Hello and 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're going to go check in on some beautiful thoroughbred horses and do a little fishing.

But first, we're headed out to Nelson County.

We're putting out the decoys in hopes of calling in a mature gobbler.

Well, I█m out here in Nelson County on day two of our spring turkey season, and the conditions have completely changed.

On our first hunt, opening morning.

Got out, put a couple of decoys out, had a gobbler come through that acted very leery of my Jake decoy.

And honestly, I didn't know if it was a Jake or a gobbler.

It just came through just trying to get away.

Later on, I heard a gobble or two started making some calls in.

These two gobblers showed up dead quiet.

Never made a sound.

I got two gobblers about 50 or 60 yards.

One is in full strut.

and there was a strutting gobbler and another gobbler got within ten feet right on top of me.

Probably should have closed the deal, but I didn█t want to move.

But that those two birds were really looking at that day.

Decoy staring down.

So this morning I've left that jake decoy in the truck.

I'm going to go out, put a hen decoy up, only get a very similar location.

The hunt that opening day was going so well.

I'd seen three gobblers and a hen.

It's probably 15, 20 degrees colder than the opening morning.

Hopefully these birds gobble and do the exact same thing, because I feel like I'm right on top of them.

Well, we got my decoy out while I was putting it out.

I've got a bird gobbling.

It sounds like it's about 150 yards up this hill.

That means that bird doesn't have to cross the creek.

It's actually on my side already, which is awesome.

I don't want any barriers.

No fences, no creeks.

If I can avoid it, this is best case scenario.

I feel like this is the only field anywhere near that bird.

So I got a feeling, he's coming this way.

Man, I've got a bird gobbling on the limb, right on top of me.

He's still up there waiting to fly down.

I want to give just a couple light little yelps.

Let him know I'm here.

Hopefully motivate him to come this way.

I like my chances crazier things can happen.

This bird may come down and go the opposite direction, but most of the areas they want to be in this field and down here, around this creek, I'm in between that and what that bird's at.

So that's always a good situation.

On hunts like this, where I'm pretty much going to set up in one location.

I really like to have a tripod.

And you can see I've got the butt of my gun rested up on my binocular pack.

That means if this bird comes in, I have the littlest amount of movement that I need to make to be ready to go.

So this seems to work for me in a situation where I need to be ready with the slightest amount of movement, you know, I could be resting it on my knee and that works great.

But consider I'm not going to be moving around a lot today.

This is what I prefer.

Oh, we got hens all over us We got a hen right here.

That gobbler could do the same thing.

He might fly and land right in our lap.

I hear them, get ready, they█re flying!

Here they come is this the gobbler right here?

Get ready.

Get ready.

Get Ready Oh, it's still sitting there.

Now, that was the fast turkey hunt.

Oh, my god, I could hear that bird gobbling.

We walked within 30 yards of it.

Got my hen decoy up.

Heard him gobbling on the limb.

But I kept thinking man, if that bird flies down into a field, he could land right on us.

You know, the first turkey hunt.

opening morning all the birds are on the other side of the creek.

Now, we got them to come over here and take a look.

But they were so nervous of that jake decoy.

This hen flew down, and landed right on the decoy.

And I heard this flup flup flup flup.

I knew there was a bird flying.

I looked up and here he comes.

It was like.

It was like an airplane landing right on us.

I looked up and I could see the red and blue head coming through the air and landed right on me.

Wow, what a hunt.

This morning's hunt went so fast I really wasn't ready to be out of the woods.

We had so much wildlife around us, birds gobbling, hens still messing around.

Had a couple of deer walk out.

Now, the sun's come up.

Feels like a complete hunt.

That is one of the fastest turkey hunts I've ever had in my entire life.

That bird wasn't on the ground long enough to strut before he was in range.

Now I'm excited to go check this bird out.

What an incredible turkey season!

Oh man.

Oh man, what a pretty bird.

Man, when this bird came off that hillside, I could see it coming down.

I could see that blue, white, red head.

I could see the beard hanging down when it hit the ground.

It looked straight at that decoy and had a hen sitting right here.

This bird, I couldn't I could tell it was, a gobbler, but I really couldn't tell how big the bird is.

I thought it was a big, mature bird, man, when I get down, look at it.

Look at here.

It's a double bearded bird.

What a cool experience.

Two fantastic mornings of hunting.

