Happening Now!

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Summer time is busy and the weather can make fishing tough! But school is back in session now, and cooler days are coming soon. The club has been concentrating on river fishing and catching Stripers over the past few months.

Everyone likes to catch bigger fish, right? If you have never experienced catching one of these phenomenal fish, you need to get that one checked off the bucket list. But be forewarned, it is highly addictive!

There is still time to join the club and fish in one of the remaining  tourneys if you want to join us on the water. And, GOOD NEWS, membership fees are discounted 50% for the remainder of the year!

If you aren't the tourney type, no problem. You can still enjoy all of the other benefits, and learn all about these fish and how to catch them from a bunch of great fellows and ladies!

The club BBQ is coming up shortly, another plus included in your membership. Come on out and have a great time. You might even get lucky and win some awesome fishing gear while you are there.

Remember, this club is the only one improving fishing by actually contributing to raising more fish and getting them stocked into our lake and river. That is a total WIN/WIN for all of us.

A Great Loss -May 17th

Two days ago, on May 15th, the club lost a member in a tragic accident on Old Hickory Lake. Mervin Johnson, or as we all called him, Merv, was doing what he often did, fishing alone, and did not make it home. 

Merv, owner of Nashville Fishing Guides charter service, was well known in the area. His booming voice, over the top personailty, and wit, made for a strong first impression. He was an engaging conversationalist, and shared many interesting stories when you were with him. He worked hard to put his clients on fish, and kept everyone on his boats entertained, whether they were biting, or not.

Merv left behind his wonderful wife, Susi, a teenage daughter, Sophia, two sons, and an innumerable measure of friends and acquaintances.

At the club meeting last night,  many of us recalled times when we were on the water with him, either aboard his boat or alongside it in our own. Serious talk was mixed with laughter as we tried to forge forward, knowing that he would have expected us all to put on a game face and get ready for the tourney this weekend. That was Merv...

The memorial service will be held on Tuesday at Hendersonville Memory Gardens and Funeral Home. There will be a large number of club members there to pay our last respects. 

R.I.P. Merv. You will never be forgotten!

A gofundme page has been started to assist the family during this sorrowful time.  You can help by donating at: https://gofund.me/7fc72d95.  

Change Up Time - May 7th

The bite for Hybrids on Percy Priest is picking up. And they are liking small sunfish along with Threadfin and Gizzard shad. Tip: Get closer to shore, near places where the sunfish spawn. This bite willl only last for a short while, so take advantage of it now. Slowly pulling bait using planer boards is working a little better than straight down lining. But you may need to try both.

On a recent outing, a guest of club member Gibby Gibson caught a solid 20 pound Striper in the lake. This bonus fish is proof that the PPHSC/TWRA effort to restock is working. We have had multiple fish in the 15-20 pound range reported over the last six months. And you will find several size classes of younger fish out there. As always, we invite you to join us and get some skin in the game.

The tourney series moves to the Cumberland river after this month, where we begin targeting Stripers over the summer. Everyone likes catching big fish, right? And it doesn't get much better than fishing the river for these freshwater giants. 25 pound fish are common. And they get a lot bigger! It would really be no surprise to see someone weigh in a 40 pounder at some point soon.

Our April club fish fry was a huge success.  All of the food was awesome, and everyone had a great time! Thanks to John McAllister, and all of the other club members who worked so hard to put this together. And thanks to our club president, Todd Flannery, for hosting all of us at his home.

If you want to learn more about catching these fish, come to the meetings. We have short seminars which cover everything from A to Z about fishing for Hybrids and Stripers. And every question gets answered. The next one is May 16th. Please let us know if you plan to attend.

Are You Really Ready - April 11th

Rain showers this week, and higher than optimal winds, have kept many folks off the lake. When God gives you lemons it is time to make Lemonaide. If you can't go fishing, take a few minutes and look over your boat and gear. There is most likely something that needs attention.

When is the last time you changed your line? When you have multiple reels this is one of the chores that can get pushed aside. It is easy to say, "I will get to that later." But Hybrids and Stripers aer known for their fight. Do you want to loose the fish of a lifetime by breaking your line?

