Labman, Chickamauga, Bass ++, 08/31/2010, solo

[FishNews]

Got out again about 7:30 from CFP. Beautiful morning, but a little cool running across the lake. (Not complaining)<br />Headed right back to yesterdays site. Large flat 18-20' deep adjacent to a creek channel not too far from river channel. Marked a lot of fish and huge schools of bait fish. That is always a good sign. Started with the dropshot rig again with the green Gulp 4" minnow. Got into some nice fish right away. There was a little surface activity and I got one on a long cast with a spoon. For what it's worth I will explain how I try to fish these spots. <br /><br />First i identify a likely area from maps and Navionics map. Here is deep creek channel with adjacent flats. I idle back and forth in the general area looking for fish on sonar and downscan. If I am not marking a significant number of fish then I don't fish there. When I find a good concentration I throw a marker. I already have a GPS point, and just use the marker for visual reference. With the wind I am constantly moving around and holding with the trolling motor, so I may end up on a different bunch of fish and throw another marker. When you hook a fish you usually drift quite a ways off the school while you fight the fish. Sometimes have as many as 4 markers out. Usually just 2. If the bite stops I keep searching for another bunch. All fish today were caught in about 19' of water and I was fishing an area about 100 yds X 50 yds. If the bite totally stops for awhile I will just load up and head to another likely area. For me the key is seeing fish and then droping the bait on there nose. Sometimes the concentrations are so heavy I know 100% certain that I will hook a fish there. <br /><br />The bite today was good early and started to slow about 10:00, but then I got the 2 biggest fish of the day at 10:30, so you just never know. I landed 13 keeper LM Bass, 2 small LM Bass, 3 Drum, and 2 cats. I lost one very good fish (pretty sure was a bass) that broke me off on the trolling motor, and had 2 quick release with a jump at the boat. Two largest were 4.2 and 4.8#. Rest ran from 2.5 to 3.5. Not a bad morning, the bite was pretty much done by 11:30. All fish returned to the lake in good health (maybe sore lip).<br /><br />Saw Bassert out there slaying the crappie this morning. <br /><br />Regards, Labman