And I got rained out.

Day one.

We had birds all around us and was able to get back in here and put this bird on the ground.

I've been super, super, super lucky this year to have this many birds around me and finish it off with this big, mature, double bearded gobbler.

The first week of May here in Kentucky is all about the Derby and horse racing, but it's also a great time to go fishing.

Today, we're out here in beautiful Bourbon County, and I'm with Arthur Hancock at Stone Farm.

Yes, sir.

We're going to do a little fishing today.

We are going to do some fishing.

It's great to have you all here today.

This is a thoroughbred nursery here in Bourbon County that my family has.

And we've been blessed with a lot of good fish and good horses.

And this is the foaling barn here.

So we'll take a stroll through and I'll show you some of the stalls where some of our great horses have been born.

And what perfect timing.

We're right here, beginning of May.

A lot of people are thinking about horse racing right now.

And you guys, really your family is all Kentucky.

I mean, into bluegrass music, love the outdoors.

Horse racing.

And your dad is actually a bluegrass musician as well, Right?

That's where I got it was from him.

And he's written a lot of great songs.

And, you know, he he toyed with music or horses his whole life, and he committed to horses.

I've chosen more music, but it's still in my blood to be out here on the farm.

Because you got a band and you still play.

I do it all the time.

Yeah.

Yes, sir.

Well this is a beautiful piece of property.

I can't wait to try to catch a couple of fish, but you█re going to walk us through the barn?

Let█s take a stroll.

All right.

it's.

It's cool.

You walk through, and first stall you come to, Derby winner, fusaichi pegasus was born right here, won the Derby in 2000.

That's a name that if you're into horse racing, you're going to recognize.

You█re going to recognize that one.

And right here, Sunday Silence was born in that stall, which is just, to me, such a special thing.

He was Horse of the Year.

Champion three year old won the Derby, the Preakness, second to Easy Goer in the Belmont and then avenged that in the Breeders Cup classic.

Your dad said that's his favorite horse that█s ever been on the farm.

It saved the farm.

Yeah, oh yeah.

Because the eighties were hard on the horse business.

Yeah yeah.

Stroud's Creek which is the creek that we actually could fish if we had time.

It runs through the farm.

He was second in the Derby, was a great racehorse.

And that's probably, the horse that was born there, Bricks and Mortar, would be my claim to fame as a horseman.

I helped raise foal and sell that horse.

And he was Champion Horse of the Year in North America.

And then we go not too far and Gato Del Sol born right here, won the 1982 Kentucky Derby.

Kings and Queens and Princes is all over the world that have been trying.

They can't do it.

And can't do it.

And you guys right here on Stone Farm have got three Derby winners.

As you look around here, my dad is a farmer and he farms horses and he believes in big fields, good ground, taking care of the ground and good water, everything that we give the horses is spring or well water from off the farm.

And that's, get those big bones, big strong joints, big muscles.

And that's what makes a horse run fast.

Just like burley tobacco, it█s all the same.. Yeah.

And I remember the next one, Menefee, very well.

He was second in the Derby in 99.

That was that horse named after the county, Menifee County.

And so the stallion of that horse, Harlan, all of his babies that we kept, we named after Kentucky County, we had Whitley's over in the paddock, retired.

Menifee, Owsley was a great race mare.

Leslie was a great race mare.

We had that, he did really well for the farm and a lot of the counties where we named these horses, the schools would send us letters.

that's cool.

That's cool.

yeah.

Next, Rainbow View, she was European champion filly.

She whipped my butt one day right here at this back gate in the mud.

She didn't want to come in and, you know, you got to get them in.

Yeah.

yeah.

She was a really great mare, and well here, we'll take a look out back and see where we're headed to catch a couple bass.

All right.

Hey, that sounds good.

You got them named too?

No, I don't name them.

I usually try and let them go.

That's it right there, That's a that's a beautiful lake.

These two corners have some spring fed action, and then that dam is real deep, so.

Okay, well, I'm super excited.

There we go.

Let's get a double.

I tell you what, there's so many great places to fish in the state of Kentucky, but nothing beats a good farm pond.

You got him?

I think I have got a bluegill.

Man, you do have a good sized bluegill.

Well we doubled.

That█s little.

Different species, but we doubled.

All right there.

Little quick release action.

Nice little fish.

That was a nicer fish right there.

