Watts Bar Lake
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Watts Bar Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Watts Bar Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonFallStructureSubmerged VegetationWent out fishing with my Dad on our annual day on the South end of Watts Bar, started out fishing right by the boat ramp, my Dad caught a few on Wopper Ploppers, I had a few hit a buzzbait as well. Moved up the lake to another area, started throwing a Castaic Atlas Spinnerbait, along a rocky main lake point and bank around boat docks and caught two bass back to back on consecutive casts, then my dad caught a very nice smallmouth about 17.5in long on a vibrating Jig. We moved up the lake further to another area that normally has a bunch of weeks in one area of the cove, caught a smallmouth on the spinnerbait, and another largemouth around 15in on spinnerbait. When we got to the area in the cove that there are normally weeds, all the weeds we used to see are gone, the amount of baitfish in the area was virtually none. There were some in the cove but without the weeds they were scattered. When we moved to another area were we normally see weeds too, all those were gone as well. We did pick up a few more fish on a new Riot Baits Minima Swim jig in that area but without the bait holding to the weeds, the patterns that we've fished in the past and expected all revolved around the bait schools around the weeds. Overall we caught 11 Bass, both largemouth and smallmouth. It was very discouraging to learn after we were there that they sprayed the weeds late last year which has effected the growth this year. Was a beautiful day on the water, the weather was perfect.
Species
Spotted BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonFallStructureRip RapThe deal I found in practice was don’t get hung up in one area. Now at the time of this outing two hurricanes came through and the lake looked like a bottle of Nesquik. So, finding pockets with cleaner water helped. I would catch one on one stretch and then keep going and may catch another two pockets over. There’s a ton of grass subsurface so put your trolling motor on 6 and cover water.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueBuzzbaitsSeasonFallStructureLaydowns
Bluff walls & backs of creeks. Turn trolling motor up, take topwater and just cover water. Fish your targets lay downs, rock , transitions banks. If you find a spot holding fish you can slow down and pitch laydowns and docks. Bite is tough just have to cover water to catch numbers. Hopefully with the cooler nights the bite will get better.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonFallStructureBrush Piles
Spinnerbait strike at the end of a lay down on the main channel
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonFallStructurePoints
Watts Bar is fishing extremely stingy this time of year. Many fish can be caught but quality is hard to come by. Bait is plentiful across the lake and fish are keying in on small bait. A small jerkbait and topwater match the profile of a small threadfin shad perfectly. Use the wind and current to your advantage to find areas where bait fish are concentrated.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonFallStructureDocks
Fish was schooling around marinas and docks and they best way I found out to catch them was on a white war eagle spinner bait with a keitech trailer! But when they slowed down I could pick them apart with a drop shot
Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonFallStructureHumpsFishing is real tough. Caught fish cranking top of bar. Fish in 8-12 ft. Boat sitting in 15-17 ft. Finished 2nd in 81 boat tournament.
Darrell WaldropBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Smallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonFallStructureRip Rap13 Smallmouth 3 Largemouth all of them were small.
