Blue Raider Bob

Recently I changed my Ned rig line to a straight 20 lb braid. This has enabled me to straighten out the hooks when snagged. Also I have had much better hook ups. It has really helped me. Just a thought.

I have also experienced situations you have described. Fishing has been slower for me as well but I still catch a few each trip on the rivers. I usually slow fish a Ned or a craw. Lately I upsized a bit to a big TRD and I have caught some on that. Crank baits haven't produced for me in this time of low clear water but bottom presentations have. Just slow it down and start shallow to deep and try to find their comfort level. Sunday it was 5 to 10 feet of water. Sunday before last it was tight to stumps in under 5.

I have been when there was no one there as well. Usually there are one or two trucks and trailers. This time of year it is less crowded. I don't blame your concern. We live in an age with no accountability. Still I make the trip. Less so now that the sun sinks earlier because of the traffic I deal with returning to Christiana. I will still hit it some Sundays throughout the fall and winter. My weekday fishing from here on out will be the Tennessee river at South Pittsburg. Less fish but better size. You might want to circle back and ck it out on a Sunday. Good Luck!

Have you been? If and when you go I'd like to hear how you like river fishing. I try to get to the Cumberland once a week and usually catch several. Did a float trip Sunday from the dam to Old Hickory Bridge. That's about 4 miles. Bite was real slow and water level was down. Still caught twenty with big smallie over 17". The section around Stones River usually produces better for me. And boat traffic is light this time of year.

Thanks for sharing!!!! Totally beautiful part of the world and fish I would dream of! Glad you get to fish with your dad! That's something I truly miss. Those memories live on though.

Spinner baits were the go to baits in the swamps of Eastern Arkansas and West Tennessee along the Mississippi river where I hail from. Fishing Willow and Cypress trees in dingy water was the key. Everything ate them, Bass, cats, gar, Crappie, and Grinnell. Moving to the clear waters of Middle Tennessee was quite the revelation. Had to totally relearn fishing. I have had a handfull of spinnerbait bass since then and have gone to more finesse type baits, but If I ever get to swamp fish again....White Spinnerbait will be first choice!

Just my two cents....I fish rocks and current and started using Suffix 832 in Low vis green. I use a 20 lb test because I can straighten out jig hook when snagged. If fishing non-current situations the lower test braid would be ideal but if you get alot of snags the 20lb may work for you. The diameter of the line is minimal and the Smallies and Spots don't seem to mind. Thanks for the Suffix 832 recommendation T-Billy! I'm glad I made the change.

Here's to a better rest of 2022 and a fantastic 2023 and beyond!!!!

Went to the Tennessee River yesterday and went fishless for two hours fishing some deeper water that has been productive this year. Checked out some shallower water with rip rap banks and visible old stumps from before the impoundment. Flipped a craw to first stump and WHAM! Caught a 3-3, 3-8, lost a pig, and caught several at 14". And some dinks that managed to eat the craw. All on craws targeting stumps and logs in 5 feet of water or less. Water temp 71 deg. And extremely clear for our rivers. Used an 1/8 Ned head with craw and did two things different from last trip......went with straight braid, and sharpened my hooks often! This allowed me to get good hook sets, unlike last week when I lost two hogs on mono. BTW, I realize these size fish are as common as fleas on a dog's back to most of you guys...and girls, ole' Crickety.....but they are an absolute delight for this ol'e southern boy! My 9th and 10th 3 lb ever! Can't wait till Sunday!

What weight do you prefer for river fishing/current? also what MPH current? I fish big rivers in .5 MPH to 1.5 MPH. Anything faster than that is uncomfortable for me so I move to slower water.

Looks like a five string and a six string....dang.....I had loads of trouble with four! Sold my guitars and bought fishin' rods!

Tough day on the river Sunday as well. Not a cloud in the sky and 15 MPH winds with gusts. Caught some dinks but at least I got to go! Wind blew so hard that I would cast towards bank and wind would bring lure back!

