Old hickory dam

[Dakota]

Has anyone been striper fishing below the dam? Or has anyone been below the dam at all with any luck?

[TNtransplant08]

I went there last Friday on the hendersonville side with limited success. I caught a few smallmouths, none of any good size. The skippies are still absent, but the gar were out in full force. I will he heading out there again this Friday.

[lupanfreitag]

I went last week and there were thousands of skipjack. Porposing everywhere after minnows.
I put in on Dow side.
I am going Friday. I will update you.

[TNtransplant08]

Originally Posted by lupanfreitag

I went last week and there were thousands of skipjack. Porposing everywhere after minnows.
I put in on Dow side.
I am going Friday. I will update you.

How close to the dam were the skippies? What type of generation did they have going and time of day? I like to catch them just for the fun of it and let them go.

[navydocivan]

Is there a boat launch below the dam on the hermatage side of the river? i've got a old hickery lake map and it seems like it shows 1 near the dam .. but i have idea if it is still open for use, i have never locked through the dam and dont really think that i would like to do that either.
Also I assume that it safe for a fiberglass bass boat down there or is there areas i need to avoid due to rock or shallow water I have never lauached into the river there .. any info is appreciated

[Buccaneer]

Yes, there is a ramp right next to the dam on the Old Hickory side. Access off of Old Hickory Blvd. Turn left at the curve, on Bridgeway, left again on Swinging Bridge Rd. Right on Cinder Road, take you straight to it. It is steep, no dock, and a two man operation unless your boat is armor plated and you don't mind beaching it on the rocks while you park. I lock through.

[Dakota]

Thanks guys would love an update I may head down sometime

[lupanfreitag]

Below the dam access is not that precarious. There are rocks but you can find sand to beach your boat. Sometimes I go by myself (though a friend is recommended). If you've never been there, go with a friend.

When I was there a week or so ago, the spillway doors were open. The skippies filled a football sized slab of current. Literally filled it. You could drop a sabiki rigg over the side and catch three at a time with 10 more trying to get a bite. I will go tonight. I will let you know how it goes. 13,000 CFS is a little higher than I prefer but not bad.

[Travis C.]

Always go to the ramps on the river with someone else. I have never been to any of them where I there wasn't some shady people hanging around. Plus, being the ramps are steep, usually current and the ramps are not close to main roads its good to have a buddy with you.

Locking thru is not too bad and not as intimidating as it sounds. Just remember it takes a little time to lock thru and if there is a barge commercial traffic gets priority.... any size barge can take hours to get from one side to the other.

[TNtransplant08]

I went this morning and got stunked. I think its probably better to go in late afternoon when they have more current. At least if you are fishing from the bank like me. I never really have much luck if the current is only 7,000 cfs. Where are you guys finding the skippies and what time of day?

[lupanfreitag]

I went to OH dam last night. Millions of skipjack, especially in the flow below the spillway doors. Shad by billions and minnows everywhere. It has been hard this year to hook rock fish. Too much bait. I caught 15 cats, one large drum, about a 1lb red eye, and a 4 ft gar. Another boat caught about a 30lbs gar. They were none too pleased about that. The gar were jumping and slamming the boat. I took a friend who had never been to OH dam. Referring to the boat thrashing gar, she asked, Is it always like this? I replied, Gosh, I hope not!

Flows are unusual- larger than normal discharge for this time of year. Be careful.