Nickajack 9-16-2011

[Alphahawk]

Made the drive to Nickajack. Fished below the dam but not much happening for me or anyone else. I wanted to get right next to the wall all the way up in the corner but someone was there. It was about 11:00AM that I decided to leave. I just did not want to go home after driving that far and not have any action. Decided to strike out and find a place to catch something. Left the TVA road and turned left and drove the road down by the lake. I pulled over at a small bridge with a railroad trestle next to it and went under them to fish. Did I get lucky. I stayed there until 5:00PM and decided I had to go. Don't know exactly how many fish I caught but was somewhere between 90 and 130. The flow under the bridge would go one direction and then the other...fish were very active. Used a 1/32 ounce double cross jig head with a "Killer Klatt" Crappie Magnet. Used an erratic retrieve and kept it just barely under the surface. I had a ball. The fish were a mixture of Kentucky's and Large Mouth. My biggest Large Mouth was about 2.5 pounds...largest Kentucky maybe 1.5. Using the light action rod with 3# test I had a ball. Will try that place again next week. Even had two trains come over me while there...reminded me of being a kid and fishing under a trestle on a creek in Sumner County.

Regards

[Travis C.]

Way to save a drive!

I have never been down to Nickajack. That water looks really good.

We are gearing up for an Obey trip next weekend. The little one will bring her first trout to hand and if I can get away a little hit some deeper stretches for some better fish.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Way to save a drive!

I have never been down to Nickajack. That water looks really good.

We are gearing up for an Obey trip next weekend. The little one will bring her first trout to hand and if I can get away a little hit some deeper stretches for some better fish.

It was just curiosity that I stopped at that place. Once there though you can see why so many fish are there. The current is feeding them. I hope you do good on "The Ditch". I have been up there in December and caught only one fish...I have also been up there in December and caught no fish..LOL. It has always been better for me in the Fall and Summer. I do like fishing there though....the water is so clear.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

I hope you do good on "The Ditch". I have been up there in December and caught only one fish...I have also been up there in December and caught no fish..LOL. It has always been better for me in the Fall and Summer. I do like fishing there though....the water is so clear.

Fall is awesome there. I wait until the campground closes end of Oct then head up usually but this is going to be the little ones first camping trip.

If you fish Dam to Moody's there are plenty of dinks but that is due to it it being the only wading water. From Moody's to the island holds some real good browns and really nice bows. Then the last section island to confluence is longer and deeper but hold most of the big fish in the river. Fish the creek mouths that run into it, all the dead fall's past Moody's and you gotta get to the bottom on the deeper stretches. Fish like a bass fisherman to bass not a trout man to trout and you'll up your catch rates.

I have seen good fish on the upper side where it's wading water but better fish come from the "rope hole" on down. I'll get head shakes on this but a few years ago, I sat on a bank above the water in the first week of November and watched a brookie set up next to a brown about 6-7lbs in a feeding lane. The brook trout was easily half the size of that brown which would make it very close or over a state record.