Gone Nuclear

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 4:30 PM - 9:40 PM
Air 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.

Grain Fed

 Wheeler Lake - Decatur

Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Air Temperature: 36 - 62 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 46 degrees
Lake Level: 552.59 - Strong Current.

Weather Conditions: Clear and Sunny. Winds variable 5-9 MPH

I decided to get in a catfish trip before crappie season started.  I headed over to the grain barges in Decatur.  They were loading/unloading grain pretty rapidly and moving barges, so I back up a bit and anchored.  Current was very strong and it was all I could do to sit still, but I managed.

I used some frozen skipjack and casted behind the barges and fished bottom.  I've recently installed some new rod holders and acquired some new Abu Garcia reels and Ugly Stik Catfish Special rods.  This was a good time to try both of them out.

Almost immediately, I hooked a decent cat, but things got slow after that.  I managed to pull in two more, but wrapped up the day early before lunch.  Nothing spectacular to report, but never a bad day on the water.

Grain Dust

Wheeler Lake - Decatur Barges

Time: 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: 75 - 84 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 555.3
Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy. Wind NW 8 MPH

James Harris and I set out for catfish this morning under the grain barges in Decatur.  We had a mix of skipjack and chicken soaked in Kool-Aid for bait.  We planned on a 1/2 day trip.

I started my day wet as I slipped on the Hard Dock boat ramp and busted my ass.  

There was quite a bit of boat traffic in the area.  We set up right behind the barges and started bumping bottom, but there was a lot of traffic and not much room.  We eventually tied off and casted tight lines.

We had a good morning and caught 9 cats and one buffalo.  They were biting the chicken very well.  It was an easy trip and we had a great time.  Looking forward to the next trip already.