04-19-2004, 09:44 PM
WATER CONDITIONS
Water surface temperatures have been in the mid to upper 50's this week. The lake is clear toward the dam but stained in the upper end. The lake level at the dam as of 4:00 a.m. Thursday morning was 1,953.81 feet above sea level. The lake level has risen about 2.8 feet compared to this time last week.
SUMMARY
Bass fishing was a little slow this week, mostly due to the weather. The majority of the smallmouth bass has moved up into less than 10 feet of water and can be found on most points or rocky banks. Look for the Largemouth bass to be active mostly early in the mornings or late in the afternoons. Morning fishing has been the best right now. Most of the fishing seems to slow down by 11:00. The largemouth seem to be holding pretty tight to fallen trees and other woody cover. The spotted bass have still been hitting good around docks and boat slips in the Fish Springs, Mallard Cove, Cove Ridge, and Cobb Creek areas. The majority of bass are hitting jerkbaits or Fat Free Shad and small Bandit crankbaits. Plastic tubes, lizards, and worms have also been putting good fish in the boat. Bank fishing continues to be good, with the smallmouth being taken on trout minnows or creek chubs early in the morning up to about midday on the bank sides where the sun is hitting the most.
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Trout fishing continues to be good for rainbows while a few Lake trout can be found deep as well. The stocked rainbows can be caught at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp. Try running downriggers about 50-80 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam for the lakers. Spoons seem to be the most effective lure the downriggers.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The crappie fishing continues to do well. Good stringers can be found in Roan Creek, Elk River, Cobb Creek, and the Watauga River. The mud slide in Roan Creek just below the campground has been especially good all year. Fishing flies and small tubes on 1/16 oz. or 1/32 oz. jig heads about 6-10 feet deep around submerged brush has been the most effective methods. When fishing gets tough, try tipping flies with a minnow.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Walleye fishing has been slow this week. The majority of the Walleye fishing has been taking place in the main body of the lake from Point 6 down to Fish Springs at night or in the morning on cloudy days. Good numbers of Walleye can be found up shallow around the tree tops at night using Long-bill Rebels. Trolling nightcrawlers early in the morning up to midday on cloudy days can also be effective.[/size][/font]
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Water surface temperatures have been in the mid to upper 50's this week. The lake is clear toward the dam but stained in the upper end. The lake level at the dam as of 4:00 a.m. Thursday morning was 1,953.81 feet above sea level. The lake level has risen about 2.8 feet compared to this time last week.
SUMMARY
Bass fishing was a little slow this week, mostly due to the weather. The majority of the smallmouth bass has moved up into less than 10 feet of water and can be found on most points or rocky banks. Look for the Largemouth bass to be active mostly early in the mornings or late in the afternoons. Morning fishing has been the best right now. Most of the fishing seems to slow down by 11:00. The largemouth seem to be holding pretty tight to fallen trees and other woody cover. The spotted bass have still been hitting good around docks and boat slips in the Fish Springs, Mallard Cove, Cove Ridge, and Cobb Creek areas. The majority of bass are hitting jerkbaits or Fat Free Shad and small Bandit crankbaits. Plastic tubes, lizards, and worms have also been putting good fish in the boat. Bank fishing continues to be good, with the smallmouth being taken on trout minnows or creek chubs early in the morning up to about midday on the bank sides where the sun is hitting the most.
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Trout fishing continues to be good for rainbows while a few Lake trout can be found deep as well. The stocked rainbows can be caught at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp. Try running downriggers about 50-80 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam for the lakers. Spoons seem to be the most effective lure the downriggers.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The crappie fishing continues to do well. Good stringers can be found in Roan Creek, Elk River, Cobb Creek, and the Watauga River. The mud slide in Roan Creek just below the campground has been especially good all year. Fishing flies and small tubes on 1/16 oz. or 1/32 oz. jig heads about 6-10 feet deep around submerged brush has been the most effective methods. When fishing gets tough, try tipping flies with a minnow.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Walleye fishing has been slow this week. The majority of the Walleye fishing has been taking place in the main body of the lake from Point 6 down to Fish Springs at night or in the morning on cloudy days. Good numbers of Walleye can be found up shallow around the tree tops at night using Long-bill Rebels. Trolling nightcrawlers early in the morning up to midday on cloudy days can also be effective.[/size][/font]
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