Smithville/Mcminnville area

[frayedknot]

Hello all,

New to the site and was wondering how many members may be in my area!

a little about what I do, I bass fish most of the time but I like to target pan fish and trout on spinning and fly tackle at times.

I've been hitting a local nursery pond this summer with the frog but now I've got a hankrin to hit some redeyes, smallies, bluegill or trout in my area. I would love to find some river or creek smallies around here but I've fished center hill on boats all my life and I'd like to find some good wading spots.. I've really gotten into the bank and wading in my head..I haven't done it much but there's something about the exploration and challenge of finding and chasing these creatures on foot..

I haven't got into the kayak fishing yet but I'm looking into that.. like I said there's just something about trekking the small waters that intrigues me.. I film most of my trips on gopro and would like to keep compiling footage or even produce a small youtube series..

So with that said does anyone have any starting points for me?
I've heard that alot of the calf killer and streams alike are private property but I'm not sure..I've been a big lake fisherman all my life. I really like the farm ponds too for big fat largies ..my daughter is 5 and I'm going to try and hit some of those too as she's shown an interest in going fishing with me.

[bfish]

Burgess Falls is a good starting point

[frayedknot]

Never thought of that being an option, never been there before but I've heard of people going there to hike and stuff..

[MNfisher]

Caney for trout! Search this site for "trout magnet". You will find oodles of past info on set ups and how to's. They smash the trout!


Mike

[frayedknot]

My grandmother lived on the barren fork in Doyle and was an avid fly fisherman, as was my grandfather. After he died she would walk down to the river in her back yard and fish at 83 years old. I am lucky enough to say that I got to fish with her on her boat some but after she died someone bought her cabin and with that my access to the barren ended as I don't know anyone around there.. I hear about the caney and would love to try it.. my main thing right now is to find good acces/permission for parking ..not so much permission as much as I'm not familiar with the area as far as actually being on the water there and public access.

[MickT]

Originally Posted by bfish

Burgess Falls is a good starting point

According to State Parks website, the stairs are still closed going to the bottom of the falls. I haven't been by to see for myself though. I suppose you could hit the little bit of water between the dam and the head of the falls but I don't know if there's enough there to hold fish.

[bfish]

Originally Posted by MickT

According to State Parks website, the stairs are still closed going to the bottom of the falls. I haven't been by to see for myself though. I suppose you could hit the little bit of water between the dam and the head of the falls but I don't know if there's enough there to hold fish.

Plenty of area to wade. I highly suggest wading boots. Lots of slick bedrock with sunshine fed algae.

[frayedknot]

Originally Posted by bfish

Plenty of area to wade. I highly suggest wading boots. Lots of slick bedrock with sunshine fed algae.

Until I get a good pair I figured I might use my NRS water boots, I'm a swiftwater rescue swimmer with my local Rescue Squad and they grip really good..or possibly my muck boots.

[daniel]

check out lake Karen. small lake no gas powered motors. 3 dollars to fish. my in laws own it but I have never been there they say there is some good bass in

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[aero320]

Originally Posted by daniel

check out lake Karen. small lake no gas powered motors. 3 dollars to fish. my in laws own it but I have never been there they say there is some good bass in

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Lake Karen is a natural lake that is clear with lots of bass. I take my kayak out on the lake and fish for bass with a buzz bait. It has deep banks in some areas. There is plenty of access for bank fishing.

[frayedknot]

I have hit lake karen a couple times over the past few weeks and in 4 trips I've caught 1 fish, it was on a senko.. but I've thrown the frog, and buzz bait and had some blow ups but nothing very big..I grew up fishing lake karen. My mom would take me there and read while I would fish from the bank..I was probably 10 or 11.. I caught my personal best from lake karen back in 06 But it's changed alot in the years and all the deep banks are hard to get to.. the furthest side from the ramp is clear but shallow and I think the big fish don't lurk there much. I have nothing against lake karen but this year it's not been kind to me. I would hope some of the big bass are still in there but they are pressured and smarter than the small ones.