Chickamauga bass behavior

[jjabartlett79]

One sunny and rare rainless day last week, I decided I needed to get out of the house and get some much needed sun. I fish some ABA tournaments but with it getting crunch time at school I have been indoors mostly. I haven't been on my usual pointless summer bank fishing trips this year because I'm working so hard on my degree. I say all that to say this; I walked to the edge of the sand where the seawall is and I notice a couple bass in the 1 to 2 lb. range right up against the wall in water that couldn't have been more that 2 ft. deep. It was in the middle of the day and it was insanely hot. These fish probably would have measured and been good to have in the livewell as confidence builders during a tournament. After watching them for awhile, I jumped in and they scattered. About 30 mins. later after being out of the water for a minute and drying off, I walked back up to see if they maybe had returned. Sure enough, they had. Not only that but about 15 yrds. to my left was a 5 fish school of solid 2 and 3 pounders. Right up against the seawall in the same shallow water. I noticed small minnows in the water but given the intense heat, shallow water, and season I could not figure out why they were there. Could someone tell me what would cause these fish to be so shallow this time of year at that time of day?

 

[fishinvol]

There are bass shallow year round. Best example is Weiss. That lake is much much shallower over all than Chickamauga. But no matter how hot it is, you will find big bass super shallow. As long as there is good oxygen and a food source, a bass will be there.

 

[mocs-tr20]

The water was only 76 last night. There is still good fish shallow. Just because it is hot outside doesnt mean the water is the same story.

 

[jjabartlett79]

Thanks for the info, guys.

 

[spnplgr]

It is a fact that fish will move very shallow during periods of high water. Several years ago, I saw a seven pound bass caught out of the flooded woods during the week of July 4th. I have a friend who lives on the lake and he says during high water times, he always sees bass behind the little wall along the water front on his property. That litttle wall is supposed to keep his property from eroding and the top is a couple feet out of the water at normal summer pool. It does not matter what time of year the high water occurs, the fish will move very shallow. But, just as soon as the water leverl drops about two inches, they're outta there. It amazes me how they know so quickly when the water begins to recede.

 

[Bassallday]

the swimming areas at chesterfrost park has walls like your talking about and the bass are there all the time.it allways has lots of goodies to eat!the area has lots of weeds close by for cover and oxygen