Elk River 6-9-20``

[rick mcferrin]

http://www.tennesseebassguides.com/elk%20002.jpghttp://www.tennesseebassguides.com/elk%20008.jpg
http://www.tennesseebassguides.com/elk%20004.jpghttp://www.tennesseebassguides.com/elk%20005.jpg
Elk River Trout 6-9-2011
Good friend David Honey and I floated the Elk River this morning and what a day we had. David has been after me to do this for the past 2 years and we just never got to it. But today we loaded all the equipment into his 14ft Jon boat at his house at day light , then drove to one area where we left his truck then several more miles to where we put in. David has been doing this for many many years and knows all the holes and the river extremely well. This was one relaxing day tossing night crawlers on a light action 6ft rod and 6lb test Sufix Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com (http://www.sufix.com/) . We caught our limit within the first 3 hours including the big Brown that I'm holding above. This is the biggest trout that I have ever caught, and after being in a cooler on ice for 6 hours it still weighed 7lb 7oz by my digital scale when I got back to the house. I very seldom keep fish but this one is going on the wall and the other 13 on the grill......This was just a fantastic change of pace.......Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com (http://www.tennesseebassguides.com/)

[GO-OKFISHIN]

Congrats Rick. That is a beautiful trout!

[rick mcferrin]

Thank You

[bd-]

That is an awesome brown, Rick. Congrats. I am hearing really good things about the Elk River lately. Everybody was worried that the changes that TVA made a couple years ago for the darters and mussels were going to kill off that trout fishery. However, the river is still producing big trout better than ever, at least in the upper river.

bd

[clean air]

I have heard that there are stripers and hybrids below Tims dam now.Did you see any chasing trout or bait?Have you heard of them being there?I think with all the rain we had they may have went through the gates.I have heard of some guys fishing there for them.I just wondered if you saw anything.THANKS!

[rick mcferrin]

BD.....Thank you.....Rick

I didn't see anysigns of Hybrid or Rock Fish in the river.......didn't see anyone that appeared to be fishing for them..........Rick

[bd-]

I got to talk to Jason Henegar and Frank Fiss from TWRA last night at the Hendersonville Fly Fishing Club's meeting, and they confirmed what I suspected. Even though the TVA project on the Elk was intended to warm up the water downstream, it has had the side effect of making the temperatures on the upper Elk a lot more consistent. Now, even though the temps may be a little warmer, they are more steady, instead of going through a big slug of extremely cold water followed by a sharp warming period (aggravated by the fact that the Elk is so small of a river).

The greater consistency has meant less stress on the trout in the upper river, and the browns in particular are growing faster than ever.

Apparently the last shocking survey produced a surprising number of browns over 20" compared to what has been seen in the past.

The upper 8-10 miles of the Elk may become a trophy brown fishery to rival the Caney in a few years' time.

bd

[jad2t]

Hey I've been interested to making a journey to the Elk River to trout fish. Is it wadeable or do you recommend a boat? Also, I won't ask you for your specific honeyholes but could you steer me toward some good access points? All I need is a good location to get in the river by foot (preferred because I don't have a boat and really enjoy wading) and I'll do my own exploring from there to find the fish. Thanks.

Jimmy

[txnative]

From all i've read here and heard from other reliable sources, the elk is becoming a must-fish trout river. That said, please, please, please do not let it become what the caney has. I loved fishing the caney, key word: loved, past tense. It was a bad trip if i didn't manage a 20+" brown or three, even during low flows. Now, i feel like i fight crowds and wonder what happened to the fishery more than fishing.

Being a smaller river, i doubt the elk can sustain the pressure the caney recieves, especially if the meat hunters bombard it. I know everyone is entitled to their limit of trout, but being a responsible angler means not taking fish home just because you can every time you hit the water. Ultimately, we are the stewards of the waters we fish, and as such are charged with protecting the fish we love to catch for not only ourselves, but for future generations, as well.

