Red River Gorgus

Floated the middle section of the Red River Gorge this weekend. My family and I caught at least 14 small mouths in the 8 mile stretch of river, but what caught me by surprise was I tagged into my first muskie!! Every bit of 24'" if not more yet I was so concerned how to land him in my kayak he got off at the boat. Beautiful fish all I could think of was what was I gonna do with it? I didn't want him flopping around inside my cockpit. Snooze you lose as he took a big flop and was gone. That's what I call catch and release. Guess i got to go 10,000 more cast's before I tag into another one?

That sounds awesome! How did you catch the smallies?

[QUOTE=lroberts;458827]That sounds awesome! How did you catch the smallies?[/QUOTE]

1/8 oz. grey minnow rooster tail an a blue gill crankbait.

My good friend and I were wading the river about 5 years ago and I looked in the water when I saw what looked like a limb. The more I looked at it the more it looked like a fish. I was unaware of there being any muskies in there. By now my buddy had caught up to me and he threw his ultra light jerkbait with 6lb test line in front of this fish and to our surprise it bit. The first thing this fish did is jump about 4 feet out of the water twice. Our eyes got as big as baseballs. Then this fish takes off and we are still thinking what just happened. Now there is no way to land this fish on an ultra light rod with 6lb line (so we thought.) Now we are in a stretch of about 30 yards of open water with log jams at each end. As this muskie heads toward one of the log jams I run down the bank and jump in infront of the fish to turn it back the other way. This goes on for about 45 minutes and as this fish starts to get tired we are starting to think maybe we will be able to land it. Now comes the time to try and land it. Now I know I cant lip this thing and the only net we had was one of those trout size nets so I think if I can get his head in the net I can grab his body. Now I am getting nervous because my buddy has fought this fish for close to an hour on an ultra light and it is up to me weather he catches it. My buddy turns the fish toward me and I get his head in the net and I grab his body and start to run up the bank. Just when I think this is a caught fish, the fishes head goes throught the bottom of the net and flops toward the river. So I did probably one of the dumbest thing and I just flop on top of it. Now at the time I thought it was a good idea until I realised I was laying in a patch on neddle weed or stinging weed. When it was all said and done we caught a 41inch muskie on ultra light rod with 6lb test line and a little yozuri pin minnow jerkbait that was hooked right in the end of the lip. Now the fish hanges in his room with a plaque that reads caught by Paul and John.

[QUOTE=CATCHEMALL;458843]My good friend and I were wading the river about 5 years ago and I looked in the water when I saw what looked like a limb. The more I looked at it the more it looked like a fish. I was unaware of there being any muskies in there. By now my buddy had caught up to me and he threw his ultra light jerkbait with 6lb test line in front of this fish and to our surprise it bit. The first thing this fish did is jump about 4 feet out of the water twice. Our eyes got as big as baseballs. Then this fish takes off and we are still thinking what just happened. Now there is no way to land this fish on an ultra light rod with 6lb line (so we thought.) Now we are in a stretch of about 30 yards of open water with log jams at each end. As this muskie heads toward one of the log jams I run down the bank and jump in infront of the fish to turn it back the other way. This goes on for about 45 minutes and as this fish starts to get tired we are starting to think maybe we will be able to land it. Now comes the time to try and land it. Now I know I cant lip this thing and the only net we had was one of those trout size nets so I think if I can get his head in the net I can grab his body. Now I am getting nervous because my buddy has fought this fish for close to an hour on an ultra light and it is up to me weather he catches it. My buddy turns the fish toward me and I get his head in the net and I grab his body and start to run up the bank. Just when I think this is a caught fish, the fishes head goes throught the bottom of the net and flops toward the river. So I did probably one of the dumbest thing and I just flop on top of it. Now at the time I thought it was a good idea until I realised I was laying in a patch on neddle weed or stinging weed. When it was all said and done we caught a 41inch muskie on ultra light rod with 6lb test line and a little yozuri pin minnow jerkbait that was hooked right in the end of the lip. Now the fish hanges in his room with a plaque that reads caught by Paul and John.[/QUOTE]

I have seen huge muskie caught out of that Mill Creek Lake by Natural Bridge Park. Fist time I have ever thought about them being in the gorge river. Mine to came from the logs yet I had 6 lb.test 6' med action rod. Had I landed that Muskie in my kayak then I'm sure my story would of been up there with yours. They are one awesome fish.

