JigFest 2017 - Let the bragging begin!

[BilletHead]

49 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Or if it might freeze after I put in I'm not going. 

I've fished and have paper pictures when it was it was single digits at Taney more than once.  We are down past rebar taking pictures and the dam face is a sheet of ice and there is one guy at outlet 2.  We smoked em that day.

             Been there did that too,

  Launch a boat on a dry cold narrow ramp. Drag out trailer with water coming off. Come back to frozen ramp. Like Griz says "Got be tough when you are stupid" ,

BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

I have ice fished on colder days, down in the single digits. It sucks when the fish freeze to the ice before you can get them unhooked. Though you don't need ice in your cooler, even though It's actually warmer in the cooler than the surrounding air. Was either never smart enough or went out in that cold often enough to get a shell/shelter.

[BilletHead]

Jig Fest day three,

   So I had already been asked by HKjesters DJ if we could fish together on Saturday. Sure I said and then he told me he wanted to go to the North Fork Tail water early to try it for awhile with his jerk bait. Let me tell you this guy is a go getter. Same age as BilletHead JR. Actually reminds me of our Son. Wound for sound and bouncing off the walls. Very talkative. The BilletHead was this way but now pretty easy going. I thought this may prove to be an interesting day . Mike and John were up early and going there for a try too. So we all ate a quick bite and headed off to the river. Cold again and boat needed cable thawing again. We got there to find low water. Instantly I thought this may be a chance to break out the fly rod! We all got our gear ready and looked back down towards the river, generation had begun , Crapola. We all fished anyway and Mike and DJ each caught a rainbow I believe.  In the parking lot I thought I found evidence of gigging. Well some would instantly assume that,  

Actually the BilletHead had heard there was some stripers in the tailwater and some lucky angler had caught and filleted one . I have learned not to assume the worst in people and others should too.  So DJ and I loaded up and discussed where to fish? After some thought we decided we had heard fish were caught at the Wild Cat access. New place to me and with no expert (Griz and Ham) to ask for tips on where to go we launched there. One word for this place on that day WIND, BAD WIND. Drag chain and all it blew us all over the river. Could hardly get a good float. None the less we both caught a few fish. DJ was a man possessed. Slinging that jerk Bait and talking ninety miles and hour. Come on big brown hit my bait, all I want is one good one! Loved it I did. Picked up a jig maybe twice and threw it twice those two times. He wanted a good one and I wanted it to happen for him. The dude has a set of eyes on him too. He seen flashes of strikes after his bait. Missed some hits but got a few rainbows that thought they were browns smashing at the big bait. Finally we had enough of the wind and headed to another access. Decided on the Cotter access. Where I had fished the first day. We hit the access and seen Big Jake in his boat with Mike and Ron go by as we launched. Then we seen Big Jake's brother and dad down there with I am sorry and another fellow i did not know fishing in their boat. I heard Jakes brother had caught a nice brown but did not get to see it. I tossed jigs and my cohort the jerk bait maniac went to town catching rainbows until the BilletHead got lucky again,

Another cutthroat . Sometimes luck happens to me and lightning struck twice this trip. We then seen Jake and his crew up above the old concrete bridge. Headed up for a visit. We all talked and compared notes. They sent us farther up river to a place for more drifts. We did that and sore lipped a few more.  I was beginning to tighten up and actually laid in the back of the boat watching the jerkbait man cast his heart out looing for the big one. Back down river for a couple more drifts and out we pulled dodging deer all the way back to the lodge. Then to the final feast of BBQ and Got muddy cooked some fish he had caught, some of Phil's salmon and jumbo shrimp. Griz was slicing taters with his slicing gizmo. John was working up more mushrooms to fry. More sausage and smoked cheese snacked on when the meal was cooked. Stories were told and maybe a lie or two. Miles showed up and gave us a show.  I hated to retire for that last Evening knowing I was leaving in the AM. Again as I laid there I bed I could hear fun being had downstairs by brothers of Jig Fest with so much in common. I felt good knowing I had got to attend. New friends, so many new friends. I wanted to fish with them all and learn more about each of their lives. Great bunch and I hope I can fish with some of them again. Next morning was ready to leave and said goodbyes to the ones up. Some were getting ready to fish more, others ready to head home also. Sad as I was to leave I was ready to go home to my bride and number one fishing partner. Tell her stories and she would be jealous, yes she was ,

BilletHead 

 

[Johnsfolly]

You leave for Arkansas for four days and this is what I had to look forward to when I got home. Bah Humbug!!

I hope that everyone has a Happy Holidays!!!!

[snagged in outlet 3]

Dinner!!

[JestersHK]

Thanks for taking me out Marty!  I guess I am a man possessed with hunting the big fish.   What BH didn't mention was how bad he whipped me putting fish in the boat.   I believe it had something to do with the miracle jig he was using.  Little jig wouldn't die, even after multiple "John" attempts at trying to lose her in the rocks.  Wasn't lying about the wind either.   There were times we were getting blown upstream against the current.   

Overall for me fishing was good, but far from slaying them.  That comes with throwing sticks almost the whole time.  Number producers they will never be for me anyways.  Marty would catch them in spurts and make me throw a jig for a bit,  but I like having the old jerk bait get smashed when I'm boat fishing.

[BilletHead]

           

1 hour ago, JestersHK said:

  Little jig wouldn't die, even after multiple "John" attempts at trying to lose her in the rocks.  

             One of three jigs used for three days. The "little jig that wouldn't die". I used 8 lb. nanofil with about three feet of 6 lb. Vanish fluorocarbon leader. I couldn't get the I think it was an Allbright knot down pat so I used a surgeons loop suggested by forum member snagged with four turns wetted thoroughly before cinching down.  In the three days of fishing the only failure I had was at the jig knot. I used two colors. Triple olive and olive and ginger. Was I getting to the bottom? Yes not much paint left on this one,

BilletHead

 

[Terrierman]

There will be no further talk of frozen boats, boat ramps, breaking ice with boats, trying to break ice to get back to the ramp, having cold hands, cold feet, or just generally being cold in this thread.  It all belongs in some waterfowling thread that Marty can post in and all I can do is say "yeah, back in my day we......"

[stinger160]

sorry for the late reply.  It was a great trip!  Ditto on all that has been said.  Thanks to Ham and Brett for quiding this newby to some fish!  And to Quillback for organizing everything and the cooks, we ate like kings.

[Big_Jake]

Here are some pictures of the better fish - It was a great time! 

Mine was 18", Caleb's was 23", and my dad's was... no telling. He didn't measure it and we harassed him about holding the fish like a shotgun. haha