Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:
Center Hill Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Current water elevation is 632.5. The water surface temperature is averaging 40 degrees. Saturday the water was stained in the back of creeks and clearer out in the main river.
Largemouth Bass: Fishermen had few bites but when they did, they were good fish. A nice seven pounder was caught over the weekend. Anglers were fishing with jigs, TN-rig, or jerkbaits. Concentrate on main points, ledges on the river. Fish haven’t moved to the back of creeks yet.
Smallmouth Bass: Some reports of smallmouth being caught on the lower end of the reservoir.
Spotted Bass: Some nice spotted bass are being caught in the mid lake area of the reservoir using jigs with grubs, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits on rocky points on main lake.
Crappie: Crappie are still deep this time of year. Look for structure in back of sloughs that might be holding shad.
Walleye: No reports at this time on walleye. Warmer days ahead will bring to better fishing for walleye.
Chickamauga Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation: 677.1 feet.
The water surface temperature is 44 degrees in many areas.
Largemouth Bass: Fishing is good. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, the “Rig”, and jigs are the baits that are being used most often. Most bass are in deeper areas. Look for baitfish and cast in that general area.
Smallmouth Bass: Float-N-Fly in the river and deeper rocky areas near the river is the best pattern for catching smallmouth. Lower and upper reservoir are the areas to target.
Crappie: Some huge crappie are being caught. Many are full of eggs. Minnows and/or jigs used in various areas of the river and the large water secondary areas should be the areas of interest. Current generally will allow for a shallower bite.
Striped bass: Some bass anglers are catching a few rockfish while using the “Rig”.
Bluegill: Most bluegill are being caught by those targeting crappie.
Sauger/Walleye: Interested anglers in recent days have been limited by the weather and icy ramps.
Catfish: A few anglers are catching a few fish. River drifting with meaty baits used along the bottom will be the combination that will provide the greatest results.
Dale Hollow Reservoir: Reservoir Conditions: Current water elevation is 644.5. The water surface temperature has been averaging around 40 degrees. Overall fishing has been fair and will get better as the water warms up.
Largemouth Bass: Several largemouth are being caught fishing with the “TN-Rig” on drops in 20 to 35 feet of water in the main river.
Smallmouth Bass: Several being caught on the lower end of the reservoir. Fishermen are using tailspinners fishing points in about 30 feet of water.
Crappie: Some crappie are being caught in the main lake. Crappie are still deep this time of year.
Walleye: No reports at this time on walleye. Warmer days ahead will bring to better fishing for walleye.
Watts Bar: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 737.2 feet. The water surface temperature is 42 degrees.
Largemouth Bass: Most anglers are using the rig along the banks and in the open secondary water locations. Look for baitfish in the secondary locations.
Smallmouth Bass: Float-N-Fly used along the rocky banks of the river is the most popular combination.
Walleye/Sauger: The colder weather, snow and ice limited the opportunities for many.
Crappie: Lower lake anglers found a few biters 25 to 35 feet deep in the creeks and sloughs while fishing a minnow or jig very slow.
Catfish: River drifters, especially upper river drifters, although few in number had some good days while drifting with shad along the bottom.
Striped bass: Most stripers are being caught by those targeting bass in the mid-lake while using the “Rig”.
Musky: A growing interest in the toothy critters has more and more people trying their luck. A few are being caught. A well-equipped and experienced musky angler told me that a good 8 hours on the water would probably result in 1 boated musky.