Decisions, decisions...

[spnplgr]

It ain't just the Chick. It's the time of the year. Fish are in a transition mode now. Cold fronts are stronger than any during hot weather (several months) and bass react quickly to them (changing conditions). If you watch the weather carefully enough, it will give you a leg up on the competition. Pre-frontal fishing = good fishing. Post frontal fishing = tough fishing because their bellies hurt from the pressure change and they head deep - that's their only escape. Bass trapped in shallow water go very, very dormant after a severe cold front and are just about impossible to catch. However, there are always a few stragglers that will strike. They are mostly small fish, but when you know the target must be stragglers, you gotta develop a strategy to target them and forget searching for a concentration of nice aggressive fish. It just does not happen in post frontal conditions.

That being said, if you are a successful straggler fisherman, you will have better results than most fishermen. It is all relative - during lousy conditions, fewer fish on your stringer is still success. You simply must realize and accept that's the way is is.

 

[stumpy]

Bought my first new boat this year. And needless to say been my worst year fishing in a long time. Boy I sure hope that's not some kinda sign.lol

 

[BulletTJ]

I do agree Jim the Fall can be tough. It can also be some of the most exciting fishing of the year. I love catching fish in the jumps that are in a feeding frenzy. For me the Bass seem to follow the bait fish and the bait fish move a lot this time of year. Most of the trouble I have finding fish this time of year is my fault. It isn't like Winter or Summer time patterns. That is you can pattern them and they will stay on that pattern until the weather or some other variable moves them. I have found in the Fall you have to keep an open mind on your way to the lake. The pattern or location you fished with success yesterday may not work today. I tend to spend to much time force feeding my last successful pattern on the fish. Instead of letting the fish tell me what is going on. I do know this if you can locate the bait fish, the bass wont be far off. Getting them to bite may not be easy if they are full of shad already. It drives me crazy when I can see them and cant get them to bite.

 

[porthos33]

Good report J max. The hardest thing for me the last couple of weeks is size. My wife has been out of town for 2 weeks and I've been off work the whole time so needless to say I have only missed 2 days on the lake in the last 2 weeks. Topwater has been good for me spooks/buzzbait, but I have had trouble with the frog on mats. It seems I can always find bait but sometimes I find them super thick and balled up everywhere. That is when crankin and spookin has caught me some 5-15 fish flurries. The days around the full moon a couple days ago were really good b/c they were pulling a lot of current. Also I always have a shakey head ready to throw if I miss a fish on top. That shakey head has really helped catch the fish though. Even on the toughest days that shakey head will get me 4-5 fish and I have keyed on wood when the bite is tougher.

It really makes me wonder where the 3+ pounders go when fall transition arrives. I have noticed though that I have been catching a lot of spots here lately. Sometimes in the spring I have noticed a lot of spots hanging around wood where I normally catch LM and they will be there for about 1 or 2 week time frames. I'm not sure why the spots get so active sometimes like that. They really can get a topwater frenzy started though!

Today it was pretty windy and I had some blowups on top around the grass. I got tired of fishing grass and decided to key on places with no grass. I only caught five but I did have 2 smallies bite a soft plastic crawdad. That was excting. That's the first smallies I've caught in a while. I talked to a couple other guys and the caught 3 smallies today. Maybe it's a sign that the big LM are on there way!

I do wonder about the guys that are catching keepers the last couple weeks and where those fish are coming from. Maybe the boat docks are the key who knows. Just have to keep trying.

 

[Blue76]

Well... I had a little luck the other day. Wasn't great but I managed 4 keepers in about 3 hours... One was on a shallow crank over grass... but then I started catching whites and that was all I could catch... they were blowing up the bait fish all around me... I moved to an offshore shallow hump and caught two on a trap over grass... Last fish was on a frog on the mats at the horseshoe area near pinky point. I also missed a nice fish on a frog there. Compared to my last few outings it was a big success... All these fish were caught in less than 6 FOW.

 

[rusty50576]

As a non tournament bass fishermen, I love reading your reports jmax. Keep posting! I have only fished chick twice in my life and posted a report each time, got no replies. Even though Chattanooga is too far away to fish I still enjoy reading about the big bucketmouths y'all catch, please keep all the good info coming!! It is rare that a tx fisherman such as yourself is willing to share and it is greatly appreciated

 

[Blue76]

Jmax - 10/10/2014 10:39 AM

So much for "General Fishing Discussion". emoDoh It seems everyone who bass fishes on this sight has turned into nothing more then a lurker. I have slowed up posting the last couple weeks due to nothing in return. emoSorry Use to be I could bank on Ben Hayes, he is too busy playing Grandaddy and also Jim Mergen but he is up north and no telling when he will be back. emoRolleyes Yea, Churly is right, I guess I need to head for the deer woods. emoBigsmile Jmax

Jim... I am usually "that guy" who posts some kind of goofy reply to everything. I have been out of town for a few days and didn't fish Chick for a month... I did report my Kayak adventures though.

