FINALLY ... I get to go fishing again !

[CrappiePappy]

LOL!! ... O.K. it HAS been a couple of months, so bare with my excitement.

My fishing partner (Paul) and I took a trip to Taylorsville Lake, Ky. It's my main "local" Crappie lake. I had several things in mind to accomplish on this trip, first and foremost - catch some Crappie to bring home to eat. I also wanted to give my "prototype" BnM Float-n-Fly rod, that I'm fieldtesting, an "on the water" trial run. And I also wanted to snap a few pics, to test out my Fuji Finepix A345 Digital Camera. And, also, to get back on the water & do some fishing - for "mental health reasons" ...LOL! All missions accomplished !

Now, while we didn't exactly "tear 'em up" ... we did manage to catch a couple dozen - with 6 of them being big enough to bring home (ranging in size from the 9" keeper length to a 12" Taylorsville "Slab" ...LOL!)

The "proto" rod is an 8ft IM6 spinning rod ... designed for the method of "float and fly" presentation. It performed admirably. Outfitted with a Mitchell 308X - 6lb Trilene Iron Silk Solar Mint mono ... it will make a fine addition to both my Crappie fishing & Bass fishing arsenal. I will be taking it with me, on my trips to Watts Bar, this Fall ... and hope to put it "to the test" against some larger Crappie (and possibly against some "bronzeback bruisers").

The camera did a fine job of capturing the essence of this little lake. Here's the four pics I took (yeah, I only took the time to snap 4 ... since I was too busy taking care of the other things I wanted to accomplish :rolleyes: ).

Pic 1 shows what most all of the creeks look like:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...y/DSCF0022.jpg
Pic 2 shows what most of the main lake banks look like:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...y/DSCF0023.jpg
Pic 3 shows a couple of downed trees (center of photo) that stick out into 20-25ft depths, with standing timber close by:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...y/DSCF0024.jpg
Pic 4 shows the main lake, at the Marina ramp, and the heavy overcast day starting to beak up.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...y/DSCF0025.jpg

Picture #2 was actually my attempt to take a picture of one of some of the resident Otters, that happened to be swimming by. I just wasn't quick enough on the trigger, and the little critter had already dived back down, by the time I got the shot :D ...LOL!!

Further details of the trip are on the KY state board - under the "Taylorsville Report" thread. I'll be more than happy to elaborate on any portion of the trip, equipment used, pictures taken, or any other questions relating to this post.
Now, if ya'll will excuse me .... I've got some fish to fry ............ cp

[fishingpox]

I hear you, like you I have not been able to get on the lake either. Due to the fact that I got slickered into buying a swimming pool. The pool is 21 by 43. I built a 100 sq.ft. upper deck and about 400 sq.ft. lower deck. Install one french door and one window. Laid flooring in dining room and in kitchen. I'm now in th process of laying slate on the rest of the patio.Also, shovling dirt that the pool installers left. Dug trenches for electrical to pump. Dug holes for fence post, to install gates and fencing,to keep the neighborhood kiddies away. I need a break :D

That lake looks like a river chute I go to sometimes off the Mississippi.
Glad you got to enjoy yourself.

I didn't see the otter or a shadow of one, I was running from wasp and my glasses fell off and I stepped on them,ruining them completly. So, I thought I better come in the house to shower and cool off some before I kill something

[blufloyd]

I better do some googling and find out why I don't live there.
Otters are a reoccurring subject for me this weekend. They are cleaning out farm ponds along the river south of me.

[CrappiePappy]

just finished off 3 of the Crappie I caught yesterday ...... UMMMMM Good !!

Pox - you can just barely see the shadow of the diving Otter, to the right of the "splash ring". Sorry, but I can't relate to doing "honey-do's" ... I'm a bachelor and live in an apt complex. So, whatever needs fixing - the maintenance guys are on it ... everything else I have to do "myself" ...LOL!! About the closest thing I have to "honey-do's", is doing yard work, house repair, or garden chores for my Mom. :D

Blufloyd - I know that Otters can be a nusaince, and liability to certain areas and under certain situations. These were introduced to the area/lake by the KDFWR. I've never seen more than 3-4 of them, at a time - but, I'm sure there are more than that, in the lake area. The lake is full of Gizzard Shad - and all the times I've seen the Otters ... they were making quick meals of these baitfish. I know they don't distinguish between species, and would just as quickly eat a Crappie or Bass, as a Shad. But, I think the abundance and ease of catching those Shad, should keep the Otters from doing much damage to the sportfish population.

