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 headed out on the Ohio River to showcase a catfishing technique called bumping.

But first, we're headed to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to join up with the young man who was drawn for a bull elk tag.

Tonight, I'm out here on the night before the bull elk season.

In Knott county with my old fishing buddy yeah Jonah Hurst.

Jonah, you got drawn for a bull elk tag, and you called me up and you were like, you're not going to believe this.

I just got drawn for a bull tag.

And man, everything has been crazy since then hasn█t it?

Yeah.

I mean, when I got drawn, I was like, I really I didn't really know what to do.

I was really excited about it.

I mean, it was a shock, like, my entire life.

I mean, all my family, we've all put in for it, I just don't know how, but I got drawn.

Well, you█ve been a fisherman for a long time.

We've crappie fished together.

I know you do a lot of kayak fishing.

You just kind of started deer hunting 3 or 4 years ago, though, right?

Yeah.

I mean, I just started bow hunting three years ago.

Yeah.

And I remember you telling me, and you're a wildlife artist, so I've seen some some of your stuff at the state fair, and, and, I know you've really kind of focused on fishing, and then I've seen this transition into bow hunting, and you're getting excited about that now.

Bull elk hunting, this is a whole different ballgame.

I'm way out of my league here.

But hey, I'll give it a shot.

You've been shooting.

You've been getting ready.

You feel like you're good out to 350.

Maybe even a little more.

Yep.

So now it's just all about getting some rest.

Hopefully the fog doesn't fog us in, and I hope we can get on that bull we've been saying because it's a dandy isn█t it?

it's a it's a monster.

Brandon, and this is our third or fourth hunt here.

And tonight was a little different than any other night before the opening season.

We normally pull in, start on loading our gear, and we set around camp for a while and go glass that last half hour.

But man, the temperature has changed the last two days.

We're getting our stuff unloaded and someone's like, hey, that bull that I think you guys are chasing.

He's out.

Want to go see him?

And away we went.

Right.

What a bull!

That was, I mean, we've been saying that bull for.

roughly two months now.

We had a lot of video back early season.

Him still in velvet.

Kind of disappeared.

He's moved totally different areas and we've just been glass.

And we picked him back up and just kind of stayed on him.

Yeah.

You know he's he's hung right in there.

But it's great.

He's the one we're wanting.

He has a bunch of cows with him.

He's passing on those those big bull genetics.

And, you know, we saw a lot of elk for the hour we were out there.

You guys have a good number of elk here.

More so than what a lot of other people are seeing.

But you also have the terrain that you can see long distances.

Property maintenance.

You gotta give them the habitat they want.

And the weirdest thing is, is that you were telling me this year has been so much different in years past because you've had archery hunters out, been successful.

You've not heard a bugle this year?

We haven't.

We've heard one bugle early season.

I mean, that was last weekend and it was just one single bugle.

That may have been another hunter.

We don't know.

Kind of mind blowing if you're hunting timber, which a lot of elk hunters will be this weekend.

Acorns are starting to fall.

If you're hunting timber, you may hunt all weekend and think I never got within a mile of a bull.

They're just not being vocal.

They may be bedded down at the end of the ridge.

you never know.

We saw them and still never heard them.

Right.

Are you're going to call tomorrow because they're not being vocal are you gonna?

It's, we'll see how the weather's playing out tomorrow.

If it's a foggy morning, we're not getting no visual to be able to pick up from a distance.

If that's the case, then yeah, we'll we'll have to try something.

But I mean he's with 25 or so cows.

Yeah.

By himself and he was active.

I think if he hears another bull in the morning, they I mean he'd be obligated have to.

Yeah.

Well I hope we can get him fired up.

It'd be great hear a couple bugles.

I know that that was the very first time Jonah█s ever seen a bull elk in the state of Kentucky.

Or any wild elk.

You█re living the dream.

I, it couldn't be any better, guys.

hearing one bugle would just be icing on the cake.

If we can get in range and make this happen.

I agree.

I think we can do this.

We made our way down this, this little road.

This is then spot we were glassing yesterday.

The elk have moved from our left to our right.

And there█s a cow right here.

We know that big bull is hanging with that cow.

We Just spotted her.

We█re close.

Now, we gotta find that big bull.

He's most likely, he█s right here with her.

This is the most exciting part of an elk hunt.

When you know, your close.

But you can█t see them.

You wanna move, to get a better vantage point.

But every step you take, could ruin your hunt.

So the wind was supposed to be coming out of the Northeast, but in these mountains, you never know when it's going to change, and our wind is swirling.

And it's coming down this ridge, taking our scent in their direction.

Not a perfect situation.

