Since Dr Phillip missed his day with me last Thursday, he called me last night and wanted to go Striper fishing this AM for a couple of hours. I don't like to go fishing at Watts Bar on the weekend because of all the traffic and fishermen who don't know any better than to run their boats wide open through all the fish, but we did ok I guess. We landed 4 in 1 1/2 hours and had 2 more pull off. Dr Phillip kept his 2 stripers and I release my 2. Pics are below. If this had been April or May, 2 of these fish would have been over 30 pounds. Phil had one 33 1/2 inches long that only weighed 14 pounds and I had one 35 inches long that weighed 20.5 pounds. Skinny, skinny fish, but powerful in the current. Water temp is still in the mid 50's. I will continue to fish for these fish until the water temp falls below 47 degrees. That is my cutoff point.emoBigsmile emoGeezer
Stripers with Dr Phillip Sunday AM 11/19/06
- Thread starter drumking
- Start date
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rsimms
Well-known member
Good job keeping the Doc happy. But I have one question .... If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, what does "a striper a day" do?
And in spite of your "weekend fears, " did you have any company?
And in spite of your "weekend fears, " did you have any company?
Helps me get in without having to wait for an appointment. emoBigsmile emoGeezer
Yes, we had company up there this morning and at least 3 boats were running directly through the fish which I believe accounts for us only having 6 bites. At least 2 of the boats kept their motor running while they drifted through the fish. Now that is ignorance gone to seed. "Wonder why I ain't getting any bites this morning, Bubba? They said on CFF that the Stripers were biting real good?"emoScratch emoGeezer
DHaun
Well-known member
Great report King! Do you find that the bite declines below 47 degrees or is it just too uncomfortable to fish at that temp? Also, I assume that boats should run upstream in the slack water and then enter the current below the boils from the side. I have seen feeding fish shut down below Chickamauga and Nickajack many times by boats running right through the current straight up to the boils.
Glad you got to catch a couple. I tried below Chick. this morning (in a boat) and had 2 hookups but both pulled off. After that I gave it up. It was hard to control the boat with 9 spill gates and 5 turbines running. I checked the flow rate and it's right at 63,000. Oh well I tried. I had planned on hitting Watts Bar,but didn't want to make that trip alon since I've never been there.
We still catch a few fish at 46 degrees, but below that, it isn't worth the expense to fish for them. I fished one morning a few years ago at 42 degrees for 4 hours and had 1 bite. That bite did weigh 26 pounds, so a big fish can still be caught and if I lived close to WB, I would go more often, but since gasoline has gone up, it's just not worth it to me to fish below 47,48 degrees. The water temp right now is the ideal temp for Stripers. 53-55 degrees I have found to be the very best temp for the jig fishing that I do. They slow down significantly each degree below 52.
Exactly, David. Fishermen need to run the slack water all the way up to the wing wall or near it and then enter the current, ease over to the line that you want to drift, shut the motor off, put down the trolling motor and keep the nose of the boat pointed upstream as you drift back downstream. I had that big striper on this morning and he had about 60 yards of line out and he was on the surface and this boat came screaming back upstream and I thought that he was going to run over the fish and my line, but I put as much pressure as I could and barely got the fish out of that boat's way. I always make a very wide circle until I see that so many people are running over the fish anyway. Then it doesn't make much difference. I usually go home shortly after I see this activity.
jon the fisherman
Well-known member
Nice fish DK! I am going to have to give it a try one morning.
G
Guest
Guest
Great report. I can relate with those inconsiderate or ignorant fisherman that run straight up the discharge flow. It can shut the bite down real quick. Especially at a smaller dam like Nick. Thanks for the good pictures. When you stop fishing for the stripers do you change species and fish for the winter crappie?
2jigs
Well-known member
Ignorance is a real frustrating thing when it comes to fishing. It doesn't matter if it's striper fishing or any other kind of fishing. Most of the time if you try to help someone you'll hurt their PRIDE! And then they won't listen at all. I'm guilty of that oneemoRolleyes. Good fish , I can't beleave how skinny those fish are. I got a striper once that was 34inch. & was 29.4Lbs. Why are they soooo skinny this time of the year VS the spring?emoThumbsup emoThumbsup
I believe that the fish are skinny this time of year because they don't get to feed really good in the summer time. High water temps stress these fish out and I don't believe that they do real well in our reservoirs in hot water. They are beginning to put on weight though. These fish are in a little better shape than those that I caught 3-4 weeks ago.
Whistler, when the water temp gets below 47, I usually don't go fishing until mid January at which time I start fishing for winter Crappie which is my first fishing love. Big stripers are fun and my favorite fish to eat, but I get so much satisfaction fooling Crappie. It won't be too long before you won't see me posting fishing reports until Jan. I will still respond to other posts and keep up with everybody, but from mid-december to mid january, I will do the Christmas season, family get togethers, stuff more than I should, and just really enjoy my family during the holidays.emoGeezer
Gator
Well-known member
Wow DRK! You did it again and with Dr. Phil no less. CONGRATULATIONS ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TRIP. For those interested, I can tell you that the drumking knows how to use boat position to the max. He is very methodical in finding the patern that works. A guy can learn a whole bunch just watching the king.
G
Guest
Guest
Hey Shocker, are you keeping everybody straight out at Hickory Valley??
