Lake Chickamauga Event

Last weekend was the was my first tournament event of the year on Lake Chickamauga. After only seeing the lake once before but having a good finish there last year I was ready to get to Tenn and see if I could keep the streak rolling. I rolled into town on Wed moring and as soon as we pulled up noticed the water was way down from last year. After the rains I would have expected the water to be higher if anything but plans were changing as I was ideling around looking at the sonar.

I made the run to one of my best areas from last year and after making a few adjustments my buddy boated his biggest fish ever on a Jackall Muscle 15+ in Chart/Purple color. I was fan casting a point sitting in about 18 feet of water looking for fishin that were ready to move up for the spawn. I boated one fish in the 4 pound class and had several more bites I shook off. We moved around in the area tossing several baits and getting a few strikes. I put a Lake Fork Ring Fry on a small C-Rig and boated another solid keeper. We changed areas looking for some clear water but that was just not going to happen with high winds and pending storms rolling in. We made the move back to the ramp with a productive day one practice and got dry.

On day 2 of practice we wanted to build on what I had seen from the previous day. I hit main lake points where water got very shallow but would drop fast into deeper water. We still boated fish on the Muscle Deep 15+ and also the Jackall TN70 in a Red Craw color. One key was to make sure you worked the bait on the bottom very slow. We hit several areas and boated fish on all but one place. Most of the fish looked to be just coming up so I was very happy with the bite and what I found.

Day 3 of practice was only a halfday due to needing to get everything ready and the meeting that afternoon. We mainly rode and looked alot and I laid a track for my main run I was planning. On the night of the meeting it did nothing but get colder and pending thunderstorms were looking like they were going to move in and stay. That night we got pounded with rains and wind and were heading to the ramp in a down pour. I was hoping they would blow out of the area fast to be honest. I really needed the sun to be out to make my bite stable.

On the monring of the tournament I was sitting on the boat watching weatherreports and radar. We got held due to some nasty lightning but after that storm moved through we were off. I made the 20 min run North of the ramp to my first stop. I really didnt have anything before 9 am but wanted to make sure I got that area so I stayed on it. I boated my first fish on the Jackall TN70 in about an hour. Once I had that bite I noticed it was very sluggish and the bite was very light, unlike the bites I had during the week. I worked the area another hour until I saw my Co-Angler swing on a fish and miss right at the boat. I moved the boat out a little more and the next cast hit another fish and put it in the boat. I had slowed way down fishing the Jackall Cover Craw on light line trying to "coax" a bite. The rains were still pounding us but I was now running against the clock. This is the one time most tournament anglers have issues. I had 2 more areas that produced well in practice and wanted to hit them but had said in my mind I wouldnt leave this place without a limit. Well I always go with my gut and when it said to leave I left with only 2 keepers in the livewell.

On stop #2 I sat the boat down and within 5 mins of setting up boated my 3rd keeper fish. I noticed the water level had changed and also got a little dirty. I still worked the area the way I did in practice and boated 4 more non-keeper fish. I then moved out to the first break(where the better fish should have moved to) and started slowing way down. I was fishing a Jackall 4.8 Flick SHake rigged on a Dropshot and 6 lb line. I hooked a huge fish I saw on the sonar and he came up once. When he took the last dive we pulled me back in the brush and ended up breaking off. This is something that you just have to know will happen when you downsize. I had this happen one more time before time just ran out and I had to go back to the ramp. I did boat several more fish but none that were legal.

I ended the day with 3 fish that went 8.84 and gained some points torward the Regional event. Missing the first event I really need a good finish at Ft Loudon coming up. I want to say a special thanks to everyone that came out to see us and all the well wishes and support from our fans on Facebook. Also a huge thanks to our Sponsors, Jackall Lures, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Hookerz Tackle, ReserveFishing.com, The Professor, Elite Series Products, Wired2FIsh, Gemini Sports Marketing, Topwater Clothing, Bass Pro SHops, and Gator Grip. Without these guys we couldnt be doing any of this. Looking forward to getting back at it soon and hope to see you on the water. ROCK ON!!!

