East Tennessee Fishing Reports
The following reports are submitted by TWRA's creel clerks who interview area reservoir anglers on an almost daily basis. One can access reports from other of our State's reservoirs here.
DOUGLAS LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Gary Loucks
16 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
Water elevation is 953.01 feet as of 8:01 AM 15 February 2012. This is a .42 foot drop in depth from the 09 February 2012 measurement of 953.43 feet. Average surface temperature for the week is 46.75 degrees averaged across the lake. Water clarity has been good for the most part of the week on the main channel and stained on all creeks.
SUMMARY:
Crappie activity throughout the week has been good. Good Crappie action has been enjoyed on all creeks throughout the lake system and along the shorelines and cove mouths of the main lake. Walleye fishing has been good on the upper reaches of the lake. Largemouth Bass catches have not improved since the last fishing report. As reported last week - anglers have been having better success, it seems, catching Smallmouth Bass.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS: Fair.
Largemouth and spotted bass catches have shown no appreciable improvement since last report. Rapidly changing water temperatures and water levels are the suspected culprits. Mornings and evenings are still the best time to fish. Fish deep and all the way to bottom during the entire day. The stained water conditions in creeks dictate the use of slower fishing methods in deeper water. Again, the best producing lures are dark in color for the heavily stained water. Colors in purple, black, dark reds and chartreuse do well across the entire lake. Spinner baits in chartreuse, or any of the above colors, with gold blades work well. Lures that create noise such as rattle traps are a preferred lure in muddy water. Use smaller worms, six inch lengths, and dark colors. Slow retrieves will produce more hits with plastic baits. Good areas to try are Flat & Muddy Creeks. McGuire Creek has yielded some nice largemouth this week. The Swann’s Marina area is still providing some action, as has the shorelines of Indian Creek. Areas near points 18 and 6 have been productive last week and are still good bets for this week.
SMALLMOUTH: Good.
Fishing is good in morning and evening and moderate during afternoon hours. Fish deep water with crank baits, dark colored lizards and worms 6 inches in length. Plastic grubs on lead head jigs will also be productive. Dark blue or chartreuse spinner baits with gold blades have been catching fish. A slower retrieve with plastic baits is recommended. See largemouth data. Productive areas have been near points 17, 14 and below and just above Walters Bridge. The above areas are the same as last reporting period and remain productive areas this week.
WALLEYE: Good.
Fishing has been good at all periods of the day. Walleye continue to bite hard this week. They have made themselves available early this season and continue to be a prime focus for anglers. Really good walleye activity is prevalent this week from Swann’s Marina upstream to the confluence of the Nolichucky and French Broad Rivers. Fish the bottom of river channels and the mouths of creeks. Focus on underwater structure such as rocks and stumps on the river channel itself. Walleye seem to be holding close to the bottom but, fish all the water. There is no better time to capitalize on, and enjoy the walleye experience than the present. Try hard jerk baits or Zara Pups, green Plastic Grubs, Hair Jigs and Lead Heads with feather tails. Green Lead Heads have been particularly effective in current if allowed to bounce along on the bottom mud. Try the main channel at point 18, Walters Bridge and above point 20. Focus on the center of the river channel above Leadvale ramp. Fish the junction point where the Nolichucky River joins the French Broad. All the water above Swann’s Marina is productive. This information is unchanged from last week’s report and remains solid, verified information.
CRAPPIE: Good.
The crappie fishing throughout the lake has improved drastically since last reporting period. Rapidly changing water levels last reporting period kept crappie at bay and elusive. The more stable lake conditions this reporting period have painted a very positive picture for the crappie bite.Tube jigs, 1/32 ounce hair and feather jigs of various color, minnow and bobber adjusted to just off the bottom all will work well. Fish muddy points and all quiet water along any rocky shoreline. Fish mud flats and any bottom areas that contain stumps for cover. Indian Creek, Flat Creek, McGuire and Muddy Creeks are all producing extremely good catches. Many, many crappies are being caught on Nina Creek but, the bulk of the fish are throw-backs. Don’t be disappointed in this phenomenon as those many throw-backs are next season’s trophies and they indicate a very healthy fishery. Don’t overlook the Leadvale ramp area on the shoreline. The right side shoreline of Muddy Creek near the entrance to the creek from the lake has been producing well.
