WestTNbass

I'd say from the results of the Birdsong fruit jar my partner and I fished today, you need to get to Ky. Lake soon, just don't ask us where to fish. We just had between 8 and 9 lbs. today. Seventeen boats in the tourney. Water temps were 42-44 degrees, except in the steam plant, where it was 57 degrees. 3rd place was 20 + lbs, 2nd was 23+ and 1st place had 24.25 lbs. Big fish was 7.22 lbs. That's the biggest sack I've ever seen from the TN river, not to mention water temp, air temp (around 38-40), falling water and post frontal conditions. Maybe I need to follow my father's advice and start golfing again. Mike

I've been a few times. Small fruitjar on KY Lake a few weeks ago. Just 5 or 6 boats. 9 lbs. won. Club tourney at Pickwick Lake last weekend. 8 boats. 14 lbs. won. Gibson County Lake Monday. Very strong winds. No hits. Going again this Saturday. Good luck.

I've fished it quite a bit in the past 3 or 4 years. I used to fish the other watersheds more with my father (Sycamore, Pine, Redbud), but lately I've fished Beech more. It has some good largemouth in it. Many club tourneys on weekends and thursday night fruit jars (up to 20-25 boats) are held there. The fruit jars are only 3 hours but several 20+ lb. bags are caught every year. If the water is still low, use the extreme right (as you're looking at it from the water) portion of the ramp. I saw several trucks that couldn't pull boats out this summer in the middle of the ramp. By the way, you've got to have a Beech River system permit to fish Beech or any of the other watersheds mentioned. They're available at local tackle stores and some gas stations. I don't think a sportsman's license is good enough and a TWRA lake pass (Graham, Gibson Co., etc) is no good at the Beech watersheds. AND on Pin Oak, another of the Beech River system watersheds, you have to have a different permit because it's run by the Natchez Trace park people. Anyway, it's a great fishing lake, esp. during the week. Weekends get a little crazy with the skiers, seadoos, etc. Mike C. in West TN

If you're going to Guntersville, I have to second the Troy Jens trip. In the past 4 years, I've been on guided trips to Dale Hollow, Lake Fork, and Guntersville. Troy was the most helpful guide I've ever had on any trip, anywhere. When we fished with him (PM 1/2 trip), he helped us learn to fish the patterns the fish were on at the time (1 oz. jigs flipped in deeper grass edges & swimming worms through some those same edges-neither of which I had done before) and helped us use old techniques (spinnerbait, lipless cranks, topwater) over the beds. After the trip, Troy took our new map of G-ville and marked 8-10 places where, during the next two days, we went and duplicated the patterns fished with Troy. I think our 3 day total was 5 fish over five lbs. and 5 limits (AM and PM trips-all fished released alive) weighing between 14 - 21 lbs. Lots better than our usual outings. That's the only trip I've taken with Troy, and haven't talked to him since the trip. I saw on the net that he had gotten married (I think) and maybe wasn't guiding as much anymore. I also saw that he's spending lots of time doing Christian charity events for special needs children. An above thread listed his website, so I won't do it again, but take a look at it. Good luck with your grandfather's trip. Make some memories. Mike C. in West TN

I'm sure my partner and I would try to make it. It all depends on which weekend. Mike

I've got a club tourney next Saturday. I'm in 3rd in the club right now and would love to move up in the rankings. We're fishing below Pickwick Dam. I know I can make a decent run downstream to some creek mouths and catch some 12" spots, but I've got a 90HP on my 17' Javelin and any run in my boat takes some time. I also don't think a limit of spots will help. Our November tourney was about 30 miles down stream from the dam. I had five 12"-13" spots and came in next to last. I need advice on how to catch some of these keeper brown fish that I hear Roadwarrior and others talking about on here. Obviously, since it's a tourney, no live bait, but any other suggestions on baits, depths, presentation, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

I've got a club tourney next weekend. We're putting in right below Pickwick Dam. I've done some striper fishing and lots of catfishing below the dam, but not much bass fishing. I know that some members (like Roadwarrior) catch some killer brown fish there, but I have no idea where to start. If I had to fish today, I'd just run down river and fish creek mouths. However, I know there are smallies to be caught in the current right below the dam. Any help offered on depths, presentation, baits, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Oh, by the way, I've got a 17' Javelin with a 46 lb. thrust TM. It's not really enough to move upriver if they're generating. HELP, PLEASE!! Mike