Scenic City Cat Report 9-8-2006

[rsimms]

Mike Gold and Bill Hall drove across Monteagle from Manchester to test the waters on Chickamauga. Beautiful weather, calm waters and good folks ... oh but woe is me, the hawg's continue to elude me. emoBang But what we lacked in size, we sure made up for in numbers. We smoked the "little" fish today. Mike and Bill have a 90 Quart Cooler full of cleaning to do... and we had a few good healthy kickers. I'll take quantity over quality... although I prefer both. emoBigsmile BTW, making an "exploratory" excursion to Nickajack tomorow with BPrice and minner. Anybody got any advice?

 

[DHaun]

Great report RSimms - Those fish look like a fine size to me to catch any day of the week - maybe personal best for many anglers. There have been so many monsters this year posted but in my mind both of those pics are trophies being able to nail a nice cat as the sunsets. emoThumbsup

From your past experience down that way I'm sure sure you already know this, but I have heard/read about the Hales Bar Dam rubble and the bluffs on Nickajack Lake...always wanting to try them but never tried it yet... Below the dam I have caught a few 10 pounders just downstream below the lock wingwall in the hole that drops off beneath the second set of power lines into 30ft. I also caught a few 20+ drifting threadfins and glow shads last Spring next to the current just upstream from the power lines downstream from the gate wingwall where the slack water merges with the current. I miss Nickajack and need to go back soon myself. Good Luck and be sure those Bama cat wranglers take their vitamins like good hulkamaniacs!

 

[MrWiskers]

Racoon is a wildcard. I have not fished for cats down there in over 2.5 weeks. The last time I was down there we got 0.

I did see some guys catching fish about 50-75 yards off the bank from your "ditch" on Wednesday. They looked to be in the 15 lb range.

I have heard of and seen a couple of channel cats being caught by bass fisherman at the Riverpark. Not sure if this is random fish or if the channels are becoming more active due to the changing season.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Richard, the first opening to Mullins cove (going downstream) has a long skinny island. Just in front of the island is some kind of major structure that starts at about 15 feet and stair steps all the way down the edge of the channel and plays out at about 35 feet. That is where I caught my personal best (31-1/2).
We have caught many others there in the teens. Bait fish are always present there but if you get into the structure you will be hanging up all day. Fish just off of it on the river side. Downstream of Mullins cove the river makes a 90 degree bend to the left. The outside of this bend holds some good fish too.

Cheez

 

[Bprice]

Thanks for the tips Cheez, Whiskers, and DHaun. Allen and I are really excited, and about to head that way, we are going to back fish at the Nick for some skippies for a little while before we fish with Mr. Richard. We also are going to the covenent Sportsman Warehouse to check that out this evening.

Good luck to everyone today, and GO VOLS!

 

[polo-dog]

Fish right next to drc and FishingMachine.

 

[TN_Explorer]

Richard,
Just wanted to say a great big THANKS! for the trip Friday. Fishing with you was like going with an old friend. Laid back & easy, and we caught fish to boot! Bill is already scheming for a Crappie trip next spring. If you ever need an endorsement, you have ours!

P.S.: probably a good thing we didn't try to clean the fish there. In the hour we alloted, I got back home. I finished cleaning, packing & putting up at 11:00 our time.

-- Mike

 

[rsimms]

Yea, "cleaning" fish is one thing. That "packing" part is important for getting them "table ready" when they come out of the freezer. emoHungry
Glad you and Bill had a good time and thank you for the kind words.

 

[Fishing machine]

As always, nice job RichardemoWorthy How far did you have to run on this trip. Did you catch all of your fish on chicken breast?

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Good job there fellas! TN .. looks from the proud display of that kitty kat ... you had a GREAT time. Nothing better than eating a cat you caught and cleaned.

TT

 

[rsimms]

Fishing machine - 9/11/2006 8:55 AM
As always, nice job RichardemoWorthy How far did you have to run on this trip. Did you catch all of your fish on chicken breast?

Not far... basically worked over two or three areas from Harrison Bluff down. I still feel snakebit at Sequoyah. emoBang And yes, CB continues to be my "bait of choice."

 

[drumking]

Way to go, Richard. I'll take quantity over quality every time too. emoGeezer

 

[cutthroat]

IMPRESSIVE PICS

 

[drc]

emoThumbsup emoThumbsup