Fishing With Sam

1-2-11 High water this winter has been interesting.  We've boated a few gigantic blue catfish and some nice bass.  The bite is sporadic of course.  Fishing in the winter is like playing the lottery.  When you hit, you hit big!

10-8-11 Tailwater bass are starting to turn on.  It's fun to start drifting for whatever bites with live bait, and then go anchor up for a big blue catfish.  Here's a video link of a 45 lber hitting the boat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osV1XX-puvk

9-18-11  I've been doing not so great lately.  I've come back a little bit better the last few trips.  Brandon landed a big one today.  Quite the fight on heavy tackle! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih0oSVtuGBY&feature=channel_video_title

7-15-11 Had a few successful trips lately.  I've been running combo trips on the lake/river to increase the odds of catching a bigger fish.  You never know when you might get that bite.  Here's a little video thanks to Rick Morgan of a fish caught off anchor recently.

http://www.youtube.com/wat​ch?v=a6fKzXADGD0

7-11-11

I HATE middle of summer for catfish.  Today, I was happy with this 62 lber.

6-30-11

I've only been out a few times due to my many travels.  I've been targeting bass/catfish.  The cats are coming off spawn still, and I'm getting excited for middle of winter catching a toad.  I'm ready for the big boys to get back on the prowl.  I took Noah out on a few guide trips, and the kid is a fish catching magnet.  He put several bass/white bass in the boat on live bait and artificials.
6-5-11

It has been an exciting start to my summer.  I leave for Canada in a few short days to spend time with my dad.  It's a yearly tradition I do not take for granted.  Recently, a few buddies and I have explored a striper bite at another dam about 1 hr away.  We are hooked to say the least.

Today, Brandon got a nice tussle with a 49 inch bluecat on a big bluegill.  You can't beat that! Check out the video.

5-29-11 It's been a nice mixed bag lately. Here's a video of Chad's 28 lb blue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTxb93nhyrE

5-16-11

Each year you get a fish that is the fish of the year.  Last year would have to be the blue cat I caught in December in a lot of current at around 80 plus lbs.  This year, I think my dad settled it already.  He pulled up a sturgeon!  That is definitely a rare catch around here.

Check out the article from the Tennessee Aquarium.

tennesseeaquarium.blogspot.com

5-14-11

The river has finally settled down and fishing at the dam has been productive with light line tackle.  The only other thing I'd rather do than freeze in the middle of winter waiting for a big cat is trying to land a big cat on light tackle.  Spawn is near, but it's fun for now!  Check out my students below from my 4th grade class.  Do you think they were happy?

Update- My good friend Richard Simms came along fishing with his daughter on Sunday May 1.  He did a little video.  We didn't fish much for catfish, mostly played around with a good bass bite.  We caught a fair number of fish on a morning trip, small blues, channels, a baby flathead, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, bluegill, you name it.  Check out the link.  I hope to get a monster cat on video soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWpUUk0sACQ



5-1-11

Plenty of new pictures in 2011 pictures.  I had a great weekend of fishing.  Trying to catch a little of everything for the fun of it.  No giant cat, biggest 28 lbs, but concentrated on other species a lot more.

4-6-11

I've been out, if the water isn't running too hard, I start drifting for bass.  It's still a touch slow, but we've caught a few toad smallmouth.  After that, we load up on bluegill for cutbait for the big cats.  I usually only catch 2-3 cats anchoring for a few hours, but...........get a fish like Paul did last Saturday and it's well worth targeting the big cats.  they are like musky, not always cooperative, but incredible when you catch a monster.

2-28-11 The fishing has been up and down for me lately.  Last Friday I snuck out and put around 200 lbs in the boat.  The next day, I struggled to get a 15 and an 18 in the boat, without another big one pulilng off.  Last trip we had a 12, 15, 16, not the size I was looking for.  The water flow has not been consistent with a ton of current at times, maybe moving the fish.  The big bluegill have remained consistent, which are lots of fun on 3 lb line.

