Bass Fishing Priest this saturday.

[XxthejuicexX]

Any tips for fishing Fall Creek or Spring Creek? I usually hunt this time of year and do not fish much so I am not sure if the shad are this far into the creeks yet. It's going to be cold Saturday morning so do I need to get up super early or can I slide out mid morning? Any help is appreciated.

[jad2t]

I'm having second thoughts about Saturday since it's going to get so cold Friday night. The bass fishing may be tough but Saturday night the low isn't near as cold so maybe Sunday things will pick back up. Still not sure whether to fish Saturday or Sunday. If I do Saturday, I might not hit the water until about 10am and fish until dark. I'm from South Florida so I'm a bit of a softy with cold weather lol.

[XxthejuicexX]

I was thinking the mid morning, 10 am thing myself. I have a tee time sunday morning so I will be busy. I don't think I want to be out on the water in 30 degree weather. I am pretty much set on fishing saturday so I will be on the water.

[SAMBOLIE]

I was thinking the mid morning, 10 am thing myself. I have a tee time sunday morning so I will be busy. I don't think I want to be out on the water in 30 degree weather. I am pretty much set on fishing saturday so I will be on the water.

I never let golf interfere with my fishing. I am constantly fishing my ball out of any water between my ball and the green. Sometimes I will hit right or left to get in a stream.

[XxthejuicexX]

I kind of combine both my hobbies from time to time. I take the kayaks out with a friend and collect golf balls along the river while fishing. I have not paid for a golf ball in 10 years. So thank you for your contributions to my golf game. I had a customer that would take his fishing gear with him to champions run golf course and fish the ponds while waiting to hit his ball, that course gets backed up very easily.

[SAMBOLIE]

I kind of combine both my hobbies from time to time. I take the kayaks out with a friend and collect golf balls along the river while fishing. I have not paid for a golf ball in 10 years. So thank you for your contributions to my golf game. I had a customer that would take his fishing gear with him to champions run golf course and fish the ponds while waiting to hit his ball, that course gets backed up very easily.
I always played Champions Run early (first tee time). Really speeds up the game.
Where do you golf most often?

[XxthejuicexX]

I am old fort guy, to me it's the best course in or around Murfreesboro. I will play Champions run because some of the guys I work with love the course plus you can get good deals on the rates though the golf now website.

[jad2t]

So back to fishing:

I'm not an expert at Fall transition yet so I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks about Saturday's weather. Lows are dropping down tonight to 39, tomorrow night to 32, then Friday night to 30. Early enough of a steep drop to really kick things into Fall pattern or do you think the fish will still have lockjaw Saturday? I'm probably still going, just want to know what people think.

[XxthejuicexX]

Jimmy, I will be on the water with you. I'm not going out till around 10am like we talked about. I am going to hit spring and fall creek. I found some locations I want to fish with my Navionics app. I have a feeling I am going to be burning a lot of gas Saturday trying to chase down some fish. If all else fails I will head back up into the lake and fish locations that have produced all year and see if fish are still there.

[Alphahawk]

Jimmy I quit trying to think about weather conditions a while back. I know that fishing a post cold front day can be tough....but it is not 100 percent so. I didn't go today because of the wind....but as I am writing this I am wondering if the weather reports called for the wind being higher than it is. As you know it plays havoc when fishing light line and lures....also if you fish out of a kayak. But if the wind is blowing down from the spots I will be fishing I will go even in 20-25 MPH winds. I have gone many days right after a cold front moved through the night before and caught a ton of fish.....but I must agree it is not the best conditions to hook up with some fish. I have found that most of the time the fish will be turned back on the 3rd day after a cold front. I know at Pickwick......Nickajack....the fall pattern has not kicked in. The water temps at both places is 65 degrees and I am not sure why the fish have not started their feeding frenzy. So I just go and take what the lake gives up. These are just thoughts and as always nothing is written in stone when fishing.





Regards

[Tennessee_fisherman]

Throw a fluke and square bill . Been catching some on top water too.

[SAMBOLIE]

I am old fort guy, to me it's the best course in or around Murfreesboro. I will play Champions run because some of the guys I work with love the course plus you can get good deals on the rates though the golf now website.

