11-22-2004, 02:43 AM
WATER CONDITIONS:
The surface water temperature was 54.5 degrees at 12:00 noon at Fish Springs Marina Tuesday. The lake clarity is extremely clear throughout the lake. The lake level at the dam as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night was 1,953.52 feet above sea level.
SUMMARY:
Bass fishing was a little better this week. The bank fishermen were slower this week using trout minnows, but the boat anglers seem to be doing better than in weeks past. The bank anglers seem to be having their most success from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the sunny sides of the bank. The boat fishermen are starting to pick up more smallmouth now with a few largemouth still being found as well, but the fishing has not really gotten good like it should this time of year yet. The morning fishing seems to be the time to really catch a decent stringer of fish. Several bass seem to be in the fallen treetops and woody cover early in the mornings or off secondary points. Any big tree that is fallen into the water on the main channel seems to be holding bass. The Bandit crankbait, the bone colored Long A, and spoons have been particularly hot this week, especially for the smallmouth. Throw spinnerbaits or worms around the woody cover first thing at daylight and small Bandit or Shad Rap crankbaits later in the day to catch a few bass. The Bandit has been working well up in the rivers from Point 5 and up, while a spinnerbait has been productive from Mallard Cove to about Point 3 around any woody cover off the main channel. Spoons have been finding some nice bronzebacks in 10-20 feet of water off about any secondary point, especially the points going into Cobbs Creek. Most of the bass being caught right now are in ten feet of water or less though with crankbaits. The spoon seems to be working on sunny days where bass are holding off points in deeper water. On cloudy and rainy days try throwing the Bandit or Long A. A couple fishermen have had success with the float and fly around the points going into the Cobbs Creek area.
Trout fishing has mostly slowed down for the season. A few fishermen continue to troll Sutton spoons or plugs in but having very little success right now. Try fishing deeper water for the Lake trout, in about 100-110 feet. The best chance to pick up a trout right now would be from Point 3 down towards the dam.
Crappie fishing has really been picking up. The crappie seem to be liking the submerged brush a little better than the fallen trees right now. Anglers should have the best success with small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig heads with white, green, or chartreuse grubs or flies, or with just a live minnow and a float set at 5-8 feet deep around any fallen treetops submerged trees in Roan Creek, or fallen trees and brush in the Elk and Watauga Rivers. The hot spot this week has been in Roans Creek around the submerged trees where the big mudslide is across the lake from the Sinking Mountain Boat Ramp.
Walleye fishing is slow. A few night anglers are having some success with the Long Billed Rebels, but must daytime fishermen are trolling with spoons and having little success.
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The surface water temperature was 54.5 degrees at 12:00 noon at Fish Springs Marina Tuesday. The lake clarity is extremely clear throughout the lake. The lake level at the dam as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night was 1,953.52 feet above sea level.
SUMMARY:
Bass fishing was a little better this week. The bank fishermen were slower this week using trout minnows, but the boat anglers seem to be doing better than in weeks past. The bank anglers seem to be having their most success from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the sunny sides of the bank. The boat fishermen are starting to pick up more smallmouth now with a few largemouth still being found as well, but the fishing has not really gotten good like it should this time of year yet. The morning fishing seems to be the time to really catch a decent stringer of fish. Several bass seem to be in the fallen treetops and woody cover early in the mornings or off secondary points. Any big tree that is fallen into the water on the main channel seems to be holding bass. The Bandit crankbait, the bone colored Long A, and spoons have been particularly hot this week, especially for the smallmouth. Throw spinnerbaits or worms around the woody cover first thing at daylight and small Bandit or Shad Rap crankbaits later in the day to catch a few bass. The Bandit has been working well up in the rivers from Point 5 and up, while a spinnerbait has been productive from Mallard Cove to about Point 3 around any woody cover off the main channel. Spoons have been finding some nice bronzebacks in 10-20 feet of water off about any secondary point, especially the points going into Cobbs Creek. Most of the bass being caught right now are in ten feet of water or less though with crankbaits. The spoon seems to be working on sunny days where bass are holding off points in deeper water. On cloudy and rainy days try throwing the Bandit or Long A. A couple fishermen have had success with the float and fly around the points going into the Cobbs Creek area.
Trout fishing has mostly slowed down for the season. A few fishermen continue to troll Sutton spoons or plugs in but having very little success right now. Try fishing deeper water for the Lake trout, in about 100-110 feet. The best chance to pick up a trout right now would be from Point 3 down towards the dam.
Crappie fishing has really been picking up. The crappie seem to be liking the submerged brush a little better than the fallen trees right now. Anglers should have the best success with small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig heads with white, green, or chartreuse grubs or flies, or with just a live minnow and a float set at 5-8 feet deep around any fallen treetops submerged trees in Roan Creek, or fallen trees and brush in the Elk and Watauga Rivers. The hot spot this week has been in Roans Creek around the submerged trees where the big mudslide is across the lake from the Sinking Mountain Boat Ramp.
Walleye fishing is slow. A few night anglers are having some success with the Long Billed Rebels, but must daytime fishermen are trolling with spoons and having little success.
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