No Fishing Today...

 

Winter Blues

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Air Temperature: 43 - 46 during trip
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 555.04

Weather Conditions: Raining, cool. Winds E 7 MPH.

I went out today to try to repeat my catfish catch from two days prior and did just that, except fish were a slightly smaller. Weather was crumby, but fishing was great.  

I fished the same place with the same tactics (livescope, spotlock, live jumbo shiners suspended) and got the same result.  Another excellent day.  Biggest fish were 20 and 21 lbs.  I caught about 7 nice cats and a couple drum.  I was using leftover shiners from last trip and ended up running out around lunch.  Just for giggles, I tied on a white 6" saltwater swimbait to see what would happen... And caught a nice cat 😂!

Big Fish Workout

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Air Temperature: 28 - 39 during trip
Water Temperature: 48 Degrees
Lake Level: 555.5

Weather Conditions: Clear, sunny. Cool. Winds N-NW 5-8 MPH.

I set out once again today to see if the striped bass had moved in and they had not... But the beautiful think about striped bass gear and setup is it will also catch cats just the same.  

I fished the nuclear plant along the pipeline using my livescope to find the fish and the spotlock to set up over them.  No striped bass, but the big cats were loving the jumbo shiners as live bait.  I quickly caught one cat weighing about pounds and then afterwards, it was GAME ON!!

My next fish was 30 lbs and the next two weighed 25 lbs each.  With 4 fish in the boat, I was at nearly 90 lbs.  I was the only boat on the water until a catfish guide came and parked about 30 yards away.  They never caught a fish, but was about to get a good show.

The next fish was HUGE.  I had a big fish hit me hard and I immediately knew it was over 40 lbs.  I couldn't gain any line on it and it keep spooling drag so hard the bolts in my reel were getting loose.  I don't know how long the fight was, but probably 10-15 minutes before I got the fish to surface.  I keep a big net, but this fish was going to be a struggle to net.  I managed to get it in the net, but the webbing was snapping like crazy around the net ring as I lifted it in.  BOOM - 57# fish in the boat!  This is my 2nd largest ever caught on rod and reel.

I managed two more decent fish to end the day with 7 total weighing somewhere just over 150 lbs total.  I'd never had a day where I caught this many large fish consistently.  Pulled in about 4 drum today as well. What a day!!

Big Wind, Big Waves, a Little Nauseous.

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Air Temperature: 32 - 37 during trip
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 552.23

Weather Conditions: Cold, windy, extremely cloudy. Winds N-NE- 15 MPH. Very tough conditions.

I set out today to see if the striped bass had moved in.  They have not... I was fishing jumbo shiners along the pipeline and using the spotlock to hold me.  Incredibly windy.  Caught 4-5 cats and 4-5 drum.  Very rough wind and waves to the point I was actually getting seasick.  But the spotlock trolling motor held me spot on.  

Gators Galore! And a Couple Crappie...

Wheeler Lake - Mooresville / Arrowhead Landing

Time: 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Air Temperature: 53 - 80 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 553.09
Weather Conditions: Sunny. Winds from South 5-10 MPH.

I set out today to see if the crappie had moved in yet with the falling water level and cooler nights.  I mostly failed on the crappie.  Only caught 4 crappie and 3 shell cracker, but still had fun.

I saw 2 or 3 gators that were probably - 5-6 ft long.  I've always heard they were in there, but this is my first time actually seeing.  Very cool!

Covering a Lot of Water

My Dad bought a houseboat and today was moving day.  We had to move it from Birdsong Marina on KY Lake to another marina about 35 nautical north.  This gal hadn't had a real journey in about 10 years.  Water levels were already at winter pool, so there were some tricky spots.  I drove ahead and navigated in a smaller outboard.

It took about 4 hours, but she did great!

