Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide

General Discussion => Invitation to fish => Topic started by: txnative on December 09, 2010, 12:25:44 PM

Title: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 09, 2010, 12:25:44 PM
Anyone up for 'yakking the plant area on saturday ? Going after whatever will chew a fly and would love some company as it would safer. Shoot me a pm if interested.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Bfish on December 09, 2010, 12:32:35 PM
Picking up my Jackson Coosa on Friday so it is tempting. But Gallatin is too far of a haul for me.  Tight lines to you.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 09, 2010, 03:07:35 PM
Thanks, Bfish. What waters do you normally fish and for what species ?
Congrats on the Coosa, by the way. Awesome looking yak. I thought about getting one, but will probably end up getting either a hobie pro angler or a native mariner. I have a trip to boca grande planned for this june to chase the monstrous tarpon there and wanted something beefier. I need it to deal with fighting the 'poons while worrying about the sharks that chase 'em. Also, a pedal-drive system means i can keep up with a fish and still have my hands free to fight it or wave for help when i am getting towed to mexico :)
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Bfish on December 09, 2010, 03:47:14 PM
From the kayak, I am mostly fishing rivers for smallmouth.  I do occasional fish Chickmauga and WattsBar from the yak for crappie and bass.

I want to get a little more experience handling musky's from my raft or gheenoe, before I tempt to land one from a kayak.  Most of my Esox experience has been with Northern Pike.

I use the powerboat for crappie and sauger and occasionally catfish.

I have raft and pontoons (and float tube) that I use for smallmouth and trout.

Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Bfish on December 10, 2010, 09:38:56 AM
How often do you fish for Tarpon?  Seems like it would be easier to rent a boat once down south, rather than transport and store it up here most of the year. Nothing wrong with your boat choices, but they sure would limit you to just reservoirs with ramp access.  Those two boats you mention are a bear to try and carry anywhere. 

IMO no need to peddle after the fish, kayaks are so efficient that they will easily follow the fish.

PS I am excited about my Coosa. A promo video for you (turn up to 720 for crisper images): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-1nq7m97lo&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-1nq7m97lo&feature=player_embedded) 
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 10, 2010, 10:54:49 AM
The bigger craft would be for big water fishing. I own a mainstream kingfish, its a 12' sot that weighs only 48 lbs, and i use it for everything now. It has a keeled bottom and is great on rivers, but the stability of a pro angler or mariner makes me a lot more comfortable in water i have to share with heavy boat traffic.

Also, space is at a premium on my yak, especially when i want to bring conventional gear to find fish and fly gear to make it more fun. I am obsessed with striped fish and need to be able to adjust tactics when necessary, requiring me to bring enough gear to get to 'em. The bigger boats make that a lot easier.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Bfish on December 10, 2010, 12:05:07 PM
Not sure how more stability is going to help you.  Width just slows you down, length doesn't make it more stable.  
I am always a fan of testing before I buy.  There may not be enough of a performance difference to justify the upgrade. Just my opinion.

PS I carry up to 7 conventional rods on board my old 14' and 11' Manta Rays, with 2 flyrods in the hatch. No vertical rod holders either. Obviously, it is easier to get into the hatch while on a river.  4 twin-action rod holders on the crate (one on each side and two on the back). Then 2 rods laying between my legs with a foam rod holder gripper on the bow to help keep the rod tips separated, then one more in hand.  
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 10, 2010, 12:29:08 PM
I've been on a pro angler, and the difference in stability between it and my kingfish it painfully obvious. The reason i like the pro is that i can store 6 rods in the side storage area, which is similar to a bass boat's rod locker, plus 2 in the vertical holders. On my yak, i can carry 4 on the holders on my crate and 2 more in the vertical molded-in holders. If  i am flyfishing out of my current yak, i have to remain seated (not stable enough to stand in) and the vertically stored rods behind me impede my rang of casting.  I love my kingfish for smaller waters and for the ease of transport, but trying to flyfish out of a more stable boat, being able to fish/fight fish while propelling myself, and having enough room to bring the gear needed to pursue multiple species with multiple techniques are my reasons for wanting a pedal-driven, larger craft.

For rivers and even stability, i think the Coosa is better than either the pro or the mariner, but given my preferences, the bigger craft are a better fit.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: icthus on December 10, 2010, 07:18:04 PM
When the steam plant gets popular I would not recommend a kayak.  I dont say this to keep you off water I fish, I say it because I have seen idiots wake a 14 foot Riverhawk.  If you go in a Yak I would go Mon-Fri.  Error on the side of caution.  I am sure you are great in a yak, and can probably paddled priest from river to lake three times, but that doesn't matter when, bob the dumb ass, has had to many and runs over you coming out of the plant.

My opinion,
Pal
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Striperfishin on December 10, 2010, 08:45:44 PM
I will meet you at the Plant with the Yak on any day that is not a Holiday or weekend. When I do fish it in the yak, I plan on staying near the bank with a evacuation plan. I have seen some world class idiots there, but it will be nothing compared to the guys on Priest that try to run me over in there bass boats even though I'm sitting in 2' of water.
For those that don't Kayak, if your on a good sit on top, you can't get swamped, the water just runs out the scuppers. I have been fully submerged in surf, it is really no problem. I have many friends that catch yellowtail, white seabass and even large sharks from kayaks in the pacific ocean with 6' swell. The biggest danger is actually getting ran into by a drunk boater.

