05-12-2004, 04:26 AM
WATER CONDITIONS
The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear in the creeks this past week. Lake levels have remained up this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 68º for the last couple of days and seems to keep getting warmer.
SUMMARY
Fishing for Bass has been fair over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, clay banks, and rip-rap, as well as, points with drop offs. Fishing over brush piles in the creeks has been very rewarding at times. The water temperature has stayed at approximately 68º and rising.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Good. Fishing has picked up some over the last week. The fish are moving up into the shallows to feed during the warmer weather. These fish are seeing the same lures, anglers may try using something different it just might work! Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. I have seen several Bass running shad back in the shallow coves. Also fishing the points of islands, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, and rip-rap seem to work as well. During AM hours fish approximately 5-8 feet deep for the PM hours fish 5-15 feet deep, the depth will vary with the area you are fishing. Do not pass up the creeks. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs, spinner-baits, rattle-traps, crank-baits, shad raps, and some plastics.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The areas to fish are coves with heavy cover (brush). Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 5-15 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. Over the past week anglers have had to really work to catch these fish. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, and around Concord has been some pretty good spots for Crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers. Jigging with spoons and minnows seem to be the bait of choice for those who are trying. The weather may or may not have some effect on the fishing due to the muddy water. We have not seen any Sauger in a couple of weeks now.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. There have been a few run ins with anglers on the French Broad above the John Sevier Bridge who have had some pretty good luck. They have appeared to be hitting about any kind of Bass plugs.
CATFISH
Good. The catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Anglers are scattered throughout Ft. Loudon. The bait of choice has been minnows, cut-bait, and worms.
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The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear in the creeks this past week. Lake levels have remained up this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 68º for the last couple of days and seems to keep getting warmer.
SUMMARY
Fishing for Bass has been fair over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, clay banks, and rip-rap, as well as, points with drop offs. Fishing over brush piles in the creeks has been very rewarding at times. The water temperature has stayed at approximately 68º and rising.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Good. Fishing has picked up some over the last week. The fish are moving up into the shallows to feed during the warmer weather. These fish are seeing the same lures, anglers may try using something different it just might work! Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. I have seen several Bass running shad back in the shallow coves. Also fishing the points of islands, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, and rip-rap seem to work as well. During AM hours fish approximately 5-8 feet deep for the PM hours fish 5-15 feet deep, the depth will vary with the area you are fishing. Do not pass up the creeks. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs, spinner-baits, rattle-traps, crank-baits, shad raps, and some plastics.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The areas to fish are coves with heavy cover (brush). Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 5-15 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. Over the past week anglers have had to really work to catch these fish. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, and around Concord has been some pretty good spots for Crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers. Jigging with spoons and minnows seem to be the bait of choice for those who are trying. The weather may or may not have some effect on the fishing due to the muddy water. We have not seen any Sauger in a couple of weeks now.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. There have been a few run ins with anglers on the French Broad above the John Sevier Bridge who have had some pretty good luck. They have appeared to be hitting about any kind of Bass plugs.
CATFISH
Good. The catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Anglers are scattered throughout Ft. Loudon. The bait of choice has been minnows, cut-bait, and worms.
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