Fishing Report provided by TWRA Creel Clerks and huntfishbuddy
FORT LOUDOUN LAKE FISHING REPORT – by Charley Hensley
23 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 808.9 feet above sea level.
The dam will be spilling until further notice. Always use caution around all dams.
The average surface temperature is holding right at 50 degrees.
The water is clear, with a slight green tint.
SUMMARY
The big thing happening this week is still the umbrella rig. Many reports of good sized bass and lots of them are being caught on this type lure. Consult the fishing regulation book for more info on the umbrella rig. There have been some reports of a few walleye starting to show up at the forks of the river upstream from Knoxville. The white bass are hitting extremely well around the Ish Creek area. Small crankbaits are catching some very nice 1-3 lb. fish. Small rattle traps in blue and chrome and just about any other minnow imitating crankbaits seem to be doing the best right now. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting reaction lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Rapalas are doing fair, along with other minnow imitating crankbaits like bandits and shad raps in silver with black backs. The water seems to be a little turbulent right now which is causing some areas of the reservoir to be stained and somewhat murky at times. The crappies are still clinging to submerged brush and fallen timber. As usual, live minnows are the number one bait choice for some nice keeper crappies. The float and small lead head tipped with a minnow is a very good choice right now and red seems to be a good color choice for the lead head. Pink lead heads are also doing quite well.
STRIPED BASS
3-12 FEET
Moderating
The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs is an excellent place to fish for some big striped bass. Some are being caught from the bank, and some from boat. Big chartreuse or white bucktail jigs in the 7/8 to 1 oz. size are the best lure choice. There have been some nice sized striped bass caught in the canal where Tellico reservoir meets Fort Loudoun reservoir. Live skipjack in the 8-12 inch range is the best live bait. Swimbaits are also catching a few.
CRAPPIE
6-10 FEET
Improving
The crappie bite seems to be picking back up and they are biting very well over the entire reservoir. They seem to be moving their way back up to shallower water and into the brushpiles and submerged timber. Trolling grubs close to the river and creek channels is a good place to start. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16 to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. But the float and lead head tipped with minnow is doing the best.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Improving
Points still seem to be the biggest bass magnets. The deep sides of the points seem to be preferred by the bigger bass. Run deep diving crankbaits down the deep sides of points and shallow diving crankbaits up near the lake banks near submerged timber and brushpiles. Medium sized chartreuse or white spinnerbaits are doing ok, along with bandit crankbaits in minnow imitating colors.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegills are beginning to moderate slightly. 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.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
The catfish have slowed down for now. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for the smaller cats. However, 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 ½ 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, but they seem to become more active at night.
WALLEYE
5-12 FEET
Improving
The walleye bite seems to be improving slightly. There have been some reports of walleye showing up near the forks of the river, which is slightly upstream from Knoxville. There doesn’t seem to be a large quantity showing up just yet, but the numbers should continue to improve over the next few weeks. The ones that are showing up seem to like white and chartreuse jigs bounced off the bottom. 3/4to 7/8 ounce is a good size leadhead. Tip the jig with a 2-3 inch shiner minnow for added flavor and scent.
16 February 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 808.4 feet above sea level.
The dam will be spilling until further notice. Use caution around all dams.
The average surface temperature is holding right at 48-50 degrees.
The water is clear, with a slight green tint.
SUMMARY
The only big thing happening this week is the umbrella rig. Many reports of good sized bass and lots of them are being caught on this type lure. Consult the fishing regulation book for more info on the umbrella rig. There have been some reports of a few walleye starting to show up at the forks of the river upstream from Knoxville. The white bass are hitting extremely well around the Ish Creek area. Small crankbaits are catching some very nice 1-3 lb. fish. Small rattle traps in blue and chrome and just about any other minnow imitating crankbaits seem to be doing the best right now. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting reaction lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Rapalas are doing fair along with other minnow imitating crankbaits like bandits and shad raps in silver with black backs. The water seems to be a little turbulent right now which is causing some areas of the reservoir to be stained and somewhat murky at times. The crappies are still clinging to submerged brush and fallen timber. As usual, live minnows are the number one bait choice for some nice keeper crappies. The float and small lead head tipped with a minnow is a very good choice right now and red seems to be a good color choice for the lead head. Pink lead heads are also doing quite well.
