THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... WE ARE IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, CONDUCTING A RESEARCH PROJECT ON ELK.

>> THEY WILL GET EAR TAGS.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL.

>> USING A HELICOPTER TO DO IT.

NEXT... A CAN'T MISS FISHING OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY IS THE WHITE BASS RUN.

>> HERE WE GO.

THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BETTER ONE HERE.

>> AND IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

THEN, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GREAT TIME CATCHING BASS THIS SPRING, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THROW A JERK BAIT.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> LOOK AT THE HEAD ON THAT FISH.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING ON CEDAR CREEK LAKE.

IT'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.

MAINTAINING THE LARGEST ELK HERD EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI TAKES A LOT OF DEDICATION AND A LOT OF WORK AND SOMETIMES SPECIALIZED TOOLS LIKE A HELICOPTER.

>> WE ARE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, ELK MANAGEMENT ZONE CAPTURING ELK WITH A HELICOPTER THIS WEEK.

THE PURPOSE WHAT HAVE WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS EVALUATE OUR COW REPRODUCTION RATES AND OUR CALF SURVIVAL: WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION, MONITORING WHAT WE DO AS A DEPARTMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE COWS THAT ARE PREGNANT AND WHAT PERCENT GIVE BIRTH TO A CALF AND WHAT IS THE SURVIVAL RATE.

>> WE'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF ELK RESEARCH HERE IN KENTUCKY, IT GOES BACK TO WHEN THE FIRST ELK STEPPED OFF THE TRAILER, IT WAS WEARING A RADIO TRACKING COLLAR.

ELK IN THE EAST IS A NEW THING AND WE ARE MORE OR LESS WRITING OUR OWN BOOK ON THE ELK MANAGEMENT IN THE EAST.

RESEARCH IS CRITICAL.

A BIG OPERATION.

WE HAVE ALMOST 25 PEOPLE OUT HERE TODAY.

THE DATA DERIVED FROM THIS WILL HELP GUIDE OUR MANAGEMENT ERTS THROUGH THE RESTORATION ZONE AS A WHOLE.

CALF SURVIVAL STUD NECESSITY AMERICA IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.

CALVES ARE THE DRIVERS OF THE POPULATION SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE LIVING AND DYING, IF ANYTHING IS KILLING THEM.

WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.

WHAT MANAGEMENT DECISIONS CAN WE MAKE TO HELP BOLSTER THE POPULATION.

WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, TRAPPING ADULT FEMALES, IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT THEY FLY OVER AND PEEL OFF A SINGLE OR A DO YOU BELIEVE, CAMP AND A COW.

THEY THEN SHOOT A NET OVER THE ANIMAL THE ANIMAL GETS ENTANGLED, THEY DROP A PERSON OUT, GOES OVER TO THE ELK PUTS A BLIND FOLD ON THEM, HOBBLES THEIR LEGS TOGETHER, GETS THE NET OFF, GETS THEM IN THE FLIGHT BAG.

THEN RADIO THE HELICOPTER CREW.

>> AND SHE IS BAGGED UP.

>> HELICOPTER COMES BACK IN, DROPS A ROPE, HOOKS THE ELK UP TO THE ROPE AND THEY SUPPLY THE ELK TO US.

THEY DO EVERYTHING IN THE FIELD, CAPTURE, PROCESS AND PREPARE THEM FOR FLIGHT AND BRING THEM TO US.

>> WHEN WE ARE SLINGING THE ANIMALS TO THE DROP ZONE LOCATIONS WHICH MAY BE UP TO A MILE OR TWO MILES FROM WHERE WE ARE SET UP WORKING THE ANIMALS, THE HELICOPTER CREW POSITION THE ANIMAL IN THERE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT KEEPS ITS INTERNAL ORGANS SAFE AND SPINE ALIGNED PROPERLY TO MINIMIZE THE RISK FOR INJURY DURING THE TRANSPORTATION PROCESS.

>> SO ONCE THE ELK LANDS, FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE IT IS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION FROM THE CAP YOU ARE THE.

WE CHECK THE TEMPERATURE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT TOO HOT.

TRANSPORT THE ANIMALS DOWN TO THE WORKUP FACILITIES WHERE WE HAVE SEPARATE TEAMS READY TO TAKE CARE OF EACH ANIMAL.

