FishinCricket

Yeah, I read your report in the biscuits and gravy thread... Good times, eh?

Right on, man.. Did you catch any monsters yesterday?

In the past two years that I have been reading and participating in this forum I have learned so many things, had so many great trips, gained so many great friends... I have stood on the shoulders of genius for every fish I have ever hooked.. I find myself constantly wanting to give a little thanks here and there, but I don't want to clutter forum conversations and I dont think it would be possible to send a note to each and every one of you that I have learned something from.. Thus the reason for this thread. A friend who is tireless in his efforts to help me learn the delicate art of fly fishing. Priceless. The general and specific encouragement of the members here. I can't tell you what a difference it makes to have an experienced angler comment that "you're casting is looking great! You've really taken to that fly rod, haven't you!". It's the difference between having a decent day of fishing and walking back to the truck on cloud 9.. Priceless On this forum you ask a question about a specific knot and three different people immidiately reply or PM with not only am answer, but a link to a diagram and a suggestion of two simpler knots that work just as well! Tell a member you are interested in learning more about casting techniques and he literally PM's you an essay of EXTREMELY useful information! Priceless. Ask a guy to go fishing with you and he not only brings along two of each fly he has tied (or lure he has bought) but when lunchtime rolls around he offers you half his sandwich! Priceless. Just browsing the forum you find a bit of advice that one member gave to another last year. You use that same technique (that has never occurred to you) and just tear up a hole that has never produced fish before! Priceless. You get on the river with one of these guys and get to talking about politics or something.. The two of you disagree on an issue on a fundamental level (ultimate gun control vs. No gun control).. You agree to disagree and then he asks if you want to step into his spot and try and catch this lunker he can't hit)... Nothing stands between fishing buddies. Priceless. You announce to someone that your gonna be in their neck of the woods the next day to go floating and they immidiately give you directions to the best hole on that stretch (resulting in a hook up of a miassive fish and a lifetime memory), and then apologizes cause he can't come along! Priceless There are many more examples, but you get the idea. This forum is full of great people. We don't all agree on everything, but we agree on this: Fishing is a great part of life, and carries it's own lifestyle. Be good to your fellow fisherman, be good to your waterways. Enjoy yourself. Be thankful, not just in November, but every single day of your life, with every breath you take. Thanks again, sincerely, to every fisherman that has helped me along the way. Thanks in advance to all who will do so in the future.

Geeez, I'm blushing.... Thanks fo the compliment, sincerely. Well then I am glad that the guys that are truely good today are of a different disposition. His technique would work just as well for those big smallies in those tricky spots.. And I have seen a few browns that would reach a lil higher than a "dink"... lol Maybe they were a batch that was in with the stockers? I should have taken a picture of him, he was really pretty.. I'm probably gonna try and make it down there on Sunday, but don't know if I will venture into the park or stay out there.. I want to try the area just below the outlet into the river, I know every rock there (retrieving kastmasters will teach you real quick) so I think I can work that same technique... Wish me luck?

I have two 8' 6" 5wt's (still learning what all this jargon means, honestly) and I have caught all sorts of different fish with them.. Largemouth, smallmouth, trout, catfish, honker gills, etc.. I really like the feel, action, and cast thusfar.. (as you know, Eric, I just started learning) But I readily admit that I will fish with junk and enjoy it.. It so happens that both of these rods are fantastic and anything but junk.. But all the same.. lol (my spincast reel goes squeak, squeak, skip, squeak all day, but still catches fish..)

Great report! You showed some real willpower too.. I have picked my way to the boat ramp many times in the dark due to my lack of will power.. lol

That's freakin fantastic!!! Looks like a wonderful day.... But I think I know where that undisclosed location is... :wink:

Seemed like there were. (they had just stocked) To be honest there are usually quite a few through there before that hole gets too slow and long, moreso after a stocking.. But they (oddly) weren't really in that smaller run next to the island like they usually are.. That side has been blown out pretty hard from the floods, but it looked blue and rushing, with overhangs here and there and some cover underwater.... but no takers until we got out into the deeper hole.. It was around 5-6 ft deep with no obstuctions that I am aware of and we were stripping the lure slowly, running it about 2 feet deep... This was the point when I was stripping a stonefly in a big goofy arc.. Hey, It worked though.. lol (confidence, eh?)

