THE CAROLINA TRACE

T.U.F.F. Club

Sanford, NC 27332


Lake Trace Hotline

919-499-1300

TUFF Blog

See what we've been up to lately!


Lake Trace Winter Ice Fishing UPDATE

by Miss Libby

Posted on Wed Jan 17 2018


SNOWBOUND.... TOO COLD TO FISH!!!!! ...

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Welcome to the TUFF website!

by Miss Libby

Posted on Tue Jan 09 2018


Dear Everyone,


 Welcome to the Trace Union of Fervent Fishermen website!  My son and I started this project in late July 2017 and with his coding/graphic skills and my learning how to post pics and write blogs... well, here it is.  Still may need to work out the glitches, but please enjoy.  You don't need to login (at the bottom of Home Page) to browse around. If you "Read More" and click on the pictures, there are some captions .

 If you want to comment on a blog, send an e-mail to me at gofishin247@gmail.com, 

and I will set up your Username and a Password.

Growing up in Wilmington, Delaware, I enjoyed fishing the Brandywine River near my home and the Delaware beaches (staying at the Winkler cottage and taking my ORV to the first dune south at Key Box Road). Through various fishing "buddy" friendships, I enjoyed great success during 25 years of surf fishing trips to Dewey Beach DE and Rodanthe in the fall at the Outer Banks of NC.

However, I have to say that my heart now belongs to Carolina Trace in Sanford, North Carolina.  As a long time surf/fresh water (and now big bass) fisherman, Lake Trace has become my very favorite place to be in the world since retiring here ten plus years ago. Lake Trace is a 315 acre river-fed body of water in the Cape Fear basin with seven and one-half miles of shoreline. With NO gas engines allowed (no jet skis, power boats, water skiing), it offers a peaceful setting to pursue the giant thirteen plus pound largemouth bass that roam its waters. (Yes, there are 13 pound ...

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Congratulations to our 2017 TUFF Derby Winners!

by Miss Libby

Posted on Mon Dec 11 2017


From left to right, our winners include: Don Facciolo (MC) 1st Place Bass, 1st Place Crappie & 2nd Place Catfish; TUFF Certificate of Excellence/Bass winner Buster Harrill (NS) accepted the 2nd Place Bass award for his friend Chuck Byrd (NS); Pam Zorn (SM) 2nd Place Crappie with her TUFF Certificate of Excellence/Bass; Jody Jackett (GN) accepted 1st Place Catfish award for Andrea Thompson of Wisconsin; Kip Chojnacki (HL) accepted for his grandchildren Karis & Kira of Washington, D.C. for their Bream wins at our April Fish for Fun lesson; and David Zorn with his TUFF Certificate of Excellence/Bass.

Front row: Congratulations to Elizabeth and Sarah Bender of Laurel Thicket who attended our April Fish for Fun lesson at the CTCC dock and landed a 10.5 and 11 inch catfish to garner Bronze and Silver Fish Medallions. Not shown is Andy Lee, our 1st Place Gold Medallion winner in the Catfish Category of our Youth Division. TUFF Kid Casters are awesome!

Click on Read More to see more pictures and click on the picture to see the captions.

To see the pictures of the winning catches and how, when and where they were caught, please e-mail me at gofishin247@gmail.com and I will send you the four page pdf file called TUFF DERBY 2017 WINNERS PICTURE PARADE.

Our seasonal Derby runs from March 1st to November 15th every year, and it is open to everyone in Trace. Go to our Derby section to learn more. Everyone in Carolina Trace can register their catch! ( online form, go to Catches) If you own a home, rent a home, or own a lot in Carolina Trace, you are eligible to register your catch. Your extended family and friends/guests, if they are fishing with you are eligible. You do not need to be a member of TUFF or the Club either. Join the fun and win a fabulous prize and bragging rights! 

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Lake Trace Eagle Caught on Top Water Plug But Released Unharmed

by Miss Libby

Posted on Thu Nov 16 2017


Lake Trace Fishermen be advised!

On November 10th a CT resident fishing from shore cast a top water lure into the lake. He hadn't noticed a juvenile bald eagle perched in the trees behind him. The bird swooped down, hit his whopper plopper 45 feet out and got treble hooked in a talon. Of course this nature lover did not want to cut the line with the bird in such a fix. So it was reeled in and lifted out of the water with a fishing net.

The fisherman was able to get a hold on the bird's neck and shoulders and got the hook out. However, the real ordeal began when he got the bird's talons freed from the net. The eagle sunk its talons into his thigh and hand. Fortunately, it released its grip on his thigh but then used its free foot to latch onto his forearm! The man was able to get up, walk towards the house (with bird attached) and get his wife's attention. Together they were able to get the bird unlatched and control its feet. It was eased back in the lake, and after a few seconds, the young eagle flew away, apparently unharmed.  (Our brave fisherman confided that he's OK but not sure he'll be using that lure again anytime soon!)

 

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2017 TUFF Awards Presentation December 9th, CTCC dock at 10:30 a.m.

by Miss Libby

Posted on Thu Nov 16 2017


CHANGE OF VENUE. DUE TO SNOW PREDICTED, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE (NICE AND WARM) GOVERNOR'S ROOM IN THE BEAUTIFUL CAROLINA TRACE COUNTRY CLUB. Thank you Escalante! This Saturday (December 9th) why not swing by the CTCC to meet the winners in the Adult and Youth Divisions of our 2017 TUFF Fishing Derby which runs every year from March 1st to November 15th. It's a great way to find out about catching big bass and other kinds of fish in Lake Trace. A 13.5 pound and 13 pound largemouth bass garnered 1st and 2nd place this year. Lake Trace is an awesome fishery! Plus you can register your youngster for our free fishing lessons in 2018. We are looking for youngsters to teach from home-school, year-round and traditional calendar families. We provide equipment, bait and instruction from TUFF volunteers. We will be handing out five engraved plaques and four TUFF Certificates of Excellence to Adults and five Goodie Bags (with gold, silver or bronze fish medallions, fish ornaments, fish stickers, TUFF Certificates, candy) to youngsters who won. "Tis the season - so this event will take place in a timely fashion, so you can continue your holiday shopping and weekend errands by 11:15 a.m.! . Click on Read More to see awards you or your child may win if you register your catch. (See details under Catches section.) ...

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