TnRiver46

Late summer early fall is the worst for bugs!

When it’s all you’ve got, it can work

Lots of bears showing up in towns this year, they always claim that’s a bad year for hard mast. I wonder if anyone asked the bear why he came to town

I fished 68 degree Water Saturday and about 55 or so degree water on Monday in east TN! But we have some deep lakes with tall dams

I’ve been known to make caveman pliers out of sticks

Some places here and there have been fishing good this year (like Florida and Michigan according to reports from this site!) but most of the spots I frequent have been slower than usual. I know some places where fish are biting but they are too far to fish often. Overall I have had the same luck as you this year: lots of current, tough Fishing, and I broke a lower unit

I just charge all 3 of mine with one small charger that gets up to 3 amps. If one of them gets down below 9 or 8 volts I have one of the big battery chargers on wheels that has 2,10, 40, and 200 amp settings. So if I needed to I could defribulate one of the batteries from dead to hot very quickly. With eye protection of course

1/4 inch mess gets a lot more bait in a river like that , 3/8 usually gills them. I still use 3/8 because they are cheaper and throwing into shallows rips the net all to shreds pretty quickly

Decided to try some shallow water with the river boat, my buddy got a nice one!

Sounds fun! Good luck, we look forward to the pictures and stories

That’s funny because most people throw them in the dead of winter and early spring here. I have a couple but am scared to lose them haha

Ha! I didn't know they had small bass in menderchuck

They are finally waking up this week! No big ones yet but I'll take every bite I can get . Even got a bonus "green bass" as @A-Jay would say

In july-august you will still have 90+ degrees with 90 percent humidity at all of the lakes you mentioned. Maybe not at Dale hollow but still likely. Be prepared for unbelievable bass fishing crowds if you choose chickamauga but your chance of a 10 lb largemouth goes up exponentially as soon as you launch the boat. Cherokee lake could be better for numbers of smallmouth but Dale hollow ky and Pickwick will have the potential for some 6+ lbers. Also Dale hollow is a long way from anything metropolitan and from what I've heard there is basically no cell service the entire lake. Norris lake is one you might look into, although it's a zoo of pleasure boats all summer

Go vols big orange bass

We had the same thing happen here. It might be cope's gray tree frog that you heard, they are the only ones that call consistently in the fall around here, and they sound a lot like spring peepers. Then again I have never been to Maine!

I have always had much better luck keeping fish alive on a stronger than in a livewell. I wish my livewell dispensed ice instead of water

Diagonal lines are bubbles

Finally ended my skunk streak near a cliff wall with a zoom finesse worm on a 1/8 oz swing head

I drive a 2006 or 07 Dodge Ram with manual transmission manual windows and locks . Single cab 4.7 L v8 4x4. They are out there you just have to get lucky and find them

I'm just waiting for winter! That special time of year when I can get a bite

Unfortunately I can't answer your questions, I've been skunked most of my recent fishing trips

I wish I had a spot like you to fish! Always getting numbers of spots and a largemouth kicker! Nicely done yet again

I have a degree in wildlife and fisheries management and you are right, Most jobs are definitely on the low end of pay scale. But a lot of the guys I graduated with Work for DNR and drive big trucks around and do nothing most everyday and get paid more than enough (hahah, not for everyone). I prefer to stay busy for my mental health, I may make less but they seem to have a lot more to complain about on a daily basis. Money is great but it’s not everything

I know I can see braid underwater and I don’t even live in the water! I don’t think many folks are going to challenge you to a head to head Fishing match, young man! (At least not for money.....). Back to the OPs question, I use braid because it’s limp and casts a mile. I tie a leader on it when it’s clear. I always keep a spinning rod with straight 8 Lb mono for clear water days when I am losing a lot of jigheads because I don’t like spending all my time fiddling with new leaders