STRIPED BASS
3-12 FEET
Moderating The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs is an excellent place to fish for some big striped bass. Some are being caught from the bank, and some from boat. Big chartreuse or white bucktail jigs in the 7/8 to 1 oz. size are the best lure choice. There have been some nice sized striped bass caught in the canal where Tellico reservoir meets Fort Loudoun reservoir. Live skipjack in the 8-12 inch range is the best live bait. Swimbaits are also catching a few.
CRAPPIE
6-10 FEET
Improving
The crappie bite seems to be picking back up and they are biting very well over the entire reservoir. They seem to be moving their way back up to shallower water and into the brushpiles and submerged timber. Trolling grubs close to the river and creek channels is a good place to start. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16 to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. But the float and lead head tipped with minnow is doing the best.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Improving
Points still seem to be the biggest bass magnets. The deep sides of the points seem to be preferred by the bigger bass. Run deep diving crankbaits down the deep sides of points and shallow diving crankbaits up near the lake banks near submerged timber and brushpiles. Medium sized chartreuse or white spinnerbaits are doing ok, along with bandit crankbaits in minnow imitating colors.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegills are beginning to moderate slightly. 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.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
The catfish have slowed down for now. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for the smaller cats. However, 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 ½ 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, but they seem to become more active at night.
February 9, 2012
WATER CONDITIONS
The predicted water level is approximately 808.9 feet above sea level.
The dam will be spilling until further notice. Use caution around all dams.
The average surface temperature is holding right at 50 degrees.
The reservoir mostly clear, but a little discolored in some areas due to recent rains.
SUMMARY
There have been some reports of a few walleye starting to show up at the forks of the river, upstream from Knoxville. The white bass are hitting extremely well around the Ish Creek area. Small crankbaits are catching some very nice 1-3 lb. fish. Small rattle traps in blue and chrome and just about any other minnow imitating crankbaits seem to be doing the best right now. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting reaction lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Rapalas are doing fair along with other minnow imitating crankbaits like bandits and shad raps in silver with black backs. The water seems to be a little turbulent right now which is causing some areas of the reservoir to be stained and somewhat murky at times. The crappies are still clinging to submerged brush and fallen timber. As usual, live minnows are the number one bait choice for some nice keeper crappies. A float and small lead head tipped with a minnow is a very good choice right now and red seems to be a good color choice for the lead head. Pink lead heads are also doing quite well.
STRIPED BASS
3-12 FEET
Moderating
The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs is an excellent place to fish for some big striped bass. Some are being caught from the bank, and some from boat. Big chartreuse or white bucktail jigs in the 7/8 to 1 oz. size are the best lure choice. There have been some nice sized striped bass caught in the canal where Tellico reservoir meets Fort Loudoun reservoir. Live skipjack in the 8-12 inch range is the best live bait. Swimbaits are also catching a few.
CRAPPIE
6-10 FEET
Improving
The crappie bite seems to be picking back up and they are biting very well over the entire reservoir. They seem to be moving their way back up to shallower water and into the brushpiles and submerged timber. Trolling grubs close to the river and creek channels is a good place to start. Chartreuse grubs in 1/16to 1/4 oz. size are doing very well right now. White and silver grubs are doing well also. But the float and lead head tipped with minnow is doing the best.
BASS
3-10 FEET
Improving
Points still seem to be the biggest bass magnets. The deep sides of the points seem to be preferred by the bigger bass. Run deep diving crankbaits down the deep sides of points and shallow diving crankbaits up near the lake banks near submerged timber and brushpiles. Medium sized chartreuse or white spinnerbaits are doing ok, along with bandit crankbaits in minnow imitating colors.
BLUEGILL
2-8 FEET
Moderating
The bluegills are beginning to moderate slightly. 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.
CATFISH
8-30 FEET
Moderating
The catfish have slowed down for now. Nightcrawlers and chicken liver seem to be the top bait choices for the smaller cats. However, 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 ½ 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, but they seem to become more active at night.
WALLEYE
5-12 FEET
Improving
The walleye bite seems to be improving slightly. There have been some reports of walleye showing up near the forks of the river, which is slightly upstream from Knoxville. There doesn’t seem to be a large quantity showing up just yet, but the numbers should continue to improve over the next month and into March. The ones that are showing up seem to like white and chartreuse jigs bounced off the bottom. 3/4to 7/8 ounce is a good size leadhead. Tip the jig with a 2-3 inch shiner minnow for added flavor and scent.
