Ohio River Meets King's Creek

Another warm summer's evening, too nice out to do anything else besides cast out a little line into some water. We decided to venture to the mouth of King's Creek where it feeds into the Ohio River. After a nice walk,

we made our way down the steep gravel hill right to the river. After fishing for nearly an hour we both had missed a nice fish using tube jigs. Both times the fish took the lure down but the hook sadly slipped out. That is how it usually happens. It's a slow night, not much action. Casting becomes a repetitive motion. They hit when your're just thinking about that next cast. "No way they are going to hit now." And that's usually when your big one hits hard and you miss him, leaving you with nothing but a quick cast of desperation in hopes he is still there. Thank goodness there's a lot more fish in the sea.

Here is a pic of my Dad wading in the water on the far side of the sandbar.

Even though we both missed one, I was able to have a little luck later in the night. I was fishing my 5th lure: a watermelon seed rubber worm. I should preface this by saying that I had only 20 yards left of my skinny 6 lb test. It was later in the night so I figured there'd be no reason to add it now. Dumb decision. After a cast that nearly brought my line to the limit, I hooked a fighter. It immediately started pulled the little line I had left out into the river. I already lost one big one tonight; no way I could let it happen again. I knew that the line was almost at it's max with the fish still pulling. I had to save the little line I had left so with one hand I held the rod and the other I secured the line with my bare hand. My Dad was right beside me, helping me in every way he could. At one point he had his own rod out ready to merge the two lines in case mine was at its end. It's always good to have fishing partners like that. So by now the line was pulling hard into my skin but it was actually working and the fish was losing its fight. I dropped the line and reeled the fish in as fast as I could. Once it was near the shore, I ran into the water and pulled it safely to land. I was completely surprised to find the fish to be a catfish and that it hit on a rubber worm. That's one of the thrills of the river. You truly never know what you're going to reel in.

 

Summer Night at King's Creek

My Dad and I planned on bringing the boat out for the first time in a few years but the temperature wasn't right. High 80's, low 90's didn't give us much faith on the boat so we took our tackle to King's Creek, at worst it would be a refreshing walk through the creek. So we made our way to the creek and quickly noticed the change since last time we were there in late Spring: the water levels were extremely low, giving us a whole new playing field to work with. Our target: small mouth bass. Not only was the water low, but it was extremely transparent and glare-free which led me to see the hole of around 10 large fish (mostly Carp) slowly swimming around. Ya, I know our target was small mouth but I wanted to have a go at a larger fish, especially since I was using my new light-weight rod with just a 6 lb test, so I figured it could get interesting. I needed an earthworm quick, and thanks to Mr. Rock near the water, I was able to dig one up. A quickly rigged up a hook with the earthworm and dropped it right in the middle of the party. Didn't have much luck until 10 minutes later when I saw my line being tugged on. It seemed to me like a small bite but the fish actually sucked my lure straight up. I was surprised that the fish didn't even put up a fight (kind of like the Steelers vs. the Browns if that helps explain it). I thought it was a Carp but I found out it was actually a Freshwater Drum. Always a good feeling to catch a fish you've never caught before.

The rest of the evening consisted of finding spots too low for bass fishing but great for trout fishing when fall rolls around. What struck me was what I found at one of the holes. I was about to cast when I noticed something rather huge walking through the water. The best way to put it, it looked like a small lobster was dropped in the creek. This crawfish was atleast 5-6 inches (without any exaggeration). It's monstrous claws were raised in the water as it slowly walked through a bed of rocks. Me and my Dad tried to catch it but lost him in a smokescreen of mud. After that, we headed back for 5 more minutes at the larger fishing hole. Ended up reeling in this smallie using a trout magnet.

Didn't fill up the stringer but as always it was great getting out into nature, especially with my Dad.

Fishing since this Spring

My cousin Shane got me hooked on starting a fishing blog (check out his blog here). My Dad and I probably have gone fishing near 50 times this year. Not only is fishing a great excuse to get out of the everything but it's a great time just hanging out with my dad. We always have a great time fishing but I wanted to be able to go back on these trips and be able to get back to more than just the memories I have. That's what has me so intrigued to document all the trips we make. What I've learned from fishing is this: it's not about seeing how many fish you can catch in one trip, but it's about the adventure you go through getting to those fish. The feeling you get as soon as a fish on is unmatched. You could be having an awful day, with fishing or life in general, but as soon as that fish attacks that hook, you're in another zone. All that matters in your life at that point is that fish. Is it a big fish? How well is the hook set? I know it seems like a minor thing to catch a fish but it's the beauty and art of capturing a wild animal because you successfully deceived it that makes it an amazing experience.

Since this Spring I have taken various photos that I'll post here now and try to post current pictures from here on out.

 This bass was caught at Fernwood State Forest with my Dad. We have fished this ponds for years now and wanted to up the ante and find some new spots. So we got on Google Earth and found a pond a nice hike off the path. Nature wasn't our friend that day, in fact she was a jerk. The pond was surrounded by a wall of thorns and brush. It took us a great while to make it there but nonetheless we made it. Caught a few decent bass but nothing worth a second visit.

 One of my first trout in years. Caught on a Kastmaster in King's Creek, WV.

 Dad caught a nice bass at Salt Fork. There have been numerous Big Foot sightings there also but my camera jammed and I couldn't take any pictures.

 Fishing with my Dad and cousin Shane Murphy at Buckeye Lake. My Dad caught a tiny dead baby Catfish.

That's my girlfriend Amanda with a nice Perch she caught on our family vacation trip to Lake Chautauqua, NY.

That's all for now but I'll stay sure to post more on my next fishing adventures.