Fishing Report From TWRA

Friday, July 13, 2012


Here is the TWRA fishing report:


Center Hill:  Fishing is slow.  Water temperature is 87 degrees; lake is falling.  A few bass are being caught at night on jigs and spinnerbaits on points in 15-to-20 feet of water.  Walleye fishing is good while trolling nightcrawlers, on flats, in 22 feet of water. 

Chickamauga: The lake is at full pool and fluctuating. The surface water temperature is in the upper to mid eighties in most areas. Bass are being caught in areas adjacent or in the main channel. Some big water secondary locations are holding generous numbers of fish at times. Plastic worms rigged various ways are being used more often than other lures. Crappie are being caught along secondary and main channel drops, docks and brush. Minnows, jigs, and crankbaits are being used by crappie anglers. Trolling, pitching, tightlining, and umbrella rigging are techniques that can be employed to catch crappie. Striped bass are being caught in the tailwaters. Shad is the best bait that can be used to catch striped bass, but artificial lures can be used to catch a few.  White bass are being caught while schooling in areas all over the lake. The more consistent schoolers are being found in the area considered to be the tailwaters below Watts Bar Dam. Jigs and spoons are lures that can be used to catch white bass.

Cordell Hull:  Fishing is slow.  Water temperature is 91 degrees. Lake is fairly stable.  A few walleye are being caught near Celina while trolling channels with deep running crankbaits. 

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is slow.  Water temperature is 86 degrees. Lake is falling.  A few walleye are being caught at night while trolling deep running crankbaits in 25-to-30 feet of water on flats. Bass fishing is fair with a few caught on jigs and spinnerbaits on points in 15 feet of water.  A few trout are being caught near the dam while fishing under lights with nightcrawlers in 45 feet of water.

Nickajack: The surface water temperature is in the mid to upper eighties. Lake anglers on the lower end are catching bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie. Bass are schooling in some areas. Topwater lures and lipless crankbaits are being used to catch the schoolers. Most of these bass are small fish. Flats, humps and ledges adjacent to the main channel are locations where most bass are being caught. Plastic worms are being used by most anglers. A few crappie are being caught along grass edges especially early in the day in areas adjacent to the channel. Current diversions are particularly good areas to begin the search. Most of those crappie being caught are of the black variety. Minnows and jigs are equal opportunity enticers. Catfish are being caught in the channel by those drifting with shad or meaty concoctions. Bluegill are being caught by those using jigs or crickets in most areas of the lake. Rocky banks along the main channel are good areas to catch bluegill.

Watts Bar: The lake is full and stable. The surface water temperature is in the mid to upper eighties depending on the time of day and area being checked. Main lake drifters are catching catfish while using many baits generally associated with fishing for catfish. Bass anglers are targeting summer bass havens that include points, humps, and drops adjacent or in the main channel. Jigs and plastic worms are the lures being used most often. Most bass are averaging slightly more than two pounds. Some crappie are being caught along river bluffs and deeper brush in large water coves while using minnows or jigs for bait. Some trollers are catching crappie while trolling crankbaits along ledges in deeper water. Striped bass are being caught in the tailwaters below Melton Hill Dam and Ft. Loudon Dam. Shad is the best bait, but some jig and spoon fed fish are being caught. White bass are occasionally being caught while schooling. Bluegill are being caught around docks and along bluff walls.




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