Harpeth 3/10/13 - First Trout

[Fishbus]

I've been on this board for about 6 months, mostly paying attention to the Trout Magnet and Trout fishing threads and learning how to get back into fishing with my 3 sons like I did with my Dad when I was little.

Last weekend my 12 year old and I fished Stones River and Normandy tailwaters without any luck. It was snowing and we saw ducks and a heron cruise the river right in front of us. We had a good day together, just no fish.

Sunday I had to drag him with me, and I could see that he was beginning to think that fishing was just a concept that Dad believed in with no real end result.

So we hit the Harpeth Sunday for a very brief trip, and I caught a few dinks, but he got his first trout, an almost 13" stocker. More importantly I think he has turned the corner on fishing and gotten "hooked". Sorry.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Fishbus

he was beginning to think that fishing was just a concept that Dad believed in with no real end result.

Couple things to think about:

1, Once the water warms the gills with really be shallow and ready to eat. Fish the trout magnets (on the 2lb test line) under float for the visible excitement and he will catch tons of them.

2. Not sure how big the Harpeth is but creeks are incredile fishing grounds for kids. Lots of cathing, playing, digging and exploring.

That is awesome you are getting your kids into fishing. My girls love it ages 2.5 and 5 yrs old. I asked my oldest one what she wanted to do this year once school is out...her reply "go to the creek." Even your older son will like wade fishing. That's my most fond memories growning up was wading all over TN with my grandfather.

Trout sure are fun to catch at any age!

[Alphahawk]

That's awesome! When the weather warms the Gills at the Williamsport Lakes can be caught off the bank in huge numbers. You will see me post when they are there. Plus there are thousands of crappie.....even though not large....would be a lot of fun for a kid....heck, it's a lot of fun for me.....LOL.



Regards

[Fishbus]

Thanks guys, both of your posts have been great to read.

I'll be bank fishing with the kids, and also taking out the Big Tuna I bought at the end of last season and rotating the kids on it with me. Looking to take it on the Stones, JPP and eventually learn to work with it on the Caney after I get some skill with it.

I've been over to the Williamsport area to fish the TWRA kid lakes, but would like to get on the larger ones and Bedford, Couchville, etc. too.

How do you target the gills without electronics? Points, structure?

Thanks,

Billy

[tcintn]

Bill

Look at this site and look at 3/22 stocking in franklin and at Mcutcheson creek.
You can take your son and if you see me there,will give you some T M products to try.I will be in a 3500 Grey Dodge Mega cab.Since they throw off bridge at park,hard to get to but easier at creek off of Saturn Pkwy.
I wish I had found fishing a long time a go.Started late in life and now I have to fish with grandchildren instead of son and daughter.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Fishbus

Thanks guys, both of your posts have been great to read.

I'll be bank fishing with the kids, and also taking out the Big Tuna I bought at the end of last season and rotating the kids on it with me. Looking to take it on the Stones, JPP and eventually learn to work with it on the Caney after I get some skill with it.

I've been over to the Williamsport area to fish the TWRA kid lakes, but would like to get on the larger ones and Bedford, Couchville, etc. too.

How do you target the gills without electronics? Points, structure?

Thanks,

Billy

Points...flats...brush...those are all good places to find Gills. When the water temps get into the mid 60's they will be staging up close to banks in coves to get ready to spawn. They can and do spawn in as little as a foot of water.....but usually the bigger ones will always be out deeper in say 6 feet of water.....or deeper. Maybe we can hook up sometime with the kayaks at Williamsport and I can put you on some spots where you could catch 100-150 in a day all at around 7 to 8 inches long....and sometimes bigger. I know some spots there that have beds that big. It is the same over at Bedford...except you can get into bigger Gills over there.


Regards

[Fishbus]

It'd be a pleasure to fish with any of you guys, and see what I can learn.

Alpha, I'll follow your posts and see if you're out on a weekend, I work in Nashville full time, but I can take a day off if warranted for fishing.

TCinTN, I'll catch up with you as we get closer to 3/22. Do you think you'll be out that Friday, or on the weekend also? Having had a good day on the Harpeth yesterday, we might just head back this weekend too.

Travis, not leaving you out, I just know it's 10x harder to hook up a fishing day for 2 guys who both have jobs and young kids, unlike these retired fisherman types...but I could bring my little guy (8) if you're out with the girls sometime.

Thanks all,

Billy

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Fishbus

Travis, not leaving you out, I just know it's 10x harder to hook up a fishing day for 2 guys who both have jobs and young kids, Thanks all,

Billy

You ain't kiddin with that statement.

I don't get out as much as the retired types but me and the girls go quite a bit. I stay at home with them so we tend to get our feet wet or on the boat often once the weather warms. Although my little did decide to wet wade a creek earlier this year after a trout...LOL. Unfortunately it was on a cold day so we left pretty quick.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Fishbus

It'd be a pleasure to fish with any of you guys, and see what I can learn.

Alpha, I'll follow your posts and see if you're out on a weekend, I work in Nashville full time, but I can take a day off if warranted for fishing.

TCinTN, I'll catch up with you as we get closer to 3/22. Do you think you'll be out that Friday, or on the weekend also? Having had a good day on the Harpeth yesterday, we might just head back this weekend too.

Travis, not leaving you out, I just know it's 10x harder to hook up a fishing day for 2 guys who both have jobs and young kids, unlike these retired fisherman types...but I could bring my little guy (8) if you're out with the girls sometime.

Thanks all,

Billy

This year I will fish on weekends some.....especially if it's close by.


Regards

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

This year I will fish on weekends some.....especially if it's close by.


Regards

And because of that, we will be fishing a lot more together! Looking forward to it!