Area Lake Fishing Report

Old Hickory Lake

Bass are being caught in shallow water on spinner and crank baits.

Bluegill are biting very good around structure.

Catfish are being caught on cut and stink baits.

Anglers say that crappie are biting slow. Fishing over all on Old Hickory lake is fair.



Cordell Hull Lake

Bass fishing is good, reports of bass being caught using top water baits and worms. Crappie are being caught in 8-10 feet of water on minnows.

Stripe fishing is good in the tail water area using a jig and twister tail combination.



Center Hill Lake

Bass are being caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and plastic worms.

Some Walleye are being caught while trolling.

Catfish are being caught while jugging.

Bluegill are being caught on night crawlers and crickets.

Trout are being taken in the tail waters area. Fishing is reported to be good.



J, Percy Priest Lake

Crappie should be actively hitting small minnows and small jigs (chartreuse and white - 1 inch best). In the early spring most crappie are in the upper part of the lake consisting of Spring Creek, East Fork, and West Fork. As the water reaches into the high 50's the crappie should move in from the river channels. Look for submerged timber, tree stumps, and other cover in 10-20 feet of water that harbor schools of crappie.

Smallmouth bass should be caught with grubs, crankbaits and jigs on mud flats and areas where there is chunk rock, gravel, and other irregular terrain in the lower end of the lake. As the water warms up to mid 50's the bass should become more active feeding on baitfish in Suggs and Hamilton Creeks.

Large mouth bass should be caught by flipping jig-n-pig combos in 4 to 10 feet of water in the East Fork and the West Fork. Spinner baits and suspended crankbaits should be effective on pre-and post-spawn bass. Look for areas with stumps, fallen trees, and other natural cover providing habitat and ambush points on small prey. Fish available structure and cover in the backs of creeks where water temperatures warm faster.

Hybrid and stripers should be fished with small shiners and jigs early in the spring. As the water warms up they will feed on live shag. Fish shallow early in the spring and fish deep later in the spring through summer. Hybrid should be taken on cut bait and liver on the lower end of the lake.

Catfish should be caught on cut bait, liver, nite crawlers, and scented baits along sharp drops and around tributary creeks after spring rains.

Bluegill should be caught on small spinners, crickets, millworms, and red wigglers around shallow cover and structure.



Dale Hollow Lake

Bass fishing is best during the night, while throwing a jig or soft plastic around grass and rocky points.

Bluegill are being taken on red worms and crickets around shallow cover.

Fishing is reported to be good.