♪ >> THIS WEEK ON "KENTUCKY AF" WE'RE IN THE BOAT WITH A FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO JUST LOVES TO FISH.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SHOWS CHOSE LOUISVILLE.

COACH CROM TOOK ME FISHING.

THAT'S A TRUE STORY.

>> NEXT WE TAKE TO THE RIVER IN SEARCH OF THE AT A TIME'S LARGEYEST AMPHIBIAN.

THEN WE'RE FLOATING THE BEAUTIFUL CUMBERLAND RIVER AND FLY FISHING FOR TROUT.

>> I LOVE THAT.

>> IT'S ALL NEXT ON "KENTUCKY AFIELD"."

>> Chad: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY AFIELD"."

I'M JURY HOST CHAD MILES.

JOIN US AS WE JOURNEY THE COMMONWEALTH IN SEARCH OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.

KENTUCKY HAS A RICH HISTORY IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND IN FISHING, AND SOME PEOPLE, WELL, THEY ENJOY BOTH.

I'M OUT HERE BASS FISHING WITH AN OLD FAMILY FRIEND ROGER BERKMAN.

HOW YOU DOING, ROGER.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, CHAD.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW YOU ESPECIALLY IN LOUISVILLE IN SPORTS AND THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND SPALDING UNIVERSITY.

>> IT'S BEEN SCENE YEARS A SPALDING.

>> YOU PLAYED BASKETBALL IN THE 1980S, PLAYED A LITTLE BIT OF BASKETBALL.

SPENT IS ON THE YEARS IN THE NBA NBA.

YOU'VE GOT BEEN PAY LIFETIME FISHERMAN, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I CHOSE LOUISVILLEOVER THE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT WERE RECRUITING ME.

COACH CROM TOOK ME ANY,.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO CATCH A COUPLE OF FISH.

>> SOUNDS GREAT.

LET'S GO WOULD IT, BABY, RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> SO UNTIL WE GET SOME WIND, I'M GOING TO THROW SOME BAIT AND CREATURE BAIT.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I MIGHT EVEN FILL THIS.

IN A SECOND.

THERE WE GO.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> SECOND CAST ON THE SWIM -- >> SWIM BIT?

THERE YOU GO, BUDDY.

>> UH-OH.

QUICK RELEASE.

>> QUICK RELEASE, MAN.

>> HE'S LIKE, HEY, I'M OUT OF HERE.

IT'S NOT TOO BAD.

>> IT'S A NICE START.

FIRST FISH.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO GET ONE ON THE BOARD.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO GET THAT FIRST ONE.

>> >> SLOW ROLLING IT.

SLOW ROLLING THIS WITH THE SWIM BAIT WITH A LITTLE TRAILER ON IT.

GOT A LITTLE COLOR ON IT.

YOU KNOW, WE PULLED UP, AND I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR GRAPH, THOSE FISH LOOK LIKE A LOT OF THEM WERE SITTING IN THAT 6, 8-FOOT RANGE, SO THIS IS A BAIT THAT'S REALLY EASY FOR ME TO KEEP IT IN A PARTICULAR STRIKE RANGE, SO -- >> GOOD.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S GOING TO GET NICE AND WARM AND HOT TODAY BUT THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS NOT HOT.

IT'S STILL 60 DEGREES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF WIND.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BEING AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

THE WHOLE IDEA I GUESS IS TO HAVE SPORTS THAT ATTRACT AND MAKE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING THERE, RIGHT?

>> WE DEFINITELY WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE THAT THE STUDENT ATHLETES DESERVE.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, DR.

BLESSED.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD THE PROGRAMS.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

CHECK OUT THAT SNAKE.

>> SWIMMING ALONG.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT HERE ON THIS LAKE.

>> YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE A NORTHERN WATER SNAKE.

IT'S AMAZING TO ME THE NUMBER OF THEM THAT LOSE THEIR LIFE EVERY YEAR BEING MISTAKEN FOR A COPPERHEAD.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, PEOPLE THESE THOSE COPPER HEADS ALL THE TIME.

I GET PICTURES, HEY, CHECK OUT THIS COPPERHEAD.

NORTHERN WATER SNAKE.

