Mounts to TDL 5/27

[top_dollar]

                 I fished Mounts to TDL this past Saturday for the first time this year.  It was low, and seemed a bit dingier than usual.  I could see bottom in about 3 FOW.  It was a pretty good day for me, although I was solo which makes fishing that stretch way easier.  I caught about 25-30 bass and a few sunfish.  Most came on a worm, but caught a handful on a jerkbait and top water.  Also caught some bigger fish than usual, I caught 3 bass 15+ and another bass was 17+.  I did catch a large redear, almost 11 inches long, it was probably a personal best for me.  I fished a megabass X-nanahan +1 instead of the usual X-rap 8.  I dont know if it caught me any more bass than an xrap would have, but it sure looks good in the water.  Ill be picking up a few more of those.  

 

[jdmidwest]

We started to do that on Sunday, buddy ended up in Sullivan instead. 

How is access at Mounts this year?  Many floaters this weekend?

[top_dollar]

              The access is still fine.  You just have to pay the guy 5 bucks to launch.  He did put in a group of 10 or so, just before I put in.  I didn't pass them until "Brown's Landing" right about the TDL take out.  The TDL gestapo was waiting for them with tickets in hand when I took out.  I would think the guy running the campgrounds at mounts would have a deal with TDL to use the access, but it looked like the cop was gonna harass them as he was parked directly behind their truck preventing them from leaving.  The TDL cops have NOTHING to do, so they just go around looking for people without stickers to bother.  That dumb cop was probably sitting down their for hours just playing on the internet and waiting to ruin someone's fun day.  

[jdmidwest]

The homeowners in TDL have to pay for those stickers, and the ones that enforce that.  I buy my sticker from my resident owner buddy that lives there so I have a pass.  I can't even launch my boats there in lakes without sticker and insurance.  They watch the boat ramps on the lakes like the river access.  We always use his.  But, they keep a clean neighborhood.  Better that most of the local community rif raff in the area.

Was that $5 a head to launch at Mounts?  Pretty good cash for doing nothing but refurbing an old gravel operation along a county road and county bridge.  I have used the location to wade fish, pull out from floats above, and put in for floats below free of charge for many years.  Probably going on 30 years now.

[top_dollar]

Yeah I have my sticker, so they don't bother me any.  I understand the lake usage requiring a sticker, but I don't understand why they police the river access like they do.  It just seems like another way to squeeze some income out of the local population in the form of tickets. 

I just looked at the guys website, and it looks like it is 5$ per adult to launch there.  You got that right about charging to launch there, it is an easy cash grab.  I'm not exactly thrilled about the excess people there, but since I cant do anything about it, Ill just deal.  I do think most people who float that stretch once will be inclined not to do it again.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-River-Outdoors-Campground-100083020016409/ 

[jdmidwest]

Tdl cops like to watch what comes off that river.  Lakes are usually residents, river is not.  I have watched them try to stop a boat on lake from one of dams that did not have sticker.  It was entertaining.

Is the Mounts guy shuttling people from Tdl access?

[top_dollar]

4 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

Tdl cops like to watch what comes off that river.  Lakes are usually residents, river is not.  I have watched them try to stop a boat on lake from one of dams that did not have sticker.  It was entertaining.

Is the Mounts guy shuttling people from Tdl access?

His website says he does. 

[jdmidwest]

That may be rubbing them wrong.

[top_dollar]

Been out the last few weekends n the mounts to TDL stretch.  More of the same.  Few feet of visibility.  Lots of sunfish have been spawning the last few weekends.  I spent one day throwing a panfish rig, but mostly using the same baits as always.  

 

 

[top_dollar]

I fished the same stretch again yesterday.  I specifically targeted bass and tried my best to actually count without a clicker.  This was harder than I thought it'd be, but i was solo, which helped me focus.  Anyway, I caught 37 bass and had 8 come off.  6 of them came off in a row before I realized my hook point had rolled over.  Doh!!  I did catch what I am pretty sure is a spotted bass, which would be a first for me so far upstream.  I'm no expert, but it had a rough patch on its tongue, and it sure looks like a spot with the jawline.  Most came on a worm, biggest was a 19ish inch lm on Mitch F's shark tail worm.  Also had 4 smallies bigger than 15 inches. I did catch a few on a finesse jig and a jerkbait and caught 1 on a top dollar.