Fishing Report

Caney Fork: Fishing has been slow due to increase degeneration. A few browns are being caught on jerkbaits while floating the river.

Center Hill: Fishing is good. Water temperature is 50 degrees; lake is rising. Lots of bass are being caught on jerkbaits and jigs in 5-10 feet of water in the creeks. Smallmouth fishing has been great while fishing tail spinners on drops in 25 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair in the river on minnows around lay down brush in 10 feet of water. A few walleye are being caught near Webbs Camp, while fishing jigs in 20 feet of water.

Chickamauga: Crappie anglers are catching a lot of crappie. Some heavy crappie are being caught, but many anglers are catching more small crappie. Crappie are being caught along the river drops and creek openings by those anglers using minnows or jigs. Trollers are catching suspended crappie in the large sloughs and creeks while using jigs in 10 feet of water.  Bass are being caught in shallow water located adjacent to deeper areas. Some bass are being caught in primary locations and other bass are starting to be caught often in secondary locations. Lipless lures, crankbaits, jigs and the “rig” are making up an arsenal capable of taming even the largest of the Chickamauga bass. Large bass continue to be caught. White bass and a few sauger are being caught in areas close to the tailwaters. Jigs are being used in the tailwaters below Watts Bar Dam.

Dale Hollow: Fishing is fair. Water temperature is 47 degrees; lake is rising. A few bass are being caught on jerk baits while fishing lay down timber on shallow points in 10 feet of water. A few crappie are being caught near East Port on minnows while fishing willows in five feet of water. Smallmouth fishing is fair while fishing tail spinners and jerkbaits in 10-15 feet of water.  

Hiwassee River near Reliance: Fishing for trout is good. Many trout are being caught in areas from the Hwy 411 Bridge and points upstream from there. Some trout in the 19-inch range are being caught. Many anglers allow these fish to return to the water and harvest the smaller trout for table fare. Yellow perch and an occasional smallmouth bass are other species anglers have caught. Artificial flies, bait, and spinners are being used for enticers. Most anglers use corn or worms for bait. 

 Watts Bar: The beginning of April is the date when the filling of the lake is projected to begin. Some walleye and sauger are being caught in the area near the tailwaters below Ft. Loudon Dam. These anglers are using jigs and/or minnows for bait. Some fish are caught while bouncing the bait along the bottom. Bank anglers swim the jigs with proven results. Crappie and white bass are being caught in the same general area.  Most crappie are being caught in the slack water areas below the dam. Some black crappie are being caught along the white bass in selected areas in the current. The crappie being caught in this area seem to be larger. Anglers are catching crappie and bass in the mid to lower end of the lake. Blowdowns along gradual sloping banks in the larger creeks is an area where minnow dippers are catching some large crappie. Most anglers that are catching the greater number of fish are catching suspended fish in the open water of secondary creeks with 12-feet of water being the most targeted depth. Trollers generally use jigs for bait. Bass anglers are catching quality smallmouth and largemouth bass. Anglers are using various patterns and techniques to catch bass. There are shallow bass being caught by anglers using lipless lures. Most of these bass are being caught in areas adjacent to deeper water. Some of the deeper water bass are being caught by those anglers using jerkbaits, jigs, crankbaits, and the “rig”.