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• Ledge fishing the river (7/28/2010 9:01:08 AM)
    ..... I was just talking to my banker this morning about this, never fish the river ledges if there is not any current! Now if there is current check to see if there is a thermocline with your depth finder, the way you do this is pull out in the middle of the river and turn up your sensitivity level till you see a fuzzy line between the top and the bottom and that is the thermocline, there is no oxygen below the thermocline so no fish. Now just below a dam there won't be one because the water is mixed so well but by the time you get to Gallitin you do have one unless they are generating around the clock.Once you find it fish above it about 5 foot down to it, this is where the most active fish will be. Set your boat just out in the channel past the depth of the thermocline and cast a 10 inch worm about 5 foot above it at a 15 degree angle to the ledge and work your lure down to the thermocline and repeat but make sure you move the bait slow, the fish are very slugish with this water temp. good luck and I hope this helps. One more thing to do is buy you a Humminbird side imaging unit and find the fish before you fish them like Alton Jones and Kevin Van Dam did. Jim
  
  
• old hickory ledge fishing (7/27/2010 3:58:39 PM)
    .....Jim I am trying to learn how to fish the ledges on old hickory at what depth do you put the boat and what depth are you trying to throw up on.
  
  
• Fishing creeks, shallow rivers, or ponds (7/26/2010 4:03:38 PM)
    .....Do any of yall have a good place to fish around Nashville for fishing out of a boat? Mainly looking for crappie/bass/blue gill/cat fish/or anything that swims... I'm fairly new to Nashville and don't have a boat but I could spend hours on a bank or wading and fishing. I live in the Crieve Hall area so the closer proximity, the better.
  
  
• KY Lake downriver from Pick Dam (7/12/2010 6:43:06 PM)
    .....A buddy of mine fished downriver above I40 all last week and they killed the bass, a lot of good ones.
  
  
• Pickwick Dam (7/11/2010 1:10:27 PM)
    .....Has anyone been fishing below the dam this week? Planning a trip next week and would like to know what is hitting and at what time of the day. Ron
  
  
• Center Hill Day Bassin (6/30/2010 12:58:01 PM)
    .....Fished the Hill this morning with a friend of mine and when we quit at 10am we had caught over 20 bass mostly smallies with 4 very nice ones and the rest 10-12 inches. Main bite came on a 200 Bandit Rootbeer on the main lake rocky banks on the outside edges of the grass where you could find it, very strong pattern. Crank till you crank up some coontail grass and then back off the bank and fish the area because most of the spots with grass had several fish on them. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill night time (6/23/2010 3:40:36 PM)
    .....I have not been fishing the Hill much at night but when I have 10-20 foot has been the depth and a slow rolled 1 ounce spinerbait and an 1\8 ounce weight on a 4 inch dark power craw has always been my go to at the Hill. I have also been staying on the main lake and not in the creeks and on banks of about 45 degree's and near river channel bends. Jim
  
  
• Kentucky Lake (6/22/2010 4:11:27 PM)
    .....Fished Ky. Lake last Thursday and Friday trolling crankbaits on creek and river ledges. This year has been incredible for bass. I have never had a Spring where so many bass have been caught in the 12-20 inch range.Plenty of stripe action, mixed in some nice crappie and sauger, catfish from five to ten pounds, bluegill,yellow bass, rockfish, smallmouth, and largemouth. In two days of trolling we had over 100 keeper size fish and released several hundred more smaller fish. A great way to beat the heat and stay busy loading the freezer. Trolling Rebel deep wee R's and Bandit 300 crankbaits. Surface temps currently in the upper 80's. Mike - Old Hiclory
  
  
• Canter Hill (6/22/2010 11:42:14 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you got any news on Center Hill night time. Having a tough time getting a bite. Thanks
  
  
• bps rod (6/21/2010 8:37:50 PM)
    .....I had a couple reels that were not to my standerds and wanted to return them to Bass Pro in Nashville. With the store closed I called 800 basspro and talked to customer service. I was told I could exchange or get a refund from any Bass Pro store. But not the catalog store as they do not have access to the computer system the retail stores use. I returned the reels to a retail store by mail and requested a gift certificate for the refund. I think it was about 10 days before I got my gift card. I recommend you call the Memphis or Sevierville Store and let them know of your problem. I am sure they will be of help. Hope this helps, Alan
  
  
• Old Hickory (6/14/2010 10:14:20 PM)
    .....Finding some fish shallow in the mornings on topwater, then moving out on the channel ledges and humps after the sun gets high. Summer patterns are pretty much here. With all the generation going on, the bite has been pretty good if you know where to look. Jim i got a interesting situation going on. Back in early March or late Febuary i bought a BPS carbonlite rod and reel combo. Well i set the hook on a pretty good fish Friday morning and snapped that rod about 2/3rds up the rod. I'm wondering who do i get a hold of for that? I think that should still be under warranty. Great little rod and reel setup except for the fact i broke it in half, lol. I may just have to eat the cost of that one. BPS won't be open for a long time. I might be out of luck or warranty by the time they get back open. Anyway, bite is pretty good if you can stand this heat.
  
  
• River Condition (5/30/2010 9:04:39 PM)
    .....Anyone know what the Cumberland River Condition is in the Hunters Point area? PWB
  
  
• Bledsoe Creek (5/24/2010 4:47:53 PM)
    .....been in bledsoe creek hundreds of times but sunday with the buoys gone I had a hard time getting to shady cove for the buffet If you don't know the creek very well be careful River still full of debris ( like running obstacle course ) ptv
  
  
• Wheres the fish (5/22/2010 7:40:54 AM)
    .....Man I have no idea what to tell you but start shallow and work your way out. Throw topwater in the early morning and then run the 100 bandit and as the sun gets higher go to a 200 and 300 bandit and when it gets straight up throw a jig in the 10 foot and deeper water on the ledges. The fish are not where they are supposed to be and every day I have to do something different, good luck. jim
  
  
• old hickory (5/20/2010 8:01:33 PM)
    .....Jim what would you advise throwing this weekend ? Have fish moved out or are they still shallow ? I haven't been out in two weeks and any info would help thanks ptv
  
  
• Consumption Advisories-OH (5/20/2010 11:16:37 AM)
    .....Just heard from TWRA that no new consumption advisories have been posted, so I assume fish are OK to eat. BL
  
  
• Rivers & Lakes (5/19/2010 10:53:55 AM)
    ..... The saftey zone on all parts of the Tn & cumberland rivers system was lifted May 10th acording to US Coast Guard web site sketa
  
  
• OH Crappie (5/18/2010 8:50:52 AM)
    .....Thanks for sharing that Jim, I was excited when I saw they had eggs in them, thinking they would lay them, but then when I saw the eggs I knew it was not a good thing. BL
  
  
• Crappie Spawn (5/17/2010 11:08:02 AM)
    .....I have a feeling it will have been a bad spawn because I have seen the same thing when I clean my crappie, the eggs are breaking down but no doubt a few made it. Later this spring or early summer TWRA will put out nets that will show what all the fish did in the way of spawning and I will let everyone know as soon as I hear. Jim
  
  
• Bass Pro Shops (5/17/2010 11:04:46 AM)
    .....I was told by several guys that work their that they should be open in 90-120 days with a full remodel. Jim
  
  
• Coast Gaurd Ban on boating (5/17/2010 11:02:43 AM)
    ..... I have been told it has been lifted by several people but I tried to call this morning to verify it and never got anyone to answer the phone. Try calling the coast guard in Nashville to make sure but I am pretty sure it has been lifted. Jim
  
  
• Eating Crappie out of Old Hickory (5/17/2010 10:45:49 AM)
    ..... Not a problem I have heard about but you might call TWRA and ask them to be sure. Jim
  
  
• OH Crappie (5/16/2010 7:29:17 PM)
    .....I'm a little worried about the crappie spawn. We got into a nice bunch of fish yesterday and some of the big females had not spawned yet, and the eggs inside them did not look good at all. I'm guessing that these will be absorbed not laid. Hope the rest got it done...
  
  
• Old Hickory? (5/16/2010 6:16:59 PM)
    .....Has the coast guard lifted the restrictions yet? I still see where Center Hill, Cordell Hull, Old Hickory are still pumping 2 or more generators. That's about two weeks non stop now, man that's a lot of water. Man i miss Bass Pro Shops already, i hate shopping online. TC hermitage. Murfresboro outdoors here i come i guess :(
  
  
• Old Hickory? (5/16/2010 6:08:30 PM)
    .....Has the coast guard lifted the restrictions yet? I still see where Center Hill, Cordell Hull, Old Hickory are still pumping 2 or more generators. That's about two weeks non stop now. Wow that's a lot of water.
  
  
• Old Hickory Lake (5/16/2010 5:49:16 PM)
    .....Jim, have you heard anything about the safe consumption of fish such as crappie etc. in O.H. since the waters have receeded. A heads up would be greatly appreciated. Ron
  
  
• conditions on preist mc (5/13/2010 2:49:25 PM)
    .....conditions of luanching ramps,water,and others things that were effected by the flooding.
  
  
• OH Condition (5/11/2010 9:20:58 AM)
    .....Went to a buddy's house yesterday PM who has a lake house and pitched a grub and picked up a few bass so they are still there, shallow and frisky. Water is still a mess with visibility only a few inches. Drove over to Stark Knob launch and water is a mess over there too. Logs were all over launch, debris everywhere. Most boat docks have some sort of damage to them. Going to be a while until it is back to normal. BL
  
  
• old hickory (5/8/2010 3:55:51 PM)
    .....fished barton's spring creek area yesterday the creeks are ok but main channel is wild I've never seen the river running so fast and no current in creeks the river is almost orange in color with debris everywhere Didn't know about the restrictions but understand why they issued them ptv
  
  
• Old Hickory (5/7/2010 2:13:45 PM)
    .....Well i got out in Cedar Creek for a few hours this morning. The water is very muddy. I headed toward the channel to run up to Cages bend, ended up turning right around and came back after i saw how much debris that was in the channel. Water temp in Cedar 68 degrees. Caught some short fish on small cranks and a few keepers mixed in. I was alternating between a crank and a lizard. Caught around 15 bass in all, mostly non keepers. The lake is a mess and it's going to be a week or maybe two before it gets anywhere back to normal. TC/hermitage
  
  
• Coast Guard News (5/7/2010 10:46:22 AM)
    .....Closure Notice Updated 5-7-10: PADUCAH, Ky. – The U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Ohio Valley, under authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and in partnership with local, state and federal officials, reduced the closed portion of the Tennessee River, Thursday, to the stretch between Calvert City, Ky. (mile marker 14) to Little Bear Creek (mile marker 27) including portions of Kentucky Lake. The Cumberland River remains closed in the vicinity of Carthage, Tenn. (mile marker 313.6) to Smithland, Ky. (mile marker 0), including Lake Barkley. The dangers created by high discharge rates are many, including swift river currents, heavy debris flows, spilled hazardous materials, and submerged objects including break walls, boat docks, and piers. These extreme flows have also made the navigation buoys in the area unreliable. Because of these dangers, all recreational vessels are restricted from operating in these areas to include bays, creeks and tributaries until the safety zone is lifted. The water levels and river conditions are being evaluated several times daily.
  
  
• The Lakes and Rivers (5/6/2010 6:56:30 PM)
    .....Boys it is a mess and I guess it is time to take up golf for the next few weeks while it stabilizes out. I have no idea what it is going to do to the spawn due to the fact the fish had not figured out if they should spawn or not, I guess we will have to wait till the TWRA does their fry testing on the lakes to find out what kind of spawn we had. This has been the wildest fishing year I have ever been through and I am just going to work on my honey do list and all my other home projects for 2 weeks before I even try to figure it out. Good luck to all of you who do go and I am not sure about the post below but I looked off the bluff today down at the cumberland river at my house and I wouldn't want to take my big boat on it, so if you do go put your life jacket on and then put another one on. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland River Closure (5/6/2010 1:59:48 PM)
    .....Just read a Coast Guard notification that the Cumberland River downstream from Carthage to the Ohio River is closed to all recreational boaters until further notice. Also the Tennessee River from Pickwick Dam to Kentucky Dam is also closed. Maximum fines of $32,500 could be applied to all violators.
  
  
• center hill (5/5/2010 10:18:48 PM)
    .....to much debris in the lake due to flooding. i'd give it a week
  
  
• Floods (5/3/2010 3:21:40 PM)
    .....Hey Jim, what kind of effect will these floods have on our area lakes? I'm pretty sure most of the fish on priest have spawned, but Old Hickory was pretty much right in the middle of spawning season. Do you think this will have a negative effect on this years class of fish? How long do you think it's going to take for everything to return to normal? This thing has turned into a disaster.My heart goes out to all those that lost property and their livelyhoods do to this unfortunate natural disaster. I almost feel selfish asking these questions, there are more important things going on but curiousity got the best of me.
  
  
• center hill bass (5/3/2010 1:55:02 PM)
    .....planning a trip to center hill later this week. anybody got any info on the bass and if the flooding has affected center hill any?
  
  
• Pickwick Dam (5/2/2010 4:12:36 PM)
    .....What is it doing at Pickwick Dam? Are the fishing still biting below the dam?
  
  
• cordell hull bass (4/30/2010 12:24:11 PM)
    .....anybody been to cordell hull lately?
  
  
• JimDuckworth & Anderson Marine Flea Market (4/30/2010 7:13:25 AM)
    ..... Guy's I know there may be some rain Saturday for the Flea Market but it is still on and we are under a tent and roofs and will put up tarps to keep the rain out so come on down we are waiting on you. Jim Duckworth.
  
  
• Edd Rogers Open (4/29/2010 11:10:40 AM)
    .....Guys we have The Servicemaster Centerhill open in place of the Oldest and best Tournament ever (Edd Rogers Open). Tony Horn Has a website with all the information. www.servicemaster-centerhillopen.com Hope this helps! Mike Hale
  
  
• Fishing Flea Market (4/27/2010 11:41:29 AM)
    .....Guys don't forget this weekend the 1st of May is the fishing flea market on old hickory Blvd on the interstate side of the Cumberland river. All the info is on the front page of the website at www.jimduckworth.com hope to see you all there, should be some great buys. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (4/26/2010 7:19:26 AM)
    .....The rains had an immediate effect at OH. Sunday 4/25 the water level was up and temps down. Never found water over 66 degress. I believe the water temps are driving what we are seeing with the slow start to spring fishing. Catching small males shallow but the weather cycles are keeping the girls in deeper water. Full moon Wednesday, get ready. Buccaneer
  
  
• Old Hickory (4/24/2010 7:39:06 AM)
    .....On the subject of Old Hickory. I've been catching fish shallow. Mostly on plastics and a occasional fish on crankbaits. Size seems to be down as i seem to have caught mostly males. I imagine the females are there just in deeper water, they've been tough to catch regardless. Old Lake hasn't been it's normal self this spring as i've usually faired better by this time of year myself. Old Lake has just been fished too death i guess. Even the pros seem to struggle there, it's a fickle lake and soemthing usually changes day to day there. I truly believe if you can consistently catch them there you could probalby do well most places in the country.
  
  
• OH Dead (4/23/2010 11:39:17 AM)
    .....Fished OH for 8 years and have never had such a bad start to spring. Spent three days the last two weeks trolling, bank fishing and minnow fishing with very poor results. Had excellent results last year by now. Will give up soon and make the drive to KY Lake. FYI DBR
  
  
• Pickwick Striper (4/19/2010 4:31:57 PM)
    .....Has anyone got any information on the huge striper caught below Pickwick on the 16th ?One of the TVA rangers said that TWRA officers thought it could weigh over 65 pounds . I think that could be a record ,or close to one . CD
  
  
• re pp lake (4/15/2010 7:03:19 PM)
    .....I usually yo yo the redeye shad, for me right now they are not taking it that way I have to be just cranking it.Normally they eat it good yo yoed.Like you said the full moon will get the on.you dont have to post this I was just wanting to thank you for you input. Scott Thorpe
  
  
• You got it right on Percy Priest (4/15/2010 8:56:54 AM)
    .....I fished Priest on Monday and had about 25 on a sebile flat shad in white but no good fish and the bites were light. The water temp has changed so quick and then they dropped the lake hard and the Barometer was through the roof. The good thing is that like you said this full moon coming is going to be like a bomb going off with the fish turning on hard and very heavy so just hang tight and any day it will be on, for now throw a lipless bait and reel fast and stop 2 or 3 times and get that reaction strike and cover water. Jim
  
  
• OH (4/15/2010 8:54:24 AM)
    .....Fished a tourney on OH last weekend. Warm water, but fish have not spawned yet. I'd fish shallow, shallow, shallow, using shallow cranks and weightless senkos. Good luck! DMoe
  
  
• priest (4/15/2010 5:20:11 AM)
    .....Jim what is going on with the bass on priest?I cant find them usually this time of year I am catching 30 to 70 a day with some big ones I am having trouble even catching 10 with no big ones.This is the worst I have seen pp in yearsI fish for schooling fish most of the time and they havent shown up on any of the spots where I usually get them any idea what is wrong with the fish.Has it got to do with going from winter to skipping spring and going to summer temps?Or will they pull up on this up comming full moon
  
  
• Old Hickory spawn (4/14/2010 12:07:38 PM)
    ..... There may have been a few spawn but 90% have not but are right on the edge. Jim
  
  
• old hickory bass (4/13/2010 12:29:41 PM)
    .....planning a trip to old hickory this weekend to catch some bass. anyone got any ideas and does anyone know if the fish have spawned yet?
  
  
• Fishing Flea Market (4/7/2010 8:03:01 AM)
    .....Look on the front page of the website on the right for all the info, hope you come on down and please tell all your friends. Jim www.jimduckworth.com
  
  
• DALE HOLLOW SMALLIES (4/7/2010 8:00:51 AM)
    ..... Crankin a 100 and 200 bandit in bluegill color and a spinerbait in white and chart. if its windy on the secondary points would be where I start. Jim
  
  
• Flea Market (4/6/2010 12:35:27 PM)
    .....Jim, you mentioned this past winter about having another Flea Market gathering at Anderson Marina in May of 2010. Is this still going to happen, details?
  
  
• Dale Hallow (4/6/2010 9:49:08 AM)
    .....Jim, Headin up to Dale Hallow this weekend.Anything I should try? Thanks
  
  
• edd rogers bass tournament (4/5/2010 2:18:26 PM)
    .....does anyone know if edd rodgers is still having the monthly bass tournament? if so anyone know where i could find information such as schedule and entry fee?
  
  
• Center Hill (4/3/2010 12:38:02 AM)
    .....Thanks Jim. I made it to Center Hill today. Caught plenty of crappie in a few hours Friday, 4-10 feet of water, all on grubs or tube jigs. The crappie fishing was so steady I never even picked up a bass rod. Found water temps as high as 64. Brought home enough for dinner tomorrow night, and put back around 15 more. Grey, white and yellow were the best colors.
  
  
• The Hill (4/2/2010 5:24:57 PM)
    ..... The Hill is at 628.15 today which is April 2nd which makes most all of the ramps in good shape, good luck. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill ramps (4/1/2010 12:35:45 AM)
    .....Anyone know how the ramps are on Center Hill? Looking to go this weekend but not sure which are safe to use, and which besides Edgar Evans I would need to steer clear of.
  
  
• Jig Rod (3/31/2010 9:25:31 PM)
    .....I would buy a 7 foot Fenwick med. or med\heavy depending on the feel, or a Berkley Series One rod of the same size and action. The Series One you can get for under 100 and the Fenwick for under 180 easy. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland river (3/31/2010 7:16:46 AM)
    .....The water is dingy because they've been pulling a lot of water just about non stop this winter. Keeping the temps down and the water dirty. Jim, if you has between $100 and $250 to spend on a jig and worm rod, what would be a good one to get the most bang for your buck?
  
  
• Cumberland River (3/29/2010 10:07:48 AM)
    ..... Does anybody know why the cumberland has been dindgy all winter an still is ? Is it because of Center Hill or Wolf Creek ? Haven't had a limit of sauger this year and blameing the water color. Thanks Sketa
  
  
• Old Hickory (3/27/2010 7:37:26 AM)
    .....I have not been on old hickory in months, I have been chasing smallies at the hill and at pickwick so I am out of the loop. I do know the water temp is still low and the fish should be on the ledges waiting to pull up on them and feed before spawning. Try dragging a jig down the ledges and in the afternoon on a sunny day move shallow at the front of the pockets and throw a blade in white if there is some wind but if not speed retrieve a 100 bandit or a red rattle trap and if you find any grass for sure throw that trap over it. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (3/26/2010 10:52:15 PM)
    .....Jim going to old hickory this weekend tell me what to throw and where to throw it I'am a weekend warrior and need help THANKS ptv
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (3/20/2010 6:18:03 PM)
    .....3/20/10 - Sauger fishing below Pickwick Dam... 2 fishing - 20 keepers (limit)... About 10 males & 10 females that have not spawned... One 18 1/2" female.. Surface temp 49 degrees... Caught all fish on Green/green jigs & minnows... Only caught 3 or 4 short fish... GL
  
  
• The Hill (3/18/2010 1:31:55 PM)
    .....Crankin above the narrows with a 100 to 300 bandit depending on conditions and the lower end a jerkbait or a 300 bandit will do the job and they have been biting. Jim
  
  
• Stripers (3/18/2010 1:30:07 PM)
    .....80% of the stripers in the lake or river migrate downstream in the winter and when the water temp. reaches 60 degree's or so they head upstream to the dams to make a false spawn in most situation. In the Old Hickory run we have some natural spawn on some certain years and then the big fish stay upstream and the smaller fish migrate about halfway back down the river but they move fast so it takes time to stay on top of them. Hope this helps and with stripers make sure you set the hook hard and please let the 20lb ones go and if you want a mount get a replica. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (3/18/2010 10:50:37 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you been or heard anything on Center Hill. Making a trip up this weekend. Thanks
  
  
• Striper Spawn (3/17/2010 12:18:19 AM)
    .....I was hoping for some information Jim. What's your understanding on how Stripers react in river run lakes. Are they typically heading upstream away from the Dam to spawn in creek tributars? Is current more of a factor? Thanks Jim
  
  
• Tn River Sauger (3/17/2010 12:13:50 AM)
    .....Fished Hwy 70 Bridge this past Sat near Camden and picked up 3 keepers including one egg filled female, 1 short egg filled female was returned. The water was too rough around the mouth of Duck River...way too much wind.
  
  
• Below Pickwick (3/10/2010 11:55:40 PM)
    .....Caught a limit of White bass in 30 minutes . Couldn't buy a Sauger bite. Hope it isnt over for them this year. CD
  
  
• Tough Fishing (3/10/2010 8:09:55 PM)
    ..... Guys this long spell of cold water and all these weather patterns coming through have the fish wondering weather they should flip or fly. I just got back from a 4 day fishing trip which I always smoke the fish on and we had the worst trip ever so ya'll don't feel like your the only one having trouble but the good news is wait 2 weeks and it is going to get real good with the warming water. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow (3/9/2010 9:21:40 AM)
    .....Jim, I heard it's been really tough. Whats going on?
  
  
• Dale Hollow (3/8/2010 8:13:37 AM)
    .....Jim, What is going on at Dale Hollow. Went this past weekend and I was slow to say the least. Water temp was about 44 to 46. Couldn't buy a bite. Any hints or other report you have heard of. Thanks
  
  
• CORDELL HULL SAUGER (3/4/2010 10:12:03 PM)
    .....ARE THERE ANY SAUGER STILL BELOW THE DAM ? IF NOT WHAT IS BITING THERE? WHERE ARE THE SAUGER?
  
  
• sauger (3/4/2010 7:01:30 PM)
    .....anybody catching any sauger below cordell hull???PGL..
  
  
• Kentucky Lake Sunday (3/1/2010 4:54:18 PM)
    .....Caught nine bass between 14-17 inches and one large drum out of Leatherwood on small crankbaits. Fish were on creek points in 8-12 feet of water.
  
  
• dorsey in mo. (3/1/2010 2:45:12 PM)
    .....will be coming to pickwicki dam on sunday the 3-7-10 any sauger or big cat fish biting yet does any one know the telphone number to little andy cottage thanks dorsey
  
  
• pickwick/sauger / tb (3/1/2010 12:02:19 PM)
    .....myself & 6 friends fished shilo mostly fri,sat & half day sun.we all limited fri & sat & had 40 when we quit sun noon.about 40 percent were good females.they should get better this wk.good fishing/ tb
  
  
• Grass in Old Hickory (2/28/2010 8:36:43 AM)
    .....Guys the grass problem on Old Hickory is being caused by 2 things the first is the Wolf river dam which they are of afraid of breaking sending lake Cumberland crashing down on us so they run the water wide open every time they get a rain through the dams to keep the pressure of Wolf river dam and this actually pulls the grass loose. The second problem this winter was the cold, cold water kills grass down to the root level but soon as it warms up it will start back growing. Bottom line is that soon as Wolf River Dam is fixed and flows come back to normal we will get all our grass back and that will be in 3-5 years depending on which goverment agency you want to believe on the repair time, hope this helps. And yes grass is the secret to a good bass and other fish fishery. Jim
  
  
• old hickory grass (2/27/2010 8:37:56 PM)
    .....I fish the barton & spring creek areas and in the past few years the milfold has been less and less and my sacks have been going same direction. I wish ( for what ever reason it would come back ) I have heard that they have learned to control it with the water level but didn't know if it was true. The lake seems to be getting clearer so I thought the light would be able to get to it
  
  
• Pickwick dam (2/27/2010 8:11:30 AM)
    .....Just got back from Pickwick and had a good white bass bite on the rip rap by the dam and caught several sauger below the flood gates on red and chart. jigs tipped with a minnow. The place is stay down there is just past the Hampton inn and it is called stone bridge, drive across the dam towards MS and when you come to the 4 way stop turn left and go about 4 miles and it is on the left. For the best meal in town it is hands down Janes resteraunt, to get to it when you get to that 4 way stop after crossing the dam go straight and it is near the paper mill on the right, good luck and fish slow the water temp. is 41 degrees. Jim
  
  
• State Park (2/26/2010 7:24:17 PM)
    .....We have stayed at the State Park Several time and injoyed it. It will be Cheaper than the Hampton. You can eat at the Inn and save a trip out. And the parking lot is more secure for your boat. You will still have to put in on the lower ramp, the Park is on the top side. Good luck and save a few for seed. DRS
  
  
• Sauger fishing (2/25/2010 6:25:45 PM)
    .....I am planning my first trip ever to Pickwick pulling a boat in about a week.Last year you mentioned a Hampton Inn to stay at and I was wondering if the state park would be better for ease of launching?Also arriving late friday and was wondering about restaurants.Any input would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely E Nolensville
  
  
• DALE HOLLOW SMALLIES (2/23/2010 7:10:01 PM)
    .....Try a jerkbait and a deep diving crankbait on the main lake and secondary point's. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow (2/23/2010 3:51:35 PM)
    .....Jim, Besides Float & Fly what else would be goo right know for large mouth and small mouth. Thanks!
  
