When Solitude Calls

[Bonefish]

You know how it is...when every day pressures get a little too close, you just need to find your roots. Once a year I get this urge, really a need, to get away. At heart, I am a river man. I was born on the banks of the Dix, and my father was a river fisherman as well. Nother more peaceful than boating down a river far away from the busy life we find ourselves each day. Through the years I have got to a riverman whose family lived on the banks of the KY River many years ago when the river was travel for commerce and trade. I have heard many interesting stories of the river life in those days. So when I load my boat with camping and fishing gear in the next few weeks, I will return to the solitude and memories of past river experiences. There nothing that can compare to setting up for the night on the KY River for a little fishing and cooking of good food far away from everyone. At some point, you will be visited by the otter, the beaver, the fox and coon, and the turkey. This year I have pull out three special rod and reels. These were my Grandfather's and my Father's. I have re-lined and clean these old steel rods and reels up and will be fishing with them once more.

[WhateverIsBiting]

Sounds like fun Bonefish, enjoy your trip. I'm jealous

JW

[FlyLie]

You know how it is...when every day pressures get a little too close, you just need to find your roots. Once a year I get this urge, really a need, to get away. At heart, I am a river man. I was born on the banks of the Dix, and my father was a river fisherman as well. Nother more peaceful than boating down a river far away from the busy life we find ourselves each day. Through the years I have got to a riverman whose family lived on the banks of the KY River many years ago when the river was travel for commerce and trade. I have heard many interesting stories of the river life in those days. So when I load my boat with camping and fishing gear in the next few weeks, I will return to the solitude and memories of past river experiences. There nothing that can compare to setting up for the night on the KY River for a little fishing and cooking of good food far away from everyone. At some point, you will be visited by the otter, the beaver, the fox and coon, and the turkey. This year I have pull out three special rod and reels. These were my Grandfather's and my Father's. I have re-lined and clean these old steel rods and reels up and will be fishing with them once more.

Trust you will have a GREAT TRIP....Sounds like a lot of good memories, and OH, if you catch a fish or two, it should just make the outing better.

PS, take good care of those "old steel rods", sure they are worth more in memories than cash.

[floatman]

Ah those old steel rods, and baitcasters a little bigger than a silver dollar, spooled with breaded line, You just jerked me back about 50 years, thanks! Hope you have a good trip all round, post it, and let us know about it

[peter]

Yes. The rivers are special and alive. Ancient roads. A great place to go to get away, the best I think. As you say "nothing can compare". I have taken a good number of river trips with my son. Sleeping on the banks and in the boat. If I told you where you would question my sanity. This year we are starting at the mouth of the Tennessee near Paducah and heading upstream until we run out of water. I guess we'll be looking at The Smokeys when we hit bottom.

Won't have time to fish. Too busy staying afloat. Plus many times you don't know what state you are in.

I am certain your Dad and Grandfather will be smiling as you make those casts. Have a nice time and make a cast for me.

[riverrat12]

Alot of people have questioned my sanity when they see the size boat I fish out of and where I fish.(the falls). But the boat I fish out of was passed on to me by my grandfather.In my eyes the real Riverrat, I learned how to fish,camp,catch bait and be a good person on the river ,and the memories that I have of those times I will allway's charish. I feel he rides with me everytime I go out. Sure I have a bigger boat, but the one day a week I get to spend on the river......I'd rather be with him and good friends. Great thread Bonefish....Chuck

[Bonefish]

When I wrote this post, someone came into my office and I didn't get to edit the post. After reading it back, I had to laugh because the other day I was reading the Regs on fishing and was looking at the difference between white, hybrid and stripe bass. As you know the hybrids have broaken lines down their sides. That's just how my brain has become. I have a gap between my brain and fingers, and it is widening as I get older. Maybe some of you are experiencing the same problem. Getting back to fishing the rivers and streams, I still have my father's 1955 3 hp Evenrude and the 14 ft "V" bottom we fished out of for years. It is good to have these old pieces of family history around. Fortunately, I have someone I can pass these down too. Our rivers and streams are the last holdouts for our wildlife...the ones that don't want you to see them...the wildcat, the cliff rat, and black bear.

[bluegrasser]

Hey Bonefish,

Nice post. You are also speaking of some of my favorite haunts. I've spent a good bit of the last two decades on the KY near Highbridge and more specifically up on the Dix all the way up to the dam. I've read some of your posts over the years so you probably will agree with this - but there are sections of both the KY and the Dix where if you stop what you're doing and just listen to the quiet, it can feel like you're the last person on the earth.

I have seen my share of wildlife out there too, deer, foxes, hawks, beavers ... even a bobcat many many years ago.

I think those deep palisade walls are a refuge - for wildlife and us humans too.

*I'm going out there next Thursday through Sunday. Now just talking about it I'm going to have an even harder time counting down the days.

[GeoFisher]

Did you guys see the KY Afield show about Green River Boats......I'd never heard of one before.....but they look pretty neat.

AND me being an avid canoeist........they look like a PERFECT fishing platform......wohoo.

Later,

Geo

[Bonefish]

Bluegrasser, I mostly fish the Highbridge pool and the tailwaters below the dam as well because I have a farm close by. I fish from a 17ft Lowe Jon boat with a black 15 hp. I will be most likely in the boat with my old river friend who has live down there for over seventy years and knows the history of the River well. If you are on the river, say hellow. The Highbridge pool is a special section of the KY river with its high palisade walls.

Floatman, these are the Old Pflueger Supreme reels. I remeber my Dad paying $32 for them in his brother's bait store in 1952 in Paint Lick, KY. Thirty two dollars was a lot to pay for a reel in those days, but it was a good one for the time. My Dad could throw right or left handed with those old reels...something I can't do for sure.

[bob46]

Im sold when do we leave?

[Bonefish]

I must be honest when it comes to staying over night on the KY River. One must understand that finding a place to camp is not the easiest thing to do from year to year. The banks of the river changes with the floods yearly. Either you must find a "slide" or shoal to camp. If you have not camped on a river bank or shoal, there is a learning curve associated with the experience. Be aware of the stinging nettles, poison ivy, bugs, mud, and rocks. If you plan to sleep on the river, you must consider a cot or pad to keep off the ground, especially if you are on a shoal. Do your home work. Look for a place to camp and prepare it a week or so before the night's stay. By this I mean cut down the stinging nettles, dig steps and cut some wood before you arrive, especially before dark. One thing you must do when you first arrive is dig some foot steps out of the mud so you can climb the bank so you will need a shovel. If there are limbs where you will be fishing off the bank, you could remove them a week or so before camping. Things can change after dark on the river. Fog is a major problem if you have to navigate after dark. You can totally get turned around on a foggy night. Take coats and cover because it can it cool during the night. If it should rain, be prepared to keep dry and deal with mud. So you may want to check the weather forcast during the time you will be camping. When river fishing don't forget to use rods with white tips or have bite-light indicators on them or bells to alert bites because your line may be hard to see after dark. Don't forget to have steps down to the water so it you hang a good fish you can net him without falling into the river. I am sure there are many stories about trying to net fish from a high bank. River camping is not for everyone, but the one's who can figure it out, it can be a great time. I personally like to shoal fish when the water is low because you do not have to set up camp in the weeds or mud, but you must have something to sit and sleep on to be comfortable. Shoals are good because fish like shoals to feed around at night. Maybe others reading this posts will have their own suggestions for rough-camping on a river or stream.