Area fishing reports

Cherokee Reservoir:
The water level is still on the rise with surface temperatures reaching 65 degrees up in the day. The water is fairly clear on the main parts and murky on others.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are active in early morning and late evenings. Fish the flats, points, and creeks. Pop-r’s, Carolina rigs, spinner baits, or spooks fished 1 to 10 feet deep are the best producers.
Striped bass and Cherokee bass can be found from Point 1 to Point 8 and Point 17 on up to Point 27. Use shad, large pink or white jigs with twister grubs. Troll fishing at different depths produces best.
Crappie are on brush piles, submerged trees along bluffs, and in creeks. Fish 2 to 12 feet deep with jig & minnow or a small bandit crank bait.
Catfish and white bass are being caught up in the main parts of the river at Cherokee Boat Dock on up to the John Sevier Steam Plant.

Norris Reservoir:
WATER CONDITIONS
The current lake elevation is1013.1-feet and is predicted to rise about 8-inches over the next two days. The lake rose 1.7 feet during the past week. Afternoon water temperature readings are in the mid-60’s in the channels; higher in the backs of protected hollows. The lake water is clear on the lower end. The heads of some of the larger creeks and the headwaters of both river arms are clearing from the stained conditions which existed, last week. The upper half of the lake has a bit more color than the lower end. TWRA’s Reservoir Data Collection web site, www.tnfish.org, has other useful information on TWRA’s Norris fishery, fish identification photos, map links and fishing reports on other lakes in east Tennessee.

SUMMARY
The rapid rise in the water level moderated over the last few days, helping fishing a bit.
LARGEMOUTH and SPOTTED BASS are hitting well in the backs of the creeks and coves. Largemouth bass are seeking spawning sites on the flats near channels and adjacent to brush, stumps or boulders. SMALLMOUTH BASS are in the middle of the spawn. Some pre-spawn females are still being caught on points at about the 10-foot depth, but this fishing slowed since last week’s report. STRIPED BASS are hitting on the lower Powell and on the Clinch above Hickory Star, as well as in the larger creek embayments. Early morning has been best. CRAPPIE remain slow, but improved since the lake level steadied. They’re in the hollows, near brush. WALLEYE
are hit’n miss: some trips are yielding good walleye for some anglers while others may go skunked on the same day. The lower end has seen nice walleye caught on large willowleaf spinners or crankbaits near wood structure.

Boone Reservoir:
Water surface temperatures were in the upper 60’s around noon of this week. The lake is dingy from the rain of this week, but clearer water can be found towards the dam. The lake level at the dam as of 7:00 p.m. Wednesday was 1,3 79.13 feet above sea level.
Bass fishing has been fair. The bass are being found shallow in abundant numbers. Almost any shallow point or flat seems to be holding good numbers of fish right now. Brush and treetops have also been producing quality bass. Fish the brush and treetops with a spinnerbait or a dark colored plastic worm or lizard with its tail tipped in chartreuse. White and green or chartreuse spinnerbaits with willow blades seem to be the hot spinnerbaits this week. Most of the bass now seem to be on or close to being in the pre-spawn pattern. Look for crankbaits and hard jerkbaits to be most effective during this period. This is what most fishermen have been using on the shallow points and flats and being successful. A Rattlin Rogue, Long “A” Bomber, or a Husky Jerk jerkbait would be the best to try, while a small Shad Rap or Bandit crankbait in chartreuse or red color would be the crankbaits of choice. The pig-n-jig and flukes should also pick up some good numbers of fish when the water clarity clears up some. The jerkbait seems to be most effective fairly shallow around rip-rap or brushy cover early in the mornings when there is a slight chop on the water.
Striper and hybrid action continues to get better. This is about the best time to find that really big one. The best notable action has been found on the South Holston side, trolling shad in about 15-20 feet of water. The Sugar Hollow area and Muddy Creek area seems to be hot spots the last couple of weeks. In the bend at Davis Dock has been holding some good fish too. White hair jigs and Zara Spooks have also proven to be effective.
Crappie fishing was slow this week. Most of the crappie anglers report using small jig Theheads with chartreuse grubs or flies tipped with a minnow fished in about 6-8 feet of water around fallen or submerged treetops or stumps. The best areas to be fishing right now seem to be on the Holston side, but treetops at Boones Creek and Reedy Creek on the Watauga end should also be holding some good crappie. With the water levels back up into the treetops, look for the crappie to really start hitting in the next few weeks.

South Holston
Reservoir:
The water surface temperatures have been in the mid to upper 60’s this week. The lake is fairly clear but some stained water is located towards the upper end. The lake level at the dam as of 7:00 p.m. Wednesday w as 1,721.39 feet above sea level.
Bass fishing has been a little slow this week. Mid-morning to about noon is when the bass seem to be the most active. Crankbaits and jerkbaits seem to be taking the majority of the bass caught. Some bass also have been hitting the float and fly and spoons, but this action is about done for the year. Most anglers report finding the bass shallow in the mornings when there is a slight breeze blowing on cloudy days. This has been the best time to be throwing a jerkbait or crankbait. The one jerkbait that seems to be out producing all others this past week has been the purple backed Smithwick Rattlin Rogue. When the jerkbait is not working, then the Shad Rap crankbait seems to be bringing them in. A Bandit crankbait has also been catching some fish the last couple weeks. The largemouth seem to be especially hitting the jerkbaits while the smallmouth seem to like the crankbaits.
Crappie fishing has been slow but should be picking up soon. Anglers are having the best success with small 1/16 or 1/32 jig heads with green or chartreuse grubs or flies in Painter Creek or Big and Little Jacobs Creeks. Most of the fish taken seem to be in about 8-15 feet of water. Try tipping jigs with minnows if fishing is slow.
Walleye fishing has been a little slower than last week, but several good fish are still being caught. What fish are being caught, are being taken primarily at night or first thing in the mornings from the 421 Bridge down towards the dam. A nightcrawler rig fished in 10 to20 feet of water has been the most effective.
Trout fishing continues to be slow with not much being reported.