But on a rifle hunt, we might be able to hold tight, and still get in range.

That was the first elk bugle we've heard.

Bull█s right here.

You got him?

Ya█ll ready?

Yes.

He█s down.

Hey, how do you feel about shot?

That was, That was so quick?

We just literally got over their shoulder.

Was that the bull that bugled?

Yes.

How do you feel about the shot?

It looked good.

You could see that front shoulder.

He drawed it in.

These type of hunts here in eastern Kentucky, you've got these bowls and these ridges.

And no matter what the wind says, it's always a little different.

So we're making a way down here.

And for a while we were at a wind disadvantage.

The wind was coming and I was like, oh my gosh, this would not be a possibility for archery hunt But we're using these ridges and these bushes and brush and trying to not get, Skylined and making our way down.

Got in range.

We knew the cows were right here.

We just hadn't visually seen the bull.

And when you get an opportunity, you got to stand up to take it really quick.

So Brandon saw the bull, dude.

I will say one thing, Jonah.

You're about as quick on a trigger.

Last night we were practicing and you come up and I was like, all right.

And I put my thing up and I'm getting ready to cover my ears and the boom.

I'm like, well, you got up here and you're like, I know the mission.

The mission is right there when.

Did it take you a second to find them?

Yeah, well, he's like, he's like, he's out there.

I'm like, Range?

Where's he at?

He was right there.

You didn█t have to range out that one.

He was right there!

What do you think 150 yards?

Maybe a little more?

Right when I put that scope on him, I could see his antlers.

187.

187.

So, Jonah, tell me about the anticipation coming down this hill.

And then did you hear the bugle?

Yeah.

So that's my first bugle I've ever heard in my life.

I felt it.

I mean, so when you're like, oh my gosh.

Because we've seen a couple cows, we're making our way down.

You're not even sure the bulls with them.

We're pretty sure.

This time of year dictates that the bulls are going to be with the cow.

Yeah.

when you see that bull and he set those sticks up and says he's right there.

Tell me what went through your mind.

I just had to make sure to put one in him.

I couldn't let my adrenaline get to me yet.

yeah.

That barrel was only shaking a little bit.

Let's hope you shook it right in there.

I think so.

It felt pretty good.

Look at that.

What do you think about that?

What do you think about that?

That is the prettiest thing.

You had no idea what this year had in store for you.

No.

You got drawn in and you're like, hey, where do I start?

But now all your time, effort, energy on scouting, picking a zone.

Finding out if you're going to do a guide or a do it yourself.

All the work that you put in and the choices you made all paid off perfectly.

And look what you got.

Oh my goodness, Jonah, I know you've been dreaming about this day for about 4 or 5 months now.

And you said you didn't really sleep that much last night, and you were looking at On X and trying to figure out where they were moving.

You know, we got out here this morning, and these bull█s were not more than a couple hundred yards from where we left em█ last night.

what's your thoughts now?

I mean, after all the time wondering how this is going to be now, you know.

What's your thoughts?

I'm speechless.

I mean, but when we walked up there and we got past those cows and he said, get ready, get ready.

And I looked up and I seen, I seen these through the scope.

I just like, I can't believe it█s here.

Yeah.

And, just getting the, walking up on them just, this is something I'll never forget.

Well, guys, it all came together.

You know, we started out last night.

We got in and came out and actually put us on this animal with a bunch of cows didn█t we?

We did.

We did.

So you kinda had a basic idea where they were at, and that, interestingly enough, That was the very first time you'd ever seen a bull elk in state of Kentucky.

Yeah.

And we got out this morning not too far from where we last seen them, and ended up seeing a couple cows.

Tell us about that.

But you were thinking this bull is close.

Yeah, that's what we.

I mean, we first came down, we seen those 3 or 4 cows.

That kind of had me a little sketch cause last night we seen what, 20 plus cows?

Yeah.

And we've seen a few on next Ridge over had 2 or 3.

Yeah.

I was like it kind of worried me that it might have pushed those out, but sure enough, we heard that bugle this morning And then the bugle happened.

So now we know, we don't know what's this bull, but we know there's a bull there.

So you knew for sure.

Okay.

This is this is the one I'm after.

Oh yeah.

So you didn't hesitate.

Didn't second guess.

There was no hesitation.

So fast that, you know, we never even got the camera up there ready to go.

But in this situation, the last thing we want to do is mess up an opportunity.

So I told you last night, this is your hunt.

We're going to get what we get with the camera.

when the time is right, You take the shot.

I mean time with the essence.

I mean, he already had some cows headed down.

And I mean, when he came back up.

We know what he was doing, he was trying to herd his last few cows.

