Lake elevation is slowly dropping to 645’ as Dale Hollow Dam is generating, on average, 1,500 cfs per day. Water clarity depends on boat traffic in the area but is around 8-12’ visibility. Surface water temperatures are very warm during the day, averaging 83-88 degrees. Deeper into the water column the cooler and more oxygen rich the environment is, this is why most fish can be found in 25-40 FOW. If you are releasing fish from 25’+, practice fizzing techniques to lower fish mortality. Be cautious of other boaters or floating debris during the day or night
Bass: Fishing is slow. Black bass can be caught during the day around grass beds, humps, or long gravel points between 20-30’ during the day on drop-shot, Ned rigs, or Carolina rigs. There is a small window during low light hours you can target roaming smallmouth with topwater spooks on channel banks around deep bait balls. You can find some largemouth shallow around brush on channel swing banks or backs of creeks, but these fish top out at about 3lbs.
Walleye: Fishing is good. Trolling seems to be the most popular type of fishing during the day. Trolling worm harness rigs around flats in 30’ that have either grass or near deep water seems to be the most popular with anglers. Targeting these same areas at night will give you a better shot at bites while trolling or fishing with lights.
Crappie: Fishing is slow. Crappie are still deep (~30’) on flats around cover or baitfish. If you can find the magic brush pile/grass bed paired with good electronics, you can get a few fish to bite. Reports are you can catch crappie around lights at night in these same areas.
— Will Schibig, TWRA Region III creel clerk
