05/28/2023
TWRA Weekly Fishing Forecast
Boone Reservoir - 5-23-23
Forecast Contributor – Richard Markland, Region 4 Fisheries Technician
Reservoir Conditions- Reservoir elevation is 1381.71. The water temperature is 74* degrees. Water clarity 5’-15’ visibility.
Bass- Fishing is good. Largemouth, Spots and Smallmouth are being caught on crankbaits or small shad like baits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms, creature baits, jigs by fishing along rocky points, standing brush or around docks.
Crappie- Fishing is good. Crappie are being caught on deep structures in creek channels and back of creeks. Anglers are using minnows or Bobby Garland baits on treetops. Target structure in the 8’- 25’ range in mid-creek back to shallower water.
Striped Bass/Hybrid Bass- Fishing is fair. Most of the fish are being caught around Davis Dock up to Bluff City area on Holston side and Wingdeer area on Watauga side casting spoons or trolling live shad or trout. Some has been caught on topwater back in the creeks, starting to see some topwater action in the evenings.
Chickamauga Lake - 5-24-23
Forecast Contributor – Billy Wheat, Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/riprapfishingadventures and www.riprapfishing.net
The Spook bite is good early on the points especially with grass the Swim Jig and big worm is very effective on the scattered grass and the spoon bite is good, but you have to look for them on your electronics on the main channel points and shell beds. The Scrounger and 5–6-inch Swimbait will definitely work but you have to ride and look for them. The Carolina Rig Brush Hog is good in 5-12 feet especially on gravel with scattered grass. The water is starting to move some so check the dams release schedule. Water temperature is 77-81. Water level is full.
Dale Hollow - 5-24-23
Forecast Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk.
Reservoir Conditions
Reservoir elevation sits at 648.7’ and Dale Hollow Dam, on average, draws 300 cfs per day. Water clarity has remained clear on the main lake, averaging 7-10’ visibility, while the wolf river arm averages 3-5’ visibility. In the morning water temperatures average 73 degrees, and warm to 78 degrees by afternoon. It’s that time of year that an angler will have more success at night than during the day to get a bite from most game fish species. If fishing at night, remain cautious of your surroundings and follow all navigational rules. Also be aware and respectful with recreational boaters this weekend.
Bass- Fishing is poor. The daytime bite is hard to come by. Largemouth are just about fully in their deep water, summertime pattern. You can find these fish suspended in creek channels utilizing front-facing sonar. Using a Damiki rig, flutter spoon, or jerk bait will gain a reaction bite from these post pawn largemouth. You can find all three black bass species in the offshore grass beds throughout the lake. During the day, the bass will spend most of their time deep in the grass. These fish can be caught with either finesse presentations or soft plastics pulled through the grass. At certain feeding periods you can use a spoon, swimbaits, topwater, or hair jig above the grass beds for those feeding suspended fish. Smallmouth can also be caught on channel swing banks in 10-20’ with umbrella rigs, swimbaits, or on the bottom with ned rigs. At night try the aforementioned grass beds or gravel islands and drop-offs with Colorado spinnerbaits or creature baits on the bottom.
Crappie- Fishing is poor. The crappie are suspended in the backs of spawning pockets and creeks, with the best way to catch them is with front-facing sonar. These crappie are sitting in 10-15 FOW and will strike jigs or minnows if placed around them. You can also look for suspended crappie around creek points and mouths.
Bluegill & Redear Sunfish. Fishing is decent. The redear have mostly come off beds. Anglers are currently only catching smaller redear on beds, but some anglers are catching big prespawn sunfish staging off beds in 10-15’ near grass. This is suggesting a 2nd wave could be moving up with the next full moon. Bluegill are in full swing on beds, look for beds on gravel banks either main lake or in the backs of creeks. Fish anywhere between 3-15’ with drop-shot style worms.
Catfish- Fishing is good. The catfish bite isn’t as hot and heavy as it was the last few weeks, but anglers are still catching quality cats on the bank while sunfish fishing. The best way to target catfish is to utilize jugs or limb lines near main lake bluff walls with live sunfish.
Douglas Lake - 5-25-23
Forecast Contributor Brad Burkhart – Follow on Facebook
Fishing has been great on Douglas Lake this week. The shad spawn is making for some great topwater action. After the sun breaks the shad up there is a great bite around any bushes or shallow cover. The baits I’m liking lately are a chartreuse/white double willow 1/2oz killer bass baits blade, also a jackhammer in clear water Shad too.
As far as the offshore deal, it’s starting to heat up and will be fire in the next two weeks. If you venture off the bank throw a 3/4oz head with a 5-6” bait.
