porthos33, ""The Dam"", 10 different species!, last week, Zack and Johnathon

[porthos33]

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>So to start off, I don't really like moving and I have had to help a couple of our friends move this last month. Told my wife I was done with moving for a WHILE! Wears me out and kills my back. It would take a small fortune before I would ever consider being a mover for a living. Well she told me the week before last that her friend was moving back and that I had to help again.

I had recruited some guys in our youth group to help the last couple times and didn't want to ask the same guys again. My wife suggested that I ask some of the older guys at Wednesday night youth service to help which I did and I told all the boys who helped that I would take them fishing. The day of the move we had a few of the guys who were coming cancel b/c they had to go out of town. We ended up having enough help thanks to three brothers that showed up from the service and a few others from church. I don't think we could have done it with out those guys and I was pumped to take them fishing. </p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>One of the guys was on his high school bass team. So I figured the guy was a pretty good fisherman. When talking to him he told me that he was only on the team for a couple months and then his buddy with the boat got kicked off for grades. He said he fished a couple tournaments but had never caught a bass. I said, it happens, bass fishing can be tough sometimes! And then he proceeds to tell me that he had never caught a bass in his life! I couldn't believe it!! I said, you were on the bass team and never caught a bass!!!" So I promised him that he would catch one when we went. I thought for sure I could put the guy on some bass!</p>

Met 2 of the brothers at Sportsman's at 6am and headed to Jack's to load up on some shiner's and some red worms. Figured it would be easier just to take the boys and use live bait since they rarely go fishing and I had been bass fishing for the last 6 days and needed a break. We got out on the water right at sun up and I knew the flow had been staying at around 25,000 the last few days. It was a beautiful morning and it stayed nice and cloudy till about 10 and then the sun started to poke out occasionally. I was thinking we could drop some shiners for a while, then go catch some bluegill and use them for some big ole blues which I knew they would love! </p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>First spot we hit I told them where to throw there bait and then I threw mine and "Bam" my first cast I get hooked. It ended up being my biggest spot at 3lbs! I was pretty pumped but wanted the boys to get hooked. I hooked a few more bass in a row and sat the rod down to help the boys more. The bite was pretty slow all day but they grinded it out and stayed with it till the end! The boys started hooking up and were mostly pulling in small channel cats. Cool thing was they had pretty much never caught any fish so everything was pretty exciting! Moved around a little and I catch a fish that I had never caught before. Thought it was a walleye, but now thinking it may have been a sauger. Tiny fish, but very cool for everyone to get to see. That thing had some nasty looking teeth! Next cast I catch a bluegill that is only a centimeter away from 10 inches which is a TARP. Bite stayed pretty slow all morning but they were catching fish and one of the brothers already had a couple LM and a spot, but the other brother that was on the bass team still had NOT caught a bass. I knew I had to make good on that promise!</p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>We started drifting shiners down the river around 9:30 and noticed some fish busting all over the top so I told the boys to hurry and get there bait in and we would work that school. They were still busting when we got there and I figured they were skippies or white bass. We never caught either and finally Zack gets hooked and catches a nice Smaliie. We were pumped b/c now he had a spot, LM and a smallie! I could tell John was getting discouraged so we went down river and drifted some more. The drift was rough to say the least and I resorted to trolling to get the drift going. As soon as I started trolling I got bit and caught about a 5lb blue. Zack said, "Now that's what I want to catch!!" I was chuckling and figured we would get some big blues later. Finally while drifting Johnathon reels in about a 14 inch LM and it took the weight off my shoulders! He got his first bass!</p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>We moved around a couple more times and caught a couple fish at each stop and decided to use the red worms and try and catch some bluegills. We kept the big one I caught earlier and caught several more, a shell cracker, and a couple more channel cats. It was about 2pm and we decided to cut up some bluegill and drift for a while. That bite was non existent! Brought some chicken too but we were all pretty tired and we decided to call it a day around 3:30. We ended up catching 10 species that day but could have definitely caught more if it wasn't so slow. We caught a bunch of little fish and a few nice bass. Biggest bass was a little over 4lbs. We had a blast! I have to say I was a little disappointed that we couldn't get any decent cats all day. I'm definitely going to have to get down there again soon and figure out where the kitties are hiding!</p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>It had been a couple months since I had been down to the dam and it was worth the trip to get away from these crazy bass. I am a little obsessed with those Green fish and needed a change of scenery for sure! As we were loading up and taking out, the boys got a call from there younger brother who couldn't make it and he was begging them to go to the falcons preseason game. I was just plain exhausted and they were too, but those guys went anyways. They texted me a picture later that night at the game and said they were SO TIRED!!! hahahaha Mission Accomplished!! Species of fish caught were LM, Spot, Smallie, drum, chanel cat, blue cat, bluegill, gar, shell cracker, and walleye/sauger</p>

<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span>Went to a funeral in Kentucky this weekend for my wives uncle who passed of cancer, and when we left an incredible Supercell Thunderstorm was forming to the west of us. I didn't ever get a great picture but, I'll post the best one I got. I see a lot of storms on the water and while traveling, but this one was incredible!!</p>

 

[EricM]

Great trip!!! emoBigsmile

 

[Strato-G]

Work paid in full with fun trip.....good show & pictures,,,,,,,,,,,,, emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[Nauticman]

Eric, you obviously devoted a lot of time and effort to this post, not many people do that any more, me included. Kudos to you for doing that and taking the guys fishing! By the way, that's an awesome supercell photo.

 

[SpurHunter]

Sounds like an absolute blast! Thanks for all the pics. FYI, that was a Sauger!

 

[davisjeremy1981]

very well rounded day good catch

 

[rsimms]

Great trip and great report!! Thanks. emoThumbsup

 

[jason]

Those are the fishing memories of a lifetime. You'll be in countless "Hey, remember when..." stories with those guys emothumbsup.

 

[tritonfisher]

Thanks for the report.