FORT LOUDOUN LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Charley Hensley
16 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 808.4 feet above sea level.
The dam will be spilling until further notice. Use caution around all dams.
The average surface temperature is holding right at 48-50 degrees.
The water is clear, with a slight green tint.
SUMMARY
The only big thing happening this week is the umbrella rig. Many reports of good sized bass and lots of them are being caught on this type lure. Consult the fishing regulation book for more info on the umbrella rig. There have been some reports of a few walleye starting to show up at the forks of the river upstream from Knoxville. The white bass are hitting extremely well around the Ish Creek area. Small crankbaits are catching some very nice 1-3 lb. fish. Small rattle traps in blue and chrome and just about any other minnow imitating crankbaits seem to be doing the best right now. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting reaction lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Rapalas are doing fair along with other minnow imitating crankbaits like bandits and shad raps in silver with black backs. The water seems to be a little turbulent right now which is causing some areas of the reservoir to be stained and somewhat murky at times. The crappies are still clinging to submerged brush and fallen timber. As usual, live minnows are the number one bait choice for some nice keeper crappies. The float and small lead head tipped with a minnow is a very good choice right now and red seems to be a good color choice for the lead head. Pink lead heads are also doing quite well.
STRIPED BASS
3-12 FEET
Moderating The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs is an excellent place to fish for some big striped bass. Some are being caught from the bank, and some from boat. Big chartreuse or white bucktail jigs in the 7/8 to 1 oz. size are the best lure choice. There have been some nice sized striped bass caught in the canal where Tellico reservoir meets Fort Loudoun reservoir. Live skipjack in the 8-12 inch range is the best live bait. Swimbaits are also catching a few.
CRAPPIE
6-10 FEET
Improving
The crappie bite seems to be picking back up and they are biting very well over the entire reservoir. They seem to be moving their way back up to shallower water and into the brushpiles and submerged timber. Trolling grubs close to the river and creek channels is a good place to start. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16 to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. But the float and lead head tipped with minnow is doing the best.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Improving
Points still seem to be the biggest bass magnets. The deep sides of the points seem to be preferred by the bigger bass. Run deep diving crankbaits down the deep sides of points and shallow diving crankbaits up near the lake banks near submerged timber and brushpiles. Medium sized chartreuse or white spinnerbaits are doing ok, along with bandit crankbaits in minnow imitating colors.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegills are beginning to moderate slightly. They prefer small live bait such as crickets, redworms, pieces of nightcrawlers and even small artificial lures like grubs and very small crankbaits. A slip bobber set up is a good way to find some bigger bluegills when they are a little deeper. But, right now you can find them anywhere on the reservoir. Submerged timber and brush are the best places to find these tasty panfish.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
The catfish have slowed down for now. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for the smaller cats. However, cut bait seems to be the best bait for the bigger cats. Cut bait mainly consists of a shad or other oily baitfish cut into pieces and placed on a fairly big hook with a sinker from about 1/2 to 1 ½ ounces. It is best to have heavier rods and reels for the bigger cats because they can pull very hard once hooked. They have even been known to pull entire fishing poles from the hands of anglers on occasion. Catfish primarily range from 1 or 2 pounds up to and including some in the 50-60 lb. range and everything in between. You can catch them during daylight hours, but they seem to become more active at night.
MELTON HILL LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Charley Hensley
16 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 793.8 ft. above sea level.
The average water surface temperature is right at 50 degrees.
Cooler surface temperatures can be found in the early morning hours.
The reservoir is mostly clear.
SUMMARY
No changes this week. Fishing is a little slow and it looks as though the reservoir has been dropped about 2-3 feet, which could possibly be for dock repair and shoreline cleanup. Recent rains have made the reservoir a little discolored in some areas. A little bit of color in the water does help sometimes because it helps to keep the fish from seeing boats and anglers. Lures that make some noise, such as crankbaits with rattles inside and other lures that have flash such as spinnerbaits usually do well in colored and stained water. Bluegills and all other types of sunfish are still fairly active but moderating somewhat. The largemouth, smallmouth and the spotted bass are still biting, but have moderated also. Muskies are doing fair right now and seem to be holding close to structure.
