Went to Cumberland River in Nashville Sunday to grab a little of the beginnings of the latest warming trend. Water was high from recent rains and the spillway upriver at Old Hickory Dam was spilling. That is not always a bad thing. When the water is up, and the current is strong, the fish tend to stage behind rock walls and boulders in gentler water. As the current sweeps me by at 2 mph. I have time for one good placement behind features and in warmer water, almost a guaranteed bite. This time, however, with 39 deg. water temps, there was nothing in the eddies but cold water. Four hours of humble pie without the first nibble. This same stretch of river in the summer has resulted in a 70 fish day. I was clueless on the river Sunday.

The water was so cold that the Shad were struggling at the surface and nothing was eating them, that is no fish were eating them. I was treated to the incredible sight of an eagle making repeated strikes in the water near me. Each time the eagle would spot one of the larger shad in distress, it would leave its perch, gather the shad, and return to its branch. I witnessed this several times. It was fairly tolerant of me. Obviously I was no competition! At least the trip got me out of the house and encouraged me to keep trying.

At least you got out! I've caught fish under those conditions but I feel like it was more of a timing thing at those water temps. Low/mid forties get me more consistent bites.

I can typically only get bites on nightcrawlers or scooping up one of those dying shad and using it for bait under those conditions

It happens. I just spent 6 hours the other day with a big jig or 8" Hudd in hand, crawling them in 47 degree water. I was fishing for a big girl and she eluded me.

Keep at folks. I wish I could even see moving water!

I'm pretty sure it's been a rough week for most people and the weather seems to have been weird. I managed to skunk at both ponds I go to this week although I did manage to land one ferocious dink in the kayak this and that one was probably in my top 10 in terms of the smallest bass I've caught. Also got a crappy on the same crankbait but it jumped off.

I think for winter I'm going to stop listening to youtube and the internet in general and restrict myself to a drop shot, jig and a crankbait. Anything else just seems like Einstein's definition of insanity at this point...

Durned if I didn't get skunked AGAIN!

This time on the Tennessee River below Nickajack Dam. Water temp. 45 deg. Drifted for four hours and zero bass bites. Did catch a 15lb drum and a 10lb Smallmouth Buffalo! That's a 2-fish twentyfive pound bag! I really stink at this but just got to keep going. My wife used to always ask me when I got home, "Did you have any fun this time?" Well, no I didn't. Then she would ask, "Well, why do you keep going?" My answer was always "Cause I HAVE TO!"

On 2/10/2026 at 3:07 PM, GreenPig said:

It happens. I just spent 6 hours the other day with a big jig or 8" Hudd in hand, crawling them in 47 degree water. I was fishing for a big girl and she eluded me.

Hey, at least you were swinging for the fences.

I've been in a slump lately and it's making me reconsider my life choices🙂

On Saturday I checked the weather conditions for Tobesofkee and saw the water temps were 54, so I picked the south end of the lake with some ledges, deeper water, a dam, and some creek channels.

I get there, put in the water, head to my spots and the temps are 58-60 degrees. I'm at the wrong end of the lake and should be in the northern flats where the spawn occurs. No other boats or kayaks in my area. So I either make an hour run by kayak or burn an hour getting back to the ramp, loading up, and driving to another ramp.

I stayed put and fished the area. I got one minimal bite in the 3 hours I was out there. Spent 30 minutes tossing different baits at a big girl I found on Livescope and couldn't get her to bite.

Next week I'm heading to Hartwell to pre-fish for a tournament. But if I'm still slumping I may bag fishing for a while. It just hasn't been fun lately and I've lost then Zen feeling when I'm out on my kayak.

Sounds like a river float is in order for you @Kayak Koz

On 2/16/2026 at 10:14 AM, Blue Raider Bob said:

Durned if I didn't get skunked AGAIN!

I will fix this for you, Bob. Soon. You'll be in the bow and I'll aim you at the bass. I'll be your FFS: Fish Finding Sonar.