Striper-Catfish Combo 6-3-06

[rsimms]

Had a great morning fishing with Shane and Heather Smith from Bridgeport, Alabama. There were a few rockfish working early and Heather took advantage. This is one of two big stripers she caught... both in the 20 lb. class. And just to make a matched set, later in the day she added a 20 lb. Blue to the boat. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. By the way, Shane is a world-renowned taxidermist specializing in waterfowl, but he does fish as well. Check out his work at: http://www.waterfowler.net/Artistic/index.html

 

[RRB32]

Nice fish! What did you catch the striped bass on?

 

[fisherpal2k]

Great fish Richard. Glad you had a good trip.nice link ther for your customer too. Thanks for the report!

 

[rsimms]

RRB32 - 6/3/2006 4:22 PM

Nice fish! What did you catch the striped bass on?

Live skipjack... but I think if we'd been throwing redfins they would have worked as well. It's unusual seeing rockfish activity this late in the year... especially as warm as the water is (84 degrees this morning). But sometimes just "being there" is half the battle.

 

[deadeye531]

Richard, congrats on a good day. I thought that was you I saw out there this morning catching the skipjack. I was over on the rail for a while and then we took the boat out. Ended up with a few strippers and largemouths, but never could get on the cats. Didnt help either the way they were messing with the water.If you dont mind me asking what were you doing to get her on the cat?

 

[rsimms]

deadeye531 - 6/3/2006 5:48 PM
Richard, congrats on a good day. I thought that was you I saw out there this morning catching the skipjack. I was over on the rail for a while and then we took the boat out. Ended up with a few strippers and largemouths, but never could get on the cats. Didnt help either the way they were messing with the water.If you dont mind me asking what were you doing to get her on the cat?

Was that you that I tangled lines with??? I hate it when I do that. I always try hard to give folks on the bank plenty of space. If you caught some "strippers" (a.k.a. stripers) be proud. Those suckers have been hard to come by this year.
Big catfish hit while drifting a big chunk of cut bait in about 35 feet of water. Look for deep holes... 25 feet and deeper. That's the key for big fish. I use a 3-way rig... 3 oz. sinker (4 oz. if they're running lots of water) and 7/0 Daiichi circle hooks.

 

[drumking]

Great report, Richard. Sounds like you had a lot of fun today.

 

[deadeye531]

Yes that was me on the bank, I didnt mind at all and it also gave me a chance to check out your set up Although I just used the net after a while to catch the skipjack, and ended up with one good size gizzard as well. I was surprised when we did get the two stipers considering how slow it was on the bank. I was going to come holler at you when we got on the water but it looked like yall were strugling with that one big boy to take the picture. Thanks for the advice on cats. Also how busy is your schedule? I'll shoot you an email later but I wanted to let you know that on tndeer I'm newhunter and wanted to thank you for your help with the falconry. I have found a sponsor and getting started in it.

 

[rsimms]

deadeye531 - 6/3/2006 8:10 PM
I'll shoot you an email later but I wanted to let you know that on tndeer I'm newhunter and wanted to thank you for your help with the falconry. I have found a sponsor and getting started in it.

That's great... I'm jealous. Always wished that I was inspired enough to get into falconry. We had a great experience watching the peregrine falcons on the railroad bridge today. The male caught a bird and plucked it clean. Then he took off flying around the bridge carrying it while the two young birds chased him all over the sky, screaming to high heaven. They were hungry. But it was so obvious that he was giving them a lesson, saying "ok guys, this is what you have to do when when you start catching your own food." It was fasinating watching the old man teach the youngsters a lesson on how to be a true "bird of prey."

 

[polo-dog]

Richard, are they nesting on the railroad bridge below Chickamauga? I think that's what I remember from the past. How big were the skipjacks. In some other post someone was talking about caching them between 12 and 18 inches but I always figured that the 10 to 12 inchers were the ones that would be best suited for the "strippers". TT, are you taking this thread in too?

 

[rsimms]

polo-dog - 6/3/2006 10:22 PM

Richard, are they nesting on the railroad bridge below Chickamauga? I think that's what I remember from the past. How big were the skipjacks. In some other post someone was talking about caching them between 12 and 18 inches but I always figured that the 10 to 12 inchers were the ones that would be best suited for the "strippers". TT, are you taking this thread in too?

For stripers I prefer skipjack about 10 inches, no more than 12.... but mainly because I'm fishing light tackle (spinning rods, 12# test). It's hard to throw and handle larger shad. But I know big stripers don't care. They'll bust a 16-inch skipjack as quick as anything else. And yes, peregrines are on railroad bridge.

 

[Wingshooter]

Richard,

Heather and I had a wonderful time Saturday. It was what she needed. It was nice to get out and catch some quality fish. The boys from huntsville are fired up about going. I may just have to put you on payroll if this keeps up!!!
Everyone was impressed with Heathers pictures. I want one of those 40 plus cats. There out there, we will just have to "deer hunt em". Did you go Sunday?

 

[rsimms]

Wingshooter - 6/7/2006 8:23 AM I want one of those 40 plus cats. There out there, we will just have to "deer hunt em". Did you go Sunday?

Yea, on Sunday we had another GREAT catfish day. See this thread: http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2489&posts=14
Just FYI, we were baking in the sun around 1 pm... an hour or two without anything and they were talking about throwing in the towel when the big fish bit. After that fish they hung in there and the sun didn't seem to bother them a bit. emoLaugh Stripers wouldn't coorperate on Sunday, however I did get my wife on a couple of stripers Tuesday morning. Like heather, she almost got spooled by one of 'em. Thanks for signing up on CFF. I think you'll find this a neat place to keep up with what's going on in the fishing world.

 

[fishing fire]

Good job Richard how deep does the water run from the railroad bridge to the dam usually? Those really are some great fish.

 

[rsimms]

fishing fire - 6/7/2006 7:05 PM

Good job Richard how deep does the water run from the railroad bridge to the dam usually? Those really are some great fish.

On East side of river, 5 - 10 feet until you get close to turbine holes, then it goes to 45. On West side of river (rock pile over toward North Chick Creek mouth) it varies.... mostly 12 -16, but near the lock wall there are some shallow rocks you much be careful of if they are not generating water.