ChooChooSnakeMan
Well-known member
I finally was able to get out, first fishing trips of 2021, whoohoo! Fished downtown both days. Friday's report: Fished morning from about 7 am until 1:30 pm . Water temp 61, flow around 35K. Windy, water clarity several feet so not bad. I had my good friend Mike holding down the back seat and he did a great job. I don't think the fish downtown are on beds yet but I thought they were close, at least until I went back on Sunday evening but more on that later. We managed to get some fish in the boat Friday but the action was sporadic with no pattern or depth and disappointing for this time of year. I think the fish are still somewhat confused by all the fluctuations in water level and temperature and just don't know what to do. None of the fish we caught appeared to be full of eggs and all were small, nothing big at all. All fish were caught on soft plastics. I hope better days are ahead.
Sunday's report: I found myself with a Sunday evening free so I went solo and fished downtown again, launching around 4:00 pm. When I launched the boat I was hopeful since the water temp was showing 63. Flow was around 20K but the wind was a problem again. I went to all the places I usually do well this time of year but nothing, zilch. I just couldn't understand what was going on. I did manage to catch a 14" spot at my last stop but that was it and I didn't have but maybe 4 actual bites. I only fished for two hours as it seemed like they just had shut-mouth. They were probably there with 63 degree water but they wouldn't hit anything. I tried all kinds of soft plastics t-rigged and shakey along with drop shot. The best I can figure is that perhaps with TVA dropping the flow the water level went down and that pulled the fish off. I tried depths from right on the bank to 15' but it was dead, dead, dead. Hopefully better days are ahead and I'll have the opportunity to go. Safe fishing everyone
Sunday's report: I found myself with a Sunday evening free so I went solo and fished downtown again, launching around 4:00 pm. When I launched the boat I was hopeful since the water temp was showing 63. Flow was around 20K but the wind was a problem again. I went to all the places I usually do well this time of year but nothing, zilch. I just couldn't understand what was going on. I did manage to catch a 14" spot at my last stop but that was it and I didn't have but maybe 4 actual bites. I only fished for two hours as it seemed like they just had shut-mouth. They were probably there with 63 degree water but they wouldn't hit anything. I tried all kinds of soft plastics t-rigged and shakey along with drop shot. The best I can figure is that perhaps with TVA dropping the flow the water level went down and that pulled the fish off. I tried depths from right on the bank to 15' but it was dead, dead, dead. Hopefully better days are ahead and I'll have the opportunity to go. Safe fishing everyone
