JestersHK

I started my oldest early, on an 8'6 5wt. She was I think 6 when she started using a spinning rod. I think I put her on the flyrod when she was 11 maybe? Its documented on here somewhere in one of my trips as her first trout came from Taney. I took her into some flat water and basically showed her the mechanics of it. I'm an awful teacher, but like most things she picked it up pretty quick and was off to catch her fish. She's got a knack for her fishing methods that just seem to work. I'll tell her to slow down or speed up and she'll just ignore it do her thing and out fish me... Blue gill are also a good way to keep them going and interested too. They are a little more forgiving and usually cooperate. Daughter is 13 now, and she gets mad at em like I do... She's getting her hunter safety card this year too, and although she's still on the fence I'm hoping to have a successful deer harvest with her this fall.

HAHAHAHA I second that motion! Try to get some contraband jerk baits off that boat too!

That was one of my theories as well, but I have experienced it away from the outlets... The ones with them all jumping was down past rebar. I've def seen them during the day stack up in the outlets especially during the fall runs. I attribute some of that to them trying to get to the better O2 water coming from hatchery, and the rest to the feed coming down through. I wonder if the fish get imprinted with the feeding times and that's what drives it. I know they remember the pellets as I've watched many guys sit there at the outlet and just whack them on a rubber brown pellet... Not my style, but obviously the fish don't forget what their food looks like. Does anyone know the feeder times from the hatchery? Would be interesting to see if it lined up.

In case some of you don't Facebook, Phil posted it on his OneCast and my wife sent me the link to watch since no FB for me. I hope they stick with it! What a truly great thing you've done Phil, inspiring others to get the kids out there fishing!

Nice job SIO3! Should of skipped outta work and grabbed a ride down with ya LOL...

@CLoyd if you are out there late I am trying to unravel the 1:00AM phenomenon. Not sure why but all the nights I have been down there for whatever reason at 1:00AM the fish go into a frenzy. Were talking hard bone jarring bites, and tons of fish surfacing and jumping. One night with my BIL the fish were jumping so much out of the water they were almost landing on us... Some nights it may only last for 30min or so, other nights it goes longer, but it is almost to the minute that the bite heats up at that time. For a while I thought I was crazy and just sleep deprived, but all the folks I've fished with or taken down there at night have now witnessed it enough times I can say I'm maybe only part crazy. If you are out that late let me know if it happens to you or not.

Well shoot if you and Pat are adopting who am I to pass that up! I got allot of baggage, but I'm sure between my 3 offspring we can figure out some type of sweat labor deal!

Hahaha! I'm always hopeful there's more creatures of the night out there like myself. As for long lost siblings closest story I got is I may have some half Taiwanese siblings running around from my Pops time in the Navy... I gotta get to it while the gettin's good Buddy! And I darn well hope that if CLoyd is my long lost twin he got the better looks and a full head of hair! LOL

Man I'd likely end up an insomniac if I lived closer LOL. Good goal to have though. I'm most alive amongst the waters at night... It really is peaceful out there in the dark, and for me I almost prefer it over daytime. I'll shoot ya a PM if I make it down this weekend!

Some of the fish from Phil's tourney last week were already starting to show some spawn colors on them. I guess with all the weird weather we've had the fish may start running up early? I remember BB posted in the TR forum on how the lake was already fishing like fall a few weeks ago... @CLoyd do you fly fish exclusively up there? Ever throw sticks or jigs at night? Either way nice catch and thanks for sharing.

Nice! Would love to see this Chateau that you speak of

Impressive fish totals there. Looks like some really nice ones were caught. Looks like a few are starting to get the spawn colors going as well, my favorite time of year. Wish I coulda made it down. Maybe this weekend... Twisting my arm with all of these solid fish being caught!

Great, now us IT guys are gonna be spotlighted... We try to stay in the shadows for a reason you know... Momma told me long ago you just can't fix ugly.

I concur with John that the BH's are good peoples. Haven't met Pat yet, but much admiration for her, and not only for just putting up with Marty, but those fishin skills to boot. I will always be grateful for my river guide down in Arkansas who tolerated my incessant rambling of chasing fish and saving my jerkbaits... At least not as much retrievals as John anyways LOL. He even took it easy on me as I still was picking pretty much all of @duckydoty 's seat cushion out of my posterior from the shoal hopping adventure from the day before! Even if he did sleep on the job a bit, it was a great day on the water with a great person.

Thankg guys, needed a good pick me up! We really need to get a reality TV show setup for you two!

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to finally get up there... Just awesome.

Ouch! Thats a good one there man. Glad you were able to self extract.

Congrats to you both and that onesie is awesome! Hope you guys are managing some sleep.

Nice job man! Love seeing the kiddos out fishing!

I'm late to this party but once again the Billetheads deliver! I wish I could of been along for that one. I even recognized some of those CO locations from my last trip there. Hopefully next year I can get back out there. Or if anything maybe I can sneak into the camper, and then I'll be the pack mule and lug all of the gear for you guys Needs more night fishing though! LOL

Nice trip John! And yeah those sharks look like fun for sure! Glad you and the Fam were able to get out into the salt for a bit. As expected I'm glad Liv was able to put a hurtin on them too.

Wow! Can't wait to see your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all follow up attempts! Thats a beautiful piece right there.

Yeah, I wish I would of taken some more time to get some better measurements. My neighbor could of even brought our scale down in less than 5 minutes... He was about 10 minutes out from coming down and fishing with me and we could of got some better pics... I didn't want to chance it with her though, I had to really play her out on the ultralight to get her in and she was gassed. Plus our pond temps have stayed so high I didn't want to risk losing her. Bout had to strip my boots off to get her revived out in moss free water, but she swam off strong. I will just have to keep my little fish scale on me for next time. I really hope one of my kiddos can hook into this one again!

Can't wait to see the first big Brownie you catch on those! Looking good buddy!

I headed out late morning to one of our little ponds by my house. This was actually the second one I stopped at and it was prolly around 10 when I got there. I had on a blue and copper weed less worm and about my 3rd cast I had a great bite. Now my neighbor makes fun of me as I fish these bass with my little ultralights with 2 and 4lb line, but I always tell him until something big enough breaks me off I'm not messing with getting bass gear out lol. Well today I think I about met my match. Somehow the 4lb line held up after 2 runs and a big jump. Big girl finally rolled on her side for me and I was able to lip her at the bank. Biggest one I've personally caught. I suck at guessing bass size but I'm confident saying she was over 4lbs. Could fit my whole hand in her mouth... Gonna try to guesstimate her length off the rod picture too. I got my pics quick and she swam off healthy so I hope to battle with her again sometime... Fishing stunk after that one lol.