  
• Old Hickory Grass (2/23/2010 9:22:16 AM)
    .....Milfoil grass has only been in a few creeks/pockets uplake the past few years. Bledsoe Creek had the most of it, some in Misty Cove. They have figured out that if they keep the water a little bit higher in the spring that there is not enough light penetration for it to grow. None at the steamplant the last few years, none on the flat in front of Cherokee. The Hick needs grass, look at Guntersville now compared to when they got rid of all the grass. 4 years ago it took 17-20 lbs to win Flippers Sunday morning Tournament, last year it took an average of 15 lbs, with only 2 20 lb stringers being weighed in all year
  
  
• Old Hickory grass (2/22/2010 8:12:36 AM)
    .....Guys sorry I got a couple days behind on reports but I have been at the Jackson boat show. The grass in Old Hickory will be back by summer it was just killed back by the cold but the roots are still happy and growing. Thanks' for all the good reports ya'll it is what makes life so much nicer for us all. Jim
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (2/21/2010 4:20:59 PM)
    .....Sat. 2/20/10, 12 keepers below Pickwick dam... One day after the flood gates were closed... Couple of the 17" females looked close to spawn... Pretty normal water levels and current below the dam... Water is dingy, but not muddy... Surface temp about 40 degrees... Caught fish on sauger jigs & minnows... GL
  
  
• grass in old hickory (2/20/2010 9:20:45 PM)
    .....Jim what's the deal with the vegetation on old hickory Will it come back or is it gone for good We need it to come back like it was five years back I think big fish and grass go together thanks ptv
  
  
• cheatham stripe (2/19/2010 8:35:36 AM)
    .....I have never fished cheatham. but would like to get in on some of those stripe. i know alot of people fish from the bank. but i had rather fish from my boat. Any suggustions on doing this.
  
  
• stripe below cheatham/tb (2/18/2010 7:57:40 PM)
    .....in answer to your question,fish down stream fishing any eddies you find using 3/8ths leadhead with chartuese grub preferbly sassey shad[3in].they are hard to come by. keep it on or near bottom and have plenty as lots of hang ups.me & two friends had 103 today from 10:30 to 4:00.most went between 2&3[lbs]
  
  
• Shad Kill (2/18/2010 7:03:28 PM)
    .....Yes we have had a good die off which we really needed, this will make it a little easier to catch those green fish. JIm
  
  
• Float n' Fly (2/18/2010 2:43:14 PM)
    .....Question on the float n' fly. Would a 5wt 8 1/2', or a 7wt 9' fly rod paired with an ultra light reel spooled with 4-6lb flourocarbon line be sufficient enough, and would a fly rod work for this technique? Using bucktail 1/16, 1/8oz bucktail jigs. I just don't really want to buy any more rods right now, and thought maybe I could use a fly rod to get the job done.
  
  
• Shad die off (2/18/2010 2:38:09 PM)
    .....Hey Jim, considering we've had such a cold winter, do you think the shad die off will be greater this year on our Local lakes like Old hickory? Food and cover are so plentiful do you think me might see more grouping of fish, instead of the normal one here one there pattern i've had to use the last few years? I normally cover a ton of water on the Hick, be nice too not have to move around so much, especially early this season when it's still cool. TC/Hermitage
  
  
• Stripe (2/18/2010 3:37:26 AM)
    .....How are they catching those stripe below Cheatham? Are they right below the dam or downstream?
  
  
• stripe/below cheatham/tb (2/17/2010 5:44:28 PM)
    .....caught 60 stripe today.[bad day].bigger fish showing up,2-3#.get in some fun fishing
  
  
• DALE HOLLOW SMALLIES (2/17/2010 7:40:41 AM)
    .....The bite is fair on the cloudy days on the float and fly. Jim
  
  
• dale hollow (2/16/2010 9:38:07 PM)
    .....what about dale hollow smallies
  
  
• Center Hill (2/15/2010 7:05:50 PM)
    .....I fished the lake Friday and didn't get a bite but did spend most of the day teaching a customer the lake and how he should fish it later in the year. Lake temp was just over 40 degree's and was dingy for the Hill so your best bet would probably be to fish a jig very slow on the points, if it has cleared try the float and fly on the point's. By the way on Friday we ran the lake from Hurricane bridge down and never saw another boat, so I guess everybody else had already figured out they didn't need to fish the Hill till it warms up a hair. Jim
  
  
• center hill or dale hollow bass (2/15/2010 3:52:08 PM)
    .....any information about what to use or where to go to catch some bass this next weekend
  
  
• Old Hickory (2/13/2010 9:39:01 PM)
    .....I would work the steam plant area with a 3 inch white 1\8 ounce head grub on 8lb line and catch several fish of different kinds with maybe a good bass or rock fish mixed in. The lake temp is so cold that will be the only solid bite and I would go as far as 300 yards below the steam plant on the steam plant side throwing it with just a steady retrieve 1 foot deep. jim
  
  
• old hickory (2/13/2010 7:15:44 PM)
    .....Jim if you could only bass fish on old hickory this weekend what would you try? Tough question but we want to know. ptv
  
  
• EDGER EVINS BOAT RAMPS (2/12/2010 2:57:07 PM)
    .....Guy's both ramp's are closed till at least the first of March for repairs, and of course I learned this the hard way. Jim
  
  
• below cheatham; tb (2/4/2010 6:39:12 PM)
    .....stripe,rockfish still hitting good in spite of high water.me & friend caught 90 today.
  
  
• BPS Spring Classic (2/4/2010 7:14:49 AM)
    .....Sorry I won't but I will be cooking fish in front of the store on the 6th of March and doing seminars on March 13th, hope to see everyone there. jim
  
  
• BPS (2/3/2010 9:11:12 PM)
    .....Jim, will you have a booth or set up at the BPS spring fishing classic?
  
  
• Pickwick Dam (2/1/2010 5:15:49 PM)
    .....There were 14 gates open at Pickwick Dam today. The water was very stained,just a shade from very muddy. Saw a bank fisherman catching white bass on various jigs and spinner combinations. Very slow otherwise.
  
  
• Fairgrounds boat show (2/1/2010 8:24:56 AM)
    .....I want to thank all my friends for coming to the boat show to see my seminars and visit in this terrible weather. Jim
  
  
• sauger (1/29/2010 8:38:36 PM)
    .....how would you fish for sauger in tenn river with flood gates open??up in creek mouth ?? any ideas thanks....P.L
  
  
• Fairgrounds Boat Show (1/28/2010 7:03:55 PM)
    .....Guys I will be at the boat show all weekend doing seminars on spoonin for bass and the float and fly, I will also have a booth right near the front door to the right as you come in with lots of tackle and DVD's so come on by and visit. Jim
  
  
• Sauger on the Ohio river (1/27/2010 7:52:46 AM)
    ..... Back when I was guiding heavy for sauger before the work on the Wolf River Dam messed up our generation which is the most important thing to catch sauger I guided many guys from the ohio river because they wanted to see a sauger over 16 inches. After fishing with all these guy's and having never fished that river there is no doubt they have a huge sauger fishery but the size is small with millions of fish 12 inches long. If you go up there to fish you will catch a bunch of fish and you can keep those 12 inchers because they have no size limits, so yes there are lot's of sauger up on the Ohio River. Jim
  
  
• sauger (1/26/2010 11:59:31 AM)
    .....Anyone ever do any sauger fishing on the Ohio River near Louisville, KY? I've been reading about it, and it sounds alot more productive than the spots I fish on the Cumberland River system. I have been thinking of going in the next month, but wanted any feedback. thanks, DMoe
  
  
• Depthfinders (1/26/2010 7:48:01 AM)
    .....Guys my seminars are Friday at 7pm, Saturday at noon 4pm and 7pm and Sunday at noon and 3pm. The cost to get in is 6 dollars for adults and 6 and under free and free parking, also on the front page of the website click on the expo-south info and you can print out a 1 dollar off coupon. At the end of all my seminars I take questions and you can ask anything and I will make it apply to the subject and your Humminbird depth finder. Wilson Frazier will be there doing seminars also but he sticks mostly with the Lowrance brand since he worked for them so long and he can help you Lowrance guy's out. Of course if you come to my booth and I am not blowed away I will take all the time I can to answer your questions and of course I work Bass Pro Shops 10 or more times a year and can help you down there.
  
  
• Fairgrounds Fishing Expo (1/25/2010 8:05:30 PM)
    .....I urge all you guys to get out to this Fishing expo at the fairgrounds this weekend. Last year I went and got some great deals and a lot of information. I even got 2 all pro rods for $60 bucks a piece.
  
  
• Seminars at Fairgrounds (1/25/2010 8:02:45 PM)
    .....Jim, These seminars that you are giving at the fairgrounds this weekend, what is the schedule- time, topics, cost, etc. What are your seminars going to be over? Are any on these Humminbird units covered in your seminars?
  
  
• Humminbird Settings (1/25/2010 7:16:24 PM)
    ..... I will be at the fairgrounds boat show this weekend doing seminars and I also have a booth right at the front door and would be glad to discuss all these settings. I also run an 1197 on my console and it would take me 1000 words to explain all your questions. The book will answer a lot of them but like you I have not seen a book on the updates and had to figure them out and am still tweaking with my unit. Feel free to come by and talk with me about it in the booth or at a seminar, they are awesome units but there sure is a lot to know but if you just run it in automatic it does a great job of adjusting itself unlike the units of past. Jim
  
  
• Ky.Lake Crappie (1/25/2010 11:50:46 AM)
    .....Caught 15 nice crappie out of Leatherwood Resort in just a few hours this past Friday. Minnows in 15-18 feet of water. Water Temp was 42.5 at the surface. Old Hickory Mic
  
  
• Humminbird Side and Down Imaging (1/25/2010 6:59:47 AM)
    .....Jim, Couple of questions about the Humminbird units. I have an 1197si at the console and a 797si on the trolling motor. I am very pleased with both. But, with the new downloads what settings are you finding that work best for the down imaging (wide beam, narrow, sensitivity, 800 or 455, range, switchfire on/off, chart speed, contrast, sharp, etc.)? What color palletes? Also, if you could post your settings for the side imaging, it would be a great help to us guys. I've heard so many settings, but it would be great to get an opinion from a guy using these units on our home waters like Old Hickory, and Center Hill, and Percy Priest. Also, are you varying your settings based upon which lake you are on? If so could you just post settings from Old Hickory and I'll work off that. Thanks, Mike
  
  
• 898 instead of 997 (1/23/2010 7:02:04 PM)
    .....The reason I am changing is because the 898 has 4000 watts instead of the 8000 watts and I am a believer in the fish hearing depth finders and spooking them and the 898 will still have almost as big a screen as the 997 and I won't feel bad about leaving it on as much, only reason. Jim
  
  
• Pickwick Lake Fishing Reports (1/23/2010 12:52:09 PM)
    .....I use to look a lou williams website for fishing reports, but he no longer has a website. Are there any other places to find fishing reports for the actual lake and not below the dam at Pickwick.
  
  
• diff between 997 and 898 (1/23/2010 11:07:18 AM)
    .....Jim, saw where you were going to replace the 997 with the new 898. With the download, the 997 would do the same thing. Just wondering, is there something more the 898 has that the 997 doesnt have?
  
  
• depth finders (1/23/2010 9:49:04 AM)
    .....Thanks Jim and the rest of you. As usual this site is very helpful. I'm getting a Humminbird 978 ci SI without the NVB. I got it last night from Amazon.com. I have Amazon Prime so I get 2 day shipping for free (and of course there's no tax). I signed up for an Amazon Visa and got $40 off. (I'll cancel it in a couple of months.) I ended up paying $880 and will get the unit Monday or Tuesday. Jerry
  
  
• 1000 dollar depthfinder (1/23/2010 9:01:00 AM)
    .....The unit I was talking about below (798ci SI) at Bass Pro Shops is 999.99 and is the best you can buy for the money and you get a side imaging unit to boot. The next step down if you don't want the side imaging ( but I promise you you do ) is the 788ci which has a GPS in it and is just 649.99, hope this helps, I have had both units and they both do a great job. I am waiting on the new 898ci SI for my bow unit to replace my 997 and it is 1499.99. Jim
  
  
• Humminbird 798ci SI (1/23/2010 8:53:32 AM)
    .....This is one fine unit and I had one last year on my bow and since then they have added down imaging more colors and the switchfire. The GPS in this unit finds you 4 times faster on the screen and has more colors on it than last year, another words it is a whole lot better than last year but for you guys out there that have last years model there is a free download for you to put on your unit to add all these options on the Humminbird site. The standard map that comes with the unit is a good map and will probably do all you want and when you get the money you can buy you a platinum Navionics card for it which has super detail but it is not a neccesity you can get by with the built in uni-map. You will some time down the road want the Navionics platinum map chip and it is worth it. Jim
  
  
• Humminbird (1/22/2010 11:04:27 PM)
    .....Truthfully, you don't need the NVB package on the unit unless you fish more than just the southeast. It's a good deal if you fish more than just the southeast, though. Otherwise, you can just get a southeast navionics sd card that has the Southeast region on it and avoid paying extra for the NVB model.
  
  
• fishfinder (1/22/2010 10:02:10 PM)
    .....Jim what fishfinder do you recomend in the thousand dollar range? I really don't need all the bells and whistles just one that shows clear images in color. thanks ptv
  
  
• Humminbird DF UniMaps (1/22/2010 2:24:35 PM)
    .....I'm thinking of buying a Humminbird 798ci SI depth finder. It's cost is all that I can handle, so I can't get the Navionics Map package. What are the Humminbird UniMaps like? Jerry
  
  
• cheatham tb (1/22/2010 6:40:54 AM)
    .....fished below cheatham last 2 days. catching lot of stripe & rockfish.biggist yesterday 10 lb.hybird,several rockfish 3 to 8 lb.good current just go with flow
  
  
• sauger/crappie (1/20/2010 10:22:59 AM)
    .....Fished out of Mousetail State Park on the Tennessee River. Started at daylight and fished for sauger until about 1pm. Not one bite. Water was dirty and 40.3 degrees and good current. Fished in the mouths and backs of several creeks for crappie. caught 3 keepers and one short. We got off the water at 4pm. Looked like the fiver was clearing a little by the afternoon. Alan
  
  
• Fishing Report (1/19/2010 12:57:11 PM)
    .....Fished the river below Pickwick Dam yesterday. Lots of water, heavy current but no gates open. Hundreds of seagulls. The shad kill is not over. Sauger fishing was very slow. The only thing going on was the White bass are beginning to bite. Caught most of them on crankbaits.
  
  
• Cordell Sauger (1/19/2010 12:54:51 PM)
    .....Went below Cordell Hull dam yesterday. Had three keeper sauger and a couple of shorts in about 4.5 hours. Pretty tough fishing by my standards. Lots of people fishing but hardly anyone catching yesterday. Some said the fishing was much better before the major cold came in around Christmas time. DMoe
  
  
• batt (1/18/2010 2:28:34 PM)
    .....Unplug them. As Jim says most chargers have a trickle charge, but on many occasions I have seen that part of the device not work the way it should and batteries either get burnt up or lose some of the life of the battery.
  
  
• Boat Charger (1/16/2010 7:31:36 PM)
    .....If it is a Dual Pro which is what I use you can leave it plugged in all the time any other brand charger and you need to know if it is a taper charger that has a trickle charge once your batteries are charged. If your charger is a constant rate charger you do need to unplug it but 90% of the chargers mounted in boats over the last ten years have a trickle charge which is about .3 amps per hour. You should be able to tell by reading what is on the charger and if not Google the brand charger and read what their website say's. By the way alway's put distilled water in your batteries when they need it if the are regular wet cell batteries, if they are gel or mat batteries you never have to do anything to them. Jim
  
  
• trolling motor batteries (1/16/2010 2:18:30 PM)
    .....I have charger in my boat. Do I leave the charger pluged in all of the time or do I unplug it when batteries are fully charged. I've been leaven the charger on all of the time. I heard that might damage the batteries by constant charging thanks ptv
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (1/7/2010 6:51:19 AM)
    .....Flood Gates are off at Pickwick Dam. If it were not for the Shad Kill fishing would be great right now. Everyone was catching fish yesterday we were using 1 3/8 jigs we ordered from Saugercentral.com. Fish were shallow for us 12 to 25 ft on the drops. There still Running 78,000 CFS but showing around 40,000 Cubic Feet Per Second tomorrow Jan 8th. I can I can stand the Cold I May try it again tomorrow.
  
  
• Sauger Fishing (1/5/2010 11:30:53 AM)
    .....A good friend and I went to Saltillo on New Years Day, and caught 10 keepers, 12 fish total. We were not expecting anything because of the strong current, but we found them in the mouth of a creek. All were good fish. We only had to measure one of them if you know what I mean. The water is getting down and conditions should get right, but this cold will kill the crap out of the shad. I figure it will be a good two weeks before they will be biting good. Jason
  
  
• sauger/pickwick (1/4/2010 6:53:22 PM)
    .....Me and my dad went to savanna bridge and sauger fished diamond island. We only caught cold and drums. Still alot of locks open but we didnt have anything better to do. Less locks open than last week, I'm thinking next week might be good. Maybe after the snow?
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (1/4/2010 9:24:33 AM)
    .....4 keepers Sat. below Pickwick dam... All 16" or so females... Very rough fishing conditions with 8 flood gates open, but apparently there are some saugers around the lock walls... When the water levels & flow rate settle down, then bite should pick-up...GL
  
  
• cheatham- Gary Lee (12/30/2009 9:34:59 PM)
    .....Ed Y.- not sure what the optimum flow rate would be, but it seems that I remember that somewhere around 12 or 13,000 cfs is pretty good, more than that means the gates are open- if my memory is correct. At least 2 generators is desirable. If only one- fish can be caught, but usually the action is slower than with 2 or 3. When the gates are open, it makes it more challenging to find a decent spot to fish.
  
  
• sauger wk (12/30/2009 7:45:05 AM)
    .....any one have any reports of fishing at gainsboro sauger-stripe thanks wk
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (12/29/2009 8:59:21 AM)
    .....No sauger fishing being reported below Pickwick dam... Yesterday, 11 flood gates open... The gates have been open for weeks now... It's almost impossible to fish below the dam right now and is dangerous to try... GL
  
  
• sauger fishing pickwick dam (12/28/2009 12:35:55 PM)
    .....please somebody try to keep up date on sauger fishing below pickwick dam dorsey in ar.
  
  
• flow rate (12/26/2009 12:11:39 PM)
    .....I am new to the area and would like to know if anyone can tell me the optimum flow rate over Cheatham dam for sauger fishing. Thanks. Ed Y.
  
  
• sauger (12/22/2009 9:10:47 PM)
    .....we normally fish tenn river,but went to old hickory friday,just to try,because of the tenn. spilling.my first time there.we fished the mouth of the duck 3 times back the first week of december. had two days with 6 keepers,and 5 another...when ever river gets back right will fish from pickwick to the duck twice a week...might go back to old hickory 12/27/09??? PGL...
  
  
• PGL (12/21/2009 8:56:49 AM)
    .....Thanks, I may go upriver some next week if I can't get down to Pick (still too much water down there too). FYI Below OH has been pretty dead.
  
  
• sauger (12/20/2009 8:56:58 AM)
    .....we were sauger fishing..PGL..
  
  
• PGL (12/19/2009 7:34:15 PM)
    .....PGL, Were you bass or sauger fishing? Thanss, BL
  
  
• sauger (12/18/2009 5:44:23 PM)
    .....fished old hickory today, water was up and rolling.two of us caught 18 with 6 keepers.steady rain and hard fishing.anybody else fish the last couple of days???? .PGL.
  
  
• sauger/cheatham (12/18/2009 5:12:53 PM)
    .....Fished from dam to lock b,15 fish mix bag stripe/catfish/sauger,flood gates open lots of current no keepers/saw 4 other boats/water level 25ft in lock worked hard for few fish.
  
  
• SHINERS ON PRIEST (12/15/2009 7:07:44 PM)
    .....Thanks for the kind words on the videos Gerald and I have fun making and sharing the info with others. To shiner fish go by Starkeys on the way to elm hill marina and pick you up about a half a pound of shiners and head for the lower 1\3 of the lake. Fish the ledges you find on a map and then with your depthfinder in 10 to 20 foot of water and drop your shiner down on a circle hook with a split shot on your line and leave the bail or level wind reel in free spool and wait for a fish to take off with it then just engage your reel and let the fish set the hook. Main lake steep points and bluffs are also good but a map to find the ledges is the most important, I would also stay below 12lb line. Good luck and maybe some of the other guys can give you some pointers also, I spend my winters chasing smallies and sauger. Jim
  
  
• sauger (12/15/2009 2:29:33 PM)
    .....any reports below cordell hull.
  
  
• Shiners (12/14/2009 12:47:01 PM)
    .....Jim, I do some spoonin on priest every year and love it, however, I always read about people tightlineing for hybrid with shiners. I want to try it but I don't know how or where to get the shad to fish with. Where/how can I buy or catch them? Thanks, love your videos, Jason
  
  
• Stripes steam plant (12/14/2009 7:37:20 AM)
    .....Please do not introduce anything into the system it is illegal. Your best bet is go to Bass Pro Shops and buy you some Sabiki Rigs ( a bunch of little flies tied about 6 inches apart ) and put that on the end of a light action spinning rod with a 3\8th ounce weight on the clip end and cast it around the mouth of the steamplant and catch you some skipjack's for bait which is what a striper likes to eat, they are thick and fun to catch. And then go to it but it will be hard to pull planner boards in there with all the fisherman and they will let you know it. Your best bet is set an anchor and put out 2 rods with skipjack on them on floats or on the bottom and wait for the fish. Please be polite at the steamplant it is a very congested area at times and everyone will be glad to give you tips if you are, good luck and I am leaving Saturday for a redfishing trip in Venice LA, yeee haaa. Jim
  
  
• Help (12/14/2009 12:25:36 AM)
    .....I'm fairly new to the area, and have never caught a Striper. I live in Old Hickory, and would like to target Old Hickory Lake for Stripers after the 1st of the year by way of kayaks. We are going to target the Gallatin Steam Plant area during the evening into the night. The bait I would like to use is freshwater eels (because they are already in the Cumberland River) I wouldn't want to introduce anything to the lake that wasn't already there. Where could I purchase these eels, or is there another bait that is recommended, and where could I find it? If there are schools of bait fish I have a cast net if that would be better. We will be using Penn saltwater reels I used to use in Florida for Bull Reds, rigged with planer boards trolling. Someone please help me or point me in the right direction if I'm not planning this our right. My wife and I want to catch some 40" Stripers from kayaks (sleigh ride). She's in Jacksonville now tearing up the reds while I'm sitting here wishing I had something big on the end of my line.
  
  
• Dale Hollow smallmouth (12/8/2009 8:32:21 PM)
    .....fished Dale Hollow today; had twelve with four over four; missed three good ones; creek minnows; fished around Kyle Branch; twenty feet; didn't see two boats; love that lake; ptv
  
  
• Dale Hollow Ramps (12/6/2009 7:33:35 AM)
    .....I put in at the state ramp near the dam and with my 150 Yamaha 4 stroke I can run to Willow Grove and back on 3 or 4 gallons of gas which is way cheaper than pulling my boat that far up. One ramp you might use and I do sometimes is at Holly Creek. Good Luck, it is the time to be at the hollow. Jim
  
  
• dale hollow (12/5/2009 6:24:51 PM)
    .....Jim where do you put in on dale hollow I've been going to horse creek but would like to try a different spot It is too far to go and just scout so thanks for any info on other sections of that great lake ptv
  
  
• old hickory (12/5/2009 6:18:03 PM)
    .....got on the water about 2: oo pm wednesday started out same as it has been [ tough ] then the wind started to howl and I picked up spinnerbait and landed three good keepers in about thirty minutes also lake is back up ptv
  
  
• real creek minnows (12/5/2009 6:10:22 PM)
    .....anyone have a line on getting creek minnows they are getting hard to get and I love them this time of year Come on guys share the wealth Thanks ptv
  
  
• sauger (12/5/2009 9:09:55 AM)
    .....when is the best time to sauger fish at dam pickwick and do the striper bite in winter
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (12/5/2009 6:04:16 AM)
    ..... Fished the Hollow with 2 killer fisherman on Thursday in the beautiful 36 degree cloudy windy rainy weather that is perfect for smallie fishing there and we boated at least 10 and lost that many. Caught the first 3 on a jerkbait and then the fish went down and had to use a green pumpkin jig in 20-30 foot of water on the points in the creeks, bite was light.Jim
  
  
• Sauger (12/4/2009 11:24:52 AM)
    .....Between 4 of us, we caught 45 Sauger below Cordell Hull Thanksgiving day....not a keeper in the bunch, but a good day on the water...GR
  
  
• OH Sauger (11/30/2009 3:21:24 PM)
    .....This past saturday we caught 10 and kept 4 sauger. We also had 7 nice crappie. Water temp was right at 55 degrees. You're right, it is early but we are getting there.SHANK
  
  
• Spoonin at the Hill (11/30/2009 7:35:02 AM)
    .....Hurricane is good and all the creeks around there are good and make sure you hit mine lick. Jim
  
  
• center hill (11/29/2009 8:59:51 PM)
    .....Jim want to head up to the hill for some spoon fishing, what are some good ramps to put in by yourself? Also what areas are producing? Thanks
  
  
• spoonin at priest (11/29/2009 6:54:00 PM)
    .....I was wanting to try jiging a spoon at priest this week, anybody tried it yet? Any hot spots?
  
  
• Pickwick Sauger (11/27/2009 6:09:48 PM)
    .....Caught 4 or 5 today with two 15" keepers... Water temp between 55 & 56 degrees, good current & lake level... It's still way too early, but will soon be time to get serious!!! GL
  
  
• Thanksgiving (11/26/2009 6:51:19 AM)
    .....Happy Thankgiving everyone and God Bless America and our Troops for keeping us safe. Gerald and Jim
  
  
• re; sauger Jig (11/25/2009 7:21:42 PM)
    .....Your unpainted jigs will work ok if you use them this year. If not they will oxodize and turn dull gray and mess up every thing in your box. Try powder coating a few. A one oz Jig needs about 30 seconds under a flame, then cook them in your wife's oven for 20 min. the coat is near indistructable. I have use a 1/4 jig at PK for several years. Syko
  
  
• Hartsville Boat Ramp (11/24/2009 3:39:51 PM)
    .....Has anyone used the ramp off of Old Hartsville Pike lately. I would like ot go up there and give the sauger a try but dont know if the ramp is useable. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again Dan.
  
  
• OH Sauger (11/23/2009 10:24:47 AM)
    .....Water needs to get colder. There are a few cigars below OH right now, it is slow. A trusted source says the same below Pick. It's still early. BL
  
  
• sauger jigs (11/20/2009 6:17:30 PM)
    .....been making jigs for years,just wondering what you think about not painting heads,because its where most of your time is, four coats take awhile.been making some good looking jigs in several hair colors with just lead colored heads.been pouring 1/2 onouce jigs for pickwick with no current.whats yall,s thouhts.??? any sauger reports??PGL
  
  
• old hickory bass (11/20/2009 5:35:22 PM)
    .....I've never seen the fishing so bad as it has been lately. I thought the drawdown would hurt fishing for a few days but not this bad. Where have the big fish gone? Need help any suggestions Thanks ptv
  
  
• sauger (11/20/2009 8:46:12 AM)
    .....Anyone catching sauger below Cheatham, Old Hickory, or Cordell Hull Dams? Dmoe
  
  
• Old Hickory Boat Ramps (11/17/2009 9:15:36 PM)
    .....There is a bad hole in the boat ramp off Gallatin Road at the back end of the west fork of Station Camp. The hole is on the left side if you are looking at the ramp from the shore. Can see it being a problem which could hurt a lot of trailers if your not careful.
  