I made In-fisherman, master angler online, I was excited.

http://www.in-fisherman.com/content/master-angler-2010 

2-12-11

I have not been updating the reports enough.  I do place pics in the 2011 pictures section when I get a chance to go.  Right now, it's bluegill for bait and then anchoring for that dream blue cat.  They aren't always cooperative, but this morning we had a 10, 30, 36, 55.  We called it quits when the wind started blowing hard upriver. 

12-20-10

It's been a cold few weeks.  I had to dig my boat out from ice the other day.  I've been fishing a little for catfish.  Just caught my biggest ever, too bad a kid didn't get to reel it in. 

11-13-10

The bass are fat right now.  I've been tailrace fishing when I get to go.  I am really looking forward to the spring hoping for a run of stripers.  I put some additionall bass pictures in the 2010 (2) page.  Hope you're all well!

Sam 

10-4-10

Tail race fishing has been hit or miss based on the conditions.  A few days I have caught some good smallmouth.  I've been concentrating on anchoring for cats when I get to go.  Teaching schools keeps me fairly busy.  Had a nice surprise the other weekend with a 10 year old, named Sam catching a big flathead.  I've had a couple of what I believe were trophy blues come unbuttoned.  One fish was approaching the boat and I went to get out the net causing the fish to come off. I'll be out this  weekend looking for that big bite.  We're getting to that time where it's not about quanitity, it's about catching the biggest fish of your life.

8-17-10

Caught around 10 blues, with a 42 lber thrown in.  That's a good fish, but a friend of a friend caught an 80 lber the other day, so  I'm way behind!  The bite should be consistent this fall as they feed up for winter.  I'll let you know If I end up tailrace fishing at all.

7-15-10

I'm still fishing upper Nickajack trying to learn it better.  We had a lot of bites, maybe gar, but just a few hookups.  Do you think this little blue cat, that weighed 16 lbs, needs a diet talk from its friends?  He or she is for sure headed for that 100 lb mark one day.

7-8-10

It is extremly hot.  We've been catching big bluegill and then searching for the big catfish bite.  I've missed a few big fish, but we landed a 37 lber the other day which is a good fish.  Hopefully, I can get on some good ones at night fishing this July.  Probably around late September I will start drifting the tailrace again for bass and the stripers if they run.
 

6-8-10

If you are interested in shallow water striper or muskey fishing, I can set you up with a guide I know in northeast Tennessee.  Just let me know, his name is Corey Allen.  It's not a numbers game, but you might get a giant of either species.  I am headed for Canada and will be gone for a few weeks.

5-8-10

The wind was fierce, but I found a 48 inch blue in shallow water.  The battle was intense.  Catching a big blue in shallow water is a riot!
 

4-24-10

What can I say?  the fishing is pretty great right now.  Fishing from a boat, bank, you're probably going to catch a big bass.  Depending on the dam you hit, you might pull in a trophy striper.  Fish big cutbait for large catfish too, if you want.  Check out the 2010 pictures over the next few weeks, it should fill up fast. 

4-2-10

Right before my boat broke down again, I pulled in this big blue.  Any of you that know me, my first passion is the big cats.  Bait should be at the dam any day now, the warm days have warmed the water quickly.  I'll keep you posted on the bass fishing from the bank.  It'll be a few weeks before I can chase them from the boat. 

2-2-10

Mark Pollard invited me to do some crappie fishing with him.  We had 1 1/2 hrs after my day to fish.  16 big keepers later, I had plenty of filets for an upcoming fish fry.  We were catching them on panfish assassins.  It was definitely an enjoyable trip with a good friend.

