SpurHunter, Riverpark, HOF Smallie, White bass, skipjack,, 8-22-12, team-d

[SpurHunter]

<p class="MsoNormal">Matt and I met up at the dam at 5:45 ready to put fish in the boat. We completed our task loading the boat with about 40 fish IN the boat, and another 8-10 “Madbomber rules”, (seen but lost prior to touching carpet). I also landed a nice smallie that weighed in at 4.9lbs. We started fishing the seam and picked up a few skipjack and the smallie, but I was looking to get into the schoolers to get maximum action. We ended up moving down river and found some stacked up just below the first ramp and we got into them pretty good. It was almost a 50/50 ratio of whites and skipjack. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">TVA was pushing 33k and it was steady for the time we were there. Most fish caught on Carolina rigged spoons with either a ½ or ¾ oz weight, using a 1 oz was totally unproductive. This day they fish really liked silver, white was a loser, it’s a good thing I keep the color variety on the boat. You can even see the silver spoon still hanging out of the smallmouth. A few fish were picked up on the float/cork fly rig as well, but they had to be on top to get them. Matt took a nice cooler of fat white bass home for the freezer, and some skips for his buddies coming into town for a catfish trip. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">While we were still up at the dam, Puddlejumper and Tadpole showed up, I don’t even remember him asking for permission to fish up here…..</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">They were after some live bait for a night chasing the flatheads down river. Later they met us down stream and begged some skipjack off us as THEY didn’t catch any due to having the wrong bait. I also sold him some spoons. LOL</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p>

 

[derek81]

Nice smallie Eric!

 

[ab333]

Nice fish...thanks for sharing.

 

[SpurHunter]

FYI, I AM wearing a belt style inflatable PFD, its just under my shirt/gut.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Nice Smallie! Spur have you ever triggered that belt? I am just curious about how well they'd hold up "healthy" guys like us!

 

[SpurHunter]

Fishin Fool - 8/23/2012 10:59 AM Nice Smallie! Spur have you ever triggered that belt? I am just curious about how well they'd hold up "healthy" guys like us!

</p>

I have not Terry, I just picked up a couple recently, but I know Richard has worn them for a long time. Maybe he will chime in and reply to thebuoyancyof the belts.</p>

 

[Nauticman]

WTG, nice smallie!

 

[drumking]

Pretty smallmouth bass, Spur. Anything adventurous happen? Like missing prop, running into the dam, blowing a fuse, falling in the river, or landing a lawn chair? You know what a catfish says when it runs into concrete don't you? "Dam". emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[puddle jumper]

Wow great fish brother,,, and thanks for the skippy's last night, we put them to good use...
PJ
OH and let me know where I need to send the permission request form for next trip,, LOL

 

[SpurHunter]

No mishaps Dickey, but I ALMOST stepped into the open livewell once, that would have been a hoot Im sure and ol Matt would have laughed himself into the water.

 

[Labman]

Great Smallie, Silver spoons huh, I don't remember you recommending them when I was buying all the white ones the other day, lol. And I didn't even get a call to come fishing on the disaster masters boat. Always enjoy your posts, and that spot below the ramp was killer the other day when the hatch was on.

Regards, Labman

 

[owtdoorguy]

Spurhunter. Sorry I never got over to the dam yesterday to see you and get a few spoons. I will let ya know when i am heading back. Might be Friday night. Not sure yet. Great smallie by the way!

 

[Buoy-Master]

Great fish! Good to see that Team-D is out and about. I have yet to fish with him. Need too though!

 

[cuonthelake]

emoWorthy emoWorthy ..... emoApplause
I am still waiting on my HOF crappie.....

 

[bent rod]

That is a wide fish.......... just sayin'. Sounds like a fun trip.

 

[SpurHunter]

I hear ya...I guess I should have had skinny ol Team-d hold that fish up, woulda looked 3 times as big!

 

[cast4bass]

Man that is a nice smallie! Congrats! emoToast

 

[team-d]

Had a great time and brought all my "secret" white bass lures but never had to use any as Erik's spoons were the ticket. I did get him to change to a silver one though (-:

No mishaps and I didn't even have to beg the "disaster master" to throw that slob of a smallmouth back. And my net job was impeccable, I had just thrown one of those 50yd carolina rig casts and didn't want to get hung up and lose my gear so reached down, grabbed the net, and threw it toward the back of the boat toward him. Didn't realize how nice a fish it was until he netted it…

I hear you Billy we need to get out one of these days!

 

[rsimms]

SpurHunter - 8/23/2012 12:11 PM

Fishin Fool - 8/23/2012 10:59 AM Nice Smallie! Spur have you ever triggered that belt? I am just curious about how well they'd hold up "healthy" guys like us!

</p>

 I have not Terry, I just picked up a couple recently, but I know Richard has worn them for a long time. Maybe he will chime in and reply to the buoyancy of the belts. </p>

I did "trigger" a belt earlier this year just for testing purposes. However I was not in the water.

Based however on the level of inflation, I would guess that buoyancy would be pretty good. The tricky part would be placement on your body for proper flotation in the correct, comfortable position. But there is no doubt it would keep you afloat... especially down in the tailwaters where you could likely make it to shore, or have another boat pick you up in a hurry.

As I always tell folks however, a regular PFD is definitely safer than any CO2... auto inflation or manual. If you want maximum safety under any and all "worst case" conditions, wear a regular PFD.

I, however, would never wear a standard PFD (except where legally required). Sorry... just not going to do it. The C02 belts are so comfortable however, I do wear them at ALL times, whether I'm in an area where it is required or not. Therefore I'm safer than I would be without it. At the end of most of my guide trips I almost always have to remind clients to take their belts off because they literally forget they have them on.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Thanks Richard. I don't want to hijack the thread but when Erik mentioned that he had a belt it reminded me that I needed to get on. PFD is the same for me. I'll wear one when I am close to the dam, or required to. I have a big chest and shoulders and I have yet to find a PFD that will fit without making me feel like I am a mummy. Having said that, the best advice is to wear a flotation device of some kind at all times. Good info to know Richard......... Now we return to our regularly scheduled fishing report already in progress!....... emoLaugh