  
• Rome Boat Ramp (11/16/2009 8:47:45 PM)
    .....A very small boat you could launch but your boat would be a problem. The sauger are still in the middle section of the lake. Jim
  
  
• Rome Boat Ramp (11/16/2009 10:11:33 AM)
    .....Was wondering if any one has used the ramp at Rome since the draw down on Old Hickory? I know that the ramp has some issues even when the water is at normal pool and didnt know what it would be like with it down. We will be launching a 21ft bullett. Any help would be appreciated. Any news on sauger from up that way would be great too. Thanks again Dan
  
  
• Sinking Cover (11/16/2009 7:34:02 AM)
    ..... About 5% of the cover that is sunk in Old Hickory had a permit issued by the corp's, most people I know take cover to the lake and sink it where a water skier or a swimmer or boat won't run over it and never say a word.If you want call the TWRA and ask them for guide lines. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (11/14/2009 4:39:25 PM)
    .....T/C - Old Hick is fishing mid-range now. I have had luck in tghe 15-20 foot range on finnesse/shaky head rigs. Secondary points and ledges. Forget about fishing around the shad, there are too many. We need a huge sahd kill winter to help us get back to typical patterns.
  
  
• sinking cover (11/14/2009 12:57:22 PM)
    .....Jim , what if any are the rules to sinking brush in old hickory? I would like to put out some cover while lake is down. Do you have any advice as to what and where to put it out. Thanks ptv
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (11/13/2009 7:07:10 AM)
    .....I have not been on the lake but you are on the right track work the first deep water next to the drawdown area via secondary points and I would crank them with a 100 bandit. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (11/12/2009 5:17:47 PM)
    .....Hey Jim, Going out on the Hick Friday. I see where they've drawn the lake down some and it will remain that way until December. Would you still beat the banks in the backs of the creeks? Or move to the secondary and main lake points? You think the fish are on the move back to their winter haunts yet? I've tried fishing around those shad and haven't had much luck this year. Looking to get bit with my limited time on the water now. Would love too not have to cover so much dead water. TC/Hermitage
  
  
• Horse Fly Dale Hollow (11/9/2009 7:38:19 AM)
    ..... Billy called this lure several things but hoss and horse were the most comon but it is truly an aspirin head fly. At the hollow I throw it and have thrown it on 6lb. Trilene XL on a 6'6 ML action Fenwick HMG rod and I now squirt it down good with gulp fish juice. Get off the bank 75 foot and throw it in and let it fall to the bottom and then slow roll it back to the boat changing the speeds till it falls to the depth the fish want and just slow reel it with no twitches, the smallies are looking for an easy meal. I like it best in the winter but it does work all year. You can also work it like a silver buddy and let it hit the bottom and jump it back up and let it fall again and repeat to the boat but for me the slow retrieve is the best and white was Billy and mines favorite color and I some times dip the very tip hair in chartruesce spike it. Good luck the best fishing of the year at the Hollow is just starting. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory Drawdown (11/9/2009 7:27:24 AM)
    .....The drawdown on Old Hickory is already at 3 foot low and they may pull it 1 or 2 more feet, they are going to try and keep it this level the rest of the month and then back to normal. Jim
  
  
• DALE HOLLOW LAKE (11/7/2009 11:25:11 PM)
    .....Jim, my buddies were catching Smallmouth on Dale Hollow lake using the HOSS FLY. They say it was Bill Westmoreland's favorite jig. How do you use it?
  
  
• sauger bite (11/7/2009 12:00:10 PM)
    .....Are the sauger biting below Old Hickory and Cheatham dams yet? Anyone? SHANK
  
  
• Sauger at Pickwick dam (11/7/2009 7:11:44 AM)
    ..... There are a few sauger there all year but the large amount of sauger will reach the dam in late January through early March. Jim
  
  
• OH (11/6/2009 8:02:16 AM)
    .....when are they ging to drop the water on old Hickory. does anyone have any information on the dates???
  
  
• sauger dorsey in ar. (11/5/2009 9:10:01 AM)
    .....when do sauger bite at pickwick dam
  
  
• Percy Priest (11/5/2009 7:06:11 AM)
    ..... They are spilling all 4 gates right now to get it pulled down so it wont be long before the upper end of the lake gets dangerous to run so stay in the channel. jim
  
  
• j percy priest (11/4/2009 12:38:36 AM)
    .....curious to know when priest should start spilling for winter pool ? anyone ?
  
  
• Center Hill Crapie (11/3/2009 7:41:41 AM)
    ..... Without a doubt the hardest crapie fishing I have ever done, I can catch a limit on Priest most of the time but those devils at the Hill have there own mind. One day you get 15 the very next you get 2 and that's fishing the same trees. The secret to the hill is to be at least fifty years old ( so you have the patience ) and put your own cover out where no one else knows where it is and it is a lot of work but worth it for those good day's. Now if you just want to go up there and try to catch them use 4lb trilene XL line with a 1\8 ounce Roadrunner head on a light spinning rod and tip the jig with a minnow and find trees hanging off in deep water and cast into the tree from right in front of it and let it fall and fall on slack line and watch your line bites can be so light you will think it's a bluegill. I am catching more fish in 40 to 50 foot of water than any other depth. If you arelucky like me I have an 1197 Humminbird Side Imaging unit that shows everthing on the bottom clearly and I can find every stick on the bottom and then just drop a marker buoy on it and fish with a KY lake rig straight down. It is very tough fishing but every 10 fish you catch you will have at least 1- 2lber and the upper end of the lake is far better. Good Luck. Jim
  
  
• blacknose crappie on the hill (11/3/2009 1:37:24 AM)
    .....What about more info on your stay at the hill????? Are u catching any? What part of the hill ru fishing?
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (11/1/2009 6:55:23 AM)
    .....I sure know the feeling TC about the tough bite, on those fish in the jumps take a 1\2 ounce Rattle Snakie spoon and throw it way past the fish and rip it through them at high speed and when you get to the outside edge of the fish let it fall about 5 foot and then pump it the rest of the way to the boat.Crank baits, now ya'll know I am Mr. Bandit and love them and have found no better but when it gets tough or in water below 55 degree's I alway's fish a number 5 shad rap, it has hardly any vibration and no rattle so the fish are more likely to attack it in the conditions you have mentioned. Hope this helps and good luck, I am still chasing blacknose at the hill between the storms and the wind. I will have some of these spoons at the fairgrounds boat show at the end of January or you can find them on the front page of my website also and there website is www.rattlesnakie.com check them out. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (10/31/2009 9:08:46 AM)
    .....I know the feeling on the fish in the jumps.I've went through every possible lure i have to get those fish to bite and they just won't. Fishing is extremely tough on the Hick right now. Those fish seem to have grown wary of cranks and spinnerbaits. Might try a finesse worm on a shaky head, although that bite is painfully slow also. Jim, i need some bandits or crankbaits like them without rattles, any suggestions? I starting to believe those fish know that sound and turn their noses up at cranks with rattles. I usually have great luck this time of year with the smaller cranks and top waters, but that hasn't been the case so far this year. I'm about at the point where a casting net and some floats and bobbers may be the way i should go, those fish have PHD'S on the hick. TC/hermitage.
  
  
• OH (10/26/2009 9:23:39 AM)
    .....Spent the weekend on Old Hickory fishing the Cedar Creek area. Lots and lots of shad! Couldn't get the bass to hit our lures, though. So frustrating. Throwing traps, spinnerbaits and white cranks through the schools of shad and around shoreline cover. Had about 4 bites in two days! Caught a three pounder Saturday and one yesterday about two. That was it. Pretty tough.
  
  
• Fishing reports (10/26/2009 6:32:15 AM)
    ..... Yes and I would love to be able to do that but not counting the time I would have to lie to ya'll and I will never do that. It has been 90 days since I have been on Old Hickory and 2 weeks since I have been on Priest, I have been staying at the Hill chasing Blacknose Crappie and Smallies so there is no way without second hand information so that I could do that and we all know about second hand info. The Hill is at 630 but they are pulling it hard but we had a couple of smallies dead on the bank on blue Roadrunners and 20 spots and the blacknose were at the very bottom of the trees in 30-40 foot of water and biting light but it was a bluebird day. Priest and Old Hickory I know are at 60 Degree's and the Hill was 66 degrees yesterday. Anytime you need info on one of the local lakes post a question by Wensday and one of the other guy's on the site will help you out with luck and most all of them are very accurate and if I have been on the lake I will. Thanks for using our site and I will do all I can and the other guy's will to, it is time to be fishing the bank and following the bait because that is what the bass are doing, a 100 Bandit in Pearl splatterback is the ticket right now on all three lakes. Jim
  
  
• fishing reports (10/24/2009 11:10:11 AM)
    .....Jim, I wish you would write a fishing report each week for Old Hickory, Priest and Center Hill. I think it would be a big help for the locals who like to fish these lakes. I know you are very busy but I really value your experience on what and where to fish. Us weekenders need all the help we can get. thanks ptv
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (10/22/2009 8:40:00 AM)
    .....Guys fish the back half of the creeks and either fish the rocky shallow banks or watch the flats for fish working and a 100 bandit has been doing the trick. My best colors have been chrome and blue on the sunny days and pearl splatterback the rest of the time. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (10/21/2009 5:16:19 PM)
    .....I wish I knew where the bass were. Some of you on the Hick have probaly seen my wife and I on the Hobie Pro Angler Kayaks. We just moved to Old Hickory and we fish about 4 days a week. We have fished Shutes Branch, and Cedar Creek on the Hick. We've fished Cooks, Seven Points, and Vivett Creek on Percy. Today we fished the mouth of the Stones River where it feeds into the Cumberland at Peeler Park the the current was so strong I lost my anchor. No wonder we didn't see anyone. After that we went to the Old Hickory Beach Access. We threw a couple jigs, and I was throwing some poppers on a 6WT Fly Rod and catching some small stripers. I watched one Largemouth about 5ft from the bank he was about 3.5-4lb and moving very slowly and wouldn't look at anything I drug by him. Overall the Old Hickory Beach area looks like the best we have seen, or if anyone can point us in the right direction. It looks like the baitfish are moving shallower and the big bass should be just behind them.
  
  
• Old Hickory (10/21/2009 9:20:29 AM)
    .....Going to Old Hickory for bass this weekend with an out of town friend. Can anyone tell me what the bass are doing and the best way to catch them right now? How will the front coming in tomorrow affect the fishing on Sat. and Sun? thanks! Daniel
  
  
• Getting Hungry & Flea Market (10/20/2009 8:24:05 AM)
    .....Man I am getting hungry talking about all these way's to cook fish and speaking of cooking fish we will have a Catfish cooker at the Flea Market this weekend October 24th serving Catfish dinners just one more reason to come to the flea market. I hope to see everyone their and we still have a few seller spots open and it's sure an easy way to pick up some quick cash. Jim
  
  
• baking sauger or crappie (10/19/2009 7:42:05 AM)
    .....This is a quick, easy, and delicious way to serve fish. You use Ranch Salad Dressing and French's Onion Rings that are slightly crushed. Then wash and dry fish with paper towels. Dredge them in Ranch Dressing and roll in Onion Rings. Then bake at 350 degrees until fish is flaky and tender. About 20-25 minutes.
  
  
• Cooking Sauger (10/17/2009 8:08:22 AM)
    .....Yes that is a great way to cook them, also try putting them 4 inches under the broiler with the butter and lemon pepper or paparika and broil 4 minutes on the side that had the skin and 3 minutes on the other side. Serve on a bed of rice with some green beans and you have a heart healthy meal and MMM MMM good. Jim
  
  
• Cooking Sauger Fillets... (10/16/2009 2:13:42 PM)
    .....I'm not much of a cook, but thought this might be worth passing along to all who enjoy eating sauger fillets... My wife has been cooking sauger fillets on a George Forman grill with butter (real butter), dash of lemon pepper and toasted almond slivers... I have to say they are excellent!! I know frying with hushpuppies is the perfered way to cook sauger fillets, but try this method and you won't be disappointed!! GL
  
  
• Bait Shop (10/15/2009 8:57:48 AM)
    .....Guy's help him out I never come from that way so I don't know. jim
  
  
• Center Hill (10/15/2009 6:32:34 AM)
    .....I'm going to fish Center Hill for walleye this week. I'll be coming from Smithville on Rt. 56 and docking at Hurricane Bridge. Does anyone know of a baitshop on the way? I could come through Spencer across on Hwy 70S, but I planned to come through McMinnville. Jerry
  
  
• Center Hill Thermocline (10/13/2009 7:56:31 AM)
    .....Right now there really isn't much of one because the surface temp. has dropped so much and come November the lake will turn over and the bottom water will come to the top and the top water will sink to the bottom. The strong thermocline sets up when the surface water temp. is above 75 degree's and gets stronger the hotter the surface temp. gets but when the water temp gets back down to 65 degrees the thermocline starts disappearing. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (10/12/2009 3:27:46 PM)
    .....Does anyone have an idea what depth the top of the Center Hill thermocline is? Jerry
  
  
• Center Hill (10/10/2009 5:17:29 PM)
    .....The ramps are OK right now because the lake is at 629.48 so till it gets down to 626 you are in pretty good shape. The walleye bite has been sparadic and best on the upper end near the fall's. I have been catching bass up their on a shacky head in 30 foot of water. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (10/10/2009 4:45:58 PM)
    .....My second question: How is the walleye fishing at Center Hill?
  
  
• Center Hill (10/10/2009 4:44:59 PM)
    .....Two questions: How are the ramps at Center Hill?
  
  
• Fishing Flea Market (10/10/2009 9:05:01 AM)
    ..... Guys we are going to have a great turnout for the Anderson Marine and Jim Duckworth Fishing and Hunting Flea market. I have reserved about 40 spots so far but there is plenty of room left so if you have any extra tackle or duck decoys or any other hunting stuff besides guns and ammo you need to get ahold of us and come on down and set up on the 24th of October. This is also going to be a great time to buy some tackle cheap and there no doubt will be lures there they have quit making but we still love to fish you can buy. So don't forget about it if your looking to buy or sell and thanks for taking the time to read this. Jim
  
  
• Skippies (10/8/2009 3:24:33 PM)
    .....Hi Jim. There are a bunch of small ones just below the boils below OH. There are some larger ones around too, but a lot of 4-5 inchers. The small ones are a little smaller than normal for this time of year, i guess it was the cold spring.BL
  
  
• Skipjack at the steamplant (10/8/2009 2:46:16 PM)
    .....Guys I have a striper trip coming up and since I have been building this new boat I have not been to the steamplant to see if the skipjack are in there, anybody know or below any of the dams? Jim
  
  
• Jim's Sauger DVD (10/5/2009 3:21:23 PM)
    .....That video is good. If you haven't seen it you need to buy it. It will help you. BL
  
  
• Sauger Duck River (10/5/2009 8:37:37 AM)
    .....Start at Duck River at 54 degree's and as the temp drops the fish will start moving upstream and come March they will be at the Pickwick dam or near it, follow the migration. Depths change every day or two but usually at the deep holes from the start of them to the end of them and start over. I have a very good sauger DVD that has all the info you will need to be a good sauger fisherman that you can buy on the website or at the Nashville Bass Pro Shops. If you live over by the TN river I will be at the Jackson boat show doing seminars on sauger and will have the DVD's with me in my booth. Jim
  
  
• Float and fly (10/5/2009 8:31:02 AM)
    .....52 degree's is the magic number for the fly and I guide Center Hill and Percy Priest lower end for the float and fly, Dale Hollow is just so far to drive and if it's a sunny day you won't catch a fish. But at the Hill and Priest I can still jig a spoon on a sunny day and catch fish. Jim
  
  
• tenn. river sauger (10/4/2009 7:05:51 PM)
    .....just wandering whats THE time to start fishing for them in the winter pattern.fish from pickwick to duck river.jim whats your thuoghts on time water temp.water depth,TIME TO START TRYING???
  
  
• Dale Hollow smallmouth (10/4/2009 4:49:05 PM)
    .....Jim, when do smouthmouth start hitting float n fly ? Do you guide Dale Hollow ? I made a couple of trips there last year and had a ball using float n fly ptv
  
  
• Jims New Boat (10/3/2009 2:40:13 PM)
    .....Well after all summer of welding and rigging I will be taking my new boat to the water on Monday to start wacking those fish I let rest from me this summer. I will start booking trips the following Monday but I have 2 gift certificates I have to take care of right off so if your tired of sitting at the house and you want to see the best boat I have ever built and rigged give me a call or email me and lets go catch a fish. the fall bite has just started and we have 2 great months in front of us and I am not going to waste one single day. Jim ducktrail@comcast.net for booking
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (10/3/2009 10:04:46 AM)
    .....I know the feeling on the bass in the jumps, first try to find a wounded shad and see what size it is and try to use lures that size. I myself like to throw a rattle snakie spoon past the fish and reel it through them wide open first and if that doesn't work I like to throw it past them and pump it through them, if that doesn't work a white buzzbait and if it doesn't work a 100 bandit in gray splatterback reeled under them and last but not least throw a gulp Shad weightless into them and let it settle with some twitches. Good luck. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (10/2/2009 7:03:16 AM)
    .....Alright it's fall and i'm finding a lot of shad in the creeks. Jim i was on a pack of bass yesterday that were pushing shad in the back of a cove. I exhausted my options on them. I used cranks, traps, a couple of topwater baits and nothing. I couldn't get them to bite anything. It was flustrating watching 3 to 4 pound bass explode on bait right in front of me and not being able to catch them.
  
  
• Magnum hot n tots (9/28/2009 6:04:11 AM)
    .....Try on EBAY I have seen many there. Jim
  
  
• Magnum Hot-N-Tots (9/27/2009 1:07:50 PM)
    .....I'm a Hot-N-Tot fan. I like to use them for trolling for fish deep. Problem is I can't find any of the older 3/4 ounce Magnum Hot-N-Tots. The lure measures 4 1/4 inches long when you include the 1 1/4 inch bill. Does anyone have some they wouldn't mind separating with? I'll pay a fair price. Or does anyone know where I can buy some?
  
  
• Sauger Jigs (9/16/2009 5:16:11 PM)
    .....Sorry it took me so long to find this number but here is the number for the best sauger jig I have ever used and I have to pay for mine to. Perkins Tackle 256-768-1000 you do have to buy them by the dozen but it's a great price. They will also be at the Anderson Marine and Jim Duckworth fishing flea market that is on the front page of the website. Jim
  
  
• The hull reg. on bass (9/16/2009 10:24:01 AM)
    .....I checked with the assistant chief of fisheries and this is what he told me for fact. Jim The proposal for largemouth bass on Cordell Hull is to go to a 17 to 23 inch slot limit, with one fish over 23 and 2 fish under 17. Bobby Wilson
  
  
• Cordell Hull Bass (9/15/2009 10:25:26 PM)
    .....The following link explains the proposed regulations for Cordell Hull. It limits 2 Bass under 17 and 1 over 23, none in between. I guess it will be so long to the 5 limit. The article states it will be voted on in October and has alot of support. Kind of a bummer for those of us who like to eat what we catch. Oh well, I guess I will have to fish more and eat less, ha ha..Dennis http://www.fishingnotes.com/lakeinfo.php?id=27699 Tennesse Anglers Support Tougher Regulations - The Chattanoogan
  
  
• Cordell Hull Bass (9/12/2009 7:05:57 PM)
    .....I will call the agency next week and find out about it and what they are basing it on if they are going to do it. I sort of doubt that they are because of the slow growth rate in the lake. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull Bass (9/12/2009 7:12:02 AM)
    .....Just wandering if anyone knows about the TWO largemouth bass under 17" and ONE over 23" that is to be put on Cordell Hull starting 2010. I understand it has already passed one perposal and in October it could become a law. What are your thoughts about this. I think we do need regulations, possibly like Old Hickory, a 14" minimum. Jim, what are your thoughts?..JHH
  
  
• Bass Center Hill (9/11/2009 7:08:49 AM)
    .....Topwater bite on a spook early and then a 100 bandit till about 10am then go to a 300 bandit in rootbeer the rest of the day and late in the evening go back to a spook or a buzzbait. jim
  
  
• Sauger Jigs (9/11/2009 5:30:15 AM)
    .....Starkeys sells em, and the Bait shop in hendersonville does too..Slim
  
  
• Sauger Jigs (9/9/2009 7:10:27 PM)
    .....Can anyone tell me who sells 3/4 of 1 oz sauger jigs. THANKS
  
  
• The Hill? (9/8/2009 11:31:32 PM)
    .....Jim - Headed to the Hill this weekend and would love some tips on bass, walleye, or crapie. What to use, where to go and what time? Thanks, AMP
  
  
• sauger on Old Hickory (9/7/2009 5:19:12 PM)
    .....Caught four nice sauger today while bass fishing ( shaky head ) I've caught one here and there but never as many and as big as today I haven't sauger fished in years forgot how much fun they are
  
  
• shad (9/5/2009 7:45:55 AM)
    .....There have been several hatches of shad and you are seeing the young on top. Get you a 100 bandit in pearl splaterback or a trap in blue and chrome and go get em. Jim
  
  
• minnows (9/4/2009 1:25:00 PM)
    .....Jim I've started seeing lots of minnows in the creeks ; what makes them start going shallow ? Will lipless cranks start catching bass during this period ptv
  
  
• Gerald (8/31/2009 12:39:28 PM)
    .....Get well soon, fishing is about to get gooood, BL
  
  
• Old Hickory walleye (8/31/2009 6:47:25 AM)
    .....Guys we have to cut Gerald some slack right now he is having chemo therapy and has not been able to go the shop where his computer is. Jim
  
  
• OH Walleye (8/30/2009 6:32:12 PM)
    .....Sorry, thanks SLIM.
  
  
• OH Walleye (8/30/2009 5:54:36 AM)
    .....I've been catching them by trolling worm harnesses, bandit walleye cranks, and a jig with white grub and minnow.. In my opinion the best fishing is from Lebanon to Cordell Hull dam, I usually fish around the islands.. Hope this helps you.. Slim
  
  
• Jim Duckworth fishing (8/29/2009 7:15:48 AM)
    .....Hey guys sorry I have not been giving any fishing reports myself but I have sold both of my boats back to back by accident and it has had me all summer building me a new dual console 20 foot boat. I am putting everything I have learned in 30 years of boat building into this boat and you will want to go out on a trip with me just to check it and all the cool toys I have been installing in it out. As of now I will have it on the water the first week of october just in time for that good fall fishing so don't forget to get you a trip booked. What I do know is there has been a good early topwater bite on all the lakes close to the banks and then a 200 or 300 bandit comes into action just out from the areas you caught your fish on at daylight and then go to a carolina rig with a 10 inch power worm and a tru-tungsten 3\4 ounce weight and make another step deeper and fish the very end of the points. Good luck to everyone and get your trip booked for this fall and check out all the toys I have now to play with on the water. Jim
  
  
• OH Walleyes (8/21/2009 1:26:39 PM)
    .....Gerald, I've tried this with no success. I do not want your fishing spots, but would like to know how you do this. For example, are you in the river section above 109? Are you trolling drops or out on flats? I've tried this a few times but without confidence in what I was doing, I gave up. If I knew I was headed in the right direction, I would put more time into trying to figure these out. I do OK when it gets cold, but the summer walleyes, I haven't unlocked the mystery. Thanks a bunch Gerald, BL
  
  
• swimbaits (8/21/2009 6:59:16 AM)
    .....Yes I do, I fish them mostly above 60 degrees but you can fish them colder. I fish Tru-Tungstens big and little hard swimbait around the edges of grass on points at the end of bluffs and if I find the fish in the jumps I throw the small tru-tungsten swimbaut just past the jumping fish and slow reel it back in. The biggest secret with swimbaits is learning to turn the handle on your reel slow and keep the rod steady, most swimbaits soft or hard have the action built in them and I use 20lb spiderwire camo to fish them on. Jim
  
  
• swimbaits (8/20/2009 1:10:33 PM)
    .....Jim do you use a swimbait on Old Hickory if yes when and where thanks ptv
  
  
• Walleye (8/19/2009 7:00:22 AM)
    .....Trolling Bandit 200 and 300 in blue and chart. on 20 spiderwire. Gerald
  
  
• Help (8/18/2009 11:24:37 AM)
    ..... Hey Gerald or Kenny was you all trolling or jigging and with what ? thanks Sketa
  
  
• old hickory (8/10/2009 3:36:59 PM)
    .....Good to decent topwater bite in the morning. Grass flats... close to the main channel.After sun comes up move out, fish a little deeper with jigs and cranks until about 10 then off to the house. Having decent luck with a rage tail frog around grass in the early morning. The bluffs on the main channel will hold a few fish this time of year if you have the patience to fish them.
  
  
• Fishing (8/9/2009 8:12:19 PM)
    ..... As it apears there are not many of us fishing, it's hot. On most all the middle TN lakes I fish there has been a good earky morning topwater bite on a spiting bait tight to the bank and then I have been using a Bandit 200 for about an hour after it gets good and light and then, I go to the house. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow (8/9/2009 10:26:00 AM)
    .....Any info from anyone on Dale Hollow? Thinking spots and crappie. Thanks.
  
  
• Cordell Hull (7/30/2009 8:31:53 AM)
    .....I haven't been to Cordell Hull in a few months. What can I do to catch a few fish? (Bass) Thanks guys... GJ
  
  
• Boat Trailer (7/30/2009 7:01:34 AM)
    .....Try Marine sales on hiway 231 below Lebanon or call them at 443-4203 and ask for Jerry he usually has a few. Jim
  
  
• boat trailer / tbb (7/30/2009 5:50:18 AM)
    .....anyone out there know anyone with trailer that would accommodate javelin 409t.boat still great shape,its 93 model,had it since new.thEy came with single axle,weight capacity 6000 lbs.would prefer single axle but dont know if any out there. thanks
  
  
• cordell hull bass (7/29/2009 8:28:28 PM)
    .....Any tips for early morning bass on Cordell Hull. We are planning Saturday morning in the area of Granville. Can't seem to get out of the 2 pound range. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Dennis
  
  
• JPP (7/23/2009 5:19:21 AM)
    .....Hey, Any tips for bass on Priest during the day?
  
  
• Catfish (7/21/2009 6:52:38 AM)
    .....2 options, daytime find the deep holes in the river during generation fish, second choice is go jugging after dark on the flats in the creeks. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory Catfish (7/20/2009 10:43:59 AM)
    .....Where have all the cats gone? I have been told they are deep but still cant seem to find em. Any tips?
  
  
• walleye (7/17/2009 11:37:49 PM)
    .....any walleye action in mid tn , OH , THE HILL , TIMS , ?
  
  
• Moonlights Full Moon (7/16/2009 12:23:41 PM)
    .....You can buy them in Cookeville at Outdoor Junction for (don't quote me on this) but I think around a 120 or 130. If your not near Cookeville Just google them and you should be able to find a retailer. G.J
  
  
• black lights (7/15/2009 4:29:11 PM)
    .....where can I get the moonlight lights? after researching different types I've decided to buy the moonlight full moon but don't know who sells them Checked basspro and they didn't list them thanks for info ptv
  
  
• Center Hill Bass at night (7/15/2009 7:33:15 AM)
    ..... My old favorite is a 4 inch black with green pinchers Berkley power craw with a 1\8 ounce weight or a 10 inch black power worm fished around the main lake points and also a black short armed 1\2 ounce spinner bait same places. I like the hurricane area of the lake at night, try Mine Lick and up past the bridge. Jim
  
  
• center hill (7/14/2009 7:48:21 AM)
    .....jim headed to the hill this weekend and looking to fish at night for some smallies. any suggestions on bait selection. Thanks
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (7/10/2009 6:47:21 AM)
    .....Well if your putting in a little cedar go down and if your putting in at big cedar down the lake never leave the creek. Fish topwater early along the rip rap in front of the yacht club and follow it back in and fish the docks and bluff with topwater and when the sun comes up throw a carolina rig with a 10 inch power worm on the long points in the creek in black or red shad. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (7/9/2009 5:17:08 PM)
    .....going to old hickory this weekend putting in at ceder creek just wondering if I should go up or down and what should I fish with?Shallow or deep 10 in worms or dd22s finesse worms? thanks scott
  
  
• Black Lights (7/6/2009 8:43:08 AM)
    .....I have the three of the the Moonlight full moon blacklight and they are great! I have never had a problem nor has any of my buddy's that have them. I have had mine for two years and couldn't be happier. They are alot brighter and very small. They actually use a quarter of the power a Sloan does and I haven't ever heard of any having any issues with mine at all. Hope this helps
  
  
• Jims black lights (7/5/2009 6:56:16 PM)
    .....My Stan Sloan lights have the cords that came on them but I cut the lighter plug off and put on a different plug but you could change it back real easy. Jim
  
  
• black lights (7/5/2009 2:40:18 PM)
    .....everybody says the moonlights are the best but they have a possible problem with the toggle switch. It's located on top and I hear it has been a problem. Has anyone used them and what do you think. I hear they are coming out with a new model. Jim are your Sloan's with lighter plug?
  
