Quote:
Originally Posted by whrizob
wow! mr. jim your program is incredible. you stated fact that has taken me all my life to learn, and bam! just like that you have the information! thanks for sharing this info! everyone should really apreciate what you just told them, bc you just eliminated a large part of the water that dont hold fish! i will let you know how we do this weekend. see alot people dont know that the lower end of the lake warms up faster. they assume that the upper end, being shallower warms up faster. but i have learned from fishing tournaments that the lower end does warm up faster and usually has some of the first spawning fish. but your right, the north facing creeks are the key! even north facing coves or pockets can be really good! i do have one thing to add. kinda of a question? in my experince, i know the main lake channel is warmer than the creeks; but i have better luck in the winter on the creek channel bluffs and sharp drops. does the program show that to be a productive place to fish? thanks mr. jim!
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Thanks for the nice comments Whirzob
You definitely know the Old Hickory bass. I wish I could catch them like you do.
A couple comments to further expand on your points.
1. Most lakes and reservoirs warm in the shallow upper reaches first. Old hickory is a run-of-the-river reservoir so there is high flow through with the upper reaches being very river-like. Additionally, Cordell Hull releases cool water and Center Hill Dam releases cold water (hence the Caney Fork trout fishery). This water has to warm up as it travel down the lake. High discharge can really cool the main channel in Old Hickory. The main creeks almost act like separate lakes. The upper and protected sections will warm faster. Drake's creek is the biggest embayment with lots of shallow water and thus can warm and not mix with the main channel.
In Percy Priest, the upper sections would warm first. but not for Old Hickory, Cordell Hull, Cheatam, or Barkley. It doesn't mean fishing isn't good in the upper sections, just not good for early spawning largemouth bass. Whites, striper, and big blue catfish move upstream in the spring and those can be the best sections to find them.
2. About your winter bass location question. You are right on target with their winter habitat. Not all bass move to the main channel. In fact many fish live in a relatively small range throughout the year, but some definitely travel. The individual fish can not tell if it is warmer or colder in the main channel than in the main creeks. It is only important what the water temp is where they live. Water temp is only one factor in locating the fish. For largemouth, strong current and cold water are not great combinations, so the bass need good current breaks in the main channel. This is less important in the creeks where the current is not as strong.
Winter water temp is more about stability. The main channel changes slowly so the fish don't react as strongly to weather changes. The main creeks change temp more quickly so the bass will respond to good weather or bad weather more strongly. Fish in protected shallows will react the strongest to weather changes. This is why fishing for shallow bass is always more hit or miss than fishing deeper big water structure. If conditions are right, you can really catch them shallow, but most of the time conditions are not "right". Thus, the "You should have been here yesterday, they were really biting" comment. If you chase the reports of a shallow water bite, you are usually too late as the conditions can change fast. Once you find bass on deeper structure, it can be more consistent until a major shift in the weather happens.
Take care,
Jim