Below Cordell Hull Dam Today Lost 6

[TomD]

I was fishing from the bank at the landing below the lock casting a silver in-line spinner bait with no trailer, I was throwing at the channel marker right there at the landing and had 6 hook-ups, 2 generators were running.

Each time I would get them to the surface and they would spit it out. they were like larger Mepps spinneres but I didnt get one of them within 6' all were big and I couldnt tell what they were just white flashes in the glare.

I hadn't planned on fishing and didn't take the boat and only had a few spinner with me. Why the heck couldn't I get a hook set?

Who had that nice jet boat at lock throwing a net? there were 5 boats out there about 2pm

I can only think the fish were taking the bait at the very head end of the spinner sideways. Never had this happen before, the hooks were sharp single trailing treble

[Buckie02]

Probably Skipjacks.

[agelesssone]

x2, most likely skippies

[TomD]

Originally Posted by Buckie02

Probably Skipjacks.

How big do skips get. The fish I thought I had hooked pulled line and I had my drag set pretty tight. I thought skipjack herring were in the 4-4 1/2" range (baitfish) I never got a look at them but Ive never missed 5 fish in the row after they seemed hooked, hooks were sharp,. Im tying some big flys now.

[agelesssone]

Tom, skipjacks average 10-14 inches but I have caught 18 inchers below Old Hickory dam.

They are strong fighters....but die very quickly in livewells.

And I've caught more on very small flies and jigs than I have on larger baits.

[TomD]

Originally Posted by agelesssone

Tom, skipjacks average 10-14 inches but I have caught 18 inchers below Old Hickory dam.

They are strong fighters....but die very quickly in livewells.

And I've caught more on very small flies and jigs than I have on larger baits.

Thanks man Im going back wednesday or thursday and will see what those were, flies sound good.

Are skips good bait for Rockbass, trolling?

[hogdawg]

Probably the best cut bait there is for catfish. Very bloody though. They will mess up the inside of the boat.

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by TomD

Thanks man Im going back wednesday or thursday and will see what those were, flies sound good.

Are skips good bait for Rockbass, trolling?

Great bait for rockfish if you put them in the right area!

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by TomD

How big do skips get. The fish I thought I had hooked pulled line and I had my drag set pretty tight. I thought skipjack herring were in the 4-4 1/2" range (baitfish) I never got a look at them but Ive never missed 5 fish in the row after they seemed hooked, hooks were sharp,. Im tying some big flys now.

They take size 6 or size 2 Clousers no problem depending on size of the skippie. Pink/White are good as well as Chart/White are good colors. Almost gotta under arm the rod then two hand strip like saltwater fishing to get them chasing it.

Here's my buddy with the size of some we get into below Dale Hollow:

[TomD]

great pic.

I have a bunch of different color and size Clousures already tied. I'll throw some tomorrow. thanks for the tips. Something caught my eye when looking at the e-regulation fish ID chart there is no picture of the Skipjack. Anyone know what the reason for omitting the fish from the list? Maybe becasue its not a gamefish maybe?

[agelesssone]

Yup, it's considered a throwaway. There used to be no limit on them til fisherman started coming from miles away to catch them and sell them for bait. They have now imposed a limit of 100 per day. Guys used to come down from north, catch four or five hundred a day, take them, freeze them and sell them in bait shops further north where they aren't as plentiful. Awesome cutbait for catfish. Awesome bait (live) FOR ROCKFISH.