Good luck!!! God bless!!
Brad Burkhart
Fall Creek Falls - 5-17-23
Forecast Contributor – Region 3 Fisheries Staff.
Lake Conditions- Lake is being maintained at typical summer pool. Surface water temperature is in the low 70s and water clarity is about 10 feet. Ten automatic fish feeders are currently in use from the dam to the lakeside cabins and boat dock.
Largemouth Bass: Fishing is good. Several bass are being caught using jerk baits, ned rigs, Sinkos, drop-shot lures as well as w**dless Zoom craws working slow along the bottom. Most bass are being caught near the bank along structure and near spawning beds and average 12-14 inches, but a few 20+ inch bass are also being reported. Daily bass creel limit is 10 fish per day and only 1 (one) over 16 inches may be harvested.
Bluegill and Redear Sunfish: Fishing is great. Anglers are catching lots of Bluegill and Redear up to and over ten inches using redworms and some nightcrawlers. Bluegill have moved up to beds and can be caught readily in these locations while the Redear spawn is well underway. Daily Bluegill/Redear (in combination) creel limit is 10 per day, no length limit.
Catfish: Fishing is good. Channel Catfish are being caught using night crawlers, chicken livers, and hotdogs along the bank especially near the automatic fish feeders. Anglers are having success using Carolina-style rigs early morning, evening, and through the night. Daily catfish creel limit is 5 per day, 16-inch minimum length limit.
Crappie: Fishing is fair. While the Black Crappie spawn is mostly over, a few nice fish are still being caught near brush and artificial structure using small swim baits and minnows. There is no creel or length limit on crappie at Fall Creek Falls Lake.
Hiwassee River - 5-18-23
Forecast Contributor – Justin Spaulding, Region 3 Trout Biologist.
River Conditions- Dry conditions across the valley have led to reduced flows at almost every reservoir as they try to fill up for the summer. There have been several days where water temperatures have approached or exceeded 70 °F. These periods of warmer water tend to be in the late afternoon and will make for a slow bite. TVA has been providing a longer pulse with 2 generators in the middle of the day which has helped a lot to keep temperatures cooler. Overall, the low water conditions make for great wading, but be sure to keep an eye on the rocks for rising water because releases are always subject to change.
Trout are stocked from the Powerhouse down to 411 on a rotational basis at least twice per month.
Trout- Despite the warmer water, fishing has been good. We are seeing folks with 30-50 fish days and hear about even better. Trout are being caught consistently as far down as 411. If you are not having luck at a spot, don’t hesitate to hop in the truck and try a new spot. We are stocking around 11 miles of tailwater and there are dozens of access areas. The dry fly bite has been very strong with Isonychias and Sulphurs in size 12 or 14. You’ll know when it’s time to be fishing a dry. Otherwise, you will need streamers and nymphs. Powerbait and worms are effective as ever for those that can keep them in the strike zone. Black and yellow spinners have been doing the trick. In between pulses, seek out deep or flowing water.
Hiwassee River below Appalachia Powerhouse - River Conditions 5/21/2023
Forecast Contributor- Tic Smith/Southeastern Anglers Guide Service
Water temp – 58 to 65 degrees F depending on the flow schedule
Water clarity – clear
Water level – flows vary from 0 to 2 generators (Go to TVA.com to check flow schedules) This tailwater schedule is posted after 6pm the previous day. Click on Appalachia to view info.
Flyfishing is excellent right now. Standard nymphs are producing very well in between the hatches. Sizes vary, but a #14 with a bead works very well during all flow schedules.
Hatches - #16 tan or olive caddis, Light Cahill #14, Golden Stonefly #8 and Blue Wing Olives #18 on the cloudy days. Sulphurs are due to hatch any day now.
Wooly buggers in sizes 6 to 10 are always productive. Olive on sunny days and black on cloudy ones are a good rule to go by.
Spin fishing is productive with 1/8 and 1/16th gold bladed spinners. Small Rapalas are productive during the higher flows.
Normandy Lake - 5-25-23
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis - midsouthbassguide.com - Follow on Facebook
The water level sitting at 875.90 today and should stay really close to that for the summer. Normandy continued producing some nice fish. Crankbaits, Texas Rigs or Tightline Jigs have been our go to as the shad spawn is starting again. We found several really nice bass using Crankbaits at the end of points in 3 to 8 feet of water. Walleye can be caught trolling crankbaits or drifting minnows/crawler harnesses on flats and in the river.
I’m being told the Crappie are doing good, you can catch them around brush in the river and standing timber. Keep an eye on the habitat that TWRA and TN Bass Nation put out the last couple years Water temperatures range from 74 to 76 degrees. Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water. Give me a call to book your trip, Springtime fishing is the best on Normandy… Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or [email protected]
Norris Lake - 5-23-2023
Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.
