05-12-2004, 04:24 AM
Water surface temperature has ranged from 58-64 degrees this week. The lake is clear toward the dam but has good greenish color water up toward the rivers. The lake level at the dam as of 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning was 1,957.64 feet above sea level. The lake level has risen about one foot compared to this time last week.
Bass fishing was good over the past weekend toward the upper end of the lake, but towards the dam has been slow all week. The bluebird skies of this week have made the fishing a little tough. The fishing seems to be better early in the morning on days such as these. The largemouth are moving up shallow now getting ready to spawn while several smallmouth continue to be up but seem to be about finished spawning. The smallmouths seem to be a little tougher to get to bite right now, but the largemouth and spots have been hitting fairly well. Try targeting the Spotted bass around any of the docks and marinas on the lake or in Mallard Cove or in the Cove Ridge area with a tube. The spots were on the rocky areas while the Largemouth bass were holding pretty tight to the fallen trees on the far bank going into Mallard Cove. The very back of Cobb Creek in the willow tree flats and in the upper end of Roan Creek was also covered up with largemouth in five feet of water or less. The largemouth seem to be holding pretty tight to fallen trees and other woody cover. The upper end of the Elk and Watauga Rivers seem to be still producing some smallmouths, but they are scattered. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits. Plastic tubes, lizards, and worms should all take a largemouth right now.
Trout fishing has been a little slow for both the rainbows and Lake trout . Look for the stocked rainbows at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp using Berkley power bait, Roostertails, and Panther Martins, while the Lake trout will be found using downriggers about 70-100 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam using spoons.
The crappie fishing was a little slow this week but should still be able to find a good stringer of them. Good fish can be found in Roan Creek, Elk River, Cobb Creek, and the Watauga River. Fishing flies and small tubes on 1/16 or 1/32 jig heads about 6-10 feet deep around submerged brush has been the most effective methods. May also consider using a minnow.
Walleye fishing has been a little 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 Lakeshore Marina 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.
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Bass fishing was good over the past weekend toward the upper end of the lake, but towards the dam has been slow all week. The bluebird skies of this week have made the fishing a little tough. The fishing seems to be better early in the morning on days such as these. The largemouth are moving up shallow now getting ready to spawn while several smallmouth continue to be up but seem to be about finished spawning. The smallmouths seem to be a little tougher to get to bite right now, but the largemouth and spots have been hitting fairly well. Try targeting the Spotted bass around any of the docks and marinas on the lake or in Mallard Cove or in the Cove Ridge area with a tube. The spots were on the rocky areas while the Largemouth bass were holding pretty tight to the fallen trees on the far bank going into Mallard Cove. The very back of Cobb Creek in the willow tree flats and in the upper end of Roan Creek was also covered up with largemouth in five feet of water or less. The largemouth seem to be holding pretty tight to fallen trees and other woody cover. The upper end of the Elk and Watauga Rivers seem to be still producing some smallmouths, but they are scattered. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits. Plastic tubes, lizards, and worms should all take a largemouth right now.
Trout fishing has been a little slow for both the rainbows and Lake trout . Look for the stocked rainbows at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp using Berkley power bait, Roostertails, and Panther Martins, while the Lake trout will be found using downriggers about 70-100 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam using spoons.
The crappie fishing was a little slow this week but should still be able to find a good stringer of them. Good fish can be found in Roan Creek, Elk River, Cobb Creek, and the Watauga River. Fishing flies and small tubes on 1/16 or 1/32 jig heads about 6-10 feet deep around submerged brush has been the most effective methods. May also consider using a minnow.
Walleye fishing has been a little 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 Lakeshore Marina 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.
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