WHITWELL, Tenn. — A 15.75-pound largemouth caught from Nickajack Lake on Feb. 28 is expected to be the new Tennessee state record, surpassing the 15.20 pounder caught from Chickamauga Lake in 2015.
Darren Nunley’s largemouth caught on the last day of February could be a harbinger of what could happen at the upcoming Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Armour.
Florida-strain largemouth were stocked in Nickajack, Chickamauga and Fort Loudon in 2015, the objective being for those fish to hybridize with native northern largemouth. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s experiment to produce a fish with the desired “hybrid vigor” is showing signs of success. Read more about TWRA’s management plan for Florida largemouth here.
A 10-pound largemouth was caught from Loudon last March, and the TWRA has sampled others there in the eight-pound range. What is more, above average temperatures have prevailed for the past week in east Tennessee, with long-term forecasts showing daytime highs reaching the upper 70s into Classic week.
The combination of genetics and prolonged above average temperatures could create shallow water magic during the Classic, with a prespawn or even spawning largemouth bite in play. A bladed jig fished in shallow water produced Nunley’s catch.
WTVC in Chattanooga news story here.