This week on Kentucky Afield.

We're in the far western region of the state on the Ohio River bottom bouncing cut bait for blue catfish.

Then archery season is here and we couldn't be more excited for it.

In fact, there's a good chance that we're in the woods filming a new hunt at this very moment.

But for now, we're looking back at one of our favorite hunts from the past few years.

It's all next on Kentucky Afield.

Hello and welcome to Kentucky Afield.

I'm your host, Chad Miles.

Join us as we journey the commonwealth in search of outdoor adventure.

First up, we're headed out to Western Kentucky in search of catfish with Captain Ben Goebel.

Close to the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers.

Well, today is a day that I have really been looking forward to.

This is actually my second time out fishing with Captain Ben Goebel and last time we smoked 'em.

Yep.

We absolutely crushed the fish.

So we're actually at the exact same location.

And I've been keeping up with your Facebook posts.

You have been catching some really big fish this year.

We've had a great year.

So far.

Really couldn't ask for a better year.

Our our numbers have really been good this year.

Well, I'll tell you what.

We like to showcase some different things.

We're going to fish similar styles than we did last time.

And it's called bumping.

That's right.

And bumping.

The best way you described it to me is if you're a bass fisherman, it's like reverse dragging a jig.

Right?

That's pretty much like it.

if you guys if people like to bass fish, usually my first question when I get customers aboat: Do you like the bass fish?

And they say, yeah.

So you're going to like the way we fish, its just backwards when you're retrieving a jig or worm or Texas rig and a worm back to you.

Instead of that.

It's it's reverse.

You're walking it down the river.

I fully expect that we're going to catch some fish and big quality fish.

I've been out with you one time.

And that's that's what I've that has been my experience.

And I've watched your Facebook page and it's like my God, he did it again.

There's another 50 pounder.

It's it's amazing how you locate big fish.

Well, let's- I say we- suns coming up here.

I say we've got a beautiful day.

It's going to be a hot day.

It's going to be hot.

Let's hope the Fish are as hot as- The sunscreens on sunglasses are in the boat, I'm wearing some long sleeves try to keep the sun off me.

We got we got fresh skipjack so I say we go get after it.

let's do it.

The way I like to hook these skipjack there's a little- Yeah.

Lip right there.

Just come up there.

Come right out the nose.

All right.

What type of flow you think we got today?

Miles per hour?

We're.

We're looking here pretty good.

You want me to go on ahead and give her- make it happen?

Yeah just drop straight down.

All right.

How deep are we fishing today?

We're going to be enough.

30 to 60.

All right, now.

I just felt the bottom.

Yep.

And then.

And then remember when you want to let it out, you just let it out as you're coming up with your bump.

Something just tapped my- Yeah, I got one tap on mine too.

Got a fish on?

Think it came off.

Now he might still be.

most important fish of the day.

That's right.

Number one.

He found him a little treat today didn't he?

Kind've a little morning pop tart this morning.

He found a trick, and a treat.

Here he is.

There you go.

Five pounder.

I'll tell you what- Right there Nice fish.

That's what you want to take home and eat right there.

That's perfect eater fish right there.

And then you can range from 5 lbs on that big of a piece of bait to 100 huh?

Yeah, he just this one, this little guy is just get going.

So, going back, and get our bait on them Oh, yeah.

I see your rod tip going there.

Yeah.

Here you go.

Little better fish.

Here you go.

I saw that rod tip bouncing.

Come over on this side, Chad.

You got it loose?

Yeah, I'm loose.

Okay.

Let me tell you, I'm.

I'm out there about to the boat ramp.

Need a net?

No, I don't think so.

Let's see what you got here.

This is a.

You think only about 15 lbs, you say?

Yeah he's- You called it.

10, 12.

You called it.

About ten.

You know, this fish here, he's been fighting a little bit, just a little spot on him from from spawn.

And you see his mouth a little bit, but very healthy Fish.

That is a good fish.

Hey, you doubled from fish one to fish two.

We're steadly just getting up so- and just a beautiful fish here, the sun on him like that and then it just never gets old catching them.

I don't even care for this size right here.

Just all colors on him.

Starting to hit that bottom.

