Travel and Recreation

Fishing Tips So You’re Ready to Start Catching COURTESY OF BPT

“With access to multiple lakes plus great river fishing, Knoxville is a natural fit for anglers seeking quality fishing in a variety of locations. And since Tennessee has a unique climate that allows for the overlap of typically northern or southern fish, we are home to more freshwater species of game fish than any other state. You may come for the bass fishing, but you can’t help discover the amazing variety our healthy lakes produce.”

- Legacy Parks Foundation, LegacyParks.org

YOU CAN SMELL it in the air. A warm, fresh breath of spring. And to you and millions like you, that can mean only one thing... fishing!

Here are 10 tips from the fishing enthusiasts at Rapala, the world’s best-selling fishing lure for the past 50 years, on what you can do now to be ready to hit the water and start catching. 1) Declutter the tackle box - If you’ve been fishing awhile, no doubt your tackle box might be feeling a bit cluttered. On one of those colder, nasty days, bring the tackle box inside to the warmth of your home and pluck out the stuff that doesn’t work and focus on what does. Taking the time to organize your gear will help you spend more time fishing and less time messing with your stuff. 2) Put on fresh line - What comes between you and a trophy fish? Your fishing line, of course. Don’t tempt fate. The experts at Sufix fishing line recommend changing out fishing line at least once a year. As you take off old line, look for frays and nicks - this may be a sign that one or more of the guides on your fishing rod is cracked or even missing. 3) Smooth fishing rod guides - Use a cotton swab and run it around the inside of each guide of your fishing rod. This will help you see if you have any cracks or breaks in your guides, which could cut your fishing line - when you have a fish on the line. 4) Watch fishing videos - Getting outside and spending time on the water is what fishing is all about. However, watching how-to videos on the Rapala YouTube Channel, which features more than 600 videos, can help you catch more fish yearround, on open water, in saltwater, and on hardwater (ice fishing). 5) Sharp hooks equal more bites - What’s the first point of contact with a fish? It’s the point of your fishing hook. Sharp hooks mean you’ll catch more fish; dull hooks mean you’ll be one frustrated angler. Take some time to replace hooks on your go-to lures. It’s also important to select the right hook, say the hook gurus at VMC, one of the world’s largest fishing hook manufacturers. The mouths of fish vary from species to species, so make sure to select a hook that meets the challenge. 6) Go with your confidence bait - Nearly every angler has their go-to lure. It’s that one lure that seems to catch fish when all others fail. When you find your confidence bait, stock up on it. Have a few more of that lure tucked away in your tackle box for when you might need them even more. Don’t have a confidence bait yet? Well, you can’t go wrong with the lure that’s caught more world records than any other lure. 7) Experiment more - You wouldn’t play an 18-hole golf course with just a putter. Different lures are made to catch fish under different conditions. For example, Rapala offers freshwater lures, saltwater lures, and ice fishing lures. It offers lures that can reach fish in any depth, from deep down to the surface. This year, treat yourself to a lure you’ve never tried before to learn from it and expand your ability to catch fish anytime, anywhere, under any condition. Or, try a lure, such as an ice fishing lure, for deep water bass and walleye in open water - sounds crazy, but it works. 8) Play fantasy fishing - That’s right. Playing Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing gives you an opportunity to win some incredible prizes. At the same time, it allows you to track the world’s best bass fishing pros and watch how they manage to catch fish even in the most difficult conditions. Understanding what they do can improve your realworld, on-the-water fishing. 9) Try someplace new - Anglers can be creatures of habit. We like to go to our favorite lake and often go to our favorite fishing hole time and time again. While you might be catching fish, you also may be limiting yourself. This year, try someplace new. Go to new water. Try a different way of fishing, such as using a kayak. Go for a different species and see if your knowledge in bass fishing applies to a species such as walleye, muskies, or redfish. 10) Introduce someone new to fishing - Spending time on the water, enjoying all that nature has to offer and catching fish is awesome, but there’s something even better - hooking someone new, especially a young person, on the joy of fishing. Take some time this year to intentionally teach someone about how to fish or how to fish for a different species. It just may be your biggest catch of all.

