Old Hickory May 17, 2012

Cruising down I 40 at 5 am on Thursday with Jack Neal looking forward to a day on Old Hickory. Nothing, but nothing prepares you for a blowout on your left front tire at 70 mph. Don’t know if I hit anything or the tire just blew. Don’t even know if I heard a pop. I just felt the lurching whomp, whomp of the tire as I quickly de-accelerated and gained control as I pulled to the side of the interstate. Luckily it was at an exit just past the airport exit. We had a lane between us and the main interstate. With big semis roaring by, we were glad to have that cushion. Jack did all the heavy lifting, he is younger and a nice guy. While he was removing the tire (I did jack the Suburban up), I was manipulating the ingenious but devilish spare tire suspended by a cable underneath the truck. In about 45 minutes we were back on the road although Jack said my spare tire was really ugly. I think the early morning experience influenced my fish catching ability because it was really tough. I am very thankful that we didn't lose control and have a really bad accident. I think blessed describes it well.

We fished some grass canes in Spencer Creek with no hits. Saw fish moving the reeds but they must have been carp, bream or maybe tarpon but no bass showed interest in our buzz baits, poppers, jigs or plastic. On to the river near the mouth of Spencer on the logs. Again no fish. Headed up river to the island on the right past Flippers. Finally hooked up a 1.5 pounder on a KVD 1.0 but he threw the hook before he was boated. Did I mention that we set a goal of 30 fish for the day. Needless to say, the goal was adjusted numerous times before the day was over. I finally caught 1.5 lb bass on a ring worm (Tornado). 

Headed down to the power lines. No fish, not even a bite. What’s happening here. Spoke to a man and his son in a Champion at the entrance. Said he caught ‘em really good yesterday but today they were not cooperating. Go figure bass. And boy have we all heard that before, “they really bit yesterday”. 

We were in an exploring mode today. Since I had never gone up the river further than the powerlines, we headed up. Fished a couple of pockets on the way. Finally reached Bledsoe Creek. Fished here a while. Still no fish in the boat. Fished a couple of more cuts going back down river. I caught (almost caught) a shad the size of the KVD 1.0 and it wasn’t snagged. Before we could get a pic it came off.

Next stop, the Steam Plant discharge. Jack scored with a jig and then scored again. I didn’t score. A quick stop in the discharge near Flipper’s. No cigar. On to Flipper’s for a hamburger and to lick our wounds. 

Headed back to Spencer Creek, fished some docks but again, same result. Finally, fished a bank about midway in Spencer. No bites, heard thunder and said I think it’s time to wave the white flag. A total of 3 bass in the boat and 1 crappie (Jack). We sort of undershot our original goal. Jack and I are thinking of hiring Rob K. as a guide on OH.

I was going to miss my annual trip to Lake Fork this year with the group from Memphis. My Grandson was getting married on May 12 and I was told I would be there. However, my fishing buddy, Doyal, called and said what if we went on Thursday and came back on Wednesday the 9th. That worked so off we went to Texas. I left Franklin on Wednesday, May 2nd and drove to Memphis. Had dinner with brother-in-law John at my favorite Mexican restaurant, then spent the night with Doyal and his wife Pat. We left Memphis Thursday at  5:30 am. We made great time and didn’t stop for lunch until Sulphur Springs, Tx. About 5 miles south of Sulphur Springs we discovered a unique Barbecue shack called Big Smith in the middle of nowhere. The brisket was wonderful. We got to Lake Fork Marina about 1:30. Threw our stuff in the room and was on the lake a little after 2 pm. 

We motored to Birch Creek and hit one of our favorite coves. The water was about 2 ft below its normal pool but higher than last year. Doyal picked up a 3.3 on a crank and I caught a 2 on finesse worm (Zoom Tomato). We spoke with a guide with a couple of Okies for clients. He told us a wild story that they had caught several 4s in the heat of the day (90) in shallow water on Bream colored Jitterbugs. ‘Nuf said about that. Ate at Tiffany’s located at the Lake Fork Marina and sampled their luscious coconut cream pie.

