Blue Raider Bob

Duck River near Henry Horton State Park, middle Tennessee.

My latest catch was furry! These little critters use my dock as a latrine. They also chew my electrical wires on my solar lights and solar fish feeder. Don't know why but they do. I have to trap and release several times a year. This particular coon was reluctant to escape the cage when we got to the release site. The pictures will give you an idea of why it can be uncomfortable releasing these critters. You have to open door and remain in place as they leave. You also have to hope there is no remaining animosity! This one didn't and I'm glad because I'm no longer fleet of foot!

Sure they do, and the trees are also deciduous. When they loose their leaves the branches become bare, hence their name. Bald Cypress. I have found that not all leaves are shed and some keep them year round. The leaves resemble pine needles so to assume that they don't have true leaves is certainly understandable.

Katie, please let me assume you have Google Earth, search Open Lake Tennessee. It is to the right of the Mississippi River. Once you have it, look to the right for a slough called Right Hand Arm. Just below is another slough called Goose Pond. Zoom in on Goose pond. It is surrounded by Cypress trees in the water. Note the Cypress trees in the middle of the pond. Cypress Trees keep their leaves year round so there is always shade. No need for fancy lures here. Toss white spinner bait and hang on! Or, if your heart can take it, floating frog! Ka-Boom!!! That's West Tennessee Swamp fishin'! Only way in is a four wheeler draggin' your flatbottom boat. Leave before dark 'cause the skeeters reign supreme when light fades!

No I don't. The spinner is made to swivel. I guess maybe a snap swivel should help. Thanks I'll try trolling again as soon as we get some warmer weather. I don't get out unless I'm expecting a high near 50. I know.......southern boy can't handle the cold! It's true but I just don't like that cold wind off the river numbing my fingers. I ain't that mad at them smallies!

I have a good sized pond on my place which doubles as my outdoor classroom. I study the fish every chance I get. The water clarity is very good this time of year and the fish reveal their secrets. There are a lot more followers than takers! You are exactly right in your suggestion of all the fish following our lures. One big thing I've noticed is the "competition situation". I've seen uninterested bass suddenly attack a lure when it notices another bass showing interest. Kind of like your video when the Spots were schooling. The bass were competing with each other. I've tried trolling the Mepps but I get bad line twist. Do You?

Glad you showed him the fish! That was durned rude of him to cut you off but we've all seen it so many times. Wish there was more consideration for our fellow anglers but that's for another thread! T-Billy's right! Whatever five tricks you have get you 70 bass per day in your honeyhole! You could market those five trick and I'll be your first customer! I've had a 70 bass day once......just once in over fifty years of fishing, and most were so small I think they were born that morning!

I'm the only person I know around here that uses a Mepps Spinner. I like the dressed Aglia in #2 and #3. Everything bites it! I have found that lake fish for some reason, don't like it as much as river fish. Sometimes, when things are slow, the Aglia is unbeatable fished in current. I turned on my work/fishing buddy to it and now it's his go to! I fish it slowly, just enough to keep it above the bottom (It is a hang up machine), as you know. If it swims in the river, it will eat the Aglia.

Beyond Beautiful! Words just can't describe!

Sign me up! If Aaron passes through Tennessee on the way to Ontario, he'd better have an empty seat!

These pictures take me back home, to a time so long ago, when as a child I'd watch that quill float slide under, and tug with all I had on that cane pole to lift that bull Bluegill over the side of the jonboat. Daddy would pick up the bream and if It started peeing, he would aim it at us! Laughs all around! Miss those Cypress Trees......and dad.

Don't have to go too far north! Just make a trip to Tennessee. We got smallies and the first time you hook a four pounder and it takes off like a scalded dog, goes airborne, and rips your heart out, you will be a regular visitor!

incredible! The first picture reminds me of the swamps back home! Miss those days with my dad! Wow!!!!! wish I were there.....maybe not now but next summer!

Glad I picked a good one! Show some more of Ontario! That looks like how I imagine Heaven! Where is the one with the colorful houses right at waters edge? That's just to awesume to believe!

Could not imagine an 18" Spot! River fish around here top out for me at about 16". But I'm always hoping!

Nashville is surrounded by good waters to fish. If you want to hire a guide, Mid South Guides Captain Jake 615-613-2382 Jake only fishes Normandy, Woods, Nickajack, and Guntersville. Very reasonable prices and he will put you on fish. Well worth spending a few extra days! If you want to fish Dale Hollow, Bobby Gentry 270-427-0419

OMG! What a huge beast! Way to go!!!

One crazy thing about yesterday was I hung a good fish while trolling a Shad Rap. While fighting the heavy fish against the current my line got hung up and the current started pulling drag. I got the boat turned around with the trolling motor and headed upriver to try to retrieve my Shad Rap. All of a sudden there was a big fish leap by the boat and I could see him down in the clear water. There was my Shad Rap in the mouth of a large Spotted Bass at least ten feet away from where my line was wrapped around submerged timber. I was not about to break off and leave this fish with a crank bait stuck in it's mouth If I could help it. I reached down with my net as far as I could go while fighting the current with the trolling motor. Twice I had him in the net but when I lifted the net the tangled line pulled him out of the net before I could get my fingers on him. It was getting dark and I was in panic mode. I got soaked trying to reach him with my arms but finally he pulled free and I netted my Shad Rap and cut the line. Drove home with wet clothes and lost my probable PB Spot but was more than happy to see him go!

Used to fish the Big Piney near Ft. Leonard Wood in the seventies when my older sister was stationed there when she was an Army nurse. Beautiful River that is full of fish! I fish the larger rivers the same way year round. Slow bouncing a Ned Rig. Works for me in any water temp. Dragging a Zoom Speed Craw has produced for me as well. The Big Piney should be no different in my estimation.

Guys he's telling the truth! But why he wants me after I messed him up last time is hard to figure. He hooked a big smallie on the Cumberland and once, maybe twice I missed him before he went airborne and, Adios! He just took it in stride as he mumbled something under his breath!

Thanks Chris but I really need to stay at work after playing hookey yesterday afternoon. Besides my wrist hurts so badly, I can't hold a rod. But let me know if they're biting and maybe I can down some Tylenol and man up!

Watched AlabamaSpothunters video about buzzbaits yesterday morning and go so tore up I had to leave work and head for the Big T! It was either work or fish buzzbaits! Easy choice. Started out using a small 1/8 that Chris Catignani used one day to hook a whale but all I could get were little dinks. Went to a size up and the bites slowed but the size increased. I couldn't set hooks because I hurt my wrist the other day but most of the little spots hooked themselves. Finally couldn't stand the pain any longer and went to trolling cranks. The were eating like sharks. Ended with 48 in four hours but big fish was only 16". Had a blast regardless. Had to show a photo of one of the small spots. His belly is so big I'm sure we was eating the rip-rap! Oh my goodness! Don't panic! Just gittum! I love it!!!!!

Had a blast watching your video! I was a nervous wreck watching you work that buzz and I felt like I was in the yak with you cheering you on. Thanks so much for sharing!

It's definitely not you! All we can do is present our offerings in the right place at the right time and hope our hooks hold. Bigger fish are also stronger fish. Terrific story! Really must have been frustrating when you inadvertently released the bail. I'm sure you were asking yourself, "Did that really just happen?"