Fishing Report From TWRA

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Here is the TWRA fishing report for June 14:

Center Hill:  Fishing is fair. Water temperature is 85 degrees. Lake is stable.  Bass fishing is fair at night while using jigs, spinnerbaits and soft plastics in 5-to-10 feet of water on channel banks. Walleye fishing is good while trolling nightcrawlers on clay banks in 16-to-20 feet of water. Bluegill fishing is fair while fishing crickets in 10 feet of water on gravel banks.

Chickamauga: The lake is at an elevation typical for June.

  The lake elevation was down a few inches on 6/10/12 from previous days.  The surface water temperature is in the low eighties.  The river flow has been minimal on most days.  This creates conditions that require a little more work for those days considered successful for most veteran anglers.  The fish scatter more without current and makes locating fish difficult.  The lower end of the lake has the bass bite on average deeper than other areas of the lake.  Flippers are catching bass along blowdowns scattered in the river areas or deeper secondary locations.  Points, humps and grassy flats located in the river or adjacent to the same are the primary target areas for most anglers.  Plastic worms, crankbaits, and swimbaits will complete an arsenal.  A few topwater bites are occurring near baitfish.  Some shallow bass are being caught in areas where there is current.  Catfish are being caught in most areas of the river while using meaty baits or creations with the optimal choice being skipjack shad.  White bass are being occasionally caught along river humps and in the tailwaters.  Jigging spoons will catch the white bass as good as any other lure.  Striped bass are being caught in the tailwaters on jigs, spoons and shad.  Most are under twenty pounds.  Some dock pitchers are sharing the community docks for a few crappie and those seeking to locate their own fish in less crowded waters are trolling up big crappie along ledges in deeper secondary areas.  A few anglers are catching crappie while fishing underneath lights.  Crankbaits, jigs and minnows are being used to catch crappie.

Cordell Hull:  Fishing is good; Water temperature is 78 degrees; lake is fairly stable.  Several good largemouth are being caught while fishing submerged stumps and points in 5-to-10 feet of water.  A few crappie are being caught on jigs around laydown brush in 5 feet of water.

Dale Hollow: Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 84 degrees. Lake is stable.  A few smallmouth are being caught early in the morning on topwater baits, while fish are chasing shad.  Bass fishing is fair at night while using jigs and small plastics in 5-to-10 feet of water on points.  A few walleye are being caught while trolling deep running crankbaits on the main lake flats.  A few trout are being caught near the dam while trolling with downriggers in 40-60 feet of water.

Nickajack:  The water flow is low on most days.  The lake surface temperature is in the mid to low eighties.  Catfish are being caught by almost everybody that is seeking them.  Shad and other meaty baits are being used for bait.  The upper portion of the lake near the "Riverpark" is an area that has been good.  Sunfish are being caught by those fishing the main channel upstream and along rocky areas in the river downstream.  River flats downstream in areas where the grass is located is the type of area that seems to be best for bass.  One grandfather treated their ten year old grandson to a seven pound bass while fishing in the area of the "Riverpark".  Topwater baits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms are being used for bait most often.  Some crappie are being caught along ditches that are located adjacent to the main channel.  Minnows and jigs are equal opportunity attractors.

Watts Bar:  The lake is at summer pool.  The water temperature is in the low eighties.  Crappie are being caught in deep brush or around blowdowns along deeper banks.  Some two pound crappie are being caught by a few anglers while using minnows or jigs.  Fifteen feet of water seems to be the depth where the search should begin.  Some night crappie are being caught while fishing under some type of light source.  Bass are being caught on deeper secondary banks and around features in the river generally targeted by summer anglers.  The river current has been low on most days creating conditions that favor the fish more than the fishermen.  Scattered fish have been caught more often than schoolers that are typically caught when the current flow is better.  Plastic worms, jigs and crankbaits are the weapons most anglers are using to catch bass.  Catfish are being caught by most fishermen that are using meaty baits.  Skipjack is most always the best but sometimes more difficult to get bait.  White bass are being caught in the upper reservoir areas while using minnows, jigs, and crankbaits.  Tailwater striper anglers are catching several fish when the conditions such as current are favorable.  Shad is the bait most successful anglers are using.  


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