The surface temperature is near 60 degrees.
Crappie are being targeted along blow downs, bluff walls and near piers. Jigs and minnows are equal opportunity baits. Some large crappie are being caught.
Catfish are being caught by those drifting in the main channel. All the normal baits associated with cat fishing are being used. Shad is the best bait for the larger fish.
Some stripers are being caught in the main channel. A few are being caught in the larger creeks. The river fishing is difficult due to the heavy current. Top water lures, jigs, spoons and shad are the more popular baits being used by striper anglers.
Bass are being caught along main lake points and in shallow bay areas. The bass are being caught in the bay water areas near schools of shad. Nearly all types of lures are being used to catch bass.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Watts Bar Lake Fishing Report
Watts Bar:
The lake level is normal. Scheduled drawdown should begin on November 1, 2009.
Bass fishermen are not catching a lot of keeper bass. Several small fish are being caught and a few heavy weight smallmouth bass are being caught or at least hooked. Several fishermen have caught 5 pound smallmouth in recent days and a few have shared their stories about the one that got away. Shallow points and ledges located in the large water locations are producing the large smallmouth.
Largemouth bass seem to be located along secondary areas that are slightly deeper than the surrounding areas. Brush and windward banks will increase the odds of catching fish. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are being used to catch a greater number of smallmouth bass. Flipping jigs are being used by those wishing to enhance their largemouth stringers.
The number of crappie being caught is increasing everyday. Minnows and/or jigs are being used for bait. Blowdowns located on sloping banks with at least 12’ of water seems to be a combination that most crappie enthusiasts are using to catch the maximum number of fish.
Many bluegill are being caught while using topwater flies in the secondary water in the area above Hwy. 58. A lot of catfish and several heavy weights are being caught while using live shad for bait.
Main channel ledges are being targeted by those catching catfish.
Rockfish are being caught in the main channel while using shad in the areas located upstream.
Chickamauga:
The drawdown started on September 1st. Heavy rains delayed the drawdown temporarily and now the lake is at the normal seasonal level which is 1 foot below the average summer level. Cloudy to murky water is being found in most areas of the lake.
Rockfish are being caught while using shad for bait in the tailwaters below Watts Bar Dam. Bass anglers are catching the better quality fish in the large water locations. Each day more and more bass are being caught in shallow bay areas. Almost all types are lures are being used depending on the type of water being fished.
Crappie are being caught near river bluff walls and along secondary banks with blowdowns. Minnows and/or jigs are being used for bait.
Catfish are being caught in select areas located on the main channel. Several anglers have caught fish weighing in excess of 30 pounds and a few have been caught that weigh in excess of 50 pounds. Shad is the best bait.
Bluegill are being caught along the deep river flats while using crickets or worms for bait.
Dale Hollow:
Fishing is slow. The water temperature is 70 degrees; lake is falling.
A few bass are being caught on topwater baits, while fish are chasing chad in the mid-section of the lake.
A few crappie are being caught above sunset while using minnows in trees in 15 feet of water.
A few walleye are being caught while jigging spoons on drops in 33 feet of water.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Watts Bar Lake Fishing Report
The surface temperature is 81 degrees in most locations. The elevation of the lake was at 741.4 feet on 9/22/09. This is nearly 1 foot above the normal seasonal level. We have had a lot of rain the past several weeks and the lake is full.
Rain, dove season and college football may be a few reasons the number of anglers being found on the lake is low. Those that are fishing are having mixed results. A few crappie are being caught in deep water areas near some type of structure.
Night fishing for crappie is still the better way to catch numbers of crappie. Bass anglers are struggling to find consistent bass. The better catches are coming from deep water or areas adjacent to the same. Fishing lures requiring a slow presentation is producing more fish than reaction baits.
The number of rockfish being caught is about average with good numbers coming from the upper arms of the lake. Shad is the best bait. Smaller stripers are being caught in areas downstream.
Catfish, bluegill, and white bass are all being caught by those that are targeting them. These species are being caught on the normal baits in all the normal locations.
