2021 10 02 Center Hill Lake TN

[coldfront]

fall is here and didn't want to rub elbows with the Chickamauga crowd on a Saturday, so headed north for some peace and quite.  Center Hill lake.  Amazing topography (lots of vertical, limestone bluffs complete with rocks, ledges...)  really picturesque, but a real 'shift in culture/mind-set in terms of difference from my usual TN River ledges and grass beds.
water clarity was clear.  4-5 foot visibility.  green tint.  really beautiful.
77°F water temps.  No current as TVA had ZERO pull at the dam.  This lake was a flood stage for most of spring/summer.  the good news?  every where I went the bluegill schools were THICK.  2 to 2 inch schools were in abundance and it didn't matter if you were on mainlake bluffs over deep water or on points or backs of creeks.  every.  where.  a few schools of shad were seen, but I tried to key on bluegill as primary forage.
Day was partly cloudy.  wind speed was single digits (forecaste was 6 - 8 mph out of south).  gave me mostly 'glass' surface conditions with a few stretches that had some small chop (nothing that was even noticeable in my 17.5 foot tin semi-v boat).  the 'big water' was from all the wake boarders who were out.
air temps started at 65°F at sunrise to 78°F when I trailered up at 4PM.  Putting the boat on the trailer dealing with 3 foot wakes from all the pleasure boaters was not my most pleasant part of the day.
caught a few.  found my fish in backs of large creek arms.  6-8 feet of water.  had a few 'go' on walking topwater baits first half of the day on steeper banks in shade.  some of the better fish came off green pumpkin soft plastics.
I've gone to using the shiny 'steel' tungsten bullet weights (versus my long time standard black) as I think it's actually attracting and generating a few more bites to have the small flash...  possibly looks like a 'feeding response'.  it's a thought, anyway.

supporting evidence of why I'm a fan of those EWG style hooks.

[Mike Cork]

When those little bluegill aren't being chased I always assume that I'm not around bass. Seems to me, if that much food was available if bass were in the area they would be running...

I always enjoy going to new water or water I haven't been to in a while and figuring out a solid pattern. Congrats on that and thank you for sharing it with us.

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[coldfront]

it was a stretch... forced me to slow down, look, see...  where I caught them there were schools that would occasionally show 'flight mode'.   
the fish in the photo was caught on one of my 'go to' rods.  a dobyns designed Powell model.  765 is the model length/power rating.  with 12# floro.
rod length, action (Xfast) combined with my cat-like reflexes and old school power lifter training do a nice job of punching that heavy guage EWG vmc hook through the tough stuff.


know folks here are die-hard dobyns fans.  I would probably be too if I hadn't had a stable of dobyns designed rods already in my posession.

[Mike Cork]

Everyone loves their own rods, ain't nothing wrong with that at all. When you're driving a hook home like that, certainly no need to entertain a change.

[coldfront]

Everyone loves their own rods, ain't nothing wrong with that at all. When you're driving a hook home like that, certainly no need to entertain a change.

been spending time this summer learning to skip.  yes, it's easier with a shorter rod.  easier if standing up.
Ive been learning how to skip with a 7.5 foot rod from a seated position (old guy back/spasms due to some vertebral issues).  has not been easy.  but getting there.
waay easier standing up.  it's all about rod angles, and angle of attack.

[Mike Cork]

The right bait helps a bunch as well. A beaver will skip much better than a 10 inch worm. A jig with a flat head versus a round head. I'm sure you've dialed in all that stuff though.

[Donald Garner]

CF, congrats on the catching there and tks for sharing the photo and trip with us.

[coldfront]

CF, congrats on the catching there and tks for sharing the photo and trip with us.

you are always welcome Don.

[TNDiver]

Center Hill is about an hour away. Thinking of visiting in the summer and maybe going fishing.  Good read

[coldfront]

Center Hill is about an hour away. Thinking of visiting in the summer and maybe going fishing.  Good read

blame Mike/father time.  he's been harassing me non-stop (for a while) on putting up better reports.  guess I finally listened/caved?