Mid October Fishing Chickamauaga

[mbeckler]

Hello everyone. I will be coming down to visit family in mid October in Dayton. I am going to spend a couple of days fishing on Lake Chickamauga. I am from Springfield Mo and fish the lakes around here. Our lakes are deep and clear with the exception of the tailwaters on the White River. I have a couple of questions for everyone if you don't mind spending some time and answering them. The fishing up here on Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Beaver is pretty typical of flat pockets and creeks with some fish still being on the breaks. Is that consistent with the Chick?

1. Where is the greatest chance to catch a trophy at?
a. Dam area
b. Mid lake
c. River
d. Feeder Creeks

2. Does the grass still play a part in the fishing this time of year?

3. How much does the current affect the fishing this time of the year? emoWelcome

 

[go blue]

This would be a good one for jmax. Where are you.

 

[derek81]

The grass plays a part on the lake until it's dead and completely gone, so yes, mid october is a great time to factor the grass. As far as where to find a trophy....anywhere honestly. I would focus around grass near deeper water though, frogs, punching mats, just about anyway you can think to fish the grass you can catch them. If you put it out there and offer to pay gas and maybe buy someone lunch they might take you out and show you around. There are some guys that really know this lake on here.

 

[mbeckler]

Thanks for the help and insight. I have not done much grass fishing as the Ozarks doesn't grow it in our fisheries. From what I have seen, fishing grass is much like fishing a lake within a lake and the nuances of the grass really come into play. Is the lake challenging to navigate?

 

[derek81]

mbeckler - 9/20/2012 3:10 PM

Thanks for the help and insight. I have not done much grass fishing as the Ozarks doesn't grow it in our fisheries. From what I have seen, fishing grass is much like fishing a lake within a lake and the nuances of the grass really come into play. Is the lake challenging to navigate?

Not really but when the lake is lowered for the winter you need to stay between the buoys or you can run aground quick.

 

[dobass]

I have only been to the Chick a few times now and have yet to see much grass. However, I fished up near watts bar dam down to possom creek and have only seen a little grass and it's been back in the creeks for the most part.

I see that many of the reports coming from HBSP and Chester Frost stating they have been fishing the grass/deep weeds. So with my very limited knowledge of the lake and these reports. I think there must be more grass down in those areas towards the lower portion of the lake.

 

[derek81]

dobass - 9/20/2012 5:46 PM

I have only been to the Chick a few times now and have yet to see much grass. However, I fished up near watts bar dam down to possom creek and have only seen a little grass and it's been back in the creeks for the most part.

I see that many of the reports coming from HBSP and Chester Frost stating they have been fishing the grass/deep weeds. So with my very limited knowledge of the lake and these reports. I think there must be more grass down in those areas towards the lower portion of the lake.

Correct, the mid lake area has grass in a lot of the sloughs and some places it's made it's way out to the main river.

 

[Jmax]

What derekmax said. emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[TKbigbass]

Stop by the Dayton Boat Dock Resturant for Breakfast or lunch one morning and ask Michael Neal or some of the other locals that hang out therewhat areas and baits are working good. He is the new owner of the resturant/bait shop and has just completed his rookie year on the FLW tour.

 

[REELWORLD42]

They will be a big tournament (Hartland Anglers) around 200 + plus boats coming out of the Dayton boat dock on October 11 & 12 And on the same 2 days they will be another big tournament out of Chester Frost with about 200 boats Bassmaster weekend regional championship. Hope this does not enter fear with your plans.

 

[REELWORLD42]

sorry posted the wrong dates for the tournaments should have been October 12 & 13

 

[Jmax]

That just might be a problem. Our CFF classic on the Chick is on that same Sunday you just mentioned also out of Chester. emoEek We may need to move it over to HBSP to say the least. emoGeezer Jmax

 

[SPOON]

I observe most BFL, FLW,etc. that fish wheeler in the fall. The area I concentrate on is below the Guntersville dam.


The most consistent pattern that I have notice is fishing the turbine side of the river. Starting about 500 yards below the dam, ( as a general rule the fish will be closer to the dam in the spring and further away in the fall) identify the current breaks or irregularity against the bank for the next mile or so. Any gizzard or thread fin shad will be running this bank.

By mid October there should be alot of top water action, making it easier to find the active spots. When you have determined the area that is holding fish, pull your boat against the bank and lower the power poles. Use a pop-r, sammy etc. and fish as you would for salt water strip. when you see one bust top throw on him.

In this type area the fish will hit top water all day regardless of the sunshine. they may hit for a few minutes and then stop for several minutes. The bass will move in bust up a school of bait move back out and let the bait school back up and do it again ALL DAY LONG.( I saw a 5lb largemouth caught after 12 o'clock on the last day of a fisher of men classic tournament. and they won a fully rigged bass boat.)

The FLW is fishing wheeler this week and several boats ran up to the dam to fish this pattern the first day. No one fished this pattern the secound day as it is a couple weeks early for this pattern. There is only three or four boats fishing the dam area now and one boat is in fifth place with a little over 30 lb but he is fishing in 18-20 ft. of water catching largemouth and a few spots.

I know this ain't Chickamauga but maybe it will help.


GOOD LUCK!!


If you can find a school of smallmouth on a rock pile or a shell bed, forget all that I just said and do that!

 

[Strato-G]

pm sent...check ur message box

 

[mbeckler]

You guys are awesome. Thanks so much for all the information that you have given. It is a real pleasure to have spent some time talking fishing with y'all. I am so excited now to come down and do some fishing. Going to a new place for the first time can be overwhelming to say the least. Keep the hints coming!!! I just may move to Tennessee!!

 

[fishinvol]

Some great fishing around this area ! You'll love it !

 

[mbeckler]

I have been looking at the map. Does the Hiawasee river hold a good fall bite with crankbaits and stuff like that? It looks like a nice creek/river to spend a day in. Is there a lot of logs and stuff to fish shallow around in the area?

 

[DwayneB]

I'm fishing the Bass weekend regional there myself,I looked at Heartland and right now they have 277 boats in theres.
I'm going as a non boater,when your talking about frogs you talking about using buzz type frogs or hollow bodies? What is the water clarity right now? I have only been on it once a few years back with my father in law when he lived in Hixson.
Any specialized colors you guys recommend?
Ever need any help on lakes in my area I'll be glad to help out,I'm near Atlanta. Thanks guys.,

 

[derek81]

DwayneB - 9/27/2012 8:27 AM

I'm fishing the Bass weekend regional there myself,I looked at Heartland and right now they have 277 boats in theres.
I'm going as a non boater,when your talking about frogs you talking about using buzz type frogs or hollow bodies? What is the water clarity right now? I have only been on it once a few years back with my father in law when he lived in Hixson.
Any specialized colors you guys recommend?
Ever need any help on lakes in my area I'll be glad to help out,I'm near Atlanta. Thanks guys.,

Hollow body frogs, the water clarity around mid lake is a couple feet at best, just about any color frog you throw will probably work, and for plastics green pumpkin, june bug and red shad are great colors. It's going to be a crowded lake that weekend.