TroutRinger

I wish I could do that, but unfortunately, the living room it is in now is in my girlfriend's apartment. Though her roommates haven't said anything yet, I'm sure they are sick of seeing it, and I can't do anything like that in my dorm. I think that when I do move it out of the apartment I will use it more. Now I don't like bringing it in and out because I don't want my girlfriend's roommates to think I intend to keep it there permanently. Plus the place where I am going to store it is less than ten minutes away and is in the same direction as a couple places on the James.

To make a long short, I can no longer keep my kayak where it is now (a very comfy living room) so I have to store at my girlfriend's uncle's house. It is either going to go in the garage or under his deck. He would probably not mind me leaving it in the garage seeing as they only use it for storage themselves, but I don't want to have to bother them every time I want to go fishing. Anyway, if I was to store it outside, is that bad for it. I plan on putting a tarp over it and taking it home to put in my parents' basement during the winter. Also, I hear you are supposed to stand them up on one end when you store them long term? Is there any alternative? It is a standard 9'6" sit-in plastic kayak.

I found Cedar Creek on Google Earth but can't really tell if there is parking or not. Do you remember if there is any? I also found the pound. Thanks for giving me some options.

I think I'm going to hit the Finley or James tomorrow and do a little fishing seeing as I haven't used my new kayak since moving down here. If anyone wants to meet up, I have nothing to do tomorrow so I'm pretty open to different times. Shoot me a PM if interested.

After spending about 20 minutes trying to fix my Google Earth which got all screwed up, I finally found it. It is called Hinkson Creek. The MDC website says it has a "fair population" of smallies", but who knows how accurate that is. I might give it a shot anyway.

Now that I think about it, I think it is called Hinkson Creek. It runs through Capen Park.

...bump...

I will be in Columbia/Ashland this weekend and will have a few hours to kill on Saturday. Does anyone know of any good smallie streams (and access points) close to Columbia. I read in a book that Hinsley Creek had some smallies in it, but don't know much else. I'd appreciate any help. Thanks

Those are some nice fish! Are those spotted bass? or spot-smallie hybrids?

Very cool pics and a beautiful stream. Thanks for sharing.

Where do you park at the Smyrna Bridge?...and does anyone know where you park at Linden? Is off that Canyon Rd just north of the bridge?

That's quite a rig you got there...thanks for posting the pics.

That is one secluded place. Is there a road that leads there? I don't remember seeing one.

Are you guys talking about that cabin on the left side when floating downstream up on the hill/bluff?

Thanks for the report. I'm going on the James for the first time tomorrow weather permitting.

I like that one a lot...cool pic!....where were these taken?

That may very well be true. I just remember seeing a sign in a park or at a lake one time that said something about how it was prohibitted to do so. That could have also been unique to that location.

Ain't that the truth. Anyway, I'm by no means an expert with baitcasters, in fact I usually prefer spinning. However, I find it easiest to cast baitcasters with lures that have good weight to them (multiblade spinnerbaits, big plastic worms with bullet weights, etc.). Also, even though I don't think it is the technically right thing to do, I usually set my real tension pretty light and just thumb the line. That's the only way I can get good distance. With all that said, I don't really know why I use baitcasters. In open water, like ponds, I can usually cast them a little farther than spinning outfits, but I'm more comfortable and much more accurate with spinning reels.

I don't really have any objection to it, but I thought it was illegal to use a species of game fish to catch another. I could be wrong though. That said, when I was much younger and on vacation with my family in Florida, I caught several bass in the 4 pound range on the condo complex lake using sunfish.

How long does it take to paddle up that far?

I just got back from Route 66 State Park. I was only there for about an hour and a half to play around with my new kayak. The water was pretty murky (very Lake of the Ozarks like), and I didn't catch a thing. That said I wasn't really trying that hard fishing. I was just getting used to the kayak.

My primary crappie rod is 7'6". I like it because it is very easy to cast with.

I sure wouldn't want to be standing in the box with a guy throwing 100+ heat with no idea where it is going. I would be like John Kruk in the 93 All-Star game against Randy Johnson.

Do you think there is any need to buy a leash or would making one out of rope serve the same purpose?

...oh yea, do you think I need a paddle leash?