In the Shadow of Center Hill Dam

[lupanfreitag]

I arrived at noon, just as two generators down shifted to one. It took the water over an hour and a half to drop at the pool below the dam.

It was slow. I caught one on Gulp Eggs after relentlessly throwing cranks and spoons. I snagged one brown on a trout magnet but no other takers. No action on the surface. Another guy out there caught two- both on a Rapala but two hours apart.

The TVA schedule stated from 4PM two + generators. At around 3:30PM, the sun retreated behind the west hills.... and I got a hit. A nice brook. Then another and another and another. In the last twenty minutes I caught 12 fish. I kept 5 for eating and released the rest. All were less at 12 inches but a helluva' good time. When the siren blew for TWO OR MORE I wanted to rage, rage against the dying of the bite... but instead I waded out and carried my cooler to the car.

A side note:
About 30 minutes after I arrived at dam, still fishless, a DNR truck pulled up. I walked over thinking he wanted to see my lisence. Instead he was doing a survey.
"How would you rate the Caney from 1 to 6. One being extremly dissatisfied and six being extremely satisfied?"
I said, "Six."
DNR- "Have you caught a lot today?"
Me- "Nope. But it is still a six. I'd come here everyday if I could, fish or no fish. I love it. Nothing better in the world."
He shot me a look of incredulity and drove off.... not before backing off the ramp and getting stuck in the gravel.
I just kept fishing, grinning along with the roar of the falls, the thump of the equipment pumping grout into the dam, and the DNR truck tires squeeling like stuck pigs.
A glorious day.

I'm going agian next week. And I'm buying a kayak. Don't tell my wife...

[SAMBOLIE]

Originally Posted by lupanfreitag

I arrived at noon, just as two generators down shifted to one. It took the water over an hour and a half to drop at the pool below the dam.

It was slow. I caught one on Gulp Eggs after relentlessly throwing cranks and spoons. I snagged one brown on a trout magnet but no other takers. No action on the surface. Another guy out there caught two- both on a Rapala but two hours apart.

The TVA schedule stated from 4PM two + generators. At around 3:30PM, the sun retreated behind the west hills.... and I got a hit. A nice brook. Then another and another and another. In the last twenty minutes I caught 12 fish. I kept 5 for eating and released the rest. All were less at 12 inches but a helluva' good time. When the siren blew for TWO OR MORE I wanted to rage, rage against the dying of the bite... but instead I waded out and carried my cooler to the car.

A side note:
About 30 minutes after I arrived at dam, still fishless, a DNR truck pulled up. I walked over thinking he wanted to see my lisence. Instead he was doing a survey.
"How would you rate the Caney from 1 to 6. One being extremly dissatisfied and six being extremely satisfied?"
I said, "Six."
DNR- "Have you caught a lot today?"
Me- "Nope. But it is still a six. I'd come here everyday if I could, fish or no fish. I love it. Nothing better in the world."
He shot me a look of incredulity and drove off.... not before backing off the ramp and getting stuck in the gravel.
I just kept fishing, grinning along with the roar of the falls, the thump of the equipment pumping grout into the dam, and the DNR truck tires squeeling like stuck pigs.
A glorious day.

I'm going agian next week. And I'm buying a kayak. Don't tell my wife...

Sounds like a fun day.
No need for us to tell the wife and have her whup yur arse before you get the kayak.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by lupanfreitag

I arrived at noon, just as two generators down shifted to one. It took the water over an hour and a half to drop at the pool below the dam.

It was slow. I caught one on Gulp Eggs after relentlessly throwing cranks and spoons. I snagged one brown on a trout magnet but no other takers. No action on the surface. Another guy out there caught two- both on a Rapala but two hours apart.

The TVA schedule stated from 4PM two + generators. At around 3:30PM, the sun retreated behind the west hills.... and I got a hit. A nice brook. Then another and another and another. In the last twenty minutes I caught 12 fish. I kept 5 for eating and released the rest. All were less at 12 inches but a helluva' good time. When the siren blew for TWO OR MORE I wanted to rage, rage against the dying of the bite... but instead I waded out and carried my cooler to the car.

A side note:
About 30 minutes after I arrived at dam, still fishless, a DNR truck pulled up. I walked over thinking he wanted to see my lisence. Instead he was doing a survey.
"How would you rate the Caney from 1 to 6. One being extremly dissatisfied and six being extremely satisfied?"
I said, "Six."
DNR- "Have you caught a lot today?"
Me- "Nope. But it is still a six. I'd come here everyday if I could, fish or no fish. I love it. Nothing better in the world."
He shot me a look of incredulity and drove off.... not before backing off the ramp and getting stuck in the gravel.
I just kept fishing, grinning along with the roar of the falls, the thump of the equipment pumping grout into the dam, and the DNR truck tires squeeling like stuck pigs.
A glorious day.

I'm going agian next week. And I'm buying a kayak. Don't tell my wife...

Sweet !!! 'TK><

[jad2t]

What is the DNR and why would they be upset with you for giving the Caney a 6 rating?

[TNBronzeback]

DNR is Department of Natural Resources. (TWRA)
im from michigan and thats what they were called up there and i still catch myself referring to the TWRA down here the DNR.
They all do the same job, just different names for different states.

[Reel Tune]

DNR = Department of Natural Resources same thing as TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) A governing agency that enforces regulations, studies wildlife habitats, and tries to improve our resources.

I would say the officer was more surprised you gave it a 6 out of 6. I'm fairly new to the area, but from what I hear the Caney don't fish like it used to.

Sounds like you had a nice day out there. The way I see it "Any day on the water not catching fish is better than any day on the water, fish are just a bonus".

Congratulations on the future kayak. What kind are you getting. Please be careful, now is not the best time to be trying something new. If you would like for someone to go with you I'm sure someone would be more than happy to. Unfourtabately I work everyday until January 3rd. I may be able to fit in a couple trips between the 12 or sometimes 16hrs off between shifts.

[Pookie]

Originally Posted by TNBronzeback

DNR is Department of Natural Resources. (TWRA)
im from michigan and thats what they were called up there and i still catch myself referring to the TWRA down here the DNR.
They all do the same job, just different names for different states.

Damn Yankees!

[MNfisher]

Yep, I still call them DNR all the time!