Roanoke River makes for a good day of fishing

"There's more to it than just throwing the rod out there in the water," Thompson said.

More than 400 miles long, the Roanoke River runs from the edge of the Appalachian mountains to the Albermarle Sound.

Thompson found his nook along the river when he retired 12 years ago, while Johnson has fished there longer than he can remember. "I don't mind spending time fishing," he said.

Some days, they catch all kinds of fish – catfish, cock fish, ell fish, white perch, brim, cod fish and rock fish.

Other days, it seems the only thing biting are the mosquitoes.

"A lot of people done been out here and fish and caught nothing and gone home," Johnson said.

But Johnson and Thompson find more than enough to entertain themselves on the river.

"I'd rather be sitting here doing nothing than sitting at the house doing nothing, 'cause I might do something every now and then out here," Johnson concluded.