There's two cows back on this side of him.

And between us and him, he was trying to round them back up.

He was already broadside, so we knew right when those cows passed, he was turning and going with them.

Now or never.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, I know you've been excited.

Looking forward to this hunt.

today was the fog came in where the bull was standing gave you a perfect opportunity to get a 200 yard shot.

And for Elk Hunt, 200 yards.

What else can you ask for?

Right.

That's the money.

That's right where you want to be.

You put a good shot on it.

Well, guys, you did a fantastic job.

And it was it was so much fun to get, to experience this.

let's get this thing out.

Let's do it.

When you think of catfishing, many people think about throwing a bait out and letting it sit.

But when you go bumping, it's actually like bass fishing, but in reverse.

This is a new dam on the Ohio River.

Yes it is.

So this is an area I've never fished before, but you've been catching some really nice catfish down there.

Yes, we have.

Last 2 or 3 weeks been, fish have been really good down here.

We█ve been catching a lot of numbers and a lot of good quality fish.

A lot of fish in the mid 20 pound range or, low 30s.

We're in between fronts right now.

And the water flows good today.

And we got a big cold front coming in.

Tomorrow afternoon.

So fishing ought to be pretty, pretty good today, I would think.

We're spot locked here, you know, pretty good current.

I think we outa get some bait, cut up and get after here.

Skipjack herring.

Asian carp.

Yeah, all that was caught out of the The Ohio River.

When you're catfishing and you want to fish for it, you want to use what bait they eat.

The way I hook these skipjack heads just come up.

Come up there like that and run out the nose.

And these, cut baits like this because if I throw them out there and then guts is the best part there is just for scent, and I'll just wrap around that hook there, come up through the top here like that.

You up two ounce sinker.

And then we got, you know maybe about a that's probably you know, 25, 30 inch, maybe leader at the most.

Okay.

Usually, I want my hook, my hook dropper, pretty close to the bottom of that.

We gotta little swivel up here.

They call the we use a rolling t-swivel.

Okay.

The boat's anchored right now.

And you just slowly you just slowly drop this down key to this bumping deal is having multiple sized sinkers.

Because if you don't have multiple sized sinkers, you can't get it right.

You don't want this bait zipping back here too fast and you don't want it just sitting there either.

So I'm not quite on bottom yet.

There.

I hit bottom there.

And then a trick to this is once you're feeling, and you just feeling that sinker, just barely feeling like a flick down there, it's just real soft.

And then as I'm going that I'm just I got my thumb bar engaged, I'm just feeling that bottom.

And as that current's taking pushing that bait back, I'm just letting it go, letting it go back.

I'm just slipping a little bit of line outa my thumb there and.

And we'll just keep walking back.

I tell people when they're first learning this, you can't get this bait far enough back from the boat.

But with that being said, you have to be able to feel that sinker hit bottom.

If you're not feeling that sinker, hit bottom and you're just you're not in that strike zone.

You got to be in that strike zone.

And it just takes time and practice on being able to do it right there's one.

right there.

Let's see.

There he is.

You already got him, You already got a fish hooked up, just giving us a demonstration.

Get the net here.

Good start, fish probably about a 8, 9 pounder there.

Look how fat that fish is.

You think they're like they're feeding up for the fall?

It's a beautiful day.

Sun coming up right now.

We're just.

Just getting started.

Yes, just getting started.

Let's see what he weighs here.

All right, little heavier than I thought.

Right at 10 pounds, 10 pound, 10 pound fish.

There you go.

Beautiful fish.

Nice fish.

Let him go.

There he is.

You got him now.

You're fine.

You sure you're fine?

I got a bite right now too.

Double up.

Got a double?

Oh, we just come off.

No swimming right toward us.

Got a double.

Haven't been here 20 minutes.

Swimming right toward me.

Switch sides with you now.

Now, who gets the net?

Whoever this fish is bigger, man.

They're such strong fish.

Oh.

I ain█t used to reeling fish in either.

So, man, you were way back there.

Oh, this nice fish here.

This.

Oh, yeah.

Probably 16, 17 pounder here.

I think I got about the same size fish, same size.

Here, let me help you out.

If you want this net.

I got it.

You got it.

We█ll just lip them like they do the bass fishing here.

Look at the belly on that thing.

Do you think he's fish for you now?

Good lord, look at that.

I mean, look at that belly.

Almost 25.

We have had a bite on every single bump backwards so that, that tells you, it's on.

That is some, Ohio river catfish at it█s finest right there.

That is amazing.

And I'll tell you what, it's so strong.

I mean, we just literally we just caught 40 pound of catfish.

