Fishing Report Archives

Late August angling is here and as of late the fishing hasn’t been too bad. A few cooler days teamed up with some cloud cover that brought that early fall feel to the air and anglers love it.

Light north winds chased away---if only for a short time---some of the heat and humidity that usually dominates late August fishing conditions.

Known to be a rather hot and humid month that challenges most anglers, August this time around hasn’t been too unruly. And, fall is fast approaching---less than a month away--- as each passing day brings it closer on the calendar. Seasons officially change on September 22 if you happen to be counting down the transition.

Lake levels this week haven’t changed much. Only a slight decline has occurred since last week. Forecasts for the weekend indicated the reservoir will be in the 356.8 range.

Water color remains clear across the entire reservoir. Surface temperature is resting in the 85 to 88 degree range.

A few boats have reported finding some scattered summer crappie this week holding in the 14-foot depth range. Some boats were fishing live minnows or tipping jigs with minnows in Big Sandy and West Sandy while other areas along the Tennessee River were giving up fish as well.

Vertical fishing techniques have worked best. The fish want the bait fished right in front of their nose it appears.

Main lake flats near channels or manmade structures placed near creek sloughs have paid dividends. That midrange depth has been the most productive lately as schools of baitfish are using that depth zone and pulling the crappie to their locales.

A few boats continue to troll crankbaits along main lake ledges with mediocre results. Pulling deep diving plugs along the edges of drop-offs has produced some scattered crappie at times, along with some catfish, bass and small numbers of whitebass.

Some crappie have been caught around brushpiles and stakebeds located in big bays off the main lake too. Watch for more of that to happen during cooler spells as baitfish meander.

Bass anglers are tossing a Red-eye shad or Rattle Trap variations in chrome color variations in the backs of big bays when schools of shad can be found. The bass often roam open water areas if the forage base is present and that’s been the case some days.

The summer ledge type pattern is still in existence and usually lasts on up into the fall. Seems there’s always a few boats beating the ledges and sandbars with a variety of crankbaits, swim baits, Texas rigged worms and jig and craw combos.

Also producing have been a few gravel banks and long sloping points protruding into deep water. Some shallow flats are holding bass if the shad are present and the gulls will help you find that baitfish activity. So, watch for the birds!

Catfishing has been sluggish lately for most anglers as not much current has been present in the main Tennessee River channel. When TVA isn’t pulling water the catfish bite goes sluggish.

Some activity will resume in the 25 to 35 foot depth range once current resumes.