Blue Raider Bob

Look forward to it! Just let me know when. Lord willin' I'm heading for the Tennessee Sunday.

Cumberland River near Nashville

Post frontal conditions. Water temp. 52 deg. High water and strong current. Started out with Zoom Speed Craw in Green Pumpkin and caught 4 littluns' right off, then a long lull. Due to slightly muddy water, changed to a Z-Man Laguna Shrimp TicklerZ and caught 4 more littlun' in quick succession. Left the creek mouth and hooked a big White Bass on the Ned. Thought I had a big smallie at first but when It stayed down, I knew what is was. Fortunately a short time latter I did get my big Smallie! She ate the bright pink TickerZ and headed out off town! I fish with med/light spinning gear and she quickly let me know she was not impressed. I trolled away from the bank and drifted down river as she pulled drag. She ended up jumping three times so you know what that did to my thrill meter. It also erased three years from my life! Anyway, long story not so short, I netted her, admired her huge belly full of eggs, and laid her back in the river. Now I'm really ruint! This was followed by another long lull so I changed to a TicklerZ Smelt and immediately caught a couple more. Final score...... One big White Bass One big mama Smallie 12 munchkins and one horrible sun burn on my neck (Just when the little woman swore my neck couldn't get redder)! Oh, and one picture of my very sexy 1977 Merc 500.

That's right! Windows open and listening to the Spring Peepers!

Thanks for the advice and taking the time to respond. I think I'll go with the Revos and still debating the rods. There is no hurry as I've got more than a dozen combos already. It's more of an addiction than a need.

Pond Observations are getting more difficult. Especially around the dock. Gigi has been here for three years and is usually pretty tolerant of me using her pond. However, once the nest started, she has developed an attitude. The first week of sitting, she would just glide back into the pond. The second week of sitting has seen her develop a stronger protective posture. She now hisses at me and stands her ground. Also, her guy Ralph, bull rushes from the water to the bank whenever I approach. Things may get pretty sticky in the coming week or two. Hatching should occur mid April. It is becoming a test of wills. I want to use my dock but it's not as easy as it has been. Water temps have risen to upper 50's due to our current warming trend. This has caused much activity including the first voices of the Leopard Frogs. The wet weather creek is now populated by salamander larva, (Red Spotted Newt). Haven't seen Tiger Salamanders in several years.

Hang in there Aaron! Just remember life has it's ups and downs. For every problem, there will be a solution, however difficult it is sometimes to realize. Just keep walking through the rain and sooner or later, there will be the sun!

Just a heads up. Amazon has the 2500 Revros LT for 40.00 and the 3000 for 44.00 Just bought me a couple. Thanks for all the advice! Now just got to get some rods. Academy has he Aird for 50.00

Way to stay with it Woody! A lot of us would have gone home with a bad backlash attitude. You've taught us a lesson......never give up until the skunk is out of the boat! That's a fact! I have an Uncle who owns a 7 acre pond in West Tennessee, and he caught a 13.68 LM a few years ago on a beetle spin, fishing for crappie. He took a picture because he knows how much fisherman trust fisherman!

Whatever it is....I want it!

Unfortunately I left my camera in the house yesterday and missed an "Epic" picture of Alex and AJ climbing on their mom's back while she tried to nap. A mom's life is tough even for goats. They are getting way too big to use their mom as a playground! The picture of "Little Katy", was the result of me having to chase her down and hold her still for the selfie. She is a wide open throttle kind of girl that never takes a break. She has been giving her brother "What for"! She has been banging heads with all the boys and has no "back down" to her. I think she's a keeper!

Well you know you're always welcome and you'll get to see the pond and "Little Katy"!

The Tennessee River is full of them. This time of year they move up to the dam and scads of fishermen line the rip rap banks in search of them. Also, lots of boats are in the big basin near the lock fishing for White Bass and Sauger. I don't necessarily target them downriver where I fish, but they have gotten many a skunk out of my boat when the Smallies don't play. I really enjoy the Skipjack Herring. They are quite acrobatic when hooked. They are known as Tennessee Tarpons down here and probably well deserved. They top out at a couple pounds but what a tussle they provide on light tackle. They jump, tail walk, summersault, everything you could imagine.

Neil Peart What gets me is the Drum taking off, pulling drag and for a moment it's extreme excitement, until the steady slow pull make you realize that this is no monster Smallie! Durn, it's another big Drum. Then you have to haul the big dummie up to the boat to get your lure back. As you know, the Tennessee River is full of them. My biggest was well over ten pounds so on lite tackle, it did make for an interesting time.

What are your favorite adhesives to glue soft plastics to jig heads? I'm asking because my experience with super glue products has been less than pleasant. Usually after a couple of uses, the nozzle dries up and renders the remainder useless. Either that or I glue my fingers to the jig. I need to move on to a better system. What are your thoughts? What is a dependable product? thanks

Forgot my two Tennessee Tarpons! Those suckers were cartwheeling across the water. Always a blast on the ultra-lite! The White bass ranged from small to 14" and 1 lb 9 oz. Once again, a blast on ultra-lite.

3-11-23 and the water is sill high, muddy, and swift. Shouldn't have gone but couldn't help it. Did not catch a single LM, SM, or Spot. However in a large eddy area I got a couple of taps so I got out the ultra-lite, tied on a mepps Aglia and starting catching White Bass so at least I was catching fish. Final score- one crappie one gar two drum eighteen White Bass.

In my area there are wild plums blooming this time of year. They look alot like The Bradfords, but they are plums. Could be at you local as well.

Is the river a roiling, angry torrent where you are? I've been wanting to go below Nickajack but the spillway gates are open and the water is high and muddy.

Alex in my experience the Bass will not communally bed. They are way to territorial for that. In my pond, they will be no closer than 20' minimum, and in most cases no closer that 30 to 40'. Once again this is my experience in my particular pond. My water temps reached 65 yesterday and the bass were checking out the shallows but were not preparing nests.

Don't worry Tim. We've got a half dozen still to drop babies. There will be another T-Billy soon!

Just saw the generation schedule. Changed my mind.

I have fished below Nickajack many, many times, and caught lots of bass but nothing half as big as a record. Lord willing i'll be there again Sunday!

Here's my latest big catch. He's a DD! "Alex" entered the world about 7:00PM last night, bawling his brand new little head off! He is a big O'boy! He was followed shortly by "A-Jay"! Mother and sons doing fine!

The water is tap water clear this time of year which causes a huge problem with algae. I have Chara and Filamentous algae blooms that create a pond choking effect. The current water color is caused by pond dye. The dye diminishes light penetration to a degree, but I'm still having major issues. When the water warms to 70 deg. I can use algaecide, which is effective but, it is toxic to Zooplankton. I have to treat small areas at a time to keep the food chain healthy. Fertilization begins about that time as well. Water soluble fertilizer creates the planktonic algae blooms that give the water a green look, feed the zooplankton, and further diminish sunlight penetration.