Lake chickamauga high school tournament

[creekcrappie]

After trying to figure out how to fish the high school tournament out of dayton for months, I found someone that needed a partner that was from whitwell high school. We were boat 121 out of 144 and our light wasn't working so we had to go last anyway. We got to our spot around 7:15 (can't remember if it was central or eastern time) and we weighed in at 3 eastern. The fog was so thick we couldn't make a long run to the spots I had picked out last week, so I went to one of the first creeks, mud creek. I fished there for about an hour when my Kvd 1.5 in gizzard shad squarebill got caught in some hydrilla. I ripped it out and caused a reaction strike from the smaller keeper my partner is holding. The fog finally cleared up enough to run to some ledges I had planned on fishing. We searched the ledges and didn't find them there, so I moved just a tad shallower before the channel drop. I found one spot on my map and research that had scattered brush. I started dragging a Go 2 Baits 10 inch paddle worm around the brushpiles. Shortly after that, I missed one. Then I hook one that was really close to being 15", but I decided it was not worth the 1lb penalty and that fish not counting. One of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I was getting a bit worried with only one keeper in the livewell and it was a little more than halfway over. Then I hooked one that was a really nice one (didn't know it at the time, it was headed straight at me), and after two missed net tries, I decided to swing him in the boat. Probably not very smart, but it was about to jump and I didn't know what to do. That fish ended up being a 4 pounder and it was the best feeling in the world to get him in the boat. I didn't catch any more and my partner didn't catch any at all. These fish have definitely pulled out to the first breakline, but not on the ledges big time yet. The winner (Waverly high school) had 25 pounds. Soddy daisy came in second and third with 23 pounds and 21 pounds. I am going back saturday for the junior state tournament. The pics attached are the pics someone's mom took in the short time they gave us for pictures.

[sbrison]

Isaac, it looks like you are getting the competition bug fishing in these different tournaments. Be careful or you will be addicted before you know it.
Good report and two fish is not bad at all on an unknown body of water. For all of the reports of giant fish being caught at the Chick it can be a very very TOUGH body of water to figure out. Congrats on the two fish and good luck at the juniors.

[creekcrappie]

Isaac, it looks like you are getting the competition bug fishing in these different tournaments. Be careful or you will be addicted before you know it.
Good report and two fish is not bad at all on an unknown body of water. For all of the reports of giant fish being caught at the Chick it can be a very very TOUGH body of water to figure out. Congrats on the two fish and good luck at the juniors.

Thanks. I think I am already addicted, especially to the live weigh in tournaments. That was my second time going there, so I had an idea of what to expect. It seems like the people that this was their first time had 0 or 1 fish. It was tough to figure out though. Everybody I talk to says once you find them, you can wear them out. But you still have to find them.

[Halli]

Good Job keep up the great sport, just think this is only the beginning!!!

[Farley]

Issac, I didn't know you were there or I would have tried to look you up. My sons fished in it as well. You learned the most important thing about fishing those tournaments and it is finding the fish that are biting. Not to take anything away from some of the teams but it was definitely about who there boat captain was. If you enjoyed yourself is the important thing, you are still very young and have a lot of years to go back and fish that tournament. One the one piece of advice I would give that I have learned from friends who win a lot of tournaments on the Tennessee River chain is you have to learn to fish deep. Occasionally you can win on a shallow bite but to be consistently on the top, deep is the ticket. That means good electronics, knowing how to use them, spending a lot more time trying to find fish than actually fishing for them. With your passion for fishing, the sky is the limit.

[creekcrappie]

Issac, I didn't know you were there or I would have tried to look you up. My sons fished in it as well. You learned the most important thing about fishing those tournaments and it is finding the fish that are biting. Not to take anything away from some of the teams but it was definitely about who there boat captain was. If you enjoyed yourself is the important thing, you are still very young and have a lot of years to go back and fish that tournament. One the one piece of advice I would give that I have learned from friends who win a lot of tournaments on the Tennessee River chain is you have to learn to fish deep. Occasionally you can win on a shallow bite but to be consistently on the top, deep is the ticket. That means good electronics, knowing how to use them, spending a lot more time trying to find fish than actually fishing for them. With your passion for fishing, the sky is the limit.

Did you guys find any fish? What high school did you guys fish for? Friday for practice I think I am going to just try to find schools of deep bass that I can get to bite. Maybe find some good ledges and deep points.

[Reel Tune]

Great write-up Issac. Looking forward to more.

[Farley]

Did you guys find any fish? What high school did you guys fish for? Friday for practice I think I am going to just try to find schools of deep bass that I can get to bite. Maybe find some good ledges and deep points.
They were the only team from Ravenwood, had about 11 pounds which put them in 27th place. There original coach had something come up so I had to take them and I'm not great on bass which really hurt there chances. We didn't catch many in practice or the tournament but the ones we did catch were quality fish and 12-24 ft deep on channel ledges. If you still have my number give me a call & I'll suggest some other patterns you might want to try.