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 down to Kentucky Lake to do a little a hand grabbing for catfish.

Then we're going to grab our gigs and our spotlights and head out on a kayak for some bullfrogs.

But first, we're headed down the Nolin River Lake with Tom Perkins to throw some rapalas and do some old school bass fishing.

Oh, you got him.

There you go.

Nice fish.

I saw you set the hook.

I didn't know you had him.

Well, this beautiful spring morning, I'm out here with my old buddy, Tom Perkins.

Tom, we're here on Nolin Lake, and this is one of the several lakes that you crappie fish.

But today we're not crappie fishing, are we?

No, we're bass fishing.

When I talk to you, we keep in contact, and I find out the Crappie reports.

And you were like, well, I have a problem, this year.

What's your problem?

My problem is all the Crappie spots that I've got are on the bank.

They█re dry.

There's no fish in them.

The lake is so far down, you know.

Here we are.

It's in May, and the lake is still almost 15ft below where it's supposed to be, making it pretty rough to fish some of your traditional crappie spots.

So you had two choices, I guess.

Learn new spots or just pick up a rod and fish for someting different.

And it was the same thing last year.

We did no Crappie fishing in the spring.

You just got to do something else.

Yeah.

Now the Crappie are here, it's just you'd have to go learn all new spots because all the spots you used to fish this time of year, are like you say, they're dry.

Yeah.

So we're just going to ease down the bank this time of year.

Fish are usually up close.

They're either spawning or just barely post spawn.

And we're going to try to catch a couple fish.

Just old school fish.

Yeah.

Well, if you fish with me, you got to do old school.

I haven't got anything new in the whole boat.

Well, I'll tell you what, though.

I love fishing like this.

It's just instinctual fishing.

So let's make it happen.

Let's do one.

A little bass come up there and just looked at me.

It's amazing.

There'll be a fish not bigger than the bait that'll hit it.

Yeah, he still counts.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, one boiled at it.

Oh, here we go.

Good one.

He feels like a pretty good fish.

You want me to net him?

I think I think we're good.

Hey, I'll tell you what.

There's nothing more exciting than top water like that.

Then having them bell up right there around that stump.

Oh, he just come off right there.

I don't care if we catch them.

I just want to see them hit.

Oh, yeah.

That was quick and quick and didn't have my drag set exactly right.

But that there was a keeper fish.

Yeah, he was a keeper.

That was a 15 inch fish.

Oh!

Get him, brother.

Hit it as soon as they hit the water.

Just sucked it in, didn't he?

Good one.

Yeah, it feels about like that last one.

Maybe a little smaller.

Want me to net him?

Well, Lets just see him.

There we go.

looky there.

Let me net him so you don't get hooked.

All right.

I'd hate to have to bend one of my hooks on you.

There you go.

Thank you.

There you go.

Thank you sir.

That█s still a keeper.

There you go.

Nolin River bass.

I love watching fish hit top water.

Tom said that he's been catching these fish on these, Rapala or AC shiners or kind of balsa wood style baits.

The fun thing about it is when you catch these up there close to the bank, you just twitching it.

Letting it get under the water a little bit.

And you a lot of times as it floats back up, they just destroy it.

So this is just a real fun way to catch bass.

Yes it is, I love it.

This is a if I had to bass fish, which I do this year, this is what I like to do.

You know, it's it's a lot of fun.

The last one I lost, I think a little better than that one.

The ones that get away, always bigger.

They get bigger.

Yeah, they get bigger.

Well, let's get this one back in and try to hook another one.

Here we go.

I believe I got this one.

Largemouth.

Yep.

An old Kentucky.

Here we go.

Small large mouth.

We got fish here.

That's a pretty good fish right there.

Was that the worm, or was that though?

That was a Ropala.

All right.

Come up and jump.

Bill dance him.

There he comes.

There you go.

That's a better fish there.

Did he hit it as soon as he hit the water?

No, I twitched it about twice.

Nice.

That's a beautiful, beautiful fish.

Nice fish right there.

Now, can you tell?

Is that a is that a post spawned fish?

Nah, she hadn't spawned out yet.

You got him?

Got a little one.

But it is one.

That might be a Kentucky.

It is Kentucky.

Nice.

There you go.

Kentucky spotted bass.

That's another Kentucky.

There you go.

got that old worm now.

You're a little bit up off the bottom on that, aren't you?

Yeah.

That's a large mouth.

I try to fish it when I can't see it no more, I twitch it.

Gotcha.

