07-06-2004, 12:51 AM
WATER CONDITIONS
Water surface temperatures have been in the 75-78 degree range this week at point 3 around midday. The lake clarity is extremely clear. The lake level at the dam as of 1:00 p.m. Wednesday was 1,960.04 feet above sea level.
SUMMARY
Bass fishing continues to be slow. The nights or right at sunrise was the only notable times to catch a decent stringer of bass this week. Later in the nights were better times to fish a black and blue pig-n-jig or troll for the smallmouth, while fishing first thing in the mornings with top-water or chrome and blue or chrome and black crankbaits worked well for some good keeper largemouth. The smallmouth bass have been doing well in the lower end of the lake, especially at nights, while good numbers of largemouth have been found early in the mornings from 6:00-8:00 a.m. from the Highway 67 Bridge up into Roan Creek. Crankbaits have been what most are throwing during the days around shallow flats and points or around woody cover, but having limited success on bluebird sky days. Fishing jigs, spinnerbaits, and Carolina-rigged plastics or trolling spoons would also be worth giving a try this week.
Trout fishing continues to do well. Both the Lake and Rainbow trout are being caught. Trolling small watermelon color spoons from the dam up to Cobb Creek has been producing some nice rainbows. A few rainbows were still caught trolling in the 35 feet range, but several were taken as far down as 60 feet this week. Power Bait and salmon eggs have also been working well for the bank anglers. Lake trout fishing is still doing well right now. From around the Point 3 area downstream just past the islands to about the Watauga Point area has been the hot spot for the big Lakers. The most successful anglers report trolling in this area with watermelon or orange color spoons on downriggers in 40-60 feet of water about one to two hours after sunrise or before sunset.
Crappie fishing continues to be slow. The anglers are just not out there to catch them. The crappie seem to be suspended more now than in the brush as they were the last month or so, and this has made it hard to find them. Trolling jigs or small crankbaits have been the best method to get these suspended fish. Any fallen or submerged trees along the banks of Roan Creek, Cobb Creek, or Elk and Watauga Rivers should also be holding a few crappie though. Some crappie can be found up in shallow brush, in about 6-8 feet of water, but the majority of the bigger crappie seem to be down about 10-15 feet deep either schooled up and suspended or in deeper submerged brush. Anglers are having the best success with small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig heads with white or chartreuse grubs or flies
Walleye fishing has been better than past weeks. Most of these fish seem to have moved into the lower end of the lake, from the Highway 67 Bridge down to the dam. Trolling just below the bridge from early to mid morning with a Sutton spoon was really effective this week. Trolling with Long-bill Rebels continues to take a few at night still.
[signature]
Water surface temperatures have been in the 75-78 degree range this week at point 3 around midday. The lake clarity is extremely clear. The lake level at the dam as of 1:00 p.m. Wednesday was 1,960.04 feet above sea level.
SUMMARY
Bass fishing continues to be slow. The nights or right at sunrise was the only notable times to catch a decent stringer of bass this week. Later in the nights were better times to fish a black and blue pig-n-jig or troll for the smallmouth, while fishing first thing in the mornings with top-water or chrome and blue or chrome and black crankbaits worked well for some good keeper largemouth. The smallmouth bass have been doing well in the lower end of the lake, especially at nights, while good numbers of largemouth have been found early in the mornings from 6:00-8:00 a.m. from the Highway 67 Bridge up into Roan Creek. Crankbaits have been what most are throwing during the days around shallow flats and points or around woody cover, but having limited success on bluebird sky days. Fishing jigs, spinnerbaits, and Carolina-rigged plastics or trolling spoons would also be worth giving a try this week.
Trout fishing continues to do well. Both the Lake and Rainbow trout are being caught. Trolling small watermelon color spoons from the dam up to Cobb Creek has been producing some nice rainbows. A few rainbows were still caught trolling in the 35 feet range, but several were taken as far down as 60 feet this week. Power Bait and salmon eggs have also been working well for the bank anglers. Lake trout fishing is still doing well right now. From around the Point 3 area downstream just past the islands to about the Watauga Point area has been the hot spot for the big Lakers. The most successful anglers report trolling in this area with watermelon or orange color spoons on downriggers in 40-60 feet of water about one to two hours after sunrise or before sunset.
Crappie fishing continues to be slow. The anglers are just not out there to catch them. The crappie seem to be suspended more now than in the brush as they were the last month or so, and this has made it hard to find them. Trolling jigs or small crankbaits have been the best method to get these suspended fish. Any fallen or submerged trees along the banks of Roan Creek, Cobb Creek, or Elk and Watauga Rivers should also be holding a few crappie though. Some crappie can be found up in shallow brush, in about 6-8 feet of water, but the majority of the bigger crappie seem to be down about 10-15 feet deep either schooled up and suspended or in deeper submerged brush. Anglers are having the best success with small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig heads with white or chartreuse grubs or flies
Walleye fishing has been better than past weeks. Most of these fish seem to have moved into the lower end of the lake, from the Highway 67 Bridge down to the dam. Trolling just below the bridge from early to mid morning with a Sutton spoon was really effective this week. Trolling with Long-bill Rebels continues to take a few at night still.
[signature]