drumking, Riverpark, Striper, White Bass, Blue Catfish, 3/09/14 and 3/10/2014, Dr Phil
I have a two morning report today. With nearly everyone either bass fishing or crappie fishing right now, I thought that I would go to the Riverpark to see if the Stripers or White Bass had shown up. I talked Dr Phillip Gawthrop into going with me since we both love Stripers to eat better than any other fish that swims.
We did just okay. TVA running a lot of water, well over 40,000 CFS and I really don't like that much water running when I Striper fish, but since we were down there, we might as well chunk and wind. emoBigsmile On Sunday AM, Dr Phil hooked a Striper on the first drift and had it on for about 30 seconds, before it pulled off. emoBang Then I hooked up a keeper Striper under 5 lbs and then another one just over 5 lbs. Then Phil showed off and caught a Striper that was 15 lb 14 ozs. Another Striper that was only 14.75 inches long. 15" minimum on keeper size.
We had 8 bites total, 5 Striper bites, and 3 White Bass bites. We landed every fish after the very first pull off. We were throwing swimbaits on 1/2 oz Shad head jigs that I pour and powder paint.
Then this morning, Dr Phil's first appointment wasn't until 10:40, so we fished again until 9:30. Only 3 striper bites and that was before 8:00 AM. The 3rd Striper bite, I fought for about 5 minutes or so, before it pulled off. emoBang emoBang I know it was a striper, but I'm callling it a Drum since we didn't see it. Boat rule. emoBigsmile
Then the Blue catfish showed up. I hooked what I thought was a big striper for about 5 minutes, then I realized that it wasn't quite surging like a striper does, so I didn't know for sure what it was. Both my shoulders started aching and I thought that I was going to have to pass the rod off to Dr Phil. It was like trying to pull up a stump. After a 10 or 15 minute fight, we finally saw the fish surface about 15 feet behind the boat and roll over and the jig fell out of its mouth. A Bluecat that I estimate over 30 lbs. In swift current, that is a chore to land one of these babies. I texted Rsimms and told him that he needed to get down here and get these slimers out of our way. They were messing up our striper fishing. emoBigsmile
I landed 2 Bluecats that I took home to go in the freezer. Really good eating size for me. Slightly over 8 lbs and 12 lbs. One lone White Bass showed up today and it looked like Dr Phil was going to get skunked as I had all the action this morning, but at last he set the hook, grunted and in about 3 minutes had my namesake in the net. Big Drum, aka Alabama Smallmouth. Took pics and released it.
Water temp this AM was 51.4. A few more days and some warmer water and the fish should be there in better numbers. But, we have a cold front coming through the latter part of this week. emoBigsmile emoGeezer
I have a two morning report today. With nearly everyone either bass fishing or crappie fishing right now, I thought that I would go to the Riverpark to see if the Stripers or White Bass had shown up. I talked Dr Phillip Gawthrop into going with me since we both love Stripers to eat better than any other fish that swims.
We did just okay. TVA running a lot of water, well over 40,000 CFS and I really don't like that much water running when I Striper fish, but since we were down there, we might as well chunk and wind. emoBigsmile On Sunday AM, Dr Phil hooked a Striper on the first drift and had it on for about 30 seconds, before it pulled off. emoBang Then I hooked up a keeper Striper under 5 lbs and then another one just over 5 lbs. Then Phil showed off and caught a Striper that was 15 lb 14 ozs. Another Striper that was only 14.75 inches long. 15" minimum on keeper size.
We had 8 bites total, 5 Striper bites, and 3 White Bass bites. We landed every fish after the very first pull off. We were throwing swimbaits on 1/2 oz Shad head jigs that I pour and powder paint.
Then this morning, Dr Phil's first appointment wasn't until 10:40, so we fished again until 9:30. Only 3 striper bites and that was before 8:00 AM. The 3rd Striper bite, I fought for about 5 minutes or so, before it pulled off. emoBang emoBang I know it was a striper, but I'm callling it a Drum since we didn't see it. Boat rule. emoBigsmile
Then the Blue catfish showed up. I hooked what I thought was a big striper for about 5 minutes, then I realized that it wasn't quite surging like a striper does, so I didn't know for sure what it was. Both my shoulders started aching and I thought that I was going to have to pass the rod off to Dr Phil. It was like trying to pull up a stump. After a 10 or 15 minute fight, we finally saw the fish surface about 15 feet behind the boat and roll over and the jig fell out of its mouth. A Bluecat that I estimate over 30 lbs. In swift current, that is a chore to land one of these babies. I texted Rsimms and told him that he needed to get down here and get these slimers out of our way. They were messing up our striper fishing. emoBigsmile
I landed 2 Bluecats that I took home to go in the freezer. Really good eating size for me. Slightly over 8 lbs and 12 lbs. One lone White Bass showed up today and it looked like Dr Phil was going to get skunked as I had all the action this morning, but at last he set the hook, grunted and in about 3 minutes had my namesake in the net. Big Drum, aka Alabama Smallmouth. Took pics and released it.
Water temp this AM was 51.4. A few more days and some warmer water and the fish should be there in better numbers. But, we have a cold front coming through the latter part of this week. emoBigsmile emoGeezer
