Fishing Forum

To make a long story short, it has been tough but getting better. I haven't been on the water in over a year. <br />I am use to being able to pattern Crappie and catch them pretty much on a very consistent basis. However due to being off the water for a year. I called, PM'ed or ran into some legends of CFF (great talking and seeing you Polo) and tried to seek and absorb all knowledge I could to help my "Yankee :-)" friend which is down here on vacation. <br />Unfortunately we haven't been able to use much of the information and catch any fish but I do thank my fellow brothers for the tips and information. It's just transition time and very tough. <br />The wind and changing climates as well as water depth and temp has played a major part but we took as much advice and have tried to over come the elements the Good Lord has given us. It’s been a challenge but a fun time. <br />We have fished as far up as Sale Creek and Grasshopper and as low as the beginners dock. We have struggled each day but have caught a few Crappie. <br />I have stayed with the BG and mostly 1/32nd but have changed up to 1/16 when the wind forced me to. The color realy hasn’t seem to matter. When placed right , the fish have took it although very lightly at times and the majority of the hits were only detetected by watching the line. <br />I have tried the spawning flats as well as docks in shallow to deep water. What I have found as of today is most all my fish are coming on lay downs in 10 to 15feet of water. The fish seem to be pretty much holding tight and you have to be down in the tips of the trees to catch them. My friend is cheating a little bit and has resorted to the feared live minnow due to my lack of ability to guide and teach him the proper technique. Today we found the conditions changing but the fish were in the same mold. We caught about 15 good keepers and probably 20 shorts and a bunch of bream and yellow bass (with the minnow). The water temp started out today in Ware Branch at 52 but when we came back in it was 61. We found it warmer in Possum creek at 62. We caught the majority of our fish in Soddy on the tip of blow downs. The count was inconsistent due to the range in depth of the structure. The main thing was to watch your line and try to get as deep as possible and when it hit a limb or bottom, just twitch it and occasionally a strike would occur. I have missed many fish this week so far due to being rusty but I have managed to snag a few. It has been fun being out on the water again although the Turkeys are Gobbling their heads off here at home. I believe I will resort to Turkey hunting in the morning since my guiding service is not so great. <br />Should get much better this weekend and the water temp should rise above 65 and the stump, flat, shallow fishing will be back on. Good luck. <br />