Water Temp Surface temperatures have ranged from 75 to 78 degrees. It’s warmer in the protected coves and late in the day, as is expected.
Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.
Water Elevation: 1,016.0 feet (midnight) The elevation has held fairly steady since last week. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.
Fishing Overview: Catches for most species improved since last week.
Largemouth Bass: Many are either spawning or can be expected to be spawning in coming days. Willow leaf spinners, jerk baits, Carolina-rigged lizards on the bottom. Topwater action was slower. Less than 10 feet early.
Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Most catches have been post-spawn fish. But as all do not spawn at the same time, expect to find some late spawners on points at about the 10- to 15-foot depth. Fish drop-offs and transition zone structure for post-spawn fish. Slow-rolled spinners are night on moderate sloped rock banks. Drop shot rigs as well as medium running crankbaits or soft jerk baits have taken some on the points and drop-offs.
Walleye: The upriver spawn is over. Lower end fish are hitting alewives at night along the shorelines where alewife are spawning. Night fishing is best on Zara Spooks and Pups, Shad Raps, snagged alewife or shad cast to the banks. Vertical jigging under lights has been slower than casting to the banks at night.
Shellcrackers: Good at the base of brush, button bushes, or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Fish less than 10 feet deep, on the bottom near brush where they are spawning.
Crappie: No change: Moderate in the early morning hours in the head of the major creek embayments in brushy coves. Night catches are still pretty good in Sycamore Creek and the mouth of Little Sycamore Creek. The back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Use the standard fare: shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush, Bobby Garland-type jigs under floats or tightlined in brush; Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows.
Striped Bass: Upriver catches are about over. Stripers are moving downstream from the rivers and heads of the larger creeks. Catches have been made downstream from the headwaters where the bottom depth is about 40-feet. On the main body, the Loyston and Lost Creek section, and the forks of the rivers (point 9) have produced some.
Bluegill: The spring spawn typically occurs during the week prior to the full moon. They will follow that pattern through the summer months. The next full moon is June 3rd. Look for larger specimens to be moving to flats, especially in the back of coves near brush or stumps. On main channels, they will nest on small shelves in the rock faces. Tightline crickets or fish crickets on the bottom near the nests.
Great Day on Percy Priest!
Percy Priest - 5-25-23
Forecast Contributor Brian Carper - briancarper.com - Follow on Facebook
Percy Priest lake is now 75ﾟ- 80° everyday! The water is still up almost a foot since the recent rains but is falling slowly. The crappie have been on fire! The majority of the crappie have moved out of the shallows and into brush piles ready to feed again. Staying in 12 to 15' has been the magic depth for us this week. The last 2 days we've caught 30 to 40 keepers! Casting 1/8oz and 1/16oz jigs in pearl, blue and green, pearl and chartreuse has been the ticket.
The bass are also concentrating out deeper now! Point, humps, ledges off the main channel have been holding schools of bass ready to feed up for summer. Deep crankbaits, plastic worms, and swimbaits have been productive. The next several weeks we will see large schools of bass concentrating and very aggressive.
For more information or Book your trip today at www.briancarper.com
Pickwick - 5-2-23
Forecast Contributor Tyler Finley – Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyler.finley.750
Shad spawn!!! The bass are shallow right now as they are still moving off of bed. They are being caught out of shallow grass where Shad are spawning. These fish can be caught on a white Chatterbait or any other bait fish imitating bait. Aside from Shad spawn fish can still be caught around shallow structure on a wacky rig and Texas rig. The fish are moving everyday so there’s no better time to be on the water then now. Look for Shad popping to top of the water or just go shallow and fish structure. Good luck!!
Tims Ford - 5-25-23
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis – Follow on Facebook
Lake temperatures are between 74 and 76.5 degrees and the lake level climbed to 886.96 just about half foot below summer pool and projected to hit 887.98 over the weekend. Our primary focus this week, has remained just outside the spawning flats and pea gravel banks with some wood. Shad spawn should be picking back up this week which will provide for some great top water action early. Sped Craw, Crankbait, spinnerbaits and Jigs are a good place to start.