WE CHECK THE TEMPERATURE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AT A GOOD HEALTHY LEVEL, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BE IMMOBILIZED.

AT THAT POINT WE DO IMMOBILIZE THEM.

WAIT FOR THE IMMOBILIZATION DRUGS TO PUT THEM TO SLEEP AND DO THE WORKUP PROCESS.

WE WILL DRAW BLOOD FROM THE ANIMALS TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL HEALTH.

AND GET EAR TAGS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL.

WE'LL GET OUR GPS COLLAR THAT WILL ALLOW US TO TRACK AT THAT TIME ANIMAL THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE ANIMAL.

COLLECT HAIR FOR GENETIC ANALYSIS AND DO JUST A TOTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BODY LOOKING AT FAT DEPOSITION AND FAT CONTENT, OVERALL CONDITION, GIVE THEM ANOTHER INJECTION FOR ONE OF THE INSIZERS AND SEND IT OFF TO THE LAB AND TELL HOW HOLD THE ANIMAL IS.

MY ROLE HERE IS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE ARE CATCHING FOR THIS PROJECT.

WE HAVE AN ANESTHESIA TECH ON EACH ANIMAL, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING APPROPRIATE LEVELS.

RIGHT THERE WITH THEM THE WHOLE TIME, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THE ANIMALS ARE SAFE WHILE IMMOBILIZED.

ANIMALS HAVE A WINTER COAT ON, SO IF THEY COME IN WARM, WE'LL DUMP WATER ON THEM OR TAKE OTHER MEASURES TO GET THEIR TEMPERATURE UNDER CONTROL AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING SAFELY AND HUMANELY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY.

DURING THE WORKUP PROCESS, WILL YOU SEE US CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO MOVE THE ANIMAL AROUND.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT REMAINS IN A SAFE POSITION PARTICULAR WILL I WITH ITS HEAD.

UPRIGHT AND IN A NATURAL POSITION ALLOWING THE ANIMAL TO BREATHE SUFFICIENTLY.

WHEN THE HELICOPTER CREW IS BRINGING US ANIMALS, THEY TYPICALLY WILL BRING THEM TWO TO THREE ANIMALS AT A TIME.

GENERALLY WE DON'T WANT TO STRESS THE HERD TOO MUCH.

WE HAVE VERY FIRM ESTABLISHED CHASE TIMES SO THEY'RE NOT STRESSED OUT TOO MUCH.

GIVES US TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO EACH AND EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES IN TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS SAFELY.

PART OF THE PROJECT IS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE TWO GRADUATE STUDENTS ON THE PROJECT TO HELP WITH THE DATA ANALYSIS AND THE DATA COMPOSITION I'M EXCITED TO BE A GRADUATE STUDENT AT U.K.

WORKING ON THIS PROJECT I GET TO START TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND WE ALL HAVE ABOUT THE ELK HERD LEER.

>> SEVERAL MANAGEMENT FOCUS QUESTIONS.

WE WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH SPACE THESE ANIMALS ARE USING AND ON THE LANDSCAPE WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE COLLAR DATA.

>> THIS WINTER CAPTURE SEASON HERE OF ADULT ELK IS REALLY KIND OF THE PRECURSOR THAT SETS US UP NICELY FOR OUR SUMMER ELK CALF CAPTURES WHERE WE WILL BE PUTTING SMALL TRANSMITTERS ON THEM AND TRACKING THEM THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE.

THIS TIME AROUND, WE GET TO DO AN ULTRASOUND TO CHECK HER PREGNANCY STATUS TO SEE IF SHE IS PREGNANT OR NOT.

WE'LL INSERT A TRANSMITTER IF SHE IS PREGNANT AND THAT GIVES US A NOTIFICATION WHEN SHE GIVES BIRTH SO WE CAN EASILY GO OUT AND FIND THE CALF.

>> HERE IS THE TRANSMITTER WE PUT INTO THE PREGNANT COW SO THIS ELK HAS HAD THE WORKUP COMPLETE.

WEARING NEW RADIO COLLAR, FRESH EAR TAG AND VAGINAL TRANSMITTER AND THE REVERSAL TO THE DRUG.

IN FIVE OR 10 MINUTES SHE WILL GET OFF AND HEAD UP THE MOUNTAIN.

