Old Hickory Dam

[MNfisher]

I went below the dam yesterday afternoon in the rain and fished from shore! Man was it frustrating! Nothing like watching the boats, just out of casting distance, pull in some monster stripers and catfish! They were huge! One striper I saw caught had to be close to 30 pounds! And definitely some cats 15 to 20! One guy was by himself in a camo boat. I almost tried to wave him over and give him a $20 to fish with him! HAHA! I used to own a boat and it hurts more knowing I used to be able to go out there and join them! It was a slow day from shore, there was about a half dozen of us down there and I never saw a fish caught from shore. Do those stripers ever come closer to shore in numbers? All the fish were being pulled out of the boils. And there wasn't any good boils close to the shore. But good to know the big fish are there.

[TNtransplant08]

I'm hoping that with all of the rain we've had this weekend and more to come tomorrow and Wednesday, they will be releasing more water next weekend. I will most likely head there on the hendersonville side Friday morning. You are welcome to join me if you want. I target bass but will go after whites and skipjacks if they are biting better. I know how you feel watching the boaters pull in big rockfish. I practically drool and start to day dream.

[MNfisher]

I have to work friday morning, but It would be great to meet you down there some other time. When you say you are going to target "bass?" Do you mean largemouth?? Good luck friday!

[Alphahawk]

In about 3 days I will head to Pickwick below the dam. The fishing is going to be awesome!

Regards

[TNtransplant08]

I target primary smallmouth there but I catch largemouth as well. I personally think the smallmouth's fighting style is more fun. I once saw a fella catch and release a 7 lb smallie on 6 lb test. Been on a mission ever since to catch my first 5 lb plus fish.

I'll give you a shout if I ever go on a day other than Friday. I live in la Vergne so its a bit of a drive for me. So I limit the amount trips I go there with gas prices as it is.

[TNtransplant08]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

In about 3 days I will head to Pickwick below the dam. The fishing is going to be awesome!

Regards

How long of a drive is pickwick dam from Nashville?

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by TNtransplant08

I target primary smallmouth there but I catch largemouth as well. I personally think the smallmouth's fighting style is more fun. I once saw a fella catch and release a 7 lb smallie on 6 lb test. Been on a mission ever since to catch my first 5 lb plus fish.

I'll give you a shout if I ever go on a day other than Friday. I live in la Vergne so its a bit of a drive for me. So I limit the amount trips I go there with gas prices as it is.

Sounds good. Yeah i hear ya about the gas. I live in Downtown Nashville and it is still about a half hour drive for me. But I have been driving to the Caney on the weekends and that is a much longer drive.

I agree that smallmouth are a much more fun fish to fight! I was just curious what all was caught down there. yesterday was my first time there. Good to know that I can try for some bass also the next time I go. So much to learn about this shore fishing stuff! I have fished out of a boat my whole life. I need a kayak, that will be my next purchase as I cannot afford a boat yet:-)

I google mapped Pickwick Dam and from my address, which is right downtown, it is 140 miles to get there.

Alphahawk, good luck and lets see some pics when you return!!

[Alphahawk]

At our family cookout today my nephew and I were quite excited about the rain. He and I both were excited because in a few days they will be running the generators probably nonstop at Center Hill and we can go and drift the Caney and throw Trout Cranks for the big Trout. Thanks to him I can do that as he has a boat...if he decides to take me along...LOL. For me I will make that 100 mile one way drive to Pickwick to catch Crappie...Small Mouth....Large Mouth and Stripers. They are already letting 100,000CFS of water go at Pickwick. It is a unique place for a bank fisherman. If I fish on the generator side I will get into Smallies...Stripers. Fishing next to the lock in slack...but now deeper water...I will get into Crappie. I looked at the schedule and Pickwick will go to 135,000CFS on Tuesday. I will have to wade on the lock side now to fish as the water will be above road bed. It looks like Wednesday will be the day to go as the wind is gong to blow 30MPH tomorrow. This much water is common in Spring but this is an unusual event for this time of year at Pickwick. The fishing should be great! Looks like I am going to spend some money on gasoline this week...LOL

Regards

[nofish]

Due to the weather I'll probably be off all week so I thought I might go try for some rockfish at the dam. Has anyone been having luck in this new crappy weather in a boat or from the bank or can you speculate the effect this weather will have on the fishing?

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by nofish

Due to the weather I'll probably be off all week so I thought I might go try for some rockfish at the dam. Has anyone been having luck in this new crappy weather in a boat or from the bank or can you speculate the effect this weather will have on the fishing?

While I have never fished below Old Hickory if they let out a lot of water it will just bring more fish up to the dam. That is why I will go to Pickwick tomorrow.....they are releasing around 105,000CFS. There will be literally thousands of fish come up to the gates. In that mix should be Smallies and tons of Stripers. I don't know why Old Hickory would be any different.

Regards