Request for Info

[McCarter]

I am hoping a few of you might offer some insight on what to expect while fishing Old Hickory Lake in TN.  Kev the Kdawger who always has a fishon and I qualified to fish the Stratos Championship this October.  Neither one of us have ever been there. 

Anyone with past experience on this lake, please give up some hints.

And i would like to hear how some of the other members might tackle this HUGE lake if they were down there fishing for $45k.  Even if you have never been there, what would you do?  What kind of water would you look for, what types of patterns would you start with.  I usually do pretty good in the fall, it suits my style of fishing a little better than summer.  Lets put our heads together, and when kev and i win, i will buy something very nice for everyone.  Perhaps a Buffalo Platter and a pint of the finest ale Hooters has to offer.

Also, is there a Hooters down there?  There wings to me are like spinache to Popeye. 

PB himself

[Langer]

Just some stuff I found by googling the Lake....

I found this map on the Web ( http://www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/Reservoir/TWRA_maps/oh.pdf ).  They also sell a hotspots map for the lake.  The record Greenie caught on that lake is an 11 pounder caught in 2000.

You may want to try these bait shops, they may be able to give you some tips.

Bait, Tackle & Outdoor Shops

Flipper's Bait & Tackle
200 Odoms Bend Road, Gallatin
(615) 452-7719

Hunts Outdoors
709 W. Main Street, Hendersonville
(615) 824-1777


Poindexter's Bait Shop
Hwy. 109S, Gallatin
(615) 452-7550

You can also try the Army Corp of Engineers for a fishing report: Fishing Information by Phone: (615) 824-7766  The latest report on there website: Bass fishing is also good early and late in the day and fair at midday on spinners, crankbaits, worms, and jigs.

Capt Rick McFerrin Report 9/14/06
Old Hickory Lake
Mid 70's most of lake
Some stained water up lake and back of some creeks
Daytime Bass has been fair to good in numbers and fair in size
Buzz Baits-Spinner Baits-Shallow and Deep Crankbaits-Worms
Fish came out of creeks and main channel
 


Hope it helps!  Good Luck!!

[Team houston]

Fished a Stren championship there a couple years ago. Fishing was very tough then. As a co-angler I zeroed day one, caught two barely keeps the second day(15inch limit I think). Skinny pathetic looking fish weighed 2.12 and got the last check in 50th place. I caught one on a spinnerbai and one doing the Erie drag in 18 feet of water on a gravel bottom with a Yamamoto skirted grub. My boater had two also. My first day boater zeroed also. Not much help I am sorry, Very pretty lake with bluff banks. A lot of country stars live on it being close to Nashville. Check the FLW web page for who did well and what they used. It was in 2003. Off the top of my head when the water starts cooling the shad start going up the creeks and the bass follow. That touny I fished was october so it was the same time of year. From the recent tourny results I have seen, the fishing does look better.  Good Luck

[rufus]

I have been on Old Hickory about 8 times. I am by no means an expert on this body of water, but I did fairly well in the one tourney I did fish and have done well when I just went fishing out their. That time of year the fish should be pushed towards the backs of the creeks. I like it all the way in the back of Station Camp creek (not east Station Camp). There is a bridge in the back that I have caught a lot of keepers under and if you continue back into the wood infested bay there is usually a good limit of keepers cruising around in here. Don't be afraid to fish 6-8 inches of water around that water. Bump a shallow running crankbait or flip a sweet beaver around the laydowns. A spinnerbait and wacky rigged senko works very well around the edges. The area around the public boat ramp to the left just before you get to that bridge will also hold a lot of early morning active fish. If the fish are on the shallow flats and on the points in the backs of the creeks you can't beat burning a blue/chrome 1/2 or 1/4 ounce (believe me try both sizes) rattletrap across the tops. If they are on this pattern you will get both size and numbers.
There is a community spot called the steam plant with a power plant in the back of a creek that pumps out warm water year 'round. The creek itself will hold fish along the edges and in the middle and the flats with weedbeds in front of the creek will hold a lottttt of fish. The very edges where the creek dumps into the lake will hold a lot of fish, I like the left side as you are going in the best. Throw spinnerbaits and pop-r's, but hold on a striper may be waiting on you here. This area is fished very hard and the fish turn on and off all day long. You can put 15 pounds in the boat in 15 minutes here and then not have another bite for several hours. Crankbaits and plastic in the creek and rattletraps and plastic on the flats in front. I caught a 30 pound striper (which is hanging on my wall ) last February out of the creek.
I don't remember the name of the creek, but just past the 109 bridge on the north side of the lake is a small cut with Flipper's Bait and Tackle in it (awesome bait store!). They have tourneys here all the time and at least once a weeknight all year round. This little cut is chuck full of "retreads" but you can win a tourney in this little cut. It is also a community hole and will get pounded, but I guarantee you the fish are there.
On the main lake the bluff walls with rock slides dumping into the water will produce some very good fish and a lot if they are generating water good. If you pull up on the right one when the current is flowing you will load the boat in a hurry with the possibilty of a few 5 pound plus fish. Pay very close attention to the down curren sides of the slides and fish several of the while the water is flowing. You may even get a bonus hawg smallie or two. Tubes, beavers, or anything plastic will work on these walls.
I don't know a lot about the main lake flats, but I do know they produce a lot of fish. there are good weedbeds on them and they look really good, but I have not spent much time at all on them.
There are a lot of options on this lake. You will hear from a lot of people that is fishes very small, but I have never had this trouble. It does get pounded like no other reservoir I have ever been on. It is a good fishery, but is very fickle. There are also a lot of short fish, but there are plenty of good fish in here. You will need a good limit each day to do well. I would say 15 pounds a day will win it, but it could be more or much less depending on the bite. I don't know how much prefishing time you will get, but if you only get a couple of days be sure to manage your time wisely. Don't spend too much time in one area. If you find them they will usually cooperate fairly well, especially in the fall. I usually go no farther than the steam plant. There are good areas farther up into the river, but I have never had the time to explore it much.
If you need any more details PM me and I will give you my cell phone number. I will help you in any way I can.
God Bless and Good Fishin'
Rufus

[SethV]

Rufus - Awesome post!  Where have you not fished???

Only a little to add, but this time of year, through November, the shad really start moving up the creeks.  The bass often will start ignoring the structure, and only relate to the bait.  During prefish, I would idle from cove to cove, looking for bait.  Get out early and stay late in the day during practice, as that is when the bait is most active and you will quickly know if you need to spend time in each cove.  When you find the right coves, the bait will often be out in the middle, over 20' of water.  Don't be afraid to throw a spook (supper spook jr is my fav) over the top of them.  It seems the smaller coves that are close to the main lake have been the best.

Also, if they are puling current, that is a good thing, the bait (and thus the fish) will relate to the current breaks in deep water.

Have fun!
Seth

[McCarter]

WOW.  Now thats what i call good info.  Thanks alot guys.

I think we will probably dedicate one day to fishing in some creeks, maybe one day looking for some deeper fish on main lake points and creek channels, and one day drinking beer.  Between the 2 of us, we should be able to use all this info to come up with a pretty good game plan.  Me and Kev are like peas and carrots.  We make a good team.  And that boy can fish.

Thanks again gang. 

PB himself