2/7/2007 Wednesday-Yellow Bass-Crappie-Chickamauga

[drumking]

I got out this morning for the first time in about 2 weeks and fished for 3 hours. Conditions couldn't get much worse with the NW wind at 10-15 mph. I ran upriver and the place that I wanted to experiment on was so windy by the time that I got there that I had to change plans.

I ran about 1/2 way back to Waconda Bay and found 1 cove that I had never fished before that was protected from the wind. Out of curiousity, I motored slowly into that cove and found a narrow ditch that was 17 feet deep, not very wide, and fish suspended in the middle of it. The fish were 12 feet down in the middle of that little ditch. It was just off the main river channel and I don't know for sure what the name of this place is, so it will remain my secret until I thoroughly fish this place out.

I caught 8 crappie (4 keepers) 3 nice yellow bass and 1 bluegill. I started fishing that spot just at the end of the movement period this morning. Wish that I had been there about 1 hr beforehand. I believe that I could have really scored a bunch of fish. The fish came off tubes and 1/32 oz bleeding hook jigs. There weren't monster Crappie, but the smallest was 10 1/2" long. The best yellow bass was 9" long. I got nice fillets off them. If you have never tasted yellow bass, then you are missing a real treat. They are delicious. They are nothing like white bass in flavor. Unless the red streak is taken off the white bass, I won't even eat them, but you don't have to do anything to the yellow bass. Just fillet them and shake them in Zatazins and deep fry at 375 for 3 minutes tops.emoGeezer

 

[whenwegoin]

RE: Wednesday-Yellow Bass-Crappie-Chickamauga

That answers my question about yellow bass. I always wondered if they were any good. Good report.

 

[TennesseeTalker]

RE: Wednesday-Yellow Bass-Crappie-Chickamauga

Very nice report DK! I'm so jealous of your fishing I can hardly stand it!!!

I've never ate yellow bass ... but made my mouth water you talking on and on about it. Sorry your fishing hasn't been as often as you had wished. But hopefully things will calm down and you will be back on the water with daily reports.

Until then, keep fishing when you can and know we all read every word you type!!!

TT

 

[drumking]

RE: Wednesday-Yellow Bass-Crappie-Chickamauga

TennesseeTalker - 2/7/2007 2:47 PM

Very nice report DK! I'm so jealous of your fishing I can hardly stand it!!!

I've never ate yellow bass ... but made my mouth water you talking on and on about it. Sorry your fishing hasn't been as often as you had wished. But hopefully things will calm down and you will be back on the water with daily reports.

Until then, keep fishing when you can and know we all read every word you type!!!

TT

Yeah, thanks TT. My step-dad was put in the hospital on the 30th of January. Yesterday, they transferred him to a nursing home in Maryville. Mom is 84 years old and unable to take care of him alone, so we kids have been busy trying to figure out what to do about the situation. He has dementia and prostate cancer. He barely knew us when he went into the hospital. The following day, I took Mom over to see him and he didn't know anyone. He had slipped off a deep end to wherever patients like that go into and of course, it effected my Mom emotionally. We have been staying up there with her most of the time. We come back home for a couple of days and then it is back up there. We are going back tomorrow afternoon.

I just had to take a short fishing trip to try to allieviate some of the tension in my right arm. I found myself setting the hook on things and I wasn't even holding a rod. emoBigsmile I could have had a better day, but you just have to take what you get sometimes. Oh, BTW, the water temps this morning were 41.5 downriver where I started and 45 upriver. In the little cove where I was, the temps were 45.6-47 degrees. I came back downriver to Harrison bluff to check the temp and it was 44.5 degrees there.emoGeezer

 

[TennesseeTalker]

RE: Wednesday-Yellow Bass-Crappie-Chickamauga

Awe DK .. I'm sorry to hear about your families troubles. As always I'm sure you know all of us here will be hoping the good Lord helps you with those difficulties.

AND .. if there is anything you need for us to do for you - just let us know. I would imagine your boat is feeling a little left out with you being gone and unable to fish. If you need a boat sitter .. I just might be your girl! I would follow the rules of most house sitters, and take her out 2 times a day with one of those times being an extended and prolonged play period! emoCool And when I brought her back home, I'd take in your paper and water your plants!!!

I know what you are thinking ... but don't fear all boats love me and I promise not to touch your special chartruese tail dipped jigs!!!

I'm just kidding, even if you said come get my boat .. I'd have NO idea how to drive it.

But seriously, if you or your wife need someone to help you out around the house, cook a meal or two, clean, whatever, you call. Please!

TT

 

[Guest]

Those are some good sized yellowbass. We caught 2 on Sunday and just threw them back. If we get anymore then I will surely bring them home and try them. Thanks for the posting and picture, I have been waiting on something from youemoBigsmile . I am very sorry to hear of your family. Please let me know also if you need anything. STEVEemoThumbsup

 

[shocker]

Good report there Mr DK, glad you relived the tension, but hated to hear about your step dad and I sure hope your mother can make the adjustment. Our prayers are with you and your family.

 

[foodsaver]

sorry to hear about the step dad. I will keep your family in prayer.

 

[drumking]

Thank you for all the concern about my stepdad. He is ready to meet the Lord and who knows exactly when it will happen? He is nearing 80 years old and really is lucky to have lived this long. In 1986 he had a heart attack that killed about 1/2 of his heart muscle and the doctors told him then that he had 1 or 2 years at the most to live. He got a disability retirement, moved down here from Indiana and has been very active until just recently. He loves to trout fish. I always went with him the past 3 or 4 years because he didn't need to be up in the mountains by himself, even though I don't really care for trout fishing all that much.emoGeezer

 

[TennesseeTalker]

DK .. you are a kind person. And a good example for those of us that are more selfish than that.

God Bless you.

TT

 

[Guest]

Them there yellow bass are good biscuit fish.............that is, fry them up, and if there is anything left, put it on a biscuit! LOL Some of them on Weiss get to decent sizes, and are great on biscuits.

 

[DHaun]

Thanks for posting the report DK - I am glad you could take some time off to do some fishing and will keep your stepdad and your family in my prayers.

-David