Stripers Below Nickajack 10-20-05

[flip1up]

I got there about 7:15, just before dark. I caught one about 6-7 pounds and saw 4-5 more caught. The guys there said that they had caught several an hour or two earlier. They decreased the flow from the generators, dropped the water about a foot and drove the fish out deeper. Sassy shads, flukes, various other plastics on heavy heads were taking the stripers, I tried a spook some but nothing rose on it. They were catching them close in to the bank just below the turbines.

 

[JerDog]

Super, thanks for the report! Heading there in the morning...Were you in a boat? Were you up agianst the dam too or did you drift?

 

[flip1up]

Jerdog, I didnt get a chance to post last night and I recon you have already left this morning, but yes I was on the bank just below the turbines. The fish were close, like 10-20 feet off the bank. I have too much going on today and dont think I can get down there. I am planning on going Sunday morning, this cool weather should really get them turned on.

 

[flip1up]

Jerdog, how did you do today? I was thinking about going there in the morning but it looks like tva is going to hold Nickajack and pull at Chickamauga, if I go I'm going to fish the upper end of Nickajack and hope for the water to be up, the largemouth should be in the cuts that I fish.

 

[JerDog]

Sorry for the late response...too busy yesterday to even get online! We nixed Nickajack due to the generation and, as you have already read, did well on the smallmouth below the dam....I have just really started to target smallmouth in the past few months as the striper fishing has been inconsistant....Some big smallmouth are off the rocky banks down below the dam....Trolling crankbaits is a great way to cover a lot of water to find them...you will not see them on your fish-finder...but you will catch them so mark the spots..Between Dhaun and myself we probably have caught close to 40 of them in the last month.

 

[flip1up]

I went below the dam Monday afternoon, got there about 2 P.M. and left about 3:30. I caught one about 7 pounds and had another get off, it went about 5 pounds. Saw only 1 other caught, about 5 pounds. Some of the regulars had just started fishing for the rockfish when I was leaving, they were catching bait while I was fishing ("wall crawlers"), they have been catching some on them. I was using a 1 ounce 4" Storm wild eye swim shad in the fire tiger color. They probably turned on a little before dark but I had to go.

 

[JerDog]

Thanks for the report...Please keep us posted as you go....DHaun and myself are looking to get out there on Thursday.What has been your experience down there in the late October and early Nov?

 

[flip1up]

As long as it stays cool/cold the rockfish will be in and out of there through the winter. Like everywhere else you may get into them today and nothing the next. I'll be going when I can and will let you know.

 

[JerDog]

Are any fish being caught in front of the boils as opposed to right up agianst the dam? Are folks on the bank getting live threadfins?

 

[DHaun]

flip1up. Is there a place locally that I can score some 1oz storm shad lures? I am running a bit low and need some for Thursday.

Thanks!

 

[flip1up]

I got them at walmart, but the one in Manchester, the area I work around. I said they were 1 oz., the package doesnt say but I weighed a few of them In my lab. at work, 25-26 grams. Get the 4". Also the only colors they had were fire tiger and another green color. If you have some lead heads 1-1.25 oz. and can find the 4" sassy shads they will work well (pearl white). I'm having a hard time finding these types of baits. Do you know anywhere to get a good selection of "striper baits"? I'm going to fish there in the morning on my way to work but will only get about 1 hour.

 

[flip1up]

Jerdog, lately I have seen them caught near the wall, in the boils and below the boils. I have not seen any caught more than 25 yards below the boils, but I have only been there for short periods here and there. I havnt seen anybody using shad. I was told yesterday that they are being caught on the wall crawlers. Have you seen these things? They look like snail darters, they catch them up against the wall on tiny hooks with small pieces of worms. I used them once, the bass eat them up.

 

[DHaun]

For good striper baits - If you take the left about 1/8 mile just before the right to go to into the the Dam where there is a little camp area and calm water slough go 3 miles up the hill to Bryant, AL and go to Leonard's bait shop. It's a house with a small shop in the yard and a small sign by the gravel drive way on the right at per near zactly 3 miles. He has the 5" glow shad and 1 oz jig heads with red eyes and he and his wife are just super folks. They work the best for me...

 

[flip1up]

Great info. I will go visit Mr. Leonard. I caught two this morning 4-6 pounds, around the boils, both on the fire tiger swim shad. Had a few more bites. Wish I could get down there without feeling rushed all the time, wonder why it is that as you get older you never have much time for yourself?