Below Chick. 5.20.06

[JerDog]

Hit the water this morning at 4:45am. I was the first boat in the water and headed to the tailwaters. I threw a redfin for an hour and zeroed out. Went and found some threadfins and headed downstream to troll some live bait. I had a prettty good morning. Caught 4 smallmouth and 1 nice largemouth. Biggest largemouth was about 3lbs. Biggest smallmouth was a 14 incher. Had one big explosion on the water after one of the threadfin but was unable to hook him.

Water Temp: 68F

 

[rsimms]

Man, where did you find the threadfin? I couldn't find any today. Saw another boat throw a castnet for 3 hours and never hit a threadfin.

 

[JerDog]

Off the inside of the wingwall on the dam generation side. They were deep. Not sure if I got lucky, but I do use a bigger net than most that others are using (5 ft.). Only made 3 throws to get them and it was before dawn. Later in the summer, I will go out of my way to launch above the dam and get them, then take the shad below for fishing. May be worth it for you too if you depend on them for your guided trips.

 

[rsimms]

Jerdog... thanks for info. I'd guess that being there before daylight was the key for the threadfin. I've never really figured out how to catch shad (w/castnet) on the lake. I could use a lesson... but actually once the threadfin well runs dry, I routinely switch to bluegill for catfish bait. And as the water warms up the skipjack should move in.

 

[JerDog]

Oh shad can be caught above the dam in the summer with ease. There you have 2 options...either use your electronics and cast net deep to get them, or look for schools on the surface and throw on them. It is rare that I can not find them in the summer.