Blue Raider Bob Posted June 13, 2022 Posted June 13, 2022 Another tough day below Nickajack Dam on the Tennessee River yesterday. Surface temps 78 deg. Air temp. 92 in the PM. I was hoping that the moving water would concentrate the Smallies and the higher water temps would contribute to the need to feed but I could not catch em'. There was baitfish galore showing up on my Livescope. Where do they go in the summer? The usually faithfull Ned rigs didn't produce against the banks and the only way I caught fish was trolling small Shad Raps with the current and they were all small. Big fish 1.9 but really fat. I don't really like fishing that way because I had to troll at 2.5 MPH with the current just to get the cranks to wobble. When a little Spot or Smallie bites, he just kinda gets drug through the water and that's no good. Any kind of advise from you tailwater fishers would be greatly appreciated! Also every jet ski and cabin cruiser on the river was active yesterday as well. Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted June 13, 2022 Global Moderator Posted June 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said: Another tough day below Nickajack Dam on the Tennessee River yesterday. Surface temps 78 deg. Air temp. 92 in the PM. I was hoping that the moving water would concentrate the Smallies and the higher water temps would contribute to the need to feed but I could not catch em'. There was baitfish galore showing up on my Livescope. Where do they go in the summer? The usually faithfull Ned rigs didn't produce against the banks and the only way I caught fish was trolling small Shad Raps with the current and they were all small. Big fish 1.9 but really fat. I don't really like fishing that way because I had to troll at 2.5 MPH with the current just to get the cranks to wobble. When a little Spot or Smallie bites, he just kinda gets drug through the water and that's no good. Any kind of advise from you tailwater fishers would be greatly appreciated! Also every jet ski and cabin cruiser on the river was active yesterday as well. My Tailwaters are vastly different, summertime is smallies in the shoals time. Like 1-2 feet deep, topwater all the day long 1 Quote
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 13, 2022 Author Posted June 13, 2022 20 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: My Tailwaters are vastly different, summertime is smallies in the shoals time. Like 1-2 feet deep, topwater all the day long Sounds like fun! I don't have shoal water. It's 15 to 20' river channel with gentle slope to bank. Might try some top water though! Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted June 13, 2022 Global Moderator Posted June 13, 2022 Just now, Blue Raider Bob said: Sounds like fun! I don't have shoal water. It's 15 to 20' river channel with gentle slope to bank. Might try some top water though! Yea, I do fish some main stem Tailwaters like fort Loudon and watts bar dams. Live shad will create a feeding frenzy of nice bass that have ignored all your lures all day long. If I can’t net shad, I’ll just use a 3 inch sassy shad style bait or small fluke on a jig head. If they are at a dam, they eat a lot of shad 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 13, 2022 Super User Posted June 13, 2022 The majority of my fishing is below the Pickwick and Wilson dams. The Rage Menace, Rage Structure Bug and GYCB Kreature are solid performers, but NOTHING beats a big minnow! Quote
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 13, 2022 Author Posted June 13, 2022 7 minutes ago, roadwarrior said: The majority of my fishing is below the Pickwick and Wilson dams. The Rage Menace, Rage Structure Bug and GYCB Kreature are solid performers, but NOTHING beats a big minnow! Thanks! I'm not much of a live bait fisherman. Are you finding your fish near the generators in strong currents or further downstream? Are you using a heavier weight to contact bottom or a lighter weight to drift your presentations? Thanks again! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 13, 2022 Super User Posted June 13, 2022 No, I am drifting along the shore 20-30 yards out using a 3/16 bullet weight. Quote
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 13, 2022 Author Posted June 13, 2022 4 minutes ago, roadwarrior said: No, I am drifting along the shore 20-30 yards out using a 3/16 bullet weight. Thanks for responding! I will try it again when the hottest weather breaks. Sounds like you are Texas rigging the Rage Tail and dragging it close to the bottom. I haven't been below Pickwick or Wilson in many years but I assume I will have similar conditions. The high energy demand has Nickajack running multiple generators and creating quite a current Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 13, 2022 Super User Posted June 13, 2022 Should be exactly the same. Quote
Blue Raider Bob Posted June 17, 2022 Author Posted June 17, 2022 On 6/13/2022 at 2:36 PM, roadwarrior said: No, I am drifting along the shore 20-30 yards out using a 3/16 bullet weight. Is this a seasonal pattern for you or year round? I am going below Old Hickory Dam Sunday and give it a try. Also do you drift at current speed or do you slow drift with the trolling motor? Thanks! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 17, 2022 Super User Posted June 17, 2022 Drift with the current year around, but also fish the imaginary line between the buoys which roughly represents the channel. Big fish are sometimes in the deeper water. 1 Quote
PaulVE64 Posted June 18, 2022 Posted June 18, 2022 I drift this in current. The deer hair head moves laterally. Is dynomite 2 Quote
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