How to Fish Tellico Lake

Tellico Lake fishing FAQ

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 52-65°F. Pre-spawn bass actively moving from winter areas to staging spots near spawning flats, seeking warmer water in protected areas Feeding increases as water warms, with fish particularly active during stable weather patterns Key locations: Steeper banks at creek mouths and pockets where bass stage before spawning; Protected docks offering warmth and ambush points; Secondary points leading into spawning coves. Best techniques: Carolina Rigs worked slowly along staging areas and channel swings, Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked around docks and shoreline structure, Bladed Jigs in stained water areas near pre-spawn staging points. Primary forage: Crawfish becoming active in warming waters, Shad schools in creek mouths and along channel edges. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 48-58°F. Transitioning from winter deep holes to pre-spawn staging areas, actively feeding to build energy reserves for spawning Following shad schools along structure transitions, particularly during warming trends Most active during midday hours when water temperatures peak Key locations: Bluff walls transitions to spawning flats in 15-20 foot range; Rocky points and rip-rap areas adjacent to deeper water; Secondary points in major creek arms where shad are present. Best techniques: Blade Baits worked vertically along bluff transitions, Jerkbaits worked slowly along rocky structure, Tubes dragged on bottom near staging areas. Primary forage: Shad schools concentrated near structure transitions, Crawfish becoming active on rocky substrate. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Catfish beginning to move from deep winter holes to shallower pre-spawn staging areas, particularly active during warming trends Increased feeding activity as fish prepare for spawning, with peak activity during dusk and early evening hours Key locations: Channel bends and deeper holes adjacent to shallow flats where water warms first; Areas near beaver houses and flooded brush in 8-15 foot depths; Steep banks and bluff walls that provide quick access to both deep and shallow water. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with larger offerings positioned near structure, Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') along channel edges and near cover, Bottom fishing with Santee Cooper-style drift rigs in deeper holes. Primary forage: Bluegill moving shallow for their own spawn, Shad schools congregating in warming creek arms. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Staging in pre-spawn areas near spawning flats, with frequent movements between deeper staging areas and shallow spawning zones Males actively creating and guarding nests in shallow protected areas, while females move between deep and shallow water Key locations: Protected shallow coves with flooded brush and beaver houses; Secondary points leading into spawning bays; Riprap banks adjacent to spawning flats. Best techniques: Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around shallow cover and bedding areas, Soft Jerkbaits for cruising pre-spawn fish, Spinnerbaits worked parallel to spawning flats. Primary forage: Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas, Crawfish becoming active in shallow areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 52-65°F. Staging near spawning flats in 4-8 foot depths, particularly around rocky transitions and bluff walls Males actively preparing and guarding nests in protected areas with hard bottom Aggressive territorial behavior, especially around nesting sites Key locations: Protected rocky coves and pockets with gravel or rock bottom; Transition areas between bluff walls and spawning flats; Secondary points with rip-rap or boulder structure. Best techniques: Tubes worked slowly along bottom in spawning areas, Ned Rigs with subtle presentations around nesting sites, Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') along transition areas. Primary forage: Shad schools in transition areas, Crawfish emerging from winter patterns. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 65-75°F. Catfish are transitioning to spawning behavior, moving from deeper winter holes to shallower flats and shoreline areas near structure Males begin preparing and guarding nest sites in cavities near laydowns, brush piles, and undercut banks Increased feeding activity during pre-spawn, with most active periods during dawn and dusk Key locations: Shoreline areas with abundant brush piles and beaver houses in 4-8 feet of water; Creek channel bends with adjacent shallow flats; Rip rap banks and bluff walls with nearby spawning flats. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with cut shad or live bluegill positioned near structure, Vertical Jigging Shallow (0-9') around brush piles and beaver houses, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) targeting visible cover and laydowns. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrating in spawning areas, Shad schools in creek channels and along bluff walls, Crawfish becoming more active in rocks and brush. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 68-76°F. Post-spawn bass transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns, actively feeding to recover energy Fish relating to shad schools in 7-10ft zones while utilizing shallow cover during feeding periods Key locations: Secondary points and flats adjacent to spawning coves; Brush piles and laydowns in 5-10ft depth range; Rip rap banks with access to deeper water. Best techniques: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to transition areas, Swim Jigs around shallow cover and wood structure, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for matching shad patterns. Primary forage: Shad schools beginning to group up in post-spawn patterns, Bluegill in shallow cover areas, Young of year baitfish emerging in shallow zones. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-68°F. Actively feeding in post-spawn recovery phase, targeting shad schools along transitional structure in moderate depths Moving between shallow feeding areas and nearby deeper structure throughout the day, with peak activity during morning and evening hours Key locations: Bluff walls and rocky points adjacent to spawning flats in 8-15 foot depths; Rip rap banks with access to deeper water; Secondary points with boulder structure near primary lake channels. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked parallel to bluff walls and through baitfish schools, Tubes dragged along rocky structure and transition areas, Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked along rip rap and points. Primary forage: Shad schools concentrating around structure, Crawfish emerging in rocky areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 65-75°F. Post-spawn catfish are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily during dawn, dusk, and night periods Fish are transitioning from spawning areas to deeper feeding zones, using channel edges and structure as migration routes Key locations: Deep holes adjacent to channel bends and bluff walls; Brush piles and laydowns in 8-15 feet of water; Riprap areas near deeper water access. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with cut bait or live offerings, Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19'), Carolina Rigs worked slowly along structure. Primary forage: Bluegill concentrating around shallow brush and beaver houses, Shad schools moving along channel edges, Bottom-dwelling crawfish in rocky areas. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Summer?

