The Pond on the Caney

[Alphahawk]

Met my son up at the Caney this morning at 10:30. The water was high.....higher than I have ever fished the Pond. Just 9700 CFS but the back water from the Cumberland made it even deeper. Wasn't expecting to get into the trout but was hoping for some Gills. All we caught was crappie...but all of those we wanted.....real pretty in that cold water. Saw what appeared to be stripers busting shad on top. I made a cast and my 1/8 ounce jig with a Bison Trout Magnet was hit on the fall. I assume it was a striper as it headed down river. I was using 2# test SOS line and my drag was screaming and my kayak was headed to Happy Hollow...LOL. I had already picked out my fail safe point to keep me out of the current and it was fast approaching. I tried to slow that fish but I knew it was hopeless. As I approached my bail out I just pointed rod at fish and grabbed the spool and the line snapped. That was all I could do.....if I had got into the current my next stop was Happy. Oh well....live and learn. I enjoy fishing the Pond but that was just a lot of water. Headed to Pickwick tomorrow.


Regards

[TroutFiend]

Nice catch,Alpha. I was thinking about heading up there this evening after work, but this grass ain't gonna cut itself. What depths were crappie at would you say?

[creekcrappie]

Nice crappie! So the water was not like chocolate milk?

[Rover1966]

Is that a Ride 115 you're in? Looks just like mine.

[Alphahawk]

Nice crappie! So the water was not like chocolate milk?

Nope....water at the Pond was pretty clear.





Regards

[Alphahawk]

Nice catch,Alpha. I was thinking about heading up there this evening after work, but this grass ain't gonna cut itself. What depths were crappie at would you say?

Thanks. I was catching them deep...1/8 ounce and count down to 30 and start retrieve.....far deeper than I have ever had to fish in the Pond. You will be able to get them.....it will take a while to get rid of that water.



Regards

[Alphahawk]

Is that a Ride 115 you're in? Looks just like mine.

It's a 115 Knot Right Camo...lots of rigging.....plus I have my Coosa seat in it right now. Got it from great folks at HOOK1.



Regards

[commdd]

very nice kayak! great photo looks good.

[Rover1966]

Got mine from there too Alpha. Same camo. Great ride got the 6 inch high seat in mine.

[agelesssone]

YOWSER! Nice fish there alpha! Had to be lotsa fun with UL and 2# line.

Don'tcha love that helpless feeling, watching your reel getting spooled, and you, having to watch your bailout point, both coming up fast, knowing that you are screwed. FISH WINS!!!

Had the same thing happen to me from the bank at OHD. Hooked into something (throwing 1/4 oz jig, 4" white and chartreuse slider) that ran upstream for a bit, I turned it, got it withing ten yards of shore, then it turned and headed straight across the river. I was using thirty # braid and screwed the drag as tight as I felt prudent. And I was quickly getting spooled and it wasn't slowing down. Like you, I just pointed the rod straight, grabbed the spool and squeezed tight. The line never broke, the knot never came undone, the jig hook finally straightened out. So I got my 150 yds. of braid back, saluted the fish, tied on a new jig, and continued on, not knowing if it was a striper, catfish, carp or monster drum. But one thing was for sure, the fish was the master that night.

[MNfisher]

Nice! Heading there Friday!

[Alphahawk]

YOWSER! Nice fish there alpha! Had to be lotsa fun with UL and 2# line.

Don'tcha love that helpless feeling, watching your reel getting spooled, and you, having to watch your bailout point, both coming up fast, knowing that you are screwed. FISH WINS!!!

Had the same thing happen to me from the bank at OHD. Hooked into something (throwing 1/4 oz jig, 4" white and chartreuse slider) that ran upstream for a bit, I turned it, got it withing ten yards of shore, then it turned and headed straight across the river. I was using thirty # braid and screwed the drag as tight as I felt prudent. And I was quickly getting spooled and it wasn't slowing down. Like you, I just pointed the rod straight, grabbed the spool and squeezed tight. The line never broke, the knot never came undone, the jig hook finally straightened out. So I got my 150 yds. of braid back, saluted the fish, tied on a new jig, and continued on, not knowing if it was a striper, catfish, carp or monster drum. But one thing was for sure, the fish was the master that night.

Thanks Merv.....if I had been on a lake I would have rode it out...but the Caney with that much water is no time to try to do something I knew I couldn't. It was funny though. You just have that helpless feeling and you know how it will end...LOL.



Regards

[Alphahawk]

Nice! Heading there Friday!

Be interesting to see how that works out. It's just a lot of water. I imagine fishing from the steps could be awesome for the next week to ten days...or as long as they are pulling that much water.



Regards

[agelesssone]

LOL,yup, we know how it will end, but we love it anyway!

[tkwalker]

I am surprised in you ... It's only 5 miles of submerged trees and beautiful scenery and a ride of a life time ... And the Kicker !!!! No Paddling !!!:eek: heck all you had to do is call me and I would have come and shuttled you back ... as soon as I caught 4 more fish in my pond and restored one more old motor ... maybe next Thursday ... <'TK><:)

[Alphahawk]

I am surprised in you ... It's only 5 miles of submerged trees and beautiful scenery and a ride of a life time ... And the Kicker !!!! No Paddling !!!:eek: heck all you had to do is call me and I would have come and shuttled you back ... as soon as I caught 4 more fish in my pond and restored one more old motor ... maybe next Thursday ... <'TK><:)

You got that right TK...and there would have been about 500 bucks of gear on the bottom of the Caney....LOL. As you say...don't bring a knife to a gun fight.



Regards

[crappiecrazy]

Nice crappie !! Great story!!

[Alphahawk]

I may be headed to the pond tomorrow morning to get in on this action while the dam is pumping a lot of water. I've never fished this type of water condition from my kayak before, just fishing lakes so far. Any advice you think I need to be aware of to stay safe? I plan to fish primarily for whites and trout, not bothering with rockfish. I was thinking I'd fish the pond area and if that doesn't workout, I'd venture closer to the generation to use kastmaster spoons but staying on the other side of that wall so I'd be in calm water. Is anchoring a bad idea to stay put and be able to fish the generation current?

As long as sluice is not running you will be fine. I should have taken my anchor last time but did not. I am sure you have yours set up so you can get loose in a second if need arises. As long as you anchor in calm water and it doesn't pull loose if you get a big fish on you should be OK. The water is even deeper today than when I was there. That is new ground for me. I think you can probably get all the crappie you want. As for casting into that seam next to the boil...I don't know....you may get more than you bargained for...LOL. I haven't seen any whites up there on my trips and trout in the pond can be hard to come by with that much water....but if you don't go and try you wont know.


Regards

[jad2t]

As long as sluice is not running you will be fine. I should have taken my anchor last time but did not. I am sure you have yours set up so you can get loose in a second if need arises. As long as you anchor in calm water and it doesn't pull loose if you get a big fish on you should be OK. The water is even deeper today than when I was there. That is new ground for me. I think you can probably get all the crappie you want. As for casting into that seam next to the boil...I don't know....you may get more than you bargained for...LOL. I haven't seen any whites up there on my trips and trout in the pond can be hard to come by with that much water....but if you don't go and try you wont know.


Regards

I was stoked about getting to revisit the Caney and then at the last minute, change of plans. I do have to work tomorrow :( I'd almost venture out there this weekend to take advantage of all the generation but the steps will be elbow to elbow and I don't like that. If I was in the yak I'd be casting towards 10 lines in the water at any given time in that current. No good.

Work tends to interfere with my fishing.

[txnative]

I'll post a report for ya, jad2t...I'll be there before dawn on Saturday and be home around lunch on Sunday.


Chris