TWRA Fishing Report

  (Courtesy of TWRA)

Center Hill: Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 89 degrees; lake is slowly falling. A few bass are being caught at night, while fishing soft plastics on points in 15-25 feet of water. A few walleye are being caught, while trolling nightcrawler rigs on gravel banks in 25 feet of water.

Chickamauga: The lake is full and the surface temperature is in the upper 80s. Good numbers of catfish are being caught by anglers that are using live bait in the main channel. Current will increase the number of catchable fish. The tailwaters is one area where anglers are catching numbers of catfish. Striped bass are being caught in the tailwaters. Jigs, spoons, and live bait are being used for bait. Some stripers as large as thirty pounds have recently been caught. Bass are being caught near channel breaks on the main lake and river. Crankbaits, spoons and plastic worms are being used for bait. Several smallmouth bass are being caught. Bass are being caught in shallow water areas where summer storms push fresh water into the lake. Topwater baits and plastic worms are being used for bait in these areas. Bluegill are being caught in the main channel in water that averages 25-feet deep. Small jigs and/or crickets are being used for bait. Bluegill congregate in the river bends in the upper portion of the lake and will position themselves along humps and bars in the lower end of the lake.  

Dale Hollow: Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 87 degrees; lake is falling. A few walleye are being caught while jigging spoons on drops in 30 feet of water. Bass fishing is fair at night while fishing points in 15-25 feet of water with jigs and spinnerbaits. Trout fishing is fair near the dam, while trolling with spoons in 55 feet of water.

Watts Bar: The lake is full and the surface temperature is in the mid 80s. The current will increase the number of fish that are willing to bite. Catfish are being caught in greater numbers in the upper portion of the reservoir. Live bait will increase the number of catfish that can be caught. Other bait alternatives include chicken parts, Ivory soap, and nightcrawlers. Bass fishing is better in the early morning and at night. Bass have been elusive and difficult to find. The typical deep summer bite has not been as strong as one would think given the very hot conditions. Some bass are being caught in the creeks where the summer rains are pushing in fresh water. A few bass are being caught shallow on deep banks. Plastic worms and jigs are being used in all areas. Striped bass are being caught in the tailwaters and the adjacent areas. Bluegill are being caught on the deeper banks in the river. Although the banks that are holding the bluegill are deep, the bite has been relatively shallow along those banks. Crickets are being used for bait most often. Only a few crappie are being caught and most of those are being caught at night while fishing underneath lights while using minnows.