Water temp 74-83°F. Fish are utilizing shallow zones (2-6ft) during morning/evening, moving to deeper areas during midday heat Active feeding on shad schools suspended 7-10ft down, especially around structure Some bass still guarding fry in shallow cover, particularly in flooded brush areas Key locations: Rip rap banks, especially near bridges with deep water access; Flooded brush in 4ft or less, particularly in coves; Offshore structure (like the mentioned railroad bed) with quick deep water access. Best techniques: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to rip rap banks, Buzzbaits during morning hours, Wacky Rigs and Neko Rigs around shallow cover, Bladed Jigs around transition areas. Primary forage: Shad (primary forage, especially suspended 7-10ft down), Bluegill (particularly around shallow brush and spawning areas). Best bait colors: Bold Striped Patterns, Dark Neutrals, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Summer?

Water temp 72-85°F. Actively feeding on shad schools in early morning and evening, with surface activity during low-light periods Moving between deep structure and shallow feeding zones throughout the day, using bluff walls and rip rap as travel corridors Relating heavily to structure in the stained water conditions, using rock and boulder areas as primary holding spots Key locations: Rocky points and bluff walls in 6-15 foot depths where shad schools congregate; Rip rap banks with access to deeper water, especially during early morning; Boulder-strewn flats adjacent to deeper water. Best techniques: Buzzbaits during low light periods when fish are surface feeding, Spinnerbaits worked parallel to bluff walls and rip rap, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for imitating shad schools, Texas Rigs (Worming) worked slowly through rocky structure. Primary forage: Shad schools concentrated near structure, Crawfish in rocky areas, Small bluegill in shallow areas. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Summer?

Water temp 74-83°F. Catfish are actively feeding during dawn and dusk periods, with peak activity in warm 74-83°F water temperatures Flathead catfish are ambush predators, holding tight to woody cover and structure during daylight hours Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase larger prey like bluegill in the turbid conditions Key locations: Laydowns and wooden structure in deeper holes, particularly near channel bends; Beaver houses and flooded brush areas providing ambush points; Deep holes adjacent to bluff walls and steep banks. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with larger offerings like bluegill, Texas Rigs (Worming) which proved successful in recent catches, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) near structure and channel bends. Primary forage: Bluegill, confirmed by recent successful catches, Shad, present in the lake as primary forage, Small catfish, which larger predatory cats will target. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals, Bold Striped Patterns.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Fall?

