>> GET READY.

THERE YOU GO.

>> GOT IT.

THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... CHAD HAS DONE ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF FISHING POSSIBLE.

BUT THIS ONE IS A FIRST FOR HIM.

>> FIRST TIME I'VE EVER TRIED THIS.

>> WE ARE HAND GRABBING CATFISH.

NEXT... MUSKY FISHING WITH THE CLATO TWINS.

>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> AND THEN WE'LL LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE A HEALTHY FARM POND.

THAT'S ALL 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.

HAND GRABBING FOR CATFISH IS AN EXPERIENCE I'VE NEVER HAD.

AFTER GIVING IT A TRY, I CAN TELL YOU IT IS SUPER EXCITING AND NOT AS SCARY AS YOU MAY THINK.

ALL RIGHT.

FOR ME, I DON'T LIKE THE WATER.

YOU DON'T SEE ME IN TOO OFTEN.

NOT THAT I'M AFRAID OF IT.

I JUST THINK IT'S COLD.

>> SO SWIM, RIGHT?

>> OH YEAH.

>> ON THE BANKS OF KENTUCKY LAKE.

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 FLAT HEAD CATFISH BY HAND.

I BELIEVE HE IS STICKING HIS FOOT IN THERE LOCATING THE HOLE AND POSITIONING HIMSELF AND GETTING READY, GETTING A GOOD LUNG FULL OF AIR AND DIVING DOWN AND LITERALLY GOING ALL THE WAY TO HIS FEET AND RUNNING HIS HAND UP IN THAT HOLE.

>> I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT YOU TOLD YOU WANT TO HAND GRAB CATFISH OR NOODLE, ARE LIKE, AREN'T YOU SCARED?

>> IT'S A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC.

YOU TELL PEOPLE YOU CATFISH NOODLE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER.

THAT'S ONE OF THE APPEALS OF IT.

>> THERE HE IS.

HE'S GOT IT!

IS WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

>> A CHANNEL CAT.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY GET SKINNED UP UNDER THOSE ROCKS AND THINGS THE WAY TO GET STARTED.

>> TURN HIM LOOSE.

>> AND FIND SOMETHING.

>> I HAVE BEEN NOODLING CATFISH I GUESS 16 YOURS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY VERY FIRST ASSIGNMENT AS AN OUTDOOR WRITER WAS TO GO DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI AND NOODLE A CATFISH AND WRITE A STORY ABOUT IT.

THEY WERE INTENSE, SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

I LEARNED HOW TO DO IT.

I CAUGHT A NICE FLAT HEAD AND I THOUGHT THIS IS COOL.

I LIKE BIG CATFISH.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED BY THEM.

I GREW UP CATCHING FROGS AND SNAKES AND LIZARDS LIKE COUNTRY KIDS DO.

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

WE GO EVERY SUMMER GET READY.

THERE HE IS.

>> KENTUCKY HAS A SEASON.

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

THAT'S WHEN THE FLAT HEADS MOVE TO THE HOLES AND STAYS GOOD FOR A FEW WEEKS AND BY THE MIDDLE OF JULY, WE ARE SKINNED UP AND WORN OUT AND READY TO HANG IT UP FOR THE YEAR ANYWAY.

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

IT'S NOT.

>> THE FISH IS IN GOOD SHAPE.

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

>> THAT'S PART OF IT.

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

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

>> FLAT HEAD CATFISH THOUGH ARE COOL.

LOOK AT THAT MOUTH.

>> THAT BIG OL' MOUTH AND LITTLE BITTY EYES.

>> HE WILL FIND HIS WAY RIGHT BACK IN THERE.

GUARANTEE YOU'LL CATCH HIM THERE AGAIN TOMORROW.

WE NEED TO CATCH ONE ABOUT THREE TIMES THAT SIZE.

>> YOUR WIFE ENJOYS DOING THIS.

>> MY WIFE AND MY SON.

WE ARE AN OUTDOOR FAMILY.

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

WE HAVE BEEN GOING OUT DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

THIS IS A SHALLOW SPOT WHICH IS PERFECT FOR FOR A FIRST TIMER OR YOUNG FELLA LIKE THIS.

