My buddies and I took the day off work to go Striper fishing below one of the dams here in East TN yesterday. We went against all conventional wisdom for striper fishing here in that the water temp was about 80 and the air temp was about 95. However, we had the best day we have ever had. We caught about 20 stripers with only 3 of them weighing less than 10 lbs. Not a bad day. The biggest we caught was only 20 lbs but hey, they really put up a heck of a fight. I had one on that threw the hook after taking drag for about 20 seconds without letting up. They get in the current below the dam and just take off downstream. Never had one throw a circle hook before but man that was the biggest fish I’ve ever had on the line. Got a couple of pictures I’ll post when I get them off my phone. I really wish I could make some money as a guide!
I just left there at lunchtime today. Was in Chattanooga checking on a job we are doing. The guy that is the on site supt. is from Beaufort, I think he finally ponied up the $100 for the out of state license. Which dam were you fishing?
B.G.
‘89 Whaler Newport 17’
'92 Evinrude 88 spl
We normally fish right below Fort Loudon Dam. It’s right off I-75 at the Lenior City exit on the way up from Chattanooga. Right now it’s the only place that we can catch stripers.
I’m still trying to figure out how I can get paid to fish!