October 20, 2010
Center Hill
Fishing is good. The water surface temperature is 67 degrees; lake is fairly stable. Several good bass are being caught on topwater baits while fish are chasing shad. Crappie fishing is fair in the river using minnows in 15-to-25 feet of water.
Chickamauga
The lake is falling and about 3 feet below summer pool. The water surface temperature is near 70 degrees. Bass fishing is good with river fish and flat fish being caught. Grassy areas and creek openings are target points for many anglers. Some ledges with stumps are target areas in the upper end of the reservoir. Plastic worms, jigs, lipless lures, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures are being used depending on the bass that are being targeted. Some heavy bass are being caught. Crappie anglers are catching many fish along bluff walls and blowdowns. Most of these fish are being caught in the river or in areas that are adjacent to the same. A few crappie are being caught in the sloughs. Some crappie are being caught near shallow piers. Minnows and/or jigs are being used for bait. White bass and rockfish are being caught in the tailwaters. Live bait is the best bait choice. Catfish are being caught in the main lake by those anglers using live bait.
Dale Hollow
Fishing is good. The water surface temperature is 66 degrees; lake is slowly falling. Several bass are being caught on drop shot rigs in 25 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair in the rivers while fishing minnows around tree tops and grass, in 15-to-20 feet of water. Walleye are being caught while jigging spoons on drops in 25-to-32 feet of water.
Watts Bar
The lake is full and the water surface temperature is near 70. Bass are being caught on a variety of lures. The general pattern is shallower than the previous week. Most bass being caught are in large water locations adjacent to deep water. Rocky areas that slope gradually toward deeper water with stumps or brush is a type of area that anglers are targeting. Crankbaits, topwater lures, and jerkbaits are being used most often for bait. Catfish are being caught in the main lake by those using live bait. Striped and white bass are being caught in the tailwaters while using live bait, jigs, and spoons. Crappie are moving into areas that are more accessible to the typical angler. Blowdowns that are located along deeper water is one type of location where crappie are being caught. Piers along secondary creek channels are holding a few crappie. The heavier sacks are being caught while trolling crank baits along creek flats. 12 feet of water seems to be the sweetest depth.
October 21, 2010
BOONE RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
Elevation - 1,375.27.
Water Temp - 65.3 degrees at the TVA Ramp.
Water Clarity - 2-3 ft.
BASS
The Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass bite has been slow this week during the day, but as the water gets cooler maybe the bite will be on within the next few days. Early in the morning around daylight there have been a few fish caught on topwater (Spook, pop'r, buzzbait) on long tapering points or around Islands. If they are not hitting topwater throw a Bandit 200 series (brown/orange or any craw pattern) on river rock banks or points.
STRIPED BASS/CHEROKEE BASS
On the Holston side Candy Creek early morning and late evening trolling Alewife, Gizzard Shad or Trout 10-15 ft. for Hybrids, and 20-30 ft. for Stripers. Trolling a white Bucktail jig with a white/blue ribbon tail worm has caught some Stripers in front of the Dam. On the Watauga side, Buddy’s Beach and Point 19 have produced some Stripers caught on Alewife and Bucktail jigs from 15-30 ft.
CRAPPIE
There have been a few Crappie caught in Candy Creek and Misty Waters using a fly tipped with a small minnow, in 5-10 ft. of water, using a cast and retrieve method in open water and around docks, brush.
MELTON HILL RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The predicted water level above the Dam is holding around 793 ft. with some fluctuation. Surface temperatures are falling slightly to the low to mid-60’s. The lake is clear except for a slight green tint, which is nearly perfect for fishing. The water level is fluctuating just a little, but staying close to full pool. The water is still cooler upstream toward the 61 Bridge SUMMARY:
Bass fishing seems to be improving slightly. Crappie fishing is also picking up. Striped bass are breaking around Reactor Bend, chasing baitfish. Early morning is still the best time for topwater bass. Jerkbaits and buzzbaits are doing fair until the sun gets up over the trees. Crankbaits are also catching a few until the sun gets straight over head. Then, you have to go a little deeper with some deep divers or jig and pig. Shakyhead or Texas-rigged Brushhogs are doing fair also. Crickets are a good choice for some good-size bluegill, but you may have to fish a little deeper to find the bigger ones. There have been some nice channel cats caught on beef liver and also on fresh shrimp. There have also been some huge stripers caught at the mouth of the steam plant on live skipjack. The muskies should start to improve very soon due to the cooler water temperatures.
