Post Christmas sauger fishing

[agelesssone]

Just talked to a friend who's on the water fishing. They (two guys) have two keepers in the boat....so it's still a slow go as far as sauger go.
Anybody fishing below the dam on Old Hickory?

[jmsjordan]

I have been for past couple weeks, from the bank, at the stairwell next to the incoming creek. A few keepers being caught, mostly 10-14 inch and few stripe. I have fished the bank from there almost up to the other parking lot and have not had much luck with much of any fish. Few crappies and stripe ppl are catching here and there and thats about it.

[commdd]

jmsjordan thanks for the report... I know they are releasing a ton of water and its full of debris and is getting muddy... does the discolored water affect the sauger fishing negatively? or does the strong current have greater benefit? thanks! regards.

[TNtransplant08]

I fished OHD from the bank by the stairwell mentioned this morning. I didn't have much luck. I was hoping to find some sauger/walleyes, but I didn't catch any. Overall, the action was REALLY slow with only 4 fish being caught in a 3 hour period, all white bass. The white bass all were caught on a watermelon/purple flakes twin-tail grub with a slow, steady retrieve. The water color didn't seem too bad and I hardly saw any debris from where I was. The current actually was the way I prefer it, but the fish just weren't cooperating.

[jad2t]

I fished OHD from the bank by the stairwell mentioned this morning. I didn't have much luck. I was hoping to find some sauger/walleyes, but I didn't catch any. Overall, the action was REALLY slow with only 4 fish being caught in a 3 hour period, all white bass. The white bass all were caught on a watermelon/purple flakes twin-tail grub with a slow, steady retrieve. The water color didn't seem too bad and I hardly saw any debris from where I was. The current actually was the way I prefer it, but the fish just weren't cooperating.

Ugh... I would have loved 4 white bass today. I fished this morning until about noon at several points on the lake, bank fishing. It was very cold and I didn't catch anything of value, just a few bluegill on crappie magnets. I was looking for white bass. After lunch I debated whether to head to the dam and fish the banks or not but figured the river would be very muddy and full of debris. I guess I'll try it from the bank tomorrow if the weather cooperates. Looks like on and off rain so we'll see.

[agelesssone]

Jimmy, I sent you an invite to fish the GSP with me, saying Thursday or Friday would probably be best.Or we could try up around 231 bridge outside of Lebanon. kept threatening to go all day today, just got too lazy and warm. And now, how do I get rid of this style of fonts that just started?

[creeksmallie]

Has anyone fished 4:30pm till 7pm ? below said steps
And next question
Has anyone fished 4:30 am till about 7am below said steps.

I used to fish it alot from Thanksgiving thru Mid Jan. With some good fish and limits. Last year I did not have any success and driving from Mboro to catch one or two 14 inchers got old ( the drive that is) This year I will be able to check it out more( while running the magazines) and may this next week.

10 plus Years ago there was a washing machine or(big appliance) and a big log about 20 yards from bank when water was low, right in incoming creek channel. I have heard that the these have washed away along with some other structure and and the creek channel has filled in some (where it was once more defined ) Some of the long time bank fisherman that I have seen down there for many years feel this has caused them not to stack up like they used to. I can remember in the mid 90's 10 to 15 people standing almost shoulder to shoulder walking out with 4 or 5 keepers each in the hour after sunset. And the cool thing there was rarely a hang up and a lot of lure sharing (lead head and grub swapping) Only English was spoken and never a bad word spoken to each other. That was the good times at said steps. Probably what makes me want to go back each winter. Great place to kill a few hours still.
Mike

[Fish Whisperer]

I went down there a few weeks ago and didn't do any good, but there was only one generator running... I'm thinking it should be decent right now.. Once I got down there and didn't see Ol' Jerry I figured the fishing wouldn't be very good.

[jad2t]

These steps everyone is referring to and this creek flowing into the Cumberland... is this the small creek that flows in right below where that sign is that says access is prohibited (the one you just walk around and keep walking all the way up to the dam if you want)? I know if I park there and hop the little fence and just walk straight down to the river, there's a small creek that flows in. I don't remember any steps being there though. This is on the Hendersonville side of the river.

[Fish Whisperer]

It is on the Hendersonville side... It's at the end of the road by the archery range.