I have been guilty of disclosing too much info in the past, and while i may not be solely responsible for the decline of some of my once-favorite small waters, i share in the blame. In another thread, this issue was debated in a "my right to fish where i want" vs "i don't want to draw too much attention" manner, and i have to side with the "less attention is better" argument. Yes, i do ask for advice here, but more often i can search archivef posts for all i need...something ANYONE is capable of doing. Remember that when you post grip-n-grins with a detailed report because that post will be around much longer and more accessible than you think.

Rick, awesome fish. I enjoy reading your reports while thinking "if i caught fish like that, as often as he does, i'd never stop smiling!"

Sorry for the longevity, but this is a sorta sore spot with me.


Chris

[rick mcferrin]

Jimmy: I have only been on the Elk river 1 time..and that was with David--we traveled so many back roads loading and unloading I would have needed my gps to find my way back if he wasnt there...I'm sorry but I don't have any idea about access points...I'm sure that someone on the site can give you better info......Rick

Chris: I understand your thought and respect it.......As you know I fish Tim's-Normandy and Nick A Jack..99% of my trips..I'm always 100% catch and release (even with my clients) on Smallmouth-Largemouth-Hybrid-and Rock Fish.....If I want to eat fish it's always Crappie-Blue Gill or an occassional Waleye..or more often than not fish that I buy at the store....I have never eaten a trout and I thought I would try some of what we caught-which I still haven't.....

As I said I do understand where you are coming from and will be respectful of your view.................Rick

[txnative]

My "rant" wasn't directed at anyone, especially you, Rick. I know it came across that way, sorry. Like i said, i have no problem with people keeping fish, regardless of species. I have eaten trout, stripers, hybrids, bass, etc in the past, but limit myself now to walleye, crappie, and sauger. This is purely personal and i don't feel that everyone should follow my personal choices. All i ask is that people think about what details they share in a public forum. The overwhelming majority of this forum's members are responsible, ethical anglers, and they are already practicing what i suggest. In fact, many were doing it well before me. BD, in particular, warned me of being too loose-lipped when i first posted on this site. Please don't feel that i want to reprimand, browbeat, or scorn anyone, i just want to protect what we have. My main beef is with people who feel every fish they catch should be eaten. If i offended you, i apologize again. That was not my intention. But to those who feel the "meat hunter" stereotype hits close to home, please be aware of your actions in the future.



Chris

[bd-]

My rule is that I do not "name names" on smallmouth creeks, no way, no how. They can't take the pressure. Stocked fisheries like the Caney and the Elk are somewhat different - I'll mention the river but rarely a specific access point. Example - with Caney I'll talk about upper, middle, and lower river but that's about it. Reservoirs are similar - I'll mention I fished Old Hickory and may mention specific areas or creek arms ("Drakes Creek"), but not specific spots.

I do think it's a legitimate concern that the Elk is now getting publicity in the way the Caney used to, before the badly overcrowded conditions motivated a lot of people to look for somewhere else to fish. It may be about time to start thinking about some harvest regulations on the Elk, especially on the browns, to preserve the fishing opportunities there in the face of the increase in pressure that may be coming.

bd

[Travis C.]

I have always wanted to fish down there but its over 100 miles from my house and the Caney/Obey are only 85 miles. One of these days I may venture back down there. I bought my bought at Tri-Lakes on a camping trip.

Is that river more similiar to the Caney or Obey?

[bd-]

Hard to say. The Obey varies so much depending on whether it's at really low water with a little flow, or high and still with the Cumberland backing up into it.

The Elk is probably more similar to the Caney in the sense that it's a series of runs and pools instead of the long slow flats of the Obey. On the other hand it's a smaller river than the Caney. In some spots it's more like a big spring creek than a river.

I'm kind of like you - I should fish it more, but it's a little far and there's really no good way to get there from here. Usually the Caney, Obey, Cumberland, or spring creeks win out instead.

bd

[middleTNsmallies]

GREAT FISH RICK!

Anyways..one other way you could look at the added attention to the Elk is that maybe it will take some crowds from the over-crowded Caney? (Either way, it keeps people off my native smallmouth streams)

Both rivers will survive, in that they are unnatural trout rivers and the TWRA will continue dumping fish in them...don't worry.

