posted June 30, 2009
) Photo by Richard Simms Jerry Uhrine (center) caught this huge 75 lb. blue catfish with Scenic City Fishing Charters recently. The huge fish was caught on mere 10-pound test line, and may qualify for a Catch & Release Line Class World Record from the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Jerry has submitted his application. Pictured with Jerry are his friends, Gary Hatcher (left) and Ted Boozer. |
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BOONE RESERVOIRBoone and Watauga fishing reports will be discontinued while the creel clerk completes military assignments.
CENTER HILL, as of June 30
CHEROKEE LAKE
The creel clerk that alternates between Cherokee and Douglas has retired. It has not been determined when that position will be filled. At this time there are no reports available.
Send your fishing report via E-MAIL to Richard Simms.
CHICKAMAUGA, as of June 30
The lake is at summer pool and the water surface temperature is near eighty degrees. Catfish are being caught in most areas of the lake while drifting in the main channel. All the normal catfish baits are being used with success. Some heavy weights are being caught. Bass fishing is very good. Bass are being caught in the summer patterns such as humps, drops, and points on or adjacent to the primary water. There are more bass being caught while schooling than in previous weeks. Crankbaits, spoons, swimbaits and plastic worms should complete the list of needed arsenal for those in search of bass. White bass are being caught near current breaks, sunken islands, and in the tailwaters. The most popular baits are spoons and spinner-type lures. Crappie are being caught along deep water drops and structure in the same area. Minnows and jigs are being used for bait. Night crappie are easier to catch while fishing underneath the lights. Bluegill can be caught while using crickets for bait. Bluff walls in the main channel is the best area for bluegill. Some rockfish are being caught mainly in the tailwater areas.
DALE HOLLOW, as of June 30
Fishing is good. Water temperature is 82; lake is falling. Lots of walleye are being caught while trolling day and night, using hot-n-tots and nightcrawler rigs in 22 feet of water. Bass fishing is good at night on spinnerbaits, jigs and soft, plastic baits, while fishing points in 10-to-20 feet of water. A few crappie are being caught at night while fishing under the lights with minnows in 15-to- n20 feet of water. Trout fishing is good near the dam while trolling spoons in 35-40 feet of water.
DOUGLAS LAKE
The creel clerk that alternates between Cherokee and Douglas has retired. It has not been determined when that position will be filled. At this time there are no reports available.
FORT LOUDON, as of June 19
No Report.
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Send your fishing report via E-MAIL to Richard Simms.
MELTON HILL, as of June 19
Green pumpkin is one of the top color choices for soft plastics such as brushhawgs, baby brushhawgs, or lizards or big tubes. Fallen trees seem to be holding the majority of the big bass, and there are plenty of 2-3 pounders, scattered around here and there, and the fishing seems to be improving already. The shaky head worm in green pumpkin is beginning to work very well around the rocks and rocky banks with fallen trees or any kind of structure. The crappie seemed to have scattered along with the bass and bluegill and everything else when they started dumping the cold water from Norris, but all the fish seem to be starting to school back up again. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of musky sightings over the last couple of weeks. But, that doesn’t mean they’re not still around. They have to be somewhere, and patience is the key to these big predator fish. Don’t forget, muskies must be 44 inches to harvest.
NORRIS, as of June 19
SMALLMOUTH BASS are hitting close to the bottom at 18 to 25 feet on the humps and off points. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS are hitting topwater plugs, jerk baits, and watermelon and pumpkin lizards and worms in the shallows, close to the shoreline brush at the break of day. Late afternoons have seen some catches on topwater, also. CRAPPIE catches were good under the lanterns at night, on the Clinch arm above Point 29, especially. STRIPED BASS continues to be good at about 20 feet deep during the morning hours. WALLEYE catches are still slow, but some are being caught at dusk and at night. Some of the walleye which were caught were big fish. Along the rocky banks where there is flooded brush, SHELLCRACKERS are hitting redworms, crickets, nightcrawlers, and occasionally small crankbaits from Mill Creek to Poor Land Creek. They were in the brush at less than 5-feet deep. BLUEGILL improved on crickets, popping bugs and waxworms. Some of the bluegill caught have been quite large. Bluegill have been popping the surface in the afternoon hours, on shady, rocky banks. CATFISH are in the slab rocks, hitting nightcrawlers fished at about 5 feet deep in the early morning hours.
SOUTH HOLSTON, Dec. 28
Bass fishing seems to be picking up with the cooler temperatures. The Smallmouth bass are really starting to become more active. Bass fishing was slow on the bluebird sky days, but good numbers of bass were caught on the days when an overcast sky was present, as usually is the case on South Holston. Largemouth bass can still be found in treetops or on flats with a crankbait or a white or chartreuse spinnerbait or fluke, but most catches is predominantly smallmouth. The largemouth numbers are better up toward the Virginia line. Smallmouth have been taken on three basic baits the past couple of weeks; float and fly, bone color “Long A”, and a white or chartreuse fluke. The fluke has been especially good early in the mornings, or throughout the day on cloudy days. Fishing the fluke in about 3-8 feet of water off shallow dirt points has been working the best. A bone color "Long A" has really been effective the past few weeks off points in the mornings, especially if there is cloud cover or a good breeze blowing. The float and fly has been another good method for catching quality fish and good numbers in the middle of the day, especially a float and fly with a minnow about 15-20 feet deep off bluffs and walls. Blue or grey flies seem to be the colors of choice. As the water temperatures continue to drop, the fly will get even better. The lower end of the lake seems to be the hot spot lately, from Point 3 down into Riddle Creek. When it rains, fishermen have been reporting good numbers of smallmouth up in the river on the Virginia side. Spoons have also been producing quality smallmouth off points. Crappie fishing is still slow and cooler water temperatures are probably needed before the fishing really becomes active. The best numbers of fish can be found in the creek channels and coves where brush or treetops are located. Most of these fish are being caught on live minnows in about 5-8 feet of water. Blue or Chartreuse jigs and flies have been somewhat successful. Jacob’s Creek, around the Observation Knob area, and Little Oak area seem to be holding the most crappie now. No reports on Walleye this week.
TELLICO
The creel clerk is currently off work due to a back injury. Reports will resume as soon as he recuperates.
WATAUGA
Boone and Watauga fishing reports will be discontinued while the creel clerk completes military assignments.
WATTS BAR, as of June 30
The surface water temperature is near eighty degrees. White bass are being caught while using spinner-type lures and spoons. Mid lake humps and points seem to be the best target for those in search of white bass. Catfish are being caught most often in the area from Paint Rock to Fort Loudon Dam on the normal catfish baits. Shad is the top bait. Crappie can be caught day or night, but the easy crappie are being caught at night fishing underneath lights while using jigs or minnows. Bass are in their full summer mode which means big water points, humps, and current breaks should be the target areas. This does not mean bass can not be caught in other areas, but these areas are the first areas successful anglers investigate. Plastic worms, crankbaits, swimbaits, and spoons are the first lures anglers try. The choice will change with the target area. Rockfish are being caught in the tailwater areas and occasionally near humps by the white bass anglers. Bluegill are being caught near bluff walls.
Go HERE for Georgia Fishing Reports & links to GA Lake Levels or check Water Release Schedules from TVA Dams
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