Scenic City Cat Report 8-26-06

[rsimms]

Out on the water things seemed real slow today... Randy and Reed Johnson from Monroe County had fished with me back in June when we raked 'em over the coals. I had warned them that it's a different day and time. But when all was said and done, we couldn't complain. The Johnson's counted fish today, although the fish over 10 pounds were all released. We caught 14 fish, total weight 110 lbs. Big fish was a 25# Randy Johnson nailed. We started fishing down toward the dam and didn't get a bite for the first hour or so. Generators were running a mere 6,000 cfs this AM. Yuck! We finally caught a fish or two down there but pulled stakes and headed upstream. Fished back down toward the dam after Noon. They were running 18,000 cfs and bite had picked up. But like BBass and MrWhiskers... we had a zillion bites and misses. Really frustrating... fish were just super finicky. Early we fished with shad and chicken.... the shad were caught fresh Friday evening (with the help of a CFF Lurker, by the way... we had a great visit. I told him we're real nice and encouraged him to talk to us emoBigsmile). But back to fishing shad and chicken... the first three fish were all caught on chicken. The Johnson's never touched another shad all day. emoLaugh I did have a real nice run on a BIG shad head... had to be a nice fish, but the circle hook missed its marked. emoBang Any way, glad everybody got slimed today. Here's a few pics:

 

[polo-dog]

When the flow is down I just can't get the cats to bite rsimms. Once the flow picks up I usually have a good day. What rate of flow on the lake do you have your best luck with?

 

[rsimms]

polo-dog - 8/26/2006 8:29 PM
When the flow is down I just can't get the cats to bite rsimms. Once the flow picks up I usually have a good day. What rate of flow on the lake do you have your best luck with?

Fishing up in the lake.... the MORE the merrier. Can't have too much flow ... faster water simply means fish more concentrated, and more aggressive. However if fishing below the dam you reach the law of diminishing returns. Prefer 16,000 to 32,000 cfs if I'm fishing below the dam.

 

[MrWiskers]

rsimms - 8/26/2006 8:23 PM

I did have a real nice run on a BIG shad head... had to be a nice fish, but the circle hook missed its marked. :

emoLaugh

If you look real close at the second picture you can see me, Bbass and BbassJr in the back ground. We watched them catch that fish and knew it must have been pretty good as we could here them hooting and hollaring.

Good going Richard. Today was tough but you still managed to put your guests on some nice fish.

 

[rsimms]

MrWiskers - 8/26/2006 9:53 PM

rsimms - 8/26/2006 8:23 PM

I did have a real nice run on a BIG shad head... had to be a nice fish, but the circle hook missed its marked. :

emoLaugh
If you look real close at the second picture you can see me, Bbass and BbassJr in the back ground. We watched them catch that fish and knew it must have been pretty good as we could here them hooting and hollaring.
Good going Richard. Today was tough but you still managed to put your guests on some nice fish.

Yea, I was cussing when my cell phone started ringing (you calling) while I was still rasslin' with that fish. It's work trying to teach folks how to hold a big catfish for a good picture. Fun work however! emoBigsmile

 

[MrWiskers]

rsimms - 8/26/2006 9:59 PM
Yea, I was cussing when my cell phone started ringing (you calling) while I was still rasslin' with that fish. It's work trying to teach folks how to hold a big catfish for a good picture. Fun work however! emoBigsmile

Just trying to help.emoPoke

 

[fisherpal2k]

Good job Richard. One of these days I am gonna have to try that drift and catch thing ya'll do so well below the dam. Last few times we was there it was to bass fish but we caught a couple of cats and a drum or two.

 

[drumking]

Richard, I have been trying the circle hooks that you fish with so much. We missed several fish the other day too. I blamed it on my subtle hookset instead of just reeling the fish in. It is fun reeling the cats in, but not as much fun as crossing their eyes with a good hookset and then reeling them in. I'm undecided about which to use.

It was good to see that you were catching fish for your clients in areas that I fish for the kittys too. Good job.

I have almost enough fish for the next meetings that I will be cooking for, and I'm ready to start fishing for Crappie again. I'm looking forward to taking a couple of forum members fishing soon and will post the results as they occur.emoThumbsup emoGeezer

 

[Guest]

That nice stringer of fish ya'll got there, now that is a beautiful sight.

Good job once again Richard.

Cheez

 

[Buoy-Master]

Good seeing you agian Richard.</p>

So, the bite and that stringer picked up when the current did, correct? </p>

Now that BBassJr has seen this post, hes wanting to get rigged up today!..LOL. Micheal will tell you he was ready to bass fish last night. </p>

 

[rsimms]

drumking - 8/27/2006 7:32 AM

Richard, I have been trying the circle hooks that you fish with so much. We missed several fish the other day too. I blamed it on my subtle hookset instead of just reeling the fish in. It is fun reeling the cats in, but not as much fun as crossing their eyes with a good hookset and then reeling them in. I'm undecided about which to use.

I agree, it is a tough choice. Especially when cats are as finicky as they've been lately in dead water. Saturday I purposely tied on a 3/0 Kahle to try and "cross a few eyes" on those "taste testers" (as I call 'em). It didn't work at ALL! I just couldn't stick 'em. I'm not convinced that those fish are actually mouthing the bait. I'm thinking they're just "rubbin' and bumpin'" trying to decide if they want to eat it or not. I don't know.
While "circles" vs "J's" is a tough choice, I'm convinced the circles are best for me and clients overall. In many cases I just don't think inexperienced clients would have what it takes to really set a big J-Hook on a good one, especially in deep water. And the one thing I know for sure, once hooked up, the circles do NOT let loose. With the exception of me breakin' a couple off at the boat, I have not had a single client lose a fish solidly hooked on a circle.
I also like them because they reduce fish mortality.... not gut hooks. So happens I did gut hook a 10-pounder today on a circle... but that's one maybe 3 or 4 all year. And FYI, I gave him a $1.50 7/0 Daiichi. Ouch!