Rain, dove season and college football may be a few reasons the number of anglers being found on the lake is low. Those that are fishing are having mixed results. A few crappie are being caught in deep water areas near some type of structure.
Night fishing for crappie is still the better way to catch numbers of crappie. Bass anglers are struggling to find consistent bass. The better catches are coming from deep water or areas adjacent to the same. Fishing lures requiring a slow presentation is producing more fish than reaction baits.
The number of rockfish being caught is about average with good numbers coming from the upper arms of the lake. Shad is the best bait. Smaller stripers are being caught in areas downstream.
Catfish, bluegill, and white bass are all being caught by those that are targeting them. These species are being caught on the normal baits in all the normal locations.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Watts Bar Lake - Fishing Report
The lake is full and stable, water dropping a little.
Crappie are being caught on very deep structure in or near secondary channels. Some crappie are being caught near river blowdowns. Night crappie are being caught under lights at night. Minnows or jigs offer equal opportunities for catching numbers or slabs.
Bass are being caught near main channel banks and in deep secondary areas. Secondary areas are more consistent than other areas. Most anglers are casting lipless lures into the bait fish while looking for a few feeding bass.
White bass and striped bass are being caught more often near primary drops associated with humps. The edge that gets hit with current flow is normally the general area to fish. Spinner-type lures worked deep will offer the best opportunity for catching fish.
Bluff areas along the river are one of several areas that are being fished for bluegill. Worms and crickets are being used for bait.
Drifters are catching catfish in the main channel. All the normal baits associated with catfish have been productive.
Have a good fishing experience and take a kid fishing today.......
Crappie are being caught on very deep structure in or near secondary channels. Some crappie are being caught near river blowdowns. Night crappie are being caught under lights at night. Minnows or jigs offer equal opportunities for catching numbers or slabs.
Bass are being caught near main channel banks and in deep secondary areas. Secondary areas are more consistent than other areas. Most anglers are casting lipless lures into the bait fish while looking for a few feeding bass.
White bass and striped bass are being caught more often near primary drops associated with humps. The edge that gets hit with current flow is normally the general area to fish. Spinner-type lures worked deep will offer the best opportunity for catching fish.
Bluff areas along the river are one of several areas that are being fished for bluegill. Worms and crickets are being used for bait.
Drifters are catching catfish in the main channel. All the normal baits associated with catfish have been productive.
Have a good fishing experience and take a kid fishing today.......
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Watts Bar Lake Fishing Report
The water level is at full summer pool. Catfish are being caught in the main channel in all areas of the lake. The water above the Hwy. 58 Bridge on the Tennessee River is the best area. Most baits associated with catfish angling are being used.
Crappie are being caught at night while fishing underneath lights. Minnows and jigs are being used. Large bay areas are areas that anglers have had success. Bridge pilings are another area that can be targeted.
White bass are still being caught near mid lake humps and ledges in the main channel. Spinner-type lures are better than other lures while trying to catch white bass. Some rockfish are being caught near the mid lake humps. The tailwaters below Melton Hill Dam has had very few anglers and in two trips below the dam last week there was not any current.
Bass are being caught along all the primary areas normally targeted in the summer. Those include humps, flats, and points in the same area. It seems that the number of fish being caught in the large secondary waters has become greater than those being caught in the primary waters. The reason is probably because of the significant numbers of shad moving into these areas. An example of such an area would be Caney Creek. Plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are being used most often.
Crappie are being caught at night while fishing underneath lights. Minnows and jigs are being used. Large bay areas are areas that anglers have had success. Bridge pilings are another area that can be targeted.
White bass are still being caught near mid lake humps and ledges in the main channel. Spinner-type lures are better than other lures while trying to catch white bass. Some rockfish are being caught near the mid lake humps. The tailwaters below Melton Hill Dam has had very few anglers and in two trips below the dam last week there was not any current.