Water temp 55-68°F. Bass are actively feeding on shad in shallow to mid-depth zones, following bait schools and utilizing hard structure as ambush points Fish are transitioning between summer and winter patterns, with increased activity during stable weather periods Key locations: Rip rap banks, especially those adjacent to deeper water; Beaver houses and wood cover in shallow zones; Points and transitions where shad are present. Best techniques: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to rip rap and structure, Spinnerbaits around cover and in areas with active bait, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around beaver houses and wood cover. Primary forage: Shad schools in shallow to mid-depth zones, Bluegill and secondary forage relating to shoreline cover. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Fall?

Water temp 65-75°F. Actively chasing shad in shallow water (6-10 feet) around hard structure, particularly during feeding periods Utilizing rip rap points as ambush locations where current and structure create optimal feeding zones Key locations: Rip rap points intersecting with main channel; Rocky shoreline transitions in 6-10 foot depth range; Bluff walls adjacent to shallow feeding areas. Best techniques: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to rip rap, Spinnerbaits worked along structure edges, Bladed Jigs near bait schools. Primary forage: Shad schools actively moving along structure, Smaller baitfish relating to rip rap. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Fall?

Water temp 58-72°F. Catfish are actively feeding to build reserves for winter, with increased activity during daylight hours as water temperatures cool Fish are transitioning from summer patterns to deeper water, congregating near channel bends and deep structure Aggressive feeding behavior when weather fronts approach, taking advantage of falling barometric pressure Key locations: Deep holes near channel bends and bluff walls, especially where they intersect with creek channels; Brush piles and laydowns in 15-25 foot depth range adjacent to deeper water; Riprap areas where deeper water access is available. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with larger offerings like whole shad or bluegill, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) near structure and channel edges, Trolling Deep (20'+) along channel edges and near deep structure. Primary forage: Shad schools congregating in deeper water, Bluegill relating to brush piles and woody structure, Bottom-dwelling prey like crawfish and smaller fish. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Dark Neutrals, Purple Colors.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Winter?

Water temp 44-56°F. Largemouth bass are holding on deep vertical structure like bluff walls and seeking stable winter temperatures Fish are actively feeding during periods of stable weather, particularly on shad, with most activity occurring during afternoon hours when water temperatures peak Key locations: Bluff walls adjacent to deep water, especially where bait schools are present; Beaver houses in protected coves offering stable winter cover; Rip rap banks in 6-10 foot depth range, particularly near channel swings. Best techniques: Umbrella Rigs worked slowly along bluff walls and deep structure, Lipless Crankbaits parallel to rip rap and rock transitions, Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around beaver houses and wood cover. Primary forage: Shad schools suspended near deep structure, Crawfish in rocky areas and riprap. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Tellico Lake in Winter?

Water temp 44-48°F. Smallmouth bass are holding near vertical structure (bluff walls) and actively feeding on shad in the 6-10 foot depth range despite cold winter conditions Fish are relating strongly to structure rather than sight-feeding due to stained water conditions, showing preference for deflection strikes off cover Key locations: Bluff walls with boat position in 15-20 feet, casting parallel to structure; Rocky points with nearby deep water access; Boulder fields adjacent to deeper wintering areas. Best techniques: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6') worked parallel to structure with deflection, Blade Baits worked vertically through bait schools, Underspins targeting suspended fish following bait. Primary forage: Shad suspended in 6-10 foot range, Smaller baitfish relating to bluff walls. Best bait colors: Vibrant Craw Colors, Bold Striped Patterns, Chartreuse Colors.

How do you catch Catfish on Tellico Lake in Winter?

Water temp 42-52°F. Catfish will be concentrated in the deepest available water, particularly near bluff walls and channel bends, moving very little and feeding opportunistically Feeding windows are shorter and less frequent, typically during warmest parts of the day or when barometric pressure is stable Key locations: Deep holes near bluff walls and channel bends with depths over 20 feet; Deep brush piles and laydowns adjacent to channel edges; Steep bank transitions where deep water meets structure. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with reduced bait size and slower presentations, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) focusing on precise bait placement, Hover/Mid-Strolling along channel edges with cut bait. Primary forage: Dead or dying shad (winter kill), Stunned or sluggish bluegill in deeper water, Bottom-dwelling organisms like crawfish and worms. Best bait colors: Chartreuse Colors, Purple Colors, Dark Neutrals.