I TELL YOU WHAT, THOUGH, YOU TRY TO PICK ONE OF THOSE UP, THEY WILL BITE YOU.

YEAH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER FISH.

>> A LITTLE BETTER FISH.

>> RIGHT HERE, JUNIOR.

OKEY-DOKEY.

THAT'S ON A JIG, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT'S ON A JIG.

>> THERE YOU GO.

LOOK HOW YOU JUST CHOKED THAT.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> NOW, THIS FISH IS EITHER A MALE OR HAS SPAWNED.

>> YOU SEE ITS TAIL.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S A MALE.

WE'LL FIND SOME FEMALES, YOU WAIT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME EGGS.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM BACK.

>> THERE YOU GO, FELLOWS.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> SO, ROGER, WHAT YEARS DID YOU PLAY BASKETBALL AT UOFL?

>> I MADE FROM 1977 TO '81.

>> I KNEW YOU WERE THERE 4 TO '80 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

>> I WAS ON THE '80 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM MY JUNIOR JUNIOR YEAR.

>> I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT GAME.

I WAS PRETTY YOUNG.

YOU GUYS HAD A SPECIAL TEAM THAT YEAR.

>> WE HAD A GOOD ATHLETES, ROLE PLAYERS THAT ALL CARED ABOUT EACH OTHER, AND VERY COMPETITIVE.

>> IT GOT YOU DRAFTED INTO THE NBA.

>> IT DID.

IT GIVE.GOV ME A CHANCE TO GET DRAFTED TO THE BULLS.

NOBODY THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE IT.

THAT WAS MY CAREER, JUST MAKING THAT TEAM.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> HE'S AN ANGRY LITTLE FELLOW.

>> HE DOES HAVE A LITTLE ATTITUDE.

>> NICE FISH.

>> LOOK AT HIM.

HE'S NOT GIVING UP.

CHOKE THAT AGAIN, THOUGH.

COME HERE, JUNIOR.

>> YOU HAVE CONVINCED ME.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT FISH GOT ME WET, HE WAS SO BAD.

>> HE DID.

HE WENT AFTER IT, DIDN'T HE?

>> THAT'S A NICE FISH, ROGER.

>> GOOD SOLID FISH.

THAT'S A GOOD 2-POUND FISH.

>> GOING TO PUT HIM RIGHT BACK IN THE WATER RIGHT THERE.

IF NET E. LET ME THAT'S THE BEST ONE WE HAVE HAD TODAY.

>> CAME RIGHT OUT.

I KNEW I HAD TO KEEP PRESSURE HOW MANY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A GOOD HOOK SET IN HIM.

>> HE'S IN THE BOAT.

>> THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> THAT THING WAS SHALLOW, HUH?

>> CAME RIGHT OFF THAT LOG.

THAT'S ONE OF MOST BITES THAT YOU SEE HIM COME AROUND A LOG AND GRAB THAT BAIT.

YEAH, THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER FISH.

>> NICE JOB, MAN.

>> I DON'T KNOW FUB SEE THE TAIL OF THAT, CHAD, BUT YOU SEE THE FAN?

>> IT'S ON THE TOP.

>> THAT'S DIFFERENT, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, BUDDY, HERE WE GO.

HEY, CHAD, LOWCOUNTRY THERE.

THERE'S A LOOK OVER THERE.

THERE'S A BALD EAGLE.

GOING TO LAND RIGHT THERE FOR YOU.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

ACTUALLY, THERE'S A COUPLE OF BALD EAGLES THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA OF THE LAKE.

>> IT'S AMAZING YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT ON THESE SMALL BODIES OF WATER.

LOOK AT THIS LITTLE JOKER.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> LOOK AT THAT!

SO WE'VE BEEN SEEING THESE FISH FOAL OUR BAIT IN.

THERE'S THESE GIZZARD SHADS, AND YOU SEE THE BLACK ON THE SIDE OF HIS FACE.

THERE ARE A TON OF THESENOLOGY THE SPINNER A BIT IN.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S GOT TO BE A GOOD SIZE BASS BECAUSE LOOK AT THE CISE OF THAT SHAD.

THAT IS A PERFECT MEAL FOR A BIG OLD LARGE MOUTH.

>> YES.

>> SEE YA.

WHAT DO I GOT?

>> A CRAPPIE.

