Juggin'

Took Thomas and Jessica out this morning form some jugging.  We threw out 24; 13 in the shallows in about 7-9 FOW and 9 in the deep in about 32 FOW.  We used my "Guzzard Punch" bait, which is chicken gizzards soaked in Kool Aide and garlic powder.  Had a fantastic time and Thomas pulled in a big one!  Ended the day with 8 cats and 1 drum.  Ready to go again.

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.  

Summer Pattern

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Air Temperature: 78 - 87 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 555.72

Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny and clear. Winds SE- 5-8 MPH.

Slipped back out there this morning for a repeat of what I did last week.  Same place, same bait, same results.  Caught 17 in 3 hours this morning on chicken gizzards soaked in Kool-aid and cut shad over at the Nuclear Plant.  They've settled into a consistent summer pattern now.

COVID CATS

Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: 66 - 82 degrees during trip
Water Temperature:
Lake Level: 555.76 

Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny and clear. Winds N-NE- 5-9 MPH.

Well, it finally happened... After two plus years, I finally caught the Rona.  Figured it i was going to sit around, I might as well do it atop a swivel seat! I can't say I felt 100%, but didn't feel bad enough to sit out a fishing trip.

I headed out by my house to the Nuclear Plant this morning.  Fished with chicken gizzards soaked in Kool-aid and cut skipjack from the freezer.  Bounced bottom along the pipeline.  

It got hot and I figured I needed to rest some, so I left at 11:00 AM.  Caught 21 cats this morning.  

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.