Chickamauga 10/19

[polo-dog]

ChooChooSnakeMan showed me how to catch them tonight. We fished from about 4pm until 9pm. It was great to be on the water on such a beautiful evening. Fished an area in the middle 1/3 of Wolftever first and the bass were running the bait up to shore. I caught one on top and then CCSM started catching one right after the other on a 4inch worm. Finally I wised up and tried the worm but by then he had caught about 10 fish. They wouldn't hit for me and he caught a couple more. Next we took a couple of casts at the Wolftever bridge but no takers. Went to a couple of sloughs in Harrison Bay state park and lots of bait was there but totally unmolested. We finally went to another slough with the combination of rock and stumps and started catching fish again. I force fed a couple with surface baits but CCSM continued with the worm. There were some fish moving bait up into the shallow stumps but we also started catching them on the drop off on one side of a point that was 7-8 ft on top dropping to about 16 feet. We then went out to a deeper point and caught a few off the drop from about 7-8 ft dropping quickly to about 25 feet. Tried another point out in Harrison bay but no rock and no fish. Went back to the starting point and had a few bumps and I think CCSM caught one or two more there. Most of the fish were caught on rock, near drops on finesse worms. We had a great time and great fellowship. Thanks for the great time CCSM!!!!!!!!

 

[Jmax]

It is good to hear that you two found some fish again. Did you guys throw that rooster that CCSM was kicking me on? It is hard to beat that little finesse worm when they are hitting it. What is the temp now? I may go this saturday afternoon and give it a shot, my son has to take that Hunters Ed test this saturday morning so he can hunt by himself and I do not have to be with him all the time. When we get back I may wet a hook. emoCool Jmax

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I don't know about "showing" Polo-dog how to catch them, but we did have a great time. Conditions were just about perfect, except that the wind was really blowing when we first started fishing. The wind could have been responsible for bunching the baitfish on the bank we hit first and also I'm sure tied my gracious host up fighting the trolling motor. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but most of the time I'd rather fish out of the back of the boat. I can just concentrate on fishing. Anyway, many thanks to Polo-dog for letting me tag along. He is a very good fisherman and an even better person. This forum is great. I've already made two friends who live within just a couple of miles from me, who chances are I would not have become aquainted with otherwise.

I think that the fishing is only going to get better over the upcoming weeks, as the water cools down. Everyone be safe and stop long enough to appreciate the many gifts we have!

ChooChooSnakeMan

 

[ranman]

I told my buddy just yesterday "I'm glad your on the trolling motor today"I hate fighting the wind while I'm trying to fish.On the other hand I love to be in control of the pace I'm fishing an area,most people move to slow for me but I have found a really good partner this year that fishes like I do so I'ts worked out pretty well.I do think I fish better off the back though.

 

[jason]

What brand/color of finesse worm were you using, CCSM?

I believe the guy in the back of the boat has a definite advantage on windy days or in current. The distraction of operating the trolling motor gives the guy in the back the chance to hit cover that otherwise would have been fished by the person controlling the boat.

 

[Jmax]

Hey Jason CCSM is pretty good with that little worm, he was doing well with me on a zoom four inch finesse worm that was june bug when we went a couple weeks back. The time we went it seemed that he did better in the shallow water with his and when we got into the deep stuff on the steep bluffs, 15 to 25ft I did better on the texas rigged pumkin seed with chartruse tail also in a zoom but it was the seven inch auger tail type. Don't know if this was just by chance or if we were on something there and didn't pick up on it all that quickly.emoScratch Jmax

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Hi Jason,

As Jmax said, my favorite color on the Chick for finesse worms is june bug, but there are some days that they seem to favor red bug or red shad. Those few colors are the only ones I fish in plastics. I would say that if I were limited to only one color of soft plastic it would be june bug! The finesse worm is a very good bait for many different fishing situations. For example, I like a 6" lizard on a carolina rig, but sometimes the fish just seem finicky and I'll use the 4" finesse on the carolina rig and catch fish!

Good Fishing Everyone!

ChooChooSnakeMan

 

[polo-dog]

The water temp was from about 74 in the creek to 78 late in the afternoon in HBSP. The water temp will drop a bunch in the next few days with the cold front and it will be interesting to see how you do Sat, the first day after the front.

 

[jason]

The reason I asked is because I have done real well below the dam with a 6" Zoom finesse worm in green pumpkin. I rig it on a 1/4oz jighead and retrieve it with the current and pick up a spot on nearly every cast. Junebug is also my favorite color, but I seem to do better with it in stained water. If I recall, Wolftever is generally fairly stained, much like the Hiwassee.

 

[jason]

Apparently, the worm is a good choice.

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/reg3fish.html