Amazing Winter Trout Bite (Watauga River)

[@AlexRuddFishing]

Love the shore line clean up! Keep up the good work man!

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Thanks Alex

[@MrAscroggin]

You've got me getting trout fever. My wife and 2 sons 6 & 11 are moving to Johnson City area in the next few months from Illinois after several months of deciding between TN and Florida. I have been going down south and salt water fishing since I was a kiddo and Love it. The only fresh water I enjoy fishing for is crappie and trout. I'm going to be looking into a Kayak Old towne or Hobie so I have enough room to bring my kiddo and I will need to learn all I can about how to fish the lake and river for trout. Just found your video's so I'm going through them. I've been in Law Enforcement for 21yrs and decided to accept a position at Northeastern TDOC yesterday so I start in April if I pass my pre-testing. I don't think we will be disappointed with the move and I'm really excited to get out of Illinois, Although I will miss Deer hunting with my dad.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Well, I’m glad you’re moving here, you are moving to a fishing Paradise.

[@evansandevans]

Another great video Michael, thanks!

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

No problem

[@stripervince1]

Wow a deer did that? That's crazy... thanks for cleaning up shore line. I do too, always have trash bags with me.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Thanks for cleaning up as well.

[@stripervince1]

@@MichaelKaal-TriFisher I was fishing a few days ago at wing deer and someone there said that you were just there. He knew you from your videos. I would have liked to meet you and say hi. Maybe next time. I'm all over the place striper fishing. I'm out at 2am 5am 9pm. No set schedule.. you goin to the expo in Knoxville in 3 weeks? Maybe see you there. Tight lines sir

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

I don’t think I’ll be making it to the expo. Looking forward to meeting you one day. We should definitely fish some day.

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

Nice job! Tightlines

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Thanks

[@MackinNC1]

Nice video, one thing I would do is put a short piece of pool noodle on that front go pro. if it pops off its probably going to sink.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

That’s not a bad idea at all

[@MackinNC1]

@@MichaelKaal-TriFisher I have several friends who have lost them like that. only thing is dont record if grabbing the foam if in your hand as it messes up the audio. need to grab the bottom clamp .

[@TrapperDavido]

Hard to beat a live minnow. What a great spot. Your Daily Good Turn at beginning sets a tremendous example and communicates so many good things. Be not only takers! Way to adapt and overcome your challenges.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Thanks David, appreciate the kind words.

[@larrychilders9388]

You must have gotten there shortly after I left. But now I know where to fish i wade up and cast that way all the time but never knew the hole behind the wall…. Also Joe’s Flies work great on watauga for spinning setups.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Good to know. Tight lines

[@TM_Outdoors]

Nice browns! Thanks for cleaning the obstacles to wildlife! Would you like to fish Watauga Lake with us after the holidays? It would be awesome to have you fish with us.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

That’s sounds like fun. Shoot me a message at [e-mail]

[@TM_Outdoors]

@@MichaelKaal-TriFisher Will do, looking forward to it.

[@bigmikebassin]

Glad you are okay and back at it. Awesome video 👍👍👍

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Thanks, it was definitely scary moment hitting that deer. Hopefully that never happens again.

[@BigBaitPosse]

good stuff Michael. Hope the Go Pro situation gets worked out. Those little packets that absorb mositure work better than rice sometimes.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Not a bad idea, I may try to use some before my next video. I’m hoping to get a new one within a month, but until then, just have to make things work.

[@BigBaitPosse]

@@MichaelKaal-TriFisher I saved my drone with those things!!!!

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

@@BigBaitPosse Thats awesome

[@soaringoutdoors7950]

Mike when does the season end for trout in TN?

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

It’s year round here

[@andrewvanzant5386]

How much generation is going when you usually fish?

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

I usually go when theres zero generation with my kayak.

[@andrewvanzant5386]

@@MichaelKaal-TriFisher 👍🏻 Thanks for the reply. I enjoy your videos.

[@stripervince1]

Not trying to correct anyone or be a smart ass, but wilbur dam hardly ever generates. If you watch the first second of this video, those three arched tunnels are the generation turbine outlets. Most of the time, it's only the spillway gates that are open, and usually only open a few inches. That's just laketop water overflow. When they actually generate for electricity, the big gantry crane on top of the dam moves over to one of the giant doors and lifts it up, that's when they're actually generating. That's when you get serious current flow and ice cold water from the depths of the lake that really mixes up all the lake nutrients and food for the fishes. On the tva app, they don't even distinguish the difference, they'll just say, 2 gates open 14,000 cubic fps from 1 pm to 6 pm or something like that. Don't actually say spillway overflow gates or turbine discharges. I use to fish below all the big ones Kentucky dam, old hickory, barclay dam, cherokee, Cheatham , Pickwick ,cordell hull, center hill and a few others. You should see some of those releases. Kentucky dam is a sight to see....Tight lines boys

[@jacobrussell3420]

What kind of bucket system are you using to keep the live bait in your kayak? Been looking at some different options and wanted to hear your opinion.

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

Hey Jacob, during the winter months, you don’t have to worry about aeration because they will stay alive for a long time. During the summer, I will typically clip on a small bubbler or just dip the tuffys in the water every 30 minutes.

[@Pressingontoperfection]

What part do you put the hook through?

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

I go to through the lower jaw and out the nose.

[@Pressingontoperfection]

What kind of reel do u use?

[@MichaelKaal-TriFisher]

I use a Lux 1000 real made by cadence. I also use a 6ft 6 inch, medium fast essence Rod made by cadence as well.