With the heat sweltering heat of summer just around the corner, we find ourselves staring some of the best fishing of the year straight in the mouth. Prime times for booking our musky, striper, and trout [both conventional/livebait with myself, and fly-fishing trout on Caney with Bill Bird] are coming up. The summer striper bite sees an average fish of 25 lbs in my boat, throwing the same gamakatsu tacos [that means big-@$$ jerkbaits and cranks] we throw for muskellunge, with fish regularly up to 40 lbs and the chance at an even larger specimen.
This summer we’ll also be utilizing large livebait alongside the standard conventional jerkbait tactics to try and fool even bigger and more giant trout in the blue waters of the Caney Fork [don't be surprised if we get a few cameo appearances on those trips from some other hungry river denizens]. This is also a prime time to book with Bill Bird for a fly float trip down the Caney, with trips regularly boating 40-80 fish a day.
And of course, there’s the musky….it always comes back to the musky. I will be guiding throughout the summer, taking care to quickly and safely release fish landed with the best tools available, and implementing new tactics that ensure a safe summer survival for these magnificent fish, which when not handled properly can be “fought to death” in the hot summer water. Unless you are experienced at handling these fish [and big ones], and have all the tools required [big net, hookcutters, heavy-duty musky tackle, big pliers are MUSTS, not suggestions...and preferably a livewell 50"-60" long to accommodate even the largest fish for recuperation before release], please do not pursue muskellunge in the summer. If you do, go with someone who has experience, or hire a guide to learn how to properly handle and release muskellunge during their most fragile state.
On that note, the summer heat and warm, long stable days results in some of the best musky fishing of the entire year, with incredible boatside maneuvers as muskellunge blast the largest baits we can throw, burned at the fastest speeds, with near demonic speed. And THEN, there’s the speed trolling….having a 35 lb muskellunge smash a bait trolled 10 ft behind the motor at 7 miles an hour will compete with just about any experience [ANY experience....] in life.
Interested in some of our summer offerings? Call 931-261-2483 or email us at stonesthrowadventures@gmail.com to book with any of our guides [don't forget Dave Clark's incredible trophy trolling smallmouth and trout bite on Dale Hollow all through the summer, or Russell Woods' east Tennessee smallmouth river floats and hike-in trips to the Smokies for mountain-stream trout].
Be on the look out for some new-blood to the site, in the angling arena and in the white-water/recreational kayaking as well…very soon.
Never stop exploring, even in your own backyard…
-Cory Allen “Stone’s Throw Adventures”