On an earlier trip below Ft. Loudon Dam, my fishing partner from Ohio got his fishing line caught around the prop of my outboard motor. Lifting up the motor and reaching out as far as I could. The white PVC pipe that surrounds the outside of my boat and acts as a cushion against the collisions with the dam gave way, plunging me into the cold water. After catching my breath and poseur I removed the line and lifting myself back into the boat. Thinking that no one had seen this mishap, I look around to see that I was wrong and that the rest of my Ohio friends in another boat laughing and pointing.
This past Saturday I took Mason Woody and Gage Paterson to the Tennessee River after their baseball game to do a little live bait fishing (photos below). The evening started out well with Gage getting most of the bits and catching most of the fish. Mason laid his rod on top of the bait tank to give Gage a hand removing a hook from a large catfish. As soon as he turned his back, off went his rod. As I seen the butt of his rod sinking out of sight I dove in catching it just before it disappeared. As I returned to the surface with his rod and fish in tow I could see both of their expressions change from worry to happiness, especially Mason. This was the same rod that on its first trip out had the tip shut in a car door.
Local sporting good store, Blackwater Outdoors, had its second bow fishing tournament this past weekend with a large turnout. Locals Drew Parks and Clint Whitehead (59 lbs) edged out father son team Dennis and Austin Keeling by one pound.
Take someone fishing, Greg