I'LL BE DAD GONE.

>> IF YOU HAD A WHOLE BUNCH FRIENDS IN THERE, WE'D BE KEEPING YOU.

>> YES.

HERE WE GO.

WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?

I'M GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND GRAB IT.

I'M HOPING IT'S OF A 5-POUNDER YOU.

GOT YOU A BIG OLD DRUM.

>> I GOT A DRUM.

>> BY GOLLY.

LOOK AT THAT!

>> NOW, LOOK, THAT'S NOT COMING ON MY BOAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I DON'T BLAME YOU.

I DON'T BLAME YOU.

HEY, WE'VE BEEN SEEING ALL THOSE, AND THE BASS HAVEN'T BEEN RESPONDING.

WELL, WE'LL JUST FISH FOR DRUM.

>> THAT'S A HECK OF A DRUM.

>> OLD FRESH WATER DRUM.

>> HERE YOU GO, FRESH WATER DRUM.

WON'T GET IN MY BOAT, I GUARANTEE.

>> YOU YOU WIN SOME, LOSE SOME.

ROGER, WE'VE HAD A GOOD MORNING.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD MORNING GOING OUT AND CATCHING UP.

>> ANY TIME YOU WANT TO GO, LET ME KNOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE EASTERN HELL BENDER IS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIAN FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE IN THE WATERS OF KENTUCKY.

HELL BENDERS ARE OUR LARGEST NATIVE SPECIES OF SALAMANDER WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY.

THEY'LL GET TO BE PROBABLY 2-FOOT LONG, SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN 2-FOOT LONG.

THEY LIVE ENTIRELY IN STREAMS BUT NOT ONLY IN STREAMS.

THEY HAVE TO BE IN REALLY HIGH-QUALITY STREAMS THAT HAVE REALLY LARGE SLAB ROCKS, BIG PIECES OF BOULDER THAT ARE PRETTY FLAT, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY LIVE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

IN THE FALL, THE TIME OF YEAR WE'RE IN NOW, THEY'LL ACTUALLY START BREEDING, AND THE MALES WILL GUARD LARGE EGG MASSES THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THESE ROCKS.

TODAY IS PART OF A PROJECT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW IN COLLABORATION WITH PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

SOME OF THE RESEARCHERS FROM PURDUE WILL COME DOWN AND ASSIST US IN LOCATING ADULT HELLBENDERS.

EVERYBODY PUTS ON WETSUITS AND SNORKELS AND MASKS AND THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING IN THE STREAM AND SNORKELING ALONG, LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STREAM FOR THESE REALLY LARGE SLAB ROCKS THAT A HELL BENDER WOULD LIKE TO I HAVE LIVE UNDER.

ONCE YOU FIND THIS BIG ROCK OR ONE OF THESE BIG ROCKS, YOU ESSENTIALLY HOLD YOUR BREATH, SWIM UNDER THE WATER AND USE A FLASHLIGHT AND STICK JURY FACE UP UNDERNEATH THE ROCK AND LOOK AROUND AND LITERALLY LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S A HELL BENDER STARING YOU IN THE FACE.

MOST OF THE TIME YOU DON'T SEE A HELL BENDER.

THERE'S GART DARTERS AND MAYBE FISH LAR THAT ARE LIVING UNDER THE ROCKS.

>> I SEE A COUPLE OF FISH LIVING UNDER THE ROCKS.

>> OCCASIONAL WE'LL FIND A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S LIVING UNDER THERE.

>> THAT'S A BIG ONE.

THAT'S A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE OVER HERE.

>> WE GOT ONE.

SWIMMING ALONG WE FOUND THE FIRST ONE.

EVERYBODY WENT OVER AND CHECKED.

IT BEFORE WE STARTED TRYING TO PULL THE LEGS OUT, WE WANTED TO GET A PRETTY GOOD SURVEY OF THE SITE, SO WITHIN FIVE MINISTERS WE FOUND A SECOND ONE.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

>> WE FOUND TWO HELLBENDERS.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW MANY GUARDING MALES WE CAN FIND.

AFTER WE DO THAT, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE KNOWN SITES OR THE KNOWN ROCKS AND START USING A PROBE TO HOPEFULLY PULL SOME EGGS OUT.

