Norris Lake by TWRA

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

Fishing Forecast

Norris Lake Tennessee TN fishing report: 30 April 2024

Forecast Contributor Paul Shaw – TWRA Creel Clerk

Water conditions are clear throughout the reservoir with the exception of creeks stained by locally heavy rainfall events.

Water temperature: 65 degrees, surface, in the channels with some protected creeks approaching 70 on sunny days.

Water elevation: 1,014.4 feet above sea level. Steady with minor fluctuations.

Smallmouth bass are in the middle of a spawn, with some already having spawned out. They’re being caught on the moderately sloped banks where whiter-colored gravel is seen; 5 to 15 feet deep (bottom depth). Post spawn fish are moving to deeper water on the bluffs and broken rock banks. Those anglers fishing for walleye with plugs or shad/alewife cast to the banks at night are getting more smallmouth than walleye.

Largemouth bass are pre-spawn with a few exceptions (fish don’t read our “rules”). Early mornings are seeing some good topwater action on buzz baits, jerk baits, and topwater plugs. Crankbaits and assorted jerk baits are taking the bulk of these. Catches have not been as numerous as smallmouth. Expect to see these fish roaming the shallows as the month progresses and the water warms toward the spawning season.

Walleye are hitting well at night, in the dark of the moon, along shorelines on the lower end. Alewife or shad, snagged under lights and cast to the banks, as well as Redfins, Shad Raps, and similar lures are catching some the same way. Some of these fish are approaching and exceeding the 20-inch size. The headwater spawn is over, with a few stragglers being caught upriver.

Shellcrackers (redear sunfish) are hitting in the shallows where there are button bush or willow shrubs. They’re also being caught where there are the abundant, yellow flowers along the shoreline by those fishing with red worms (better than nightcrawlers for these fish), small minnows, and wax worms. Small spinners worked along the bottom can be effective.

Striped bass have been hitting well, especially at night, in the Loyston to Hickory Star section and in the channel near Point 19. The upper end of the larger creek embayments have had some catches: Cove Creek, Big Creek, and Davis Creek.

29 Nov 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Surface Temperature: 53 to 58 in the afternoon. The upper end is running in cooler.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,000.2 feet (midnight) The lake level continues to drop for the Fall drawdown. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Catches have been slow to come in. Periods of discharge through the dam and the resultant drawdown will increase bass and other predatory species’ movement and feeding. The daily discharge schedule is being determined by the work on the weir dam in the tailwater. During the day, the work requires very little outflow. Reservoir species which are influenced by water movement caused by water going through the dam will have their locations a bit disrupted by the drawdown schedule. On calm mornings and late afternoons, schools of baitfish are seen in the river sections and around some of the lower end channels.

Largemouth Bass: Slow. Pig ‘n jigs, tube jigs, medium running crankbaits along the main channels. Some on topwater buzz baits on the rocky main channels and in the coves in the early morning hours. Senkos and similar soft jerk baits worked in brush and main channel wood structure.

Smallmouth Bass: Moderate. Cooler water temperatures are helping these catches. Catches are coming in at a couple of depths – surface to about 10 feet and as deep as 30 feet depending on the time of day and sunlight. Shallower at night. Midday has been slow. Medium-running crankbaits in blood red or crawfish colors are doing well down to 10 feet on steep, broken rock banks. Deep crankbaits are doing ok at the 20–25-foot depth. Very few have been caught between about 12 feet and 20 feet. If you don’t want to work crankbaits, the standard drop shot type rigs and any assortment of pig ‘n jigs are catching some. 3/8 lead heads tipped with any curly-tail type plastic grubs (pick your brand), cedar tree green or grey colors, are catching some along the bottom on more moderately sloped shorelines.

Walleye: Very slow. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans, Thunder sticks, or Redfins to 35 or 40 feet in the Loyston area and Cove Creek shorelines. Troll very close to steep, rocky shorelines at the recommended depth. Norris’ walleye are notoriously hard to locate from November through mid-February when the river runs begin.

Bluegill: Fair. Tightline crickets with a split shot and use no float to various depths, move along the shoreline until these fish are located. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower, often as deep as 30 feet if on the main channel rocky shorelines. Move along the shoreline until you find them.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Locating them is a challenge at this time of year, with most catches being coincidental by anglers fishing for something else. Night fishermen targeting other species have picked some up near the Loyston area island on sandy, bottoms at less than ten feet (bottom depth). Some are on points, next to wood structure in the daytime, but those catches are not dependable. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners.

Crappie: Moderate. Tuffy minnows, Bobby Garlands, small Popeye hair jigs fished in shoreline timber in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water. As the morning progresses and sunlight hits the brush, these fish drop deeper. Fish in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery access boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Don’t ignore stained water where you can find it. Crappie will be shallower where the visibility is lower, especially after sunrise.

Striped Bass: Moderate. 30 to 40 feet in mid-channel on clear afternoons, shallower in the early mornings. The fall movement to the upper creeks and the upper end of the river arms is underway. Finding them will become more difficult, as these fish will be on the move for the next two months. Most catches have been of fish ten pounds or less. The Loyston Sea area has been slow with only occasional breaks seen and few birds. The lower end of Davis Creek has had a bit of action, as has Lost Creek, Black Fox Creek to the trestle at the mouth of Sycamore Creek. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections. Schools of baitfish can be seen near the surface in the morning and afternoon hours. as is the seasonal norm. Keep a Zara Spook or large hair jig or soft jerk bait handy in case you see stripers breaking into the baitfish surface activity.

31 Oct 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Surface Temperature: 65 in the afternoon, 60 in early morning. Cooler far upriver.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,006.8 feet (midnight) The lake level continues to drop for the Fall drawdown. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Periods of discharge through the dam and the resultant drawdown will increase bass and other predatory species’ movement and feeding. The daily discharge schedule is being determined by the work on the weir dam in the tailwater. During the day, the work requires very little outflow. Reservoir species which are influenced by water movement caused by water going through the dam will have their locations a bit disrupted by the drawdown schedule. On calm mornings and late afternoons, schools of baitfish are seen in the river sections and around some of the lower end channels.

Largemouth Bass: Moderate. Pig ‘n jigs, tube jigs, medium running crankbaits along the main channels. Some on topwater buzz baits on the rocky main channels and in the coves in the early morning hours. Senkos and similar soft jerk baits worked in brush and main channel wood structure.

Smallmouth Bass: Moderate to good. Cooler water temperatures are helping these catches. Catches are coming in at a couple of depths – surface to about 10 feet and as deep as 30 feet depending on the time of day and sunlight. Shallower at night. Midday has been slow. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. Steep, broken rock banks and far out on long points at 20 to 25 feet. Some limited action in mid-channel has produced some on topwater where surfacing baitfish are attracting these fish.

Walleye: Slow. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans, Thunder sticks, or Redfins to 35 or 40 feet in the Loyston area and Cove Creek shorelines. Troll very close to steep, rocky shorelines at the recommended depth. As the drawdown continues, the thermocline will get deeper.

Bluegill: Good, but the locations are scattered. Tightline crickets with a split shot and use no float to various depths, move along the shoreline until these fish are located. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower, often as deep as 30 feet if on the main channel rocky shorelines. Move along the shoreline until you find them. Those fishing with a bobber will generally catch smaller fish. While shallower cove brush usually brings smaller individuals, early morning catches on the bottom can produce some nice bluegill. Popping bugs fished with a flyrod along the shoreline early in the day can bring good action.

Striped Bass: Moderate to good. 30 to 40 feet in mid-channel on clear afternoons, shallower in the early mornings. The fall movement to the upper creeks and the upper end of the river arms is underway. Finding them will become more difficult, as these fish will be on the move for the next two months. Catches of smaller stripers (under ten pounds) have improved. The Loyston Sea area has been slow with only occasional breaks seen and few birds. The channel from Point 19 to Point 9 has seen fair numbers caught, but mostly smaller fish (under 10 pounds). Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections. Schools of baitfish can be seen near the surface in the morning and afternoon hours. as is the seasonal norm. Keep a Zara Spook or large hair jig or soft jerk bait handy in case you see stripers breaking into the baitfish surface activity.

