Anglers who prefer to chart their trolling speed with a GPS unit understand that 1.0 mph is about the speed it takes to discern movement of the boat by looking at objects on the shore. That is the speed you're looking for. Using a 3/4-ounce egg sinker for weight on a Carolina-rigged down rod on 10-pound-test monofilament at a depth of 20 feet, Green calculates the correct boat speed by watching how far the line moves back from a straight perpendicular line. He estimates that a 20- to 25-degree angle is just right. A slow presentation on light line can spell the difference between a few fish and a day's limit.

While the morning live bait bite may last well into the day, once the day becomes long and the "golden hour" approaches, he moves back into Garr Creek and breaks out his spinning rod and a lightweight 1/8-ounce roadrunner jig dressed in white marabou. By far, his favorite "casting run" is from midway back in Garr Creek all the way out to Uwharrie Forest Point. As with Hickory, he is targeting pockets of warmer water up against the bank from a day's worth of bright sunlight.

And as darkness falls across the cold, barren landscape, there is little sign left of the day's encounter. The birds have vacated the skies to return to their overnight roosts, while the few night creatures that still brave the winter cold set up for their nightly serenade. Meanwhile under the surface, the world of the aquatic returns to its state of dormancy to await yet another cold winter's night.