LARGEMOUTH AND SPOTTED BASS
Improving.
3-15 feet.
Bass fishing has started to improve greatly, due to the cooler water temperatures. White spinnerbaits with gold blades seem to be doing better than most other colors. Chartreuse spinnerbaits are also doing fair, but not as good as white with gold blades. Bandit crankbaits in everything from crawfish colors to minnow imitating colors are improving every day. Green pumpkin is a good color choice on just about any reservoir in this area for soft plastics like lizards and brushhogs. Flukes and Sinkos are catching their share of good bass and should continue to improve. Any stretch of shoreline with rocks as the major source of cover is a good place to start looking for some good keeper bass. If the bass are not on the rocks, then try the overhanging bushes and trees and also the submerged timber.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Moderating.
3-12 feet.
Smallmouth are starting to bite a little better in a few places, mostly around the Solway Bridge area and upstream towards Bull Run Creek and downstream around Reactor Bend and the ski zone. Crankbaits seem to be the bait they like the best right now. Just about any minnow imitator is doing fairly well for now. The float-n-fly is beginning to catch a few here and there. Minnow imitating flies in white with silver are the ticket right now.
STRIPED BASS
Improving.
Some nice-size striped bass have been spotted breaking around the area of the reactor. This action should continue to improve. If you see those fish breaking the surface, it means that they are chasing baitfish.
MUSKY
Moderating.
The muskies have spread out over the reservoir and they seem to be moving downstream for the most part. There have been several sightings down toward Carbide Park and even down as far as Reactor Bend and the ski zone. Big chartreuse spinnerbaits and also shallow invaders are still producing, as well as just about any kind of rainbow trout imitator. The big 8 and 10-inch rainbow trout swimbaits are good bait choices.
CRAPPIE
Improving
6-15 ft.
Crappie are starting to bite better and should continue to improve as the cooler water temperatures continue to drop. They have been a little slow to get started this year, but will probably be better as fall approaches. Hope Creek is a good place to start looking. Some good-size crappie have been caught from there all the way upstream to the Edgemore Bridge. Bull Run Creek should still be holding a few deep crappie. All the coves between the Solway Bridge and Beaver Creek are good spots to try.
BLUEGILL
Moderating.
The bluegill bite seems to be slowing a little bit. You can still find some on just about any kind of structure, whether it be submerged or not. Fallen trees are a good place to start looking for them, and small live bait offerings such as red worms or crickets are excellent bait choices. Under boathouses is another good place to fish for these scrappy little fish. Any kind of shady spot is usually a good bluegill hangout. A fly rod with a small popping bug works extremely well for these good eating fish.
NORRIS RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The fall drawdown continues. The water elevation is 1,005.2-feet, which is a foot lower than it was last week. The water level is expected to fall 4.8-inches over the next two days. Afternoon water surface temperature readings have been 70 to 72 degrees. The water is clear, with as much as 8-feet of visibility in some locations on the lower end.
SUMMARY:
STRIPED BASS continue to hit in the shallow headwaters, and at the heads of the larger creek embayments. Some topwater action was seen. Clear days had them as deep as 35 feet on the lower end.
LARGEMOUTH BASS hit shallow-running crankbaits on main channels and in the coves. Soft jerk baits took some close to the shoreline where baitfish were active.
