05-12-2004, 04:36 AM
[size 2]Surface water temperatures have been running 76 to 80 degrees in the afternoon hours. Many crappie have been caught in the very shallow sloughs using minnows and jigs. Pearl and pink combination jigs have been very popular. Bass were being caught in the weeds until very recently. Now, the majority of bass have been located on points and flats in the sloughs and also in the river. April and river humps normally do not go together, however that has been a working combination with some very good results. Stripers in the tailwaters below Watts Bar Dam have been exciting to say the least. Many fish have been caught in the last few days. Any lure normally used for stripers can catch many fish, however, live shad is a better choice. Fishing for shellcrackers, bluegill, and catfish has been very good for most fishermen. [/size]
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