Tombigbee River

[MinnowReaper]

Anybody fishing the Tombigbee river in the Okatuppa creek and Choctaw NWR area?

[BamaBill]

I have a camp Just north of Okatuppa. I spent the weekend up there and did very well. I do better up there on jigs than live bait. The fish I caught this weekend up there were right on the structure and required a very slow presentation. I was using white jigs and chartruese jigs and tighlining around structure located in the lakes. Sometimes trolling in the middle around the creek channels works well. I caught them trolling but the majority were on the stumps. Also, The fish seemed to be biting better between 10-2 in the heat of the day for some reason this weekend. I fished sat, sun and monday morning and averaged 15 or so 10' and better
fish per outing this weekend.

[MinnowReaper]

Thanks for the report BB, planning to fish this area in a couple weeks on the way down to the beach. Grew up fishing the creeks and sloughs in this area but haven't back in several years. Looking forward to some good fishing.

[BamaBill]

Man I wish you well. Sometimes I can locate fish in the main river but when I do, they are there today and seldom again. The lakes (which have silted in to a typical middle depth of 5-6') always hold fish even when 95 degrees plus. They just tend to move to the middle and suspend in the heat of the day. Keep us posted when you go!

[MinnowReaper]

Thanks again for the info BB. Glad to know I am not the only one to not catch much in the main river. I used to have a few honey holes back in the day, but last time down they had mostly all silted in. I am sure there are still plenty of tree tops to be found along the creek banks, that is where I have had the most luck in my most recent trips to the area. If nothing else, we will have fly rods to go after some bream, that bite should be pretty good by now. Either way, a week from today we will be down there.

[BamaBill]

Just got back from Coffeeville with 8 quarts of filets (Sat morn, sat eve, this morn)... Trolling with jigs and minnows in the lakes.

[MinnowReaper]

Awesome BB, that is a good catch. Now I am really excited about my trip down. Hope they are still biting good this weekend. More so, hope I can locate them. We will be fishing Friday and Saturday before heading off the the beach for a few days. If the weather cooperates it should be a good trip.

[BamaBill]

The fishing was slow on Sat. They were pretty lethargic and I had to hold my jig nearly stationary so I went and got minnows. They were like that all day. Sunday, they were more aggressive and I was able to move more. Caught as many Sun morn as I did all day Sat. Still seemed they liked the heat of the day... I use a beach umbrella in my boat to keep the sun from cooking me. The lakes I was in were 5-6' deep and I was fishing 4-5' deep. They seemed to be on stumps in the morning and moving mid lake to suspend by mid day.

[MinnowReaper]

Fished this past Friday and Saturday. Conditions were tough, muddy water and rain. Only caught 4 keepers each day but were all good size with the largest measuring 15". One more chance this coming weekend, hope the water clears a little.

[levi36908]

Getting ready to hit the water above coffeeville lock in the morning . I live above the lock about five minutes from Lenoir landing . Its been so much rain lately that I don't expect to haul any prizes home . Really just want to check water temp and take a look at my favorite holes . I will post any progress and conditions .