  
• Old hickory (7/5/2009 9:19:58 AM)
    .....Well i've finally hit the perverbial wall out on the hick. I can find some bass early around grass, but size isn't where it should be. Seems like i can catch numbers... just size is the problem right now. I don't know about you guys but after around 10am in the morning the bite just shuts down for me. I can manage a few around boat docks after that, but slow is the word after 10. Jim any suggestions on how to catch some size right now on the hick? Anybody got any kind of ledge bite going out there? I've yet to find a very good ledge bite anywhere on the hick. Its almost like the fish are just not out on those ledges, at least where i'm fishing they're not. Maybe i need to switch up my areas or something. Struggling right now out there, help.
  
  
• Black lights (7/4/2009 4:26:55 PM)
    .....Well I looked at BPS and they don't have any Stan Sloan lights left but the do have some hoppy lights but the lights all of the guys love are the LED moonlight lights, if you go down there ask for JD or Stuart and tell them you want to see the lights JD uses and of course if you want my stan sloans I will make you a deal on all of them or just 1 or more.Jim
  
  
• Black lights (7/4/2009 7:09:51 AM)
    ..... I will be at BPS today in Nashville and doing a tank demo. on the new Tru-Tungsten Mad Maxx Frog and it is bad to the bone by the way. While I am there I will check on all the light brands they have now and I know there is one new one out that is LED that all the guys talk about and I will check it out and see if they still have Stan Sloan Lights, I have 3 or 4 near new Sloan lights that I would sell by the way. Jim
  
  
• black lights (7/3/2009 12:33:53 PM)
    .....Jim what are the best black light on the market? Do they still make the Stan Sloan lights? I bought the night stalker ( probass ) I'am not impressed with it , what do you advise? Thanks ptv
  
  
• walleye (7/1/2009 11:12:49 PM)
    .....any walleye action in mid tn area? OH, THE HILL, TIMS FORD, ?
  
  
• Center Hill Bass at night (7/1/2009 7:08:31 AM)
    .....I would throw that blade but also a 10 inch black power worm and a black jitterbug, I would work points next to flats or just stay on the main lake points but no deeper than 20 foot. Jim
  
  
• night on the hill (6/30/2009 5:30:07 PM)
    .....Jim what do I throw on Center Hill thursday night? Would like to get into some smallmouth. Usually would use black spinnerbait but I'm open to any tips thanks ptv
  
  
• Excel USA Made (6/29/2009 4:25:15 PM)
    .....Does anyone have any USA Made 14 pound test clear blue that they might want to sale. Or does anyone know where I can get some. Bass Pro just has the China made stuff now. Thanks
  
  
• Bass Pro Excel (6/29/2009 9:03:54 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you or anybody you know had any problems with the new Excel. I have always used excel night fishing for years and seems since it changed that I can't set the hook without it breaking. Needless to say that it only made two trips earlier this year and I went to p-line. Just wondered if anyone else has had this problem. Thanks!
  
  
• The Hull (6/25/2009 7:04:06 AM)
    ..... Yes it is and around defeated creek and the grass is the place. we have a new frog from Tru- Tungsten called the Maxx frog that you can walk the dog with in open water or grass and has been killing them. I have been fishing them 2 months but they just got into bass pro shops and other retailers. I will be doing a tank seminar at 1PM on Saturday the 4th of July on this frog, it is bad to the bone. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull (6/24/2009 8:57:22 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you heard anything about Cordell? I haven't been In a while and just thought the topwater bite might be good by now. Thanks!
  
  
• striper cordell hull (6/21/2009 10:02:51 PM)
    .....This weekend is our annual man weekend. My father and brothers come down to my cabin and we spend 4 nights on the lake. This year we are thinking of trolling for stripers. My place is just above Granville. What do you think? maybe down Martin Creek or the main channel. Thanks for any help....Dennis
  
  
• Cumberland River (6/20/2009 7:40:42 AM)
    .....Most of the big fish will have moved back down into Nashville down town area but there will still be a bunch of small ones and a lot of spots to be caught. The striper action should be good at the dam with just one generator going because they need lots of oxygen. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland Below OH (6/19/2009 7:01:03 AM)
    .....Jim, glad the site is back up. I too have been hammering the early (and I mean early) morning topwater bite on OH around points, shore gras, etc...Have you been below the dam since the high water cleared out? Current flow was near nothing for a few days now in the 11,000cfs range. Although water level is way down, it looks right for some smallie action. What do you think, too late now?
  
  
• Fishing reports (6/18/2009 12:23:58 PM)
    ..... Guys I am sorry the fishing reports page has been down but the company that host are site took a lightning strike and it smoked a bunch of there stuff. I have been fishing early mornings on all the area lakes and I have a very good topwater bite going on on all the main lake points on a spitting bait. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull (6/8/2009 8:47:29 PM)
    .....We hit the water at 0600 hours Friday morning. We had a fairly productive day. In all we caught about 17 fish. Our keeper largemouth was nine. Just about every nice fish was caught on or near a rock point with about a 8 to 10 foot drop. Rock seemed to be the key. Lizzard soft bait seemed to be the constant. Where are the big fish? I was happy about the day, but would like to get out of the 1 to 2 pound range. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Dennis
  
  
• Center Hill (6/7/2009 11:58:09 PM)
    .....The bluegill fishing is great right now. Back of creeks/coves, 3-7 feet of water. My daughter caught 15 or more big gills today in about 2 hours, total of about 25 keepers for the day in between baiting hooks and taking them off for her. Couldn't keep my line in the water long enough because she kept pulling them in. Mike
  
  
• Center Hill Bass (6/4/2009 8:20:04 AM)
    .....Early morning topwater on the main lake points and then go to a 300 Bandit in Rootbeer on the major points on the lake and the secondary points, also try the chunck rock with a dropshot. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (6/3/2009 4:49:01 PM)
    .....Headed up to the hill this weekend...any suggestions? Would love to get into some bass, but may just go after catfish. Had some nice catfish up there a couple weeks ago.
  
  
• cordell hull bass (5/27/2009 9:16:44 PM)
    .....I know what you are saying about the size of the fish. I have been catching all I want of small but keeper largemouth on the hull. I did pull in a 6 pounder this past weekend in the late evening. I pulled a 10 inch watermelon worm, flat tail, off of a rock bank and bounced it off the bottom in about 10ft of water toward a submerged log. About two foot prior to hitting the log it hit like hard and took off. I was fishing a rock point a few coves above granville. I went back to the same spot an hour later and got a hard hit, but didnt get it in so my wife says it dont count, but it hit harder than the first. All that being said, I think Jim is right and I will be following the same pattern this weekend. Dennis
  
  
• Codell Hull Bass info. (5/27/2009 11:41:17 AM)
    ..... Get out on the main lake points and flats and around the grass and throw a big jig into the grass and crawl a 10 inch power worm around the outside edges of the grass and use both lures to work rocky points. Hope this helps. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull (5/26/2009 10:24:28 AM)
    .....Jim, I've been having a hard time a Cordell latley. I can catch number but no size.I can have a consistant 8 to 10 pounds sack but no big fish. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch
  
  
• Leeches (5/25/2009 5:53:24 PM)
    .....I was out fishing the hick again. I caught a couple of good size fish and notice something about a inch long and red hanging off of their fins. Upon further inspection its a leech!, about a inch long. This came as a surprise to me as i had no idea there were leeches in old hickory lake. I caught the fish in cages bend area. Just thought i'd share that info, becasue it surprised the heck out of me. Oh and by the way the bite is still on on the hick despite the high traffic and heavy pressure. TC/hermitage.
  
  
• The hick (5/21/2009 7:49:06 AM)
    .....I've been slaying them this week on old hickory, 30, 40 fish a day. The stable weather has helped the bite tremendously. Tricked out plastics and crankbaits and ole jim's revo and fenwick has sore lipped a bunch of them. The bigger fish are off the banks a little, i've even found a few on my summer spots already. Bad part is my old lemonrude is trying to lay down on me, or i'd be out there again sore lipping some more. Water temp around 68 in most places with murky to stained water in most places. Its gotten a lot clearer over the last few days though, making me have to switch colors up a bit. Good fishing right now out there, get out and enjoy it.
  
  
• OH catfish (5/15/2009 5:01:11 PM)
    .....caught several cats yesterday afternoon on the upper end of OH close to the 231 bridge. Anchored in the eddys in any kind of pocket along the channel. needed at least 2oz of weight to keep bait down. we were catching em pretty steady until about dark then they shut off. jason
  
  
• Old hickory (5/14/2009 7:28:45 AM)
    .....Well things are returning to normal just in time for the next round of rain today, tommorrow and saturday. The lake is a few inches above normal pool and water is murky to cloudy. Water temp around 64 on the surface in most places. Most of my fish i caught on plastics this time. They really didn't want to chase anything down until the sun came out so the crank and spinnerbait bite was slow. Probably caught 15 bass with about half being keeper size. I did manage to catch several crappie on a crankbait that were about as big as i've ever saw. One weighed 2 lbs and was about 14 inches long! I thought it was a bass when it came to the surface. Most of the bass had beat up tails from the spawn, so i'm guessing thats just about over. Almost time to switch gears and start thinking deeper. Be careful out there, plenty of large trees and peices of large trees floating that would ruin your day in a hurry. TC/hermitage
  
  
• The Hull (5/14/2009 7:09:31 AM)
    ..... I have not been since the flood and I know it still has a lot of color in it and with this line of storms coming in for the next few days who knows. Jim
  
  
• Cordell (5/13/2009 9:39:59 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you been to cordell hull latley bass fishing? Just wondering if you know what I could try. Thanks again
  
  
• The hick (5/10/2009 6:30:27 PM)
    .....Well i was fishing in a guys backyard today, used his stack of wood for a anchor and proceeded to catch a few fish off his wifes flower bed, lol. The lake is high and trahed all to pieces. I'm not going out there again until mid-week or so. There are some fish in the new water, if you can get a bait to them. Water temp around 62 in most places i fished. That a drop of about 5 degrees from a few days ago and the bite is painfully slow. I was fishing pure mud in cedar and spencer creeks.
  
  
• cats on the hull (5/10/2009 4:48:48 PM)
    .....I'm getting catfish fever. My place is just above Granville on Cordell Hull. Where and what to do this time of the year. My wife and I like the rod and reel action, rather than juggs or trott lines. Any help will be greatfully appreciated..thanks Dennis
  
  
• below dans (5/8/2009 10:01:09 AM)
    .....anybody catching anything below CH or OH dams?
  
  
• Percy Priest (5/8/2009 7:56:23 AM)
    ..... Guy's I planted 40 rows of corn in the back of stewarts creek so try not to run over in it in your boat if the water ever clears. Jim
  
  
• TC (5/8/2009 7:42:14 AM)
    .....Glad that combo helped, that is the best rod I have ever touched for almost all bass fishing and the Winch Revo is great for crankin and spinnerbaits. I have about 6 of them with the winch the STX and the Skeet Reece models on them and that covers everything. Jim
  
  
• The Hick (5/8/2009 7:29:03 AM)
    .....Fished the hick yesterday mostly cedar creek area and cages bend for awhile. Fish were in the mood for cranks and i feed a few bandits to them. Most my fish were keeper size pounders with a few being around two. If i wasn't so stubborn with the plastic i would have had a good numbers day with the bandits. Jim, i got the revo winch and the light action fenwick. Thats a winning combination. Awesome rod and reel setup, very lightweight and for the first time in awhile my arm and elbow didn't hurt after cranking for awhile. That rod action took some getting used too. I found myself reeling my butt off to catch up to some of those fish. They just load on to that rod with not much to tell you they're there. I'll get used to it. Water temp in the low 60's, water color murky, to almost muddy in some areas. Things will get back to normal if the rain will ever stop. TC/ hermitage
  
  
• Old Hickory Water (5/5/2009 7:06:04 AM)
    .....How's the water look in Cedar Creek right now? Is it a mud hole? What about the Shute's Branch area. I was thinking about fishing Thursday since I can't run all over the place in my boat just wondering which area might have the cleanest water. Thanks.
  
  
• ky lake (5/4/2009 11:19:26 AM)
    .....Fished a tournament there yesterday. Partner and I caught 83 largemouth with our best 5 going about 14 pounds. Only had those 5 keepers. So many foot-long fish in that lake! Had no idea. All on a spinnerbait, crankbait, and jig.
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (5/3/2009 6:48:55 AM)
    .....They have been smacking them up the lake on the weedbeds with the new soft 5&6 inch swimbaits reeled slow. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow (4/30/2009 9:24:21 PM)
    .....Anyone been to Dale lately? Wondering how the fishing is?
  
  
• Sauger (4/30/2009 7:43:58 PM)
    .....There are always a few below the dam but the best sauger fishing is over but if you are wanting to get a few bounce a jig and minnow below the flood gates and around the lock. Jim
  
  
• Bird song area KY Lake (4/30/2009 7:41:44 PM)
    .....Think very shallow, thats where I caught them a week ago, bass swimming a jig and crappie on a Road Runner. Jim
  
  
• sauger (4/30/2009 11:37:49 AM)
    .....I heard that sauger spawn time is in the middle of may. I have never caught any and would love to try. Any advice on the subject?
  
  
• sauger (4/29/2009 7:30:38 PM)
    .....Jim, what would you do to fish for sauger for the next several months?
  
  
• birdsong/New Johnsonville (4/29/2009 11:41:04 AM)
    .....Going to the Birdsong new Johnsonville area this Saturday, any advice?
  
  
• Hickory bass/crappie (4/28/2009 11:17:36 PM)
    .....Fished upriver on Hickory April 28 '09, lake more normal elevation at 444.86. Water surface temps have really shot up, 66 at my first stop at daylight and and 77 at my last stop in midafternoon. Caught about 25 crappie, had 11 keepers, casting jigs 3-4 feet deep in midcreek. No action from crappie or bass in heads of creeks. Caught 6 bass, of which 3 keepers, two 15-1/4 inchers and a 14-1/4 incher, on shallow crankbait and 6-inch worm. Haven't caught a big bass this spring, haven't even hung one. Seems like the worm has been better to fish when the sun is bright. I've done better for bass and crappie this year when the lake is more normal in elevation, I've struggled when it has been high.
  
  
• Priest bass (4/26/2009 8:19:59 AM)
    .....I have been fishing a Bandit 100 in the shallows where there are rocks and gravel and burning it. I believe the bass are going on bed so I am making repeated cast to the sweet spots and trying to make them mad, I have been fishing the new Orange Crush and a red Bandit. Jim
  
  
• barton's creek (4/25/2009 6:52:32 PM)
    .....A few people have already had their cars broken into down there this year. I suspect they were fishing odd hours, like late at night or very early mourning. Might be a better idea to fish there during the busier hours. Its a risk leaving your tow vehicle anywhere at odd hours or at all for that matter. People regularly get their cars broken into at shutes branch at odd hours of the day and thats a pretty busy stretch of road. Really doesn't matter, its the times we live in. The economy isn't helping matters either. Jim what in the world do i need to do to catch a few fish on preist? Went out yesterday, fished the spring creek and i think its stewarts creek area. I caught nothing but small fish. Stumped on that one. TC/hermitage
  
  
• Barton's Creek (4/25/2009 10:28:56 AM)
    ..... I am not sure but I would bet if it was happening last year it will be worse this year with the economy and lay off's we have had in Lebanon. Jim
  
  
• Bartons creek (4/24/2009 11:06:07 AM)
    .....Last year at Bartons creeks parking lot there was a problem of some theft of catalytic converters and some auto break-ins. I was wondering if anyone has heard if there is still any problems there? Thanks M. Binkley
  
  
• Round lick creek (4/23/2009 7:00:54 AM)
    .....Some good bluegill fishing with crickets and some small bass on 4 inch worms and small spinerbaits, thanks for the kind words. Jim
  
  
• Round Lick Creek/Rome (4/22/2009 7:41:16 PM)
    .....Jim I was planning on putting in at the ramp there at Rome and canoeing into Round Lick a little. Any ideas what type of fish I might look for/techniques? Thanks for any advice. Love your dvds! Andy
  
  
• Sore joints and Bandits (4/22/2009 5:28:35 PM)
    .....I fish my Bandits on a 6'6 light action Fenwick HMG with a Revo Winch reel which has a 5 to 1 gear ratio so it makes them easier to reel in and with the Revo reel and the Fenwick rod I have a super light weight combo but super sensitivity and it can handle big fish easaly, I have caught many 20+ pound stripers on it. You also might try some Ibuprofen I promise you it will help. Jim
  
  
• Codell Hull Lake (4/22/2009 5:21:40 PM)
    .....I imagine they are keeping it down for spring rains because of Wolf Creek Dam on Lake Cumberland. Jim
  
  
• Sorry for the delay in reports (4/22/2009 7:33:39 AM)
    ..... Guys I just got in last night from my writers meeting I have every year at KY Lake and man it was the worst I have ever seen down there with these fronts and wind but we did catch a few good bass and crappie and they were dead on the bank in 18 inches of water, mostly males. The fish had been on fire the week before and I would bet money come the end of the week if you can get down there you will hit the first big peek on bass and crappie. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull (4/20/2009 4:53:59 PM)
    .....Jim, Have you heard anything in regards to why Cordell Hull isn't at summer pool. Thanks!
  
  
• Yellow Perch (4/20/2009 11:39:22 AM)
    .....I was fishing the TN River in the Cuba Landing area right next to I-40 yesterday and caught a Yellow Perch on a bandit 300 mixed in with a bunch of stripe! Didn't think they were down here this far. It was not a yellow stripe either, I've caught plenty of those before. It went about 11 inches long and is in my freezer now.
  
  
• yellow perch / trav (4/20/2009 7:39:43 AM)
    .....there are yellow perch ky.lake lake.i have caught a few cracker fishing as well as bass fishing.dont know alot about these fish as never caught them consistantly.hope this helps
  
  
• A couple of questions jim (4/19/2009 7:10:05 PM)
    .....Bandit crankbaits 100-300 series. Do you fish these baits on a baitcaster or spinning gear? Light or medium action? Jim, i'm experiencing pain in my arm after fishing. Seems like when i'm either fishing crankbaits or spinnerbaits. When i'm chucking and winding a lot. Anyway i tend to pull a lot of baits along with the rod tip in a sweeping motion (like carolina rigging).That seems to put a lot of stress on my wrist and hand. Maybe i should think about buying lighter, better quality tackle? My stuff isn't cheap mostly bps stuff in the $150 to $200 dollar range. Really a nagging thing this is. I'd say its a form of tendenitis, since the pain will be in my shoulder at times, wrist and forearm, hand another. I went out yesterday and i'm having pain in my hand. I'm going to try not pulling the cranks along with the rod tip next trip and see if that helps any.
  
  
• yellow perch (4/19/2009 9:21:52 AM)
    .....there are a few in the tn. river but there far and few between.I was fishing with a guy at the mouth of crooked creek in january and he caught one. That is the only one ive seen .the man that caught it said he had seen afew more before caught but he has fished here for 30 yrs.
  
  
• yellow perch (4/19/2009 1:41:37 AM)
    .....i sure appreciate all the responses on this subject, they are all note worthy , and i thank you all !!!
  
  
• yellow perch (4/18/2009 7:35:33 PM)
    .....I have fished Lake Erie too. Grew up fishing for perch in my dad's boat. I generally catch a few every year in Lake Chickamauga about this time while crappie fishing. I caught two last week, one was a good 10 inches, both were full of roe. It's always about the time crappie are spawning and in the same creeks. There are also too many of those yellow bass and who would clean those little things.
  
  
• yellow perch (4/17/2009 10:07:27 PM)
    .....I have fished Normandy lake since its beginning and have caught some yellow perch spawning with crappie.I have spoken with at least one local with similar experiences.I have gotten the TWRA official response of it must have been a bait bucket introduction but these fish are egg laiden.While there may not be many there are some.And by the way I may be local but I have fished the big pond[Lake Erie] and know exactly what a yellow perch is. Sincerely E from Nolensville
  
  
• yellow perch (4/17/2009 8:33:26 AM)
    .....they are in the lake at cumberland mountian state park and brekenridge lake in crossville.
  
  
• Yellow perch (4/17/2009 6:53:32 AM)
    .....If you are talking about the yellow perch like in the great lakes the answer is no, not in TN. we do have a yellow stripe that is very good to eat but doesn't get much more than 6 inches long on average, but they do eat good. Hope this help's. Jim
  
  
• yellow perch (4/17/2009 1:44:56 AM)
    .....i have asked this question several times with no response, so anyone, feel free to respond , are there any lakes or reservoirs in the mid tn area that hold yellow perch ? any info would be great !!!
  
  
• Barton's creek (4/13/2009 6:06:40 PM)
    .....The water being clearer back there is probably a combination of the springs jim refers too and the grass acting as a natural filter.
  
  
• yellow creek(pickwick) (4/13/2009 11:52:54 AM)
    .....My dad and i went crappie fishing at yellow saturday. The conditions were terriable.These fish were soposto be spawning,but we found them in the last hour before we had to go in 17 to 18 feet of water. We ended up with 22. So it wasnt that bad.
  
  
• Center Hill 4-11-09 (4/12/2009 10:22:30 AM)
    ..... Went to Center Hill on 4-11-09 and had a great day fishing with my dad. Fished the lower end. We were in them from the very start and continued all day until the sun came out and the wind stopped blowing. Best 5 went around 18 pounds with 2 over 5 pounds and a fat one that went 4 (9th picture). All but 2 all day were largemouth. Had one short smallmouth. Saw one male that had already staked out a spot and would not leave it no matter what happened. They will be doing their thing in a couple of days. In the 8th picture down look at this male, he is beat up from getting the bed ready. Here are a couple pictures, I tried to short arm them so you could actually see how big they were, instead of holding them right up to the camera and adding 5 pounds. Don't know how much it took to win the tournament down there but the way they were biting, I wouldn't be surprised if it took 25 lbs. http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0486.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0501.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0500.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0498.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0497.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0495.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0491.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0490.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0488.jpg http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc324/lawmike/CIMG0489.jpg All fish caught on a homemade chatterbait i make.
  
  
• Bartons Creek (4/11/2009 4:36:09 PM)
    ..... I know there are several springs back there but other than that I don't know, maybe one of the other readers might know. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (4/9/2009 7:55:59 PM)
    .....jim why is the water so clear in the back of Barton Creek. The last few years it gets very clear what's the reason? thanks ptv
  
  
• south holstin (4/8/2009 11:59:02 AM)
    .....big rock bass and hybred hitting top water luers and grubs out in swift waters
  
  
• old hickory (4/5/2009 1:42:46 PM)
    .....lake is a mess but the back of creeks are clearing. The main channel is dangerous [ stuff floating everywhere ]ptv
  
  
• old hickory (4/3/2009 1:18:20 PM)
    .....what is this rain going to do to the bass. I have a tournament on sat.do you think the back of creeks will still produce or do I need to do something else?
  
  
• Center Hill Bass (4/1/2009 8:40:44 AM)
    .....Time to get in the creeks from the front to the back with more time in the back sheltered pockets. If it's sunny throw a 100 and 200 Bandit in Rootbeer and if its cloudy and windy throw a spinnerbait in double willow leaf white and chartruece with chrome and silver blades. throw next to any wood and on any little point you see and a lot of fish will be scattered down the banks. The big sows will be setting a little deeper and a 300 Bandit in Rootbeer or a sinking minnow fished from 7 to 20 foot will be the ticket, good luck. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (3/31/2009 7:37:50 PM)
    .....Jim, I fished the Hill last week and could only catch spots and a few smallies on main lake didn't catch any largemouth in creeks shouldn't they be moving up shallow by now with water temp in mid 50's or is this cool weather holding them back? any suggestions, thanks. Alan
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (3/30/2009 8:01:23 AM)
    ..... I would throw a 100 bandit in the backs of the pockets on any rock bank the sun was hitting. I would also throw a white fluke around what grass is left and drag a jig down the ledges early till the sun comes out. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (3/29/2009 3:33:01 PM)
    .....Jim what would use this week for bass? Are they up shallow? thanks
  
  
• Dale Hollow (3/26/2009 7:13:23 PM)
    .....The water will have to come up 15 foot for them to get in the bushes. When the water temp get's at that 60 degree point they will move in shallow, right now a jerkbait next to the spawning areas will be your best bet. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hallow (3/26/2009 1:09:01 PM)
    .....Jim, Is it time for the largemouth to get in the bushes yet? If not what can I do to catch some fish? Thanks again!
  
  
• sauger (3/25/2009 9:04:31 AM)
    .....GL, I agree about the bass assassin. I use 4 inch in pearl with chartreuse tail on a chartreuse football jig. The sauger fishing below Nickajack Dam has really been off the past few years, but in the past I've caught sauger when the water temperature is in the upper 50's and even occassionally in the lower 60's. So keep at it for a while. Jerry
  
  
• jerkbait / trav (3/25/2009 6:09:23 AM)
    .....jerkbait has been good on kentucky lake past 2 wks.had 5 lge mouth over 5#,2-6#,1 over 7#.smallmouth had 2-61/2#,4 over5#& several in 3 & 4# class.better bite has been in afternoon with sun.largemouth are ready for bedding.had a 5# & 6# mon.with 200 bandit in 2 ft. water.
  
