Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide
Warm Water Fishing Reports => The TN Muskie Addiction => Topic started by: Jason DeBacker on December 19, 2013, 08:56:35 PM
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Finally got it together and made it out for these toothy fish. Celebrated a birthday last week and when the wife asked what I wanted, I said that all I need is a day on the water. I took a rain check for my original plan to go out last Saturday and cashed it in today.
This delay gave me some time to run to Fly South and buy some giant hooks.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/11457653114_84e04c54c5_z.jpg)
Only time and materials for one fly, so I make it count.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/11457782003_601ea98463_z.jpg)
Needed a new fly box to hold it, so borrow my son's toolbox and throw in some flies my brother bought me for these fish.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/11457783423_9129fef78a_z.jpg)
Solo trip in the kayak, so I stayed warm early with a couple hour paddle upstream. Beautiful day. Felt lucky to see a family or river otters on the way.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/11457793173_bed312de23_z.jpg)
Got everything set up and started the float back. Love watching the giant articulated fly swim. After an hour or so of that, a cast to what didn't look like great water produces a huge shadow behind the fly. There he is. Looks like he'll enhale it, but follows to the boat. I start in on the figure 8s and quickly realize that I need to figure out what to do with the paddle. But I make do and get a few in. He follows for three or so then disappears. Wow. Awesome to see a fish and have a follow. My day was made. I have a quick bite to fuel up then get back to casting.
Another two hours go by watching the fly swim. It's coming at the boat over the middle of the river and a fish comes from under the kayak and demolishes the fly. Game on. I clear my line, pull up the drag chain, and paddle to some shallow water. I bail out and quickly boga the fish and snap a quick pic before the yak floats away.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/11457623405_ea31128153_z.jpg)
Wow! I'm shaking. Even with all the prep, planning, casting, I can't believe that just happened. Best birthday present ever.
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And so it begins....
Way to go! Good luck trying to keep from daydreaming, retelling the story to your friends and close family members, searching Googlemaps like a fiend trying to find those deep stretches of unpressured fish, online ordering Jumbo synthetics/flash/saddles and high quality hooks, and downing a Redbull to keep the 11th hour fig 8s going.
I'm back in the Saddle tomorrow at 5:00 AM
Happy birthday, and Merry Christmas.
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That's awesome Jason! Congrats! First image is bad ass.
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awesome report
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Congrats Man!!! Happy Birthday, and My condolences to your sanity!! :o ;)
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There you go Yoda, see how easy that is :D
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Congrats on the first! Sounds like a good day on the water. I can't tell from the pic, did you get it on your on tie?
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Thanks guys.
I hope Travis is having a great day on water today!
Yiman - I did get the fish on that tie. Sorry for the out of focus pic and the fly being on the other side of the fish's mouth- lots going on doing this solo from a kayak. You might be able to make out some of the fly hanging by the fish. Amazing to see the fish nail something so big. Some of the smaller river otters better be careful!
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Congrats Jason, awesome work.
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Even better. Cheers!