NOTE - The TWRA wants to build a comprehensive report each week of the state’s lakes. If you do not see a report for your favorite lake and you are someone who can provide a report, please contact us at Ask.TWRA@tn.gov and provide us with your contact information.
NOTE – During the summer months many of the reports will stay the same as the fish patterns do not change much until the weather begins to cool again and the fall transition begins.
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Center Hill – 8-14-24
Forecast Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk.
Reservoir Conditions-
Center Hill Dam is generating, on average, 2,700 cfs per day. The reservoir elevation has dropped to 639’. Surface water temperatures are mainly 86-89 degrees, but cooler water can be found in places with current (74-76 degrees). Water clarity depends on areas with lots of boat traffic or not but is mostly 3-6’ of visibility. Baitfish are still in the channel, but some schools are starting to move back into pockets.
Bass-Fishing is good. The shallow water bite is still going on. Anglers are fishing 3-10’ on shelves along channel swings in creek arms with jigs or Ned rigs. Bass are still being caught in 12-20’ along main lake banks and points with chunk rock with bottom contact baits as well.
Walleye- Fishing is good. The bite has slowed since July. Anglers are trolling worm harness rigs or crankbaits around main lake humps and points in 19-21.’
Catfish- Fishing is great. Lots of catfish are being caught in 15-25 FOW in areas with a gravel bottom with worms. Trolling live shad on flats near the channel is producing the best bites.
Crappie- Fishing is slow. Some crappie are being caught near open-water wood structure in 20’+ with jigs on the upper end.
Chickamauga Reservoir August 10th – August 12th, 2024
Forecast Contributor – Nathan Rogers, Region III Creel Clerk
The weather has been cool in the mornings throughout the weekend with it still getting to the upper 80’s throughout the day. Water temps are back on the rise unless in tailwaters of the dam or up the Hiwassee River. Current has gone back to relatively normal flows on the Tennessee River, with higher currents starting later in the afternoon compared to morning flows. The water levels are at normal full pool; the latest depth I recorded is below. For any discharge or lake elevation info, check out the TVA Lake Info App.
Reservoir Conditions
Water Temp:
- Hiwassee River: 82.3 degrees Fahrenheit
- Tennessee River (Lower Section): 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit
Water Clarity:
- Tennessee River (River Channel): 4 feet
- Hiwassee River: 2.5 feet
- Creeks/Inlets: 3 feet
Water Level: 682.00 feet
Water Flow: (as of August 12th)
- Watts Bar Dam: ~ 29850 cfs
- Chickamauga Dam: ~ 27920 cfs
- Ocoee #1 Dam: ~ 1990 cfs
- Apalachia: ~ 3865 cfs
Observed Species Information
Bass: Fishing is fair. Anglers seemed to get more bites fishing humps/ledges off of main river and creek channels. The most successful technique observed was fishing deeper flats and humps (15-20 feet) adjacent to main channel with deep diving crankbaits and swimbaits. Many anglers are also finding success on laydowns and flats throwing spinnerbaits, chatter baits and also finesse techniques (Wacky, Texas, and Dropshot). Topwater bites are picking up over shallow grass flats as well. Live bait is the most successful method observed to catch larger fish. Upper portion of Hiwassee River seemed to hold some fish in the cooler waters.
Catfish: Fishing is fair. Many anglers are starting to get some good catfish once current picks up throughout the reservoir. Fishing edges or in the middle of the channel in some cases. Large bends and current breaks of the channel seem to be the best spots. Sinking live/cut bait to the bottom with some heavy weight to beat the current works best.
Chickamauga - 8-14-24
Forecast Contributor – Billy Wheat, Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/riprapfishingadventures and www.riprapfishing.net
The bass are going nuts on the shad right it’s getting that time of year when you can have a Topwater on all day and at any time catch a big one! Look for this activity around shallow grass, shallow shell beds or long points. When it happens it’s like a fire drill! ! The other way to have a blast is electronics look for them and catch them. That varies off the flats and shell beds adjacent to river bars that go from shallow to deep the grass beds if you find the right ones are prime as well!
Douglas Lake 8-7-24
Forecast Contributor Brad Burkhart – Follow on Facebook
Good morning, everyone. Hope all is well. It’s HOT I mean it ain’t middle of September hot, but we are well on our way. With that being said, don’t think I’m crazy but the bass are starting to move back somewhat shallow. I’ve had good success targeting bluffs and they’re a specific reason. The distance needed to move shallow from deep back and forth is shorter than those bass that are living at the end of a break on the main channel.
