Need Southern Bass Destination...

[sea nympho]

...for NEXT WEEK! :yikes:

I'm considering trading my annual Canada trip this year for bass fishing down south next week.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?



14 hr MAX drive.
Looking for Reservoir, Big River, &/or Inland Lake action.
No Lodges/Outfitters please...I don't roll like that

THANKS! :)

[Radar420]

I don't really fish for bass but I have a few buddies who make a trip to Dale Hollow every year. They usually have a blast.

[sea nympho]

I don't really fish for bass but I have a few buddies who make a trip to Dale Hollow every year. They usually have a blast.

That's #1 on my list on considerations, also included:


Kentucky Lake
Old Hickory Lake
Lake Cumberland
Pickwick
Tims Ford
South Holston
Watts Bar
Norris

[waterfoul]

I've heard Pickwick can be a tough cookie to crack.

I'd go for Dale Hollow, Cumberland, Kentucky. In that order.

[sea nympho]

Right now I'm leaning for Kentucky L, b/c after reviewing TN/TVA fish sample data and lake forecasts, it seems like a good compromise between green & brown bass...I can catch big smallies here in MI. Cumberland also fits that bill.

[waterfoul]

Well, my spring break plans fell thru, or rather they are going to Florida with her mother. Friggen women.

I hope I have my boat together enough to at least take it for a spin by then.

[wolverines]

That's #1 on my list on considerations, also included:


Kentucky Lake
Old Hickory Lake
Lake Cumberland
Pickwick
Tims Ford
South Holston
Watts Bar
Norris







If the beer's cold, I vote for Watts Bar:lol:

If not I'd say Kentucky/Barkley...never been there, but everyone I know who has says it's an awesome place to fish. 14 hours gives you a ton of possabilities...the FLW guys had better weights on Table Rock than the B.A.S.S. guys had on Amistad:yikes:, just a thought.

[sea nympho]

If the beer's cold, I vote for Watts Bar:lol:

If not I'd say Kentucky/Barkley...never been there, but everyone I know who has says it's an awesome place to fish. 14 hours gives you a ton of possabilities...the FLW guys had better weights on Table Rock than the B.A.S.S. guys had on Amistad:yikes:, just a thought.

Looking up Barkley right now:lol:...considering a couple days at Dale's & a couple days at Kentucky/Barkley.

[thedude]

go to newton lake in ill.
6hrs away, fish should be on beds right now and your boat is perfect setup for it.

KY, Barkley, Dale Hollow - been to those and you'll really be constrained to where you can fish. Those lakes can get crazy rough and they are huge too.

[waterfoul]

Hey dude... would my Triton work in that Ill. lake? I'd like to go somwhere as soon as I get the water pump fixed.

[sea nympho]

go to newton lake in ill.
6hrs away, fish should be on beds right now and your boat is perfect setup for it.

KY, Barkley, Dale Hollow - been to those and you'll really be constrained to where you can fish. Those lakes can get crazy rough and they are huge too.

I've been wondering about my rig & the rough water...that's why I've been looking at some of the smaller reservoirs. Most all reservoirs down there have multiple ramps and many creek arms...which I presume is where some fish are anyway.


Justin, I'm calling you NOW! :evil:

[thedude]

Mike - its 25hp restriction. you can only run the motor to get on/off the trailer. After that, you're on the TM all day.

[waterfoul]

Mike - its 25hp restriction. you can only run the motor to get on/off the trailer. After that, you're on the TM all day.

I have no problem with that. Might be calling you for directions one of these days.

How's my rod coming along? Have it done by the C&R opener?

[redear]

what kind of boat do you got, i have been to kentucky lake twice once at moors resort on kentucky and once in tennesee and there was 16 and 17 footers out there crappie fishing and they got around fine, but we did spear one wave oout there but that was operator error. lots and lots of crappie fishermen. the southern part of the lake was better fot the bass than the north end. Paris landing tennessee gets my vote
we even got on a striped bass bite under the bridge and that was a blast, the hardest fighting fish i have ever caught twice as fun as smallies

[thedude]

I have no problem with that. Might be calling you for directions one of these days.