  
• Sauger below Pickwick Dam (3/24/2009 1:15:24 PM)
    .....Jerry, thanks for your kind words... I was lucky to have a day when the current, water depth, etc. were just right... But, I was pleasantly surprised to catch a limit of saugers this late in the season... And, after sauger fishing for more than 20 years below Pickwick Dam, I learned something new... When they stop biting minnows, then put some plastic on that jig!!! A big 5" Bass Assassin (Silver Phantom Shad) will work...GL
  
  
• sauger (3/23/2009 8:49:18 PM)
    .....Congradulations on the sauger limit. That's good fishing!! Jerry
  
  
• Sauger below Pickwick Dam (3/23/2009 8:41:07 AM)
    .....I know everyone is starting to fish for bass & crappie, but I caught a limit (10) of saugers Sat. morning below Pickwick... All nice fish with only one keeper less than 15"...GL
  
  
• Center Hill (3/22/2009 8:27:36 PM)
    .....Guys you gotta get down to the hill. Went from daylight till about 2:00 p.m. Jerkbait bite is on. Water temp was 52 in the morning and almost 54 by 2:00 p.m. Caught 7 all of good size. 5 smallmouth and 2 spots. Biggest smallmouth was 4.10 lbs and had another that was 3.07 lbs. All the other fish were good keepers around 2 to 2.5 lbs. Had one hook up and snap my line and for the next hour i had to watch him and my $15.00 jerkbait jumping to the surface. Fished Indian and Holmes Creeks. Mike- Gallatin
  
  
• bass tournaments (3/22/2009 12:14:41 PM)
    .....I don't fish preist much. Flippers in gallatin has a wednesday night tournament that runs from 5:30 to 8:30. Cost per boat is 40.00. Shutes branch has a tournament that runs out of it on either wednesday or thursday, i beleive its thurdays, cost is either 30.00 or 40.00 a boat. I think its 5 til 11, but i maybe wrong on that. There is a old hickory/percy priest bass club that alternates between the two lakes. They stopped accepting new memeberships on the 14 though. Those are the only ones i know of. If you are maybe interested in fishing either one, i'm looking for a partner. TC hermitage
  
  
• Bass tounament JWatson (3/21/2009 10:13:42 PM)
    .....Lookin for a tournament on priest or old hickory or both on saturdays once a month. Not to big with money tight woulk like to pay about 20 a person. But any ideas would help thanks. Jamie And old hick is on fire went wednesday and caught over 130 a mix of crappie bule gill and yellow bellies the most being yellow bellies but still fun fun
  
  
• Old Hickory (3/16/2009 8:25:39 PM)
    .....Old Hickory is on fire. Went 4 hours each day. Found the fish in the very backs of the creeks. Flipping shallow cover and all lay-downs and throwing a rattle trap. The males are shallow and in the lay-downs caught them flipping. But if you turn around and chuck a trap behind you, you'll find the big girls. Water in the backs of the creeks was a sustained 52.5 degrees. Backs of creeks are full of shad. Fish are fat and healthy.
  
  
• Lake grass (3/14/2009 1:27:13 PM)
    ..... I know that at Guntersville the have cut back 90% and are allowing the resident's to kill weed's (dumb move) but I have not heard that here. I will call the Agency tomorrow and find out, that's the last thing the fish need is a bunch of chemicals thrown on them by some people that won't read the directions. I know most private dock owners will be doing it right but to much of it (the chemical's)in the water from every other dock owner could be bad. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (3/14/2009 9:57:55 AM)
    .....Does anyone have pictures of the river before lake was impounded? Would like the Bartons & Spring creek areas Jim I heard they were not going to kill grass anymore, that dock owners can kill it around their docks but there wasn't going to be lake wide kill. Have you got any info ? Thanks ptv
  
  
• Old hickory (3/7/2009 7:39:34 PM)
    .....First trip of the year today. Got to the lake around 1pm. Fished around the steamplant area with jigs and lipless cranks, no takers. Water temp around 54 at mouth of discharge, 60 at the head of the discharge. Action was pretty non existant at the plant for bass. Plenty of guys fishing for rockfish and cats. After that i pretty much made a milk run to station camp and a few big coves off the main lake. Water temp most places hovering right around 49-51. I found one cove that had 53 degree water in it. It was muddy though and void of fish. Marked a lot of fish in the 10-15 foot range on my graph. Threw cranks at them and jigs, but still few bites. Lake was full of anglers, everyone must of been tired of that cabin fever, lol. Did manage to finally catch a couple off some docks, but very slow overall, for me at least. Better days ahead.
  
  
• Snaggy Sauger Holes (3/7/2009 10:50:31 AM)
    ..... The first secret is to get a sauger jig with a light wire hook and 20LB. Spider wire braided line and keep your jig going up and down as vertical as possible. This will lessen your hang up's and when you do get hung the 20LB. line will straighten your hook so you get your jig back. If you look on the front page of our website you will find a link for sauger jigs that meet this need and the Perkins family own the business and they will fix you up. Good luck and if you will do these things it will help you out. Jim
  
  
• GPS and Depthfinder video (3/7/2009 10:44:32 AM)
    ..... Yes I have had many request for that type video but with so many units out there with different operating systems it would be terrible hard to do. I am a Humminbird Tech Advisor and helped to design the side imaging units and could do one in great detail but it wouldn't do the Lowrance guys any help. If you happen to have a SI Humminbird there is a good information website called www.sideimaging.com and it will help you a lot. Jim
  
  
• sauger holes (3/7/2009 9:24:50 AM)
    .....I fish the Tennessee River near the Alabama line. Recently I found 2 holes that should be great sauger habitat, but they are very snaggy--with rocks I think. How do you fish an area where normal sauger jigging won't work because of snags. This is an area that doesn't have many good spots. Jerry
  
  
• GPS/fishfinder pdsnashville (3/6/2009 1:06:00 PM)
    .....Jim, I have just about all of your video's. I got a lot out of the sauger tape. Especially you showing what to look for on the depth finder. I wish you would consider doing a GPS/ depth finder/ fish location tape. I have checked the internet and can't find one. Do it the good ole boy style. thanks
  
  
• centerhill (3/5/2009 5:15:15 PM)
    .....anything going on at the hill
  
  
• Thank you Mike (3/5/2009 11:02:45 AM)
    ..... Guys I will be back fishing by Sunday but my buddy Gerald has some long recovery ahead but just like me he has a major support group of close friends that will look after him. The water temp's are getting to that fifty degree mark so sharpen yor hooks on your traps and jerkbait's because it's almost time to get down to fishing. Jim
  
  
• Get Well (3/5/2009 6:06:01 AM)
    .....Hope you guys are doing well, Jim and Gerald. I hope everything is okay, we couldn't afford anything to happen to both you guys. You are our fishing gurus. Mike-Gallatin
  
  
• Sorry guys (3/4/2009 8:21:53 PM)
    .....Gerald and I both had surgery in the last week and we both got out of the hospital today. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow launch ramps/RCMJ (3/3/2009 3:13:07 PM)
    .....Never been to Dale Hollow to fish but I have looked at some of the marinas. You can put your boat in but there is no parking for truck and trailor. Where is best place to launch a boat and can you give suggestions on where to stay when going to DH?
  
  
• Sauger below Pickwick Dam... (2/28/2009 4:38:49 PM)
    .....10 keepers (limit) fishing alone Sat. morning... Only caught 3 or 4 short fish... Not too many boats sauger fishing this morning because of the weather, but the sauger were biting!! GL
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (2/26/2009 7:05:02 PM)
    .....I would throw a jerkbait on step inlet points or fish a jig on the drops. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hallow (2/26/2009 8:58:24 AM)
    .....Jim, I'm going to Dale Hallow this weekend what should I do an what type of banks should I look for. Thanks again
  
  
• Trolling motor batteries (2/24/2009 4:57:38 PM)
    .....You can use four batteries to wire a 24 volt trolling motor that will give you a lot of trolling hours. However, you need to understand series and parallel wiring. You wire two sets of two motors each in parallel. Then you wire the two sets together in series. This essentially gives you double sized batteries with 24 volt power. You can use an on-board battery charger with this setup.
  
  
• Trolling motor wiring (2/23/2009 7:48:34 PM)
    .....You only need to use 2 batteries for 24 volt, battery 1 ground to trolling motor plug, battery 2 hot wire goes to breaker and then to trolling motor plug. Battery one positive side goes to a jumper wire that goes to the negative of battery two. Read twice and have a fire ext. handy in case of mistake. Jim
  
  
• Small Lake Fishing (2/23/2009 7:36:13 PM)
    ..... This is a real common thing in small lakes like the one I have which is just a half an acre. What I have to do is keep finding baits to throw into the pond different than what they have not seen 100 times before. Your other choice is to learn the drop shot well. The drop shot with small baits worked slow can catch you a lot of shy fish. Everyone things the dropshot to be a straight up and down presentation but I fish it more thrown into shallow water or on a ledge and drag it back to the boat slow and stop and go, Good Luck. Jim
  
  
• Sauger below Pickwick Dam (2/23/2009 3:39:24 PM)
    .....8 keepers Sat. AM fishing alone... One 19"+ female... Didn't catch but two or three short fish all morning... 25' to 30' deep... Saw several boats catching saugers, but didn't get too many reports on the number of keepers... GL
  
  
• trolling motor wiring (2/23/2009 1:30:35 PM)
    .....Jim any info on how to wire a 24v trolling motor to 3 batteries? My motor is 24v but was hooked up to 3 batteries,I had one go down so I rewired it to 2 batt. until late, now I forgot how it went.
  
  
• small lakes (2/19/2009 8:02:45 PM)
    .........Jim I fish a small TWRA lake a few miles from the house..About 50 acres.There is not alot of pressure on the lake but they have seen every lure known to man. What would you recommend.I have alot of luck on plastics. But I'm looking for something different..
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (2/19/2009 7:17:30 PM)
    .....I would start at the head of the barges below the steamplant about a mile on the barge side of the river and flip a jig to all the cover to the steam plant, including those coves I would also if it was sunny up in the day throw a 100 bandit against the bank for those bass that might be sunning. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (2/19/2009 6:27:52 PM)
    .....Jim what would you try this weekend on old hickory for bass? Open to suggestions. Any info would be appreciated.
  
  
• Sauger (2/18/2009 7:40:55 AM)
    .....Saltilo and Clifton are downstream of pickwick dam on the TN river and it is the only good place to catch sauger right now, old hickory has been slow at best. Jim
  
  
• sauger (2/18/2009 5:42:59 AM)
    .....sat. 7 fish 6 keepers sun. more than 40 fish13 keepers clifton area.
  
  
• Saltillo (2/18/2009 1:54:06 AM)
    .....Where is Saltillo? Would like to get into some sauger. Going Friday to Old Hickory to give them a try.
  
  
• Saltillo sauger report (2/17/2009 1:58:16 PM)
    .....Fished the Saltillo area again on Feb. 13. Had another good day. 22 fish, with 17 being keepers. 6 females, 11 males. They were hard to come by, we fished from 8 to 4. At one spot they were in 30-32 feet and in another, they were in 38-40 feet. I am concerned about the lack of short fish we are catching this year. A few years ago, you would catch 80 and have 10 keepers. The past 2 years the majority of fish caught have been keepers. I wonder if this is just a cycle we are going through or if it's a bad sign for the future? Jason
  
  
• Transition Line by Berkley (2/17/2009 6:53:21 AM)
    .....Yes they have but like I said retie regular and when you get hung up don't pull hard on your lure to get loose. Flouro doesn't stretch and when you stretch it it keep's the stretched thinning of the line which is what gives people trouble. Always get as close to your lure and use a lure retriever to get it back and then cut off the part you stretched and retie. Jim
  
  
• transition line (2/16/2009 7:52:35 PM)
    .....jim i tried transition line couple yrs back it was too brittle and just didn't handle very good have they improved it? i use p-line , it handles good but i can't see it what do you fish worm and jig on?
  
  
• Fluorcarbon (2/15/2009 7:13:30 PM)
    ..... Go to the Berkley Transition in crimson red or gold and it is invisible underwater and colored about 1 second after it leaves the water so you can see it, retie regular. Jim
  
  
• Depth finder (2/15/2009 7:10:51 PM)
    ..... I am not familar with the lowrance line any longer since going over to Humminbird and would like to pass this on to one of the other guys on the site to answer. Or you can talk to Pete at BPS Nashville and he has a good handle on the lowrance products and maybe he can help you, sorry.
  
  
• fluorcarbon (2/15/2009 1:16:11 PM)
    .....Jim I've been trying to use fluorcarbon line but when fishing worm or jig I can't see the line. What's the answer? ptv
  
  
• fish finder question? (2/15/2009 8:53:57 AM)
    .....Jim, i have a lowrance 522c igps as my console depth finder. I'm entertaining the idea of getting another lowrance so i can hook them together with the nmea 2000 network. Well i recently found out that you have to have a external gps like the lgc-2000 or lgc-3000 to link them. Have you had any experience with these networking systems? Is it really worth the extra money to go ahead and do this? I guess your answer might be, is it worth it to me. Well i fish mainly old hickory and priest with a occassional trip to kentucky and barkley. These systems cost a lot and the fish finder i have on my trolling motor is junk. I was thinking of purchasing a lowrance 520c with the lgc-3000, but i'm not crazy about drilling that hole in my boat for it to sit down in. I'm open to buying a different fish finder for the front, but i like the idea of having my units linked. Another thing if i go on and by the 520c should i switch my 522 up to the front and use the 520 for my console unit? Thanks, TC hermitage.
  
  
• Charger (2/11/2009 7:22:33 PM)
    .....He is right and the new chargers are far better and will extend the life of your Batteries. Get you a Dual Pro with how ever many banks you need and you will have the best, Bass Pro Shops has a large assortment. Jim
  
  
• Charger (2/11/2009 5:32:17 PM)
    .....You probably could buy a new one with what it would cost to have that one fixed, if you even can.
  
  
• Charger Repair (2/10/2009 6:11:19 PM)
    ..... My onboard charger layed down on me. Its a Promariner 20 amp. Does anybody know if there is a good repair place in the Nashville area Thanks Sketa
  
  
• below cheatham/trav (2/10/2009 6:06:51 AM)
    .....fished river below cheatham yesterday,stripe still hitting.still alot of shad dying off.no sauger caught,but had 2 largemouth & 12 spots in bartons creek,1/2 to 3 pounds.
  
  
• Sauger are finally picking up... (2/9/2009 11:56:24 AM)
    .....On Friday I fished with my dad and one of his good friends. Fished the Saltillo area. We struggled pretty hard until around 12 with only two keepers until that point. After 12, we found a good group of fish and ended up with 14 keepers for the day. All fish were good fish and were fat. About 1/2 males, 1/2 females. Shad were still flickering on the surface and there were several spit up in my livewell. Looks like the shad kill is finally starting to clear out. Until this trip, I had been 3 times with only 2 keepers total. If we don't get too much rain, it will be on this weekend. Jason
  
  
• Nashville Boat Show (2/9/2009 9:05:55 AM)
    .....I want to thank all my friends and customers for coming out to the fairgrounds this weekend to see me. It was a great show and there was lots of good tackle buys there and boat deals, so onece again thank you and my next public seminars will be at the Nashville Bass Pro Shops on 2-28. Jim
  
  
• Sauger, TN River (2/8/2009 8:43:13 PM)
    .....The bite is very slow, only 3 fish on 2/7/09. All 3 were 16" females. The wind was making it a challenge to keep the boat on the right drift. Today was a better day. The wind was not a factor, but the bite was very slow. We had seven keepers, 5 females & 2 males. Talked with several other fishermen, all concluded that fishing is slow. All had 2-3 keepers, 1 boat had 10 fish. Every refers to the shad kill several days ago. Most were caught with jig/minnow, some were caught with jig/soft bait.
  
  
• tn river sauger (2/8/2009 7:11:28 PM)
    .....sauger fishing will be tough for a while the shad are still dying with the water temp near 40 degs with water temps this cold the fish are moving hoping to find spawing grounds. they are here one day then gone the next.
  
  
• sauger tn. river (2/6/2009 7:58:09 PM)
    .....what is going on?shad have died and should be washed out.plenty of current,water is not muddy,so where could they be,does anyone know?
  
  
• Fair grounds boat show Feb. 6th 7th and 8th (2/5/2009 7:25:00 PM)
    ..... Guys I might be a little slow getting reports up this weekend because I will be doing seminars at the boat show. They have made this more of a fishermans show with lots of tackle and I will have 2 booths just as you go in the door to the right with lots of lures and rods, so ya'll stop by. Jim
  
  
• below cheat/trav (2/4/2009 9:29:45 AM)
    .....boat fishing in & down bartons creek.wind was pretty stiff,hard to deteck hits.throw 3/8 head grub or sassy shad to bank feel it back by keeping your slack out.
  
  
• Below Cheatham (2/3/2009 10:15:02 AM)
    .....Were you bank or boat fishing to catch the bass and rockfish? Any sauger?
  
  
• below cheatham/ trav (2/3/2009 6:49:28 AM)
    .....fished 9:30 till 3:00 yesterday.had 9 kentuckys,15 rockfish,lost count big fat stripe
  
  
• dam fishing ? (2/2/2009 10:45:03 AM)
    .....can yo still fishing below the dam with this cold weatheer.i fish at Milton dam and ft louden dam last summer and have great time.thank danny
  
  
• Shad Kill (2/1/2009 5:21:49 PM)
    .....Shad start dieing at about 42 degree's and die off big time at 38 degree's. Jim
  
  
• shsd kill (1/31/2009 7:01:29 PM)
    .....went to priest to day water temp 45 to 51 in stewarts creek thats not cold enough to kill the shad is it at what temp will it kill them? thanks
  
  
• OH dam (1/31/2009 9:36:38 AM)
    .....catch huge stripe below cheatham down river with quart to three eights grub & sassy shad
  
  
• Mississippi Crappie (1/30/2009 10:33:37 PM)
    .....I am planning a trip to Missippi to fish one of the profiled lakes in the magazine In Fisherman of the Arc of Slabs.The lakes listed are Sardis Arktebula Grenada or I think Enid.Any info on guides places to stay would be appreciated. Thanks EC Nolensville
  
  
• sauger (1/30/2009 5:05:53 PM)
    .....any sauger action at the mouth of the duck river ? any info would be greatly appreciated !
  
  
• OH dam (1/30/2009 9:46:57 AM)
    .....Anyone catching sauger or stripe below the dam?
  
  
• EXPO BOAT SHOW AT THE FAIRGROUND'S (1/29/2009 7:47:05 PM)
    .....It will start next Friday at noon the 6th and run through Sunday night. I will have a booth there and will be doing seminars and there is going to be lots of tackle so come on down. Jim
  
  
• Fishing expo? (1/29/2009 5:40:56 PM)
    .....When is the expo?
  
  
• Feb. Bass (1/28/2009 8:20:19 PM)
    .....I will be next door to a guy that lives there at the boat show next weekend and I will get you a pattern and place to start. Also I bet a bunch of the other guys can give you some info. Jim
  
  
• Late February Bass (1/28/2009 2:10:02 PM)
    .....Thanks Jim for the info. I was actually planning on going to Guntersville but did not want to drive that far if the fishing wasn't going to be good. I have never been there before and any tips you could give me would be appreciated.
  
  
• Late February Bass (1/28/2009 8:32:37 AM)
    ..... Thats simple go to Guntersville best lake in a 500 mile area and they should be close to prespawn. Jim
  
  
• Current (1/27/2009 7:48:15 PM)
    .....That what I did last year I went to Kentucky Lake, but if there is current here, run to the cumberland river in Old Hickory this summer. Jim
  
  
• Fishing Expo (1/27/2009 6:28:41 PM)
    .....There's 4 booths I go to every year....yours, the guy w/ the wedge head sauger jigs, the crappie place out of Missouri, and the guy that sells the sunglasses. I'm glad you're going to be a part of it again this year, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot more info. Especially regarding deep water crappie on Priest.
  
  
• Late February Bass Fishing (1/27/2009 1:22:08 PM)
    .....Jim, I am planning on taking a trip somewhere the last weekend in February. I would like to fish in Tennessee or Alabama. Any suggestions on the best lake to fish for bass during this time.
  
  
• no current (1/27/2009 11:53:26 AM)
    .....Well that pretty much makes my mind up. I won't be spending much time on the cumberland river chain, except in the spring and late fall this year. Time to get more familiar with kentucky and barkley. There is always priest too i suppose. Might give tims ford a few try's also this year. Sucks, i had some very productive summer time spots on old hickory and below the dam.
  
  
• Fishing Expo (1/27/2009 8:40:13 AM)
    .....Yes sir I will be there, when you come in the front door and turn right I have 2 booths side by side this year because I am bringing a ton of tackle and some very good prices on new and used tackle. I will also be running the seminars and will be doing seminars on Sauger fishing and Crappie fishing, so make sure you all come out to see me and bring your money my grandkids need shoes. Jim
  
  
• Dam repairs (1/27/2009 8:35:46 AM)
    .....Both projects are years from being finished and yes we are going to have that same junky flow as we are having now which is trashing my sauger fishing. I have been going to Clifton and on the TN river to catch my sauger. Wish I had better news but thats the way it is, if it rains this year though it could be better. Jim
  
  
• Fishing Expo (1/26/2009 7:58:39 PM)
    .....Jim, are you gonna have a table at the Fishing Expo at the Nashville Fairgrounds again this year?
  
  
• Overcast dreary days (1/26/2009 8:49:29 AM)
    .....Man the sun has been a rare thing over the last two months, mild weather also. I've got a bad case of cabin fever myself. I long for a few days of sun and at least fifty degree weather. My boat gave me problems all year long last year, finally got it fixed i think and really haven't had a good chance to get out and test her out. C'mon march. Jim, do you know anything thing about how the grouting is going up at center hill? Repairs at wolf creek? I hope we don't have a repeat of last year, no current. That really killed my summer fishing last year. TC hermitage
  
  
• Watts Bar (1/25/2009 7:34:41 PM)
    .....Man I have to pass this one on I have never fished the lake but always heard it was a great lake. How about it guy's anyone able to help this gentleman? Jim
  
  
• Watts Bar (1/25/2009 2:29:00 PM)
    .....Jim, I'll be going to Watts Bar Lake Thursday and Friday around Thiefneck Island. Do you know if the TVA sludge spill has had any affect on the fishing up there and if not what would you be fishing for and what technique works best. I have only fished there once years ago.
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (1/24/2009 7:21:44 AM)
    ..... If I had been going up there and I have not I would go to first island where the river hits it and the bluff on the right to the east of it. Jim
  
  
• Dale Hollow (1/22/2009 11:42:02 PM)
    .....Jim, I'll be going to Dale Hollow this weekend using the Float & Fly. I'll be fishing out of Hendricks Creek. Do you know a good place to pick up a big one first thing in the morning.
  
  
• pbf (1/21/2009 8:24:27 PM)
    .....i heard that too, pbf suspended season but nothing on flw.com about that any info keep us posted.T-hendersonville
  
  
• Sauger (1/21/2009 7:22:45 AM)
    .....Spent the day below Cordell Hull dam yesterday behind the lock wall and had 2 keeper sauger and 3 strip and froze to death. Jim
  
  
• winter (1/20/2009 8:00:32 PM)
    .....i think my new boat believes ive abandoned her.this is the worst case of cabin fever ever. hope weather thaws soon. t-hendersonville
  
  
• stratos (1/19/2009 6:59:03 PM)
    .....on the news tonight reports stratos will be laying off 1\3 of its work force. t-hendersonville
  
  
• skipjack (1/19/2009 9:28:08 AM)
    .....nothing to report at this time except been catching 100's of skipjack for catfish bait for upcomming season. some have been catching good stringers on cats after rains in drakes creek. anyone need skipjack for bait stop by The Bait Shop on Main street in Hendersonville 822-7515 we have them wrapped an frozen fresh. thanks T-Hendersonville
  
  
• T from Hendersonville (1/17/2009 5:13:41 PM)
    ..... Hey T we did have a little server problem for 1 day, beyond our control. Repost anything you need and I will get it posted tonight, sorry. Jim
  
  
• Sauger Cumberland river (1/17/2009 3:59:45 PM)
    .....Fished this long day from Carthage to Bartons creek no fish, water to fast and murky and full of leaves. So in my brain it only makes since to me to go to Cordell Hull and see what is going on up there. Fished from Granville to Gainsboro, not a fish and of course the same conditions. Water temp in both lakes was 38 degrees and the ramp pocket at Misty Cove and at Roaring River where froze up and had to break ice big time at roaring river and just light at misty cove. What a day, 100 miles of river, to dumb to come in and no fish, sometimes you eat the fish and sometimes the fish eat you. Also talked to 20 different boats and no one had a single fish. Jim
  
  
• PBF (1/16/2009 10:12:46 AM)
    .....I herd PBF was not going to run this year any truth to that?
  
  
• Shad Kill (1/16/2009 8:26:39 AM)
    ..... There should be a good shad kill on all the area lakes and we sure need it. It will slow the fishing down a little till they eat all the dead ones up or they wash downstream but it is a good thing to get the shad cut back. Jim
  
  
• shad kill? (1/15/2009 9:12:34 PM)
    .....i wonder if this cold spell will kill off any shad
  
  
• Need Info. on stripers (1/15/2009 6:37:07 PM)
    .....From Penna. past 2 yrs. fished in Alaska, now I want to try stripers at Pickwick Dam. When is the best time and suggestions for bait/lures. E-mail door2@prolog.net
  
  
• Sauger (1/14/2009 9:36:38 AM)
    .....Just left the river at Cathage and Rome and there is to much current and leaves blowing around on the bottom. I would think from Bledsoe Creek to Cedar Creek or even Second Creek would be fishable. As far as below KY or Barkley Dam I have no idea but maybe one of the other guy's might. Jim
  
  
• Sauger Fishing,Kentucky Dam (1/13/2009 5:59:10 PM)
    .....Jim do you or anyone have any Sauger report on Kentucky or Barkley Dam. Have never fished there; think I would like to try it.Wil.
  
  
• Sauger Fishing (1/12/2009 1:24:49 PM)
    .....Going to try the sauger this weekend and looking for help. Would like to go to Old Hickory and stay close to home. Would a person be better staying around Rome / Goose Creek area or going on towards Cordell Hull Dam, or even to Cordell Hull? Dan
  
  
• duck river (1/9/2009 11:51:42 PM)
    .....any action at the mouth of the duck river?
  
  
• TN River (1/9/2009 5:12:17 PM)
    .....They are spilling a bunch of gates at the Pickwick dam after all this heavy rain and the flow is 156,000 feet per second, which another words is haulin___________.If I was going to fish down there this weekend I would fish way below the dam. Jim
  
  
• Tn River (1/7/2009 8:42:45 PM)
    ..... Thanks For the Tn. river report just waiting on weather & water conditions to come together beings i'm real flexable & retired Sketa
  
  
• weather (1/6/2009 6:15:32 PM)
    .....rain rain and more rain cabin fever is at an all time high good luck to mike hagerty who will be fishing the texas stren series on falcon lake next week. T hendersonville
  
  
• sauger/MUSKEE54 (1/3/2009 8:07:46 PM)
    .....tn river clifton FISHED CLIFTON LAST YEAR THIS TIME GOING IN 2WK FISHED EAGLE NEST ISLAND JIGED BUT TROLLING REEF RUNNERS LITTLE RIPPERS ON FLAT IN FRONT OF EAGLE 15 TO 18FT DOWN WITH LINE COUNTERS FIRELINE 180 TO 200 FT BACK CAUGHT MOST FISH ALSO FISH THE BEECH CREEK BEND JIGE THAT BEND IN FRONT OF GREEK GOOD LUCK
  
  
• Turkey/Fishing Show (1/3/2009 5:49:42 AM)
    .....Jim, is there going to be a Turkey/Fishing show at the fairgrounds this year? Slim
  
  
• Tn. River Sauger (1/2/2009 2:48:10 PM)
    ..... Planning A trip to Tn River around the Clifton area next wk weather and water permiting. This will be my first trip on the Tn.Jig color,depth & ect would be helpfull.Rite now Pickwicks running about 80ks cfs whats the best? Thanks Sketa
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (12/31/2008 7:47:33 AM)
    .....I would fish 10-12 foot deep and try gray or white with a touch of blue or chartruece 1\16 ounce. Jim
  
  
• dale hollow (12/30/2008 5:48:31 PM)
    .....going friday ; what color jig do we need to use or does depth mean more then color? ptv
  
  
• Dale Hollow Smallies (12/30/2008 7:31:22 AM)
    .....The float and fly is really turning on with this fishing pressure coming off the lake. Fish 10-12 foot deep main lake points and bluffs and secondary points at the mouths of big creeks on the lower end of the lake. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory Striper (12/28/2008 9:11:34 AM)
    .....Anyone catching striper on Old Hickory? Have they made it to the steam plant yet?
  
