Chickamauga lake reports from TWRA, creel clerks and the information is located at www. huntfishbuddy.com
FISHING REPORT
Chickamauga: The lake on February 27th was very low. The surface water temperature was in the 40’s early and lower 50’s later in the day.
Bass fishing was very good with shallow areas adjacent to the channels a target area for anglers. Bass over 10 pounds were caught this week. The rig was being thrown by all except a small number of anglers.
Crappie anglers were catching many fish while using jigs and/or minnows in various locations. River, creek, and bay crappie can be caught.
Sauger have been caught from Hunter’s Bluff to the dam while bouncing jigs along the bottom. Sometimes these jigs have been decorated with minnows.
White bass, striped bass, black bass, and catfish have been caught regularly in the same area while using live bait and an assortment of artificial lures. 27 Feb 2012
The lake is at the level considered normal for winter. The elevation is at 677.3 feet which is 1.3 feet above the winter mean elevation. The surface water temperature is in the low 50’s and warmer water temperatures should occur later in the week.
Crappie fishing is great. Shallow and deep crappie can be caught while using either jigs or minnows. A lot of small crappie are being caught, but several large crappie are also showing up in the creel.
Bass anglers are catching shallow bay bass and river bass located along the flats and drops. Lipless crankbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits are a few lures that are being used to catch numerous fish. Some heavy bass are being caught.
Catfish drifters are catching plenty of fish on various baits. The best bait is probably the skipjack shad. Heavy equipment is needed for some of those catfish being caught on the skipjack. A lot of anglers use circle hooks and wait until their rod is loaded up until they slowly sweep their rod back and away from the fish while reeling. Many dip nets have been bent or broke while trying to capture their catch.
The tailwaters below Watts Bar Dam is an area where many anglers are catching many fish which include catfish, black bass, white bass, sauger, and striped bass. Live bait is a popular choice for many anglers targeting several species. Jigs, crankbaits, and spoons are being used by those seeking the artificial bite. The rig is very popular by those that seek the easier bite. 21 Feb 2012
The lake conditions as of 2/05/12 were as follows: The surface elevation was 677.3 feet. This elevation was 1.3 feet above winter mean elevation. The surface water temperature warmed to 55 degrees during the daylight hours.
The days are getting longer and the flowers are blooming. The fish are biting. Patterns that are generally used for locating fish in March can be used now in locating fish. This could quickly change with a blustery front blowing through from the north, but the projected 15 day forecast suggest that this pattern may prevail for a while.
Many bass and crappie are being caught. Some crappie are being caught around shallow brushpiles and blowdowns. Some primary creek rocky banks are holding a substantial number of crappie. Minnows and jigs are equal opportunity offerings. River crappie holes are hard to fish due to the heavy current in the river.
Lipless lures are just one lure being used for shallow water bass. Look for flats adjacent to deeper river or creek locations. Some heavy sacks of bass continue to be caught which now have become the norm for the lake. Some sauger are being caught.
The river conditions have hampered the sauger angling efforts.
White bass are being caught in the tailwaters areas more often than any other species.
Catfish are being caught on a wide variety of offerings with skipjack being the optimal offering. 08 Feb. 2012
The surface elevation on 1/29/12 was 680.0 feet. This is 4 feet above the mean winter elevation. 47 degrees is the average surface water temperature. Spillways are open and tailwater anglers are catching a few white bass and black bass downstream in areas where the water is manageable.
Downstream the lake anglers are catching a few bass. Jigs and lipless lures are being used by many anglers.
Crappie anglers are catching many crappie. Minnows or jigs are being used for bait. Although the number of crappie being caught has been impressive, the average size crappie being caught is a throwback. 01 Feb 2012
The lake was 2.8 feet above winter mean surface elevation on 1/22/12. The surface water temperature is in the mid 40’s.
The bass are being caught along the river bank near grass or drops. Some bass are being caught deep and some are being caught shallow, but close to deep water. Jigs, spoons, and crankbaits are being used by many anglers. Most anglers are throwing, have been throwing or are thinking about throwing the new fad bait know as the “Tennessee Rig”. This is an umbrella rig that was made famous in an Alabama tournament and it was called the “Alabama Rig”. It has been modified for Tennessee anglers to make it legal in Tennessee therefore the name “Tennessee Rig”. It is a high producer that allows for heavy catches even for those in their fishing infancy. There really isn’t much required to catch fish while using this thing. Just throw it out and count it down to the depth desired and just start reeling. After noticing your rod being doubled up, set the hook and reel the fish in.
Crappie anglers are catching a lot of fish shallow around brush and along grass beds in the river. Some rocky current diversion holes in the river are holding crappie. The percentage of white to black crappie being caught will decrease as an angler moves from sloughs and brush to river, rocks and grass. Minnows and jigs are equal opportunity enticers. Tightliners and float fishermen are catching fish. Some dropoff tightliners switch to floats to catch a few more fish after exhausting their tightlining efforts. These float fish being caught generally are suspended fish and most will not be noticed any other way except when their pear shaped floater lays on its side from a crappie feeding upwards.
Tailwater anglers are catching many fish including sauger, white bass, rockfish, catfish, and black bass. Black bass anglers have loaded up on spots, caught a few smallmouth bass, and some largemouth bass. The largemouth creel numbers have lagged behind the other basses. Sauger creel numbers are not great, but enough keepers are being caught to keep ones interest up. All tailwater fish can be caught on jigs, spoons, shad, and a few other baits. Catfish are being caught on anything relating to or the same as meat. Shad is the optimal meal for catfish. 26 Jan 2012
