Checking out the fishing scene

[SnipeHuntin]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. Currently I live in the Denver (Metro area), Colorado area. Right now my family is looking to relocate to this area. I'm well versed in fishing in Colorado and the smaller Bass we have here. Currently I'm a Lake Skipper for fishexplorer.com which is a forum like CFF but covers several states.

I also typically spend a couple weeks a year up at Norris Lake. I guess what I'm looking for is information on the Hiwassee River fishing and what you guys think of B&B Marina because that would be the area we would be moving to.

I hate to say it because I hate it on the other forums but I'll be lurking around trying to gain information on the area. If I can supply information I will.

 

[BulletTJ]

I live about 10 minutes from B&B. The Hiwassee River is just that a river that feeds into Chickamauga Lake. It fishes different than the main lake. Current plays a really big part of where the fish will be. If you like flipping docks and wood you will like the river. At low water levels you better stay between the buoys. In places the channel is lined with stumps, drift wood and rocks. The water is usually muddy until you get above the paper mill, just north of the I-75 bridge. Then it gets really clear. On up the river you will encounter shallow rock shoals. As for B&B Marina, it has changed owners several times in the past. The ramp could use some work but the dock is good. The parking lot is a gravel lot. The type of crowd you will meet there depends on the owner at the time. I haven't heard of any problems with the current owner. When you move send me a PM on here. I will be glad to show you around on the water.

 

[SnipeHuntin]

Thanks for the info. I'll send you a PM.

 

[R-boatless]

Go Bronco's.

You will be close enough to any part of the lake, that you will not have to limit yourself to B&B only.

 

[SnipeHuntin]

haha Go Packers... Now my wife is a Broncos fan thru and thru.

 

[jmergen]

Isn't everyone a Packer Fan? Gotta love da Packers, do anything for da Packers.
This is a great board, even if you lurk. I'm new to the area a couple years ago from WI. The fishery here is amazing, but can be puzzling. Such a large system with so many species , all of them with trophy class fish. By lurking and then asking and finally trying to contribute I have learned a lot, and everyday I fish I am reminded on how much more I need to learn. People on here are great and willing to help. Good luck.
Jim

 

[SnipeHuntin]

That's good to hear. Out here in Colorado every lake is different, and by lake here it would be a pond there. Out here I prefer small ponds since there is a lot less pressure. I love it back there for Bass though since the growing season is a lot longer. I remember the first 18 inch Smallie I caught at Norris. I was beyond excited since that is throphy class here. My cousin just laughed at me and said it was a baby.

 

[jmergen]

I lived in CO 20+ years ago, in Summit County(lived in Dillon). I remember the great trout and salmon fishing, Blue River and some of the tribs. Great fishing, but remember up in the mountains had a hard time finding anything but trout....
The long growing season is a plus. In Northern WI we have some amazing smallmouth fishing, Lake Superior is a blast. I was shocked to see the size of some of the smallies here..chunks. Year before last my kid and I went out with a local guy and our 4 biggest smallies went almost 28lbs..and if you haven't been keeping track the Chick is rated one of the best LM lakes in the US...the crappie fishing is top notch. And so many other species I know nothing about but want to learn, monster cats, huge stripers, the list goes on..its a tough gig to live a few hundred yards from this playground...feel truly blessed!
Jim

 

[SnipeHuntin]

I'm bored with trout out here. They are everywhere. I will miss ice fishing though. Nothing like fighting a huge Walleye or Brown Trout through a hole in the ice.

 

[jmergen]

Too fun. This winter I would take my boat out here one week and few days later would be up on the hard water ice fishing. My wife is from TN and took forever to get her on the ice as it went against everything she was taught as a kid. Then when we would build a fire on the ice it would really freak her out. In the winter my truck is my ice shack..we drive on the ice all winter long. Funny, been in the 80s here a few days and still ice up north..lol

 

[SnipeHuntin]

Where do you Ice fish at? Didn't think the water would freeze thick enough. Heck our ice fishing season this year was very short. Atleast down in Denver it was. Only made it to a warm water fishery 3 times.

 

[jmergen]

I still have my house in Northern Wisconsin, Price County. The little town of Phillips, we have a 5 lake chain that is class A musky water, great walleye and bass fishing as well. About an hour from lake superior. Lakes up there get 3+ feet of ice each year. I have a son who graduates high school this year. Since I have been here the last couple years I make at least 1 trip a month up north for a week or so. Best of both worlds.

 

[SnipeHuntin]

Oh I see. I thought you were ice fishing in Tenn.

 

[jmergen]

Ha, no, although there was ice on the dogs bowl a couple times this winter