Lake Maps and Fishing Videos

Hi! My name is Kaylee and I sure do love fishing. I would like to thank Tennessee Outdoor News for giving me the opportunity to do something else I really enjoy, and that's writing. What could be better than writing about fishing? Just so you can get to know me, I'll tell you a little bit about myself. I'm eleven years old and in the sixth grade. Of course, every chance I get, I'm on the water going after those big ones, but I also have other hobbies like I love basketball, drawing, and writing. I enjoy collecting stuffed animals and animal figurines, especially Dalmatians. I have four dogs and one horse, and I live on a farm.

I love going fishing with my grandparents and my mom! My grandpa knows a lot about fishing and he knows where to find the fish. I enjoy the time I get to spend with them, and my Meema makes awesome lunches when we go fishing. Grandpa and I love to sport fish for bass, but we also love to fish for crappie because that's about as good as it gets for eating! I can't wait to go to Woods Reservoir in a couple of months when the crappie come up on the beds. Two years ago I caught some 14 inch crappie there! That's one of our favorite places to crappie fish. It's a small lake, but it's a nice place to fish for bass, crappie and bluegill. We came home with a boatload of crappie and, man, we had one big supper that night! My grandpa always lets me help. I love to batter them up, drop them in the pan and watch them fry up golden brown. It's fun working with Grandpa! He's going to let me give you his special crappie recipe. It's great for frying up catfish, too.

My grandpa is always telling me stories about his childhood and there is one that sticks out in my mind the most. It's the story about Grandpa and the old Indian man, Arthur Thomas. My grandpa loved Arthur because he taught him a lot about outdoor life. My grandpa and Arthur would set out trot lines down in south Georgia on the Flint River. Arthur had a little john boat and when they'd get out there in that river, my grandpa's job was to put the chicken livers on the big catfish hooks while Arthur would keep the boat steady with an old Evinrude hand-operated motor. My grandpa said it was a real juggling act to keep that swift river current from pushing them downstream. Then, when they caught a line full of catfish they would take them back to a little one-room cabin on the river. They didn't have any electricity in that cabin…can you imagine that? Arthur taught my grandpa how to clean and skin those fish, and Grandpa said he would always say, "Son, you gotta have a good sharp knife if you want to skin catfish!" Johnny Cox was the man who owned that cabin and he would bring his family there on Friday nights and they would have a big fish fry. So while the fish were frying, Arthur would take out his old dobro and play songs from Jimmy Rogers and Hank Williams, Sr. Mrs. Cox would sing harmony with him and this is where my grandpa got his first itch for music. My grandpa is a writer of music, and he has a natural gift to pick and write perfect songs.

One of my earliest memories is when I was about four years old. I remember I wanted to catch a fish for Grandpa, and I finally did… I caught a baby bass!! So Grandpa held it up for me to teach me how to thumb the fish. When I had my thumb half way in his mouth, he wiggled, and boy, I jumped faster than a hopping jack rabbit!! After I looked in his mouth to make sure he didn't have teeth, I finally got a hold of him and threw him back in the water! And that was my first experience with catch and release!

My grandpa has been a big help to me in my life and he gives me a lot of purpose in my life. I think of my grandpa as a life long fishing partner! My family is a big part of my fishing time and this is why I think fishing is an excellent sport for families everywhere. It helps keep kids off the streets and out of trouble! I have known a lot of kids who think fishing is dorky, but it is so much fun when you get out there and catch a big bass, or you catch a mess of crappie and go home and fry them up and have a grand meal! Boy, they don't know what they're missing!

If you know someone who would like to go fishing but does not have someone to take them, ask their parents or guardian if you can set up some kind of date to take them fishing, because, if you get your friends started in fishing, you will have them hooked forever! Friends are good company when you go fishing. And you don't have to have a boat to enjoy fishing. Some of the most fun I've ever had was fishing off the dock with my friends and family.

Let's also remember that we should keep our beautiful lakes and rivers clean! I would hate to destroy a wonderful fishing lake just by throwing some trash in it! If we hurt the lakes, where will we fish? Not only that, but where would our drinking water come from?

I can't wait to go fishing in the spring. I've been rigging my fishing gear and sharpening my hooks so I'll be ready when it gets warm. Every year there are a number of fishing events just for kids and if you'll email me I'll get the information to you. I will be writing this Kid's Corner every month, so I will post kid's events as I find out about them. I invite you to ask questions or send e-mails to me on my website at kaylee@bassvideos.com

I love the Lord and I thank him everyday for what he has done for me and my family. I love having the Lord on my side! I hope that everyone can have a relationship with God like I do. Everyday I listen to my grandpa talk about the Bible and about the things that go on in the world and I can tell you that just by listening to him talk, I learn a new thing everyday!! Let God lead you and listen to your family and they will help in your decisions. God has given us our rivers and lakes to enjoy, so let's go fishing!

2 lbs. crappie or catfish
2 C yellow cornmeal mix
Canola oil to cover fish
¼ C olive oil
1 egg
½ C half & half cream
½ tsp thyme
1 T parsley flakes
Salt & pepper to taste
Red pepper (optional)

Heat Canola & olive oil in deep iron skillet
Mix thyme & parsley into cornmeal mix
Whisk egg & cream till well mixed
Wash fish with cold water
Coat fish in egg mixture and lay it on a plate
Rub a little red pepper into fish if desired
Salt & pepper to taste
Coat fish with corn meal mixture
Drop fish into hot oil and turn heat down to medium
Fry till golden brown, turning if needed

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