Early morning try topwater and glide baits, mid-day focus on the wood with a shakey head or big worm. And lye afternoon stick to a big walking topwater like a spook around the ends of laydowns with shade. Watch your electronics, the bait will tell you the zone you need to target.
Good luck. God bless.
Message me to book a trip.
Brad Burkhart
@bradburkhartprofishing
Fall Creek Falls 8-7-24.
Forecast Contributor Casey Haston – FCF boat dock staff.
Lake Conditions - Fishing is still fair despite the hot weather. Fishing early morning and late evening, as well as cloudy/drizzly days seems to get the best results.
As the day heats up you may do better finding shaded areas to try. Surface water temperature is 84°-87°F and water clarity is about 3ft near the Boat Dock.
Ten automatic feeders are in use as well, they go off twice a day, currently at 6:00am and 7:30pm. The feeders may also be good place to try your luck!
Largemouth Bass: Fishing is slow to fair, again for bass you might have better luck early or late in the day. The topwater bite is definitely better during those times!
Some bass have been caught on weightless plastic worms, finesse worms, speed craws, also Ned rigs. Live bait like minnows is always a good option!
Bluegill and Redear Sunfish: Fishing for bluegill is actually pretty good, still catching some nice bluegill! Redear bite is kind of slow but still a few being caught.
Bluegills are mostly being caught on crickets and red worms, redear seem to like night crawlers or red worms better. Some bluegill being caught near the feeders early and late in the day, maybe find the shade or deeper water as the day heats up!
Catfish: Fishing is good! There has been some really nice catfish caught on various baits like chicken liver, hot dogs, worms, crickets, stink bait and live minnows.
The feeders are a good place to try but catfish have been caught near the dam, the cabins and several different areas!
Crappie: Fishing is slow for the crappie but there have been a few caught on live minnows, sometimes Bobby Garlands, or a small grub. Deeper underwater
structures, docks, or sunken treetops might be good places to try.
Fort Loudon 8-15-24.
Forecast Contributor Chris Keeble – Angler-Guide
With the water temp still fluctuating around 80 degrees there continues to be a large population of fish offshore in depths up to 30ft. There are a lot more numbers to be caught offshore with quality bites occasionally mixed in. Being primarily largemouth the deep schools can be easily targeted with a dropshot, swimbait, football jig, or even deep diving crankbait. Don't let this discourage you from looking shallow though as with the warm water temps many fish including bigger fish are sitting in those shallow water shade lines. Whether this be under overhangs, docks, or rock wallsearlyin the morning the topwater bite is starting to turn on as well as the flipping bite later in the afternoon once the sun is up.
Striped and hybrid bass are also starting to show up targeting bait balls suspended over deep water in creek mouths and on points. In the evenings these schools of hybrids can be pelagic but if you're in the right place at the right time it can make for a fun topwater bite when the fish push the bait to the surface and begin schooling higher up in the water column. This bite should only get better from now into the fall of the year as the water temp starts to cool hopefully in the coming weeks.
Hiwassee River below Appalachia Powerhouse – 6-27-24
Forecast Contributor- Tic Smith/Southeastern Anglers Guide Service
NOTE- Mr. Smith will be guiding in KY until October and will not be able to provide Hiwassee reports until then.
River Conditions
Water temp- 60 to 72 degrees
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 Lake Levels then Apalachia to view info.
River Conditions- The water temps are rising to lethal levels during periods of 0 generation. The heat wave and lack of rain have combined to make the fishing very difficult. When the water is running, it is cold enough for the trout but when the generators are at 0, the temps are shutting the trout down. Fishing is not good now.
Hatches – a few Sulphurs and Isonychias
Terrestrials, such as hoppers and ants are good flies to throw. 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. Larger streamers are productive when 2 generators are running.
Kentucky Lake 8-14-24
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
CATFISH BITE CONTINUES…WHITE BASS INCONSISTENT
The best bite going for the mid-summer fishing scene here on Kentucky Lake has been catfishing. Both the bite and the weather have been pretty hot! Lake levels continue to fall slowly on the path of TVA’s winter drawdown schedule. Elevation this week has dropped to 357, which is down several inches from last week at this time. Surface temperatures have been in the 86-to-89-degree range.
