Thread: Where is DK?

Thanks DK - I now feel much better!!

DK do you use a weight in the current? If so what works for you. I'm heading below Nickajack and will give spoons a try but as of now I don't have a foley.
thanks

Originally Posted by bwilso

DK do you use a weight in the current? If so what works for you. I'm heading below Nickajack and will give spoons a try but as of now I don't have a foley.
thanks

Yes, an egg sinker weight and it varies depending on how much current is running through the dam. If you find Foley spoons or another type of flutter spoon, I want the egg sinker slightly bumping the bottom as I drift downstream. I don’t know if my setup is best or not because there are various ways to rig up, but I’ll tell you what and how I fish tailwaters.

I have 20 lb braid on my reel, a barrel swivel, and 20 test fluorocarbon leader and I want it 14-16” long. I run the braided line through the egg sinker first, then one side of the barrel swivel and secure that with a uniknot. I like to have the egg sinker pegged tight to the swivel and I don’t allow the egg sinker to run up and down the line. Dr Phil who fishes up there with me mostly wants his egg sinker to run free, but I don’t.

Then tie one end of the fluorocarbon leader to the barrel swivel and the flutter spoon on the other end, about 14”-16”. Phil likes his leader a bit longer, but I don’t. I’m not sure which method is best, but I usually catch more fish than he, but there are times when his catches are more.

We move up in the current near the turbine flow and it is easy to read the current seams and know where to position the boat to start its drift downstream. Fishing with flutter spoons with this method, it is best to cast directly upstream as the boat is drifting. If you cast sideways with these spoons, the current will push the lures out of position and will many times tangle the leader and spoon around the braided line. Even casting upstream, you will experience these tangles occasionally as these currents like to “fight” each other, especially as you approach and pass over rock piles.

Be very alert when the weight and spoon starts bumping as you are passing over rock piles as the fish like to lay in eddies around them and ambush bait as it goes by. Snagging the bottom is a common occurrence and when this happens, start the big motor up on the boat and drive back upstream reeling in line as you go. When you get upstream of the snag, 90% of the time the spoon will be freed. Most of the time it is the weight that gets snagged and pulls loose easily but lots of time you will snag yards and yards of broken line and break off. If by chance your spoon does free up but it is still snagged on on the line, pull as much of that line out to clear the water. We housekeep Watts Bar nearly every trip up there. Grin. I pull up big Striper jigs, catfish rigs, weights, etc. sometimes with 50 or more yards of line attached to it.

If this is helpful, let me know and any suggestions as to how I could become more efficient fishing tailwaters. I fish more for crappie in a years time than tailwaters. One other thing comes to mind about presentation. When I fish flutter spoons, I cast upstream as much as possible. But when I cast my Striper jigs, I cast at maybe at a 120 degree angle upstream, when directly upstream is 180 and sideways is 90 degrees. Boat positioning and reading current seams is where it is at. If you are successfully catching fish and others are not, then pretty soon, they will be trying to copy what you are doing and many times will mess up a good fishing trip. Lolol.

DK Thanks so much for taking the time to pass along this terrific information. I do not have flutter spoons yet so I will be doing my usual ned rig fishing today along the bank starting a couple miles downriver from the dam. I need to learn to read current seams. I know they are obvious but it takes experience to read them properly and I just started river fishing three years ago. I started by accident by taking a trip below Nickajack and catching a 3lb 15oz Smallmouth. I have been ruint ever since.
thanks again

That is some good information to have. I need to branch out a little and learn to catch a more types of fish

Originally Posted by drumking

If this is helpful, let me know and any suggestions as to how I could become more efficient fishing tailwaters.

THIS INFO IS HELPFUL

Originally Posted by drumking

We housekeep Watts Bar nearly every trip up there. Grin. I pull up big Striper jigs, catfish rigs, weights, etc. sometimes with 50 or more yards of line attached to it.

BTW, let me know where/when I can meet you to pick up my misplaced tackle