That's a perfect post, spawn way to catch bass right there.

Yeah.

There he is.

Got him.

Decent fish.

Yeah.

What pound line you got?

8 pound leader.

You ought to be able to pick that fish up.

Yeah, I can, I got him.

Nice fish.

Come on back here.

Nice fish.

There you go.

Pretty fish.

Man.

I'll tell you what.

Tom reminds me so much of being out here fishing with my dad.

This is a technique that we used to do.

Yeah, so much I'm talking about in the 80s and 90s.

That's why I say it just takes me back.

It's just such a fun way to catch bass.

Oh, you got him.

There you go.

Nice fish.

I saw you set the hook.

I didn't know you had him.

Yeah.

Nice job.

Another large mouth.

Well, Tom, it's been a fun morning.

You've, You've taken me back in time, showing me the old ways that I used to fish, that I just really miss.

And it's a lot of fun.

Yes, it is.

It's simple.

Anybody can do it.

When we crappie fish, you keep things real simple as well.

I try to, it's like 1 or 2 baits, you know, you've got a certain way that you like to fish.

And if it works, why change?

Just ride the horse till he dies.

That's exactly right.

It's always fun.

It's been a great morning.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Noodling or hand grabbing for catfish is one of the most exciting outdoor experiences you'll ever have.

And the season comes in here in Kentucky on June the 1st.

We're down here at Kentucky Lake, noodling or hand grabbing catfish.

and I'm with, familiar face Will Brantley.

And one time.

I've been there with you before.

And when we had a blast.

there's a season for this.

We've talked about that before.

We're in the season but we're a little late aren't we?

We are, So we're here, I think it's the last day of June right now.

We're close to it.

And, I wouldn't expect it to be a little slower than it was last time you guys were here.

we don't have to catch many.

But we do have to catch one for this guy right here.

This is, Dan Walker, who's been a friend of mine for quite some time.

And you spend a lot of time in the water, haven't you?

I have, I was, I've been a firefighter in Indianapolis for 23 years.

And, of that, I was a scuba diver for, a little over 18 years.

Yeah.

Why did you want to do this?

You know, it's just something exciting.

I'm really comfortable in the water, you know, being a fireman.

just something exciting about it.

And adrenaline junkie, you know, and, hand wrestling a fish doesn█t getting better than that, it's it's there's no more primitive method of fishing is there?, That's it.

Find a fish.

Hold him in that hole.

Reach down, grab him and let him use your hand for bait.

Heck yeah.

Your wife told me to make sure you brought all your fingers back.

We can no promises yet.

But right now, they're all there.

Oh, yeah.

They're.

Look at that guy!

Holy moly!

Look at that.

Oh.

That's awesome.

We weren't sure we were going to get that fish out there.

Oh, I'll tell you what.

Tim did a great job.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Tim.

You got down there and.

Oh, man, I should tell you, you started kicking a little bit.

You were shaking a little bit.

I was like, he might be fighting something.

This guy's got an attitude.

We know, what you think about that Dan?

Oh, that a incredible adrenaline rush right there.

That is awesome.

that's a perfect size first catfish, because it's big enough to be pretty impressive.

You have to get your butt kicked on fish one.

That's it.

Yeah.

Now we'll go for an 80 pound.

Let's do it.

Oh that's great.

Well, I'll tell you what.

We're going to turn him lose, all right.

He█s gonna get Face to face.

Look at the catfish in the Beaty little eyeball This is what I like right here.

let me get my feet under me.

I got my thumb in his mouth.

You█re doing good.

Oh boom.

Got him.

Nice job.

Yeah.

Look at there.

Nice job buddy.

Thanks.

I'll tell you what.

Tell me, what's that?

What do you like?

What's the most fun about going out?

Can you take my googles?

Oh.

He's wrestling.

Oh, you got him?

Hey, hey.

It█s all right, we saw him.

He went right back.

Where we going to put him anyway?

You got.

You got proof?

I saw, you know, what just happened that just went from being 6 to 8 pounds.

18, 40 pounds.

Just that little real quick release.

Nice job.

Way to go.

Was that fun?

Tell me what you like about doing this out here with your mom and dad and your friends.

What do you think about this?

I like, feeling their squishy skin and getting in the mouth and grabbing it.

Yeah.

You ever tell your friends at school that, what you like to do on the weekends?

Yeah.

What do they say about that?

That's pretty cool.

That's pretty cool.

Well, that is pretty cool.

Your friends are right.

I'm really impressed.

No.

going like Alright Dan, this is a good one buddy, Let's get him.

