Thread: Chickamauga Lake crappie report 6/04/2017

Dr Phillip and I made a mid-day 3 hour crappie trip today. The crappie are still on fire. I kept my limit and 6 of Phil's limit that were 11" and up to 13.5" today. We released all 10" fish today and we had at least another limit of those that are still growing.

Water temp was up to 80 degrees when we finished and 45,000 CFS current in the main river. We fished deep water points, docks, bluffs, American Fish tree, and off shore road bed. Our lures ranged fro 1/24 oz to 3/32 oz jig heads with Bass Assassin S&P Phantom with chartreuse tail. I did throw another color for just a few minutes until the fish convinced me that they would not hit that color today.

I caught a bonus Smallmouth Bass on the American Fish tree. It was a 2 lb fish and those things are so beautiful. I love those ole brown fish as Billy Westmorland used to say. Lots of weekend boat traffic as one would expect. Sitting off shore, we were rocked the entire time as wave after wave of cruisers and skiers ran up and down the river. Heck, it is their time to have fun. If anyone is interested in bluegill fishing, we saw the gills absolutely tearing up the willow flies on the western side of the river today. A fly rod with a popping bug would have been fun or a 1/16 oz Rooster tail spinner would have yielded fish after fish.

Most of the crappie were deep again. I love deep fishing. Dead sticking those lures in 25 feet of water and waiting patiently for the fish to nail it is so much fun. It takes lots of patience though. Do nothing but let the jig hang down for 30 seconds or more before gently moving it was the trick today. We located the fish on structure, threw a marker buoy and positioned our boat to properly present the lures and it was game on.

Great job and great report.