored to be inducted into the SouthWest Hall of Fame.

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tyler Wooten.jpg Tarboro eliminated after 4-1 loss

    DEEP RUN – Coming off their final regular season game where they didn't get a hit, the Tarboro Vikings were looking to rebound going into the first round of the NCHSAA 2-A state baseball playoffs. Things didn't work out the way Tarboro and first year head coach Justin Smith had planned. They continued to struggle at the plate and ended their season on a 12 inning streak without a hit.

    May 14, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tarboro Parks and Recreation softball and baseball scores

    The following are scores and results from the Tarboro Parks and Recreation softball and Cal Ripken baseball leagues from this past week.

    May 14, 2012

  • Chadler Harris 2.jpg Young Vikings struggle; lose 4-1

    Coming into the first round of the NCHSAA 2-A state playoffs the Tarboro Lady Vikings were given a No. 2 seed in the East bracket and were looking to make a run in the playoffs. The Franklinton Lady Rams had something to say about that Thursday when the two teams faced off at Indian Lake Sports Complex. The Rams defeated Tarboro 4-1, which puts an end to the Vikings remarkable season under first year head coach Leshaun Jenkins.

    May 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • TWC.jpeg Tarboro Women's Club

    Amy Wood Pasquini, marketing director at Our State Magazine, spoke to the Tarboro Women's Club last Thursday about North Carolina travel, history and culture as seen through the pages of the magazine.

    April 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Lane Long.jpg Long is dedicated to tennis

    Tarboro Vikings junior, Lane Long has been a dominating force on the tennis courts this season. He has risen as one of the top players in the state in high school tennis. Long finished in fourth place at the Eastern Regionals last week, which earned him a spot in the NCHSAA 2-A individual state championships this weekend in Cary at the Cary Tennis Center. He is carrying a 23-5 record into the championships.

    May 10, 2012 1 Photo