Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:
Caney Fork: Fishing is slow at this time.
Center Hill: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 58 degrees; lake is stable.
- Smallmouth: Several smallmouth are being caught on crankbaits on points in 10 feet of water
- Largemouth and spotted bass: Several largemouth and spotted bass are being caught on dropshot methods while fishing breaks and points in 20 feet of water.
- Crappie: Crappie fishing is slow with a few fish being caught around sunken brush piles on minnows in 10 feet of water.
Chickamauga Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation: 676.5feet. The water surface temperature is 50 degrees.
- Largemouth Bass: Some shallow slough and main channel fish can be caught near baitfish. The rig is being used as often as any other bait.
- Smallmouth Bass: Good. Target tailwaters or lower reservoir along the main channel while using jigs.
- Spotted Bass: Good. Target main lake channel along rocky bluffs while using small jigs and crankbaits.
- Crappie: Good. Use minnows or jigs along main channel openings, blowdowns along steeper banks in creeks and sloughs.
- Striped bass: Good. Target secondary areas downstream near shad while using swimbaits or jigs.
- Bluegill: Good. Target river channel banks with worms or small jigs
- Sauger: Poor. Some reports of minimal catches. Jigs bounced along the river bottom on the upper reservoir is the technique.
- Catfish: Good. Drift the main river channel with chicken parts, bluegill or shad along the bottom.
Dale Hollow: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 55 degrees; lake is falling.
- Smallmouth: Several smallmouth are being caught on jigs and tailspinners in 5-to-25 feet of water on points.
- Largemouth: A few largemouth are being caught on football jigs while fishing grassy points in the rivers in 10 feet of water.
- Crappie: A few crappie are being caught on minnows while fishing laydown trees in the rivers in 15 feet of water.
Hiwassee River (near Reliance): River Conditions: The water flow has been high to normal; water temperature is 57 degrees and today, Monday, 12/9/13, the water was high..
- Trout: Good. Those that are fishing are catching a mixed bag of trout. Some trout up to 20 inches long are being caught. The weather is keeping those visiting the river to a minimum.
- Smallmouth bass: No observations.
- Parksville: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 829 feet. Winter normal elevation: 820 feet. Current elevation: 823.8 feet. The water surface temperature is 49 degrees.
- Crappie: Fair. A few are being caught along the steeper banks near blowdowns by those using minnows.
- Bluegill: No observations.
- Spotted bass: Poor. Jigs or small crankbaits are being used. Most anglers are not catching but 2 or 3 fish per trip. A local angler was able to catch 10 fish on a mid week day.
- Largemouth bass: Fair. A few fish are being caught on the upper reservoir by a few anglers while using crankbaits or jigs.
Watts Bar Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 736.9 feet. The water surface temperature is 51 degrees.
- Largemouth Bass: Good. The Tennessee Rig is the best bait. Main channel and secondary areas with concentrations of shad are the better areas. Some heavy stringers of fish are being caught in the river near Kingston.
- Smallmouth Bass: Good. Many are being caught by those using small jigs along rocky river areas.
- Spotted Bass: Fair. A few are being caught while using jigs along rocky steep banks.
- Walleye: No observations.
- Sauger: No observations or reports.
- Crappie: Good. Trollers are catching suspended fish in the large secondary areas. A few are being caught along rocky banks on the main channel. Use jigs or minnows.
- Catfish: Good. Main channel drifters are using bluegill, chicken parts and shad for bait.
- Striped bass: Secondary water in the mid lake near shad is an area stripers are using. During the evening the fish move shallower. The Kingston area of the river is an area where many stripers are being caught. Several over 30 pounds are being caught. Swimbaits or the rig should be used for bait.