Fishing Report From The TWRA

  • Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:

Center Hill:  Fishing is good.  Water temperature is 53 degrees; lake is fairly stable. 
Bass:  Several bass are being caught on A rigs and crankbaits while fishing channel banks in
5-15 feet of water. 
Walleye:  Walleye fishing is great at Webb’s Camp while fishing jigs in 12-20 feet of water. 
Crappie:  A few crappie are being caught on minnows in sunken brush in 10 feet of water. 

Chickamauga Reservoir:  Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet.  Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet.  Current elevation: 678.2 feet. The water surface temperature is in the 60’s in many areas.
Largemouth Bass: Several large fish still being caught. One 5 fish limit tournament took 37 to 38 pounds to win. At least 1 bass was caught this past week over 12 pounds. Fish shallow water and areas adjacent to the same. Lipless lures are a good pick.
Smallmouth Bass: Not as many were caught compared to previous weeks.
Crappie: Minnows or jigs in creek channels that lead into shallow water is a pattern being used. Creek openings are also holding a lot of fish. Large numbers of fish are being caught. Troll, troll, troll.
Striped bass: Bass anglers casting the rig along the large water areas in pursuit of the largemouth bass are occasionally hooking up.
Bluegill: Most crappie anglers are catching a few. Jigs or minnows are being used for bait.
Sauger: No reports.
Catfish: River drifters are catching several fish on a variety of baits typically associated with catfishing.

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is fabulous.  Water temperature is 54 degrees at Lily Dale; lake is falling.  Smallmouth:  Lots of quality smallmouth are being caught on slimbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits while fishing colored water in 5-15 deep.  
Largemouth:  Several big largemouth are being caught on A rigs on channel banks in 5-15 feet of water.  
Crappie:  A few crappie are being caught around laydown trees and in grass in 10-15 feet of water on minnows.  
Walleye:  A few walleye are being caught near East Port on jigs in 15 feet of water. 
Shellcrackers:  Several are being caught on night crawlers in gravel pockets 5-10 feet of water.

Watts Bar:  Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet.  Current elevation: 738.5 feet. The water surface temperature is in the mid 60’s in most areas. 
Largemouth Bass: Several bass are moving into shallower water. Many are near shallow water, but hanging around points leading into shallow areas. jigs, jerkbaits, and lipless lures are the best bet.
Smallmouth Bass: Rocky banks along the deeper water and points leading to shallower water are the areas and jigs or jerk baits are the most used bait. A few are being caught.
Walleye: No observations and no reports.
Sauger: No observation and no reports.
Crappie: Minnows or jigs are being used for bait. Several crappie are being caught. The creeks where 15 to 20 feet of water is available is being trolled to catch black and blacknose crappie. Slow drifting in 60 feet of water in the large creeks is the area where white crappie can be caught. Drop the bait down to the bottom in 60 feet and crank up about 4 turns and hold on.
Catfish: River drifters are catching fish with meaty baits. Upper river anglers are catching larger numbers. 
Striped bass: Mid lake “Rig” fishermen are catching a few while bass fishing.

Center Hill:  Fishing is good.  Water temperature is 53 degrees; lake is fairly stable. 
Bass:  Several bass are being caught on A rigs and crankbaits while fishing channel banks in
5-15 feet of water. 
Walleye:  Walleye fishing is great at Webb’s Camp while fishing jigs in 12-20 feet of water.  Crappie:  A few crappie are being caught on minnows in sunken brush in 10 feet of water. 

Chickamauga Reservoir:  Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet.  Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet.  Current elevation: 678.2 feet. The water surface temperature is in the 60’s in many areas.
Largemouth Bass: Several large fish still being caught. One 5 fish limit tournament took 37 to 38 pounds to win. At least 1 bass was caught this past week over 12 pounds. Fish shallow water and areas adjacent to the same. Lipless lures are a good pick.
Smallmouth Bass: Not as many were caught compared to previous weeks.
Crappie: Minnows or jigs in creek channels that lead into shallow water is a pattern being used. Creek openings are also holding a lot of fish. Large numbers of fish are being caught. Troll, troll, troll.
Striped bass: Bass anglers casting the rig along the large water areas in pursuit of the largemouth bass are occasionally hooking up.
Bluegill: Most crappie anglers are catching a few. Jigs or minnows are being used for bait.
Sauger: No reports.
Catfish: River drifters are catching several fish on a variety of baits typically associated with catfishing.

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is fabulous.  Water temperature is 54 degrees at Lily Dale; lake is falling.  Smallmouth:  Lots of quality smallmouth are being caught on slimbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits while fishing colored water in 5-15 deep.  
Largemouth:  Several big largemouth are being caught on A rigs on channel banks in 5-15 feet of water.  
Crappie:  A few crappie are being caught around laydown trees and in grass in 10-15 feet of water on minnows.  
Walleye:  A few walleye are being caught near East Port on jigs in 15 feet of water. 
Shellcrackers:  Several are being caught on night crawlers in gravel pockets 5-10 feet of water.

Watts Bar:  Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet.  Current elevation: 738.5 feet. The water surface temperature is in the mid 60’s in most areas. 
Largemouth Bass: Several bass are moving into shallower water. Many are near shallow water, but hanging around points leading into shallow areas. jigs, jerkbaits, and lipless lures are the best bet.
Smallmouth Bass: Rocky banks along the deeper water and points leading to shallower water are the areas and jigs or jerk baits are the most used bait. A few are being caught.
Walleye: No observations and no reports.
Sauger: No observation and no reports.
Crappie: Minnows or jigs are being used for bait. Several crappie are being caught. The creeks where 15 to 20 feet of water is available is being trolled to catch black and blacknose crappie. Slow drifting in 60 feet of water in the large creeks is the area where white crappie can be caught. Drop the bait down to the bottom in 60 feet and crank up about 4 turns and hold on.
Catfish: River drifters are catching fish with meaty baits. Upper river anglers are catching larger numbers. 
Striped bass: Mid lake “Rig” fishermen are catching a few while bass fishing.

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