Big Cats on the Prowl
Capt. Richard Simms
July 23, 2008
Chattanooga - Freshwater Fishing Report
Up until now it's been a tough year on the Tennessee River near Chattanoga. We've been catching lots of cats, but the BIG fish have been tough to come by. That's changed in the last two weeks. My clients have caught several 20-30 lb. class fish, a 45-pound fish and today we landed a 61-pound beast! They don't come easy... sometimes you have to take your patience pills and pay your dues. But the payoff can be great.
Largemouth Bass fishing has been good. Most fish, and bigger fish, are coming on river channel drops, 15-25 feet deep. Plastics, spinnerbaits, big jigs or deep-diving crankbaits seem to wrok equally well... whatever you can get down into the strike zone.
Crappie fishing has slowed dramatically.
Bluegill fishing is fair on deep channel bluffs.
Chattanooga Fishing Forecast:
We'll stay in our current summer pattern for a while. You can catch bass early and late in shallow water on a topwater bite. But the better fish are going to come fishing the deep river channel ledges.
Target Species:
catfish
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