It's just like knocking on the door.

Yep.

You're using six ounces of lead.

You'd think it would happen really quick and easy, but when you got a flow like we got.

Yeah.

It's like you think you find it right away, but when you- You do feel it, there's no doubt.

Okay, there you go.

There we go.

Good job.

Uh oh, here we go.

You got one, too?

Oh, now it's on.

I don't think he's there, its a small bite.

We about made her a double.

Yep.

It was a small bite.

This one might be more like eight or eight or nine pounder.

Yeah, right there.

There you go.

You get more fish than you get the bait.

Tell you what, still such a huge fight.

You think you want to come out here everybody goes "I want to catch a 50 pounder."

You might change your mind when you get him hooked up.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, he's probably six.

he's eight 8 lbs?

Yeah.

You start looking at the length of that fish and you go, well, okay, that fish probably what do you think, 28 inches long or..?

Probably not quite that.

He's probably 24, probably 24 or 21.

I'll tell you what now, maybe I'm getting the hang of it.

Maybe I'll get another one here real quick.

I tell you what, being a rookie of this or only my second time doing it.

It's amazing with a little extra weight you can really.

Really, really feel it.

Oh, in reality, you know, we like to get them baits back there, but you can still catch fish up here, close to the boat.

The main thing is in order to catch fish.

You have to feel it.

Yeah.

You got to be able to feel that bottom at all times as you start getting better at it than we like- When I run trips and stuff and we lighten up your sinker as the day goes on.

Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.

There he is.

I guess what I'm all about down here at the boat ramp.

Yeah, i see him way out there.

Oh yeah, yeah.

This kind of fishing, you got all kinds of time to get the net.

Yeah.

Lollygag around, come back here.

Still 100 yards out.

We got him now.

Gave you a workout, huh?

It is.

I mean, that is a really solid quality fish.

Good and healthy.

That's a that's a really nice fish, though.

Yeah.

We're gonna get this dude back.

Here we go.

Yeah, yeah.

Right, right there.

See him right there on top of the water.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

He's 8, 18.

That's nice.

Got him?

Nice.

That's why you do it.

good job.

Look at that fish.

What do you notice about that fish?

Look at its eye.

Yeah.

I'll be dang.

There aint an eyeball In there.

Yeah.

He been hurt probably before.

Look, no eyeball.

It's probably been- I have.

I've only seen that one time.

That fish has been that fish has been hooked and or something the eye has been removed and it's literally healed over.

And there is no eye.

there's a skin.

Just skin.

But you know what?

These fish, they work so much on scent and smell.

this fish is still very healthy and living his life.

No eyeball.

check that out.

Oh, one eyed fish.

The one eyed fish.

You got a fish?

Yeah, that a good one?

I don't know.

He's staying down.

Oh, yeah.

We got a little drag here.

No, he's not wanting me to see him.

he's going to be a nice fish.

There you go.

Let's see here.

Oh, you got him.

Nice fish.

Upper upper 20.

That's the ones we're after, right there.

Yeah.

That's right.

Right there.

Beautiful fish.

Man.

Look how much when they once they get about the length of the last one they just for a while start getting really thick, look how wide and thick that fish is.

All right, let's see what he weighs.

Right at 28, 28 lbs.

I mean, that's just a typical trophy blue cat right there.

I mean.

What a beautiful, beautiful fish.

We're gonna we're going to get him.

Get him released here.

You got him?

Same old size today.

12, 13 pounder.

That's the slot today.

Seems like.

just a beautiful fun fish that will for most for most people unless you are an avid cat fisherman that sized fish believe it or not in this current.

Oh yeah.

Will absolutely give you all the fight you want.

Yeah.

12 lbs And if you hook into a 40 or 50 pounder, you might be done for the day.

Yeah.

So, wow, I'll tell you what, you, you, you've.

You've never let me down.

I've been down here and done this with you twice.

And every single time we come down here, we get plenty of bites.

Obviously.

Yeah, there's bigger fish.

Obviously we catch bigger fish, but some days it's just tough.

You know, today we got a big south wind, if you know what you're doing.

And you know, from April all the way through October, November, a guy can come out here and catch fish.

