Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry
Time: 4:30 PM - 9:40 PMAir Temperature: 85 - 73 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 555.58
Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny and clear. Winds SSE- 5-10 MPH.
After taking about a month off, I finally got back on the water today for some Memorial Day weekend catfish. I had to replace the trailer boards today, so while I had the boat off the trailer and in the water, I headed over to the nuclear plant for an evening/night catfishing session.
I started tied up to one of the four metal corner posts and was casting slip egg sinkers on the bottom and also floating a couple of slip bobbers at adjustable depths too. I was using a mix of chicken gizzards and cut skipjack. I got a quick fish on the bobber and had a monster throw the hook and slime my line on a giant skipjack head, but the wind was tough and I moved over to the green side tower and tied up and repeated my same spread. I picked up fish more quickly here. I caught one more on the bobber rig and here gizzards seemed to be the best bet. I was catching smaller fish on the gizzards, but they were more frequent.
I used the tie-off method today mainly because of all the wind, waves, and recreational traffic. I would have normally bumped bottom.
I stayed well after dark, but the fish actually slowed down tremendously when the sun went down. Still had a great trip and ended up with 8 or 9 cats. I've missed this evening bite and need to do it more often.
