Tennessee
is full of beautiful fish-filled streams perfect for light tackle
methods. Most of them with trophy smallmouth and largemouth bass.
There’s
nothing like battling a trophy bass on ultra-light tackle in beautiful
surroundings. In this article we will talk about what you need to
go fishing at a stream, and how to find a good stream to fish in.
First
you must have the right tackle. Ultra-light spinning tackle is one
of the most fun ways to catch stream fish. Battling big fish on bendy
rods gives the fish a sporting chance, and you a fun time. With ultra-light
spinning tackle you have to use your drag since your line is usually
2-8 pound test. The baits are normally small no more than a ¼ ounce.
With such small baits you’re bound to catch fish in great numbers
plus every now and then you land a trophy. The best baits to use in
streams are small hair jigs, 4-inch plastic worms rigged Texas style,
or with a small 1/16 ounce or a 1/32 ounce jig head, a little minnow
crankbait, small topwater lures, a grasshopper crank bait, a 3 or 4
inch brown tube with a small jig head, and my favorites a small crawfish
crankbait, and a in-line spinner. When you’re a stream angler
you walk around a lot, it gets tiring dragging around a big tackle
box so the best thing to carry you baits in is probably a tackle vest
that way your lures are right there on you.
Second
you must find a good stream. A good way to do so is to look on a
map of your area and find a stream, and try it out. If it isn’t
good, find another one. Always ask permission before you go on private
property. Before you give up on a stream, try it at least three times
before you decide on going to another one.
I have a beautiful fish-filled stream down my road
with largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, crappie, drum and catfish.
The first and second time I fished the stream I thought it was horrible
but you have to study and learn how to fish the stream to catch fish
in abundance, and in good size. A good stream will keep you going there
for years after you find it. I still go to that same stream down my
road whenever I can.
Stream
fishing is also a great way to save money and still go fishing. Normally
a stream is near you and you don’t have to spend a lot
on gas money. Tackle is not as expensive as the big reservoir tackle
is. You can buy all you need to fish in streams for around $80 dollars.
Unfortunately
everything can’t be good. Sadly
there are lots of beautiful streams in Tennessee that have been littered
on. Beer cans, beer bottles, soda cans, fishing line, lures packages,
tires, cardboard, worm containers, etc, Trash in the water, trash on
the bank, trash every where you look. And sometimes it’s overbearing.
So if you see any trash at the stream you fish, please pick it up,
that way you can keep the water clean and healthy for fish and keep
the land clean for future anglers.
There
is no doubt that stream fishing can be just as fun if not more fun
and productive than fishing in big lakes and reservoirs. Like I said
there’s nothing like battling a trophy bass on ultra-light
tackle in beautiful surroundings. Remember keep your stream clean and
till next time
GOOD FISHING.
My
name is Christian Erickson. I live in Tennessee. The
first time I ever went fishing, on my first cast I caught my
first bass. Since then I have been fishing off and on until I was
twelve, then I started to take it very serious. I have read everything
on fishing that I can find. When I
get older I want to be a pro bass angler. I
currently write for a newspaper and I’m also being published
in some other places.
