Lake conditions: Lake Levels this week, after falling last weekend and earlier this week, began rising slowly on Tuesday. TVA begins its annual curve for reservoir filling on April 1 each year with a target day of May 1 for summer pool (359). Presently, lake levels are in the 355.2 range and should rise slowly in the coming weeks barring any drastic weather changes. The water color is good across the region. Throw in some warmer temps and that is a good recipe for excellent spring fishing!
LARGEMOUTH BASS: All reports say the bass bite may be crazy one day then nonexistent the next day. Try square-bill crankbaits around main and secondary points. Try using darker cranks like crawfish colors this time of the year. Some attempted to toss spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits and Texas rigged craws around shallow stickups and boat docks. Others have focused on secondary ditches where a little more water was present. Those boaters have tossed Red Eye Shad and Rattle Traps plus some swim baits. The crankbait pattern around shallow rock and gravel banks should resume once warmer surface temps return. The recent series of high skies and cold north winds have not helped the shallow bite but watch for that to resume quickly.
SMALLMOUTH BASS: No Reports
CRAPPIE: As the weather and water conditions improve, so will the crappie bite. The water temperatures warm up on the sunny days then drop back with the cold nights. Once we see the temperatures remain in the high 50s, the bite will be on. Some nice fish are being caught now by spider riggers and those who are longline trolling. The size of the crappie is larger than normal but the numbers are down. The fish are in much better health than they were this time last year. Our great shad spawns of last spring are paying dividends now. Try spider rigging, vertical jigging or trolling near structure in water 10-15 feet deep now. I would stay with predominately darker colored jigs or with minnows fished a couple or more feet off the bottom.
BLUEGILL/RED EARS: There are reports of a few nice Bluegill and Red Ear caught on night crawlers under a bobber.
CATFISH: Bite is slow but there are reports of some blues being caught on crawlers.
WHITE & YELLOW BASS: Reports of a few yellows caught with not much size but they do frequent the same areas as crappies do.