Report by TWRA creel clerks
CHEROKEE FISHING REPORT – Gary Loucks
29 December 2011
WATER CONDITIONS
Water elevation is 1045.01 feet which is a .44 foot rise in depth from the 21 December 2011 measurement of 1044.57 feet. Average surface temperature for the week is 50.75 degrees, which is an average temperature rise of 3.95 degrees since last Wednesday. The lake conditions have been favorable. Water clarity has been good with very light stain on the main channel and bays. Creek channels are lightly stained. A .44 foot rise in water level is insignificant and will not contribute to abnormal fish activity.
SUMMARY:
Crappie successes have, overall, been fair. Largemouth and Smallmouth activity has been vigorous. Smallmouth Bass have taken center stage on the lake. Keeper Smallmouth have been more prevalent in creels this week, more than any other reporting period. Largemouth activity has been slow during this reporting period. Striped Bass have been active across the lake but, change areas of operation rapidly.
LARGEMOUTH:
Fair
Largemouth have been caught in number against rocks five to fifteen feet deep. Deep diving shad colored crank baits fished parallel to rocky shorelines are still proving to be effective baits. Spinner baits are still a hot lure. White and/or chartreuse with silver blades work well. Largemouth Bass are distributed across the lake with excellent fishing in all creeks.
SMALLMOUTH:
Good
Smallmouth have been close to rocky shorelines since the temperatures have dropped. Rocky shorelines inside coves and close to the bays are excellent areas to fish. Deep holes located near shorelines hold excellent fish. The best lure to use for Smallmouth this reporting period is the spinner bait. Crank baits take second place on choice of lures. Smallmouth Bass have been taken across the lake, with the Panther Creek area a particularly productive area.
CRAPPIE:
Fair
Crappie are, as always, on rocky shorelines. They seem to be difficult to find but, when discovered; the fishing is good. Small jigs with yellow, red or white hair is a good lure. Bobber set for up to 15 feet with a minnow is deadly. Spinner flies are productive for shallow fishing. Fish shallow to start and alter depth until fish are discovered. Look for fish attractors and rip rap and don’t forget boat docks.
STRIPED BASS:
Good
Striped Bass have been active in bay areas as well as creek channels. Narrow water areas near and between islands have been productive. Troll with shad or use green and white swim baits. The umbrella rig has been in use extensively this reporting period. Refer to the fishing regulations to ascertain legal hook size and attachment. Umbrella rigs have been very effective with Striped Bass. The Zara Spook is still proving to be a deadly lure for bass breaking through Shad to the surface. Slow trolling, taut line and casting into fish that are foraging through shad schools are all affective methods. Check for fish at rest on the bottom at inlets to coves.
SPOTTED BASS:
Fair
Follow the recommendations offered for Large and Smallmouth Bass. Spots are mixed with those species and should react to the same tactics and baits. Shad colored crank baits and spinner baits in a color appropriate to the water clarity are still the best bet for success. Rattle traps are a great lure choice and have proven successful on Spots. Plastic worms fished deep are very productive. Spotted Bass are available across the entire lake and are still being caught in good numbers throughout the reporting period. Spots have been caught all week on rocky shorelines and even under boat docks.
CATFISH:
Good
Catfish baits and methods are unchanged. These fish prove to be consistent in their activities and their bait requirements. 15 to 35 feet are productive depths for Catfish. Catfish success has been consistent throughout the season. If in doubt as to depth; always go to the bottom with the bait. Catfish have been a reliable source of action all summer long and they still are. Catfish respond well to chicken liver, Shad and Bluegill baits. Catfish are being caught throughout the lake. A deep drop off near a rock cliff is a definite producer. Put the bait on the bottom against rock walls. Also fish the bottom of cove openings.
22 December 2011
WATER CONDITIONS
Water elevation is 1044.57 feet which is a 1.64 foot drop in depth from the 14 December 2011 measurement of 1046.21 feet. Average surface temperature for the week is 46.8 degrees, which is an average temperature drop of 3.6 degrees since last Wednesday. The lake conditions have been favorable. Water clarity has been good with very little stain on the main channel and bays. Creek channels are heavily stained. A 1.64 foot drop is significant and probably will contribute to abnormal fish activity, especially in creeks, for a short period of time.
