Week of August 21st

I enjoyed two evenings of fishing this week, Tuesday and Thursday. I' thankful for the time on the water but neither were great number days - a couple of bass each evening.

This Saturday is the Volunteer Fire Fighters monthly fund raising tournament from 7PM until Midnight.

The High School football team is sponsoring a Bass fishing tournament Saturday Sept 10th, 8-AM to 1-PM and this is also a fund raiser. I haven't decided if I'm fishing yet but I'm thinking about it.

The late Summer pattern is beginning - more and more shad balls are moving the back of the creeks and large schools of predators are soon to follow. Fish are spread out and the key is finding them...as always. So, the hunt continues in these pleasant later summer evenings. God Bless.

Mill Creek - Saturday, August 20, 2011

I normally do not fish the weekends, but I thoroughly cleaned the boat in the morning so after lunch I just wanted to take it out. I wasn't expecting much as the water was churned to a froth by the hundreds of ski boats, jet skis, house boats and pontoons. I decided to find the quietest place I could so ran to the very beginning of Mill Creek - the water was between 3 and 8 feet deep.

I took a Zorro rattlin' Booza Bug with a pumpkin colored trailer and made a cast into the middle of this large flat. First cast I hooked up - a WALLEYE about 2-pounds. What is a Walleye doing in the back of a Creek in 4' of water? I deduced that the water must be of decent quality even though shallow.

Next cast close to a stump I hooked up with a nice Largemouth so I just kept fishing that pattern. I'd see dark places under the water (stumps) and throw to them - when it was all done, I had caught 6-LM. I kept the 5-biggest in the live well and weighed them later - total of the 5 was 16-pounds.

Upon return to the dock there was a tourney about to launch so I released the bass close enough so they could see. LOL. Yeah, a little mean and self-serving, I know. Had a nice afternoon despite the heavy traffic - now I have to clean the boat again! Cheers!

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - Center Hill Lake

I was able to spend a few late afternoon hours on Center Hill and was rewarded with 3-hours of pretty fair fishing. Found a little hot spot where I caught and released 8-bass; Large Mouth, Spotted Bass and of the Small Mouth 2-very nice fish. I was by myself and had to use my phone camera but the SM I'm holding weighed 3.9#! I marked the spot on my GPS so I can return when I need to.

Birthday 2011

Had a great 63rd birthday complete with presents, family, and cake & ice-cream. I got new tires for the Tahoe, a collectors airplane, gift certificates to BPS, a Humminbird 788ci HD DI, and some cash.

My 2nd daughter and grand kids came to celebrate and the two oldest wanted to fish. No problem, of course! BJ (15) caught a LM and Spot and Vivian (13) one spot. Being my Birthday and all...I caught zip but broke off two that felt pretty heavy.

I've waited all my life to get this old - might as well enjoy it! Thanks to all for the well wishes!

Blessings to all.

Center Hill - July 29, 2011

One of my youngest Daughter's Son's has been here for the week so we have fished every afternoon for 3-days on Center Hill Lake. The fishing was poor - or - the fisherman ill prepared. However today I actually caught 2 nice fish - one keeper SM (19") and a LM the same size. Water temperature was 93, ambient temperature 97 with 5-mph breeze. Water clarity was gin with a green tint.

Lost a Heavy, 7' casting rod - broke it in two pieces high sticking a snag! Yes, I know better! Argh! Never broke a rod in my life and now 2-each in 10-months - what's with that?

Last night the boat shifter broke a cable so today I took it by my local boat repair and surprisingly he jumped right on it. All done and ready to go in just 2-hours!

Last week, my Son bought me a combined Father's Day and Birthday present - a new Humminbird 788ci HD Di and had it installed while I was traveling in the Middle East. Works great and I really appreciate it.

I'm blessed and thankful!

Father's Day 2011

Had a great Father's day! Cards, fudge, Truffles, Face Book greetings, Columbia Fishing Shirts and nice rain jacket plus my 2nd Daughter and her family came over. B.J. my G'son wanted to fish so Brian (SnL) joined us for an outing on Center Hill Lake. We got out about 2:30 in the afternoon and finished up about 7:30 (T-Storms & Lightening caused a quick exit) and we were back at the house for Pizza by 8 PM. Water temp was about 90, water quality was dingy from all the weekend pleasure boaters but 12-fish were caught on jigs. I caught 3-each SM, LM and Spot. B.J. caught one LM and Brian caught 2-each LM. The fish didn't start cooperating until about 5:30 when the boat traffic calmed. A great day, thoroughly enjoyed!

June 14, 2011 - Center Hill Lake

My Grandson, Isaac is visiting so we fished Center Hill Lake from about 3 until 7:30 yesterday afternoon. I caught a very nice Spotted Bass on a football head Zorro 3/4-oz jig (greenish) and a Zoom trailer in 9-12' of water. Isaac caught his first crank-bait bass on a square lipped 8' ghost gray crank-bait and did it off the Doc while I was loading the boat to leave! He caught 1-bass earlier on a jig and 3-off the dock in the last 5-minutes of fishing. Tonight, if weather allows, he wants to catch his first Spinner-Bait Bass. Good times! Maybe we will have some pictures to share after tonight.

Center Hill Lake surface temperatures are 89 - 93 degrees. The water is clearing but slightly stained and fish are hitting early and late in 5-15' of water close to sharp cliffs and breaks on a variety of lures.