The drag on your reels needs to be smooth. If it is jerky and sticks, it is time to do some maintenance. If you can't work on them yourself, find someone who can. These two things can mean the difference between landing the big one, or another "It got away!" fish story.

Other things that often get overlooked are trailer tires and bearings. They last so long it is easy to assume they don't require maintenance. Check your tire pressure, then jack up each side and spin them. Pull on the tire top and bottom checking for play in the bearings. Look for unusual wear on the tread.

A simple walk around is always a good idea. Check your transducers. Look at your prop. Turn on your lights and check your turn signals. Look closely at wiring. Anything that goes underwater has added potential to fail.

All of these little things which we take for granted can ruin a great day of fishing.  It is a lot easier to fix issues in your garage than on the side of the highway.

Invest a few hours now, and be ready when the weather is good again.

The weekend will be here soon!

Out Like A Lion - April 3rd March had many of us thinking we were done with bad fishing conditions. But Mother Nature, once again, dealt up a real surprize for the tourney. The wind was howling and big waves rolled across Percy Priest for most of the day. In spite of this, we had a very good field. And at the end of the day, the anglers had fish!

These first days of April have been a real roller coaster of unseasonable warmth then back to frost. But the trend is to warmer water, and it will not be long before the faux spawn is on, and the hybrids get aggressive. Club members will have two more shots at the lake, our April and May tourneys, then we shift to the Cumberland after bigger fish!

Other species are already spawning, or about to.  HOT TIP: The hybrids will get shallower with them. Live bait is going to be the ticket very soon. 

We are planning the first gathering now, to be held on the 27th at our club president's house. There will be plenty of fish, fries, and hush puppies, and lots of entertainment. More on this as it gets closer. But you will want to attend!

Youth Member on Fire - March 17th

When you're hot, YOU'RE HOT !!!!

On a recent outing with his father, club Treasurer Brian Schneider, youth member Cody Schneider caught two outstanding fish.  The first one, a 13.69 pound Hybrid, was his personal best. That fish set the bar pretty high for most of our other members. It also highlights the fantastic fishinig we have in local waters. These hybrids are getting BIG! And the club is proud to have been a part of getting them there!

Then, making the trip even more remarkable, Cody landed a possible new State Record Yellow Bass. The fish is 18 inches long, and pulled the scale down to an amazing 3.9 pounds. It will be examined by TWRA Fisheries Biologist Todd St. John shortly. We are all pulling for this one to take the top position in the books! We will post an update once we know the verdict. No matter what the outcome, that is a huge Yellow Bass!

If this awesome news doesn't have you chomping at the bit to get on the water, it may be time to take up bowling... LOL

Congrats to Cody and his dad. We are proud to have both of you in the PPHSC!

Exercise Caution - March 11th

Spring is coming on. But we are still experiencing some frosty mornings and water temps are cold. Water levels are a real concern as well.

Percy Priest is about as low as we have seen it now. The lake has been going up and down like a yoyo, with recent rains and the drawdowns.  Be very cautious about where you run there. The cut throughs may be impossible to navigate and deceiving. If you are new to the lake, stay in the channel or use extreme caution as you move out of it.

On a recent outing, we were headed between Pear Island and the shoreline, in an area that is normally used a lot, going from Four Corners to pass under the bridge. The sudden appearance of rocks up ahead slowed us down.  As we got closer we realized that there was less than a foot of water over the rocks in our planned route, completely invisible until we were right on top of them. There are many other areas on Priest which are just like this. We had not input an offset on the lake map which still indicated 12 FOW there. If we had gone blasting through there is no doubt there would have been serious damage to the lower unit, and quite possibly severe injuries to those onboard.

If you fall overboard, you have only a few minutes before hypothermia sets in. Plan ahead, so you know how to get back into your boat.  You will need to accomplish this quickly, because you may lose use of your hands faster than you think. Getting back on the boat may also be harder than you expect. If you don't have an access ladder, you may be able to stand on the cavitation plate of your motor, and use the tilt feature to assist reentry. That maneuver can be tricky, so you might want to practice this Summer, when the water is warmer.