19 Oct 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Surface Temperature: 68 to 72 degrees. Cooler far upriver. The Clinch, at Hwy 25E, was coming in clear at 68 degrees. Sycamore Creek was 70. Davis Creek’s headwater was 72 degrees. Mill Creek has been 71 degrees in the afternoons.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,009.3 feet (midnight) The lake level is slowly, but steadily dropping for the Fall drawdown. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Periods of discharge through the dam and the resultant drawdown will increase bass and other predatory species’ movement and feeding. The daily discharge schedule is being determined by the work on the weir dam in the tailwater. During the day, the work requires very little outflow. Reservoir species which are influenced by water movement caused by water going through the dam will have their locations a bit disrupted by the drawdown schedule. Rainfall and the arrival of a front on Friday will be followed by bluebird days and a higher barometer.

Largemouth Bass: Moderate, improving. Topwater catches in the coves, near structure, and close to the rocky shorelines improved. Drop shot rigs, pig ‘n jigs, Brush Hawgs, Carolina Rigged lizards on the points and near structure from 5 to 20 feet. Some are still coming in on deep crankbaits on sunny days.

Smallmouth Bass: Moderate to good. Cooler water temperatures are helping these catches. 25 feet on points during drawdown periods and at that depth on broken rock, moderately sloped shorelines. Shallower at night. Early mornings and late afternoons to dusk on windy or cloudy days are best. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. Steep, broken rock banks and far out on long points at 20 to 25 feet. Slow-rolled willow leaf spinners dropped down rocky, moderately sloped shorelines are good especially at night. Following the passage of the front, expect many to suspend far off the bottom, as is a typical pattern on high pressure days.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Locating them is a challenge at this time of year. Night fishermen targeting other species have picked some up near the Loyston area island on sandy, bottoms at less than ten feet (bottom depth). Some are on points, next to wood structure in the daytime, but those catches are not dependable. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners.

Crappie: Moderate, improving. Fair at night under lights in Sycamore Creek, and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water. As the morning progresses, these fish drop deeper into shoreline woody structure. Fish in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery access boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, or Bobby Garlands fished either tightlined into brush (for late morning hours) or fished under a float near brush. Daytime catches, after about 9 a.m. are extremely slow. Night, under lanterns, has produced some on tightlined tuffy minnows.

Striped Bass: Moderate. The fall movement to the upper creeks and the upper end of the river arms is underway. Finding them will become more difficult, as these fish will be on the move for the next two months. Catches of smaller stripers (under ten pounds) have improved. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity as well as a few in Big Creek near Racetrack Hollow. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish can be seen near the surface in the morning and afternoon hours. as is the seasonal norm. Keep a Zara Spook or large hair jig or soft jerk bait handy in case you see stripers breaking into the baitfish surface activity.

03 Oct 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 74 to 82 degrees

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,011.6 feet (midnight) The lake level is steadily dropping for the Fall drawdown. It has dropped a foot since last week. TVA’s Operating Guide predicts the elevation to be 1,010.2 by October 1. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Periods of discharge through the dam and the resultant drawdown will increase bass and other predatory species’ movement and feeding. The thermocline will drop deeper as the lake level drops. Those trolling for species such as walleye should fish deeper as the lake level drops.

Largemouth Bass: Moderate. Same pattern with more catches coming in early in the day. On sunny days, fish shade-producing structure on moderately sloped broken rock shorelines. Early morning, before the sunlight hits the water, and night catches, are being made in shallower coves and points. Drop shot rigs, pig ‘n jigs, Brush Hawgs, Carolina Rigged lizards on the points and near structure from 5 to 20 feet. Some are coming in on deep crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass: Moderate to good. 25 feet on points during drawdown periods and at that depth on broken rock, moderately sloped shorelines. Shallower at night. Early mornings and late afternoons to dusk on windy or cloudy days are best. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. Steep, broken rock banks and far out on long points at 20 to 25 feet. Slow-rolled willow leaf spinners dropped down rocky, moderately sloped shorelines are good especially at night.

Walleye: Slow. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans, Thundersticks, or Redfins to 35 or 40 feet in the Loyston area and Cove Creek shorelines. Troll very close to steep, rocky shorelines at the recommended depth. As the drawdown continues, the thermocline will get deeper.

Bluegill: Good. Fish the coves and steep, rocky banks near wood structure with crickets tightlined from 10 feet to as deep as 20 feet, depending upon the slope. Tightline crickets with a split shot and no float to various depths, move along the shoreline until these fish are located. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower. Move along the shoreline until you find them. Beetle spins, Rooster Tails are good artificials if you are afraid of a cricket or cannot find any. Popping bugs on flyrod can provide good action just after the break of day. After the sun comes up, the larger ones will drop off deep and the small, shallow water specimens will seek refuge from the sun in shoreline brush or timber.

Shellcrackers: Slow. The flurry of catches during the past couple of weeks has subsided. Fish the back of larger creeks or in shallow coves next to downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom.

Striped Bass: Moderate. The fall movement to the upper creeks and the upper end of the river arms is just starting to get underway. Finding them will become more difficult, as these fish will be on the move for the next two months. Same as last week. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity as well as a few in Big Creek near Racetrack Hollow. Cove Creek remains slow. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish can be seen near the surface in the morning and afternoon hours. as is the seasonal norm. Keep a Zara Spook or large hair jig or soft jerk bait handy in case you see stripers breaking into the baitfish surface activity.

26 Sept 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 74 to 82 degrees

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,012.9 feet (midnight) The lake level is slowly dropping for the Fall drawdown. TVA’s Operating Guide predicts the elevation to be 1,010.2 by October 1. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Cooler weather leads many to believe that Fall fishing is in process. However, the lake water is still warm; Fall fishing lags the weather we feel. Most species are still in the summer pattern. Sunny days have slowed mid-day fishing considerably. Those arriving at 10 and leaving at 3 are having a hard time of it. Early morning and late afternoon into night have been the best times.

Smallmouth Bass: Moderate to good. 5 to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Early mornings have produced. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. Early morning topwater catches, if you can find undisturbed water, are hit ‘n miss where surface baitfish are seen. Lower boat traffic since Labor Day has helped. Steep, broken rock banks and far out on long points at 20 feet. Nighttime slow-rolled spinners dropped down rocky, moderately sloped shorelines.

Walleye: Slow. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins to 35 or 40 feet in the Loyston area, Cove Creek shorelines. A few have been caught but it’s hit ‘n miss at best.

Bluegill: Good. Smaller specimens are in shoreline brush. Larger ones are on the steep, shaded, rocky shorelines, as deep as 30 feet. Some may be moving to the coves in advance of the upcoming full moon, but the time for the Fall spawn is past. Tightline crickets with no float. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower. Move along the shoreline until you find them. Beetle spins, Rooster Tails are good artificials if you are afraid of a cricket or cannot find any. Popping bugs on flyrod can provide good action just after the break of day. After the sun comes up, the larger ones will drop off deep and the small, shallow water specimens will seek refuge from the sun in shoreline brush or timber.

Shellcrackers: Moderate. Fish the back of larger creeks or in shallow coves next to downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom.

Crappie: No change: Fair at night and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water, in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery access boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, or Bobby Garlands fished either tightlined into brush (for late morning hours) or fished under a float near brush. Daytime catches, after about 9 a.m. are extremely slow. Night, under lanterns, has produced some on tightlined tuffy minnows.

Striped Bass: Slow. Same as last week. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity as well as a few in Big Creek near Racetrack Hollow. Cove Creek remains slow. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish are starting to appear, as is the seasonal norm. Surface action where baitfish are seen in early morning or late afternoon is slow. The reduced number of boats since Labor Day is helping.

19 Sept 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 74 to 80 degrees

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,013.74 feet (midnight) The lake level dropped about a foot since last week. TVA’s Operating Guide predicts the elevation to be 1,010.2 by October 1. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Slow on the lower end, better on the upper half of the reservoir. Improving. On sunny days, fish shade-producing structure on moderately sloped broken rock shorelines. Early morning, before the sunlight hits the water, and night catches, are being made in shallower coves and points. Drop shot rigs, pig ‘n jigs, Brush Hawgs, Carolina Rigged lizards on the points and near structure from 5 to 20 feet. Some are coming in on deep crankbaits.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. 5 to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Catches have been best above 33 Bridge on the Clinch and above Flat Hollow’s vicinity on the Powell, but a few have been taken on the lower end. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. Early morning topwater catches, if you can find undisturbed water, are hit ‘n miss where surface baitfish are seen. Lower boat traffic since Labor Day has helped.

