Chatuge Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Very Good To Excellent

The expanded use of forward-facing sonar and other high-tech fish finders is providing anglers, who fish from a boat, with a real-time view of where these spotted bass are holding. The catch rate has increased considerably, and anglers are picking their targets to catch the bigger spots. New lures, line, tackle and equipment has also improved success for anglers fishing from the bank. Savvy anglers, who study spotted bass life cycle and patterns, are still managing to catch nice fish, with or without the new electronics.

SUMMER. Summer is prime time for Chatuge's famous spotted bass fishery. Fish follow schools of blueback herring over deep points, humps, and creek mouths. Early morning surface feeding can be spectacular before bass move deeper during midday. Spots are typically caught on steep, rocky banks, ledges, humps, drop-offs and standing timber, in 18 to 40 feet of water, sometimes even deeper. Early in the morning and at night they often venture much shallower to feed. They tend to gather in small schools and hold, preferring to move up and down the water column on steep banks looking for food and ideal water temperatures. They are occasionally feeding shallow, early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Drop-shots, Ned rigs, and wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass when they are deeper. They feed here on shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught around deeper docks, on points and along ledges 25 to 45 feet deep. Spots will also hold in the shade of thick, shallower vegetation.

FALL. Cooling water brings spotted bass onto rocky banks, long points, and creek mouths where they aggressively chase baitfish. Fall offers some of the year's fastest action. Fall weather at night, cools the shallows more quickly than deeper sections of the lake. The cooler water invites baitfish and spotted bass into coves and bays, where crankbaits, swimbaits and spinnerbaits, are often very successful for catching spots. Early, and late, in the day, spots often school up and feed in 5 to 8 feet of water, around creek mouths, shaded pockets, docks and brush. They move into 8 to 25 feet of water, or more, as the day warms the shallows.

WINTER. Spotted bass remain active throughout winter despite cold water. They concentrate along steep rocky banks, bluff walls, and deep channel points where slow presentations excel. The cold Winter weather has drawn spots, in large groups, around deeper structure, points and creek channels - virtually anywhere there is baitfish. They can be found from 15 to 40 feet deep throughout Winter. Some of the bigger fish hold as much as 10 feet deeper. Here they hold, feeding less aggressively, waiting warmer water to return in Spring. The best results are coming from anglers fishing very slowly, with finesse worms on shaky heads, small jigs, and drop-shots.

SPRING. Spring provides outstanding action as spotted bass move from deep winter structure toward spawning areas. Pre-spawn fish are heavy and aggressive, making this one of the best trophy seasons. Early in Spring spotted bass hold in 12 to 25 feet of water, staging outside spawning areas. As Spring, progresses, spotted bass spend time in 5 to 15 feet of water, around nesting areas on protected flats and in the backs of coves. Once they spawn, females head to deep water to recover, while the males stay to guard the eggs and fry. Afterwards, they too move to slightly deeper water, usually close by the spawning areas. Look for them on points and ledges near these areas. Daily movements find the bass moving shallow to feed, especially early and late in the day. Deep crankbaits, spinnerbaits, small jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are now catching plenty of spotted bass.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

SUMMER. Summer largemouth bass hold around docks, flooded timber, brush piles, creek channels, and submerged vegetation where available. Early mornings and evenings provide the best shallow bite, while midday fish move to deeper cover. Water temperatures warm considerably in Summer, so bass feed shallow, early and late in the day. As the day warms, they are typically caught in 10 to 25 feet of water. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on threadfin shad, gizzard shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are typically caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 15 to 25 feet deep. Drop shots, and wacky-rigged stick worms often catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. Cooling temperatures bring largemouth into creek arms and shallow pockets to feed heavily on baitfish before winter. Docks, wood cover, and rocky banks all become productive. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 5 to 18 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. Mid to late Fall they concentrate in 5 to 15 feet of water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

WINTER. Winter fishing is slower but can produce quality fish using finesse techniques around steep banks, docks, and deeper brush piles. Warm, sunny afternoons often improve the bite. The cold of Winter will isolate largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are usually in the low high 40's to mid 50's, and bass can be found near the bottom, or suspending from 15 to 35 feet deep over deeper structure. In January they may stay as deep as 35 feet. Bass often move a bit shallower on warm, sunny days. Also, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools, 5 or so feet deeper. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, spoons, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Spring offers the year's best opportunity for trophy largemouth bass. Fish move from staging points into protected spawning coves before returning to nearby secondary points after spawning. When water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are typically get bites just away from the shoreline. In early Spring they feed aggressively in about 8 to 18 feet of water, and prepare for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 5 to 15 feet deep. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, and swimbaits catch bass here in Spring.

Current Fishing Report: Very Good To Excellent

Hybrid striped bass here tend to run in sizeable schools. The use of new fish-locating electronics is helping anglers catch more hybrid stripers. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is currently one of the the best ways to locate schools of both wipers and baitfish. It is particularly helpful in deep water. Once located, hybrid striped bass are being caught by trolling, casting or jigging, depending on depth.

SUMMER. Summer is the premier season for Chatuge's hybrid striped bass. Schools suspend over deep channels following blueback herring and frequently push bait to the surface during early morning and late evening feeding periods. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 25 to 50 feet of water, as do schools of baitfish. They stay above the thermocline, in oxygenated water. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water as they feed on shallow on roaming schools of shad and herring. Channel ledges and humps in the main basin of the lake can be productive. Trolling with spoons, crankbaits, umbrella rigs or swimbaits produces a lot of nice catches in Summer. Live or cut bait can also be effective here. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is often a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools.

FALL. Cooling temperatures trigger aggressive feeding as hybrids chase schools of herring throughout the lake. Surface schooling becomes increasingly common, especially during calm mornings. In early Fall, baitfish and hybrid stripers return to shallow water preferring areas as shallow as 15 feet deep on points and flats, to 35 feet deep along channel edges. Some of the bigger fish may be slightly deeper than the average fish in the large schools. During Fall, hybrids are very aggressive when feeding. Most wipers concentrate from mid lake to the incoming-river end of the lake. Expect to find schooling activity around creek mouths, flats, main channel points, and humps. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into around 30 feet of water. Later in Fall wipers are generally found in 30 to 35 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.

WINTER. Hybrid striped bass remain active through winter and often school tightly over deep water. Vertical jigging and live bait presentations are particularly productive. When Winter arrives, hybrid stripers hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom. They most often feed 30 to 60 feet deep. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around 20 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of gizzard shad and threadfin shad. In Winter, it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Hybrids concentrate along the main river channel, on deep channel ledges, and some of the deepest holes around the river channel. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes as deep as 40 feet, by making slower presentations.

SPRING. Spring hybrids become more active as water temperatures rise and baitfish spread throughout the reservoir. Fish cruise points, creek mouths, and open-water channels while feeding aggressively before summer patterns develop. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. Big hybrid stripers chase baitfish all over the lake. They are being caught up lake toward the incoming current as they feed and prepare to spawn. Expect to find hybrids in 15 to 35 feet of water early and late in the day, deeper during mid day. Most schools gather around the mouths creek-channels, channel bends, humps and points. Early, they can be found in 10 to 18 feet of water on flats and points, or around 15 to 35 feet deep along channel edges. In Spring, work wind-blown points, creeks, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn. Vertical jigging, or trolling with deep crankbaits are popular.