Blue Raider Bob

Yes, it's a wide state with so many different types of waterbodies. If you read the limits on Crappie, you will see that on the Mississippi River side of the levee, there is no size or number limit. That goes to show how terrific the fishing is in the old oxbows of my youth. Once you approach middle Tennessee, you will see much more stringent limits. Little did I know then that slab Crappie and spinnerbait Bass were not a guaranteed thing very trip. I sure know it now!

You are right. I stand corrected. Unless noted, our state has no limit on size and each angler may keep up to five per day.

Beautiful place! What river is that! Way to make the best Executive decisions of all! Life is too short to miss a trip!

Holler if you ever do make that trip. I'll try to put you on some river fish. What was really disappointing about the Duck River trip was I ran across one other boat on the river, and the guys in the boat said they caught 9 with the biggest at 14". They said they are keeping the six biggest to eat. What is frustrating is the Tennessee minimum is 15" so these poachers were eating six short fish. I already have a really hard time catching bass on the Duck, and this is not the first time I have seen short smallies go in someone's cooler. The rivers and large lakes here never freeze but my farm pond does.

Left work early Friday to get a couple hours in on the Duck River in middle Tennessee. Water temp was 41 deg. and I came away with a big, fat, skunk. Wasn't all bad because the weather was terrific and I wasn't working. Included a couple of pictures from my little riverboat. The Duck begins in the foothills of the Cumberland Plateau, and crosses the midstate to join the mighty Tennessee, and Kentucky Lake near New Johnsonville. Flipped a two headed coin Saturday to see if I would go fishing instead of farmwork, (I chose heads). I won, so I went to the Tennessee River at South Pittsburg TN. Water temp was 45 and gin clear. Had lots of trouble catching fish and only ended up with six little ones. All caught on a Big Bites Swimbait. At least no skunk in the boat. Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas! Three of my kids gave me food and the other gave me a Bass Pro Gift Card. Three good kids and one TERRIFIC ONE!!!!

Dwight, those fish could eat my PB!

You've described exactly what I was attempting to describe. Poor daddy largemouth never gets a break. If it isn't the BG, it's the small LM. Fortunately, some survive. I wonder what the mortality rate for the dad's is? It's non-stop, all day and night for a couple weeks.

Rip, that is the one reason I never fish for spawning fish of any species. In my pond, I witness the male LM's surround the fry schools and constantly have to chase away the BG. They are bombarded on all sides and never get a break. When the fry get bigger, the yearling LM join the BG in harassing the male guarding. If the male gets drawn too far away, a juvenile LM will crash the fry.

Spent a couple summers near Ft. Leonard Wood when my sister was a nurse in the Army back in the 70's. Got to fish the Big Piney, and the Gasconade all summers long!

Thanks for the article. What is staggering is the "Density in some area exceeds 20 per sq.meter." WOW!

Just a question regarding the invasive Goby's........Will the Goby's work their way inland through the river systems to at some point reach LMB habitat? Well, maybe more than one question. Do the Goby's have a temperature tolerance level that will enable them to survive in prime LMB habitat? Just really curious because we do not have Goby's here in the southland. Our biggest invasive species is the group of Asian Carps that habitate our large river systems. I do not know the effect these Carp have on LMB, although it seems like it would be a great food resource before the Carp can reach uneatable sizes. The Carps are an open water species, but then so are the Shad the Three species of Black Bass use.

Thanks Alex! I have been blessed innumerable times, and I shouldn't covet they neighbors river view....but just imagine waking up to this every morning!

It's on my bucket list for sure! thanks

TnRiver46, you totally live in Paradise. This is what I expect to see if'in St. Peter lets me through!

Bold little varmint! I'm still being plagued. My pond water is still very low due to my ongoing pond repair, and I found my big catfish skeleton on the bank, along with piles of skat. I never see them but they are never far away. Any ideas on a bait that would induce them into the live trap?

I have had a 75 fish day without catching an 18" Bass. Me and a buddy caught 100 with him catching the only 18" Bass. They are a rarity for me because of where I fish, how I choose to fish, and my skill level. The only lunkers I ever see are on this site. But there is always that chance.......keeps me anxious to keep going! With that said, my ratio would be far lower than the rest of you, about 100/1.

Took me awhile to read his hat. First thought was it was written in Russian...that would explain the heavy clothing. Surprised Gimruis hasn't thrown a flag on that Crappie! 🤣

Nope! Leftovers go just where the main meal went! Actually, with the colder water, I'm seeing very little movement except the itty bitty ones in real shallow. I did get most of my riprap completed. Pictures to follow when I am finished. My auto feeder still feeds but I see nothing interested when the feed drifts to deeper water. The depth where the feeder is is less than a foot.

Love the last pic! What lake is that?

I was learning useless Algebra as well. Wish I would have paid more attention to geometry. To this day I can't figure out how x+y=z. I bet Katie knows! She was a school teacher. Like to know how she responded to her students asking, "How am I going to use this in life?"

Please more info on Lake Lice. We do not have such an animal here. Are they large enough to see, and are they eaten by the sunfish. Sounds like swimming would be nightmarish!

Those are outstanding fish and beautiful lakes as well. I love the shoreline scenery. Hope your work and school schedules change so you can fish more next year. I solved that dilemma by quitting school.

Here is another idea......invite him to view, and perhaps join BR to see how anglers treat each other. We do not compete, quite the contrary. We teach, learn, and encourage. Everyone has "Things going on" in their lives but that's what friends and fishing are for, to help smooth the ripples of life. I usually fish alone but a couple times in the past few months I got to fish with Chris Catigiani from this site, then my old fishing buddy from back home. Chris hung and lost a big smallie and I grieved with him, then we laughed. My ol'e fishing buddy outfished me every time and I couldn't have been happier!

Great info. A 20" Smallie is a trophy here is well. Actually, a 20" Smallie will make me loose adult composure and scream like a toddler. The Tennessee can be a lot deeper in places and I believe they are scattered because of the absence of current. I'm sure someone will respond with smaller profile jerkbait recommendations. If not, then start a new thread and you will certainly get the tackle monkey to your door. Thanks for the info.

I've gotten off topic, but sure would like to see everyone's tractor. Maybe wrong forum as well. I feel the topic police creeping up on me!