You know fall is fast approaching when squirrel seasons are on the threshold. The clock is indeed ticking, and late summer sort of opens the door to fall hunting opportunities.
Late summer is a great time to be a Tennessee sportsman.
Last week’s column dealt with some history of Asian carp introduction into our waterways and a new tool — a Bio-Acoustic Fish Fence (BAFF) — about to be introduced that will enhance the ability of fish and wildlife agencies to curtail migration.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
Most wars are won fighting one battle at a time. Those on the front lines in the war on Asian carp are hoping a new weapon about to be introduced will turn the tide in their favor. So far, slugging it out in the trenches with a variety of attempts and a lack of funding has proven to be prett…
The first Saturday in August is a special day across Tennessee for duck hunters. It signals the arrival of the annual duck blind drawings at a few select wildlife management areas under the umbrella of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Thumbs up to the weatherman this week. After enduring weeks of hot and humid weather, Kentucky Lake anglers woke up to cool, crisp mornings this week, reminiscent of mid-October when jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons are the norm.
Weathermen across the region seem to be singing the same song this week; rising temperatures as the weekend approaches with the possibility of three-digit readings in some areas. That’s not what Kentucky Lake anglers wanted to hear for the mid-July fishing scene.
The Woodlands Nature Station at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is asking for help from the public in naming some of their animal ambassadors.
After a long stretch of above normal elevation, Kentucky Lake has finally returned to normal summer pool levels. For some two weeks or more, the reservoir jumped up out of proportion, cresting last week around the 362.7 feet mark, which was almost 4 feet above normal summer elevation of 359.
To their long list of accolades add another trophy and title for Henry County’s shooting program.
Talk has persisted for years about the buying and selling of duck blinds on wildlife management areas. Each year the first Saturday in August signals the sacred day on the calendar of waterfowlers across Tennessee when the drawings are held.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
After a week of high winds and above normal lake levels, fishermen are hoping things settle down here on Kentucky Lake.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
Tennessee boaters have the month of June to renew their boat registration before the first fee increase in 12 years goes into effect on July 1, pending approval by the Government Operations Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Still challenged by the current status of the Kentucky Lake fishing scene are bass and crappie anglers who have played cat and mouse with their favorite species as of late.
The FLW Bass Fishing League tournament season continues June 15-16 with back-to-back T-H Marine FLW LBL Division tournaments on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000, respectively, in each tournament. Takeoffs…
My annual Casting for a Cure Kids Fishing Rodeo returns Saturday and although I won’t catch a single fish it’s my favorite fishing day of the year.
Saturday is Free Fishing Day in Tennessee. You can’t beat the price.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
Above-average temperatures have hung around for about a week now and Kentucky Lake anglers have found themselves transitioning toward summer fishing patterns a bit earlier than anticipated.
It’s the weekend boaters have been waiting for since many of them went into hibernation just after Labor Day.Labeled as the official start to the summer boating season, Memorial Day weekend kicks off a recreational barrage for boaters, fishermen, campers, skiers, tubers and all lake dwellers.
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene was pretty good this week for catfishermen, who continue to land decent stringers from rocky banks and also throughout the secondary bays where spawning continues.
Every year, hundreds of people lose their lives in boating incidents. U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four of five recreational boating fatalities, and that 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Never underestimate the power of the panfish. Such is the slogan adopted by scores of Kentucky Lake anglers who have spent most of May rendezvousing with aggressive redear and bedding bluegill.
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
What started way back in late March is now drawing to a close. Tennessee’s spring turkey season will see the curtain fall Sunday as the statewide season ends.
Still on the prowl this week are spawning catfish along the rocky banks of Kentucky Lake. Several nice ones have been taken in the backs of small coves and pockets just off the main lake, too, as the fish move up to search for spawning territory plus feast on bluegill beds.
Emery Miles got herself a gobbler on March 24 weighing in at 28 pounds, 2 ounces with an 11-inch beard and 1.5 inch spurs. She shot the bird using a 20-gauge shotgun while hunting in a turkey blind with her dad Kevin Miles.
Water temperatures have warmed this week as April faded into May and that signals a transition time for a lot of fishermen on Kentucky Lake.
Kentucky Lake levels aren’t supposed to reach summer pool elevation until May 1 on TVA’s curve for reservoir filling, but things jumped ahead of schedule last weekend.
Among the popular events during the World’s Biggest Fish Fry is the Junior Fishing Rodeo and it’s fast approaching.
Dogwood winter started the week off for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene as frigid temperatures followed a wet and windy weekend. A quick rebound returned by Tuesday only to have cooler conditions with more rain and thunderstorms in the forecast as Easter weekend arrives.
Every year, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency entertains input from anglers and then presents comments to both the wildlife commission and fisheries biologists.
Some folks are catching crappie; others are wondering what’s up.
It seems there’s no stopping the Labrador retriever.
For most crappie anglers testing the waters of Kentucky Lake these last few weeks, it has been pretty tough sledding. A mean spring has tossed some very challenging conditions in the path of anglers yearning to jump start this very popular fishing season.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
March Madness has been playing games with early spring crappie fishermen this past week, but things are improving, thanks to a few warm days that arrived at midweek and chased away some nasty northeast winds.
Doubling up on turkeys last Saturday during the Young Sportsmen’s Turkey Hunt were two Henry County youngsters, 12-year old Carter (left) and 9-year old Blair Moody. They teamed up with their dad, Jon Paul, and mom, Erin, to make it a family hunt.
It’s official. Spring has actually sprung.
BY STEVE McCADAMS
Upstream a few miles on the Tennessee River a big fishing tournament is underway.
For the last week Kentucky Lake’s elevation has been falling fast as TVA really pulled the plug in the aftermath of recent flooding across the region. The reservoir crested about ten days ago some thirteen feet above normal winter pool in some places.
Lake levels on both Kentucky and Barkley reservoirs are falling fast. After weeks of flooding that saw water elevation crest more than 12 feet above normal, winter pool elevation in many places are now receding almost two feet a day.
Some songs never go out of style. Beagles baying across a rural Tennessee hillside in hot pursuit of a freshly jumped cottontail is one of them.
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