Watts Bar Bass 6-29-06 my slump continues

[jon the fisherman]

Went down on lower Watts Bar this morning and fished around the Fooshee area below Goat Island. Caught a bunch of fish but not one keeper. I caught them on top at first then CR lizard. I fished anywhere from 3' to 30' deep and could only manage slicks. I am having a time getting any keppers, but the bite tourny took 20+ to win and 16+ to get in the money and a wildcat last night took 23 to win. I tried all my holes where I usually catch some bigger ones and could only manage dinks. I know there are some big'uns being caught, but not by me. I will get up again in the morning and give it another shot before the weekend.

 

[MadBomber]

Go a little farther downstream.

Try the north end of Barker island (Piney island). Fish the east edge (Meigs County side) just as it drops into the old river channel. There's also a hump at 12' that lines up with the red mud point to the north on the Rhea county side about 75 yards off the island. Also the red mud point has an old stump line that goes toward Barker island. It drops quickly into deep water. The bluff on the meigs county side is also good all the way down to where you can see the dam. Barker island is the highest point on a ridge that connects with the red mud point.

 

[jon the fisherman]

thanks MB, I will try it in the morning. Lots of good structure down on that end. I am going at 5:30 in the morning and will post a report in the afternoon. It is good to have some of you experienced Watts Bar guys on the forum. I know the upper end pretty well, but I need to get down on the lower end more often. Thanks again MB, you have a wealth of knowledge that I believe we could all learn from.

 

[beetlespin]

Madbomber quit giving away my holes! I caught a six pound smallmouth on that mud point as an eleven year old boy. I can still remember the look on my dad's face like it was yesterday and my eight year old little brother beating the fish half to death trying to net it. That is the only fish i have ever had mounted.

 

[drumking]

MadBomber - 6/29/2006 7:11 PM

Go a little farther downstream.

Try the north end of Barker island (Piney island). Fish the east edge (Meigs County side) just as it drops into the old river channel. There's also a hump at 12' that lines up with the red mud point to the north on the Rhea county side about 75 yards off the island. Also the red mud point has an old stump line that goes toward Barker island. It drops quickly into deep water. The bluff on the meigs county side is also good all the way down to where you can see the dam. Barker island is the highest point on a ridge that connects with the red mud point.

Madbomber caught a bass on the very first cast out of my first new boat on that north point of Barker Island in 1970. That was a great fish catching boat. He beat me to that first bass because I had to tie a lure on while he jumped up and made the very first cast and wham! End of story.

In the spring 2 or 3 years ago, I had a fishing buddy who wanted to go to Watts Bar and bass fish for 1 day. I hadn't been bass fishing in Watts Bar since I moved to Chattanooga in 1983, so I didn't know if I could put us on fish or not. We caught bass in every spot that we tried. Altogether, we caught 101 bass that day, plus 16 stripers (~8.0) each in Town Creek about 300 yards off the ramp there. I still remember a few places to fish on the lower end. Don't know anything about the upper end.emoAngel emoGeezer

 

[MadBomber]

There are some great places to fish in Piney. I wanted to suggest some places he could find from my directions.

Drum King does know Watts Bar. We both grew up in Spring City! Jon, When I get back home from Buminham, I'll scan my Watts Bar map and mark a few places for you.

 

[jon the fisherman]

MadBomber - 6/29/2006 9:36 PM

There are some great places to fish in Piney. I wanted to suggest some places he could find from my directions.

Drum King does know Watts Bar. We both grew up in Spring City! Jon, When I get back home from Buminham, I'll scan my Watts Bar map and mark a few places for you.

that would be great MB, I hope I can return the favor someday.emoThumbsup

 

[MadBomber]

beetlespin - 6/29/2006 8:54 PM

Madbomber quit giving away my holes! I caught a six pound smallmouth on that mud point as an eleven year old boy. I can still remember the look on my dad's face like it was yesterday and my eight year old little brother beating the fish half to death trying to net it. That is the only fish i have ever had mounted.

I was going to suggest to Jon that he might want to talk to Beetlespin because he is probably more current with Watts Bar than either DK or me. But, I figured he would be tight-lipped about the whole thing. emoLaugh

That long bluff on the Meigs county side 1/2 mile up from the dam is jig & pig heaven. There are places 20 ft off the bluff that are 90 ft. deep. You might want to trailer down to the ramp just above the dam and save a bunch of gas. I caught my first big smallmouth parallel casting an Arbogaster on the lower end of that bluff.

 

[jon the fisherman]

I will probably put in at the Dam. I am going to stay out there till the heat/jet skiis chase me off.

 

[MadBomber]

There is a pocket with a mud bank immediately before you take a right turn up the long bluff that's called Meigs County park. Pause there a few minutes and be ready for some top water action. Then if you do go up the bluff, there's a small cove a hundred yards or so up the bluff. The point of that cove is a good brown fish hangout. Have fun, report back!!

Sorry, looking at the clock, you are already on your way!

 

[beetlespin]

Best thing to do is head upriver. I would not fish anywhere below the iron hill cut through. I did grow up in spring city and fished piney creek for many years. I cannot catch a fish there anymore. I am sure they are there but they have a bad case of lockjaw when i try. I like it up around Kingston if you are willing to drive that far.

 

[MadBomber]

Hey Beetlespin,

That where he usually fishes. He's from Harriman. He wanted to try some spots downriver.

 

[Fat Albert]

jon the fisherman - 6/29/2006 7:31 PM

thanks MB, I will try it in the morning. Lots of good structure down on that end. I am going at 5:30 in the morning and will post a report in the afternoon. It is good to have some of you experienced Watts Bar guys on the forum. I know the upper end pretty well, but I need to get down on the lower end more often. Thanks again MB, you have a wealth of knowledge that I believe we could all learn from.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT REALLY KNOW THE BOMBER... WE KNOW HE IS FULL OF IT.emoLaugh Oh, me,, that didn't sound rightemoGeezer

 

[jason]

Hey jtf, it is quite possible that I tainted your fishing skills during the night tourney.

 

[jon the fisherman]

I don't believe that for a second Jason, you are a fine angler. I'm just having problems pinpointing the bigger fish. I think alot of it has to do with the funky spring we had. I believe the fish I usually catch this time of year are still in limbo and have not made it to the deeper haunts. After the holiday, I am going to concentrate on getting fish in the boat.

 

[jason]

We had the same problem last year on the Hiwassee until we figured out that we were targeting the wrong fish. We moved from the south side of the river to the north side and started getting bit. The water was warmer and the bass were already settling in to their summer pattern and they were more than happy to munch a jig or lizard. The fish on the south side were lagging behind and were still transitioning from the spawn to summer and you literally had to force feed them.