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Lake Guntersville Weekly Report

This week has been slammed with trips but fishing has gotten better each day but one. Water levels were up and down all week starting about 3 feet over summer pool, dropping to 3 below winter pool, and back to normal pool for the time of year by the end of the week. This along with water temps moving alot made fishing just about the most unpredictable I have seen it in some time. One day we would flat smoke em' and the next had to fight for every bite. All in all a great week weather wise with water temps getting more stable each day.



We had solid keeper fish on every trip and a limit but fish didnt seem to be "bunched up" like they should be. One fish would be green and appeare to have been in the grass awhile and the next was white as a ghost, meaning it just moved up. The best baits for trips this week was the Lake Fork Live Magic Shad in shad colors, the Jackall Flick Shake, Jackall Soul Shad, and a Pure Poison Jig in Black. The fish moved all week but we found the best fishing from the State Park launch going North to the BB Comer bridge. I didnt travel much past the bridge because of the hundreds of boats up north. I did see the best pattern seemed to be fishing flats with close by deep breaks on them. I would start on the deep side in the morning then work my way onto the flats as the sun made the water temps go up. The best water temps have been from 58-64 degrees. If you find that water you will find active fish. If the water drops below that mark it makes the bite alot slower and you need to fish accordingly.



I will be on the water 2 days this week then off to a tournament in Tenn until Sunday. Hope everyone has a great and safe week on the lake and please remember to treat other boaters as you would like to be treated. I saw alot of things happen this weekend. Remeber 2 wrongs dont make a right. Also I heard of some tackle being stolen at the Waterfront Ramp while a boat was tied up. I know there are a ton of us "locals" that leave our stuff on the deck to run grab a cheeseburger but stop. If you see some strange people hanging out on boat ramps call the Police. Several ramps are having problems again this year.

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Lake Guntersville Weekly Report

The last week on Guntersville has been one strange week of events. As many remember last week was just awesome with the weather getting the water temps right on track for the spawn to start and fish were starting to move up fast. There were event several areas I saw bedding fish and 66 degree water. We started catching better numbers and size was going up each day.



Well That was not the case this week. Storms rolled in and two huge cold fronts slammed us and the lake paid the price. Water temps fell almost 14-16 degrees almost over night in some areas and water levels shot up well over 2 feet in a day. Lots of stain in areas that normally dont have stained water and tons of debris floating in the lake has made it just plaiin dangerous to be out there.



My trips this week started off very rocky to say the least. Monday I fished with some great guys from up north looking to find some tournament fish. I spent most of the day looking for a better size bite and didnt even go to areas that I knew were holding smaller fish. The bigger bite just never came. We did catch some fish but clients wanted to cover alot of water so we never sat in one spot and worked it hard after a bite or two. Tuesday I fished with two awesome anglers from Birmingham that I met at Bass Pro Shops. The monring we met at Waterfront I all but begged them not to take the trip. With pending heavy rains and a poor bite on Monday I just didnt feel they would have a good time. Boy was I wrong. We started slow but after putting a few fish in the boat we decided to learn some new tactics. I moved to a section I knew there were some smaller fish but would build their confidence in the new tactic. We were not there less than 5 mins before the first fish was boated. We worked the area hard with the Jackall Flick Shake boating fish after fish and ended the day in the cold pouring rain with 14 solid fish and one almost 7 pounds.



I made the dession to change my date on the Wed trip due to so much floating in the water and I just thought it was too dangerous to be on the water. My Thursday trip was a local angler that had his brother in town and wanted to see him catch some fish. Well they ate today! After telling them it was going to be a tough bite we stopped on the first place and they both had a small limit in just about as many cast. We fished the Jackall Flick Shake on the Wacky Jig head for a few more hours boating several more limits. They then wanted to hit some bigger fish so we changed up the baits and started fishing Lake Fork Live Magic Shad swimbaits. Both boated a few more fish with a little better size but the Flick Shake was the numbers bait without a doubt.



All in all a good week with some awesome clients and we are getting ready for another great week of trips next week. I wil be off the water this weekend working an appearance at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Al on Sat and Sunday but back on the water on Monday to start another round. Hope everyone has a great weekend and if your not on the lake be sure to stop by and see all the huge sales at BPS. This is the last weekend of the Spring Classic. If your fishing please be safe and keep your eyes open. Lots of things floating on the water and just under the surface. Dont be in a hurry and enjoy the day out on the lake. ROCK ON!!