Wow what a few days on the water

I been fishing the last couple of days and all I can say is the fishing on Ky. Lake has been fantastic. Best 2 days that I can remember in a long time. Caught several 2 pound fish with some over that. Nobody fishing. Had most bays to myself with little to no wind. Fishing 16' to 22' of water and the jig of choice has been glow heads I make with red and chartreuse glow tubes. I fire the heads up with a gadget and they will glow for a very long time. Makes a huge difference in dirty water. I can't believe that nobody is fishing. With the water temps down I made me a dry clothes bag with extra everything in case I fall in and I have been wearing my life jacket evrytime I motor anywhere.The last boat I bought one of the most important things I wanted was a good ladder. I trid a few years ago to get back in my old boat with heavy winter clothes on( summer) and could not get in the boat. With not much traffic on the lake the chances of getting help are slim . I also have a list of land line numbers I can call just in case I have boat trouble. Please be safe on the water and I will see you there soon!

Don't tell Whiskers!!!!!

Sounds like fun, my truck has been in the shop or I would have been there. I'm leaning towards fighting the wind and trying tomorrow.

Yall are kill'n me! banghead

Maybe this can help someone who does not have a ladder on their boat. I can not climb back in my boat anymore,from the water. A few summers ago,I got in the water and put my feet on the motor above the prop,hugged the motor with my right arm,the pushed trim button on left side. After tilting motor to the max,I could climb in the back of boat. I did not have on heavy clothes or a coat. Just thought I would pass this along.

Hey Bigdude,
Glad you posted and welcome aboard. My father drowned below Ky. dam in 1994. His boat hit the 62 bridge pylons when they launched because the motor quit and he did not have his life jacket on. He was trying to get the motor running on a brand new boat and did not get his jacket on.He had 2 passengers who had ther life jackets on and they survived. Great swimmer and Navy Vet. who taught swimming to all the kids . A lot of current and not being familiar with the boat was a major factor but not having his life jacket on was listed as one of the major factors in his drowning. We did not find him for one very,very long week. I still get the willies when I launch there !

Glad you had couple good days on the water. Weather has been perfect, wish I had been off work to go after them too.

I fish alot in the winter and I worry about the cold weather and sinking without a vest..My fishing buddy told me about this bib,jacket combo that is very popular with the ice fishermen it is light weight and keeps you warm in sub zero temps..also it will keep you floating in case you hit the water!..I'm going to buy a set heres the link..Bee


i.d.i gear : arctic armor ice fishing apparel

ifish.....your killin me with the fish stories. I'll be down this week for sure. Give me a call if you happen to be in the area. Thanks again for stopping by my place and helping me out. I appreciate it.

I fell into Rough River in February a few years back. The water temperature was in the high 40's to low 50's. I fell in because I tripped and didn't want to step on my poles and break any that were on the deck. The instant I hit the water I was cramping up and having trouble being in cold weather gear and boots. I did get a hold of the side of my boat and looked at my friend who couldn't weigh my then 150lbs at the time. I was over 300lbs back then. Thanks to lapband surgery no more of that. I don't know who was more scared, my buddy or me but I just looked at him and said I can't get in and you have to get me out. With adrenaline pumping he pulled me out with one big tug. I didn't have a life vest on but never again in cold weather. If he wasn't there I was dead. The craziest thing about the whole thing is when he pulled me in the boat I broke three pole tips. Tried avoiding them and went in the drink. Almost drowned. Broke three anyway. Dumb!!!! Dumb!!! Dumb!!!

Glad you made it out to tell about it. My son & I fished a couple out of Percy Priest about 4 years ago. Their boat was overloaded and it sank. Cold, windy day and they were lucky we were still out on the water. If they could have made it to the bank (very doubtful), I don't think anyone could have ever heard them yell and with wet clothes, hypothermia would have set in pretty quickly.

The thing about accidents is things are going great and then something so unexpected happens, it surprises you and scares you when you suddenly realize the next few moments can make a difference in whether or not you make it. Too many times, I think we believe adrenaline will pull us through but we can see it not always enough.

Ifish, glad to get a fishing report. Would love to see a pic of the jigs you're making and the plastics you're fishing with.

I have one of the Artic Armour suits (the bib overalls and jacket) that has been mentioned here and absolutely love it. Over the years, I tried everything from goose down to thinsulate for warmth, and I've never found anything that will beat Artic Armour. I also like the fact that it will float ( I tested it back during the Spring after the water had warmed a bit) and it floated me with no trouble at all, and I weigh in at about 235lbs. But....in cold weather, I also wear a Mustang auto-inflatable suspender-type vest. Now....both the Artic Armour (at about $275.00) and the Mustang hydrostatic suspenders (at about $200) are expensive, but guess what? My grandkids think I'm worth it! And I always want to return from a good day fishing on the lake in cold weather to play with my grandkids again. So guys, what I'm saying is this: dress warmly in the cold weather when out on the water, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS WEAR A GOOD LIFE JACKET!!

I also saw where someone mentioned about putting your foot on the lower unit on your motor and using the lift button to get you back over in the boat after a fall in the water. I know it will work in a pinch, but it's really dangerous. I know a guy down in Tennessee who tried that a couple of years ago after falling out of his boat into the frigid December water, and he was so cold that he could hold to the motor and his foot slipped off the lower unit and the stainless steel prop ripped his leg open like a butcher knife! Turned out there were a couple of guys fishing near enough to hear him screaming and came to his aid. One of them was a para-medic and knew how to work a tournaquet to slow the bleeding until they could get him to a nearby hospital. Had the para-medic not been fishing that day, or the hospital been a little further....he may well have lost his life...and if not his life, at least his leg. After that happened......I had a ladder mounted to the back of my Ranger.

