Fishing Report provided by TWRA Creel Clerks and huntfishbuddy
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FORT LOUDOUN LAKE TENNESSEE FISHING REPORT – by Charley Hensley
December 28, 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 809.0 feet above sea level. This is the time of year that TVA does the winter drawdown to winter pool.
The average surface temperature is in the mid 50’s.
The cooler surface temperatures can be found in the early morning hours.
The water is clear, with a slight green tint.
SUMMARY
There are no real big changes this week. Everything out on the water is pretty much moving in slow motion now. This is the time of year when there are not many anglers fishing on Fort Loudon. However, there are still a few of them out there and they are catching some fish. This seems to be the time for crappie and striped bass. Crappie are hitting pretty good when found and they are staying down around the 20 ft. depth level, close to submerged structure. Boathouses are a good place to search for some good keeper crappie. As always, live minnows are the best bait choice even though a few are also hitting trolled crankbaits right now. Striped bass are fairly active over most of the reservoir and are chasing baitfish. The stripers will chase a crankbait sometimes if you can closely imitate the baitfish they are after. With the lake level down about 3 to 3.5 ft., the largemouth and smallmouth bass seem to have gone to deeper water. Most bass anglers seem to be struggling to catch any keeper size bass right now. Deep water structure such as drop offs and ledges and submerged islands become bass magnets when the water level drops.
CRAPPIE
6-30 FEET
Improving
Vertical jigging a leadhead tipped with a minnow in submerged tree tops is a good choice for catching crappie clinging to structure. Trolling medium diving crankbaits in 12 to 18 feet of water is a good way to find suspended crappies. Turkey Creek is a great place to troll for suspended crappie. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. The lead head tipped with minnow is catching good numbers of crappie.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Slow
Bass fishing has slowed considerably since the dropping of the water to winter pool level. However, after the water level stabilizes, bass fishing should pick back up. But you may have to fish a little deeper for the good keeper size bass. Smaller, slower presentations such as tubes and jigs are catching a few bass, but most are in the 1 to 1.5-lb. range. Spinnerbaits and minnow imitating crankbaits are still catching a few, but sometimes bites are few and far between.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegill bite is improving considerably. They prefer small live bait such as crickets, redworms, pieces of nightcrawlers and even small artificial lures like grubs and very small crankbaits. A slip bobber set up is a good way to find some bigger bluegills, when they are a little deeper. But right now, you can find them anywhere on the reservoir. Submerged timber and brush are the best places to find these tasty panfish. Bluegill are excellent fighters when caught on a flyrod with a popping bug.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
Catfish are beginning to slow down somewhat, but they are still biting fairly well. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for small to medium sized cats and cut bait seems to be the best bait for the bigger cats. Cut bait mainly consists of a shad or other oily baitfish cut into pieces and placed on a fairly big hook with a sinker from about 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces. It is best to have heavier rods and reels for the bigger cats because they can pull very hard once hooked. They have even been known to pull entire fishing poles from the hands of anglers on occasion. Catfish primarily range from 1 or 2 pounds up to and including some in the 50-60 lb. range and everything in between. You can catch them during daylight hours right now, and big flat areas seem to be the hottest spots.
December 21, 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 808.8 feet above sea level. This is the time of year that TVA does the winter drawdown to winter pool.
The average surface temperature is in the mid 50’s.
The cooler surface temperatures can be found in the early morning hours.
The water is clear, with a slight green tint.
SUMMARY
There are no real big changes this week. Everything out on the water is pretty much moving in slow motion now. This is the time of year when there are not many anglers fishing on Fort Loudon. However, there are still a few of them out there and they are catching some fish. This seems to be the time for crappie and striped bass. Crappie are hitting pretty good when found and they are staying down around the 20 ft. depth level, close to submerged structure. Boathouses are a good place to search for some good keeper crappie. As always, live minnows are the best bait choice even though a few are also hitting trolled crankbaits right now. Striped bass are fairly active over most of the reservoir and are chasing baitfish. The stripers will chase a crankbait sometimes if you can closely imitate the baitfish they are after. With the lake level down about 3 to 3.5 ft., the largemouth and smallmouth bass seem to have gone to deeper water. Most bass anglers seem to be struggling to catch any keeper size bass right now. Deep water structure such as drop offs and ledges and submerged islands become bass magnets when the water level drops.
CRAPPIE
6-30 FEET
Improving
Vertical jigging a leadhead tipped with a minnow in submerged tree tops is a good choice for catching crappie clinging to structure. Trolling medium diving crankbaits in 12 to 18 feet of water is a good way to find suspended crappies. Turkey Creek is a great place to troll for suspended crappie. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. The lead head tipped with minnow is catching good numbers of crappie.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Slow
Bass fishing has slowed considerably since the dropping of the water to winter pool level. However, after the water level stabilizes, bass fishing should pick back up. But you may have to fish a little deeper for the good keeper size bass. Smaller, slower presentations such as tubes and jigs are catching a few bass, but most are in the 1 to 1.5-lb. range. Spinnerbaits and minnow imitating crankbaits are still catching a few, but sometimes bites are few and far between.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegill bite is improving considerably. They prefer small live bait such as crickets, redworms, pieces of nightcrawlers and even small artificial lures like grubs and very small crankbaits. A slip bobber set up is a good way to find some bigger bluegills, when they are a little deeper. But right now, you can find them anywhere on the reservoir. Submerged timber and brush are the best places to find these tasty panfish. Bluegill are excellent fighters when caught on a flyrod with a popping bug.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
Catfish are beginning to slow down somewhat, but they are still biting fairly well. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for small to medium sized cats and cut bait seems to be the best bait for the bigger cats. Cut bait mainly consists of a shad or other oily baitfish cut into pieces and placed on a fairly big hook with a sinker from about 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces. It is best to have heavier rods and reels for the bigger cats because they can pull very hard once hooked. They have even been known to pull entire fishing poles from the hands of anglers on occasion. Catfish primarily range from 1 or 2 pounds up to and including some in the 50-60 lb. range and everything in between. You can catch them during daylight hours right now, and big flat areas seem to be the hottest spots.
