Sports

CENTER HILL — Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 86 degrees; lake is falling. A few walleye are being caught while trolling on humps in 25-to-30 feet of water. The best fishing is at night with nightcrawler rigs. Bass fishing is good for a few fishermen, while fishing 10” worms on drops in 20 feet of water. A few catfish are being caught on jugs while baiting with bluegill.

DALE HOLLOW — Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 84 degrees; lake is falling. Walleye fishing is still good while trolling large crankbaits in 28-to-32 feet of water. Some good fish are also being caught while jigging spoons on drops at night. Bass fishing is fair at night on spinnerbaits on points in 15-to-20 feet of water. Trout fishing is fair near Horse Creek with a few good browns and rainbows being caught between 45-to-75 feet of water on spoons while trolling.

NORRIS RESERVOIR — Humid days with temperatures approaching the 100 degree mark have discouraged anglers from venturing out during the daylight hours. Early morning hours have seen a few fishermen out, but by 9:30 or 10 a.m. the weather becomes so intolerable as to cause those individuals to seek more comfortable surroundings. Surfacing schools of tiny shad can be seen in most main channel areas at dusk, but the surface action which had been so common has become harder to find. STRIPED BASS have hit at dawn from Point 5 to the Dam, and in the Cove Creek section. Surface breaks have declined with the rising surface temperature. SMALLMOUTH BASS are slow; the best time is well after dark and at dawn. LARGEMOUTH  BASS are slow during the day; dawn catches on plastic worms or lizards, and on topwater plugs are a bit better. SPOTTED BASS are slow. CRAPPIE fishing is slow during daylight, better at night, under lantern or floating light. WALLEYE are slow during the daytime; night fishing with shad or alewife is the best bet. The best daytime depth is where the water temperature is between 68 and 75 degrees; refer to the oxygen/temperature charts to determine that depth in your part of the lake. At night, the walleye will be shallower.

WATTS BAR — The water temperature is averaging 81 degrees. Hot weather will keep the prevailing patterns the same for a while. White bass and crappie are following the minnows into the light at night in the larger creeks. Minnows and spoons are all that is needed for bait. Some crappie were caught earlier in the week in Piney Creek while trolling. Bass are being caught on river ledges and points. The number of fish that are being caught has not been great, but the quality of the bite has been good. Plastic worms are being used most often by the more successful fishermen. Catfish are being caught along the deeper river holes near bluff walls while using shad as bait. Other baits can be used to catch catfish. A few of these baits that can be used are “Ivory” soap, worms, chicken livers, cheese, and “Spam”. Rockfish are being caught in the Clinch River and near the tailwaters below Ft. Loudon Dam. Jerkbaits are being used very early and late. Large blowups have occurred while using jerkbaits and one Virginia man described his failed experience as the same as being hung onto a “John Deere” tractor. Shad are being used more often than anything else during other times.