Quite a bit of it really.. It's running a little high, but I'd love to run you downstream in the john boat some day and show it to you.. You and wrench and I could make a day of it.. Don't feel too flattered though cause: A: I've made that offer to pretty much everybody on here (lol) B: I'm really not that fun to be around.. I'm kind of a goof. Peace

It was definitely an interesting afternoon of fishing. Let me preface this with the admission that I am still getting comfortable with the fly rod. Since we were fishing a stretch of water that I am very experienced with I chose to bring along my ultralight as well (which isn't easy in waders) to bolster my confidence. It had exactly the opposite effect, I was too busy positioning myself to fish with the jigs and swimmers and was not concentrating on the fly fishing. After much cajoling of myself (and a little bit of good humored cajoling from Wrench) I decided to put away the spinning rod and concentrate solely on my fly technique. This (and having Wrench tie my whole set up, loan me a fly and some weight, and give me constant advice) worked. He didn't have to cast it for me, but I betcha I woulda hooked a few more if he had! lol The river is still a touch high but is plenty clear and seems to be fishing good. They just stocked the river that morning we were told.... We spent all 5 hours within walking distance of Bennett's public access. wrench got most of his bites on a leach or a pinecone fished in the deep pockets of the first set of riffles there, including one pig that "took him almost to his backing".. his words, not mine. lol (insde joke) Wrench ended up with around 15 fish to hand, this was the fighter: As for my day? I hooked one with the kastmaster before deciding to put the ultralight away. From there the catching was a little slow until I figured out the drift. that's not exactly true though, as my second trout came when I was stripping a stonefly (I am told this is an unorthodox way of using a stonefly, but hey it worked!).. Fact is I pretty much fumbled my way into hooking a few, but I have plenty of work left to do on my casting and drifting skills, and I am still clueless about what lures are worked best which way.. Needless to say I spend much of my time in life confused over the things I enjoy.. lol (at least I am honest) Switched later to one of Wrench's leeches and had some luck with it too. ended the day with 5 trout to hand, 2 that were LDR's, and one on the ultralight. (all stockers for me, but one with some interesting colors) most of my fish were caught below the lower island in the deeper water... But I did manage one or two in the riffles with Wrench. I was more interested in watching his technique, or at least that's the excuse I am using... Wrench can come in with the particulars of what we were using and how.. all I know is his old butt got tired and I caught the last fish of the day! that means I WON! lol

Welcome! I just hit your Current River last week.. (posted a report in the Current River section) What a beautiful river! Seemed to be an amazing fishery, hopefully we can all work together to keep it that way.. Again, welcome! Looking forward to swapping stories with you as well.

Eric is spot on, and allow me to add my agreement to his opinion. Welcome to the forum and the wide world of lure fishing, you are doing your boys a great service and honoroing the memory of their father in the best way possible... I am in Lebanon (near bennett springs state park) and would be happy to assist in any way I can. Could you tell us what type of fishing the boys have stated that they prefer? (specific species or style of fishing?)

Funny you would phase it that way. As I was taking that picture of that decent looking brown I just caught the other day, it kept hopping around and it was all I could do to get it to hold still.. She had tried posing next to the boat in the water, but we didn't bring the net and I didn't want to keep the hook in it.. It was frustrating, but all the while I was commenting on how "the forum guys will give me grief if I bring back another picture with my finger in the poor girls gills!" To which my wife replied, verbatim: "You tell them guys that a lunker fish just don't pose well, and they need to cool their jets!" Kinda puts new meaning to the phrase "From the mouths of Babes", eh?

Looks like I might make it down for a few hours on sunday, what section will you be fishing?

I am quoting this to point out that I edited the portions in bold to include new information that I have recieved that I believe to be accurate.

Even with two treble hooks I am lucky to have one hook in the fish usually.. And they always seem to go back no worse for the wear...

Did I miss the birthday party again? Shoot! Oh well, happy birthday anyways folks.... "Wait a minute.. Do you mean our team, or an actual team?" ("american pie" quote)

I'll post a report for you tomorrow after I get back...

You sure that Int just a funny shaped goldfish?

It does work, I've seen it first hand! Thanks for the report, BM.. Don't suppose that brown already had some holes in his lip, did he? He looks aweful familiar...

OF: I have no idea how to answer your question (though Wrench has become my motor guru and I trust his words), I just wanted to take a moment to tell you that I really appreciate your signature. Good luck with the trolling motor...

indeed, I could definitely see how a boat would mostly get in the way if you were planning to fish those holes.. The lady at the outfitter actually gave us the warning: "Do not take any corn with you whatsoever on the river" apparently a group had done an overnight float and one of the staple foods they brought was a can of corn. Somehow a few kernels of corn slipped into the bottom of the boat and when these folks got checked the next day they recieved a ticket for possessing corn.. Storey seems a little suspect to me.. By those standards I could have gotten a ticket for having a purple worm in the tacklebox! Either way I think I'll leave the corn at home.. lol

Well my approach is the only option for that family as you need a code to get through the gate just to knock on the door! But, no, I haven't recieved permission or even asked. Got invited to float that section with a Plaster in-law one time.. You truly aren't missing out on anything..

Ness: I recognize the poke, and the joke.. You has me giggling too.. I also quickly recognize "jaded by salesman", I was happy to give you an outlet for that.. No worries. Drew: you owe me a beer too then.. I gave ness the perfect set up, that's worth something, eh? Terry: Dear Terry, May I fish in your pond? I'd ask in person, buts it's a healthy drive. Sincerely, Cricket BRBF: Seriously, buddy.. Does EVERY conversation have to have a political bent? Yeesh.. Smile man!

I go by the addage "if the fisherman is miserable, the fishin's prolly not", so I'll be there alot this winter.. Feel free to look me up!