We expected to get wet today as rain was predicted at 40% with wind at 7-9 mph. We didn’t get wet but the wind was certainly more than 9. Jack and I started the morning in Bryant’s Grove. Slower than we expected. Probably fisherman’s excuse #4, a cold front roared in the evening before with a tornado actually touching down in Franklin (limited damage). Finally picked up 3-4 fish on KVD 1.0 square bill. Challenged Jack with a goal of 25 bass for the day. Went to our next spot, big cove to the left after passing under the bridge. Very disappointed in this place. Can’t remember if we caught any here. 

Next stop was the bluff just before Party Cove. Jack hooked up with a strong fish. Pulled really hard but oddly didn’t come to the top to jump. Well, of course, a big drum seldom do jump. This one was 3-4 pounds, not a bass but a nice tussle just the same. Turned the corner into the cove and I soon picked up a small bass but it was slower than expected. But then Jack showed the way when he picked up a jig and craw and stuck several fish quickly with decent size, 13-15” largemouth. I don’t have to be hit in the head (not always true), I put down my crank bait and picked up a jig and craw and begin to catch fish. We fished all the way around the cove consistently picking up a fish from time to time, most nice chunks. 

It finally slowed down and we headed for water slide cove. Only picked up one fish here but a nice 15” on the 1.0. The wind was beginning to be a hassle so we looked for a spot out of the wind for a while. Although the wind wasn’t howling, it was cold wind out of the Northeast. We found the backside of hole-in-the-wall island fairly protected. The bank wasn’t particularly bassy looking but Jack spotted a flare of minnows near shore indicating a bass chasing. Jack flipped a 1.0 square bill in the spot and immediately hooked up. A nice fish catapulted immediately into the air but we weren’t sure what kind of bass. We at least knew it wasn’t a drum. The fish jumped at least 5 more times and challenged Jack’s spinning outfit with hard runs near the boat. Finally netted the smallmouth and weighed in at 3 lbs 13 oz., a beautiful bronze lunker. 

Next stop, the island off the front of 4-corners. Caught a few fish here including the final 25th bass for the day. This was very satisfying day. 25 bass, 1 drum, 2 white bass and 1 bluegill. Our fish were caught on KVD 1.0, jig and craw, lizard, DT 6, and fluke (C-Rig). We had a number of 2 lb fish, with 1 2.5 and the just under 4lb smallie. I think we had 6-8 15” fish best five around 12-12.5 lbs. 

I will be heading to Lake Fork next Thursday for a week. Next report on return.

Old Hickory 4-19-2012

Jack Neal and I launched at Davis Corners ramp at 6:30 am on a beautiful, calm morning. Our first stop was a small cove near the launch. We threw topwaters for several minutes with no hits. I switched to a Strike King Square Bill 1.0 and picked up 3 quick fish but not much size. Fished the main point into Spencer Creek but no hits. Moved down river to a two arm cove looking for grass but no luck on grass or bass. Threw a few casts out on the river ledge but again nothing. Moved up river to the bank leading to the Boy Scout camp. Very surprised to get only one bass here, and a few bream bites. Hit one more big cove before the 109 bridge with no success. Water temp most places was 68-69. Couple of spots was a surprising 64-65. Pretty surprised how little success we were having. Further up river to the small cut with the water discharge. Jack picked up his first, a very nice bass just under 3 and a half pounds on a crank. Couple minutes later he got another nearly 2 lbs.

We then headed to Flipper's for a burger and to check out their tackle. The burger was great and we controlled ourselves on buying tackle. I bought a pack of Zoom Smoking Blue Finesse Worms that I had read reports of a guy who was always catching 'Em good on them. Jack got by only buying a 1.0 sq bill and a defensive pack of Smoking Blues.

We continued up river to the steam plant canal. Picked up one on a Bitsy Bug jig and lost another. Up the river to the bay under the power lines. I believed we caught 4 in here on jigs. Deadheaded back to Spencer Creek to finish the day. Made one stop on a drop but no takers. Fished one of my favorite banks and boated a few more......on the SBFW (hint, it was blue and smoking). One more bank finished us up as we pulled out at 5 pm, a long day. Our total for the day was 17 bass with Jack's near 3.5 the best. We had several 1.25-2.25 and, of course, a few dinks. All in all a great day to be on the water.

Kentucky Lake April 13, 2012

Met my fishing partner from Memphis, Doyal, at 7 am at the New Johnsonville ramp. Filled with anticipation, as Kentucky Lake always does, we started with crankbaits and plastic on a bank near the canal to the river. Nada, no bites. Fished the island in front of the entrance to Trace Creek. Again no bites. Moved down river to what we call the factory creek. Picked up a few bass on the point, a couple of them smallmouths but pretty small. Nothing in the back of the creek. Moved down to Little Dry Creek. The water was much shallower than we expected. Caught 2-3 fish in here on jigs, Bitsy bugs of course. Decided to make the run to Richland Creek. Shoulda stayed south. Again picked 1-2 fish here. My best, a 2 lb Drum. Doyal a crappie.

