Question about Muskies here in TN

[Rotor Head]

I'm fairly new to this board, but I've been reading for a long time. I grew up in the North, in Pennsylvania to be exact, and I've been chasing Muskies from PA to Canada.

As a new resident to TN (within the last two years), I am struggling to pin down exactly where I need to be to find some decent Musky water. I live in MT Juliet and find myself between two great lakes that don't have a Musky population. I am very aware of the Collins River and have heard many good things about Rock Island, but I'm curious where in the Caney and Center Hill I would need to fish to be in productive areas.

I have always been a catch and release Musky fishermen, so I won't be spoiling any spots and I certainly won't ask about honey holes. I just want to make sure I'm in the right place.

I'm pretty familiar with the caney from Stonewall to the dam, as I fly fish this pretty often. Are there good areas downstream from Stonewall or do I need to be back up into Center Hill?

[gaspergou]

Head upstream. If you run out of water you've gone too far. If you've fished muskies before you know what productive musky water looks like; it's the same here as on French Creek or Tionesta or Raystown Branch of the Juniata back home. Good fish in Great Falls and upper Center Hill if you want to fish reservoirs. If you're in the right place you're going to know soon enough.

[Rotor Head]

Hey thanks, that is a pretty fair answer. I am pretty familiar with Raystown, Kinzua, and Pymatuning back home in PA. I fished many of them growing up back there and had some decent luck in all three.

But just to be clear, the Caney stocking TWRA does isn't anywhere below the dam and there aren't any fish indigenous there right?

[Bfish]

Muskie are indigenous to TN, although the plateau subspecies has died out and/or genetically been mixed too much with the northern subspecies (which has been stocked).
Don't waste your time fishing in trout waters. 

[Rotor Head]

Baryonyx, thanks for the two in depth replies. I really appreciate the amount of respect given to this fish on this board. Growing up in a state that was rich with Muskies, I am always glad to see it gets the proper amount of care for its conservation.

I've actually read quite a bit about Dwayne, and have thought about booking a trip for my Dad who absolutely loves to fish for Musky.

I'm in the process of making a decision on a boat purchase, so until I do I just wanted to do as much research as possible about where I'll be fishing and what the conditions are like. Because of my proximity to Old Hickory and Priest, I'll be spending a lot of time over this way chasing stripes and bass, but when time permits...I'll be heading to the areas you guys have suggested.

Anyway, thanks again for the invite and the tips. Back when I was about 10-years old I was fishing a river that I grew up on and witnessed a Musky breaking the surface to demolish a Mallard Duck. It was like a scene right out of National Geographic and I was hooked after that. No other fish has stirred the excitement in me like seeing a Musky follow my lure.

I'm also an avid wood worker and wood turner, and just recently I've begun making some of my own lures. I had pretty good success last year with Bass on a 3-inch popper and nothing feels quite as cool as catching a fish on a lure you crafted in your own wood shop. I'm ready now to work with about 6-8 inches of wood and start making something a Musky might fall in love with and hell....I might make one that looks like a duck!  

[Bfish]

If you want someone to "test" some of your 6-9" gliders, I know someone who would be more than willing

[gaspergou]

I don't get the trolling thing. It may well be more effective during parts of the year, but it removes a huge part of the fun and challenge -- unless you're just trying for a record to satisfy your ego or putting clients that can't cast on fish. I thought this was primarily a flyfishing board, anyway...

[Rotor Head]

Baryonyx,

That is a fantastic boat! I've just spent the better part of an hour looking over the website. The live-well is a great idea, even if it's only used to hold giant baitfish or to hold a giant fish until it can be certified then let go.

I grew up in Lund type v-hulls, fishing larger northern lakes and rivers and reservoirs. Those boats were fine for Pennsylvania and Canada, but the environment is a little different down here. I've been all over the proverbial board when it comes to settling in on a boat. I am really not interested in a Ranger/Skeeter style bass boat, but I have been looking at the packages available in the tracker series of boats.

And then on the other hand, I like to fly fish the Caney and would love to have something I can get back into skinnier water, so I've been looking at the Super 16 by Gheenoe, and a B-60 pro caster from RiverHawk. The problem I keep having with these types of boats is when I imagine myself wanting to go chase stripers and bass on Old Hickory or Priest.

Basically, I'm having a hard time focusing in on a boat type.

I have to weigh in a bunch of factors like the fact that my wife and daughter love to occasionally come out and fish with me, and I won't always be solely focused on Musky fishing.

I've spent a lot of time cruising the boat section of this forum, checking out everything from Mike Anderson's Supreme to all the cool Gheenoes and other boat types everyone has.

Anyway, I feel like I'm entering prime boat buying time, given the season...and I'm still indecisive about what to get. I sure wish Tuffy had a dealer down here somewhere, I'd really like to get a closer look at that boat. I did see a dealer in Ohio, which isn't far from my inlaws, but they didn't have many in stock.