fish365

Didn't realize that they had introduced them into Cherokee. That would be great news if they make it.

A lot of crank manufacturers list on their website what # line makes the lure get to what depth. Also remember that fluoro and longer casts/strolling will get the same lure even deeper.

We moved here in 1988 and i still haven't fished all of Cherokee yet.

Early last spring while returning to ramp, i saw some folks on a pontoon waving. I slowed and went over and it seems they had camped on an island fishing the night before and in leaving that morning had slung the prop off. I towed them a few miles to where they put in. They offered money, which i refused and told them to pay it forward.

Lots of great fishing in Tennessee. Most of the upper eastern lakes are 20,000 to 30,000 acre lakes with a few exceptions. Most of these are flood control/water storage lakes and fluctuate 20-40' from winter to summer pool levels. From Ft. Loudon Lake and down along the Tennessee River are navigation lakes and don't, except in times of unusually heavy precipitation, fluctuate more than 5-10' all year. Lots of great fishing all year with smallmouth, largemouth, spot, catfish, Stripe, hybrids, white bass, walleye, sauger and more. I live on Cherokee, but can reach Douglas, Ft. Loudon, Ft. Patrick Henry, Boone, and South Houston in less than an hour.http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/is a link to the TVA lake levels across the entire Tennessee valley. Good luck on the search.

+1 on P-Line CX. Most abrasion resistant stuff i have ever used.

Congrats. Nothing like the memories from the first boat.

With today's electronics every competitor that pre-fished the lake can see the brush piles if they know how to read their electronics

Not downhill, it's uphill! All the stuff UPS brings makes me feel GOOD!! Lol

This sounds like remorse. Remember, there is no remorse in fishing.

Don't worry about what the other folks fish out of. As mentioned, local weekly tournaments are the best way to start. Don't worry about what everyone else may do either. Some folks run from spot to spot and some stay put and work an area the entire tournament. There are times when both work. Go and have fun.

I have used gallon freezer bags marked on outside and also use plastic "tupperware" style containers that stack in compartments also marked on top.

In addition to baits already mentioned, a small swimbait or fluke on an erie jighead. watch it go down on your electronics and stop it above where the fish are and barely twitch it up. Bait like a Damiki Armor shad works great this time of year.

+1 . I have electric heat pump, but added insulation and wrap under new siding. Savings paid for heat pump over 1st 5 winters.

Bomber Long-A and i have started throwing Arashi Wakebait this year also

This is from TWRA's Dec meeting. A lot of interesting info on florida strain. Around 19 min is where it goes into gen 5 X down the road

The other common thread: Florida strain bass. TWRA announced they are going to introduce them in Ft. Loudon, Kentucky and one other lake in Tennessee starting over the next year. 8 or so years from now these lakes will start giving up some monsters also.

Bladebait/silver buddy will shine for next few weeks

Just picked up a few that someone had reg $129 on sale for $79, the Laser Pro Speed Spool LP1SHL and they are every bit as smooth as my 1st Gen Revo STX

Congrats on an awesome catch

Fish it like a jig.

Jerkbait, jig, bladebait, grub, tightline jig

+1 After throwing that thing my back and neck and shoulder scream for Aleve

You can dead stick it just like you would with a jig. I've caught largemouth letting it sit 5-20 seconds. Feels heavy when you pick it up. Surface temps 38-41. A lipless crank will work also. Only thing is i assume you are fishing from bank and there is probably some cover somewhere along bottom that it will hang in. In colder water in the lake, i fish a bladebait and lipless crank like a jig. Cast it into rocky banks and barely crawl or "tick" it of the rocks. Most hangs come loose by moving boat over it and shaking rod. A plug knocker helps. Some days they want a short pause and some a long pause. Most bites happen after it sits and as it moves again and deflects off rock it will get heavy like it is hung. Smallmouth will usually hit it harder even in cold water.

Works in rivers also just like a hair jig. Find an eddy.