>> SPRING IS IN ABOUT HERE AND THE DOGWOODS ARE ABOUT TO BLOOM.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

TIME TO START CATCHING WHITE BASS WHITE BASS ARE RUN, LET'S SEE IF ANYONE IS HAVING ANY LUCK AT THE SALT RIVER YOU GOT A BLACK CRAPPIE ON THERE, SOME WHITE BASS.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHAT'S YOUR NAH I AM.

>> JAMES WHITE HOUSE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GETTING DOWN HERE IN THE SPRING, WALKING THE BANKS BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GET OUT AND FISH.

YOU ARE THROWING PINK POPEYE.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT HITS THE LAST TWO DAYS.

>> PEOPLE HAVE THEIR TECHNIQUES AND THE WAY THEY LIKE TO CATCH THEM.

YOU ARE PROBABLY DRIFTING TWO OR THREE FEET BELOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HAVE YOU SEEN A FEW OTHER PEOPLE FISHING.

>> A BURCH OF PEOPLE.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN COMING DOWN HERE AND FISHING.

>> EVER SINCE IT HAS BEEN HERE.

>> YOU'RE FROM LAWRENCEBURG.

>> BOYLE COUNTY.

THE DICTION RIVER HAS WHITE BASS.

>> I FISH THERE, TOO.

>> YOU TRAVEL THE STATE CATCHING THESE FISH.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK.

THAT'S A HECK OF A STRINGER YOU GOT.

>> SAUGEYE.

THAT GUY HAS BEEN TELLING US HE WANTED TO CATCH ONE.

HE JUST FIGURED IT OUT.

HERE WE GO.

A LITTLE MALE.

I MADE 10 CASTS.

I LET IT BOUNCE THE BOTTOM AND EVERY NOW AND THEN GETTING HUNG UP.

I DECIDED TO SPEED THE RETRIEVE UP.

THESE FISH WHEN THEY'RE READY TO FEED, CAN BE REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT HOLDS TRUE.

CAST OUT FURTHER AND BURN IT A LITTLE FASTER BACK IN.

HERE WE GO.

I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THESE FISH ARE WANTING THIS BAIT AGGRESSIVE.

AND IF I CAN GET IT OUT THERE, IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE FISHING EARLY, EARLY, EARLY YEAR CONDITIONS.

BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THESE ARE FISH THAT LIKE THE COLD WEATHER.

THEY REALLY WANT THIS BAIT FAST TODAY.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> HE CAUGHT HIM A SAUGEYE.

LOOK AT THAT.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO CATCH WHEN YOU COME OUT HERE SEE GUYS WITH A STRINGER FULL OF CRAPPIE, FULL OF WHITE BASS AND NOW LOOK AT THAT, SAUGEYE.

THOSE ARE GOOD ONES, TOO.

>> YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT.

I'M HAPPY.

HERE WE G. THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BETTER ONE HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT BUT THIS IS NOT A WHITE BASS.

WHATEVER WE'VE GOT, IS NOT HAPPY TO BE HOOKED.

THIS IS A WHITE BASS.

NOW, NOW!

AT FIRST GLASS I THOUGHT IT WAS I WHITE BASS BUT THIS IS A HYBRID.

THESE FISH ARE ALL MOVING UP HERE AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT'S A LOT OF FUN.

THEY WERE PUT IN HERE BY THE DEPARTMENT MANY YEARS AGO TO DEAL WITH THE AMOUNT OF BAIT THAT THE FISH THAT ARE IN THIS LAKE AND THIS IS A BAIT FISH EATING MACHINE RIGHT HERE.

I HAVE GOT ME A LITTLE HONEY HOLE ALL OF A SUDDEN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING THE PACE AND THE SPEED THAT THEY WANT IT.

THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH ONE I'VE CAUGHT THIS SIZE.

WHAT THIS IS IS A MALE WHITE BASS.

WHITE BASS, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER FISH SPECIES, THE MALES WILL SHOW UP FIRST.

THE MALES WILL RUN UP THE RIVER STREAM AND WE START CATCHING THE SMALLER ONES, TYPICALLY YOU EVEN NEED TO GO TOWARD THE MAIN LAKE TO CATCH THE FEMALES OR FISH THE SAME SPOT A FEW DAYS AFTER A HARD RAIN, THE BIGGER FISH WILL SHOW UP.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A MALE WHITE BASS.

THIS IS THE GREATEST THING ABOUT FISHING THIS RIVER.

YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH WALK-IN ACCESS.

A BOAT RAMP, YOU CAN RUN A BOATRIGHT UP IN HERE OR THIS MIGHT BE THE EASIEST AND BEST WAY RIGHT HERE.

YOU JUST JUMP IN A KAYAK, THEY CAN PULL THAT THING UP ANYWHERE ON THE BANK THAT THEY WANT.

AND CATCH A FISH.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GO BA ABOUT IT.

YOU GUYS HAVE ANY LUCK?

>> I GOT A LITTLE FLAT HEAD EARLIER BUT WE JUST GOT IN.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ON THE WATER MAYBE 10 MINUTES.

>> A FLAT HEAD!

WOW.

>> OFF THE JERK BAIT.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

THESE SPECIES OF FISH FIGHT LIKE CRAZY.

THIS IS A WHITE BASS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SWEAR ON A CERTAIN COLOR AND FOR ME, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT DOES SEEM LIKE CERTAIN COLORS WORK BETTER ON CERTAIN DAYS.

I ALWAYS TEND TO LIKE WHITE OR THIS PEARL COLOR.

AND THN I'LL CHANGE UP THE HEAD COLOR AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT SEEMS PINK IS WHAT THEY'RE HITTING TODAY.

THERE YOU GO.

HE'S GOT ONE DOWN THERE.

THERE WE GO.

SAME SIZE FISH.

THESE ARE PLENTY BIG ENOUGH TO CLEAN AND EAT IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A MESS.

TO GET THE CAST OUT THERE, YOU NEED A ROD AND REEL THAT WILL ALLOW TO YOU MAKE LONG CASTS.

THIS IS A MEDIUM ACTION WITH EXTRA FAST TIP.

SEVEN FOOT FOUR INCHES.

I SOMETIMES USE A LONGER ONE.

I'M THROWING FOUR TO SIX POUND TEST.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IS ON THERE.

YOU REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO RIP LONG CASTS.

THIS BAIT IS ONLY AN EIGHTH OF AN OUNCE.

MAKING A CAST TO THE MIDDLE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS.

GETTING THE BAIT OUT THERE WHERE THE FISH ARE AT.

OUR LAKE WATERS ARE BEGINNING TO WARM AND THAT MEANS IT'S THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO GET OUT A JERK BAIT.

TODAY WE ARE OUT HERE WITH BRADLEY ROY ON CEDAR CREEK LAKE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

YOU DON'T LIVE FAR FROM THE LAKE.

YOU SAY YOU LIKE TO USE FOR PREPARATORY LAKE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S FULL OF BIG FISH.

WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO FISH BUT IT HAS A LOT OF OFFER.

A LITTLE BIT OF SHORELINE, OFFSHORE COVER.

TIM TIMBER.

YOU CAN FISH WHAT YOU WANT TO FISH.

IF I'M GOING SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND WANT THE GRASS, IT'S A SMALL LAKE, IT HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

>> TODAY IS REALLY GO OUT KIND OF LIKE YOU DO FOR A LIVING FIGURE OUT A PATTERN AND PUT SOME FISH IN THE BOAT.

>> IT'S MARCH, THE FISH ARE FAT AS THEY ARE GOING TO BE ALL YEAR.

YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO CATCH THE BIGGEST FISH OF YOUR LIFE.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE.

CEDAR CREEK IS A GREAT PLACE TO FISH BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING A LOT OF BITES, YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH A GOOD ONE, SAY YOU ONLY CATCH FIVE, YOUR ODDS OF GETTING ONE OF THOSE TO BE A GOOD FISH IS PRETTY HIGH.

>> HERE'S ONE.

I SAW THAT THING HIT.

LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ONE, TOO.

>> CEDAR CREEK SPECIAL.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY YOU COME HERE RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

LOOK AT THE HEAD ON THAT FISH.

HE REALLY GOT IT, TOO.

I WAS WORRIED THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE THE COLOR, BUT MAYBE I'LL THROW THE COLOR A LITTLE MORE.

I JUST MADE MY THIRD CAST WITH A COLOR NOT TOO FAR OFF FROM THAT.

I'M GLAD THEY LIKE IT.

THIS LAKE, IT'S ONE FISH OVER 2G TO BE RIGHT AT IT.

>> THE FISH IS GOING TO BE REAL CLOSE.

