TNcreekfishing

Wanting to get ANOTHER 🐒 beater rod for wading the creeks out here in east tn. I don’t like to take my expensive stuff on these trips so I was trying to get a mid spinning rod preferably 6’6-7ft medium power fast action and mainly for finesse but the power to drive some of my rigs hooks home. I use MLs a lot on the creek but I want some more power. Was looking into the tatula xt and the st. croix black bass. I know that the black bass are sort of new so wondering if anyone has some insight? From my research people say the tatula xts are some of the best rods for 100$ and that they’re very sensitive so I wonder how that compares to the sensitivity of the black bass. Also a big thing to me is the 1 year warranty of the xt vs 5 year of the st. croix. With the sale at tackle warehouse right now they’re pretty close in price so just wondering which yall would choose?

I fish a section of river right next to some farmland down off sevierville road. The owner has a ton of cows that just get out in the river throughout the day to cool off. I can remember growing up it used to tick my papaw off so bad because we own a piece of land about 100 yards away downstream from where they would get in and I can still hear him to this day cussing about them shitting all in the river 🤣 we were just kids we didn’t care but now I get it. But I walk the guys property line to get to where I fish sometimes and I’m always having to navigate through them.. had a couple of sketchy moments with the males when calves were around.. got pretty tense at times, let’s just say I didn’t turn my back.

Down here at the ole Roddy branch from the bank.. let’s see if I can catch one

Yea, it was pretty bad Friday night up here in Townsend. Worked Saturday morning and thought I was going to pop a tire going through the curves with all the debris in the road. A lot of people had power out. Watch all this rain then we will have a drought in the heat of the summer river will look like a stream 😂 Mother Nature messing with me.

And looking like rain basically every day next week too. Been trying to plan a day off to go out but I keep putting it off because the forecast. Then I get to work and it clears up. 💀

Brother… are we ever going to get some clarity to the rivers around here? 😂 can’t plan any fishing cause it’s raining almost every day at some point and jacking the river up.

I thought that stretch looked really good with all the log jams and lay downs, but I didn’t even get a nibble. I was pretty slow about fishing it and picking it apart but it might have been my approach getting used to everything. I paddled up beyond the bridge and had to battle the little birds nested in it. The swarmed me overhead and where crapping all over the place 😂. Idk if there just isn’t enough current/riffles there or what because it is kind of slow water and it seems like on this little part of the river they like being near that faster stuff in the eddies and stream lines. Heck I’m not sure maybe they’re still just getting going or they’ve done moved further up but I’m bout to find out.

Brother that is awesome! Film and float on the local fishing hole sounds like a great weekend. Hey, sorry I’ve been MIA the past few days i hadn’t dropped in but I’m thankful you’re keeping in contact. I’ve been trying to study the river more and I actually got in on the upper side of Perry’s the other day for my first float. It was super windy, not idea kayak conditions but I had the opportunity so I didn’t want to waste it. The good news is I didn’t flip, but boy I need practice learning how to maneuver that thing especially when trying to stay positioned at a spot I wanna fish. And it looks like you had more success than I did! But it was a good learning experience. Hope all is well with you and hope Rockford area is clearing up!

Thanks for the heads up from your direction. Guess I’ll have to be patient.. got the itch bad though.

That helps answer some of my thoughts so I really appreciate that. I know the best thing to do is get out there and find the hot spots and seasonal habits first hand but having someone with experience and knowledge really helps narrow things in my head, cause all I’ve know up to this point is from the bank. I plan on really picking it apart and trying to map it out. I thought about starting at Roddy though, until I get the hang of things. Must be out of the loop big time because I haven’t heard anyone talk about them removing the dams but I totally agree with you. Really never understood the purpose in the modern day and age, and as you know there have been plenty of tragedies.

Yea I saw where that cliff is super sketch on the Martin mill side, I looked a few times for a way I could get down there because it looks so good and I was like I’m not walking through that. But I would more than likely just put in at Perry’s mill or I know a place on sevierville road by the water plant under the bridge that I see people put in a lot. I was wondering about the bite though, if they had started to move upstream yet of if they were primarily still down Rockford way. I guess that’s what interests me most. I’ve caught some decent ones up in Townsend and I’m wondering how far downstream they go cause unless they wait for a big flood and cross the dam at Perry’s then they have to be holed up in some deeper spots in between. I’ve read a lot on how they migrate and it says they’ll travel quit a distance but wondering if they truly travel from up where I’m at all the way to Rockford area for the cold season. And I know what river Jon’s is, never been there but I’ve heard from my family you can rent and stuff there. Is that where you put in at for a float?

😂 you already know. Just got home from a 12 hour shift. Stinks to have all this stuff and not a ton of time to use it but hey, it is what it is. The river up here in Townsend is pretty swole, but surprisingly not muddy. I’m sure it gets worse the further down river you get. Still haven’t been out on my maiden voyage yet, I’ll probably look like an absolute dork so I might need some practice to keep up with ya. I’ve seen some nice spots I’ve never been able to get to on the upper side of Perry’s mill around the sunshine bridge area and back towards the walland center, is it worth it to fish that area or would it be way more profitable to go below the dam? I really want to fish that area behind four corners and the bridge where it dumps out from Martin mill pike.

Man! You have no idea how glad I am to hear from you! I remember the solid advice you gave me a while back about the migration patterns when the bite turned off up in Townsend during the fall, and I was hoping you would come across this. Sorry if I’m a little slow to get back with you, I work at denso and I only get my breaks to respond but I would love to get to know this river better and I feel like you could really help me out.

