The unusual Spring of 2009 has brought high water to Middle TN, and the fishing has been excellent through the middle of May. Percy Priest has been anywhere from 3-7 ft high for the last three weeks, and the fish have been in the flooded trees, vines, bushes, and other stuff that usually lives well above the water line.
Two weeks ago, I caught a solid limit of around 16 lbs. on PP anchored by two four pounders. The fish were on the edges of the trees anywhere I could find green leafy trees submerged in 2-5 ft of water. It didn't seem to matter what you threw at them, as long as it was either a jig or soft plastic. The best baits were a Lake Fork tackle Tube Craw, GYBC Creature Bait, and a Tight Line 1/2 oz jig and plastic trailer. the creature fish came flipping and pitching directly in the brush, while the jig fish liked a swimming presentation. I'd swim the jig up to the target, kill it beside the bush, and then swim it back to the boat.
I was very confident that we could do well in the Inner City Ministries Big Fish / Black bag event held on Saturday, May 16th out of Fate Sanders. my only concern was that the lake level had been brought down two feet from the prior weekend, but it was still 3 1/2 ft above summer pool, which is plenty to keep the fish in the trees.
We started on a couple of spots that my partner wanted to hit with no bites, and then, about 7 am we went to my flipping spots from the weekend before. We pulled into the first cove, and whack! we caught around 8 fish in the same places I had caught them the week before. Out of the 8, four were solid keepers, but none of them were over 3 lbs, so no need to weigh them in. At this point, we felt good about the pattern, and the fish appeared to be in the same places as last weekend.
We moved on to my second cove and flipped up three or four more, but again, no bigguns. we kept flippin for another couple of hours, but the bite seemed to die as the day went on, so we decided to go looking for some fish out off the banks. We hit a flat mid-lake where I had been catching them good before the water came up, and we had 5 or six here on a c-rig, but they were all small. Then we went way down lake to a flat where the fish have been stacked, but again, we only caught dinks. I had one more cove to flip down lake, but the water had muddied up since the prior week, and we did not get a bite.
As time was running down, we went back to the first cove of the day, but the fish were nowhere to be found. We noticed that the water had dropped at least half a foot since the morning, and I'm sure that had a lot to do with the bite dying off during the day.
For the day we ended up with around 20 fish and 6 or seven keepers, for around 12 lbs. Fun day of fishing, but no pay back for all the hard work.
The lake is back to near summer pool now, so it's back to conventional post spawn tactics. Our club is fishing our second event of the year Saturday on Priest, and I'm fairly confident that I will do well. This is my favorite time of the year to fish, as the fish are off bed, hungry, and extremely willing to eat a c-rigged lizard, jig, and hopefully a top water plug or two. I'll report back after Saturday.
Tight lines,
RBK
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
F3 Club tourney 3-28- Priest
Today our club had our first tourney of the year on Percy Priest. The weather forecast was sketchy at best, but by the time we launched at 6:30 am, the rain had stopped, and it was pretty much perfect weather for fishing. The fish would definitely cooperate.
We ran down lake to a major creek and fished some shallow points with a mix of chunk rock and pea gravel with crankbaits. We caught about 15 fish in the first hour and a half with one of them being a 21" pig that had already spawned. We left the first spot and hit a flat in another major creek downlake. The fishing was a bit slower, and this hole seemed to attract half of our club. We did catch 6-7 fish in there on a mix of cranks and jigs.
By now it was around 10:30, and it was time to fire the Yammyhauler and head up lake. We hit on spot around an old roadbed and landed a couple, but we did not find the mother load here.
It was now pushing 11:00, and the clock was ticking fast toward our 12:30 check-in time. We went to a transition point and flat behind a major island, and it was on. We chunked the little crankbait, and the fish were smacking it. We sat in that area for about 45 minutes and caught around 13 more fish, including a fat pre-spawn 18" largemouth. By now I had culled to a limit of around 13 lbs, but I knew I needed to catch one more good one to win the deal. We had around 30 minutes left, and we would spend our last few casts chunking and winding a rattle bait on some major flats near Four Corners. No takers, so we headed in.