We continued to catch fish spread out on secondary points and around brush piles. Best lures have been Ned Rig, Tightline Mussel Crawler jigs tipped with Twin Tail grubs bite. Texas Rigged creature baits, produced as well. No word on crappie from area anglers, most have moved to deep water docks, brush piles and treetops. Stripe and rock fish are still can be found off points, on river channel bends with bucktail jigs, swimbaits and live bait. Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water and watch for floating logs as the water rises… Give me a call to book your trip, Spring and early summertime fishing is the best on Tim’s… Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or [email protected]
Watts Bar Reservoir - May 19th – May 21st, 2023
Forecast Contributor – Nathan Rogers, Region III Creel Clerk
The weather was clear and sunny throughout the weekend with the exception of rain all day Saturday. Temperatures were around upper 50’s at night and reaching around mid to upper 70’s during the day. Lake visibility was poorer than the previous week with roughly 4 feet of visibility throughout most of the lake. Water temperatures are holding steady around 75 degrees Fahrenheit with the exception of the tailwaters of Ft. Loudoun and Melton Hill dams. Water level is now at full summer pool.
Reservoir Conditions
Water Temp:
Tennessee River: 77.4 degrees Fahrenheit
Water Clarity: Tennessee River channel 4.5 feet on May 21st
Water Level: 741.1 feet
Water Flow: (as of May 15th)
Watts Bar Dam: ~7700 cfs Melton Hill Dam: ~500 cfs Fort Loudon Dam: ~4800 cfs
Species Specific Information
Bass: Fishing soft plastics still seems to be the angler’s choice. For example, Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, dropshots, and shaky heads with craws, lizards, and other soft plastics in around 7-15 feet. Others are also finding success with crankbaits and spinner baits on rock walls and near docks. Anglers are finding more success in areas with rocky banks and structure
Crappie: Fishing jigs/ Bobby Garlands and live minnows on deeper structure such as trees or brush. Trolling/ Spider rigging with minnows seemed to be the most successful technique. Some anglers are still finding success fishing deeper water with these same methods as well. (roughly 15-20 feet deep
Catfish: Fishing creek channels or main river channel with cut bait. Anglers below the dam are fishing up against the dam and finding success. Some anglers were landing catfish fishing for crappie.
White bass: fishing jigs and live minnow. Mainly caught fishing for crappie using same techniques
Redear sunfish (Shellcrackers): anglers caught them while bass fishing on crankbaits
Forecast Contributor Captain Wallace Sitzes – Follow on Facebook
That windy cold front really put a hurting on the fishing for a couple days. Took a lot of those shallow bass and crappie and raked them right out into the deeper water where a lot of them didn't want to feed. Fortunately, the warm sunny weather yesterday, today and over the next several days will make the fish MUCH more predictable and easier to pattern.
I boated 7 good sized bass in the first hour yesterday on flukes and small trick worms. They weren't on beds but were in pretty shallow water clinging close to docks and other shallow structure in the shade. A few of those fish inhaled the lure as soon as it hit the water.
A great majority of the crappie have bunched up in small schools and scattered literally all over the place. Every drop off, creek bed, hump and cove inlet just have stacks of crappie on the move right now. Most of these fish are in about 25 - 40 feet of water hanging about 14 - 16 feet under the surface. I would advise pushing or trolling baits until they cling back to the structure.
Catfish and striper have been sticking close to deep structure when we have good water flow and going into shallow structure or cruising sandbars when the water isn't moving much. Dragging big deep diving crank baits works great for flatheads, blues and striper this time of year. Find a sand bar in about 20 - 25 feet of water and drag them just fast enough to make a little contact with the bottom.
Wilbur Tailwater - 5-23-23
Forecast Contributor – Richard Markland, Region 4 Fisheries Technician
Tailwater Conditions- Tailwaters elevation 1583.14. Avg discharge is 240 cfm. Water temperature is 40-46 degrees. Water clarity is clear top to bottom. The fishing conditions change throughout the length of the tailwaters with flow rates.
Trout- Fishing is good. The most productive areas are Wilbur Dam downstream to Hunter area, not a lot of big fish but if you are looking for numbers the upper end is the place to be. Trout are being caught using Rapalas, Night crawler, Rooster tails, Small Flies.
Woods Reservoir - 5-25-23
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis – Follow on Facebook
Grass in the name of the game, Bass and Crappie all can be found along grass edges and along the rip rap banks. We found our better fish in 4 to 9 foot of water using Texas Rigged D-Bombs from Missile Baits and Tightline Mussel Crawler jigs tipped with Twin Tail grubs, Tightline Swim Jigs with Driftwood Swimbaits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and A-Rigs.
Bass are on the move to their summer haunts. Best numbers came on a shaky head rigged finesse worm. Drifting/trolling with spider rigs for Crappie is picking up some nice slabs but you have to w**d through the short fish. Water temperatures range from 73 and 76 degrees. Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water… Give me a call to book your trip, Spring and Summer time fishing is the best on Woods… Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or [email protected]