My kind of course.
http://us.mg205.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f42%5f57343%5fAO3TimIAAKQg UcRiYwo7jRdAkE0&pid=2.3&fid=1%2520I%2520READ&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo

[jad2t]

Jimmy I quit trying to think about weather conditions a while back. I know that fishing a post cold front day can be tough....but it is not 100 percent so. I didn't go today because of the wind....but as I am writing this I am wondering if the weather reports called for the wind being higher than it is. As you know it plays havoc when fishing light line and lures....also if you fish out of a kayak. But if the wind is blowing down from the spots I will be fishing I will go even in 20-25 MPH winds. I have gone many days right after a cold front moved through the night before and caught a ton of fish.....but I must agree it is not the best conditions to hook up with some fish. I have found that most of the time the fish will be turned back on the 3rd day after a cold front. I know at Pickwick......Nickajack....the fall pattern has not kicked in. The water temps at both places is 65 degrees and I am not sure why the fish have not started their feeding frenzy. So I just go and take what the lake gives up. These are just thoughts and as always nothing is written in stone when fishing.





Regards

I like the optimism! Still waiting to see if I get hosed and have to work Saturday or not. If not, I still plan on getting out about 10 and fishing until dark.

Williamsport tournament anglers - My boss and his son are going to fish Williamsport Sunday per my advice. I'll report back what they report to me as far as what they caught and where/how they caught them.

[Alphahawk]

I like the optimism! Still waiting to see if I get hosed and have to work Saturday or not. If not, I still plan on getting out about 10 and fishing until dark.

Williamsport tournament anglers - My boss and his son are going to fish Williamsport Sunday per my advice. I'll report back what they report to me as far as what they caught and where/how they caught them.

The water at Williamsport was 65 degrees yesterday...both lakes. Water was stained with lots of pollen on top. Only caught short crappie...but was better than nothing.



Regards

[commdd]

hey Alpha, what type of thermometer do you use? thanks, as always.

[Alphahawk]

It is a MinnKota digital that Academy had on sale for 3 bucks. It is slow to react but works fine and has about 10 feet of cord to the sensor so I can drop it down.




Regards

[TNtransplant08]

I plan on hitting JPP Friday morning. Will let you know how I do.

[MNfisher]

I plan on either fishing below OH dam, the Stones below JPP, or up on Percy lake Saturday morning. Haven't decided yet.

[Travis C.]

So back to fishing:

I'm not an expert at Fall transition yet so I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks about Saturday's weather. Lows are dropping down tonight to 39, tomorrow night to 32, then Friday night to 30. Early enough of a steep drop to really kick things into Fall pattern or do you think the fish will still have lockjaw Saturday? I'm probably still going, just want to know what people think.

From my experiences, several days of slowly dropping temps aren't as bad as one day a high of 60 then next 40. That said the last corps temp reading was 71 degrees. Fish may still be everywhere on several patterns but I'd probably go smaller/slower on bait size at first. My guess is the 12-3pm bite would be best option but the Farmer's Almanac is playing to your favor being best that day and morning bite.

[Alphahawk]

From my experiences, several days of slowly dropping temps aren't as bad as one day a high of 60 then next 40. That said the last corps temp reading was 71 degrees. Fish may still be everywhere on several patterns but I'd probably go smaller/slower on bait size at first. My guess is the 12-3pm bite would be best option but the Farmer's Almanac is playing to your favor being best that day and morning bite.

Scout Look has pretty close to those times being a major feeding period..... will be curious as to fishing reports from that day and time.




Regards

[XxthejuicexX]

From my experiences, several days of slowly dropping temps aren't as bad as one day a high of 60 then next 40. That said the last corps temp reading was 71 degrees. Fish may still be everywhere on several patterns but I'd probably go smaller/slower on bait size at first. My guess is the 12-3pm bite would be best option but the Farmer's Almanac is playing to your favor being best that day and morning bite.

This is what I was thinking. I think it will be just fine with the weather. I plan on fishing most of the day saturday. Im going to be fishing a few new places in the creeks like I said earlier so I am not sure what my chances of catching fish are. I hope to have a few good pictures of slaunches and a good report for you guys.

[Travis C.]

This is what I was thinking. I think it will be just fine with the weather. I plan on fishing most of the day saturday. Im going to be fishing a few new places in the creeks like I said earlier so I am not sure what my chances of catching fish are. I hope to have a few good pictures of slaunches and a good report for you guys.

Good luck on Saturday. May have to KVD it, trolling motor down and GO!

