The Old Hickory tailwater is similar to the Tennessee River tailwaters in character, except that it is a smaller river. The dam has four turbines, which run in various combinations.

"There is always some current," Markham noted.

Not surprisingly, anglers fish the Old Hickory tailwater with many of the same techniques as they use on the Tennessee River. Shoreline anglers use surf rods to make long casts toward current lines and bounce big pieces of cut bait off the bottom. Boating anglers commonly run close to the dam and drift back downstream, using three-way rigs to bounce baits along the rocky bottom. Others use their motors to hold over the washout holes and fish the same baits straight below them.

Bait choices range from chicken livers and shrimp to whole skipjack herring, Markham said. The most popular baits are cut skipjack and shad, especially the entrails from both. Tremendous numbers of skipjack fill the Old Hickory tailwater at times, and when they do, it would be tough to beat a fresh piece of cut skipjack as bait.

Anglers who specifically hope to catch flatheads should use live shad or bluegills and fish the deep washouts below major deadfalls in holes along outside bends farther down the river. The flatheads will be tight to the bluffs and within the thickest cover they can find. They feed more readily at night but will bite during the day as well.

TAILWATER WISDOM
Anglers fishing in tailwaters must understand that waters below dams can be extremely hazardous and that conditions can change very quickly. Waters near turbines and locks can become turbulent in a hurry, and currents throughout most tailwaters are deceptively powerful. In addition, boulders, rock walls and other hazards often are hidden barely beneath the surface.

Anglers should be very familiar with tailwater dynamics and be able to read currents before venturing near dams. Extreme caution is necessary, and all warning signs must be heeded. Boaters must remain on the lookout for other boaters and for fixed objects or shoals they may be drifting toward, and no one should ever tie off a boat to the face of a dam or anchor close to a dam. Major dams all have mandatory life jacket zones below them, in which life jackets must be worn at all times; however, it is a good idea to keep a life jacket on in any part of a tailwater.

Anglers also should understand that TVA and the COE take security very seriously and should never venture into an area that is posted as off-limits, whether by foot or in a boat. Prohibitions against fishing within 100 yards of dams that were put into place temporarily after 9-11 have been lifted; however, both agencies are vigilant about watching for suspicious activities and enforcing all regulations.

BEFORE YOU GO
Anglers are limited to one cat of more than 34 inches daily (includes all catfish species) in all Tennessee waters. There is no limit on catfish of less than 34 inches. Flathead or blue catfish of more than 34 inches and channel catfish of more than 30 inches qualify for recognition through the Tennessee Angler Recognition Program. Qualifying catches earn certificates whether the fish are kept or released, given proper validation. For complete details, check out the TARP information on the TWRA Web site at www.tnwildlife.org.