Solo Artist - April 30th, 2013

If fished alone below the dam from 10am to 12:30pm on a perfect spring day. Sun,  light breeze, and cool water. The smallies were in bunches. I landed 22 smallies and 2 fat spotted bass. The fish where in moving water and seemed to like smoke g tails better than white. Several times I would have one hooked reeling him in while another one was chasing him the g tail trying to get a shot at it.

Old Things New Again - April 28th, 2013

Brad and I landed 36 smallies swimming jigs in the New River this morning during the heavy rain between 6:30am and 9:00am. They were running four gates and the fish were aggressive and somewhat schooled up. When we found one there were several around him to be had. We caught four fish around the 2 pound range and a few more over a pound, the rest were just little guys typical for good number days in the spring. Catching good numbers of smallie is just the kind of back to basics fishing that is hard to beat.

Coosa Smile

The Otter Family - April 24th, 2013

Ballard and I tried fishing Bluestone today. We saw a family of 3 large otters down near the dam. They must have been stocked by the fish and wildlife folks. The otter let us get really close and didn't seem to mind our watching them. We tried fishing shallow for panfish but with 58 degree water they weren't there yet. We tried fishing deep for panfish only to catch a bluegill and a crappie before the wind got to stiff to feel a bite. So we ended up bass fishing. We both hooked and lost a couple smallmouth and I landed this hybrid and a very small bronzeback. We had a nice day but the fishing wasn't as good as I had expected it may be.        

Bugg's Island April 13th - 19th, 2013

Spinnerbait Bass at Dawn

Big Pig

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Weapons of Bass Destruction

Warm Up Fishing Trip - April 12, 2013

Joe and I fished Bluestone's rising waters on the day of our travel to Bugg's Island for a week of bass fishing. The bite was tough. We caught only 2 fish. One on a jig and pig and one on a shakey head worm. It was windy, raining at times, and the water was going up and getting muddy in most places.

Ground Swell Waterfall

Summertime In April - April 10th, 2013

Jrock and I fished on a day that saw near record 90 degree temps after having snow only 5 days earlier. We flipped tubes and jigs. We found the fish more shallow than I expected which is typical for a quick spring warm up. Although we didn't catch any hawgs we had a lot of fun. Jrock caught 5 and I landed 4 on the day.

Warm Sunday Afternoon - April 7th, 2013

Brad and I hole hoped the New for about 3 hours today. We pitched and flipped tubes and jigs. He caught one smallie and hooked and lost another. I lost the one fish I hooked all afternoon. But it was felt good to be on the river bank after a long dark cold winter.

New River Musky - April 6th, 2013

J Rock seen in the picture below with his first ever Musky and it was the first fish caught on his new pole as well. Well done Mr. Ballard.

Pushing Six - April 5th, 2013

Greg and I started our fishing day with about 3" of snow one the ground from the night before. The air temps at 9am where around 35 degrees. The heavy cloud cover gave way to warmer temps in the low 50's with some 10 to 15 mph wind. There is nothing more aggravating than trying to fish from a kayak in the wind. It's like fishing from a ceiling fan blade while it's turned on high. We where tying the Coosa's off to a fallen tree in the water to keep the wind from sweeping us away for a big part of the day. A camo jig and pig combo fished dead stick slow was the order of the day with all 4 of our fish coming off it today. Greg caught a 16 inch LMB and an 18 inch LMB as well as missed another. I caught a 13 inch and the 21 inch LMB that weighed in on the digital scales at 5 pounds and 15 ounces....just missing the 6 pound mark by a single ounce.  I hooked, fought and lost another bass I suspect to have been in the 2 pound range.

Kayaks if used incorrectly can also become a sleigh riding vessel.

Greg with a nice 16" LMB

An oz. short of 6lbs.