Anybody here fish the Tenn-Tom?

I've been lurking around reading the forum and have finally jumped in and signed up. I'm interested in fishing the Tenn-Tom Waterway (or maybe I should say the old river and not necessarily the waterway itself) and I'm curious if anybody here ever fishes it? It's pretty close to me so that's what drives my interest in it. I'm excited about eventually fishing the bigger lakes, but for now I'm starting out here at home and would be interested in any general tips or ideas about the Tenn-Tom if anybody has any to offer. Thanks!

what part of the tenn-tom you wanting to fish I fish it and so does a bunch more including feesh and gdg

Like Donnie said, he and Feeshrman and I fish it alot. Donnie knows alot about the Mississippi side and we know quite abit about the Alabama side. Be glad to help in any way we can.

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Originally Posted by Donald@CrappieLogic

what part of the tenn-tom you wanting to fish I fish it and so does a bunch more including feesh and gdg

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That's a great question, I meant to specify that in my original post and it slipped my mind. I prefer to fish between Columbus and Pickensville if at all possible, I'm really kind of fond of the Camp Pratt area. This is basically a matter of convenience, because I live in that general area. I'm certainly open to trailering farther if I'm missing out on something.

Well here in the next month or so Pratt Camp will be an excellent place to fish. I would say when the water temp reaches 55 or better they will turn on in the stumps and then move on up to the grass to spawn. And it can happen quick in Pratt Camp. I have caught them in the stumps in 2 foot of water as early as first weekend in March. All it takes is about 5 nice warm days to get em started. Oh and btw the old river run out from Pratt should not be bypassed, I have caught some slabos in it.

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Originally Posted by GitDaGrease

Well here in the next month or so Pratt Camp will be an excellent place to fish. I would say when the water temp reaches 55 or better they will turn on in the stumps and then move on up to the grass to spawn. And it can happen quick in Pratt Camp. I have caught them in the stumps in 2 foot of water as early as first weekend in March. All it takes is about 5 nice warm days to get em started. Oh and btw the old river run out from Pratt should not be bypassed, I have caught some slabos in it.

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Thanks, you've already answered one of my questions, i.e. at what water temp I should look for them to start up in the stumps. I've had my 3 year old boy out a couple times over the last couple weeks, and we've yet to find 'em anywhere at Camp Pratt. Which makes me curious about another thing: in general terms, where are they hanging out before they move into the stumps? There's some fairly deep water (close to 25' if I remember correctly) just out of the stumps into the main channel (of the old river), do they stage in an area like this when the water is hot or cold? It just seems so interesting that my boy and I haven't been able to come up with any anywhere so far, but they've got to be out there somewhere.

i fish pratt camp all the time just what gdg said i double that pratt has been bad for the last 3 years but it is getting better that hydilla is taking over but the old river runs are always good and don't forget the creeks like magowen and cedar

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Originally Posted by jonjunhobbes

Thanks, you've already answered one of my questions, i.e. at what water temp I should look for them to start up in the stumps. I've had my 3 year old boy out a couple times over the last couple weeks, and we've yet to find 'em anywhere at Camp Pratt. Which makes me curious about another thing: in general terms, where are they hanging out before they move into the stumps? There's some fairly deep water (close to 25' if I remember correctly) just out of the stumps into the main channel (of the old river), do they stage in an area like this when the water is hot or cold? It just seems so interesting that my boy and I haven't been able to come up with any anywhere so far, but they've got to be out there somewhere.

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they will stage in the stump fields then in about 8 feet of water then they will hit the banks in 2 feet or less its usually on about the first week in april but can catch them all month in march just gotta run and gun

If you get to the Gainesville area holler. I'm fair in them parts

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Originally Posted by jonjunhobbes

I've been lurking around reading the forum and have finally jumped in and signed up. I'm interested in fishing the Tenn-Tom Waterway (or maybe I should say the old river and not necessarily the waterway itself) and I'm curious if anybody here ever fishes it? It's pretty close to me so that's what drives my interest in it. I'm excited about eventually fishing the bigger lakes, but for now I'm starting out here at home and would be interested in any general tips or ideas about the Tenn-Tom if anybody has any to offer. Thanks!

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I fish that area 99% of the time. Got a camp down river a little way's. My 1st tip would be if you're not very familiar with the old river run around Pratts is to go slow until you learn the channel. It has a lot of stump fields and if you don't know it very well, you'll be in one very easily. You'll have to look for the fish this time of year but as mentioned with a few warm days there will be some good fishing in the stumps. They have stumps in 1 to 9 fow so can't give you exactly where. The old river run has a bunch of different type areas to fish, flats, drop off's, etc. I'd try shallow and possibly see if the males or starting to move up yet. If not just see what depth the fish are on your fish finder and find some structure in that depth range. It varies and with all this crazy weather we've had you never know where they'll be. I plan on being up there next 3 day's fishing and being the main channel is up and muddy that will be one of the areas I hit. I'll be paddling a charcoal War Eagle if you happen to be there. Hope that help's good luck.

Everybody is telling you straight up, river fish move a lot. Sometimes you gotta look for them, but that's half the fun!

Say u had to use one pole up there in the 2nd weekend in may. Where would u fish?

Thanks for all of the posts! I really appreciate the info.

@Donald, how close will they actually be to the individual stumps? Do I need to try to get right up to the stumps and jig vertically, or will they be found anywhere in the stump field?

@Tritonman, I'll definitely keep that in mind. I guess I'll head that way after I get sick of fishing and not catching at Pratt.:banghead

@RooleyT, I might just see you out there this week yet. I do excavation work so I'm not too busy now when it's so wet, so that translates into more fishing time. Unfortunately, if it's wet that also usually means that there will be dirty water in the river.

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Originally Posted by bird down

Say u had to use one pole up there in the 2nd weekend in may. Where would u fish?

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Without a doubt in 5 to 10 foot of water in stump fields. Post spawn fish in the stumpage is my favorite time to fish.

it depends on the pattern you have for that day they may be right on the stump or they may be in a ditch leading into the stump field and it will depend on the weather shade lot of things i guess i say just fish until you figure out a pattern there is always one for every day

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Originally Posted by Donald@CrappieLogic

it depends on the pattern you have for that day they may be right on the stump or they may be in a ditch leading into the stump field and it will depend on the weather shade lot of things i guess i say just fish until you figure out a pattern there is always one for every day

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oh and dont forget to fish on the bank for them shallow males

Just let me know what kinda boat your in and I'll have a look & see . The water I'm sure is a bit muddy with the rain. That's just something to work out and make it a challenge. For sure they haven't packed up and left. Hope to see you on the water.

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Originally Posted by Rooleyt

Just let me know what kinda boat your in and I'll have a look & see . The water I'm sure is a bit muddy with the rain. That's just something to work out and make it a challenge. For sure they haven't packed up and left. Hope to see you on the water.

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I'm going to try to make it out sometime today for a couple of hours. I'll be in a small Key West Center Console Bay boat. It's probably not the best crappie fishing boat, but when I bought it I expected to be mostly marsh fishing in Louisiana. Like Donald Rumsfeld once famously said, "As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time." That's kind of my attitude about my bay boat.........