I hook one about four and five pounds I'll go in if I have to make sure we get him in.

Yeah, I don't mind getting the feet wet for a four or five pounder.

I might need to adjust my drag.

I think I got a decent fish.

The old Mepps Spinner, man.

They like that thing, don█t they?

That's a good one.

Lookie there.

That's a good one.

That's a three pounder it looks like.

It█s a nicer fish.

Farm pond magic, right here.

The old Mepps.. Luna likes to chase them.

What kind of dog is she?

Golden Pyrenees.

Okay.

When I'm farm pond fishing I stay pretty mobile, so.

I'm with you if you want, let's go hit this structure in the corner.

I like your approach on being on the go.

Look at this old tree that's fallen in right here, and it's shallow.

This is the time of year that I think it's a good chance a big fish might be laying up under it.

I don't know about big, but there's one right there.

oh it come off, right there.

You got it.

Might need a just my drag.

Got a good one.

Stay out of that tree.

What's happening over here?

Well, got something going on.

I got a good one.

He ate it too.

They like that old Mepps spinner.

What do you got over there?

Look at that.

Oh man, you do have a good one.

It catches fish.

Look at this beautiful bass.

Golly.

Right there in that tree.

Right.

You said you thought they might be in there.

Now we got a three and a half, four pounder.

I will tell you one thing.

They're healthy.

They are healthy.

What a nice bass.

Here you go.

You know, that's a that's that's a solid three and a half to four pound fish.

That's a good fish.

Right there.

Nice fish.

Beautiful fish.

In the middle of this corner there is a tree about a foot below the water.

Okay.

So just be careful.

Fish hit it as soon as it hit the water.

You see that?

Like straight up.

As soon as it hit the water, drilled it.

Look at those bluegill, keeping some of those.

Once I get that size, I don't believe your bass are going to eat those.

Those are.

They may eat your bass.

That's a nice one.

Oh my gosh.

What do you got?

Did you see him hit it, right there, Right at the bank.

That was crazy.

Literally right off of those rocks right at the bank.

I just watched him swallow it.

Four and a half pound fish right there.

Literally.

I was watching my bait and I just had this feeling that I was going to see one, just inhale it, but keep thinking it.

It's going to be a giant.

Nice.

Go back and do your spawn.

That's a bass.

Got him?

Yes, that's a good bass.

You got yourself another four or five pounder.

The old Mepps.

Old Mepps.

Strikes again.

Inline Spinner, doesn't get any better than that.

Come on up here, old dad.

He's a three right?

Let me see.

Scared to take my eyes off.

Yeah, That's probably about a three.

Beautiful fish, though.

He looked long in the water.

He just.

Yeah, well, you know, it's always.

It's fishing, right?

It's not catching.

But I'm going to double with you right here.

Is that a nice fish?

It's not like a giant but I mean, it's a. I mean, look at this.

I'm going.

Well, yeah.

Check out this four pounder.

It's.

It's.

It's not a giant, but, you know, it's.

It's just another fish.

Look at that.

What a beautiful, beautiful fish.

What do you think, Luna?

He's got him.

Stay out of there Buddy.

What do you think about that?

It's a good time.

Get in there, big girl.

Go make more.

You lead the way because you're in the big fish lure.

I'm in the catch all.

They're just setting up here to this moss.

When they come out, it's not like, Hey, I wanted to see what that is.

They come out and just drill it.

Did you get him?

Yeah.

That's where that big one was the other day.

Oh.

Ah.

That was a good one.

I was horsing it a bit too much right there.

Pulled it right out of his mouth.

Yeah.

The one that got away.

You said your dad played music, that was your inspiration for music.

He taught me guitar when I was a boy and then I got into playing the banjo in high school.

And you actually do some charity work, too.

Some of it includes music.

I mean.

Music and fishing.

Music and fishing is kind of your passions, and you raise money for some different charities to help underprivileged kids to get the chance to learn music.

Yeah.

And also you generate some revenue off on the fishing side by bringing people out here that win opportunities to fish here.

Yeah.

That provides opportunities for fishing and music, and you do some cleanup.

You do a little bit of all of it.

We do a lot of it.

The organization, I█ve got their hat on today, Cand-Aid, they're out of Colorado and I met them in 2017 and I've just loved working with them.

They've donated over 3,700 instruments to schools, okay, and cleaned up over 2 million pounds of trash.