>> HE'S IN THERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO GET REALLY DOWN IN THE WATER.

THERE YOU GO.

GET YOUR FACE IN THE WATER.

SEE MY ARM DOWN IN THE HOLE.

HE HAS BEEN GOING OUT HERE SIPS HE WAS TWO YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING HIM IN THE BOAT AND TAKING HIM ALONG.

IT'S A CATFISH.

IT MIGHT BITE HIS HAND.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT HIM.

HE IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

HE BITE YOUR HAND?

>> UH-HUH.

>> YOU OKAY?

UH-HUH.

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

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

WHEN HE GETS BIG ENOUGH TO DECIDE IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO, THAT'S FINE, BUT HE LOVES IT.

>> GOOD JOB.

WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE BUDDY?

WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE DOING THAT?

>> PRETTY FUN.

>> DID YOU FEEL THE FISH BITE YOUR HAND?

>> YEAH.

>> HE BIT YOU ONE TIME I KNOW.

DID IT SCARE YOU A LITTLE BIT?

NO.

HE'S NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING.

>> WE RELEASE 99% OF THE CATFISH WE CATCH DOING THIS AND WE ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE-- AND WE LIKE TO CATCH BIG CATFISH, TOO.

WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN NOT KILLING THEM.

IT'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT NOODLERS ARE GOING OUT THERE AND CLEANING EVERYTHING THEY CATCH.

THEY'RE SPORTS FISHERMEN LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SINK BOXES LIKE SINKING STRUCTURE FOR CRAPPIE BUT IT'S FOR A CATFISH.

>> FIRST TIME I'VE EVER TRIED THIS.

WE ARE HERE AT THE BOX AND HAVE I MY FEET AT THE OPENING WHERE I'M GOING TO GO DOWN AND STICK HIGH ARM IN FROM AND FEEL ANYTHING IN THERE.

>> WHAT DO HAVE YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR?

>> EVERYBODY ASKS ABOUT THE BEAVER SNAKES AND TURTLES.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY ASK.

YOU SEE TURTLES EVERYWHERE, YOU SEE SNAKES ON THE BANKS BUT AS FAR AS A TURTLE BACKING UP IN THE HOLES, THE HOLES WE ARE CHECKING ARE UNDER WATER, UNDER ROCKS.

>> FEEL ANYTHING?

>> NO.

>> SWEEP THAT STICK AROUND IN THERE.

>> A HURT WILL HAS TO BREATHE AND IT'S NOT A PLACE A TUTOR TURTLE IS GOING TO BACK UP INTO.

>> HOOK END.

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

WE NEVER HAVE SOMEBODY DIVE ALONE.

THE BIGGEST DANGER IS DROWNING.

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

>> NOBODY HOME.

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY RIGHT THERE NEXT TO US HE WOULD DIVE.

MOST OF THE HOLES YOU CAN SFAND STAND UP BUT THERE ARE A FEW OVER YOUR HEAD AND THOSE YOU NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL.

A LOT WHAT HAVE WE CHECK HONESTLY ARE HOLES THAT WE HAVE FOUND IN THE BAWNGS UNDER ROCKS.

IT HAS TAKEN US 15 YEARS OF LOOKING.

WE LOOK CONTINUOUSLY EVERY SUMMER.

WE HAVE BUILT A CIRCUIT OF AREAS WE CHECK.

SOME DAYS THIS WILL HAVE A FISH AND THIS WON'T AND VICE VERSA BUT IT'S STILL FISHING.

>> CHECK ANOTHER HOLE.

THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST ONE.

IT'S NOT A MANMADE BOX.

IT'S UP UNDER THE BAWNG AND IT'S GOT SOME CONCRETE AROUND IT.

IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HOLD SOME PRETTY GOOD SIZED FISH.

>> ALREADY GOT ONE?

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULDN'T WANT DO BY YOURSELF FOR SAFETY CONCERNS BUT IT TAKES TEAMWORK SOMETIMES TO MANIPULATE THE FISH AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THEM OUT.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT HERE IS HE BITING YOU?

>> YES, HE IS, BABY.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANNEL CAT.

>> HE WAS BITING.

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

NOBODY HOME BUT I HEARD SOMETHING.