MUSKIES
Moderating
3 to 12-feet
The musky bite seems to be moderating slightly but should get better as the water temperatures continue to cool. The main channel below the steam plant is always a good place to try. Fallen timber and submerged or at least partially submerged timber seems to be a favorite hangout for big muskies. Big chartreuse spinner baits and big trout imitating jerk baits are a good choice right now. Bulldogs and shallow invaders are excellent lure choices for big muskies. Remember, there is 50 inch minimum length limit on these trophy fish. This means a musky less than 50 inches must be returned to the water unharmed.
BASS
Moderating
6 to 12-feet
The bass bite improves with the right conditions. When the water in the reservoir is murky and full of sediment, and the current is strong, the big bass seem to like these conditions very well. It seems as though the bass like to wait in ambush positions, such as the downstream side of points and rocky outcrops. They seem to just lay there out of the current waiting for forage fish such as shad and other smaller fish to swim by or be swept by with the current and the bass just grab them as they come by. Big chartreuse and white spinnerbaits seem to be the lure of choice right now. But, crankbaits are doing fair also. It does help if the dam is spilling water which it has been lately. If the dam is not spilling the bite seems to be a little slower. Rocky outcrops and points seem to be holding the bigger bass, while submerged timber or underwater humps and islands are holding good numbers also. The downstream sides of ambush positions are very good spots to swim a spinnerbait through. Deep divers and swimbaits are good lure choices for fishing deep water. Rattletraps and other lipless crankbaits are good for covering lots of water quickly.
CRAPPIE
Slow
6 to 17-feet
Crappie are still around but are still scattered for the most part. Your best bet for crappie is fishing about 17-22 feet deep, using live minnows. Submerged timber close to deeper water is a good place to start looking.
STRIPED BASS
2 to 12-feet
The striped bass are always present in Melton Hill and there have been a few anglers fishing for them. The best bait for stripers or (rock fish) is undoubtedly live skipjack. Live skipjack hooked thru the back just behind the dorsal fin with about a 6/0 circle hook is a good rig for stripers.
You can either tightline them or tie a partially inflated balloon onto your line at whatever depth you desire. Let the skipjack swim around as much as it wants to. Striped Bass have no trouble swallowing an 8-10 inch skipjack. However, you must have heavier tackle for these big fish.
NORRIS LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Paul Shaw
16 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The water elevation at midnight, 15 February was 1001.34-feet, which is 1.86-feet lower than it was last Wednesday. The water level is predicted to fall 11-inches by midnight, Friday, Feb. 10. Surface water temperature readings show 47 to 48 degrees, lake-wide. There is a brown algae bloom in many areas; it is not caused by a lake turnover and is harmless. In clear water sections, many anglers choose to fish in it because of the reduced light penetration.
SUMMARY
BLUEGILL and REDEAR (SHELLCRACKER): Fair. Surface to 20-feet, on steep, rocky banks and in the hollows near wood structure. Popping bugs, crickets, and nightcrawlers.
CRAPPIE: Moderate. 3 to 5-feet deep. Popeye hair jigs, tuffy minnows fished by themselves or with small hair flies or on leadheads. Some of the black crappie have exceeded 1 pound. Even on days which are slow for most anglers, a few have been able to find schools of large crappie and have done very well.
Large creek hollows and main channel brush on the upper half of the reservoir have been best. Best on cloudy days and in stained areas.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Moderate. Slower than last week. Surface to 10 feet, close to wood cover and chunk-rock shorelines. The water has cleared and the largemouth returned to hitting smaller jigs than in previous weeks. Orange or dark red Bandit-type crankbaits worked best in the stained sections, close to the rocks, but were slow to produce where the water was clear.
SMALLMOUTH BASS: Moderate. Slower than last week. Clearing water sent these fish back to the 20 to 30-foot depths, near the bottom on points and rocky, main channel shorelines. In clear water, the best catches are coming on 1/16th ounce to ¼ ounce small hair jigs, the smaller heads producing better. Brown and dark orange, or black. Live bait (shiners) is taking smallmouth on the humps. Float and fly success was fair.
