realfoot lake tnn.

[smuckey41]

Going to realfoot the first weekend in march. I have never been their before was wounded some good areas to fish certain baits to use ex....... It seems to be a crappie lake but I will be mainly bass fishing will do some crappie fishing but mostly bass. Any info will be great since I've never been.

Thanks
Chuck

[smashdn]

Watch out for the wind. And stumps. I have never fished it. Only been down there in the summer.

Everything I have ever read gets boiled down to this:

Take your own boat, go slow you will hit something, watch the wind it will really get nasty out there because of how open it is, and have fun.

[winner88]

Whatever you do dont take your boat, I duck hunt this lake alot and it is loaded with stumps and you will tear off your lower unit. Best advise is to get a guide the first time to learn the channels and best spots let me know I have several contacts on the lake.

[troutman]

i like taking my own boat, you just cannot run like you do on a open water lake.

[smashdn]

i like taking my own boat, you just cannot run like you do on a open water lake.

I have heard to take your own boat and be careful. Don't try and do anything but putt around. The rental boats are nothing more than a flat-bottom boat with a small motor onthe back. I would be much more comfortable and enjoy myself hunting out of my boat but you do need to be careful.

[jpm537]

I first would recommend that hire a guide for the first day and then fish on your own after that. I stayed at Blue Bank Resort and used Billy Blakey. He was awesome. I caught a 5lb bass 15 mins into our trip. You can then go out the next day or later that day and fish what you learned. If you choose to go on your own I would recommend trying to fish about 20-30 feet out from the bank. The lake was dirty when I was there in the heat of the summer. I figure they will be prespawn and I would think if the lake is anywhere near as dirty during the spawn as when I was there that they must spawn right against the knees and roots of the cypress trees on the banks. So I would suspect that they are cruising just a little bit out in that forest of stumps. Good Luck! Please tell us how you did and where you fished once you get back.

[papawbass]

First of March should be good, snakes shouldn't be out yet! Fished there once a few years back and I definitely wouldn't take my boat. Stayed in one of the lodges and boat/bait everything was included. I promise you will be banging the lower unit more than once. We ended concentrating on big bluegill, fishing in the lilly pads and around the cypress was a blast. Did catch a few rock bass, but you can get into some monster gills. You'll enjoy it, it is unlike anything or anywhere I ever fished before.

[spinner482]

I have been there many times and there is NO way I would put a fiberglass boat on the lake. It is a lot of fun and very unique place, all my trips have been to the Samburg area and its like going back in time. If you have a trolling motor you can take and use on one of the resort boats it will help you a lot. Early March will be tricky because of the weather, I have made a few trips in early March and would prefer to go later, but if the winter remains mild you may do just fine, and the snakes will not be out yet, that has to be the snakiest place in the world.
Good luck.

[artcarney_agr]

I first would recommend that hire a guide for the first day and then fish on your own after that. I stayed at Blue Bank Resort and used Billy Blakey. He was awesome.

I'd like to fish with him...seems like he'd be a lot of fun!

Cool KY Afield video with him as Tim's guide:
http://youtu.be/s8qeQ1_5gks

[artcarney_agr]

I went down there about 2 years ago, and the water levels were dramatically low with many marinas pretty well high and dry - the water was low on purpose as they have been working on the spillway. I believe the work is now complete or close to it, and that water levels have been restored, or at least that's what I've been hearing.


As for running around down there, if you know where to run, you can do it....these guys had no trouble:
http://youtu.be/_iGF156JJ2o

If you don't know where to run or are unfamiliar, just keep it at a slow pace.

[smuckey41]

Thanks guys for all the info..... And Spinner was you bass fishing or crappie fishing....

[spinner482]

Main purpose was crappie fishing but did a little bass fishing also.