Fishing Browns Ferry Area

[JC1]

Last weekend I fished the riverbank around the Browns Ferry area in the upper part of Nickajack. The top-water bite was all I got and the fish were well spaced. The day started well with about a 2lb smallmouth on the third cast. That turned out to be the only smallie I got as the rest were largemouth. Almost all were tight on tree cover on rocky shoreline next to 20 ft of water. Had two more fish in 2-3lb range and a couple in the 1-2lb range, with several slicks inbetween. I used a 1/2 oz. chart. buzz bait with a 4" chart, trailer and trailer hook(after missing a few to short strikes). Time of day was daylight till noon. I did throw a crankbait(Spittin' Image) and ,breifly, plastic worm to no avail, so I decided to "dance with what brung me" and stuck with the buzzbait most of the morning. Oddly enough the fish quit hitting when the water came on, which was exactly opposite of what I expected. Think I'll try Chickamauga in the Dayton-Hiawassee area with the buzzbait tomorrow and also some plastics on deeper cover near the drops and any deep points that I find. I'll let yall know how it goes. JC1

 

[DHaun]

Great report JC1! I used to keep my boat at Browns Ferry Marina and would always catch a couple Bass near the rocky areas drifting shiners - I can also recall one or two smallies as well. Did you launch at the Brown's Ferry ramp? I was wondering if you still had to be a marina member to use it or if they may have a fee system setup.

 

[JC1]

I launched at the River Park and made the run downstream. The Browns Ferry Marina is still a members only deal as far as I know unless you want to pay a yearly ramp fee , which I was told is around $200.00. JC1