Brian
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 10, 2010, 11:47:30 PM
I will be with a group of yakkers to help alert others to our presence, but will still be very close to shore and have my head in a swivel. I can only get out after 3 on wkdays, so wkends are better for me. Striperfishin, if your game for it, let me know.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Striperfishin on December 13, 2010, 05:19:06 PM
I could Possibly go this Sat or Sun, though that does go against my no Steam plant on weekends motto. The way I fish it probably wont matter anyway. I don't plan on being in the main channel or canal of the plant. I fish the shallow flats in the Delta of the plant more than anything, unless the wind out there is relentless and I need to get up in the canal to get out of the wind.
Just let me know if you get some people out there and I will try to go weather depending.

Brian
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 13, 2010, 06:21:45 PM
I'm good with sunday as long as the weather cooperates. It wasn't too bad while we were out saturday. Boat traffic was not scary, but we hung at the mouth till 9 or so. Only one boat came in hot, but we were up near the boils with all the anchored boats, so no problems arose. Everyone else was surprisingly considerate, even got some advice from an anchored group who landed two 20+ lbers.

If you are fishing the delta area, are you still targeting stripers ? If so, then i am very interested in watching you work.

Chris
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Striperfishin on December 13, 2010, 06:39:17 PM
I catch smaller stripers in the 2-6lb range out there mixed with huge variety of other fish including lots of walleye and sauger.  All my bigger stripers at the plant have come from up inside the canal  from about half way up, then all the way to the boils. It's fishing for dummies up there though, so I don't often do it any more. If you put out a live skipjack and wait long enough, you will hook up. Not my favorite type of fishing at all. I would rather be casting and moving with artificials.
I will see about Sunday if the weather looks good.

Brian
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 13, 2010, 07:04:08 PM
Sounds awesome. I love eating members of the true perch  family, and throwing in stripers makes me giddy. Count me in. Just shoot me a pm and let me know what gear i'll need by friday so i can get what i don't already have.

Chris
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Striperfishin on December 13, 2010, 10:30:47 PM
I fish plastics, but a shad colored clouser or similiar streamer should work well all over the plant. I have caught a lot there on a 4wt throwing small beadhead streamers and the such. I need to get something around a 6 wt for throwing mid sized stuff. My other fly rod is a 9wt and it just wears me out. I fish it on Priest sometimes for the hybrids, but I prefer the light spinning gear.
I really enjoy catching a variety of fish on the spinning rod with 4-8lb mono too. I landed an 18lb striper on 6lb upriver from the plant a few years ago. Mostly though, when I hook into the bigger fish on light line on OH I get broke off or spooled. Doesn't happen that often though and I would rather lose a few fish on line that is too light than catch less fish.

Brian
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 13, 2010, 10:50:04 PM
I would love to use the fly only, but the wind may interfere. Also, standing in my yak is dicey even  in perfect conditions, and trying to bomb a clouser on a 9 wt in unfavorable winds  from a sitting position makes me dizzy (lead eyes to the back of the head hurt).

I have no aversion to spinning gear, just prefer fly fishing. I'll use the most productive and efficient gear this sunday. When i have a better understanding of the area, i will switch to the fly to make things more interesting.

As far as lures go, if the typical striper fare (flukes, poppers, jigs, etc.) is what you use, i'm covered. If you're using something unconventional, i may need to make a stop at bps. Just let me know.

Chris
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Striperfishin on December 13, 2010, 11:25:50 PM
Tiny flukes, walleye assasins, 3" grubs, 3" big hammer and fish trap swimbaits. The Yamamoto swimbait works good sometimes too. All on 1/8-1/4 oz heads fish on light line. I also get some fish on crankbaits , topwaters and small jerkbaits. A Yo Zuri Pins minnow can be a slayer at the plant at times. The largemouth jump all over a small topwater early before the boat traffic pics up too. I'll fish with 5" flukes or other soft jerkbaits too, but usually stay smaller and catch just as many bigger fish and way more total fish.

Brian
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: jarrod white on December 14, 2010, 06:12:04 PM
spinning rod with 6# mono is a lot of fun, I too prefer the fly, but do fish the spinning rod on windy days etc.A blast for sure :)

                                               JW
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: Rusty on December 15, 2010, 08:27:03 AM
I've never been to the Gallatin steamplant.   Do you have to have a boat to fish it?
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 15, 2010, 09:17:48 AM
Yes, unfortunately. There are signs reminding you to stay in your boat , otherwise you are trespassing.  There used to be a public access road, but it has been closed for years.
Title: Re: gallatin steam plant...kayaking
Post by: txnative on December 15, 2010, 09:30:32 AM
If you don't mind driving or crowds, there is a steam plant in cumberland city that is open to the public.  I have had success catching skippies on the fly, tough to cast from the bank, though. Stripers can show up in pretty good numbers and like flukes on jigheads, pink is a great color there. The stripers aren't as big as the ones at gallatin, though. Average size is about 3 lbs, but fish much larger will make an occasional appearance.

Another tactic is to freeline shad off the catwalk, but be ready to deal with tangled lines with people casting from the bank.  Good catfishing there, too. Smaller jigs or minnows will catch white bass, sauger, and crappie.