Walleye: No change except for depth if trolling. Slow for numbers, but catches have been of good quality size. Most catches are in the Loyston to Rabbit Island section. Some on Cove Creek very close to steep rocky shorelines on trolled Thunder sticks or Red Fins to 35 feet. Same pattern, no change in technique: Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located.

Bluegill: Still good. Smaller specimens are in shoreline brush. Larger ones are on the steep, shaded, rocky shorelines, as deep as 30 feet. Tightline crickets with no float. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower. Move along the shoreline until you find them. Beetle spins, Rooster Tails are good artificials if you are afraid of a cricket or cannot find any. Popping bugs on flyrod can provide good action just after the break of day. After the sun comes up, the larger ones will drop off deep and the small, shallow water specimens will seek refuge from the sun in shoreline brush or timber.

Striped Bass: Slow but improving. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity as well as a few in Big Creek near Racetrack Hollow. Cove Creek remains slow. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish are starting to appear, as is the seasonal norm. Surface action where baitfish are seen in early morning or late afternoon is slow. The reduced number of boats since Labor Day is helping.

12 Sept 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 78 to 82 degrees

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. Some creeks may be stained after local, heavy rain showers.

Water Elevation: 1,014.5 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Summer fishing typically remains fairly constant with temporary changes when thunderstorms or rain events pass through. Daytime fishing on the weekends is usually a bust because of high boat traffic. However, if you can tolerate it, mudlines kicked up by the wave action can be good places to fish in a lake as clear as Norris. Fish do not like sunlight!

Largemouth Bass: Slow on the lower end, better on the upper half of the reservoir. Drop shot rigs, pig ‘n jigs, Brush Hawgs, Carolina Rigs on the points to 20 feet. Some are coming in on deep crankbaits. Early mornings have had some action in the coves on spinners or jerk baits near structure.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Same pattern as last week: during daylight hours, surface to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Catches have been best above 33 Bridge on the Clinch and above Flat Hollow’s vicinity on the Powell. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. At the break of day on the section of the Clinch arm above Black Fox, if the boat traffic is missing, some topwater catches have been made on smallmouth breaking into the schools of baitfish at dawn.

Walleye: Slow for numbers, but catches have been of good quality size. Most catches are in the Loyston to Rabbit Island section. Some on Cove Creek very close to steep rocky shorelines on trolled Thundersticks or Red Fins to 30 feet. Same pattern, no change in technique: Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting, snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow; many walleye are feeding on suspended schools of alewife these days, far from the bank. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day.

Bluegill: Good. Smaller specimens are in shoreline brush. Larger ones are on the steep, shaded, rocky shorelines, as deep as 30 feet. Tightline crickets with no float. If you’re getting small ones on the steep, rocky banks, drop your cricket lower. Move along the shoreline until you find them. Beetle spins, Rooster Tails are good artificials if you are afraid of a cricket or cannot find any. Popping bugs on flyrod can provide good action just after the break of day. After the sun comes up, the larger ones will drop off deep and the small, shallow water specimens will seek refuge from the sun in shoreline brush or timber.

Shellcrackers: Very slow. Fish in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Catfish: Slow during the day; better at dawn or at night. Nightcrawlers or chicken livers or rancid shrimp on rocky banks or on flats off main channels late in the day for channel cats. Flatheads are hitting on live bluegill at night in the backs of hollows and on main channel, steep boulder shorelines, very close to the bank from about Hickory Star to Point 19.

Striped Bass: Slow. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have seen fewer catches. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity has had a few catches. Cove Creek improved slightly. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish are starting to appear, as is the seasonal norm. Look for stripers to break into the schools at dawn around the islands between Hickory Star and Lost Creek. Boat traffic will put these early breaking fish down.

06 Sept 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 79 to 84

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,014.6 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady since last week’s report. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Slow. Early morning hits are intermittent on surface plugs and spinners. Carolina rigged plastic worms and assorted lures are catching some as deep as 20-25 feet after the sun is up. Soft jerk baits, spinners, and Senko-type lures are getting some in floating debris in shaded coves on the upper end. Topwater success has been slow except on cloudy mornings before about 9 a.m. Upper end fishing on both river arms has been best. Powell side lower end is slower than the Clinch side. Transition zones are better than just pounding the shoreline. High pressure, bluebird days are very slow.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. During daylight hours, Surface to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Catches have been best above 33 Bridge on the Clinch and above Flat Hollow’s vicinity on the Powell. Pig ‘n jigs, drop shot rigs, Brush Hogs, live shiners have produced. At the break of day on the section of the Clinch arm above Black Fox, if the boat traffic is missing, some topwater catches have been made on smallmouth breaking into the schools of baitfish.

Walleye: Slow for numbers, but catches have been of good quality size. Most catches are in the Loyston to Rabbit Island section. Some on Cove Creek. Same pattern, no change in technique: Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting, snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow; many walleye are feeding on suspended schools of alewife these days, far from the bank. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day. Upper river fishing for walleye on both the Powell and Clinch is very slow; once-spawning walleye have long since returned to the main body of the lake. There are some catches far upstream, though, but the action is very slow, hit and miss. Perhaps those are walleye are residents in those locations.

Crappie: Fair, at night and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water, in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, or Bobby Garlands fished either tightlined into brush (for late morning hours) or fished under a float near brush. Daytime catches, after about 9 a.m. are extremely slow. Night, under lanterns, has produced some on tightlined tuffy minnows.

Striped Bass: Slow. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have seen fewer catches. The channel from Point 19 to Stardust Marina’s vicinity has had a few catches. Cove Creek is slow, but some are being caught there in the early mornings. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. Schools of baitfish are starting to appear, as is the seasonal norm. Look for stripers to break into the schools at dawn.

22 Aug 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 83-86 surface in the mornings. As high as 88 in shallow areas on late, sunny afternoons.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear after some staining from recent heavy rains.

Water Elevation: 1,015.1 feet (midnight) The elevation is fluctuating, slightly. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Hot weather and clear skies have the lake in the summer doldrums for daytime fishing, as is the norm for August. Early morning and night fishing are the better times to fish. During daylight, target fish in shaded areas. Fishing pressure during the daytime is predictably very slow. The moon is at its first quarter; the full moon will be August 30^th.

Largemouth Bass: Slow. Fair at night from sunset until midnight or at the break of day. The pattern remains the same: Surface to 25 feet, Flukes and similar soft jerk baits under woody structure, small topwater plugs along the shoreline next to structure at dawn. Spinners or crankbaits next to structure early. Texas and Carolina rigs are taking some on the points at 25 feet.

Smallmouth Bass: Slow during daytime. Better after dark and until dawn. Drop-spinners on rocky points and moderately sloped rocky banks at night, fished down to 25 or 30 feet. Small hair jigs tipped with minnows, or pig’n jig rigs on the edges of mid-channel humps at 25 feet. Live shiners fished slowly along steep, rocky shorelines from about 5 to 20 feet.

Walleye: Slow. Not much change. Trolled plugs (Normans, RedFins) at 25 to 30 feet, running the shoreline contour, or mid-channel where schools of alewife or threadfin are located. Bottom trolling has not been as productive as trolling for suspended walleye over the 30–35-foot thermocline. Night fishing with snagged alewife cast to the shoreline, or jigged Mann O’Lure-type spoons, or casting plugs to the shoreline has been slow to produce, but a few nice sized fish have been caught.

Bluegill: Good. Tightline any bait as long as it is a cricket. Try different depths close to the steep, shaded, rocky banks and keep moving until you find the larger ones. If you’re tightlining to 10 feet (for instance) and catching small bluegill, drop your depth until you’re on larger ones. If you can’t get crickets, use wax worms or red worms. Night crawlers can work but are a distant fourth. Dawn to 9 a.m. is best. Popping bugs worked close to the shorelines at dawn is productive but very few are doing that.

Shellcrackers: Slow. The location of shellcrackers after their spawn has mystified anglers for generations. Fish in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Try trolling with red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners along the shoreline contours at a variety of depths. Some are caught on steep, broken rock shorelines on old wood structure.

Crappie: No change. Fair, at night and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water, in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, or Bobby Garlands fished either tightlined into brush (for late morning hours) or fished under a float near brush. After about 10 a.m., crappie go into deeper woody structure.

