Below chick dam Friday Jan 20

[whenwegoin]

A cousin, whywecatchsomany, and I went below the dam Friday and caught 11 smallmouth, 3 Kentucky, 1 white, and 6 or 7 drum. Four of the smallmouth were what I would call in the 4 pound class.

No one particular area was more productive than another. We caught fish off and on all day and they were scattered out. We were using jigs in the current. The flood gates were open.

I heard there were several boats catching fish Friday down below the dam.

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for report.... that's good to hear. I'm planning on chasing some smallmouth soon and I was worried whether it would be "fishable" with spillgates open. Any specifics on "jigs"" I'm a fan of tube jigs... were you using those or hair?

 

[whenwegoin]

We threw both and also some twister tail grubs. It was kind of weird. No certain patterns emerged that we could tell. We caught them on all three types as well as scattered throughout the day. We only threw black hair jigs and Georgia Crawfish tubes. We threw various colors of grubs: watermelon, smoke, electric blue, and bluegill. I don't remember the bluegill or electric blue producing any fish, but watermelon and smoke did.

Since there were three of us we sort of experimented a lot. Even the numbers were fairly equal. My cousin caught 3 smallmouth and 1 spot. Whywecatchsomany caught 5 smallies, 1 spot, and a couple drum and I caught 3 smallies, 1 spot, 1 white bass, and 4 or 5 drum.

Whywecatchsomany had 2 of the smallies in the 4 lb class while my cousin and I each had 1.

 

[hog daddy]

sounds like yall had a ball thanks for the report i might have to check it out this sun.




heep a tight line !!!!!!!!!

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for info... You didn't throw any chartreuse? I don't believe there's a fish in the river that can't be caught on a "Great Green Grub" (or facsimile thereof). emoLaugh

Watch for me Hog Daddy. I'll be in the ugliest boat on the river ... hand-painted brown camo - boat & motor. Nobody will recognize me when my shiny new G3 gets here.

 

[hog daddy]

hey rsims i will probally be fishing alone sun if you would like to take 1 boat give me a hollar




hold his head up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for invite, but have a partner going.

 

[whywecatchsomany]

We did have a blast. If the dang wind hadn't been blowing a steady 15mph, no telling what would have happened. We will try to leave some for you guys Sunday as I am in-between jobs and will have a little time to kill later on in the week and can't think of any better way to kill it than catching smallmouth.

 

[G-MAN]

Could you expand on how you fished the jigs in the current? Were you drifting, casting and retrieving or jiging off the bottom? How heavy of a Jig do you use? Were you fishing close to the dam or in open water between the dam and train trussle? Sorry for all the questions, but this is new to me.
I'm hoping to fish below the dam this weekend. I've never fished there when the gates were open and have only had luck with large shinners when the turbines were running.

 

[whenwegoin]

We use 3/8 ounce jig heads. We point the boat upstream and drift down with the current only using the trolling motor to keep us in line not too get to close to the bank or too far away. We have used both casting and jigging methods when we fish open water depending on wind conditions and amount of current.

We have caught smallmouth from right below the dam all the way to Market Street Bridge. I know this sounds vague or a big area, but it is true. The smallmouth population seems to be excellent.

 

[G-MAN]

That sounds great. Thanks for the info. I use to float fish beside the bouys using crawlfish and would pick up a few. Haven't been fishing in a month and can't wait to get out there.

 

[whywecatchsomany]

GMAN, I think you could literally catch them at any spot in the river at certain times, we just usually have at it and soon enough, if they are willing to bite, we will soon figure out the pattern for the day.

Smallmouth fishing in current can be extremely difficult as it requires a great deal of line control, line watching, etc., to be able to catch them on a regular basis. Oh there may be times when the fish will practically jump on the hook, but usually (especially during the winter months) you have to put that lure in just the right spot or you can fish all day and leave with nothing.

I know this, give my buddy whenwegoin a 3/8 oz head, a grub or hair jig and odds are good he could catch one out of a bathtub.

In the years we have been fishing together, I have become a professional photographer and a world class net man.

 

[2jigs]

Hey hog daddy, I ant been in the river in a wile I'm rite here 10 min. From the river, and you wouldn't have to pull your boat all the ways up here. I'm opem sun.as far as I know . drop me a line

 

[whenwegoin]

RE: Below chick dam Friday Jan 20 (pics added)

Here are pics

 

[rsimms]

RE: Below chick dam Friday Jan 20 (pics added)

whenwegoin - 1/25/2006 8:24 AM

Here are pics

Great pics... worth a thousand words each, plus some. I assume you are the good-lookin' one?

 

[G-MAN]

Hey whywecatchsomany. Nice pictures. I recognized whenwegoin. We fished together a few times back in the mid 80's. Your right, he has a nack for catching the fish. I remember him pulling out a big 5 lb'r with a pig-n-jig next to a stump when fishing Possum Creek. Do you guys fish Possum Creek much. I haven't fished there in years.

Have a great day!

 

[whenwegoin]

Well how's it going G-man? I remember you. Long time no see. I haven't fished possum creek much in the past few years. I usually go with whywecatchsomany around the Sequoyah area. He lives in a slough near there and it is easy access, plus there are plenty of fish. Every now and then we will hitch up and head to Pickwick, but shucks below Chick is getting about as good these days. I'll take a trip or two to Guntersville with a guy I work with. I don't fish near as much as I used to. Good to here from you!!

 

[Clampf n Stern]

Hey whenwegoin and whywecatchsomany, I think I can go tomorrow. Are ya'll goin...that I know of. If so, give me a buzz. I'll back'at trailer down.

 

[hog daddy]

2jigs if nothing comes up we'll get after them sun. but if my youngens wont to go i'll take my boat and youer welcome aboard w'll burn some ga. gas some times i wished i lived closer to the river but i'd probally be devorised

 

[whywecatchsomany]

Clampf n Stern, I was about to shoot up a flare to get you to stop before you jackknifed it. We quit an hour early to give us plenty of time to get the trailer in the water.

I'm not going all day Thursday and all day Friday that you know of.