REGULATION CHANGE REMINDER FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS, ONLY, beginning October 16:
From June 1-Oct. 15, there is a 20-inch minimum length limit on smallmouth bass with a creel limit of one. The change replaces the 17-22 inch slot limit. The daily creel limit for largemouth/smallmouth in combination remains five per day on Norris Reservoir. There will be an 18-inch minimum length limit on smallmouth bass with a creel limit of five in combination with largemouth, from Oct. 16-May 31.
SPOTTED BASS: Fair. Very close to wood structure on rock and gravel shorelines on the Powell side and to Cove Creek. The Clinch side saw more spotted bass caught above Island F, some of good size. Small topwater plugs and popping bug, small jerk baits (Flukes, mainly) or small hair jigs.
STRIPED BASS: Good. 20 to 35-feet deep in the channels. Umbrella rigs with chartreuse or white plastic. ½ to 1 oz bucktail jigs, shad or alewife. Trolled or tightlined to depth where baitfish are found near humps and points. Islands around Hickory Star to 33 Bridge, Cove Creek, Mill Creek.
The current striped bass regulation is 1 fish/day, with a minimum length limit of 36-inches. This regulation is in effect from November to March.
WALLEYE: Slow. The few walleye which are showing up have come through unintentional catches by bass anglers. They’re deep along the steeper, broken rock channel, near old, downed timber. Upriver fishing is bringing mixed results. Most anglers are getting skunked; a small number of anglers have reported some caught above Beech Grove on the right days. Some walleye are staging near Bridgeport, Point 32 and Bunchtown Flats, but catches are hard to get.
Lower end: Troll or vertical jig hair flies tipped with minnows, or use bass-type spinners near old timber, 20-feet deep on the steeper, rocky banks from Point 9 to the Dam, upper Big Creek on old, downed timber along rocky banks. Almost anywhere there is old timber in the water extending to a 20-feet depth is capable of holding walleye right now.
--------
SPECIES DETAILS
BLUEGILL/REDEAR
Fair.
10 to 25-feet deep for bluegill, shallower for redear (shellcracker). Winter has slowed bluegill action. Some are being caught on nightcrawlers or crickets fished near bottom wood structure in the coves. Popping bugs are still catching some. Small Rooster Tail spinners have taken some, deep. Shellcracker fishing is slow. Fish for these on the bottom with nightcrawlers, along sand and gravel shorelines on sunny afternoons, 10 to 15-feet deep.
CRAPPIE
Moderate.
3 to 5-feet deep in stained water brush. Good lures: small doll flies, mini tube jigs (red/white, blue/white) and 1/32 ounce hair or feather jigs tipped with minnows.
Main channel and creek hollow brush in early morning, or all day on cloudy days. The size of the crappie has been excellent, with some approaching 2 pounds.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Moderate.
Surface to 5-feet, and 18 to 20-feet. Very close to the shoreline and wood structure. Most of the lake water is clearing, but rain is expected on the 16th. Stained water sections will have largemouth hitting larger lures. Hair jigs under ¼ ounce took some good fish in the clear water at 10 to 15 feet deep.
In clear water, larger fish are 15 to 20-feet deep. Hair or rubber skirted jigs, and soft jerk or swimbaits. Watermelon, brown, orange, or red colors have worked this week.
Dark red or orange Bandit crankbaits produced in the mud-stained areas when fished close to the shoreline rocks. Crankbaits otherwise did not produce well, overall.
Soft jerkbaits, with smoke or bluegill color 3-inch Twisters (grubs) on lead heads are producing well. Hair or rubber skirted jigs up to 3/8 oz, in brown or red, with craw or pork trailers are working well.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Moderate.
20 to 30-feet in clear water; shallower where the water is stained. Near the bottom on rocky shorelines and rock outcroppings on points and any area where there are current breaks. 3/16 to a maximum size of ¼ ounce hair jigs have taken the most smallmouth. Brown, black, orange patterns, with or without trailers. Live bait or hair jigs tipped with bait worked well along the rocky shorelines and on the humps. Rubber-skirted jigs took some nice smallmouth with ¼ or 3/8th oz heads, but the numbers caught didn’t match those caught with the smaller lures.