Catfish: Fair. Nightcrawlers or chicken livers or rancid shrimp on rocky banks or on flats off main channels late in the day for channel cats. Flatheads are hitting on live bluegill at night in the backs of hollows and on main channel, boulder shorelines, very close to the bank.

Striped Bass: Fair. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks or Zara Pups at dawn has been good on some days where breaking fish have been seen near Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. In the main lake body, stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands on trolled Alabama rigs (remember the 3-hook law!) or large chrome spoons jigged down to suspended fish.

09 Aug 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 83-86

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear after some staining from recent heavy rains.

Water Elevation: 1,014.4 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady since last week’s report. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Moderate at the break of day; slow in midday. Fair at night from sunset until midnight. The pattern remains the same: Coves at dawn have been pretty good on topwater or on Senko-type lures near brush or wood structure. Productive lures have been soft swim baits at depths to 20 feet on steeper main channel shorelines, medium running crankbaits, Senkos, drop-shot rigs, green/pumpkin lizards or worms on Carolina rigs on the flats or Texas rigs on steeper, rocky banks. Soft jerk baits drifted down under sunken timber, or spinners worked down the same timber have caught some. Surface to 25 feet.

Smallmouth Bass: Slow during daylight. Better after dark and until dawn. During daylight hours, 25-30 feet. Shallower at night. Snagged baitfish cast to the shoreline at night and slow-rolled willow leaf or large Colorado blade spinners on moderately steep banks at night. The sides of deep-water humps and ridges fished with pig’n jigs at 25 to 30 feet on the lower end is tedious fishing but has picked up some good smallmouth. Drop-shots, soft swim baits, pig’n jig type rigs are standard fare. Green or gray skirt Popeye jigs (¼ to 3/8 oz) tipped with tuffy minnows and worked slowly across the bottom always catches smallmouth. During the daylight hours, look for suspended smallmouth at 20 feet, especially on bluebird days with a rising, or high barometer. Cloudy, breezy days and nights have been best. Live, large shiners rigged with a small split shot and allowed to drift down to 20-plus feet on the main channel, rocky shorelines have worked well at night through about 10 a.m. Use a pound-test line as light as your nerves will allow. Clear blue florescent line in daylight hours is to be avoided; it’s a fiber optic and is too visible if the fish are finicky.

Walleye: Slow. Not much change. Most catches are in the Loyston to Rabbit Island section. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or similar spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting, snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow; many walleye are feeding on suspended schools of alewife these days, far from the bank. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day. Upper river

Bluegill: Good. Hit the flats in the back of protected coves for late spawning bluegill. Some are returning from the flats and are in deeper water. Smaller ones always hang around brushy areas, but larger ones will be returning to steeper rocky banks. For the best results, tightline any bait as long as it is a cricket. Try different depths close to the steep, rocky banks and keep moving until you find them. If you can’t get crickets, use wax worms or red worms. Night crawlers can work but are a distant fourth. Dawn to 9 a.m. is best. Popping bugs worked close to the shorelines at dawn is productive but very few are doing that.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Fish in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Catfish: Fair. Nightcrawlers or chicken livers or rancid shrimp on rocky banks or on flats off main channels late in the day for channel cats. Flatheads are hitting on live bluegill at night in the backs of hollows and on main channel, boulder shorelines, very close to the bank.

Striped Bass: No change. Improved to good. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks at dawn has been good on some days were breaking fish have been seen near Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. In the main lake body, stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands on trolled Alabama rigs (remember the 3-hook law!) or large chrome spoons jigged down to suspended fish.

01 Aug 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 83-86

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,014.5 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady since last week’s report. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Summer fishing typically remains fairly constant with temporary changes when thunderstorms or rain events pass through. Daytime fishing on the weekends is usually a bust because of high boat traffic. However, if you can tolerate it, mudlines kicked up by the wave action can be good places to fish in a lake as clear as Norris. Fish do not like sunlight!

Largemouth Bass: Slow in the daylight hours after about 10 a.m. Dawn and night are best, with dusk a close second. Coves at dawn have been pretty good on topwater or on Senko-type lures near brush or wood structure. Productive lures have been soft swim baits at depths to 20 feet on steeper main channel shorelines, medium running crankbaits, Senkos, drop-shot rigs, green/pumpkin lizards or worms on Carolina rigs on the flats or Texas rigs on steeper, rocky banks. Soft jerk baits drifted down under sunken timber, or spinners worked down the same timber have caught some. Surface to 25 feet.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. During daylight hours, 20 to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Snagged baitfish cast to the shoreline at night are still picking up some. Texas rigged grubs, Power Hawgs, Senkos, or similar lures on steeper, rocky banks are doing fairly well. Drop-shots, soft swim baits, pig’n jig type rigs are standard fare. Slow rolling with spinners dropped to 20 feet at night is still getting some. Green or gray skirt Popeye jigs (¼ to 3/8 oz) tipped with tuffy minnows and worked slowly across the bottom always catches smallmouth. During the daylight hours, look for suspended smallmouth at 20 feet, especially on bluebird days with a rising, or high barometer. Cloudy, breezy days and nights have been best. Live shiners rigged with a small split shot and allowed to drift down to 20-plus feet on the main channel, rocky shorelines have worked well. Use a pound-test line as light as your nerves will allow. Clear blue florescent line in daylight hours is to be avoided.

Walleye: No change. Main body catches are moderate to slow in numbers. But those caught have been good sized fish. Most catches are in the Loyston to Rabbit Island section. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting, snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow; many walleye are feeding on suspended schools of alewife these days, far from the bank. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day. Upper river fishing for walleye on both the Powell and Clinch is very slow; once-spawning walleye have long since returned to the main body of the lake. There are some catches far upstream, though, but the action is very slow, hit and miss. Perhaps those are walleye are residents in those locations.

Bluegill: Good. Hit the flats in the back of protected coves for spawning bluegill. Crickets or wax worms, dragged across the bottom in those areas are taking the better ones. Red worms also work. Night crawlers work but are a distant fourth. Dawn to 9 a.m. is best. Look for larger bluegill in the flats around brush, less than ten feet deep, bottom depth.

Shellcrackers: Slower than last week. Fish in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber or flooded brush. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Striped Bass: Improved to good. Dawn to about 9:30 a.m. on sunny days. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks at dawn has been good on some days were breaking fish have been seen near Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled to depths as deep as 40 feet in those sections, shallower in the Loyston section. In the main lake body, stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands on trolled Alabama rigs (remember the 3-hook law!) or large chrome spoons jigged down to suspended fish.

25 July 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 80-85

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,014.9 feet (midnight) The elevation has dropped only a few inches since last week’s report. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Summer fishing typically remains fairly consistant with temporary changes when thunderstorms or rain events pass through. Daytime fishing on the weekends is usually a bust because of high boat traffic. However, if you can tolerate it, mudlines kicked up by the wave action can be good places to fish in a lake as clear as Norris.

Largemouth Bass: No change. Moderate to good. Early morning hours (before about 9 a.m.), dusk, and at night have been best. Productive lures have been soft swim baits at depths to 20 feet on steeper main channel shorelines, medium running crankbaits, Senkos, drop-shot rigs, green/pumpkin lizards or worms on Carolina rigs on the flats or Texas rigs on steeper, rocky banks. Some decent catches have come on Flukes, Senkos, Brush Hogs, and similar lures fished in the brush and downed timber.

Smallmouth Bass: Good. During daylight hours, 20 to 25 feet. Shallower at night. Those throwing snagged shad or alewife to the banks at night, in search of walleye, have caught smallmouths more than walleye. Texas rigged grubs, Power Hawgs, Senkos, or similar lures on steeper, rocky banks are doing fairly well. Drop-shots, soft swim baits, pig ’n jig type rigs are standard fare. Slow rolling with spinners dropped to 20 feet at night is still getting some. During the daylight hours, look for suspended smallmouth at 20 feet, especially on bluebird days with a rising, or high barometer. Cloudy, breezy days and nights have been best.

Walleye: Main body catches are moderate to slow in numbers. But those caught have been good sized fish. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights has been slower than casting, snagged shad/alewife to the shorelines. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow; many walleye are feeding on suspended schools of alewife these days, far from the bank. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day. Upper river fishing for walleye on both the Powell and Clinch is very slow; once-spawning walleye have long since returned to the main body of the lake. There are some catches far upstream, though, but the action is very slow, hit and miss. Perhaps those are walleye are residents in those locations.

