Tennessee

[Sherpa]

Well I'm headed down to Tennessee on Monday to visit some family that live just east of Nashville in Gallatin. They are not far from the Cumberland river/Old Hickory Lake. J Percy priest is not to far either. I would love to do some fishing in the area while I'm there and wondered if anyone has any experience or suggestions. I would love to get some walleye but not against finding some big crappies or bass at all. Not really looking to do a guided trip. Not in the budget. Renting a boat or shore fishing would probably be my options. Any advice would be appreciated.

Anyone know if they have closed seasons like MN? I could not find any info online. Thanks.

[TooTallTom]

I looked at a job in Murfreesboro about a year ago, and I was pretty excited about Percy Priest Lake. I don't think that there are any waldos in it though. I might be remembering wrong, but I remember being disappointed about that.

Also, don't be afraid to bring your gear and stoll into a baitshop cold. People are generally friendly, and glad to help out. Even if you ARE a Yankee. (I'm teasing. The people are great, and I never got any of that kind of attitude while I was in TN.)

[Can'tFishEnuf]

Here is a link

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/fishmain.html

Lived down South for 10 yrs, the people are great down there. Check out a local bait shop, just like you would up here. Ask for an RC and a Moonpie and you will fit right in. Also, all panfish are called bream.

[Sherpa]

Thanks for the responses guys. Just got in to Gallatin at 5am this morning. What a drive from Duluth. I am beat to say the least. Took a drive with my sister down to the Cumberland river and found a few shore fishing spots to try out this week. Can't wait to give it a try. Called a bait shop and the guy I talked to said they don't have seasons like MN. Also found a place that rents boats but they weren't sure if they were still winterized or not so I have to call them back today. Definitely plan on strolling through a few bait shops to talk to some locals. Already talked to a guy that was shore fishing and he was very polite and helpful. I'm not worried about being a Yankee in the south. I kind of enjoy the ribbing I get when traveling. I usually get tons of carp about my Midwest accent when I go to Alaska to visit my dad. Thanks again for the responses guys. I will make sure to post on how I do.

[TooTallTom]

Hey Sherpa, the front half of my first post got cut off because I put up a link. (I was also locked out for 24 hours.) Did you see that part?

I hope you have a good, fun trip. How's your casting at this point? Rusty much?

[Sherpa]

I missed it if it's not up there now. I'll leave my email at the bottom so if you felt like it you could send me whatever it was that wasn't allowed on here.

That's to bad that percy priest didn't pan out for you. I thought I read it was one of the better walleye Waters in TN. Who knows? I don't think wallys are to popular down here so it's hard to get good info on them im guessing. I haven't made any casts yet but I think I'm going to get a few in this evening. Hopefully I'm not to rusty.

Cantfishenuf thanks for the link. I have been using that one a bit already. I haven't had any RC yet but did try Cheerwine for the first time. Good stuff.

splinter98 @ m s n . Com

We got some rain yesterday so the water is high and muddy. Might make it tough but a guy still has to try. Will post later on how it goes.

[TooTallTom]

I sent you an email, I hope it helps a bit.

[Sherpa]

My brother and I gave it a try for a couple hours today. No fish but we had a couple strikes. Also saw some bass surfacing. It downpoured on us for about a half hour so we sat in the car with and listened to the radio. Went to start the car and the battery was dead. Oops! Luckily a guy was there sitting on his truck on the phone and gave us jump.

Too tall I did not get your email. Not sure why.

[TooTallTom]

Too bad you didn't have more success, but at least you were out there trying. My friend and I killed a battery like that in high school. Except that we were ice fishing, and we couldn't get the hood to pop for a jump. Luckily, he gave it another try ('cause why not, at that point?) and it magically worked. We were VERY happy.

I re-checked the address and re-sent the email. Maybe it's in your junk/ spam folder? If you don't get it soon, email me using my screen name @gmx.com and we'll see if that works.

[Sherpa]

Thats OK it was just good to be fishing with my brother. That could be big trouble getting stuck out there in the cold. You guys must have been pretty happy when that thing finally started.

You were right. Your e-mail went to my junk folder. It's funny the only mention of walleye on the site you sent me to was in the lake records section and that record was from 1980. Now I'm having trouble finding the site that told me they were in there. Maybe I'm just confused. Wouldn't be the first time. No big deal. I just want to be able to say I caught a fish in TN. Hoping to get out again tomorrow for another shot.

Thinking about going to watch the Wild play the predators tomorrow. Go wild!!

[TooTallTom]

I can imagine that it was just nice to be out. I've got a trip up to LoW next weekend, and I'm getting pretty excited.

Maybe that was the last walleye in the lake. Of course, maybe people just don't fish them. I can't imagine why they wouldn't, but what do I know?

You've gotta go to the Wild game! That would be a lot of fun.

[Sherpa]

Good to be out for sure. I just wish it would stop raining.

Yeah I think bass is king down here. I would probably be a bass guy if I lived down here too. Pretty limited walleye opportunities would make it tough.

Yep goin to see the Wild tonight with my brother and sister. Should be pretty fun. I wish I would have brought some Wild gear to wear to the game. Oh well I'll just have to cheer louder.

[TooTallTom]

I definitely prefer snow to rain during the heavy precip season. Bass are fun to catch, but I prefer to eat walleyes. I've only every had largemouth, smallies, and rock bass, though. Maybe striped bass or some of the other ones taste better.

Definitely let them know you're from MN. Just don't go drilling any hole in the ice...

[Slabasaurus]

There are some biguns in the reservoirs for sure... you on the cumberland river or old hickory lake?

South Holston is the only place in TN i've actually fished, and it's been a while, been back up in MN for over a decade now.

[Sherpa]

I definitely prefer snow to rain during the heavy precip season. Bass are fun to catch, but I prefer to eat walleyes. I've only every had largemouth, smallies, and rock bass, though. Maybe striped bass or some of the other ones taste better.

Definitely let them know you're from MN. Just don't go drilling any hole in the ice...

Yeah the only ice I've seen was in my sweet tea.

Boy was that a terrible game. The wild really stunk tonight. Pretty cool to see a different arena though. We still had fun despite the loss.

Weather is looking better tomorrow. Hoping to get some casts in.

Slabasaurus I'm closer to the river than I am old hickory. Been scouting out some spots near Bledsoe Creek state park. It's just down the road from where I'm staying. I think I might try throwing a gob of crawlers out there on the river bottom for some catfish while casting for bass.

[Sherpa]

Went out again for a few hours again today. My brother had one on for a few seconds and lost it. I didn't have any luck myself. Man shore fishing can be tough. It was nice to see the sun again. Found a place that rents canoes and Jon boats today. Hoping to get into one of those this weekend.

[TooTallTom]

How long are you down there, Sherpa? Anything more to report? If you don't land at least one fish, people are going to get the wrong idea about how we fish. Pressure's on, bud...

[Sherpa]

I'm headed back right now. Sitting on the plane in Milwaukee waiting for them to tell me to put my phone away. I did manage to catch a yellow bass from shore one day and a pretty small largemouth (I think) from a boat that I rented. I was very happy not to get completely skunked. I'm sure I made myself look pretty funny by getting all exited about this guy.

Here is the bass. I think it's a largemouth but I'm not the best at telling the difference between largies and smallies.

I did see a guy with a bucket full of crappies, white bass and yellow bass. So I'm sure a guy could do pretty well if he knew what he was doing. That doesn't say much for me I guess.