The Ball, the Bat, and the Grand Slam

By Jim Parks

Afew years ago, I took a neighbor fishing. He had recently moved next door and we talked sports. He was a huge baseball fan and baseball season was just underway. I admitted to a give or take mentality with “America’s pastime”. As is typical for me, I soon converted our discussion into trout fishing and the Smoky Mountains. He said he liked fishing, and he liked the Smokies, but had never fished there. His fishing background consisted of ponds and lakes. Over the next few months, I wore him down and removed any inhibitions of trying things with a fly rod in the small streams of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Learning that he liked to hike, I took that as an opportunity, so we hiked a few miles to a likely spot to catch trout.

After showing him the ins and outs of fly fishing for trout in the pocket water of the Smokies, he quickly developed a knack with a fly rod, however he was not skilled at wading, which I told him was an acquired talent mastered via many cuts and bruises. Still, he caught several trout. Thus, I finally felt comfortable to a point that I walked upstream a bit, leaving a small stack of rocks on a midstream boulder for him to fish up to, then get out of the stream and walk up to me.

After a while, I did not see him and thought I’d better go see how he was faring. As I made my way from the creek to the trail, I looked down and saw a baseball. I’m thinking, “How did a baseball get here?” But there it was and in good condition, so I put it in my back vest pocket.

After finding him, I showed him the baseball I’d found, and I asked how he’d done. He said, he caught a few more then he asked, “Did you see that bat?”

“What bat?”

“Let me show you.” He walked me to the spot down on the creek where he pointed at a clump of leaves hanging from a piece of fishing line that had broken off on a tree limb.

I said, “I remember seeing that as I fished by, but I just thought it was a clump of leaves.”

He said, “Yeah, I thought that too until it moved. Scared the crap outta me!” At that point, it moved again!

What I saw was a small, brown bat unfolding its wings. It had been hooked by the fly dangling at the bottom of the broken fishing line.

“What are you going to do?”, he asked.

“Well, I’m not going to let it die a slow death by hanging there. I was born on Halloween, and I guess I feel something of a kinship with bats. I’m getting it free.” I walked over, placed my net beneath the bat and cut the fishing line, dropping the bat into my net. I then carried it over to a rock and laid it down on its back. I borrowed a set of forceps from my buddy to use along with mine. One pair I used to open its mouth. “Man does this thing have teeth!”, I said as I spread its mouth open as would a dentist.

“Well don’t get bit”, my friend offered.

“I don’t plan on touching it”, I replied as I worked. I took my pair of forceps and found the hook embedded, but not too deeply into the roof up its mouth. Fortunately, the bat was very calm and docile like it was asleep. I was able to slip the fly out with some ease. Though a bit tired and groggy the small bat seemed ok.

We walked away about 30 feet to sit on a rock and eat some peanut butter and honey sandwiches. He said, “Well, we have a baseball and a bat. Maybe we’ll find a glove!”

Laughing he proudly showed me some photos of some of the trout he’d caught. He knew what a rainbow was, but he wasn’t sure about some of the others. While flipping through the nine or ten photos of small trout he’d photographed I realized he had caught each of the three species of trout in the GSMNP, a rainbow, a brown, and a brook.

I looked up, smiled, and said, “Forget the glove”, as I handed him the baseball I’d found. “You have a baseball, a bat, and a grand slam!” After explaining the concept of the Smoky Mountain Grand Slam of trout, we looked over at my net, and the bat was gone.

Jim Parks, a native of Newport, TN, has spent over forty-five years flyfishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which he considers his home waters. Jim has written articles for Fly Fish American and The Angler Magazine. He works with and gives talks on fly fishing to various civic organizations. Jim is the author of “Tails of the Smokies”. For copies, he can be reached via his Instagram page at “TailsoftheSmokies”

KY / TN FISHING REPORT

Owner StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee and Kentucky Walleye, Bass, Crappie and Muskie Charters, Superbaittanks. com, Captain Jim Lures and Marine Electronics and much more…… DATE OF REPORT: June 2023

Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

Striper Fun Guide Service On The Cumberland River

Captain Jim’s StriperFun Guide Service Cumberland River Adventures fishes the Cumberland River in TN and KY for several reasons.

• First, the Stripers are much larger in the Cumberland River system in TN and KY than other fresh water arears. Per the two State’s Wildlife Boards, there is an average of over 15 Stripers caught annually in excess of 50 pounds and 40-pound fish are not uncommon. The smallest fish we generally catch daily is over 3 feet long! These fish mostly eat high protein Rainbow Trout, large Gizzard Shad and Skip Jack and also fight the current all day, making them much heavier and stronger than “lake” fish.

• TN allows the use of Rainbow Trout as bait, and we catch large Gizzard Shad in the allowed creeks and use them in the KY waters.

In the cold waters of the Cumberland River, the caught fish survive very well and can be released unharmed. The average size Trout we use in TN for bait is 12 inches with some up to 16 inches long. The average size Gizzard Shad we use in KY is 10 inches and we occasionally use big Skip Jack up to 20 inches long (“yes” the Stripers in the Cumberland River are large enough to eat a 20-inch piece of bait!). When a big river Striper comes after a large bait, the bait will be tail dancing all over the surface trying to get a way. Sometimes the “dance” will last half a minute (as you watch the big predator circling the prey!) until the Striper finally gets the big bait then its “Kabam”!! The rod gets yanked down and the reel is screaming!

We also catch huge fish casting Captain Jim Special (see our website store) Striper Magic “glide” baits and my mini umbrella rigs!

As I advised above, throughout the year, it is not uncommon to see 40 or 50 pound “goliath” Stripers pulled from the beautiful waters of the Cumberland River. This fishing is not for the faint of heart however! These big fish hit like freight trains, making long powerful runs in the constantly flowing waters of the river! We use large rods, heavy duty reels, 50-pound test line and titanium hooks!

Continued, see KY/TN FISHING REPORT Page 4

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ARE GREAT MONTHS TO FISH!

It is great to be alive and be a “free” American! I look forward to seeing all of you this year on the water. Always remember to stop and shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedoms you do!

Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!

With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides (19 guides on 18 waterways) can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services as well as our exclusive “online” store at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.

With full State licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides (16 guides on 16 waterways) can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services as well as our exclusive “online” store at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.