New to Nickajack Lake

[turfcare]

Help Please! Hello, a friend of mine and I are going to brave Nickajack Lake for the first time on Friday. We are going to start off Striper fishing below the dam at daylight then move up to the lake for some bass fishing. We would GREATLY appreciate any advice on the bass fishing. We are looking forward to seeing some new water.
Thanks!

 

[turfcare]

Sorry, maybe I came across wrong. We are not tournament fishermen and are not looking for anyones secret spots. What I am interested in what boat ramps are the safest to use. Is the boat ramp located above the Dam a safe place to park. Are there any shallow areas of the lake to be aware of that might be dangerous to a boater. Would the park area or the Dam area be a better place for a beginer to Nickajack to fish. Thanks in advance for any advice. We just want to be safe and have a fun day fishing.

 

[Guest]

to the forum, glad to have you. From reading your post I think you were expecting an immediate answer to your questions, unless someone is on the puter and sees your post, you won't get an imediate answer. I will attemp to answer your questions.</p>



If you are fishing for stripers below the dam, most are caught in the swift water right below the dam, if there is no water running you might as well go home. The stripers are usually caught with some kind of bait that stays on the bottom, sometimes you might get one on a top water bait. There are no shallow places below the dam to damage your boat, just be careful of the swift water, do not go behind the "boils", this is a place for seasoned fishermen. Now for the lake, almost all of the ramps are a great place to put your boat in except one, do not use the ramp on the south side of I-24 bridge, it is too shallow and you will tear up the lower unit on your boat. Marion county park is a great ramp, and is easy to find, launch from. As in any lake you have deep and shallow water, the nick is no exception, anywhere between the channel markers is deep water, out side this area is another thing, use at your own risk. It will take many trips to the nick to find the right fishing spots.</p>

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0033">I will say <u>Amen to what info Doc has put on ya</u>.....MCP is a good place to start....lots of Rip/Rap.  Diving crank baits, jig/grubs, hair jigs/chunk fished along all that R/R is a great place to fish....may get your arm broke....have fun and be safe.............the Fat Albert said that....

</font>

 

[turfcare]

I appreciate the advice fellows. I just wanted to be clear that I was not being sneaky. I am very familiar with striper fishing below the dam as I have many times but I am not familiar with the main lake. Striper fishing gets boring after a while so lately I have been honing my bass fishing skills. I fish a lot on Tim's Ford and Wood's Reservoir. I am looking for some different scenery and some large mouth bass!

We will be in a 20' Seaark, say hello if you get a chance.

 

[fishinvol]

Just look for shallow water and throw a rattle bait at them. This time of year, you can't go wrong starting with that. If the water has some good color to it, throw a reddish color if it's clear just go with the natural colors. When you catch a fish keep throwing in that area. there will probably be more. Good luck!!

 

[smalliemouth]

our bass club just had a tournament there sat and had four bags over 18 lbs most all caught on crankbaits n jigs on riprap

 

[procraft]

what doc1 told you is the truth dont park at cave lake by the curch a friends truck was broke in over their last summer MC park would be a great place to fish i have been on the nick for 5 years and still dont know many of the hot spots you might try the flat on the right side of the dam just below shellmound boat ramp wellcome to the forumemoWelcome

 

[turfcare]

I appreciate the heads up on the boat ramps and the good fishing information. Looks like we will be in for a cloudy day and rain tomorrow. May just stay below the dam and try for some smallies. I guess we will just play it by ear in the morning.

 

[honkytonker26]

Nickajack is one of them lakes you really need a map before running wide open on. Once you learn the channels you can run everywhere you want to go. I grew up fishing on weiss so I'm used to being cafeful where I'm going. It took me a few times running a ground before learned Nickajack. I'm still learing. Lot of sumerged grass on Bennett's lake right now. Bump a crankbait or rattle trap off the top of the grass. Good luck!

 

[turfcare]

Thanks, sounds like Wood's Reservoir. Thanks for the advice. Is the ramp close to the dam OK to use?

 

[honkytonker26]

Shellmound is a good ramp. My fav is Marion County Park. Nice and theres alwasy someone out there.

 

[turfcare]

I believe that is where we will go, MCP Thanks again.