Fishbus
05-12-2014, 10:51 AM
We put in at Normandy Dam Saturday and floated to Dement Bridge/Highway 269.
My two friends from Chattanooga joined my three boys and I so we had six kayaks on the water. We expected a good trip based on our last trip in December, maybe a slower trout bite because of the warming temperatures.
It was not the case. As soon as we crossed under the bridge at the parking lot, the bite was on. My oldest got the first, a rock bass. Shortly after, I started with a white TM and had one of several hot streaks I had that day. I stayed with the magnet, and caught probably 20 fish before the plastic body fell off the jig. Everyone switched to white TM's if they weren't using them already.
We caught fish all the way down the river, and the trout were thick in the holes we found them in last time again. No surprise there. We portaged around Cortner's Mill Dam without trouble, finding a better path than the one we used last time. I enjoyed a single adult beverage to celebrate the good fishing!
Fishing picked up again right after the dam. Somewhere down from there I landed a 14" smallie, my personal best, on 2lb. line. I know that is not impressive to bass fishermen here, but for my first decent smallie to be in the kayak on UL gear, it was a lot of fun. Another one hooked up minutes later and broke my fluorocarbon leader off. I can only assume it was a smallie, because I'm not sure what else would have the horsepower to do that in that river.
We caught bluegill, long ear sunfish, shellcracker, large mouth, small mouth, crappie and trout along the way.
We wound up getting caught in the dark because the fishing was going so well, we had trouble moving along. Not the best idea. We had one person dump (not the kids thankfully) near the end at a bend in the river with some swifter water, and taking out at night is just more stressful. Need to start earlier, too much good fishing. Everyone was wearing PFD's of course.
All in all, we spend 9 hours floating six miles and had our best day ever. We camped at Old Stone Fort that night and cooked up steaks and potatoes after icing down the fish. I'll be serving them up for my folks when they come into town for my oldest's graduation from high school next week.
Cannot say enough good things about a trip down the Duck River.
Billy
My two friends from Chattanooga joined my three boys and I so we had six kayaks on the water. We expected a good trip based on our last trip in December, maybe a slower trout bite because of the warming temperatures.
It was not the case. As soon as we crossed under the bridge at the parking lot, the bite was on. My oldest got the first, a rock bass. Shortly after, I started with a white TM and had one of several hot streaks I had that day. I stayed with the magnet, and caught probably 20 fish before the plastic body fell off the jig. Everyone switched to white TM's if they weren't using them already.
We caught fish all the way down the river, and the trout were thick in the holes we found them in last time again. No surprise there. We portaged around Cortner's Mill Dam without trouble, finding a better path than the one we used last time. I enjoyed a single adult beverage to celebrate the good fishing!
Fishing picked up again right after the dam. Somewhere down from there I landed a 14" smallie, my personal best, on 2lb. line. I know that is not impressive to bass fishermen here, but for my first decent smallie to be in the kayak on UL gear, it was a lot of fun. Another one hooked up minutes later and broke my fluorocarbon leader off. I can only assume it was a smallie, because I'm not sure what else would have the horsepower to do that in that river.
We caught bluegill, long ear sunfish, shellcracker, large mouth, small mouth, crappie and trout along the way.
We wound up getting caught in the dark because the fishing was going so well, we had trouble moving along. Not the best idea. We had one person dump (not the kids thankfully) near the end at a bend in the river with some swifter water, and taking out at night is just more stressful. Need to start earlier, too much good fishing. Everyone was wearing PFD's of course.
All in all, we spend 9 hours floating six miles and had our best day ever. We camped at Old Stone Fort that night and cooked up steaks and potatoes after icing down the fish. I'll be serving them up for my folks when they come into town for my oldest's graduation from high school next week.
Cannot say enough good things about a trip down the Duck River.
Billy