From Concord Park and Ijams Nature Center to surrounding lakes and rivers, Knoxville is a great area for fishermen. Visit LegacyParks.org or VisitKnoxville.com: Knoxville Area Lakes for more information. Remember: Fishing licenses are required for all citizens 13 years of age and over in the state of Tennessee.

Historic Ramsey House

IT’S THAT time of year again! We are gearing up for our 9th season of Vintage Base Ball at Historic Ramsey

House. During the past 8 years, the grounds of the Historic Ramsey House have played host to two local Tennessee

Vintage Base Ball Association teams, the Knoxville Holstons and the Emmett

Machinists. These teams are modeled after two original teams that played here in Knoxville during the 1860s.

The Tennessee Association of Vintage

Base Ball was established in 2012 to entertain and educate our communities by recreating the civility of 19th century baseball. They bring living history to life through baseball events that use the rules, equipment, costumes, and culture of the 1860s by providing cultural enrichment, education programs and activities for youth and adults that emphasize honor, team play, respectful conduct, and community pride.

This is a FREE event for the entire family! As always, concessions will be available, and all proceeds will go directly to the ongoing preservation of Historic

Ramsey House. Make sure to bring your own chair and a shady umbrella or tent.

Historic Ramsey House is located at 2614 Thorn Grove Pike in Knoxville.

For more information on the Tennessee

Vintage Base Ball Association, visit

TennesseeVintageBaseBall.com. Summer Game Schedule:

June 4

Emmett Machinists vs Quicksteps @ Noon

Knoxville Holstons vs Quicksteps @ 2 pm June 18 Emmett Machinists vs Knoxville Holstons @ 1 pm July 9

Mountain City Club of Chattanooga vs

Emmett Machinists of Knoxville @ Noon Stones River Scouts vs Knoxville Holstons @ 2 pm July 30 Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga vs Knoxville Holstons @ 11 am Phoenix of East Nashville vs

Emmett Machinists of Knoxville @ 1 pm Phoenix of East Nashville vs Knoxville Holstons @ 3 pm August 27 Knoxville Holstons vs

Emmett Machinists of Knoxville @ 1 pm

Check RamseyHouse.org for more info.

Knoxville

FARMERS' MARKETS

DIXIE LEE MARKET

Renaissance Center 12740 Kingston Pike, 37934 Saturdays 9 am - Noon

MARKET SQUARE DOWNTOWN

Wednesdays 9 am - 1 pm Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm

NEW HARVEST PARK

4775 New Harvest Lane, 37918 Thursdays 3 pm - 6 pm

RAIN OR SHINE!

EBENEZER ROAD

Ebenezer United Methodist Church 1001 Ebenezer Road, 37923 Tuesdays 3 pm - 6 pm

HISTORIC OAK RIDGE

Jackson Square 209 Jackson Square, 37830 Saturdays 8 am - Noon

It’s Fishing Time in Farragut!

38th Annual Bob Watt Youth Fishing Rodeo Saturday, May 14 Anchor Park, 11730 Turkey Creek Road Free event, open to the public

JOIN YOUR friends, family, and the Town of Farragut for a morning of fishing and prize competitions! The Fishing Rodeo is for kids ages 12 and under, with pre-registration required for one of two sessions - 8-9 am or 10-11 am at townoffarragut.org/register.

The Town of Farragut will provide worms for bait, or participants can bring their own. A limited number of fishing poles for use during the rodeo will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bring your own pole if you can.

Event will be held rain or shine; check Farragut Parks & Recreation Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for severe weather updates.

The Town is still happily accepting community donations for the fishing rodeo, including youth and adult spincast (push button) rod and reel combos in good working condition, line, hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Farragut businesses are also encouraged to donate items to be used as prizes for participants.