Austin Centola hoists a hefty smallmouth bass he caught on the French Broad River on July8, 2009 (click the image to enlarge).

Jason Centola and his son Austin, pictured on the left holding up his weight in smallmouth bass, do most of their fishing near their home in Marrero, LA just south of New Orleans. We know that's some great fishing (and great eating) down there, so we were proud to show off a little of our local bass fishing. Jason booked a float trip for July 8, 2009 and Altamont Anglers guide Teo Whitlock picked them up at the crack of dawn and headed for the French Broad River, and a beat we like to fish north of Asheville. In spite of the sporadically heavy rainfall, the river fished well and the Centola boys made the most of it.

We're guessing that smallmouth Austin's holding was as exciting as anything he might have caught in or around New Orleans, even if it probably wouldn't sit as nicely on the dinner table as one of their redfish!

Jason Centola holds a fat French Broad River smallie caught on July 8, 2009 (click to enlarge image).

As you can see in the picture on the right, it's "like son like father" in the Centola family. A great day's fishing is when the fishing contest between a father and son ends up in a tie...

Jason sent us an email along with these pictures, so we'll let him tell the tale in his own words:
"I would like to thank both of you for such a great experience. My son and I both had a great time on our trip. Although we are avid fishermen here in Louisiana, our fishing excursion was on to remember. My son had so much fun that he can not wait to go back."

Click the thumbnail images below for larger views of Jason & Austin Centola's day on the French Broad River:

(Altamont Anglers operates on Pisgah National Forest Rivers under USDA Forest Service Permit #PIS6560)