I will be huddled around a campfire with the little ones this weekend most of the time more than likely.

[jad2t]

I think the fact that it's going to get so cold tonight first rather than just dropping Friday night is going to save us from the post cold front lockjaw. I'm still waiting to figure out if I'm getting hosed and have to work on something this weekend or not. If not, I'll be out Saturday around 10am as well, and Sunday after lunch until dark. Look for the lime green Ride 115 and say hi if anyone sees me out there.

[Halli]

Fyi here is a pic Saturday mid-day (Pic is poor quality).

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/Knhalli/jppflow_zps24d161d5.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/Knhalli/media/jppflow_zps24d161d5.jpg.html)

[Alphahawk]

Fyi here is a pic Saturday mid-day (Pic is poor quality).

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/Knhalli/jppflow_zps24d161d5.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/user/Knhalli/media/jppflow_zps24d161d5.jpg.html)

There should be a ton of fish right there!




Regards

[XxthejuicexX]

Well, just getting home from priest and it was a rough day. I caught two small bass on a spinner bait and had one nice fish roll on it. I was fishing shallow wind blown rock out where spring creek meets fall creek. I called it quits around 4 and JAD2T was still out fishing when I left, hope you had better luck this afternoon.

[jad2t]

Brutal. Cold and WINDY! Couldn't finesse fish worth a crap because the wind was so bad so I had to put away the flukes and shaky worms. Threw crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits until my arm was about to fall off. Also tried some poppers and walk the dog lures. Grand total for today was 4 bass, only one of them of decent size and he got away before I was able to get a picture.

Fall pattern is definitely taking place as far as I can see. There were groups of baitfish so big almost my entire screen was black. I saw them flickering on the surface too and I was in Fall Creek area heading towards the creek. Saw plenty of what looked to be bigger bass following the baitfish on the graph, just couldn't get them to bite. Both of us had a tough day, I guess the cold front lockjaw lingered around. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better since it won't be near as cold tonight as the last couple nights.

[jad2t]

Well, just getting home from priest and it was a rough day. I caught two small bass on a spinner bait and had one nice fish roll on it. I was fishing shallow wind blown rock out where spring creek meets fall creek. I called it quits around 4 and JAD2T was still out fishing when I left, hope you had better luck this afternoon.

Got a nice one on the second cast on the crankbait after I went back out but lost it at the kayak. Got one tiny one too on the crankbait and that's it. Tough fishing today!

[XxthejuicexX]

yes sir it was tough fishing. I wish I was out fishing with you for the second part of the day but I did get the crib put together and a book shelf built so my wife is happy. I talked to my best friends dad and he said that he has a few spots that the smallmouth are killing top water right now. He is going to show me those places tomorrow and hopefully I can make it out next weekend to check them out. I am glad you caught some fish this afternoon I figured the report from you for this afternoon would have went something like I caught 50 bass all 5-7 pounds each just because I decided to leave early instead of fishing the afternoon.

[fisher01]

I went fishing below Percy Priest dam from 3:00-5:00 PM. Fished both sides, nothing, not even a bite. Did not see anyone catch a fish.

[Alphahawk]

Got a nice one on the second cast on the crankbait after I went back out but lost it at the kayak. Got one tiny one too on the crankbait and that's it. Tough fishing today!

It's tough in all the lakes. I fished a little up in the lake at Pickwick on Thursday looking for some Smallies off of a point that they stay on most of the year...nothing. There was no Smallie or large mouth action either day in generator hole one below the dam. That is very unusual to not catch both specie when whites are in there. Just tough all over for bass.



Regards

[MNfisher]

I also tried the lake point today, nothing. Did see a 3 lb lgmouth caught in the generator hole though.


It's tough in all the lakes. I fished a little up in the lake at Pickwick on Thursday looking for some Smallies off of a point that they stay on most of the year...nothing. There was no Smallie or large mouth action either day in generator hole one below the dam. That is very unusual to not catch both specie when whites are in there. Just tough all over for bass.



Regards

[jad2t]

Got back out late this afternoon and fished until just before dark. I should have gone back to Fall Creek area but since I got started late, I went to Hamilton Springs since that's a much shorter drive. Got this nice 16.5" Smallmouth on a crankbait I used for the first time. Ordered it last week upon my wife's recommendation of "Ohh that's a pretty one" haha. High five for her judgement!

