Fishing in Tennessee

Watts Bar: (Roane County)

The lake was at 739 feet elevation on 11/27/11. This was nearly 3 feet above the normal projected mean elevation. Crappie fishing is fair. Some mid and lower lake crappie are being caught around piers and rocky points and bluffs. Jigs and minnows are equal opportunity lures, but the number of crappie being caught is greater with jigs. This is probably due to the operator more than with the bait. Bass are being caught in shallow pockets located near larger secondary areas. A variety of weapons are being packeted into the arsenal, but anything topwater will suffice. Most of these shad runners are largemouth bass. Smallmouth are being found a little deeper around the rocky areas. Striped bass are being caught in the pockets and in the larger creeks in areas downstream more often than in the tailwater areas. Topwater lures and swimbaits are favorite producers for those that catch their striped bass on artificial lures. Bluegill or shad will catch stripers better than artificial lures and will on average catch the bigger fish. Catfish are being caught by those drifting in the main channel. Some sauger are being caught in the tailwaters.

Chickamauga: (Rhea County)

The surface temperature is in the 50's. On 11/27/11 the surface elevation was 678.6 feet which was nearly 2.5 feet above the projected normal mean elevation. Bass are being caught while using many baits which includes lipless crankbaits. Secondary points would be a good place to start the search for bass. Broken grass in pockets adjacent to secondary channels are another type of area where bass should be targeted. Crappie are being caught along bluff walls located on the main channel, near blowdowns located in the same area and around docks. Minnow dippers are catching a few fish, but the jig fishermen are catching the greater number of fish. Most crappie being caught are of the black variety. This has more to do with the area being fished than any other factor. Striped bass are being caught from the tailwater areas to areas downstream. Topwater lures or shad are being used more often than any other bait. Sandbars located along the main channel is one type of area where bass anglers have been surprised by the heavyweight stripers. Catfish drifters are catching fish in the main channel while using all the baits normally associated with catfish angling.