>> AND I THINK WITHIN MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF OR SO WE HAD FOUR HELL BENDER THAT WE HAD LOCATED AND MAYBE 100-METER SECTION OF THE STREAM.

TIGHTENS A MATTER OF USING PROBES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE MALES GUARDING THE NESTS, MOVE THEM TO RUN OUT OF THE WAY AND WE CAN PUT THE PROBE IN THERE AND START PULLING EGGS OUT.

>> HE WON'T MOVE.

>> HE'S NOT ESPECIALLY AGGRESSIVE BUT HE IS JUST BLOCKING.

HOLE.

WE MIGHT COME BACK TO HIM LATER IF WE DON'T GET SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THEY'RE GUARDING THEM FOR A REGION.

THEY'RE WANTING TO PROTECT THESE EGGS SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FIGHT TO GET THAT PROBE PAST THE MALE.

>> LUCKILY WE'VE GOT THREE MORE DOWN HERE WE'RE GOING TO TRY THOSE.

AFTER THAT WE'LL TRY TO COME BACK AND HIT THIS GUY AGAIN, HOPEFULLY GET SOME EGGS OUT.

>> WE'RE ABLE TO GO TO THE SECOND HELL BENDER AT THAT POINT.

THE ROCK THERE WASN'T AS LARGE.

WE'RE ABLE TO GET BACK IN AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF PROBING STARTED PULLING EGGS OUT.

TYPICALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YUL PULL OUT ONE OR TWO EGGS TO START WITH, BUT THEN AS YOU CONTINUE GET FURTHER BACK INTO THAT ROCK, FURTHER BACK IN PAST THE ADULT MALE YOU CAN START PULLING OUT PRETTY LARGE MASSES OF THESE EGGS OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE ROCK.

>> WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME EGGS COMING OUT NOW.

>> WE'LL PUT THEM IN A COOLER AND FOLKS FROM PURDUE WILL TAKE THEM BACK TO THEIR LAB WHERE THEY WILL RAISE THESE UP INTO ADULT HELLBENDERS, AND THE WHOLE REASON WE DO THAT IS IN THE WILD IF A CLUTCH EGGS HAS MAYBE 500 IN IT, YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET MAYBE FIVE TO TEN ADULT HELLBENDERS TO ACTUALLY SURVIVE OUT OF THAT CLUTCH 500, MAYBE 1 TO 2 PERCENT.

BUT IF WE TAKE THESE EGGS BACK TO THE LAB THEY CAN HAVE A 60 TO 70 PERCENT SURVIVAL WHICH WE CAN THEN BRING BACK TO OUR KENTUCKY STREAMS AND HOPEFULLY REPOPULATE THE STREAMS THAT USED TO HAVE GOOD POPULATIONS THAT DON'T ANYMORE.

>> HAVING PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS SO FAR OF PULLING THE EGGS OUT.

HAVEN'T HAD LUCK ON GETTING THE ADULT MALE OUT OF NEST.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND ANOTHER ONE.

>> PUTTER PUT YOUR GOGGLES BACK ON.

>> HE HAD A SECOND CHAMBER THAT HE COULD USE TO EXIT THE ROCK FROM, SO AT THAT POINT WE HAD AGITATED HIM TO THE POINT TO WHERE HE WAS READY TO ABANDON SHIP AND LEAVE WHATEVER EGGS HE HAD THERE AND TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO GET AWAY FROM US, SO I WAS ABLE TO GRAB HIM AND PUT HIM INTO A NET SO THAT WE COULD TAKE HIM BACK, PROCESS HIM, SEE HOW BIG HE WAS, HOW MUCH HE WEIGHED, IF HE HAD ANY SORT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND REALLY CHECK HIM OVER TO SEE WHAT SORT OF HEALTH HE WAS IN.

IN STUDYING THE LIFE CYCLE A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR, MOST OF WHAT WE'RE ENCOUNTER IN THE WILD WERE OUR HELL BENDER POPULATION ARE REALLY OLD HELL BENDER, SO THIS IS A SPECIES THAT CAN LIVE FOR MULTIPLE DECADES.

>> 51 CENTIMETERS.

TOTAL LENGTH.

