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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Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpecies
WalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')SeasonWinterStructureDamIm a jig fisherman and I going to learn how to troll with crank baits
- Zipperlips Bronze AmbassadorSpecies
Largemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonFallStructureDocksWater temp as of tonight at 6 pm. was 53.5 and I expect it to get a little bit warmer with our awesome warm-up this week and including two days at 70° (yee- haw). Catching some healthy Smallmouth with a fair amount of Largemouth mixed in. Fishing a 3" keitech /Sexy Shad on an owner underspin w/brass Colorado fairly slow. Fish are located around dock pilings that sit in 6 - 8' feet. Throughout the day they can be caught right up next to the bank or out in front of the boat docks. Follow up baits, rattling Ned (craw), 2.5" craw wiggle wart, and a few on dbl willow Sexy Shad spinnerbait...Tight Lines to all
Darrell WaldropBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Smallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonFallStructureRip Rap13 Smallmouth 3 Largemouth all of them were small.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueUmbrella RigsSeasonWinterStructureRiver Channels
Caught all my fish on bluff walls at channel swings.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonWinterStructureBaitfish
Bites were hard to come by. Threw flat sided crank, rattle trap, A-rig and Swimbait. Ended up catching 3 bass and 2 drum. Locate schools of gizzards Shad on river channel or creek channel swings. They were in 18-30 feet Saturday. Cast Swimbait let it sink to bottom and slow roll it, keeping it bumping bottom. Did catch 1 on initial fall. Caught 1 yo-yo trap on flat just adjacent to channel as well.
- Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonWinterStructureShad
Finding isolated cover near shad schools in shallow water 3-6ft. I like to watch the birds in the backs of coves and look where they are predominately feeding. Those are key spots.
Omnia FishingBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructureDocksLook for docks between the deeper water and spawning grounds as bass are hold on them as they make the move shallow to spawn.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonWinterStructureStumps
Right now, the back of creeks on Watts Bar is where you want to be, especially around stumps, laydowns, and other wood cover. The bladed jig bite is heating up, with bass staging in these areas looking for an easy meal. Best Setup: • Slobberknocker: 3/8 oz in white or chart/white • Power Stinger 3.5" in Pearl • Retrieve: Slow-roll it through cover, letting it bump off stumps—reaction strikes are key Fish are holding tight to wood, so make multiple casts to key targets. If you find slightly stained water, that’s even better. Go get after them.
