Lake Chickamauga Tennessee
When to Go
Lake Chickamauga is a special place. If you fish this lake your chance of catching a giant or a couple of giants is very high. To do that I would come after the first full moon or new moon in February. I have personally targeted the last two weeks of February and been successful each time.
My first time going to this lake I caught one that was 7.5lbs, 6.5lbs, two 5’s and a 4 and some other smaller bass as well. The bass at this time are feeding like crazy to get ready for the spawn and you can power fish the entire time.
What to Throw
Red is a great color for this time of year. I love to throw a Strike King Red Eyed Shad 3/4 oz. or 1/2oz. Lipless Crankbait in the Sam Rayburn Red Craw color.
The chili craw color will work as well. The next bait I like to throw is a Rapala Dt-6 in the Demon color.
This bait just flat out catches bass, especially in stained water.
A Z-man white chatter bait in the 3/4oz size is also a great choice. You may consider adding a small white swimbait as a trailer to better mimic the shad.
Last but not least a Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait in the Tennessee Shad color. Make sure to add a trailer hook to the spinnerbait as well.
Where to Fish
This time of year the bass are up very shallow. So beating the banks can be a great way to catch some giant bass. One thing you want to pay attention to is the birds. If you see a blue heron on a bank you can guarantee there is baitfish around. So that would be a great bank to target. The bass are always where the baitfish are.
I caught all my Giant fish in the backs of pockets around grass or wood (laydowns). If you do find submerged grass this time of year cast that lipless crankbait and fish the area thoroughly. I like to use what I call the Yo-Yo technique with my lipless crankbait. I cast it out and yank the rod tip up high and let the bait fall and flutter down while keeping a little bit of tension on the line. So many times that bait will get hit on the fall. Sometimes you want to make them react to the bait. Do not just cast it out and reel it in. You have to rip it through the grass bump it into stuff and make it twitch and fall to get some of those bigger bites.
Bonus Tip: In Lake Chickamauga, you are fishing for trophy bass. However, if you are having a tough day and you want to salvage your day I have a tip for you.
Take the boat out of the water and fish the last couple hours of the day down below the damn in Lake Nickajack. The current is strong but you can beat the banks and catch smallmouth, largemouth, and stripers and have a blast. Throw that Dt-6 in the demon color and have some fun catching numbers. You can also throw other crankbaits in chartreuse colors around the same size as the Dt-6 and do well also. I have done this several times and had a blast doing so.
I would recommend not going up past the bridge towards the dam. There are some rocks and things that can mess your boat up. You will see locals do it but they know the water very well. Also, there is strong current so make sure you have your life jacket on when navigating the river.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of Airbnb.com options for you to stay at. If you don’t mind staying at someone else’s house that has enough room for you to put your boat.
Island Cove Marina & Resort 6701 TN-58, Harrison, TN 37341 is another option for you as well. Call ahead and see if you can keep your boat (for a fee) at the docks in the marina. The inside is nothing amazing but it is centrally located and relatively cheap. There is a restaurant on-site as well.
Where to Launch
I like to launch at Chester Frost Park 2277 Gold Point Circle N, Hixson Tennessee, 37343. That area of the lake has very clean water and is an excellent place to fish as well. The boat ramp is huge and there is plenty of parking and restrooms.
The boat launches can be hard to find on Nickajack. I cannot find an address for the one I always use. It is right behind the Chattanooga State Community college. Find it on your phone and drop a pin and get directions and you will start to see the signs for this boat ramp. Do your research before you leave.
What to Expect
This lake gets national recognition for a reason. It does get a lot of fishing pressure. It’s always best to go during the week if possible. This time of year an angler can cast up shallow and hook into a giant. This probably is not the place you are going to catch numbers but you will hook into some big ones. It made the list because of the options of taking the boat out and going to Nickajack and salvaging the day catching numbers if fishing is tough for you.
In Conclusion
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