Walleye's/sauger - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

agelesssone · #1 11-21-2013, 10:59 PM

Cordell Hull, can anyone throw a little knowledge my way about, where, how, what to use to catch a few sauger/walleyes around Cordell Hull below the dam?

When is a good time to start fishing for them, monthwise. Fish mornings, evenings, during generation or slack waters?

My freezer is running low, I need fresh supplies!

My wife said she is going to leave me and find a better fisherman! My four year old daughter is ashamed to be seen in public with her "unfishcatching" dad!

When I come home with an empty livewell, my Snorkie pees on my leg! HELP ME!!!

fishfindergeneral · #2 11-21-2013, 11:35 PM

I bounce a football jig tipped with a minnow along the current lines. Also use a stinger hook.

thehick176 · #3 11-22-2013, 08:06 AM

My best days at Cordell Hull have been in Dec. and Jan. with 2 or more generators running. I either use just a split shot and minnow, as you would use for Crappie fishing. Or, trolling a 300 series Bandit in various colors. I stay in the slack water from the current seem over to the lock.
I have also ran down and fished where the Caney fork meets the Cumberland. Also fishing the current seem using the same tactics. Try to stay in the 10-14ft range so the crankbait digs into the bottom.

Dakota · #4 11-22-2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agelesssone

Cordell Hull, can anyone throw a little knowledge my way about, where, how, what to use to catch a few sauger/walleyes around Cordell Hull below the dam?

When is a good time to start fishing for them, monthwise. Fish mornings, evenings, during generation or slack waters?

My freezer is running low, I need fresh supplies!

My wife said she is going to leave me and find a better fisherman! My four year old daughter is ashamed to be seen in public with her "unfishcatching" dad!

When I come home with an empty livewell, my Snorkie pees on my leg! HELP ME!!!

Well here's the good news you can use this fishing Tn forum for free counseling sessions. LOL that's tough even getting peed on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

agelesssone · #5 11-22-2013, 09:21 AM

Thanks Dave and Dakota. I will be trying these tactics/locations first chance I have to get away.

Free time is definitely limited with the wife being in Germany with her mother and me having the baby here with me.

Travis C. · #6 11-22-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agelesssone

My wife said she is going to leave me and find a better fisherman! My four year old daughter is ashamed to be seen in public with her "unfishcatching" dad!

When I come home with an empty livewell, my Snorkie pees on my leg! HELP ME!!!

That's funny.

Don't know if I ever said, it was night to meet you a while back on Halloween.

CreekWalker · #7 11-22-2013, 10:05 AM

Speaking of the slack water between the current and the lock - I've only been up there a couple times and am curious if there are any really shallow spots that you can't see? Is it deep enough when they're generating not to have to worry about a hard bottom?

SAMBOLIE · #8 11-22-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehick176

My best days at Cordell Hull have been in Dec. and Jan. with 2 or more generators running. I either use just a split shot and minnow, as you would use for Crappie fishing. Or, trolling a 300 series Bandit in various colors. I stay in the slack water from the current seem over to the lock.
I have also ran down and fished where the Caney fork meets the Cumberland. Also fishing the current seem using the same tactics. Try to stay in the 10-14ft range so the crankbait digs into the bottom.

Merv, looks like you have to convince the family to stay around for a couple of months. Snorkie may not be so easy to convince.

TNBronzeback · #9 11-22-2013, 10:35 AM

i have had very good luck jigging blade baits along the wall and in the current seems. Ive got fish below other dams as early as early-mid november. if there is alot of generation i have found it better to fish the slack water area's and keep your bait of choice close to bottom, when there isnt much generation going on, you can experiment with other tactics. Ive done good on trolling thin-fins, F-5 Flat Fish and smaller body baits. find ya a good chunk of structure on bottom and work it over and over. Ive seen numerous walleyes and saugers around the mouth of the caney with my aquaview all tucked tight into a large root ball/log pile at the bottom of the river all the while 4-5 jiggers not touching a fish. They are there but i personally think they get seasoned with the same 1-1 1/2 oz bucktail jig tipped with a minnow thumped on bottom.
Being a Detroit River jigger, ive learned to go as small as you can possibly get away with and still maintain vertical. those fish know a dying baitfish 3" long doesnt smash into the bottom with the same cadence as it flows down the river. If ya have any Buckeye Shad's, those can be a killer tool for vertical jigging, it matches the size and shape of the baitfish almost perfectly and has a killer vibration when jigged.
Hope that helps!

thehick176 · #10 11-22-2013, 11:32 AM

Last year I caught the biggest Sauger and Walleye at the first of Dec. They were all loaded with eggs! After I had my limit I released the others that I caught for future generations. The main reason I love Sauger fishing is because it's less crowded and relaxing, considering you dress warm enough lol. But there were days last winter when I wore shorts and a sweatshirt!
I have yet to have a great day jigging in the main generation current below dams. Not to say it cant happen. The majority of my time Sauger fishing is between the Steam plant and the 231 bridge, fishing the mouths of creeks and trolling the edge of the main river channel.

agelesssone · #11 11-22-2013, 11:50 AM

Thanks TNBronzeback. Good information there. I ordered a few of the Buckeye Shads. Hopefully, I'll have them by the time I get to go fishing again.

agelesssone · #12 11-22-2013, 11:53 AM

And tanks to you too, hick. I haven't fished much above the steam plant, except below the 231 bridge. I fished Rocky Creek quite a bit but never had any great days there. Caught a few saugers and one nice 6 lb. walleye. Probably lost that much weight in jigs, LOL.

tkwalker · #13 11-23-2013, 03:00 AM

Merv, This area of the River I know like the back of my hand ...75 % of my Striper guide days started and ended in the Carthage/Caney confluence route (50 mile round trip every day) .... Now I never fished for the eyes in this area ... But have caught them by accident ..

The sauger use to run in June every year in the milk during spawning season in the Caney that I and the wife use to fish by trolling ...lots of fun !! ... I also know a few winter sauger spots jigging ...

If you haven't read the "Fishing Gear" forum post "Sonar" ... I have had a little mishap today .. But as soon as I get the new 998 installed we will do some winter eye fishing in this area ... I will show you the gravel bottom @ the confluence and show me what the heck I am looking at on my screen ... down imaging, switch fire, Side imaging , the stock mkt. report, and who won Talladega in 1964 ... I am sure it is on there somewhere ... LOL !!! .... <'TK><

gboyce · #14 11-29-2013, 06:54 PM

Guys I fish with Merv and you can give him all the information you want. Unless you hold the rod,set the hook, and just about reel it to the boat before you hand him the rod he wont catch a fish. And even then he has a tendency to lose them!!

agelesssone · #15 11-30-2013, 11:15 AM

What gboyce said may be true......but at least I'll bring the beer....and pop one open when you set the hook for me! If I manage to get one in the boat I'll even throw in a ham sammich!

gboyce always tries to trick me by acting like he had a bite, sets the hook, hands me the rod and then when there is no fish on, he tells me I let another one get away! But I'm onto him now.....I know he'll do anything for a free beer.

Damn Air Force guys, always lookin for a freebie.