This week on Kentucky Afield.

We're welcoming in the new year by celebrating the old one.

Here are a few of our favorite segments from 2022.

It's all next on Kentucky Afield.

Hello and welcome to Kentucky Afield.

I'm your host, Chad Miles.

Join us as we journey the commonwealth in search of outdoor adventure.

Do you have plans to fish more in 2023?

Well, here's a great way to gain additional access to more water, and that's by fishing out of a kayak.

We're out here today in Rock Castle County.

What a beautiful morning to be fishing here on Linville Lake Oh, yeah.

Gorgeous morning.

You know, you fish out of a kayak quite a bit.

And I was told that you catch hybrid striped bass here on Linville Lake out of your kayak.

I absolutely I've had a troll for em.

I've caught some of chicken livers, but recently I've been trolling for out to kayak, and I've had phenomenal days.

Hybrid can get really big and Linville even though a it's Small Lake has a good population of hybrid striped bass that are stocked.

So, I mean, this kayak is really set up for this.

Now, you you actually have a drive system on yours.

A troll motor.

Yeah.

Our power source is a little different today.

Mine's Gatorade and Snickers bars.

Your's is a lithium battery with a Minni Kota and I might need some Bengay before the day.

is over.

Mine is easy way out but you know, there's this going to be a lot of fun.

So we're going to ease up this bank Let's go see if we can't locate a fish and maybe get hooked up.

All right.

Yes, sir.

All right.

We'll follow you.

All right.

Maybe way behind you.

We'll we'll see.

All right.

We'll see.

Here we go.

Fish on.

Does it feel like a pretty good fish?

I don't think it's a giant Sometimes you never know about these fish.

I'll tell you what though?

He's got that rod bent over it.

A small one.

So that fish probably, what, eight inches?

Yeah, something like that.

Next year, about this time, it could be 14 inches.

Oh, yeah.

But you know what?

When you're trolling these fish still hit so hard, it had your rod bent over.

Yeah, well, that's a good start.

Yep.

Good start.

That's promising.

That is promising.

Look at them.

All the marks No, I believe I got one I believe, Got a fish.

Think so is that a little bass.

Yeah, it looks like a spotted bass.

Sure does.

Not exactly what you're after, but.

Hey, no, nothing wrong with an accidental catch, especially with kayak fishing.

Right?

It's always a plus in kayak aint it?

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah.

Pretty fish.

There you go.

It;s supposed to be 80 degrees today.

Yeah.

Are those hybrids that may be hybrids hitting top in the jumps?

Yeah, sure.

Is.

We may have to go over and try to hit those.

That's where we turn.

We'll go that way.

Here we go.

I'll tell you what.

This is not a very big hybrid, but there's still a tussle in a kayak.

Oh, yeah.

That's the fun part about it.

Oh, yeah, that's good.

Look there what's that about 14 inches?

Looks like a 14 incher right there.

Yeah, it sure is.

Yeah.

Now, the crazy thing about these is that that fish right there could be a year and a half old.

That's how fast they grow.

Yeah.

It's just amazing.

And that's why they're put in here.

They're pretty voracious eaters.

Yeah.

They have fast growth rates.

They're fun as they can be the catch, and they're really good.

Really good.

You want take couple of these home?

Yeah, I got a bait bag right there with ice in it.

All right.

And on the front.

And you know what?

They're put in here to eat because they're really, really good.

They serve a purpose and help in reducing your shad population.

And they're really, really good.

And they're really great to eat.

Now, pretty much down in there, Awesome.

Now they're coming up out here.

Now, this is we came down here planning on trolling, but we didn't realize they were going to be in a jumps, coming up in the jumps like this.

That's right.

Well, that's good fish there.

This is what it's about right here.

That is right there.

If I don't put a smile on your face, you don't like the fish.

You don't like the fish.

That's right.

That's a good fish.

Yeah.

That's what it's all about.

Now, the next best thing.

Taking it home and eating it.

There you go.

Yeah.

That's the resource.

He's got one.

Oh, yeah.

There you go.

There you go.

We saw some jumps.

Came out here and quickly caught a couple.

Looks like they've gone back down.

You think we should troll out here where we last saw the fish or go back to the bank?

I'm seeing some activity kind of up there a little bit.

All right, we just kind of troll round out in this deeper water and see what we get up because they are still here.

They're just went down a little bit, and that's typical when the sun gets up higher typically happens.

But that doesn't mean the fish are gone.

They're here, and they're probably still feeding.

They're just down deeper.

They're down deeper.

Yeah, well, I'll tell you what.

You start a path and I'll jump in right behind you.

Ok.

Here we go.

Fish on Man, he hit that bait and actually missed it and then came back and hit it again.

This is a much smaller fish.

Not even sure it's a hybrid.

But he's aggressive.

There we go.

