Area of lake fished: Above 321
Access used: Private, fished from bank. Nearest boat ramp is Geitner Park
Target Species: Perch
Bait Used: Red Wigglers
Rig Used: Dual drop shot rig, 3/4 oz sinker, size 6 aberdeen hooks tied with dropper loops
Since some folks have been asking about bank fishing on lake hickory, i'm here to tell you that it can be very productive especially for white perch. The section I fish from the bank most of the time is above 321. This is really just what most folks call "the river". Generally it's pretty shallow and narrow, and most of the time there is noticeable current from the tailwater release of rhodhiss dam upstream. Water depths over 15 ft are deep for this section of lake hickory. The bottom is mostly sand, and the best spots to look for white perch and catfish are holes that are deeper than the surrounding area. The bottom is frequently scoured from heavy dam outflows and the locations of these holes can change over the years. It's best to put in regular time to seek out these areas with your sonar. If you are fishing from the bank, most of the time the best cast is the longest one you can possibly make. This section of the lake fishes much differently than below 321, but well worth the effort if you like riding around and looking at your sonar looking for some new hot spots. Please be advised that there are navigational hazards in the form of rock piles near the surface that will tear up your lower unit. These are located in the area from the train trestles and on up to rhodhiss dam. Navigate with caution in that area.
Since the dams upriver are having work done on them, there has been little current in this section. Generally, a current improves the bite in this area. I didn't expect much action today on account of that. Fishing today started out slow initially, until a strong wind downstream started whitecapping the surface of the water. This built up to enough of a point that it actually created a noticeable current. After that, the white perch started biting like crazy and I was getting strikes on every cast. The water was clear on the margins of the river and muddy out in the middle. All of my bites were on long casts into a known deep hole out in the river channel.