[agelesssone]

jad2t,
Like fish whisperer says, drive back til you can't drive any further, then park. Walk to the end of the parking lot and turn left, there you will see a long series of steps/stairs leading down to the river. According to the river level, the water may be not too far below the steps or waaay down below the steps. Right now, the river is approx. 16' over summer pool which is 386' el. I think it is at 402 el which is as about as high as it gets in the winter. Sometimes it gets to 403. Download Google Earth to your computer and you can see clearly what we are talking about.

I just looked at Google Earth. It shows a photo from summer and the river is at summer pool. There is a white vehicle at the end of the parking lot. below and to the left of that vehicle you can just make out the end of the steps going down to the river. The creek to the left will be 16 ft underwater now, but take a look at the photo and you can see what the underwater structure is right there at the creek mouth. A good place to fish is anywhere up to 150 yds upstream, throwing white or chartreuse 3 inch twister tails or grubs.

[Jdkxtreme]

jad2t,
Like fish whisperer says, drive back til you can't drive any further, then park. Walk to the end of the parking lot and turn left, there you will see a long series of steps/stairs leading down to the river. According to the river level, the water may be not too far below the steps or waaay down below the steps. Right now, the river is approx. 16' over summer pool which is 386' el. I think it is at 402 el which is as about as high as it gets in the winter. Sometimes it gets to 403. Download Google Earth to your computer and you can see clearly what we are talking about.

I just looked at Google Earth. It shows a photo from summer and the river is at summer pool. There is a white vehicle at the end of the parking lot. below and to the left of that vehicle you can just make out the end of the steps going down to the river. The creek to the left will be 16 ft underwater now, but take a look at the photo and you can see what the underwater structure is right there at the creek mouth. A good place to fish is anywhere up to 150 yds upstream, throwing white or chartreuse 3 inch twister tails or grubs.


Are you talking about pic 1 or 2 in my homemade screenprint?

[MNfisher]

Pic 1

[jmsjordan]

I started fishing "the steps" since I moved to Hendersonville about 10 years ago and stopped a couple years back and just started up last year and this year. There is a most difference in the catchs. Then if I only left with one or two sauger, I would be a little upset. Then and now, the fishing is better when the water is almost up to the first drop off. Past week mostly white bass have been caught (nice one's). Just not many of the sauger/walleye's. I was told by one of the regulars, he beleives its because of the wolf dam. I would trust his opinion, he has been fishing there longer than me, and seems to know. I also remember some years ago fishing next to the dam and having a hard time catching white's because there were sooo many skippies everywhere and you would almost start to curse the little buggers. My son loved it almost catching a dozen or so of the big ones. Not so much anymore in the past couple years it seems. Not sure why, there are many thoughts. But the fishing below there does seem to have dropped some. Just my thought. Heading out Sunday either GSP or Drakes Creek, cant decide. If anyone wants to join in the fusture, i have room.

james

[jad2t]

I went to those steps this morning to try a little for sauger/walleye but was banking on catching a few of those big white bass previously mentioned. No luck on the sauger but another guy fishing there caught a 15 inch sauger and gave it to me. Can't wait to eat it!!

I caught two big, fat white bass. Big enough that I had to check and make sure they weren't hybrids. One of which I caught on the crappie magnet on my UL setup so that was a fun few minutes. I also caught a smaller white that went in the cooler as well. Then a couple really small whites and yellow, then the skipjacks started being nuisance so I left.

Still have yet to catch a sauger or walleye but I'm not giving up. I'll get there much earlier next time.

[Aquaholic6801]

Im one of the "regulars" that fish down at the steps.....its been kinda slow this year....water is just starting to get right, just need to keep the rain coming, I have started going later in the evening to avoid the crowds,and I cant go down there on my lunch break like I used to be able too...... which has been stated , rarely a tangle when everybody is down there, but it does get crowded before dark, Ill give a lil secret about fishing for walleye down there , using a black and gold #9 Rapala broken back (silver and black will work but prefer the gold and black) , park at the "steps" and walk all the way up to the dam and fish the #9 and work your way back to where you parked.....throw the #9 out at a 45* angle down river, let out about 100+ yards of line and reel it SLOOOOOWLY back to you with your rod pointing strait towards the other side, I mean SLOOOOOWLY...like 30 seconds for a full wind of the reel handle........ 7-10 ft rods work the best......did this Saturday night....only caught one fish but it was 25 1/4 inches......