Moose - the FnF method is generally (originally) done with a fixed float (pear shaped clamp-on model) .... since the light jigs do not always work well with slip floats. The rod is an 8ft model ... but, some other brands have them in longer versions. I haven't had the opportunity to try this rod out, with a slip float ... so I can't give you any info on how the tip performs with the various "bobber stops".
Have you given any thought to having the small tip-eye guides replaced with bigger ones ? Not that it would solve your dilema - but it may be an option to consider. I doubt there are any "longpoles" that have a large tip eye - the nature of them, having the thin blank tip, requires a small tip eye. But - with a slip float, one doesn't really need a pole longer than 7-8ft, to cast with. You may be better served by using the longpoles for vertical jigging or tightlining (without float), and getting yourself a true "casting" outfit for the slip float method.

By the way -- the FnF rod, I've been fieldtesting, is on the BnM site ... for anyone interested in checking it out : http://www.bnmpoles.com/ffcs.html

........... luck2ya'll .........cp

[blufloyd]

Our? otters are catfish specialists. From first Cat skeleton to last takes about 2 weeks then they move to next pond. They are headed east. Heads up Indy and points that way.

I went to 9ft eagle claws cause of 2 things I hate. Graphite and slip floats. So Moose you may be double dipping there.

[Mike Sutton]

Thanks Crappypappy for the pics of Taylorsville. I fished it for the first time in June and look forward to getting back out there when I'm down visiting my parents. It sure looks like a great lake with a lot of potential.

Keep the pics coming,

Mike

[gcromer]

CP, I'm glad to see that you and Paul made it back fishing again. Have you decided on that boat that you've wanting.

That lake sure does look good with all those trees and stumps for those crappie to hide in.

I'm looking for some cool weather so I can hit the swamp.
73's
Gerald

[CrappiePappy]

Yeah, blufloyd ... Otters in a "holding tank/pond" would be akin to "shooting fish in a barrel" - nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. I hope you (your state) has a plan to take care of this situation - or at least allow you (owners of those ponds) to take necessary steps.
I can understand your displeasure with slip floats (or should I say the less than adequate "bobber stoppers" we have to choose from) ... but, I don't understand your displeasure with graphite. Is it because of their perceived frailty ? Or do you really prefer fiberglass rods, for other reasons ?

Mike - Taylorsville is fished hard, floods several times a year, and is past its prime years ... but, still manages to produce some decent catches, and decent sized fish, for its size. Its Bass population is limited, and the average size isn't what it used to be ... Channel Cats are quite abundant there, and I've heard that Blues have been introduced and are doing well ... the Hybrid Stripers, of keeper size (previously 15"), are few and far between, nowadays - so much so that the limits on them have been modified. The White Bass population has exploded, over the last few years. This may be a contributing factor to the demise of the Hybrids, along with the heavy angling predation success of a few years ago. The lake is full of Gizzard Shad ... so the sunfish population suffers from a general lack of sufficient predation, to keep their numbers in check and allow them to grow to any appreciable size. But, on the bright side, the Shad population has caused the Crappie to increase in size, numbers, and weight. Prior to the "boom" of Shad reproduction, the Crappie were small and thin - even after 3-4yrs of growth time. Now, it is possible to catch a limit (15/day) of 9" keepers ... and even have the potential to put a few 12-14" fish in the boat. I'm hopeful that this will continue, if not improve, in the years to come. Let me know when you are planning on fishing there, again ... I may join you, or at least offer you some advice on tactics or areas.

Gerald - no, I haven't really been looking all that hard. I know what I wanted, but have decided to rethink things and consider more in line with what I "need". If a good, used boat doesn't present itself, in due time ... I will be purchasing a new one, hopefully by next Spring. Good luck down in the "swamp" !!

...........cp

[DENNIS BOWERS]

Glad you finally got to go!!!We too have otters-fun to watch ,but I have caught Crappie that they have had ahold of. I kinda figure its natures balancing act-they get some,I get some ,and some get away!!!Good pictures!

[blufloyd]

On the black stuff, glass I can fish with till the finish wears off and longer, graphite you can fish with till the tip end breaks off or the rod breaks off down by the seat. I like fishing. I got bad eyes, no depth perception, bad hearing, hands are numb some of the time and graphite rods cost too much and have too many eyes most of the time. While your talking about how great they are I probably caught three fish. Even if they did break I can buy 30 Eagle Claws for the price of one thousand dollar conversation piece. Its like other stuff use what you like or what they told you to like.