WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

>> THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... TO WRAP UP 2021, WE PICKED OUT A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE SEGMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> AND WE ARE BRINGING THEM TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

BEST OF 2021 PART 1 IS COMING UP NEXT ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... >> THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> THIS POND IS PLUM FLOATED WITH FROGS.

>> THEY'RE EVERYWHERE IN HERE.

(GUNSHOT) >> THIS IS A GOOD FISH RIGHT HERE.

A REALLY GOOD FISH.

>> COME HERE, GIRL.

>> THAT'S A BIG RABBIT.

>> NICE JOB.

>> YES!

MY FIRST MUSKY.

>> LEO!

♪ WE GOT A KEEPER!

>> THERE GOES.

BOOM!

>> WOW, THAT HAPPENED FAST.

>> HELLO, WELCOME TO KENTUCKY AFIELD.

I'M YOUR HOST CHAD MILES.

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

THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO LOOK BACK ALT 2021 AT SOME OF THE SEGMENTS WE LIKED PRODUCING THE MOST.

WE ARE GOING TO KENTUCKY LAKE IN SEARCH OF CATFISH.

>> SO SWIM, RIGHT?

>> OH YEAH DOWN HERE ON THE BANKS OF KENTUCKY LAKE.

THIS IS THE PLACE I'VE DONE A LOT OF FISHING BUT THE TYPE OF FISHING WE ARE DOING TODAY IS BRAND NEW TO ME.

WE ARE GOING TO BE JUMPING IN THE WATER AND HOPEFULLY GRABBING BIG FLAT HEAD CATFISH BY HAND.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT HOGGING AND TICK LING AND HAND FISHING BUT IT'S ALL THE SAME THING.

>> I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE TOLD YOU LIKE TO GO OUT AND NOODLE OR HAND GRAB CATFISH ARE LIKE, OH MY GOD, AREN'T YOU SCARED?

>> IT'S A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC.

YOU TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU CATFISH NOODLE, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT YOU.

THEY ALWAYS ASK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE APPEALS OF IT.

>> HE HAS BEEN DOWN THERE A WHILE.

THERE HE IS.

HE'S GOT IT.

>> LITTLE GUY.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

>> A CHANNEL CAT.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY GET SKINNED UP UNDER THE ROCKED AND THINGS.

>> THAT'S THE WAY TO GET STARTED.

GOING TO TURN HIM LOOSE AND FIND HIS WAY RIGHT ON BACK DOWN.

>> THEN WE CAN FIND SOMETHING BIGGER.

>> I'VE BEEN NOODLING CATFISH FOR 16 YEARS.

MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO GO DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI AND NOODLE A CATFISH AND WRITE A SCOAR ABOUT IT.

THESE GUYS WERE INTENSE AND SERIOUS ABOUT IT BUT I LEARNED HOW TO DO IT.

CAUGHT A NICE FLAT HEAD.

THIS IS COOL.

I LIKE BIG CATFISH, ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED ABOUT I THEM AND YOU KNOW, I GREW UP CATCHING SNAKES AND FROGS AND LIZARDS AND LIKE A LOT OF COUNTRY KIDS DO, I LIKE BEING OUTSIDE DOING THAT SORT OF THING.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW AND KIND OF A CREW OF FAMILY AND BUDDIES AND WE JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME.

WE GO EVERY SUMMER.

>> I FEEL HIM.

I FEEL THE FAD.

HE'S GET-- I FEEL THE PAD.

GET READY.

>> THERE HE IS.

>> KENTUCKY ACTUALLY HAS A SEASON.

IT OPENS JUNE 16789 IT GOATS GOING WHEN THE WATER HITS 80°.

AND STAYS GOOD FOR A FEW WEEKS THERE AND THEN HONESTLY BY THE MIDDLE OF JULY, WE ARE SKINNED UP AND WORE OUT AND READY TO HANG IT UP FOR THE YEAR.

>> CHECK HIS GILLS AND MAKE SURE NOTHING IS BLEEDING.

