stripers on spoons below Chic..what about Watts Bar

[richg99]

Saw a nice post and YouTube video about wade fishing below Chick dam.Is there a comparable wade on spot near Watts, or Melton Hill ..or any other near by dam? Thanks richg99

 

[Treed1]

No place to wade below Watts Bar. Don't think you can below Melton Hill

 

[richg99]

How about Dale Hollow or Center Hill? Thanks

 

[buzz]

Melton Hill....no wading.....but very easy to fish from the bank. And you can have access to both sides of the river. A lot of BIG stripe comes out of there.

 

[SpurHunter]

Nickajack dam is the "Dam" best bank fishing I am aware of honestly. The rest are difficult, to impossible.
Ft Loudon has decent access, but the best spot it off limits, unless you want to risk falling in the fast water.

 

[richg99]

Thanks, guys. I live near Crossville, so I am trying to keep my one way drive down to an hour. Looks like Melton is my closest target. I don't care all that much for standing on a bank, but one decent striper would make it worthwhile. Thanks, again. richg99

 

[buzz]

The best bait that we have used......Tsunami lures. They are those big rubber fish with weighted heads. Usually at least 6"...or 8". I would think a big hair jig in white would also work. I have caught the below Chick dam on 1oz hair jigs.
I understand about the bank fishing.......but it is never crowded and you can fish a long way down stream........with mowed grass on the banks. You can pretty much cast 1/2 way across the river. If the turbines are running.......you have a lot of concrete close to the damn.

 

[richg99]

I'm here now. Hotter than Houston (not really) but, it is pretty muggy. Working my way down stream, hoping for a hit from anything. They are generating with one gate open. Thanks for all of the help.richg99

 

[richg99]

Only thing hitting are some, maybe, two lb. Dark, blackish fish. They are busting the surface a half mile downstream of the dam. Thick shouldered fish. I don't recognize them at all. Appears they are feeding on some very tiny fly????

Won't hit a small spoon, a shad type top water, or any of a number of other lures???
richg99

 

[buzz]

Might be wall-eye?????? Got any big flukes?

 

[buzz]

Or good size grubs?

 

[SpurHunter]

I would bet money they are skipjack, no chance they are walleye. I bet teh sun is playing tricks on you and they look dark, but are more silver.

 

[calveryc]

Yeah they're skipjack. Fun to catch and good for bait.

 

[buzz]

You need to get up to Ft. Loudon Dam, in a boat, that is where the big boys live.

 

[richg99]

Depending on time to travel I'll try any of the suggestions.

Keep 'em coming.

No luck today at Melton Hill, but I'll keep trying. richg99

 

[shawnr]

I have never heard of anyone striper fishing below the center hill dam just trout

 

[SpurHunter]

buzz - 9/2/2014 9:00 PM

You need to get up to Ft. Loudon Dam, in a boat, that is where the big boys live.

Since hes asking about bank fishing, it sounds like a boat is not an option.

 

[richg99]

Oh, I have a boat. It's a 16#48 side console Lowe with a 50 HP. Just thought I'd check the areas out before launching into a raging river. I admittedly know Nothing about river fishing.

Salt water flats....I do know about. Rich

 

[SpurHunter]

Then your first thing to do it hitch a ride with somebody fishing below these areas

 

[richg99]

I actually made that very plea on another TN fishing site. Offered to buy gas, lunch and a "beverage" afterwards. NO takers.

Have rod...will travel.

We will only be here until mid October. We split living in Houston TX six months and a bit less in Fairfield Glade, near Crossville. Kids and grandkids are in TX.

richg99