Center Hill Lake Info

[Alphahawk]

Anyone know the lake conditions at Center Hill....specifically water clarity. Thanks in advance.




Regards

[agelesssone]

I don't know the water conditions, but I'm wanting to get up there and fish for some spots along the bluff walls with a float n fly.

May do a little deer hunting this week while the wife and baby are in Germany.

When were you thinking of going and what species would you be targeting?

[Alphahawk]

I don't know the water conditions, but I'm wanting to get up there and fish for some spots along the bluff walls with a float n fly.

May do a little deer hunting this week while the wife and baby are in Germany.

When were you thinking of going and what species would you be targeting?

Merv I have a nephew who is off from work and he loves crappie. He used to guide on Center Hill and knows the lake. The black nose crappie in there are huge...but you have to know where to get them and muddy water is not optimum for fishing for them. We will try to go on Tuesday or Wednesday and get us some of those big black nose. But if the water conditions are right and we don't get on to some crappie we will go to plan B and do Float'N Fly for Smallies....and Spots also. I will call Big Rock Deli tomorrow and ask Joel what the lake looks like. I'm pretty good with the Float'N Fly but my nephew is a guru with it.....attending to the smallest details with it. I just put my float on and have at it....LOL. If we go I will post and let all know how we do...good or bad.


Regards

[Pookie]

Can you explain the "float n fly" method? How deep and what kind of fly is what I am asking, I guess.

[agelesssone]

Pookie I would recommend going to Youtube and typing in Float n Fly. There are lots of videos on there that show every detail of it.

It basically entails using a long rod (10-12 ft), tying the fly of your choice on the end of a fluorocarbon leader, attaching a float at whatever depth you prefer to fish (or depth your graph shows suspended fish). heaving it out there and waiting for a bite. This comment overly simplifies the technique.

It is addressed in much more detail in the videos on Youtube.

[Alphahawk]

Can you explain the "float n fly" method? How deep and what kind of fly is what I am asking, I guess.

Per what Merv said but also use a super line on the reel....braid....as you have a lot of stretch with the bend in a 9 foot rod. The depth can be anywhere but usually 10 to 15 feet deep. Stephen Headrick did not invent the method but he is certainly an expert on it and sells a kit that has everything you need to do it along with instructions. http://www.basspro.com/Punisher-Float-&-Fly-Kit/product/71223/ I have that kit and have used it with success but as most know I fish the Trout Magnet a lot so that is what I use now. Here is a good article from Stephen Headrick that can explain more details about it than me.

http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/tips/post/winter-float-n%C2%92-fly-with-the-smallmouth-guru-stephen-headrick

Regards

[agelesssone]

Alpha, do you use the trout magnets for the floatnfly too?

If so, what is your preferred colors.

I tied up a bunch of 1/16th oz flies the other day in anticipation of getting out one of these days.

I also made some floats with the weight internal and neutrally balanced so if a fish does the "lift bite", the float will lay over on it's side.

I spooled up a reel with 10 lb, Nanofil and tied on an 8 lb. fluorocarbon leader 8 ft long. I like the Nanofil because of the distance I can cast it and the "no stretch" qualities. I'll put the float at about 12 ft and start from there. With the ten ft rod and no stretch in the lines, I should be able to get a good sweeping hookset. I was thinking of hitting the bluffs up by Hurricane bridge. One of the Georgia spotted bass guides prefers to fish the shaded bluffs, feeling the sun drives them deeper and less accessible.

But, I have no qualms about using TM's if they are better. I'll probably even tie one up a coupla feet above the fly and see if I can get something on either one.

[Alphahawk]

Alpha, do you use the trout magnets for the floatnfly too?

If so, what is your preferred colors.

I tied up a bunch of 1/16th oz flies the other day in anticipation of getting out one of these days.

I also made some floats with the weight internal and neutrally balanced so if a fish does the "lift bite", the float will lay over on it's side.

I spooled up a reel with 10 lb, Nanofil and tied on an 8 lb. fluorocarbon leader 8 ft long. I like the Nanofil because of the distance I can cast it and the "no stretch" qualities. I'll put the float at about 12 ft and start from there. With the ten ft rod and no stretch in the lines, I should be able to get a good sweeping hookset. I was thinking of hitting the bluffs up by Hurricane bridge. One of the Georgia spotted bass guides prefers to fish the shaded bluffs, feeling the sun drives them deeper and less accessible.

But, I have no qualms about using TM's if they are better. I'll probably even tie one up a coupla feet above the fly and see if I can get something on either one.

Merv I use the Bison and Purple Redemption TM with a good catch rate. I will not say it is better than any other jig...hand tied hair or feather. Here is what most Float'N Fly guys do at Dale Hollow with a hair jig or feather jig. They take their jigs and use garlic fish dope on it and twirl and twist the jig until it is all waxed up with that stuff until the size of it is almost the same diameter of a pencil lead or a TM. The theory is the smaller the bait the better. They also believe the fish dope makes the Smallie hold on longer thus giving you more time to set the hook. So they start out with a beautiful duck feather or hair jig and turn it basically into a small diameter clump of something that doesn't resemble anything they started with. When I asked a lot of these guys why they did that to the jigs all replied that the smaller it is the better it is. So that is why I tried the TM with the Float'N Fly.....it was already the size they were trying to achieve with their fish dope. I think I now have my nephew convinced the TM is as good as any other setup....but again I am not saying it is better. I hate using that fish dope. That stuff gets on something such as your hat or clothes it takes a lot of washing to get it off. browntrout can also attest to the TM being as good as any other jig for Float'N Fly. I will weight it with some size B split shot so I can see the float go on it's side in case a fish comes up with it. Hope this info has helped.


Regards

[agelesssone]

Here is a link to the floats I was making........


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeHb4_v0Gs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAuxGB5J8F8

[Alphahawk]

Here is a link to the floats I was making........


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeHb4_v0Gs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAuxGB5J8F8

Yep....that guys got it down. My nephew uses the 3 way swivel method. I don't care for that but it works fine. He also mentioned about the lift bite and I agree with him you will only get a few of those on a trip. I love it when I am on Center Hill or Dale Hollow and see that float go down.....I know that one heck of a commotion is going to break out...LOL.




Regards

[creeksmallie]

Hill fished good this weekend. Crappie report awesome but from the dock 8 to 10 ft. Smallies FNF 12 ft Spots suspended jerk slow(did I say slow). Live Bait (sucker minnows) awesome. Big Gills 17ft wood on bluff , frozencricket or black small plastic piece. like a black tm. Water color Not a clue. I will fish the Hill in all water colors and conditions. Awesome lake, my favorite lake in Middle TN and the toughest to fish!!!! Go Randy, want catch them if you are not there!!!

[Alphahawk]

Thanks Mike. Did you go this weekend?




Regards

[creeksmallie]

No, made phonecalls. I am going to go below Cordell Hull this week(If all goes as planned). Checked Center Hill for a friend should be going there also only got a day though. Good reports from both spots.

[Alphahawk]

No, made phonecalls. I am going to go below Cordell Hull this week(If all goes as planned). Checked Center Hill for a friend should be going there also only got a day though. Good reports from both spots.

Thanks much. I will always go but my nephew is taking his boat and he didn't want to go if it was muddy....but I'm paying for all gas so I'm going to tell him we are going.....LOL.



Regards