IT'S NOT.

>> FISHING IS IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> HE GOT A LITTLE SKINNED UP ON THE ROCK.

>> THAT'S PART OF IT.

>> YEAH.

>> EL WITH, YOU CAN SEE ON THEIR BACK A LOT OF HEALED STUFF.

AND EVEN HIS DORSAL FIN, HE HAS GOT THAT DOWN WHERE HE HAS GOTTEN UP UNDER THERE AND DUG.

>> FLAT HEAD CATFISH THOUGH,.

>> THEY'RE COOL.

LOOK AT THAT BIG OL' MOUTH AND LITTLE BITTY EYES.

>> HE'LL FIND HIS WAY RIGHT BACK IN THERE.

GUARANTEE YOU'LL CATCH HIM IN THERE TOMORROW.

>> WE NEED TO CATCH ONE ABOUT THREE TIMES THAT SIZE.

>> YOUR WIFE ENJOYS DOING THIS.

>> SHE DOES.

>> MY WIFE AND MY SON.

WE ARE AN OUTDOOR FAMILY.

WE HUNT AND FISH FOR ANYTHING THAT IS IN SEASON YEAR ROUND.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING OUT AND DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

WOULDN'T HAVE IT IN I OTHER WAY.

>> GETTING UP HERE, THIS IS A SHALLOW SPOT WHICH IS PERFECT FOR A FIRST TIMER OR A YOUNG FELLA LIKE THIS.

>> HE'S IN THERE.

>> GOT TO GET DOWN TO THE WATER, REALLY DOWN.

GET YOUR FACE IN THE WATER.

SEE MY ARMS IN THE HOLE HE HAS BEEN GOING OUT HERE WITH US SINCE TWO YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING HIM IN THE BOAT AND TAKING HIM ALONG AND IT'S AWE CATFISH, MIGHT BITE HIS HAND BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT HIM.

HE IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

>> HE JUST CAME UP AND BIT HIS HAND.

>> DID HE BITE YOUR HAND?

>> UH-HUH.

>> ARE YOU OKAY?

>> UH-HUH.

>> MICHELLE AND I HAVE ALWAYS HUNTED AND FISHED TOGETHER.

WE JUST DECIDED WHEN HE WAS BORN, WE ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE HIM WITH US.

AND WHEN HE GETS BIG ENOUGH TO DECIDE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO, THAT'S FINE.

HE SURE LIKES IT.

HE LOVES IT.

>> IT'S PRETTY FUN.

>> DID YOU FEEL THE FISH BITE YOUR HAND?

>> YEAH.

>> IT BIT YOU ONE TIME I KNOW.

>> DID IT SCARE YOU A LITTLE BIT?

NO?

NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING, ARE YOU?

>> WE RELEASE 99% OF THE CATFISH WE CATCH DOING THIS.

AND WE ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE.

AND HEY, WE LIKE TO CATCH BIG CATFISH, TOO.

SO WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN NOT KILLING THEM.

IT'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT NOODLERS GORE OIG OUT THERE AND CLEANING EVERYTHING.

THEY'RE SPORT FISH FISHERMEN LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE SINK BOXES FOR CATFISH NOODLING BUT IT'S FOR A SINGLE CATFISH.

FIRST TIME I EVER TRIED THIS.

SO WE ARE HERE AT THIS BOX AND I GOT MY FEET RIGHT IN THE OPENING WHERE I'M GOING ON TO GO DOWN AND STICK MY ARM IN THERE AND FEEL AROUND.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THING HAVE YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR?

>> EVERYBODY ASKS ABOUT THE BEAVER, SNAKE AND TURTLES, EVERY TIME.

IF I TAKE SOMEBODY NEW, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY ASK.

YOU SEE TURTLES AND SNAKES BUT AS FAR AS A TURTLE BACKING UP IN THE HOLES, THE HOLES WE ARE CHECKING, THEY'RE WELL UNDER WATER, UNDER ROCKS.

