Duck River

[Jim D]

After work yesterday, I took the daughter and we hit the Duck, put in at Iron Bridge.

Went upstream and start fishing. She was just throwing nightcrawlers out having fun, so I decided to see if I could scare up any bass action. The recent rains have got the level back up some and current moving again.

Long story short, I threw the whole tacklebox for about 3 hours. Got weak bite on some crankbaits. Got a lot of tail biting on pumpkinseed worms, they tore a few almost off the hook, didn't do much good.

With daylight waning, I put on a hook and threw a nightcrawler for a bit just to chill out before we headed back. Second cast I reel in this bass. Go figure.

I can be in the Duck in less than 10 minutes from my house, so I'm trying to learn how to fish it, but not doing too good so far. Any experienced Duck fishers on here want to lend a guy some advice? I'm returning to fishing after more than 20 years away from it, so I'm basically learning from a start.

[Moby Bass]

Nice!! Hard to beat live bait sometimes. I've never fished the Duck but I would think craw and lizard lures would be worth a shot. Rebel crawfish, rage craws, brush hawgs, etc. Carolina rigged or weightless.

[clean air]

I live in Manchester.Where on the duck are you fishing.Some parts are loaded with redeye and smallies others have cat,largemouth,whites,and walleye.The duck in general is big and has different fish depending on where you fish.Below Normandy dam to 5-6 miles above the lake is where I fished growing up.You can launch a small boat at Old Stone Fort park and throw crickets and minnows for panfish.Just depends on where your fishing.If I know the area I will try to help.

[Jim D]

Well, I live on the northeast side of Columbia and I generally put in at Iron Bridge Road. This is the location of the infamous TVA damn in Columbia that was basically built and complete before the project was killed by the snail darter fiasco.

Putting in here I can go down stream about 2 miles to the Columbia City damn. I can go upstream 3-4 miles before hitting a large shoal that only a shallow water jet drive would attempt. So I've got about a 5-6 mile stretch easily accessible with a ramp 10 minutes from the house.

Originally Posted by clean air

I live in Manchester.Where on the duck are you fishing.Some parts are loaded with redeye and smallies others have cat,largemouth,whites,and walleye.The duck in general is big and has different fish depending on where you fish.Below Normandy dam to 5-6 miles above the lake is where I fished growing up.You can launch a small boat at Old Stone Fort park and throw crickets and minnows for panfish.Just depends on where your fishing.If I know the area I will try to help.

[clean air]

Never fished that area.If you ever make it to the Coffee county stretch of the duck I can help you there.I have fished that area all my life.

[ahnalia]

I am so sorry for the necro post. I have just moved to Manchester from Texas, and I am looking for a few little fishing spots around the area not too far from town.
I know you can fish at Duck River out there at Old Stone Fort, which is where I have been going, but I have noticed that there seems to be just one little bank for fishing
Are there any other banks out there I haven't found yet?
I don't have a boat unfortunately, so bank fishing it is for us for now
Also, I was wondering about the catfish population there. Hs anyone had any good luck consistently catching catfish out at Old Stone Fort?
If so, where and how did you catch them?
I caught one tonight at the little bank i usually go to, but was wondering how viable is it to catch them on a regular basis there?
I appreciate any help.

[clean air]

The best spot I have found for cat is below big falls in the deep hole that looks like a bowl.You have to climb down the rocks to the bottom of the falls.It looks harder than it is.That is where I would fish for cat at the state park.The river stretch above the park dam to hwy 41 has alot of bass,bluegill and crappie. There is also some redeye anywhere you fish in the park.If you are willing to walk you can fish just about anywhere in the park from the bank just look for the trails from the roads or see where other cars are parked along the road. Go one day and walk all the trails through the park to scout it out and know where the different falls are located.The rangers can help you out alot. Hope this helps.

[ahnalia]

Thank you for the tips, it does help a lot!
I know there are a few little banks when you first come into the park, and have had good luck catching the bluegill and lately, crappie there, but only 2 catfish in the past month. I think I know which area your talking about, been down there before but wasn't sure if people fished there since I see people swimming there sometimes lol.
What bait are you using if you don't mind me asking!
So far I have tried: catfish bait, hot dogs, cut shad, and chicken liver (flies off the hook )
I guess i am just not in a highly populated catfish place or just don't know what I'm doing, or both!
Any advice on channel cat fishing? Where I'm from we had them "mud cats" which eat just about anything but aren't really eating fish, but fun/easy to catch.
I'm having a heck of a time trying to catch these channel cats lol.

[MidTNKayakAngler]

Sept 30th - Oct 3rd about 12 of us from various sites, and states got together and camped and fished the Duck. The most productive areas were between Shelbyville, and Chapel Hill. There were a couple 20" Smallmouth hooked, and lost. My largest 2 fish were a 18.75" Spot, and 19" Smallmouth. Caught a lot of small smallmouth in the 13-15" range. The most productive lures were white spinnerbaits, white buzzbaits, and pearl flukes. We split up in groups of 3-4 each day and floated different sections. It was a lot of fun. I have only fished the Duck 3 times, so I'm not really familiar with the water.

Jeremy

[clean air]

Shinners or minnows should work on anything in the park.Havent fished there in years.

[Kiss my Bass]

Thought you bank fisherman might like this here are all the access points on the Duck river by location.http://www.duckriverwatershed.org/Ac...s%20Points.pdf
I been fishing water mellon rage craws, some spinners black color has been doing good.Waters been warm so early morning late evening still trying to figure out the Maury county Duck river BASS situation fishing is usually slow if anyone has any new tips/advice that would be great.
Williamsport has been real good caught several 3-4lbers using crawfish,worm texas rigged in the big lake at the end(take the 1st left go to the end) forget the name of it sorry. Buffalo river caught some monsters only thing I can ever get to work there though is live minnows would love some input on that river also if anyone has any. happy fishing!!!

[Doc Marshall]

I've had almost zero luck for bass on the Duck. I have caught a bunch of cats on black rooster tails. A few dinky small mouth.

You might try live worms with a few split shot.

I've gotta get to Williamsport soon. I've been having good luck on Priest so it's tough to convince myself to make the drive at 5 a.m.

[Kiss my Bass]

Ya Doc if your fishing the big lakes Priest,old hickory,Cordell Hull that's a whole different story then the Duck and Williamsport.
I hate I have to drive that far from Columbia.
My parents have a house on Cordell Hull Bass fishing there has been great going again this weekend.