Watts bar crappie 11-29-06

[jon the fisherman]

I went out this afternoon for a little time to myself and got into some crappie. I was on the Emory river and fished with tubes tipped with minnows. All fish were on the bottom at 14' deep near the creek channel. I say the fish were on the bottom because everyone I caught had mud on there fins. I caught 12 keepers and had some 9 3/4", also had about four or so come off at the boat. The biggest was 14". Water was clear and 49 degrees. Nice afternoon for drowning minnows

 

[drumking]

Good catch, Jon. The fish down here were near the bottom as well, but had lockjaw. It's been a long time since I Crappie fished at Watts Bar. Used to be a great lake for big slabs. I have some friends who say that the Crappie fishing isn't so good up there anymore.emoSmile

 

[jon the fisherman]

DK, those people are crazy (just kidding), I had one of the best years last winter for crappie and alot of big fish were caught. Now a few years back, all I caught on my winter holes were 9 3/4" fish, but those fish have gotton bigger. I believe that all the lakes around here have good and bad years, but the Emory river can sometimes seem like a different lake than the rest of the bar. It gets really clear this time of year, and I have seen the temp as cold as 41 degrees. Last year, some of my best days were when I had to bust the ice out at the boat ramp just to get to the lake.

 

[jon the fisherman]

here are a couple of pics

 

[Guest]

Good report there jtf. Them are some Slabolas no matter where you go.emoThumbsup
I have only fished Watts Bar one time in my life about 18 years ago and then it was for smallies. Might have to come up there and give it a shot sometime soon.

Cheez

 

[DHaun]

Nice Crappie JTF and great report too -Thanks!

 

[flip1up]

Yes sir, good looking fish jtf.

 

[Liveliner]

That 14"er is for sure a real "SLAB" emoHungry Thanks for sharing. Nice report.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Nice fish JTF! I'll sure bet those babies will taste good with the cold weather moving in. Nothing I like better than crispy fried crappie, hush puppies, tater tots and a cold day!emoThumbsup

 

[J-Dub]

Hey Jon, have you found any color of jig that out produces others? In my experience, mostly on Loudon though, it seems as long as it has chart. on the tails it works. Red/chart., Black/chart., and of course Big Orange/chart. works well but none really outshines another. Just wanted your views.

 

[jon the fisherman]

I actually like red/white first and then black/chart, but all the other colors work. I switch it up on them during the day, and they will usually hit the new color after they quit biting on the old color. I have done well with Black/white, red/orange, blue/white, purple/white, silver/white, red/chart, and black/chart when the water gets real cold. I also like to troll once the water temp gets in the low 40's

 

[Bprice]

Way to go man... I need to get out on the water more, just been busy and broke (well saving) down here in Bama

 

[drumking]

jon the fisherman - 11/29/2006 8:27 PM

DK, those people are crazy (just kidding), I had one of the best years last winter for crappie and alot of big fish were caught. Now a few years back, all I caught on my winter holes were 9 3/4" fish, but those fish have gotton bigger. I believe that all the lakes around here have good and bad years, but the Emory river can sometimes seem like a different lake than the rest of the bar. It gets really clear this time of year, and I have seen the temp as cold as 41 degrees. Last year, some of my best days were when I had to bust the ice out at the boat ramp just to get to the lake.

Jon, those friends that I was referring to actually couldn't catch a Crappie in a five gallon bucket with a dip net. I know that there are really good Crappie in Watts Bar. I know the lower end better than I know Chickamauga. Cheez, if you want to go up to WB sometime this spring, get me a call and I will give you a free guided trip.emoGeezer

 

[jon the fisherman]

DK, Ihave some friends like that as well....they couldn't shoot fish in a barrel. I will be putting out alot of condos in the cove I live in this winter. I also will be putting in some stake beds as well for the spring. When you and cheez decide to go, I can tell you where to look for my condos, although you probably know of alot more places than I do.

 

[Guest]

Those are some REAL nice crappies. The min. length for a TARP certificate for crappies is 14''. I would send that one in.

 

[Guest]

Sounds like a plan DK. I'll just trade you a free guided trip to Weiss for the Watts bar trip.emoThumbsup

Cheez

 

[drumking]

cheez - 12/1/2006 4:59 AM

Sounds like a plan DK. I'll just trade you a free guided trip to Weiss for the Watts bar trip.emoThumbsup

Cheez

Deal!emoThumbsup emoGeezer

 

[Daniel Tn]

I'll be heading back to Watts Bar for Crappie this very week. I am in the process of charging my batteries now. I sorta already winterized my boat but some idiot forgot to turn the main power switch OFF from the last trip to the lake and the cranking battery was almost drained. Usually ain't gotta charge it but had to this time. I'd like to get a few keeper crappie for the pan. Already about to run the wife crazy with deer jerky smelling up the house. heeh

 

[drumking]

Daniel, I had an aquaintance tell me the other day that they were catching crappie on the bluffs up there and they were pretty good ones at that. Good luck and let us know how you did. Water temps too if you can.emoGeezer

 

[Daniel Tn]

Well I got both batteries good and charged but I ain't dedicated enough to go fishin' when it's 14 degrees air temp and breezy on top of that. heheh. Everytime I get ready to go fishin' something always comes up.