T
5 PROBABLE PATTERNS
TACTiCS THAT WORK On THE TEnnESSEE RiVER in LATE SUmmER
he Forrest Wood cup is slated for late summer on the tennessee River,
and likely there won’t be many surprises with the techniques that
anglers choose to use. What approach will produce the win, however, is
a bit more unpredictable. here are some patterns that could do it.
by Curtis Niedermier
Ledges
PATTERN 1
Ideal Conditions
the current needs to flow for the ledges to turn on, especially
with the amount of fishing pressure that Wheeler’s ledges will
receive this summer. these fish will be picked on.
Location on the Lake
just about anywhere, but the lower end is traditionally the best
zone. Mid-lake, there are offshore patterns on shell beds,
stumps and the like.
Baits
crankbaits, hair jigs, drop-shots, jigs, texas rigs, carolina rigs,
spoons and swimbaits.
Potential to Win
if a pro can find a tucked-away school or two, this pattern has
a lot of potential, but if anglers are sharing schools – especially
on community holes where the fish have been pressured all
summer – the potential for victory decreases.
Strike King 8XD
Brush Piles
PATTERN 2
War Eagle Spinnerbait
Ideal Conditions
this pattern will almost certainly be in
play, no matter the conditions.
Location on the Lake
there are brush piles everywhere, both
in the creeks and on the main lake.
Baits
texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, topwater,
swimbaits and under-spins.
Potential to Win
For an experienced brush pile angler or
someone with good local help to locate a
lot of brush, this pattern has very high
potential to win. a milk run is needed to
make it last four days. current will help
offshore, but there could be enough
young-of-the-year bait in creeks to make
creek brush better.
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016