Duck River 04/20/14 Williamsport 04/21/14

[FlipaYak]

My dad and I floated from Sowell Mill Pike to Howard Bridge on the Duck River Saturday. We put in at 2:00 PM took out at 7:00 PM. I caught 4 sun perch, 6 redeye, 6 smallmouth, and a 8" bluegill that was a complete surprise.

All fish except the sun perch were caught on a 2 1/2" Strike King Zero in Junebug attached to a 1/16 oz CM jig head fished just by drifting with the current or on a swim/glide retrieve. The primary pattern was current up against big rocks in 4 to 5 feet of water.

I tried catfish on punch bait in a log jam and in an eddie along a rocky bank with no luck.

We went to Williamsport yesterday and fished Whipporwill lake from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. I managed one bluegill on a popping bug and one bass on a Charlie Brewer whirly bee. The fishing was tough.

The catfish are what have me puzzled. At Old Hickory, Williamsport, and the Duck River, I have yet to catch a catfish this year. Hopefully that changes in May when we go to Pickwick.

[Halli]

Good report.

As for cat I have been catching them at Old Hickory Lake on crappie minnows fishing for of course crappie.

[Fishbus]

Thanks for the Duck report. Is there another name for Howard Bridge? Could not find it on Google...

Billy


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[FlipaYak]

Thanks for the Duck report. Is there another name for Howard Bridge? Could not find it on Google...

Billy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

http://www.tn.gov/twra/gis/Boating/Boating_PDF/DuckRiver/HowardBridgeRoad.pdf

[Fishbus]

Ahh, thanks. I'd supposed that's where you were talking about, but the "Howard Bridge" name does not appear on Google.

Thanks,

Billy

[FlipaYak]

From Columbia to a few miles upstream of I-65, every bridge will have some type of public access because TWRA manages a lot of the land along that stretch of river as part of Yanahli WMA.

The link I gave you and TWRA's main boat access GIS page are a great resource to use because the quality of access varies (concrete ramp, gravel ramp, or steep mud bank).

[Fishbus]

All your points are well taken.

While we're on the topic, do you know of anybody/webpages/posts regarding overnight camping/kayaking down the Duck?

Would be interested in doing some section with an overnight camp in the middle. Assume the islands are fair game without any permission, but not sure of other locales...

Billy

[FlipaYak]

All your points are well taken.

While we're on the topic, do you know of anybody/webpages/posts regarding overnight camping/kayaking down the Duck?

Would be interested in doing some section with an overnight camp in the middle. Assume the islands are fair game without any permission, but not sure of other locales...

Billy

River Rat's Canoe Rental has a campground and offers an overnight trip. Henry Horton State Park is right on the Duck River. Camping on the stretch through Yanahli WMA is questionable. The WMA regulations state "camping may be permitted on designated areas by permission from the area manager." Yanahli has designated camping areas. None of them are on the river; they're mostly used by deer hunters.

[Reel Tune]

Ms. Coopers is primitive camping on the river just up river on river right of the Henry Horton State Park.

Are you wanting to do a multi-day float/camp/fish, or just an over nighter?

[Fishbus]

Thanks Jeremy and FlipaYak.

You've mentioned that Ms. Cooper's before, now that I think about it.

Looking at options for future trips. Talking with some pals about the Tennessee River Blueway from Chattanooga to Nickajack this summer. Also looking for smaller, more yak-friendly water for similar type trips.

Billy

[bfish]

... Also looking for smaller, more yak-friendly water for similar type trips.

Billy

Buffalo and Big South Fork of the Cumberland (from the ford downstream and into KY).

[Fishbus]

That Big South Fork looks incredible.

When you say "ford", are you meaning Alum Ford at Road 700? There is a ramp there.

There's quite a few river miles from there to TN/KY border.

Looks great.

Billy

[bfish]

That Big South Fork looks incredible.

When you say "ford", are you meaning Alum Ford at Road 700? There is a ramp there.

There's quite a few river miles from there to TN/KY border.

Looks great.

Billy
No Leatherwood (upstream is whitewater), downstream is mostly mild. Park Service has maps with access points, mileage, portages (2 of them), and summer low water non-fishing float times.