Regional fishing report

CARTERS

Bass fishing has slowed down, according to Buddy Callahan at Bart’s Bait Shop. The lake is two feet above full pool, and the water temperature is 68 to 70 degrees. Bass off coming off the bed and are becoming harder to catch, but plastic worms are the best bet for bass. Striper fishing has fallen off and hybrids aren’t biting as well as they have been. Trolling is the best bet for striper. White bass are biting on smaller minnows. Bream bite is increasing every day on crickets and redworms and catfish are biting a bit better. A 41-pound catfish was caught out of the Coosa River recently.

CHICKAMAUGA

Water surface temperature is near seventy degrees. Bass are being caught at different stages of the spawn. More deep water bass are being caught on the lower end of the lake. Crappie are being caught in primary and secondary water near brush piles and blowdowns and a few crappie are being caught suspended above secondary channel breaks. Catfish are being caught along rocky banks in the secondary and primary water shad and chicken breasts..

GUNTERSVILLE

Fishing has been fair recently, according to Eric Higdon at Waterfront Grocery. Bass are hitting top-water lures around greener grass. Green lizards and red shad are best bait for bass. Some bass are being caught on spinnerbaits in the flats. A lot of smaller bass are being caught but not many big ones. Sight fishing will be a good strategy before the rain hits this weekend. Crappie fishing is pretty good around bridges using baby shad and Panfish Assassins. Bream and bluegill are being caught on worms and crickets.

HIWASSEE

The water is muddy and the lake is at full pool, according to Eugene Lankford at Hiwassee Marine Bait and Tackle. Bass are still on the bed but can be caught sight fishing. Crappie being caught on minnows and jigs, and bream fishing is beginning to pick up on mealworms and crickets. Catfishing has not been good lately.

NICKAJACK

Fishing is good, according to Randall Sullivan at Sullivan’s Grocery Fishing Supplies. Bluegill are being caught on crickets, but crappie are beginning to taper off. Catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers and chicken livers, while bass are on plastic worms and spinnerbait and buzzbait.

WEISS

Fishing has been steady, according to Carolyn Landrem at JR’s Marina. The lake is at full pool and the water temperature is in the upper 60s to low 70s and stained. Crappie have been biting in 18 to 20 feet water bumping bottom with minnows. Bass are being caught on spinnerbaits and plastic lizzards in the grass, and with jigs and spinnerbaits along rocky banks. Catfish are being taken using cutbait on the deeper flats and off the dock. Some striper are being caught in main channel using live shad.