Monday, July 26, 2010

Fishing on Watts Bar Lake

The lake is full at summer pool, down the river close to where my parents live the water is around 741'+. The water surface average temperature is in the mid to high 80's.

A lot of anglers are catching white and striped bass in the tail-waters below Fort Loudon and Watts Bar Dam and around sandbars where the water in shallow to deep drop offs where the fish like to hang. Top-water lures, spoons and spinner-type lures are being used more often than other baits. Live bait (thread fin shad or shiner minnows) are always the best bait.

Catfish are being caught by those drifting in the main channel. Bass are being caught more often in the primary water. Deep water structure is the most popular area being fished.

Schooling bass can be located by looking for surface activity. Crank-baits, worms, jigs and spoons are being used most often for bait. Top-water lures are good for surface schooling bass.

Crappie are being caught most often at night while fishing underneath some type of light source. Minnows and/or jigs are being used for bait.

Bluegill are being caught near river rock walls.

Enjoy a nice day of fishing and always try to bring a kid with ya and teach them a fun and safe hobby of hunting and fishing in Tennessee.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Watts Bar Lake

The water surface temperature was 86 degrees as of 7/11/10. The lake was full.
Bass were being caught deep more often than shallow. Primary points, humps and drops have been target areas for anglers. Some secondary water bass have been caught near shad minnows and in areas where storms push new water into the resevoir. All the baits normally used in deep water have been used. Spinnerbaits and topwater lures are being used in the shallow areas early and late during the day.

Rockfish have been caught while using shad in the tailwaters.

Crappie have been caught most often at night while fishing underneath lights. Minnows and/or jigs have been used for bait.

Catfish were being caught in the deeper holes in the river. Live bait was being used more often than any other bait for catfish.

Some bluegill were being caught along the river bluffs. Crickets and worms were being used to catch bluegill.