Fishing Report 16 Mar 09

[breaux]

I am new to this site and to fishing the Elk.  I just started fishing there last summer and really enjoy the river.  I was on the Elk today, near Ferris Bridge area and the water was very low and full of algae.  I only caught one fish, and saw two others near death and very sick.  Is something going on with the Elk?  It appears the oxygen levels are very low and the fish are stressed or dying.  Any thoughts?  I usually catch between 10-20 in an afternoon, and will see large numbers of fish in the river. 

[Jack Hise]

breaux;
Thanks for the report.  I had a bad day up by the dam on the 9th.  What fish I saw were very small and the algae was starting to show along the edges.  I've been fishing the Duck since with better results.  Caught and released 47 on Tuesday the 10th!

I posted on the Duck River forum that I won't go back to the Elk Until I hear some good reports.  You just saved me a bunch of wasted gasoline!!

[RonS]

breaux,  welcome to the forum and thanks for that report.

This is not good news, especially after the electro-shocking information I heard the other day. The TWRA guys were saying there were lots of big fish, browns and rainbows not only surviving but doing very well.  Crazy man.

[breaux]

Thanks for the responses guy.  Now keep in mind i am by no means an expert on the Elk.  It may be that closer to the damn the fish are doing just fine, but out where i was, i could not even see the bottom of the river for all of the algae.  I don't mind aquatic vegatation, but not slimy algae!  And i am pretty sure the fish don't care much for it either.  I may need to try the Duck, never fished it before.  Any advice on a good access point to wade the Duck would be?  I just moved to TN last year and i am slowly learning the joys of tailwater fishing, lol.

[David L. Darnell]

sounds like you are experiencing the mighty Elk in all it's grandeur. Overall it's a marginal trout stream. My opinion, TVA's finest waste of a grand warmwater stream.

[wm1]

breaux,
I have only fished the Duck river a few times, but in answer to your question I know of three access points for wading:
1) at the dam
2) where the road to the dam crosses the river (just a short distance before the dam)
3) Courtner's Mill (follow the sign to Courtner Restraunt off of Courtner Road.
All three locations are a stones throw from Normandy, TN
Welcome to the area.
William

[Jack Hise]

breaux;
Any time you want to fish the Duck just drop me an email.

According to Dale Hollow today was the first time they have stocked the Elk River since November.  This could be part of the problem!!  They do not normally stock in January or Febuary which is a shame because we get so many good days to fish even in the winter.

[breaux]

thanks jack, i will take you up on that offer.  I think the more options i have in the area, the more i will enjoy TN trout fishing.  i am out of town for work next week but the week after may be the next time i get to hit the water, i will keep you posted