Chickamauga Report 4/24/17

[JayW]

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

[Dave and Lynn]

congratulations on your catch.Now that s a real slab.

[Sore lip slab]

What a slab. Congratulations


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[CUonthelake]

Wow! What a beast! Thanks for posting!

[Muskrat]

Yes...beast alert ! That's awesome JayW -- congrats ! Well done. I found some of those same conditions and patterns. The water was way up but not as muddy as I thought it would be and a lot of our fish were in 20-25 feet and tight to the bottom. A lot of people think when the lake is way up and trash is everywhere that it messes up fishing for a few days. I find the bite to be better and you will often catch large crappie. Thanks for sharing.

[ET Fish]

Excellent crappie! I assumed it was a waste of time. I may need to rethink my week!

[Pantastic]

Excellent! Nice fish!

[drumking]

Great fish. Thanks for sharing.