VolFan

I fish for them on purpose and even I try to keep them out of the boat for hook removal. They’re in their feed bag prespawn right now, that’s why you’re getting so many on bass baits. It will stop dead in a couple weeks when they start spawning. Then you are more apt to get one on a big if you drag it into their nest. Blues are every bit the open water predators that stripers are, and I think they are the best eating.

And how much are you looking for?

That looks like a spawning male blue cat. Also could be a spawning male channel, but it looks like a blue. They get real ugly.

Accept that you will lose jigs. It happens. I prefer to fish casting from what was the treetop towards what was the bottom/root portion, parallel to the trunk. I don’t bomb casts, just target holes. You slither it gently up to and over limbs. I use the rod tip and rod movement to lift it over; generally this way you know the hook point is up. Perpendicular is ok, but really tough in heavy fresh treetops. Even the type of tree and the age can make a difference.

I always pick between two options when they’re busting on giant schools - a roostertail about the size of the forage or smaller fished very high in the water column. Cast into the school and fast reel with twitches back to you. Usually this’ll get an aggressive fish on the edge. Then a fluke, tube or subtle paddle tail on a jig head. Cast into the school and let it spiral to the bottom. Lift and let it spiral again. This is a big fish technique. Fwiw most of my experience is with shad or herring schools.

I needed the coffee to kick in… I’m confusing Sabiki rig and Damiki rig… But still - Fishing one of these horizontally oriented soft plastics under a tactical flotation device sounds very similar to the float-n-fly rig used for smallmouth in places like Dale Hollow. Without the TFD, it’s also very similar to strolling for crappie and how I catch white perch for bait. I’m legitimately glad that I’m getting better options for baits and jig heads that I can target spotted bass with better.

I fish a weightless fluke unless stuff is matted on the surface. Elastec for shallower weeds and heavier salted ones as the weeds are progressively deeper. If it’s matted up/heavy surface weeds I’m flipping/pitching the lighted t-rigged bait or grass jig that I can get away with and jiggling it through holes. I like ribbon tail worms or beavers for this.

Is this just float n fly with a different lure? Why not just use a senko?

NorthStar Customs Flip and Swim if there’s grass/weeds. Football head if there’s not. Great jigs, great price, great guy to deal with

I’d let you borrow my wheelbarrow but the drive is a bit much…

I’d work on techniques that you are not familiar with - jig and trailer for example. It really opens your eyes when what you feel is a bite.

Taylor Creek is probably the closest to Rock Hill.

Does it always go to port at the bottom of the hour?

I had a guy that launched right in front of me when I was about to leave this morning. Right side (his right when launching) ramp was wide open but he skipped it and went to the one on his left (my right as I’m pulling the boat up to the dock to pull out). I was annoyed but whatever. I tie off to the end of the dock as his wife walks the boat off and ties off. He goes and parks his trailer RIGHT NEXT TO MINE. He leaves both truck doors open on my side and as I walk up he’s futzing around, doesn’t look like he’s doing much. He’s get up to my 4Runner and he’s working on a diaper change for a young toddler while about a 4 yr old is giving him the business for her sister’s behavior and a few other normal 4 yr old complaints (snacks, Bluey, she couldn’t wear her princess costume, etc.). He looks at me and goes “I’m sorry, trying to get everyone ready” and I just laughed and told him to take all the time he needed, he had his hands full. I didn’t tell him he’d miss this, but he will. point is, give people some grace, some of them have a lot going on. Not the tailgaters. Those guys suck.

Had a short but fun morning dragging for catfish on Mountain Island Lake. Fish were scattered and seemed to be around spawning/post-spawn groups of crappie. 6 catfish in about 3 hrs and some white perch and crappie on the UL in between cats. Biggest was pushing 30 lbs, a ton of fun in my little tin boat. I had a 15 that was foul-hooked in the dorsal that was a challenge to subdue without a net.

This morning it was a couple of pieces of wheat toast with butter, a hard boiled egg and an orange. If the fam is going with me I make bacon and breakfast sandwiches on bagels.

If it happens whether you’re going fast or slow I would say try getting to as close to a stop as you can before engaging it. If it starts that way when you engage it and then settles down it’s probably normal. If it’s constantly doing that on still water on a calm day that’s not normal.

Shallow water and gravel or small rocks with some current is where these shine for me. 4 ft or less. Clean creeks/mountain rivers etc for smallies, but largies, spots, white bass, and cats will eat them too.

Yeah I was on Norman the two trips previous and did well, just didn’t want to drive that far today.

Yeah we were there from 8-1. Went pretty far upriver to hit a few reliable spots…swing and a miss. It couldn’t decide if it wanted to be hit or windy today. Saw a bunch of shad and probably white perch at the main lake mouth of Gar Creek, just couldn’t get anything to do more than de-tail a few keitechs.

@spartyon8 Where were you on Mtn Island? I was out there with my wife - the lake treated us similarly to you… no fish.

Unless you are motoring long distances at max power or going for 8 hr days all on the troller, a 50-60 aH lithium should be fine for you. I have a 60 aH in my boat and it has been great

Try ‘The Shad-N-Ator’ on FB. That should get you there.

Good to see you @Way2slow!

Any creek with a numerical name dumping into the TN River/Ft Loudon Lake in Knoxville. But you have to fish around the biohazard signs. Charlotte’s creeks are pastoral by comparison.