I know it’s hard to believe, but I finally made it out today and got some fishing in. While out exploring earlier this year, we had passed by a sign for a park a few times, but I thought it was one of those small parks with 2 or 3 picnic benches so I passed it by but last week, while doing some internet browsing, and looking for local fishing holes, I came across a newspaper article which mentioned this park and that the west fork of the Red River flowed through the middle of the park and that one could catch fish there as well. So after church last Sunday, we stopped and checked it out real fast and it looked really nice and the good news is, it’s only 10 minutes from my house. Then, earlier this week I read that the state of Tennessee has an annual trout stocking program and one of the places they stock during the month of December is this very park!
I‘m off all this week, so yesterday I bought myself a few Mepps inline spinners and some 6-pound line to put on my ultra-light rig and at 10 this morning I took a quick drive to try my luck. We had some hard rain just the other day so I was worried that the river would be a little muddy and high; the streams around here tend to rise rather quick after any amount of rain. Here are a few pics:
The water was higher than last Sunday, a bit on the stained side and the current was running pretty strong as well but it’s been so long since I wet a line, I just had to try my luck. I walked a good bit of shore and threw some different colored inline spinners, and even tried a 4-inch Senko and a small jig near some downed trees where the current wasn’t so strong, but not a bite. On the way back to the car, I saw a guy fishing with his two kids and when I asked him what kind of fish there were in this river, he told me that now is a bad time except for trout, and that during the warmer months, one can catch red-eye bass (no idea what those area), bluegill, crappie, large and small mouth bass, and catfish. He also told me he’s out there at that park almost every other day no matter what. I noticed he was using power bait and he said with the water as stained and the strong current, that was the best bet for trout right now so maybe I’ll have to stop by K-Mart this afternoon to pick some up and maybe give it another shot tomorrow since it’s supposed to get up to 60 tomorrow. This is a possibility for EMB except I’m not so sure I want to walk around the local waters in the dark; they have some snakes here I’d rather not tangle with.
And here’s one for Rob: On the way into the park, it’s about a 2-mile stretch of narrow road and on the way in, a car came from the other direction and the driver waved at me. I thought, “Do I know that guy?” and then it hit me, people down south tend to wave at other drivers on the country roads and sure enough, on the way out a pickup truck came my way and the driver did the same thing but this time I was ready and gave him “the wave” and “the nod” back 
Sweet pics Nomad…looks like a nice area.
Imagine that! A friendly nod to a stranger! That’s just crazy!!
Hmmm…red eye bass. Not sure. Would it have anything to do with a nuclear plant nearby?
It’s really beautiful through there…and at the end of the park, I found the dreaded “Private Property, No Trespassing” sign. Right where the fishing looked to be the best LOL
LOL, nope, it’s a real fish:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redeye_bass
http://www.tnfish.org/SpeciesFishInformation_TWRA/RedeyeCoosaBassTennessee_MicropterusCoosae_TWRA.htm
Nice looking stream Nomad, its about time you got out there. Now we will be waiting for those fish photos.
There wont be many photos from me for a while as most local waters have a layer of ice already
Steve,
I was hoping to go back out yesterday but it clouded over, got real windy and chilly too. Of course today it’s beautiful out; sunny, no wind and it’s supposed to get near 60 but we have grocery shopping to do and then some errands to run. Then next week it’s back to work
I’ll definitely be going back there come spring though.
Nomad,
Two words – float tube.
John,
I don’t think a float tube would work in that stream. The current runs pretty strong through there; I cast out my spinner or Senko and as soon as it hit the water, it was downstream. That’s one of those places where you either wait for the water to drop so the current isn’t as strong, or you look for eddies, pools, rocks or downed trees where the fish can hang out.
Have you been back to the stream with a rod and reel yet Nomad??
Nope
Hey Nomad-
I’m not sure what kind of in-line spinners you are using, or what kind of trout you have in that stream, but I have most recently discovered the wonders of black/yellow mepps on brown trout. I’ve been using size #4 with the increased flow this winter, and have been doing pretty well. I use the black with yellow spots and the big yellow body. (I thik the body is made of wood.) It really makes a difference. I’m even catching smaller fish with the big spinner – I caught a 9 incher the other day and it surprised me, but it was a nice fat fish, nonetheless. I also caught some rainbows on silver blades, but the majority of my trout have come from the black/yellow combo. In fact, I haven’t caught any browns on anything else – not even all the flies I’ve been chucking.
Let us know when you get out next – and if you have a chance, throw a black/yellow and let me know if you have any luck – I’ve tried it on two different streams with luck – so I’d be curious to know how it does!
Also, I’ve tried the same in summer with not as much luck – so I’m wondering if it’s just really good in winter. Anyway, good luck!
Scott,
I was using brown/red Mepps spinners and also a yellow one. I haven’t had a chance to get back out since due to work and weather (when I’m working, it’s nice, then it rains right before the weekend and turns cold and windy. Also, that stream rises really fast with just the slightest bit of rain) but hope to get back out there again real soon.
Hey Guys,
Is there any ice fishing close to Osan/Humphreys???
Thanks
Gerno,
Check out this post
http://www.landinglunkers.com/2011/01/23/winter-pics/
You may also want to check out Idong lake near Osan AB, I’ve seen them ice fishing there and I heard they catch some nice bluegill.
Gemo,
I don’t know about ice fishing but there are a few trout lakes in the osan and hump area. Within 20-30 min. from both. They use pumps to keep the water from freezing The closes is donk-bong if I’m spelling it right. Check 0ut your area mwr and they should be able to give you a few maps and locations of lakes and what they have in them. Good luck.