Upper Chick 5/28 Bass & Shellcracker

[Fishin Fool]

Hey guys,
Got the boat out with Fishing Fire and went up river just past the Nuke plant on the Hixson/Soddy side. Started out bass fishing but honestly felt like we were on the ocean. The waves were huge coming in. Had about a million young punks on jet skis running around us, not the mention the folks on pontoons with the whole lake in front of them that just HAVE to come within 20 feet of where you are fishing, running wide open. Then is addition to that you had the SHIPS that you could land a plane on coming by. Where the heck do these people get the money to own these things let alone put fuel in them? I've never seen such rude, crazy people and every year it gets worse. What is happening to common courtesy in this country? Some thing is really going wrong when parents put a 12 year old kid on a $7000 jet ski and turn them lose with no training in manners or thoughts about other people being in the world. I actually had a jet ski run between me and the bank, when I was with in 30 feet of the bank! Anyway, off the soap box. We managed to boat about 5 keepers using a single blade white spinner bait with a twin tail trailer in green. The largest was about 3 lbs, most were in the 2lb range. Water temp was 86 where I was. They were in 4 to 6 feet, in the grass that is starting to appear. Saw a few wolf packs out on points so it won't be long until the boils begin with bass surrounding the bait balls and tearing them up. The wind kicked up so we went into a cove just past the plant o the Hixson side and got in the shellcrackers thick. Most of them weighed about a pound and were in 2 to 3 feet of water and caught on red worms. While the wind was blowing we did hit a few humps and points and found that the fish were striking our rattle traps but were hitting short for some reason. Tried slowing way down to see if speed was and issue but they still just swirled at it never really hooking up. Strange, because most of the time when a fish hits a rattle trap it is hooked. Maybe I wasn't hold my mouth right! Good day on the lake but I don't think I'll ever go out on Memorial Day weekend again. Too many idiots with toys they have no idea how to use on the lake.emoHoppingmad

 

[jason]

Today was just the warm-up...I dare you to try fishing tomorrow! My father-in-law and I did it once and we both agreed to never do it again. We got so fed up with the pleasure boat crowd that we went all the way back into Wolftever Creek...waaaaay back. With the little bridge in sight, we thought for sure we were safe. No sooner than we dropped the trolling motor, a guy towing a kid on a tube blasts by us and does a quick 180 before beaching, and then roars back by. After recovering from nearly capsizing, we spent the next hour or so jigging up a rod that fell overboard. That was the last Memorial Day we spent on the water.

 

[rsimms]

Just FYI, I was really worried about my guide trips on this Memorial Day weekend. I expected to be rockin' & rollin' cruiser waves all day long. But so far I have been pleasantly surprised. The boat traffic beneath the dam has been no worse than a standard weekend. Hopefully today will be the same? I am however, dreading Riverbend. I'm guessing that folks are saving up their time and effort to "lock through" until the music starts playing. emoBang Regardless, I try to keep it in perspective. I'm proud for everybody to enjoy the river as they see fit. And sometimes I'm really surprised at how many of the big cruisers will back down and idle by when they see me fishing. Granted, sometimes they'll back down way too late and the bow wash is far worse than if they'd kept on plane.... but it's thought that counts. emoLaugh

 

[TennesseeTalker]

I took care of ya Richard!!! Nice pic of the crackerfest on the Chattanoogan .. thanks for the post.

TT

 

[fisherpal2k]

Good report Fishin Fool. Thanks for the report!

 

[frazier2209]

FF,
Save your empty glass jars of Uncle Josh pork trailers. They work remarkably well for the young punks on jet skis. Or during the winter, stock up on a bunch of those .99 cent Rat-L-Trap knock-offs that Wal-Mart carries...they think their hot stuff until them treble hooks catch 'em in the arm.

I don't think you will have to worry about them being back if your aim is true.

 

[flip1up]

When TexasStar7 and myself fished the Chick. CFF tournament we got our brains beat out by the SHIPS that were all over the place. We were coming out of a long slough with my small aluminum boat, there were 3-4 BIG boats all tied together in the middle of the slough, as we went by there were 4-5 guys ( very young) that flipped us birds and was waving us back as if wanting to fight or something. How ironic, you recon these jerks are the type to slow down when passing you? I'll bet if Daddy knew how classless their kids were, that they let use these 50+ thousand dollar boats were acting, they might be a little pissed. Yep, I'm off the water today too.

 

[fishing fire]

you know it's a damn shame that we can't just get out on the water and fish. We got to worry about boat traffic but I guess all and all it's just part of it.
It would be nice though if the kids and cruisers would use manners and some boat etiquette. But despite the frustrations me and fishing fool did have a good fishing day. And we will boycot the water on memorial day weekend its just to busy.

 

[drumking]

My wife and I got out early this AM and fished about 3 hours and left before all the boaters and skiers got going real good. No problem early, but you couldn't pay me to go out right now and fish til dark.