Anz get ready.

You're getting ready to take a ride on that rock.

Because the whole rock is going to move.

Yeah.

Oh, there he was.

Oh, he's got him, he's got him.

Oh sticks up, sticks up.

You got him!

Oh you got hold on that rock.

That was awesome.

Oh, that was so much fun.

You want to lift him here like this?

Oh, what do you think about that?

Oh, my goodness, what a rush.

And that was so much fun.

You said you wanted to come catch a catfish.

We got maybe more than what we bargained for?

Oh I love that fight too though.

That was fun.

I love it so much fun.

Bubbles are coming out.

We could feel it thrashing under under the under the rock that you had him or he had you.

He had me more or less.

I was just holding on.

Well, have you ever caught one on a Rod and real this size?

No.

Oh Lord heavens no no.

that is a great.

That is a great fish.

look pretty awesome trophy.

Look at it.

Though you can see there's crushers in there.

You're just reaching in.

And I got a lip right here.

And he can see that lip right there.

What he's doing is he's sticking that stick in there.

He's turning that stick down under that lip and just pulling him out and run his hand down the stick and then grabbing and putting their hand in.

And there.

Like that.

Yeah.

All right buddy?

Yeah.

It's a little wrestling match.

Anz, you can hit the face?

Yeah, That's pretty much what he was doing under water.

You all right?

What a trophy catfish.

Well, you guys ready to turn it loose?

Ready?

That was awesome.

Wow.

Oh, awesome.

Oh, that was great, man.

Let█s go catch this catfish.

You're ready buddy.

Go get ready to catch fish.

I'll be your wingman.

this one a lot of times they'll they'll bite your hand.

Okay, No, no, I didn't sound that big.

Now that one sounded bigger!

He's still down there.

Maybe.

Maybe two.

He's got a fish.

I hit him, but he didn't hit it.

Let me get my stick.

Turn right.

Oh!

He just come out of there.

Come out!

He knocked your shoe off on the way.

Yeah.

All right.

So we had a another hole right here.

Yeah.

Oh, there he is.

Come on, bring him out of there buddy.

He's got it.

Oh, he's trying to come up.

Got him?

You got hold of him?

I do, yes.

Oh!

Oh!

Oh!

Oh, you.

You had him out though!

Yeah.

Oh, man.

Oh, that was a big one too.. Yeah.

He's twisted loose there, Yeah, well, I had my hands in his jaw and then you had him out, I'm like, okay, he's got him, because I only had the three fingers.

I'm like, I don't want to get a broken fingers.

Dang it.

Yes!

I saw him though man that was awesome.

Oh, Oh, you think you got another fish in there?

I hope.

We definitely get another one in here.

Oh, we do?

Do you need a little bit longer stick?

I█ve got this fish halfway out of the hole by the tail.

Dragging him up.

Just very still.

He's docile, but I gotta get up to his head.

I got my foot still in the hole.

You got it?

Oh, there it is.

Hey.

Oh, it's a nice fish.

Holy cow.

I can feel the tail.

And I scooped that fish out.

Swiped him toward me.

And got ahold of his tail and pulled him halfway out.

And he just laid there late, and I went, man, as soon as I grabbed this fish█s head, he's going to lose his mind.

I'll tell you one thing.

there's a million ways you can catch a fish.

You know, people have been doing it for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Thousands and thousands of years.

But there's probably not a more exciting way than just reaching in and grabbing right by the face and pulling that fish out.

You reach in that hole, It's pitch black, and you think that that thing's laying in there quite waiting for your hand?

It's pretty cool.

You know, when Dan first saw this and he was like, that's something I really want to try.

And I was like, well, I've got I've got a guy for you.

We just got to line it up.

Was it everything he thought it'd be?

It was everything and more.

Yeah.

You definitely created a fan of me!

Well, I didn't do so hot today, but I did get my hands on a couple fish.

And I'll tell you what.

It's, it's an experience that you'll never forget.

And I'm sure you're going to be telling these stories for a while.

You know, catfish noodling is.

It's hard.

You know.

It is.

Yeah.

Oh, definitely.

I mean, they█re such a just a cool fish.

I mean, look, big old beautiful, almost marbleized.

Looking size on that fish.

A lot of people will catfish their whole life and not catch a fish that size, on a line, rod and reel.

And today we've got 3 or 4 fish that are over 20 pounds.

Yeah, for sure.

So cool.

And all of them are being released.

Hopefully this won't be the last time, right?

