Kellie Mead with Tennessee Red Fish off of Watts Bar Lake

Large Mouth Bass, 13.9 lb

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.

FISHING REPORT: CHICKAMAUGA, CORDELL HULL, DALE HOLLOW, NICKAJACK & WATTS BAR

September 10, 2011 Fishing Report

Chickamauga: The lake is at normal pool and the water temperature is in the mid 80's. The weather pattern or the fishing strategies for all species has remained unchanged for sometime. The tropical storm from the gulf could create some better or easier fishing if the Tennessee Valley don't get too much rain. Bass are being caught near grass beds along the main channel while using plastic worms or some type of topwater lure. Some ledge related fish are being caught in all areas of the lake. A few crappie are being caught. The easy community hole crappie are the bluffs situated on the river that provide some sort of current diversion or the few chosen docks that have a break located underneath or a dock with good water depth or lots of shad. Pull up to the dock and look for the darker water. Jigs and/or minnows are being used for bait. Those taking crappie angling to a higher level are trolling crankbaits or pushing jigs along ledges in large water areas. Bluegill are being caught near docks, rocks, ledges and humps more often in areas where the water is moving and in areas where the water offers a little depth. Catfish are being caught in the main channel while using all the normal baits generally associated with catching catfish. A few white and striped bass are being caught in the upper end of the lake and in the cooler water locations generally associated with springs or mountain runoffs.

Cordell Hull: Fishing is fair. Water temperature is in upper 70s; lake is fairly stable. Several bass are being caught on buzzbaits and soft plastics while fishing isolated cover on main lake flats. A few crappie are being caught while on small jigs in 2-to-5 feet of water around laydown trees below Granville.

Dale Hollow: Fishing is fair. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Lake is falling. A few bass are being caught on topwater baits early in the morning and late at night, while chasing shad. A few crappie are being caught near East Port while fishing minnows in laydown trees in 15 feet of water. Walleye fishing is fair with a few fish being caught trolling nightcrawlers in 34 feet of water.

Nickajack: The surface water temperature is in the mid 80's. Stagnant weather conditions has lead to unchanged patterns. Generally fishing for all species is exactly the way it has been for several weeks. The approaching storm could trigger a good bite for all species if the rain is not overdone. The topwater bass bite is good around grass beds in the lower end of the lake. Plastic worms are the number one used bait for bass in all areas of the lake. The plastic worm is very versatile and can be rigged in many different ways and fished at many different depths. Jigs and crankbaits are being used for bass in addition to the previously mentioned lures especially in the upper end of the lake. Some crappie are being caught around docks, bluffs and in the calm water in the tailwaters. Catfish are being caught by those drifting in the main channel. Shad, chicken parts and other baits that are generally associated with Labor Day cookouts are the more common baits fishermen are using to catch catfish. Bluegill are being caught near bluffs and docks.

Watts Bar: Water surface temperature is in the mid 80's and the lake is at normal pool. Fishing patterns for all species are the same as they have been for a few weeks. The stagnant weather pattern may be changing with the beginning being the storm moving in from the gulf. Currently bass fishing is slow. Only a few bass are being caught along areas near the main channel. Drops, humps, and rocky areas along the river where the current hits are target areas for the majority of anglers. Every angler will have some sort of worm rigged up on at least one rod. The other rods will probably have at least one crank bait and jig tied on. Crappie that are being caught are few. Those that are being caught are being caught most often in tailwater areas. Striped and white bass are being caught in all lake areas, but the greater number are being caught where the eye makes contact with the dam. Jigs, shad, and spoons would complete any arsenal capable of taming any tailwater stripers. Catfish are being caught on the baits that are normally used and those baits are chicken parts, soap (Ivory), wieners, bologna, shad,and worms. A few other creative baits so numerous that ink will not allow are also being used. Bluegill can be caught near rock walls located along the main channel in areas where there is current. Crickets and worms are being used more often than other baits. White bass normally are caught in large numbers in the mid lake area around humps and drops while using spinner-type lures. Most are caught 20 feet deep. This year those white bass have remained mostly untouched.

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

Fishing Watts Bar Lake

Its the Middle of February and the water surface temperature is in the mid 40's. (what a cold winter we had this year)

Stripers (Rock Fish) are being caught in the tail-waters. and in some part of the river in 15' of water while the generators are running, Shad is the primary bait for quality fish.

White bass (strip bass) are being caught on flats around 8'-10' deep on spinners or anything shiny with a hook, lots of fun....on the upper Tennessee river and around the steam plant.

A lot of catfish are starting to being caught in the main lake in many areas. Shad is the better bait to use ( if you can find any). Bluff walls and docks are being targeted by a few anglers in search of bluegill. Crickets are being used by most anglers.

Deep crappie are starting to be caught while using jigs and spoons in select areas in the river. Points, drops and areas where current may influence the crappie and give them an area to ambush bait fish are the types of areas where crappie may be located.

Bass are being caught along point drops that are positioned along the main lake on one side and shallower water on the other side. The side adjacent to the main channel seems to be the area that needs to be targeted. Twelve feet of water seems to be the better depth.

Fishing on Watts Bar Lake

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.