  
• Sauger Bite (12/23/2008 7:51:10 AM)
    ..... The sauger bite is being directly effected by the Wolf Creek Dam release. What is happening is they are draining water off the bottom of the lake because there water level is so low the turbines intakes are out of water. Now the problem with the water off the bottom of the lake is it doesn't have any oxygen and that causes the fish to be weak like those mountain climbers that have to have oxygen to climb the tall mountains because of thin air which means low oxygen. Right now since we have had all the rain the oxygen levels are higher so the fish are able to move and since we have had regular flow maybe the fishing in old Hickory should start picking up. Jim
  
  
• Sauger Lockjaw (12/22/2008 7:13:50 PM)
    .....Jim, what causes the fish to get lockjaw all of a sudden? Are we suffering from Wolf Creek water quality problems or what? Thanks, BL.
  
  
• Dale Hollow Lake (12/22/2008 6:42:23 PM)
    .....A lot of guys stopping into the Dale Hollow 1 Stop reported some outstanding days of non-stop float & fly action, but then there were others who were a little frustrated because they just couldn't dial them in right away. It was a hard week to put together a pattern with the weather changing so much. The main difference though - depth. If your leader was 10' or shorter, more than likely you fell into the latter category. Everyone that we talked to who was sticking them all day long were at 13' to 14' under the bobber. Color didn't seem to make a difference, but leader length was, and still is the key... To read the full report, including GPS Hotspots and other species visit www.DaleHollowFishing.com.
  
  
• sauger (12/20/2008 10:19:19 PM)
    .....anybody doing any good.fished tenn river three weeks ago, about three days.seven keepers was the best day.then five then two.little or no current,water temp. then was 48-50. fish was deep.. 45 plus feet.caught several non-keepers.went to pickwick 12-19 didnt unload boat.water was rolling,wanted to fish in the slack water but was a little to rough,8 flood gates open.anybody fishing old hickory or the hull'.caught the fish three weeks ago around eagles nest island on tenn river.PGL
  
  
• smallmouth at Dale Hollow (12/19/2008 1:31:46 PM)
    .....has anyone been to Dale Hollow and used float n fly lately? Went last Sat; had one 4.3lbs but that was it. Has water come up much since the rains ptv
  
  
• Walleyes (12/19/2008 10:26:48 AM)
    .....I was doing OK a week ago with some really nice fat fish, but not now. Hope it picks up soon or I'm going upriver. Pickwick is spilling now, so that is out for the time being. If anyone is doing anything around the steam plant that would be good to know. BL
  
  
• Walleye (12/18/2008 7:43:22 PM)
    .....The fishing has been better. Fish behind the humps below the dam. The walleye / sauger are being caught but you have to be creative. The people who say the river is dead are the ones catching fish right now. Cloudy days are better night time is best and be carefull!!!
  
  
• Walleyes (12/17/2008 12:01:00 PM)
    .....No, it is as dead as a doornail right now.
  
  
• walleye (12/16/2008 12:15:16 PM)
    .....is anybody picking up any walleye below old hickory? thanks
  
  
• cats (12/14/2008 2:10:15 AM)
    .....someone unnamed caught 16 channel cats from the bank in the back of drakes last week after the rain on cut skipjack t- hendersonville
  
  
• Catfish (12/11/2008 7:32:46 PM)
    .....I don't know about from the bank but from a boat I go to the hole right by where the Stones river runs into the Cumberland and any hole that goes from 20 foot down to 40 foot or more. Always look for the woody spot in the hole because big cats like to get around that wood and snugle down. Jim
  
  
• Catfish (12/11/2008 11:29:03 AM)
    .....Jim, I have never done much winter catfishing so when you say deep holes, How deep? I know of a few deeper spots that get dowm to about 90ft in the benders ferry area. What's the best way to get em? thanks
  
  
• Rain (12/11/2008 7:13:39 AM)
    .....Yes we have gotten about 4 inches now but the lakes above have come up less than 6 inches, we need 2 more foot of rain and let that river roll. Went to Dale Hollow yesterday and the lake was up 3 hundreths and was clear as a bell except for the turnover water but the cumberland river was muddy up there. Didn't have but 2 smallies and they where 18 inches on a 200 and 300 bandit in Citrus Shad in the backs of the pockets. Jim
  
  
• Catfish at the dams (12/11/2008 7:09:14 AM)
    .....There will still be some small ones around but the big fish will have moved downstream to the deep holes. Jim
  
  
• catfish by the dams (12/10/2008 5:57:55 PM)
    .....Could a bank fisherman catch any catfish from around OH or Cordell dams this time of year?
  
  
• old hickory (12/10/2008 8:25:32 AM)
    .....Anyone know what's going on in the steam plant? Haven't been there since last year. I'd like to go at the end of the month for some white bass, sauger, or crappie. Curious what others have been catching in there or what they expect to be going on soon. thanks, Dan
  
  
• rain (12/9/2008 5:59:01 PM)
    .....hey jim you got your whish water should start rising. t hendersonville
  
  
• Poaching (12/7/2008 9:21:26 AM)
    .....I guess I'm a little crazy but I personally challenge them when I see it. And, if they don't listen, which is not usually the case on keeping short fish, I keep the TWRA phone numbers in my pocket to call. That is all we can do. It's not just the Mexicans. I do think that some of it is lack of education, I happen to speak a little spanish and explain the laws to them, tell them to go to Wal Mart and get a TWRA book, and normally they are pretty compliant. Where they come from, if you catch it, it is food, nearly no conservation at all. We do need some bilingual signs out there warning about trash and littering fines, it is disgusting to see all the trash thrown down on the river banks. About once a week I haul a trash bag of crap away, so TRWA guys that visit here- please consider this in the more heavily fished areas. Thanks, BL
  
  
• Poaching (12/6/2008 7:50:34 PM)
    .....What can we do about poaching? I pay every year for my license without question, but every year I see mexicans with nets and people keeping fish they sould not be?
  
  
• Cordell Hull above Gainesboro (12/6/2008 7:26:48 PM)
    .....Picked up 16 keeper Sauger the day after Thanksgiving and had probably 20 throwbacks. 25 to 40 ft. of water and cold. GR
  
  
• Caney fork brookies (12/6/2008 7:24:56 AM)
    .....Thank you very much for the reply to the question, all of us working together only makes fishing better, have a safe Christmas. Jim
  
  
• caney fork brookies (12/5/2008 11:14:39 AM)
    .....The brook trout I saw were right at the railroad tracks, 20-30 yards downstream of where it crosses the river. When I got there they were not generating so the water was shallow. I almost stepped on them as I attempted to cross a section that was about a foot deep when I saw males and females bunched up in shallow water. I caught some of both, and the males had humped backs and hooked jaws. I am not sure what spawning bed looks like, but fish appeared to be writhing around in groups in gravel areas. I went up the creek there about 100 yards and saw groups of 10 or so fish clustered together just about everywhere there was shallow gravel. If you are a fisherman reading this, please release any of these brookies you catch to let them reproduce successfully. Thanks, Dan
  
  
• cumberland/old hickory (12/4/2008 9:10:04 PM)
    .....the report today was they would run 1 generator for 1 hour 3 time today interupted flow. slim i have wondered the same thing about not running generators and burning coal. saw the trwa release about 30 stergon of various sizes below old hickory dam a few days ago. cold day on OH , windy cold and the fish had lockjaw around the dam only saw 1 other fisherman and 1 testing new boat.t-hendersonville
  
  
• Brookies spawning (12/4/2008 5:28:46 PM)
    .....To the gentelman that saw the brookies spawning here is a question from the TWRA Caney Fork Manager.Jim, Where did you see this on the river? I would like to go check it out next week. Did you actually see any redds (spawning beds) or spawning activity or just fish spewing eggs? It is good to know that they maybe trying I just want to document it if they do succeed. Thanks for the information. Jason Henegar Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Fisheries Management Division
  
  
• caney fork (12/1/2008 9:31:19 AM)
    .....The brookies are spawning on the Caney Fork. I didn't even know there were any in there, but tons were up in shallow water. A couple females spewed eggs when I was unhooking them.
  
  
• River flow (11/29/2008 8:05:28 PM)
    .....Slim what is going on is they are just cracking the gates open to oxygenate the water. The reason they are doing that on all the cumberland river chain is because Wolf River dam is pulling water off the bottom of Lake Cumberland which hold's no oygen. Jim
  
  
• Water Flow (11/29/2008 8:34:30 AM)
    .....It would be nice if the TVA or the corps would shut the spillways. They have commercials on tv telling us not to waste energy yet they can waste all of that water they could be generating with. I wonder how many tons of coal could be left unburned if they just shut the spillways and generated. I am no tree hugger, I just like common sense. Slim
  
  
• Secret spot (11/29/2008 6:46:16 AM)
    .....Thanks T but I bet its just a spot I showed him since I taught him everything he knows about fishing in just 15 minutes. Unless we get some flow its going to be a tough year so let's go to Bass Pro Shops and ask Santa for rain. Jim
  
  
• secret walleye spot (11/28/2008 8:43:14 PM)
    .....hey jim just let gerald bogart that spot, ill be happy to share a spot r 2 with u . t hendersonville
  
  
• Ky. Lake Rockfish / Trolling (11/27/2008 8:25:33 AM)
    .....Spent six hours Trolling Shad raps and bandits at Leatherwood yesterday on the river ledge and caught 30 fish. We had 15 rockfish - (2-5 pound range),10 large white bass, 3 nice largemouth, and one ten pound drum. Fish were caught in 8-10 foot of water early and as the sun got up had to drop down to 12-15 feet. Lots of fun. Water Temp right at 50 degrees. Mike - Old Hickory
  
  
• Picture (11/26/2008 7:09:45 AM)
    .....Secret spot Gerald won't even tell me about. Jim
  
  
• picture (11/25/2008 9:52:50 PM)
    .....good job ridding the walleye pic on home page of background. t hendersonville
  
  
• Old Hickory (11/25/2008 11:09:58 AM)
    .....I went to Old Hickory on Sunday the 23rd. Fished the steam plant and 1/4 mile up and down from there. The canal was full of boat traffic. I found the fish pushing bait up against the channel flats up river from the steam plant about 200 yrds across from the boat ramp. Caught around 25, nothing huge but all keepers. Also had two stripe in the same bait pod. One of the stripe was about 10lbs and the other 5 lbs. Using a 1 ounce secret weapon gold willow leaf spinnerbait in chartreuse and white. The fish were hanging right on the drop and using the wall to corner the shad up against the break line. Don't get too shallow or you will spook them. Hang back out a little ways. Mike
  
  
• Thanksgiving (11/25/2008 6:46:24 AM)
    .....Gerald and I want to wish everyone a Happy Safe Thanksgiving and Holiday season. Jim
  
  
• Dam flows (11/25/2008 6:44:18 AM)
    .....Guys the easiest place to get dam flows is off the front page of our website, If you look on the left side and about 2 or 3 lines down it show a listing for dam generation and it has every dam in the state and the last 24 hours of generation and the next 24 hours projected and is updated hourly, plus it shows lake elevation. Jim
  
  
• Here's another place for dam flows (11/24/2008 4:28:09 PM)
    .....http://www.tva.gov/river/index.htm It is a little easier than calling to me. BL
  
  
• Old hickory:jwatson (11/24/2008 3:14:03 PM)
    .....Any body been to hickory lately? Have any success?
  
  
• priest water (11/24/2008 12:28:24 AM)
    .....thanks t hendersonville, ....info very much appreciated.!! don
  
  
• priest water (11/22/2008 8:50:17 PM)
    .....they have been smokin water at priest dam with the gates not generators. call1-800-238-2264 lake number 48 option 5 observed discharge. hope this helps. t HENDERSONVILLE
  
  
• Sauger/Shorts (11/22/2008 9:32:20 AM)
    .....Hey Slim, don't fret about the yankee comment, heck, my mother was a yankee and I kidded her about it all her life, it's all in fun buddy. I feel your pain on anyone keeping short fish, if you see anyone keeping them our Sumner Wildlife Agent is Andrew Rush and his cell phone is 615-293-7701. BL
  
  
• percy priest winter pool (11/22/2008 1:07:45 AM)
    .....curious to know when they will start releasing water from percy priest for winter pool levels???
  
  
• Old Hickory/JWat (11/20/2008 7:46:18 AM)
    .....Going to Old hickory saturday was wondering if anyone could give me some tips. Putting in at Davis Corner boat ramp and fishing in that creek. Thanks Any thing would be great. Jamie
  
  
• Old Hickory Dam (11/20/2008 5:50:06 AM)
    .....Well the good news is that they are finally starting to generate. Time to hang old tires on the side of our boats! Although I don't usually fish very close to the dam whenever I do it seems like you may need them. Slim
  
  
• Sauger (11/19/2008 6:33:09 AM)
    .....Sir I use the word Yankee land in a kind way, I am just trying to make the point that we have a different strain of sauger and walleye here in the south land and these fish are more aclamated to current for schooling.Jim
  
  
• spoonbill bandits (11/18/2008 9:00:33 PM)
    .....the spoonbill poachers are active at neeleys bend boat ramp once again. over 15 spoonbills were cut and left on the ramp yesterday, monday, recentally within the past 6 months twra busted some poachers at that same ramp Neeleys bend on the cumberland river thats below OH dam. pass it own to the person that needs to know Jim. it was 2 black men in a jon boat
  
  
• Sauger (11/18/2008 8:55:45 PM)
    .....Being a yankee has nothing to with anything. I have friends that were born and raised here that get them all year round. Unlike a lot of people around here they don't fish for bass during the summer, they go after sauger / walleye. After many hours chasing them they have made a pattern that seems to work that I follow myself.It is not a northern southern thing it is a narrowing of the species in which we fish. You may call me a yankee all you want, I just want to catch fish just like you guys!
  
  
• Suager old hickory. (11/18/2008 8:50:13 PM)
    .....Jim's right. No current fish fan out, become scattered and its a crap shoot to find them. Even when you do they wont be there in the numbers and size you're used too. The fishing on old hickory lends itself more these days to covering as much water as possible and fishing the predictable area's. Center hill and wolf creek repairs have made the cumberland river chain more like a big pond than a river system at this time. I hope the repairs go well and we get back to being able to fish like i'm used too. Sometimes i like to just go out and relax and fish. But i find myself working a lot harder for fish now. I want some damn current please!!!!!
  
  
• Ky Lake Sauger (11/18/2008 8:13:15 PM)
    .....Tryed the sauger in the Johnsonville area Monday. Water temp was 57 and zero current. Caught 1 small drum. Some shad showing on the depth finder 20-25 ft in 35-40 ft water, but not the large schools. I think this week's colder temps will push them out in the river. Every thing I know about Sauger fishing I learned from Jim Duckworth. You need 55 deg water and some water flow to move the fish into the eddy water. Sykes
  
  
• Sauger (11/18/2008 7:14:44 AM)
    .....I would have to agree on a lot of guys keeping little fish and that doesn't help. I have been guiding for sauger here for 25 plus years and with out flow to position the fish in the predictable areas it's just a shot in the dark to catch them here in the south. Unlike lakes up in Yankee land the fish down here need current to catch them with regularity. All us boys here have experienced the same thing year after year, water comes on fish start biting, water stops fish stop. plain and simple. Yes we can troll some up in the fall and summer but in the winter your lucky to get 5 without current and you can take that from a man that has spent 60+ days a year for 25 years. Jim Duckworth
  
  
• Sauger (11/17/2008 7:17:22 PM)
    .....I still can't imagine how people down here think that sauger / walleye won't eat wihtout water flow. Water temps have much more to do with feeding patterns than flow. If the sauger seem few if any look to the boat next to you. I have never in my life seen more people keep short fish as i do Sauger fishing below Old Hickory, or Cordell Hull Dams! One can only hope that more of them get caught!! Slim
  
  
• Tn River Sauger (11/16/2008 11:46:43 AM)
    ..... I usually fish the cumberland but like Jim says no flow no fish. So I'm going to the Tn river somewere between Cuba Landing & pickwick & open to all sugestions being I've never fished there. Thanks Sketa
  
  
• Aaron (11/12/2008 10:24:59 PM)
    .....ok thanks for all the informative help jim.
  
  
• Bandit (11/12/2008 7:52:16 PM)
    .....Aaron blue and chrome are bright sunny day lures so the next day it is bright and sunny go get that blue chrome. I am still cathcing fish shallow but with this cold weather coming in the water temp is going to drop and so will the fish which will put them on the 200 Bandit series. Jim
  
  
• Aaron (11/12/2008 4:31:21 PM)
    .....hey jim i just bought me a blue/white chrome bandit 100 crank and do you think fishing the banks would catch anything on it right now. thanks
  
  
• Clark Marine Flea Market (11/9/2008 7:31:19 AM)
    .....I would like to thank everyone that came to the flea Market and Clark Marine for letting us all use the building, it was a fun time with a lot of great deals. Jim
  
  
• Clark Marine Flea Market (11/7/2008 7:46:20 AM)
    .....Guys I will be at Clark Marine Saturday the 8th selling lots of tackle along with 40 other tables. This will be a great chance to get a bargain on some tackle, it opens at 9AM and closes at 3PM, ya'll come see us. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (11/7/2008 7:42:56 AM)
    .....Caught 50 plus bass in the jumps yesterday in shallow water back in station camp creek on a 100 Bandit and a Footloose Bandit in 12 inches of water, they where chasing shad hard. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland River (11/2/2008 7:37:12 PM)
    .....I went out yesterday, and it was slow! Thank God I brought live bait, or we wouldn't have caught anything. The spots that have produced sauger all summer, nothing! We did catch some nice smallies just not big enough to brag about. I am going to stay above the dam for a while, I can catch my limit up there. Slim
  
  
• SYKES (11/1/2008 7:13:18 PM)
    .....WATER TEMP WAS STILL 62 DEG LAST WEEK, STILL EARLY YET DON;T YOU THINK, SYKES
  
  
• Duck river sauger (10/31/2008 11:54:19 AM)
    .....Hey guys has anybody ran into any sauger at the mouth of the duck river yet? Jim
  
  
• Percy Priest Bass (10/31/2008 10:46:09 AM)
    .....The cove in stewarts creek straight across for the ski cove is loaded down with shad and bass. Throw a 100 badit in a shad pattern or blue and chrome if its sunny and you should have some fun, I have not been crappie fishing but I saw several guys on the deep trees vertical fishing.I will be at Bass Pro Shops Saturday. Jim
  
  
• Priest this Saturday Morning (10/30/2008 10:38:02 PM)
    .....Jim, I am going to Priest this Sat morning. First time out this Fall. I am putting in at Stewarts Creek and wanted to see what your recommendation would be for morning bass and then some crappie for the frying pan? Kenneth
  
  
• Center Hill (10/30/2008 12:17:52 AM)
    .....Jim is absolutely correct. Best bet is to call and check with the Corps locations or dock and ask them about the ramps before you put in if you can reach them. Last time we were out Ragland was OK, but keep the motor trimmed up, there is shallow water not too far off the ramp there. Many of the ramps are close to out of the water, if not all the way out. We tried Cookeville Dock a few weeks ago and got in but haven't gone back since, we had to test the four wheel drive coming out. Johnson's Chapel was down to the gravel when we went past it that day, but we did see several trucks/trailers at Sligo. Somebody told me Floating Mill had extended their ramp a while back, but haven't been there to see. If you find one that is safe and can get on the water you might try craws on the bluffs and steep banks, haven't been out since the cold nights have set in the last few days but they were working. With the water down it is a great time to look around, we saw parts of the Hill we've never seen before, just be very careful if you go. Water is probably down to low to mid 60's now. Mike
  
  
• Center hill and private lake (10/28/2008 5:24:36 PM)
    ..... The hill is down to 623 and the ramps are a nightmare so be very carefull where you put in. I have not heard anything on the hill and have not been fishing it because of the water level, maybe one of the other guys that read the board can help you. Fished my friends 23 acre private lake today to catch out the talapia because they die in winter and filled an ice chest full, there will be good food in the neighborhood tomorrow night. Jim
  
  
• Center Hill (10/28/2008 4:06:04 PM)
    .....Jim, Have you heard anything about Center Hill latley?
  
  
• Bass pro shops Nashville (10/26/2008 3:47:59 PM)
    .....Yes I will be at the store from 10AM till 3PM November 1st and looking forward to seeing you and all my other fishing friends. Jim
  
  
• BPS (10/26/2008 10:03:26 AM)
    .....Hey Jim, will you be at BPS next Saturday? BL
  
  
• What rod and reel (10/24/2008 5:57:53 AM)
    ..... I am very lucky to have a great sponsor in Pure Fishing who now owns several rod lines which are all avaible to me and the best cranking rod I have ever touched is the Fenwick HMG GT 6 foot 6 inch light action casting rod with 14lb Trilene Sensation line with a Revo STX reel and I promise you I have never found a better rod in 34 years of fishing and guiding. I have been using this model rod for 5 years and went to the Revo reel 2 years ago when the brought it out and it is fine as silk. Now this is for my regular Bandits, if I am throwing a heavier crankbait I go to the same rod but in Medium action. A lot of guys like fiberglass rods for cranking so a fish doesnt surge at the boat and come off but the weight of fiberglass is to heavy to me but the light action graphite rod does the same thing for half the weight. I have never tried the carrot stick so I can not comment on it but I have seen some good press on it. Hope this helps, good luck to you. Jim
  
  
• bandits (10/23/2008 9:33:53 PM)
    .....hey jim, what rod reel setup do you commonly throw your 100's on i wore out my old rod, hooked to many big fish like strippers and drum while working the cumberland, just wondered. have you used the new carrot stix? t hville
  
  
• Priest Bass (10/21/2008 3:58:16 PM)
    .....Fished that 100 bandit today on the flats with 3 customers and had 50 bass with 8 keepers the biggest 3LB. Fished from Jefferson Springs to Fate Sanders. Jim
  
  
• Old hickory or priest? (10/21/2008 9:58:44 AM)
    .....Haven't been out in awhile. Just now about to get my boat back. How is the fishing on the hick? How about priest? Targeting bass. 100 bandit in spatterback on the flats, uh jim? Might just have to give priest a try. TC hermitage
  
  
• Kentucky Lake (10/20/2008 5:18:54 PM)
    ..... Finished up a Trolling trip to Ky. Lake this past week. Nice mix of Crappie, Sauger, Rockfish, Stripe,Bass,and large Bluegill all caught on Teeny Deep Wee-R's and 300 Bandits. Fish caught 10-16 feet of water near the river channel. Mike Old Hickory
  
  
• Sauger Duck River (10/18/2008 1:29:32 PM)
    .....Hey guy's you where kind enough last year to email me when the sauger on the TN River got up to Pickwick and I would like to ask another favor from you along the same lines. I need to get some good sauger pictures ASAP and the Duck River is probably gonna be the best & earliest high percentage spot. Once again this year because of Wolf River Dam on the Cumberland we won't have very good fishing here this winter due to bad flow, the river has only moved 10 feet downstream in the last month. If some one gets on a good bite at the Duck and wouldn't mind letting me know through my email I will keep it quite and only fish it myself 2 times. My email is ducktrail@comcast.net I sure would appreciate it and will return the favor in anyway I can, thanks alot guy's. Jim
  
  
• Baits and Wall-eye's (10/17/2008 5:56:30 AM)
    .....Thanks for the good luck words, this is a lot more work than I relized and now I no why it cost so much to hand make good baits. They have been trolling up some walleyes and sauger on the lower end of old hickory on the bandit walleye lure that runs 27 foot deep but the only place you can find it is on the Bandit web site. Jim
  
  
• Lures / Walleye (10/16/2008 8:38:42 PM)
    .....Jim, I hope you sell a ton of those lures you plan on making. They are out of my league though. I would throw a fit if I lost one, I say I am frugal my wife says I'm a cheap a$$. Walleye fishing has slowed quite a bit. When the cold front came in a couple of weeks ago I was wearing them out, both on the river and the lake but they must have moved into the creeks. This weekend I am going back to old faithfull, a worm harness with hammered brass blades just north of the 109 bridge. This rig is very hard to resist for fall and summer walleyes. Get your bottom walkers ready! Slim
  
  
• priest (10/13/2008 8:27:10 PM)
    .....hey jim, come afternoon get off the bank and go back to catching them LOL. T-hville
  
  
• Percy Priest Bass (10/12/2008 7:23:58 AM)
    .....Fished Priest almost every day last week and had great mornings and slow afternoons on those bluebird day's. Best bite was on a 100 Bandit in gray splatterback on the shallow flats tight to the bank. Jim
  
  
• the jack (10/11/2008 6:51:07 PM)
    .....i would fish it like any tn river inpoundment probally nothing has changed since summer stick to main lake or river ledge T. hville
  
  
• fishing tournament (10/8/2008 9:45:00 AM)
    .....jus wondering if anyone could give me some tips about what the fish are doing at nicka-jack on the tenn river have a tournament there at the end of this month coming out of sullivans boat ramp.havent been there in quit some time.any info would be very appreciated.. what baits they are hitting and some places to fish.thanks
  
  
• Skipjacks (10/8/2008 9:29:42 AM)
    .....They are eating shad on the lower part of the lake in the shad schools, I don't know why they aren't there.BL
  
  
• Skipjack (10/7/2008 6:00:30 AM)
    .....Aaron I don't know when they will be in that area but they will start getting thick at the steamplant in a couple of week's, sorry. Jim
  
  
• Aaron in Lakewood (10/6/2008 6:13:38 PM)
    .....Hey jim this is aaron again ok i was wandering when do you think the skipjacks will be shallow again i was wandering because i fish OH off the banks of shutes branch and havent been catching any?
  
  
• Bass pro shops Nashville (10/6/2008 6:01:46 AM)
    ..... Thanks everyone that came out for the Cajun Fryer cooking demo at the store this weekend. Jim
  
  
• hull (10/4/2008 12:20:19 PM)
    .....hey dennis ,nothing directly to report on the hull but i would have a bandit 100 and a buzz bait tied on at all times ready to fire. hard work will be rewarded. t hendersonville
  
  
• Bass pro shops Nashville (10/3/2008 6:14:27 AM)
    .....Guys I will be at the Nashville store this Saturday October 4th. I will be doing something different by doing cooking demonstrations outside under the boat cover. I will be cooking catfish, french fries and okra in the Cajun Cooker that I have used for years now and it is the finest fish cooker ever made that I have seen, I will be cooking at 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30. Ya'll come on by and see me and check it out and my wife will be set up inside in front of my DVD end cap with the DVD's. Thanks for the support on the lures, I am taking a gamble on them but they will be very special and my friend Dale Sellers is painting them for me and the paint jobs alone are costing me 10 dollars a bait but that is what you have to spend to get the quality I want to put my name on, no Helicoptor lures gonna be in my past. Jim
  
  
• Lures (10/2/2008 11:40:53 PM)
    .....I spend more than that on buying a number of lures trying to find one that works. So far I have never been led wrong by Jim. If he says it works I will buy it. Thanks to T hendersonville for the advise on the shackyhead. I will be on vacation all week next week hitting the Hull, any tips will be appreciacted...thanks Dennis
  
  
• shakyhead (10/2/2008 8:19:23 PM)
    .....sorry for late reply concering the shakyhead,however i have not tried all thats out there,depending on the worm i personally favor the picasso shake down luke clauson model. they are a little expensive but have a great hookup to land ratio, hardly ever if never loose a fish on them super sharp hook and well position the bait hard to work with on strike king 3x but possible. " ZOOM " T Hendersonville
  
  
• jims twater bait (10/2/2008 7:34:38 PM)
    .....how often does one loose a topwater bait regardless of price.me never. T hendersonville
  
  
• Lures (10/2/2008 8:43:26 AM)
    .....Slim, I can understand questioning why someone would pay 25 dollars for a lure. But I think Jim is targeting you serious weekend worriers and you avid tournament anglers with these lures. I don’t know the previous posters knowledge on fishing products but there are several lure companies that have lines of baits that easily exceed the 25 dollar range. Go on line or in your local tackle store “if they carry them” and look at Lucky Craft, Daiwa, Mega Bass, and Reaction Innovations just to name a few. They are all in the 14 to 30 dollar range per lure. So in closing we have guys running around in 20,000 to 50,000 dollar bass boats and at least half that in their trucks and we are questioning a 25 dollar lure. Got to come up with something better than that Slim!
  
