Labman, Chickamauga, Bass-Carolina Rig Day - Long post, 07/30/2010, Solo

[FishNews]

First a little background. I have been trying the different rigging methods for Bass Fishing. Have had good luck with jigging spoons, and pretty good with dropshot. I went over to JDK's to pickup a rod and reel, and we of course got to talking fishing. Josh suggested I should try carolina rigging and Jig and trailers. He felt you caught better fish with those methods, and went on to explain how he fishes them. Josh was very helpful and free with his expertise and I thought I would just try Carolina rigging today.<br /><br />I had tried it before when fishing with Polo, but my heart wasn't in it. Seemed kinda messy with slip sinker, beads, swivels, and long leader. None the less I was only going to fish a Carolina rig today. I was using a 1 oz. slip sinker, and an 9" wavy tail chartruce green worm I had bought several years ago to use as a trailer on a striper jig. So I am using a 6'6" med hvy casting rod and 15# line with an 8# leader of about 30 inches. Most here know more about this than I do, but it might help a newbie.<br /><br />Start out from CFP about 6:30 and run out to main channel. First stop mainlake hump with about 27' of water near the river channel. Third cast and I manage to get a hookup, this is very cool emoThumbsup . Nice 3# LM. I catch another there just a little smaller, and then decide to move around and prospect some new places. Try a couple of my regular places with no luck, and decide to move up river. That is the direction that several bass boats that lauched behind me went. Maybe they know something emoQuestion .<br /><br />1st couple of spots marked some fish, but couldn't get bit. Then I found a spot just at edge of main channel and marked a ton of fish. Some suspended on the drop down to 40' and some on top of edge in 26-18' of water. SEE SCREEN SHOT. This was the hot spot today. They wore out my worm for about an hour. Hooked 11 Bass there and landed 9, all on my green worm carolina rig. Lost 1 fish at the boat, and stuck a really heavy feeling fish that stayed on for about 30 secs, and then came off. emoBang Pretty sure that was the best bass of the day, but never got to see him. <br /><br />So my experiment with the carolina rig was a resounding success. Thanks Josh for your good suggestion and helpful information. The CFF is a wonderful resource where most freely share their time and experience to help all the rest of us. All fish released to fight again another day. The fastest action occured from1:00 til 2:00, right when it really was getting hot. Who would think that?<br /><br />Regards, Labman<br /><br /><br />