And you guys have days where you just come in.

Just get volunteers.

They give us a bunch of gloves and grabbers and trash bags, and we'll just load up tires and have a ball.

Yeah, get dirty and then catch fish maybe.

What do you got there?

I was hung on a stick or something.

That was not a stick.

That was fish.

That was a bass.

It's a good bass.

Look at this.

I█m seeing a big mouth.

It█s wanting to jump.

I'm trying to keep him down.

That's the fish of the day.

We might have my best fish of the day.

That's the fish of the day.

Boys.

That one there.

It's not a six pounder, but it's definitely over five.

Look at that.

Look at that fish.

What a beautiful, beautiful largemouth bass.

You know, you come out here in a pond.

In the spring, you want to catch a big trophy fish.

Farm ponds.

Come to a farm pond.

Look at that.

What a pretty bass, healthy fish, big fish, eating well, fighting hard.

Doesn█t get any better than that.

You guys are, you know.

Was there another fish?

There was a bass right here.

I dropped it on a bass.

Did you see that?

I saw it.

Well, mine took off and then the other one came out right behind it.

We need a frog on this moss.

I like this bank right here, how it slopes out.

You can actually fish kind of out towards the middle a little bit.

There he is.

Yeah, You caught that one out off the bank.

I love how you know this pond.

You were raised on this pond.

You're like, Hey, cast out a little deeper.

You hooked up?

I█m hooked up.

I don't know how big it is, but it's a pretty good one.

Oh my.

Oh my.

Get him on the bank.

Get him on the bank.

All right, we got a double now.

You called it.

Look at that.

That's beautiful.

That is a beautiful deal right there.

Look at the eyeballs on him.

That's a beautiful fish.

You want to sniff it, Luna.

Wanna sniff it.

Great fish.

This is taking us to the homestretch.

Okay.

We ought to name it like a racetrack.

Yeah.

There you go.

I'll let it sink sometimes.

And then I'll pop it and get it spinning.

And then I'll hook the fish.

Glad you can show us how all how, Ohh!

Let█s go.

It's a giant.

That's a giant.

That█s a four pounder.

Oh that's a bigger than four pounder.

It's got a big old belly on it.

Look at that thing.

Let me make one cast.

Did you see my little pop that I put on it?

Yes, you did.

You said here█s what I like to do.

Right before I hook a five pounder.

I like to put a little pop on there, you know, tease them a little bit.

I can't thank you enough.

I never thought that I was going to come right here to central Kentucky and have one of the most incredible bass fishing experiences I've ever had in my entire life.

And to boot, I got to come here and tour, what a beautiful piece of property.

I share a lot of your same passions and your passions are straight Kentucky.

And look at that fish.

There's nothing better than farm pond bass fishing here in Kentucky.

We got the bass thumbs.

Mine's maybe a little more fragile.

Musician hands.

Thank you all for coming.

Beautiful week in the state of Kentucky.

1st of May, fish are pre-spawn.

What a great day.

It's been a blast.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for all you do.

Now let's check in and see who else has been out having fun in this week's ones that didn't get away.

Check out this beautiful 21 inch small mouth that was caught by Devin Stewart.

This fish was caught in Pike County, Kentucky.

Nice job.

Here we have Denise Henderson with her first turkey ever that she took on their farm in Boyle County.

Nice bird.

Three year old Raylan Butler knows how to have a good time.

That's to go out to the nearest farm pond and catch some bluegill in Breckenridge County.

Nice job.

Here we have Matthew Ringler with his very first turkey that he took on the opening day of turkey season this year in Owenton, Kentucky.

It had a 12 inch beard.

Nice job.

Check out this beautiful largemouth bass that was caught by Sean Glass on Will Green Lake in Richmond, Kentucky.

This fish was 5 pounds even.

Nice job.

Taylor Taber of Henderson County had some opening day turkey hunting success.

She said this bird came right off the roost.

Congratulations.

Here we have Carson Craig holding his first bass that he caught in a farm pond in Powell County.

Nice job.

Here we have Jim Stevens of Greenup County.

This turkey was harvested on his farm.

Weighed 22 pounds, with a 10.5in beard.

Nice job.

Are you looking forward to hunting here in Kentucky in the fall?

Well, maybe you should check out Elk Fest.

It's on May 9th, and it's in Bardstown, Kentucky.

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.