Another problem with low water levels is backing your trailer off the end of the concrete ramp, which lands it on the frame. If you do this, it is almost impossible to get back up on the ramp, and can tear an axle off if you try. You will need to raise the trailer vertically and move it forward to get back on the tires. That normally requires flotation, or something on another vessel which can make the lift as you pull away with your vehicle. Some ramps are shorter than others, especially on the Cumberland River. Know before you use them.

If you are at the helm, avoid distractions. Trouble can happen rapidly on the water, turning fun into tragedy. Even the smallest of mishaps can ruin the day. Make sure everyone aboard is aware of where your safety equipment is stored. And wear the lanyard which kills your motor if you get thrown overboard. 

Happy Boating!

Big Hybrids at Priest - March 3rd

With warmer weather, and warming water, fishing has been steadily improving on Percy Priest. The lake is full of Gizzard and Threadfin Shad, and Hybrids and Stripers have been heavily feeding on them and growing at a rapid rate.

And there have been some larger Hybrids showing up in the catch. We received a report of a 14.1 lb Hybrid caught last week. And several fish between 10 and 12 lbs were caught yesterday by club members.

Most of the fish are being caught on trolled A Rigs, but there will be a shift to live bait coming soon. We will have a short seminar on trolling at the next meeting, March 21st. Guests are always welcome. We do ask that you let us know in advance if you would like to attend. Just call, or send an email., telling us how many are in your party.

There will also be an increase in the number of pleasure boats out on the water, so be sure to exercise caution. Some of these boat operators may not have many hours at the helm, and may not understand navigational rules. So, be prepared to take evasive action to avoid collisions.

Percy Priest was Giving Them Up - February 22nd

Club boats, Captained by Merve Johnson, Clifford Neames, and Brian Holloway, decided to hit the water yesterday at Percy Priest for a fun day of fishing. And that was exactly what happened! The morning started off cool with mild winds, and the Hybrids were biting!

A rigs, Flukes and Shiners were all producing fish, trolled with the correct presentation. And there were some really nice Hybrids being caught (7-9 pound range). It did not take long to reach the two fish per man limit, and we all went to catch and release fairly quickly.

Action continued till after noon. But the wind picked up and most boats were off the water by mid day.

Percy Priest can be a beast when the wind get above 15MPH, making getting your boat back on the trailer somewhat of a challenge. If you go, try to plan ahead when you decide where to launch and you may save yourself quite a bit or trouble. Bigger boats catch wind. And hitting the rails just right with the breeze pushing your boat sideways takes a good bit of skill!

Thanks to Finn's Bait Shop, for the deal on Shiners. He is located near the dam on Bell Road. Stop by and tell him you saw him mentioned on this page!

First Tourney Success - February 19th

Eight boats hit the water for the inaugural 2024 tourney on Percy Priest. And after 8 hours of tough fishing, they weighed in at Long Hunter State park ramp with some impressive results. Everyone was in good spirits despite the cold weather, and the usual stories of big fish getting away started quickly.

We showed the weigh in live on FaceBook, for those not brave enough, or maybe too far away, to come out and watch. And, after a few minutes, we had the results.

Our tourney format allows multiple fishermen on a team, but only two fish can be weighed in.

Brian Schneider, Brian Holloway, and Mark Hallings took 1st place with a combined fish weight of 14.53 pounds, which included the 9.34 big fish winner.

Mervin W Johnson Jr took 2nd place with a combined fish weight of 9.74 pounds. 

Joe James and Kayak Jeff took 3rd place with a combined fish weight of 7.24 pounds. 

Only one boat came in without fish. Now, the planning and anticipation begins for the  March tourney. Hopefully it will be much wamer then!

February Meeting -February 15th

We are expecting another big group for our February meeting, at CP Between the Lakes in Mt. Juliet 5:30 to 8 PM, with plans to introduce and welcome all of our new members. If we keep growing at this pace, we will soon need another venue to seat everyone. Not a bad problem to have, right? 

The club voted to start the first two tourneys of this year later in the morning, hoping that we could avoid the worst of the cold temps. But it looks like the weatherman has dialed up a surprise, with a front moving in Friday evening, and the associated drop in the thermometer. 

Fishing after a cold front can be very tough. It may not take much weight to win this one!

