Stones River 9-14-2011

I give up. I am just not a river rat. I keep thinking I can hit a home run by fishing way up river, discovering vast schools of bass instead of hitting a few singles or walks in mid-lake Priest. So instead a hit a few fouls, lots of strikeouts and a hit once in a while. Baseball analogies not withstanding, I think I am through with fishing way up river unless I am with a river rat (not demeaning at all) or I have a sworn statement that the bass are attacking any lure up the East Fork (or the West Fork).

I hit the ramp at Jefferson Springs at 6:15 am on Wednesday morning with great anticipation. Hit my first stop, the pumping station just downriver which has been good for me the fall (I guess much later in the fall). Not a bite. So headed up toward the fork of East and West. Saw an angler at the Jeff bridge catching a small bass so I was encouraged. It was not to be. Fished around the island at the fork, then journeyed up the East Fork river. Finally caught a small (sardine sized) bass on a finesse worm in a small cut off the river. Confidence high again. I knew I could catch some bass around the bridge pillars at I840. Did not. BTW, I had seen no shad flipping all morning until about 10:30. Finally saw some around the bridge but no schooling, an occasional single fish chasing. Back to the fork and up the West Fork. Fished some lay downs near the West Fork ramp. Fished on up river a couple of miles but no cigar.

I am now seeing many more shad groups in the river so I decided to head back to the pumping station where shad often move into the cut. Nope, no fish. Decided to go to a large flat way down river toward Fate Sanders. Third cast I caught a nice 1.5 lb bass on a Red Eye Shad. Finally found the key, NOT! No more hits but seeing lots of small shad. Head back to the pumping station and caught a 1 lber on the REShad and I had had enough. Pulled out at 1:30 determined to fish the lake next time. In fact, next week I will go to New Johnsonville.

No homeruns, touchdowns, 3 pt baskets or decent bass.

Signing off.