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
Watauga Lake Fishing Report: 20 March 2025
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers – C and C Outfitters
Some good news on the Crappie this week. Some nice-sized schools are showing up in the 10 ‘ 12 range. Bobby Garland type lures or a jig and minnow combo are working well. The fish are nice-sized and full of eggs.
Bass fishing is good to very good with a lot of ways to catch them. Small swim baits, and crank baits below the bridge, with jerk baits and spinner baits producing well in the upper arms of the lake.
Walleye is still slow, but that will change soon.
Still good numbers of stocked Rainbow Trout (thanks TWRA) are being caught around the Rat Branch Recreation area on small spoons and spinners and power baits and night crawlers.
Stay safe on the water!
Best of luck and be safe on the water.
C and C Outfitters
Colton and Chip Chambers
423-707-8822
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
https://candcoutfitters.wixsite.com/guides
12 March 2025
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers – C and C Outfitters
March full moon is probably the biggest transitional event of the year for Bass fishing on Watauga, so the news is good. Surface temps are 45-48 . Jerk baits and medium diving crank baits are doing well in the upper end of the lake , small jig head minnows and small swimbaits on 1/4 ounce heads are working well in the lower end of the lake .
Still good populations of Rainbow trout from TWRA seasonal stockings around the Rat Branch Recreation area. Power bait , Salmon eggs and night crawlers along with small spoons and spinners are producing limits of Rainbows .
Crappie are still a bit slow , but that will change in the next 10 days
Stay safe on the water!
Best of luck and be safe on the water.
C and C Outfitters
Colton and Chip Chambers
423-707-8822
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
https://candcoutfitters.wixsite.com/guides
27 Feb 2025
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers – C and C Outfitters
Some nice eating-size Rainbows still being caught of the handicapped fishing pier at Rat Branch Recreation area on small spinners, and natural bait and Salmon eggs on the bottom.
Some great Smallmouth catches this week also, with a female angler catching and releasing 2 Smallmouth over 5 lbs. fishing with C & C Outfitters. The bass are scattering with the warm temps, lots being taken on river rock points on small swim baits in 10-15 ‘ of water as well as following bait balls with Forward Facing Sonar.
Walleye fishing is still pretty slow, but that will change getting deeper into March.
Not a lot of good news on Crappie yet.
Stay safe on the water!
Best of luck and be safe on the water.
C and C Outfitters
Colton and Chip Chambers
423-707-8822
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
https://candcoutfitters.wixsite.com/guides
19 Feb 2025
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers – C and C Outfitters
Smallmouth is the word this week! Some great catches have happened, some on Forward Facing Sonar, but also some great catches on all shad-colored swimbaits and hair flies in 10-15 ‘ of water. If you want to go the FFS route, drop type baits and Alabama rigs are working in 25’ -50 ‘ deep.
TWRA has done another great job with their Winter Trout Stocking program, lots of decent size Rainbows are the Rat Branch boat ramp. There is lots of parking, and a handicap accessible fishing pier.
Corn, night crawlers, power bait and small spinners will do the trick with lots of people catching their 7 fish limit.
Best of luck and be safe on the water.
C and C Outfitters
Colton and Chip Chambers
423-707-8822
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
https://candcoutfitters.wixsite.com/guides
10 Oct 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
First, thanks to all the TWRA agents involved in Rescue and Recovery efforts during the flood. You are appreciated!
Bass fishing is surprisingly good. Lots of things in play right now. Smallmouth are starting to bite Topwater in the mornings. Largemouth fishing is good, jigs and worms around brush in the upper end, and some good buzz bait fishing middle to upper lake.
Crappie fishing was showing signs of life before the floods, and I think it will crank back up as soon as we see the lake levels return to normal.
Trout trolling is very slow.
There is some debris in the upper ends of Elk River and Watauga River so be alert.
Good Luck and stay safe on the water!
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
25 Sept 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
Daytime bass fishing is okay, with early morning Topwater and Buzz Baits doing the trick in the Elk River section of the lake. Nighttime fishing for Smallmouth is good, however the fish are still deep, but hitting tube baits and pig & jig combo in Green Pumpkin.
Trout trolling remains very slow.
A few crappie starting to show up 15-20 ‘ deep, live minnows seem to be doing best.
Walleye are still a little slow, but we look for a big improvement in October.
Stay safe on the water!
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
11 Sept 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
Bass fishing remains okay during the day on plastic worms in deep brush piles and around docks. There is still a solid morning Buzz bait and Top water bite happening around laydowns and ledges in the back of mid lake pockets. Night fishing should be good this week as the full moon approaches for Large & Smallmouth on small worms and the pig & jig combo.
Trout trolling remains very slow.
The September Full moon is one of the last best months to catch those eating size bluegill and rock Bass, try crickets under a float and a small hook around brush or floating docks in 3-6 ‘ of water.
A few nice Catfish showing up in the Pioneer Landing area on livers.
Good luck and stay safe on the water!
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
04 Sept 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
Bass fishing remained really good for Largemouth despite dropping water this week. A C & C Outfitters client caught and released a 7 pound plus Bass, and there were several trips of 20 plus Bass caught this week. Worms in brush 10-15 ‘ deep are doing well, and there is a solid Topwater bite mid lake (Cobbs Creek -Mallard Cove area) on Spooks and Buzz Baits. Shad colors are doing best.
There wasn’t a lot of Smallmouth action reported other than some people catching some in 50-65′ of water on the Forward-Facing Sonar technology.
Catfish are still being caught in the Cove Ridge area on Shiners and nightcrawlers.
Trout trolling is slow, a few smaller Lakers are being caught 60-80’ on Michigan Stinger spoons.
Stay safe on the water!
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
27 Aug 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
With the annual Fall drawdown starting a little early, things have slowed down a bit. Bass fishing for largemouth remains good however with large plastic worms in brush in 15-25 ‘ of water. Smallmouth fish is decent at night with the Pig & Jig combo if you can stay late.
Some nice Catfish have been caught on rocky banks in the Cobbs Creek area on cut bait and Shiners.
Crappie remains slow, but a few are showing up under floating docks in 30-40’ of water.
Trout trolling has really slowed down.
Be safe on the water and Happy Labor Day weekend.
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
21 Aug 2024
Forecast Contributor – Colton Chambers, C & C Outfitters
Largemouth are biting good in the daytime on large plastic worms around channel drops and brush in 10- 18 ‘ of water.
Smallmouth bite is fair but improving on this Full Moon on jigs and spinnerbaits at night.
Trout trolling for Rainbows has slowed down, but a few Nice Lakers being caught on Michigan Stinger spoons available at Fish Springs Marina, in 70-90 ‘ of water.
Crappie fishing has been slow.
C & C Outfitters
Chip & Colton Chambers -423-707-8821
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643880828
Stay safe on the water!