Yeah, just in 45 pound of catfish.

It█d be a good start for a tournament.

Yeah, it sure would release these jokers and let them let them grow.

Especially the ones Chad█s got.

He█s gone.

Look at that.

Big old fat joker.

Healthy fish.

Probably 12 pounds.

Yeah, right at it.

This is something you really want to give it a try before you buy, you know, just all the gear.

Higher a guide, come out here and learn it because, you might end up buying a bunch of stuff that you realize that's not exactly what you needed in the first place.

We█re catching 25 pounders, wondering where the big ones are it.

Yeah.

That's spoiled is what that is.

You know something, Chad's getting into this.

When we first started, he was willing to net my fish.

Now, he hadn't even brought it up yet.

Oh, yeah.

You see it?

Another 20?

Oh, yeah.

You got a nice fish.

Oh, yeah, I got nice.

He's he's he's man.

He's mid 20s.

Look how long that fish is.

That is a long fish right there.

We're going to break 30 pounds.

We keep messing around here.

He█s a 22.

That's a good fish man.

What a beautiful fish.

He can go tell all his friends it was well worth it.

Go ahead and eat you some of that.

Yeah.

All right.

We're going to move in some faster current here.

And then, we're actually going to drift back as as we're walking these baits behind us, we're going hunting for the big fish.

We're going after some bigger blues.

Oh, you got more of a bite.

You're hooked up.

Oh, look at this.

Another double.

It's stripping some line here.

Yeah, yeah.

Go ahead and get some reels on him if you can.

Yeah.

Get that rod up.

I got mine about here in the boat.

So we'll pull that hook out.

Let him wear himself down a little bit.

There's mine.

We'll chuck him back.

There he is.

Oh, yeah.

Oh this could be big fish of the day right there.

Got him.

Touch our 30 pound to be nice.

Get at least a 30 on film.

Moved over here.

First spot doubled.

Doubled on our very first cast.

It isn█t always like it.

You know?

I mean, it's good fishing, but this this is right now... Look at that.

That fish is going to hit 30 isn█t he.

It's a nice fish.

This is that is a nice fish.

Oh god.

He's got beat me.

he's, 37, 37.

He's gone.

I think that might be the biggest catfish I█ve ever caught.

I'm not sure.

I've caught 1 or 2 close to that size.

Yeah, he's he's almost pushing 38.

Wow, what a fish.

What a fish.

That is why we get up at 4:00 in the morning, right there.

To chase that big sucker right there.

It just doesn't.

It never gets old.

Been doing this a long time.

There he is.

It's a feeding frenzy today.

You have to experience this to get an understanding for how strong these fish are.

This is him.

Oh my goodness.

Yeah, I'd say that's a good one.

There we go.

lord.

Upper 40s.

Big ol█... Wow.

What a fish bumping on the Ohio River.

There you go.

Oh, what a fish.

He's 43, 43 pounds.

Just a beautiful, beautiful fish.

We're pushing 200 pounds on our best five fish today.

We're closing in when the weather█s right.

Catfishing is all about river conditions, river, river level.

And, you get you put fresh bait on there and you learn that technique and opportunities are endless.

So we're going to getting back in the water here.

We're very lucky here in Kentucky.

We've got all these miles, the Ohio River and some Mississippi River.

And all you got to do is get out here and get below one of these dams, find you a deep hole of water, and give bumping a try.

When you have a bite like this or anything like it.

And, it really puts, catfish on a map on what it can be and what it can produce.

And that's why we do it.

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 impressive bull elk that was taken by Galena Burris in Knott County, Kentucky.

She said this bull was taken at 400 yards.

Nice job.

Looks like six year old Gabriel Smith made an excellent shot with a crossbow on this nice buck in Marion County, check out this unique catch from nine year old Ella millsaps.

He caught this 42 inch American eel while fishing on the green River.

Nice job.

Check out the long time length on this beautiful mainframe eight pointer that was taken by Dalton Mathis.

Nice job.

Are you looking for a clean and lean, sustainable source of protein?

Well, maybe you should give venison a try.

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.

Kentucky's fall hunting seasons have a lot to offer.

Way to go, girl.

From early mornings chasing white tailed deer to the fast paced action of duck hunting and the camaraderie of small game and rabbit hunts, Kentucky has something for everyone.

Give waterfowl a shot on one of the state's scenic lakes rivers, or venture out for a wild turkey or up contact.

There's no shortage of outdoor adventure in the Bluegrass State.

There they go.

Fall is the season for unforgettable homes, breathtaking landscapes and traditions that bring us together.

That's a great shot.

Make this fall in Kentucky your best one yet.

Oh!