‘JEWELS OF THE CONASAUGA’

A Redeye Coosa Bass

It’s a beautiful June day, mid-way in the week; sunny and warm, the temp in the mid-nineties. The river is up; the water gin clear. We’ve yet to even shove off in the canoe, its stern still sittin’ fast on the pebble beach. Keith wades into the strong flow, the water reachin’ waist-deep on him before he’s got within castin’ reach of the pocket of slack water on the far side of the river. To the left of the pocket, the river tumbles over a drop-off, and on the right, an eddy pulls back into it.

Keith tosses a black and chartreuse curly tail tube jig to the back of the pocket where it drops into the water, just this side of a submerged log. Immediately it’s taken. The hook-set, a short fight, and a 10-inch bass is brought to-hand; bright blue belly, blood-red eyes, it’s one of the ‘Jewels of the Conasauga’… a Redeye Coosa Bass!”

Keith with a nice Spotted Bass

Minutes later, we’re headed downstream. I steer as Keith prospects likely-lookin’ spots with an ultralight spinnin’ rod. Time and again a jig is danced at the base of exposed tree roots along the riverbank, the line tightens, a plunge for the depths, the rod checks it, and a shimmerin’ rainbow of color, a stunningly beautiful Bluegill is soon in-hand; with a twist, the little ‘gem’ falls free of the hook and back into the water; the canoe glides along.

Just below a partially submerged grass bed, I put the bow over, turnin’ back upstream. With a plop, the jig hits on the far side of the grass, and a fish slams it as it swims past. The rod bows deep, the drag sings as line peels off the reel. Its run checked, the fish leaps from the water, vigorously shakin’ its head, attemptin’ to throw the hook. Near the boat, the fish makes one last bid to escape, but he’s tired and is soon bein’ lifted from the water; it’s the second of the ‘Jewels of the Conasauga’… a hard-fightin’ Spotted Bass!

That’s a recount of just the first fifteen minutes on the river, last week, and it set the tone for the next six-plus hours, which resulted in a day of fantastic fishin’. With a combined total of over 100 fish caught, each a wonderful experience regardless of the species or its size; couple that with the privilege of floatin’ 7-miles of one of the most scenic rivers in this area, plus the enjoyable company of an old fishin’ buddy, and you’ve certainly found yourself a true ‘treasure’. The Conasauga River is undoubtably a 'jewel' itself.