Our optimism lagging by now but still hopeful. The weather was great warming from 40 to 70s with light winds out of the east. Move across the river to Harmon Creek but no success. Time to head back up the river. Made a couple of stops but picked up only a dink or two. Loaded out at 5 pm with a total of 13 bass, 1 drum, 1 crappie and 1 yellow bass. Had maybe a couple of 2 leers but most were quite small. Doyal spoke to a couple of guys at the ramp, one catching only 2 and the other 5. So I guess we did OK after several cold nights. We stopped for a bit to eat near the ramp.

As we were checking out, spoke to an older gentleman (well he seemed older than us). Said he caught so many bass that morning he got tired. Had a 6' 9" and lost one much bigger. Our day got deflated with that revelation. We had a great time but the catch was not what we expected.

Priest April 7, 2-12

What a beautiful April day for our second tournament of the Cumberland Bassmasters. Seven boats departed Long Hunter after a prayer by Noah.  My partner, Carl, and I began with topwater baits in a pocket in the cove to the left under the bridge. The bass had not awakened yet so we switched to jigs, crankbaits and plastics as we worked down a shallow rocky bank. We began to pick a few fish including a couple of keepers each.  Carl called his shot at one time. He said, "There's a nice transition bank, chunk rock to gravel. There will be one there, yep there he is"). We moved on to Smith Springs and continued to pick up fish, not always keepers but quite fun nevertheless. Carl has developed a new strategy: use nothing but KVD baits. His arsenal was a KVD tube, 1.5 crankbaits, KVD swimming jig. All of his tackle is for sale except the KVD stuff. However, he had one more trick up his sleeve, a Jika rig with a lizard. Don't know Jika rig? Here it is.

Our next stop was the big bay near Hamilton Creek. We encountered 5 double deck pontoon boats load with young people. They anchored in the cove played very loud rap music(?). Pretty raunchy, nasty music(?). Again we picked up a fish or two, in fact, we both had a limit of 5 by now. Made a couple of more stops with no success. Planned to finish on the island near 4-corners. We each were able to cull one here. It was now time to weigh in. We caught about 20 fish, but nothing bigger than 2.6 lbs. Carl finished second in the non-boater division with just under 8 lbs. I had just under 7 lbs finished sixth in boaters. The winner had 11 lbs. Two tied for big fish with 18" smallmouths. Everyone caught fish and enjoyed an incredible day on the lake. 

Battery Buying

I don't know how many of you have any interest in this but I just did some shopping for Deep Cycle batteries for my trolling motor and electronics.

I have had my BassCat for 6 years now with the original DEKA AGM Deep Cycle batteries. I have never run them down in spite of long days in the wind. That is until last Wednesday when they quit all at once. After 6 years I am not surprised. AGM is a glass pak, no maintenance battery that charges in pretty short times, typically 3-4 hours back to full charge.

So, I decided to price new AGMs. My boat dealer quoted DEKAs group 27 at $245 each. This are equivalent to what I have now. I think I paid $170 each 6 years ago. They are manufactured by East Penn Manufacturing.

I checked lead acid batteries at Auto Zone at $98.

AGM at Batteries + at $332. High but with a 5 year total replacement warranty.

BassPro were $204 group 27, 256.99 for group 31

Costco - no AGMs

Academy- no AGMS

Sears - Platinum AGM group 31 - $279

Clark Marine - AGM group 31 - $265

Sams Club - Duracell Marine Deep Cycle group 31- $166.00 (Duracells are made by East Penn Manufacturing, same as DEKAs. They would not install on boats.

I wasn't entirely certain that group 31s would fit in my metal battery frame. I removed both old batteries at great physical duress (one of the handles broke) lifting them onto the boat deck.

I finally bought 2 of the Duracells from Sams

Lifting the heavy batteries onto the boat deck and moving old ones from the deck to my Suburban almost did me in.

I finally installed the batteries, locked them down then began to rewire them for 24 volts. The crossover cable was 2 inches short. Went to nearby Clark Marine and saw a blister pack of this kind of cable about 12 feet long at $38.99. Whew!! A mechanic happened to walk by and I asked about a cable about 10" long. He came back with one for $14. That works.

Checked with Noah about connecting procedures here. He suggested unplugging the trolling motor so there would be no load. Hooked up, tightened down, tried the trolling motor and then electronics. It all worked. Whew!!

The AGM batteries are certainly more expensive than lead acids but if I get the same performance that did on my originals it will be worth it.