  
• Lures (10/1/2008 7:40:04 PM)
    .....Why would a sane man spend that kind of money on a lure? Is there a minnow shortage or something? Slim
  
  
• Custom baits (9/29/2008 3:34:34 PM)
    .....I am going to make a spook type bait with Daiichi Bleeding Bait hooks and a feathered tail hook with an oval split ring on the front so you never tie your lure in the split of a split ring and I am also going to build a popping bait with the same setup. The joy of topwater custom baits is they float so you dont hang them up underwater and loose them and I will be using good old Smith County Cedar wood which is super hard so hitting a rock might chip the paint but it won't hurt the lure.Thanks for the replys guys and keep them coming, I am going to have some at the fairgrounds show for sale January 9th - 11th. Jim
  
  
• Custom Top Water (9/29/2008 9:02:44 AM)
    .....If you make them I wil buy a couple. Are you gonna make any spook type baits? Thanks
  
  
• Hand Made Lures (9/29/2008 9:00:05 AM)
    .....I personally would have some trouble with a $25 lure. I'd hate to lose one of them, if you know what I mean. Maybe some others would not mind this, but I lose a few lures. BL
  
  
• Custom topwater baits (9/29/2008 8:47:51 AM)
    ..... Guy's I have a question for you, I desiegned a couple of topwater lures for a company that went bankrupt and they never made it to the market. My question is if I where to hand make these baits out of cedar and use the best hooks and hardware with custom air brush paint jobs do you think I could sell them? They would run about 25.00 dollars a piece but they would be very premium baits, how about some input from ya'll before I go spend a few thousand dollars for the equipment to do it. Jim
  
  
• OH Bass (9/25/2008 10:58:45 AM)
    .....They are chasing shad pretty good right now. Caught 10 in about an hour yesterday evening. They appear to be fattening up nicely now, what I had been catching seemed undernourished. I still need some walleye pointers, I fished a Bandit 300 all over out in front of Cashes old house and didn't cathch anuthing except a few bass and white bass. BL
  
  
• The Hull (9/23/2008 9:00:06 PM)
    .....Hey guys can I rig the shakey head on a regular jig head or do I need something special. I have never fished a shakey head but hear great things about them. My weekend place is above Granville on the upper end of the lake. Due to gas prices I seldome get to the lower end. Is there any places on the upper end that might be better than others for this technique. If not I will make the ride...Thanks a bunch Dennis
  
  
• The Hull (9/23/2008 4:11:24 PM)
    .....Dennis, T from Hendersonville hit the nail on the head. I second that. I cuaght some good large mouth last weekend 15 to 20 ft deep on a shakey head as well. I was using Mardi Gras color zoom trick worm. Also the deep crankin bite is good on the lower end, DD-22.
  
  
• hull (9/21/2008 9:39:51 PM)
    .....dennis, have you tried fishing the first cove by the dam on right?furthermore, fish deep 20-30 feet with zoom trick worm,green pumpkin, on a picasso shakeyhead,junebug [ purple]. spinng rod only. T hendersonville
  
  
• Cordell Hull (9/21/2008 7:30:20 PM)
    .....Good catfishing this past weekend. Fished the flats in about 6ft of water above Granville. Chicken livers and worms. Good eatin size. I finally outfished my wife. We put 35 fish in the boat. The Bass were tearing up shad on the humps after dark, I was focused on the catfish..Dennis
  
  
• Fishing getting better (9/18/2008 6:45:11 AM)
    .....Hey guys I have several days open in October and the fishing has started turning on email me at ducktrail@comcast.net to book a trip. Jim Duckworth
  
  
• the big G (9/17/2008 10:35:30 PM)
    .....BETTER HAVE 30LBS.this weekend if you want a check miachel.T
  
  
• Guntersville (9/16/2008 9:24:38 PM)
    .....has anyone been down there this past week or so? going down to the big 'G' thursday for upcoming tourny. have read posting on several sights would like other inputs.T
  
  
• Cordell Hull (9/15/2008 8:45:41 PM)
    .....I have tried everything I know of over the last few weekends. I fished humps, grass, points ledges, backs of creeks, with everything from cranck bait to jigs to plastic worms. everything has been small and not much of that. The current has been stong the last couple of weekends during the day into late evening. Short of jumping in and running them down I'm lost. I cant even put together any good cats at night. Oh well, if it was easy they would call it catching instead of fishing! Dennis
  
  
• great fishingOH (8/30/2008 9:58:49 AM)
    .....if you are keeping up with the tourny fishing note that old hickory has been producing better sacks than guntersville the past few months. go BCB>...todd,hendersonville
  
  
• To my friends (8/30/2008 8:27:36 AM)
    .....Thank you all for yor kind wishes and prayers. Turns out I needed them, they pumped in a little to much fish formula and my blood presure dropped to 70\40 and by the way they where acting I was expecting the crash cart to come rolling in. They got me stable in about 30 minutes and then I was READY TO GO TO THE LAKE. I have a little pain but it will be ready to go in a few weeks. Thanks again for the kind thoughts but everyone please help answer the other guys questions because it took me 20 minutes to type this one in, THEY CALL ME LEFTY NOW. Jim
  
  
• fished OH (8/29/2008 9:59:48 PM)
    .....fished few hours this morning ; had three keepers on peca craw flipped around structure on main channel around spring crk ; had several fish but only three keepers ptv
  
  
• Jim (8/29/2008 8:44:17 PM)
    .....Jim, I hope everything goes well. I will be praying for a flawless recovery. Dennis
  
  
• Surgery (8/29/2008 9:02:34 AM)
    .....Jim, Hope everthing goes well with your surgery.You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
  
  
• get well soon (8/28/2008 9:02:40 PM)
    .....ive known people who have had this surgery done loved the results and had quick recovery. hope everything works out for the better. if you need someone to go fishing eith to make your cast and reel them in and to take them off the hook and put them in the box let me know. ha ha... todd hendersonville
  
  
• Jim Duckworth carpel tunnel surgery (8/28/2008 6:05:56 AM)
    .....Hey guys I am getting my hand done today so you are going to have to answer each others questions for a week or two till my hand gets back to where I can use it a little. Thanks and the fishing should start getting better now with the cooler temps. and this fine rain that fell. Jim
  
  
• sauger (8/27/2008 8:32:17 PM)
    .....what about sauger this time of year below pickwick.catchum when its cold but what about now.what depth what baits????pgl
  
  
• Walleye/Sauger (8/27/2008 12:09:13 PM)
    .....Hey Slim, how about helping some of us out with the summmer O-Hick walleye/sauger? A "how to" would be much appreciated. I'm ready to try something different. Don't need your hot spots, but would like to understand how it's done in the warm months. Thanks BL
  
  
• Cumberland River (8/26/2008 8:32:55 PM)
    .....Yes you nailed it, this is the way it was last summer and will continue unless we get a lot of run in rain or they finish the dam repair. There have been fish kills becaise of poor oxygen and I am sure you have noticed the fish are a litty puny and this is from this. I am doing just what you said and I am fishing Pickwick and Kentucky Lake, they are a lot better but the gas has been a bummer. Jim
  
  
• cumberland river system? (8/26/2008 8:11:12 AM)
    .....So basically jim. The cumberland river system is going to turn into a big pond over the next few years until they fix wolf creek. How will this affect the fish. I'am sure it won't be a positive effect. I guess we better all hope we have wet summer's until they get it fixed. Another year like last year and we might all need to find new water. This really stinks. I loved fishing the river when they had generation going. I guess i'll be planning more trips to kentucky lake in the future.
  
  
• Sauger (8/25/2008 6:53:11 PM)
    .....I have been catching a lot of sauger/walleye close to Ashland City. Also in Old Hickory Lake. Slim
  
  
• OH Bass (8/24/2008 7:57:31 PM)
    .....Well with the overcast skies, she gave up a few fish this morning on rip rap really early and points a little later. Fished maybe 3 hrs and ended up with around a dozen maybe a couple of keepers mixed in. Fished in the river yesterday,and the striper fishing, well, it stinks. BL
  
  
• Cordell Hull Stripers and Sauger (8/24/2008 7:01:41 AM)
    ..... You are right, they are working on the Wolfcreek dam and they have the water pulled down below the generation intakes so they are having to pull the water off the bottom of the lake which is what we call dead water ( no oxygen ) and this won't stop till they get the dam repaired which will be 3-7 more years depending on who you listen to. This means no generation and then when a big rain comes they will pullthat bottom plug and flush it through at a rocket pace which is unfishable. Last winter was the worst we ever had on the cumberland and I expect the same for the next several. Jim
  
  
• Warm & Still Water at the Hull (8/23/2008 11:14:50 PM)
    .....For the second year the water has been very different at Cordell Hull, but very little talk about it except from this website. Does anyone know, or have you heard how this is going to effect the Striper and Sauger Fishery there? I have always heard that CDH gets kinda looked over due to the cold & oyxgen filled water with little pressure, but things are different right now? Any thoughts or info would be great. Thanks
  
  
• Codell Hull Bass info. (8/22/2008 10:59:33 AM)
    ..... Yes and when the current is on and its hot water it's a good place to fish, fish them the same as you would down there. Jim
  
  
• Cordell Hull (8/22/2008 9:09:09 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you ever fished the river ledges and drops at Cordell like you would if you were at Kentucky lake or Guntersville.
  
  
• Old Hickory (8/20/2008 9:53:54 PM)
    .....Well the bite has pretty much shut down for me out there. I tried it shallow with all the stain in the lake thats what i was thinking. I thought wrong i guess. Did salvage a few keepers off a shallow hump not too far from the river channel. Thats about all i got. Tough fishing out there. TC hermitage
  
  
• Center Hill Bass (8/20/2008 7:00:48 AM)
    .....I would put in on the upper end but the lake is real low so check the ramp your going to use, Ragland bottoms and Hurricane should be OK. I would get there at daylight and throw topwater for the first hour or two on main lake points and wood and secondary points in the creeks. When the sun comes up I would throw a 200 or 300 bandit in Rootbeer around the same spots and then when the sun came all the way up I would go home or fish 20 foot deep with a hair jig on the main lake points and ledges and around any wood because the spots love to hang on wood on the steep banks, good luck. Jim
  
  
• fishing center hill this weekend? (8/19/2008 9:49:18 PM)
    .....Jim, Headed to the Hill this weekend and was wondering if you have any recommendations on where to fish, what times, and what to throw. Thanks! Andrew
  
  
• Swim Baits (8/19/2008 6:22:17 AM)
    ..... Yes I do, I fish the tru-tungsten swimbaits a lot for stripers and bass. Have used swimbaits for 20 years for stripers, baits up to 18 inches long. Started using the Tru-Tungsten a couple of years ago on the hill in the bluegill pattern and on the hollow in the trout pattern. To fish these just a slow steday retrieve all the way to the boat and watch for followers. I also like to spray them with with the new Gulp fish scents. Make sure you use 50 plus pound braided line, a 7 foot heavy action rod and my reel of choice is the new Revo- Torno, it's a bad boy with lots of line capacity. Jim
  
  
• fish (8/18/2008 9:15:42 PM)
    .....what is going on i think is the fish turned on just prior to the full moon we are coming out of . always 3-4 days before and after will fish better. the night fishing during the dog days is always tough usually due to poor water wich alot of our lakes have now. try fishing crankbaits in 8-12 foot on main lake stuff.T hendersonville
  
  
• dead fish (8/18/2008 9:07:58 PM)
    .....saw some dead striper of large size around 109 bridge last wednesday. T
  
  
• Cordell Hull (8/18/2008 8:16:05 PM)
    .....The water came back up on Cordell Hull this weekend. We fished at night and caught some pretty good eating catfish in about 20ft of water off of the main channel a little after dusk. The shade was tearing up the banks at about dusk. We did get a couple of strong fish that took off and snapped the line. It got real cool at night causing the water to drop to 80 degees. In the evening we hammered the bluegill. I caught the largest shell carcker I have caught in the back of a cove above Granville. We didnt put alot of weight in the boat, but had a great time. Dennis
  
  
• Swim Baits (8/18/2008 10:38:58 AM)
    .....Jim, Hav a question? Have you ever used swim baits in Center Hill, Dale Hallow, or Cordell Hull before. If so what kind of results did you have? Thanks!!!
  
  
• Sauger (8/16/2008 7:38:44 AM)
    .....Depending on the weather about 52 degrees is when they start and that runs some where between Hallowen and Thanksgiving. Let us know when you start catching them, that part of the TN river had it's best year in the last ten years last year. Jim
  
  
• sauger (8/15/2008 9:40:33 PM)
    .....Whats the earliest yall start catchin'um,down around pickwick,and down river toward savannah.Talking about the only fish SAUGER...
  
  
• old hickory (8/14/2008 9:37:16 PM)
    .....They either turned on a generator or opened the flood gate because it was down a couple of feet the other day when i was out. Shade,any thick shallow grass. The ledge bite has been dead for me. Although shallow humps have been pretty good.
  
  
• Old Hickory (8/14/2008 7:06:15 PM)
    .....Try the points that are growing grass. I was out last weekend and they were great! Also I have noticed that there are a lot of schools of bait fish around that is very good news for us. Slim
  
  
• Deep Fish (8/14/2008 6:06:58 AM)
    .....Odds are you caught those fish after some of those heavy rains we had which put some oxygen in the deeper water. But for the last month or so the rains have been small and with no generation there just isn't anything down there for them to breath. Try fishing shallow in the shade and around the docks, but please be carefull of the peoples docks, if you don't have the ability to cast around them and not hit them or there boats don't, nobdy wants lures bouncing off there boats. Jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (8/13/2008 11:01:48 AM)
    .....Anyone: Earlier this month was able to catch some good fish on the drops at the mouth of the creeks. Since then though I have been unable to locate the good size fish. I have noticed an enormous amount of bait fish shallow so I went shallow and am able to string together several fish shallow but nothing over 2 lbs. Where have they gone? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have been fishing at night using a jig, big worm, and spinnerbait and sometimes early in the morning. Spinnerbait has been the best. This night fishing has really got me stumped.
  
  
• Cordell Hull (8/10/2008 5:37:21 PM)
    .....I fished Friday morning and caught several small fish in the shade of the tree lines. I tried everything, deep/shallow points, backs of creeks, humps and could only catch fish in the shade. I did catch one good fish, 3.5 pound bass on the bridge pillers at Martin creek. I was fishing with a deep running crankbait (shad color). I couldnt put anything together on the Hull this weekend, day or night. The water is very low for this time of year, I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but it's just an observation. I have herd that deep running crankbait on shade covered ledge's are producing good fish, just didnt work for me.. Dennis
  
  
• dead fish (8/10/2008 2:04:08 PM)
    .....Sat. on OH saw several dead fish in main channel around Barton & Spring Creeks What's up? PTV
  
  
• 08/08/2008 (8/8/2008 12:23:11 PM)
    ..... It's been tough down their. I mean you can catch fish but no size. The last few tournaments it took anywhere from 10 to 13 to win. So not alot of big fish being caugh. Good Luck!
  
  
• Codell Hull Bass info. (8/8/2008 5:47:35 AM)
    .....Can't tell you anything, havn't been up there in a month maybe some one else can. Jim
  
  
• cordell hull (8/7/2008 10:17:53 PM)
    .....whats going on at the hull with bass? anyone doing any good. give me some good info jim. big tourny coming up. t hendersonville
  
  
• Thanks Dennis (8/6/2008 6:38:16 AM)
    ..... We are just trying to help each other, thank you for the kind words and thanks all you guys for helping us do this. Jim
  
  
• Thanks (8/5/2008 10:33:39 PM)
    .....I just want to take a minute and thank Jim for this forum. I don't know of any other place that you can go and find such a vinue of fine people willing to help each other out. It is also a great thing that you can get the advise of a pro like Jim and the other great fishermen without having to pay a high membership fee. I have been a member of Bassmaster for some time now, and enjoy the membership, but nothing can replace the personal one on one that your website offers. Your advise has paid off for me on several occaision, and I just want to say thanks..Dennis
  
  
• Center hill deep fish (8/5/2008 12:24:30 PM)
    ..... Yes they have, they are down 20 to 30 foot deep and a shacky head is your best bet, there is also a very short early morning bite. Jim
  
  
• Where to catch shad (8/5/2008 12:04:10 PM)
    ..... I have spent 2 hours many times at the dam to catch my shad and then catch all I need in one throw. Try on the edges of the boiling water next to the flood gates and make sure you where a life jacket. Also you can go over to the actual lock opening and there is a spray there that holds some. Another way to find them is to get in the clear water of the Caney Fork and find the gravel shoals where you can see to the bottom and watch for shad, good luck. jim
  
  
• Center Hill (8/5/2008 11:32:02 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you heard anything recently about how deep the fish are at Center Hill? We were doing well but all the sudden we are having a hard time getting bites. Thanks
  
  
• Cumberland River Stripers (8/5/2008 10:48:57 AM)
    .....Jim, where is a good spot for netting gizzard shad? I have tried under the dam, but I only got one or two after few casts. We all know that its not easy to keep skipjack alive. If I am using skipjack for bait, it doesn't matter its live or not right? And what is the average size striper you catch using skipjack?
  
  
• Catfish cordell hull (8/5/2008 8:21:22 AM)
    ..... If I where you I would fish at night with jugs back in the pockets and you should end up with 20-50 fish a night. I would use candian night crawlers for bait and then drop an anchor near the edge of a creek channel and put a shad head or bluegill head on a rod and reel and fish the bottom and check your jugs every couple of hours. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland River Stripers (8/5/2008 8:16:29 AM)
    .....The best bait for stripers is skipjack and gizzard shad. With the poor water quality in the Cumberland you are better off running up the Caney Fork River as far as you can safly. Then drift back with the shad about 5 foot below a large bobber back to the mouth of the cumberland and repeat. Jim
  
  
• Doesn't matter (8/4/2008 9:28:03 PM)
    .....I here you, the report i just left was probably my best day out there in awhile. The fish are still in those spots just not concentrated. They still have to eat. Its tougher with the fish scattered out. But don't be afraid to try your normal summer spots. I've been pleasantly surprised by some of the offshore fish i've found this year. Frankly those offshore fish don't spook as bad and if you know where and what your throwing at they're easier to catch. I've found that in shallow water its extremely important to be stealthy on a body of water like old hickory. It can make the difference in catching them and not catching them. TC
  
  
• Cats Cordell Hull (8/4/2008 6:08:10 PM)
    .....Jim, or you other catsters my wife and I fished above Granville Saturday night. We set up in about 20ft of water on the edge of the main channel. Right at dark my wife caught 3 good cats, 9 to 13-lbs. She caught them on the edge of the drop off on chicken liver. I fished more shallow and caught a small 2 pound ? channel cat. We caught a 15lb channel and a 17lb blue in this same spot last year. I tried cut shad and stink bait in the same location but have yet to have any bites. Her fish all came in about 45 minutes. Is this a hang out spot, or do you think they was moving out of the channel to shallow water? After 2300 hours the bite pretty much shut off. Friday night we fished a flat in the bend of the river below Salt Lick. We set up next to some submerged tree's in about 8ft of water. I thought this would be idea, but only caght one 4-ld cat. We fished until 0200 hours. I sent some photo's of her fish, but didnt want to take up space with mine. Dennis
  
  
• striper (8/4/2008 5:46:07 PM)
    .....Does anyone know where is a good spot for striper around cordell hull dam and cumberland river? And what kind of bait is better?
  
  
• bass\ shallow or deep (8/3/2008 8:41:37 PM)
    .....i agree with jim about the water being messed up with the dam problems and to fish shallow even during the day but what i dont understand is i had my best day on OH last week while it was 97 out fishing 17-18 feet deep with 5 and 6 lb. fish in the school and they bit well
  
  
• old stingy (old hickory) (8/2/2008 10:56:17 PM)
    .....I'am kidding i actually had a good day on friday afternoon. Fishing was so good at my first stop i never left. Caught some on a fluke near shallow grass beds. Moved out to my secret little hump. It sits right next to a crek channel. Its been my magic hole for some time now. Wacked them for about 20 minutes at a time. Big worm and a occasional crankbait. Best five would have ranged in the lower teens. Ran into a massive school of white bass. I couldn't resist i started chucking a shallow crank at them and had a blast for awhile. Caught probably fifteen in a ten minute stretch. Every cast, i love that fast action. Keep a crank tied on right now. There are a ton of schooling fish out there. They just come up all of a sudden with no warning so be ready. You can have a blast in a matter of minutes. TC
  
  
• Crankbait trolling for crappie (8/2/2008 7:01:42 AM)
    .....I like a 200 Bandit with 20lb spider wire line, my favorite colors are gray splatterback, pearl red eye's, and Chart\blue back. On real bright days I like chrome and blue back also and I troll at 2.5mph to 3mph. Jim
  
  
• Crankbait Trolling (8/2/2008 4:42:52 AM)
    .....Jim, I know you use bandit crankbaits to troll for crappie. What is the best size to troll and what are your top 3 colors, cloudy and clear days? Shank
  
  
• Cordell Hull (8/1/2008 3:15:28 PM)
    .....I have had some luck on flats covered with milfoil in 4 to 8 ft. of water. Fishing on top of the milfoil. I have also done pretty well on the ledges with crank baits, fishing fairly shallow. Seems like everything is shallow, even in the middle of the day. I fish the upper part of the lake which seems to be a little better than the lower right now, but I guess that depends on who you talk to..
  
  
• Codell Hull Bass info. (8/1/2008 6:06:00 AM)
    .....This has been one of the worst year of fishing for the Cumberland chain I have ever seen and it's all because of the huge drawdown at Wolf Creek Dam. They won't let the water get up high enough to generate so they are having to drain the water off the bottom of the lake and there is no oxygen in it and it has messed the bite up bad. My best thought for anyone fishing the chain is fish shallow where there is some wave oxygen. Try spinerbaits, 100 Bandits, topwaters early and late around any grass you can find. There is a new bait out by Berkley which is Gulp Alive that I have done well on in pearl color and that is the Crazy Legs Jerk Shad, it is like a fluke bait but 10 times better. Hope this helps you out and good luck and don't melt to the bottom of your boat. Jim
  
  
• Generation schedule (8/1/2008 5:56:21 AM)
    .....I know what you mean, I love to fish the river but I have not been able to all summer, as the old lady said where's the water. Jim
  
  
• the HULL (7/31/2008 11:00:21 PM)
    .....any info on cordell hull would be great. ive never fished there but will soon.what end of the lake to fish in late august. patterns baits ect. any help jim? t hendersonville
  
  
• generation? (7/31/2008 9:47:53 PM)
    .....When are they ever going to pull any water at old hickory. I think i've looked at the generation schedule for a good solid month now and they show zero for the whole day. Lake is like bath water. Anyone doing any good on bass. I've had motor troubles all year. Finally got it resolved where i can fish and not worry about if i'll make it back to the dock.
  
  
• Codell Hull Bass info. (7/27/2008 7:36:43 PM)
    .....There are always some bass shallow but for the last 2 years and the next several till they get Wolf Creek Dam fixed and we get back to normal generation it is going to stay that way. The reason for this is there is no oxygen deep so the fish are staying shallow in the summer. Jim
  
  
• cordell hull (7/27/2008 3:33:08 PM)
    .....Jim, Saturday I caught 8 good bass avearage 2 pounds, one was a little better than 4 pounds on top of the milfold just above Granville. I was fishing a crankbait, bluegill color. This was from about 11:00 to 12:00. The shad were running the grass in large schools. I would cast past them and crank my bait trough the shad. My question is, should the Bass be that shallow at that time of day when it is so hot? The water ranges from 4 to 6 ft on that flat. Is this just a fluke or have I been missing a good spot for the last 5 years in the hot sun..Thanks Dennis P.S. I took your advise on jugging Martin Creek Flats, It paid off great. We caught alot of good keepers. I let the Bass go, but kept the catfish,,,sorry....
  
  
• old hickory (7/25/2008 9:19:59 PM)
    ..... slow day on OH endured heavy rain no problem frog toggs caught few fish and only 1 keeper on a big buzz bait. t
  
  
• Center Hill Bass (7/25/2008 7:28:14 PM)
    .....Ther should be an early and late topwater bite like the berkley popper of Frenzy. During the day try a shaky head worm in 4-6 inches in 20 to 30 foot of water off the points. Jim
  
  
• Walleye and sauger Old Hickory (7/25/2008 7:24:46 PM)
    .....The actual major population is on the lower end of the lake, that is where they spend 8 months of the year. I do think there are enough of them to either spoon them up or troll a 300 Bandit on the mud bars along the river. Jim
  
  
• Stan Sloan (7/25/2008 7:21:15 PM)
    .....I have not heard of anyone buying it and I don't think Jeff will take it over, he will be missed. Jim
  
  
• center hill (7/25/2008 3:12:30 PM)
    .....Any word on Center Hill? I'm up here this weekend and wanted to try and catch some bass when its not raining...any suggestions? I did just catch a walleye on a crankbait which surprised me...
  
  
• Walleye and Sauger; Old Hickory (7/25/2008 10:45:57 AM)
    .....Jim, I have been catching good size walleye and sauger for a couple of weeks now at the mouth of major creeks. What I am wondering is if the population of Walleye in Old Hickory is large enough for me to focus a day on instead of trying it only for an hour or so. Are there enough in there to focus my attention? If it means that I would have to travel up past the 231 bridge to get into good numbers then my decision would be made for me. Largest sauger so far was 21" caught jigging a spoon, released.
  
  
• Stan Sloan (7/25/2008 9:59:10 AM)
    .....Jim, Have you heard if anyone has purchased Stan Sloans business or if his son will take it over?
  
  
• Priest Dam (7/21/2008 5:59:04 AM)
    .....If your fishing below the dam small spinners are the ticket, if you are fishing above the dam from the bank take your shallow runing crankbaits and cast straight down the bank in both directions and let your lure hit about 5 foot out from the bank, good luck. Jim
  
  
• Priest Dam (7/20/2008 12:04:11 AM)
    .....Yes Jim or anyone i was wandering i bought a few new lures earlier one is a bandit crankbait "threadfin shad", and i have some grey and black minnow raps and lots of other stuff anyway i wanted to know what might be hitting there right about now and what lures or live bait to use. Appreciate any feedback.
  