Several of us are hosting new members on our boats this week.  We get a lot of questions about gear and how to fish for hybrids, and showing is often easier than explaining. And it is always fun to share some tips on the water. PPHSC = Fun and Fellowship....

If you look at the pic on the right, notice that both fishermen are wearing inflatable life jackets. These inflate if you fall overboard, and are not cumbersome when you are fishing. The water is very cold now and hypothermia can set in quickly. Please take every precaution while you are out there!

Rain Rain Go Away - February 9th

The forecast of rain for the next three days is not the best news for all of us who plan to fish the inaugural tournament for 2024 next Saturday. Fresh muddy water pouring into Percy Priest will likely make fishing tougher than usual. 

There are some big hybrids available, and the outside chance that someone will locate one of the bigger stripers that roam the lake. So, expect to see something over 10 pounds at the weigh in. 

Weather for the early tourneys is always unpredictable. Hopefully we will have moderate temperatures and low winds. Priest can be brutal when it is gusting and you are crossing open water.

We voted to begin fishing at 8AM, trying to avoid as much of the cold as possible. Weigh in is at 3PM... We will post the location for that very shortly, and anyone is welcome to come watch! We will be happy to have you there. Be sure to introduce yourself.

Off to a Good Start - February 2nd 

The rollout of the new website seems to be making more folks aware of our mission. And we have added more members. This surge should give the club a real boost for the beginning of the new season.

Warmer days are ahead, and people are getting more interested in being outdoors and on the water. We haven't had many reports of great fishing trips yet, but you have to know they are coming!

Our next meeting is right around the corner, as is our first tournament. We are actively seeking a new place to meet, in order to accomodate the larger group. And the tourney committee is working out details of where we will weigh in. Growth is good!

As the waters begin to warm, there will be a shift in fishing techniques. Right now, jigging spoons has been the ticket. Pulling Alabama rigs can produce a few fish. And the changeover to live bait is coming soon. 

It is almost 70 today, and the groundhog says we will see more of that before long.

That sounds really good to all of us!

What a great day for the club at the Swap Meet - January 27th

We had to deal with rainy weather. But that didn't seem to slow down the action at the annual Swap Meet in Mt. Juliet today. There were plenty of tables loaded with a variety of fishing gear, and the deals were certainly there to be had. Anyone looking for a rod, reel, or tackle had more than enough to choose from, and the prices were at bargain level. 

The club table stayed busy, as we spread the word about our mission and activities. And we signed up 8 new members. After the tables were cleared, and everyone caught their breath, we all knew that this one was a winner! And the conversation turned to how we could do more and better next year. That is just the way we are....

Most of the new members expressed that they had never fished for Hybrids or Stripers, and that they were excited about learning how to catch them. We also learned that there was considerable interest in club acitivities outside of tourney fishing. Several of them mentioned that our constant chatter on FaceBook drew them to the event, and that it looked like we were having an overload of fun when we all got together.

We will draw for the winner of the guided fishing trip on Monday, live on our FaceBook page. Thanks to all who came out, and all of the club members who donated their time setting up and working the event. PPHSC strong!

Big things in the works for PPHSC in 2024 - January 25th

We are planning to step up to the plate and SWING BIG this year, increasing our efforts to improve fishing and adding many more members. The first meeting of the new year is in the books, and we have introduced an exciting new agenda. 

First off, we have a new website joining our social media presence, where we can pass along everything PPHSC. This blog will keep you up to date on current happenings, and you can conveniently join the club right here too! 

We are expanding our schedule of events and activities and will be introducing more folks to fishing for these two dynamic fish. If you have never held a rod with line screaming off a reel, you will be in for a treat. And the PPHSC stands ready to make that happen.

Our tournament schedule is set, and everyone is getting their gear ready. The series begins on Percy Priest Lake in February. We will venture to the Cumberland River as we get further into the year.

With the recent cold weather, we anticipate a massive shad kill on Percy Priest. This should make the bite much more aggressive. Big hybrids will viciously attack baits. And there is a chance you might tie into a mid-teens Striper from recent stockings. The lake has had back-to-back years of great forage, which has allowed both species to grow quickly. 

Percy Priest is a premier fishery, and 2024 is setting up to be a very good year! 

Be sure to check back here for regular updates. See you on the water soon!