Turns out I was right. If I could have culled out one fish with another 4 lb class fish, I would have won it. I finished third with just over 13 lbs. First place was almost 15 lbs and second place was just over 14 lbs. I tied for the big fish award of the day.
All in all it was a really good day with over 30 over the rail and two solid big fish.
Next, it's off the Center Hill for a Team Trail event and club tournament. I'll report back.
Tight lines,
RBK
We ran down lake to a major creek and fished some shallow points with a mix of chunk rock and pea gravel with crankbaits. We caught about 15 fish in the first hour and a half with one of them being a 21" pig that had already spawned. We left the first spot and hit a flat in another major creek downlake. The fishing was a bit slower, and this hole seemed to attract half of our club. We did catch 6-7 fish in there on a mix of cranks and jigs.
By now it was around 10:30, and it was time to fire the Yammyhauler and head up lake. We hit on spot around an old roadbed and landed a couple, but we did not find the mother load here.
It was now pushing 11:00, and the clock was ticking fast toward our 12:30 check-in time. We went to a transition point and flat behind a major island, and it was on. We chunked the little crankbait, and the fish were smacking it. We sat in that area for about 45 minutes and caught around 13 more fish, including a fat pre-spawn 18" largemouth. By now I had culled to a limit of around 13 lbs, but I knew I needed to catch one more good one to win the deal. We had around 30 minutes left, and we would spend our last few casts chunking and winding a rattle bait on some major flats near Four Corners. No takers, so we headed in.
Turns out I was right. If I could have culled out one fish with another 4 lb class fish, I would have won it. I finished third with just over 13 lbs. First place was almost 15 lbs and second place was just over 14 lbs. I tied for the big fish award of the day.
All in all it was a really good day with over 30 over the rail and two solid big fish.
Next, it's off the Center Hill for a Team Trail event and club tournament. I'll report back.
Tight lines,
RBK
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Spring 09 breaking wide open...(3-09)
Last week, I headed down to Guntersville with a freind in my club for some fun fishing at Guntersville. The water temps were in the mid 50's to around 60 in some areas, and the fish were moving up to make little bass.
Thursday we had a guide and ended up with 31 on the day with around 15 keepers. Our best 5 would have weighed around 24 lbs. I had the big fish of the day which was 7.5 to 8 lbs (no scales in the boat). The big fish cme on a main river island ledge in the afternoon on a chrome rattle trap in about 5 ft of water. Most of the fish were caught on clay banks with stumps and grass mixed in in 1-4 ft on rattle baits, craws, and 8" lizards.
After the guide trip ended, we went back to the cabin and grabbed my boat. We stayed around the State park and caught 7-10 more fish before dark with 5 being keepers for around 13 lbs. Total for the day was around 40 fish and 20 keepers.
Friday, a major front pused through bringing with it 25 MPH North winds. We only caught 2 fish all day, and the wind ran us off early.
Saturday was nicer weather wise. We ended up with around 12 fish and 4 keepers for around 13 lbs. with the big fish of 5lbs caught on a grass / clay flat in 4 ft on a trap.
It was a great trip, and if not for the front that slammed us it would have been exceptional.
Sunday, I got back and the wife and kids had plans out of the house all afternoon, so I went to Preist for around 4 hours to try my luck there. The fish were shallow and fairly active. I caught 2 big hybrids by accident and around 14 bass with 3 keepers. Big fish of the day was a healthy 5 lb pre-spawn largemouth caught in 5 ft of water on a crankbait. The key was fishing shallow staging points near deep water and also near shallow spawning flats. bait was a real key too, as if I found bait, the fish were there.
All in all, it was a great 4 days on the water, and it will only get better over the next two-three weeks.
Tight lines,
RBK
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pre-turkey day bassin trip...