I wondered where your posts went.... I figured work must have kept you busy. I hear your boss is a slave driver.

Keep up your great posts... I really enjoy reading them and they are very helpful to someone like me who is learning.

 

[drumking]

Jmax, I usually don't bass fish on purpose anymore, but when I do catch a bass by accident, I usually report it in the crappie fishing section. I caught a nice smallmouth bass last week on a crappie jig under a dock. Bobby Garland rules. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Jmax]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I have been going a couple times here lately that I did not report. One reason is the CBA and CFF Classics are coming up here real soon and no need to help the competition. However the other reason is I did not have any picture worthy bass to post. It has been slow for me here lately and catching a good limit has been escaping me. I hope to get back on them soon. I have five buddies coming down from VA here this coming weekend and I really do need to find some bass to make their journey worth wild. I will post a pic or two if we get on some worth a photo. emoThumbsup Jmax

 

[dobass]

Jmax- I joined this site a few years ago to see if I could get some insight on fishing "The Chick". I live near Norris Lake and fish in the heartland series. I thought I could gain some tips and tricks that would vault me to the top of the heartland series championship!!

That pipe dream is over. The guys down there have just so much time and effort invested, it would be very difficult to outfish some of the more "local" guys over the course of 2 days where water generation is limited. I would go down there during the week and think I had something figured out. Show up on saturday and everything be different, especially with the current. So I did not find a "magic lure" or a "magic spot"

What I have come to find is this is a great community that shares info, helps one another out and has great lessons on life, not just fishing.

I do not know you, except by what you post. I was genuinely concerned when you injured your foot. I was relieved by how you took this injury in stride even with all the half step jokes. It warms my heart that someone would try to seek out the people who may have lost equipment that you have found. I always look forward to reading your reports!! Thank you for making this site one of the best fishing forums bar none!!

 

[Blue76]

Well said Dobass.... this site wouldn't be the same without Jmax...

 

[Jmax]

Boy! My head is really swellen. emoBigsmile Thanks for the compliments. Might want to stop, I am not going to be able to fit through the door. emoLaugh Jmax

 

[derek81]

I'm gonna puke

 

[GAfisherman]

Vomit

 

[2jigs]

Hey Jimmy, don't pay any attention to these cynic's. I too enjoy your post from time to time.

 

[Oldman]

up-chuck

 

[2jigs]

dobass - 10/14/2014 2:01 PM Jmax- I joined this site a few years ago to see if I could get some insight on fishing "The Chick". I live near Norris Lake and fish in the heartland series. I thought I could gain some tips and tricks that would vault me to the top of the heartland series championship!! That pipe dream is over. The guys down there have just so much time and effort invested, it would be very difficult to outfish some of the more "local" guys over the course of 2 days where water generation is limited. I would go down there during the week and think I had something figured out. Show up on saturday and everything be different, especially with the current. So I did not find a "magic lure" or a "magic spot" What I have come to find is this is a great community that shares info, helps one another out and has great lessons on life, not just fishing. I do not know you, except by what you post. I was genuinely concerned when you injured your foot. I was relieved by how you took this injury in stride even with all the half step jokes. It warms my heart that someone would try to seek out the people who may have lost equipment that you have found. I always look forward to reading your reports!! Thank you for making this site one of the best fishing forums bar none!!

</p>

So Jimmy, tell me the truth. How much did this run you in $$$$? It ok I won't tell. emoPoke </p>

 

[derek81]

2jigs - 10/14/2014 8:15 PM

Hey Jimmy, don't pay any attention to these cynic's. I too enjoy your post from time to time. 

Ok...What did you do with Steve Rogers??? This can't be him posting lol

 

[2jigs]

derek81 - 10/15/2014 7:38 AM

2jigs - 10/14/2014 8:15 PM Hey Jimmy, don't pay any attention to these cynic's. I too enjoy your post from time to time.

Ok...What did you do with Steve Rogers??? This can't be him posting lol

Jim & I both know it"s all in fun no mater how hard of a time I give him. But let's face it, He's the only one out of all of us who will come on here & post picture of what he's throwing. And half the time, I for one know about where he's throwing it. I just respect him & you too much to try not & fish the same spots on purpose. there's justtoo much lake for that.</p>

Now don't get me wrong. His head can swell up with the best of them. He can pat his self on the back as well as anyone I know!!! Why I remember when he go that big fish this year, He pulled his arm out of socket 3 times in one hour braging on it!!! What he has in fishing ability, he SURE LACKS in cooth (sp) emoPoke But he can't help it, or don't beleave it matters what others think. An let's face it,the Ol'man can flat out putthem in the boat as you know. An in in this sport you sure better beleave in your self!!! I can assure you he DOES!!! emoLaugh emoPoke emoPoke emoPoke </p>

 

[Blue76]

Well that post should bring him back to earth...

You guys are funny...