A Goodern

[Onslow]

A rare opportunity became available today after a job was postponed.  I made a the decision to paddle a section I've never fished before. It doesn't see the traffic other sections see. I generally struggle fishing from a canoe, and even moreso on this river.

My son assisted me with the shuttle, and I was on the water by 8:45.

Things started off slow, but as the noon hour neared, the Kentucky spots really started warming up.  I had started off with a #2 WB, caught a few, then switched to a a #2 white slump buster.  The spots really  were on it, and I had misgivings about dredging with the clawdad rig (euro inspired), which is a bonefish leader/3mm tippet ring, with 3' of flouro, with added split shot.  It is a real joy to lob that junk.

I did catch a couple smallmouth around the noon hour after coming accross some deep ledges at a bend on the CD, but resumed streamer fishing.  I should've persisted with the CD.  I checked the topo, and noted a bluff about 2.5 miles above the take out.  I made sure I was there by 3 PM.  I started lobbing the CD in the rocks, and started hooking some nice fish.  Lost some nice ones as well, one of which was about 17 inches. I ended up breaking my streamer leader, and I didn't want waste time re rigging so I kept on fishing with the CD. I kept on catching spots, but more interestingly, I kept on catching smallmouth in woody slack water, but I was still having to run deep. Near the bridge, I hooked another 17 inch smallie, and it was swarmed by other bigguns as I was pulling it in.

At least 25 spots were caught, 5 of which were citation size, and about 6 smallies were landed, and about 5 were lost.  The split shot up the line helps work the hook loose when the bass shake.

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This is why I don't do rafts or drift boats.

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Things are looking up!

     
     

[Woolly Bugger]

Look at ken getting' it done!

[Phil]

Dayum. Just dayum.   

[Onslow]

I'm actually thinking about changing up the dredging rig.  Loose the floating line, replace with deep 6 sink, attach about 6' of flouro leader. I may also need to start tying.  No one is selling tungsten jig head #2 buggers.

[Stone-Man]

Bodacious !!!   Damn nice fish and a lot of them  !!!