rsimms
Well-known member
I have slowed down on my CFF usage. For those looking for me, my apologies. For those not interested, you're welcome. 
I thought I would share my catfishing results to-date. At Scenic City Fishing Charters (with six bass, catfish and crappie guides) we don't keep secrets. We tell folks like it is. We don't want to take anyone's money under false pretenses. The money isn't the only reason we do what we do.
The catfish bite has been off about 30 percent this year compared to 2018, with detailed statistics below to prove it.
I keep count and daily records of every catfish that comes over the side of my boat. To-date this year my clients have caught 891 catfish. In 2018, after an equivalent number of guide trips, clients had boated 1,269 catfish. That's a 30 percent decline.
The catch rate in 2019 has been 3.15 catfish per hour. In 2018 the catch rate was 4.15 per hour. The "trophy fish" bite has been down as well. In 2018 my clients boated eight cats 50-pounds or above. This year, only one. My clients have caught 25 TARP fish (20-40 pound class) which has been nice.
Not many folks I know keep detailed records but from the anecdotal evidence I hear throughout the Tennessee River region, it has been the same for most.
Why?
I wish I knew. Last winter was exceedingly wet with Chickamauga flood gates open non-stop from November until February. One would think that had some affect but in reality, who knows.
I'd love to hear some feedback from some of the other serious catfish folks?
But, all that said, even if it has been a little harder work for me and the other SCF catfish guides, we continue to keep folks happy and that's really what it's all about. Here's a few of my favorite photos from this year.
I thought I would share my catfishing results to-date. At Scenic City Fishing Charters (with six bass, catfish and crappie guides) we don't keep secrets. We tell folks like it is. We don't want to take anyone's money under false pretenses. The money isn't the only reason we do what we do.
The catfish bite has been off about 30 percent this year compared to 2018, with detailed statistics below to prove it.
I keep count and daily records of every catfish that comes over the side of my boat. To-date this year my clients have caught 891 catfish. In 2018, after an equivalent number of guide trips, clients had boated 1,269 catfish. That's a 30 percent decline.
The catch rate in 2019 has been 3.15 catfish per hour. In 2018 the catch rate was 4.15 per hour. The "trophy fish" bite has been down as well. In 2018 my clients boated eight cats 50-pounds or above. This year, only one. My clients have caught 25 TARP fish (20-40 pound class) which has been nice.
Not many folks I know keep detailed records but from the anecdotal evidence I hear throughout the Tennessee River region, it has been the same for most.
Why?
I wish I knew. Last winter was exceedingly wet with Chickamauga flood gates open non-stop from November until February. One would think that had some affect but in reality, who knows.
I'd love to hear some feedback from some of the other serious catfish folks?
But, all that said, even if it has been a little harder work for me and the other SCF catfish guides, we continue to keep folks happy and that's really what it's all about. Here's a few of my favorite photos from this year.
