04-03-2004, 11:32 PM
[font "Verdana"][size 3]NORRIS LAKE:[/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 2] (4/1/04)[/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 2] - [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS
The lake elevation is 1005.3-feet, 1.6-feet higher than it was last week. The lake elevation is predicted to rise a foot over the next two days. The lake is clear in the channels, with some stain possible in the rear of some creeks. Main channel water surface temperature rose rapidly since last week, with 60- to 62-degree readings found in most main body locations. In the rear of protected creeks, water temperatures as high as 65 degrees can be found. The spell of cooler weather will temporarily cause a drop in the surface temperature by the weekend. There are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
WALLEYE catches continue in the headwaters. Lower end walleyes, staging to spawn (or in the midst of it) can be found 5 to 10-feet, in early morning hours and after dark, on rocky banks which are near red clay and gravel. On windy days, walleye are being caught very shallow in the mudline on windward banks. SMALLMOUTH continue to hit jerkbaits or small crankbaits thrown to wind-swept, gravel banks which are not far from deeper water. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS hit spinners and crankbaits in the small creek runoffs in the rear of coves. CRAPPIE hit better on the lower end of the lake, but also continue to hit in main channel brush as far up as the headwaters. STRIPED BASS hit slow to moderately well in some of the larger creeks, and toward the headwaters.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]CRAPPIE
Good. 5 to 10-feet, in shoreline brush. Small Twisters on leadhead jigs, small doll flies or tuffy minnows.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SMALLMOUTH BASS
Good. 3 to 15-feet using Bandit crankbaits and jerkbaits (orange, yellow or crawfish color with orange or yellow bellies) in stained areas, close to rocky banks. On windy days, cast plugs to wind-swept banks, close to the rocks. Small plastic lizards, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs. Float 'n Fly, plastic jerk baits on 1/4-oz leadheads, Some are holding close to the rocky banks, shallow. Many smallmouth are staging in shallower water, close to deep-water dropoffs, in anticipation of the spawn.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good. 3 to 10-feet using willow-leaf spinners, Bandit-type crankbaits, or jointed jerk baits shallow, near rocky banks and near small streams which run into the lake. Fish crankbaits with a tight action (small Bandits), or spinners very close to, and parallel to the bank, especially in stained water. Flipping with plastic jigs near wood structure in stained water sections. Some on 3-inch tube jigs.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]STRIPED BASS
Slow. Surface to 35 feet deep using Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or down-rigged as deep as 30 feet.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WALLEYE
Good upriver, improving on the lower body of the lake. 12 to 15 feet, on the bottom if trolling for upriver walleye. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Powell River from Slate Creek and above; Clinch River above Point 33, and into the shoals above the junction with Indian Creek. Lower-end walleye are starting to hit in the mudline on windy days: jerkbaits, slender crankbaits such as Red Fins and Shad Raps. Upriver: Jigs tipped with minnows vertically jigged, or trolled, on the bottom.[/size][/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS
The lake elevation is 1005.3-feet, 1.6-feet higher than it was last week. The lake elevation is predicted to rise a foot over the next two days. The lake is clear in the channels, with some stain possible in the rear of some creeks. Main channel water surface temperature rose rapidly since last week, with 60- to 62-degree readings found in most main body locations. In the rear of protected creeks, water temperatures as high as 65 degrees can be found. The spell of cooler weather will temporarily cause a drop in the surface temperature by the weekend. There are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
WALLEYE catches continue in the headwaters. Lower end walleyes, staging to spawn (or in the midst of it) can be found 5 to 10-feet, in early morning hours and after dark, on rocky banks which are near red clay and gravel. On windy days, walleye are being caught very shallow in the mudline on windward banks. SMALLMOUTH continue to hit jerkbaits or small crankbaits thrown to wind-swept, gravel banks which are not far from deeper water. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS hit spinners and crankbaits in the small creek runoffs in the rear of coves. CRAPPIE hit better on the lower end of the lake, but also continue to hit in main channel brush as far up as the headwaters. STRIPED BASS hit slow to moderately well in some of the larger creeks, and toward the headwaters.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]CRAPPIE
Good. 5 to 10-feet, in shoreline brush. Small Twisters on leadhead jigs, small doll flies or tuffy minnows.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SMALLMOUTH BASS
Good. 3 to 15-feet using Bandit crankbaits and jerkbaits (orange, yellow or crawfish color with orange or yellow bellies) in stained areas, close to rocky banks. On windy days, cast plugs to wind-swept banks, close to the rocks. Small plastic lizards, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs. Float 'n Fly, plastic jerk baits on 1/4-oz leadheads, Some are holding close to the rocky banks, shallow. Many smallmouth are staging in shallower water, close to deep-water dropoffs, in anticipation of the spawn.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good. 3 to 10-feet using willow-leaf spinners, Bandit-type crankbaits, or jointed jerk baits shallow, near rocky banks and near small streams which run into the lake. Fish crankbaits with a tight action (small Bandits), or spinners very close to, and parallel to the bank, especially in stained water. Flipping with plastic jigs near wood structure in stained water sections. Some on 3-inch tube jigs.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]STRIPED BASS
Slow. Surface to 35 feet deep using Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or down-rigged as deep as 30 feet.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WALLEYE
Good upriver, improving on the lower body of the lake. 12 to 15 feet, on the bottom if trolling for upriver walleye. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Powell River from Slate Creek and above; Clinch River above Point 33, and into the shoals above the junction with Indian Creek. Lower-end walleye are starting to hit in the mudline on windy days: jerkbaits, slender crankbaits such as Red Fins and Shad Raps. Upriver: Jigs tipped with minnows vertically jigged, or trolled, on the bottom.[/size][/font]
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