2021 07 13 Nickajack TN River

[coldfront]

Out last night for a few hours after work.  Thought I had a window to dodge some rain showers moving through the area.  that didn't work.  but at least I was packing rain gear IN the boat this time.Heard it coming through the trees about 6 minutes before it got to me.  Down on the river chasing current break fish.
Weather:  rainshowers/downpours.  on Accuweather, these were 'red cells'.  Kept my bilge pump working.  Air temps were nice:  78°F.  Wind minimal blowing 'down the canyon' where I was.  Basically out of the north.

Water temps were 83°F.  Clarity was stained with about a foot of visibility.  Visibility though was 'variable' as muddy water was coming in from feeder creeks upstream a ways... so there were what I would describe as 'pulses' or 'waves of varied clarity coming through.  Not fully mixed.

Chickamauga release rate:  31343 cfs
Nickajack release rate:  29645 cfs

Here's what it looked like


started out tossing the new strike king shallow runner in real bluegill pattern 'cause that's what I had tied on.  First cast a nice 1.5 lb LMB piles on.  Caught three more, each smaller than the previous, off that current seam/break before moving on.  Did run some t-rigged soft plastics through a few times with nothing playing.

Kept working UPSTREAM and picking my spots.  unweighted and weighted t-rigged soft plastics were the ticket the rest of the way as current shut down and bite got tougher.Best fish of evening was a 17.75 inch LMB from backside of a floating dock.  one or two that pushed 15 inches and the rest were assorted smaller sizes. 

all of them had 'the heart of a lion' though.  mixed bag of LMB, spots and SMB.

[FishinBuck07]

That picture to me is absolutely breath taking!  Beautiful!

[coldfront]

agreed.  the fish are usually little guys (mixed spots, lmb and smb), but the scenery and the river are amazing.
more and more houses keep popping up.  not sure how I feel about that.  but it is what it is I suppose.