How's my rod coming along? Have it done by the C&R opener?

yeah it'll be done. waiting on 3 stinking guides, then it just needs a coat of finish.

[waterfoul]

Did you put my name on it?? You know... "Custom built for Mike Ozinga"

[PWOG]

Mike - its 25hp restriction. you can only run the motor to get on/off the trailer. After that, you're on the TM all day.

Justin,
Went looking for Newton lake info. Everything i find says 25hp max motor. Says nothing about TM only
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R5/NEWTON.HTM#Boating
quote:
Boating
You can launch your boat from the two-lane ramp at the south access area. Concessions are available near the lake. The northern ends of the Sand Creek and Laws Creek fingers of the lake are restricted areas. Sailboating and swimming are not permitted. There is a 25 HP limit on boat motors.

[waterfoul]

He only said that because I have a 150 on my boat and would not be allowed to use it.

[basskiller46]

He only said that because I have a 150 on my boat and would not be allowed to use it.

Time to get a kicker motor:lol:

Think about it you would be the first bass fisherman with a kicker on the back.

[sea nympho]

Justin,
Went looking for Newton lake info. Everything i find says 25hp max motor. Says nothing about TM only
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R5/NEWTON.HTM#Boating
quote:
Boating
You can launch your boat from the two-lane ramp at the south access area. Concessions are available near the lake. The northern ends of the Sand Creek and Laws Creek fingers of the lake are restricted areas. Sailboating and swimming are not permitted. There is a 25 HP limit on boat motors.


Maybe a guy could LAUNCH w/ a larger motor, but NOT USE IT? Maybe the definitive point for enforcement is the USE of a motor larger than 25hp? Prob not...Dunno.. don't really care b/c I got a 25hp...& a bow mount TM. :D

[waterfoul]

Well, it IS Illinois so who knows!!

I'd check first if I went down there of course. If no go on hanging the 150 up out of the water the whole day I'd find someplace else to fish! I know a few places... :whistle:

[thedude]

Maybe a guy could LAUNCH w/ a larger motor, but NOT USE IT? Maybe the definitive point for enforcement is the USE of a motor larger than 25hp? Prob not...Dunno.. don't really care b/c I got a 25hp...& a bow mount TM. :D

Yes - you can have any sized motor you want, but if its bigger than 25hp you can only use it to get on and off the trailer. It doesn't have to be out of the water or anything, you just have to use the trolling motor to get around. The lake sees a lot of people 100+ boats on the weekends in the winter.. now that the warmer weather is around, it shouldn't be too bad. We had a full parking lot on sunday and still plenty of places to fish. There is usually a CO there on the weekend so make sure you bone up on the IL boating laws. I got a warning for not having a horn/whistle and for not having covered battery terminals. You also need a fire extinguisher on board no matter what the size of the boat.

Another lake that someone down there told me try was Coffeen lake which is a few hours further, but pretty much the same deal from the sound of it.

[Jason Ammerman]

If you go to kenn/barkley I can mark up maps for you it will cut down on your looking time, I have done real well down there and know it like the back of my hand. You get the maps and i will mark them.

[Ole Spike]

What about the BIG G (Guntersville) in North Alabama? Lots of fish and a good opportunity to catch some really big fish.

[sea nympho]

If you go to kenn/barkley I can mark up maps for you it will cut down on your looking time, I have done real well down there and know it like the back of my hand. You get the maps and i will mark them.

PM Sent

[waterfoul]

What about the BIG G (Guntersville) in North Alabama? Lots of fish and a good opportunity to catch some really big fish.


Ooohhh.... yeah I didn't even think about Guntersville.

[sea nympho]

I figured it was out of range.

[basskiller46]

You can get started by looking at this

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=86&hvarAID=emailnewsltr&cm_ven=Email&cm_cat=oct0808&cm_pla=welcome_3&cm_ite=bps8&cm_lm=cm:dbobr@michiganbassanglers.net