DHaun
Well-known member
Nikie, her sister, her nephew and I all went out tubing on the river today with a box full of spicy fried chicken and a full cooler. We got on the water by 2 and played until about 6. I then headed to the tailwaters. I had some frozen shiners I was going to throw out for cats and did just that. There were 3 other boats catfishing the area and not doing so well so we sat and relaxed with a couple rods in the water for a bit and then I noticed some fish in the jumps and bait getting nailed.
Dumping at the last rapid on the Nantahala didn't scare Nikie at all but she does not like me going anywhere near the stronger current, especially anywhere near the turbines...We talked her into going a little closer to the current where the fish were and we all put on PFDs.
My first cast into an area where I had seen baitfish running and I got slammed...rockfish or hybrid...I saw it for a bit and then it started peeling off 10lb line...I was talking telling them how great it was to score a fish on the first cast like this when all of a sudden it started to really take some drag (it was at this time out of the swift current). By the time I figured out I was losing ground it had me snagged on the bottom... I had just lost my blue Matzuo Fantastic minnow so trying to hide the fact I was just whipped...I tied on a brown one just like it and kept at it. On the 4th cast, Largemouth about 3 lbs. Next I started seeing smaller ones crash all around me chasing bait and they wanted nothing to do with the lure...They were there one second and gone the next.
I think we may have been a bit too loud talking and laughing with the motor running obviously being a family outing. I also tried a few casts with a chug bug and nothing there either...again I think we spooked them. Everyone was getting super hot so I decided to give them some wind and let them get back in the water so we left for more tubing.
I was lucky enough to locate the rockpile below the dam...it was not visible at all from the surface but a blue heron was standing on the tip top of it submerged in about 6 inches of water - now I know about where it is. Anyway it was nice to be out with the family and be able to catch a few fish today in all this heat! I intended to have some pics to share of my 50% fish landing ratio and possibly a landmark to indicate where the rockpile was but we forgot the camera this time. I want to go back as soon as I can just for fishing when I have a chance!
Dumping at the last rapid on the Nantahala didn't scare Nikie at all but she does not like me going anywhere near the stronger current, especially anywhere near the turbines...We talked her into going a little closer to the current where the fish were and we all put on PFDs.
My first cast into an area where I had seen baitfish running and I got slammed...rockfish or hybrid...I saw it for a bit and then it started peeling off 10lb line...I was talking telling them how great it was to score a fish on the first cast like this when all of a sudden it started to really take some drag (it was at this time out of the swift current). By the time I figured out I was losing ground it had me snagged on the bottom... I had just lost my blue Matzuo Fantastic minnow so trying to hide the fact I was just whipped...I tied on a brown one just like it and kept at it. On the 4th cast, Largemouth about 3 lbs. Next I started seeing smaller ones crash all around me chasing bait and they wanted nothing to do with the lure...They were there one second and gone the next.
I think we may have been a bit too loud talking and laughing with the motor running obviously being a family outing. I also tried a few casts with a chug bug and nothing there either...again I think we spooked them. Everyone was getting super hot so I decided to give them some wind and let them get back in the water so we left for more tubing.
I was lucky enough to locate the rockpile below the dam...it was not visible at all from the surface but a blue heron was standing on the tip top of it submerged in about 6 inches of water - now I know about where it is. Anyway it was nice to be out with the family and be able to catch a few fish today in all this heat! I intended to have some pics to share of my 50% fish landing ratio and possibly a landmark to indicate where the rockpile was but we forgot the camera this time. I want to go back as soon as I can just for fishing when I have a chance!