I also got a little largemouth on a fluke and missed about 7 more on the fluke. That's usually a pretty productive method for me in Fall and Spring but I was definitely rusty today. I wasn't paying enough attention and detecting bites too late. I'd set the hook and the fish was already gone.

Saw giant schools of shad way out in the middle of the lake so I paddled out to investigate and in about 30 feet of water I'd see on my graph some very long, thick lines grouped together never far from the schools of shad. Saw no action on top at all but I have a good guess as to what those lines on the graph were. Sadly I didn't have any crankbaits to dive deep enough to them or any swimbaits or anything else that could get to them :( Next time I'll make sure to be prepared.

[Alphahawk]

Nice fish Jimmy. These lakes are just tough now.




Regards

[TNtransplant08]

I ran out of Hamilton Creek yesterday as well. As I pulled into the parking lot, ran into Jad2t while he was getting ready to launch his kayak. It was good chatting briefly with you Jimmy. Glad to hear that you got into some fish. Sounds like I shoulda pulled out the fluke, I had left mine at home. Jealous you got a smallie, I haven't caught one since last spring and I'm craving to do battle with one.

I fished a point for a while, fishing it from different angles. During my previous visit, I had found a small dropoff on the point and marked fish on top of it. Ended up with three short LM on a black/blue jig. Than I decided to head over and try a bit of a strech of shoreline that Jimmy told me about. I caught 4 more short bass, but they were all spots this time. Was catching them on a spook in over 15 feet of water. Never had called up fish to a topwater in water that deep before. Everytime, they'd roll at the bait, as if they were checking it out, and than come back a second time and take the bait. Great fun! I didn't stay out as late as jad2t did. The clouds rolled way and the wind died down, so I called it at 5:30.

[MNfisher]

Jimmy, next time you mark those schools, put a jig head on your fluke and let it sink down. Or I know you are not all for this, but net some of those shad, put on hook with a weight and drop down....and hold on!

[jad2t]

Jimmy, next time you mark those schools, put a jig head on your fluke and let it sink down. Or I know you are not all for this, but net some of those shad, put on hook with a weight and drop down....and hold on!

I don't have a casting net or I might have tried it. Next time I'm bringing weighted heads for the flukes and some swimbaits and I'll venture out there again in hopes of finding them.

Alpha, the lakes are tough and I'm surprised. I was expecting a good weekend with Fall finally kicking in. I guess I need to be patient.

[jad2t]

I ran out of Hamilton Creek yesterday as well. As I pulled into the parking lot, ran into Jad2t while he was getting ready to launch his kayak. It was good chatting briefly with you Jimmy. Glad to hear that you got into some fish. Sounds like I shoulda pulled out the fluke, I had left mine at home. Jealous you got a smallie, I haven't caught one since last spring and I'm craving to do battle with one.

I fished a point for a while, fishing it from different angles. During my previous visit, I had found a small dropoff on the point and marked fish on top of it. Ended up with three short LM on a black/blue jig. Than I decided to head over and try a bit of a strech of shoreline that Jimmy told me about. I caught 4 more short bass, but they were all spots this time. Was catching them on a spook in over 15 feet of water. Never had called up fish to a topwater in water that deep before. Everytime, they'd roll at the bait, as if they were checking it out, and than come back a second time and take the bait. Great fun! I didn't stay out as late as jad2t did. The clouds rolled way and the wind died down, so I called it at 5:30.

Man I tried a walk the dog lure for a while and got nothing, nice work! It's always fun to see them blast a topwater even if it's a small bass!!

[TNtransplant08]

Man I tried a walk the dog lure for a while and got nothing, nice work! It's always fun to see them blast a topwater even if it's a small bass!!

It's hard for me to put down the Spooks, even when the conditions are not ideal. It's addicting! I started throwing it shallow. But noticed on my depth finder fish below where I was sitting. So I backed the boat out and caught those fish in deeper water.

[creekcrappie]

It's hard for me to put down the Spooks, even when the conditions are not ideal. It's addicting! I started throwing it shallow. But noticed on my depth finder fish below where I was sitting. So I backed the boat out and caught those fish in deeper water.

I'm have that same problem with a buzzbait

[XxthejuicexX]

I wish I would have just went and fished Sunday, my golf game was rough. It does sound like you guys had fun. I think I will try and get out this weekend again and see if I can find some fish.