One thing nobody has mentioned is getting to your boat once you fall in. A heavy boat that sets low in the water will not be as affected by the wind. You get a day this time of year with a 15mph wind & you can't swim fast enough to catch my boat if you leave it. I have a Lowe 180w, Aluminum boat. Lite & high out of the water. This time of year the fish are going deeper & most of your fish'n is gonna be pretty far from the banks, so swiming to the shore may not be possible either. You need some way to insure that the boat will stay with you. The remote Ipilot is a good option.

I can tell you first hand. I have been a Riverman for well over 30 years & have been in cold water. You won't swim far I don't care how good'a swimmer you are or how good'a shape you're in! Your body just won't do it. Remember, even if you drown, in cold water it is possible to bring you back. There are documented cases of people being revived after being sumerged for over an hour in fridged water. Wear that life jacket! If they can't find you, they can't revive you!

Stay safe.

Hey Kyfishman,
I am curious which one of the Artic Armour suits you got. I see one with a soft lining that they say is the most popular but the hardest to get on and one that you can get in easier. I have been looking at these for a couple of years and really want one now. You are right about coming home to the grandkids. My Dad did not get to enjoy his grandkids very long. We miss him a lot!

Terry,
When you gettin off the boat. I hope I have a few more GOOD days of fishin left this year!

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Originally Posted by ifish

Terry,
When you gettin off the boat. I hope I have a few more GOOD days of fishin left this year!

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Buddy
I didn't end up going and probably won't have another chance this year. Just out of curiousity did you fish Sun/Mon or Mon/Tues?

Austin

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Originally Posted by ifish

Terry,
When you gettin off the boat. I hope I have a few more GOOD days of fishin left this year!

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Either the 27th or 29th, depending on which boat I'm on. I got the fever bad!

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Originally Posted by pab1981

Buddy
I didn't end up going and probably won't have another chance this year. Just out of curiousity did you fish Sun/Mon or Mon/Tues?

Austin

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Hey Austin,
I fished Sun. & Mon. Looked for you and didn't see you fishing . Had a blast out on the drops. Like we talked about the biggest fish were on smaller stuff.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

Either the 27th or 29th, depending on which boat I'm on. I got the fever bad!

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Hey Terry,
I got the fever bad also and can't get back out till after the New Year. Hope everything is going all right on the big boat.Looks like you are going to be spending Christmas with all them hardankles.That sucks big time for you right now with your new family! Dang water is high and fast as you know! Be safe my friend and go catch some fish when you can. Life is short!

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Originally Posted by Bronson

Glad you made it out to tell about it. My son & I fished a couple out of Percy Priest about 4 years ago. Their boat was overloaded and it sank. Cold, windy day and they were lucky we were still out on the water. If they could have made it to the bank (very doubtful), I don't think anyone could have ever heard them yell and with wet clothes, hypothermia would have set in pretty quickly.

The thing about accidents is things are going great and then something so unexpected happens, it surprises you and scares you when you suddenly realize the next few moments can make a difference in whether or not you make it. Too many times, I think we believe adrenaline will pull us through but we can see it not always enough.

Ifish, glad to get a fishing report. Would love to see a pic of the jigs you're making and the plastics you're fishing with.

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Here are the double barb super glow heads I make and the tube is glow I get from Fisherman's Friend in Lake City,Ky.

Attachment 75757

Ifish - I really like those jigs. Can I ask hat mold model you use for those? Thanks. I have alays anted to make a few for myself.

ifish....just orderd the same type of mold to make something simular in 3/32 and 5/16...hope to have a bunch made for next year and maybe some for ya'll get together next fall....great fish also!!!!!

JT,
That mold is a custom mold. The double barb works great with the tube jigs. I never have to straighten everything out every time I catch a fish.

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Originally Posted by ifish

JT,
That mold is a custom mold. The double barb works great with the tube jigs. I never have to straighten everything out every time I catch a fish.

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Double barb is a great idea and works flawlessly. Not to mention the glo. Great jig and great idea. I just happen to have a little "buddy" that gave me one or two. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ifish

JT,
That mold is a custom mold. The double barb works great with the tube jigs. I never have to straighten everything out every time I catch a fish.

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I guess my next question would be, do you have a supply for sale? Have you tried the sickle hooks with that mold?

Hey Ifish,
I bought my Artic Armour suit two years ago, just after they came out with a camo-version. I've noticed no problem with the lining in being able to get it off and on. It slides on easy enough. And the camo version is made of a soft, water repellant material that would be quiet to hunt in. I've read that it's the cold weather gear that many of the Search and Rescue teams, Emergency Personnel are wearing up north. I'll give it a big "thumbs up."

Great catch. As to the falling in, a young man lost his life in Lake Talquin(Florida) two weeks ago. He and his uncle were fishing at night and the wind increased. They decided to pull anchor, but the anchor seemed stuck and they both tried. The side went down and a wave came over sinking the boat. The uncle survived because he had his life jacket on properly, the young man had his on, but not secured. He fell out of his jacket and drowned 30 yards from shore.

Found him three days later 50' from where the boat was found on the bottom.

The fishing on Talquin has been great the last two months.

Here is a posting about yesterday.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/georg...huckauten.html

Will be in Benton April first. Let's have lunch at Moores.

Chuck

Nice fish Chuck.The weather looks great. Getting cold here and water has been running hard. See you in April at Ralphs. Best hamburger on Ky. Lake.

My uncle and his son drowned fishing on a small lake. Son wasn't wearing life jacket, had on heavy coveralls, fireman's boots out on a small flatbottom boat and fell in. We found my Uncles hat, keys and wallet on the bank. Figured he went in to rescue and both drowned. Never get in a boat again without 1 - thinking of the good times we had fishing together and 2 - wearing my life jacket.