Fishing Report for March 30, 2011

Watts Bar: The lake is a couple of feet higher than normal winter levels. Surface water temperature is near sixty. Bass were being caught shallow in the sloughs and in the water leading Into these areas. Crankbaits were being used more often than any other lure. Crappie were being caught by trollers along secondary channels leading into the sloughs. Jigs were the bait used by most anglers. There were a few anglers dipping minnows into blowdowns located along the steeper banks leading into the shallows. Some white bass and stripers were being caught above the interstate bridge. Jigs and crankbaits were the baits used most often. Some sauger were being caught in the upper portion of the reservoir while bumping jigs and/or minnows along the bottom. Chickamauga: The lake has stabilized at nearly two feet above winter level as of 3/22/11. The surface water temperature was sixty-four degrees in the sloughs and cooler in the river. Bass were being caught in shallow water. Almost every backwater pocket had a few bass. Most shallow water lures can be used to catch these fish. Crappie anglers were catching several fish, but crappie seemed to be scattered. Unstable water conditions that existed a few days earlier may have been the reason crappie were hard to find. Crappie were being caught shallow around brush and weeds. The number being caught was not great. Minnows and jigs were being for bait. Catfish were being caught in the creeks more often than in the main channel. Tailwater conditions were difficult for anglers with the fast moving water. Cordell Hull: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 55 degrees; lake is stable. Crappie fishing is good while fishing minnows and jigs around brush in 5-to-10 feet of water. Sauger fishing is improving above Gainesboro, while fishing in the channels in 35-to-40 feet of water. Bass fishing is good while fishing spinnerbaits and crankbaits around shallow covers and rock banks in 2-to-5 feet of water. Dale Hollow: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 52 degrees. Lake is slowly falling. Lots of smallmouth are being caught in the colored water on jerkbaits and crankbaits in 5-to-25 feet of water. Crappie fishing is good in the rivers while fishing minnows around willows in two feet of water. Walleye fishing is fair around East Port, while fishing jigs in 5-to-15 feet of water. Source: TWRA web page