>> FEEL ANYTHING?

>> DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING.

>> SWEEP THE STICK AROUND IN THERE.

>> A TURTLE HAS TO BREESDZ AND IT'S NOT A PLACE A TURTLE IS GOING TO BACK UP INTO.

>> HOOK END.

>> THE THING WE STRESS LIKE WE ALWAYS GO IN GROUPS.

WE NEVER HAVE ANYBODY DIVE ALONE.

THE BIGGEST REAL DANGER IS OBVIOUSLY DROWNING.

THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE YOU ARE GOING TO GET STUCK UNDER WATER.

WE ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY RIGHT THERE NEXT TO US WITH WE DIVE.

MOST OF THE HOLES WE CHECK YOU CAN STAND UP.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW THAT ARE OVER YOUR HEAD.

THOSE YOU NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL.

A LOT OF WAS WE CHECK HONESTLY ARE HOLES THAT WE FOUND IN THE BANKS UNDER ROCKS.

IT'S TAKEN US 15 YEARS OF LOOKING AND WE LOOK CONTINUOUSLY EVERY SUMMER.

WE HAVE KIND OF BUILT A CIRCUIT OF AREAS THAT WE CHECK.

SOME DAYS THIS ONE WILL HAVE A FISH IN IT AND THAT ONE AND VICE VERSA BUT IT'S STILL FISHING.

>> CHECK ANOTHER HOLE.

THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST ONE.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY I MANMADE BOX.

IT'S UP UNDER THE BANK AND GOT COULD BE CRETE AROUND IT.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT WE GOT.

THIS HOLE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HOLD SOME PRETTY GOOD SIZED FISH.

>> YOU ALREADY GOT ONE?

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT TO DO BY YOURSELF FOR SAFETY CONCERNS BUT LITTLE TAKES TEAMWORK SOMETIMES TO MANIPULATE THESE FISH AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THEM OUT.

THAT'S WAS WE ARE SEEING RIGHT HERE.

>> IF YOU COME TO THE LEFT,.

>> PUSH HIM BACK IN.

>> THAT'S A MEAN LITTLE SUCKER.

>> HE IS BITING, YEAH, BABY.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR.

[LAUGHTER] >> PRETTY GOOD CHANNEL CAT.

>> HE WAS BITING BITING BITING.

HIS WHOLE MOUTH WASN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR MY HAND.

NOBODY HOME?

I HEARD SOMETHING.

I HAD A STICK UNDER HERE.

>> YOU WANT TO TRY THIS ONE?

>> I'LL DOUBLE CHECK IT.

THE OTHER DAY THERE WAS A FISH THAT LAID OVER TO THE RIGHT AND HE WAS HARD TO FIND.

HARD TO GET A FEEL WHAT YOU ARE FEELING FOR FISH, WITH WHEN YOU GO IN, TAKE THE STICK AND TURN IT TO THE RIGHT.

>> FLAT HEAD.

>> ONCE I LOCATE WHERE HE IS AT WITH THE STICK, HAVE I TO MANIPULATE IT.

>> YEAH, AND YOU MIGHT HE'LL PROBABLY BITE THE STICK AND THAT WOULD HAVE YOUR LEFT HAND IN THERE READY TO GET 'EM GO IN THERE AND GO STRAIGHT RIDE.

>> I HEARD HIM THUMP.

>> WE HEARD ALL THAT.

>> DID HE TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.

>> NO, WE GOT IT.

HE'S ON THE STICK.

>> HE SHOULD HAVE HIM.

>> WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

I HAD HIM THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

I HAD HIM.

I GOT MY HAND UNDER THERE OH MAN.

WELL, I TURNED HIM LOOSE OBVIOUSLY.

>> WE GOT TO SEE HIM.

>> I GOT HIM UP OUT OF THE WATER.

WAIT, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

IF WE SLOW THAT VIDEO DOWN, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL THAT I DID HAVE A CATFISH IN MY HAND FOR A SECOND.

