Haven't heard of these--will definitely check out. I don't know why downrigger rigs are so expensive, even the cheapest ones. thanks!
Yeah, I meant downriggers--been out splitting wood this morning and my brain was tired. Been cold and windy here but S. Holston and Boone are both getting back toward full pool and this weekend should be warm. Thanks for the info and correction. I have fished with DOWN riggers out in the salt but they were always operated by the mates.
I'm planning to go after those huge hybrid stripers in Boone Lake, TN in a few weeks. Anybody know anything about deep trolling for them, maybe with an outrigger? Assume I know nothing... Bob McKinney up in SW Virginia (Sugar Grove)
Common northern water snake. Not poison but they are very aggressive, will often chase anyone invading their space. I hate them but they have their place in the environment, mostly eat frogs and small fish. Water moccasins don't get that far north. Thank Heavens!
Whenever I see them at auctions I snap up the French-made Mitchell 300's. I recently accidentally got my hands on one of the new ones made by the Chi-Comm's and they appear to have been made on different planets. Such junk! One can also find the good old Abu-Garcia reels at estate auctions.
I live about 50 miles north of Bristol, at Sugar Grove, Va. I'm retired from US Forest Service and would be happy to put you on some good streams, some catch and release, some with pretty strict size limits and some put-and-catch where you can fill a creel with hatchery trout (but god knows why--they taste like Styrofoam). If you have a map or look on the internet for: South Fork of the Holston (just south of Sugar Grove); Green Cove Creek (near Konnarock); South Fork of the Holston above and below Buller dam at the Buller fish hatchery; and so on. My email is robertmckinney811@gmail.com. There are also some gigantic rainbows, I am told, in the Holston down below South Holston Lake.
Like with guns, if you know how many flies you have you don't have enough...
Hey there, Kybandit--Bob McKinney here about 50 miles north of S. Holston and I fish it with a new boat I just bought a month or so ago. So far I haven't had much luck, but I am told the walleyes hang out up around the upper end of the lake near the water intake for, I think, the town of Abingdon. (Walleyes! Now them's good eat'n!). I put in at Painter Creek Marina (although it costs $5) because they have a good ramp and dock and it works best for me because I launch and generally fish alone. Last time out I found a gravel bar and ruined a screw. The lake is about 10' low, so be careful and swing WIDE of any gravel bars! I didn't and it cost me $200...
I see several people fishing in the little coves, probably for large mouth bass.
I'm about 50 miles up I-81 from S. Holston Lake. I will fish mainly there or up in Claytor Lake near Pulaski. A couple years ago Lynn and I took our homebuilt tugboat (22') from Knoxville down to Florence, AL and plan next year to go from there down to Paduka and then back up the Cumberland to Nashville or beyond. We may just start again at Knoxville where the French Broad and S. Fork Holston join. Lots of trouble finding someplace to launch and store trailer in Knoxville though. Let's fish together some time! Bob
Just got a new Tracker fishing boat that I will mainly use on S. Holston, Boone and Claytor Lakes. I've fished all over north and south America, but never here in what are primarily my home lakes (recently retired back to Sugar Grove, VA) I'm particularly interested in Walleyes but also musky and N. Pike. Not so much largemouth bass. Any tips on best fish areas of these lakes, lures to use, depth, etc. will be much appreciated. I'm 74 and if somebody of similar age who doesn't have a boat would like to occasionally join me they would be welcome. No smokers though.
Bob