Spotted bass on the Chick

[jason]

Is anyone still catching spotted bass on Chickamauga emoScratch? Where have they gone? My brother and I were discussing this recently after catching a smallie, which seem to be scarce as well. Is it just us or has there been a decline in their numbers?

 

[churly]

I've noticed the decline. Still catch a few, but one over 1.25lbs is rare. Maybe the Florida bass ate em? I also don't catch 18" smallmouth like we used to. Caught a lot this year but only 2 over 18"

 

[fishinvol]

Most of the smallmouth and spots I've caught this year have been relating to grass . Might just be adapting to the grass .

 

[billyc]

Both stay out over channel suspended this time of year , like finding needle in haystack. They are alot more accessible to find and catch in winter time after water temps get in forties.

 

[Creedmoor]

I believe that this is a photo of a spotted bass.

Caught two this morning just below the dam.

One at the bottom of the spillway and one on the rock pile.

 

[decaturbullet]

Don't catch a lot of really good ones anymore! Like 3 to 4 lbs. we used to catch several up around cottonport but that size is hard to come by nowadays!!

 

[Pointer 78]

Hope they all die off. Less competition for the largemouth and smallmouth.

 

[jighead]

You should kill or eat everyone you catch, the TWRA has been trying to eradicate or at least reduce their numbers from Chickamauga for decades due to the fact they eat bass fry far more aggressively than other fish. Hence the length and creel limits. If you want to catch spots take a short drive to Carters Lake, there you can catch magnum spotted bass in the 4lb to 6lb range.