Fishing Noob

[Weegee]

I have been wanting to dip my toes into fishing for a couple years now, and I'm finally getting around to it. Just like hunting, my primary goals are to enjoy the out of doors and get something to eat. A buddy and I are going to hit up Percy Priest tomorrow morning to see if we can catch anything. The plan is to be in the area where streams feed into the lake down on the Rutherford County side. My buddy would like to catch some catfish, which is fine by me. I wouldn't mind anything in the pan fish category either. We've got a couple rods, a variety of tackle, bait, etc. Any general advice for a complete novice?

 

[PossumSlayer]

I have been wanting to dip my toes into fishing for a couple years now, and I'm finally getting around to it. Just like hunting, my primary goals are to enjoy the out of doors and get something to eat. A buddy and I are going to hit up Percy Priest tomorrow morning to see if we can catch anything. The plan is to be in the area where streams feed into the lake down on the Rutherford County side. My buddy would like to catch some catfish, which is fine by me. I wouldn't mind anything in the pan fish category either. We've got a couple rods, a variety of tackle, bait, etc. Any general advice for a complete novice?

Have fun!

 

[Tenntrapper]

Fish from the bank..

 

[philsanchez76]

Fish from the bank..

I am a newb too and would very much like to get some crappie this year. Out of curiosity, Why bank fishing? I always kind of assumed it would be better to go from a boat.

 

[Tenntrapper]

I am a newb too and would very much like to get some crappie this year. Out of curiosity, Why bank fishing? I always kind of assumed it would be better to go from a boat.

My response had nothing to do with where the fishing would be better. Weegee flipped a canoe during deer season. It was for safety reasons..lol

 

[TNRazorback]

Fish from the bank..

Too soon?

 

[Weegee]

Fish from the bank..

I specifically didn't mention the canoe, lol!
But we will be in it... (wearing our life jackets at all times). The plan is to wait until after the sun comes up and then stay within swimming distance of the shore.

 

[Weegee]

I am a newb too and would very much like to get some crappie this year. Out of curiosity, Why bank fishing? I always kind of assumed it would be better to go from a boat.

I've always found fishing to be intimidating. The terminology is super confusing and esoteric. But this year I've decided I'm just gonna go out there and be bad at it until I catch something.

 

[Weegee]

Too soon?

If I hadn't gotten my stuff back this weekend it would be!

 

[philsanchez76]

I've always found fishing to be intimidating. The terminology is super confusing and esoteric. But this year I've decided I'm just gonna go out there and be bad at it until I catch something.

Good luck out there! I know what you mean, it's intimidating to find the right spots and then lets say you do find the right spots, but if you don't have the right bait, then tough luck. I feel like deer hunting is less complicated than fishing.

 

[Safari Hunt]

I've always found fishing to be intimidating. The terminology is super confusing and esoteric. But this year I've decided I'm just gonna go out there and be bad at it until I catch something.

It's not intimidating unless you read the Bass Pro Shops sale fliers with all the high price stuff. Love to have a nickel for every fish I landed with my old Zebco 33. Could have retired 40 years ago. You can fish from the bank with a total expenditure of under $100. Always advocated bass tournaments without depth/fish finders, trolling motors and using a jon boat with oars.

 

[PDenn381]

Just go out and fish. Catching or not it's just good to be out side

 

[Hduke86]

Grab a bucket of minnows and start fishing for some crappie around docks and trees in the water but if you keep them just make sure they're legal size and get a crappie checker to slide them in and measure

 

[WTM]

It's not intimidating unless you read the Bass Pro Shops sale fliers with all the high price stuff. Love to have a nickel for every fish I landed with my old Zebco 33. Could have retired 40 years ago. You can fish from the bank with a total expenditure of under $100. Always advocated bass tournaments without depth/fish finders, trolling motors and using a jon boat with oars.

lol, a good friend and co-worker started with a zebco 33. 5 years later he was fishing in the Classic.

 

[Safari Hunt]

lol, a good friend and co-worker started with a zebco 33. 5 years later he was fishing in the Classic.

Saw a review of a BASS tourney where one guy's rod had a 33 on it. They have ruined them. I have at least 4 33s and 2 micro 33s s spin casts.

 

[Weegee]

It's not intimidating unless you read the Bass Pro Shops sale fliers with all the high price stuff. Love to have a nickel for every fish I landed with my old Zebco 33. Could have retired 40 years ago. You can fish from the bank with a total expenditure of under $100. Always advocated bass tournaments without depth/fish finders, trolling motors and using a jon boat with oars.