I GOT IT OUT AND YOU GUYS TOLD ME TO KEEP IT CLOSE TO MY BODY, WELL, WHEN I WENT TO STAND UP, I WAS TRYING TO SHOW IT TO THE CAMERA AND I HAD IT OUT ABOUT THIS FAR AWAY.

IT JUST GOT LOOSE.

>> WE ALL SAW IT AND IT'S ON TAPE.

>> WE WERE GOING TO TURN IT LOOSE ANYWAY BUT THAT WAS PRETTY AWE EXPWHRUM THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

YOU KNOW, 50-POUND FLAT HEAD IS A HANDFUL.

THEY CAN TOCIALG FINGERS AND TWIST WRISTS.

THEY'LL BEAT YOU UP PRETTY QUICK IF YOU LET THEM GO IN THE OPEN WAS ITER.

>> SO FAR DOWN THAT THE PRESSURE BUILDS IT TAKES ME A LITTLE WHILE.

YOU HAVE TO RESPECT A FIRN LIKE THAT.

IF YOU HOLD THEM THE RIGHT WAY, IF YOU CAN GET THEIR HEAD UP CLOSE TO THE BODY AND GET THEIR TAIL UNDER CONTROL.

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE DIVE IN PAIRS.

IF THERE IS A BIG FISH, NO SHAME IN LETTING YOUR BUDDY GRAB HIS TAIL SO HE DOESN'T BEAT YOU TO DEATH.

>> KIND OF TORE MY OWN BENEFIT AND KNOWLEDGE, WE STARTED TAGGING SOME OF THE FISH, YOU KNOW, WITH I ZIP TIE AND DORSAL FIN JUST TO SEE AND WE HAVE HAD FISH WE CAUGHT THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW.

CATCH THEM, TAKE A PICTURE, LET THEM GO AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK IN THERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE APPROXIMATE POUNDAGE OF THE FISH?

>> WHAT US THIS FISH WASE?

>> UM ABOUT, LET ME LOOK AT IT.

ABOUT 11 POUNDS.

>> I THINK HE IS BIGGER THAN THAT.

BETWEEN THAT AND CATCHING A LIVE BLUEGILL.

THIS IS NOT HURTING HIM AS MUCH.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DO IT WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT OF THE RESOURCE.

>> JUST A COUPLE LITTLE SPOTS BUT ALL IN ALL, IN GREAT SHAPE.

BIG OL' FAT BELLY ON HIM.

YOU REALLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF GETTING IN THERE AND FEELING THE FISH STRIKE UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY USE YOUR HAND FOR A LURE.

>> EXACTLY.

WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE AND THAT'S PART OF THE FUN.

ALMOST UNIVERSALLY IT'S NOT WHAT THEY EXPECT.

NOT AS SCARY AS PEOPLE THINK IT IS GOING TO BE BUT PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED HOW POWERFUL THE FISH ARE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> FINALLY GOT HIM TO HIT.

>> AMAZING TO ME HOW YOU WORK IN GROUPS AS A FAMILY AND TEAMS.

>> IT'S A TEAM SPORT AND MORE FUN WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

PRETTY FISH.

>> I LIKE HIS BELLY.

>> AREN'T THEY PRETTY.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SOME OF I DON'T ARE ARTICLES AND KEEP UP WHAT WITH WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME I ENJOYED IT, BUTTY.

>> A LOT OF FUN NEXT TO UP, WE ARE HEADED TO THE MOUNTAINS OF BEAUTIFUL EASTERN KENTUCKY TO CATCH UP WITH A BIOLOGIST AND TALK ABOUT IMPROVING HABITAT.

>> GOING TO BE DOING PRESCRIBED BURNS TODAY UP HERE, TRY TO IMPROVE SOME HABITAT, GET RID OF SOME AUTUMN OFF AND GET RID OF THE UNWANTED PLANTS THAT WE HAVE AND PROMOTE GROWTH OF NATIVE VEGETATION AND COOL SEASON GRASSES THAT WILL PROVIDE BETTER FORAGE FOR ELK UP HERE.