Nice beautiful fish, and man.

He just inhaled that bait.

Literally.

It's gone.

We're out here in the middle.

We were trolling the banks we were throwing eight ounce bait.

Now, right here, deeper into fish and a little bit deeper.

So I moved up to a quarter ounce head.

So I'm getting a little bit deeper trolling.

A hair slower in the first hundred yards.

Picked one up.

So perfect.

Well, Bob, that sun's up now.

Oh, boy.

But, I'll tell you what.

I can't think of a better way to spend a summer morning.

I mean, to get out here.

We even saw fish in the jumps I caught a couple of trolling.

Yeah.

What other bodies of water have you had this kayak and tried this approach to catch hybrids?

I went to Dix River and been down in there, caught some hybrids out of Dix River.

Okay.

Anywhere where there's hybrid at, I would like to go and try this, you know?

Yeah.

Any.

That's that information, you know, just knowing where they're at.

Yeah, I would like to try that technique, because it just.

It's so much fun.

I'm sure this would work really good at Guist Creek and Harrington.

Yep.

Rough River.

Barren River Lake, you know, there's a lot of locations where hybrids are stock right here in the state of Kentucky that I'm sure.

I mean, a minnow looks like a minnow.

And they're voracious eaters.

I'm sure they'd eat it.

Oh, yeah.

I'll tell you what.

That is a nice, nice rig.

Thank you very much.

I absolutely had a good time out here with you guys.

I mean, I got a 21 foot bass boat, but I'll tell you, you've got live well and cooler.

Yeah.

Patrol motor and batteries, lights, electronics.

So you got more stuff on this than I got on my bass boat.

your net.

All your tackle all my tackle.

Comfortable seat.

that you.

I'll tell you what no one said ever said.

Kayak fishing had to be uncomfortable, right?

You know what?

Work around, play with your gear, see what works for you.

Yeah.

And you can you can start out as little as you want and work your way up just keep it as simple as you want to.

Yeah.

This has been fun time.

Great meeting you.

And, hey, we'll have to do this again some time.

Absolutely.

Thank you all.

2022 was a very special deer season for me.

This is the year that I was able to take my son Leo out for his first deer hunt.

Well, early morning, we're here in Henry County.

It's October and it's a youth deer hunt.

Today, I've got my son here with me.

This is his very, very first deer hunter today.

And you're hunting with a brand new friend you got.

Charles, you've killed several deer out here, haven't you?

Yeah.

I know.

You know exactly what you're in for.

Everything is new for him, and we█ve got Chuck Rollins here.

Chuck, this is your piece of property.

Yes sir.

And I'll tell you what I know you put a lot of time and effort energy out here managing this farm.

This is kind of what it's about isn█t it?

Yeah, this is what it's about.

You know that these boys get to come out here and, you know, see deer and hopefully both of them will be able to pull the trigger this morning.

But I think it's going to be a fun hunt for both of them.

So a lot of deer here.

Yeah, we were.

We were.

Yeah, we were out there or the day before yesterday.

Deer sign everywhere.

I think it's going to be a really good day.

You know, if we don't get it done this morning, that's fine, because we got some better spots to go this evening.

You know what?

It's kind of a brisk, cool morning.

If you're a deer hunter, that's what you want.

This is perfect.

For a youth hunter you like temperatures in the low thirties.

You guys are bundled up.

We got our orange on.

We got about 40 minutes till daylight.

I'd say we start making our way.

What do you think?

Yeah.

Let's get everything loaded up.

Let█s go.

Alright Leo, it's legal shooting light right now.

So if we see a deer, we can shoot.

Now the deer have been crossing this road, right that way.

So I want you to keep an eye out.

You can actually see better than me because I got this blind in the way.

So look down that road, and we█ll get the gun up and get ready.

I want you to either stand up or put your knee in that seat and hopefully you get a shot right this way, Okay?

Okay.

Are you warm?

Yeah.

Okay.

Good.

So Charles, see the big food plot on the left where grass is real tall?

Yeah, I think I see it.

If a deer comes out, you get on it, just hold the gun and i█ll adjust the scope to where you want it, okay?

Because right now it's only on like 6 power.

But if it█s way out there I█ll adjust it up a little bit higher.

Leo, there's a deer.

It looks like a small doe.

Get your gun up.

Wait, It's looking back.

There's another one right behind it.

Okay.

It█s another doe.

We█ve got two does out in the road.

Oh, they just crossed the road.

They walked out, walk right across.

They look like they're really small, so don't worry, it's early.

We'll probably see some more.

I█m going to wait for it to turn broadside.

It's pretty big for a four pointer.

It'll turn.

Just be patient.

It█s looking at us.

It█s staring directly at us.

Just stay on it.

Are you nice and steady?

Trying to be.

I can turn the scope up higher if you want me to?

No, don█t it█s already good.

