Fishing the Chickamauga dam?

[cptenn94]

Hi how is everyone doing!

Im working on expanding where I fish, and what I try to fish for, so I am wanting to learn to fish the Chickamauga dam tailwater.

I went down there a few days ago and got a good look at the waters from the pier, down to the boat ramp by chatt state. I was there from about 7-11am, then came back from12-2pm

I tried fishing with a spoon that had a action like a minnow when retrieved that I got at jacks bait, and was able to have a little bit of luck catching something(I hooked 2 fish that got away before I could finish retrieving them) while fishing near the pillar of the railroad bridge.

However I really had no clue what I was doing. I was just tossing my line in the water and retrieving it just hoping to get something hooked. I was pretty much like a archer trying to hit a target while blindfolded.


So that brings me to my questions.
How should I fish the chick dam tailwaters?

What locations should I fish, and where should I cast, and how should I retrieve it.
How should I read the water to determine where would be a good location, and where to cast to it?

Just any advice or tips of on fishing the dam would be really awesome!


Currently the only thing that comes to mind of what I should do, is cast near schools of baitfish, especially where the fish are jumping(to possibly escape predators)


I am confined to fishing from the shore there, and am interested in learning how to catch anything that swims below the dam. I am probably least interested in catching cats though. I am interested in learning to catch them with live bait and lures.


On the positive side though out of my trip, is that I did manage to get some good practice with a cast net.

 

[drumking]

Try a popping cork above a swivel and a Foley spoon. Just cast it out into the current and work it back toward the bank. Something will grab it. White bass, spotted bass, Smallmouth bass, or nearly everything that feeds on minnows will do the trick. Now if you had a boat, I would tell you something different. You are somewhat limited by shore line fishing, but it can be very productive too. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[That's Not Slick]

I am going to have to see these foley spoons in action. They seem to be prominent around here, with nothing but good words. Does anyone have a diagram of the way it is rigged witht the popping cork?

 

[cptenn94]

drumking - 9/22/2014 11:32 AM

Try a popping cork above a swivel and a Foley spoon. Just cast it out into the current and work it back toward the bank. Something will grab it. White bass, spotted bass, Smallmouth bass, or nearly everything that feeds on minnows will do the trick. Now if you had a boat, I would tell you something different. You are somewhat limited by shore line fishing, but it can be very productive too. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

Ok I will be sure to try that. Is there anywhere in particular I should try to cast to? About what depth should I suspend the foley spoon from?

Im aware that I am limited by shore fishing. And technically I do have a boat, though I do not think it would be a good idea to use near the dam. And I really dont plan on using it except off the N chick and chick lake.(I have a canoe).



Also how would the fishing be where the N chick meets the tennessee river?

I have read that fishing Is usually better when 2 moving bodies of water meet.

 

[SpurHunter]

Lots of fish to be caught from the bank there.
Check out these videos, you will learn all you need to know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1hLDwRibo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08jHsV7Rvsc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QAIW7HeW_c