Old Hickory Small mouth - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

blr3a · #1 03-26-2012, 11:50 AM

Well, I tried the crappie again... with no success. Caught 8 total with only one keeper. Kept a few whole fry blue gill because I have never tried them. They were pulling water hard and current out of drakes creek was strong. The current carried my live minnow about 12 ft deep into a down tree and I was in for a surprise. Didn't weight her, but 22 inches and broad as a barn! So, I can't say all was lost. First keeper small mouth I have caught on Old Hickory since the semi-new 18" rule!

#2 03-26-2012, 11:55 AM

Nice smallmouth

thehick176 · #3 03-26-2012, 12:09 PM

I'm not against keeping fish by no means but i hope to hear that she was takin back to the lake and released alive and well. Awesome fish!

#4 03-26-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehick176

i'm not against keeping fish by no means but i hope to hear that she was takin back to the lake and released alive and well. Awesome fish!

what he said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

blr3a · #5 03-26-2012, 05:31 PM

Indeed! I have never eaten a small mouth or large mouth. She was in the well for less than an hour, just had to get a pic of her. I can't say the same for the lone crappie and 4 blue gill though. With my other four crappie in the fridge, we are frying fish tonight. Hope these blue gill are decent... I have mixed feelings about them. If anyone wants a first class crappie repellant, I'm your man!

thehick176 · #6 03-26-2012, 06:16 PM

Good to hear! I have always heard of bluegill being really good to eat but have never messed with bringin any home. I have 2 little girls that are really getting into fishing now, guess i'll have to start throwing some in the livewell and give them a shot.

Buccaneer · #7 03-26-2012, 07:35 PM

Bluegill are as good as it gets. When the willow flies hatch, fill your live wells with big bull bluegill using beetle spins or a 4wt fly rod with a popping bug. Best fish fry of the year.

tsuggs · #8 03-26-2012, 07:40 PM

If the fish measures and yer hungry , EAT IT!!!!

Travis C. · #9 03-26-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Bluegill are as good as it gets. When the willow flies hatch, fill your live wells with big bull bluegill using beetle spins or a 4wt fly rod with a popping bug. Best fish fry of the year.

Call me crazy but one landed on my depthfinder Saturday night in Drakes Creek. It was kind of a pale yellow color. From being a trout guy, it was definitely in the may fly family.

I can't wait for the fly rod gills until your arm gets sore.

MNfisher · #10 03-26-2012, 07:58 PM

It is tough to beat a bluegill fish fry! One of the best tasting little morsels out there!!!

#11 03-26-2012, 08:01 PM

Nice smallmouth I would of turn it lose though big small mouthh are hard to come by

jad2t · #12 03-26-2012, 08:45 PM

Nice catch! Though I would have released it too... into my skillet

tkwalker · #13 03-26-2012, 11:09 PM

Billy, if you will check the comments you will still see the 50/50 Catch and release and keep ratio is now kicking in ... .......... If you have never tasted Smallie or large mouth ... Why Not ??? These Fish are not religious Gods for the privileged ... If you fish the Canada waters ... These are caught for your shore lunch (and considered eatable trash fish over the Walleye) ... When I was Tourney fishing in the 70's and 80's points was deducted for dead fish ... But a pool was set up on who got the dead ones from week to week ... Because !!!! They are good eating ... I believe in catch and release ... This was an issue I pushed when I was guiding for stripers ... Not for a table fare but as a wall hanger ... But I still let clients keep trophys under certain guidelines same as Ralph Dallas ...

Now, with this said ... I measured your fish and you are right on with 22 inches ... It is called interpulation ... I measured your fist from thumb to pinky .. approx. 5 +/- inches (average width .. I used mine as a example) ... I then took a ruler and measured the whole pic of you holding the fish (I have a 24 inch monitor) ... The interpulation was your 5 inch fist converted to 2 inches on my ruler .. Holding it up to your pic ... The length of your pic was 9 inches divided by 2 = 4.5 X 5 inches = 22.5 inches ... ...,

Also read where big smallies are rare ... Somebody needs to stop watching Football in January and TV in February and go to the Hollow and fish Floatn' Flys or Westmorelands blade baits ... And at the same time watch the Eagles (not the one's from Philadelphia) over head ... and try to keep your butt warm ... with the ice formations on the bank walls ... If you are lucky you might get a true keeper Smallie in the boat !!!

Do not be intimidated by the posters ... ............. either way ... Flyfisher purist verses the spin guy ... The catch and release verses the meat eater who feeds his family (now there are pros and cons there when you have a $35,000 Bass Boat) ...... If it is legal it is up to you ... Sample what God and TWRA did give us and you make up your mind on what works for you ... I'll guarantee you that there are more Smallies and LM Bass in these waters than ther was 30 years ago ... and there was no shortage then !!! As far as substituting Gills for smallies for a table fare instead of Smalies ... I really don't know what this has to do with the subject ... I caught 8 hybrid Gills and Shellcrackers out of my pond today which I stock for a great meal and the freezer ... But I also stock bass for my table as well ... But I am fortunate that I can stock my on (Do to hard work and NO entitlements!!) ... But If I didn't have this Luxury I would take From Our fisheries ... JUST REMEMBER!!! ... .... Take legally what you need for an occasional treat, unless you are on wellfare, foodstamps, and fish from the bank, In that case keep everything you catch !! "It saves my Tax Dollars" !! ... ) <'TK><

Travis C. · #14 03-27-2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkwalker

Also read where big smallies are rare ... Somebody needs to stop watching Football in January and TV in February and go to the Hollow and fish Floatn' Flys or Westmorelands blade baits ... And at the same time watch the Eagles (not the one's from Philadelphia) over head ... and try to keep your butt warm ... with the ice formations on the bank walls ... If you are lucky you might get a true keeper Smallie in the boat !!!

Even Old Hickory is not all that rare for over 20" smallies. You'll definitely increase your catch ratio going to Dale or Pickwick but on Old Hickory that ratio with go up as well just getting out of the creeks and on the main channel. Fish like that nice one he caught are out there around main river humps, ledges, submerged islands and channel swings.

The Cheatham is full of them too.

TK, that is an interesting math formula.

blr3a · #15 03-27-2012, 08:03 AM

Wow, some interesting math! Thanks for your "keeper" approval by the way!. I have really just recently started fishing for fish to eat. My family really only eats crappie, catfish, sauger, and walleye; and they have always cursed me for bass fishing. I have always heard that bass were "trash" fish as well. However, I have kept a few spots and must say prepared fresh that it is my wifes favorite meal. I have even snuck them in with crappie at family fish frys and watched them eat spots while telling me they are trash. Its like sweet revenge. For now though, I am going to try to ignore the tournaments starting up and try to focus on catching more than one keeper crappie per day!