Below Nickajack Dam 12-24-05

[flip1up]

My wife had to work, my son was spending the day with my ex-wife. I found myself home alone on Christmas eve for the entire day, NOT, I left out for Guntersville about 6A.M. to bass fish, fished there till 1P.M. with not much luck, no keepers. Left and decided to get a bucket of minnows and fish below the dam for a while to see if the Jacks might be biting. I got a keeper jack pretty quick, but then found a school of crappie feeding strong. Ended up with 25 slabs, 2 jacks, and a nice spot. The biggest crappie was a real pig, 15.5 inches and weighed 2 pounds 2 oz. Most of the crappie I caught were about 12 inches, had about 10 throw backs. I needed this, not been getting my fix lately. I only bought 4 dozen minnows, so I left after running out of them and was wore out anyway. The fish were still feeding when I left. They were in the dead lock 4-7 feet deep. Merry Christmas to all of you guys!!!!!!!

 

[polo-dog]

I'm glad that you got on the fish. I hear folks talking about the "dead lock" and I don't know what that means or where it is. Could you clue me in? Thanks.

 

[flip1up]

Polo. the locals around there call it that. It is on the left side of the lock. I dont know if it was future plans of another lock or what, there are the sliding tie offs just like in all locks too. If you put your boat in there go around the first wall you see and your in the "dead lock". Its 15-20 feet deep in there, sometimes the Sauger get in there in big numbers. I have been catching a few Crappie everytime I go in there but yesterday evening there was a big school of them holding in one area, they were not moving. I guess I could have tied a jig on and caught several more but I wasnt sure how many I had and knew I was close to a limit anyway. Besides it was raining, I was wet, cold, hungry and tired. The weather we have right now is great for Crappie fishing, they could bite all day on a day like this. But one clap of thunder and its usually over.

 

[polo-dog]

Thanks, I just haven't been down there for a while and couldn't picture where you were talking about. Is there much flow into and out of that area?

 

[flip1up]

No, really very little to none.

 

[JerDog]

Sounds like you knocked them out! Gonna be headed up there this week...gonna be some good cloudy/rainy weather!

 

[polo-dog]

Interesting, do you mark many bait balls in the area? I wonder why they stack up there unless for some reason the bait gets up in there a lot. How many yards would you say is it from the main flow out of the turbines?

 

[flip1up]

About 100 yards to any current, lots of bait in there. They may just get tired of fighting the current.

 

[JerDog]

flip1up,

Hey, were you using Tuffies or Shinners? I sent you a PM too.

JerDog

 

[flip1up]

Shiners, more flash and a little bigger or wider profile. I just like them better. They live forever this time of year in a minnow bucket too. Sent you one back buddy, good luck.

 

[Bprice]

I have the day off Monday Jan 2nd, and since our Vols aren't in a bowl, i have no desire to watch any of the others. Is anyone going to be hitting the Nick Dam that day? I think a few buddies of mine are going to take a "mini-roadtrip" up there to fish.

 

[rsimms]

I'm not sure what I'll be doing on the 2nd? Nickajack is possible, but unclear at this point. I'll be going a couple of days between now and then and will try to provide updates. Meanwhile you might to look at this thread: http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=631&posts=3

 

[DHaun]

I would really like to come meet you guys down there on Monday, but will probably be driving back from Boone, NC. What time are you planning on being at the ramp?

 

[Bprice]

Not quite sure yet. My buddy has to get his "Kitchen Pass" still punched by his wife. So I have to wait a day or so to get a time. I would imagine, since its 3 hours there and back from us, we'll be there from sun-up to sun-down.

I'll be in a Silver Bass Tracker Pro 18 pulled with a white two door Explorer, with Alabama tag and a Power T sticker.

 

[SNUFFY]

CAN`T YOU GET THEM ALADAMBAMA TAGS IN ORANGE !!!emoSmile