Took a day off today to head to Preist for a little fishing. Hit the lake around 8:30 am and headed down-lake to fish a deep bluff. Fished there for 1 hour- nothing, nada, zilcho.
From there I eased over to one of my favorite early Spring transition banks. Threw a jig for 30 minutes and landed two beautiful smallies. The largest was 18" and around 3 lbs.
Met up with a fellow fisherman on that bank, and he said he'd been catching a few on a shad rap, so I threw that for the next hour or so, and caught a 2.5 lb largemouth and two healthy spots.
Caught two more fish on a jig on another bluffy bank.
Then I fired up the Yammyhauler, shot the gas, and BEEEEEEEEP. The warning buzzer was going off, and the boat wouldn't get on plane. Figured I'd better limp back to the ramp to avoid any damage to the engine, so I put it on the trailer around noon and headed straight to Team Marine to drop the boat.
Good news is the service manager said he thinks it's just a clog in the oil filter or line, which is making the small tank on the motor read low. Should be a fairly easy and cheap fix (I hope).
All in all a good day. 4 keepers on 7 fish.
Until next time.
RBK
From there I eased over to one of my favorite early Spring transition banks. Threw a jig for 30 minutes and landed two beautiful smallies. The largest was 18" and around 3 lbs.
Met up with a fellow fisherman on that bank, and he said he'd been catching a few on a shad rap, so I threw that for the next hour or so, and caught a 2.5 lb largemouth and two healthy spots.
Caught two more fish on a jig on another bluffy bank.
Then I fired up the Yammyhauler, shot the gas, and BEEEEEEEEP. The warning buzzer was going off, and the boat wouldn't get on plane. Figured I'd better limp back to the ramp to avoid any damage to the engine, so I put it on the trailer around noon and headed straight to Team Marine to drop the boat.
Good news is the service manager said he thinks it's just a clog in the oil filter or line, which is making the small tank on the motor read low. Should be a fairly easy and cheap fix (I hope).
All in all a good day. 4 keepers on 7 fish.
Until next time.
RBK
Saturday, October 25, 2008
4th place ain't bad....
Fished the new Saturday tourney out of Fate Sanders on Priest today. I got there early to register and got boat #8. None of my regular partners could fish, so I was going solo vs. 2 man teams, but as tough as the fishing was reported to be on PP, I still felt like I had a chance.
Headed straight up the East Fork of the Stones River (a brisk 20 mile run). I set the boat down on one of my favorite stretches of wood upriver, and started throwing a buzzbait at the cover. Problem was the water was a chilly 56 degrees! Too cold for a topwater bait.
When it was clear the topwater deal wasn't going to happen, I committed to slowing down and making hundreds of pitches at wood and rock in both forks of the river.
I moved around for a couple of hours, and lost a decent fish on a shaky head worm around 10:00 am. Then, on the next bank, I hooked a solid 1.75 lb spotted bass on a small creature bait. I stayed in the same area of the E. Fork for another 45 minutes, but no other takers. The front had pushed out of Middle TN by now, and I knew it was just going to get tougher. My plan and fishing technique are ideal for post frontal conditions, b/c up that river the fish will stay shallow and move to cover when the barometer rockets upward. It was tough, but I was still confident in what I had planned.
Around 11:00 am I moved to the West Fork and headed as far up as I could and still float the Bumble Bee. I found three huge groups of shad and tried fishing shad imitations for 15 minutes or so, but I knew I needed to slow down. I hit three deep banks in that area with no luck. Then I fired up the Yamaha and ran about 3 miles back toward the lake. The first channel bend bank I hit held my second keeper, which was a solid 17" Largemouth, just shy of 3 lbs.
By now, I had run out of prime banks up the river, and only had 1 1/2 hrs left until weigh in. Decision time! This is where these things are won or lost, and I think I made the wrong move. Instead of staying a re-fishing the upriver banks, I decided to run into the main lake, and try to catch a couple of spotted bass, since they only have to be 12". I ran to the mid-lake area and fished 2 long bluffs and never had a sniff.
