Chickamauga: The water temperature is now averaging 78 degrees. Some areas have surface temperatures as low as 74 degrees and as high as 83 degrees. The water flow has been very minimal. Areas that normally require current for a more productive trip have not produced many fish in the most recent days. A few stripers are being caught in the vicinity of Watts Bar Dam. Look for November and/or current to improve conditions that are somewhat more favorable. Those few stripers (rockfish and white bass) that are being caught are being caught on shad. Some dead water rockfish are being caught while trolling shad, but overall fishing has been slower than normal. Bass anglers are catching more fish on the lower end of the lake. Jigging spoons, jigs, and plastic worms are being used most often. Deep water humps and points are the better areas for these lures to be used. Topwater bites are becoming more frequent. The key to most bites is big water. Proximity to some grassy area or bank is normally required for a good topwater bite. A lot of schooling bass are being caught on the surface, but most of these fish are small. Catfish are being caught most often within sight of Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. Any standard or traditional catfish bait is being used. Bluegill are still being caught on big water or primary ledges. Crickets and worms are both being used. Crappie are being caught on deep water structure or bluff walls while using minnows or jigs.
Dale Hollow: Fishing is fair. The water temperature is 79 degrees; lake is falling. Bass are still being caught at night on jigs and spinnerbaits in 20-25 feet of water on points. A few walleye are being caught while jigging spoons on drops in 30-35 feet of water. Shellcracker fishing has been great on nightcrawlers on flats in 1-5 feet of water.
Watts Bar: The water surface temperature is between 72 degrees and 80 degrees depending on the time of day and location. The waters in the upper portion of the lake are normally cooler than the lower end. The Clinch River on average will be the cooler area of the lake. Rockfish are being caught in the tailwaters of both dams. Rockfish are also being caught in the mid lake area near Rockwood while fishing the river ledges located near humps. High numbers of rockfish can be caught, but the average size is very small compared to the tailwater fish. These fish will average near 6 pounds and they are not very dependable. Shad is the better choice for bait. Shad are being used underneath balloons, while tight lining, and while trolling. Jigs, spoons and a few topwater baits are also being used. Lack of current has decreased the number of anglers on the water partly because the success ratio of those that are on the water has been lower than that of previous years. Bass anglers are catching more fish early, late, and at night than in the daytime. Swim baits and plastic worms are the most used lures, but topwater lures are becoming an important part of an angler’s arsenal. Humps and ledges in big water locations are where the concentrations of fish are located when looking for structure related fish. Another technique for several anglers has been to fish near the bait fish. Bass related to baitfish will normally provide for an easier and shallower bite.