Southern Standard Fishing Report
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CHICKAMAUGA ? The water surface temperature is as high as 89 degrees on the warmer days. Eighty-four degrees is as cool as it has been in some time. A good stringer of fish of almost any species can still be caught if the right conditions all come together. Current or moving water is a key factor needed to increase your odds on these hot, stagnant days. Bluegill can be caught on river ledges and in the creeks close to the river. Roostertails, crickets and worms are all good choices. Catfish can be caught in all areas of the river. All the typical catfish baits, such as Ivory soap, wieners, nightcrawlers, and chicken livers will work. The odds of bigger and better catches of catfish will increase with cut bait. Bass anglers are catching a lot of deep fish on the lower end of the lake. Crank baits and plastics fished deep seem to be the best strategy. The topography of the upper end of the lake is allowing anglers to catch bass a little shallower. Plastic frogs, fished on top of the grass and weeds, is just one early and late technique that has been productive. Some river point and creek point fish are also being caught on plastics in the deeper water on the upper end of the lake. White bass activity has been better in the tailwaters than other parts of the lake. Spoons, roostertails, and jigs are just a few lures that anglers are using. The rockfish bite has been tough to get, but a few really heavy fish are being caught in the dim light early and late. Jerk baits are working as well as anything else. A few fishermen are catching several crappie in the deep, brushy areas of the lake.
DALE HOLLOW ? Fishing is good. The water temperature is 85 degrees; lake is falling. Bass fishing is great at night on spinnerbaits and soft plastics in 20 feet of water. Main lake points and grass are the prime locations. Walleye fishing is still pretty good, while trolling on flats in 25 feet of water. Night time has been the best.
WATTS BAR ? White bass action has been slow in all areas of the lake except the tailwaters. Anglers that always catch as many as they want are down to 8 or 10 fish a trip. Bass anglers have been catching some heavy stringers of fish with plastic worms while fishing deep water along points and humps. Crappie anglers are catching fish in the main channel as well as the major creeks. Break lines with brush must be the target area for a successful trip. Jigs and minnows are both options. Catfish are being caught as long as the current is flowing. All the normal stuff is being used for bait. Rockfish are being caught in the Clinch River and in the tailwaters below Ft. Loudoun Dam. The numbers of fish that are being caught are lower than normal, but some of the fish have been really heavy. All the normal stuff such as spoons, jigs and jerk baits are being used. Live bait is always harder to get, but better to use.
PICKWICK LAKE ? Creel Limits: Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass ? 5 (15 inch minimum length limit on bass). Crappie ? 30 (minimum length 9 inches). Water temps are in the low-90?s. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Fish are being caught on plastic lizards or jigs. Smallmouth fishing is fair. Some fish are being caught early and late around grass beds. Crappie fishing is slow. Bluegill/shellcracker fishing fair. Fish are being caught on crickets and jigs tipped with wax worms.
(Information from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; compiled by Dale Stubblefield.)