any lake chickamauga tips 2024
lonnie g reply :
my cousin is taking me to lake chickamauga in Tennessee the first week in April , 4thtru the seventh . any body got any advice on the lake. I have never been there before, but am getting excited about the trip. heard about a boy catching a 14 lb bass there a few weeks back.
18RangerZ520L reply :
Bass will be in all stages of the spawn during that time. You might be able to find a big girl locked on a bed and sight fish for her.
Good luck! 
CroakHunter reply :
Glad to see another hoosier making a trip down to chick. I am debating on going down the 12-14 of april
18RangerZ520L reply :
It's my favorite lake (within 4.5 hours of Louisville). Both my PB's came from there, a 12lb 8oz largemouth and 6lb 4oz smallie.
It's the land of the giants.....
TnRiver46 reply :
Be ready for crowds. Right now the shallower the better and rattle trap seems to be king. This could all change by April, right now there 100,000 cfs flowing through it and it's muddy. Again, crowds. Be prepared for thst, I have never seen anything like it. There's a lot of folks that live on or near that lake that won't even fish it
Elkins45 reply :
Bassmaster ranked it in their top ten last year, so that probably has a lot to do with drawing the crowds. I went over the summer but it poured down rain the entire time I was there. I only caught one fish that might have went two pounds.
18RangerZ520L reply :
I had a 4 day trip planned there this week and I'm glad I cancelled it...
They're getting tons of rain this week, the main lake is already stained pretty good/muddy and they're rolling 115k+ through both locks the next few days. 
Got two trips to Chick penciled in for next month, can't wait!
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/18/2019 at 5:12 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:I had a 4 day trip planned there this week and I'm glad I cancelled it...
They're getting tons of rain this week, the main lake is already stained pretty good/muddy and they're rolling 115k+ through both locks the next few days.
Got two trips to Chick penciled in for next month, can't wait!
Get my attention on here if you need to for water condition before your trip
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 2/20/2019 at 3:41 AM, TnRiver46 said:Get my attention on here if you need to for water condition before your trip
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/21/2019 at 3:25 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:
I think I’ve seen you on the CFF before also, those boys reported decent lipless bite this weekend. Getting muddier and faster by the minute though
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 2/21/2019 at 6:40 AM, TnRiver46 said:I think I’ve seen you on the CFF before also, those boys reported decent lipless bite this weekend. Getting muddier and faster by the minute though
Yep, I'm on CFF
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/22/2019 at 2:02 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:Yep, I'm on CFF
One does not simply forget those replica photos...... Hahahaha
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 2/22/2019 at 2:31 AM, TnRiver46 said:One does not simply forget those replica photos...... Hahahaha
They look better in person!
I recommend Dave Campbell every chance I get when guys ask about replicas....
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/22/2019 at 2:59 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:They look better in person!
I recommend Dave Campbell every chance I get when guys ask about replicas....
I can see why! With today's high quality photos and my broke hind end, I'd probably go the @A-Jay route of framing a photo. I would love to catch a monster and get a high quality mount but I'm guessing a guy that does that kind of high quality work comes with a price higher than what I've got haha
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 2/22/2019 at 3:20 AM, TnRiver46 said:I can see why! With today's high quality photos and my broke hind end, I'd probably go the @A-Jay route of framing a photo. I would love to catch a monster and get a high quality mount but I'm guessing a guy that does that kind of high quality work comes with a price higher than what I've got haha
Yeah he wasn't cheap, but you get what you pay for... They were almost triple the cost of what Lake Fork Taxidermy and other companies similar to that charge.
I figured I've spent a ton of money on my truck, boat, rods, reels and tackle so what's another few grand on a couple pieces of art that capture the color patterns and the 1:1 scale size of each fish. I'll be able to enjoy both of the mounts for the rest of my life with no peeling or yellowing.
Just my .02
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
On 2/20/2019 at 3:41 AM, TnRiver46 said:Get my attention on here if you need to for water condition before your trip
Chick is my favorite lake. I’m in eastern KY and can be there in about 4-5 hours so we get down several times a year. We’ve got our 1st trip of the year trip planned up for next weekend. TnRiver46, Would you mind if I shot you a pm before we go to see about the water conditions?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 3/2/2019 at 2:03 AM, Hillbilly Bennett said:Chick is my favorite lake. I’m in eastern KY and can be there in about 4-5 hours so we get down several times a year. We’ve got our 1st trip of the year trip planned up for next weekend. TnRiver46, Would you mind if I shot you a pm before we go to see about the water conditions?
Anytime man. I’ll be in the same building as a bunch of your fellow kentuckians at 2pm tomorrow...........
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
Ok, y’all getting ready for a tournament or just hanging out?
dbevins reply :
On 3/2/2019 at 8:11 AM, TnRiver46 said:Anytime man. I’ll be in the same building as a bunch of your fellow kentuckians at 2pm tomorrow...........
