Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:
Center Hill: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 73 degrees; lake is stable.
Bass: Several bass are being caught on topwater baits in the coves, while fish are chasing shad.
Crappie: A few crappie are being caught while fishing brush piles in 15 feet of water on jigs.
Walleye: A few walleye are being caught on flats, while jigging spoons in 40-to-45 feet of water.
Chickamauga Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation: 682.5 feet.
The water surface temperature is in the 70’s.
Largemouth Bass: Some big bags of fish are being caught. A recent tournament took over 26 lbs. with the largest fish weighing over 9 pounds. Several fish are being caught while using plastic frogs over the grass. Plastic worms are also being used in and around the grass.
Smallmouth Bass: More smallmouth are being caught in the tailwater below Watt’s Bar Dam than other areas. These anglers are using jigging spoons, shad, jigs, and other baits.
Crappie: Several crappie are being caught. Minnows or jigs are being used. Docks, blowdowns, and bluff walls are target areas. Crappie can be found in the sloughs, creeks, and river. The water depth varies from 5 to 12 feet of water depending on time of day and location.
Striped bass: Striped bass are being caught near the tailwater below Watts Bar Dam. Shad, jigs, spoons, and some topwater lures are being used to catch fish.
Bluegill: A lot of bluegill are being caught. Rock walls are consistent targets. Upper reservoir anglers drift the main channel to catch bluegill and a few shellcrackers. Crickets, small jigs, and worms are being used for bait.
Catfish: Many fish are being caught of various sizes. Larger baits catch fewer but larger fish. All baits used are meaty baits. Shad is the best bait.
Dale Hollow: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 72 degrees; lake is falling.
Bass: Several bass are being caught on spinnerbaits and crankbaits around shallow cover in the upper section of the river.
Crappie: A few crappie are being caught near East Port while fishing minnow and fallen trees in 15 feet.
Walleye: A few are being caught while jigging spoons on breaks in 35 feet of water.
Watts Bar: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 740.9 feet. The water surface temperature is in the 70’s.
Largemouth Bass: A lot of fish are being caught. Mid lake observations and reports suggest fishing may be better in this area of the lake. Topwater baits and crankbaits are being used by many anglers.
Smallmouth Bass: More smallmouth are being caught at night. Crankbaits are being used. Most smallmouth are caught by anglers targeting black bass in general.
Walleye: A report of a few walleye being caught at night in the area below Ft. Loudon Dam. No observations. Jigs were reported as the better bait. Emphasizes on the word few.
Crappie: Crappie fishing is getting better. The lake needs to cool down a little more for the better fishing. Blowdowns and docks are the most targeted areas. Jigs or minnows are being used.
Catfish: River drifters are catching several catfish primarily from Rockwood and points upstream from there. Shad is the best bait.
Striped bass: Tailwater anglers are catching a few fish. Anglers in the Kingston area are catching a good number of striped bass while bass fishing. These fish are moving into shallow areas near shad minnows.