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.
Monday, July 26, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Watts Bar Lake
The lake conditions as of 4/14/10 is as follows: The water surface temperature was 62+- degrees in the main channel and warmer in the sloughs. The lake elevation was 738.5 feet. This was 2 feet below the normal summer mean.
Rockfish and white bass are being caught in greater numbers every week. Jigs, crank-baits and shad are being used most often for bait.
A few anglers are still focused on sauger and a few are being caught while bumping the bottom in the tail-waters.
Crappie are being caught all over the lake (slab size). The water depth range of 4 to 8 feet seems to be the target zone that is the most productive zone. Spawning areas or areas adjacent to the same are the types of areas that seems to be the best areas. Jigs and/or spoons are being used for bait.
Bass are being caught most often on gradual sloping banks that transition from deep to shallow water. Crank-baits, jerk-baits, and jigs are being used in most areas.
Catfish are being caught in many locations. The larger creeks seem to be the most productive areas for catfish. Most catfish in these areas are suspended. Shad is the better bait choice.
Rockfish and white bass are being caught in greater numbers every week. Jigs, crank-baits and shad are being used most often for bait.
A few anglers are still focused on sauger and a few are being caught while bumping the bottom in the tail-waters.
Crappie are being caught all over the lake (slab size). The water depth range of 4 to 8 feet seems to be the target zone that is the most productive zone. Spawning areas or areas adjacent to the same are the types of areas that seems to be the best areas. Jigs and/or spoons are being used for bait.
Bass are being caught most often on gradual sloping banks that transition from deep to shallow water. Crank-baits, jerk-baits, and jigs are being used in most areas.
Catfish are being caught in many locations. The larger creeks seem to be the most productive areas for catfish. Most catfish in these areas are suspended. Shad is the better bait choice.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Fishing Report in Tennessee
Watts Bar Lake
The surface water temperature was near 64 degrees as of November 30, 2009.Crappie were being caught more often along the rocky river points and near current breaks in the same area. Minnows and jigs were being used for bait. Some crappie were being caught near blowdowns in deep bay areas.
Bass have been scattered and they can be targeted in various locations while using many lures. Some bay bass are being caught while schooling.
Rockfish have occasionally been caught in the same areas. The average schooling bass has been 2 pounds and the average striper has been around 12 pounds. One angler recorded his catch by length and he reported catching a 41-inch rockfish.
Catfish are being caught by main channel drifters. Live bait is the bait of choice. A few guides have been out with their clients and they have caught plenty of heavy catfish.
Chickamauga Lake
The surface temperature, as of November 30, 2009, was 65 degrees.
A lot of shad had pushed into very shallow water. Some bass were following the shad and some schooling activity was spotted. Some bass were being caught along the main lake areas. An assortment of lures were being used to catch bass.
Sauger anglers were catching a few fish in the Eave's bluff area which is a few miles below the dam. Jigs were being bounced along the bottom to catch sauger. Sauger anglers were catching several different species of fish.
Spotted bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, white bass, and rockfish were caught by those targeting sauger. The number of anglers in the water directly below the dam has been low due to the treacherous conditions.
Crappie anglers were catching many fish. Crappie were being caught in the river, sloughs, and the areas in between. Minnows and jigs were being used for bait.
Catfish were being caught in the main channel by those anglers drifting with shad or bluegill.
Dale Hollow Lake
Fishing is good. The water temperature is 55 degrees; lake is falling. Lots of bass are being caught on jigs and shad while fishing points in 15-to-25 feet of water.
Crappie fishing is fair on minnows in the rivers around brush in 10-to-20 feet of water.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fishing Report on Watts Bar Lake
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.
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.
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.
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