05-12-2004, 04:23 AM
WATER CONDITIONS
The lake elevation is 1016.7-feet, 1.4-feet higher than it was last week. Over the next two days, the lake is predicted to rise an additional 3.6-inches. The lake is clear in almost all locations. Main channel water surface temperatures are in the mid-60's in the morning hours, rising to nearly 70 degrees by nightfall. Due to the rising water, there are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.
SUMMARY
WALLEYE are hitting surface jerk baits and shallow crankbaits at dusk and at night. This pattern is expected to last through the month, and should be especially good under the bright moon. SMALLMOUTH are hitting well on the dropoffs and humps. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS are in the head of the coves, near creek mouths, and are hitting crankbaits and spinners. CRAPPIE are hitting at night under lantern light, and in early morning in the brush. STRIPED BASS were caught from Cedar Grove to Williams Creek, off the points, and on the Powell from the mouth of Cedar Creek to Crumley Hollow.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Excellent. 15-feet to 20-feet on humps and points. Submerged humps which are 15 to 20 feet deep, and off points and white-gravel banks which have shelves extending into the channel. Fish the edge of the dropoffs at that depth for large smallmouth. Shiners, fished near the bottom off gravel points, are the best way to catch large smallmouth. 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. Carolina-rigged small plastic lizards, "Do-nothing worms," Slider worms, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good. 3 to 10-feet in the back of hollows, especially if there is a small branch or creek running in. 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.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. 10 to 20-feet deep off points. Use large shiners or shad near the bottom, off clay/gravel points from 33 Highway Bridge to Straight Creek. Some reported caught on the Powell side from Lindymood to Point 12. Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or downrigged as deep as 30-feet.
WALLEYE
Good. 12 to15-feet, on the bottom, or suspended at that depth if in schools of baitfish. Shallow at dusk and after sunset: cast Rebels, Rogues, ShadRaps, Spooks, and willow-leaf spinners near flooded, standing sycamore trees and rocky banks. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Cove Creek, Loyston Sea from Lost Creek to Mill Creek are good locations. The section between Rainbow Dock and Sequoyah Dock, and the lower Powell arm from Point 9 to Point 10 is producing some fish.
CRAPPIE
Moderate. 10 to 15-feet, in the brush along creek embayments. Shallower in early morning. Fish small tube jigs, popeye flies, or minnows in the brush. Mill Creek, Big Ridge Hollow, Lost Creek were all good during the past week in the creek channel brush which lies along the edge of the channels.
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The lake elevation is 1016.7-feet, 1.4-feet higher than it was last week. Over the next two days, the lake is predicted to rise an additional 3.6-inches. The lake is clear in almost all locations. Main channel water surface temperatures are in the mid-60's in the morning hours, rising to nearly 70 degrees by nightfall. Due to the rising water, there are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.
SUMMARY
WALLEYE are hitting surface jerk baits and shallow crankbaits at dusk and at night. This pattern is expected to last through the month, and should be especially good under the bright moon. SMALLMOUTH are hitting well on the dropoffs and humps. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS are in the head of the coves, near creek mouths, and are hitting crankbaits and spinners. CRAPPIE are hitting at night under lantern light, and in early morning in the brush. STRIPED BASS were caught from Cedar Grove to Williams Creek, off the points, and on the Powell from the mouth of Cedar Creek to Crumley Hollow.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Excellent. 15-feet to 20-feet on humps and points. Submerged humps which are 15 to 20 feet deep, and off points and white-gravel banks which have shelves extending into the channel. Fish the edge of the dropoffs at that depth for large smallmouth. Shiners, fished near the bottom off gravel points, are the best way to catch large smallmouth. 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. Carolina-rigged small plastic lizards, "Do-nothing worms," Slider worms, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs.
LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good. 3 to 10-feet in the back of hollows, especially if there is a small branch or creek running in. 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.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. 10 to 20-feet deep off points. Use large shiners or shad near the bottom, off clay/gravel points from 33 Highway Bridge to Straight Creek. Some reported caught on the Powell side from Lindymood to Point 12. Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or downrigged as deep as 30-feet.
WALLEYE
Good. 12 to15-feet, on the bottom, or suspended at that depth if in schools of baitfish. Shallow at dusk and after sunset: cast Rebels, Rogues, ShadRaps, Spooks, and willow-leaf spinners near flooded, standing sycamore trees and rocky banks. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Cove Creek, Loyston Sea from Lost Creek to Mill Creek are good locations. The section between Rainbow Dock and Sequoyah Dock, and the lower Powell arm from Point 9 to Point 10 is producing some fish.
CRAPPIE
Moderate. 10 to 15-feet, in the brush along creek embayments. Shallower in early morning. Fish small tube jigs, popeye flies, or minnows in the brush. Mill Creek, Big Ridge Hollow, Lost Creek were all good during the past week in the creek channel brush which lies along the edge of the channels.
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