The allure of the coast is not confined to people who grew up on it or near it; it crosses county and state lines and reaches out to people who live far away.
Some people live their whole lives in places like Kansas or Nebraska, and as soon as they see the ocean, they can never go home again. It’s even a theme in literature, for example, in “Lord of the Rings,” Galadriel tells Legolas “Beware of the Sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.”
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For most, it’s not quite as dramatic. They come to visit, feel the pull, but can’t leave home, so they visit as often as they can and get as much enjoyment out of it as possible for whatever period of time they are there. And so it is with Neill Pollock. He is from Charlotte.
While that may not seem too far away, it’s still an almost five-hour drive from his home to his favorite place in Atlantic Beach. With gas prices being what they are, it’s a financial commitment as well. There’s just something about the coast that brings him back to spend time with his family and to experience fishing that he can’t do otherwise.
Neill grew up loving to fish but not having many options available to him, “I grew up in Charlotte without a ton of fishing opportunities, so golf course ponds were where I cut my teeth until around 11 or 12 years old.”
It was around that time when he started to get a better fishing education.
“My grandfather, Warren Pollock, started taking me to fish the mountain streams around Linville and Banner Elk. He was always my biggest influence in outdoor activities.”
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Neill and his grandfather spent a lot of time together until the elder’s passing in 2017.
“We hunted and fished together growing up, until his age prevented him from going anymore.”
In my columns, I’ve tried to illustrate time and again how the influence of a mentor can drive a young person to a fulfilling lifetime activity. It’s important for us to remember this and do what we can.
These days Neill lives with his family near Charlotte and runs a contracting business.
“Currently, I own and operate a remodeling company. I spent 16 years behind a desk as a graphic designer before venturing out on my own as a real estate agent. A slow market had me doing side remodeling jobs, which turned into the creation of Red Oak Contracting.”
His family likes the outdoors and fishing too, but in moderation.
“I have been married for 15 years to my wonderful wife Missy. We have one daughter, Mia, who is way more into dancing than she is the outdoors, but gets out with me from time to time. She really enjoys float trips on the tailwaters in Eastern Tennessee.”
Neill said he thinks that she’ll get more into outdoors adventures as she goes along. His wife enjoys boating and going to the beach, and they all take trips together to Atlantic Beach several times a year.
Neill has a long list of saltwater fishing accomplishments including an 8-pound speckled trout caught on a topwater plug.
“Fishing on an early summer morning, I hooked by far my largest trout. Would have been perfectly happy if that was the last fish we caught that morning.”
He has the perspective of a seasoned angler and knows that to catch a fish like that makes the entire day and nothing else is really needed. As has been stated in this column before, sometimes catching a fish isn’t the only thing that makes for a good day.
“I think people get too wrapped up in the ‘catching’ aspect of fishing. Sure, that’s what we are out there to do but enjoying the water and surroundings is what we should really strive for.”
In that vein, Neill has a specific type of fishing he enjoys the most, a way that is not known for always producing the most poundage, but concentrates on the method.
“Fly fishing is my passion! There is nothing more relaxing and exciting at the same time.”
Neill says that fishing with a fly rod helps him feel more connected to what he is doing.
“I get the feeling with fly-fishing that you are more connected to the environment and the fish. Due to the fact that to succeed you need to know exactly what the fish are doing, it’s just a more intimate experience with nature.”
Neill gives credit to his friends that help him out when he goes to the coast. He realizes how difficult it is to stay on top of the fish when you have to travel.
“I have to admit, living in the Piedmont, I rely heavily on my connections at the coast for intel.”
Among all the things that you need to know, he realizes that information may be the most valuable.
“Keep your mouth shut when you get info and it will go a long way.”
He adds that we should never be afraid to try something new when we’re out there. You just never know what it could pull up.
“Never be afraid to try something new. Look for new spots on different tides, you might be surprised what you can find.”