Bluegill: Good. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on crickets or on Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners. Fly rodding with popping bugs always takes some early in the morning, lake wide. Early morning catches are usually larger fish than those from the same locations later in the day and in late morning. Look for larger bluegill in the flats around brush, less than ten feet deep, bottom depth. The week prior to a full moon is the time to look for bluegill spawns which can occur throughout the summer, but not as prominent as the spring spawn in late May.

Shellcrackers: Fair in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Crappie: Moderate at night and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water, in the standard locations where there are flats and brush: Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp and in Doaks Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, or Bobby Garlands fished either tightlined into brush (for late morning hours) or fished under a float near brush.

Striped Bass: Fair. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks at dawn has been good on some days were breaking fish have been seen. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits. In the main lake body, smaller stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands.

19 July 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 80-85

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,015.3 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Summary: Summer fishing typically remains fairly constant with temporary changes when thunderstorms or rain events pass through. Daytime fishing on the weekends is usually a bust because of high boat traffic. However, if you can tolerate it, mudlines kicked up by the wave action can be good places to fish in a lake as clear as Norris.

Largemouth Bass: No change. Moderate to good. Early morning hours (before about 9 a.m.), dusk, and at night have been best. Productive lures have been soft swim baits at depths to 20 feet on steeper main channel shorelines, medium running crankbaits, Senkos, drop-shot rigs, green/pumpkin lizards or worms on Carolina rigs on the flats or Texas rigs on steeper, rocky banks. Early morning bites have hit Flukes, Senkos, small topwater plugs, and a few on buzz baits (standard summer fare).

Smallmouth Bass: Good. During daylight hours, 20 feet seems to be the magic daytime depth, whether for crankbaits, swim baits, or pig ’n jig types, Texas rigs on steeper, rocky banks. Drop-shots, soft swim baits, pig ‘n jig type rigs. Slow rolling with spinners dropped to 20 feet at night is good. During the daylight hours, look for suspended smallmouth at 20 feet, especially on bluebird days with a rising, or high barometer. Cloudy, breezy days have been best.

Walleye: Main body catches have improved. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights, or Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline are picking up some nice fish. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day.

Bluegill: Good. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on crickets or on Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners. Next week look for larger bluegill to begin moving into the flats around brush.

Shellcrackers: Fair in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Crappie: Good at night and in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water, in Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs or Bobby Garlands are getting some at dawn in Sycamore Creek and Little Sycamore Creek.

Catfish: Fair. Those fishing for walleye with spinner/crawler rigs are getting more channel cats than walleye. Nightcrawlers on rocky banks or on flats off main channels late in the day. Flatheads are hitting on bluegill at night in the backs of hollows and on main channel, boulder shorelines, very close to the bank.

Striped Bass: Fair. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks at dawn has been good on some days were breaking fish have been seen. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits. In the main lake body, smaller stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands.

10 July 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

Water Temp: 75-80

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,015.7 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady. Summer pool for the reservoir is 2020 feet (above sea level). The lower elevation has hindered fishing in shoreline vegetation, as is the norm for the summer months. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: No change. Moderate to good. Early morning hours (before about 9 a.m.), dusk, and at night have been best. Productive lures have been soft swim baits at depths to 20 feet on steeper main channel shorelines, medium running crankbaits, Senkos, drop-shot rigs. Early morning bites have hit Flukes, Senkos, small topwater plugs, and a few on buzz baits (standard summer fare).

Smallmouth Bass: Good. During daylight hours, 20 feet seems to be the magic depth, whether for crankbaits, swim baits, or pig’n jig types. Smallmouth have moved to steep or moderately sloped rocky shorelines. Drop-shots, soft swim baits, pig’n jig type rigs. Slow rolling with spinners at night is starting to bring some in on the lower end. During the daylight hours, look for suspended smallmouth at 20 feet, especially on bluebird days with a rising, or high barometer. Cloudy, breezy days have been best.

Walleye: Main body catches are slow, but best at night. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights, or Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline are picking up some, but it’s hit ‘n miss at best. Daylight trolling with Bill Normans or Redfins for suspended walleye can be pretty good where schools of alewife or shad are located. Keep the depth at about 25-30 feet on the lower end (Loyston to the Dam). Daylight bottom trolling with spinner/crawler rigs are picking up some, but it’s slow. Trolling plugs for suspended walleye has been the most productive method during the day.

Bluegill: Good. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on crickets or on Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners.

Shellcrackers: Good in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Catfish: Fair. Those fishing for walleye with spinner/crawler rigs are getting more channel cats than walleye. Night crawlers on rocky banks or on flats off main channels late in the day. Flatheads are hitting on bluegill at night in the backs of hollows and on main channel, boulder shorelines.

Striped Bass: Moderate. The Loyston Sea area, the mouth of Lost Creek, the islands near Hickory Star, have had good catches. Topwater with Zara Spooks at dawn has been good on some days were breaking fish have been seen. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits. In the main lake body, smaller stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands.

30 May 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

30 May 2023

Water Temp Surface temperatures are 77 to 80 degrees. It’s warmer in the protected coves and late in the day, as is expected.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,016.0 feet (midnight) The elevation has held steady for several weeks due to little rainfall. The all-day rain on Saturday in the upper watershed contributed little to the inflow from the Powell and Clinch rivers. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Many are either spawning or can be expected to be spawning in coming days. Willow leaf spinners, jerk baits, Carolina-rigged lizards on the bottom. Topwater action was slower. Less than 10 feet early. Night and early morning fishing is best.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Fish drop-offs and transition zone structure for post-spawn fish. Slow-rolled spinners at night on moderate sloped rock banks, drop shot rigs, pig’n jigs, as well as medium running crankbaits or soft jerk baits have taken some on the points and drop-offs.

Walleye: Lower end fish are hitting alewives at night along the shorelines where alewife are spawning. Night fishing is best on Zara Spooks and Pups, Shad Raps, snagged alewife or shad cast to the banks. Vertical jigging under lights has been slower than casting snagged baitfish (alewife or shad) to the banks at night. Lake spawn fish are best off red clay shorelines.

Shellcrackers: Good at the base of brush, button bushes, or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Fish less than 10 feet deep, on the bottom near brush where they are spawning. There have been some good-sized shellcrackers taken over the past week.

Crappie: Moderate in the early morning hours in the head of the major creek embayments in brushy coves where they are spawning. Productive areas are Sycamore Creek and the mouth of Little Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp and old road, and Doaks Creek behind the marina. Use the standard fare: shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush, Bobby Garland-type jigs under floats or tightlined in brush; Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows.

Striped Bass: Stripers are moving downstream from the rivers and heads of the larger creeks. On the main body, the Loyston and Lost Creek section, and the forks of the rivers (point 9) have produced some on drift line or tightline method with alewife or shad as bait. At dawn, if you see breaking fish, cast Zara Spooks or Pups or lead head jigs to the breaks.

Bluegill: Spawning bluegill are in the flats near brush or stumps, or along creek bed shelves at about 10 feet, bottom depth. Cast crickets, red worms, or (last choice) nightcrawlers to the nests, on the bottom. Some very nice bluegills have been caught over the past few days. The spring spawn typically occurs during the week prior to the full moon. Throughout the summer, look for bluegill spawns to occur the week leading to the full moons.

23 May 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

23 May 2023

Water Temp Surface temperatures have ranged from 75 to 78 degrees. It’s warmer in the protected coves and late in the day, as is expected.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color.

Water Elevation: 1,016.0 feet (midnight) The elevation has held fairly steady since last week. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Fishing Overview: Catches for most species improved since last week.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Most catches have been post-spawn fish. But as all do not spawn at the same time, expect to find some late spawners on points at about the 10- to 15-foot depth. Fish drop-offs and transition zone structure for post-spawn fish. Slow-rolled spinners are night on moderate sloped rock banks. Drop shot rigs as well as medium running crankbaits or soft jerk baits have taken some on the points and drop-offs.

Walleye: The upriver spawn is over. Lower end fish are hitting alewives at night along the shorelines where alewife are spawning. Night fishing is best on Zara Spooks and Pups, Shad Raps, snagged alewife or shad cast to the banks. Vertical jigging under lights has been slower than casting to the banks at night.

