04-03-2004, 11:34 PM
[font "Verdana"][size 3]WATAUGA RESERVOIR: [/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 2](4/1/04) - [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS
Water surface temperatures have been in the 47-50 degree range while water temperatures around 55-57 degrees can be found up in the upper end of the Watauga River. The lake is extremely clear right now. The lake level at the dam as of 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning was 1,949.49 feet above sea level. The lake level has hardly changed compared to this time last week. [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
Bass fishing showed signs of picking up this week. The majority of the smallmouth bass have 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 later in the afternoon in the warmest of the water that you can locate. 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. Spoons and Silver Buddies have been supplying most of the bites from the bass right now, with Fat-Free Shad and small Bandit crankbaits and plastic tubes or grubs also starting to put good fish in the boat. Vertical jigging spoons or jigs have been particularly productive in the middle part of the lake, from Point 5 down to about Fish Springs Marina. Bank fishing continues to do well, with some nice big smallmouth being taken on trout minnows early in the morning on the bank sides where the sun is hitting the most. Bank fishermen are having the most success by using trout minnows or creek chubs early in the morning to midday.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Trout fishing has really been good for the stocked rainbows. The stocked rainbows can be caught at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp. The Lake trout action has been picking up the last week or so. Try running downriggers about 50-70 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam. Spoons seem to be the most effective lure for the lakers.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The crappie fishing seen a good week this week, with nice big slabs being found in Roan Creek, Elk River, and around Pioneer Landing on 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 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 continues to be good. The majority of the Walleye have made their run up the rivers by now but some good fish are still in the upper end of the rivers. Good numbers of Walleye can be found up shallow around the tree tops from Fish Springs Marina up stream to Point 6 at night using Long Bill Rebels. The best fishing should be at night or when there is good cloud cover early in the mornings or late in the evenings. [/size][/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS
Water surface temperatures have been in the 47-50 degree range while water temperatures around 55-57 degrees can be found up in the upper end of the Watauga River. The lake is extremely clear right now. The lake level at the dam as of 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning was 1,949.49 feet above sea level. The lake level has hardly changed compared to this time last week. [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
Bass fishing showed signs of picking up this week. The majority of the smallmouth bass have 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 later in the afternoon in the warmest of the water that you can locate. 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. Spoons and Silver Buddies have been supplying most of the bites from the bass right now, with Fat-Free Shad and small Bandit crankbaits and plastic tubes or grubs also starting to put good fish in the boat. Vertical jigging spoons or jigs have been particularly productive in the middle part of the lake, from Point 5 down to about Fish Springs Marina. Bank fishing continues to do well, with some nice big smallmouth being taken on trout minnows early in the morning on the bank sides where the sun is hitting the most. Bank fishermen are having the most success by using trout minnows or creek chubs early in the morning to midday.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]Trout fishing has really been good for the stocked rainbows. The stocked rainbows can be caught at either Rat Branch or Little Milligan Boat Ramp. The Lake trout action has been picking up the last week or so. Try running downriggers about 50-70 feet deep from the Butler Bridge down to the dam. Spoons seem to be the most effective lure for the lakers.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]The crappie fishing seen a good week this week, with nice big slabs being found in Roan Creek, Elk River, and around Pioneer Landing on 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 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 continues to be good. The majority of the Walleye have made their run up the rivers by now but some good fish are still in the upper end of the rivers. Good numbers of Walleye can be found up shallow around the tree tops from Fish Springs Marina up stream to Point 6 at night using Long Bill Rebels. The best fishing should be at night or when there is good cloud cover early in the mornings or late in the evenings. [/size][/font]
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