Sauger fishing below Nickajack

[flip1up]

Well fellas there is not alot to tell you except that it has not got good yet. I caught 1 keeper last night (16") and saw another caught (171/2"). Sat. night I caught 1 throw back and saw 1 keeper caught, but I did see 2 Walleye over 4 pounds caught. The guys that fish there all the time tell me that they have only seen maybe 10 keepers so far and they are there every evening, hoping to be there when they turn on. I have had to work the last 10-12 days so I have not been able to get the boat out and try to find them, hope my next report will have better results.

 

[DHaun]

Thanks for the update flip1up. I caught a few when I was a kid on Chickamauga lake and now I am looking forward to my first Nickajack sauger trip sometime this Winter.

 

[flip1up]

I cant figure whats up with the fish this year. The Sauger should be biting good and the Crappie are also not in their usual haunts. I stop here and there almost every day to see about them and I only get 2-3, a couple of times 6-7. But they are hard to come by. The water temp. is right, do you think the water temp. just fell to fast this year? Seems like it did to me. It was so warm so late in the year and then really cold nights. I have not had the boat out but I guess the surface temps. are low to mid forties, they should be tearing it up.

 

[DHaun]

I read this article about a month ago - courtesy of RSimms via the Chattanoogan.com. It says they start in December and peak in March. Hopefully it's just a slow start and the best is yet to come.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_61679.asp

 

[flip1up]

Maybe thats it. I'm just jumping the gun . Seems like last year they were biting good in the middle of Dec. But you know its hard to remember after a year. I just wish we would get done with our work so I can get out for more than an hour at a time. Thats a good article though, I'll keep after them and one of these days I'll score.

 

[JerDog]

I have Feb. and March in the back of my mind as the prime times...I think the best is yet to come...are you focusing your efforts in the tail water, or the bay and dead lock? What are you catching them on?

I have never heard of walleye being caught down there...that has my interest...know where they were caught? I got some wally divers from Cordell that will get their attention!

 

[rsimms]

I've chased sauger below Nickajack since 1976. The only thing I've learned is that they are "cyclic" in nature. One year they're on... the next year they're off... and nobody really understands the reason why. However it is far too early in the year to be throwing in the towel and declaring it an "off" year. If nothing is happening by mid-January, then you can worry. I'm sure you're also aware that they can be off one day, and on the next, depending upon the weather. If you have a choice, avoid the "pretty days." And finally, right here is the most valuable sauger tip I'll ever divulge. Read on: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_47439.asp

 

[sandskeeter]

Funny thing happened to me when we was fishing our monthly tournement in November. I was fishing down at widows creek and had a sauger follow my finesse worm all the way to the boat and hit it... i have fished for them several times down at nickajack and never caught one,,, then end up catching one fishing for bass... go figure

 

[polo-dog]

I have caught one sauger in my life. I caught him just like you said sandskeeter, fishing for bass but I caught him in shallow water in the summer, water temp in the 80's on a crankbait. He/she was at the mouth of the Sequachie river down in Guntersville. I couldn't believe it when I saw it.

 

[DHaun]

That article works out just fine for me. Night time is about the only time I can make it to Nickajack during the week anyway...It's great for night fishing because they have some good lights around the lock. Any of you guys wanting to go this week after work send me a PM, I'm ready.

 

[Bprice]

Do the fish hold in the same areas at night, or do they make runs to different holding areas?

 

[rsimms]

I've caught them in the same spots I fish daytime....

 

[flip1up]

JerDog, I have been fishing below the pier, between the pier and the old rusty drainage pipe on the bank. I have been fishing off the bank, 1/4 oz. jig heads and a twister, I guess you could call the color a salt & pepper with char tail ( 3"). I have been working alot and not been able to get the boat out. When I get the time off and the boat out, the first place I'll try is the dead lock, is that where you are talking about when you say the "bay"? There are a handful of guys that fish there every evening and they are throwing this same bait ( sold at Mr. Leonards Tackle), thanks for that tip DHaun. That was another good article RSimms, thankyou. I would love to pull an all nighter out there, maybe soon I will. The two walleye were caught on a bright blue hair jig 1/4 oz. Some of you may know the fella that caught them, his name is Bill Rayburn, he use to own a tackle shop in Tiftonia. He is there every evening and is very helpful with helping you learn " the feel" of the area. If you go I would suggest spinning tackle, 6-8 pound test, 1/4 oz. heads and an assortment of twisters. But, like I reported it has not taken off good yet.

 

[JerDog]

The bay I am referring to is the area where you launch your boat below nickajack...under the powerlines is where I have caught some nice fish in the winter. I think it is still a bit early, but there are a few out there...just wait...

for those that tip with a minnow, do you like a tuffie or a shinner? I have always liked the medium sized-shinner and have caught more, but heard tuffies work better.