Lake Barkley 7-26-2013

I still have the trolling motor blues. While it is in the shop, I can't go fishing. Unless...someone calls. Thursday afternoon Rob called and said he was taking Friday off and was going to Lake Barkley. Would I like to go? In a New York minute.  I have never fished Barkley and was really curious about it. And, it was an opportunity to fish in Rob's new Phoenix. It is equipped with a Lowrance HDS 8 on the console and 7 on the bow. They also have Down Imaging and Side Imaging. A Hydro Wave also graced the bow. No way the bass have a chance with this array of equipment and two expert anglers. 

Met Rob at his home at 3:30 am and headed for the lake. After turning off I24, we wound through beautiful cornfields on the way to Linton, KY. There is a nice park and ramp in Dry Creek about midway of Barkley. We fished topwaters for a while, Rob throwing a buzz bait while I was wielding a frog. Disappointing response to the topwater baits but Rob did pick up a couple of small bass.

We then headed out on the river to one of Rob's favorite ledges. After pounding the ledge with deep crankbaits, T-rig big worm and C-rig. Rob caught a couple around 14" on the deep crank. I was continuing to fish for larger fish that refused to cooperate. 

Rob decided to make a long run to a hump that he knew to be productive. We headed north past the 68/80 bridge to Little River. We found the hump with a boat sitting on it. There was a 64 boat Senior Tournament. We had a couple of good bites here but we gave up the spot to a tournament boat. Explored the river a little and then headed back up river fishing a couple of points and ledges. My guide, Rob, caught a couple of more fish on a C-rig with a Rattlesnake. Although I did not catch a fish, I continued to coach Rob (wink, wink). I did enjoy my trip to see Barkley. I really liked the areas we fished and I did appreciate Rob inviting me. We finally loaded out around 12:30. 

Hey, when you don't catch a fish, there ain't much to write about.

Mutter, mutter. Be glad when I hear about my trolling motor. 

Old Hickory 7-20-2013

Old Hickory 7-20-2013

Three weeks off the water! I was having withdrawal symptons. Finally Saturday was here and our club tournament was about to get underway. Don't enjoy Saturday fishing during the summer with so many pleasure boats in the water; we were not disappointed. Must have been thousands of ski boats, cigarette boats, jet skis, pontoon boats, cruisers and an enormous house boat. Quite a few fishing boats too.

My partner, Jack, and I joined 3 other boats at the buoys and launched out just before the sun rose. It was a beautiful morning and pretty pleasant. We knew the heat would be with us soon but the sunrise was beautiful. Our weigh-in time was 1 pm.

We started in the cane grass in Spencer Creek but didn't see much movement. We got a couple of light bites but no fish. Then just as we were about to depart that spot, Jack got a nice topwater strike and landed a 14" bass. We moved out to the river channel at the junction of Spencer Creek. Fished the ledge for a while but determined there were no fish on the ledge. Next moved to twin coves and fished more cane grass but no success. Well, I did catch a couple of short fish but no keeper.

A short time later an event occurred that pretty much ruined the rest of our day. My trolling motor quit. Just quit. I suspect water in the housing but I won't know until I take it to the trolling motor doctor in Hendersonville. We tried to fish some more laydowns and cane grass in a nearby slough. The worst thing is when you get hung up on a long cast. Takes a long time to get over it and it usually comes right out. We moved out to a main channel ledge hoping to stay close enough to the ledge to fish it. The current in the river was ripping which usually pushed us out further into the deep water but sometimes an eddy would move us back into contact with the ledge; but no fish.

Made a run into Town Creek and fished a couple of coves as well as we could. I did break out a push pole that worked sometimes for us. However, a 6 ft power pole didn't work well in 7' of water. We fished the duck blind point but the wind blew us away. Finally motored back to Spencer to finish the day. Headed for the launch at 12:25 and found two other club boats taking out early. It was hot and humid. Jack had one keeper and I had none. The winner was Ron with 7+ pounds including a 5+ pound bass. The curse of using a length chart for "weighing" bass doesn't consider the breadth and girth of a bass. Although Ron's fish was 22" long which called for the 5+ pound, when it was weigh on a scale it was closer to 4.5 lbs. Very long and very skinny. Omar was high non-boater with 7+ pounds. Rob fished his first tournament in his new Phoenix boat.

Even with the disappointment of no trolling motor, it was nice to be back in the water.