Cumberland River Float Trip

[Blue Raider Bob]

     After reading the BR posts and drooling at the pictures Friday morning, I got so tore up that I left work, went home, and hooked up the boat. Got to the Cumberland River about 10:00 AM and cruised upriver to the Old Hickory Dam to begin a long float. Right after I cut the motor is when I began to melt. Even with my umbrella, the heat and humidity was overwhelming. The fishing was slow and I went two hours without the first nibble. Then it happened. A solid take and a bent rod with screaming drag. I got her up to the side of the boat when she jumped and was gone. Durn! I just sat in my chair, dejected and sweaty. This same unfortunate story repeated itself four more times before I landed my first smallie. Went on to catch about thirty dinks but the only sizable fish were drums. After a very long day swearing at my BR friends, I finally pulled the boat up on the trailer at 7:00 PM and the air temp was still at 88 deg. AC never felt so good!

[Swamp Girl]

I love that umbrella, Bob! Sorry you lost some big ones. I hate when that happens.

 

 

 

[Blue Raider Bob]

11 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I love that umbrella, Bob! Sorry you lost some big ones. I hate when that happens.

 

 

 

Yes Katie, the umbrella really makes for pleasant journeys. Keeps me dry in anything but a strong breezy rain, and keeps the sun off on the cloudless days. Gone are the blissful days of youth when the sun was welcome and a quick drop over the side to cool off was a constant thing. Skin cancer is now a recurring concern and the child in the old grandpa's body just doesn't trust his limbs in the river anymore.

[Swamp Girl]

4 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Yes Katie, the umbrella really makes for pleasant journeys. Keeps me dry in anything but a strong breezy rain, and keeps the sun off on the cloudless days. Gone are the blissful days of youth when the sun was welcome and a quick drop over the side to cool off was a constant thing. Skin cancer is now a recurring concern and the child in the old grandpa's body just doesn't trust his limbs in the river anymore.

 

I'm glad to read that you're taking good care of yourself, Bob. You grew up. You grew wise.

 

There's a guy in my hometown who still thinks he's 17. He's lost hair, but he still wears it long. Wears a baseball cap backwards. No shirt. Rides his big-tired bike around and around and around town even though he must be 50, listening to his buds and banging his head. 

 

Maine needs the Hair Cop! @gimruis, bring scissors! And an extra shirt!

[Blue Raider Bob]

     Got a break in the hot weather and I haven't fished in three weeks so I headed for the Cumberland yesterday. Weather was drizzly and overcast with light winds. I could not have prayed for better conditions. The little ones were eating like sharks as usual but the big ones were scarce, (as usual). Used the same soft plastic all day and caught 58 in six hours. Changed jig hook several times but really used the same trailer for all 58, (plus several that came unbuttoned). Didn't break off once. Could have caught lots more but I was off the water before 4:00 so I could get home in time for momma's homemade kische. Our spring bought chicks are laying so we had the big brown eggs and garden tomatoes.  

     The Cumberland is a great place to get your confidence back after some less than pleasing trips numbers wise. Is has six pounders I'm told, although I have never witnessed one. My PB is 4-7, but it has scads of little Spots and Smallies, and is just a beautiful river. I seriously cropped my picture to remove as much of Sasquatch as I could but it left very little fish!