SMALLMOUTH BASS surface activity was intermittent through the week. On slow surface action days, they suspended and hit as deep as 25-feet below mid-channel surface schools of baitfish. Small Flukes or Assassins took some of these fish. Crankbaits took fish from the points and on rocky banks.
WALLEYE were slow.
CRAPPIE were slow, the best catches coming on the main channel brush far upstream.
BLUEGILL continue to hit crickets and wax worms, as deep as 25 feet for the larger ones.
SHELLCRACKERS hit on red worms, off rocky outcroppings in the Loyston Sea area.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Moderate, improving.
Surface to 25-feet. Best at dawn and on cloudy days. Crankbait action is picking up. Medium running Bandit crankbaits in crawfish/orange or red crawfish patterns , cast to broken rock banks. Small plastic worms (Senko or Slider-type), 6-inch lizards, Flukes, and pig’n jigs (rubber skirt). Some reported hitting chrome willow leaf spinners along the rocky banks. Buzzbaits and topwater catches are still getting some in the coves at dawn.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Moderate.
Surface in the breaks, or on the bottom at 25-feet on the points, mainly. When no surface action is going on, they are suspended at 20 to 25 feet in mid-channel, below schools of forage fish which are seen in the channels on calm days. At dawn and dusk, smallmouth can be seen feeding on tiny forage fish which are schooling on the surface on gravel shorelines, but often far from shore. Cast small doll flies, Flukes/Assassin-type plastic lures, or slender topwater plugs/jerkbaits to the breaks. Small, slender Fluke-type lures, cast with little weight on low-visibility line of about 6 pound test is helping catch these suspended or surface feeding fish. The points are good during the drawdown periods. 3/8 to 1/2 ounce black or dark brown hair jigs, or small spoons, worked slowly along the bottom at 25 to 30-feet deep on the humps are taking some fish. Crawfish pattern crankbaits are picking some up very close to main channel banks where there are larger rocks.
STRIPED BASS
Fair, better in the headwaters.
In the channels, 30 to 35-feet on the lower half of the lake. Shallow in the Clinch and Powell headwaters. These fish are feeding on small forage fish, on the surface at dusk. Large coves and along the shoreline have been heavy activity areas. There were few breaks in mid-channel. Daytime has seen these fish suspended as deep as 35-feet on the lower end of the reservoir. The lower end fish are moving into the heads of the larger creeks. Tightline live shad or alewife, or jig spoons (Hopkins, CastMaster, or Mann O’Lures) to 25 to 30-feet deep where suspended forage fish and striped bass are located. Zara Spooks, or soft jerkbaits on surface feeding fish, but the surface activity is limited to just before dark and at dawn, and is intermittent at best.
CRAPPIE
Slow.
5 to 10-feet deep in brush, or to 20-feet, on the bottom, at dawn and under lights at night.
Early morning fishing in shoreline brush, to 15-feet. Fish early in the morning before the sunlight hits the brush, along steep, main channel shorelines, the best areas being from Point 30 and above on the Clinch, and above Union County Dock on the Powell. Tightline vertically into the brush with small doll flies, 1-inch tube jigs (red/white, blue/white) and 1/32 ounce hair or feather jigs tipped with minnows. Tightlining or float fishing in the brush is producing all those caught in the daylight.
WALLEYE
Slow.
25 feet at night and at dusk, close to the bottom.
Mann O’Lures, Hopkins spoons, alewife.
Jig on the bottom at night, under lights. Or fish with shad or alewife, casting the bait beyond the lights at night. Mann O’Lures or Hopkins spoons vertically jigged on the bottom at night, 25 to 30-feet deep. Mill Creek to Lost Creek was the best area for these fish. Trolling success was mighty slow. Jigging was taking all of those caught, but the numbers were low.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
Elevation - 1,713.35.
Water Temp - 66.1 degrees at the Dam.
Water Clarity - 3-5 ft.
BASS
Fishing is picking up during the day but as the water temps have started to cool down and the lake is being pulled on an average of 1 ft. per week. The Smallmouth and Largemouth bite is still slow this week. The bite is still early in the morning around brush piles and along blow downs on small Spooks, spinnerbait’s around bluffs and brush. From there, start fishing with worms or tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin). Also, crankbaits have been decent this week with a Crawfish pattern along bluff’s and rock banks.
CRAPPIE
There have been a few caught from Wolfe Creek and around the Water Intake on the VA side of the lake on fly and small minnows, in 3-12 ft. of water.
TELLICO RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The predicted water level at the Dam is holding at approx. 812.30 ft. The surface temperatures are still falling slightly and are down into the mid-60’s, with slightly cooler temperatures in the early morning hours. The water is clear over the entire reservoir, with a little more of a stained appearance around the Notchy Creek area and in the Ballplay area.
SUMMARY:
Bass fishing seems to be improving and some fairly nice bass are congregating back onto the primary points and also on the ledges of the creek and river channels. Crappie are still hitting pretty good, especially around the Notchy Creek area. Largemouth and smallmouth have moved back up onto the primary points and crankbaits are a good bait choice. Early morning is a good time for the topwater bite. Evening until midnight is a good jig bite and also a good spinnerbait or crankbait bite. Just about all the walleye and a big part of the bigger bass are still hitting a little at night. Crankbaits retrieved parallel with the shoreline are catching a few nice largemouth and smallmouth. Trolling or float and minnow are the two best ways to catch some crappie. You may have to go as deep as 20 feet to get the bigger ones. Bluegill are also doing well, and seem to be congregated around the submerged timber and brush.
CRAPPIE
10-15 ft.
Improving.
Crappie seem to have moved back up to shallower water and are hitting good around the Notchy Creek area. Black and clear flake along with chartreuse with red jig head are good color choices. A medium action rod with 6-8 lb. test line is a good choice. Island Creek and Clear Creek are also producing some good stringers and should continue to improve. For the most part the crappie have started to improve just about everywhere, and you can still catch some nice ones if you slow down and fish the brushpiles and downed timber with the old float and minnow. You may have to fish as deep as 18 feet but most of the better-size crappie should be close to the thermocline, which is the usually located between the warm surface water and the cool bottom of the lake water. 12-15 feet is good depth to start searching for crappie this time of year.
WALLEYE
12-18 ft.
Better at night.
There are still some walleye being caught, but you have to go out at night to catch them. Trolling crankbaits or nightcrawler harnesses are both doing o.k. Average size is about 2.5-3.5 lbs. The submerged islands around the Toqua area are a good place to start looking for some nice-size walleyes. Another good place to start looking for some nighttime walleyes is around the islands at the Clear Creek and Fork Creek area. Redfins reeled very slowly at night is a good choice in lures.
BASS
1-10 ft.
Improving.
Bass fishing is improving more and more every day. The bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, are congregating on the primary points and hitting just about anything you throw at them. Crankbaits that imitate baitfish are producing very well. Shad Raps and Rattle Traps are two very good choices. Blue and chrome is hard to beat in the Rattle Trap and Silver and black with orange belly is a good choice in the Shad Rap. Jerkbaits are catching a few along with swimbaits. Also, there are a few spotted bass being caught along with the others. Shakyhead worms are starting to catch a few and also the float and fly for smallmouths. Green pumpkin Brushhogs on Shakyhead hooks are still doing fair. And even the spotted bass love the Shakyhead no matter whether it’s a worm or a lizard or a Brushhog or even a Critter Craw.
CATFISH
5-50 ft.
Very good, especially at night.
The big cats are hitting all over the reservoir and nighttime is the best time to catch them. Chicken livers, nightcrawlers, fresh or frozen shrimp, cutbait, live bluegill or whatever your favorite catfish bait is; it’s time for some big cats. You can catch them just about anywhere in the lake you want to fish. If you use frozen shrimp it’s best to soak it in a little water with some garlic salt mixed in overnight.
Center Hill
Fishing is good. The water surface temperature is 67 degrees; lake is fairly stable. Several good bass are being caught on topwater baits while fish are chasing shad. Crappie fishing is fair in the river using minnows in 15-to-25 feet of water.
Chickamauga
The lake is falling and about 3 feet below summer pool. The water surface temperature is near 70 degrees. Bass fishing is good with river fish and flat fish being caught. Grassy areas and creek openings are target points for many anglers. Some ledges with stumps are target areas in the upper end of the reservoir. Plastic worms, jigs, lipless lures, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures are being used depending on the bass that are being targeted. Some heavy bass are being caught. Crappie anglers are catching many fish along bluff walls and blowdowns. Most of these fish are being caught in the river or in areas that are adjacent to the same. A few crappie are being caught in the sloughs. Some crappie are being caught near shallow piers. Minnows and/or jigs are being used for bait. White bass and rockfish are being caught in the tailwaters. Live bait is the best bait choice. Catfish are being caught in the main lake by those anglers using live bait.
Dale Hollow
Fishing is good. The water surface temperature is 66 degrees; lake is slowly falling. Several bass are being caught on drop shot rigs in 25 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair in the rivers while fishing minnows around tree tops and grass, in 15-to-20 feet of water. Walleye are being caught while jigging spoons on drops in 25-to-32 feet of water.
Watts Bar
The lake is full and the water surface temperature is near 70. Bass are being caught on a variety of lures. The general pattern is shallower than the previous week. Most bass being caught are in large water locations adjacent to deep water. Rocky areas that slope gradually toward deeper water with stumps or brush is a type of area that anglers are targeting. Crankbaits, topwater lures, and jerkbaits are being used most often for bait. Catfish are being caught in the main lake by those using live bait. Striped and white bass are being caught in the tailwaters while using live bait, jigs, and spoons. Crappie are moving into areas that are more accessible to the typical angler. Blowdowns that are located along deeper water is one type of location where crappie are being caught. Piers along secondary creek channels are holding a few crappie. The heavier sacks are being caught while trolling crank baits along creek flats. 12 feet of water seems to be the sweetest depth.
October 21, 2010
BOONE RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
Elevation - 1,375.27.
Water Temp - 65.3 degrees at the TVA Ramp.
Water Clarity - 2-3 ft.
BASS
The Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass bite has been slow this week during the day, but as the water gets cooler maybe the bite will be on within the next few days. Early in the morning around daylight there have been a few fish caught on topwater (Spook, pop'r, buzzbait) on long tapering points or around Islands. If they are not hitting topwater throw a Bandit 200 series (brown/orange or any craw pattern) on river rock banks or points.
STRIPED BASS/CHEROKEE BASS
On the Holston side Candy Creek early morning and late evening trolling Alewife, Gizzard Shad or Trout 10-15 ft. for Hybrids, and 20-30 ft. for Stripers. Trolling a white Bucktail jig with a white/blue ribbon tail worm has caught some Stripers in front of the Dam. On the Watauga side, Buddy’s Beach and Point 19 have produced some Stripers caught on Alewife and Bucktail jigs from 15-30 ft.
CRAPPIE
There have been a few Crappie caught in Candy Creek and Misty Waters using a fly tipped with a small minnow, in 5-10 ft. of water, using a cast and retrieve method in open water and around docks, brush.
MELTON HILL RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The predicted water level above the Dam is holding around 793 ft. with some fluctuation. Surface temperatures are falling slightly to the low to mid-60’s. The lake is clear except for a slight green tint, which is nearly perfect for fishing. The water level is fluctuating just a little, but staying close to full pool. The water is still cooler upstream toward the 61 Bridge SUMMARY:
Bass fishing seems to be improving slightly. Crappie fishing is also picking up. Striped bass are breaking around Reactor Bend, chasing baitfish. Early morning is still the best time for topwater bass. Jerkbaits and buzzbaits are doing fair until the sun gets up over the trees. Crankbaits are also catching a few until the sun gets straight over head. Then, you have to go a little deeper with some deep divers or jig and pig. Shakyhead or Texas-rigged Brushhogs are doing fair also. Crickets are a good choice for some good-size bluegill, but you may have to fish a little deeper to find the bigger ones. There have been some nice channel cats caught on beef liver and also on fresh shrimp. There have also been some huge stripers caught at the mouth of the steam plant on live skipjack. The muskies should start to improve very soon due to the cooler water temperatures.
