Unexpected ending to great trip

[Reel Tune]

I had a fishing trip planned for months in the Crossville area. My goal was to familiarize myself with the waters in the area (Emory River, Obed River, Daddys Creek, and Clear Creek. I took off work Friday to scout the areas before my wife came up. I arrived on location Friday around 10am as planned and started stopping at bridges scoping out the waters for non-posted property and areas I could access the water. The first stop I made I met a guy named Harvey he’s 81 years old and has lived in the area and fished the area since he was a boy. We talked for well over an hour probably close to two. I’m glad he stopped I think it made both of our days.

I drive to 6 more areas and everywhere the water was very low. I knew to fish this place it was going to take a lot of work. At one point in the Catoosa WMA the GPS had me on a road but it was not much wider than my truck and dirt with rock ledges to climb, and mud holes that came ¾ the way over my tires and almost to the door jam, and I was pulling a trailer with the kayaks where once the tires of the trailer were completely submerged in mud. This road was about 4-5 miles long and top speed of 8-10 mph usually more like 5mph.

I located all the places I had mapped and only found one good place with water. As I got back to the resort just after dark Sarah was just arriving and I needed to get cleaned up to hit the Catfish Cabin for some great grub. All you can eat catfish, Yuengling, and Chocolate Pie.

Saturday morning we hit the 1st place for about 3 hours with 5 or so smallies a piece all small. We encountered more dragging of the kayaks than we wanted and as we turned to go back upstream we watched 3 hogs cross the creek about 100 yards down all around 200lb not anymore.

The next place we floated, portaged, rode some rapids, floated, more rapids and kept doing this. We would fish the deeper sections, below the rapids, and pools above the rapids. Most fish came from the slower/deeper pools on hard and soft jerkbaits. The water was all unbelievably clear visibility was 15-20 feet in some of the pools. I did see a few big smallmouth and spotted bass, but couldn’t entice them to eat.

We called it a day around 5pm and headed back to get cleaned up and eat. After eating we stopped to play our usual ping pong and basketball. I was on my game in ping pong, but Sarah did put up a good fight, and then switched to basketball. We shot around for about 20 minutes before we started to play and I went up for a pull up 3 on the left side of the arch and came down on my ankle rolling it. Instead of fishing Sunday and Monday I had to come back Sunday morning because I couldn’t put any pressure on my right foot. X-Rays say no break, and Thursday I go to the Orthopedist for an MRI because it’s Tuesday and still not much better.

Of all the things we do, and I have to hurt myself playing basketball. I don’t know how long I will be down, hopefully not long. It sucks having the resort for a few more days and having to check out early and missing out on some of these beautiful waters.

[Alphahawk]

Wow...bummer. I can certainly relate. I am blessed to be able to fish whenever I want and can't stand it when something interferes with my fishing. The shoulder surgery knocked me out for January and February....and most of March. About went nuts. Then two weeks ago came down with bronchitis and did not give myself time to heal and knocked myself out of days I can't fish, and it was self inflicted....I knew better. I have looked for places like you describe in your post and have had to look elsewhere due to my physical limitations on walking...dragging the kayak...climbing and so on. Plus not having a truck I could just see my Nissan Versa being buried in the mud...although I do take it places it was not meant to go. I know that had to be tough you booking your resort and then you can't do what you went there to do. Hopefully you can get back to fishing soon.


Regards

[browntrout]

Dang dude!!! Sorry about that. That is a bummer. I did that 1 time when I was a Sr. in high school. My ankle looked like a rainbow. Thankfully it healed up fine. I guess as we get older we do not have as much game in us as we once did. Hope you get better and are back on the water soon.

Roy

[MNfisher]

Sorry to hear that man! Heal up quick!

[Travis C.]

That stinks man. At least is was on the basketball court instead of rock hopping down on the Obed somewhere.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by MidTNKayakAngler

I had a fishing trip planned for months in the Crossville area. My goal was to familiarize myself with the waters in the area (Emory River, Obed River, Daddys Creek, and Clear Creek. I took off work Friday to scout the areas before my wife came up. I arrived on location Friday around 10am as planned and started stopping at bridges scoping out the waters for non-posted property and areas I could access the water. The first stop I made I met a guy named Harvey he’s 81 years old and has lived in the area and fished the area since he was a boy. We talked for well over an hour probably close to two. I’m glad he stopped I think it made both of our days.

I drive to 6 more areas and everywhere the water was very low. I knew to fish this place it was going to take a lot of work. At one point in the Catoosa WMA the GPS had me on a road but it was not much wider than my truck and dirt with rock ledges to climb, and mud holes that came ¾ the way over my tires and almost to the door jam, and I was pulling a trailer with the kayaks where once the tires of the trailer were completely submerged in mud. This road was about 4-5 miles long and top speed of 8-10 mph usually more like 5mph.

I located all the places I had mapped and only found one good place with water. As I got back to the resort just after dark Sarah was just arriving and I needed to get cleaned up to hit the Catfish Cabin for some great grub. All you can eat catfish, Yuengling, and Chocolate Pie.

Saturday morning we hit the 1st place for about 3 hours with 5 or so smallies a piece all small. We encountered more dragging of the kayaks than we wanted and as we turned to go back upstream we watched 3 hogs cross the creek about 100 yards down all around 200lb not anymore.

The next place we floated, portaged, rode some rapids, floated, more rapids and kept doing this. We would fish the deeper sections, below the rapids, and pools above the rapids. Most fish came from the slower/deeper pools on hard and soft jerkbaits. The water was all unbelievably clear visibility was 15-20 feet in some of the pools. I did see a few big smallmouth and spotted bass, but couldn’t entice them to eat.

We called it a day around 5pm and headed back to get cleaned up and eat. After eating we stopped to play our usual ping pong and basketball. I was on my game in ping pong, but Sarah did put up a good fight, and then switched to basketball. We shot around for about 20 minutes before we started to play and I went up for a pull up 3 on the left side of the arch and came down on my ankle rolling it. Instead of fishing Sunday and Monday I had to come back Sunday morning because I couldn’t put any pressure on my right foot. X-Rays say no break, and Thursday I go to the Orthopedist for an MRI because it’s Tuesday and still not much better.

Of all the things we do, and I have to hurt myself playing basketball. I don’t know how long I will be down, hopefully not long. It sucks having the resort for a few more days and having to check out early and missing out on some of these beautiful waters.

Jeremy, Man I know about ankles ... Sprains are worce than breaks as far as pain ... Good thing is that they can repair/recover quicker ... Believe it or not I think it is in the DNA ... My Dad had bad ankles ... He could sprain them getting out of bed.. .. The last bad spell I had was in 1998 ... I flew back from a 14 hour in the air from Japan ... When I stood up I knew something wasn't right ... I was on crutches for a week ...

Other than the Ankle it sounded like a neat weekend ...<'TK><



<'TK><

[Reel Tune]

Thanks for the kind replies. It's 4 days into it and the swelling is still to my toes, no bruising. The pain is not bad at all. I can now point my toes upward and place more weight on my foot, but not toes, and cannot point them downward or turn my foot to the left. I get the MRI tomorrow, and not going to be stubborn on this one and skip the skip it because I'm feeling better. I've had to many things heal incorrectly and can't afford anymore deformities.

Man, tk that is crazy.

The area is beautiful, and we will be spending more time over there once the water comes up, and I'm good enough to do some rock hopping.