THE FISH IS AT LEAST 19.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL A CEDAR CREEK SPECIAL.

PLACE IS FULL OF THEM.

ANY TIME YOU COME DOWN HERE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET A FEW BITES, YOU'LL CATCH A HANDFUL RIGHT HERE.

>> HERE WE GO.

BELIEVE THIS IS A SMALLER VARIETY BUT IT'S A BITE.

>> IT IS A FISH.

IT SURE IS.

>> THEY GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

>> ALL CLASSES.

I'LL TAKE ANYTHING I CAN GET.

THERE YOU GO.

HE'LL GROW UP.

LARGE MOUTH.

THIS IS PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR A JERK BAIT.

YOU GOT PRETTY HIGH SUN SO THEY CAN SEE IT AND GET A GOOD CONTRAST LOOKING UP AT THE BAIT.

WE WERE THROWING THIS OVER THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS.

>> OH YEAH AND YOU GOT THE WIND, WHICH IS REFRACTING ON THE TOP OF THE WATER BREAKS UP THE SUNLIGHT.

PRETTY GOOD FISH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

GOT A LITTLE MOSS ON THERE AND HE STILL ATE IT UP.

SAID I'LL TAKE THAT.

IT'S A FREE EASY MEAL.

>> YOU GOT TO LOVE THE FISH ARE SO COLD.

SEE HOW WHITE THEY ARE.

THEY'RE JUST STARTING TO SWIM IN THERE.

HE IS JUST COMING UP HERE TRYING TO FIND HIMSELF SOMETHING TO EAT AND GET READY TO SPAWN.

SO MUCH FUN.

>> A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN HAVE THEIR TECHNIQUES.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNIQUE?

IF YOU HAD A WAY TO CATCH THEM AND SOMEBODY SAID YOU GET TO PICK YOUR WAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> IF I COULD PICK A WAY, IT WOULD BE PITCHING AND FLIPPING.

I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING VERSATILE.

JIG WOULD BE ONE THAT YOU COULD GET HARD HEADED WITH AND PROBABLY CATCH FISH ANYWHERE.

BUT IF I WANT TO DO WELL ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, I'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO THROW A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT STUFF.

>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE, TOO.

>> JUST COME OFF OF THAT BOTTOM THERE.

THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

THAT IS REALLY SHALLOW IN THERE AND I WAS HITTING THE BOTTOM AND IT WAS STICKING AND BOUNCING AND I PULLED IT UP.

THE FISH WAS LAYING DOWN THERE SUPER SHALLOW ON THAT ROAD ROW BED.

>> SIMILAR, NOT AS HEAVY BUT A BIG, BIG MOUTH, PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT 19 INCHES LONG OR SO IF I HAD TO GUESS.

THAT'S WHAT WE COME HERE FOR.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS I DO IT ON A SPINNING ROD.

NUMBER ONE, BACK WHEN I STARTED THROWING A JERK BAIT, I THREW IT ON A SPINNING ROD, GOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

AS I GREW OLDER STARTED THROWING THEM ON A BAIT CASTER AND SPINNING ROD, I LIKED HAVING BOTH BECAUSE YOUR ARM GETS TIRED SO YOU GO TO THE OTHER SIDE.

>> YOU GOT A FISH ON?

>> YEAH, HE'S HUNG UP IN THE TREE.

>> LOOKS LIKE THE OTHER ONE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIGGER.

>> COME HERE.

THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER.

JERK BAIT AGAIN.

I THINK WE MADE A GOOD CALL COMING TO THE CLEAR WATER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK SO, YEAH.

>> THE INTERESTING THING IS WE CAN ALMOST SEE WHERE WE STARTED OUT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN SEE A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE WATER COLOR AND WE JUST GOT OUTSIDE IN THE CLEAR WATER AND LO AND BEHOLD WE ARE STARTING TO GET BITES.

>> YOU ARE CATCHING GOOD FISH, MAN.

THAT'S A GOOD FISH.

HE HIT THAT RIGHT AT THE BOAT ALMOST.

>> LOOKS LIKE A BIG FISH.

>> TRYING TO GET UNDER THE BOAT.

>> LOOK AT YOU.

WE'LL TAKE IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT DEPTH WE ARE SITTING IN BUT HE WOULD COME UP FROM ABOUT THAT DEEP.

>> SETTING AT 14.

