Spots for a kayak fishing near Chattanooga/Hixson?

[Liveliner]

The north Chickamauga Creek is a good place to Yak. you can park at the parking area on the Hixon side of the dam and port your yak down the walkway ramp to the water. If you can get TVA release schedule and put in as the generators come on, the water rising in the river will push you up into the creek for about a half mile before it balances out. It will then reverse and float you back out. There is some pretty decent fishing in that creek. There are also a few scattered Trout in that creek. They are stocked in that same creek further up stream at Thresher Pike bridge.

Another thing to do is to drop off at one of several spots up stream and float out to the dam. One such place is at the old Spangler Farm Nature Park where Hamil Rd crosses the creek near Cassandra Smith Rd. If you want a longer trip put in at Boyscout Rd or at Thrasher Pike. I woould suggest only putting in in the areas upstream of Hixon Pike when there is good water flow.
That entire creek is beautiful and holds all types of wildlife galore. The water is pretty clear whereas sight fishing for bass is fun.

 

[rsimms]

What Liveliner said... North Chickamauga is really about the only thing that fits your 15-20 minute parameter, unless you want to fish the lake. Than your opportunities are endless. If you want to drive a little farther. The Sequatchie River is great... Hiwassee, Battle Creek, Little Sequatchie, Collins, Elk River, Caney Fork .... I'd suggest you visit this web site: http://www.tennesseeriverfishing.net It's a new page... not much info on the "River Descriptions," but the "Links" page will point you toward some decent resources. "On the Articles page, the administrator has a good piece that will tell you a lot about the Collins River (about a one hour drive from Chattanooga).

 

[Guest]

What rsimms said above is good info.

Also I would consider:

Wolftever (highway 58) and heading up the slough. Will be really crowded on the weekend though (lots of power boat traffic).

Grasshopper (Birchwood) plenty of back water areas to fish.

Parksville (in Polk County, highway 64 east), lots of area to fish there, especially if you fish out of Kings Slough boat ramp (just cross the main waterbody and hit any slough, they are long and deep, and protected from the wind).

What kind of kayak do you fish out of?

 

[SoutheastYakFish]

Man you guys are great, really useful tips. That's fantastic that I can get fishing from Hixson Pk., and I'll be branching out too with the other suggestions. I'm fishing in a Wildernes Systems Pungo 120, classic model sit-in - old school but I love the Yak - just what I need to handle a variety of water with relative speed and stability. I ususally carry pretty lightweight spinning gear, tossin' rooster tails and such, so good to go for trout, bass, crappie-whatever the water's got(don't know what I'd do if a striper got a hold of me though). I'm working toward a second boat that I can use to turn my twin brother on to Yak fishin'. He's in Nashville, I'm in Atlanta, so we're gonna meet halfway on weekends to fish Nooga. I either want to buy almost the same type of sit-in or try to see what the sit on top is all about. Have also been looking at a variety of shorter 10 foot sit ins from the cheaper manufacturers such as Old Town.

Thanks for the great adviceemoSmile emoIdea

 

[Possum]

If you put in at the Thasher pike bridge you better have a trout stamp. A buddy of mine got a ticket there because he didn't have one. At that time neither of us knew trout were even in there.

 

[Guest]

SoutheastYakFish - 5/11/2007 12:23 AM

I either want to buy almost the same type of sit-in or try to see what the sit on top is all about. Have also been looking at a variety of shorter 10 foot sit ins from the cheaper manufacturers such as Old Town.

My advice is to stick with 12 ft unless you plan to fish small streams. Checkout Liquidlogic Mantra Ray and WS Tarpon. Appomattox River Company, even with shipping is about the cheapest you can find. They sale lots of boats to freshwater and saltwater kayak fishermen. http://www.paddleva.com/home.htm

Also locally Rock Creek has a great whitewater staff and sells rec boats. Not sure how knowledgeable they are on rec. boats, but I would guess that they are probably pretty good (based on overall excellent service there).: http://www.rockcreek.com

 

[timbo]

Both the Manta Ray's and WS Tarpon's are good boats. The only issue eith a 12 ft is that you sometimes get the 'side to side' swing when you paddle. It's best to paddle before you buy, or you'll be looking for another kayak in a year or so. Personally I like Cobras, but that's just me.

 

[Guest]

The only issue eith a 12 ft is that you sometimes get the 'side to side' swing when you paddle. It's best to paddle before you buy, or you'll be looking for another kayak in a year or so. Personally I like Cobras, but that's just me.

IMO, The 'side to side' is from poor paddling form. 12' should track straighter than a 10'. Where is RangerRob, he needs to chime in on this thread.

Agree with you on try before buy, but I have yet to find a place that lets you test on a moving water (river).

IMO, Cobras are fine for flat water, but I fish moving water that has shallow riffles/small rapids and will occasionally rub bottom. I have seen two Cobras last less than a month in that type of condition (due to sharp angles on hull and thinner plastic).

 

[timbo]

Wow...I'm shocked...I can't believe, that after 4 years of fishing over oyster reefs, being pushed over them by waves, that I haven't gotten a hole in my kayak. LOL

 

[Guest]

Make what you want of it, but on the two Cobras that I have had friends buy, both lasted less than 12 trips on the river. One had a hole parallel to a edge, where he had knocked a rock (about 1" split). The other the boat was rubbed so thin that it was starting to dent inward, and he was worried about a total failure with every rock scraped. Both have moved to other brands and been happy.

 

[digitalcb]

Look at South Chickamauga Creek. From the bridge at Graysville (East Brainerd) you can go up or downstream. Take your Georgia fishing license.

I know it's junky and milky at times but the fishing can be great. Some of the best Red Eye fishing around can be found in the shallow areas around Camp Caanan. Paul West and I once caught 105 Red Eye in three hours there.

Small Mouth can be found in the rapids. Bass are small but plentiful.

Snakes are everywhere when it's real dry but I've never seen a Cotton Mouth this far North so I ignore them.

The section near the freeway by Shipps RV is very close and full of wildlife. That's where the Beaver settled when they started making a real comeback here in the 60's.

I know a lot of people don't like the dirty urban streams but they can be a fishing gold mine.