  
• Hybrids Old Hickory Lake (7/18/2008 5:58:15 AM)
    .....They have never been stocked in the lake, a lot of stripers have broken lines which is what throws a lot of people off. Call TWRA and ask for Todd ST. John the lake manager and he will confirm this. Jim
  
  
• old hickory (7/17/2008 10:57:39 PM)
    .....i am by no means an expert on stripers or hybrids, but i was sure some of the fish i have caught were hybrid. this is new news to me that they arent in OH maybe they were huge white bass. please elaborate. t hendersonville
  
  
• Stripers Old Hickory (7/16/2008 2:27:46 PM)
    ..... There are no Hybrids in Old hickory just Stripers. They are a wandering fish and this time of year there have moved way upstream for the cooler water. Jim
  
  
• OLD HICKORY HYBRID (7/15/2008 12:43:18 AM)
    .....HEY JIM THIS IS AJ. I AM A BANK FISHERMAN ON OLD HICKORY LAKE AND IF FISHED THEIR F0R A WHILE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS I FISH AT SHUTES BRANCH AT THE BANK OVER THERE I WAS WANDERIN WHAT MAY I DO TO CATCH SOME HYBRIDS OR STRIPERS THERE RIGHT NOW? DO YOU THINK AN ABU MIGHT WORK?
  
  
• Deep Fish (7/14/2008 2:08:51 PM)
    .....Thats the problem, they live for a day or a week and then the stress finally kills them. There have been lots of surveys done that show this with less than 5% mortality the first 24 hours and 50+% in the next 7 days. For shallow fish please release me is a must along with keeping the water in your livewell temp about 5 degrees colder than the lake and keep it on recirculate and have your water in the well and treated before you catch your first fish.Keep your airator running all the time and not on a timer and that's about all you can do, its good that your trying I wish every one would. Jim
  
  
• Fizzing Fish (7/14/2008 12:21:49 PM)
    .....Jim, Thanks for the link I will take a look. We are catching fish 20 to 25 and they will float up side down in the live well if we don't fizz them. Also we keep the water in the live well cool. Is their any other thing I can do besides fizzing them. I haven't had an fish die on me this year so I hate to change what works But I was just really concerened about the after effect. Thanks again
  
  
• Fizzing fish (7/14/2008 11:13:26 AM)
    .....As a fishery bioligist and an ex- commercial diver I am very aware of bringing up fish and people from deep water and the impacts it has on both. The bladder isn't the biggest problem it is the nitrogen bubbles in the blood stream that hurts them the worst. The deeper the higher the mortality, 30 foot plus usually kills most of the fish within 7 days according to a lot of surveys. I myself when spooning in the winter won't fish deeper than 40 foot because I know I am going to kill most of the fish. Of course if I am fishing for spots I will till I get my limit. So in my opinion I don't recomend fishing for fish that are so deep they need to be fizzed but if you have to do it check out this survey link done by the fisheries department of Ontario and it will give you a lot of the science, here is the web address http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/228130.pdf hope this helps. Jim
  
  
• Night Fishing (7/14/2008 9:05:56 AM)
    .....Jim, When night fish we often have to needle fish “to let the air out.” What affect does it have on the fish after we release them at weight-in? Thanks!!!
  
  
• Generation (7/12/2008 4:33:35 PM)
    .....If you will go on my website on the upper left side in blue is a link that says lake generation and elevation, it is the second one down, when you click on it pull up the dams you are interested in which for old hickory would be cordell hull and old hickory and it will give you an up to the hour generation, I use it every day myself. Jim
  
  
• current on OH (7/12/2008 4:08:37 PM)
    .....Jim do you have info on if they will ever generate again on OH can't remember last time I was on lake and had moving water. Does the flooding have anything to do with it PTV
  
  
• walleye (7/11/2008 12:00:39 PM)
    .....Were you trolling for the walleye?
  
  
• Side Finder (7/11/2008 6:39:54 AM)
    .....I would buy a 797 humminbird and then get a Navionics Platnium chip for it. It fits in the dash and does a good job. I run it and a 997 and the 997 is a far better unit but it won't fit in the dash and cost more than twice as much, but the 797 will do all you need unless your fishing the tour or out in the ocean and looking deep. Good Luck and have no fear Humminbirds are great now. Jim
  
  
• Stan Sloan (7/11/2008 6:34:01 AM)
    ..... I knew Stan and my Buddy Jimmy Holt was just about his best friend and had been visiting him weekly. Jimmy told me he had it very hard the last year with the cancer so I know he is in a better place where the bass bite all day and they all weigh 10lb. he will be missed by all. As far as the bait company goes this is the worst time in the fishing world to buy into a fishing company. He made many great products and was one of the best fisherman that ever touched a fishing rod. Jim
  
  
• side imaging (7/10/2008 2:55:29 PM)
    .....hey jim, i would like to reopen this topic humminbird SI. just bought a new bass cat last friday and havent riged out the electroincs yet. i was thinking of putting a SI on my last boat but didnt, so now would be the best time for the investment. wich unit could you recomend and why.space would be a concern for in dash mounting and i like the preloaded maps with that said wich model could you suggest/ T hendersonville
  
  
• stan sloan (7/10/2008 2:45:27 PM)
    .....posted today on bassmasters web site reported the death of stan sloan after a long illness.although i didnt know him i have been catching good bass on his spinnerbaits still today, im sad for this loss to the fishing world. his bait company is for sale. hey jim would you like to partner up and purchase the company. T hendersonville hey love the walleye pics. caught a limit the last time i went in june with the biggest being 26 inches. no one belives me when i tell them about OH walleye. better for us
  
  
• hydro glow (7/10/2008 1:13:02 PM)
    .....The hydro glow or Bass Pro's "Green Magnet" from the Salt Water catalog, works better. It has pulled in minnows for me in 30 min from setup. These lights light about 8 ft radius in med stained water (Ky lake). Good Luck, Randy
  
  
• PERCY PRIEST CATFISH (7/10/2008 1:04:54 PM)
    .....Any suggestions on where to take my kids catfishing from the bank... I live in Hermitage so anywhere on this side of the lake...? Thanks....Bach
  
  
• night fishing (7/9/2008 9:30:44 PM)
    .....I LIKE TO FISH UNDER GREEN FLORESENT LIGHTS SUBMERGED ABOUT FOUR FEET DOWN CLOSE TO DEEP WATER.I HAVE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS ON MY TARGET SPECIES CRAPPIE.I HAVE FISHED PRIEST AT THE BRIDGE CENTER HILL AT DAVIES ISLAND AND LASTLY AT NORMANDY.ANY OTHER PLACES TO SUGGEST? ALSO I AM USING FAIRLY INEXSPENSIVE LIGHTS BUT DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM RAISING BALLS OF BAITFISH.DO YOU THINK THE HYDRO GLOW LIGHTS WOULD HELP AND WHAT KIND OF AMPS DO THEY DRAW?
  
  
• catfish bite (7/9/2008 6:35:15 AM)
    .....Go back in indian and martin creek on the flats and put out some jugs with worm-glo worm which are canadian night crawlers with worm-glo chemicals (made by sure-life and available at Bass Pro shops or on line) in them which turns them green and fat. Set your jugs about 3 foot deep and you will catch plenty, I have. Jim
  
  
• catfish on the hull (7/8/2008 8:29:45 PM)
    .....Jim, me and my wife love catfishing at night. Our weekend place is just above Granville on Cordell Hull(Brooks Bend). We have been fishing in 15 to 20 foot of water at the edge of the channel close to the mouth of a cove, and around the humps, with chicken liver and stink bait. We have had very little luck. We had good luck with these locations last year. Please help...Dennis
  
  
• old hickory (7/2/2008 10:49:55 PM)
    .....out for a few hours today had 4 keeper largemouth for about 8.5-9.5 lbs. probally could have got 5 but i left. had several shorties that didnt measure. 2 keeps on a lipless 1\2 oz. red rye, 2 on a zoom mag 2 junebug worm 3/8 oz. bullet 3/0 ewg hook the better fish were on the worm 8-9 foot deep.. T
  
  
• Nashville Bass Pro Shops (7/1/2008 2:05:43 PM)
    ..... Ya'll I will be at the Nashville BPS Saturday from 10am till 3pm next to the reel counter where they sell my DVD's. I will be doing seminars on trolling for crappie, and if you need any help picking out some tackle I will be glad to help. Jim
  
  
• Percy Priest Bluegill (7/1/2008 2:02:38 PM)
    .....Go to elm hill 2 and fish the old roadbed behind the atractors, you can see the end of it on the left side where it leaves the water and it runs next to the bank as you enter the cove right near the front, most lake maps will show it. Crickets is the ticket 2 foot down with a bobber. Next spot is behind the sailboat cove area and all around that cove and because it's no wake it's safe for the kids, good luck. Jim
  
  
• Percy priest bluegill (6/30/2008 8:58:36 AM)
    .....Hey Jim any advice for where to take a boat full of kids to catch bluegill at JPP? Docks, fish attractors, or bank? We put in at Elm Hill. Thanks!
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (6/27/2008 7:01:00 PM)
    ..... I would throw a Berkley sinking minnow or a white Berkley power jerk shad around any grass I could find after I got done throwing topwaters against the bank early in the morning. Jim
  
  
• PickWick Damn / bank (6/27/2008 1:30:02 PM)
    .....Any reports on bankfishing on the damn? thanks in advance
  
  
• OH tomorrow (6/27/2008 8:13:29 AM)
    .....What's gonna be our best bet for catching some Bass on Old Hickory tomorrow 6/28?
  
  
• White Bass below Old Hickory Dam (6/26/2008 6:10:54 AM)
    .....You should be able to catch some on a 1\4 ounce grub below the dam. I have been Bass and Catfishing so I am not on any white bass now. Jim
  
  
• Catching White Bass Off the bank (6/25/2008 1:00:52 PM)
    .....Hey Jim this is Aj i was wandering how the white bass bite is and that i go to a spot where normally i get lots of skipjack on my jig where now they dont hit as much. Plz answer soon as possible thanks.
  
  
• Sores on fish tails (6/25/2008 6:34:41 AM)
    ..... These are caused from the bass fanning the bed during the spawn and should clear up in the next 30 day's. Jim
  
  
• Sores on Bass Tail (6/24/2008 7:29:36 PM)
    .....I was Fishing At Old Hickory Dam on monday and caught about 10 bass. Two had red blister sores on there tail that would bleed if ruptured. Is that common or a disease? Thanks J. Sorro
  
  
• Cats Old Hickory (6/24/2008 7:30:27 AM)
    .....I have been catching good cats in all the bays in the middle of the lake on my jugs with 3 foot of line and worm-glo worms. Jim
  
  
• catfish on OH (6/23/2008 8:48:24 PM)
    .....Going catfishing wednsday night, any tips?
  
  
• fishing reports (6/12/2008 6:20:01 AM)
    ..... Guy's we are sorry for the fishing reports being down but the server our website was on got hit by lightning a week ago and they just got back on line, so go ahead and let us know what the fish are doing. I have been at Priest cranking a 100 Bandit in the shallow rocky area's and have had great luck and first thing in the morning I have had a fair topwater bite. Jim
  
  
• Cumberland R iver Stripers/Rockfish (5/30/2008 9:23:18 AM)
    .....There are a few available, it will only get better and better over the next month and a half and stay good thru October. Live Skippies are better than swim baits, but they will work. BL
  
  
• cumberland river rockfish (5/25/2008 11:48:23 AM)
    .....would right now be a good time to try and catch some rock fish on the cumberland if so would a big swim bait be a good choice?
  
  
• Bluegill and shellcrackers (5/23/2008 6:33:15 AM)
    .....Guys we have been trying to film a new bluegill DVD for the last 2 weeks and it's like all of you have said its all small fish and mostly male. We have caught several keepers and cleaned them and they have either been male or females and the females had eggs in them so they have not spawned so it's looking like a full moon of June spawn this year. jim
  
  
• OH Bream (5/22/2008 10:47:45 PM)
    .....Fished OH last Sunday for Bream. We had at least 400, but only one good Shellcracker. All the rest were samll or just short of the keeping size. We fished up river, above Bledsoe, in the creeks and tried all over. Is it still early or have they laready gone down?
  
  
• Kentucky Lake (5/22/2008 8:48:50 PM)
    ..... Just spent four days on the old pond. Trolling excellent for white bass. Easy limits each day with over 300 caught in four days. Trolling bandits and deep wee r's on the ledges. Also caught plenty of largemouth up to four pounds, some nice crappie, sauger, and catfish. Caught a few of pretty much anything that swims. Trolling will remain excellent in to the hot weather. Mike - Old Hickory
  
  
• Old Hickory Bream (5/22/2008 2:41:53 PM)
    .....Anyone had any luck with bream at OH this week?
  
  
• Center Hill Bass (5/16/2008 3:58:48 PM)
    .....Yes sir it will, try it on the long gravel points next to the spawning areas, that would be my choice and I would use a 6 inch Gulp Lizard in watermelon. Jim
  
  
• The Hill (5/15/2008 8:23:13 AM)
    .....Jim, Do you think carolina rig would be worth trying if I don't have any wind for the blade.
  
  
• The hill Bass (5/13/2008 6:29:05 AM)
    .....Yes they are coming off bed and there is a morning topwater bite and then throw a spinnerbait and a 100 or 200 bandit in rootbeer. Jim
  
  
• Centerhill (5/12/2008 8:12:47 AM)
    .....Jim, Haven't seen a post for Centerhill in a while do you have any info on whats goging on. I heard the are coming off bed. Thanks
  
  
• Brim and shellcrakers (5/7/2008 5:10:18 PM)
    ..... Call the TWRA and they will give you a website that will have a map of all the sites to fit your needs, they are very good about helping. Jim
  
  
• Percy Priest Bass (5/7/2008 5:08:05 PM)
    .....These black marks are not a problem or a disease, a lot of them are where they have been handled and released so don't worry you can eat the spoted bass but please don't eat the smallies or largemouth. jim
  
  
• Brim/Shellcrackers on Percy Priest (5/6/2008 4:32:45 PM)
    .....Jim, helping with Saturday's Easter Seals Fishing Event for some of their children. This year's event has moved from Old Hickory to Percy Priest. Need some suggestions where we can catch some brim/shellcrackers on Percy Priest. Would like to fish the lower part of the Lake as we are going out of the YMCA Camp Site. Practiced today with little results. Appreciate any ideas!
  
  
• Priest Bass (5/6/2008 11:48:03 AM)
    .....I have caught a lot of small bass with black patches on them. Is this some kind of fish disease? Are they still eatable?
  
  
• OH Crappie (5/6/2008 8:07:43 AM)
    .....I'm a little out of touch right now, are the crappie on the Hick done and moving out or are they still shallow? Thanks in advance. BL
  
  
• yellow perch (5/6/2008 12:26:30 AM)
    .....are there any good yellow perch in the reservoirs, or family fishing lakes in middle tennessee?
  
  
• cordell hull stripe and carp (5/3/2008 9:28:02 PM)
    .....went to cordell hull today caught 2 stripe and thirty skip jack and five twenty pound bufflo carp... any one no about the stripe in cordell hull??? c.c.
  
  
• kentucky lake crappie (4/28/2008 8:44:58 PM)
    .....i havent fished them but my friend tells me that they having monster stringers for 2 weeks told me that last tuesday week ago they had 8 people in their party and all had limits.T
  
  
• lake barkley (4/28/2008 8:28:41 PM)
    .....got on a great largemouth bite this past weekend on barkley. water temp went up and down between 64-69 degrees. found 1 spot dpoped anchors and caught over 100 bass that ranged from small dinks to 5 and 6 pounders. never changed baits and was reeling them in 2 at a time. thats right one cast and reel in 2 bass. without saying they were compeating for my crankbait. catfishing was slow caught 6 thursday nothing large only 5-6 lbs. crappie, i bombed, goy schooled only 1 keeper friday but the minnow fishermen killed saw 1 boat loading there creel.T-hendersonville
  
  
• Kentucky Lake (4/28/2008 3:55:15 PM)
    ..... Fished for 7 hours on Friday and caught nearly 100 fish. Trolling Teeny wee r's and Bandits in 8 to 15 feet of water. Caught Bass, Crappie, lots of stripe and yellows, sauger, bluegill, and even a northern pike. When cleaning the stripe most of the larger fish had 3 or 4 small (1 inch) bluegill in their stomachs.Crappie trolling will be excellent in the coming weeks at these depths after the spawn wraps up. Mike W. - Old Hickory
  
  
• Percy Priest Hybrids (4/27/2008 5:29:50 PM)
    .....Fish them straight down on a carolina rig with about a half ounce weight. I would use 15LB line and either a 4\0 hook for shiners or a 7\0 hook for bluegill, hook the bluegill behind the dorsal fin and the shiners through the eyes. I would start at 12 foot and work my way down as the sun came up. The fish will be from hobson pike bridge all the way to the dam and the old river banks that hits the bank are good areas or points that stick way out in the lake and the old river hits the tip of them, good luck. Jim
  
  
• percy priest hybrid (4/27/2008 4:34:12 PM)
    .....Jim I have read that folks catch Hybrid on the lower part of the lake on shad or small bluegill this time of year. What is the best way to rig them up? Are they shollow or in the flats? thanks
  
  
• priest bream (4/27/2008 4:29:32 PM)
    .....went out today to crappie fish but the bream kept stealing my minnow. So I swiched to crickets and caught a bream on almost every cast. When the weather rolled in they shut off quick.
  
  
• Percy Priest Bass (4/26/2008 7:01:20 AM)
    ..... The Bass are on the banks and we had a great day yesterday on 100 Bandits in silver sparkle minnow in all the coves. Jim
  
  
• Kentucky Lake (4/24/2008 7:05:04 PM)
    .....The Bass and Crappie have both just hit the bank so it is time to head that way. I was down there for the last week and the last 3 days it was all you wanted shallow. Jim
  
  
• Percy Priest Crappie (4/18/2008 7:06:35 PM)
    .....You are right, it is one of the few lakes that didn't go to a 15 fish crappie limit, better safe than sorry. Thanks for the kind words. Jim
  
  
• Crappie (4/18/2008 6:59:48 PM)
    .....Jim, are you catching any crappie? If so, what lake do you like the best?
  
  
• Creel Limit from Mike Utterback (4/18/2008 4:05:34 PM)
    .....Jim, I talked to you at Fate Sanders boat ramp Thursday morning. You indicated the Crappie limit was 15 per fishermen. Please check out page 23 in the latest fishing guide. Under reseviors it says PP is 30 per man at 10 inches long. Thanks for all you do for fishermen. We always go by the rules. Good Fishing Mike Utterback
  
  
• walleye (4/17/2008 9:31:15 PM)
    .....there are walleye in old hickory and i have been told that they are in priest as well but havent tried them but i can say that i had over 200 good keepers last year on OH.. T
  
  
• old hickory (4/17/2008 8:02:31 PM)
    .....I fished old stingy today. The fish are biting decent. I suspect it will only get better for the next few weeks. I have a solid crankbait bite going. I'am catching alot of little buck bass. Then all of a sudden a good one loads on. Water is murky to downright muddy in spots. But some of the creeks are clearing a little. It is beginning to come on. It should be good for awhile now. If there is one thing i've learned about that old lake its very important to keep covering water. So much bait and cover keeps those fish pretty spread out. But you'll find little patches of good fish here and there. Anyone fished priest lately. That lake is normally ahead of old hickory as far as the spawn goes? Anyone out there fishing any local tourneys? I'am looking for someone to fish them with. Most of my friends are just not into bass fishing. Mostly because when they get out with me they realize its harder than they expected it to be. I spend more time getting their lures unhung than actually fishing. I'am sure alot of you know what i mean. TC
  
  
• Walleye (4/16/2008 8:38:15 PM)
    .....I do not think Priest gets stocked for walleye or sauger, OH and Cheatham do. Last yr for some reason OH got 5X the fingerlings than Cheatham. BL
  
  
• Walleye www. fishingtennesse.com/Reports/response (4/16/2008 3:11:45 PM)
    .....Do priest percy have walleye in it. I'm not sure what I caught but it was taste really good. I 've been fishing at night because of all the wind lately. Throwing crankbaits around deep humps and on rocky bank shallow .After boating serval smallies I for the next ten cast caught four 18inch walleye or sauger. I thought that TWRA may have stock some in the lake but didn't find anything out from nobody. So do you know of anything?
  
  
• fishing the lakes in middle TN (4/15/2008 6:38:35 PM)
    ..... Planning on making a trip down from Lexington, Kentucky to fish several spots in middle Tn staring Saturday - Priest, the Hill, and Hickory. Recommend any particular bait/lure for a memorable trip?
  
  
• Woods resevoir (4/10/2008 9:37:27 PM)
    .....bass are on caught over 30 bass 20 keepers on jig n small lizard
  
  
• Transducer (4/10/2008 6:42:51 AM)
    .....To mount in the hull if this is where you go, go to bass pro shops and they will have a kit for this.
  
  
• lake barkley (4/9/2008 9:36:12 PM)
    .....leaving tommorrow for LBL for 5 days on barkley catfish bass and crappie and opening turkey quota hunt anyone know what the fish are doing up there i was wondering how the water is on barkley with all the rain usally means alot of floaters any input? thanks T
  
  
• tranducer mounting (4/9/2008 8:41:53 PM)
    .....I used a slow dry two part epoxy last time. They didn't send any with the depthfinder. Is there a different product to mount it with? Two part epoxy is all i've ever heard of being used. I've heard some claim that silicone will work if you use a thin bead of it. But i'am not going to try it and find out,lol.
  
  
• Transducer (4/9/2008 7:39:04 PM)
    .....Mount it in the hull and use the product made for mounting it in the hull and be sure to clean and sand the surface before mounting Also put it as far back on the pad near the middle for the best reading, you will lose very little sensitivity if done right. Jim
  
  
• Transducer (4/9/2008 1:44:31 PM)
    .....Right now its mounted on the transom. I have a 96 hydra sport i'am running it on. My last boat i had it mounted in the hull. I never can get it to read bottom at high speed when i mount it to the transom. I was thinking about mounting it in the hull again. I know you lose some sensitivity that way. I was trying to avoid that if possible. I really don't think there is a optimal spot to mount it on the transom without it losing the bottom. If there is i've never been able to find it.Thanks for the info on the sensitivity settings,TC.
  
  
• Navionics Chip (4/9/2008 9:47:52 AM)
    .....The new (2008) SD/Prem-E4 runs about $150 at Bass Pro. I would recommend checking around the local tackle shops to see if anyone has the old (2007) SD/Prem-E3 Navionics chip. There is no difference between the E3 & E4 for the Tennessee area. I just purchased an E3 at Gander Mountain for $89. Hope that helps. T-Wolfe
  
  
• Lowrance depthfinder (4/9/2008 6:45:50 AM)
    .....The information provided below by T sounds right to me, you are always going to have surface clutter. The one thing I would recomend on sensitivity setting is turn the sensitivity up till you see 2 bottoms and then back it off till you see one bottom. Also remember the deeper you are the more you need and vice versa, thank you T for the fine info for him. Jim
  
  
• lowrance (4/8/2008 10:07:56 PM)
    .....turn off asp noise reduction and surface clutter urder sonar features set unit to auto sensitivy and set sensitivy level to about 75-80 it will add more if necessary. question is where is your transducer mounted? transom, through hull. fiberglass or aluminum. make sure that unit power is grounder straight to battery. with everything in order you can run unit at 90-95% sensitivy yes it will show more clutter but will also show a better detailed return and a widder cone angle up to 60degrees depending on depth.T
  
  
• depthfinder sensitivity (4/8/2008 6:41:22 PM)
    .....Hey jim,i just purchased a lowrance 522c gps/sonar combo. I fish old hickory mostly. I was out trying to adjust the settings on it manually. The more sensitive i got it the more junk would show up on the screen.I got a bunch of good looking fish arc's on it. Then i would turn it down and the arc's would go away along with most of the surface clutter. Is there a ideal sensitivity range that i should set it on. I don't know if it matter's from lake to lake. Like i said i'am on old hickory mostly. Also which navionics chip should i get? Thanks TC.
  
  
• Codell Hull (4/8/2008 7:06:47 AM)
    .....The lower end is fine on the main lake but back in the creeks it's muddy. Jim
  
  
• Percy Preist (4/7/2008 8:10:36 PM)
    .....Water still very muddy from Fate sanders to Spring,and Fall creek.Lake level is also way up.Bass are so so. many small bass to be caught.The rains slowed up the spawn which was looking real good before the heavy rain.Water temps are anywhere from 58 to 65 degrees.
  
  
• Old Hickory Bass (4/7/2008 6:31:12 AM)
    .....The bass should be on a white spinerbait and a 100 grey splatterback Bandit crankbait. The yellows love a little 3\8 to 1\4 spoon in the creek channels, good luck. jim
  
  
• Old Hickory (4/7/2008 2:43:05 AM)
    .....Yea Jim i was wandering what would be the best thing for largemouth and those yellow bass at old hickory shutes branch area. Thanks. By the way water up high and muddy should clear out.
  
  
• center hill (4/5/2008 7:46:50 PM)
    .....went to the hill sat.; lake in good condition and brown fish are hitting ; caught them on crankbait on rocky points ; lower end ptv
  
  
• Priest (4/5/2008 7:32:57 PM)
    .....Priest is good to go from 4 corners to the dam.
  
  
• Priest? (4/4/2008 4:44:47 PM)
    .....I just took a look at OH and it is a mess, muddy and out of its banks bad. Anyone know what Priest looks like?
  
  
• Pickwick white bass (4/4/2008 3:45:12 PM)
    .....They are at the end of there spawning run and are scattered from the Botel down to Shiloh. The secret is cover a lot of water on the banks, the water may be muddy and in that case a bandit 200 in a chartruece color is your best bet and hope they are generating. If it is clear go with a Bandit 200 blue and chrome. Jim
  
  
• SIDE IMAGING (3/26/2008 11:32:01 AM)
    .....There is a website called www.sideimaging.com that has all that info on it. I have thought about doing an electronics DVD but there are just to many units out there to make it profitable I do try to include a little electronics in some of my DVD's. Jim
  
  
• Sauger Video (2/21/2008 6:50:13 AM)
    .....Ya'll stop or I am going to blush, It is a very instructional video and will get you some good basic knowledge to work with along with some handy tips like the swivel to the stinger that my friend who passed away Joe Neeley that spent fifty years sauger fishing and then he taught me. Jim
  
  
• Video (2/21/2008 12:11:06 AM)
    ..... I will also vouch for the video.I will suggest you pay particular attention to what Jim says about the stealth spiderwire and using swivels for the stinger.If you are new to sauger fishing you can't go wrong watching and using Jim's technic. Good Luck.PL
  
  
• VIDEO (2/19/2008 8:18:13 PM)
    .....I'll vouch for the video (I bought it), it's very good, especially if you are new to daytime sauger fishing. It will show rigging, fishing, etc. Watch the generation schedule. When they turn the water down the fishing slows, and if it is off, even down river, you might as well go on home and watch the video because those are about the only saugers you'll see caught after that. Good Luck. BL
  
  
• Sauger (2/19/2008 4:28:16 PM)
    .....I would suggest you buy my DVD on sauger fishing off my website for all the details you need, I promise you it will help www.fishingtennessee.com or just jimduckworth.com. Shiloh is about 5 miles downstream of the Pickwick dam. The fishing below the Hull is still colored water and not good. Jim
  
  
• videos (1/24/2008 4:03:59 PM)
    .....jim i just got the dvds and videos my wife bought me that u put out. i was amazed at the quality of them. i believe i will be able to take that knowledge and produce results on the waterand maybe i can talk her into letting me book a trip with you on the lake. thanks for such high quality and knowledgeable videos. jeremy in nc
  
  
• Sauger Jigs (1/20/2008 7:52:33 AM)
    .....You can't find them around here but if you call my friend that sells them and buy by the dozen he will ship you some, his number is 256-335-8147, tell him I refered you please. You want the 1.25 ounce jigs and he has 25 plus colors but the old red head and white body is good for up here as is the light blue and white hair below pickwick is good. Jim