By Aaron Kephart
It would seem that spring is finally here and I, for one, have certainly been looking forward to it. Our Murphy area lakes are all still a bit high and stained due to the unprecedented amount of rain we have received so far this year, but the fishing has been awesome. We have been catching an incredible number of stripers and bass recently, and we have had some big ones mixed in.
One of the positive effects of all of this water is that, for the most part, the rain has been somewhat warm, and it has contributed to an increase in water temperatures. The fish have been active and feeding, and the bait location has been predictable because of all the current the TVA is running. The good news is that April and May are traditionally my two favorite months for targeting trophy stripers and big bass, I canât wait to see what is in store, as good as March has been. With that said, expect me to run the largest herring I can find, and I will also be utilizing good sized gizzard shad, with the occasional jumbo trout thrown in the mix. Donât discount large topwaters and swimbaits either.
While spring weather does make for incredible fishing and relaxing days on the water, it does bring along more boating and fishing pressure. It can be quite an adjustment for a year-round angler who has grown accustomed to no crowds at the boat ramp or on the water through the winter months, to suddenly see the masses coming back out. With that in mind, I would like to take just a minute to mention a few unwritten rules and common courtesies for this time of year that might make everyoneâs time on the water just a little bit better.
1. Donât cut other fisherman off. This used to be as written in stone as any unwritten rule can be, but with the increase in tournaments and guiding pressure (hence, financial incentive), this rule seems to be falling by the wayside. Yes, it is public water, and everyone has the same right to it. However, if you want to fish a particular area and someone is already on it, consider getting there earlier next time.
2. No hole is âyourâ hole. This goes along with number 1. Remember, it is public water, and berating someone for being on âyourâ fishing hole is a sure sign of either a beginner, an unprofessional, or worse. A good angler will just go find fish somewhere else.
3. Donât back down the ramp and then start loading your coolers, rods, life jackets, batteries, radios, 6 changes of clothes, dogs, cats, kitchen sinks, etc. This is a personal pet peeve of mine. A lot of ramps are now implementing designated âboat prep areas.â If the ramp you are using doesnât have one designated, just know that it isnât on the ramp itself.
4. Turn off headlights once you have backed down the ramp in the dark, especially on two wide ramps. Remember, lots of people are using the water this time of year, and they are trying to get an early start just like you are. Leaving your headlights on while you launch and park your boat makes it essentially impossible for anyone else to back down the ramp next to you.
5. Donât cut between an angler and the bank, especially at speed. Itâs rude, and a particularly skilled angler might just whip a giant topwater at your noggin for doing so. By the same token, donât block whole creeks like a shrimp boat. Us striper anglers are particularly notorious for this, but at some point the creeks narrow to the point that 12 planer boards are simply impractical and a nuisance to everybody else.
6. Slow down. Spring floods and rising reservoir levels almost invariably mean that there will be a ton of floating debris, and a lot of it will be waterlogged and level with the surface. In addition, there are simply more boats on the water, and some of our turns can be tight.
We are exceptionally blessed in this area to have the diversity and quality of fisheries that we have, almost all of them public. I view fish caught on private waters the same way I view big deer killed in a high fence preserve: I am unimpressed, and I have to stifle the notion to ask if it was at least untied before it was shot. With that said, our Murphy area fisheries offer you some unprecedented opportunities for some incredible fishing, available to all, and if you would like to get out with me and give it a shot please give me a call at 865-466-1345. Thanks, and good luck!
Aaron Kephart is the Owner of Mountain Lakes Guide Service. To book a guided trip on one of the Murphy area mountain lakes, contact him by phone or by email at mtnlakesguide@outlook.com Check out his website at http://www.mtnlakesguideservice.com and catch him on facebook@mountainlakesguideservice.