Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:
Chickamauga Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation: 680.7 feet. The water surface temperature is 68 degrees.
Largemouth Bass: Slow. Matted grass beds are being fished with weedless lures for the few that are being caught.
Smallmouth Bass: Slow. A few are being caught along the channel humps and rip-rap on the upper end.
The bigger fish are being caught downstream of Sequoyah by just a few anglers that have the bait and location figured out.
Crappie: Good. The bigger crappie are being caught by deep water trollers and tight liners in the large creeks or channels adjacent to flats. Those that have not graduated to these techniques are catching some dock crappie at the community holes. Jigs, minnows and crankbaits are being used.
Striped bass: Slow. Just a few are being caught by those using shad for bait.
Bluegill: Great. River drifters in the mid to upper reservoir using worms or crickets are catching as many fish as they want to.
Catfish: River drifters using a wide variety of meaty baits are catching fish. Some fish as large as 40 pounds were reported this past week.
Dale Hollow: Fishing is fair. Water temperature is 76 degrees; lake is slowly falling.
Bass: Several largemouth are being caught in the rivers on crankbaits and spinnerbaits around laydown trees, in 5 feet of water. Smallmouth: A few smallmouth are being caught on topwater baits and dropshots while fish are chasing shad.
Crappie: A few crappie are being caught in the rivers on minnows and laydown brush in 15 feet of water.
Great Falls: Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 77 degrees; lake is at summer pool.
Bass: A few bass are being caught on topwater baits, around bridge pillars, while fish are chasing shad.
Crappie: A few crappie are being caught on jigs and fallen trees in 15 feet of water.
Hiwassee River (near Reliance): River Conditions: The water flow has been high to normal. Recent water temperature has cooled to 63 degrees.
Trout: Anglers have caught rainbow trout up to 19 inches long. Brown trout and some brook trout have also been caught in lower numbers. Lower river temperatures may be the reason the fishing has improved. Many anglers report the best fishing they have experienced in the area in some time. Floaters have caught the greater number of fish, but waders have not been disappointed. Streamers and wooly boogers have been effective.
Smallmouth bass: A few have been caught on jigs and spinner-type lures.
Watts Bar: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 740.58 feet. The water surface temperature is 68 degrees.
Largemouth Bass: Slow. Some shallow bass are being caught. The deepest bite seems to be ending, but some deeper banks are holding a few fish. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures are being used more often than any other bait.
Smallmouth Bass: Slow. The same areas and baits are being visited and used for largemouth.
Walleye: Poor. No reports or observations. Plenty of interest and questions though.
Crappie: Fair. Deep trollers and dock pitchers are catching a few.
Catfish: Good. River drifters in the main channel using bluegill and other meaty offerings are catching a lot of catfish. The bigger the bait, the fewer but bigger fish that is normally caught.
Striped bass: Poor. Several tourists came into the area with hopes of catching trophy fish and went home disappointed.