12-03-06 Cherokee Bait Tournament

[tellico jim]

Cherokee Lake- water temp was about 51 to 52 degrees, water was about 4ft deep visiblity, light wind, cloudy, 2 days after a front. We started the morning throwing a jerk-bait on deep chunk rock points. We had 2 takers and one keeper. After that, we went back over the same area. We had found fish there the day before and we knew they were there. We then put the jigging spoon on them, because they were deeper. Bam!!! A 4lb Bronzeback in about 14 ft water. Then we continued to work the same point and finally picked up another good largemouth keeper on a jigging spoon about 20 ft deep. we caught several more fish there but no big ones. We then moved to another point and picked up a good spotty keeper. We then had four keepers about 11 a.m. . We then seached for the big kicker. We run and gunned for about two hours looking for the hawg , but he never showed up. Weigh- in was closing in and we new we had to finish our limit. So we went back to our favorite point and the shad were balled up in 25 ft to 30 ft water. We then proceeded to kick some butt with some heavy metal. We then culled our smaller fish and replaced them with some bigger fish. We finally put together 11 lb .30 oz. . We were pleased with our results just knowing we were just a big fish away of placing in the money. It took 13 lb. to get in the money and 17lbs to win it. Had a great time on cherokee. The winners fish had alot of color, so I guess he had caught them shallow. My fish had little color. Every frish I caught , except the jerk bait fish were caught 15 ft to 30 ft deep. I fished the lower end of the lake and saw 10 boats, out of 80 boats, all day. And I am pretty sure the river is pretty hot. One fact- The fish got deeper as the day progressed. As they got deeper, they got tightly schooled. Cherokee is a great lake to fish right now. Good place to get practice on a jigging spoon!!!!!!!!!!!

Bronzebacks Rule !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jon the fisherman]

Thanx for the report Jim.

 

[Roba22]

Hey Jim.. How far up river do you go? Past the two silo's? My buddy caught most of his over the weekend from the silo's up to Melinda's ferry bridge.

 

[tellico jim]

During this outing I stayed near the dam. I had one day to pre-fish and chose to fish the lower end where we found shad and fish in them. When I fish in the rver, I usually like to go till I feel the current. It seems the fish are forced to bite in the current, because they need energy to feed in it. I like it from the tailwaters to 25E bridge. I usually like flipping up in the river. When the water is down, I flip the rocks and use jerkbaits.

 

[Roba22]

Yep thats the right thing to do. I Have only fished around the dam twice. (around Black oak) but 90% of the time I never go past Hopper Bluff I have a couple spots near Gilmore Dock that i fish if I go towards the dam but that is as far as I go. I like it up in the river end. I could run from my house and put in at the Chruch Ramp and be on the water in 20 minutes so that is what I did most of the time. If we fished a TX then I would either run upriver to the spots and like and finish in German Creek or just stay in the mid area dn fish that. I know so many spots that hold fish it was hard to decide what i wanted to focus on. I really do miss it. I plan to fish it when we go home during Christmas break.

 

[tellico jim]

Man- you have to try some of that deep fishin with a spoon!!!!! We caught alot of fish- one right after the other. They were schooled up, like cord wood !!!!!!!!!!! We caught some so deep that they were white and they rolled up in the live well from the pressure change- we thought we were going to have to deflate the air bladders. What do you do for big fish during this time of the year up there. I am talking 6lbs and over ! It sounds like we need to hook up and go over there!!! I can't get enough of that spoon fishing- Its addictive!!!!! Once you find them schooled up like that thats easy pickings!!!!!!! Even better if you find a school of smallies!!!!!