Around 10 years ago I had one on a five weight fly rod for about 10 seconds. Mine was in the Middle Fork of the Red.

[QUOTE=CATCHEMALL;458843]My good friend and I were wading the river about 5 years ago and I looked in the water when I saw what looked like a limb. The more I looked at it the more it looked like a fish. I was unaware of there being any muskies in there. By now my buddy had caught up to me and he threw his ultra light jerkbait with 6lb test line in front of this fish and to our surprise it bit. The first thing this fish did is jump about 4 feet out of the water twice. Our eyes got as big as baseballs. Then this fish takes off and we are still thinking what just happened. Now there is no way to land this fish on an ultra light rod with 6lb line (so we thought.) Now we are in a stretch of about 30 yards of open water with log jams at each end. As this muskie heads toward one of the log jams I run down the bank and jump in infront of the fish to turn it back the other way. This goes on for about 45 minutes and as this fish starts to get tired we are starting to think maybe we will be able to land it. Now comes the time to try and land it. Now I know I cant lip this thing and the only net we had was one of those trout size nets so I think if I can get his head in the net I can grab his body. Now I am getting nervous because my buddy has fought this fish for close to an hour on an ultra light and it is up to me weather he catches it. My buddy turns the fish toward me and I get his head in the net and I grab his body and start to run up the bank. Just when I think this is a caught fish, the fishes head goes throught the bottom of the net and flops toward the river. So I did probably one of the dumbest thing and I just flop on top of it. Now at the time I thought it was a good idea until I realised I was laying in a patch on neddle weed or stinging weed. When it was all said and done we caught a 41inch muskie on ultra light rod with 6lb test line and a little yozuri pin minnow jerkbait that was hooked right in the end of the lip. Now the fish hanges in his room with a plaque that reads caught by Paul and John.[/QUOTE]

River or creek mud will take the sting out of sting weed:) great story's.

[QUOTE=riverrat12;458877]River or creek mud will take the sting out of sting weed:) great story's.[/QUOTE]

Human urine is great for jellyfish stings. Let me know if you ever get stung Chuck, I will pee on you!

[QUOTE=CATCHEMALL;458843]My good friend and I were wading the river about 5 years ago and I looked in the water when I saw what looked like a limb. The more I looked at it the more it looked like a fish. I was unaware of there being any muskies in there. By now my buddy had caught up to me and he threw his ultra light jerkbait with 6lb test line in front of this fish and to our surprise it bit. The first thing this fish did is jump about 4 feet out of the water twice. Our eyes got as big as baseballs. Then this fish takes off and we are still thinking what just happened. Now there is no way to land this fish on an ultra light rod with 6lb line (so we thought.) Now we are in a stretch of about 30 yards of open water with log jams at each end. As this muskie heads toward one of the log jams I run down the bank and jump in infront of the fish to turn it back the other way. This goes on for about 45 minutes and as this fish starts to get tired we are starting to think maybe we will be able to land it. Now comes the time to try and land it. Now I know I cant lip this thing and the only net we had was one of those trout size nets so I think if I can get his head in the net I can grab his body. Now I am getting nervous because my buddy has fought this fish for close to an hour on an ultra light and it is up to me weather he catches it. My buddy turns the fish toward me and I get his head in the net and I grab his body and start to run up the bank. Just when I think this is a caught fish, the fishes head goes throught the bottom of the net and flops toward the river. So I did probably one of the dumbest thing and I just flop on top of it. Now at the time I thought it was a good idea until I realised I was laying in a patch on neddle weed or stinging weed. When it was all said and done we caught a 41inch muskie on ultra light rod with 6lb test line and a little yozuri pin minnow jerkbait that was hooked right in the end of the lip. Now the fish hanges in his room with a plaque that reads caught by Paul and John.[/QUOTE]

Man..........that is a FANTASTIC story.........fantastic.

One of the reasons I love this site. BTW......you and I really need to get out and do some more fishin......

When I start putting my fall KY lake trips together, you want me to send you the list??

later,

Geo

[QUOTE=Tim_T;458887]Human urine is great for jellyfish stings. Let me know if you ever get stung Chuck, I will pee on you![/QUOTE]

Thanks Tim your a life saver...Note to self never get stung by a jellyfish around Tim:p