Reelfoot Lake

[Texas_Rig]

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

[Buccaneer]

What sort of boat will you be in? Not a nice place for fiberglass and lower units/props. The Cypress knees are where you need to be. Spinnerbaits and Senko/whacky rigs.

[tkwalker]

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

Rent one of the resort boats:eek:

[Texas_Rig]

I plan on taking my fiberglass boat but I don't plan on getting on plane

[Schleprock]

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

Yeah I wouldn't take my boat there, fished there for 4 days a couple years ago , its really shallow and a lot of hidden stumps, we didn't do very well but it was really cold, snow flurries in early April , think the deepest water we found was like 8 ft

[Texas_Rig]

What sort of boat will you be in? Not a nice place for fiberglass and lower units/props. The Cypress knees are where you need to be. Spinnerbaits and Senko/whacky rigs.

Thanks. I hope I can catch them on swim jig, spinnerbait, and a frog. At least that's the plan until I fish a while.

[tkwalker]

I plan on taking my fiberglass boat but I don't plan on getting on plane

TR, When Reel Foot was formed in 1812 when the Mississippi ran backwards do to a earthquake, Standing cypress has since rotted below the water line. Locals over the decades have drove steel rods into the stumps to mark their passage. Since then the steel rods have rusted away at the water line ... That is your obstacle ... Beware .... TK :eek:

[Texas_Rig]

TR, When Reel Foot was formed in 1812 when the Mississippi ran backwards do to a earthquake, Standing cypress has since rotted below the water line. Locals over the decades have drove steel rods into the stumps to mark their passage. Since then the steel rods have rusted away at the water line ... That is your obstacle ... Beware .... TK :eek:

Thanks TK

[eksfish]

i echo TK, I took my own boat one time. Lesson learned.

[butts0907]

I used to fish Reelfoot all the time since I'm originally from western Kentucky. I can't speak to the entire lake, but I fished up by the Air Park. For sure, without a doubt, do NOT put a fiberglass boat in that lake. We used to watch a lot of the visitors from up north put in their expensive boats in the morning and by the evening, most of them would be at the dock or back on the trailer with busted props or holes. There are stumps everywhere. I agree with the suggestion to rent one once you get there.

As for the bass fishing, I've only bass fished it a handful of times and haven't done so since around 2008. But I've seen lots of trophy size bass come out of there, including a buddy of mine who caught one close to 9 lbs. For this part of the lake, the biggest obstacle is the fact that there's so much back water that a boat cannot get to, as well as the lack of depth. At some point, way back when, they dredged a couple of canals from the area of the lake up by the Air Park to the rest of the lake. Those canals are pretty clear (in terms of stumps) and the deepest water I ever fished up there...and it was probably in the 8-10 ft range. The other issue is that pretty much everything looks the same, in terms of water depth and cover. I do remember one guide telling us to try and find lily pads or grass that met cypress trees. I don't know why that would be so special, and never tested the suggestion, but thought I'd pass it along in case you can.

Good luck...watch for snakes...and rent a boat!!

[notorious]

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

[Schleprock]

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

Yes, go to Chickamauga , I will be there tomorrow , putting in at Dayton, come see me :)

[Texas_Rig]

I used to fish Reelfoot all the time since I'm originally from western Kentucky. I can't speak to the entire lake, but I fished up by the Air Park. For sure, without a doubt, do NOT put a fiberglass boat in that lake. We used to watch a lot of the visitors from up north put in their expensive boats in the morning and by the evening, most of them would be at the dock or back on the trailer with busted props or holes. There are stumps everywhere. I agree with the suggestion to rent one once you get there.

As for the bass fishing, I've only bass fished it a handful of times and haven't done so since around 2008. But I've seen lots of trophy size bass come out of there, including a buddy of mine who caught one close to 9 lbs. For this part of the lake, the biggest obstacle is the fact that there's so much back water that a boat cannot get to, as well as the lack of depth. At some point, way back when, they dredged a couple of canals from the area of the lake up by the Air Park to the rest of the lake. Those canals are pretty clear (in terms of stumps) and the deepest water I ever fished up there...and it was probably in the 8-10 ft range. The other issue is that pretty much everything looks the same, in terms of water depth and cover. I do remember one guide telling us to try and find lily pads or grass that met cypress trees. I don't know why that would be so special, and never tested the suggestion, but thought I'd pass it along in case you can.

Good luck...watch for snakes...and rent a boat!!

