Shad catching on OH lake

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by XxthejuicexX

So, I am fishing the wrong end of the lake for walleye and sauger? I might have to make it to party cove this weekend, although I bet it's going to be fished pretty hard. On a serious note, I think I read somewhere that the silt bottoms on priest made it hard for the walleye to reproduce....... Did I pull that out or my arse or does anyone know. My grandfather said that when he they moved from Pittsburgh PA there were walleye in priest

Ive always understood that the same way. Walleyes prefer hard bottom any time they can find it any time of the year. I think that is why saugers do so well in the river systems down south, with the random current flows and drastic water level changes, they cant find a stable comfy place to do what they need to do. Thats what ive always read atleast. Vernon Summerlin has several good articles about TN walleyes.
As far as priest goes, i dont really know. From what ive read, the TWRA made several big Whoopsies with thier walleye stocking programs a decade or so ago. Bringing several different walleye "species" (for a lack of a better term) some from state A and some from state B and they never jived. Some lakes down here though have a pretty good walleye fishery, so they are getting it all worked out.

[Travis C.]

There was a true river strain that disappeared after the dams were built on the cumby. That is what mabry harper caught which is the current world record not long after OH dam was completed.

[TNBronzeback]

Yeah thats the common denominator ive read....dams went in...out goes the walleyes....from lack of spawning due to increased silt content. Beast of a walleye that was too.

[XxthejuicexX]

so how does old hickory have the walleye population but not priest? OH seems more like a nasty river than priest, to me JPP is more rocky than anything.

[TNBronzeback]

Maybe they tried it in the past but werent successful. Whether from thier own methods thru lack of education or the fish just didnt take. Maybe inncorrect forage base? Fish usually find a way to survive and adapt to the dominate forage but with hybrids and stripers being eating machines they might have focused thier efforts on other lakes for walleye growth.....like normandy, D.H. and C.H.
Thats a good question though. Thats just speculation on my part.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by agelesssone

Anyone have a reliable location for catching 4-6 inch shad on Old Hickory lake?

I need to fish the lake for stripers and have never done so nor have I tried to cast net bait there.

Oooooooo!! Big problem !! ... On OH you will catch more gizzards usually than thread fins ... But easy to keep alive ... Or Skippies for the trophy's (Everything depends on the time of year)...harder to keep alive ... Note : Threads and Gizzards you will need to net ... If you ever catch a skippy with a net it was an accident !!

Note: State Regs. Max net 10 foot Radius . (20 ft. Dia. ) These are Horses to cast ... (one reason my rotary cuffs are shot !! Oooh !!) But the Reward is that you have less cast to make ... Merv you are man enough to handle this ... learn to cast them ..there are many methods that you don't have to put them in your mouth !! Merv... I bought the Mono Menhaden nets from Memphis net and twine ... ...

Dams are the best place to catch Gizzards and Skippies ... Also especially in the fall of the year when the stripers will be moving up stream go back into your creeks off of main channel and start looking for flips !! Gizzard heaven !! ... Hope this helps . <'TK><

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by XxthejuicexX

so how does old hickory have the walleye population but not priest? OH seems more like a nasty river than priest, to me JPP is more rocky than anything.

Eyes and sauger need running current to live ... JPP is not stocked with either ... The lakes like the Dale and CH and the river chain ... Are stocked with the latest and greatest strain ... (PS the International walleye record is held on OH in 1960 (True OH was formed in 1957, I sat with my Dad at the end of Lock Four Rd and watched a barge pushed over an almost exposed lock as it was being backed up) .............. Sorry back to the Walleye ... 25 pounds ... By a fellow by the last name Bilbray which is nephew worked for me .. And I hate to say partook of this fine fried fillet ... So it is true the dams stopped the migration of the Eyes and the Great sturgeon that use to swim these waters ... I also have personal insight on these prehistoric 8 to 10 foot schools that swam these waters before the dams ...

Also JPP water temp has a lot to do with it ... No eyes or sauger ... Also JPP if you notice no record stripers .. It will maintain Hybrids ... Because of what they are warmer temp species ... ...

As far as a nasty river .. I don't know what you reference this on ... yes it has a lot od debris at time because it is a flowing river BUT!!.. OH it is one of the coldest river's in the state .. That is why it has held two state Striper records ... Hey .. it is fed by the Dale and CH average upper stream temp in the summer is in the 60's at the upper end ....

If you want to get serious about your fishing you need to start your research on the fisheries and what they produce and why .... <'TK><

[agelesssone]

As always, TK you a wealth of information about our waters here in TN. Many Thanks!!

I need to come sit down with you and let you expound more to round up my education on JPP and Old Hick.

When did you want to do that??

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by agelesssone

As always, TK you a wealth of information about our waters here in TN. Many Thanks!!

I need to come sit down with you and let you expound more to round up my education on JPP and Old Hick.

When did you want to do that??

Any time Merv ... <'TK><

[MNfisher]

Great info TK, but walleyes do not need current to live. Thousands of lakes in MN no creeks or rivers and are packed full of walleye.


Mike

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by MNfisher

Great info TK, but walleyes do not need current to live. Thousands of lakes in MN no creeks or rivers and are packed full of walleye.


Mike

Mike, beats me I talked to TWRA Bio's years back and the said JPP is not a conducive habitat for eyes and Sauger ...I assumed current ... Maybe water temp which all three fisheries have in common ( The Dale, CH, and OH)

Your from the land of a thousand lakes ... You can probably throw a light on average water temps in the north .... <'TK><

[XxthejuicexX]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

Mike, beats me I talked to TWRA Bio's years back and the said JPP is not a conducive habitat for eyes and Sauger ...I assumed current ... Maybe water temp which all three fisheries have in common ( The Dale, CH, and OH)

Your from the land of a thousand lakes ... You can probably throw a light on average water temps in the north .... <'TK><

I think the reason no walleye or sauger are in JPP is because all the white trash floating around. OH has logs, and various other debris JPP has white trash. I think I hit something on OH every time I fish that lake. BTW I don't like OH, never catch fish I blame Bush!

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by XxthejuicexX

I think the reason no walleye or sauger are in JPP is because all the white trash floating around. OH has logs, and various other debris JPP has white trash. I think I hit something on OH every time I fish that lake. BTW I don't like OH, never catch fish I blame Bush!

Thats the problem....Bush.....if you were a Coors man ya wouldnt get skunked. Lol

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

Mike, beats me I talked to TWRA Bio's years back and the said JPP is not a conducive habitat for eyes and Sauger ...I assumed current ... Maybe water temp which all three fisheries have in common ( The Dale, CH, and OH)



Your from the land of a thousand lakes ... You can probably throw a light on average water temps in the north .... <'TK><

Definitely could be water temp.


Mike

[Halli]

Originally Posted by XxthejuicexX

I think the reason no walleye or sauger are in JPP is because all the white trash floating around. OH has logs, and various other debris JPP has white trash. I think I hit something on OH every time I fish that lake. BTW I don't like OH, never catch fish I blame Bush!

Ah ha Well there ya go me being a Halliburton I seem to find fish most every time I fish Old Hickory and find it SO diverse that I need no land locked lake even though I live in Hermitage betwixt the two.

Ack Weel