Fishing Report Archives

Hello from the Excel BP230. After several days off over the holiday, it’s time to get back to work. That doesn’t mean I’m done having fun and learning new tricks. I’ll be on Chickamauga Lake and Dale Hollow this week, fishing with two different guides to learn some tactics I hope to use locally. 

The sauger bite has been very disappointing so far. Our crankbaits have been mostly ignored by keeper sauger, unlike last year when we caught several big sauger along with the crappie. I’m going to fish with one of the best walleye guides to hopefully pick up some tips I can use. Sauger were the main target when I started trolling in the 1970s. Walleye and sauger share a lot of similar areas in lakes and eat much of the same diet. While Ky and Barkley Lakes aren’t known for walleye, there are a few caught each year that have migrated from the areas below our dams. 

Thursday was the first day I’ve been on the lake since last summer where the lake surface was like glass much of the day. My clients had never seen planer boards in use so they took some instruction before they felt comfortable. I was using Pico INTs, Walleye Nation Boogie Shads, and heavy Fin Spin underspin jigs with Shad Curly trailers behind the Off Shore Tackle boards. 

The calm lake allowed me to fish wherever we chose. I have had that option very few times recently. We found crappie in the first few places we checked but our best crappie came from flats next to channel drops in 15+ feet of water. Cover on the drops was a must along with the presence of huge schools of baitfish that are just starting to show up. The baitballs were also attracting big numbers of large channel catfish. 

All the catfish appeared to have just completed spawning with many   showing minor injuries common in bringing along the next generation. Hooking a 5-8 pound catfish with well over 100 feet of line out made for some excitement and wrist aching reeling. Luckily my clients were almost as happy with the catfish as they were the two crappie over 15”. 

Friday found my tournament partner Justin and I fighting hard NW winds while working on some tactics we will be using June 21st on Sardis Lake, MS in the National Crappie League trolling only tourney. I just hope the crappie quality is better and the wind less. Justin left for Evansville with plenty of crappie for a family fish fry. 

I have to mention the passing of Phil Robertson, the Duck Commander. Phil was a big influence on me over the years with his duck calls, his hunting videos, his calling instructional videos and articles, but mostly his faith and his willingness to share it with anybody who would listen. He started his company in a shed in his yard and saw it became a multi-million dollar landmark in West Monroe, Louisiana. While his family is known for the TV show “Duck Dynasty” , Phil created controversy with his steadfast faith and willingness to say what he believed, regardless of who he offended. Phil insisted each show close with a prayer being said over family meal. He leaves quite a legacy. 

I recently was interviewed for Realtree Outdoors for an online article about crankbaiting for crappie. I spent well over an hour explaining my tactics. I thought it turned out well. 

https://www.realtree.com/fishing/how-to-crappie-fish-with-crankbaits

Be careful out there. School is out for most and boat traffic will increase as families start vacations. A terrible crash involving a jet ski and kayak in TX last weekend took the promising life of a young woman. These things can happen in the blink of a careless eye. 

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.