>> WE ARE USING A DRIP TORCH TODAY TO IGNITE THE FUELS ON THE GROUND AND THAT CONSISTS OF A CANISTER WITH THE MIXED FUEL COMBINATION OF DIESEL FUEL AND GASOLINE.

THERE IS A VENTING MECHANISM ON THE CANISTER CONTROLLING THE FUEL RATE SO WE CAN CONTROL HOW MUCH FUEL WE PUT ON THE GROUND.

IN ORDER TO IGNITE THE DRIP TORCH, SATURATE THE WICK, POUR A LITTLE FUEL ON THE GROUND AND YOU CAN IGNITE THAT FUEL, WHICH IN TURN WILL ILG NIGHT THE WICK AND YOU ARE READY TO PUT FIRE ON THE GROUND THIS IS ONE UNIT WE WANTED TO GET TO.

OUR LARGEST UNIT OF 200 ACRES AND WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS GETTING A LOT OF BLACK ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF THINGS.

WE WANT TO GET A LOT OF BLACK BEFORE WE SEND OUR HEAD FIRE UP TO THIS SIDE OF THE UNIT AND THAT'S GOING TO SET BACK PLANT SUCCESSION WE HAVE A LOT OF NOT NATIVE SPECIES HERE AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE OPEN AREAS OPEN.

A LOT OF WILDLIFE BENEFIT FROM THE OPEN AREA.

FIRE IS A NECESSITY TO DO THAT EACH OF OUR RIGS HAVE A DRIP TORCH, FUEL FOR THE DRIP TORCH, TWO HAND TOOLS, A SWATTER AND FIRE RAKE.

EACH OF THE RIGS WE HAVE ON OUR RECLAIM AREAS GAS LINES POP UP OUT OF THE GROUND.

WE ARE BLACKING OUT TO PROTECT A GAS LINE.

WE ARE BLACKING OUT ALL THE WAY TO A HARD BREAK ON THIS SIDE AND THIS SIDE WE ARE GOING TO A RODE HARD BREAK BELOW US.

AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS KNOCK THE OUGHT AUTUMN OFF.

IT IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE SEED SOURCE IS HARD TO GET RID OF.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS SPRING IS HAVE A PRESCRIBED FIRE IN ORDER TO KILL WHAT IS ABOVE GROUND ON THE AUTUMN OLIVE AND THEY MAY COME BACK LATER AS IT STARTS TO RESPROWD AND DO SOMETHING CHEMICALLY OR MECHANICALLY.

>> THIS IS OUR LANT UNIT FOR TODAY.

WHAT YOU SAW JOHN DOING ALONG THE LINE, LAYING A WET LINE TO HELP US KEEP THE FIRE WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

WE HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH SOD FAR TODAY AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW ELK RESPOND TO HABITAT MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTE BETTER FORAGE FOR OUR ANIMALS.

WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW A MOP UP AND WHAT THAT CONSISTS OF IS TRUE MEMBERS GOING AROUND AND MAKING SURE ALL THE FIRE IS OUT.

FIRE IS GOOD FOR ALL WILDLIFE AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.

WE ALL KNOW THAT GETTING OUTDOORS IS A LOT OF FUN AND IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH NOLIN RIVER AND NOLIN LAKE AND WHITE BASS GO TOGETHER.

WE ARE IN SEARCH OF THE WHITE BASS.

>> NO LIN IS KNOWN FOR IT AND WE FISH A LOT OF TIMES AND IT'S EXCITING FUN VENTURE.

>> I LOVE FISHING DOWN HERE WITH THE WHITE BASS, WHEN THEY GET IN THE JUMPS YOU LOOK FOR LACK OF WIND AND NOT A LOT OF BOAT TRAFFIC THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND CATCH THEM.

IF YOU DRIVE AROUND ENOUGH, YOU WILL SEE SCHOOLS.

AND THEY CYCLE.