>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A MIX NOT ONLY OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE GETS BUT IT'S ALSO FUNDING THROUGH THE KENTUCKY WILD PROGRAM.

THE KENTUCKY WILD IS A PROGRAM WHERE CITIZENS NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT AROUND THE U.S. AND THE WORLD CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT AT 100% OF THAT FUNDING IS USED FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

>> WE'RE DONE IN THE ADULTS AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE ALL THE MEASUREMENTS WE NEED.

MAKE SURE HE'S IN GOOD HEALTH.

NOW WE'LL PUT HIM UNDERNEATH THE ROCK WE GOTIT HIM ON IT FROM A NEW MINUTES AGO.

>> AS THE SPRING RAINS COME TO AN END AND THE WATERS START TO STABILIZE, THE CUMBERLAND EVASIVE GREAT PLACE TO GO CATCH TROUT.

>> WE WERE OUT HERE EARLY AS USUAL.

THIS TROUT FISHING ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER TO GET HERE EARLY AND FISH UNTIL THE WATER OPENS UP ON US.

>> PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.

GOING TO STAY OUT IN FRONT OF THE WATER OR GET BEHIND IT, ONE OF THE TWO.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT FISHING THIS RIVER THAT IS -- YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND HIRING A GUIDE IS KIND OF A GOOD WAY TO GO ABOUT IT TO LEARN THE RIVER.

>> IT'S A HARD RIVER TO FISH.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE, BUT WITH THE WATER DISCHARGES COMING UP OR DOIN', YOU CAN GET STUCK IN MY WATER, YOU CAN GET STUCK IN LOW WATER, AND YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT AND KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE DISCHARGES ARE DOING.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN GUIDING FOR OVER 15 YEARS, RIGHT?

THIS IS HAD A BEHIND GEM, INSISTENT.

>> IT REALLY IS.

I LIVED IN MONTANA FOR TEN YEARS, AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO KENTUCKY AND STARTED GUIDING ON THE CUMBERLAND I WAS AMAZED.

IT'S A GREAT RIVER.

BIG FISH 1 BIG TROUT P THE THERE ARE OTHER SPECIES BESIDES THE TROUT HERE.

>> I'M SUPER EXCITED.

I DON'T DO A LOT OF FLY FISHING BUT THIS IS A TRIP I LOOK FORWARD OVER THE SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE THE SHEAR BEAUTY OF IT.

AS IF WATER CHANGES WE MAY CHANGE THE TECHNIQUES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH STREAM FISHING IN THIS LOW LIGHT, SEE IF WE CAN'T GET SOME BIG FISH TO CHASE AROUND AND NYMPH OR A LITTLE WHILE THIS AFTERNOON WHEN THE WATER STARTS TO DROP DOWN.

>> LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO HELP YOU AND GET STARTED.

>> LET'S GET LOADED UP.

>> SOUNDS GOOD.

P.. >> CAST IT OUT.

YOU'RE MAKING A LITTLE BEND JUST TO HELP GET IT DOWN AND THAT'S JUST TO LOOSEN THE LINE.

GIVE IT A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

YOU'RE GOING TO STRIP PRETTY FAST AND PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.

>> THIS IS A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH BECAUSE OF THE LOW LIGHT SITUATION.

>> YEAH, YOU WANT TO GET THEM CHASING, AND BIG FISH LIKE TO EAT.

>> AND SO THIS IS IMITATING BAIT FISH.

>> SHAD, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT MORE SHAD ON RIVER LATELY.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> GOT HIM.

>> FISH ON.

>> EYE A LITTLE BROOKIE, IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> SO THAT'S A BROOK TROUT, HUH?

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY'RE PRETTY COMMON DOWN HERE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN SEEING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN.

THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO GET VERY BIG, THOUGH.

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE A 90-DEGREE DAY, WEEKS ON END, 50 OR 60-DEGREE WATER.

SO HERE, I MEAN, STRIPERS ARE OBVIOUSLY POSSIBLE, I'M GUESSING SOME BASS SPECIES, WALL EYE, THREE DIFFERENT TROUT SPECIES ALL AVAILABLE.

>> STRIPERS, WALLEYE, AUGER.

TROUT SPECIES.

ON OCCASION YOU'LL SEE SMALLMOUTH BUT NOT VERY OFTEN THIS TIME YEAR.

