Narrows of the Harpeth Tomorrow

[Fishbus]

Having completed our own plastic navy fleet recently, the wife and three boys and I plan to float the 5 mile loop around the Narrows Saturday morning, taking advantage of the ability to put in/take out with one vehicle.

Any tips for the area are welcome. I think I see the put in on Google on the bypass road. The take out parking appears past the bridge, and there's a trail between the two areas.

I've recently resupplied on Bison TM/CM's and am going to try the Killer Klatt color this time, and see what's biting.

Middle kid has a new UL rod we picked up for him last night with fresh 2# SOS line on it, which I'm sure he'll be anxious to try out.

If you see the five of us on a red Big Tuna, two red and one blue solo kayaks, paddle up and say hey.

Billy

[TroutFiend]

We kayaked from the bridge at tip-a-canoes storefront a few weeks back and did well. Caught a ton of gills and quite a few smallies with the gold TM twitched w/o float. There is an area with a steep dirt wall in a bend in the river where the smallies stack up pretty well. Good luck!

[Adough]

The put-in there is a real pain, maybe even a hazard, be careful. I'm sure once everyone is in the water it will be an enjoyable time. Be sure to go early so you can out run the booze cruise, not that'd you'd mind the drunken bikini's, but the language isn't family friendly.

[Fishbus]

Good tips guys, thanks. I have some gold TM's too, so we'll keep that in mind.

Definitely in the plan to get an early jump and beat the "uncouth" to the river. If there's bikini drunkenness, I'll do my best to look away.

Plan to go M'boro to Franklin take the Trace just for the heck of it and maybe have dinner at Loveless at the end of the day.

Does the put-in hazard have to do with the boat slide, or stairs or what?

Billy

[Adough]

The put-in doesn't quite "reach" the water. It's an interesting time.

[GO-OKFISHIN]

Just make sure everything is secure. Rods everything strapped on. It is steep.

[Fishbus]

I read your post on the location from 2009. You covered it quite well.

Billy

Just make sure everything is secure. Rods everything strapped on. It is steep.

[wormdunker]

Yes + 1 on the go early and beat the traffic, and wear your lifejackets. If the water is up at all, the current can be deceiving (ask me how I know). Have fun and catch some fish!

[RebelYelp]

The state is closing the put in for repairs starting Monday 7/29 and reopening sometime in august. I was there last weekend and it was a tough put in....just a heads up to everyone. If you go after this weekend it will be a 2 car affair with the closest put in at mound bottom.

Reb

[GO-OKFISHIN]

Thanks for the heads up. I was getting ready to start floating that stretch.

[Fishbus]

We left later than planned, as usual.

The booze cruise thing is for real, sometimes funny (canoes stacking up and flipping on simple Class I rapids) and sometimes annoying (constant beer, smoking and F-bombs).

I mean, I drink, smoke and throw some F-bombs, but I can give it a rest when I'm outdoors with my kids.

Anyway.

The put-in was convenient, albeit busy. Handy to be able to do the one car thing. Maybe a 10 minute hike to get from the parking back to the put-in. I'm sure whatever improvements they are making will help.

Fishing was surprising good, despite the traffic. My middle kid got 4-5 smallies in the 7-9" range, and my oldest got his biggest bass of some kind yet almost to his kayak and lost it at the boat. Even my wife got a few bluegills without trying too hard. All fish caught on bison color trout magnets and released.

The weather was nice and we had a good day together.

[wordty]

When fishing for fish larger than trout but using the famous bison TM, do you all still use the TM hook or a bigger hook?

[Alphahawk]

When fishing for fish larger than trout but using the famous bison TM, do you all still use the TM hook or a bigger hook?

I try to use the Trout Magnet head as much as possible. It is only 1/64 and it is the slow fall rate in my opinion that helps make the T M a great lure....plus the T M jig head is made to balance with the T M body and will fall more horizontally instead of vertically. I have no problem hooking and landing 3 to 5 pound Smallies with that hook. I have said it many times that large mouth will hit the T M but they don't go after it like Smallies will. While I have hooked quite a few big large mouth with the T M head it can be difficult to get a good hook set into a large one. I have no problems with the hook on white bass....crappie and spotted bass. I have and am currently testing the Trout Magnet with heads that weigh 1/24...1/16...and 1/8 of an ounce with a #8 hook....which is small...but it is a Steelhead hook and is extremely strong. But so far in my findings the Smallies prefer that slow fall rate of the Trout Magnet head. I have also had some 1/64 heads made with a #4 sickle hook but my catch rate went down so went back to the Trout Magnet hook.



Regards

[wordty]

Wow, thanks Alphahawk...if I could have picked WHO would reply to my question, it would have been you for sure...thanks a lot for the quick and great info!

[Fishbus]

Likely no one has more science on it than Alphahawk.

For my 2 cents, I'll say that I have purchased various branded 1/32 oz jig heads when I needed them and couldn't find TM products.

The extra weight also helps my younger kids fishing with smaller poles get a little more distance on their casts.