ONE OF YOU GUYS?

I HAD A STICK.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN-- YOU WANT TO TRY THIS ONE?

>> I'LL DOUBLE CHECK IT.

THE OTHER DAY THERE WAS A FISH THAT LAID OVER TO THE RIGHT.

IT WAS HARD TO FIND.

TO BE SURE.

IT'S HARD TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT YOU ARE FEELING FOR.

>> OH YEAH.

>> WHEN YOU GO IN, TAKE THE STICK AND TURN IT TO THE RIGHT ONCE I LOCATE WITH THE STICK, THEN HAVE YOU TO MANIPULATE THEM.

>> YES, YOU HAVE TO MANIPULATE HIM AND HE WILL PROBABLY BITE THE STICK AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL HIM AND SWING HIM OUT AND THAT WOULD HAVE YOUR LEFT HAND READY TO GET HIM BUT YOU WILL KNOW IT IF HE GETS ON THE STICK.

GO IN THERE AND GO STRAIGHT RIGHT.

WE HEARD ALL THAT.

>> HE'S GOT THE STICK.

>> DID HE TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU?

>> NO.

I GOT IT BY THE MOUTH.

>> WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PATENT ON THAT STICK.

>> HE IS ON THE STICK.

>> HE SHOULD HAVE HIM.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT!

[LAUGHTER] I GOT MY HAND UNDER THERE.

I TURNED HIM LOOSE OBVIOUSLY.

>> GOT HIM UP OUT OF THERE.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE!

IF YOU SLOW THE VIDEO DOWN, YOU CAN TELL I HAD THE CATFISH IN MY HAND FOR A SECOND.

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

>> THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.

>> THAT WAS AWESOME.

A 50-POUND FLAT HEAD IS A HANDFUL.

THEY CAN TORQUE FINGERS AND TWIST WRISTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT YOU UP PRETTY QUICK IN THE OPEN WATER.

>> SO FAR DOWN THAT THE PRESSURE BUILDS TRYING TO HOLD YOUR BREATH WHEN YOU GET DOWN THERE.

IT TAKES ME A LITTLE WHILE-- I JUST CAN'T STAY DOWN THERE LONG.

>> HAVE YOU TO RESPECT A FISH LIKE THAT.

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

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE DIVE IN PAIRS.

NO SHAME IN HAVING A BUDDY TAKE THE TAIL SO HE DOESN'T BEAT TO YOU DEATH.

>> OH MY GOD!

HE GOT IT!

>> ANOTHER ONE!

>> LOOK AT THAT!

>> TAG ON HIM, TOO.

>> FOR MY OWN BENEFIT OF KNOWLEDGE, WE'VE STARTED TAGGING SOME OF THE FISH WITH A ZIP TIE IN THE 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 POUNDAGE OF THIS IF FISH IS?

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WEIGHS?

>> ABOUT-- LET ME LOOK AT IT.

11 POUNDS.

>> I THINK HE IS BIGGER THAN THAT.

>> BETWEEN THAT AND CATCHING A FLAT HEAD ON A BLUEGILL THAT MIGHT SWALLOW THE FISH.

AS FAR AS THE INDIVIDUAL FISH, THIS IS NOT HURTING THEM.

YOU DO IT WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT OF THE RESOURCE.

>> A COUPLE LITTLE BITTY SPOTS BUT ALL IN ALL, IT'S IN GREAT SHAPE.

>> BIG OL' FAT BELLO HIM.

-- 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 TOUR.

>> EXACTLY.

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

ALMOST UNIVERSALLY IT'S NOT WHAT THEY EXPECT.

IT'S NOT AS SCARY AS PEOPLE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AND PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED AT HOW POWERFUL THE FISH ARE THERE YOU GO.

AWESOME!

FINALLY GOT HIM TO HIT.

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

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

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

PRETTY FISH?

>> I LIKE HIS BELLY.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE... >> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR ARTICLES AND KEEP UP WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND I'M SURE WE'LL FIND MORE TROUBLE.

>> I ENJOYED IT.

A LOT OF FUN.

IF YOU ARE A MUSKY FISHER FISHERMAN, YOU KNOW CATCHING A 50-INCH FISH IS LIKE FINDING THE HOLY GRAIL.