Fellow Kentuckian here. How would you like your L served? Haha
TnRiver46 reply :
On 3/2/2019 at 8:48 PM, dbevins said:Fellow Kentuckian here. How would you like your L served? Haha
Hopefully not like last time!! If it ain't too much trouble..... Haha
TnRiver46 reply :
With a side dish of W!
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
Yeah, that was ugly. Y’all got us back for the game in Rupp that’s for sure. Hopefully we can meet up in the SEC a tournament championship and break this 1-1 tie.
On 3/2/2019 at 8:48 PM, dbevins said:Fellow Kentuckian here. How would you like your L served? Haha
And I just figured out that you were talkin about the game. My mind is always on fishin. ????
lonnie g reply :
one month to go for me guys apr.4th -7th keep the reports coming does any one have a good location for a boat ramp?
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
On 3/4/2019 at 10:53 PM, lonnie g said:one month to go for me guys apr.4th -7th keep the reports coming does any one have a good location for a boat ramp?
The state park at Harrison bay is good but busy. Wolftever creek has a great ramp in the same area. You can also put in at island cove marina but I think you have to pay unless you stay there. All of these are on the lower end of the lake. I don’t know about any ramps up in the Dayton area.
lonnie g reply :
On 3/5/2019 at 11:21 AM, Hillbilly Bennett said:The state park at Harrison bay is good but busy. Wolftever creek has a great ramp in the same area. You can also put in at island cove marina but I think you have to pay unless you stay there. All of these are on the lower end of the lake. I don’t know about any ramps up in the Dayton area.
we will be staying in the Dayton area , a place called birchwood.
StrokerFishing reply :
Dayton boat dock is where most put in. They are doing some dredging in the marina portion but dont think it would interfere with launching a boat.
TnRiver46 reply :
People are catching them pretty good right now
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
On 3/6/2019 at 11:30 AM, TnRiver46 said:People are catching them pretty good right now
Shew, we had to push our trip back a week because of a family issue that came up. I sure hope that it’s still going off next weekend. We’re coming down next Thursday now and I can’t wait!
18RangerZ520L reply :
I'm heading down the 18th - 22nd, can't wait...!
I just hope the lake clears up some and settles down. Looks like they're still rolling 140k at both ends the next few days. 
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
On 3/10/2019 at 2:20 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:I'm heading down the 18th - 22nd, can't wait...!
I just hope the lake clears up some and settles down. Looks like they're still rolling 140k at both ends the next few days.
I’m with you buddy. I can fish in the mud but I’d rather have some stained water than chocolate milk and I can not wait. I have been on this prespawn fishing trip for months in my mind.
On 3/6/2019 at 6:21 AM, lonnie g said:
we will be staying in the Dayton area , a place called birchwood.
Nice. Let me know how it is. I’d like to check out the fishing in the Dayton area of the lake some time. Any area on that place is bound to better than about any place else you can fish.
Hez reply :
gonna be making the trip the 24th...keep the reports coming guys.
TnRiver46 reply :
Rained hard all day yesterday and all evening today
18RangerZ520L reply :
It was a grind for me this week, but still managed to get a 7lb 8oz, a 6lb and a 5lb. Also caught a couple of big stripers. Not what I was expecting for Chick in March, mid 50 degree water and rising and a full moon. I thought it was going to be game on! The FLW boys practicing didn't help with my "another boat within a quarter mile of me" syndrome...lol. I like having the lake to myself, or at least a big distance from me and the next boat. There were a couple dozen wrapped boats in every major creek arm this week, along with all the crappie guys too.
My magical trip a couple years ago where I broke my PB 5 times in four days and caught a 34lb 8oz bag on day 2, a 35lb bag on day 3 and then caught my new PB of 12lb 8oz on day 4 set up similar to this week as far as conditions, so I was a little jacked up to say the least.
I did see where a FLW guy busted a 37lb bag today on the rig and jumped from 40th to 1st. I can't imagine doing that in a tournament... He must be on cloud 9!
Hez reply :
On 3/23/2019 at 8:21 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:It was a grind for me this week, but still managed to get a 7lb 8oz, a 6lb and a 5lb. Also caught a couple of big stripers. Not what I was expecting for Chick in March, mid 50 degree water and rising and a full moon. I thought it was going to be game on! The FLW boys practicing didn't help with my "another boat within a quarter mile of me" syndrome...lol. I like having the lake to myself, or at least a big distance from me and the next boat. There were a couple dozen wrapped boats in every major creek arm this week, along with all the crappie guys too.
My magical trip a couple years ago where I broke my PB 5 times in four days and caught a 34lb 8oz bag on day 2, a 35lb bag on day 3 and then caught my new PB of 12lb 8oz on day 4 set up similar to this week as far as conditions, so I was a little jacked up to say the least.
