Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide
Warm Water Fishing Reports => Miscellaneous Lakes Rivers and Streams => Topic started by: Steve H on May 13, 2012, 07:23:56 AM
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Fred reached out to me somewhere around mid-week seeing if I wanted to get out this weekend. I said, heck yes, was already planning on hitting the Harpeth and exploring some places I haven't fished before on the river so we agreed to hook up and head out.
Reached out to Todd to see if the upper reaches were good and he advised that the flow was a little low and for us to head lower. He also gave us a tip on a No Name creek (actually it has a name but...well you know - thanks Todd). Fred and I hooked up Saturday morning at my house and loaded all his gear in my truck and off we went. My goal was to avoid the "Peoplechase" traffic. So we headed off to accomplish that. After an egregious navigation error by the driver (yes that would be me), we made the necessary correction and were on track for our destination.
Once we arrived, we found some very inviting looking water. We found what we thought was the right way in and after what seemed to be a rappelling option to access the water. I scoped what was actually the way into the water. Mind you, while I was traipsing around looking for the actual access point, Fred was catching fish. :D Once we waded in on No Name Creek, we were quickly into some "red eye" but then I leap-frogged Fred and on my second cast I caught this sweet smallie (sorry for the bad photo, I have been focusing more on fishing and less on photog).
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/7187745432_785451c817_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187745432/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187745432/) by flyfishtn (http://www.flickr.com/people/14609487@N03/), on Flickr
We continued to fish No Name creek and catch a good number of Smallmouth and good numbers of Bucketmouths. All were willing to take the Tartar Sauce fly, it was definitely the fly of the day for me. Here is a nice shot of the beauty we were fishing in and shot of Fred hooked up.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/7187749024_c1326c7468_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187749024/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187749024/) by flyfishtn (http://www.flickr.com/people/14609487@N03/), on Flickr
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7187752148_f560e1d88c_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187752148/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187752148/) by flyfishtn (http://www.flickr.com/people/14609487@N03/), on Flickr
After we reached a bend that we couldn't navigate around due to water depth (remind me to ask you about that Todd), we decided to wade out and head to another spot. BTW, that shot of Fred hooked up is on the way out. He said, "I want to give this hole a try." Bam, fish on. I had moved up a little look for a fish I had spotted earlier. Then I hear him say with another fish on, "I don't even know how he got that in his mouth." Good times. 8)
We headed over to Hidden Lakes to wade in there, and along the road, Fred breaks out some killer sandwiches. Just so you know, if you ever fish with Fred, he makes some great food. Once at Hidden Lakes, we rigged up and waded in. The Harpeth at this point was pretty stained, we moved down river and fished hard and I moved way down river to cover some good looking water. After fishing hard, losing a couple of flies, trying some different patterns and mind you, all for naught, I started moving back up river. I met Fred and asked the question we all like to hear, "how have you done", he answers the same way I do, "I haven't caught a thing, and haven't even had a bump or a love tap." We chalked it up to pressure and impending front that had put the bite down.
Again, we loaded up and I said let's head over to the Highway 100 access point and take a look at the water. Once there, the water was much clearer and more inviting. We waded up to the Little Harpeth confluence and waded across and into the Little Harpeth and started heading upstream. With the serious lack of rain, the Little Harpeth was too low to fish. We could have pushed hard and headed up further to where there are some deeper pools but the clouds were starting to push in and we knew and front was nearby.
We called it and said, "let's fish our way out." We made it back to the Harpeth and started pushing downstream. I was casting the Tartar Sauce to some very tasty lies and stripping it back, just knowing there was a fish there. I spotted a nice rock ledge and punched Tartar Sauce across the river with my TFO Clouser, strip, strip, strip.....BAM! Gotcha!!
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7187751552_372abca26a_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187751552/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14609487@N03/7187751552/) by flyfishtn (http://www.flickr.com/people/14609487@N03/), on Flickr
This Smallie absolutely inhaled the Tartar Sauce and I knew, at least for me, I could in good conscience call the day knowing we had fished hard and enjoyed some beautiful water and some very nice fish.
We headed back to the truck to take our waders off and enjoy a cold beverage before heading home, as we were finishing up getting the gear loaded, the rain started to fall. Good timing on our part. What a great day on the water and Fred, would love to get out again and enjoy those waters.
Lessons learned:
1. If Fred hands you some trail mix, don't put the bag in your chest pocket, it probably has chocolate in it and it will melt.
2. The flat rocks in the Little Harpeth are slick (I made a nice save).
3. If you think you hear banjos, make sure and pack large.
4. Always look for the fisherman's path first.
5. Don't make bonehead navigation errors that cost you 20 minutes.
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5. Don't make bonehead navigation errors that cost you 20 minutes.
20 minutes, i'd love to make those kind of errors, looks like a fun day.
Grumpy
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Great report! Goodtimes and sandwiches!!!!!!! :D
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Glad you two got out to the local creeks..... This rain will help.
Yes, Fred makes amazing sandwiches!
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Steve,
Thanks for the tour...really enjoyed it. What a great day to be out.
Here a few pics of fish we caught today:
2nd fish of the day - caught on the sparkle grub
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/Fred_Mertz/IMGP0085.jpg)
These guys were really willing to play today
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/Fred_Mertz/IMGP0086.jpg)
Caught about 6 of these in a row...was really amazed at how beautifully colored up they were. Their vibrant orange reminded me of brookies in a way.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/Fred_Mertz/IMGP0091.jpg)
Here's the overachieving fish Steve mentioned above...never sure how a little guy like this thinks he's going to eat a bug that size. :)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/Fred_Mertz/IMGP0092.jpg)
Thanks again, Steve. Oh, and thanks for the very cold beverage at day's end. ;D
Fred
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Nice! 2nd pic down... that area holds some nice fish when flows are better. Glad you guys found some bass! I wish I could've made it out, but I did not remember when I was talking to you that I was on the hook to cook up a few hundred pounds of crawfish for a crawfish boil Saturday night. I coached my son's flag football games that morning and then I was elbow-deep in mudbugs for the rest of the day!
Flows have been really low at my local gage. 34 cfs yesterday when normal flow this time of year is closer to 200 cfs... This is rain is much needed! Flows at 634 cfs this morning with over 4 feet of water added to the river level since last night.
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Jim those fish inspire me to get creative with my camera. Great report guys thanks!
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NEXT TIME TAKE SOME PICS OF THE SANDWICHES!!!! :P :P
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NEXT TIME TAKE SOME PICS OF THE SANDWICHES!!!! :P :P
You know, I thought about that, but sandwich porn is not allowed here. :o ;)
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Looks like you fellows had a great day on the water. Thanks for sharing! Now, how bout a photo of that Tartar Sauce Fly. ;)
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Any smallmouth day is a good one! I am all for food porn!
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Looks like you fellows had a great day on the water. Thanks for sharing! Now, how bout a photo of that Tartar Sauce Fly. ;)
I'll post it somewhere else for you. ;)
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Nice report! Gotta love the small wadeable creeks.