|
TRIP TO REELFOOT ALWAYS A PLEASURE
By Steve McCadams
Trips here seldom disappoint. From scanning the skies for weary ducks on
a winter morning to navigating through endless fields of lily pads and
dodging shallow snags on a late spring bluegill outing; Tennessee’s own
Everglades always has a wildlife show going on.
Guide Cody Rodriquez launched a massive boat powered by a huge outboard
motor only to slowly idle across Blue Basin where a submerged stump
field threatened the lower unit of any boater who dared to speed across
what appeared to be a harmless open water path.
Within a few yards his huge rig slid over a submerged snag. Then yet
another one. He trimmed the motor up but the slow journey a mile or two
across the lake encountered numerous hidden obstacles that are standard
operating procedure here at the “earthquake pond”!
Rodriquez, a 35-year young man, has logged 16 years as a professional
hunting and fishing guide here at Reelfoot Lake. He operates Bent Rod
Guide Service. Today he was attempting to get us on the other side of
the lake, seeking shelter from a nasty northeast wind and mile high
skies.
Sharing the boat was national television host Bob Redfern and his
cameraman Jerry Hudson, Jr. They had traveled from South Carolina for a
media outing at Bluebank Resort and Bob hoped to film a segment for his
Bob Redfern’s Outdoor Magazine national television series which airs
weekly on Bally Sports Network.
A slow boat to China ride allowed us to meet and greet, trading stories
of fish, fowl and nasty occurrence that happened recently to Cody and
the Reelfoot Lake region. Hoping to encounter some of the famous big
bull bluegill on a secluded spawning bed we listened to a life changing
occurrence that occurred back in early December.
It was a devastating tornado that ripped across several states, tearing
a wide path of destruction. Lives were lost. Communities blown away.
And, Cody’s house was one of them. Totally blown away.
Fortunately he wasn’t home at the time nor was his family. Otherwise he
might not be here today and he knows it.
“I’m lucky to be here riding in this boat today,” he said, shaking his
head in disbelief at what happened. “Lost my boat and everything in the
house but lots of folks have helped be put my life back together. Still
got my family and lots of friends.”
Scars of the nasty storm are still very much visible along the shores of
Reelfoot Lake. Odds are some will never go away as twisted reminders
will likely remain for generations to come.
The topic of conversation quickly changed as he slowed the boat and
idled along the edge of a grassbeds where scattered lily patches offered
great looking fishing spots. On the dash was a big screen Humminbird
sonar unit scanning a 360-degree display of detail bottom topography.
“What are you looking for,” asked Bob as Cody got quiet and had a series
look on his face while monitoring the screen. “Can you spot those
bluegill beds?”
“There’s one or two smaller beds there at the end of two logs,” replied
Cody, pointing out small crater like areas where the fish had fanned out
dishes for spawning.
For me it was a busman’s holiday as I wasn’t accustomed to being out of
the driver’s seat and watching someone else maneuver the boat. Sort of
felt like wearing someone else’s shoes, so to speak.
Cody extended the hand of hospitality and in a matter of minutes we
pulled up to a spot, extended his power poles for anchors and began
presenting small jigs tipped with wax worms beneath slip bobbers.
Fishing only about two to three feet over the spot Cody had observed is
where we made a stand.
Sluggish bluegill began to bite and after a little coaxing we tricked a
few nice male bull bream into taking the bait and submerging the tiny
bobbers. Then the fight was on as light action 12-foot rods provided a
nice thrill as these hefty bronze bombers sported an attitude.
Bluegill at Reelfoot have a reputation that has withstood the test of
time. Tangling with these powerful panfish brought back lots of memories
for me as my dad used to take me here decades ago. In the old days we
used cane poles with porcupine quills for bobbers. Ah, the memories of
youth and simple times!
With the camera rolling Bob landing a nice big fat bluegill and I caught
another side by side. We were having a good time getting some good
footage as bluegill are known to bring out the youth in anyone. Seeing a
bobber disappear never goes out of style!
Male bluegill possess a dark, olive drab color during peak spawning
phases which is the result of hormonal changes. Some of the ones we
caught were downright dark colored with a light touch of copper color on
their bellies but a beautiful blue gill covering.
Nature’s paintbrush had made yet another stroke not only on the fish but
on the surroundings as well. Great blue herons stood watch while
balanced in the wind on a tiny blade of grass. A mature bald eagle
glided overhead and seemed to bless our presence as we visited his wild
kingdom.
Any visit to this wonderful waterland is like stepping into a wildlife
movie set. All around there’s picturesque settings full of live
creatures. Here you can find the scratch to whatever itch you may have.
As we moved about looking for additional spots it seemed challenging at
times because everything here looks fishy. Logs here; grassbeds there.
Pockets within lily pad fields offer endless havens for fish to hide and
shelter in the shade of the big bonnets.
We pulled a few stories out of Cody on fishing and duck hunting here.
Those of us in the guide arena have a lot of stories to pull from as the
memory bank is deep.
With a pretty good segment of fishing courtesy of Cody’s guidance,
Reelfoot’s beauty and some aggressive bluegill that cut holes in the
water as they battled on camera it was time to head in. I don’t know
where the morning went as a noon rendezvous time had slipped up on us
all.
Reelfoot Lake always seems to offer an adventure and in a variety of
ways. Catching fish was our objective on this windy spring morning and
shooting a television show isn’t always easy.
Yet out here in God’s garden the sights and sounds know no boundaries.
Meeting some new friends on an old lake and catching some middle aged
fish was well worth the trip.
This place had once again lived up to its reputation. Every time I come
here I ask myself why I had waited so long to return.
|