Crappie: No change: Moderate in the early morning hours in the head of the major creek embayments in brushy coves. Night catches are still pretty good in Sycamore Creek and the mouth of Little Sycamore Creek. The back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Use the standard fare: shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush, Bobby Garland-type jigs under floats or tightlined in brush; Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows.

Striped Bass: Upriver catches are about over. Stripers are moving downstream from the rivers and heads of the larger creeks. Catches have been made downstream from the headwaters where the bottom depth is about 40-feet. On the main body, the Loyston and Lost Creek section, and the forks of the rivers (point 9) have produced some.

Bluegill: The spring spawn typically occurs during the week prior to the full moon. They will follow that pattern through the summer months. The next full moon is June 3rd. Look for larger specimens to be moving to flats, especially in the back of coves near brush or stumps. On main channels, they will nest on small shelves in the rock faces. Tightline crickets or fish crickets on the bottom near the nests.

16 May 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

16 May 2023

Water Temp Surface temperatures warmed considerably since last week, across the reservoir. Afternoon surface temperatures were 78-80 from Norris Dam to Davis Creek and Loyston Sea. Protected heads of some of the creeks were a few degrees warmer on sunny afternoons.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. Torrential rainstorms passed through this afternoon; expect some creeks to be running in with color.

Water Elevation: 1,015.5 feet (midnight) The elevation has steady since last week. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Fishing Overview: Catches for most species remained the same since last week: slow to fair.

Largemouth Bass: Fair in coves where some are searching for spawning locations. Willow leaf spinners, jerk baits, medium runner crankbaits in the coves and near cover. Less than 10 feet early.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Many are currently on the beds, but some catches indicate others are post-spawn fish. White gravel points and shorelines for spawning fish. Drop-offs and transition zone structure for post-spawn fish. Slow-rolled spinners are night on moderate sloped rock banks. Drop shot rigs as well as medium running crankbaits or soft jerk baits have taken some on the points and drop-offs.

Walleye: Slow upriver in the Clinch River shoals near Hwy 25E and Indian Creek. Post-spawn walleye are making their way back to the main body, but some resident fish are being caught in the river shoals on lead-head jigs tipped with plastic grubs. Main body catches are slow. The main body fish are not yet spawning. Night fishing catches are slow.

Shellcrackers: Fair. Good in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Fish less than 10 feet deep, on the bottom near brush where they are spawning.

Crappie: Moderate in the early morning hours in the head of the major creek embayments in brushy coves. Night catches are still pretty good in Sycamore Creek and the mouth of Little Sycamore Creek. The back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Use the standard fare: shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush, Bobby Garland-type jigs under floats or tightlined in brush; Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows.

Catfish: No catches have been seen.

Striped Bass: Fair upriver in shoal areas. Slow on the lower end of the lake. The Clinch River above Indian Creek saw slow action with little fishing pressure. Use shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits trolled near the islands around Hickory Star and in Lost Creek. Upper Cove Creek catches were fair; lower Cove Creek was slow. Look for stripers to be moving toward the headwaters of the larger creek embayments and upward to the headwaters of the Powell and Clinch rivers. These fish are moving upstream with the season.

02 May 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

2 May 2023

Water Temp: Cloudy, cool, windy days have had an effect. It’s 63 to 67 degrees on most days. The upper rivers (at Hwy 25E) were still clear, but running in at 59 degrees, cooler than last week.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,014.4 feet (midnight) The elevation has remained steady over the past week. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Fishing Overview: Catches for most species were greatly diminished since last week’s report because of high winds and nighttime temperatures in the low 40’s.

Largemouth Bass: Fair in coves where some are searching for spawning locations. Willow leaf spinners, jerk baits, medium runner crankbaits in the coves and near cover. Less than 10 feet early.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Same pattern: soft swim baits on lead-heads, medium runner crankbaits, small hair jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, plastic grubs, and swimbaits retrieved slowly across spawning areas. Target white gravel points and shorelines where many are spawning at 8-12 feet, bottom depth.

Walleye: Fair upriver in the Clinch River shoals near Hwy 25E and Indian Creek. On the Powell, above Slate Creek, Earl’s Hollow and farther upstream has had some good catches on the right days. 3/8 oz jigs tipped with plastic grubs or on trolled crankbaits, both worked along the bottom at 15 feet and shallower. Main body catches are slow. The main body fish are not yet spawning. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights, or Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline are picking up some, but it’s hit ‘n miss at best.

Bluegill: Slow. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on crickets or on Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners.

Shellcrackers: Slow in most locations, but very good in isolated areas in the back of larger creeks next to fish attractor brush or downed timber. Mill Creek, Lost Creek, Poor Land Creek, some in Sycamore Creek. Red worms, night crawlers, wax worms, small minnows, small spinners. Less than 10 feet, on the bottom near brush.

Crappie: Improving. Good at night in Sycamore Creek, the back of Lost Creek, the upper reaches of Cove Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs or Bobby Garlands are getting some at dawn in Sycamore Creek and Little Sycamore Creek.

Catfish: No catches have been seen.

Striped Bass: Moderate to good upriver in shoal areas. Above Indian Creek on the Clinch River arm has seen improving catches in the pools between shoals. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs, or large swimbaits. In the main lake body, smaller stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Upper Cove Creek catches were fair. Look for stripers to be moving toward the headwaters of the larger creek embayments and upward to the headwaters of the Powell and Clinch rivers. These fish are moving upstream with the season.

26 April 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

26 April 2023

Water Temp: Mid-60’s at dusk on the upper end. To the high 60’s and low 70’s in the shallows on the lower end. The upper rivers (at Hwy 25E) were clear and 61 degrees.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,013.6 (midnight) Rising slowly. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Good in coves where some are searching for spawning locations. Willow leaf spinners have caught most, with medium crankbaits, hard jerk baits also picking up some. A few have hit topwater plugs. Bass can be seen accumulating in the coves in anticipation of what may be an early spawn. Fish shallow to 10 feet in the coves and near cover and broken rocks.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Soft swim baits on lead heads, medium runner crankbaits, small hair jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, plastic grubs, and swimbaits retrieved across spawning areas. Target white gravel points and shorelines where many are spawning at 8-12 feet, bottom depth.

Walleye: Fair upriver in the Clinch River shoals near Hwy 25E and Indian Creek. On the Powell, above Slate Creek, Earl’s Hollow and farther upstream has had some good catches on the right days. 3/8 oz jigs tipped with plastic grubs or on trolled crankbaits, both worked along the bottom at 15 feet and shallower. Main body catches are fair at night, slow during the day. The main body fish are not yet spawning. Night fishing with Mann O’Lures or spoons jigged under lights, or Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline are picking up some, but it’s hit ‘n miss at best.

Bluegill: Slow. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on crickets or on Beetle Spins or Rooster Tail spinners.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Some have been showing up in the Mill Creek embayment. Redworms, night crawlers, wax worms, Beetle Spins along the bottom especially in the Mill Creek and Poor Land Creek areas. The best action for these fish is a month away.

Crappie: Slow in the daylight hours. Good at night in Sycamore Creek, Lost Creek, and upper Davis Creek in the coves near the cemetery boat ramp. Shiners or tuffy minnows tightlined to 10-15 feet near brush. Popeye jigs or Bobby Garlands are getting some at dawn in Sycamore Creek and Little Sycamore Creek.

Catfish: No catches have been seen.

18 April 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

18 April 2023

Water Temp: 56 at dawn; 67 at dusk on the upper end. To the high 60’s and 70 in the shallows on the lower end. The upper rivers (at Hwy 25E) were clear and 61 degrees.

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,012.9 (midnight) Rising slowly. Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Good in shallower coves at dawn and dusk. Willow leaf spinners, medium crankbaits, hard jerk baits, hair jigs. On sunny days, mid-day action, which had been very slow, improved. Bass can be seen accumulating in the coves in anticipation of what may be an early spawn. Fish shallow to 10 feet in the coves and near cover and broken rocks.

Smallmouth Bass: Good on cloudy days, dawn, and at night. Slow on sunny days. Soft swim baits on lead heads, medium runner crankbaits, small jigs tipped with tuffy minnows. Target white gravel points and shorelines where these fish are close to spawning. On the lower end some are already spawning at about 8 to 12 feet deep on the white gravel points. The upper half of the reservoir is showing smallmouth full of eggs, about to spawn.

