Hows the fishing on Old Hickory?

[tylerreid1234]

Are the bass deep or what? Me and a buddy got out on his boat last week and caught a couple of small ones around docks and stuff but nothing over 2 pounds. Are the catfish deep too? I think we might fish some tonight.

[thehick176]

If your a shallow fisherman, I would wait until late into the night to go. Say from midnight-sunrise. I mainly fish at night and have been doing good fishing the main river ledges and humps. Lately the bite has gotten better the later it gets.

[bd-]

I was on Old Hickory a bit over the weekend and there were some good-sized bass working around willow grass beds first thing in the morning. I'm talking first light until about 7:30. Once the sun really hits the water they're long gone into deeper water.

bd

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by thehick176

If your a shallow fisherman, I would wait until late into the night to go. Say from midnight-sunrise. I mainly fish at night and have been doing good fishing the main river ledges and humps. Lately the bite has gotten better the later it gets.

That is usually what I do in the heat of summer. Only other places I'd add that gets fished for me is vertical bluff walls and long sloping rock channel points. Fish are always on the bluff walls they just move up/down and those kind of points with gravel fish seem to move up to search for crayfish at night on. Especially on full moons in when the cray's molt their old skin.

[thehick176]

I was out last friday night and almost t-boned 4 guys in a jonboat. They had no lights whatsoever and was crossing the main channel where Drakes creek meets the main river. If you know where I'm talkin about you know how congested it can get right there. People that STUPID have no business being out there at night.

[titansfan2104]

Originally Posted by thehick176

I was out last friday night and almost t-boned 4 guys in a jonboat. They had no lights whatsoever and was crossing the main channel where Drakes creek meets the main river. If you know where I'm talkin about you know how congested it can get right there. People that STUPID have no business being out there at night.

Absolutely agree. Even if I wasn't planning on staying after dark I would still have a spot light or something.

[robhal11]

I agree, had one on dale hollow last week, looked like a little paddleboat or maybe a kayak. It sitting in the middle of the channel with what appeared to be little blacklight on a stick. It was so dim we could not see it until right on top of him. Then he is pissed that we almost ran over him. Correct me if I am wrong(I have gotten a ticket in the past for the rear light not being on, was fishing 10 yards off the bank, no excuse though), but I thought to be on the water at night we have to have a red and green on front and white light on back-always(for basic fishing boats). And they must remain on at all times. Anyway almost hitting someone scared the carp out me. Thanks for listening to my rant.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by robhal11

Correct me if I am wrong(I have gotten a ticket in the past for the rear light not being on, was fishing 10 yards off the bank, no excuse though), but I thought to be on the water at night we have to have a red and green on front and white light on back-always(for basic fishing boats).

If its less than 23ft and powered by oars/paddles then all they are required to have it a white light/lantern "ready at hand" to show in sufficient time to prevent collisions.

[tylerreid1234]

Originally Posted by thehick176

If your a shallow fisherman, I would wait until late into the night to go. Say from midnight-sunrise. I mainly fish at night and have been doing good fishing the main river ledges and humps. Lately the bite has gotten better the later it gets.

We fished weed beds from 4:30-6 in the morning with topwaters and didnt have any luck, and fished docks till about 8:00. Maybe if the weather cooperates, we can get on the lake this week and try some ledge and humps! Thanks for the tips!

[90titans89]

I was fishing a point going into Sandy Chapel Saturday night. Saw a Tracker coming, appeared to be heading for that creek. I moved over to one side to give plenty of room since its a narrow entrance. They never came off plane and went between me and the point I was fishing. I don't know how they didn't hit anything as shallow as it is there. That's the first time I have been out that late in awhile, kinda crazy. And yes, my lights were on.

[Buccaneer]

tylereid1234 - nose your boat into the grass and drop a floating worm, senko, slider, frog, tube, or snagless sally into any opening you can see. Before the sun gets on the water the bass are buried in the thick stuff. Fishing the outer edges won't get you anywhere, get into the grass itself. Once the sun gets on the water back off to the next depth break and keep moving out.