>> IF WE WERE FISHING A LAKE WITH 15-INSIZE LIMIT, WE WOULD BE SETTING AT 15, 16 POUNDS OR SO.

AND BECAUSE IT IS A SMALL LAKE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 800 ACRES.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A BIG LAKE.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO COME IF YOU'VE GOT AN AFTER MOON YOU DON'T WANT TO COME OUT HERE AND BURN $100 IN FUEL TO FIND THEM.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND FISH AN AFTERNOON OR A MORNING AND CATCH A FEW FISH.

>> THERE HE IS.

>> JUST LIKE I SAID.

FEELS LIKE A GOOD ONE TOO,.

>> HER HE COMES.

>> WOW.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD FISH.

>> THAT'S A REALLY BIG ONE.

WANT TO GRAB HIM?

>> YEAH COME UP HERE, BIG GIRL.

THERE YOU GO.

LOOK AT THAT.

HEY, WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CATCHING A SIX OR SEVEN POUNDER.

THAT'S WAS WE DID.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, ON A SPINNING REEL, YOU FINESSE THAT UP HERE AND SURE ENOUGH YOU GOT 'EM.

>> I TOLD YOU I GOT IT PAUSED FELT LIKE A BITE AND THE JERK BAIT.

>> YOU GOT A SCALE?

>> I DO.

LOOK HOW PRETTY THAT FISH IS.

>> I'M GOING TO GUESS THE FISH WEIGHS 6.2.

>> OKAY.

6.08.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WEIGHED.

>> WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO THROW A JERK BAIT?

MARCH, APRIL OR IN THE FALL.

>> ONCE THAT WATER TEMPERATURE BOTTOMS OUT, AS COLD AS YOU WANT TO GET IT AND YOU START TO SEE IT COMING UP, THAT'S WHEN THE FISH START LOOKING UP AND LOOKING FOR THE SLOW LETHARGIC SHAD THEY CAN GET AN EASY MEAL.

LOOKING GETTING READY FOR THE SPAWN IN A MA OR SO.

>> NICE JOB.

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

LANE BENNETT FROM OHIO COUNTY WITH HIS FIRST BUCK EVER.

A NICE NINE POINTER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

HERE WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL 11-POINT BUCK BY AMY AND IN SCOTT COUNTY KENTUCKY.

NICE JOB.

ELENA IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING SO SHE CAN LOOK FOR MORRELL MUSHROOMS LIKE SHE FOUND IN 2020.

HERE WE HAVE JACKSON WITH HIS FIRST BUCK, A NICE 10-POINTER THAT HE TOOK IN BRECKENRIDGE COUNTY ON OPENING DAY.

A BEAUTIFUL BUCK THAT WAS TAKEN IN OHIO COUNTY BY MARIAH LINDSAY WITH A 243 RIFLE.

HERE WE HAVE ADDISON WITH A BIG BLUEGILL THAT WAS CAUGHT IN A FARM POND.

NICE FISH.

HERE WE HAVE COLE'S FIRST BUCK, A NICE NINE POINTER TAKEN IN McCLEAN COUNTY.

CADEN'S FIRST DEER, A NICE SPIKE TAKEN IN HOPKINS COUNTY, KENTUCKY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

HERE WE HAVE JERRY AND WESTON MILLER WITH A LOAD OF BUNNIES THAT WERE TAKEN IN GRAVES COUNTY.

NICE JOB.

ABLE KNOWS WHERE TO FIND WINTER FUN.

OTTER CREEK CATCHING RAINBOW TROUT.

CHECK OUT THESE GREAT LOOKING CRAPPIE WITH HARPER THAT WERE CAUGHT AT GREEN RIVER LAKE.

NICE FISH.

JUST A REMINDER, YOUR 2020 HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE HAVE NOW EXPIRED BUT YOUR 2021 LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

PLEASE VISIT FW.KY.GOV OR GO TO YOUR LOCAL RETAILER TO PICK UP YOUR NEW ONE 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.

MORE KENTUCKY AFIELD IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS WHETHER BY SMART PHONE OR DESKTOP, YOU'LL FIND EXTRA TIPS, PHOTOS, EVEN BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND STAY IN THE WOODS OR ON THE WATER LONGER WHEN YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM.

SIMPLY SEARCH KENTUCKY AFIELD ON YOUR FAVORITE APP.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