Scenic City Weekend Report (7-21, 22 & 23)

[rsimms]

Had a busy weekend, and a fun weekend, chasing cats below Chickamauga Dam (where else and what else?). Friday night I got to fish with Kevin Johnson and his girlfriend Angela from Nashville. They each nailed some good fish, blues and channels, topped by a 21 lb. blue that Angela tagged. She's a little lady and for a short while I feared for my fishing rod emoEek, but after a few tense minutes she put him in the boat. That was just before we got run off the water by the big storm that roared through at sundown. emoRain
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Saturday was spent on the water with Drew Smith from the Cleveland Daily Banner (CFF Sportsguy6383). The big fish bite turned on for me and Drew (once he got out of bed emoBigsmile). I caught a 15# and a 20# before he got there. After he arrived we had to fish some long and hard hours for just a few bites but they yielded a 10#, an 18#, a 35# and a 43#. Sadly I made another of my infamous bad grabs and broke the 35 (est. weight) at the boat, but we "laid hands on him." I enjoyed getting my picture made with the 43#... I'm used to taking other folks' pictures. Drew also stuck another LARGE fish that sadly got him under a rock or log and snapped a 40 lb. leader. emoBang I know one thing... if a guide wants to have a good day, you want it to be with an outdoor writer. emoBigsmile emoBigsmile I think Drew is going to put his spin on the story in Thursday's Cleveland Daily Banner. (Just the facts please Mam, just the facts).
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Sunday was spent with the Langstaff clan from Charleston, TN (CFF Tileman). Sadly the big fish bite turned off. I suspect being on the back side of the cool front that moved through Saturday did us in. emoDoh Woe was me. Steve did tag a 16 lb. fish... nothing to sneeze at and it was his PB fish (Personal Best), so it wasn't all bad. We got to drift a while alongside CFF Whisler11 and Company. Obviously we were watching each other closely. I'll let him tell his own story. Finished out the day with the Langstaffs chasing "regular-sized" cats at the Dam and enjoyed watched the father and two sons "triple" on good blues.
Tomorrow it's back to the "real" job where I can get some rest.

 

[MrWiskers]

Nice! The 43# looks like a lean fish.

 

[DHaun]

Great report RSimms and congrats on another huge trophy! emoThumbsup Based on all the reports I have read this weekend it looks like Saturday was a productive day all over the river for Bass, Cats, and White Bass! Could have been front-feeding, new moon, or both...I have no clue but sounds like I should have been out on Saturday rather than today.

Nikie and I went for a few hours today and spoke a bit with Whisler11 at the ramp. He was leaving and we were launching about Noon. We lazily floated a few holes along the river with no success and then went down to try Moccasin Bend. I was trying the jello & hot dog recipe and did not get a single bite all day. I read on CFF somewhere to stay away from the suncreen so it does not contaminate the lure scent, thinking I would be okay without it I left about 3:30 today with some nice crispy knees! Water temp was 85 and there was very little current while we were on the water but it was relaxing and it was nice to have a break on the heat.

 

[Guest]

The bite was tough today. I only caught one 12 lb blue. I thought I had another small one on but it ended up being a gar. Fished along side RSimms and even they were having a tough day. Good to have finally met him. Still a great day out on the water. I talked to DHaun as he was launching and I was hoping he would fare better than we did. Oh well, maybe next weekend.