drumking, chickamauga, crappie, 3/6/09, Hal

[FishNews]

Hal picked me up at Scull Island ramp this morning around 7:30 and we proceeded to run downriver to a nice dock to crappie fish. Just made it there ahead of another fisherman who was coming up river to fish that area. We sat there until 9:30 and caught 20 crappie. The fishing was extremely slow and most of the fish were throwback size. We did have a few nice keepers, but a lot of little fish. Today was the quantity day vs the quality day of yesterday.<br /><br />Then we ran up river and fished about 4 different areas all the while looking for the 70 degree weather that those lying weather men had predicted. Finally had a bluegill that tried to commit suicide, but we wouldn't let him. Threw him back to face his own problems of the day. Ran back down to the original spot and caught 2 more crappie to finished the day with 22 crappie, 1 bluegill. I hate this moon phase. 1/4 to 1/2 moon phases I had just as soon stay home and do other things.<br /><br />Water temps were close to 48 degrees below the Sequoia discharge area and 45 degrees above it. We caught our fish on crappie pups and a minnow bait that I forgot what the name is, but it is about 2+ inches long and you can tell by the pics what it is. We saw EricM and two TWRA biologists up there catfishing. They had 2 catfish when we first talked to them and one of the biologists caught a small bluecat while we were talking to them. Two hours later when we were coming back downstream, we stopped again and Eric had just caught a 40 pounder. I'll let him tell the tale about that. We saw Fishinfool and Fishinfire at the Scull Island ramp as we were quitting and they said that they didn't do any good today. Lot of boats running around and you had to take a number to get on the bluff at Sequoia. We just avoided that area totally. Lots of fishermen out catfishing today. <br /><br />There will be better days just ahead. The weather man promised. All fish released today to grow up. I'm not keeping any more crappie until after the spawn.<br /> emoBig emoGeezer