TWRA is now publishing fishing forecast for area lakes: The TWRA wants to build a comprehensive report each week of the state’s lakes. If you do not see a report for your favorite lake and you are someone who can provide a report please contact us at Ask.TWRA@tn.gov and provide us with your contact information
Great Falls Reservoir Tennessee Fishing Report: 03 April 2025
Report Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk
Reservoir Conditions have been volatile like most springs are on Great Falls. The water level has been up and down but is expected to rise again with the newest storm incoming. Current water levels are at 790’. Great Falls dam is releasing 3500-4500 cfs per day on average. The inflow to Great Falls is 2,500-3,500 cfs per day on average. The lower end of the reservoir has been in the 60s with a 4’ visibility average. The upper end of the reservoir has better visibility with 9-12’ clarity and surface water temperatures in the mid-to-high 50s. The Rocky, Calfkiller, and Collins rivers all have similar conditions with 3-5’ visibility and low 60’s surface water temperatures.
Bass fishing has been decent. Largemouth bass are being caught on mud flats with trees. The smallmouth bite up the Collins has slowed, with fish moving upstream of Hennessy Bridge due to low water conditions.
Crappie fishing is excellent. Reservoir-wide, you can catch crappie on any brush on mud banks as shallow as 5’ and as deep as 20’. Most crappie being caught are in the 10-12” range, with some slabs mixed in. With the water temperatures hitting the 60s, the bite may die down while the fish spawn.
Muskie- Fishing is decent. The muskies are closing out their spawn, and hungry post spawn fish are being sought after with glide baits and paddle tail swim baits on mud flats with logs mixed in on the upper end of the reservoir.
18 March 2025
Report Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk
Reservoir Conditions-
Great Falls Dam has been experiencing volatile water conditions this week due to this past weekend’s storms. The reservoir elevation is currently sitting at 795’, but did peak at 802’ which was an 11’ foot rise from the previous week. Great Falls experienced an average inflow of 52,000 cfs per day and an average outflow of 46,000 cfs per day. Those figures have gone down to an average of 10,000 cfs of inflow per day, and an average of 12,900 cfs of outflow per day as of 3/18/25. The surface water temperatures did warm some, with averages being in the mid-to-low 50’s. The warmest water temperatures can be found in the Collins and Rocky River arms. Water clarity is poor reservoir-wide, expect the upper main Caney Fork arm to clear up first. Be cautious of floating debris reservoir-wide.
Bass- Fishing is decent. Anglers are catching largemouth targeting wood structures on sunny mud banks with crankbaits, umbrella rigs, and jigs. Spotted bass can be caught on rock transition banks with wood structures or rock slides with jigs, shakey heads, or crankbaits. Smallmouth have been caught up in the Collins River.
Crappie- Fishing is great. Anglers are having great success targeting crappie reservoir-wide around tree tops or other submerged brush piles. Crappies are being caught as deep as 18-20’ or as shallow as 5-10’ on sunny days in turbid water. The Rocky and Collins River arms are producing the most fish.
Muskellunge- Fishing is decent. Muskie anglers are seeing or getting followed by muskie while fishing rock transition banks with downed trees on the upper end of the reservoir. Pull-pause baits are getting the most action. Anglers have reported muskies within close distance to big balls of shad.
Catfish- Fishing is slow. Anglers are targeting catfish with livers near the bottom on main lake mud banks in 18-20 FOW.
12 March 2025
Report Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk
Reservoir Conditions-
Great Falls Dam has been releasing roughly 1,300 cfs of outflow per day, on average, but is projected to hold for the next few days. The reservoir elevation has risen 4’ from last week and currently sits at 791’. The inflow into Great Falls reservoir is still around 1,400 cfs per day on average. Expect this to rise with the incoming storms this weekend. Water clarity is greatest on the upper end around the Hwy. 111 bridge, with visibility up to 13’. From the Calfkiller outflow downstream, the clarity is 4-6’ reservoir wide. Surface water temperatures are the warmest in the Rocky, Collins, and Calfkiller river arms as well as the lower end of the reservoir from Hwy. 70 bridge downstream. Surface water temperatures in these areas have warmed into the low-to-mid 50’s. Be aware of floating debris from rising waters, especially on the lower Collins River arm. There has been a mini threadfin shad kills throughout the reservoir; these are a natural occurrence when water temperatures get in the 40’s. With warming water temperatures, this should subside.
Bass- Fishing is decent. Anglers are catching largemouth targeting wood structures on sunny mud banks with crankbaits, umbrella rigs, and jigs. Spotted bass can be caught on rock transition banks with wood structures or rock slides with jigs, shakey heads, or crankbaits. Smallmouth have been caught up in the Collins River.
Crappie- Fishing is great. Anglers are having great success targeting crappie reservoir-wide around tree tops or other submerged brush piles. Crappie are being caught as deep as 18-20’ or as shallow as 5-10’ on sunny days in turbid water. The Rocky and Collins River arms are producing the most fish.
Muskellunge- Fishing is decent. Muskie anglers are seeing or getting follows from muskie while fishing rock transition banks with downed trees on the upper end of the reservoir. Pull-pause baits are getting the most action. Anglers have reported muskie within close distance to big balls of shad.
Catfish- Fishing is slow. Anglers are targeting catfish with livers near the bottom on main lake mud banks in 18-20 FOW.
04 March 2025
Report Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk
Reservoir Conditions-
Great Falls Dam is releasing 1,700 cfs of outflow, on average, per day. The reservoir elevation is sitting at 787’ but is relative to change based on generation scheduling. The upper end of the reservoir has up to 12’ of visibility and around 48-degree water temperature. The lower end of the reservoir is murkier with 4-6’ of visibility and slightly warmer. The Collins River arm has the warmest water with temperatures in the lower 50’s and around 5’ visibility. The Rocky River has similar conditions with 4’ of visibility and low 50s as well. The Calfkiller is low and not accessible by propped boat, the mouth has a 53-degree reading.
Bass- Fishing is decent. Anglers are having the most success with largemouth while fishing wood structures on sunny mud banks with crankbaits and umbrella rigs. Spotted bass can be caught around channel swing rock banks with wood and docks mixed in with finesse presentations like shakey heads and ned rigs.