SOME YEARS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS RECENTLY THEY SEEM TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

>> THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO TO CATCH BIG NUMBERS OF FISH, TO INTRODUCE A KID OR INTRODUCE A NEW PERSON TO FISHING YOU.

>> MIGHT CATCH A LARGE MOUTH IN THE JUMPS AS WELL.

>> I FULLY SUSPECT WE WILL.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 96°.

A GET OUT EARLY, FINISH EARLY BUT HOPEFULLY, WE START SEEING SCHOOLS OF JUMPING FISH.

I'M STARTING TO SEE THEM RIGHT HERE.

LOOK RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ARE GOING TO TURN THE BOAT OFF AND GET READY BECAUSE I FULLY SUSPECT THAT ANY SECOND WE ARE GOING TO START HAVING FISH ON.

I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH A TOP WATER BAIT BECAUSE IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE THEM BLOW UP ON THE TOP WATER.

HERE WE GO.

WHITE BASS NUMBER ONE.

NOW THAT'S A LITTLE ONE.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ONE THING IF YOU ARE THROWING ANY TYPE OF LURE LIKE THIS HAT HAS TREBLE HOOKS, A MUST IS TO HAVE A SET OF PLIERS IF YOU HAVE NEVER EATEN WHITE BASS AND KNOW HOW TO FILET THEM, THEY'RE FANTASTIC.

SO INCREDIBLY BOOED TO SEE.

WE ARE GOING TO THROW THEM BACK TODAY AND THIS IS A LITTLE BITTY ONE.

PROBABLY EIGHT INCHES.

THERE'S ONE.

IS THAT A BETTER FISH?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BETTER I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BETTER, THIS THIS LAKE HAS AN ENORMOUS POPULATION OF PLUS 15 FISH AND I'VE CAUGHT THEM UP TO 18 INCHES IN HERE.

>> NUMBERS AND SIZE THIS LAKE IS KNOWN FOR.

EVEN WHEN THE WATER QUITS YOU CAN STILL CATCH THEM.

>>N'T AREN'T THEY A HARD FIGHTING FISH.

>> LIKE A SMALL MOUTH, YOU THINK THEY'RE TWICE THE SIZE.

>> THAT ONE HAS A BLIND EYE.

COMPARED TO THAT SIDE,.

>> SPOTTED BASS.

I'VE CAUGHT SPOT THE BASS AND BLUEGRASS.

I'M GOING TO THE SWIM BAIT APPROACH FOR A FEW CASTS.

THERE HE IS.

THIS IS A UNIQUE HISTORY CLOSE TO WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.

BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY LOOKY THERE NICE WHITE BASS.

>> THEY'RE NOT REALLY JUMPING LIKE CRAZY BUT THEY'RE HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE ARE CATCHING SMALLER SIZES THAN I HAVE BEEN CATCHING DOWN HERE THIS YEAR BUT WE ARE STILL EARLY.

>> THAT'S WHERE BOTH HOOKS GOT THIS FISH.

>> UP IN FRONT OF US IS A BIG POD.

>> THEY'RE THERE.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> WHITE BASS, BLACK BASS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> A WHITE BASS.

>> PROBABLY WHITE BASS.

>> HERE'S ONE.

>> THAT'S PROBABLY AN AVERAGE NOLIN WHITE BASS SIZE.

12, 13 INCHES PROBABLY.

>> BIGGER THAN THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING THIS MORNING.

ANOTHER SPOTTED BASS.

SEE YOU BUDDY.

THAT BAIT YOU ARE THROWING, YOU ARE CATCHING THEM.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TAIL SPINNERS.

>> MY GRANDFATHER WAS REALLY GOOD FRIEND WITH CECIL PEDIGO.

THEY WERE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WHEN THEY WERE MAKING IT AND THEY QUIT MAKING IT.

IT SAT TIED WILL FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS AND I FOUND OUT THE TRADEMARK HAD LAPSED IN 2008.

I FILED FOR THE TRADEMARK.

