Old Hickory Lake "Community Holes"/New to OHL & other big water. Help appreciated!

[JDH8504]

So, while I've been away from the board for awhile, I got a new vessel. 18ft Procraft Stalker glass bass boat w/a 150 Merc Black Max VR4. Side note: if anyone has any experience with this motor or similar (carbureted two-stroke) I would appreciate your input regarding maintenance and performance tips.

On to the subject...

I've made a handful of trips to Old Hickory Lake. This is my first experience with Old Hickory (or any "bigger" water for that matter) with the exception of one guided trip I took with Ian Huey (great guide, btw) last April. I have launched at the Cairo public access for the most part. One time I launched at Station Camp Creek. Navigating this body of water is a nightmare. Trolling around looking for bait has pit my boat against solid obstacles more times than one. Luckily, those have all happened at speeds sub-5mph. I refuse to get the boat on plane unless I'm in the main river channel.

I'm chasing Largemouth bass, but I'm open to trying anything (non-panfish) just to get the skunk off of me. Would anyone be willing to direct me toward a community hole or holes that may be more productive at this time of year? I've thrown basically my entire box what appears to be lifeless water. I'm losing confidence fast.

I have been doing a lot of studying about using my Lowrance HDS units but I'm not quite sure if what I'm doing is right. Basically trolling around and when I see a bait ball or two in the area, I start throwing lures at the visible targets. I'm not quite sure how to pinpoint a piece of underwater structure with my lure...tips on that would be appreciated. Or, if there is a resource y'all like for that kind of info please point me in that direction.

[Smithcotrapper]

Yea I'm still trying to learn my self. I've got the black max myself and even though I haven't got to take it out yet but from what I've heard their very good motors. What year is yours?

[JDH8504]

It's a 1991

[Buccaneer]

JDH - Is your Lowrance a a GPS unit also? If so I highly recommend a Navionics Premium SD card and sign up for the Navionics update program with one year free mapping updates. Also get the Navionics Web App downloaded to your computer and study the Old Hickory lake contours in detail. Right now you should find bass anywhere there is grass, both shoreline (cane grass/willow grass) and milfoil offshore. Buzzbaits, frogs, spinner baits, topwater poppers & spooks and square bill crankbaits should be the ticket right now. Almost any primary and secondary point should have shoreline grass on it and if you find grass with wood structure all the better. Going out of Cairo you should try to learn Bledsoe Creek as well as you can. If you run to Barton and Spring creeks, you will find endless opportunities.

[JDH8504]

Yes, it's got GPS and it came with Lowrance Lake Insight maps. Is Navionics better? Thanks for the info about the other creeks. I've done a little fishing in Bledsoe but got a little intimidated by the sudden shallow-ness all around me.

I see boats coming through on plane that are not in the creek channel (according to my Lake Insight map), but I'm just not confident enough to do that yet. Would you recommend I start at the mouth of the creek or run all the way up to the source and start there?

[notorious]

PM sent

[Buccaneer]

I recommend you fish anything that has cover, structure and depth change. All three if possible, typically found on points. I suggest Navionics because of the option to download map updates. Nothing wrong with your current map card. Get the Navionics Web App on your home PC and study the areas you are fishing. Compare those depth contours with what is on your Lowrance map. The Navionics Web App maps are always updated with the most current sonar mapping data.

[Buccaneer]

Read this too - http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1594510-supersize-your-squarebills-this-fall

[massman]

I like old hickory go into waters you know at the time I have been using craw baits soft plastics slow presentations to get a good bite during mid afternoon and crank baits 4-8 ft diver along rock and stumps tht would be your best bet at the time

[Smithcotrapper]

Well I'm gonna be out Saturday so if I catch some I'll let you know so maybe you ca go out and catch some, mines a 1996 but I was just curious

[JDH8504]

Well I'm gonna be out Saturday so if I catch some I'll let you know so maybe you ca go out and catch some, mines a 1996 but I was just curious

Do you have experience navigating Old Hickory? I'm having some frustration regarding that.

My 1991 is a little finicky about idling but loves to run wide open. I think it could possibly idle better if I found the right knowledgeable mechanic. I'm not qualified to go tinkering on it just yet haha

[JDH8504]

Read this too - http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1594510-supersize-your-squarebills-this-fall

haha...I have that exact SK KVD 8.0 that Menendez is holding in the pic. I have it in that bluegill color and sexy shad. I've gotten a monster bite on the sexy shad but that was down on Shellcracker Lake at Williamsport.

[StriperFan]

Do you have experience navigating Old Hickory? I'm having some frustration regarding that.

My 1991 is a little finicky about idling but loves to run wide open. I think it could possibly idle better if I found the right knowledgeable mechanic. I'm not qualified to go tinkering on it just yet haha

Yeah be careful, I had to replace my lower unit last spring and I was just barely off of the channel. not good.

