Blue Raider Bob

That's true but when you are a kid your mind doesn't think that way. Heck if I brought home strawberries from sliding the basepaths I would keep them to myself and never tell mom! No I volt for mercurochrome. Ban Methiolate from mothers first aid shelfs, that's child abuse!

Thanks guys! I was looking for a solution that did not involve idling up to anchor. My thoughts were controlling everything from the bow of the boat facing the current. If that isn't possible then I'll just have to keep the manual retrieve going. BTW I do not try to anchor in the tailwater. This is a couple miles or more downstream.

Other posters may correct me but I have found to post pictures that print upright you have to edit picture someway then save it. Then you can upload it. I am challenged computer wise and there is probably a better way to state this. Perhaps someone more enlightened can help. Congrats on your PB....love that spinnerbait fishin!

I do alot of Tennessee River Fishing in current. Usually I drift with the current and use my trolling motor to regulate my drift speed but sometimes I want to toss out an anchor at certain spots. I have been reading about electric anchor winches but I'm concerned they may not have the strength to pull my boat against one to two MPH current to retrieve anchor even though I fish out of a vintage 15' Monarch fiberglass which may be lighter than todays 20 footers. Anyone have any experience with winch anchors and could point me in the right direction? At sixty something I'm beginning to tire of the rope pull. Thanks and happy hooking!

I'll need to plan a trip. thanks for the heads up!

I can't make it upstream any farther than Nickajack dam. It is already over an hour away. Send some of your extra hosses downriver!

You guys are right on about the Ned. Usually catch several but last Sunday was a no go. There is not much fishing pressure below Nickajack compared to other area bodies of water on the Tennessee River. Don't know why they bit the craw better, could just be chance? Anyway I'll try it again Saturday if the weather allows. Appreciate all the input!

Terrific year! Still haven't joined the four pound club for Smallies but I got a 3 lb 9 oz yesterday. Caught lots of small bass but got to go alot and that's what's important!

Congrats!!!! Caught a SM yesterday that missed tying my PB by one once. 3 lb 9 oz It would be considered small on this site but I know how you felt! Hooked and addicted! Can't wait to go again. That LM looks like an absolute Hoss!

Went to Tennessee River yesterday below Nickajack dam and the fishing was very, very slow for me. Water temp 52 deg and water clarity excellent. Could not get a bite on the TRD Neds and only a couple small Spots on the #5 Shad Rap. About to go home when I changed my TRD for a Zoom Speedcraw and caught a 3lb 9 oz Smallie on 1st cast. Caught two more small spots right after that then nothing more. What are you guys favorite Craws and what may work better this time of year in current? BTW the current is from 1 to 2 MPH depending on where you are on the river. Thanks

Yeah and it burns like heck!! My mom used to spead it over cuts and scapes while we hollered! I would have rathered just got the scrapes and let God take over the healing! Decided I was not going to do that to my kids.

Z-Man makes a color called Laguna Shrimp that I use on the Tennessee River for smallies. It is a pink color and I have caught fish in clear and stained water on it. The one I have used is called a TickerZ.

Extremely interesting Old Man Lure. Thanks for the post. I have a question about high water events. What constitutes a significant event over a high water event? The reason I am asking is I fish the Duck River in middle Tennessee and the Duck will rise as much as 20' with severe flooding of farmland along the banks at least twice a year in the rainy season. The river changes from a gentle green flow into a brown raging torrent for several days at a time. Would this destroy or at least damage the river life? Just curious.

Tried the Hellgramite again as you guys suggested. Went to the Duck River in Middle Tennessee and used the Bass Pro Shop 3" Hellgramite on an Arkie 1/16 oz mushroom head. Slowed it down and caught six Spots and a Largemouth. Got my PB spot from this river at 14". I've caught bigger spots but not from here. This was the fattest little spot ever. Water temp was 53 deg.

Excellent for White Bass. The water temp was 58 deg. Sunday and it won't be long before the White Bass head upriver to the dam. Then the fun begins!

That sound too good to be true! Must be Smallie Heaven! You are blessed to have such a fishery. Only darkness would drive me off that River (that and my wife).

A picture sure clears things up. Thanks for taking the time. I fish a exposed head jig Ned Rig most of the time in current on the Tennessee River. My major problem is hang-ups. I do it because it works. The Spots and Smallies can't stand it. They have to go smash it but fighting the current to retrieve a ned is time consuming. Always looking for a better way. Can't wait to try this rig Sunday.

Do you fish exposed hook on your tubes or texas rig? I get hung alot on tubes but I guess that's fishing.

Got to chime in. In my teens my fishin' buddy and I were in a slough off the St. Francis River in Arkansas called Raft Bayou. It was midnight or so checking trot line under trees when all of a sudden the worst screaming imaginable happened in the branches right above my head. When I got my wits together and climbed off the bottom of the boat I shined my light up and these two Big Racoons were fighting it out over our heads. I started to go grey from that moment on.

That's not tiny! This is tiny!

Would not be surprised that you caught the same fish you lost. Earlier this year fishing on the Tennessee River I hooked a smally, got him to the boat, started to lift and he fell off the swimbait. Honest to goodness I saw him swim straight for the swimbait he just lost and bit it again! Got him in the 2nd time and turned that mean little dude loose.

Absolutely I have always thought that they see it coming and time their strike.

Tennessee River 1/8 oz Ned Rig Coppertruse Tickler Mepps #3 White Dressed Aglia Big Bites Swim Baits Caught this 42-1.2 " Flathead on the Ned.

Yes! in my part of Tennessee a poor man's lobster is a crawdad!

My wife doesn't like to fish and the kids are grown and gone. I just fish by myself mostly now and enjoy the gift my dad passed down to me....love of the outdoors and the water. I find that when I take my fishing buddy I spend more time trying to put him on fish than I do. I guess that what friends do.