11-22-2004, 02:42 AM
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS:
The surface water temperatures have ranged from 53-58 degrees this week. The water color is slightly stained right now. The lake level at the dam as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night was 1,368.16 feet above sea level.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY:
Bass fishing was a little slow this week for this time of year. The bass seem to being hitting the best whenever the sun warms the water some in the mornings. This is later into the morning on some days compared to others, depending on the cloud cover. Most of the bass caught now are found shallow, in five feet of water or less unless you are fishing a spoon, where one can find some decent smallmouth in 15-25 feet of water off quick drop offs. The spoon has been working the best on the Watauga side. The largemouth seem to be holding tight to brush and fallen trees off the main channel right now while the smallmouth are around some rocky cover or on the clay banks. The largemouth can be found feeding on shad on shallow flats in the middle of the day if there is good cloud cover. The Smallmouth bass continue to be the primary fish biting right now, with a few largemouth being taken out of the treetops primarily in the mornings. Several Smallmouth are also being taken on small Bandit crankbaits, with Rebel crawfish, Rooster tails, and some plastics also working good. The largemouth seem to like Shad Raps, Rattle-Traps, spinnerbaits, Bandit crankbaits, and plastic worms. The float and fly had limited success this week.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The hybrid and striper action is starting to show signs of picking up. Both species are feeding primarily on shad right now with a few hybrids still hitting chicken livers. Trolling live shad in about 15-25 feet of water with planner boards is the best method for catching the bigger stripers. The Holston side seems to be where to find the striped bass. The best places to start on the Holston end is around Point 4, in the bend at Davis Dock, or from the Rainbow Bridge back towards Bluff City.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Crappie fishing has been good. Fishing fallen treetops or submerged brush in any creek arm or off the main channel should be producing good crappie. The ones caught out of the treetops have been by a small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. white, chartreuse, or green flies or grubs in about 7-10 feet of water. If the fishing gets tough try tipping your fly with a minnow, or fishing just a minnow under a float around the brush or treetops. The hot spots this week was in the back of Boones Creek, Muddy Creek area, and Beaverdam Creek. Any fallen trees off the main channel should be holding some good fish as well.[/size][/font]
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The surface water temperatures have ranged from 53-58 degrees this week. The water color is slightly stained right now. The lake level at the dam as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night was 1,368.16 feet above sea level.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY:
Bass fishing was a little slow this week for this time of year. The bass seem to being hitting the best whenever the sun warms the water some in the mornings. This is later into the morning on some days compared to others, depending on the cloud cover. Most of the bass caught now are found shallow, in five feet of water or less unless you are fishing a spoon, where one can find some decent smallmouth in 15-25 feet of water off quick drop offs. The spoon has been working the best on the Watauga side. The largemouth seem to be holding tight to brush and fallen trees off the main channel right now while the smallmouth are around some rocky cover or on the clay banks. The largemouth can be found feeding on shad on shallow flats in the middle of the day if there is good cloud cover. The Smallmouth bass continue to be the primary fish biting right now, with a few largemouth being taken out of the treetops primarily in the mornings. Several Smallmouth are also being taken on small Bandit crankbaits, with Rebel crawfish, Rooster tails, and some plastics also working good. The largemouth seem to like Shad Raps, Rattle-Traps, spinnerbaits, Bandit crankbaits, and plastic worms. The float and fly had limited success this week.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The hybrid and striper action is starting to show signs of picking up. Both species are feeding primarily on shad right now with a few hybrids still hitting chicken livers. Trolling live shad in about 15-25 feet of water with planner boards is the best method for catching the bigger stripers. The Holston side seems to be where to find the striped bass. The best places to start on the Holston end is around Point 4, in the bend at Davis Dock, or from the Rainbow Bridge back towards Bluff City.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Crappie fishing has been good. Fishing fallen treetops or submerged brush in any creek arm or off the main channel should be producing good crappie. The ones caught out of the treetops have been by a small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. white, chartreuse, or green flies or grubs in about 7-10 feet of water. If the fishing gets tough try tipping your fly with a minnow, or fishing just a minnow under a float around the brush or treetops. The hot spots this week was in the back of Boones Creek, Muddy Creek area, and Beaverdam Creek. Any fallen trees off the main channel should be holding some good fish as well.[/size][/font]
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