EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

EricM · Oct 1, 2012

EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Yep, we went together again. Below a dam. And nothing in or on my boat was damaged(much). However..................

........it seems Mr. Spurhunter had, a day and a half earlier, purchased about $50 in new fishing equipment, including a new Rapala fillet knife. He had it in a fancy Fat AL tackle bag(plastic sack) and stuffed it into a corner of my boat under a rear casting deck where it certainly would be safe on the trip up. We got to the ramp at the dam and................................Who would like to guess??? Huh?Huh?

Somewhere on I-75 is a suprise grab bag for some lucky fisherman! And I'm telling - Spur said some baaaad words!

We got to the dam before daylight and found some live bait, but all we could find were some small blue catfish. We gave that up and started drifting a bit and Erik hung a small striped bass. It was in an area that I have had luck in before, and since we couldn't get the drift right, we anchored in the best spot to reach where the fish should be. Erik started pounding the smallmouth, catching I think 7 of them, with a couple of very nice ones. I was having a tough time on my end of the boat and only caught 2 smallmouth total. However, I figured out the white bass again with a Foley spoon and kicked Erik's butt all over the boat whth probably 20 great sized whites. He got in on some of the action, but by then I had pretty much cleaned the area out. Erik was also the multi-species man on this trip. I think I remember him catching 5 different species - smallmouth, white bass, striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and a drum. Oops, that's 6 species.

A fine, fun day that wore me out. Here are some pics:

drumking · Oct 1, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam tailwaters, Smallmouth, white bass and more, Sept 30, 2012, Spurhunter

emoThumbsup I have spent many an hour in that very same place. Biggest Smallmouth bass that I netted up there for my friend was 7.25 lbs. Biggest Drum in the 20's. Biggest striper 42.5 lbs, my PB. Best 1/2 day of striper fishing, 107 averaging 18 lbs apiece. 19 fish over 20 and 1 over 30 that morning. 9 years ago. I love that place, but don't get to fish it much anymore. At winter pool, and low flow, watch out for the huge steel I-beams near the wing wall and 3 big rockpiles below the power lines. They have eaten up more than 1 lower unit. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

SpurHunter · Oct 1, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam tailwaters, Smallmouth, white bass and more, Sept 30, 2012, Spurhunter

Yes, I'm ashamed to say I said many bad words.

On the bright side, as was said, no real damage to boat, gear or pride DURING the trip.

One really neat thing happened, first cast with the net, no shad but a BIG walleye! How cool is that? Fist one I've ever touched, wish it was on a hook so it could have made the trip home with us.

Ol ErciM was seriously channeling Foodsaver and hung at least every third cast all day long. SO all told, I lost $50 in new gear, he lost $50 in stocked gear from his stash. This was the only reason I was whooping him early, when he finally decided to use the foley, he was catching so many fish, there was no time to hang up. He schooled me badly.

Actually, we ended with 9 smallies and I lost two at the boat, it was on once we figured out the spot and method. Most came on a big threadfin with a single split shot on light line and #1 Owner hook. We did catch three on the foley spoons as well. I took a video of Eric stomping the whites, Ill try and get it loaded.

All in all it was a great trip, catching that many fish, multiple species, etc is always a good time.

jvincent1 · Oct 1, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam tailwaters, Smallmouth, white bass and more, Sept 30, 2012, Spurhunter

Great trip guys

SpurHunter · Oct 1, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam tailwaters, Smallmouth, white bass and more, Sept 30, 2012, Spurhunter

Video loaded. 

http://s706.beta.photobucket.com/user/spurhunter/media/92E3A504-D897-4173-B553-052931716B96-5821-0000043188FCB505.mp4.html

BILL DANTZ · Oct 1, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Maybe he needs to sacrifice something to remove the fishing jinks more often. Looks like the fishing was fine. Good report.

Labman · Oct 1, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Sweet trip, wearin out the Smallies and Whites. Really nice fish guys and no blood was spilled. emoPoke We won't even count the lost tackle bag, lol. Spur could you post that drawing you made showing the rocks and steel beams at the Dam that you posted last year? I might want to slip back up there at low water. Thanks for the post and pics.

Regards, Labman

SpurHunter · Oct 1, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Ill look for that one Norman.

machinekiller · Oct 1, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

dam good fishing,im ready to try my foolys

cast4bass · Oct 1, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Nice Smallies - Love the one with the Foley hanging out its mouth! LOL! Also WTG Eric M! Ha ha

anyfish · Oct 2, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Thats what I'M talking about! me and Dad used to smoke the smallies and stripes on the threadfins up there We havn't been in a long time but after seeing this I think a trip is in order! Are the buzzards still sh!!!ing on everything up there they used to cover my truck up! emoBang emoBang emoThumbsup

owtdoorguy · Oct 2, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Great sounding trip, and awesome net story! I would love to pull in a walleye. Hope the net is fine. Say, what's your net specs?

EricM · Oct 2, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

The net is an 8' radius, 3/8 mesh with 1-1/2 lbs of weight per foot. Easy enough for this old man to handle!

SpurHunter · Oct 2, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

<div>

anyfish - 10/1/2012 10:16 AM Thats what I'M talking about! me and Dad used to smoke the smallies and stripes on the threadfins up there We havn't been in a long time but after seeing this I think a trip is in order! Are the buzzards still sh!!!ing on everything up there they used to cover my truck up! emoBang emoBang emoThumbsup

</div>



I saw some at belowtheramp eating on a deer, but none in the parking lot.

owtdoorguy · Oct 2, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Thanks for the measurements.
I am rethinking my current net as it's holes are just a bit big for some of the gizzards and threads at the Chick Dam, where I generally fish. They get stuck in the pattern, suggesting I need a smaller hole size.

3/8 sounds good though, as I think mine are 1/2 maybe...I will have to check.

anyfish · Oct 2, 2012

RE: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Thats probably why they weren't in the parking lot maybe I need to stop and get some road kill on my way up to lure them away from the parking lot! lol I'm glad you guys had a good trip! emoThumbsup emoLaugh

SpurHunter · Oct 2, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

owtdoorguy - 10/1/2012 12:23 PM Thanks for the measurements. I am rethinking my current net as it's holes are just a bit big for some of the gizzards and threads at the Chick Dam, where I generally fish. They get stuck in the pattern, suggesting I need a smaller hole size. 3/8 sounds good though, as I think mine are 1/2 maybe...I will have to check.

Keep in mind that the smaller mesh you get, the slower it sinks and more drift you get in moving water. Its a fine line on which size to get for different applications.

owtdoorguy · Oct 2, 2012

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

That makes sense for sure. I think I may stick with picking out the smaller shad and get the faster sink. Not too many get stuck really, but sometimes a school will be running and they are smaller so I pick about 60% of the catch.
I might just want to get another to have for other applications, maybe a smaller 3/8 and keep mine now too.

SpurHunter · May 4, 2018

Re: EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Another of my most memorable trips with Eric.

EricM, Watts Bar dam, Smallmouth, white bass, stripers and more, 9-30-12, Spurhunter W Video

Help Support Chattanooga Fishing Forum:

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads