Here is the fishing report from the TWRA:
Chickamauga Reservoir:
Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation: 681.4 feet. The water surface temperature is 70 degrees.
Largemouth Bass: Some schooling fish are being caught. Bass are being caught along flats in the spotted and matted grass. Plastic frogs, spinnerbaits and buzz baits are the most used lures.
Smallmouth Bass: A few tailwater smallies are being caught along the riprap and humps. Jigs and crankbaits are the most used lures.
Crappie: Crappie anglers are catching a lot of crappie. Most crappie are being caught on the lower end of the lake. Blowdowns, sunken brush, ledges, and docks are the more consistent areas. Some river bluff crappie are being caught. Jigs or minnows are being used.
Striped bass: More fish were caught this past week than in previous weeks. Shad and some artificial lures such as jigs or spoons are being used.
Bluegill: Deeper docks, bluff walls, and the main river channel on the upper reservoir are areas where anglers are using worms to catch a lot of bluegill with a small mixture of shellcrackers. .
Catfish: Several catfish are being caught by anglers drifting the main channel. Various baits are being used. Shad, bluegill, and chicken parts are among the baits being used.
Watts Bar:
Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 740.7 feet. The water surface temperature is 70 degrees in many areas. Friday morning temperatures were in the upper 50’s in parts of the Clinch River.
Largemouth Bass: Most anglers are reporting catching a few more fish than last week, but most still report slow conditions. Crankbaits used around sloping banks and topwater lures used early and late in the day will provide opportunities for catching a few fish.
Smallmouth Bass: Some smallmouth bass are being caught in mostly the same locations as the largemouth bass while using the same lures.
Walleye: Slow.
Catfish: A lot of catfish are being caught, especially in the tailwaters below Ft. Loudon Dam. Meaty baits are being used.
Crappie: Deep brush piles are holding a few fish. It takes a while to get a mess of fish. Minnows used near the brush in 18 feet of water will offer the best bet of catching fish.
Bluegill: Anglers are fishing near docks, bluffs, and shallow flats with small jigs and worms. Several fish are being caught and in the Clinch River from Ladd’s Landing to the Tennessee River a few shellcrackers are being caught.
Striped bass: Shad used in the tailwaters is the best combination that can be used to catch stripers right now. Most anglers are not catching much.