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Okay, I am a newbie to the site and am learning a bunch from everyone! Any chance I might get a update or hint on what I should be looking for or doing on Tellico? My plan to to be on the water the day after Christmas and enjoy the weekend!
Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Two dog, you have a private message.
Thank you Fishorhunt!
I too am a newbie. I stopped fishing for 30 years and decided to start again this past summer. My chosen prey has been crappie, but both Tellico and Fort Loudon have me baffled! I certainly have never fished in the winter, but I am this year! I just can't find 'em where I think they should be. Have caught some short fish, but not found the big boys. I too would appreciate any help with these two lakes (especially Tellico) if it is not too much to ask. I certainly wouldn't expect to get the coordinates to someone's honey hole!
Tellico is my home lake since I live a mile from a boat ramp and there's hardly a cove from the 411 bridge to the head waters of the "little T" or the Tellico river that I've not fished at some point. After years of keeping a journal of every trip I can look back and find spots that produced fish with different conditions. This more than anything has helped me be successful at catching Crappie on Tellico.
I have found that the Crappie in Tellico like mud flats and that any structure or bottom contour differences in that mud flat will have crappie on it. So here's how I fish those flats to find the small scattered schools. I rig 4 rods (2, 10' and 2, 8') with 2 different color flies tied 12-18 inches apart on each rod. Here's a tip... put a swivel 18 inches to 2 feet above the flies and this will stop the line twist experienced from dragging a fish in. Then I put a float on each rod starting 2 feet from the average depth of the bottom and move each of the other floats just a little shallower. This way I'm fishing 4 different depths until I find where they are in the water column. I also tip each fly with a minnow.
I have played with different speeds at different water temps but .5 mph seems to produce no matter what the water temp. I pull these floats long line style until I find a school and then I turn around and cast to them to see how big the school is.
My favorite colors are blue and white but I also use black, purple, red, green, pink and different shades of each.
Don't be afraid to "fish outside the norm" because I've caught crappie in 18" of water with the water temp 35 degrees. From everything we hear and read they shouldn't have been there but I kept watching seagulls feeding there and I hadn't caught a fish so I ran the seagulls off and wore the Crappie out.
Very informative Fishorhunt! I certainly appreciate your very gracious response. Maybe I will see you on the lake someday, as I have stored the golf clubs and rekindled an old passion! Thanks again!
ET Fish. In addition to Fishorhunts suggestion I recommend buying a decent sonar and learning how to use it. finding fish holding structure (ledges, brushpiles etc) and being able to return to it is key. Don't be afraid to completely switch a technique if what you are doing isn't working because Crappie don't read the manual. Have fun, be blessed and Merry Christmas!
What a great site! I remember fishing years ago everyone was worried someone would see the jig, fly or even the color they were using. Now, to have this kind of sharing and help is great!
Thanks to all!
Thank you rcp! I have accomplished the "A" part (obtaining a decent sonar), but have a long way to go on "B" (learning how to use it)! All of you guys are great, and I really, really appreciate the help and advice! And finally to Two Dog, I am sorry I hijacked your post! I am guessing we are all in the same area, so maybe we will meet someday! If you see an old, crappy (not crappie) boat on Tellico, that will be me!
I have a 16 ft G3 with a 25, 4 stroke yamaha and a Crappie.com sticker on the back of the motor. Another way people recognize me is by my green and black Gortex bib overalls that I wear and my black rod holders made from the TV holders from a hospital.