Thanks. I ended up not going but I've seen some of the bass that come out of there. The average size is supposed to be good and I know it doesn't get too much pressure from bass fishermen. I'm going to take you guys' advice and not put my bass boat in there

[Texas_Rig]

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

I need to go to Chicamauga for sure

[robhal11]

Spent 4 days a few years ago at blue bank resort filming with southern woods and waters billy Blakey guided us. The lake is awesome but will tear up a fiberglass boat with the stumps. Great time with My deceased buddy Hugh McNaughten and his wife Joy. Billy put us on some big bluegill and great bass. Great 4 days.


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[skillet]

I need to go to Chicamauga for sure



Same here...I’ve never been.


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[cphill]

Crappie and bluegill fished last two years in may and it was some of the best bluegill fishing u will find...and I agree hard on a boat and lower unit..but if u have a aluminum baot and take your time u will be ok

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[Schleprock]

I need to go to Chicamauga for sure

A buddy came down from Cincinnati and I met up with him this morning at Chick , was a pretty tough day, put in at Dayton 7am temp 28 degrees, , fog was thick, he was leary of running his boat through the fog so we fished richland creek for a few hours until it burned off, bluebird skies and a stiff wind followed the fog, less than ideal bass conditions , ended up with one fish each

Really want to see what you can do here TR , I just can't figure this lake out for some reason, best day I ever had was 6 fish and biggest a 4lb, otherwise had a bunch of 1 and 2 fish days, I hear of people having 40-50 fish days and routine 7-10 lbers

[Schleprock]

Curious , did you go to Reelfoot?

[Texas_Rig]

A buddy came down from Cincinnati and I met up with him this morning at Chick , was a pretty tough day, put in at Dayton 7am temp 28 degrees, , fog was thick, he was leary of running his boat through the fog so we fished richland creek for a few hours until it burned off, bluebird skies and a stiff wind followed the fog, less than ideal bass conditions , ended up with one fish each

Really want to see what you can do here TR , I just can't figure this lake out for some reason, best day I ever had was 6 fish and biggest a 4lb, otherwise had a bunch of 1 and 2 fish days, I hear of people having 40-50 fish days and routine 7-10 lbers

Man that's a lot of pressure. Lol. I want to get down there. I have tons of days where I don't catch much. I just have a lot of days to fish in general and I can get on them every now and then. I try to fish a pattern more than trying to fish certain spots. When the fish are predictable and I recognize what the pattern is then I get excited. The thing that helps me most when I'm on a pattern is a good lake map and google earth. If I'm fishing submerged grass then I can look at a map and tell where it's gonna be and go to the next spot. If I'm fishing bushes or laydowns then I can look at google earth and find more of it. Those are just a couple of examples. I tend to struggle when I can't recognize a pattern because then I start fishing history and I suck when it comes to that. I watched the MLF Bass Pro Tour live feed this past spring and they wrecked them. Let's get together and go sometime between now and next spring. I've never been and I love new lakes because I don't have any history.

[Texas_Rig]

Curious , did you go to Reelfoot?
No I didn't go. I had a buddy back out on me at the last second and he was gonna drive because we were going one morning after I got off from working all night. I'm glad he did now because I was pretty confident that I could get around that place by going real slow but with all the replies about the dangers, I'm not taking my bass boat.

[Schleprock]

Man that's a lot of pressure. Lol. I want to get down there. I have tons of days where I don't catch much. I just have a lot of days to fish in general and I can get on them every now and then. I try to fish a pattern more than trying to fish certain spots. When the fish are predictable and I recognize what the pattern is then I get excited. The thing that helps me most when I'm on a pattern is a good lake map and google earth. If I'm fishing submerged grass then I can look at a map and tell where it's gonna be and go to the next spot. If I'm fishing bushes or laydowns then I can look at google earth and find more of it. Those are just a couple of examples. I tend to struggle when I can't recognize a pattern because then I start fishing history and I suck when it comes to that. I watched the MLF Bass Pro Tour live feed this past spring and they wrecked them. Let's get together and go sometime between now and next spring. I've never been and I love new lakes because I don't have any history.

What are you doing Saturday?

[Texas_Rig]

What are you doing Saturday?

I have a charity poker tournament that I have to go to on Saturday

[Schleprock]

I have a charity poker tournament that I have to go to on Saturday

probably a good thing, cold front moving in with high pressure and wind Saturday :(

Might rest my shoulder and spend the weekend with my wife lol