Southern Standard Fishing Report
CHICKAMAUGA ? The water surface temperature is 85 degrees. Bass fishermen are catching several good-size bass. Main creek and river ledges are getting the most attention by the successful anglers. These areas are being fished with plastic worms and various riggings are being used. Three and four pound bass have been common catches for many anglers. Frogs fished weedless across the weedy and grassy areas has been a method that has worked for many fishermen. Crappie fishing is good, especially for this time of year. Ten feet of water in the primary and secondary areas along with minnows fished near brush is the combination most successful anglers are using. Moving water seems to be an additional benefit. Bluegill are being caught in numbers near the fly hatches and along the river breaks in water 20 feet deep. Catfish are being caught in the primary water while drifting and using all the typical stuff. Current flow is necessary for the more successful fishing trips. Stripers are being caught in the tailwaters. The quantity seems to be lower and the quality seems to be higher. Using jerk baits drifted out of the heavy water in the tailwaters has proved to be a good option when trying to figure out what to use. All the other normal stuff and techniques can also be used.
DALE HOLLOW ? Fishing is good. The water temperature is 81 degrees; lake is falling. Lots of good smallmouth are being caught in the early daylight hours while fishing topwater baits, over flats, in 15-to-30 feet of water. Night fishing is good on soft plastic baits and spinnerbaits on points in 15 feet of water. Walleye fishing is fair, while fishing nightcrawler spinner rigs and deep diving crankbaits, near grass, in 25 feet of water. Trout are being caught near the dam at night and in the day in 35 feet of water.
WATTS BAR ? The water surface temperature is 85 degrees in the Tennessee River and 72 degrees below Melton Hill Dam. Fly hatches are increasing the numbers of fish being caught by a lot of anglers. Roostertails, silver spoons and jigs are just as good as anything else. White bass have become elusive for most anglers. The humps and ledges were previously loaded with shad creating a good environment for white bass. These shad have since moved and so have the white bass. Bass anglers are catching fish deep on the main river channel. Ledge Buster spinnerbaits and plastic worms are being used more often than other lures. Night catches have been better than day catches. Crappie anglers are still catching several fish. Brush located adjacent to the main channel in 20 feet of water is the better area to fish. Jigs and minnows are both being used. Rockfish fishing in the Clinch River and in the tailwaters has not been very consistent due to the lack of consistent water flow. Drifters are catching large catfish on shad in the main channel.
OLD HICKORY ? 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 from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; compiled by Dale Stubblefield.)