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Trade
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10 registered members (kaintuck, MTeague, Tree Dweller, BCLC, foldemup, Narrow Gap, ImThere, Longtine, Bronco 74, ridgestalker),
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Key:
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Combat fishing adventures...
#2806171
05/12/19 09:42 PM
05/12/19 09:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,967 Opelika, AL
AU_trout_bum
OP
8 point
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OP
8 point
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,967
Opelika, AL
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***DISCLAIMER*** If you know any of these spots, keep in mind that I didn't name them for a reason. Please be respectful and keep these location names off of the interwebs for all to see. The last six months have been a little hectic. I got the bright idea at age 34 (with a wife and baby) to quit my job and go back to school. After writing my book it changed my whole outlook on conservation and endemic populations of fish and decided if I really cared I would take my own advice and do something about it. Luckily my wife was on board and it has been a good move, but that doesn’t mean it’s always been easy. It’s been a while since I finished graduate school around eight years ago, so getting back into the swing of tests, classes, etc. have been fun, but challenging. I have been anxiously awaiting spring so that I could go after my favorite fish. The redeye bass is one of many endemic black bass species. Most people think that there are only smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass. There are actually around 19 recognized or proposed black bass species. Advances in genetics have been the main catalyst in this explosion of species descriptions, and I suppose I am contributing to that in some ways. Redeye bass alone have been split into around seven different species, and my main project will revolve around learning more about them. Once the water warmed up a little, it was time to begin fishing, I mean sampling. Sampling is done via hook and line for the first part of my overall project, and although fun, it has its own challenges. My first stop was back in March, when the waters were just starting to wake up. This trip was just a quickie on a lunch break to scratch the itch. About a month later I moved on to one of my favorite small streams with high hopes. Although the fishing can be extremely technical, the beauty of the water is usually worth the price of admission. Hard to believe that this is bass water, it resembles a trout stream more than anything else and appears to be transplanted from a high mountain anywhere other than Alabama. However, one quick drift across its surface with a popper and you’ll quickly realize there are no finicky trout here. It’s full of the pretty boy of the bass world, the redeye bass. The stream was full of mountain laurel beginning to bloom.
Author, Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters JacksonKayak Fishing Team --------------------------------------------------- "I do not hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to." - Tom Kelly
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: AU_trout_bum]
#2806173
05/12/19 09:43 PM
05/12/19 09:43 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,967 Opelika, AL
AU_trout_bum
OP
8 point
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OP
8 point
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,967
Opelika, AL
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It took a while, and a lot of wrong ways before I was able to finally make it down above a very large waterfall. Once seeing the pool as the base of the falls, I knew I had to get down there to fish it. This turned out to be one of the most difficult climbs of my life and was hoping if I was able to get down, I would be able to get back up. I eventually made my way down and fished it with a large wooly bugger. Nothing. The pool was so deep that I thought I needed to get down to the fish. I didn’t see any cruising the shallows, but to change it up I tied on the ‘ol faithful Boogle Bug popper in yellow. On the first cast I see a wake speed over to the popper and the water just explodes! Fishing a 2wt this fish felt massive and I knew immediately it was a nice fish. After a few runs, jumps, and several gasps of despair, I brought it to hand. This fish was absolutely gorgeous. Hues of blue were all over the head, neck, and side. The tips of its fins glowing with brick red. A picture-perfect specimen of a Coosa Bass. A redeye bass this size caught from below a beautiful waterfall with mountain laurel blooming all around is about as good as this kind of combat fishing gets. I may never top that fish and this experience again, so I sat on a big bedrock boulder and just soak in the surroundings. I don’t sit too long, because there is plenty more water to explore. The mountain laurel this time of year provides the perfect frame for what is some of the most wild and scenic areas of Alabama.
Author, Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters JacksonKayak Fishing Team --------------------------------------------------- "I do not hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to." - Tom Kelly
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: AU_trout_bum]
#2806182
05/12/19 09:46 PM
05/12/19 09:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,967 Madison
BowtechDan
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,967
Madison
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One of the largest smallies my Dad ever had on a line in WV was a way back trout stream with a huge rock and a deep hole.
Nathan Carl Goff 19 Sept 2016 - 14 Jan 2017.
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: alhawk]
#2806216
05/12/19 11:02 PM
05/12/19 11:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 16,495 Guntersville
AC870
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 16,495
Guntersville
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Awesome read and some incredible pictures. Thanks for taking me on your journey. Absolutely!
“Killing tomorrow’s trophies today.”
On the distance I like to walk to my stands: “The first 100 yards is also the last 100 yards.”
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: AU_trout_bum]
#2806262
05/13/19 05:58 AM
05/13/19 05:58 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 39,449 Marshall County
FurFlyin
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 39,449
Marshall County
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I don't know for sure where any of those places are but I think I might know where one of them is.
I caught a decent red eye bass about a month ago, fishing right below the last set of rapids in one of the creeks that feeds into Lake Guntersville.
If you come up this way to "sample" them, I can probably put you on a couple of places to try.
Shoot me a PM if you're interested.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: AU_trout_bum]
#2806283
05/13/19 06:47 AM
05/13/19 06:47 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,184 alabama
BhamFred
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,184
alabama
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great pics of some beautiful waters and a wonderful fish. I grew up on redeye bass with a smattering of spots and largemouth thrown in. Redeyes are the prettiest of them all by far. I have a 3lb1/2oz redeye on my wall from many years ago.
I've spent most of the money I've made in my lifetime on hunting and fishing. The rest I just wasted.....
proud Cracker-Americaan
muslims are like coyotes, only good one is a dead one
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Re: Combat fishing adventures...
[Re: bward85]
#2806288
05/13/19 06:52 AM
05/13/19 06:52 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 6,410 Elba
Farmer64
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 6,410
Elba
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Pretty fish and water.....thanks for sharing!
American by birth Southern by the grace of God.....
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