I'm back

[Hooker]

Things sure change quickly on this board in a week. Spent the week fishing and camping below West Point Lake. The hybrids and sripers were slow, but the b@ss made up for it. Kent Edmonds and I had a great trip flyfishing for skipjacks in Columbus. We caught 200 in about 4 hours. If anyone wants info on this program, E-mail me.
Fished Jones Bridge today, and found a big concentration of trout just below the private park downriver of Geosphere.
Also caught a 19" Brown down there. Picture will be forthcoming.
Good to see all the newbies on the board! Welcome and tight lines.

Hooker

[ICHTHUS]

Hooker,
Welcome back." 200 in 4 hrs" sounds like a blast.
Loren took me to Jones Bridge last sat. Your right, it's a little paradise in the middle of suburbia.
How far below the shoal area below the boat ramp is the Geosphere. If I float tube that far can I walk back i.e. trails.
thanx , Ich

[Hooker]

Ich,
The private park that I'm talking about is half way between the boat ramp and Holcombe Bridge. Probably about 1.5 mile below the boat ramp. There is a trail that runs all the way to the private park, and the shoals in front are easily waded. It's a hike, but there are more and better quality fish down there. The key to catching quality and quantity on the Hooch, is "fish where others don't." Right now, this area is not pressured at all, and there are a large number of hold-overs still there.
Fishing this area is probably best accomplished with a float from the boat ramp to Holcombe Bridge.

Hooker

[ICHTHUS]

Hooker,
I've got a jon boat and motor with a fairly shallow draft ( not quiet shallow enough. Got to pick up a new prop cause one of my blades is a lyin on the bottom just above Medlock Br.) My ques is can I put in at Holcombe Br and motor up to this area your talkin about.
Ich

[Hooker]

Yes you can, but be careful, this area is rocky. The main channel is on the left side going up. When you get to the riffles, you can park it and wade.

Hooker

[floater]

Could you wade out from the bank and still fish most of that area?

[Hooker]

Floater,
The entire area is custom made for a set of waders. It is seldom more than waist deep, and mostly knee deep. The river has a very shallow shoal in the center with two defined runs on each side. The fish are in the runs.
I would fish it early, because the Browns will still be there mixed with the Rainbows. As soon as the sun gets up, the Browns usually become inactive.

Hooker

[Flyguy]

Ich,

we are more than likly going to fish that area on Sunday if you want to float along. drop me an e-mail and I will fill you in on the details.

This offer is open to anyone that wuld like to join us.....Even you Hook Mister.



Flyguy

[jam]

Hooker -

What is a skipjack??

[Hooker]

Jam,
It's an saltwater shad that looks like a baby tarpon. They weigh 1-2 lbs and fight like hell. As soon as you get a hook set, they go airborne. Myself and a partner have caught as many as 400 in a day, and it is really no challenge. Almost every cast will have 2-3 swarming after the bait (1/8th oz white jigs). If one doesn't get it another one will.

Hooker

[ICHTHUS]

hooker, is this what some call ladyfish

[Hooker]

No. A ladyfish is an entirely different animal. Skipjacks are on their spawning run out of the Gulf. They can get through the dam's at Seminole and Eufaula, but they are stopped by the regulation dam at Columbus, and stack up behind it every spring. All rivers in the southeast with have a shad run. The Savanah River at Augusta has the larger shad that run up to 8lbs. They are a real trip on a flyrod.
In Columbus, they are regarded as a trash fish, and no one fishes for them.

[ICHTHUS]

Thanks Hooker,

This sounds like something I'm gonna have to try. I guess you need a boat." Every spring"-- What is the best time of year to go, i.e. highest concentrations.

[Hooker]

Ich,
It peaks on the full moon closest to April 1st. It'll be happening for another two weeks.

[The Ole Man]

By the way Hooker-welcome back SUGAR-SWEETNESS http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif