The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

OUTDOORS: The most ‘worstest’




It was a warm February day when we floated this great creek, catching smallmouth.

It was a warm February day when we floated this great creek, catching smallmouth.

Be warned, subtle humor included.

February, which in my opinion, is misspelt, is the “worsest” month in the year. What is there to like? The weather is gloomy, dank, cold, drizzly and rather unpleasant.

Thankfully, I found tanning beds. Since I have had a tan since I was four-years old, I don’t go for the tan. They help with depression. So do sunny days with lots of bass, crappie or other piscatorial delights.

Unfortunately, there are not many of them in February. (I hate Valentine Day.)

See, lasteryear, there were quite a few big bass caught on J. P. Priest in February. Mostly they hit jerkbaits, (named for the people who cast them, not their action.)

My wrists won’t take a lot of casting suspending, deep diving jerk-a-matics. Besides, we haven’t had a lot of days with weather worth being more than a little miserable, during this month of misery.

But now and then, back in the dark ages, when we would get a sampling of what use to be spring, by that, I speak of those widely scattered days when it was close to pleasant out on the water, we could catch a few fish and enjoy it. Boy! That was a long sentence. “Papa”, H. is rotating in his bower.

Even if it is somewhere between chilly and downright cold, you can catch good trout on the Caney Fork.

Even if it is somewhere between chilly and downright cold, you can catch good trout on the Caney Fork.

One day, in the gloomy-gloomy month of Februairay, back before they opened up Judge Durham and tried to field dress him, we hied off to a creek I know about and caught some smallmouth. On another I took him on a guided fishing trip about 266 yards from his back door and put him on a big bass.

One day, a small group of us, had this thought that it would be a great time to float the Caney Fork. What were we thinking???

That was when I was still addicted to Milk Duds. They froze…in my mouth-hole and Mark Campbell, had to get out and build a fire of wet wood, complete with smoke. But you can catch fish in this most worsest of all months.

Seriously.

They are still catching a few tilapia. It is one of the better months for big trout on the Caney. Big, deep diving crank baits during full generation, (try around the mouth of the Smith Fork with a rainbow trout colored lure). Be a good idea to have a boat and life jacket ON.

One of them warm, February days, Judge David Durham lucked onto this good Old Hickory bass.

One of them warm, February days, Judge David Durham lucked onto this good Old Hickory bass.

If you know of such a creek and are tough enough, this is a great time to float or wade for bass. Again, care is essential and just a touch of common sense is good, too. Great time to drown if you get careless.

But here, boys and girls, mommies and daddies, is your tip of the week. Think small water. See, small impoundments such as small lakes and ponds warm faster than big ones.

If you accidentally, get a couple days of bright sun, that small water can be up to 15 degrees warmer than big water. Fish become more active. That is a fancy way of saying, they strike more gooder.

I have a small selection of just such places. I shall now, share just a couple with you and explain just how you can combine a fishing trip with a getaway weekend with the wife-woman or other suitable companion.

Think first of all, Montgomery Bell State Park — over by Dickson. Three such lakes. Boat or canoe/kayak friendly, bass and crappie, good scenery, albeit bland this time of year, great rooms and food and an indoor pool.

Now, how about a road trip? Cruise on down to Natchez Trace State Park. Lakes from canoe/kayak size up to deep breathing bass boat, comes complete with the same amenities as Monkey Bell.

In fact, I’ll be there for the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA) annual conference in a couple months. Since, due to the process of elimination, (no one else would do it,) I am the VP, they told me I would be there. I be taking my fishing “stuff”, too. I’ll report back on that.

I also have a pond or two around here, I keep secret.

But in this most miserable of all months, there are fish to be caught and by now, anything beats watching downhill skiing or the NBA. I wonder, does anyone ever ski uphill? Even catching drum is better than what is on the T&V.

You see what kind of drivel this “woresest” of all months, spawns?

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