Made it back to the marina on time, and bagged up my 2 passengers for the weigh in. I though I was sunk when I walked up to the scales and heard 12 lbs was leading. The tourney director said he had a 5 fish limit, so I knew 3rd was best possible finish for me.
Good thing is that only one other team had more weight than yours truly. My two weighed in at 4.52. I got my money back, and earned some valuable points for the trail if I decide to fish more of them.
Considering that I hadn't been on the lake in 3 months and I went it alone, I was fairly pleased.
Until next time.....
Tight lines.
RBK
Headed straight up the East Fork of the Stones River (a brisk 20 mile run). I set the boat down on one of my favorite stretches of wood upriver, and started throwing a buzzbait at the cover. Problem was the water was a chilly 56 degrees! Too cold for a topwater bait.
When it was clear the topwater deal wasn't going to happen, I committed to slowing down and making hundreds of pitches at wood and rock in both forks of the river.
I moved around for a couple of hours, and lost a decent fish on a shaky head worm around 10:00 am. Then, on the next bank, I hooked a solid 1.75 lb spotted bass on a small creature bait. I stayed in the same area of the E. Fork for another 45 minutes, but no other takers. The front had pushed out of Middle TN by now, and I knew it was just going to get tougher. My plan and fishing technique are ideal for post frontal conditions, b/c up that river the fish will stay shallow and move to cover when the barometer rockets upward. It was tough, but I was still confident in what I had planned.
Around 11:00 am I moved to the West Fork and headed as far up as I could and still float the Bumble Bee. I found three huge groups of shad and tried fishing shad imitations for 15 minutes or so, but I knew I needed to slow down. I hit three deep banks in that area with no luck. Then I fired up the Yamaha and ran about 3 miles back toward the lake. The first channel bend bank I hit held my second keeper, which was a solid 17" Largemouth, just shy of 3 lbs.
By now, I had run out of prime banks up the river, and only had 1 1/2 hrs left until weigh in. Decision time! This is where these things are won or lost, and I think I made the wrong move. Instead of staying a re-fishing the upriver banks, I decided to run into the main lake, and try to catch a couple of spotted bass, since they only have to be 12". I ran to the mid-lake area and fished 2 long bluffs and never had a sniff.
Made it back to the marina on time, and bagged up my 2 passengers for the weigh in. I though I was sunk when I walked up to the scales and heard 12 lbs was leading. The tourney director said he had a 5 fish limit, so I knew 3rd was best possible finish for me.
Good thing is that only one other team had more weight than yours truly. My two weighed in at 4.52. I got my money back, and earned some valuable points for the trail if I decide to fish more of them.
Considering that I hadn't been on the lake in 3 months and I went it alone, I was fairly pleased.
Until next time.....
Tight lines.
RBK
Friday, October 24, 2008
Been laid up in dry dock....
Haven't been on the lake in three long weeks, and that trip was pretty much a bust on OHL. Had 2 keepers in our last club tourney of the year. Put me in 2nd overall for the season.
I'm planning on heading to Priest this Saturday to fish a local tourney. I'll be fishing blind, since I haven't been out there in over two months, but I've got some good info from late October the last couple of years to fall back on.
Plan on running to the uppper end and looking for off-colored water and fishing shallow early, then working my way back down lake later on if the up-lake thing doesn't pan out.
I'll report back, but I'm cautiously optimistic, and frankly just happy to be fishing!
I'm planning on heading to Priest this Saturday to fish a local tourney. I'll be fishing blind, since I haven't been out there in over two months, but I've got some good info from late October the last couple of years to fall back on.
Plan on running to the uppper end and looking for off-colored water and fishing shallow early, then working my way back down lake later on if the up-lake thing doesn't pan out.
I'll report back, but I'm cautiously optimistic, and frankly just happy to be fishing!
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