Happy Halloween from Scenic City Fishing

Having trouble viewing this email? View as Webpage

Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Scenic City Fishing Charters, Inc.. Don't forget to add richard@sceniccityfishing.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.

Scenic City Fishing Charters

October 31, 2023 Newsletter

Greetings!

Happy Halloween from Scenic City Fishing Charters. We hope you and your family have fun times for this and the upcoming Holidays.

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year. The colder temperatures are coming now, but we have been blessed with some awesome October weather, beautiful colors and BIG fish!

We'll share some photos, as always, but today we want to treat you with some good fishing tips you can use yourself for the coming months. We will begin with the ferocious smallmouth bass.

Capt. Josh Antwine fishes almost exclusively in our best smallmouth bass water - the ten miles downstream from Chickamauga Dam, often fishing in or near downtown Chattanooga. But this is the time of year when, while he's seeking smallmouth, he can happen upon some stripers as well. They always get more active during the transition months of early Spring and late Fall.

Capt. Antwine says right now, "It's all about moving baits,often in shad patterns. However as it gets colder, I'll switch more toward slower. jig-style baits, often in a crawfish pattern.

"I also love a small jig called Mystic Purple, made by Chatt Town Lures. Our friends at Jack's Bait & Tackle carry them," he said..

Other Scenic City Fishing Charters bass guides focus on largemouth bass on Chickamauga Lake most of the year, upstream from the Dam. However, like Capt. Antwine, they know that from right now through March and April is absolutely the best time of year to target brown bass and are available for trips as well.

Moving on to another wintertime favorite - trophy catfish. We honestly don't have nearly as many clients call on us for wintertime catfish. Primarily because they are leary of the wintertime weather. But Capt. Aaron Massey keeps after trophy catfish 365 days a year.

“The catch rate won't be as high in the winter,” said Capt. Massey. “But it's a good time to catch trophy cats. We routinely see the fattest catfish of the year in the winter. Maybe they feed up in the Fall preparing for winter. I’m not 100 percent sure why. I just know it's true.”

And in truth, we actually have plenty of winter days that are downright pleasant. If you happen to schedule a date that is forecast to be not so pleasant, we can often be far more flexible about rescheduling a different date when the weather is better.

To stay warm on the water, Capt. Massey says he is a big believer in insulated Carhartt bibs.

“Also, always wear 100% polyester socks underneath your heavy socks,” added Capt. Massey. “That wicks away moisture from your feet. The same is true on your base layers of clothing. Never wear cotton base layers.”

So dress right, keep a supply of patience pills handy and trophy winter catfish are out there waiting.

WALLEYE! If you read our last Newsletter, you'll know this is a repeat. But it is DEFINITELY WORTH REPEATING!

Capt. Scott Lillie has become a specialist in targeting Tennessee River walleye downstream from Watts Bar Dam. Thanks to stocking efforts by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the area has become a walleye sweet spot. But few people have gotten them dialed in as well as Capt. Lillie. And besides walleye, his trips routinely include tons of by-catch including sauger, smallmouth, stripe, catfish and drum. His rods stay bent a LOT.

But Capt. Lillie only guides limited dates and due to his success rate in recent years, those dates book up WAY in advance. He starts targeting walleye in December, but his open walleye dates (weekends only) are already booked solid Dec., Jan. and Feb. His next open dates (at this writing) are March 24 or March 30-31 (and beyond). If you want a date to sample this incredibly unique fishery, BOOK NOW!

As always we will close with a selection of photos of our recent clients. But please remember you can ALWAYS keep up with the latest news, information, photos, and fishing reports on the Scenic City Fishing Charters Facebook Page. Plus, almost every client photo from our guides' fishing trips are posted on our own Scenic City Fishing Charters Photo Gallery. In fact, we maintain at least FIVE YEARS (or more) of photos.

Capt. Simms is always happy for anyone to e-mail him for information, fishing reports or whatever else you may need to know to make your visit to Chattanooga more enjoyable - whether you are fishing with us or not.

And if you want to keep up with the other writings and ramblings of Capt. Simms, please follow his

"Richard's Ramblings" Facebook Page!