I have caught some lately on a plastic craw, both T-rigged and exposed hook like a Ned. The exposed hook gets hung often but I seem to get bit more, maybe because it's a smaller presentation. I like the Zman Punch craw in 4" on a 1/8 oz Ned head in current. The Spots and Smallies like it too!

Yep! All the big ones that you don't get in the boat seem to have stronger emotions attached than the ones you do get in the boat. Even though I'm catch and release, I still want the satisfaction of netting them all. Caught several nice ones Sunday but the one that sticks in my head is the big Smallie that came unbuttoned when she jumped. Durn... I hate it when they do that!

A 3.46 is a hoss! Are they the same as Spotted bass with the tongue patch? My biggest is 16-1/4"

Drifted by this nest on the river Sunday. Didn't notice it until I was on it. Gratefully they were not aggressive. First Paper hornet nest I've ever seen outside of a museum. Notice the entrance hole at the bottom. This was a very busy nest. These hornets had white heads. Took this picture and reached for the trolling motor throttle! Didn't drift this stretch again. The worst ones in my area are the orange paper wasps. Big, mean, and ugly! And the sting lives with you for days! That reminds me of a joke.....Turtle calls the cops......says he got beat up by a bunch of snails! Cop asked him exactly what happened and the turtle replies, "Gee I don't remember. It Happened so fast!" I run pretty slow too. Except when there's wasps involved!

Isn't that the truth! Was on the Tennessee yesterday and it was raining until 11:30 AM. Had the river to myself. Caught 20 from 10:00 till 11:30. They were biting like sharks. The sun came out and I could tell when Church was over because all of a sudden tranquility vanished. A jet ski club came upriver at noon and there were (no kidding) 40 jet skis roaring by at intervals on their way to the Nickajack Lock. It was mayhem and the fishing, and attitude, suffered. Then the cabin cruisers with the waves so high and powerful that it muddies the banks. Caught nineteen more in the following six hours after 20 in the first hour and a half. Most were dinks but several where nice. Yes I understand everyone has a right to the water but I LOVE that no-motor rule....except mine! Ha! Cool weather's comin!

Yesterday I lost three nice ones on the Ned. Just can't seem to get the small hooks secured in the fishes mouth. They unbuttoned when they jumped. Also I'm convinced that the larger bass will sometimes ignore the smaller offering. Case in point was yesterday on the Tennessee River, just fished a known hotspot with a 1/16 oz Ned and did not draw a strike. Tossed back in and got snagged and had to break off. Picked up a rod with a speedcraw and dropped in same place and got a very heavy hookup for a moment until she pulled free. That big cow would not move for the ned.

I fish the Tennessee River on the Alabama Line and I've never experienced water temp below 50. I'm sure it has happened but not while I was on the river. Temp was in the 70's yesterday and they were biting like sharks until the rain stopped and the run came out. Sun came out!

Got the LM of couple weeks back and my PB Smallie couple weeks before that. It has been a great year to be a Bass addict! Both on the TicklrZ with Medium spinning gear. What a blast!

I live just south of Murfreesboro. I river fish and the Cumberland and Tennessee are terrific but you will need a boat. There are several local lakes as well but I avoid them due to crowds. Are you bank fishing or pulling a boat? For bank fishing it as the guys have said.....fish below the dams. Old Hickory, Cordell Hull, Center Hill, Nickajack.

Caught one yesterday. 20-3/4" Smallie! Tennessee river about a mile down river from Nickajack Dam.

Seems that way to me too, but I like to see my line and I still catch fish on hi-vis. Caught eighteen yesterday including a 20 inch smallie. Not sure if I could do better with clear line but that is why i am asking. Always trying to evolve and get better. It could be that I am catching the aggressive fish and the not so aggressive are put off by seeing the line. I just don't know so I'm leaning on you guys for help.

Thanks, do you use a hi-vis or clear?

Thank you! Forgot to mention I fish spinning gear and usually use an 8lb test. May go lighter at some point.