three_rivers
09-15-2005, 07:11 AM
Up until this year i had never had much interest in pole fishng. We had always ran lines, jugs or yoyo's and it has yielded some decent fish. I had a few friends from the boc that kept tellin me how if i ever picked up a pole i would give up all the other methods. So i went out and purchased a couple decent poles just outta curiousity to see if i was up to the challenge that pole fishing brings to the plate.
I've always wanted to fish the mississippi river and with the purchase of a bigger boat all that came together this march. We headed out to Memphis Tn. as it is one of the closest places we could launch. I was in awe at the shear size and current of the river.
We finally get anchored up and within my first fifteen minutes i had my first mississippi blue on and he went around 6 or 7 pounds. We sit there for another 30 minutes (which didn't seem like long being our first time out) and my outide rod went down. I jerked it up and after about 10 minutes brought in a mississippi blue that was 42 inches long. I guessed it around 30 pounds as i left my deliar(scales) at home. After that first evening i was smiling like a possum eating briars and was definitely hooked on pole fishing.
As the year progressed we have been catchin quite a few in the twenties and had our share of hard times when the fish just weren't cooperating. Theres been a few between trial and error that i've lost due to line failure and more or less rookie mistakes. The more time we spend on the river it seems the more we learn.
About a month ago we headed out back to memphis. We get out to the dikes anchor up and just get the poles out. We see a tug coming from upriver and it was pushing one empty barge. We could see the roller(wave) coming off the back of it running from bank to bank. It was decided then that when he got close i was gonna pull anchor and move out so we wouldn't catch the brunt of the wake.
Just about the time i was gonna pull anchor my middle rod slams down. Just by the way he hit the rod i could tell it was a good fish. He started running as i had the drag set pretty tight already and was taking line. I had rigged heavy(80 pound braid) and with watching the tug i knew i had to boat the fish before that wave got to us.
Finally i decided just to tighten the drag down and try winchin him in. He gets almost to the boat (i figure he started to see daylight) and made a hard run breaking me off. Throwing the rod in the boat i jumped and grabbed the anchor rope trying to get away from the wave which was useless. The wave had already made it to us as i said hang on. After about 5 minutes the waves subsided and we just glad it wasn't worse as it put water in the front and the back of the boat.
After sitting there a little while it was time to move. We get anchored at the next spot, got the poles out and i decided to get a coke out of the cooler. Just as i pop the top on the soda the middle rod slams down again! This time the river was clear and the fish seemed to be swimmin to the boat making it feel like a 10 or 15 pounder. It turned and i realized it was another goodun. He started takin drag and i'd gain a little line back. This went on for about 5 or 10 minutes until he surfaced and i realized what i had soon as his head surfaced! Grabbing the net i finally got the fish manuevered and got him in the boat. A beautiful 41 pound mississippi blue.
After getting a few pics i was worried that the fish was going to stress so i put him in the water and after 30 seconds or so he took off. We ended that day catching a goo and another 26 pound blue. That mornin with the wind being as tough as it was i never thought i'd have a day like that with only four hours to be on the water. Hopefully in the next few months since i've finished completing my fishing arsenal this month there will be more to come.
I've always wanted to fish the mississippi river and with the purchase of a bigger boat all that came together this march. We headed out to Memphis Tn. as it is one of the closest places we could launch. I was in awe at the shear size and current of the river.
We finally get anchored up and within my first fifteen minutes i had my first mississippi blue on and he went around 6 or 7 pounds. We sit there for another 30 minutes (which didn't seem like long being our first time out) and my outide rod went down. I jerked it up and after about 10 minutes brought in a mississippi blue that was 42 inches long. I guessed it around 30 pounds as i left my deliar(scales) at home. After that first evening i was smiling like a possum eating briars and was definitely hooked on pole fishing.
As the year progressed we have been catchin quite a few in the twenties and had our share of hard times when the fish just weren't cooperating. Theres been a few between trial and error that i've lost due to line failure and more or less rookie mistakes. The more time we spend on the river it seems the more we learn.
About a month ago we headed out back to memphis. We get out to the dikes anchor up and just get the poles out. We see a tug coming from upriver and it was pushing one empty barge. We could see the roller(wave) coming off the back of it running from bank to bank. It was decided then that when he got close i was gonna pull anchor and move out so we wouldn't catch the brunt of the wake.
Just about the time i was gonna pull anchor my middle rod slams down. Just by the way he hit the rod i could tell it was a good fish. He started running as i had the drag set pretty tight already and was taking line. I had rigged heavy(80 pound braid) and with watching the tug i knew i had to boat the fish before that wave got to us.
Finally i decided just to tighten the drag down and try winchin him in. He gets almost to the boat (i figure he started to see daylight) and made a hard run breaking me off. Throwing the rod in the boat i jumped and grabbed the anchor rope trying to get away from the wave which was useless. The wave had already made it to us as i said hang on. After about 5 minutes the waves subsided and we just glad it wasn't worse as it put water in the front and the back of the boat.
After sitting there a little while it was time to move. We get anchored at the next spot, got the poles out and i decided to get a coke out of the cooler. Just as i pop the top on the soda the middle rod slams down again! This time the river was clear and the fish seemed to be swimmin to the boat making it feel like a 10 or 15 pounder. It turned and i realized it was another goodun. He started takin drag and i'd gain a little line back. This went on for about 5 or 10 minutes until he surfaced and i realized what i had soon as his head surfaced! Grabbing the net i finally got the fish manuevered and got him in the boat. A beautiful 41 pound mississippi blue.
After getting a few pics i was worried that the fish was going to stress so i put him in the water and after 30 seconds or so he took off. We ended that day catching a goo and another 26 pound blue. That mornin with the wind being as tough as it was i never thought i'd have a day like that with only four hours to be on the water. Hopefully in the next few months since i've finished completing my fishing arsenal this month there will be more to come.