Fishing Report
CHICKAMAUGA ? Drifters are catching catfish on all the normal stuff in the primary areas. Anglers are also catching catfish in the main river channel. Bass fishing has been great on some days, and some days the success rate has been nonexistent. The most consistent areas have been the primary humps and ledges. Crankbaits and plastics have been the lures most anglers have chosen. Some anglers have caught crappie early and late in deep holes that contain brush, stumps, or some other type of structure. Minnows and jigs have been equally effective. Bluegill are being caught on the primary ledges and most anglers are using crickets. The target area should be 20 feet. White Bass are being caught in the tailwaters and on the south end of the lake, and the most popular baits are spoons and rooster tails.
DALE HOLLOW ? Fishing is great. The water temperature is 83 degrees; lake is slowly falling. Lots of good bass are being caught in the daytime on topwater baits over flats on the main lake. Walleye fishing is great with lots of big fish being caught near Pleasant Grove while trolling reef-runners in 22-to-25 feet of water. Smaller walleye in the five-pound class are being caught while trolling nightcrawlers and spinners near grass beds in the middle section of the lake. Trout fishing is good while trolling spoons with downriggers in 35-to-40 feet of water.
WATTS BAR ? The water surface temperature has increased to a consistent mid-80s. Good days have been good and bad days have been bad. Water flow has played an important part in the success rate of most anglers. Some fishermen have had significant catches of white bass on days when there was water flow, and the same fishermen have fished the same places, on days when the water flow was minimal or nonexistent, with little or no success. The better catches have come from sunken island humps and ledges and the target area should be 25 feet deep. Heavy rooster tails are the bait of choice for most fishermen. Bass are being caught with deep running crankbaits and plastics of all sorts near the primary humps and ledges. Water flow is the primary factor needed for most anglers to have any success. Rockfish are being caught more often below Fort Loudoun Dam, but the bigger bite is in the Clinch River. Some schooling rockfish are being caught in current holes while using topwater lures in areas such as the Thief Neck Island cut. Catfish are being caught by drifters and people fishing from the bank in the primary areas using all the normal stuff.
OLD HICKORY ? (water temp high-low 70?s) Sauger: Still some being caught up around Cordell Hull Dam. Minnows or trolling can catch you fish. Bass: Fish water willow and milfoil with spinnerbiats or soft plastics. Bass are also biting around ledges out away from the shoreline Catfish: Good catches in the creeks. Cut bait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers will catch catfish. Bluegill: The bite is still excellent on small baits, plastic or live. Rockfish: Anglers still report catching some big fish around Rome and near the Caney Fork River. Don?t forget to look into the Caney as the air temperatures get warmer.
(Information provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; compiled by Dale Stubblefield)