[bd-]

Both rivers will survive, in that they are unnatural trout rivers and the TWRA will continue dumping fish in them...don't worry.

Well, maybe. We still have the ongoing threat of the hatcheries potentially being shut down. So far, the Corps of Engineers has generously agreed to help with part of the funding, but TVA has not. The Elk is a TVA tailwater. If the Corps pays for trout and TVA doesn't, the Corps tailwaters will get most of the trout that are raised on the reduced budget.

In that scenario, the Elk could see a reduction of 80 percent or more in stocking a few years from now. Hopefully TVA will step up to the plate, but who knows.

Anyway, the issue on the tailwaters isn't only "dumping fish in." You're right that we can put tons of trout in the river and impose harvest regulations to keep the larger ones in there. Even with massive fishing pressure, the Caney still has plenty of big trout.

But big fish aren't the whole story. The issue is overall quality of fishing experience. Trying to fish with a constant - and I mean CONSTANT - procession of rental canoes making racket and crashing through your drift isn't so fun. The noise, crowds, and commercialization of the river have made it somewhat like trying to trout fish at Disney World, unfortunately.

I still love to trout fish, and there are limited options for that in Middle Tennessee. Thus, I bite the bullet and elbow in among the crowds. But it's a growing issue of conflict that will probably have to be addressed somehow, one day soon.

bd

[Travis C.]

Trying to fish with a constant - and I mean CONSTANT - procession of rental canoes making racket and crashing through your drift isn't so fun. The noise, crowds, and commercialization of the river have made it somewhat like trying to trout fish at Disney World, unfortunately.

bd

I wonder if more will switch to night time for that river. My typical trip up there even if I bring the boat starts at 10pm here leaving the house and fishing on through noon or so once I arrive.

I hardly ever see anyone until just before daylight about 95% of the time.

[txnative]

Only the diehard anglers, hopefully, travis. I don't think the tourist crowd or the fairweather guys will enjoy being shrouded in fog, in the dark, with sounds coming from who-knows-where, and shivering to boot. I, however, love it.


Chris

[bd-]

I consider myself a diehard angler, and even I hate fishing at night. I'll endure it for the right rewards - big stripers, trophy trout, or occasionally even top-notch bass fishing or catfish. It has to be pretty good though to get me out there at night. I just hate all the minor annoyances that go along with not being able to see. It's simply not my thing.

bd

[Travis C.]

Only the diehard anglers, hopefully, travis. I don't think the tourist crowd or the fairweather guys will enjoy being shrouded in fog, in the dark, with sounds coming from who-knows-where, and shivering to boot. I, however, love it.

Chris

:D

Beavers... I hate'em

Waist deep, full moon in front of you, fog creepin down river, not a soul around.........SMACK!!!! Beaver just slapped his tail on the water 4 feet behind you.


I will wade at night even during winter November through Feb. Sometimes that borderlines nuts as colds as it gets but never once have I packed it in due to cold.

[Travis C.]

I consider myself a diehard angler, and even I hate fishing at night. I'll endure it for the right rewards - big stripers, trophy trout, or occasionally even top-notch bass fishing or catfish. It has to be pretty good though to get me out there at night. I just hate all the minor annoyances that go along with not being able to see. It's simply not my thing.

bd

I like the reward as well. Almost all my biggest fish of most the species I chase have come from night fishing.

I have been on a coulpe rivers and heard some giants breaching. Never got close enough to cast to them but enough the really get you going.

Since my fly casting skills aren't top notch yet, I stick to gear fishing at night for trout most the time. Although I have been playing with a glowing indicator for some nymph fishing this summer under the stars.

[Baxter83]

Very Very nice! I grew up fishing the Elk. We owned 350 +/- acres right there below the dam that ran along the river up to the first bend (turnhole) up until the summer of 07'. I tell you what, I bet I've caught thousands of trout out that short stretch of river, but NEVER a big ol brown like that! Awesome! :D