SethColeman
Well-known member
SETHAVELLIE, CHATTANOOGA RIVERPARK, CATFISH/SPOT/SMALLMOUTH, 07/03/09, CHRIS ROBERTSON
WE HIT THE RIVERPARK AROUN 645 FOR OUR 1ST RIVERPARK BOAT TRIP. CHRIS HAD GOTTEN ME EXCITED TALKING ABOUT SMALLMOUTH AND CATFSH THAT HE AND HIS FATHER HAD CAUGHT, DRIFTFISHING (I HAD NEVER DONE). I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE SMALLMOUTH, BECAUSE IN 29 YEARS I HAD YET TO CATCH OR SEE ONE IN PERSON. WE STARTED JUST BELOW THE DAM ON THE RIVERPARK SIDE AND STARTED DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT. WE WERE USING SHINERS(LARGER) WITH A #2 SNELLED BAIT HOOK PLACE ABOUT 1 1/2 FT ABOVE WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A 4OZ BELL SINKER(COULD BE WRONG HE WILL HAVE TO REMIND ME). WE STARTED DRIFTING UNDER THE BRIDGE AND DIDNT TAKE LONG, BAM CATFISH NUMBER ONE, AFTER REBATING AND CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT BAM, MY FIRST SMALLMOUTH. UNFORTUNATELY IT WASNT THE LUNKER I HOPED FOR , BUT WEIGHING ABOUT 1 LB THE FIGHT WAS AWESOME. WE CONTINUED THIS PATTERN FOR THE NEXT 8 HOUR AND BOATED ABOUT 40+ CATFISH (BLUE + CHANNEL), 3 SMALL SPOTS, 4 SMALLIES, AND 1 ROCKBASS. HE NAIL ABOUT A 4FT GAR THAT HE FOUGHT FOR A WHILE BUT AT THE NET DECIDED TO LET GO OF THE BAIT. WE WORK 3RD SHIFT , AND IT WAS TIME TO GO. SO AFTER CATCHING A BLUE THAT TOOK MORE OF THE HOOK THAN I WANTED, I DECIDED TO CUT THE LINE TO GIVE HIM A FIGHTING CHANCE AND IT WAS TIME TO GO. CHRIS STILL HAD HIS ROD BAITED UP AND I TOLD HIM TO DROP IT AND CATCH THE DAYS LAST FISH, HE DECLINED. TO MY DELIGHT I TAKE HIS ROD AND DROP THE BAIT IN THE WATER, IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS, MY DREAM CAME TRUE. I HOOKED UP WITH MY FIRST GOOD SIZED SMALLIE OF OVER 4LBS. I FOUGHT THE FISH FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE IT SURFACED AND OUR EYES LIT UP. WE NETTED MY PRIZE, THE LINE CAME OUT THE HOOK WHILE IN THE NET, AND HE SAID IT WAS BARELY HOOKED. ILL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!! THIS IS MY FIRST REPORT SO IM NOT REAL SURE IF THIS WAS WHAT U WERE LOOKING FOR. WE WERE USING OPEN FACE REALS, WITH 6'6" MEDIUM ACTION RODS WITH 6 LB AND 8 LB TEST. LARGE SHINERS FOR BAIT. BAIT OVER WEIGHT RIG.
WE HIT THE RIVERPARK AROUN 645 FOR OUR 1ST RIVERPARK BOAT TRIP. CHRIS HAD GOTTEN ME EXCITED TALKING ABOUT SMALLMOUTH AND CATFSH THAT HE AND HIS FATHER HAD CAUGHT, DRIFTFISHING (I HAD NEVER DONE). I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE SMALLMOUTH, BECAUSE IN 29 YEARS I HAD YET TO CATCH OR SEE ONE IN PERSON. WE STARTED JUST BELOW THE DAM ON THE RIVERPARK SIDE AND STARTED DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT. WE WERE USING SHINERS(LARGER) WITH A #2 SNELLED BAIT HOOK PLACE ABOUT 1 1/2 FT ABOVE WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A 4OZ BELL SINKER(COULD BE WRONG HE WILL HAVE TO REMIND ME). WE STARTED DRIFTING UNDER THE BRIDGE AND DIDNT TAKE LONG, BAM CATFISH NUMBER ONE, AFTER REBATING AND CONTINUING WITH THE CURRENT BAM, MY FIRST SMALLMOUTH. UNFORTUNATELY IT WASNT THE LUNKER I HOPED FOR , BUT WEIGHING ABOUT 1 LB THE FIGHT WAS AWESOME. WE CONTINUED THIS PATTERN FOR THE NEXT 8 HOUR AND BOATED ABOUT 40+ CATFISH (BLUE + CHANNEL), 3 SMALL SPOTS, 4 SMALLIES, AND 1 ROCKBASS. HE NAIL ABOUT A 4FT GAR THAT HE FOUGHT FOR A WHILE BUT AT THE NET DECIDED TO LET GO OF THE BAIT. WE WORK 3RD SHIFT , AND IT WAS TIME TO GO. SO AFTER CATCHING A BLUE THAT TOOK MORE OF THE HOOK THAN I WANTED, I DECIDED TO CUT THE LINE TO GIVE HIM A FIGHTING CHANCE AND IT WAS TIME TO GO. CHRIS STILL HAD HIS ROD BAITED UP AND I TOLD HIM TO DROP IT AND CATCH THE DAYS LAST FISH, HE DECLINED. TO MY DELIGHT I TAKE HIS ROD AND DROP THE BAIT IN THE WATER, IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS, MY DREAM CAME TRUE. I HOOKED UP WITH MY FIRST GOOD SIZED SMALLIE OF OVER 4LBS. I FOUGHT THE FISH FOR A FEW MINS BEFORE IT SURFACED AND OUR EYES LIT UP. WE NETTED MY PRIZE, THE LINE CAME OUT THE HOOK WHILE IN THE NET, AND HE SAID IT WAS BARELY HOOKED. ILL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!! THIS IS MY FIRST REPORT SO IM NOT REAL SURE IF THIS WAS WHAT U WERE LOOKING FOR. WE WERE USING OPEN FACE REALS, WITH 6'6" MEDIUM ACTION RODS WITH 6 LB AND 8 LB TEST. LARGE SHINERS FOR BAIT. BAIT OVER WEIGHT RIG.