SUMMARY
Crappie successes have, overall, been fair. Anglers are catching crappie in quantity but, legal limit fish have proven to be elusive. As water temperatures drop; the big ones will make themselves available. Striped bass are active across the lake but do not seem to stay long in one place. They are active on the surface for a short period of time and the activity stops as quickly as it started. This trend, no doubt, is indicative of Shad moving in and out of the areas quickly. Smallmouth bass catches were more frequent throughout the week with several legal fish caught in the three to four pound weight categories. Legal limit largemouth bass are being caught against rocky shorelines this week as opposed to the required deep fishing of the last reporting period.
LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH: Good
Both species have been caught in number against rocks five to fifteen feet deep. Smallmouth catches have increased dramatically over the past two reporting periods. Legal limit smallmouths are being caught with regularity.
Deep diving shad colored crank baits fished parallel to rocky shorelines are still proving to be effective baits. Spinner baits have been a hot bait this week. White, chartreuse, and purple or black for stained water. Silver blades seem to work well.
Large and smallmouth bass are distributed in great numbers across the lake. The keepers seem to have moved from the mud humps to the rocky shorelines. Rock shorelines along islands, especially where there are narrow through channels, are productive. The distribution of all species of bass, however, is great throughout the lake.
SPOTTED BASS: Fair
Follow the recommendations offered for large and smallmouth Bass. Spots are mixed with those species and should react to the same tactics and baits.
Shad colored crank baits and spinner baits in a color appropriate to the water clarity are still the best bet for success. Rattle traps are a great lure choice and have proven successful on spots. Plastic worms fished deep are very productive.
Spotted Bass are available across the entire lake and are still being caught in good numbers throughout the reporting period. Spots have been caught all week on rocky shorelines and even under boat docks.
STRIPED BASS: Good
Striped bass are everywhere throughout the lake. Fish all the water as they are static at the mouths of inlets and channels, foraging through shad just below the surface and cruising midway between surface and bottom. Surface activity is frequent but, not necessarily repetitive and consistent in any one area for a long period of time. Striped bass have been constantly moving over the past two reporting periods. Mid mornings and late afternoons seem to be the most productive times to fish.
Striped bass activity has been sporadic and inconsistent throughout the week. Water level deviation, rains and changing water temperatures may be affecting their normal feeding routines.
This section contains no change. The recommendations are accurate and unchanged from last reporting period.
½ to 2 oz buck tail jigs, spoons, either cast or trolled are effective for deeper depths. Live shad is by far the most used bait and the most productive bait. Shad colored jerk baits and Rapala’s work well on top water when fish are breaking the surface. Try a Zara Spook for some good surface action when fish are breaking into shad. Actually, any top water shad colored plug is effective when striped bass are active on the surface. Good success has been enjoyed while using green four to six inch swim baits. A final tip would be to watch the gulls. When the gulls attack the water; it’s a sure bet that striped bass are active below.
The areas near point 9 and in the bay area of Panther Creek have seen a lot of fish breaking into shad. Water between points 26 and 27 would be good areas to focus on. The area between the islands at point 15 has been good, especially late afternoons.
CRAPPIE and BLUEGILL:Fair
Fish 10 to 15 feet during the day and shallow, early morning and evenings.
Use weighted minnows late morning and a bobber with minnow near rocky shorelines all day. Minnows would be the best “all around” bait. Spinner flies are productive at all times on both crappie and bluegill. Don’t forget to use crickets and popping bugs if all else fails. They are reliable lures.
The Mossy Creek area has given up some nice catches this week. The County Line Access area has also been active for Crappie. German Creek is still crappie country this week.
CATFISH:Good
Catfish baits and methods are unchanged. These fish prove to be consistent in their activities and their bait requirements.
15 to 35 feet are productive depths for Catfish. Catfish success has been consistent throughout the season. If in doubt as to depth; always go to the bottom with the bait. Catfish have been a reliable source of action all summer long and they still are.
Catfish respond well to chicken liver, shad and bluegill baits.
Catfish are being caught throughout the lake. A deep drop off near a rock cliff is a definite producer. Put the bait on the bottom against rock walls. Also fish the bottom of cove openings.