That I have a hand in this fish's mouth.

Hey, man, I thank you so much.

Oh yeah.

You got such a thank you all for coming.

Thank you for what you do.

It's such a great group of guys that are coming down here.

True conservationists, you know, you You're raising your kids to be in the outdoors to truly Anz by his age, he's already done some things that some people will never get a chance to do, so Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Yeah.

Kentucky's frog gigging season is now in, and that's a great way to get out at night and beat the heat.

And by the way, frog legs are delicious.

Sitting out here waiting for it to get dark.

The anticipation is getting pretty serious.

It is.

It is.

So what are we doing tonight?

We are frog gigging beaver lake tonight.

We are here at Beaver Lake.

Now, this is a state owned lake, and I don't know how big Beaver Lake is.

Probably 100 acres or so.

It's around 150, something like that.

Okey, 150 acres.

And the best way to access this lake is by kayak?

I think so.

A lake this size, where you can kind of get in and navigate the lake, it's tailor made for this.

It's perfect for it.

It really is.

It's almost kind of lazy.

You're not walking through the tall grass getting ticks on you and fight willow bushes.

I really enjoy it.

I think you're going to like it.

I'm excited that you reached out to us and said, hey, man, I got an opportunity.

Let's go give it a try.

The frogs are here.

Oh they are.

We've already heard them.

Yeah, they're right over here right now.

Yeah.

All right, let me help you get your kayak and you can help me.

We'll get rolling.

All right.

Thank you.

One right underneath the walkway.

Yeah, I see that one.

Oh, yes.

We got one.

Boy he█s barely on there.

Ryan, we finally got one.

I. I didn't, I wasn't sure in this moss we were going to be able to ever get close enough without pushing the moss and scaring them under.

But, it's a pretty good frog.

It is.

Ready.

Man, the bugs are out, that's for sure.

Yeah, absolutely.

Oh, there's one.

Oh.

Is he on there?

We█re just pushing them underwater.

Oh.

I'm acting like a rookie.

I got a big one right here.

All right.

Oh my goodness, that's impressive.

Man.

I about threw myself out of the kayak.

Oh, man.

You had a good jab on him.

Oh, there's a big bullfrog right there.

That raccoon would eat that bullfrog given the chance.

You got that one.

Finally.

Nice job.

I'm sorry, Mr.

Raccoon, but that one was mine.

Yeah, yeah.

You see him?

Yeah.

Yeah, I see him.

That sounds pretty promising.

You get him?

Oh, no.

He come off the end.

Went through all that, grabbed his leg and he jumped off.

Oh oh.

I poked him right under.

Nice.

Got one.

That right there is a gig.

Good job.

What do you know?

Boy.

My goodness.

Nice shot.

Oh, man.

We'll take it.

Alright, nice job.

Thank you.

Well, Ryan, this was definitely a lot of fun.

It was a learning experience.

It was a lot of fun.

This is one of those things where, you know what the debris in the algae in the water can definitely make this much more difficult.

Yeah, but, you know, we saw a good number of frogs.

The frogs are here.

They are absolutely here.

The frogs are here.

And you know what?

Going by kayak is is a really good way to get at them because you can cover so much water you really can.

You can slip right up to them.

Just unfortunately tonight we had some obstacles.

Hey, but you know what?

You got enough frogs to fill a skillet.

We sure do.

So you're in, going to be.

We're in good shape, and hey, thank you so much for showing me this.

Yeah, thank you for having me on.

I appreciate it.

Definitely a lot of fun.

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 how excited Arabella Applegate was to catch this big bluegill.

She said she got out between rainstorms and caught this nice fish.

Nice job.

Here we have 11 year old Martin Gamble, who went bass fishing at Paintsville Lake and caught this nice fish.

Congratulations.

Riley Harrison got out on the opening day of Turkey season in Anderson County with her dad and took this nice turkey.

Congratulations.

Levi Warner from Todd County is excited that school's out.

He said he's sleeping, eating and fishing every single day.

Here he is with a nice 4 pound bass that he caught from his farm pond.

Check out this big bluegill that's being held by Emma Applegate.

She said she loves to bluegill fish, and I don't blame her.

Sandy Carrick headed out to Lake Cumberland and caught this nice smallmouth bass while throwing a Senko.

Nice job Beilein Bower got out on Kentucky Lake and caught these two beautiful largemouth bass.

Nice fish.

Kentucky summer is now in full swing and the lakes are starting to fill up.

Now's a great time to get out on the water with your family and make some memories.

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.