Blue Raider Bob

I own four antique tractors at the moment and have rebuilt many more. Always got to be doing something. Need to fish more and work less! Here's my 1949 Ford fetchin' my jonboat out of the Duck river.

Thanks Ripz, but I just like the light stuff. I've got the heavier gear but my way of fishing has changed. I went with a Bigbites swimbait yesterday and the youngins' were eating it. Hooked 31. Two smallies went 15". They're a blast on light tackle.

Those are absolute PIGS! Love it when those "snags" start moving! Yeah, I'm not too happy about that nasty cap either. But then, when you get your butt whipped by four touchdowns, you better just hush up and leave the Orange hat in the trunk. 🤐

Thanks! I see you noticed my tractor! Shame on me for being so proud of the BEAST that she was featured TWICE! She was a estate sale, fence row derelict from Ardmore Alabama, many years ago. I had to winch her up on a trailer to get her home, but after I gave her a complete engine rebuild and converted to electronic ignition, she has more than earned her keep. I added the backhoe, had all the hydro cylinders repacked, and now she rules the farm. She's older than I am but starts easily in all weather. Way more dependable than the operator!

One week later and another float down the Big T. Upsized my presentations to try to weed out the youngsters and for the most part it helped. Still caught lots of newborns but did get a couple of 15" Smallies and a couple 14" spots. Started out with spinnerbait but quickly realized that this is no longer the way I like to fish. Chunking and winding a 1/2 oz bait is work. I went with a swim bait a little larger than my usual Ned rig, and used all sorts of retrieves. This was fun fishing as the light lures were easy to fish and the bass usually showed interest. Hooked 31 and got most to the boat. Still dealing with low water and little current but still, a great way to spend the day.

I fish medium light spinning gear so I ordered a couple of the 1/4 oz compact baits from your site. Fingers crossed!

Saturday was work day and Sunday was river day. After the sun warmed up and dried my damaged liner, I cleaned with denatured alcohol and ran a line of double sided tap around the edge of the liner. This was followed by pressing, then rolling the edge of the new liner section over the tape. This was a bear, as I knew it would be. This 30mil liner is not flexible at all. After I was satisfied with the placement, the one sided tape covered the seam between old and new. This was followed by moving the extracted dirt back in the pit, bringing in new dirt from the farm, leveling, then folding and stapling the liner at the top. I regained my pond height, and am now ready for the rains. Next I will rip-rap the bank, (don't look forward to this), and when I succeed in getting my water level back, I'll dig post holes to fasten dock bridge to bank. One huge lesson I've learned is to be ever vigilant. Yes, the pond is a refuge from society, but it's also a refuge for the aquatic inhabitants that are endemic to my region, and as Glenn's forwarded articles make clear, there will be predation and habitation. It's just the way it is.

That picture will give me nightmares! Seriously though, your article is fantastic and will remind me to tone it down while I'm on the water. Furthermore, In no way did my small contribution deserve so much attention but, as everyone here at BR knows, your kindness is unlimited!

Very good info. Appreciate greatly! I used spinner baits exclusively back home in the Cypress Swamps but have had no luck in the clearer middle Tennessee waters. I've read books by Bobby Gentry and Kevin Van Dam describing spinner baits in the clear waters they fish so it's something I need to learn. Thanks everyone! I tried a 1/2 Strikeking with my new translucent colors yesterday and did get a few strikes from tiny spots but it's just too heavy for the way I fish. It was work with a med-light spinning rig. I will ck out some of the lighter spinner baits on the market. Something in a 1/4 oz with small, twin willows.

Very good info. Appreciate greatly! I used spinner baits exclusively back home in the Cypress Swamps but have had no luck in the clearer middle Tennessee waters. I've read books by Bobby Gentry and Kevin Van Dam describing spinner baits in the clear waters they fish so it's something I need to learn.

Dude! Beat your chest and don't apologize for it. Those are beautes! So glad the younger generation stays prepared to sneak off and fish as often as possible, just like my generation did/does. Remember these "Truths to be self evident", Hug your mom and dad every chance you get, hug your spouse and kids every chance you get, play catch with your kids every chance you get, AND, go fishing every chance you get. There are just so many opportunities....don't miss a one!

Very good point! We are all guilty of this and feel no shame! At least Pat admits when he gets sidetracked. His wife MUST be a bass-a-holic like the rest of us, that would explain his survivability!😁

Let me guess.......you were supposed to go to the grocery store but you ended up at the lake instead!

Katie, you just let the Tackle Monkey back in my house! Now I'm ordering spinner baits and underspins!

Suwannee River Mayo Florida. Sent by my fishing buddy who travels the county in a camper.

chrome/silver blades for clear water?

Any thoughts or favorites for skirt color and blade color for fishing clear waters?

Have you had a chance to fish below Pickwick? My guess is there isn't much current there either.

Thanks, I'm am hitting what passes as seams but with so little current, there aren't any typical seams you would see in a river. It is almost like fishing a lake with a slight current. Hopefully some winter rains are on the way and the TVA will release water.

Glad you chimed in because #1, you East Tennessee boys are keeping all the water, and #2 you are keeping all the trophy's! 😁 I have caught many three pounders (which I consider a "Trophy") over the years but this year has been tough. I usually land a couple 20" fish every year but this year is different. Where are you guys catching your? Drifting the bank, or farther out? Also, what is your water clarity? thanks

Another numbers day on the Tennessee River but big fish only 14". I hooked fifty, and boated perhaps half that number, but they ranged from small to tiny. My hook up percentage is lousy with the 1/16 oz Ned. Ratio about 10 to 1 Spots over Smallies. Water conditions were low water with very little current, and excellent clarity. I could see the bottom in five feet of water. My question is, where do the larger Bass live when the current is weak, and the water is low and clear? I tried barge ties, bridge supports with no luck. All the fish were caught bank drifting with current under 1 mph from rip rap banks and laydowns. The fish were aggressive with multiple fish on successive casts, just no size.

For an unexplained reason, I just like the dressed Mepps Aglia's with the brown, squirrel dressings. If you guys have better luck with a different set up, please share. That's a really great day. Two Bucks, and Eagle, and gobs of big bass! Were you cranking shallow of deep? I'm going Sunday and may need to break out the cranks.

Second the thanks to our vets! Laid another in the ground last week. Good luck on the trip to the mountains and better luck when you get back home! I'm working on my pond and remodeling our bathroom this weekend, so I'll be fishing vicariously through my BR buddies!

If my memory serves, you live on the water. Hiring me to manage your water property would be like hiring The Hamburglar to manage the grill! I'd be fired before the sun went down!

Really enjoyed the articles. thanks