so far so good (added to state stuff)

[coldfront]

been out on vacation for past week, halfway through second (about time to go back to work so I can recover!).

Lots of water time.  Just easing around some of the waters here in TN.  It's been a smorgasbord, but not done yet!

water temps are in 60's.  Tims Ford:  68°F when I was there yesterday.  Guess is there'll be a HARD push to the beds with the next full moon in a few days?

I continue to be a HUGE fan of the EWG hook.  kNow folks show struggle with plastics 'balling up'.  Never been a problem for me.

at any rate, some of the specimens I wandered across this past week.  so far.

Nickajack river
this dude was a beast.  33 inches and just massive frame.  DT6.  usually 'rivershad' is the color pattern.  they didn't want it at all.  but it was on using the SMB pattern.


a few of these around too.  shadow rap, deep


now, what I went for:

first topwater fish of the year (little guy) I lost the 3-4 pounder that hit just prior.  KVD splash 1/4 oz


moving on to a different lake: Tims Ford


oops.  sometimes they don't want to hold still!   
on the swimbait Rage Swimmer, 3.25, 1/8 oz


moving on to staging/spawning flats


this one might have pushed 3 pounds?  about 19 inches.  long, lean.  no great lakes football here.


and a bonus


had a ball, so naturally, had to go back.  bite was WAY different.  very hard to get them to 'go' on the swimbait, but did find them about 5-6 feet deep on 'point shoulders', near spawing substrate.  North arms, western shorline.  helped if there was big flat rock around.  and/or ledge rock.  tube, tube, tube.









no giants, but a day filled with 2-2.5 pounders is a fun day.  probably had around 10 of each (SMB, LMB).

[Capt. BassinLou]

That's what you call a good mixed bag of fish. Wtg!!

[Donald Garner]

Once again congrats on the catching and sharing those pictures with us 

Like Lou mentioned that's a good mix bag of fish 

[Mike Cork]

The season is off to a great start in the catching department

I've caught some big drum but never anything close to nearly three feet I bet that was a tussle. 

[coldfront]

The season is off to a great start in the catching department

I've caught some big drum but never anything close to nearly three feet I bet that was a tussle. 

lots of freshwater molluscs and species diversity here in the TN river.  Lots for these dudes to eat.  they grow bit.  and have that interesting bronze color when bigger.

in early 70's the freshwater record for rod/reel came out of the tailwaters of the Chickamauga dam (headwaters of Nickajack).  right at 36 inches and 54 pounds.

some of these fish fight like wet carpet.  some  are capable of sustained pull/drag stripping.  good time to have a 7 foot or longer rod with some backbone.

[Mike Cork]

We've got our fair share in the Red River and most of our lakes, they will pounce a crankbait or a jig. Never fails that those first 3-4 seconds it's the biggest bass ever hooked  Wicked Tuna kind of deal...

But alas it never takes long to realize that it's a drum. However here a 7-8 pounder is a Giant... most are only 3-4 pounds. But being a tall flat fish, they get turned on the side and the fight can be on...