No doubt about it.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has quite a few individuals across the state that are private lands biologists, and that's something that you kind of work with those individuals to help the habitat of individual landowners for wildlife sake, right?

Yes, Chad, the state of Kentucky is 95, 95, 94% privately owned.

And its important, if we're going to manage wildlife across the state to ensure that we'rew managing the private lands.

So we have 17 biologists across the state to provide guidance to the private landowners and with the hope is that they can write a plan for you free of charge to incorporate wildlife management practices into their everyday operation, not to take their land out of production of any type of farm aspect, but to incorporate wildlife friendly practices into their operation for sustained populations.

Every one of those land uses have an option that you can incorporate wildlife management into it and not only provide wildlife habitat, but increase your profitability of your farm by doing certain practices.

So that's what the key to our program is not to take away, but to add by by implementing some of these practices in your everyday management.

So if you're a landowner and you thought, Man, I'd like to, I'd like to do a few things different without affecting my productivity to help wildlife.

It's a pretty easy way to get started, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

So you simply go to our web page, go to My County Contact, select your county.

It's usually about the bottom line of the private lands biologist and all their contact information is there of who you can contact to start the process.

And once you reach out to them, they're going to help write a plan based on what you want to do on your property.

Right?

Yes, correct.

It's not our objectives.

It's your objectives that we're trying to meet.

Again, if you're not happy with it, you won't sustain it.

Therefore, you'll take away all the gains we made.

The idea behind this is to make wildlife a byproduct of how you manage your property.

So.

So that every day you're doing something, you're actually helping wildlife.

That's the idea behind what the biologist is hopefully going to provide you.

The great news is, is that there are some programs with some additional funding that you may qualify and you have some focal areas that have some additional funding that's available that you can actually help individuals maybe meet their goals and help fund it a little bit as well.

Right.

Yeah, there's well, we have funding across the whole state.

So if you're in one of those areas, look for some mailings and some outreach material that may come to you, letting you know what's available.

But again, across the state, there's opportunities for funding to help you with practices.

I'll tell you what, I appreciate everything you guys do.

I get out on a lot of land in the state of Kentucky and I can always tell when I'm on a piece of property that they're working with the department.

There's more wildlife and it just seems to be more productive land.

So I appreciate everything you guys do Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

It makes it great for an outdoorsman, I'll tell you that.

For more information on how to improve your land for wildlife, visit fw.ky.gov, click "Wildlife", and then scroll down and select "Improve your land for wildlife" or call 1-800-858-1549.

Deer archery season is now in and I cannot wait to hit the woods.

For now, though, let's take a look back at one of my past buck hunts where we needed a little help from a tracking dog.

The leaves are.

Just starting to turn, and it's cooled.

Off a little bit.

I tell you what, the acorns have really fallen.

And we're going to focus on getting into an area tonight where there a ton of oak trees.

So if I can get to the spot where those deer are coming in and feeding those acorns, it ought to be perfect.

I hunted this spot one time before and I had very close encounter with a couple of does.

Now, my wind wasn't perfect, but tonight the winds have changed a little bit, and it should be a perfect situation to get me a close deer encounter.

And you never know.

Could be a big buck.

Well, that little doe showed up completely quiet, looked up, and it was standing 15 yards away.

We watched her for about 30 minutes.

A little bit small.

It's so early in the hunt.

We didn't even know that it was going to rain..

So now we're sitting up here, second guessing that maybe I should have shot, but it's still early.

We've got a lot of leaf cover, so not that much rain's getting through.

We're going to hold tight and see what happens.

The deer are moving now.

It's early, 20 minutes into the hunt i had a deer in range.

Pretty exciting.

There's a buck right there.

40 yards looking right at us Smelling Turn around.

Here he comes.

Right to us.

get ready get ready.

Right here.

Wow, what a crazy hunt I got up in the stand.

I haven't been here 20 minutes and look down and there's a doe standing 10 yards from us, and it started pouring down raining.

In the meantime, I just hunker down, let the rain come.

Deer don't get a chance to go in, so why should we?

All of the sudden the sun starts to come out, look up and here comes a- Looks like a ten point or something through the woods, but I was able to get an arrow in it what I think was a good shot.