WE'LL ROLL BACK AND UP FISH THAT WOOD AND A DIFFERENT STYLE HERE.

>> AND THIS DEAL HEAR I WANT TO GET THIS THING OUT AND DO MY MENDS AND JUST LET IT DO A NATURAL DRIFT DOWN THROUGH THERE.

>> YOU WANT JUST A GOOD DEAD DRIFT.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS SUCH A COOL UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

THIS FEELS LIKE AN OLD, OLD TIME EXPERIENCE WHERE IT'S PADDLE ONLY AND EASING DOWNRIVER LIKE THIS, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I IF YOU WENT OUT WEST, THIS IS EXACTLY A DRIFT BOAT LIKE THIS.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> OH!

>> IT'S A BETTER FISH.

>> LOOKY THERE.

THAT IS AWESOME.

>> NICE LITTLE GUY.

>> NICE FISH.

TROY, WHAT HAVE WE GOT THERE?

PROBABLY 17 INCHES OR SO.

>> PUT HIM ON THE OLD TRUTH MATERIAL.

16, ALMOST 16-1/2.

>> PRETTY GOOD.

>> NICE LITTLE GUY.

>> OH.

>> THERE YOU GO, BUDDY.

GET BACK OUT THERE.

THEY'RE SLICK AS THEY CAN BE, AREN'TY THEY?

>> THEY ARE, I'D RATHER THEM LAND IN THE WATER THAN IN THE BOAT.

SO JUST LET THEM GO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MAN, THEY'RE SO FAST.

>> HE IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIGGER FISH, ISN'T HE?

ANOTHER BROOKIE.

>> IS THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE?

>> HE'S A BROOKIE TOO.

THEY DON'T GET TOO MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT IN HERE.

WHEN WE GET THEM IN THE NET.

>> THEY GO BALLISTIC.

THAT'S YOUR SECOND ONE OF THOSE TODAY.

>> GET HIM.

>> THERE YOU GO.

THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FISH THE WAY HE'S RUNNING.

HE'S FIGHTING A LOT BIGGER THAN HE IS.

>> HE SURE IS.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THIS IS ONE THAT'S PROBABLY GOT A LOT OF CUTTHROAT IN HIM.

>> WHAT A GREAT FIGHT AND WHAT A PRETTY FISH.

>> HE'S ORANGE.

SEE HOW DARK HE IS.

SEE ALL THAT UNDERNEATH HIM?

THAT'S PART CUTTHROAT.

>> SO IN THE BEST TIMES OF THE YEAR IF YOU WANT TO COME DOWN FISHING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME?

>> IT DEPENDS.

YOU CAN FISH YEAR ROUND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE GOOD WATER BE WITH SONGS IT'S NOT BLOWN OUT AND RUNNING TOO HEAVY.

YOU CAN COMING UP AT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, USED TO BE ABLE TO, AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE HIGH WATER WITH THE CRAZY RAINS WE'VE HAD THE LAST THREE OR FOYER YEARS.

>> THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY, RIGHT THERE.

NEACE A THAT'S A NICE FISH.

>> VERY WELL DONE.

>> LORD HAVE MERCY.

>> THAT'S A DRAG SINK.

>> I LOVE THAT.

NOW HE'S COMING AT ME FAST.

THIS IS WHY I COME TO THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.

>> THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> SO THAT PARTICULAR FISH RIGHT THERE, YOU SAID YOU FISHED ALL AROUND.

IF YOU CAUGHT THIS ANYWHERE, YOU'D BE HAPPY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WYOMING, MONTANA, IDAHO.

>> WHAT A PRETTY FISH.

>> LET'S GET THIS GUY BACK IN.

HERE WE GO.

>> GOT IT?

>> NICE ONE.

GOOD ONE.

>> HERE WE GO.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING A COUPLE OF GOOD TROUT RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE HERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> OH.

BEAUTIFUL.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

>> NICE ONE, HE'S AS BIG AS THE NET.

>> HE HARDLY FITS IN IT.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE THERE.

LET'S GET HIM BACK IN THE WATER.

>> RIGHT HERE IS WHERE FARMER AND THEM ONE TIME HOOKED ONE AND A STRIPER COME ATE IT.