Next morning, we drove to the ramp at the Hwy 154 bridge which is close to the area we like to fish. We were on the lake by 7 am. We found the fishing extremely slower than expected. Locals said the weird weather they had had confused the fish. The post spawn doldrums was in full force. Doyal caught 6 bass and 3 catfish on crankbaits. I caught 1 bass and lost 2 more. To show how slow, Doyal caught 5 of his bass between 4 and 5 in the afternoon. Those 5 were caught on Baby Brush Hogs in Watermelon Candy on a C-Rig. If you have never fished Lake Fork, it is completely saturated with stumps and treetops. Fishing almost any kind of rig can be agonizing with handups and breakoffs, not to mention landing a good fish in that kind of environment. But hey, that’s what you have to do for successes that you do have. Left the lake about 5 pm and made a stop at Bro’s place for a heaping pile of Crawfish. Excellent.

On Saturday we followed the same plan. Doyal caught 6 and I caught 5 for the day, almost exclusively on the Brush Hogs and C-Rigs. I did catch one on a finesse worm (Zoom Smoking Blue). The lake was pretty crowded and the comments around the Marina were similar, slow fishing. Dinner at A J’s Catfish Buffet. Excellent. We do eat well on this trip.

Sunday turned out to be our best day. We caught 15 for the day. Lost several. Doyal continued to school me on the C-Rig and crankbait (KVD 1.5) catching 10 to my 5 but I had a couple of nice fish. Had a 4 # 5 oz and a 5 # 5 oz bass. I lost the best fish I have had on in a while that I am certain was 6 +. Jumped a couple of times and bored down into a bunch of stumps. I could feel her hung up and tried to pull her loose but alas I broke the line. The Memphis and Cape Girardeau bunch came in Sunday afternoon and we had dinner at Tiffany’s.

Monday at 6:30 and it seemed like a different lake because the boat traffic had dwindled. This was a cloudy and cooler day. This was going to to be stellar day to fish, not. Doyal started with a bank. Caught 5 fish by 8 am on 1.5 and C-Rig. He had a 4 # 6 oz.nice fish. I had lost one on my third cast on a buzz bait when he hooked up to a stump. I didn’t boat my first fish until 12:30 pm and Doyal didn’t catch his 6 fish until shortly after that. Total for the day 7 fish. Dinner with the group was an Italian restaurant called Verona’s. This is an outstanding restaurant that could make it in the big city but seems to do OK in the rural area around Lake Fork. 

Last day on the water for us. We had a total of 5 bass for the day. I had 4 and Doyal had 1 coming after lunch on the water, a truly slow day. I did have a tremendous topwater strike on a Rapala Prop bait. Looked like a bowling ball dropped in the water. But alas, the fish bored deep into the stumps again and came undone, a familiar course. Doyal did have a spectacular catch with a 4-5 lb Grinnel. I was going to get a pic but he pitched it back in the lake before I could snap it. About 3 pm we had been watching storm clouds gathering with thunder and lightning. We finally made the decision to hunker down and wait it out or put the boat on the trailer. We made the right choice, trailered the boat, put the cover on just as the first drops fell and boy did they fall. Ate with the group at Tiffany’s again. 

After breakfast on Wednesday, we loaded up and headed to Memphis. I transferred my stuff to my Suburban and headed out to Franklin, a good 600 miles for the day and a finish to another Lake Fork trip. This was a disappointing trip in some ways and very successful in other. We had a good number of 2-3 lb bass, but the quantity of fish caught was lower than usual. Having a 5+ pound bass always helps to help the pain. Can’t wait to get on the water again and match wits with Middle Tennessee bass. Oh yeah, my Grandson Chris was married to Christy on Saturday capping a wonderful weekend.