Reelfoot Lake - FishingTN.com Tennessee's Fishing and Boating Community

Texas_Rig · #1 10-27-2019, 04:07 PM

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

Buccaneer · #2 10-27-2019, 04:31 PM

What sort of boat will you be in? Not a nice place for fiberglass and lower units/props. The Cypress knees are where you need to be. Spinnerbaits and Senko/whacky rigs.

tkwalker · #3 10-27-2019, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas_Rig

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

Rent one of the resort boats

Texas_Rig · #4 10-27-2019, 05:52 PM

I plan on taking my fiberglass boat but I don't plan on getting on plane

Schleprock · #5 10-27-2019, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas_Rig

Has anybody ever bass fished on Reelfoot? I'm thinking about making the long drive this week sometime. I'll probably have to wait til Saturday. It looks amazing on google earth

Yeah I wouldn't take my boat there, fished there for 4 days a couple years ago , its really shallow and a lot of hidden stumps, we didn't do very well but it was really cold, snow flurries in early April , think the deepest water we found was like 8 ft

Texas_Rig · #6 10-27-2019, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

What sort of boat will you be in? Not a nice place for fiberglass and lower units/props. The Cypress knees are where you need to be. Spinnerbaits and Senko/whacky rigs.

Thanks. I hope I can catch them on swim jig, spinnerbait, and a frog. At least that's the plan until I fish a while.

tkwalker · #7 10-27-2019, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas_Rig

I plan on taking my fiberglass boat but I don't plan on getting on plane

TR, When Reel Foot was formed in 1812 when the Mississippi ran backwards do to a earthquake, Standing cypress has since rotted below the water line. Locals over the decades have drove steel rods into the stumps to mark their passage. Since then the steel rods have rusted away at the water line ... That is your obstacle ... Beware .... TK

Texas_Rig · #8 10-27-2019, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkwalker

TR, When Reel Foot was formed in 1812 when the Mississippi ran backwards do to a earthquake, Standing cypress has since rotted below the water line. Locals over the decades have drove steel rods into the stumps to mark their passage. Since then the steel rods have rusted away at the water line ... That is your obstacle ... Beware .... TK

Thanks TK

eksfish · #9 10-28-2019, 08:39 AM

i echo TK, I took my own boat one time. Lesson learned.

butts0907 · #10 11-01-2019, 02:34 PM

I used to fish Reelfoot all the time since I'm originally from western Kentucky. I can't speak to the entire lake, but I fished up by the Air Park. For sure, without a doubt, do NOT put a fiberglass boat in that lake. We used to watch a lot of the visitors from up north put in their expensive boats in the morning and by the evening, most of them would be at the dock or back on the trailer with busted props or holes. There are stumps everywhere. I agree with the suggestion to rent one once you get there.

As for the bass fishing, I've only bass fished it a handful of times and haven't done so since around 2008. But I've seen lots of trophy size bass come out of there, including a buddy of mine who caught one close to 9 lbs. For this part of the lake, the biggest obstacle is the fact that there's so much back water that a boat cannot get to, as well as the lack of depth. At some point, way back when, they dredged a couple of canals from the area of the lake up by the Air Park to the rest of the lake. Those canals are pretty clear (in terms of stumps) and the deepest water I ever fished up there...and it was probably in the 8-10 ft range. The other issue is that pretty much everything looks the same, in terms of water depth and cover. I do remember one guide telling us to try and find lily pads or grass that met cypress trees. I don't know why that would be so special, and never tested the suggestion, but thought I'd pass it along in case you can.

Good luck...watch for snakes...and rent a boat!!

notorious · #11 11-01-2019, 05:39 PM

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

Schleprock · #12 11-01-2019, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

Yes, go to Chickamauga , I will be there tomorrow , putting in at Dayton, come see me

Texas_Rig · #13 11-02-2019, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butts0907

I used to fish Reelfoot all the time since I'm originally from western Kentucky. I can't speak to the entire lake, but I fished up by the Air Park. For sure, without a doubt, do NOT put a fiberglass boat in that lake. We used to watch a lot of the visitors from up north put in their expensive boats in the morning and by the evening, most of them would be at the dock or back on the trailer with busted props or holes. There are stumps everywhere. I agree with the suggestion to rent one once you get there.

As for the bass fishing, I've only bass fished it a handful of times and haven't done so since around 2008. But I've seen lots of trophy size bass come out of there, including a buddy of mine who caught one close to 9 lbs. For this part of the lake, the biggest obstacle is the fact that there's so much back water that a boat cannot get to, as well as the lack of depth. At some point, way back when, they dredged a couple of canals from the area of the lake up by the Air Park to the rest of the lake. Those canals are pretty clear (in terms of stumps) and the deepest water I ever fished up there...and it was probably in the 8-10 ft range. The other issue is that pretty much everything looks the same, in terms of water depth and cover. I do remember one guide telling us to try and find lily pads or grass that met cypress trees. I don't know why that would be so special, and never tested the suggestion, but thought I'd pass it along in case you can.

Good luck...watch for snakes...and rent a boat!!

Thanks. I ended up not going but I've seen some of the bass that come out of there. The average size is supposed to be good and I know it doesn't get too much pressure from bass fishermen. I'm going to take you guys' advice and not put my bass boat in there

Texas_Rig · #14 11-02-2019, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Tex...I would prolly wait till spring and go for bass initially and a back-up plan with crappie which its known for. Go to Chickamaga and give a big bass report from the water.

I need to go to Chicamauga for sure

robhal11 · #15 11-02-2019, 01:19 PM

Spent 4 days a few years ago at blue bank resort filming with southern woods and waters billy Blakey guided us. The lake is awesome but will tear up a fiberglass boat with the stumps. Great time with My deceased buddy Hugh McNaughten and his wife Joy. Billy put us on some big bluegill and great bass. Great 4 days.

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