I was out twice last week. Monday the 18th I played a hunch and launched at the Hardy ramp. There was so much debris, leaves and such on the water that trolling was out of the question. So I putted around looking for fish. There were several boats in the area from Hardy down to Moorman's but none were close together indicating fish. I saw no fish boated and no nets swinging. I moved around and when I saw at least two marks together I started jigging and casting. But nothing bit. All the marks I saw were hanging down near the bottom. I did see a few birds fluttering high above also looking for fish. No surface activity.

On Friday the 22nd I started at Hales Ford Bridge and ran up to Indian Creek. It was just before dawn. I cruised to the back looking but didn't see as much as I had recently. As I idled way back I saw a few fish and quickly cast a crank bait behind me. Wow. I got a 18". Then I didn't see any more fish. I cruised back out and even looked up Little Indian Creek but there was nothing there either.

So I ran back up the lake and started looking again at Moorman's. I was marking some scattered fish and the water was clean so I started trolling around. And trolling. And trolling. Nothing was biting. Again there were several boats in the area but no catching. I kept looking all the way up to the flats but no dice. Again a few birds were fluttering around but no surface activity. I started trolling again and trolled the stretch all the way to the Tennis Courts. Nothing. Then I zipped down to Lynville and cruised all the way into the back. Nada. Lots of bait but no fish.

So I headed back down lake and trolled from Grimes to Indian Creek but only marked a few scattered fish. No takers. After looking around Indian Creek again I headed down to Hales Creek. I saw a few small marks at Campers and spent time casting and jigging but nothing bit. That ended it. But it was a real nice weather day and maybe the last nice weather for a long time. Since I'm almost a fair weather fisherman I won't be out this week. I also have a Thursday dinner engagement. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Later Joel

I headed off in the dark (it gets lighter earlier now) to Indian Creek. I cruised around the mouth and then into the back. I was marking fish so started casting, jigging and fluking. I never heard or saw anything on top and didn't get a bite.

Once it was light I ran up to Moorman's. I started looking around R74 and soon was marking fish so I started trolling. Near the middle of Moorman's I saw a fishin' buddy, Steve, so I eased over to say hello and chat. He was parked outside a small cove on the Franklin side. As I eased past him at barely an idle I marked a lot of fish and then had a big, smashing strike. I could feel that it was a good fish but as I was clearing the other lines he got off. When I got the lure in I noticed straightened hooks. Only big fish do that. So I looped around back to where Steve was and marked even more fish. So then I pulled in my lines and started casting and jigging. Then Steve said he heard a couple fish break behind him in the small cove. When I looked there the water was boiling. I clipped on a 4" Storm WSS and started casting. Boom!!!!!!!! Got a good one. Finally boated a nice 29". I quickly dumped it back and cast again. Boom!!!!!! Another one. This one was 31". I quickly dumped it back and cast some more. Boom!!!!!!!!! Third fish was a fat 30". All three of these fish were big around like a tuna. Then they were gone. Three fish in ten minutes. I was still marking them toward the bottom but couldn't jig a single one. Just like that they disappeared.

I trolled a few laps around Moorman's looking but couldn't find them again. I did mark some few fish but got no bites. So I headed up river still looking and got all the way to Hardy and a little beyond the bridge. I did see a few small groups of fish in the center channel but couldn't buy a bite. So since sundown now comes earlier I thought I'd try the "afternoon" bite. I cruised back down lake checking spots along the way and ended back in Indian Creek. Way back at the condo point I trolled up a 24" fish. I thought I might be onto something. So dutiful guy that I am, I ran back to Hales Ford Bridge to take the water temps and then ran back to Indian Creek to hit the afternoon bite. So I got back there and cast and jigged all kinds of stuff and got nothing even though I did mark occasional fish on the sonar. The sun was going down quick so I quit around 4:00. Probably should have stayed longer. Maybe next time.

Later, Joel

For the fishing reports I can combine three days into one short report. Tuesday 10/29, Thursday 10/31, and Saturday 11/2 (tournament). I started in the dark and ran up to Indian Creek. I headed to the back and drifted around. I was marking fish and bait back there but no surface action. I threw around crankbaits, jigs and jig/flukes with no takers. I even tried glow grubs while it was dark.

I would head out just after sun rise which last week was around 7:30, earlier now on EST. I ran up lake stopping to check a few spots but never saw anything promising. I started spotting some scattered fish near and in Moorman's but couldn't buy a bite. I checked all the way up to the Hardy bridge and heard comments about a real early bite.

One guy fishing between the trestles told me of a great evening/night bite in that area. I'll need to try that. On Saturday I did run way up Lynville Creek and some coves casting in shallow water but didn't get a bite.

I know they're there somewhere and I'll keep on looking.

Later Joel