LARGEMOUTH AND SPOTTED BASS
Improving.
3-15 feet.
Bass fishing has started to improve greatly, due to the cooler water temperatures. White spinnerbaits with gold blades seem to be doing better than most other colors. Chartreuse spinnerbaits are also doing fair, but not as good as white with gold blades. Bandit crankbaits in everything from crawfish colors to minnow imitating colors are improving every day. Green pumpkin is a good color choice on just about any reservoir in this area for soft plastics like lizards and brushhogs. Flukes and Sinkos are catching their share of good bass and should continue to improve. Any stretch of shoreline with rocks as the major source of cover is a good place to start looking for some good keeper bass. If the bass are not on the rocks, then try the overhanging bushes and trees and also the submerged timber.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Moderating.
3-12 feet.
Smallmouth are starting to bite a little better in a few places, mostly around the Solway Bridge area and upstream towards Bull Run Creek and downstream around Reactor Bend and the ski zone. Crankbaits seem to be the bait they like the best right now. Just about any minnow imitator is doing fairly well for now. The float-n-fly is beginning to catch a few here and there. Minnow imitating flies in white with silver are the ticket right now.
STRIPED BASS
Improving.
Some nice-size striped bass have been spotted breaking around the area of the reactor. This action should continue to improve. If you see those fish breaking the surface, it means that they are chasing baitfish.
MUSKY
Moderating.
The muskies have spread out over the reservoir and they seem to be moving downstream for the most part. There have been several sightings down toward Carbide Park and even down as far as Reactor Bend and the ski zone. Big chartreuse spinnerbaits and also shallow invaders are still producing, as well as just about any kind of rainbow trout imitator. The big 8 and 10-inch rainbow trout swimbaits are good bait choices.
CRAPPIE
Improving
6-15 ft.
Crappie are starting to bite better and should continue to improve as the cooler water temperatures continue to drop. They have been a little slow to get started this year, but will probably be better as fall approaches. Hope Creek is a good place to start looking. Some good-size crappie have been caught from there all the way upstream to the Edgemore Bridge. Bull Run Creek should still be holding a few deep crappie. All the coves between the Solway Bridge and Beaver Creek are good spots to try.
BLUEGILL
Moderating.
The bluegill bite seems to be slowing a little bit. You can still find some on just about any kind of structure, whether it be submerged or not. Fallen trees are a good place to start looking for them, and small live bait offerings such as red worms or crickets are excellent bait choices. Under boathouses is another good place to fish for these scrappy little fish. Any kind of shady spot is usually a good bluegill hangout. A fly rod with a small popping bug works extremely well for these good eating fish.
NORRIS RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The fall drawdown continues. The water elevation is 1,005.2-feet, which is a foot lower than it was last week. The water level is expected to fall 4.8-inches over the next two days. Afternoon water surface temperature readings have been 70 to 72 degrees. The water is clear, with as much as 8-feet of visibility in some locations on the lower end.
SUMMARY:
STRIPED BASS continue to hit in the shallow headwaters, and at the heads of the larger creek embayments. Some topwater action was seen. Clear days had them as deep as 35 feet on the lower end.
LARGEMOUTH BASS hit shallow-running crankbaits on main channels and in the coves. Soft jerk baits took some close to the shoreline where baitfish were active.
SMALLMOUTH BASS surface activity was intermittent through the week. On slow surface action days, they suspended and hit as deep as 25-feet below mid-channel surface schools of baitfish. Small Flukes or Assassins took some of these fish. Crankbaits took fish from the points and on rocky banks.