The question is, is it going to rain any more?

I'm not going to push this deer, but I don't want to lose a blood trail either.

So I'm hoping this rain dries up.

I give it 30 minutes like you're supposed to and see what happens.

Okay, here's an arrow.

So about ten yards away and it's blood soaked to about there.

Oh, man.

So that's telling me that I got that arrow 15 inches deep in that deer.

That's a good sign.

I'm going to leave this right here.

We got to get on a blood trail, locate this deer.

Here we go.

Here we go.

Look, we got a lot of blood here.

I've been about 60 yards with nothing, and now we got a bunch.

Here we go.

Look, there's quite a bit of blood in here.

Definitely went down right here.

You know its one of those situations where I'm not exactly sure where this buck was hit.

I know it was hit in the front.

I know I got good penetration.

It's making me wonder if I need to back out or I'm going to go a little further as long as I still got blood.

And hopefully the blood trail gets a little better.

Well, last night we shot a pretty decent buck, and we knew we got good penetration.

The rain had stopped, and at that point in time, we looked at the weather and it got down to 46 degrees.

So I happen to have a friend that has a dog that you've been training to find deer.

And she's actually found three or four already, right?

Yeah, she's done pretty good.

She's still a puppy.

So no promises Chad but I feel like she'll do pretty good.

There's a lot of different breed of dogs that people use for this, but tell me what kind of dog she is.

So she's a wire hair dachshund thought this breed was cute.

First of all, you know, it's a wiener dog.

Come on.

But the benefit for them too is their smaller, so they're easier for me to keep up behind.

I left the arrow.

All the blood is there.

So I think the best way is to start at the shot location.

Yep.

See what she does.

You guys have an idea of where the deer went for anybody else that is hunting and needing to use a dog.

Just keep a mental picture of what exactly happened so you can lead the dog in the right direction.

But we'll just let her make all the decisions this morning.

And you're going to keep her on lead the entire time.

Yeah, it's required in state of Kentucky, so we'll keep her on lead, keep her close to you.

We want to make sure if by chance the deer hasn't expired yet then to be close enough, I can get her back.

The crazy thing is too, a dog this size is pretty easy to handle and control, but yet she's going to be able to go right through the brush and pretty much she's going to lead by her nose only Hunt em up Hunt em up.

Find him.

You know, all this is pretty darn new to me.

you know, I've bow hunted for a while, but even at a bow hit sight the amount of just splatter that would go everywhere that we can't see with our naked eye is pretty incredible.

So you got to kind of let them work it out at the hit site because they're getting all kinds of stuff here.

I believe she's headed in the right direction right now.

Easy, easy, girl.

Yep.

There's blood right here.

Good girl, Sookie.

Good find.

Here we go.

We got blood right here.

She's on it.

That's a good girl.

awesome.

Well, Rachel, Sookie did such a great job.

I tell you what, I can't tell you how impressed I was of this dog, it's so young and there's so many times we weren't seeing blood for 50, 60, 70 yards, and the dog would be leading us off of the path where my mind is telling me that deer's not going uphill, right?

Sure.

Sure.

And then we found a drop of blood.

Yeah.

I'm like, wait a minute, this dog is on to something here.

It's hard.

I think as humans, it's hard for us to say, Well, that doesn't make sense to us, but just trust their noses.

It's really incredible what her nose can do and we would never be able to see it.

What a what a nice recovery.

I'm super excited.

I'm so proud for you.

It's a really good buck.

It's a nice deer.

Yeah.

It's a you know, it's a mature buck and I'm super, super happy to have 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 beautiful turkey.

And a great picture of Wyatt Taylor, who's ten years old.

who got this beautiful bird on the last day of turkey season in Grayson County.

Nice job.

Here we have Houston Kablan, who caught his first fish while camping with his papa.

nine year old Steel Wilson had a great day of fishing.

Here he is with a nice bluegill that he caught on Harrington Lake using Nightcrawlers fall is right around the corner and if you're a hunter here in the state of Kentucky, you know that new opportunities are opening up every single month.

Make sure you keep up with your calendar and keep up with the rules and regulations.

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.