Walleye: Moderate upriver in the Clinch River shoals near Hwy 25E and Indian Creek. On the Powell, above Slate Creek, Earl’s Hollow and farther upstream has had some good catches on the right days. 3/8 oz jigs tipped with plastic grubs or on trolled crankbaits, both worked along the bottom at 15 feet and shallower. Main body catches are improving at night. On the main body, target red clay banks, especially at night. Mann O’Lures, Rogues, Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline.

Bluegill: Slow. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on tightlined crickets.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Some have been showing up, but it’s a bit early for the best catches. Redworms, night crawlers, wax worms, Beetle Spins along the bottom especially in the Mill Creek and Poor Land Creek areas.

Crappie: Slow in the daylight hours. Good at night in Sycamore Creek, Lost Creek, Davis Creek. Shiners or tuffy minnows tight lined to 10-15 feet near brush.

Catfish: No catches have been seen.

Striped Bass: Moderate to good upriver in shoal areas. Above Indian Creek on the Clinch River arm has seen improving catches. Shad or alewife, umbrella rigs. In the main lake body, smaller stripers have been caught in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Cove Creek catches were fair in the early morning hours. Look for stripers to be moving toward the headwaters of the larger creek embayments and upward to the headwaters.

11 April 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

4-11-023

Water Temp: 54 at dawn; 65 at dusk

Water Clarity: 4 to 6 feet, good color. The upper end rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,011.72 (midnight) Check the free TVA Lake Info app for daily elevations, predictions, and flow rates.

Largemouth Bass: Moderate in shallower coves at dawn and dusk. Willow leaf spinners, medium crankbaits, hard jerk baits, hair jigs. On sunny days, mid-day is very slow with the bite coming about 45 minutes before dark. Bass can be seen accumulating in the coves in anticipation of what may be an early spawn.

Smallmouth Bass: good on cloudy days, dawn, and at night. Hair jigs, drop shot, medium runner crankbaits, small jigs tipped with tuffy minnows. Target white gravel points and shorelines where these fish are close to spawning. Some are already spawning at about 8 to 12 feet deep on the white gravel points. Some have also hit shiners or jigs of various types, deeper on steep, broken rock shorelines.

Walleye: very slow upriver and in the main body. Upriver in the Clinch River shoals near Hwy 25E and Indian Creek. On the Powell, above Slate Creek, Earl’s Hollow and farther upstream. 3/8 oz jigs tipped with plastic grubs or on trolled crankbaits, both worked along the bottom at 15 feet and shallower. Main body catches are very slow. On the main body, target red clay banks, especially at night. Mann O’Lures, Rogues, Shad Raps, or snagged shad/alewife cast to the shoreline. It’s a bit early for this action to be much good.

Bluegill: Slow. To 20 feet on steep, broken rock banks on tightlined crickets.

Shellcrackers: Slow. Some have been showing up, but it’s a bit early for the best catches. Redworms, night crawlers, wax worms, Beetle Spins along the bottom especially in the Mill Creek area.

Catfish: No catches have been seen.

Striped Bass: Fair. Trolled or tightlined shad or alewife, umbrella rigs. A few breaks have been seen in the Loyston/Lost Creek area, Gourd and Rabbit Islands. Look for stripers to be moving toward the headwaters of the larger creek embayments and upward to the headwaters.

04 April 2023

Forecast Contributor – Paul Shaw, Norris Creel Clerk.

4 April 2023

Water Temp: 54 to 59 degrees, may be in the low 60’s in stained creeks.

Clarity: 4 to 6 feet. There is a brown algae bloom in some protected areas. This is not a “turn over,” but an annual event which occurs when the water is in the 50’s. The upper reaches of the Powell and Clinch rivers are running in clear.

Water Elevation: 1,010.0 feet (above sea level). The lake is rising.

Smallmouth: Good. Shallow to 10 feet. Best on white gravel points. Hard jerk baits, swim baits, drop shot rigs on deeper drop-offs leading to white gravel areas.

Largemouth: Fair in the early morning hours. Topwater plugs, soft and hard jerk baits in coves near structure, medium to shallow crankbaits.

Shellcrackers: Slow. A few are being caught by bass anglers. It’s a bit early for them to be moving into the brush to spawn.

Striped Bass: Slow. Some moving to the headwaters of the river arms and larger creeks, requiring some searching to locate them.

Walleye: Slow. Some are being caught in the upper river arms: Slate Creek to Lonesome Valley on the Powell. The shoals of the Clinch above Indian Creek. A few have been caught on the lower, main body of the lake, but that is hit ‘n miss at best.

Crappie: Slow. Davis Creek, Sycamore Creek best but even those areas are slow. Lost Creek is slow. Catches are difficult after the sun hits the brush; early morning is best. Popeye jigs tipped with tuffy minnows, Bobby Garland jigs, tuffy minnows tightlined into the brush.

Norris Lake Tennessee TN Fishing Report – Paul Shaw

NORRIS FISHING REPORT

25 June 2014

WATER CONDITIONS

The water elevation on June 25th was 1012.7-feet, which is what it was last Wednesday. The water level is predicted to remain steady through Friday, June 27th. The inflow is 1,110 cfs.

The lake is clear, with visibilities of 15- to 20-feet on the lower end. The head of some creeks may have visibilities of less than 5-feet, especially after a storm passes through.

The late evening water surface temperature was 81 degrees on the main channels. Morning surface temperatures have averaged 78 degrees. Some shallow, stained coves are a couple of degrees warmer.

Moon phase: Waning crescent. The new moon will be June 27th.

To view photos and Google maps of all access areas on the reservoir, go tohttp://www.tnfish.org/ReservoirLakeMapsTennessee_TWRA/TennesseeReservoirBoatRampsMarinasLakeMaps_TWRA.htmor http://tinyurl.com/chm2ts9.

For the Norris lake elevation, inflow rates, and generation times, go tohttp://www.tva.gov/lakes/noh_r.htm.

There is a new, statewide hook regulation in effect. Read it here: http://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/fishing/statewide-limits-regulations/

SUMMARY

The summer patterns continue – slow in the daytime and better at night. Clear water continues to be a problem unless small diameter, low-visibility line is used during the daylight hours, and the boat is kept as far from the bank as possible. Successful deep water trollers are getting away with line of a higher pound-test rating, but still use a low visibility line. The best luck has come at night or in the early morning hours; by 9 a.m., the action slows for most species. Topwater bass action has been good for those out at the first sign of daylight, casting to the breaking bass or casting to brush in the coves and rocks on the main channels. Crappie anglers are having luck at night on the upper end creeks and channels. Bluegill are hitting popping bugs or crickets at dawn, or crickets tightlined to depth at midday on the steep, shady banks. Midday fishing has been very slow for almost all species except bluegill and walleye, the latter being caught by deep trolling with plugs.

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SPECIES DETAILS

BLUEGILL/REDEAR

Bluegill: Good. Shellcracker: Fair

Shellcracker catches have slowed. The average depth has dropped to 10 to 15-feet, in coves on wax worms, nightcrawlers, red worms, and small tuffy minnows. Mornings have been the best time to catch shellcracker and bluegill. Popping bugs are catching good for bluegill on the shaded, steep, rocky shorelines before 10 a.m.. Once the sun is up, the larger ones drop into deeper water and into available cover and shade. The larger bluegill have been caught in water as deep as 20-feet, on shady, rocky banks where there is deep cover (logs, stumps, rock outcroppings) present.

CRAPPIE

Moderate at night in brushy coves in the creeks and coves, and on main channel brush. Very slow during the day.

10- to 20-feet deep, tight to cover.

Clear water and bright sunshine have limited the best catches to nighttime, under lights, and the early morning hours.

Plastic grubs in blue ice, green, pearl, or yellow, as well as tuffy minnows. Popeye hair jigs, 1-inch tube jigs, or grubs tipped with minnows along the bottom, or fish trout magnets, popeye flies, and small tube jigs tight to brush early in the morning. Night fishermen are catching them on tuffy minnows beneath lights on main channel, deep brush from Point 29 and above.

