I wanted to make a quick post before baseball practice with my son tonight. My wife, youngest son, and daughter went to Pigeon Forge with some other family for the last couple few days. Me and Hunter, my 11 year old, stayed back to camp out on the lake and fish till we can't fish no more. We had to come home for the practice tonight, but will head back down to the camper after practice and fish tomorrow morning to end our great time together.

Overall, fishing has been pretty good. We've had a great time catching fish pretty much all over the lake. We had a really good day yesterday in the back of Flat creek on herring. Boated some and missed some. Hunter has done all the reeling, so all in all, it's been great.

Today is a day that I'll never forget and I hope my son doesn't either. Like I mentioned, we've spent the last few days fishing - the last few nights over a camp fire just talking about everything, BUT today topped it all off for me.

I put in at Balus and went back in Flat. Today was different, I couldn't buy a fish.......I saw that he had such a good time yesterday reeling the fish, I couldn't help but go back there. Flat was dead today, so I scrambled. I went and pulled Balus really quick and we picked up some very tiny stripers, then I made a run for it.

We went to one of my most favorite places on the lake and pulled one of my most favorite reef poles. I put out the biggest gizzard shad in my tank and as soon as I made it to the reef pole, we watched thru the crystal clear water as a large striper just followed the 15"+/- gizzard. The striper would just come up and bump the shad with its nose and disappear for a few seconds. This went on for 20-25 minutes. I pitched herring to the striper, I fed it line, I slowed down, I sped up......but when that striper got ready to eat, she ate and Hunter grabbed the reel. Here is my boy with his biggest striper ever (one PROUD dad here):



Now that's how you hold up a striper for a picture....it about broke his back.

Good Luck.

Way to go guys ,thats a day that you both will remember forever!!!!Sounds like yall are having a blast.

Hunter, you are also obviously a catcher. Wow, what a fish. Corey, please post the picture and story on www.getkidsfishing.org and we will feature Hunter on the April Fishing Kids. Great report. Getkidfishing

Congrats to Hunter!!! It looks like he had a blast and must of been a nice fight.

Great job, hope it's not an April fools!!!

That is way cool!!! It is awesome to see the youngsters catching fish...that is awesome. I'm sure you guys will remember the entire weekend for years to come.

Great job Coorey and Hunter. Corey way to persist on that striper. What a great memory. I have memories like that when I was a kid. Us old guys need to step it up a notch. The new generation of Striper fisherman (children) are going to pass us by soon.

Way to go Corey and Hunter, also a great day out for son and dad!!

Tell Hunter congrats on the big fish again for me. What a great couple days for you two.

Great goin' guys. What a memory you'l always have.

Corey, your son will never forget the fishing experience which not only included the hook-up and subsequent fight but also all the steps you took to cajole the trophy to bite. I'm sure he is as proud of you as you are proud of him.

tom

Memories that will never be forgotten, congrats to you Corey and Hunter.

Possibly one of the best posts and stories in quite a while - congrats on the quality time with your son - he'll certainly remember it all is life and so will Dasd! Great end to the story.

Man, that's just awesome. In many ways. Congrat's to both of you.

What a great story. You guys will remember this for a long time.

Congrats. The story made me think back to spending time with my own Dad camping, hunting and such. Best times of my life and he will one day be thinking the same as he gets older.