Fishing Report For Woods Reservoir, TN

Current Report: Good To Very Good

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 40's. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 20 to 30 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from anglers fishing around brush piles. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 10 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Expect to find crappie in 5 to 10 feet of water in the upper end of the lake, above the Highway 127 bridge. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in slightly deeper water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 20 to 35 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 14 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

Current Report: Good

This is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Minnows, swimbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that looks like baitfish are working. During Summer, Fall and Winter the white bass congregate in the main lake areas, following schools of baitfish.

WINTER. Winter fishing techniques for white bass, is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 10 to 25 feet. Currently, they are somewhat inactive. However, they are still being caught on spoons, jigs, and live minnows, using a slower presentation. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps.

SPRING. White bass here have completed their spawn run upstream into the river area, and running creeks. Good numbers are being caught east of the Highway 127 bridge. They move into the river sections of the lake, inflowing creeks, or along windy points, where they gather for several weeks to spawn. This makes it easier to locate schools in 15 to 35 feet of water. Live minnows on a bobber, underspins, small swimbaits and small crankbaits all work for white bass in the shallows. Some proven spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points in the mouths of creeks. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's. Early Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 10 to 20 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, at which time the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 3 to 35 feet of open water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. Often they will chase baitfish very shallow, for short periods. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, points and flats hold all bait and white bass in the warmest months. Popular areas include wind-blown points, flats and channel edges.

FALL. Early Fall finds white bass following baitfish into shallow coves and bays around the middle sections of the lake, into 10 to 30 feet of water. Spoons, jigs, underspins and minnows are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass and baitfish, move deeper. They will relate to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, timber, and creek channels. Trolling small crankbaits and spoons, or casting spoons and swimbaits, will catching them feeding on schools of baitfish.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Channel cats weighing over 10 pounds are being caught here with some regularity. The prime area in warm months is the section of the lake, up-river from the Highway 127 bridge. In cold months, the area around the dam is popular.

WINTER. This cold, Winter weather has channel catfish gathering in deep holes. They are virtually dormant, especially now that the water has cooled into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper edges along the Elk River channel, ledges, and the basin areas from 15 to 40 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves, and up the river. Early in the season, look for them 8 to 15 feet deep. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process in 2 to 8 feet of water. Following the spawn, they move out toward the basin in 15 to 25 feet of water. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring focus on shallower flats, late evening and into the night.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 20 to 40 feet during the day, and 10 to 20 feet during the night. Fishing from late in the day until midnight produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows in 10 to 12 feet of water, in search of food. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake. They can typically be found from 10 to 30 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, stumps, wood, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup, with cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They typically remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.