Flirting with stinky striped-critters. Again.

Printable View

11-22-2021, 04:30 PM
M GO BLUE

2 Attachment(s)

Flirting with stinky striped-critters. Again.

FINALLY got to go to the WB Tailwaters. Was nice and temperate - overcast skies, generating about 25K for the majority of the day, water temp at 56* .....all PERFECT conditions for fall tailwater fishin'

...except somebody forgot to tell that to the fish :banghead

MR. STINKY ALMOST got to me yesterday. I fished my guts out and walked away at the end of the day with 4 bites. 2 of them were Blue, fat and slimy, to the tune of about 25# apiece, not invited into the boat. Unhooked them in the net and sent them on their slimy way. One healthy, toothy specimen saved me from the skunk, and that 4th bite I'm positive was a Rockfish...never seen it but was like tying off to the bumper of a truck.

One thing I definitely noticed quickly was the lack of bait!!!? Typically, the TW's are LOADED with shad when temps hit mid 50's, but NOT yesterday. Even the sea gulls looked bored all day.

Attachment 413128
11-23-2021, 04:08 AM
DockShootinJack

That is a nice one for the table
11-23-2021, 05:40 AM
"G"

Yes...that is a nice one
11-23-2021, 06:28 AM
drumking

Thanks for the report, Blue. The last time that I was up there was in the third or fourth week of October and I also noticed a lack of baitfish, birds, and fish. We only caught 2 catfish, 2 Drum and I hooked a Striper that pulled off after a short fight.

I have been deer hunting lately, but got a doe for the freezer a couple of days ago so I will be going back to the tailwaters next week hopefully. Maybe some bait will show up. I don’t need casting practice.
11-23-2021, 08:16 AM
Redge

That toothy one, is my idea of fine cuisine!
Thanks for the report, some days are that way.

Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
11-23-2021, 08:18 AM
BuckeyeCrappie

Delicious table fare!
11-23-2021, 11:37 AM
bwilso

Talked to a fisherman Saturday below Old Hickory dam, said the Sauger bite was on. He had caught fifty but most were short. He did however get his limit. Hopefully just a matter of time before your fishery gets right. He said he had been catching all males and the females has not yet come up river.
I was tailwater bass fishing but did catch one Sauger on a Ned Rig.
11-23-2021, 01:23 PM
DockShootinJack

I am going to have to learn to fish for some of those great tasting critters
11-24-2021, 05:59 PM
M GO BLUE

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumking

Thanks for the report, Blue. The last time that I was up there was in the third or fourth week of October and I also noticed a lack of baitfish, birds, and fish. We only caught 2 catfish, 2 Drum and I hooked a Striper that pulled off after a short fight.

I have been deer hunting lately, but got a doe for the freezer a couple of days ago so I will be going back to the tailwaters next week hopefully. Maybe some bait will show up. I don’t need casting practice.

GOOD DEAL DK, them does are better eating anyway. I'm committed to getting started bowhunting again next year after a 3yr hiatus. DARE NOT draw the OL' Z7E until a new string/buss gets installed.

I did stop at a local outfit today and picked me up 2 cards of them there Foley spoons and a bunch of terminal tackle. Gonna give that routine a shot sometime in the next few days. Still trying to wrap my head around casting these things UPSTREAM. :confused: But will try it nonetheless. Don't care if I lose every one of 'em, can't get fish to bite normal offerings anyway.

I'll throw up a report on my findings.

..on a related note, did hear them OL' BOYS at that outfit today talking ALOT about crappies ON FIRE on the Hiwassee at the moment. That is good to hear because I personally have not seen or experienced them ON FIRE on the Hiwassee for several years now. Got my curiosity piqued.

Grandpa always taught me that curiosity killed the cat though :Rofl
12-04-2021, 02:00 PM
drumking

Quote:

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE

GOOD DEAL DK, them does are better eating anyway. I'm committed to getting started bowhunting again next year after a 3yr hiatus. DARE NOT draw the OL' Z7E until a new string/buss gets installed.

I did stop at a local outfit today and picked me up 2 cards of them there Foley spoons and a bunch of terminal tackle. Gonna give that routine a shot sometime in the next few days. Still trying to wrap my head around casting these things UPSTREAM. :confused: But will try it nonetheless. Don't care if I lose every one of 'em, can't get fish to bite normal offerings anyway.

I'll throw up a report on my findings.

..on a related note, did hear them OL' BOYS at that outfit today talking ALOT about crappies ON FIRE on the Hiwassee at the moment. That is good to hear because I personally have not seen or experienced them ON FIRE on the Hiwassee for several years now. Got my curiosity piqued.

Grandpa always taught me that curiosity killed the cat though :Rofl

I am late seeing this, Blue. Leaders need to be 14-16” long. I don’t like them longer. Most of the time when you hang up while fishing the Foleys upstream it is the sinker that gets wedged in a rock pile, but pulls off easily if you crank up the big motor and run back up above the hang. You may need to hurry before the current spools you. Grin.
12-05-2021, 12:55 PM
M GO BLUE

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumking

You may need to hurry before the current spools you. Grin.

:hesaid

Got LOTS of practice with this :Rofl