04-19-2004, 09:42 PM
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WATER CONDITIONS
The lake elevation is 1010.1-feet, 2.9-feet higher than it was last week. Over the next two days, the lake is predicted to rise 2.1-feet. The lake is clear in almost all locations. Main channel water surface temperatures have dropped from the mid-60's two weeks ago, to the mid, and high-50's. At Norris Dam, Wednesday, the lake surface was 56 degrees. There are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
WALLEYE are getting off to a sporadic start on the lower end. But, night fishermen are reporting catches in the Loyston Sea and Hickory Star area. Walleye are holding at about 10-feet, in early morning hours and after dark, on rocky banks which are near red clay and gravel. At night, those casting the banks with jerk baits or Rogues are catching some. SMALLMOUTH have moved in shallow on the points and gravel banks for the spawning season, with mostly smaller males being caught. But, larger female smallmouth are being caught with increasing frequency. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS hit spinners and crankbaits in the small creek runoffs in the rear of coves. CRAPPIE hit well in the headwaters, on main channel brush, less than 10-feet deep. STRIPED BASS were hitting well on the Clinch River arm of Norris, especially from the clay points between Straight Creek and the 33 Highway Bridge.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SMALLMOUTH BASS
Good; 3 to 15-feet. More large females are being caught as they move in for the spawn. A large number of 17-inch smallmouth are being caught. The minimum length allowed to be kept is 18-inches. Bandit crankbaits and jerkbaits (orange, yellow or crawfish color with orange or yellow bellies) in stained areas, close to rocky banks. On windy days, cast plugs to wind-swept banks, close to the rocks. Small plastic lizards, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs. Float 'n Fly, plastic jerk baits on 1/4-oz leadheads. Bank fishermen are catching nice smallmouth on shiners fished near the bottom off gravel points.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good; 3 to 10-feet. Willow-leaf spinners, Bandit-type crankbaits, or jointed jerk baits shallow, near rocky banks and near small streams which run into the lake. Fish crankbaits with a tight action (small Bandits), or spinners very close to, and parallel to the bank, especially in stained water. Flipping with plastic jigs near wood structure in stained water sections. Some on 3-inch tube jigs.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]STRIPED BASS
Slow, except on the Clinch arm where catches are good. 10 to 20-feet deep off points. Use large shiners or shad near the bottom, off clay/gravel points from the 33 Highway Bridge to Straight Creek. Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or downrigged as deep as 30-feet. Stripers were breaking the surface in the bend below Point 32, this week.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WALLEYE
Fair; improving on the lower end. Headwater fishing is slow. 12-15 feet, on the bottom, or suspended at that depth if in schools of baitfish. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Lower-end walleye are starting to hit in the mudline on windy days: jerkbaits, slender crankbaits such as RedFins and Shad Raps. Cove Creek, Loyston Sea from Lost Creek to Mill Creek are good locations. Upriver: Jigs tipped with minnows vertically jigged, or trolled, on the bottom.[/size][/font]
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The lake elevation is 1010.1-feet, 2.9-feet higher than it was last week. Over the next two days, the lake is predicted to rise 2.1-feet. The lake is clear in almost all locations. Main channel water surface temperatures have dropped from the mid-60's two weeks ago, to the mid, and high-50's. At Norris Dam, Wednesday, the lake surface was 56 degrees. There are many floating logs and limbs on the lake, especially on the upper half. Boaters should exercise caution.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SUMMARY
WALLEYE are getting off to a sporadic start on the lower end. But, night fishermen are reporting catches in the Loyston Sea and Hickory Star area. Walleye are holding at about 10-feet, in early morning hours and after dark, on rocky banks which are near red clay and gravel. At night, those casting the banks with jerk baits or Rogues are catching some. SMALLMOUTH have moved in shallow on the points and gravel banks for the spawning season, with mostly smaller males being caught. But, larger female smallmouth are being caught with increasing frequency. LARGEMOUTH BASS and SPOTTED BASS hit spinners and crankbaits in the small creek runoffs in the rear of coves. CRAPPIE hit well in the headwaters, on main channel brush, less than 10-feet deep. STRIPED BASS were hitting well on the Clinch River arm of Norris, especially from the clay points between Straight Creek and the 33 Highway Bridge.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]SMALLMOUTH BASS
Good; 3 to 15-feet. More large females are being caught as they move in for the spawn. A large number of 17-inch smallmouth are being caught. The minimum length allowed to be kept is 18-inches. Bandit crankbaits and jerkbaits (orange, yellow or crawfish color with orange or yellow bellies) in stained areas, close to rocky banks. On windy days, cast plugs to wind-swept banks, close to the rocks. Small plastic lizards, 1/4-oz (or smaller) pig'n jigs. Float 'n Fly, plastic jerk baits on 1/4-oz leadheads. Bank fishermen are catching nice smallmouth on shiners fished near the bottom off gravel points.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]LARGEMOUTH & SPOTTED BASS
Good; 3 to 10-feet. Willow-leaf spinners, Bandit-type crankbaits, or jointed jerk baits shallow, near rocky banks and near small streams which run into the lake. Fish crankbaits with a tight action (small Bandits), or spinners very close to, and parallel to the bank, especially in stained water. Flipping with plastic jigs near wood structure in stained water sections. Some on 3-inch tube jigs.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]STRIPED BASS
Slow, except on the Clinch arm where catches are good. 10 to 20-feet deep off points. Use large shiners or shad near the bottom, off clay/gravel points from the 33 Highway Bridge to Straight Creek. Alewife, gizzard shad near the surface on drift lines, or downrigged as deep as 30-feet. Stripers were breaking the surface in the bend below Point 32, this week.[/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2]WALLEYE
Fair; improving on the lower end. Headwater fishing is slow. 12-15 feet, on the bottom, or suspended at that depth if in schools of baitfish. Some shallow, in the mudline, on the lower end. Lower-end walleye are starting to hit in the mudline on windy days: jerkbaits, slender crankbaits such as RedFins and Shad Raps. Cove Creek, Loyston Sea from Lost Creek to Mill Creek are good locations. Upriver: Jigs tipped with minnows vertically jigged, or trolled, on the bottom.[/size][/font]
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