WALLEYE were slow.
CRAPPIE were slow, the best catches coming on the main channel brush far upstream.
BLUEGILL continue to hit crickets and wax worms, as deep as 25 feet for the larger ones.
SHELLCRACKERS hit on red worms, off rocky outcroppings in the Loyston Sea area.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Moderate, improving.
Surface to 25-feet. Best at dawn and on cloudy days. Crankbait action is picking up. Medium running Bandit crankbaits in crawfish/orange or red crawfish patterns , cast to broken rock banks. Small plastic worms (Senko or Slider-type), 6-inch lizards, Flukes, and pig’n jigs (rubber skirt). Some reported hitting chrome willow leaf spinners along the rocky banks. Buzzbaits and topwater catches are still getting some in the coves at dawn.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Moderate.
Surface in the breaks, or on the bottom at 25-feet on the points, mainly. When no surface action is going on, they are suspended at 20 to 25 feet in mid-channel, below schools of forage fish which are seen in the channels on calm days. At dawn and dusk, smallmouth can be seen feeding on tiny forage fish which are schooling on the surface on gravel shorelines, but often far from shore. Cast small doll flies, Flukes/Assassin-type plastic lures, or slender topwater plugs/jerkbaits to the breaks. Small, slender Fluke-type lures, cast with little weight on low-visibility line of about 6 pound test is helping catch these suspended or surface feeding fish. The points are good during the drawdown periods. 3/8 to 1/2 ounce black or dark brown hair jigs, or small spoons, worked slowly along the bottom at 25 to 30-feet deep on the humps are taking some fish. Crawfish pattern crankbaits are picking some up very close to main channel banks where there are larger rocks.
STRIPED BASS
Fair, better in the headwaters.
In the channels, 30 to 35-feet on the lower half of the lake. Shallow in the Clinch and Powell headwaters. These fish are feeding on small forage fish, on the surface at dusk. Large coves and along the shoreline have been heavy activity areas. There were few breaks in mid-channel. Daytime has seen these fish suspended as deep as 35-feet on the lower end of the reservoir. The lower end fish are moving into the heads of the larger creeks. Tightline live shad or alewife, or jig spoons (Hopkins, CastMaster, or Mann O’Lures) to 25 to 30-feet deep where suspended forage fish and striped bass are located. Zara Spooks, or soft jerkbaits on surface feeding fish, but the surface activity is limited to just before dark and at dawn, and is intermittent at best.
CRAPPIE
Slow.
5 to 10-feet deep in brush, or to 20-feet, on the bottom, at dawn and under lights at night.
Early morning fishing in shoreline brush, to 15-feet. Fish early in the morning before the sunlight hits the brush, along steep, main channel shorelines, the best areas being from Point 30 and above on the Clinch, and above Union County Dock on the Powell. Tightline vertically into the brush with small doll flies, 1-inch tube jigs (red/white, blue/white) and 1/32 ounce hair or feather jigs tipped with minnows. Tightlining or float fishing in the brush is producing all those caught in the daylight.
WALLEYE
Slow.
25 feet at night and at dusk, close to the bottom.
Mann O’Lures, Hopkins spoons, alewife.
Jig on the bottom at night, under lights. Or fish with shad or alewife, casting the bait beyond the lights at night. Mann O’Lures or Hopkins spoons vertically jigged on the bottom at night, 25 to 30-feet deep. Mill Creek to Lost Creek was the best area for these fish. Trolling success was mighty slow. Jigging was taking all of those caught, but the numbers were low.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
Elevation - 1,713.35.
Water Temp - 66.1 degrees at the Dam.
Water Clarity - 3-5 ft.