Looking for someone, anyone, who is familiar with smallmouth fishing the Little River out here is east TN. I’ve always been a wade fisherman ( which I love) but recently got myself a kayak and was hoping to pick someone’s brain who has spent time floating it. I don’t want to bother anyone but honestly I don’t have anyone else to talk to about it. I know I can get out there myself but just curious of a few things.

Appreciate the info!

First off, sorry for the delay in my responses. I’m currently at work and only have my breaks to respond, but I have some 6” traces already could get some 5” though if necessary. I appreciate you telling me precisely what you through so I have a better understanding and also for what else it is good at. Was wondering about chatters so glad to see it made the list. The Sierra is what I was looking at and I’m glad you back it up, but if you were trying to be as effective as possible would you prefer glass? Or even a true moderate/fast graphite rod? Idk something like a 7’3 heavy st croix in moderate/fast.. saw they have this in the new black bass series. Sorry to drill you with the questions. I love the idea of this, just don’t know if I’d want to go xp price on a moving bait rod atm. Its so tempting though 😂 I really do appreciate the recommendation though because when I do go for a more expensive (yes, xp is expensive to me) rod I will 100% remember this.

Thanks for the confirmation. It’s always a situation where you have differing opinions and it just leaves me unsure. One person says yes and the other says no I guess it’s all about what works for you but I just want the best option for landing fish. I like the idea of a graphite rod so I can use it for different things but it seems most people like glass/composite rods for these applications. That being said, the 734 is a heavy but has lure ratings of a mh going up to 1oz, do you not think some of these baits would be pushing that? And also what about 704 or 684 if my ratings would work, and I ask because I like shorter rods.

Man, I knew Gary had sold but I didn’t know it went to crap like you describe. I haven’t had to deal with customer service but that’s a shame for a company that is so beloved. I appreciate the info, from what you guys are saying, you would basically recommend a glass or composite rod exclusively for these baits? Do you think my MH legend glass would be too underpowered for these?

Thanks a lot for the feedback. These types of decisions are always hard 😂 I’ve looked at the DXB rods before thanks for the recommendation. One thing is the length on those, 7’5 is outside of my comfort zone on a kayak and I was hoping to get a rod that I know has been heavily tested and well loved by the community.

So I’m looking into a mid priced rod to throw large treble hook baits on. Specifically large whopper ploppers, jackall pompadour, 6th sense trace swimbaits and similar. I’ll start by saying I’m primarily a St. Croix, Dobyns and Daiwa fan and that’s why I’ve been looking hard at the Sierra 705c mag-heavy rod. It’s rated up to 1-1/2 oz which should cover my idea baits and the reason I am considering the Sierra is because I’ve read (never fished one) that they have a more parabolic/moderate action compared to others in the Dobyns family. I know a lot of people like glass, composite and mod/fast graphite rods for these techniques and the Sierra is technically a fast action but would you guys who have experience enlighten me as to if the Sierra is forgiving enough to handle these baits and increase the odds of putting fish in the yak (I fish from a kayak, that’s why i like shorter rods.) A concern of mine is that it may be too powerful of a rod and be counterproductive by pulling the hooks out, so that thought is in the back of my head. I have a MH legend glass rod that I thought would work, but a lot of these baits are right at the lure rating threshold so idk if it would work or be best to use it, and also I have a heavy lews kvd composite bladed jig rod but I like the idea of having a rod that could also play a future large jig rod and be used for other applications. Thoughts, advice and info would be much appreciated. God Bless.

I bought some santone finesse jigs from tackle warehouse earlier in 3/16oz. I figure with that and the trailer I’ll be at or a little over 1/4 and maybe I will hit that middle ground just right.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I’m a little slow to reply cause I’m at work but I appreciate the feedback. What would you think for max weight?

One of my favorite YouTubers is ndyakangler and in some of his older videos I’ve seen him use a 5’10 m/xf st croix LTB rod for fishing bitsy bugs. I know for bigger jigs that a mh-h casting rod is ideal but I’ve always liked using a spinning rod for bottom contact. So I have a victory 6’8 m/xf and an avid 6’6 m/f and was wanting to use one for smaller finesse style jigs. Which would you guys use and what is the max you would go on jig weight? 1/8, 3/16 or 1/4? I definitely don’t want to overload the rod. I was also wondering about jig styles and brands because I’m having a hard time finding ones with a light wire hook in lower weight. I figure it would be smart to not have a thick wire, heavy duty hook using a medium rod. Thanks guy! 🙏

@Brian11719 awesome details brother and thank you for the input. I’m basically just wondering if it’s gonna benefit me tremendously to go for a fast action rod over the XF. I haven’t fished this rod yet so I don’t know what it handles like.

Hey all, hope everyone is having a good day. So I’m trying to devote myself to building confidence in smaller soft swimbaits. Specifically baits such as 3.8 keitechs and zman minnows which are 3 inches. I will be using ballhead jigs and Zman finesse heads in the ranges of 1/8-3/16oz. I fish a lot in rivers and larger creeks and primarily targeting smallmouth in waters that typically run from shallow-7 foot at the deepest. My big question is about my rod power and action. I know with lighter weights like I intend to use, a spinning setup is more appropriate and I was wondering if the one I have would work for this technique. It is a tatula bass spinning rod 6’10 M/XF model #TTU6101MXS. Specs are on the ML side which is good for the lighter weight but I’m concerned the XF action would cause me problems. Will this setup work or is the monkey gonna get me?? Thanks for the input guys!