04-19-2004, 09:43 PM
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
Bass fishing has been hurt by all the fronts and rain that has moved through this week. Jerkbaits, plastics Carolina rigged, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, Roostertails, and crankbaits have all produced fish the last couple weeks. The Fat Free Shad, Normans, and Bandit crankbaits are taking the majority of the fish caught, with the jerkbaits also doing really well. With the water becoming stained by all the rain received, try throwing something with some chartreuse in it. Smallmouth bass continue to be found up shallow and should be almost done spawning by now. The largemouth can also be found up shallow, mostly later in the afternoons or early in the mornings, off points or around brushy cover. Plastics, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits have been catching several of these largemouth that are feeding shallow. Fish a plastic lizard or worm Carolina rigged around treetops and other brushy cover. Purple, watermelon, or pumpkinseed has been good colors for the plastics the last couple of weeks. The Watauga arm seems to be producing more largemouth right now, while the bronzebacks seem to be hitting better on the Holston arm. Fishing should pick up when we can get a few sunny days in a row.
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Striped bass and hybrid action continues to be good. They have been caught at the bend at Davis Dock, Point 10, in front of Sportsman's Dock, and Point 4 on the Holston side, while Point 19 (Deer Lick) and just below the island at Sonny's Marina on the Watauga side have seen some good stripers caught. At the dam at night is starting to see some action as well. Late evening fishing seems to be the best right now. The majority of the fish caught have been taken in about 15-25 feet of water. Shad, Zara Spooks, or white buck hair jigs seem to be the best baits for the Striped bass while chicken livers work well for the hybrids.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Crappie fishing has not been hurt by all the rain. What fishermen battled through all the wet days, found some decent stringers of crappie. Most anglers are catching the majority of their crappie on a plain jig head tipped with a minnow or by using small plastic tube jigs on a 1/32 or 1/16th head. Chartreuse or blue/white jigs have been working the best in submerged brush or treetops in about 6-10 feet of water. Small Bass Assassins have also produced a few fish. The long cove at Point 19 on the Watauga side put out some decent crappie this week, as well as Long Branch at Sportsman's Dock on the Holston side.[/size][/font] [/size][/font]
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Bass fishing has been hurt by all the fronts and rain that has moved through this week. Jerkbaits, plastics Carolina rigged, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, Roostertails, and crankbaits have all produced fish the last couple weeks. The Fat Free Shad, Normans, and Bandit crankbaits are taking the majority of the fish caught, with the jerkbaits also doing really well. With the water becoming stained by all the rain received, try throwing something with some chartreuse in it. Smallmouth bass continue to be found up shallow and should be almost done spawning by now. The largemouth can also be found up shallow, mostly later in the afternoons or early in the mornings, off points or around brushy cover. Plastics, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits have been catching several of these largemouth that are feeding shallow. Fish a plastic lizard or worm Carolina rigged around treetops and other brushy cover. Purple, watermelon, or pumpkinseed has been good colors for the plastics the last couple of weeks. The Watauga arm seems to be producing more largemouth right now, while the bronzebacks seem to be hitting better on the Holston arm. Fishing should pick up when we can get a few sunny days in a row.
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Striped bass and hybrid action continues to be good. They have been caught at the bend at Davis Dock, Point 10, in front of Sportsman's Dock, and Point 4 on the Holston side, while Point 19 (Deer Lick) and just below the island at Sonny's Marina on the Watauga side have seen some good stripers caught. At the dam at night is starting to see some action as well. Late evening fishing seems to be the best right now. The majority of the fish caught have been taken in about 15-25 feet of water. Shad, Zara Spooks, or white buck hair jigs seem to be the best baits for the Striped bass while chicken livers work well for the hybrids.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Crappie fishing has not been hurt by all the rain. What fishermen battled through all the wet days, found some decent stringers of crappie. Most anglers are catching the majority of their crappie on a plain jig head tipped with a minnow or by using small plastic tube jigs on a 1/32 or 1/16th head. Chartreuse or blue/white jigs have been working the best in submerged brush or treetops in about 6-10 feet of water. Small Bass Assassins have also produced a few fish. The long cove at Point 19 on the Watauga side put out some decent crappie this week, as well as Long Branch at Sportsman's Dock on the Holston side.[/size][/font] [/size][/font]
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