Nice stringers of channel catfish, along with a few blues, are being caught by a few fishermen who have mastered the deep-water techniques of the Tennessee River. Thanks to a pretty steady flow of current lately through Kentucky Dam moving water has worked in favor of the catfishing scene. Most days TVA has been pulling water in the rate of 33,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Some days less but holding around that range and that’s enough to stimulate movement of bait fish. When the current is moving it stimulates schools of shad to meander around, feeding on zooplankton throughout the water column.
That scenario within the food chain spells success for cat fishermen out near the main channel banks or humps in deeper depths of 40 to 55 feet. While most anglers choose to bump bottom with a double hook rig---hooks are often tied a couple of feet apart on drop loops---sometimes the fish may be suspended. Closely watching the movement of balls of baitfish, accomplished anglers monitor closely the depth of the bait and adjust their bait presentation accordingly. Sophisticated sonar units even help identify the whereabouts of the larger fish, helping anglers pinpoint their bait presentation.
A lot of the better boxes of fish taken are from those anglers who do just that. They mark the fish on their screens and attempt to put the bait right smack dab in the face of the fish! Productive bait choices always seem to have nightcrawlers on the list. Chicken liver, cut bait, hot dogs dipped in commercial concoctions are but a few of the more popular choices being credited for catches. There are always a few cat fishermen mixing up their own recipes of magic potions. As long as the current keeps flowing the main channel area catfish bite should hold up.
Bass fishing has been sluggish for most. Reports have trickled from anglers targeting the main lake ledges with big deep diving crankbaits, Texas rigged worms, swim baits and some jigging spoons. There have been some anglers finding locating a few isolated schools of base chasing shad while mixed in with some white bass.
White bass (stripes) have been seen busting the surface out in the main lake areas, but sightings of schooling fish have been inconsistent. Those catching a few white bass credit their catches to the use of white Rooster Tails and some silver-colored jigging spoons.
Isolated reports have come in from a few summer crappie anglers working the main lake ledges around depths of 18 to 25 feet. They credit their catch to the use of live minnows in most reports.
Nickajack Lake - 7-25-24
Forecast Contributor Ethan Castle – Whitwell High School Bass Team
Fishinghas been good for the most part and has not slowed down. Water temps have been ranging in the mid to high 80s. The fish seem to be bitingin a bunch of different ways lately. I have still been staying offshore for the most part doing a lot of graphing trying to find big schools in 18 to 20 feet of water throwing a big crankbait in chartreuse blue back for the most part, on the slower days you can throw a big worm in plum or June bug and a big football jig in a blue craw color. There are a few good mats of grass starting to show up in the river that you can throw a frog on in the mornings and evenings especially if they have some current flowing.
Normandy Lake - 7-25-24
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis – Follow on Facebook
Normandy produces some good fish and especially in the morning and late evening hours. Current water levels are at 874.08 and headed down to 873.98 by Sunday morning. Crankbaits, Texas Rigs or Tightline Jigs have been our go to. We found several really nice bass using shaky heads at the end of points in 10 to 15 feet of water. Walleye can be caught trolling crankbaits or drifting minnows/crawler harnesses on flats and in the river. Keep an eye on the habitat that TWRA and TN Bass Nation put out the last couple years Water temperatures range from 85 to 88 degrees. For more information call Jake Davis at 615.613.2382 Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water. Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or msbassguide@comcast.net
Percy Priest – 8-15-24
Forecast Contributor Brian Carper - briancarper.com - Follow on Facebook
The August grind continues. Percy Priest Lake has been producing bass, but mostly smaller with a few quality fish. The early morning bite and evening bite are the best times to fish. On the upper end you can fish flats in two to four feet of water with topwater lures plastic worms to find success along with points, humps and steeper boulder banks. The crappie continue to be a grind as well. With the water near 85 degrees brush piles in 14ft-25ft have still been productive when fishing with live bait 3-6 feet off the bottom. The upper end of the lake has been the most productive for us!
For more information or Book your trip today at www.briancarper.com
Pickwick – 7-22-24
Forecast Contributor Tyler Finley – Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyler.finley.750
With water temperatures in the mid 90’s fish are looking for cooler more oxygenated water. Both deep ledges and grass have been a factor recently. Ledges from Waterloo to the state park have been best (15-25ft). The closer to the main lake the ledge is the better. When fishing a ledge use a jig, Carolina rig, big worm and swimbait. Most of the grass is up past the trace in 5-10ft. When fishing grass use a Chatterbait and swimbait. You will have to fish a lot of grass to get bit but when you find one there will be more with it.
