foolproof fishing ideas and techniques needed for stocking up freezer.

[cptenn94]

I regretfully have not had much time for fishing lately having to balance school, work, and caring for my elderly grandmother. Currently I am working on changing up my diet and eating better, and have decided to make fish a big part of my diet. As I do not have much time, and I plan on eating quite a bit of fish, I need to be able to catch a lot of fish in a small amount of time.

So my simple question is: what are the most fool proof methods you have to catch eating sized fish(legal creel length) that you have good success with?
What are some good locations that are reliable for catching fish?

I am primarily limited to being able to travel no further than 30 minutes away from the chickamauga dam, and I am limited mainly to fishing along the shore, but if it would be worth the effort, and the water would not be too choppy I could bring my kayak out there.

Any advice for any fish species(other than carp or drum) would be much appreciated.

 

[rsimms]

First... there is NO SUCH THING as "foolproof" when it comes to fishing. Not gonna happen, no way, no how. The fish ALWAYS have the last word.

That said, go to the Wolftever Creek Bridge on Hwy. 58. Good place to catch crappie. Just watch all the other folks there to learn lures/techniques.

And if you do discover that "foolproof" place/technique... PLEASE share. emoBigsmile

 

[foodsaver]

the only foolproof way I know is to book a trolling trip with richard when the crappie stack up here in a few weeks. Or you could wait to book the trip when the catfish are thick below the dams. Either way he will send you home with a freezer full

 

[Guest]

LIKE RSIMMS SAID THERE IS NO FOOLPROOF FISHING METHOD. BUT LIVE BAIT IS VERY GOOD WORMS MINNERS AND CRICKETS.DRIFT MINNERS AROUND HARRISON BAY POINTS THIS TIME OF YEAR USUALLY PRODUCES A FEW AND SOMETIMES ALOT. ABOUT 15 TO 25FT. THIS IS BY NO MEANS FOOLPROOF.

 

[Gator]

Richard gave you a great suggestion. Go fish under the Wolftever Bridge for crappie.

 

[cptenn94]

I have fished wolfetever only once before. Is there a particular side of the bridge that generally is more successful? And would it be better to fish the narrow part, or the mouth?

And then finally what kind of depth should I expect to have to target to find fish this time of year, the bottom?

I am aware that there are no fool proof methods of fishing. I mainly meant it to both attract attention to this thread, and to communicate I am looking for the most successful methods of fishing when fish may be biting. Ultimately if the fish are not hungry, there is nothing I can do.

 

[rsimms]

Fish directly underneath the bridge. Use a 1/32nd or 1/16th oz. jig head, plastic body.... Panfish Assssin or Bobby Garland.

Pre-spawn fish moving in and out of the creek are typically suspended.... not really orienting to structure.

Cast jig out and count it down (count secs. off in your head). Start at a 5 or 6 count and then work your way down... retrieving jig slowly once you've "counted it down." You might work your way all the way to a 20 count or even more.

But somewhere in there you should hopefully find a count that works more consistently than others. Early morning count is usually going to be smaller, fish higher in the water column. As day progresses, they're likely to drop deeper.

 

[rusty50576]

The fish I eat the most are white bass and yellow bass they are delicious just ask drumking. whote bass have no minimum length limit and creel limit of 15 and yellow bass is keep as many as you want regardless of size. Trim the majority of the red meat out of the bigger white bass and don't freeze them much longer than 3-4 months unless you have a vacuum sealer

 

[cptenn94]

Thanks for the contribution as well rsimms and rusty.

I really do need to work on being more patient and doing the counting techniques.

I havent caught much white or yellow bass to eat, but the few I caught have been good(so was the striper I caught). Also luckily I do have a vacuum sealer.

How are the bluegill right now? I have caught them reliably near the chick dam boat ramp, but are they now sluggishly scattered in deeper water, or are they still readily taken on a worm?