rsimms, Nickajack, Catfish, April 16-19, 2018, Assorted

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rsimms

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2005
Messages
6,784
Location
Chattanooga
The Scenic City Catfish Season is underway. I've done three trips this week and put 67 catfish in the boat. Not monsters but we've had several solid fish in the 10-15 lb. class. Most are the 5-10 lb. average, along with a few smaller channel cats.

The anchor bite for big fish has been tough. The "go to" pattern is my standard light-tackle "chicken breast drift." A 10-pound blue on light-tackle is LOTS of fun!

We're often hampered (or helped) by TVA generation schedules. They've been a little weird and mostly a little strong (34K CFS) for what we prefer, especially this time of year when cats often congregate near the Dam. But as always, we make due with what we've got. Here's a few of the better fish we've put in the boat so far.

<img src=https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30725470_1923376851040129_9002563705128353792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=a13493328acc1ded77292efd1471ea6f&oe=5B6B89B6>

<img src=https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30725012_1923376864373461_367505529586581504_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=6bd79abd60a8e527a0cf865c7ecf838e&oe=5B584E7F>

<img src=https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30712401_1922244254486722_3983037578071769088_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=f65158cf9b3564e226fbc8a06096374a&oe=5B6C971E>

<img src=https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/30713332_1920149568029524_5073805803484348416_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=b49f9a00b470f9dc0c8f92aadc45a11b&oe=5B530680>
 
I figured you would be trolling for crappie this time of year and giving some clients some great dinners? emoScratch Good to see your out there making it happen for folks. Keep up the good work and sharing. Even thou I am not here any more I love to see your adventures. emoWorthy Jmax
 
Jmax - 4/22/2018 10:10 AM

I figured you would be trolling for crappie this time of year and giving some clients some great dinners? emoScratch Good to see your out there making it happen for folks. Keep up the good work and sharing. Even thou I am not here any more I love to see your adventures. emoWorthy Jmax

I closed out my crappie fishing season (guiding) on April 12. Actually went longer than normal... I usually close out first week of April. But I could have kept it up... with exceedingly cold Spring the "pre-spawn" trolling bite has held up. But this year is the exception, not the norm.

In 22 guide trips clients boated 556 keeper crappie... about 25 fish per trip or 4.7 keeper crappie per hour. About an average season for me.
 

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