Tims Ford - 7-25-24
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis – Follow on Facebook
What a swing on area lakes. The weather pattern over the last week has really helped out. Fresh water from the rains and the lake temperatures have dropped 5 to 7 degrees. If this weather conditions hold this might be the best August for fishing, we’ve seen in several years. We found some nice fish active early in the mornings and late evenings. Our best fish came on 3/8 Shaky Head with a Magnum Trick worm and ½ ounce Tightline Green Tequila Jig this week work around brush piles in 8 to 15 feet of water.
Overall numbers are holding good with 10 to 20 fish per ½ day and quality is still good this past week as well. Presentations were Texas Rigged and Carolina rigged soft plastics, Tightline Mussel Crawler jigs tipped with Twin Tail grub… Don’t pass up the opportunity to flip laydowns especially around deep water. The current Lake level is 887.54 with a forecasted level dropping due to the lack of rain to 887.45 over the weekend. Water temps are between 82 to 86 degrees on most of the lake. I will be conducting a TWRA Boater Safety Course with testing the same day on 1 July 2024, please keep your lights on at night, even when sitting still “It’s the Law and it will save your life”. Always wear your life vest while on the water, watch for floating logs and other boaters. Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or msbassguide@comcast.net
Watts Bar - 8-7-24
Forecast Contributor – Billy Wheat, Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/riprapfishingadventures and www.riprapfishing.net
Watts Bar is fun right now because the Topwater bite is really getting better. The fish are hitting a Pop-R and Spook pretty good of the morning. The grass is great when you find the area they are in! There is a lot of grass up there right now stay open minded and versatile you hit the right grass bed and sparks will fly! The offshore bite is great, but you better have your traveling shoes on because you have graph and fish a ton of spots to find the good ones. Good electronics are great this time of year because it eliminates much of your time.
Watts Bar 8-15-24
Forecast Contributor Captain Wallace Sitzes – Follow on Facebook
I take it easy this time of year because of the heat, lack of water flow and mostly because of the boat traffic. When I do go, I look for a few things that can make a short trip really successful. If you just want to put fish in the boat, you need to target "willow flies / mayflies / fishflies" They pile up on trees that overhang the water and swarm docks and lights at night. Everything eats them from different species of sunfish to bass and catfish.
During the heat of the day, they will stay on shady banks, but early morning and sundown they could be anywhere. Just cruise the shoreline until you see them, the fish eating them or tons of exoskeletons on the surface. Just fallow the exoskeletons up wind or up current until you find them. I usually just fish them to load up on pan fish for bait, but I've had bass eat my bluegill and bigger bass attack the bass while reeling them in. They are a fish magnet.
You can use mayflies for bait, but it's a lot easier to get a can of nightcrawlers and just cut them into pieces and stick them on a 1/32 jig head or a long shank #6 under a float. There's still a lot of fish hanging on the drop offs into the channel and old creek beds.
With the heavy pleasure boat traffic, the shad are getting pushed deep during the day and come up into the flats and sandbars about 5 or 6pm. The migrations of baby shad are hanging back in shallow coves throughout the day which is great for bass and striper. White or shad pattern flukes, spooks, buzz baits and spinnerbaits can really produce some numbers just about all day long especially if there are any weed mats on the surface.
If you see the mats, pitch a fluke or frog through them and let them sink into the holes. Use braided line at least 20# so it will cut through the weeds. If you throw everything but the kitchen sink at them and don't produce good fish, try deep ledges and rocky points that drop right off into 40' or more. A variety of game fish will be hanging down about 25 feet under the surface working the schools of baitfish.
Woods Reservoir 7-25-24
Forecast Contributor Captain Jake Davis – Follow on Facebook
Woods has gone through a major temperature change in the last week… Early last week we actually saw temperatures hit 90 degrees. As of yesterday, it was 82.5. Great place to beat the heat. Early morning and late afternoon/evening is the best. Grass lines and Brush have been the remain your best bet, Bass and Crappie all can be found along grass edges and on deeper brush piles. Best numbers are still coming on a shaky head rigged finesse bait and a Tightline Mussel Crawler Jig in Green Tequila.
We found our better fish in 8 to 15 foot of water using Texas Rigged D-Bombs from Missile Baits and Tightline Mussel Crawler jigs tipped with Twin Tail grubs, soft plastics, and Carolina Rigs. Drifting or trolling with spider rigs for Crappie is picking up some nice slabs but you have to weed through the short fish. Water temperatures range from 81 to 86 degrees. Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water… Give me a call to book your trip, summer fishing can be lots of fun on Woods.Capt. Jake 615-613-2382 or msbassguide@comcast.net
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