Let's talk about Nickajack

[Kickerfish]

So before I move on to other lakes, I have tasked myself with figuring out nicknack. It's not going all that well. I find that with the Nick, I can't really apply everything you read about lakes to it in order to find fish. The biggest problem is, we don't have creeks like the 2 neighboring bodies of water so if Bassmaster tells you to look in the backs of creeks, flats it is! I must say though, it hasn't treated me that well. My question is, does Nickajack set up more like a river than a lake? Should I be out on the main channel finding current breaks? I would like for you guys to share your thoughts on this without giving away all the glory. I know that Nickajack isn't going to produce numbers or weights like the Chick or Guntersville, but I do think that it's capable of producing solid bags. I just can't seem to figure this lake out.

 

[Mr. S]

I would be interested as well. I'm going down there this coming wknd for a couple days. Last time I was there I 0'd. it was June I think. This time I'm going to Bass and Crappie fish. The "Lake" has some flats with minor creeks, washes may be a better term marked through them. From what I have figured out it fishes more like a river. But this time of year I would explore the flats and bays available off the main channel.

 

[heath423]

Go fish the Running Water Creek area. You should find some good fish to catch there.

 

[Mr. S]

heath423 - 3/3/2018 10:53 PM

Go fish the Running Water Creek area. You should find some good fish to catch there.

I have heard of Running Water Creek, where is it located exactly. It was a town/village that belonged to the Cherokee Indians' at one point too.

 

[Mr. S]

emoUpsmile Never Mind... I found it...

 

[Kickerfish]

Mr. S - 3/3/2018 11:58 PM

emoUpsmile Never Mind... I found it...

Was there a joke to that? I'm running a little slow today.

 

[Kickerfish]

Me and the nephew got out today around 9 this morning. We fished docks at the back of Bennett lake, docks on the opposite side of Mullins cove, docks in Mullins cove and flats, and rock banks. Not. One. Bite. Looks like someone is catching them. They caught them pretty good in the Carl Reed tournament yesterday.

 

[porthos33]

bottom part of nick is the lake part and from there up is pretty much river to the dam. You should go back and watch the bfl that was held down there a few years ago. Most of them were on the river part and then some were on the lake part. Pretty much all tva lakes are river at the top and lake at the bottom. Fish have been shallow on chick and i'm sure there are some shallow fish on Nick.</p>

Here you go:https://bassu.tv/bass-fishing-video/pre-spawn-spotted-largemouth-bass-river-fishing-herren</p>

 

[Kickerfish]

Thank you Porthos. That video has been helpful to me. Although i cant find that spot downriver where dude was watching them deep on a jig.. lol

 

[churly]

Yes. Nickajack fishes like a river. Throw your bass master magazine out of the window and learn to use the TVA app and understand how different levels and currents position the fish. Nickajack fish will spawn in the bays and back water areas, but also, in slack water eddies off the main river. Forage is the same as the rest of the TN river, so the baits are the same as the other impoundments. Start your search in any shallow spawning bay and work your way back to the river. Pay special attention to any humps and ditches that the fish can use to set up on there way in and out. It’s a really cool lake and gets overlooked

 

[davisjeremy1981]

Like most have said fish it like a river, however spend some time on the bottom end of the lake as well. Pay attention to an area called Bennett's lake, check the area of marion county state park, and the area around nick dam. There are not nearly the number of houses on nick that there are on chic or Guns so there are not many docks or other kinds of man made cover so structure is much more important.

 

[Kickerfish]

I appreciate you guys giving some good advice. I can read through these posts and see everything I'm doing wrong. Jeremy, the bottom end is my worst enemy, but with taking what you said into consideration, I can think of 100 spots that I could hit that fall into the examples. Now I just have to find time to get out there.

 

[[email protected]]

I have had a lot of success fishing in front of moccasin bend along the rock banks, also across the river from moccasin bend along banks with small finesse worms on drop shot hooks weightless

 

[fish4thepeck]

Most of the time if you find the hard bottoms you will find fish. Like most Tenn. River lakes. Nickajack has a lot of soft bottom.

 

[Kickerfish]

fish4thepeck - 3/14/2018 6:02 AM

Most of the time if you find the hard bottoms you will find fish. Like most Tenn. River lakes. Nickajack has a lot of soft bottom.

This is definitely true. I realized how important hard bottom is recently. I've been looking over navionics to try and put that together.