Nickajack 3.3-3.4.06

[JerDog]

Went out below the dam yesterday and the wind was too much to handle. White caps on the water and the boat was tossed around a bit. Stayed and trolled for 2 hours for Striper with not even a nibble. It was hard to keep the boat headed in a straight line the wind was blowing so hard.

Fished this morning from 6-10am and very little wind. Trolled some umbrella rigs and nothing. The birds were working hard feeding but no luck. Decided to look for bait and found some off the wing wall. One throw netted so many threadfins that I COULD NOT LIFT THE NET INTO THE BOAT! There is so much bait out there. I have never seen so much of it. I guess that is a good thing for the fish, but maybe lousy for fishing. Who knows, but I think the stripers were just not there today as some reports have said. They were there at the beginning of last week then left. They'll be back.

WATER TEMP: 58F
OUTSIDE: SUNNY: 48F LOW, HIGH 66F

 

[NRG]

Jerdog .. I was there yesterday, from sure around 1pm what boat where you in .. I saw couple old men in a old jon boat, and some 3 guys in a big red and white pleasure boat, one boat anchored over at the wall next to turbines, and oh and some guys in a old tri hull bass boat like mine.. was any of them you? I didnt see anyone catchin anything .. except bait!

 

[polo-dog]

Great to hear that there is so much bait, that will ensure that the bellies will be full and they should make lots of little ones in the future. At least most of them. I know that the stipers and wipers won't spawn successfully but all the others should.

 

[JerDog]

We left at about 10am...got out there at 5:30 before sunrise...After 4.5 hours and no fish, I had better things to do with my time. Will hit it again tomorrow evening and see what's out there....Yes bait is all anyone was catching, but I did see a drum caught and that was all!

Anyone heard if Chickamauga Stripers are hitting? I have not heard any reports there in month and would like to know if they are there.

 

[rsimms]

JerDog - 4/5/2006 7:53 AM
Anyone heard if Chickamauga Stripers are hitting? I have not heard any reports there in month and would like to know if they are there.

Sort of... not gangbusters however. Had a client out this AM. He caught one decent striper, a big drum and missed two or three good hits. All on live bait... no topwater activity at all.

 

[JerDog]

Hey Richard,

Thanks for the info...got my brother and his boys coming into town and need to put them on some big fish. Gonna head out tomorrow afternoon and see if any will cooperate with us....When does the topwater bite start?...I think the water is still too cool being at only 58F.

 

[rsimms]

JerDog - 4/5/2006 11:25 AM
Hey Richard,
Thanks for the info...got my brother and his boys coming into town and need to put them on some big fish. Gonna head out tomorrow afternoon and see if any will cooperate with us....When does the topwater bite start?...I think the water is still too cool being at only 58F.

My depth finder was showing 60 degrees down there this AM. I've caught a couple of fish topwater this year, but if I raise one or two fish, it's been a good morning. Topwater bite is basically NOW... it should do nothing but improve. However it is heavily influenced by weather. Bottomline... those days that are grungy, rainy and miserable and you don't really want to fish... are the days you SHOULD go fish. Otherwise topwater bite is basically gonna be 45 minutes at sunrise and at sunset. Sometimes nighttime if you want to fish 3rd shift. Extreme low generation is also a factor. More running water, more activity. It's frustrating because it is actually a whole lot easier to fish when they are running only one generator, but fish are far less active. I only saw one striper bust a shad on surface this morning.
As for rockfish in "numbers," I'd say Nickajack is going to be your best bet. That's assuming your shad can dodge the drum.