A Promise is a Promise!!! 6/05/09 report [Archive]

Redfish

06-06-2009, 12:31 AM

As promised, I took Redhook, my 17 year old son down a river to put him on some fish. However, due to the continual rain we’ve been receiving in South Mississippi during this spring, all the waters are up. Therefore, I knew the fishing was going to be tough, but I had in the back of my mind a couple of places which could produce a nice fish or two. After all, a promise is a promise. I just didn’t know the adventure this river trip was going to be!!!
Lately,it seems like just about the time the rivers get to looking good, we have another storm that sends the water up again. Redhook is a good lake fisherman, but in the few river trips he has taken, he is yet to boat a bass. Also, he just purchased a water proof camera and was very excited to use it. He took some great shots of the river as we cruised downstream. It is easy to see how high the water is and my concerns were beginning to grow as to whether I could put him on some catchable fish.
 
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/highwater.jpg?t=1244259702" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/highwater3.jpg?t=1244259956" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
 
After several miles of paddling the high water we entered a section I’ve nicknamed the swamp! Here we are entering the swamp. We’ve combined our photos for the post. RedHook took some great photos!
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/highwater2.jpg?t=1244260174" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/theswamp2.jpg?t=1244260248" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/theswamp.jpg?t=1244260313" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
Then we finally exited the swamp and the banks began to get steep again.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/exitswamp.jpg?t=1244260385" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
I told him we would have to work during this afternoon float just to get to where the fish may be holding up. I began to get concerned whether the trip would be a complete failure. I was hoping it wouldn’t because we were putting in an extreme amount of paddling to find some bass which would bite. I was determined to work as hard as I had to in order to place RedHook on some fish. Then we entered the belly of the beast! This area, below a shoal, is gorgeous. However, unless someone had experience on this stretch during normal water levels, they would not even know there was a shoal because of the water depth. It is beautiful nonetheless.
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/postswamp2.jpg?t=1244260469" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/postswamp.jpg?t=1244260533" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
As we entered the hopeful habitat of high water bass, I sent RedHook out front to cast into the abyss and seek out a river bass! After 3 casts, I heard, “I’ve got one!” I looked on to watch the fight but the spotted submarine shook RedHook’s lure and escaped the boat. Then 2 casts later I heard another “I’ve got one!” The struggle ensued—young man and beast! However, the wiley spot performed another Houdini trick and the young man was discovering the joy and frustration of river bassing in quick succession. Then after several more casts, the grunts and strains of a hook up ensued, however, this time, no words. The fight lasted only a few moments and then suddenly the words rang through the cypress trees, “I’ve got one!!” This time the young RedHook had the fish in hand and was grinning from ear to ear! A nice Kentucky Spot for his first river bass.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/firstbass.jpg?t=1244260610" alt="" width="768" height="1024" />
 
 
The bite seemed to drop off. I wondered if the trip was only for this one bass. If it was, the labor we gave was still worth it to see the look on RedHook’s face. After exploring some, I sent him back to the place he caught his first bass as the area had time to calm down from the activity of multiple hook ups. Our time was running out as we had 5 more miles of paddling to get to our take out before dark. RedHook was out of sight and I heard a loud, “I’ve got one!!!”  I immediately hollered back, “Is he in the boat?” “Yes, sir and he’s a good one,” came back echoing around the bend. I quickly paddled toward him and was excited to see him hold up this baby. We weighed him and this LM came in at 2 lb 3 oz! Very good for his second bass!
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/LM1.jpg?t=1244261193" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/2-3LM.jpg?t=1244261263" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
True to his username, he caught this fish on a red worm using a bleeding red hook! I asked him about the battle and he described with exciting facial expressions and words how the bass bent his rod over and went under and around his kayak. He knew the fish was large and was concerned the line would break because of the way the he pulled and went for the deep water. The light in RedHook’s eyes was enough for this old man to know that all the work of paddling long and hard was worth it for this one moment!!! 
The day was complete and the excitement was full as we paddled our way downstream to reach our take out. I was a satisfied old man and was enjoying the paddle as RedHook took several pictures. This bluff is 100 feet above the water and is an ancient Choctaw Indian campsite where they caught fish and weaved baskets.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/DobyBluff.jpg?t=1244261345" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/DobyBluff2.jpg?t=1244261396" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /> 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/DobyBluff3.jpg?t=1244261451" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
Here we are entering a run past the Indian campsite.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/Dobysrun.jpg?t=1244261523" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/DobyRun2.jpg?t=1244261582" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/Dobyrun3.jpg?t=1244261654" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
RedHook took this photo of a wood pecker hotel and lounge!
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/WoodPeckerHotel.jpg?t=1244261744" alt="" width="768" height="1024" />
 