The water is cold. Use smaller lures, a slower retrieve and 4 to 6 pound-test, low-visibility line.
Night fishing continues on slow-rolled Colorado or willow leaf blade spinners (with trailers) and pig’n jigs worked along the bottom, down the moderately sloped banks. Expect this action to improve as the water cools.
STRIPED BASS
Good.
20 to 35-feet in the channels and across long points and over deep humps.
Look for baitfish concentrations. Surfacing baitfish were hard to locate on the sunny, post-front days, but some were seen near Wood Duck Island and Rabbit Island at dusk.
Troll umbrella rigs (6-inch pearl or chartreuse swimbaits as the lure components), ½ to 1 oz bucktail jigs, or live bait (shad or alewife) tightlined to the depth of the forage fish schools in mid-channel and across the points and humps. Island F vicinity to 33 Bridge and mid-Cove Creek have produced good striped bass catches. Before using umbrella rigs, read the Fishing Regulations and the hook size/number restrictions which are in effect.
WALLEYE
Slow.
20-feet deep, as shallow as 8-feet upriver in the shoals.
Lower end: Rocky, steep banks where there is old timber which extends to about 15 to 20-feet in depth.
The upper river sections have improved water conditions; male walleye should be showing up above Point 32 on the Clinch, and Points 16 to 17 on the Powell side. On the lower end of the lake, the few which have been caught have been coincidental catches by bass anglers using hair jigs or spinners on the lower half of the lake. The size of those caught has been good.
Suggested technique: troll RedFins, Thundersticks, or similar deep diving crankbaits very close to the downed timber, along steep banks with large broken rocks. Upriver: Rapalas, hair jigs tipped with rubber grubs or minnows. Cast into the shoals, vertical jig, or troll.
SOUTH HOLSTON LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Richard Markland
10 February 2012
| Surface Temperature | 46-49* | ||||||
| Elevation | 1708.37 | ||||||
| Elevation Change | 0.11 | ||||||
| Water Clarity | Clear | ||||||
| Species | Action | Method | Presentation | Depth (ft) | Time | Habitat | Where |
| Largemouth | fair | crankbaits, | casting | 5-15 | morning | rock banks | washinghton co. park |
| spoons | small pockets | area. spring creek | |||||
| 5" swimbaits | ob knob area | ||||||
| diminki | 40-60' | creek channels | |||||
| Smallmouth | great | flies | tight lined/ fnf | 8-12' | morning | points | dam, pt.2, big creek |
| silver buddy | casting | or evening | main lake | riddle creek, | |||
| spoons | jigged | 40-60' | minton hollow, | ||||
| diminki 3" | vertical jigged | 40-60' | josiah creek | ||||
| Crappie | fair | hair jigs | jigged | 8-16 | morning | brush | battery hollow, |
| tight lined | or evening | bluffs with laydowns | |||||
| spring creek, | |||||||
| wolf creek | |||||||
| Sunfish | N/A | ||||||
| Catfish | N/A | ||||||
WATAUGA LAKE FISHING REPORT - by Richard Markland
10 February 2012
| Surface Temperature | 47-49* | ||||||
| Lower/Upper | |||||||
| Elevation | 1951.61 | ||||||
| Elevation Change | 0.2 ^ | ||||||
| Water Clarity | Clear | ||||||
| Species | Action | Method | Presentation | Depth (ft) | Time | Habitat | Where |
| Largemouth | good | crankbaits, | casting | 5-15 | morning | rock banks | roan creek, elk river |
| swimbaits | small pockets | ||||||
| spoons | |||||||
| jerkbaits | |||||||
| Smallmouth | great | flies | tight lined/ fnf | 25-60 | morning | points | dam, pt.2, cove ridge |
| silver buddy | casting | or evening | main lake | roan creek, | |||
| spoons | jigged | ||||||
| swimbaits | slow rolled | ||||||
| Crappie | fair | hair jigs | jigged | 8-16 | morning | brush | pt 11, pt 7 |
| tight lined | or evening | bluffs with laydowns | |||||
| Walleye | fair | spoons | jigged | 18-25 | morning | points | elk river arm |
| silver buddy | pt.11 | ||||||
| Sunfish | N/A | ||||||
| Catfish | N/A | ||||||