BASS
Fishing is picking up during the day but as the water temps have started to cool down and the lake is being pulled on an average of 1 ft. per week. The Smallmouth and Largemouth bite is still slow this week. The bite is still early in the morning around brush piles and along blow downs on small Spooks, spinnerbait’s around bluffs and brush. From there, start fishing with worms or tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin). Also, crankbaits have been decent this week with a Crawfish pattern along bluff’s and rock banks.
CRAPPIE
There have been a few caught from Wolfe Creek and around the Water Intake on the VA side of the lake on fly and small minnows, in 3-12 ft. of water.
TELLICO RESERVOIR: 10/21/10
WATER CONDITIONS:
The predicted water level at the Dam is holding at approx. 812.30 ft. The surface temperatures are still falling slightly and are down into the mid-60’s, with slightly cooler temperatures in the early morning hours. The water is clear over the entire reservoir, with a little more of a stained appearance around the Notchy Creek area and in the Ballplay area.
SUMMARY:
Bass fishing seems to be improving and some fairly nice bass are congregating back onto the primary points and also on the ledges of the creek and river channels. Crappie are still hitting pretty good, especially around the Notchy Creek area. Largemouth and smallmouth have moved back up onto the primary points and crankbaits are a good bait choice. Early morning is a good time for the topwater bite. Evening until midnight is a good jig bite and also a good spinnerbait or crankbait bite. Just about all the walleye and a big part of the bigger bass are still hitting a little at night. Crankbaits retrieved parallel with the shoreline are catching a few nice largemouth and smallmouth. Trolling or float and minnow are the two best ways to catch some crappie. You may have to go as deep as 20 feet to get the bigger ones. Bluegill are also doing well, and seem to be congregated around the submerged timber and brush.
CRAPPIE
10-15 ft.
Improving.
Crappie seem to have moved back up to shallower water and are hitting good around the Notchy Creek area. Black and clear flake along with chartreuse with red jig head are good color choices. A medium action rod with 6-8 lb. test line is a good choice. Island Creek and Clear Creek are also producing some good stringers and should continue to improve. For the most part the crappie have started to improve just about everywhere, and you can still catch some nice ones if you slow down and fish the brushpiles and downed timber with the old float and minnow. You may have to fish as deep as 18 feet but most of the better-size crappie should be close to the thermocline, which is the usually located between the warm surface water and the cool bottom of the lake water. 12-15 feet is good depth to start searching for crappie this time of year.
WALLEYE
12-18 ft.
Better at night.
There are still some walleye being caught, but you have to go out at night to catch them. Trolling crankbaits or nightcrawler harnesses are both doing o.k. Average size is about 2.5-3.5 lbs. The submerged islands around the Toqua area are a good place to start looking for some nice-size walleyes. Another good place to start looking for some nighttime walleyes is around the islands at the Clear Creek and Fork Creek area. Redfins reeled very slowly at night is a good choice in lures.
BASS
1-10 ft.
Improving.
Bass fishing is improving more and more every day. The bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, are congregating on the primary points and hitting just about anything you throw at them. Crankbaits that imitate baitfish are producing very well. Shad Raps and Rattle Traps are two very good choices. Blue and chrome is hard to beat in the Rattle Trap and Silver and black with orange belly is a good choice in the Shad Rap. Jerkbaits are catching a few along with swimbaits. Also, there are a few spotted bass being caught along with the others. Shakyhead worms are starting to catch a few and also the float and fly for smallmouths. Green pumpkin Brushhogs on Shakyhead hooks are still doing fair. And even the spotted bass love the Shakyhead no matter whether it’s a worm or a lizard or a Brushhog or even a Critter Craw.
CATFISH
5-50 ft.
Very good, especially at night.
The big cats are hitting all over the reservoir and nighttime is the best time to catch them. Chicken livers, nightcrawlers, fresh or frozen shrimp, cutbait, live bluegill or whatever your favorite catfish bait is; it’s time for some big cats. You can catch them just about anywhere in the lake you want to fish. If you use frozen shrimp it’s best to soak it in a little water with some garlic salt mixed in overnight.