What a day! Cruising along and enjoying the excitement of watching RedHook catch a couple of fish and taking pictures. Knowing we had three miles to go before complete darkness, I stood up and stretched in my new Ultimate 12—boy it felt good to stand for a few moments! Then, as I was sitting back down, my left knee gave out (an old football injury) and I flopped down on one side and suddenly, but it seemed like slow motion, I did a reenactment of the Titanic!!! <img title="Embarassed" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-embarassed.gif" alt="Embarassed" /> Yep, a one and a half gainer into 9 feet of flowing river! 
I figured it was probably an 8.5 out of a possible 10 point scale! <img title="Laugh" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" alt="Laugh" /> RedHook judged it more like a 1.5, but hey, I’m the one swimming with the alligators so I figure I earned the right to have the final say.  I can laugh now, but at the moment it was pretty intense, as 1) I did not have on my pfd and 2) I still do not have much endurance after chemotherapy. No pfd—the epitome of stupidity! The Ultimate filled with water and my gear was going everywhere, however, I was able to catch all 4 rods. RedHook pulled the boat over to the nearest bank after a 50 yard float down deep water. I was kicking like a mule attempting to keep the boat from performing a full turtle and losing everything from seat to ice chest to gps to rods to BOAT!! It seemed I would never be able to get my feet on bottom and I was gasping for air as I bobbed like a catfish jug in the deep water. <img title="Surprised" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-surprised.gif" alt="Surprised" />
RedHook got me to the bank and retrieved my hat and paddle as I sat attempting to regain my composure. The place I reached at the bank was quicksand! Great! This is what is needed—I’m exhausted and now I’m up to my knees in quicksand. <img title="Yell" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-yell.gif" alt="Yell" /> I finally just sat down and gathered my thoughts. And you guessed it, RedHook wasn't going to miss this photo op! <img title="Embarassed" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-embarassed.gif" alt="Embarassed" />
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/Titanic.jpg?t=1244261938" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
We removed my gear from the yak, poured the water out, and then placed it all back in. Upon an inventory check, the river claimed my towel, some sinking lures and my digital scale! My water proof camera and gps made it fine and I’m thankful I had just placed my cell phone in RedHook’s storage hatch. Above that, I’m thankful for surviving myself—this was a very scary moment. Finally, after catching my breath and gathering my thoughts, I was ready to continue again!
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/recovery1.jpg?t=1244262064" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/recovery2.jpg?t=1244262125" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /> 
 
Then close to our takeout, RedHook and I decided to do some ‘Lewis and Clarke’ imitations. We found a waterfall way up in a small creek which is only accessible when the water is up! It was a jewel, and if it was not so late and getting dark I sure wanted to wade in the water above it and explore it. Here are some photos of this waterfall and rock formations.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/waterfall3.jpg?t=1244262370" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/waterfall2.jpg?t=1244262452" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/beautifulrocks.jpg?t=1244262273" alt="" width="1024" height="768" />
 