1-30-10

Sorry it's been so long since my last report.  I haven't had my boat out in a few months.  Seems like the thing never wants to start.  The rain the last few months has made the river pretty difficult.  My buddy Craig has done a little crappie fishing and faired alright.  Most of the bass and cat guys have been struggling pretty bad.  I'm sure I'll have a number of reports this spring.  I hope the river settles down so I can beat the banks for the bass with live bait.  NOthing like feeling the pull of a strong smallmouth or striper on a light action rod!

10-23-09

I've put some big blues in the catfish pictures.  Wheeler is red hot, fishing with guide Mike Mitchell.  Check him out in other guides.  We've pulled a few big ones here in Chattanooga too.  I've had boat motor problems, so haven't been out much.  Nice bass are being caught below dams drifting shiners.  Soem of my crappie buddies are shooting docks and getting some nice ones.

Happy fishing! 

9-5-09

The catfish bite seems to be picking up.  It should only get better as the water cools.  I had the pleasure of fishing with my dad this weekend and we caught around 8 in a few hours before the boat traffic got too bad on Chickamauga. 

8-8-09

The catfish bite has been slow, but some quality has been there.  Today we got a 40 lb blue and lost another good one.  I can't wait for cold weather!

7-28-09

Caught a nice 35 lb blue on a dead bluegill.  The catfishing should be pretty good this fall with having a moderate amount of rainfall this year. 

7-12-09

Busted some big ones from the bank today on shad.  Unfortunately, a BIG smallmouth broke off on Pointer's leg, lol!  Here's the big largemouth of the morning.
 

7-11-09

I bought a 16 foot lowe jon boat and it's a pretty good fishing rig.  I am enjoying it so far.  I have made 2 morning trips out the past few days in it with some different buddies.  One trip I hit a 19 lb striper, and the other trip I caught a nice blue.  Both came on a live bluegill.  The tailwater bite is kind of slow but still producing some action.  The cattin' should get better in the next few weeks as more of them come off spawn and are looking to eat.  I am looking forward to putting that first 50 lber in the boat.
 

6-25-09 

We're in the heat of summer now!  I usually fish from about 6:30 am to 8:00 am.  Then I'm off the water because the heat is just miserable for this Indiana guy.  They make the summers hot down south.  Anyway, here's a few nice ones that Cindy Pointer recently caught fishing with me.

 

I have pulled some big fish lately the past few mornings.  The biggest ones are a 5 lb 10 oz smallmouth and a 6 lb 1 oz, spot hybrid of some sort.  The feeding window seems a little brief yet as the bass are still spawning.

4-11-09

I've been averaging 5-10 bass fishing on Chickamauga lately.  They are all still on spawn, so the action is still a bit slow unless you can drag a bait right across their face.

Last weekend I went fishing with my friend Dave below Wilson and Wheeler Dams.  My highlight fish would have to be the 6 lb 13 oz largemouth I caught, a new personal best.  I'll keep you updated when the post spawn bite turns on.

 

3-7-09

The bait is back below the dam, a few hundred yards away.  I just need to locate the bass.  It should be any week now.  I made it out with Craig for some blue cat action.  We caught over 400 lbs, with the majority being caught in the morning and evening.  It was great action, with the three biggest going 43, 46, 47 lbs.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.


 

2-21-09

Craig and I took Rich out catfishing Saturday in Craig's boat on Lake Chickamauga.  The goal was to get Rich his new personal best catfish.  The bite started hot with 4 rods being bit at once and 2 10 lbers in the boat.  Then it slowed down quickly.   Rich managed a 17 lber for big fish.  It is his new personal best, though we were hoping to get him a 30 plus. 

2-7-09 

Out for a few hours this morning with my buddy Rich.  We headed below Nickajack Dam looking for some white bass.  Rich put a thumping on me and several other fishermen in the area.  He had just the right technique down as they were biting lightly.
 
All white bass were caught on maribou jigs and curly tails.  The best two we caught are pictured.  I might do a little catfishing this weekend yet if it works out.
 
Rich and I are getting excited for that upcoming live bait bite in the spring.
 
I hope everyone is well.
 
Sam