Sequoyah Catfish

[David]

Went out Saturday afternoon with the grandsons. We looked for some threadfin shad to catch with our cast net out from Sequoyah when we got there but could find none on the surface. We went back down stream to the first slough on the right and used the cast net to catch our bait there. We went back out from Sequoyah where the release water is and and the grandsons caught several catfish from about 2lbs to 5lbs. My niece was also with us, she caught the 5lb catfish, she had only caught a few bream before this. They had a great time and so did I watching them catch the catfish. They are ages 2 to 11 years old ( had 5 kids on the Pontoon fishing at one time) what a blast.

Remember to take your kids fishing and you don't have to worry where they are!

David

 

[DHaun]

Thanks for the great report David - Glad the kids got to catch some! How deep were you fishing?

 

[TnHoss]

My dad fished around the boils today caught several smaller cats but hooked the biggest he has ever caught before a 45lb. monster. Took the better part of 25 minutes to get it in. I'll post a pic if I can figure out how.

 

[TnHoss]

Blah file has to be under a 100 k/b's. Mine is over 1 mg. I'll downsize it later and repost it.

 

[DHaun]

TNHoss - Congrats to your Dad on the 45 pounder! emoWorthy Yes, please post that pic!!! Feel free to email it to me at [email protected] if you need any help resizing it.

 

[polo-dog]

David, Way to go, see, that cast net isn't that tough to use. Everything out there is eating those baitfish. You did catch shad to use didn't you? The long skinny minnows that I have caught seem to work well too. Get those G-kids hooked on fishing at their age and they will probably be hooked for life! It happened to me.

 

[JC1]

Good job on the 45 pounder! Another good spot not to far from there is the second set of bluffs just down from Harbor Lights Marina. I've caught a lot of big cats there on live bait and good numbers of spots and crappie too. I also caught the biggest smallmouth that I've gotten on Chickamauga in that spot too, a 5 1/2 pounder a couple of years ago.JC1

 

[DHaun]

JC1,

I know there are some bluffs across from the nuke, but are the second set of bluffs across the channel from Harbor Lights Marina or on the same side? I may be heading that way Thursday night...

 

[David]

We were fishing 20-30 feet in 52-55 ft of water. This was the depth most of the fish were showing up on the chart. We did catch one fishing on bottom.
We trolled around in and out of the boils( the slick looking water) and we caught the most of the cats on the left upstream side of the boils right at the edge of the slick water and the ripple look water. Hope this helps if anyone wants to try for some fun fishing, especially for the kids.

We were using the minnows we caught with the cast net and most all were about 2.5 inches long. With this size minnow you need a small mesh opening size net. Mine is a either a 3/8 or 1/2 I can't remember for sure but I will check tonight and see and post tomorrow on the exact size. With my net an lot of the minnow were caught in the mesh openings of the net which kills most of them getting them out of the net.

Throwing a cast net is not hard, it did take a little practice and I am no pro but I can a least catch some live bait now. If any of you are in the Bass Pro shops and go back to the area where the cast nets are located they have a video playing that somes someone demonstrating the proper technique. I have tried before from the instructions that came with my net with almost no success but after watching the video and trying the way he showed I have had more success.

Rember to take the kids fishing!

David

 

[JC1]

DHaun,
The bluffs I'm talking about are on the same side as the marina. They are directly across from the golf course at Harrison Bay and just above and on the same side as Chester Frost Park. It can be a productive spot and using fresh caught shad minnows for bait almost always produces good results there. Hope you catch a boatload. Let us know how you do! JC1

 

[David]

JC1 are you drifting or anchored out when fishing the bluffs. Also at what depth seems to be best. Is there a better spot along the bluffs or just all the way down them.

Thanks,
David

 

[JC1]

David,
Usually I start drifting down where the bluff starts and fish right next to the rocks. Once I find where the fish are I troll back up to them and hold (and\or troll up and drift back,troll up and drift back.....) over that area untill they move. Generally if there's cats there, they'll be in the 25 ft. range and if the bass or crappie are there they'll be in anywhere from a couple of ft. down to usually no more than 10-12 ft. Current is key in that area. When the water is on the current is fairly swift in that narrow area of the lake and the fishing there is much better.Also, on the downstream end of that bluff there is a long, shallow mud point and on occaision fish will lie along the channel edge of it. Good luck, I hope you get on them! JC1

 

[David]

I checked my cast net size and it is 3/8 inch size, a 1/4 would work better for the size of the shad we were catching.

I plan on going up this afternoon and taking some of the guys I work with fishing. If you see a Starcraft pontoon out fishing there at Sequoyah stop and say hey. I wil let ya'll know how it went tomorrow.

Thanks for the info on the second set of bluffs JC1!

David

 

[DHaun]

David, you just might see me and Jerdog up that way this evening. We will be in a 18' brown G3 with Yamaha... Good Luck!

 

[TnHoss]

Sorry about not getting around to posting the pic yesterday but i was busy and never got to sit down last nite. I can't even find the link you gave someone else for downsizing a pic so i'll just send it to you Dhaun.

 

[DHaun]

Got it! That's a nice one!

 

[TnHoss]

Thanks, still not postive on the official weight . My digital scale only goes to 50 lbs. and the numbers kept going between 44.12 oz .and 46.3 oz. so we settled on 45 lbs. It was caught earlier tuesday morning and it wasn't weighed till after 6 pm that evening. So it could have weighed more right when it was caught.

 

[polo-dog]

Nice catch. What species did you say it was? It looks like a blue cat in the picture. Fantastic fish, way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

This river is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JerDog]

That is a nice catfish! Would make some nice chowder!

 

[David]

I went up last night (Thursday) to the boils with some of the guys from work and one of their sons, we caught several cats in the 2lb range. We did not get there till about 7pm and left about 9pm but was still fun. Used minnows again for bait. The youngster had a good one on that broke off on him, he was both happy to have had such a chance and sad it broke off. He is wanting his dad to take him back this weekend.

Tried the second set of bluffs on the way back to the ramp with no luck.

Rember to take the kids fishing and you will know where they are!

David