The Tennessee River lakes are home to more than 100 main species
of fish, about 20 of which are caught regularly. These lakes,
especially Kentucky Lake, are justifiably famous for crappie,
bluegill, catfish, stripers, sauger, and largemouth, smallmouth, and
spotted bass.
Artificial fish attractors - everything from old tires to great
brush piles to stake beds - have been constructed in nearly all
major creeks holding at least 10 feet of water. The attractors
create a habitat for small fish; the small fish in turn lure the
larger ones. A study conducted in Kentucky Lake by fishery
biologists revealed that one acre of brush in a fish attractor
averaged nearly 3,000 bluegill, 1,500 crappie, 580 catfish, and two
largemouth bass.
These exceptional fishing areas are marked by Fish Attractor
buoys - white with orange markings; enclosed in an orange square is
a black fish and fish-hook. "TWRA" may be printed in black
somewhere on the buoy; these are the initials of the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency.
These lakes house fish of extraordinary size, including a blue
cat from Fort Loundon Lake weighing in at 130 pounds, a 37-pound
freshwater drum, a 7 1/2 pound sauger, and a 5-pound white bass from
Pickwick Dam, and a striper, or rockfish, from Norris Lake that
weighed just under 52 pounds.
Probably one of the most productive fishing areas in the region
is a dam and powerhouse tailrace. Sauger are often caught here in
the cold winter months, and during the rest of the year there is a
fine area for catfish, stripers, all kinds of bass, and crappie.
Kentucky Lake hosts three excellent areas; the Pickwick Dam, the
bend at the mouth of the Duck River at TRM 111.0 and at the mouth of
the serene Birdsong Creek at TRM 103.5.
Crappie
Called
the region's bread-and-butter fish, crappie fishing is at its best
in February through June, peaking in April and May. Once the cold
water begins to warm, crappie move from the main lake into shallow,
warmer water to spawn. The best area in 3 to 10 feet of water, close
to brush piles, stumps, submerged treetops, and fish attractors.
Minnows, spinners, jigs or minnow-jig combos all work well. Worms
dangled at different levels under overhanging shade trees and slow
trolling or casting around bushy areas or weeds will usually bring
up something. Kentucky Lake is known all over as the "home of
the three pounders".
In summer the crappie move back into the main lake - look for
them at deepwater drop-offs. Night fishing is at its best during the
hot months; try minnows for bait.
In the fall, crappie return to the bays and brush piles and are
again at their best in October and November, when once more they are
best taken with minnows.
Black Bass (Largemouth)
Good in April, largemouth season peaks in May, then starts to
taper off in June. The best areas are in cover on the flats or near
stumps and brush piles near deepwater drop-offs. Crankbaits,
buzzbaits, jigs, or minnow-jig combos work well at this time of
year. Kentucky Lake near Camden, Tennessee is a tournament
fisherman's haven, during any given weekend, an open buddy bass
tournament is generally held in this area. For tournament
information call 800.225.7469 for the latest information.
During the heat of summer bass usually seek cooler temperatures
and are often found in deep water along steep banks and ledges.
Casting and slow trolling with both surface and underwater lures
often are productive, especially at night. Plastic worms worked
slowly along the bottom are effective, too. By fall black bass are
once more at their best, peaking in October. Try brush piles, stump
fields, or gravelly bars. Minnows seem to be the best bait, though
we have had good luck with both top water and underwater lures where
the water is cool.
Tennessee bass fishing is excellent. The average largemouth bass
caught in Kentucky Lake weighs nearly 2 pounds.
Stripers (Rockfish)
An introduced species, stripers are the river's newest game fish.
Their peak season is June through August, when they often school.
Look for stripers in shoal humps in the old river channels. Trolling
or casting with top water plugs and spoons works well; we've found
plastic worms are good around cover. During the hot summer weather,
night fishing can be very productive. Use a good light and minnows
for bait. This combination attracts the shad minnows, which in turn
bring the stripers. Bring heavy tackle if you're serious about
stripers (you'll need it for catfish anyway) - they can easily weigh
more than 20 pounds.
White Bass
A relative of the rockfish and native to the river, white bass -
also called stripers - are considerably smaller, averaging little
more than a pound. Night fishing under lights seems most productive.
In the summer, schooling white bass tear the water to a froth in
pursuit of shad minnows and can be seen for miles. Fishing the
"jumps" as they're called, can provide fast and furious
fishing.
Bluegill
A perennial favorite with kids of all ages, bluegills are most
common under the trees along deep banks, in weed beds, stump fields,
or brush piles, especially in June, July, and August. If the willow
fly is hatching, bluegill usually will be very active. Use small
hooks, as their mouths are tiny; worms are the favored bait. Fly
fishermen should try small popping bugs; the hard-fighting bluegill
may make you forget all about trout.
Catfish
Pickwick and Kentucky are the two most productive and famous
lakes for their catfish -  channel cats, blue cats, flathead cats,
and bullheads. Although fairly good year-round, fishing peaks in
April, May, and June. Minnows, shad entrails, and worms are the best
bait, though we find fresh liver and chicken parts can also bring up
a good catch. Gravel bars or shore edges in shallow water are good
fishing grounds, and night fishing is very good in the summer. In
fact, in the heat of this season, when other species have moved to
deep water, catfish are usually easy to catch nearly anywhere.
All of the Tennessee river lakes are bountiful with wide concrete
launching ramps, marinas, fishing camps, RV and tent campgrounds and
resorts with cottages. Nearly all of them cater primarily to
fishermen and are family oriented. As well they should, for where
else in this day and age can you drop anchor, toss a line overboard,
perhaps baiting with nothing more than a dough ball, and come up with
a string of edible fish? If you visit the Tennessee River without
your fishing tackle, you'll be forever sorry. Out of state fishing
licenses are available at most resorts, marinas and campgrounds.
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