Fishing Report on Watts Bar Lake

The water surface temperature is 62 degrees in the shallow bays during the evening hours. The lake elevation is within one foot of normal summer pool. Bass are being caught on lipless crankbaits most often. There are a number of other lures that are also being used. The best lure selection is probably the lure that a given angler has the most confidence in and is the most efficient at using. Transitional areas are being fished most often. These are the areas that are in between the spawning water and the deep water creeks. Gradual sloping banks or flat banks that have at least four feet of water seem to be the areas that anglers should be focused on. Crappie fishing is improving, but the numbers of crappie being caught are not great. Jigs and/or minnows are being used to catch crappie. The crappie are scattered and are being caught in water depths ranging from two to fifteen feet. Brush will increase the odds of catching a few crappie. White bass are being caught at a greater rate than previously reported in the areas above Kingston in the Clinch River and above the I-75 Bridge in the Tennessee River. Crankbaits and jigs are being used by most anglers. Some rockfish are being caught in the same areas. Some catfish are being caught in the tailwaters and in the bay areas. Crappie trollers are catching several catfish.