Labman, Chickamauga, Bass/Crappie, 1/30/2012, solo

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Labman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
1,900
Location
Hixson, TN
Set out from CFP about 11:15 to try and do some damage to the basses. Decided to try fishing under the gulls as there was a lot of bait and marking some good sized arches. I wouldn't have complained if a Striper came to eat. Thought I would throw an umbrella rig as everyone else in a 3 state area is throwing them. Third "cast" let the rig sink to the bottom and start a slow retrieve. Fishing in about 20' of water. Bam, nice 3# LM. A few minutes later another hit and a 3# 10oz. LM. Hmmm, may be something to this rig after all. In all I caught 5 good keepers over 3# with the largest being 4# 6 oz. All caught on umbrella rig with 4" swimbaits. I tried lipless cranks, bucktails, jigging spoon, and shakey head with not a bite.

Had to run up river to retrieve my float n fly that I stuck in a cedar limb on a bluff. Took a HD 16' extendable pole to use to knock it out of the tree. Worked like a charm once I got the boat positioned. The wind and strong current were very tough to manuver in. On the way back thought I would stop at a crappie spot and see if any fish wanted to play. It was too windy and water too dirty to try float n fly.

Marked a nice school of crappie on a drop off near the main channel. Threw out a marker, moved the boat downwind and let the i-pilot do its thing. Worked like a charm, and even in the strong wind got very little bow in the line being downwind. Now to see if I remember some of Drumkings lessons. Using BG Shad 1/16th in the KIDS favorite "outlaw special". First tic was a dink, but the right species. Next fish was a little bigger, maybe 10", but still not what I was looking for. Cast a little past the drop and brought the bait over the edge on a 12 count, and that was the ticket. Caught 15 very nice keepers from 11" up, including 2 TARPS just over 14". All caught on the same bait and I never missed or lost a fish. I quit after 15 keepers and said a THANK YOU!! to Drumking for teaching me all I know about crappie fishing. Kept 3 of the smallest keepers for dinner, all others released. Great fun and a good day, even if very windy on the main lake. Oops, I think I switched wts. on the bass pics.

Heading to the river with Nauticman tomorrow. Being retired is tough, fish, fish, with hardly a day off.
emoLaugh Please excuse a couple of washed out pics, finally got a clamp to hold my camera and then forgot to turn the boat out of the sun.

Regards, Labman
 

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Awesome report and just before reading the last part of the report, I thought to myself doesn't this man work? LOL Enjoy retirement Labman, see ya on the water.
 
emoThumbsup seems u got a line on the favorite species........good post............. emoGeezer emoUSA
 
Crappie in one pic looks like its got a little fat belly, you get a weight on it? Thanks for the report, look forward to seeing what you and Pete land tomorrow!
 
Can anyone clarify the law on umbrella/Alabama rigs. My understanding that TN has outlawed Alabama rigs, so what is legal?
 
great report emoThumbsup that off shore stuff and drop offs is what i am trying to learn now but
not doing that good a job at .

i need to do some more scouting to find places like that.
 
Retired emoPoke I thought you fished for a living? emoSmile Great report and dang you figured it out with the A-Rig! WTG! I still haven't caught a fish on mine yet - LOL! Hope you guys tie into some big Smallies tomorrow while I am working :( :(
 
Great job and thanks for the report - I think you've convinced me to throw the T-rig tomorrow.
 
I knew that there were some decent fish out there. WTG on the TARP crappie, Norman. I suspect that I know where you were fishing and it is a great place to catch crappie and bass sometimes if one is inclined to fish for trashy green fish. emoBigsmile BTW, you didn't need much schooling in order to catch crappie. Just had to get the walleye, pike, bass, thinking out of you. emoPoke emoGeezer emoBigsmile
 

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