03-03-2009, 10:00 AM
After reading fishinmagicians report and a couple of others I believe it was a day for mechanical failures. We started out like a sail boat blowing with the wind due to a very weak trolling motor. My batteries only being 9 months old I decided it had to be a switch or something with the motor, so with my partner casting aimlessly I began to finally eliminate down to a battery issue. Even though I have a 24volt trolling motor I have 4 batteries in my boat one which is linked with my cranking battery. Any way long story short that #4 battery saved our tail yesterday. Made the long run to Nickajack yesterday but really considered staying on chickamauga due to a good practice day but really didnt feel we could depend on that pattern holding up. The chickamauga pattern was in 2-4 foot on a jig and small crankbaits mostly the flat homemade type simular to baits you see used at Watts Bar or Louden. Nickajack was its typical self very crowded in the Bennetts area but managed to catch several good fish swimming a jig and on lipless crankbaits. We moved several times staying in 2-4 of water and managed to get our limit. Made a move with about an hour left to the Mullins cove area and culled 4 of our 5 keepers so a good stop same pattern 2-4 Ft swimming a jig and half ounce rattletrap. Very fortunate on how the day started with the trolling motor and not to loose any of our better fish, had 9 keepers all day.