Bass are being caught along all the primary areas normally targeted in the summer. Those include humps, flats, and points in the same area. It seems that the number of fish being caught in the large secondary waters has become greater than those being caught in the primary waters. The reason is probably because of the significant numbers of shad moving into these areas. An example of such an area would be Caney Creek. Plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are being used most often.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Watts Bar Fishing Report
The Fishing has been awesome this Spring and Summer Lots of Bass, Striper's and nice Crappie, Oh yea...
The lake was full on July 30, 2009, Lots of rain this month and the surface water temperature was in the low 80’s. Bass are being caught most often while fishing in the summer areas. Large river flats, points, ledges and humps are being targeted more often than other areas.
Some fish are being caught in the major secondary areas along points and drops. Those secondary areas that are worth trying will have a considerable number of baitfish. These baitfish can be found while using electronics or by observing the shad breaking the surface of the water.
Catfish are being caught by those in search of them. Catfish have not been fished for as heavily in this lake as they have in other local lakes.
White bass and rockfish are being caught more often in the mid lake areas near primary humps. Spinner-type lures are used more often than other lures.
Crappie are being caught close to the tailwaters in small numbers. Night anglers are reporting large numbers of crappie being caught while fishing underneath lights in the mid to lower area of the lake. Minnows and jigs are being used for bait. Some bluegill are being caught along bluff walls and current breaks while using the normal stuff for bait.
The lake was full on July 30, 2009, Lots of rain this month and the surface water temperature was in the low 80’s. Bass are being caught most often while fishing in the summer areas. Large river flats, points, ledges and humps are being targeted more often than other areas.
Some fish are being caught in the major secondary areas along points and drops. Those secondary areas that are worth trying will have a considerable number of baitfish. These baitfish can be found while using electronics or by observing the shad breaking the surface of the water.
Catfish are being caught by those in search of them. Catfish have not been fished for as heavily in this lake as they have in other local lakes.
White bass and rockfish are being caught more often in the mid lake areas near primary humps. Spinner-type lures are used more often than other lures.
Crappie are being caught close to the tailwaters in small numbers. Night anglers are reporting large numbers of crappie being caught while fishing underneath lights in the mid to lower area of the lake. Minnows and jigs are being used for bait. Some bluegill are being caught along bluff walls and current breaks while using the normal stuff for bait.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Fishing Report on Watts Bar Lake
The current elevation is near normal summer level. The surface temperature is in the seventies. Most bass anglers are fishing primary areas or areas adjacent to the same catching some on top water. Points, ledges or rocky banks that are windward are being targeted by a large number of anglers using shakey head and other lead head plastic grubs of assorted color. Crankbaits are getting the reaction bite and plastic worms rigged all sorts of ways are being used for the deeper fish.
White bass and rockfish are being caught most often along humps or areas where the current confluences or funnels. Spinner-type lures will offer the better chance of catching white bass and shad will be the better offering for rockfish.
Crappie are being caught in numbers while fishing at night underneath lights or a lantern. Minnows are the most popular choice for crappie. Fishing larger bays or creeks near the river will increase the odds of being able to find a large school of crappie.
Catfish are being caught on all the normal catfish baits while drifting in the primary water. Jug fishing is working very well right now catching the channel cats and the blue cats.
Bluegill are being caught along bluff walls and around docks on crickets and night crawlers and also in the back of the long coves the big bull brims and shale crackers are being caught too.
White bass and rockfish are being caught most often along humps or areas where the current confluences or funnels. Spinner-type lures will offer the better chance of catching white bass and shad will be the better offering for rockfish.
Crappie are being caught in numbers while fishing at night underneath lights or a lantern. Minnows are the most popular choice for crappie. Fishing larger bays or creeks near the river will increase the odds of being able to find a large school of crappie.
Catfish are being caught on all the normal catfish baits while drifting in the primary water. Jug fishing is working very well right now catching the channel cats and the blue cats.
Bluegill are being caught along bluff walls and around docks on crickets and night crawlers and also in the back of the long coves the big bull brims and shale crackers are being caught too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)