Photo Essay: Cumberland River
- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated Nov 27, 2005 at 10:03 pm by
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Hey guys-
I went fishing with Mike Anderson and Brian Dunigan, both good Middle Tennessee boys, on the Cumberland River Saturday. We started very early – 3AM for both me and Mike (although with my time change I had to drive an hour while he slept. Hahahah.)
When we got to the river we loaded Mike’s boat and rigged up.
Brian does have arms, honest.
Rigging up.
Fishing began at dawn.
We came to fish for large brown trout “going through the motions” of the spawn (biologists say these fish do not successfully reproduce, so we were operating in a weirdly cool morality-free zone). However, we quickly began picking fish up on the brown’s eggs – only they weren’t browns!
Mike’s silicone egg pattern imitated the natural almost perfectly.
We did manage a few browns, but mostly the day was chock full of large, healthy rainbows.
We stayed on one shoal all day, had lunch, fished high and low water, and not once got pressured by another angler even though we were in sight of walk-in access.
Mike’s first rainbow was only a hint of things to come.
That would be the biggest rainbow I’ve ever caught.
Morning light is nice for casting. We lucked out and the weather was kind all day.
All fish were, of course, released unharmed.
Tailing.
Closeup.
This was the only large brown I caught, maybe sixteen or seventeen inches, but look at the color!
Brian and Mike both did a little better in the browns department.
My new net got a workout.
Mike with the large brown of the day.
I also brought the CND Spey rod and Hardy Bougle reel. This was the first time I’ve really heard the reel scream on large fish. The Cumberland is ideal for trout speying.
We stayed until full dark, 12 or more straight hours of fishing. My back is killing me today, but it was definitely worth it.Mike Anderson is beginning a guide service for trout starting next summer. I drew him a logo and he will soon have a website at TrophyFishingTN.com. Although no money changed hands whatsoever on this day, I wanted to thank him for doing an excellent job of guiding even when he didn’t have to.
Zach
You are very welcome Zach, I had a great time. It is easy to “guide” someone with your casting skills.
Mike:
By the way, here is your mayfly resized so it doesn’t look so weird:
Feel free to copy it over or link to it from here.
Zach
I ‘m almost ashamed to post these pictures I took after looking at Zach’s work. Here are some fish Zach missed because he was too busy catching. I had a great time with you two and that trip will be etched in my memory for a long time. The real big Browns were nowhere to be seen but all things considered, I think we did alright.
Mike Anderson
Wow, thanks a lot guys for the pictures to help me get through the closed season up here. Great pictures and fish, looks like a great day.
Hey Zach,
First off i have to say very very nice pictures.
Second i have to ask what kind of reel do you have on in this picture?http://www.itinerantangler.com/photos/cumberland/stilllifesmall.jpg
I am looking at a new one for my 6 and that one looks real nice.
Id also love to know how its held up for you so far.
Thanks alot man
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