Nickajack Angler
Well-known member
Oh what a difference a week makes... we were so excited to finally have very nice weather today to fish... and get back to the awesome pattern we worked to such great success last weekend. But as Matt said after our day "It was a great day for fishing... just not a great day for catching!"
We just weren't able to get back on the pattern we were on last week. I think the fish were there, but with all the traffic of the past week and yesterday, the fish were driven down or out a bit deeper from what was so successful last week. And with the number of boats on the water, we weren't able to find "Fresh water" to beat to make it happen. By Noon we had resorted to soft baits and slowed way down. Which only produced the same quantity of bites as we were getting on the chase baits we were throwing. Our fish were scattered and each time we'd get to a place where we thought the water had settled enough to work an area - you'd turn around and have three boats coming in behind, around or beside you. Very little care - if you were in the mouth of a small creek working back, folks would drive right by to get to the back with the big motor.
On a positive note, the days weather was awesome. Really nice to feel the heat of the sun and be able to enjoy being outside. We started out with a nice 40 min wait with the Coast Guard at Wolftever. A boat safety check from the Auxiliary unit, who were really great folks, but backed up the ramp for a bit.
We fished from 7am to 6pm and a stop for lunch at HBSP restaurant. Only 9 fish to show for it. We would have only mustered up a bag of 9lbs today.
Water temps from 51 on the main lake areas we fished, and all the way up to 58 up in Wolftever. Fish caught on lipless, shaky's and Dixie Jig Works jigs.
Took some pics of coming out of the dark of Wolftever... I love this view early in the morning. And some of our puny fishes.
We just weren't able to get back on the pattern we were on last week. I think the fish were there, but with all the traffic of the past week and yesterday, the fish were driven down or out a bit deeper from what was so successful last week. And with the number of boats on the water, we weren't able to find "Fresh water" to beat to make it happen. By Noon we had resorted to soft baits and slowed way down. Which only produced the same quantity of bites as we were getting on the chase baits we were throwing. Our fish were scattered and each time we'd get to a place where we thought the water had settled enough to work an area - you'd turn around and have three boats coming in behind, around or beside you. Very little care - if you were in the mouth of a small creek working back, folks would drive right by to get to the back with the big motor.
On a positive note, the days weather was awesome. Really nice to feel the heat of the sun and be able to enjoy being outside. We started out with a nice 40 min wait with the Coast Guard at Wolftever. A boat safety check from the Auxiliary unit, who were really great folks, but backed up the ramp for a bit.
We fished from 7am to 6pm and a stop for lunch at HBSP restaurant. Only 9 fish to show for it. We would have only mustered up a bag of 9lbs today.
Water temps from 51 on the main lake areas we fished, and all the way up to 58 up in Wolftever. Fish caught on lipless, shaky's and Dixie Jig Works jigs.
Took some pics of coming out of the dark of Wolftever... I love this view early in the morning. And some of our puny fishes.