>> I THINK YOU GOT A FISH.

>> THAT'S A FISH.

>> WE GOT A BIG PETITION.

>> LOOK AT THAT STRIPER TRYING TO EAT IT.

>> HOLY COW!

>> GET OUT OF THERE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF WEIRD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BY THIS ROCK.

>> TROY, EVE WE'VE COMMENT END AND I TELL YOU THE CUMBERLAND RIVER DID NOT DISAPPOINT AGAIN IT.

>> NEVER DOES.

>> EVERY TIME I FLOAT DOWN THIS RIVER IT BLOWS MY MIND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE CUMBERLAND RIVER TO RECREATE AND GONE DON'T REALIZE THERE'S FISHING HERE.

>> THEY DON'T EVEN REALIZE THERE'S A RIVER.

>> ONE OF THE BETTER TROUT FISHERIES IS RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO TROUT FISH OR WANTS TO JUST TAKE MAYBE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOAT IN THE STATE, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN, AND I JUST HAD AN ABSOLUTELY GREAT TIME.

>> I'M GLAD YOU DID.

I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NOW LET'S CHECK IN AND SEE WHO ELSE HAS OUT BEEN HAVING FUN IN THIS WEEK'S ONES THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY.

>> CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY WITH THIS TURKEY.

THIS IS CANNED BRATON SHELBURNE AND HE TOOK THIS COOKER IN LITTLE MOUNT KENTUCKY WITH A .410 SHOTGUN.

SIX-YEAR-OLD CARSON WADE WITH A NICE 26-INCH CHANNEL AT CATFISH.

CAUGHT IN A POND IN BOONE COUNTY.

NICE JOB.

HERE WE HAVE TAYLOR WHO GOT HER FIRST TURKEY A NICE MATURE TOM IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

HERE WE HAVE EASTON PEERSON WITH A NICE BIG BLUEGILL THAT WAS CAUGHT IN A NEIGHBOR AREA FARM POND.

SIX-YEAR-OLD LUKE KNOWS WHERE TO CATCH BIG BLUEGILL, HIS POPPY'S POND.

JENNY USED A ..44 MAGNUM RIFLE TO TAKE HER FIRST DEER.

ELI HARPER HAS A NICE GREEN SUNFISH CAUGHT AT GREEN HERRON LAKE IN BECKLEY CREEK PARK.

THESE TWO GUYS KNOW HOW TO HAVE A NICE TIME HUNTING BEHIND THEIR SQUIRREL DOCK TUCKER.

HERE WE HAVE JONATHAN RICE AND NICK BLACK.

ALEX HAS HIS FIRST DEER TAKING ON HIS GRANDPA'S FARM IN HARRIS ON COUNTY.

HERE WE HAVE LUKE BAILEY WITH HIS FIRST LARGE MOUTH BASS CAUGHT IN THE MAGOFFIN COUNTY.

THIS FISH WAS CAUGHT ON THE FAMILY FARM POND.

NICE JOB.

CHECK OUT THIS FATHER AND SON DUO OF CHIP AND ZACK WHEELER.

THEY WERE SMALLMOUTH ANY, IF IN A CREEK.

13-YEAR-OLD REINA GARDNER WITH HER FIRST TURKEY THAT WAS TAKEN IN CLARKE COUNTY, KENTUCKY.

THIS WEEK JUNE 5TH AND 60th IS THE PERFECT WEEKEND TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE NEW TO FISHING.

IT'S FREE FISHING WEEKEND.

AND REMEMBER, AND YOU CAN FISHING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS A PRIVILEGE.

ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION AND THANK THE LANDOWNER.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, I'M YOUR HOST CHAD MILES, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE WOODS OR ON THE WATER.

>> IF YOU HOLD A KENTUCKY HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE, THEN YOU HAVE HELPED MAKE POSSIBLE KENTUCKY'S WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS.

PLACES TO HUNT, FISH, BIRD WATCH, OR JUST LET YOUR MIND WANDER.

WITH NEARLY 100 DOTTING THE COMMONWEALTH, PUT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN YOUR SIGHTS AND SEE MORE OF WHAT MAKES KENTUCKY'S OUTDOORS OUTSTANDING.

GET ALL THE INFO ONLINE AT FW.KY.GOV.