2021 05 18 Chickamauga

[coldfront]

out yesterday on the Chick.  Mid-lake fishing backwater sloughs.  I was in 3 feet of water or less most of the day.  Kept the sonar off.

overcast day, very light wind to 'none'.  Air temps 63°F at daybreak.  Water temp at 69°F.  up to 73°F late afternoon.

milfoil and hydrilla are starting up.  not even close to topped out yet.  primrose beds just starting to get established.  with full moon coming up, thinking there should be another strong wave/push of spawners. 

I did not see much evidence of fry pods or fry guarders.  then again, so much tournament pressure on this lake it's tough to know if fish have just been relocated or not.


right off the bat, got a bass to fire on a spro popping frog.  I missed that one but not the next one a little further back in the pocket.  the frog bite, while tempting, was a little too sporadic so I switched over to t-rigged lizard and weightless fluke as primary options.  intermittently tried a pencil popper, but no takers.
saw one small pod of shad trying to spawn, but nothing else.

no large fish today, just solid 16-17 inchers.  the best of that bunch was big, thick and with linebacker shoulders.  mighta pushed 3 pounds.
best bite in the morning up to around 11am...  then it got a lot tougher.  worked for a few more before off the water at 4PM.

[Mike Cork]

Sounds like a very fun day on the water

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[coldfront]

they may not be giants, but these Chickamauga fish are MEAN.  always glad to have the 7.5 foot MH rods in my hand. 

[Mike Cork]

I'll take a pile of 15-17 fish any day I'm out fishing. Those are even good tournament fish, then find a kicker

[coldfront]

Those are even good tournament fish, then find a kicker

that's what I was out there TRYIN' to do mr IBASS...   

[Mike Cork]

Not looking good for me this month. Our lakes are extremely flooded. When you only average 4-5 foot deep and you're lates are two foot high, the amount of fresh water changes the PH and O2 levels, current is ramped, and fish just shut down...

There are always a few to be found, I just haven't yet.

even our hybrid stripers have disappeared somewhere in the new found water...

[Wolcy]

Send us some of that rain water Mike, we need it down here in Florida!!!