LET'S MEET TWO YOUNG BOYS WHO CHECK THAT BOX AT A VERY EARLY AGE.

TODAY WE ARE OUT HERE ON BEAUTIFUL CAVE RUN LAKE.

I'M HERE WITH READ AND RYAN AND WE ARE IN SEARCH FOR MUSKY.

YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT YOU TWO, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR FISHERY BIOLOGISTS AND HE SAID RYAN, YOU HAD CAUGHT A 53-INCH MUSK THEY YEAR, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, LIKE THREE WEEKS AGO.

>> IT'S 50!

OH MY GOSH!

IT'S 50!

IT'S 50!

>> GET 'EM!

GET 'EM!

>> WE WILL DIE IF WE LOSE THIS.

JUST HOLD 'EM.

>> OH MY GOSH!

WE GOT 50!

WE GOT 50!

>> SO I CALLED YOU.

AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED I WASN'T EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT.

I WAS IN DEER HUNTING MODE BUT I STARTED THINKING RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO CATCH A MUSKY.

MAYBE WE THEY'D TO GO FISHING.

HERE WE ARE.

WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO CATCH US A MUSKY TODAY.

YOU CAUGHT A 53-- >> I CAUGHT A MONSTER.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST YOU'VE CAUGHT.

>> 49.5.

>> YOU'VE BOTH ALMOST CAUGHT 50-INCH MUSKY AND YOU'RE 13.

>> SO HOW OLD WERE YOU GUYS WHEN YOU STARTED MUSKY FISHING?

>> ABOUT 11.

>> ABOUT 11?

AND BOTH OF YOU HAVE CAUGHT MULTIPLE FISH THIS YEAR AND MULTIPLE FISH THROUGHOUT YOUR LIVES.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNIQUE?

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO FISH FOR THEM THE MOST.

>> WE JUST LIKE THROWING IT OUT THERE AND REELING IT BACK IN BECAUSE THEY'RE STRIKING AT BATES, WE REEL IT PRETTY FAST.

WE-- >> WE LIKE TO MAKE LIKE ON THE FIGURE EIGHT.

WE LIKE, WE GO AROUND THE CORNER AND MAKE A FAST TURN AND AND GO AROUND BECAUSE THEY WANT TO STRIKE AT IT.

>> YOU ARE PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE WITH THE BIG FISH.

>> YOU TRY TO GET THE BAIT AWAY FROM IT.

YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT RUN AWAY FROM IT.

OUR SISTER LIKES IT.

>> YOUR FAMILY HAS CAUGHT MORE MUSKY THAN MOST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE FISHED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

>> HE TOOK OUR FISH.

>> HOPEFULLY NOT.

>> THAT'S BIG.

>> THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

LET'S SEE IF HE'S OVER THERE.

>> SO THAT IS YOUR DAD.

>> YEAH.

>> YOUR DAD IS OVER HERE FISHING BESIDE US AND LO AND BEHOLD HE HOOKED UP WITH A BIG MUSK AGREE TOOK OUR FISH.

>> AND YOUR SISTER IS NETTING IT.

DID YOU EVER SEE THAT FISH BEFORE IT HIT?

>> NO.

>> WHAT DID THAT THING HIT ON?

IN-LINE SPINNER.

>> YEAH, SORRY.

I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO FIND THAT FISH.

>> DON'T STICK YOUR HAND ON THAT HOOK.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THAT'S SLIMY.

>> LOOK AT THAT FISH.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

>> HAS A FIN CUT.

>> THAT'S HOW THEY AGE THOSE THINGS.

CERTAIN YEARS THEY'LL FIN CLIP IT.

VERY NICE.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> DON'T BE SORRY.

THAT'S GREAT!

>> THAT'S A TYPICAL FISH HERE.

>> WHAT IS THAT FISH HERE, 32, 34?

>> CLOSE TO A KEEPER.

>> WHAT IS THE KEEPER?

36 RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> I KNEW THE BOYS WERE PICKING THE WRONG BOAT WHEN THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH ME.

WE FISHED PRETTY HARD.

HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FISH BUT HAVE YOU SEEN ONE OR TWO AND LO AND BEHOLD RIGHT BEHIND US YOU STACK ONE.

>> WHEN YOU TURN THEM BACK LOOSE, YOU GOT TO LET 'EM GROW A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES US A GOOD FISHERY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY LUCKY.

YOU GOT TWIN BROTHERS.

YOU GUYS GET ALONG REALLY, REALLY WELL.

>> YOU GOT A FISHING PARTNER FOR LIFE.

>> PRETTY MUCH.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN SHARING THE BOAT WITH YOU GUYS.

HEARING YOUR STORIES AND I LOVE HOW YOU GUYS JUST REALLY ENJOY FISHING TOGETHER.

AND SEPTEMBER IS YOUR MONTH FOR MUSKY.

NEXT YEAR, SEPTEMBER, I'LL BE BACK.

>> HAVING A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE FARM POND TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK BUT SOMETIMES IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T PUT IN YOUR FORM POND THAT GIVES YOU THE BEST RESULTS.

SO JEFF, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN A FISHERIES BIOLOGIST FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

YOU PROBABLY FEEL THAT HAVE YOU SEEN EVERY POND IN THE STATE BY THIS TIME.

>> I'VE SEEN A FEW.

>> BUT YOUR PRIMARY JOB IS NOT POND MANAGEMENT.

YOUR PRIMARY JOB IS REALLY TO MANAGE THE PUBLIC WATERWAYS.

>> CORRECT.

>> BUT IF SOMEONE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THEIR POND, WILL YOU HELP THEM OUT.

>> WE DO.

THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB.

WE TRY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE TO POND OWNERS.

>> WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM AS FAR AS PONDS.

>> OR DEALING WITH FISH POPULATION, CROWDED BASS, UNDESIRABLE FISH SPECIES ALSO AQUATIC VEGETATION ISSUES.

ASHED FISH POPULATION ISSUES.

>> IT IS ALMOST LEAK THAT FISH KNEW HE HAD A CHANCE TO BE ON TV.

THIS IS THE UNDESIRABLE FISH SPECIES YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE COUPLE OF FISH THAT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC IN A POND.

WHITE CRAPPIE.

THEY'RE PROLIFIC.

THEY CAN GET OFF REALLY LARGE SPAWNS.

THEY CAN OVERPOPULATE AND UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A GOOD PREDATOR POPULATION, YOU CAN END UP WITH A POND FULL OF THESE SMALL CRAPPIE.

>> ANOTHER CRAPPIE.

THERE SURE ARE A BUNCH OF THESE JOKERS IN HERE THOUGH.

>> LOOK AT THE EYES ON THAT DUDE.

LOOK HOW BIG THEY ARE.

>> MASSIVE.

>> THAT'S AN OLD FISH.

PRETTY GOOD INDICATION THAT THAT IS PROBABLY AN OLDER FISH AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

THEY'RE JUST NOT GROWING.

THEY'RE CROWDED.

>> JEFF, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT REAL GOOD.

WE WALK DOWN THE DOCK, FISHED ONE SPOT AND CAUGHT THREE FISH AND THEY'VE ALL BEEN UNDER SIZED SMALL CRAPPIE.

NOW I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT THE BASS POPULATION IS IN BAD SHAPE BUT WE HAVE TO WALK THE REST OF THE POND AND CATCH A FEW MORE FISH AND SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AS WELL.

WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT MUDDY PONDS AND USUALLY IT'S DUE TO A FISH.

AND IT'S EITHER DUE TO A BULL HEAD CATFISH WHICH IS ANOTHER UNDESIRABLE OR COMMON CARP.

THEY'RE PROBLEMATIC.

THEY KEEP THE PONDS MUDDY WHICH IS VERY BAD FOR LARGE MOUTH BASS THAT IS A SIGHT FEEDER ANDED POND STAYS STUD MUDDY ALL THE TIME.

>> SIGHTS GOOD TO SEE DIFFERENT CLASSES IN YOUR POND.

YOU DON'T WANT TO CATCH BIG NUMBERS OF BUT IF YOU ARE SEEING THIS SIZE AND MEDIUM SIZE AND OCCASIONAL BIG BASS, THEN YOU HAVE A HEALTHY POND.

