Fishing Report From The TWRA

  • Monday, May 5, 2014

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: 682.3 feet. The water surface temperature is 69 degrees early and warming to 77 degrees late in the day.

Largemouth Bass: Most fish are shallow. Creature lures, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are the better baits. This past week there were some 10 and 11 pound fish caught.

Smallmouth Bass: Tailwater anglers are catching smallmouth along the banks and around open water structure. Jigs, crankbaits and plastic worms are being used most often.

Crappie: Crappie are being caught around brush in shallow areas. Crappie are not as easy to locate as they were a week or so ago. Minnows and/or jigs offer equal opportunities.

Striped bass: Tailwater anglers are catching a lot of fish while using live bait, jigs, jerkbaits, and “Tennessee Rigs”. 

Bluegill: Shallow water in combination with worms or crickets is the key to catching a lot of bluegill. Large numbers of bluegill are in the shallows.

Shellcracker:  Some bedders are being caught. Large numbers of shellcrackers being caught isn’t occurring very often. Small jigs, worms, and crickets are the best baits.

Catfish: Drifters in the river are catching a few catfish. A large number of fish are in the shallows. Meaty baits from various sources are being used.

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is good.  Water temperature is 68 degrees; lake is slowly falling.

Bass:  Lots of bass are being caught on flukes, while fishing shallow cover in the creeks. 

Pan fish:  Lots of bluegill and shellcrackers are being caught in gravel pockets on worms and crickets in 5 feet of water.

Walleye:  Several walleye are being caught on points and bluffs on jerkbaits in 5-10 feet of water. 

Great Falls:  Fishing is good.  Water temperature is 68 degrees. Lake is falling.

Bass:  Bass fishing is fair while flipping soft-plastics around woody cover in 2-5 feet of water.

Crappie: Crappie fishing is excellent while fishing small jigs around shallow woody cover in 2-5 feet of water.

Musky:  Musky fishing is good with several nice fish being caught in the rivers on shallow running crankbaits and large jerkbaits.

Watts Bar:

Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 740.5 feet. Winter normal elevation: 736.0 feet. Current elevation: 740.2 feet. The water surface temperature is 69 degrees and warming to 76 degrees later in the day.

Largemouth Bass: Shallow fish are being caught most often. Many bedding fish can be observed. Plastic worms and jigs are being used more than other lures.

Smallmouth Bass: Shallow banks with a gradual slope around chunky rocks and stumps would be an area to start the search. Jigs or crank baits are being used.

Walleye: Reports are that tailwater anglers are catching some walleye at night on jigs.

Crappie: Shallow water and deeper areas leading into the same are being fished while using jigs or minnows for bait. The number of crappie being caught has slowed a little. This season has been a very good year for many anglers.

Catfish: Drifters in the creeks and sloughs are catching the most while using shad for bait.

Striped bass: Tailwater anglers are catching several fish while using shad for bait.

 

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