Good standard lures: Tuffy minnows, small doll flies, mini tube jigs (red/white, blue/white) and 1/32 ounce hair or feather jigs tipped with minnows, Trout Magnets, or Slider grubs in a variety of colors. Historically good locations to try: Powell River arm channel from Point 15 vicinity to Earl’s Hollow. Davis Creek from its headwaters to a half-mile below Powell Valley Marina. Doaks Creek. Big Creek from Indian River Marina to Campbell County Park. Cove Creek above Twin Cove Marina. Mill Creek, Big Ridge Hollow, Lost Creek above its junction with White Creek. Poor Land Creek. Bear Creek. Flint Creek. Sycamore Creek. The Clinch channel above Point 31. Locations between the Dam and Point 9, and the Dam and Point 2 typically produce no crappie.

LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS

Good at dawn and dusk. Poor during midday.

Surface to 20-feet; deeper or tighter to structure during the day. Same pattern, but better action from sunrise to 9 a.m.

Night fishing on the humps and flats adjacent to deeper water has been good on Carolina-rigged plastic worms/lizards or Texas-rigged plastic worms/lizards. Sweet Beaver trailers (size 4.20) on 3/8 oz to1/2 oz rubber skirted jigs (shades of pumpkin or watermelon with flake) have taken good catches of largemouth and a few good smallmouth at night on the flats and humps at 10 to 15-feet bottom depth.

There have been periods of good topwater activity on some afternoons, starting a couple of hours before dark. Some early morning catches have been on topwater plugs and buzzbaits.

Slow retrieves with soft plastic (Flukes, Slider worms, Brush Hogs, or shaky head jigs/slider worms) have taken some nice largemouth at about 8 to 15-feet. Motor oil and pumpkin colors are working for lizards and 8-inch worms, Carolina-rigged and fished in the coves where the bank is not steep.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Slow during the day, moderate at night.

15- to 25-feet. Same pattern:

On long points extending into the channels, and rocky points of any slope. Hump fishing with small hair jigs or deep running crankbaits has been good on some late afternoons and at dusk.

Topwater breaks are not numerous, but have produced some fish on the right mornings, before 8 a.m., often in mid-channel. A few have taken top water plugs at dusk, on steeper, rocky banks off wood structure or small points..

Pig’n jigs, Brush Hogs, Sweet Beavers, 6-inch slider worms and lizards are working from dusk to dawn. For soft plastic baits, jig skirts, and spinner skirts, any shade of watermelon/pumpkin continues to produce fish. Walleye anglers are still picking up smallmouth on shad or alewife, at night under the lights, by casting the bait to the shoreline and letting it drop.

Under the current, clear water conditions, daytime smallmouth fishermen are doing best with very light, low-vis line (2 to 4 pound).

*REGuLATION FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS: June 1st – October 15th, one per day, 20-inch minimum length limit. October 16th – May 31st, five per day (in combination with largemouth), 18-inch minimum length limit.

STRIPED BASS (* See regulation reminder for the April 1st change.)

Fair in early morning. Locations widely scattered

Cove Creek slowed; some were caught near Point 19 and the channel from Point 19 toward Stardust; Crooked Creek catches slowed.

Surface on driftlines, or 15 to 20-feet in mid-channel.

Trolled umbrella rigs, shiners, alewife, or shad are taking most of these fish. Shad and large shiners are working when driftline fished or on planer boards, 5 to 20-feet deep. Umbrella rigs with trailers in pearl or chartreuse, or live bait (gizzard shad, shiners, or alewife) tightlined, or trolled with downriggers, to the depth of the forage fish schools in mid-channel especially across the points and humps.

Regardless of the location on the reservoir, if there are flocks of feeding gulls, striped bass are likely in the area, feeding on the same forage.

*REGULATION REMINDER FOR STRIPED BASS: From April 1st to October 31st, the regulation allows 2 per day, 15-inch minimum length limit. On November 1st it will return to the 1 per day, 36-inch minimum length limit.

WALLEYE

Moderate.

25 feet, on the bottom near dropoffs and ledges, or suspended in alewife schools in mid-channel.

Best at night after 10:30 p.m., but trolling plugs has produced some in the daytime, near the bottom at 20-feet along humps and drop offs.

Night catches have come on snagged alewife or shad, casted toward the shoreline when fishing under lights. Jigging Mann O’Lures and Hopkins spoons has caught some, but has not been as good as casting alewife or shad to the bank, just out of the lights.

Daytime trolling is picking up fish on plugs such as Thundersticks, Long Billed Rebels, Mod. 911 Redfins, or Model A’s.

phs #1,424

NORRIS FISHING REPORT

18 June 2014

WATER CONDITIONS

The water elevation on June 18th was 1012.68-feet, which is what it was last Wednesday. The water level is predicted to remain steady through Friday, June 20th. The inflow is 1,335 cfs.

The lake is clear, with visibilities of 15- to 20-feet on the lower end. The head of some creeks may have visibilities of less than 5-feet, especially after a storm passes through.

Most of the lake has a surface temperature of 83 degrees on the main channels; coves can be a couple of degrees warmer. Some shallow, stained coves were 86 degrees.

Moon phase: Waning gibbous. The new moon will be June 27th.

To view photos and Google maps of all access areas on the reservoir, go to http://www.tnfish.org/ReservoirLakeMapsTennessee_TWRA/TennesseeReservoirBoatRampsMarinasLakeMaps_TWRA.htmor http://tinyurl.com/chm2ts9.

For the Norris lake elevation, inflow rates, and generation times, go to http://www.tva.gov/lakes/noh_r.htm.

There is a new, statewide hook regulation in effect. Read it here: http://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/fishing/statewide-limits-regulations/

SUMMARY

Hot summer days and warm water have slowed mid-day fishing to a crawl. The best luck has come at night or in the early morning hours; by 9 a.m., the action slows for most species. The exception: Trolling plugs along the bottom at the 20 to 25 foot depth has caught some walleye in the middle of the day and into the afternoon hours. Unlike spring and fall seasonal changes, the passage of summer days see little to no change in the pattern of game fish except for the night hours when fish will come into shallower water.

Smallmouth anglers: the summer smallmouth length and creel regulation is now in effect. See the smallmouth section, below, for details.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

SPECIES DETAILS

BLUEGILL/REDEAR

Bluegill: Good. Shellcracker: Moderate.

Shellcracker catches are still coming in, but the numbers were less than in previous weeks. The average depth is 10-feet, in coves on wax worms, nightcrawlers, red worms, and small tuffy minnows. Mornings have been the best time to catch shellcracker and bluegill. Many large bluegill were spawning in the flats at 5 to 10-feet. Some are still in the shallows and are being caught on crickets dragged across the bottom with no float used. Popping bugs are catching good for bluegill on the shaded, steep, rocky shorelines before 10 a.m.. Once the sun is up, the larger ones drop into deeper water and into available cover and shade. Look for the spawning bluegill to move to deeper water.

CRAPPIE

Slow during the day; best at night in brushy coves in the creeks and coves, and on main channel brush.

10- to 20-feet deep.

Clear water and bright sunshine have limited the best catches to nighttime, under lights, and the early morning hours.

LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS

Slow during the day, improving at dusk, and best at night.

Surface to 20-feet; deeper or tighter to structure during the day. Same pattern, but better action from sunrise to 9 a.m.

There have been periods of good topwater activity on some afternoons, starting a couple of hours before dark. Some early morning catches have been on topwater plugs and buzzbaits.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Slow during the day, best at night.

15- to 20-feet.

On long points extending into the channels, and rocky points of any slope. Hump fishing with small hair jigs or deep running crankbaits has been good on some late afternoons and at dusk.

Under the current, clear water conditions, daytime smallmouth fishermen are doing best with very light, low-vis line (2 to 4 pound).

*REGULATION FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS: June 1st – October 15th, one per day, 20-inch minimum length limit. October 16th – May 31st, five per day (in combination with largemouth), 18-inch minimum length limit.

STRIPED BASS (* See regulation reminder for the April 1st change.)

Fair in early morning. Locations widely scattered, but Cove Creek, the Lindymood Hollow section of the Powell, and the Point 19 vicinity have produced fish.

Surface on driftlines, or 15 to 20-feet in mid-channel.

Regardless of the location on the reservoir, if there are flocks of feeding gulls, striped bass are likely in the area, feeding on the same forage.

WALLEYE

Moderate.

18-25 feet.

Best at night after 10:30 p.m., but trolling plugs has produced some in the daytime, near the bottom at 20-feet along humps and drop offs.

Daytime trolling is picking up fish on plugs such as Thundersticks, Long Billed Rebels, Mod. 911 Redfins, or Model A’s.

phs #1,423

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