It's not so much the money as the knowing what to do with every little piece of gear. I'm just trying things out as I go and I figure within a couple years I'll know what my preferences are.

 

[WTM]

It's not so much the money as the knowing what to do with every little piece of gear. I'm just trying things out as I go and I figure within a couple years I'll know what my preferences are.

dont worry about all the little pieces if gear. most of it is marketing to sell you more crap you dont need.

 

[J.E.L]

Good luck out there! I know what you mean, it's intimidating to find the right spots and then lets say you do find the right spots, but if you don't have the right bait, then tough luck. I feel like deer hunting is less complicated than fishing.

According to what kinda fishing. There are so many different ways. Same as hunting. Just gotta find what you enjoy and have a little luck at. And keep trying.

 

[philsanchez76]

Deer leave sign. Other than folks giving away their spots to you or pure trial and error; how do you scout for fish? Seriously asking.

 

[WTM]

Deer leave sign. Other than folks giving away their spots to you or pure trial and error; how do you scout for fish? Seriously asking.

there are a half dozen basic patterns that fish follow throughout the year and they all are dictated by water temperature (bait movements) and in the spring more so by increasing daylight leading to the spawn.

i think of it as a loop that would start at the main lake channel at the creek trib mouth and runs all the way to the back of the bay(creek) and back to the main channel. depending on the time of year and water temps, fish will be somewhere along that path related to cover and structure to ambush bait and to spawn.

 

[NumberOne]

If I was you, Id start out fishing creeks. I grew up fishing creeks for smallmouth and once I got a bass boat it made my learning curve much easier since I fish the Tennessee river a lot. For one thing, when fishing creeks you get bit a lot if the creek is half way decent. Learning to detect a bite is pretty important haha and a creek will allow you to do that quickly. Also, creeks show you how fish setup up in current which is very important on a lot of lakes in Tennessee. Also, you can see the bottom composition and the contours of the creek much easier since the water is usually clearer which will also allow you to see what type of structure or cover fish are relating to.

Id start in late April and go through September and fish creeks. Get a spinning reel and rod (7 foot Medium Light) with 6-8 pound Fluorocarbon and get some 1/8 jig heads and throw either a zoom baby brush hawg or a zoom ultra vibe speed craw. Both in watermelon seed color. I have literally caught hundreds and hundreds of smallmouth on that setup. And you will catch red eyes (thats what I have always called them) really easy on this set up as well.

 

[philsanchez76]

there are a half dozen basic patterns that fish follow throughout the year and they all are dictated by water temperature (bait movements) and in the spring more so by increasing daylight leading to the spawn.

i think of it as a loop that would start at the main lake channel at the creek trib mouth and runs all the way to the back of the bay(creek) and back to the main channel. depending on the time of year and water temps, fish will be somewhere along that path related to cover and structure to ambush bait and to spawn.

Thats probably the simplest I've ever heard this explained. very cool. thx

 

[philsanchez76]

If I was you, Id start out fishing creeks. I grew up fishing creeks for smallmouth and once I got a bass boat it made my learning curve much easier since I fish the Tennessee river a lot. For one thing, when fishing creeks you get bit a lot if the creek is half way decent. Learning to detect a bite is pretty important haha and a creek will allow you to do that quickly. Also, creeks show you how fish setup up in current which is very important on a lot of lakes in Tennessee. Also, you can see the bottom composition and the contours of the creek much easier since the water is usually clearer which will also allow you to see what type of structure or cover fish are relating to.

Id start in late April and go through September and fish creeks. Get a spinning reel and rod (7 foot Medium Light) with 6-8 pound Fluorocarbon and get some 1/8 jig heads and throw either a zoom baby brush hawg or a zoom ultra vibe speed craw. Both in watermelon seed color. I have literally caught hundreds and hundreds of smallmouth on that setup. And you will catch red eyes (thats what I have always called them) really easy on this set up as well.

Do you usually fish the creek close to where it drains into the larger lake?

 

[Crappieaddict]

Hooking up with a guide or a seasoned fisherman would drastically shorten the learning curve.

 

[Weegee]

Hooking up with a guide or a seasoned fisherman would drastically shorten the learning curve.

I've got a trip planned in April with some guys who have way more experience than me. Definitely gonna pick their brains.

 

[moondawg]

I've got a trip planned in April with some guys who have way more experience than me. Definitely gonna pick their brains.

That will definitely help. They will show you how to fish certain baits. Crankbaits, topwater baits, worms and Jigs all have different uses. A good guide will show you how to use them.

Having said that, you'll eventually find YOUR style and choice of baits that you like.