TnRiver46

Gotta be about to melt ? My bro in law in Toledo said Lake Erie finally thawed. It froze 95% this year

Productive for a short trip!

My avatar fish was caught that way with Rippin rap.

We’ve caught some really nice SMB and hybrids up there, even a few big LM. But the tourism opportunities are few haha. Plenty close by tho Here are some pics of the success we’ve had on Newport floats , can be some really really good fishing at times

In all my years……. I never imagined……. That people traveled to Newport 😂 I like floating/fishing the pigeon and French broad there. I’m sure there is mountain biking, my wife photographs a gravel race in a nearby town called Hartford, which also has whitewater rafting. In Newport, there is a Mexican restaurant? That’s all I’ve experienced other than river fishing. Douglas and Cherokee lake are nearby. Gatlinburg and pigeon forge are massive tourist spots just up the road. Camping/hiking/fishing in the great smoky mountain national park would be what I would look into . Asheville is not far if they can rebuild the road that fell into the pigeon , I think one lane is open now

How do you know she didn’t ? 😂

Which lake do you fish? Have you tried any different ones? Maybe a river ?

Hahahahahha. Mmmmmm bird puke…….

Beaut

Channel catfish are fun, fight like the devil and will nearly chomp your thumb off. People around here don’t like them because everyone wants to target 50+ lb blues and flathead but the channels are a wild ride that I enjoy. I caught a 24” one burning a spinnerbait and thought it was the biggest SMB ever, olive and brown colored fish that just pummeled the lure near the surface

For some reason I always go 12 and up on baitcaster, I like the way the diameter/feel/casting/retrieve all work together with that size. I have used some 10 before and it’s still pretty strong, I think my wife had 10 lb line when she caught a 36 lb striper! It just seems slightly too thin for most of the stuff I end up doing

I’ve never been to Iowa but I’m guessing flat Ag land? If it’s mud instead of rocks I would think you will be fine. The one place I can break 15 lb braid all the time is rock edges. Problem is 99% of the water i fish is filled with rock edges. if the water is clear , I’d definitely use some clear line but that’s just me. Fish can see nearly microscopic stuff, but that’s doesn’t mean they care. I’ve had them strike my line instead of the lure and I’ve also seen them swim away at Mach 5 before a lure even landed. I would think your leader usage would be for two reasons: heavily pressured fish and situations where abrasion resistance is paramount The 50 lb on the baitcaster? That ain’t breaking much . I keep two baitcast reels with seaguar 50 lb tactx at all times for 4 wheel drive applications