Steam Plant

[TNBronzeback]

Went out Thanksgiving morning to scratch the fishing itch for a few hours around the steam plant and popped a nice sauger and some cats and rolled a few other heavy fish that got off.
Went out again yesterday and got a short walleye on the first pass and a 14" crappie that came from 33 ft of water. Popped another nice sauger on another pass. Then went further upriver and had that striper about rip the rod out of my hand snap-jigging a spoon. That was a memorable fight. on the hook set it felt just like familiar walleye weight and a few deep head shakes, then i guess he didnt like what he was feeling on his end and was off to the races humming the drag and b-lined right for some trees. luckily i was able to turn him back out into the main river. Not a huge one, i would say about 10 lbs but on 8lb test it took a few minutes of back and forth to get to the boat, so that was fun!
all in all a pretty productive few outings. doesnt seem like there are alot of saugers/eyes in there yet, but ive never fished there before these 2 trips so i dont know whats good and not good down there in regards to amounts of fish being caught.

[Travis C.]

Nice fish, when were you out there yesterday?

I was out there as well from about 1-4pm.

[MNfisher]

Nice fish!

[TNBronzeback]

i was there from about 7 am to about 4. the TWRA guy had just checked me about 3:30 and i planned on fishing till dark, so i started getting my running light out to hook up and quickly realized i never attached the new battery clamps onto the light wires, so i figured with "the man" around, i better not push my luck and headed back to flippers. LOL.
Which boat were you in? i wasnt up by the barrier, i was on the main channel edge.

[Travis C.]

I definitely seen you because I was checked by the creel clerk as well. He cracked up with the Tilapia he measured as just what I gave him weighed over 6lbs in the net. Which boat were you in?

I wanted to fish more out where you were for the big striped fish that were marked but with my wife's nephew new to fishing we stayed put and he wore them out. The sauger came from out your way when we got there.

My boats a red/silver Sprint bass boat. Give me a shout next time.

[TNBronzeback]

i was in the all grey jon boat. i remember seeing your boat up there. i was thinking about taking a peek up there to see what the water looks like but never did it. Until the generation picks up on the river i will be visiting that area more since its so close to where i have my boat. OR i get a hot tip on some JPP crappie! lol
i will give ya a shout if i see ya up there next time!
My fiance's friend wants me to take her son out fishing more, we got into a few crappies on priest earlier in the year and he enjoyed that, but in a small boat, cold weather, cold water and inexperienced angler...that can be a recipe for disaster between the being cold and hoping some form of gilled creature decides to cooperate and bite! LOL

[Travis C.]

You should have came up there, I'd gladly moved over or away all together. Probably will see me on the river too once they start the longer generation times. I could be in the same boat or a blue kayak.

Next time I go, I will fish the flats around there then drift some shad with the current downstream. We marked a bunch of fish hanging around 20ft deep or so from the mouth of the steam plant canal all the way to the last barge downstream in the main channel.

Don't want a bunch but give me just one of those we seen on the graph and I will head to the house happy afterwards.

[TNBronzeback]

i will have to check that out up there next time im fishing. Yeah i marked alot of fish out deeper but didnt get any hits. my fish came from 20-22ft with the exception of that crappie i got when i slid out a little deeper. i havent done much looking around there near the mouth of the canal, i just stayed along the main break. next time i go i will cruise around and see what is between that main river break and the shore line. Im thinking if its not too shallow i have some night time methods i wouldnt mind trying once we have some good water flow.