Normandy Bust today!

[TNBronzeback]

Ive been there 2 times so far and im been skunked both times. Lol.
As an added bonus to the days lack of fish, i snapped a rod. To make THAT even worse, it wasnt just a "rod" it was my favorite jigging rod. Toss in the $25 for lost jigging rapalas to ice the cake on the day. LMAO.
XxJuicexX and i gave it all that we had today. We fished some great points with not so much as a sniff. We were both bound and determined to not troll today and we certainly accomplished that. Lower lake points and flats and mid lake points and flats. Fished through bait balls with and without fish around them. Fished a tree with fish in it and still nothing.
Im not sure if its in some kind of transition phase or turn over or what. Sounded like several other guys were and have been struggling out there too.
COME ON COLD WEATHER!!!!!!!

[Coach B]

Wasn't just you. Three of us fished four hours Fri evening and caught a grand total of one eight inch crappie. Had heard some decent reports from the last couple of weeks, but you know how that goes.

[XxthejuicexX]

Yeah, we got whipped today. TN, Don't forget about me breaking one of my rods to start the day off right. I'm not done with that lake, I will figure those walleye out. I knew we were in trouble when we drive over a brush pile and it lights up like a Christmas tree with crappie and neither of us can get I bite. I did bring in one hell of a log with my jigging rap, I always expect a dead body to come up when I start pulling stuff off the bottom.

[TNBronzeback]

I figured if your breakage story was to be told, it should come from you. Lol.
That was quite a stump you unearthed. It broke my rod, but not your line. Just my luck. Im not done with that lake either. Normandy walleyes will hit the floor on my boat before im dead and gone! Next time the shiners will come to the party.

Coach B, it was brutal today. Trout magnets, bobby garlands, sliders, small jiggin raps....nothing brought a bite. I even fished shallow standing timber this evening.

[fishfindergeneral]

Have you tried War Eagles or Hobkins?

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by fishfindergeneral

Have you tried War Eagles or Hobkins?

I didnt jig a slab spoon, but i was jigging a blade for a while today. Found some great chunk rock in 18-22' off a main lake point with the channel ledge off one side....but no takers. Found decent arcs and jigged right through them. Both aggresive and mild actions.

[TNBronzeback]

I was almost temped to troll an F5 flat fish tipped with artificial crawler but i opted to tuck tail and head home.
Im not sure even what depth to be looking at in that lake. Temps never got over 68-69 so i would think they should start feeding more aggresively and forming tighter schools. Maybe a little bit cooler will trigger them.

[fishfindergeneral]

What was the depth of the arcs and were they in tight?

[Paincave]

I've had the boat hooked up since I got back from Nickajack wednesday ready to hit Normandy. Apparently I havent missed anything. I haven't been there in about a week and a half,the last time I was there I caught 8 nice crappie, now I'm curious to see if those spots are still holding fish. May try and see if I can get a friend of mine to meet me over there and try our luck.

[StriperFan]

My last and every other trip to Normandy has been a skunk, and I catch walleye out of Center Hill and Tims Ford(occasionally). Dale Hollow isn't far behind on toughness, but I have at least had a good trip there and can verify there is fish in the lake, Normandy I'm still not sure. But I've had some friends kill the crappie at Normandy, and big ones too.

[Paincave]

If I want numbers of crappie, I go to priest,if I want size,I go to Normandy. It also helps that I can be there in 20 minutes or less. This is the first year I've tried catching them in the fall.

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by fishfindergeneral

What was the depth of the arcs and were they in tight?

the arcs i was focusing on vertically were in the 20-22' foot range. no they werent tight groups, but there were 3-4 little schools with 4-5 fish in each about 12-18" off bottom over the chunk rock main lake point off the channel edge. then over deeper water, they were at close to the same depth, about 15'-18' down over 30-35' over baren ground with bait balls close around, but didnt see any big arcs in tight to the bait.

[TNBronzeback]

Originally Posted by StriperFan

My last and every other trip to Normandy has been a skunk, and I catch walleye out of Center Hill and Tims Ford(occasionally). Dale Hollow isn't far behind on toughness, but I have at least had a good trip there and can verify there is fish in the lake, Normandy I'm still not sure. But I've had some friends kill the crappie at Normandy, and big ones too.

thats what ive heard about Normandy...big crappies.
we had a few lakes i fished walleye in michigan that were inland lakes that were for the most part weed-less, very little rock and it was difficult trying to pin-point walleyes in those lakes as well cause they will focus on the tiniest structural element and hug it tight. when you find that 1 small key element you will wear them out, but if you dont you cover alot of fruit-less water.
i dont know really anything about Normandy but Juice and i fished a few really good trees with fish on them with no hits, and i fished more trees in the evening, with fish on them, and still no bites.
Interesting to say the least.

[Transplanted Sportsman]

I guess I have not missed much myself, went there saturday and sunday of last week for a few hours and only brought 9 quality fish combining both days, I went yesterday and got to the boat ramp at the fam about 5 pm just to take my 2 yo daughter for a walk, I did bring my tm pole and made a few casts but had no bites in about 30 min., we left at sundown, I guess I just missed juice and TN, that lake has been tough for me to figure out the walleyes, so if any of you guys want to trade walleye knowledge for crappie advice I'm willing to trade, lol!!, no seriously I had been catching the crappie tight to brush and standing timber and deep, 14 to 22 feet deep over 40 fow, they have some shoulders right now those 15 inch crappies do put a fight on 2 lb test line, small grubs and dark colors tm's have worked the best, they have not been interested in minows, they have been running on the small side on both places I buy them so I quit buying them

[Paincave]

Well you all twisted my arm,I guess I'm going to have to go over there tomorrow and see what happens. I've got plenty of room in the boat if anyone else wants to come along.