>> THIS IS A NICE QUALITY LOOKING FISH.

LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN EATING WELL.

AGGRESSIVE.

AGAIN PROPORTIONAL, NOT A BIG HEAD, SKINNY BODY.

THINGS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT YOUR FISH IN YOUR POND.

>> AT LEAST HAS THE TWO POUND VARIETY.

THAT'S GOOD.

THE LAST COUPLE OF CASTS, A FOUR INCH BASS, NOW A BASS THAT IS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 16, 17 INCHES.

SO-- IT HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT CLASSES IN IT.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

THERE WE GO.

NOW!

FLOW!

NOW WE'RE OR DEALING WITH THE KIND OF FISH THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE IN YOUR POND.

WE HAVE CAUGHT ALL AGE CLASSES OF FISH.

NOW THIS IS A FULL GROWN.

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD SIZED BASS RIGHT HERE.

FOR A POND WE ARE LOOKING AT CLOSE TO FIVE POUND FISH.

THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GO OUT AND TRY TO GET A DECENT IDEA OF WHAT YOUR POPULATION OF YOUR FISH IS LIKE.

WALK AROUND IT OCCASIONALLY AND CATCH SOME FISH AND TAKE NOTES OF WHAT YOU ARE CATCHING AND THE OVERALL HEALTH.

LOOK AT THIS FISH.

VERY HEALTHY FISH.

GOT A BIG BELLY.

I'M SURE YOU GET PHONE CALLS ON AQUATIC VEGETATION AS WELL.

>> IT'S A LOT OF PHONE CALLS WE GET ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH AND HOW TO CONTROL IT.

THERE ARE THREE WAYS OF CONTROLLING AQUATIC PLANTS.

ONE IS REMOVING IT BY HAND.

THE SECOND IS BIOLOGICALLY, YOUR GRASS CARP.

GRASS CARP DON'T EAT ALL TYPES OF AQUATIC VEGETATION.

THEY HAVE A PREFERENCE LIST.

THERE ARE THINGS THEY WILL EAT AND THINGS THEY WON'T AND THEN THE THIRD OF COURSE IS CHEMICALLY.

IDENTIFYING THE PLANT IS A KEY, GETTING THE APPROPRIATE CONTROL METHOD FOR THAT PLANT IS THE BIG THING.

>> YOU CAN GO ON THE WEBSITE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND FIND OUT WHO YOUR DISTRICT BIOLOGIST IS.

THERE IS A SITE ON THERE THAT YOU PUT YOUR COUNTY IN AND IT WILL TELL YOU YOUR CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST OFFICER AND FISHERIES BIOLOGIST IS NO MATTER WHAT COUNTY YOU ARE IN IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> VERY EASE TOE DO.

>> THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE LOCATED ON THERE AS WITH EL.

>> PHONE AND EMAIL ADDRESSES.

PULL THE EMAIL ADDRESS, TAKE A PICTURE AND SEND IT TO THAT E. EMAIL.

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

WE HAVE ADDISON WHO CAUGHT THIS NICE LARGE MOUTH BASS AT A FINS LAKE IN GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY.

ADDISON ENJOYS FISHING FOR BASS WITH HER GRANDPARENTS.

NICE JOB.

WAYLON WHO IS THREE YEARS OLD AND THIS IS HIS FIRST FISH EVER.

A NICE BLUEGRASS BLUEGILL CAUGHT IN A FORM POND.

CHECK OUT THE SIZE OF WHAT LOOKS TO BE A FLAT HEAD CATCH FISH BY HARPER.

SHE CAUGHT THIS FISH IN DANVILLE KENTUCKY FISHING WITH ALL OF HER COUSINS.

NICE JOB.

CHECK OUT THE SMILE ON THREE-YEAR-OLD CASH.

HE IS STANDING HERE WITH HIS FIRST FISH, A NICE BLUEGILL CAUGHT IN MARSHALL COUNTY.

NICE JOB.

OUR FALL HUNTING SEASON IS HERE IN KENTUCKY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER WITH DOVE SEASON AND OUR DEER ARCHERY SEASON OPENING THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.

NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GET OUT AND PRACTICE.

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.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