Oregon Native

Always loved the color of the water and bass in Culaby. I fished the Necanicum too for over 40 years and when it rains here in Tennessee the water in Beaver Creek sometimes reminds me off the old days. Used to have a big addiction to steelhead and have fished almost every legal stream from the Columbia to almost the California border for them to just say I did it. But chasing smallies on the Columbia was my favorite to the tenth power. Tight Lines

Well Saturday finished off our Tuesday nighter's for the end of year. Was fun to fish the lake for a whole day and weigh in at four and get eight hours of fishing. Ol Melton Hill did what it does best to me and did a 180 on what would work for us. Weather was windy and cool, cloudy and water temp dropped ten degree's in less than a week. Then the sun came out and sky's cleared but still was windy. Pretty day. Anyway....we had a limit in the boat in about two hours and were stoked. Almost all on a bait that "Never" hardly works for me on the HILL. A spinner bait...sheesh. I could get bites on a jig and my son caught fish on a jig but me....swing...miss....swing...miss. Spinner bait....yes....and on a new war eagle I bought too. Have never tried one of those...thinking I like em. Then.....sadness.....had two small spots for the last hour and a half I wanted to fish....yup...fish were there and they bit. Sad part was they all came off....and were better fish then we had in well. Oh...finished just out of the money.... Good part....got to fish with son another day and look forward to next year.

Knowing nothing about those waters all I can give you is the best of luck and maybe say......gosh...ummmmmm.....yeah....best of luck to ya and cover water....spinnerbait around rock!?

Here I believe is an interesting scenario and would like some input out of curiosity. I will be fishing a semi final pretty soon where there is a no culling rule. Five in the livewell.....five stay. I'm fine with it as everyone will be under the same gun but it strikes me as interesting that this is going to be a by gosh or by golly tourney!. Rather than have a plan with hopes to cull.....well.....you get my drift.

Sweeeeeeeeeeet

Believe I've mentioned it before....my hands are getting horrible with the arthritis and there's a big knot on my left palm that seems to change sizes at will. Doc says will have to cut some day...."we will see"!!! Hope not. Takes about ten to fifteen minutes most mornings to just get the hands working.....If it even looks cold outside I put on the Nitrite gloves and they are a game changer for me....could not imagine not fishing through the cold weather when everyone is inside looking out.

This is an old post but Foster used to be amazing....especially in spring when I lived out there

I may be going back to the ol basics on some rods/reels. Seems fluro if you get even a small backlash weaken's the line to the extent I can't trust it. Everything has it's applications and I think on my jerk and cranking rods I'm going back to good ol mono......just saying......to be continued.

This might get you another day or two......I've been wearing those Nitrite gloves either by themselves or under gloves. My hands.....which are not good.....get many more hours on the water. Just saying..... Tight Lines and good luck

Nope...smallies don't start bitin till here until July..........

After using a couple of the KK....they are going to be on my Christmas list. Not a fancy name ......but not a fancy price.

Hmmm....that could work. Thanks

And how long did it take for you all to learn this......

OMG.....I hear the cold weather is coming....hope so. Caterpillars are all brown so the locals say could be a mild winter. (have never heard this!?) Last night the &^%! mosquito's were so hungry that I had to spray myself twice with Repel and then pray I didn't miss a tiny spot.....was crazy. Anyway...this year has been tough. Also a year of many lost fish for some reason but ....hey.....I get to fish and that's a plus even though it can be frustrating. Last night .... as per the usual I put a keeper in the boat in the first half hour....(life is good....was 4.85). I'm thinking...the monkey is gone....gone. Fish was barely hooked on the trailer of a buzzbait.....whew. Moving forward....I caught a few on a jerk and a senko but all small. What I did manage to witness was loosing or missing the next five keepers (of nice size) on the buzzbait. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......OMG. With only three hours to run around I didn't get the mind working to try different topwaters......water had a bunch of floaters too in the form of scum and grass...not a lot but enough to mess with some double hook baits.....soooo.....me ol brain is thinking what to do for the end of year tourney this weekend. Maybe try a larger trailer...was using a 2/0. I did manage to get big fish and second place so that was awesome...but I coulda ....shoulda.....well was hoping.......... Tight Lines

Personally when I've done the road trips in past I've always taken a boat. I haven't been very lucky with guides in the past ....even though I've heard of some good ones out there. Having only lived here out east for the last ten years I'm in love with this place and everyone has given you good info. If it were me (and it's not) I would go early spring...fish during the week mostly due to the many tourneys on weekends. Fishing should be awesome and the lakes will be fishing bigger and easier I believe. I've just fished this lake for the first time this year but I'm loving Cumberland in Kentucky. Watts bar and Chic are close too. Norris is beautiful. Many great lakes close together with other adventures close by. Have a great trip

Awesome.......yes it is

Thanks for the smiles with my coffee this morning....

Sounds like things are getting better slowly.....keep up the fight and "Tight Lines to ya"

Can't really offer any advice...but all the best to you.

Your pic caused me to pull out a few of my old smithwicks with the big bills....they may get tried here pretty soon. Don't believe they have ever caught a fish. But at one time I carried them everywhere with no luck. Getting stuck on the Jackell 95's....12# line. Tried ten but donated just a few to many.

You did good!!!

In a word.....WOW

Don't you find that they get tangled when your up on pad??

Kast King....Speed Demon

Guess I'm old school....never had. Have used Shimano for most of my life and with light cleanings have treated me very well. Am trying Kast King now and (due to cost and word of mouth) and so far am very pleased.