Okay.

Wait, wait, wait.

Don█t move.

There's another one right there.

It's closer.

It's literally right in front of us.

It█s right there.

I see it now.

It█s a little spike.

It█s making a scrape.

Okay, I█m going to shoot it.

Nice and easy, right in the shoulder.

Right in the front shoulder.

Did you hear that?

That was definitely a gun shot.

That was definitely a gun shot and that was definitely Charles█s stand.

Let's see what his text is.

look like Charles got a small buck.

It's on the ground, so looks like he made a good shot.

The second I pulled the trigger, I just saw it drop.

So I was pretty excited.

Hit it right in the shoulder.

This one stepped out at about 50, so we were definitely going to take a 50 yard shot instead of 180.

He got on him quick and made it happen.

Well Leo it's about time to get down.

Did you have fun on your first deer hunt?

Yeah, It was fun.

We got to see a whole ton of wildlife.

From deer, squirrels, chipmunks, everything.

Well, I'm glad you had fun.

I tell you what, let's start gathering our stuff and we'll get down.

We'll go see Charles's deer.

What do you think?

Sounds good.

We'll look at that Charles, you put a great shot on that deer.

Nice job, buddy.

Thanks.

I'm sure that deer went straight down, right?

Oh yeah he just collapsed.

What do you think about that, Leo?

Yeah i█m ready for the evening hunt.

I'll tell you what, Chuck, you've picked a really good spot for this afternoon, hunt haven't you?

Yeah, I've got a good spot.

I call it the apex.

That's probably my favorite spot on the farm.

I've been up there twice and there's some really good angles to shoot.

Youth season is two days long and you got a deer in the first 40 minutes.

Nice job.

We'll get it taken out and processed and give us a little bit of a break and be right back in the tree stand.

Hey, good luck.

Good luck tonight.

Thank you, you too.. All right Leo.

This was the hunt I've been waiting for.

This evening hunt in this stand right here.

It█s really going to be something special.

I have this great feeling.

We're set up that way because the way the wind is blowing, the deer should show up right there in that little green field.

There's a food plot down there and there's a camera and it's been covered in deer in the evenings.

So that doesn't mean a deer won't show up in one of these other areas.

I'll keep an eye out, but I want you to focus on that area, okay?

If the deer comes out there, take your time.

You don't have to rush a shot.

I don't care if the deer█s there 3 or 4 minutes before you shoot.

It's probably not going to go anywhere for a while.

Hey, this is going to be good.

I'm very excited.

Are you excited?

Yeah.

This is your time right here.

Beautiful day for a deer hunt.

Oh, Leo, deer, right behind us.

Look, all the way back in the backfield.

I see a doe there.

Oh, it's looking right at us about 160 yards away.

I don't think we can get turned around.

Oh, oh, deer.

Deer.

Deer.

Right in our opening.

Get ready.

See that dead tree right there laying on the ground?

Oh, yeah, he's right behind it.

Get ready.

Put your glasses on.

Take your safety off.

Just keep the crosshairs on it.

Wait for it to turn.

All right Leo, whenever you're ready.

Slowly squeeze the trigger.

You got it down.

Hey.

That's a great shot.

That's a great shot.

It█s right out there.

Wow.

Oh, my gosh.

All that time sitting in the stand all day.

Put that back on.

Hold on.

I can█t really hear much.

You dropped it right there.

Great job, buddy.

Hey, you dropped it right there.

That's about.

That's about a 90 yard shot straight down.

I don't know where you hit it.

But I know it was a great shot.

Hey, nice job.

Well Leo, your first deer.

Yeah.

What an awesome day of deer hunting.

We got out here this morning.

You saw a couple of deer, but it was very quick and they got through on us and we couldn't get a shot.

This evening we had that deer behind us.

But what happened there?

Well, we saw this deer and it crossed.

We left that deer and came to this one.

First day in a deer stand.

You got two hunts in.

A morning and a evening, saw deer both times and was able to take a big doe.

Hey, what do you think about deer hunting?

It's really fun.

Hey, Leo, I hear Chuck and Charles on the ATV.

Come and get us right now.

Hey, man, good job.

We got it done.

Got it done man.

That a█ boy.

We got it done.

I'll tell you what.

This is a hunt I will never forget for the rest of my life.

No list of my favorite segments of 2022 would be complete without the sound of a beagle chasing a rabbit.

So, Joseph, you and I met a couple of years ago.

You actually was raised in Shelby County, right?

Right.

We hunted a piece property out there, and Dave was with us that day.

And about three or four weeks ago, you called me.

you said, hey, Dave's actually getting ready to get deployed.

We'd like to get him rabbit hunt in beforehand.

You have any interest in rabbit hunting?

Well I always have interest in rabbit hunting.

So, you were like hey, let's try out at my place at Cox's Creek.