Camping Therapy

 

Spotlock = Spot On

Cedar Creek Reservoir

Time: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Air Temperature: 60 - 72 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 579.42
Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny, perfect.  Winds  N 6 mph

Today's main goal was to get familiar with my new Ultrex trolling motor, so I set out to go somewhere where I knew there was sunken, deep structure.  I knew I could find these conditions on Cedar Creek and use spotlock to set up and fish deep.  

I was very pleased with how the spotlock worked! This is definitely a game changer.  However, it was a tough day fishing.  I caught 9, six big enough to keep, and also caught 3 bass.  Very, very soft bite today.  Found 3-4 spots holding crappie, but flat out wouldn't bite.  Worked hard for the fish I did catch, but very pleased with my trolling motor.

Minn Kota Ultrex Install

 After many, many months on backorder, my new Ultrex came in and I installed it today.  This thing will be a game changer for the way I fish!

Family Fun - A Little Jug Fishing

Wheeler Lake

Time: 6:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: Low 63 - High 83
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 555.22

Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny and clear. Winds ESE- 6-10 MPH.

My wife and son joined me today for some family fun while jug fishing for catfish.  We wanted to give Thomas some introduction to fishing and jug fishing is a simple way to get out and catch some fish easily without any major skills needed.  Todd Whatley had give me some stand-up noodles jugs he built and today was the first day giving them a try.  They worked great and we had an awesome day!

Testing new trim unit and catching catfish

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 6:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: 66 - 84 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 87 Degrees
Lake Level: 555.77

Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny and clear. Winds SSW- 7-9 MPH.

I'd like to start out by giving a shout out to Five Star Marine in Port Richey, FL.  I've been having progressing issues with my power trim unit for the past couple years.  After researching it, I found a new unit to be about $1,200.  I was watching a YouTube video on how to remove the trim on my boat and the video mentioned sending their unit off to Five Star for repair.  After doing some research, it was a no brainer.  I shipped my unit off and 10 days later received it back in the mail.  They charge a flat rate, depending on the model, for refurbishing plus whatever parts incurred during the refurb.  In the end.  I was $635 in including shipping and have a unit that is as good as new with a 2 year warranty.  They are excellent if you are in the market for a trim repair.

I headed over to the nuclear plant today for some catfish.  I launched right at daylight and noticed some threadfin popping the water at the the boat ramp (Cowford).  I decided to throw a net a few times and see what I could catch.  l was able to catch a few small shad around the ramp and a few more plus a couple small bluegill under the powerlines.  I brought frozen skipjack and some chicken gizzards too, but fresh bait is always good to have.

Once I got set up, I noticed someone has placed several marker buoys around the pipeline marking the drop off.  I have mixed feelings about this, but it definitely makes sighting the pipeline area easier.

As normal, I dropped down below the pipeline and immediately begin getting hits.  I noticed chicken gizzards we're performing very well.  I tried the live threadfin, but they too weren't doing fantastic.  Nothing today seemed to beat the cut skipjack.  

I putted around the area until about 11:00 and managed 18 blues.  Most were around 6 lbs on the average, but I caught a couple bigger.  It was an excellent morning and my trim performed perfect. 

Chasin' Ghost Crabs

 

Draggin' It Out

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Air Temperature: 76 - 81 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 555.81

Weather Conditions: Cloudy, windy. Winds N NE Sustained 8 MPH.

I decided to shake it up some today and try something I seldom do.  I put in at the Elk River landing and rode out to the channel with the intent of fishing deep and trolling/dragging.   I put out two bottom rigs and two suspend rigs and trolled around 0.7-1 MPH.  I started in about 45 FOW, but had no luck.  I could see a very strong thermocline about 35 feet deep and my guess is that was making things challenging.

I tried two more spots, but had no luck.

I finally headed over to the south back where I've had luck with trotlines and trolled about 30 FOW.  I got more bites here than anywhere else, but only landed one catfish weight about 12 lbs.  

Tough day.  I think my mistake was starting off too deep.  Need to brush up on this method and try again maybe when I get my new trolling motor.  

Creek Walking