GOT IT BACK IN PRODUCTION AND ON THE BACK OF THE LURE PACKAGE I PUT A PICTURE OF MY GRANDFATHER AND SHOWED A BIG STRINGER OF BASS HE CAUGHT WITH IT BACK IN THE SIXTH.

BRINGING BACK ONE OF THE OLDIES BUT GOODIES.

>> A GOOD PRESENTATION BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE IT FEEL THE VIBRATION, A GOOD WAY TO GO AFTER THEM.

A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> GOT ONE.

>> YOU GOT ONE, TOO.

>> THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I GOT A PRETTY GOOD 14-INCH FISH.

YOU GOT ONE EVEN BETTER.

>> THIS IS OUR BEST DOUBLE OF THE MORNING.

NO DOUBT.

ANOTHER QUALITIED WHITE BASS.

PEOPLE SEE US THROWING THESE WHITE BASS IN HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO THINK WE ARE CRAZY.

WHEN YOU START TO SEE FISH OUT THERE JUMPING, WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS PREDATORY FISH, THEY COME OUT AND GET IN SCHOOLS AND ALMOST LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN ON TV WHERE HAVE YOU SMACKER SHARKS OR WHALES THAT WILL CIRCLE, THEY'LL CIRCLE AND GATHER THE BAIT UP AND THEN A FEEDING FRENZY AND THEY GO AT THE SAME TIME AND START EATING EVERYTHING THEY CAN SEE.

THEY SCATTER THE BAIT.

IT'S A CYCLE THAT GOES OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

SEE IF I CAN'T GET ONE ON THE TOP WATER.

I LOVE GETTING THEM ON THE TOP WATER IF I CAN GET THEM TO BITE IT.

THERE WE GO.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LITTLE BIGGER PLUG.

CATCHING BIGGER FISH DOWN HERE AND IF YOU NOTICE THE BIGGER PLUG, THE FIRST ONE I CAUGHT IS PROBABLY 15-INCH FISH.

>> THERE'S ONE THERE WE GO.

OH MAN.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAS I TO GET KIDS OUTDOORS THAN TO GET THEM OUT HERE AND DO THIS.

COMING OFF OF A CRAZY YEAR 2020 WAS CROAD AND NO COVID AND NO SCHOOL.

>> BEING OUTDOORS PERIOD RECHARGES YOU.

ALLOWS YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TO BE OPTIMIZED.

OUR KIDS, SO MANY OF THEM JUST DON'T GET ANY EXPOSURE TO NATURE.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A BOOK THAT YOU GAVE ME A FEW YEARS AGO CALLED LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS.

AND IT TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER.

KIDS THAT DON'T GET TO GO OUT AS MUCH, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT LIFE AND THEY TEND TO HAVE MORE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND STRUGGLE WITH EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> JOSH, THIS WAS A LOT OF FUN, CAUGHT SOME WHITE BASS, BLACK BASS.

DIDN'T NEED YOUR MEDICAL SERVICES TO GET A HOOK OUT OF MY HAND, A GOOD DAY.

>> COULDN'T HAVE SCRIPTED IT ANY BETTER.

>> A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT HERE AND RECONNECT WITH OLD FRIENDS, A GREAT WAY TO GET A KID OFF A COMPUTER OUT HERE CASTING AND CATCHING THESE FISH.

>> JUST TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS, CONNECT WITH NATURE AND IF YOU GET TIGHT LINES ONCE IN A WHILE, ALL THE BETTER.

>> WATCH OUT FOR THE TREBLE HOOKS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HERE AT KENTUCKY AFIELD, WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR HOLIDAY SCHEDULE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US.

HEY, AS A REMINDER, JANUARY 1 AND 2 IS AN ADDITIONAL FREE YOUTH DEER HUNTING WEEKEND.

MAKE PLANS TO GET OUTDOORS AND REMEMBER...

HUNTING AND FISHING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS A PRIVILEGE.

ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION AND THANK THE LAND OWNER.

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