 
As we drove home the majesty of the heavens were displaying their full glory over the lake near my home!
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/sunsetnearhome.jpg?t=1244262507" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/finallyhome.jpg?t=1244262580" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
Then my toy poodle greeted us home as if he somehow knew the adventure and danger we experienced! What a friendly face.
<img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/welcomehome.jpg?t=1244262642" alt="" width="640" height="480" />
 
What a day!! A long hard paddling trip to look for fish, the first river bass for RedHook, then a big river bass for RedHook, beautiful scenery, a unique ancient campsite, a wood pecker hotel, a man overboard, a rescue from the river by RedHook, another rescue from quicksand, and a discovered waterfall! It is not always easy, but a promise is a promise!!!

FlySlingerCole

06-06-2009, 02:41 AM

Wow, fantastic report! Sorry to hear about your spill into the drink! I have not had it happen to me as of yet, but I know my time is coming as I have had some close calls, but mostly they are from standing when I shouldn\'t be. Beautiful photos, the scenery is gorgeous! Tell your son, congrats on the feesh! :cool:

Jump n Fish

06-06-2009, 10:30 AM

Wow, thats a great report Redfish.  Looks like a beautiful place, and I can't imagine what it would be like when the water clears up.  Seems like you did pretty well considering the conditions though.  Redhook must be quite the fishermen if he can boat a quality fish like that in those conditions especially the same day he catches his first river bass.  I gotta admit I'm a bit jealous.
Sorry to hear about your spill, and glad to hear you made it out alright.  How do you like that U12, I'm really starting to want one.  Does it have enough bouyancy to keep from sinking when its swamped?

BasserDrew

06-06-2009, 12:01 PM

That's an awesome report Redfish!  Congrats to Cap'n RedHook!  That water looks very stained so the fact that you guys got any is quite an accomplishment.  I have done real well with a chatterbait in water like that.  I loved the creek exploration.  I've found some cool stuff exploring like that too and it is almost as fun as fishing.  Sorry to hear about your  flip into the water there but it looks like it has already made for a great memory of a wild trip. 
JnF, the U12 does not sink sink.  It has foam on the front end and back and that keeps it floating when filled with water.

Redfish

06-07-2009, 12:48 AM

Drew,
You are correct! Exploring up tributaries and unique waters is almost as fun as fishing. Here is a vid of the water fall which RedHook took.
 
 

<param name="src" value="http://i657.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/waterfallvid.flv" />
<param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="361" src="http://i657.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Terry_62/First%20Fish/waterfallvid.flv" wmode="transparent"></embed>
 
 
JnF, the U12 is O.K. In my opinion it does not come close to comparison with the Native Watercraft Manta Ray or Heritage Redfish. I hate the lack of self bailing. I do intend on rigging some tight pontoons to prevent another flip from occuring. <img title="Laugh" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" alt="Laugh" /> I only bought it because I needed a third boat so my two youngest sons and I can plan on attending the Rodeo in October.

PawPaw

06-07-2009, 09:39 AM

Redfish....great photos and report on your adventure!  Thanks for sharing!

RedHeron

06-08-2009, 11:53 AM

Nicely done Redfish and Redhook.  Those muddy water bass can be tough.  I went for a morning outing last week down in south Alabama and got skunked.

Jump n Fish

06-08-2009, 02:35 PM

<blockquote>
RedHeron said:
Nicely done Redfish and Redhook.  Those muddy water bass can be tough.  I went for a morning outing last week down in south Alabama and got skunked.
</blockquote>
<hr />
Its reassuring to know I'm not the only one having some tough days lately.  I've been skunked twice this year so far.  I've never been skunked on a river down here till this spring.
Some of the rivers are starting to look pretty good around here, but I'm afraid its going to be almost two weeks before I'll get a day off.  Sad thing is even though the rivers are looking good, I'm afraid we're nearing that time of year where big fish are gonna be tough to come by.  Doesn't mean that I won't be optimistic about every trip I take though.<img title="Laugh" src="/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" alt="Laugh" />