Thursday, March 23, 2017

3/23/17 Bass Fishing Report: Lake Chatuge, Lake Glenville, Fontana Lake, Lake Burton

I personally believe SPRING HAS ARRIVED!!! Last weeks frigid temps appear to be the last ones on the extended forecast into April! We have totally been slacking on updated fishing reports as we have been super busy at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply with getting ready for our first spring! It's been more time in the shop and less time on the water. But let's dive into what is happening!

It is HARDCORE PRESPAWN!!! There are a ton of fish shallow and waves of fish moving shallower by the day! The daily temps are climbing and so are the water temperatures. We currently have a waning moon but when the moon begins to grow again at the beginning of April and the water warms to above 58* the spawn will be on! So whats happening now?

Lake Chatuge
Water Temp: 53-57
Clarity: 7ft
Water Level:-5
Pattern: The fish are feeding up heavy for the spawn and it's about to bust WIDE OPEN! Lots of fish, big fish, every fish! They are staging for the spawn. Getting in and around structure and cover before they move up to their beds! Anything shad looking covering water will play well! Spawning flats with visible structure and cover will be holding some fish! A pig and jig is always a good way to catch a big one this time of the year!

Lake Glenville
Water Temp: 48-52
Clarity: 9ft
Water Level:-3
Pattern: The fish are still running a lot of shad on points and pockets! Swimbaits and jerkbaits playing a good bit on bigger fish. A weedless craw style or jig style lure in wood will catch some studs at the same time a finesse worm style presentation will catch a few nice fish around docks.

Fontana Lake
Water Temp: 54-58
Clarity: 10ft
Water Level:-38
Pattern: Finesse jigs, drop shot and shakyhead will catch #'s of fish. Bluff walls and structure in the water will be holding a majority of bigger fish. Big largemouth are moving back to the flats in the backs of creeks to spawn and are getting on laydowns and cover. Jigs, floating worms and some swimbaits can catch the fish moving back.

Lake Burton
Water Temp: 53-57
Clarity: 8ft
Water Level:-3
Pattern: Docks are holding big fish while some big fish are still roaming and schooling. Big spots are packing herring back on flats and starting to move shallow as well. Swimbaits in a few different styles, jigs and jerkbaits catching some fish as well! Spinner baits playing well too! Look for Big bass in back water moving forward!