rsimms
Well-known member
Today's client cancelled out... Fly Rod Rob and I have had a standing date to try out some new "Gar Flies" he tied up... so today was the day.
Of course I made him catfish early.... we caught a few off anchor... two 10's and a 16-pounder. Then we switched to light tackle and caught a few eaters, although it was a much slower bite than Wednesday. Then it was off on a gar hunt.
We found them in the slack water beneath the Dam in good numbers... but they were finicky. Lots of follows but not many bites. We each caught a couple of small ones and then finally Rob got slammed by a behemoth gar. It gave him huge fits on the fly rod. He got it to the boat three or four times and then it would take off on a drag-screaming run again. It was great fun just watchin'... much less doin' the catchin'.
We finally got him in the boat, untangled from the fly and suitably photographed. And then IT happened.
You all know I virtually refuse to post a report without photos. Well, scroll down and you'll find no photos.
I stepped off my front deck onto the boat floor which had been massively "slimed" by the huge gar, my feet flew and I promptly crashed down on my rear end... right hand (holding the iPhone) crashing into the gunnel of the boat and iPhone crashing into the Tennessee River. emoBang It was only 11 feet of water so I almost dove in after it. Then realized it was ruined, even if I did find it. If anybody snags an iPhone beneath the Dam, return it so I can give it proper burial.
Nothing was hurt but my pride, and my pocketbook. So no pictures today, but hopefully a legitimate excuse. I sure wish you could see the huge gar Rob tagged on the flyrod. emoAngel
We fished a while longer but my heart wasn't much in it so we bailed shortly after Noon.
Of course I made him catfish early.... we caught a few off anchor... two 10's and a 16-pounder. Then we switched to light tackle and caught a few eaters, although it was a much slower bite than Wednesday. Then it was off on a gar hunt.
We found them in the slack water beneath the Dam in good numbers... but they were finicky. Lots of follows but not many bites. We each caught a couple of small ones and then finally Rob got slammed by a behemoth gar. It gave him huge fits on the fly rod. He got it to the boat three or four times and then it would take off on a drag-screaming run again. It was great fun just watchin'... much less doin' the catchin'.
We finally got him in the boat, untangled from the fly and suitably photographed. And then IT happened.
You all know I virtually refuse to post a report without photos. Well, scroll down and you'll find no photos.
I stepped off my front deck onto the boat floor which had been massively "slimed" by the huge gar, my feet flew and I promptly crashed down on my rear end... right hand (holding the iPhone) crashing into the gunnel of the boat and iPhone crashing into the Tennessee River. emoBang It was only 11 feet of water so I almost dove in after it. Then realized it was ruined, even if I did find it. If anybody snags an iPhone beneath the Dam, return it so I can give it proper burial.
Nothing was hurt but my pride, and my pocketbook. So no pictures today, but hopefully a legitimate excuse. I sure wish you could see the huge gar Rob tagged on the flyrod. emoAngel
We fished a while longer but my heart wasn't much in it so we bailed shortly after Noon.
