2021 09 24 Nickajack TN river

[coldfront]

out for a few hours after work today.  fall weather seems to be 'here'.
Air temps at 3PM were 69°F.  Down to 61°F at 7PM.  the black sweatshirt in the sunlight felt really good.

Water temps werre 76°F.  That's down about 3-4 degrees from a week or so ago..
Wind was 'nominal'.  Skies were clear.  Second day post-frontal.Chickamauga (upstream) was generating at 36000 cfsNickajack (downstream) was generating at 44000 cfs.
water levels were falling... but not notice-ably...

Headed downriver to Nickajack today, just to poke around a bit, see where water quality was and how the weed mats were holding up.  Turns out not so well on weed mats.  Recent rains ahead of the frontal system and higher current seems to have blown out a lot of the 'good' mats (those that were over a little deeper water).  that's the bad news.  the good news is that the shad schools are sucking to the remaining weeds pretty well and seeing schooling activity.  Of note:  the BIG gizzard shad are in there too.  honest 2 lbers or better.  Might have to get out the bullshad.
managed one 15 inch fish on a spro popping frog in the mats.  more activity, blow ups, but no takers on the frog.  I worked around the edges with a weightless swimbait and picked up a few more in the 15 - 16 inch range... then it was time to head for the trailer before it got dark.  Other 'anglers' were working the mats with me.  Cormorants.  at least one fish was a 'catch/release'



on the way back to the ramp (raccoon mtn) I stopped off at a couple of obvious current breaks with eddies.  picked up some nicer (14 inch) spots and one two-pound LMB on soft plastics and a SK KVD splash.


back out tomorrow.  third day post front.  morning should be really foggy as temperature inversions are a 'thing' this time of year.  50°F air temps and 76°F water temps make for pretty soupy conditions.

[Mike Cork]

Such beautiful fishing views... If I can every catch a break from raising kids I'm going to head your way....

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