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  1. #1
    Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    Chick End of March Early April

    Hey guys, my Son wanted to take his Senior Graduation trip fishing at Chickamauga during Spring Break. So we're trailering down from Nebraska to fish for a week. We'll probably hire a guide the first day just to improve our odds the rest of the week but not 100% sure yet. We are staying near Dayton.

    I've done some online research for that time of year, and can likely figure it out, but can anyone recommend some baits that are locally successful down there during that time of year. Colors, styles etc.? I'll take whatever insight you guys might want to share so we can start getting stuff ordered and ready for the trip.

    Thanks!
    Last edited by PowerFish; 11-25-2020 at 04:40 PM.
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  2. Member
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    #2
    First the lake is still at winter pool, ~6 feet below summer pool. Lots of humps and sunken islands that are navigation hazards out of the main channels. Make sure that you have a good GPS map for the lake and use caution outside of the main channels.

    Fishing is usually pretty good at that time of the year, however it does depend upon the weather and water temperatures. Unfortunately you may have a 70 degree day and a 30 degree high in the same week that time of the year. You need to pack a wide range of clothing.

    I think the state record was caught around that time of the year on an A-rig, just be aware that only three baits can have hooks in them. You can use a 5 arm A-rig, just two of the baits cannot have hooks. Usually shad colored swim baits are used. You can also use a single swim bait.

    Square bills and rattle baits are usually very popular during this time period, red, red/orange and shad colored baits.

    Lots of fish are caught on the jerk bait as well.

    You will need jigs, normally GP or watermelon.

    If the winter is cold; you maybe able to catch some fish congregated on the drops with a spoon or vibrating blade bait.

    If the water is warming, fish will be starting to move to the staging areas and possibly some of the spawning flats.

    If you can schedule a guide trip it would be a big advantage. There are several good guides on the lake that get good reviews. Since you are staying near Dayton, I would suggest Billy Wheat as a guide Dayton, TN (riprapfishing.net). He uses Blue Water Marina as a launch point as is very familiar with the lake. Whichever guide you choose, you will need to make reservations pretty quick, they seem to book up pretty quickly that time of the year.

  3. Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    #3
    Thank You! I do have good maps/Nav with the latest Navionics subscription as well. Hoping for nice weather and a decent pool level for simpler navigation. I'll dig into the guides in the area a little bit.
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  4. Member
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    #4
    Billy Joe Wheat is a topnotch guide and knows the lake very well. He will put you on fish and is an excellent teacher. I have not fished the Chick in a few years but the post above is spot on.

    https://www.riprapfishing.net/

  5. Member
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    #5
    TVA has an app for your phone with lake level info or you can keep up with it on the TVA website
    www.tva.com

  6. Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by printman71 View Post
    TVA has an app for your phone with lake level info or you can keep up with it on the TVA website
    www.tva.com
    Thank You, I've grabbed that already and found the Boat Ramp listing from the TVA. I'm hoping the ramp in Mud Creek will be usable for our stay as we're staying right near it.
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  7. Member
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    #7
    I would be very cautious using a ramp in mud creek that time of year. You may be able to use the ramp, but it would be interesting getting out to the river channel. Someone please correct me if I am wrong here. I fish Chick a lot, but don't go that far up river and back in mud creek very often, especially at winter pool.

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    #8
    Bast tamp to use at winter pool is Soddy creek.
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  9. Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    #9
    Thank You Guys...
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  10. Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    #10
    Does Blue Water Resort allow pay use of their ramp? We're not staying there, but it's close to the place we have rented. With the College Tournament in Dayton that week, I'm sure that the Dayton Boat Dock will be too busy.
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  11. Member
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    #11
    Unsure about Blue Water ramp use, but typically Blue Water is used as a "staging" area for anything launching out of Dayton. They don't use the ramp, but group up in the no wake buoys before blast off. Another ramp option is Grasshopper Creek. It's 15 minutes down from Dayton on Hwy. 60 toward Cleveland, TN. You have to be careful getting out to the river, but is usable as that is where I launch 90% of my Chick trips. With low water, it's a lot EASIER with 2 folks due to how far you have to back in to float the boat off. Pay ramp, $5 per day, but also a campground with folks around watching all the time. Sale Creek, just across the river from Grasshopper is an option as well.

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    #12
    I just fished a tournament there and the director said that the blue water ramp is only for the people staying there .

  13. Member PowerFish's Avatar
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    #13
    Heartland of America
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