Wheeler - Rockfish/Skipjacks no Cats! 2/22/07

[Bprice]

Minner, Thad a work buddy, and I decided to hit the lake today after work to go into some new cat areas. Engatty has caught 2 over 90lbs at Browns Ferry Nuke Plant in the past 2 months, so we were going to give it a whirl.

They were running water at the plant, and the water was in the 54-58 degree range in the jumps. The skipjacks were thick as thieves so we decided to catch some fresh bait. We took about 10 minutes to load the boat with some real beefy toad skipjacks. We used popping corks trailed by marabou jigs and spoons. Minner had the magic skipjack bait though, a double grub rig, he had several doubles. I tell you what if there was a SASS (Skipjack Anglers Sportman Society) Minner and his patenant "skipjack flip" would be AOY!!!

As we popped a long, Thad hooked into a nice fish on his ultra light shakepeare, I believe he had 8 lb line. After a tedious fight we got it in and it was a fine 12 lb Rockfish. Minner will post pictures later, we teased Thad saying we didn't know if he was HOF material or not.

Anyways, I'll wrap up this long report, we anchored near the discharge pipe and papered the water. We had two smaller cats come off and no other bites. We fished 20-30 feet of water. Browns Ferry is still a mistery to us, but we know there are huge fish there. Just got to pinpoint them. We are starting to miss our pet fish upriver though... might have to go pay them a visit soon.

 

[slo-ride]

wtg, Bprice...i've been wondering if yall had tried Browns Ferry this year.
Did you try drifting at all?

btw...which launch did you use(wondering if the TVA launch...Cowford...would be good this time of year)

 

[Bprice]

SR,

We drifted after the skips and such, we anchored for cats. We put in at Mallard Creek, it was a easy safe ride across the river. Honestly Cowford would scare me this time of year, because it scares me in the summer even! Those flats can get nasty quick!

You been out lately?

 

[slo-ride]

Haven't been in a loooooong while but plan on making up for that starting next friday.
If the striper bite is as good as I think(hope) it's going to be this year, I'm planning on being on the water ALOT!
A friend and I were planning on hitting Wheeler dam to see if we could hook up with some early season stripers...we may just go to Browns Ferry and give it a shot, instead(depending on what he wants to do and what the wind is doing).

I have access to a chumchurn...bet the ferry would be a good place to try it out!

 

[Bprice]

Yeah man... with the freezing weather the shad should be thinning out and it'll be easier to catch a Stripaaaa! Let us know how you do, and maybe I can join you sometime, or we can all team up in the Kenner.

 

[slo-ride]

Bprice - 2/23/2007 7:02 AM

Yeah man... with the freezing weather the shad should be thinning out and it'll be easier to catch a Stripaaaa! Let us know how you do, and maybe I can join you sometime, or we can all team up in the Kenner.

sounds good to me, check your p.m.

 

[Bprice]

Here is Thad's, now new member, TTown... ultra light 12 lb Rockfish...

Also a couple MONSTER Skipjacks, and an attitude on my face. DHaun, come on man... we don't have any tennessee tarpon on the hall of fame. They are trophies for sure

 

[DHaun]

Great Report BPrice! I lightened the pic up a bit and I see now from the look on your face that you mean business...That's the gameface of one serious shad angler! emoBigsmile Those are indeed some monster skipjack and your report is very helpful in describing the rig/lures used. I'm going to try popping corks next time I fish for them...Sounds like fun! emoThumbsup

 

[slo-ride]

thaz some world class skippies, right there!!emoToast ..lol...i bet that salt put up a pretty mean fight on a light weight rod...good catch!!!emoThumbsup

 

[TTown]

I haven't had that much fun landing a fish in a long time.

I have come to a conclusion, quitting fishing is like quitting smoking. You are OK as long as you stay away from it, but only takes one time and you are as addicted as ever. Bprice, you and Minner are going to cost me a lot of money. Thanks for the trip, I had a blast.