I did see where a FLW guy busted a 37lb bag today on the rig and jumped from 40th to 1st. I can't imagine doing that in a tournament... He must be on cloud 9!
Yeah, we are heading up tomorrow from FL and from everything I am reading, I am expecting somewhat tough conditions. Tough conditions is the norm down here, so it will be another walk in the park...but was hoping for a good week of fishing.
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 3/23/2019 at 7:34 PM, Hez said:Yeah, we are heading up tomorrow from FL and from everything I am reading, I am expecting somewhat tough conditions. Tough conditions is the norm down here, so it will be another walk in the park...but was hoping for a good week of fishing.
Good luck. You never know until you go.... 
I'm switching gears now and getting everything prepped for my two long trips up north for smallies.... 
lonnie g reply :
On 3/23/2019 at 8:21 AM, 18RangerZ520L said:It was a grind for me this week, but still managed to get a 7lb 8oz, a 6lb and a 5lb. Also caught a couple of big stripers. Not what I was expecting for Chick in March, mid 50 degree water and rising and a full moon. I thought it was going to be game on! The FLW boys practicing didn't help with my "another boat within a quarter mile of me" syndrome...lol. I like having the lake to myself, or at least a big distance from me and the next boat. There were a couple dozen wrapped boats in every major creek arm this week, along with all the crappie guys too.
My magical trip a couple years ago where I broke my PB 5 times in four days and caught a 34lb 8oz bag on day 2, a 35lb bag on day 3 and then caught my new PB of 12lb 8oz on day 4 set up similar to this week as far as conditions, so I was a little jacked up to say the least.
I did see where a FLW guy busted a 37lb bag today on the rig and jumped from 40th to 1st. I can't imagine doing that in a tournament... He must be on cloud 9!
cool I can't even imagine a 34lb. plus bag. awesome!!! I am excited about our upcoming trip on the 4th.we will be at the Dayton end.
18RangerZ520L reply :
On 3/23/2019 at 9:30 PM, lonnie g said:cool I can't even imagine a 34lb. plus bag. awesome!!! I am excited about our upcoming trip on the 4th.we will be at the Dayton end.
Yeah, it was an unreal trip! I caught a bunch of good numbers each day too (except the 4th and last day I got one single bite all day long and it was first thing in the morning, a 12lb 8oz gorilla!!!). I'm smiling ear to ear just typing about it. It was an awesome trip and I'll never forget it, but it has definitely spoiled me.....
A lot of them will be spawning in a couple weeks I'm guessing. The surface water temp was touching 60 degrees when I was there this week and some warm weather in the forecast for down there the next two weeks. Take sight/bed fishing gear with you and good luck! Seeing a submarine on a bed and trying to get her to bite will get your blood flowin'....
Mark Long reply :
We was down there a couple of weeks ago and they dont have the dock connected to the ramp in dayton right now
lonnie g reply :
thanks mark????
Hillbilly Bennett reply :
My fishing buddy and me hit it the 15th-17 and it was a grind to get 5-10 bites a day. However, when you did get a bite it was a good one! We never caught a fish under 15 inches and only had 2 under 3lbs. On Saturday we worked our butts off for 3 good bites until midday when we pulled up to a section of bank and in 20 minutes caught 5 bass that went over 27lbs. I caught a 6-1, a 5-0 a, 4-4 and a 3-14 and my buddy caught his PB 8-1, all in a 20 yard stretch of water. 4 of them came off of one lay down. That’s what makes Chick special. One magic spot can make a trip outstanding. We caught all of our bass on squarebill cranks that had chartreuse in them. Everyone on that lake was throwing something red/orange and when we changed it up we caught bass. Water was 52ish in the mornings to 58 or so in the afternoons.
lonnie g reply :
On 3/26/2019 at 4:17 AM, Hillbilly Bennett said:My fishing buddy and me hit it the 15th-17 and it was a grind to get 5-10 bites a day. However, when you did get a bite it was a good one! We never caught a fish under 15 inches and only had 2 under 3lbs. On Saturday we worked our butts off for 3 good bites until midday when we pulled up to a section of bank and in 20 minutes caught 5 bass that went over 27lbs. I caught a 6-1, a 5-0 a, 4-4 and a 3-14 and my buddy caught his PB 8-1, all in a 20 yard stretch of water. 4 of them came off of one lay down. That’s what makes Chick special. One magic spot can make a trip outstanding. We caught all of our bass on squarebill cranks that had chartreuse in them. Everyone on that lake was throwing something red/orange and when we changed it up we caught bass. Water was 52ish in the mornings to 58 or so in the afternoons.
thanks hillbilly! great looking catch, nice fat bellies, I'm getting excited, can't wait
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