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. 

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.  

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.

Testing New Gear

 Wheeler Lake - Browns Ferry

Time: 6:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: 35 - 59 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 552.23
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Cool. Light and variable, 0-5 MPH

For the first time in many, many years, I finally invested in some new rods for catfishing.  I bought a set of the new Ugly Stik Catfish USCACATSPEC802MH rods.  These are two piece 8 ft rods in a medium heavy action.  They are rated for 3 oz of weight and 30 lbs test (I'm running 80 lbs braid, but the diameter is similar to 30 lbs mono).  These have the long trigger handle and are my exactly what I've been looking for in a rugged, versatile rod for vertical fishing.  I have them paired with left handed Abu Garcia 5501C3 and 6501C3 reels.

First impression is they are very nice.  They feel good, are well balanced, and handle the reel, weight, and line all very well.  I took them out this morning for a try and begin catching fish quickly.

I was using frozen skip jack and picked up 8 cats along the pipeline drop off.  The rods felt good and handled the fish well.  Could have caught many more, but was trying to get off the water by lunch.  Had a great day and pleased with the new gear.  

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.