So that's what we're at today, in Nelson County.

This is an area you rabbit hunt a couple times a year, right?

Yeah, about once a year is all I really rabbit hunt, but yeah Dave█s about to get deployed so I wanted to get it in before he leaves and this will probably be my only hunt of the year.

You enjoy hunting, but this is pretty much what you do.

Rabbit hunting, right?

I always make time for rabbit hunting once or twice a year.

And it's about as far as my hunting goes.

You and I text and email back and forth, you know, hey, getting ready for rabbit season.

And we've probably communicated eight, ten times since last year's rabbit hunt.

And today was the day to finally put it together.

So getting dogs on the ground and hopefully we get some bunnies.

Sounds good to me.

Hunt here.

Hunt Here.

Hunt here.

Hunt in here.

Come on, hunt them up.

That bark almost sounded like I stepped on a thorn bark and not a rabbit bark.

So, Dave, is this your first rabbit hunt of the year?

Yeah.

First hunt of the year.

I've got a newborn at home, so I didn't get to do as much of any kind of hunting as normal this year.

Yeah, that definitely takes a little time.

We've actually hunted with you guys in the past, and you and I fun hunted this place last year.

Yeah, I think it might be the last day of rabbit season.

I think we got five or six, so.

Yeah, we had a couple pretty good runs.

So I'm excited to get back out here and see this property again and hopefully the dogs jump us some rabbits.

I'll tell you what, this little slew right here, I know sometimes hold some bunnies.

I say we move up to here and see if we can't get something kicked up.

What do you think?

Sounds great.

Hunt in here.

Hunt in here.

Hunted in here.

Josie, get in there, get in there.

Hunt them up.

Get in here.

Get them out.

I tell you what, we just hit some of the best area of this farm.

We've had to deal with some fences and it was mainly thin fence rows.

Now it gets really thick where literally every step could hold a rabbit.

That's a rabbit.

We█ve got a run going on.

The dogs kind of came back to us and seems like maybe the rabbits hung up right up here in this big pile.

They went way out 150, 160 yards and turned.

And I saw something come through right here and I thought, it's going to run right to me.

Well, the dog somehow overran it just a little bit and got on this side of the rabbit.

It jumped and they took off.

And now we're running it for loop number two.

Coming at you Dave, coming at you.

Ah, Oh!

He flipped it.

Good shot.

Yeah, it stopped right in front of me but my gun didn█t cycle.

I had to kick the shell out.

Here, here, here, here, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead.

He looked at it and don't believe that's the right one.

They want to think there█s another one.

I'll tell you one thing.

It ran right by Joseph.

I saw you kind of spin in angle in front of me.

I thought that rabbit's running right to me, about that time you rolled it.

It was a good shot.

All right, you want this in your back here?

Sure, yeah.

All right, there you go.

Got him!

We've worked through this real fast because we literally had a rabbit on a chase and went in a big circle.

Well, everything inside that middle, we didn't really hunt dogs went back and jumped another one up.

I believe Joseph may have got it.

That█s pretty exciting really, because you all were working on this rabbit over here and Dave ended up getting him.

Finally got that rabbit down.

Well, by that time you guys had jumped one up.

There could be another rabbit or two in here because it was just a big circle.

We left this acre or two right here in the middle and you came back and cleaned it up.

Well, yeah, I'm glad we got two.

I was kind of worried there for a minute.

You want a hunt that fence line up there and hunt here going up that way?

Make a right turn.

Come back?

I don't know.

Did they ever get in that sinkho right there?

No.

Well I say we get them in there for a second.

Get in there.

Hunt them out.

Get them going.

Hunt them up.

Hunt them up.

Oh, quail.

You sure it's a quail?

Oh, it's a woodcock.

I've never seen one.

Had a big old long beak.

Snipe got a big long beak like that don't they?

Yeah.

There it goes.

Well this is the far back side of the property.

We've crossed two creeks to get here.

I can count on probably two hands the amount of times I've even been back here, but we█ll rabbit hunt it and see what happens.

Might be great.

It might not.

But we're about to find out.

That is a beautiful sound isn█t it?

You think they lost it and all of a sudden you hear one bark and then all four open up and a dead straight line barking and running.

Yeah.

That was a good shot.

I thought I made a mistake there for a minute because I thought he was going to go a different direction.

I wouldn't be able to see him.

And I thought maybe I should have unloaded all three rounds right there.

But we got him.

There he goes.

Coming your way!

You see it?

Yeah.

There you go.

Nice.

Well, I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate it.

Thanks again.

Hey, thank you for your service.

Thanks.

Get in touch with us next year when you get back in town and we'll have to do it again.

Sounds good to me.

Ready or not, 2023 is on its way and I'm making plans to get my family and friends outdoors.

Hopefully you're doing the same.

And remember, hunting and 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.