[Dakota]

Yes, it's got GPS and it came with Lowrance Lake Insight maps. Is Navionics better? Thanks for the info about the other creeks. I've done a little fishing in Bledsoe but got a little intimidated by the sudden shallow-ness all around me.

I see boats coming through on plane that are not in the creek channel (according to my Lake Insight map), but I'm just not confident enough to do that yet. Would you recommend I start at the mouth of the creek or run all the way up to the source and start there?


I've been fishing Old Hickory for about 12 plus years and still hit new spots or try to when I'm out or at least scan with my HDS7. Learn it slowly no reason to rush anywhere and try to cut through hoping its a shortcut because if you're on the main channel doing that it's probably a foot deep. Learn where the buoys are on OH is marked well. With that being said fish the wood off the channel it will hold some good fish if you are persistent. Right now I've seen bait holding in these areas (Picture below of old Hick log) While your headed to the wood watch your sonar for drops and humps off the channel ledge. If you see other boats fishing offshore areas make a note go back later and check it out. They are there for a reason. Docks close to deeper water are good places too. Fish a frog in and around the grass anytime of the day. I could go on an on but hopefully this helps. Dakota

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[JDH8504]

I've been fishing Old Hickory for about 12 plus years and still hit new spots or try to when I'm out or at least scan with my HDS7. Learn it slowly no reason to rush anywhere and try to cut through hoping its a shortcut because if you're on the main channel doing that it's probably a foot deep. Learn where the buoys are on OH is marked well. With that being said fish the wood off the channel it will hold some good fish if you are persistent. Right now I've seen bait holding in these areas (Picture below of old Hick log) While your headed to the wood watch your sonar for drops and humps off the channel ledge. If you see other boats fishing offshore areas make a note go back later and check it out. They are there for a reason. Docks close to deeper water are good places too. Fish a frog in and around the grass anytime of the day. I could go on an on but hopefully this helps. Dakota



Thanks for the tips. I know what you're saying about the parts being a foot deep. I tried to shortcut off the main channel (I slowed down to idle first) and found a sand bar. :eek:

Should I be focusing down-lake? I've been in the middle 1/3 or upper 1/3 most of the time. I can find underwater cover literally everywhere on my side scan. But none of it is producing for me.

I don't usually see a lot of other fisherman when I'm out. Maybe that's a sign LOL. I'm gonna go up to the dam area tomorrow and spy on what everyone else is doing haha

[Smithcotrapper]

Well heres the fishing report: IT SUCKED, lol but anyways it was cold this morning and caught a little dink real quick on a spinnerbait, we then picked up about 15 dinks on a rattle trap at different spots. I kept a flipping stick in my hand with a jig on it and decided I was gonna fish it till the end no matter what and ended up catching about a 3 pounder right outside of some grass. We were up bye drakes creek.

[hunterchub]

Watermelon color salamander. Off the creek mouths of Spring creek and Barton's creek. This was a couple weeks ago. Largemouth were in 8-12 feet of water. Watch for the bait fish in shallow bays. Bass like them.

[JDH8504]

Well heres the fishing report: IT SUCKED, lol but anyways it was cold this morning and caught a little dink real quick on a spinnerbait, we then picked up about 15 dinks on a rattle trap at different spots. I kept a flipping stick in my hand with a jig on it and decided I was gonna fish it till the end no matter what and ended up catching about a 3 pounder right outside of some grass. We were up bye drakes creek.

Well hey man, 16 dinks plus a 3lber looks pretty damn good up against my stinkers here lately. Maybe I just need to relax and fish to my strengths and wait for the bite to pick up. I could pitch to laydowns all day long. That's what happens when you fish (primarily) Williamsport for a few years. lol

[JDH8504]

Watermelon color salamander. Off the creek mouths of Spring creek and Barton's creek. This was a couple weeks ago. Largemouth were in 8-12 feet of water. Watch for the bait fish in shallow bays. Bass like them.

I actually have a bag of watermelon zoom lizards. Thank you for the suggestion. Were you throwing T-rig or C-rig? dragging downhill or uphill?

[Smithcotrapper]

Yea I guess you could call it alright. I'm the type of guy that's never satisfied with my standings and skills until I've perfected them. Maybe we can get together and fish sometime when I get my boat done . Just pm me if you want to talk about it, or fishing in general

[hunterchub]

Texas rig with as little of bullet weight as will allow for current. I like casting and letting it drift down to deeper hole. Tons of snags. So when setting the hook be sure its a bite. Otherwise just let it slide up and over the brush. I use 14 pound test. But really, Im not a bass fisherman. I do that when I cant find crappie or sauger. Good luck.