Southern Standard Fishing Report
CHICKAMAUGA ? Water surface temperatures are in excess of 90 degrees in a lot of creeks. Temperatures will vary depending on location and time of day. Bass anglers are catching a few bass on the deeper river structure. Points and humps fished with plastic worms will work as well as anything. Crankbaits, jigging spoons and topwater lures are also being used to catch a few fish. The main creek locations are also holding a few fish along the channel edge. Early and late is the better time to offer the topwater lures. Catfish fishing is very good during times of generation. All species can be caught more often when current is present, especially the river fish. Catfish are being caught on all the normal stuff. Cut bait is still the best choice. Bluegill can be caught on small jigs and jigging spoons. Small roostertails can be used also. Mid-channel locations in the major creeks, river breaks, and current breaks will be the target areas that fishermen should search for while fishing for bluegill. White bass are being caught near the tailwaters. The white bass activity is not as good as it normally is. Rockfish are being caught in the tailwaters on live bait, jigs, spoons and jerkbaits. Very early and late are the most productive times to fish.
DALE HOLLOW ? Fishing is good. The water temperature is 86 degrees; lake is falling. Lots of bass are being caught at night on jigs and soft, plastic baits while fishing near grass and on points in 18-to-25 feet of water. Walleye fishing is fair at night, while trolling and jigging spoons near breaks, in 30 feet of water. Trout fishing is fair near the dam, while trolling with downriggers in 45-to-60 feet of water.
NORMANDY ? Black Bass have been exceptionally slow during the heat of the day. A few good size fish are being caught at night and in the early hours of the morning. Carolina rigs and tubes have been fairly productive. Very few smallmouth have been showing up lately.
Crappie have slowed quite a bit but some anglers are still catching them trolling crank baits in deep water.
Haven?t seen any white bass lately.
Some big cat fish are still coming in on jugs and limblines.
Sunfish are on all the banks but are a bit slow due to the high temperatures.
WOODS RESERVOIR ? Black Bass are not making a good pattern with regards to a bait preference but are being caught in decent numbers at night and early in the morning.
Very few crappie are coming in now but the most productive approach has been trolling with crank baits. The few fish that are coming in are of good size.
Jugs and limb lines are doing well for catfish.
Sunfish are on all the banks, but are slow due to the extreme heat.
(Information from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; compiled by Dale Stubblefield.)