2 Attachment(s)
Chickamauga Report 4/24/17
High Water on the lake. I urge caution to all boaters for the next couple of days due to floating debris including some large logs. Use your head out there wear your life jacket and be safe.
I have only lived here a few years but I have never seen the lake any higher than it was today. The dock at the Hwy 58/Wolftever Creek ramp was under water as was a small portion of the parking lot. I launched with my truck wheels still in the parking lot and not even on the ramp. I don't think a pontoon or other tall boat would currently fit under the bridge. The water was not as muddy as I expected it to be, but it was not exactly clear. The storms really cooled the water down with a temperature range of 56.9 - 68.4 degrees.
I trolled crank baits in 20-30 ft. deep water and located the fish suspended about half way down with a lot of fish hugging the bottom as well. I did not have very high expectations for the day but I was pleasantly surprised by the results (8 keepers in 2.5hrs). I even had a few personal firsts for the day.
I caught my first black crappie trolling crank baits. I had a crappie jump clear of the water like a bass and I caught my first TN crappie 16 inches or larger. It was all the same fish a 16 inch long male black crappie and wow was it thick. It was definitely my biggest slab in a very long time and would have been longer had it not had its tail worn down. To give an idea of how thick it was the comparison crappie in the photo was a standard Chickamauga crappie that measured 11.5 inches long. I thought it was a bass at first because of the way it jumped and pulled drag. Then my jaw about hit the lake when I netted it and saw it was a black crappie. I really have crank pulling fever now. I can't wait to get out there again.
Have a great spring, JayW
Attachment 264788Attachment 264787
