Doug Notes

This week on radio: The Old Hickory bass fishing is hot right now, and there is a smallmouth mix in the bass bag. Andrew Robertson of Smalljaw.com will discuss the action on Old Hickory. Midsouth Tackle from Jonesboro, Ark. will be the product interview and Doug will give away crappie baits (and a few bass baits) from PRADCO.

This week on TV: Wheeler Dam striper fishing with live bait. This is a blast and if you have never traveled to North Alabama to fish below tailwaters, this show will put the temptation in you. Jerry Crook catches stripers in this show, but Wheelers is also famous for smallmouth and catfish opportunities. Learn lots about striper fishing, but learn a lot about this special tailwater, too. It is my plan to spend more time in North Alabama as the show develops. Incredible fishing is only a couple of hours away for most of us and Alabama’s fishing license is good for one year from the day you purchase it.

If you didn’t hear him last week, Gustbuster and Sunbuster owner Steve Asman discussed he difference that selecting the correct shooting/hunting/fishing/golfing can make in your life. There is something behind all of those colors and curvatures in glasses. And a really good umbrella is important, too. I’ve never had one that was good, so it was eye opening Steve told me that his umbrellas could withstand winds up to 60 mph without folding. Find out more about good equipment by visiting www.sunbuster.info   He links there to his gustbuster site. Steven noted that he is currently working on a line of fishing glasses and when he gets them ready for the market, I’ll get him back on air. Also, if you are a mom or dad with a son or daughter participating in the scholastic clay target program, check out the very good discount he is offering to your youngster. Steve is a great believer in getting your kids outside---away from TV and video games.

Billy Stanton will guest host for me on May 17. He is attempting to get Bill Dance back on air. Bill is always gracious about appearing on the show. Gracious may not apply as much to Billy, but he has a pretty good heart and a voice a lot higher than he thinks. He likes making fun of my tenor, but sometimes I think the voice he hears is his own. I will be fishing the Murfreesboro Outdoors Tournament is all goes well. Billy was supposed to come fish it after the show. He gave some excuse for having to change his mind, but mostly I think he’s scared of me and what would happen to him if I beat him. (my ringer is Gary Clouse.)

Fishing has been fantastic everywhere for about everything. Lakes that have been provided lots of poor outings in the last year (Center Hill and Old Hickory come to mind) have been doing great. Bass, crappie, bluegill, shellcracker, hybrid, striper, and muskie (on the Collins River) have been tearing it up. I’m looking forward to a trip back over to the Collins River late this month to land my first big fish. All the way to and in the net. I have been promised a fish by Guide Dwayne Hickey. Promised!!

I talked above about this week’s TV show, but next week I’ll be on Kentucky Lake with Bob Latendreesse. If you want to see some big fish caught around shallow stake beds, be sure to watch. Bob is a great angler and always shares knowledge. He will display in a tip a loop he credits for helping him catch countless crappie and a loop that helped convince him hat plastic tubes are all you need to catch crappie. He still uses minnows once in a while, but that is more for customers than for him. We will spend the entire show crappie fishing on May 17-18. The following week I’ll show you some of the electro-fishing work that TWRA does on Cheatham Lake and you will be impressed by the fish that TWRA is finding. As good as Cheatham was, Old Hickory was better. On that same show, I’ll spend time with Joe Haubenreich of Secret Weapon Lures  as he tells you a bunch of great things about spinnerbiats. Stuff I’ve never really thought about that can make a big difference in your spinnerbait success.  You can learn a lot from him before May 24-25 by visiting www.secretweaponlures.com

Creek guru Mike Dial spent more time catching crappie out of his favorite small river (The Stones) this spring than smallmouth or rockbass. That’s about to change, he things. There might be a little more crappie fishing, but the smallmouth and rockbass should be settling in soon to a summer-style pattern. Take finesse baits or live bait and have a good time in our creeks and small rivers. We have great fishing here in Middle Tennessee.

Goodbye 2008 turkey season. The spring hunt ends May 11—Mother’s Day. I’ll get numbers as soon as I can as far as harvest went.