Skinny Water of the Stones River

[creeksmallie]

Skinny Water 2/16-2/18

With forecasts of windy conditions I opted to fish the skinny water of the Stones River this week instead of Center Hill. Wednesday we had 3 largemouth and 1 smallie in 3 hours fishing all on Prowler Tubes in watermelon pattern. Thursday I went solo and switched to crappie and I had 20 plus crappie 18 were 9 inchers and 2 were 10.10 or so small gills and 3 largemouth. All came off one tree on a chartreuse bass assassin fished in the deepest structure I could find.This was just one tree that I could find and stay on in the wind in the 4 hours I had to fish. Friday, friend and client John Devries and I got to the river about 8 and fished till 3. The water temps were 2 to 3 degrees warmer than on Wednesday with ranges for the three days, 49 to 54 degrees. The highest temps being as far up stream as you can safely run the boat. We hit the crappie tree first with a slow 4 fish all 9 inchers and then switched back to tubes and craw style plastics for most of the day with better results. We boated 12 Largemouth 2 Spots and 1 smallie loosing 2 more at the boat. I did crank a bandit 200 shad pattern and caught 1 other smallie on a sand bar that was soaking in the sun. We did not have any giants but had a good time catching fish during this warming trend. The pictures are the largest we caught. Mike Dial www.tennesseebassguides.com

[eaglestrike09]

Nice catch Mike. I was going to put my Canoe in at Mona ramp on Wed.
but thought better because of the wind. Went to the bank at Nice mill
instead and caught six rainbow.

[creeksmallie]

Yesterday would have been preety tough for a canoe also. I have not done the trout at Nices Mill in a couple of years may go for crappie with the next big rain we get.

[tsuggs]

mike ive been readin yer posts fer a while and appreciate yer info.i see you fish the stones as i do due to convenience.i would like to increas e my skills onthose black perch cause i hear they are gud eatinany general info would be appreciated

[creeksmallie]

If the weather holds thR Rock bass will start doing ther thing in the next couple of weeks. Any soft Plastics from crappie tubes to 2.5 inch slider grubs will catch them. Now you got to find them. Look for holes past the sand bars or past any thing that holds water back. The will stack up and like to bed under rocks and sycamore roots. study your Tennessee Gazeteer you can find awesome places to catch the Goggle Eye.
Mike