Watauga Lake 5/16/17
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July 2017 FREE! WWW.TNFHG.COM - Full Color On The Web! FREE MORE FACTS, PHOTOS, AND FUN INSIDE! FREE TENNESSEE FISHING & HUNTING GUIDE 1805 Amarillo Ln Knoxville, TN 37922 865-693-7468 J.L. & Lin Stepp Publishers “Serving Tennessee Since 1990” Our E-mail: [email protected] BENTON SHOOTERS SUPPLY Send us your pictures! The Largest Shooters Supply Store In The South! ABOUT THE WWW.BENTONSHOOTERS.COM COVER 423-338-2008 Jonathon Shull displays Hwy 411, Benton, TN 37307 Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm a 5.5 pound largemouth caught on Watauga Lake 5/16/17. Summertime is HUNTING & FISHING SUPPLIES - GUNS - AMMO family fishing time in ARCHEREY EQUIPMENT - SAFES Tennessee - so take the OUTDOOR CLOTHING FOR MEN/WOMEN/CHILDREN kids and family out for fun on a Tennessee water this weekend! Cover photo courtesy Appalachian Custom Calls, Mountain City, TN 423-707-4138 Fish & Hunt Tennessee! Long guns and handguns: Over 2,000 guns in stock! Ammo and supplies for every shooting need. Introduce A Kid KEEP OUR TENNESSEE To Fishing! 2 LAKES CLEAN WATTS BAR LAKE 4 CORNERS MARKET Intersection of Hwys 58 & 68, Decatur, TN * Gotzza Pizza - Subs - Salad - Wings (Delicious & Best @ Prices) Call In or Carry Out * Hunting & Fishing Licenses * Live Bait & Fishing Supplies * Cigarettes - Beer - Groceries * 100% Ethanol-Free Gas (grades 87 & 93) OPEN 7 DAYS - Big Game Checking Station 423-334-9518 * Groceries * Deli - Take-Out * Pizza * 100% Gas - no ethanol * Live Bait * Worms * Beer * Ice * Lottery * Propane * Minnows Jeff “Stoney” with big Watts Bar striper. Photo courtesy Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. J & S Pawn Shop Alligator Snapping Turtle Found at Center Hill Lake 1008 River Road, Decatur, TN 37322 (423) 334-3468 CROSSVILLE, Tenn. --- When the U.S. Army Corp of * New & Used Guns & Ammo Engineers received photos of what they thought was an * Gun Accessories alligator snapping turtle on Center Hill Lake, they quickly * We buy gold and silver called Putnam County wildlife officer, Mike Beaty of the * Fishing Supplies & much Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. more! OPEN: Mon-Sat 9am - 5pm Beaty, like all TWRA officers, holds a degree in wildlife and fisheries management and was quick to use his knowledge. He knew this was a species of greatest INRODUCE A KID TO FISHING! (Con’t on p. 25) NOW! VIEW THIS MAGAZINE IN COLOR ONLINE AT WWW.TNFHG.COM 3 WATTS BAR LAKE Watts Bar Bait and Tackle 1831 State Hwy 68W Decatur, TN 37322 423-334-4286 LIVE BAIT - TACKLE - FISHING SUPPLIES 100% GAS - GROCERIES - DELI LICENSES - BIG GAME CHECKING STATION BEER - ICE - CIGARETTES Open 7 Days from 5am - till fish quit biting! - AMERICAN OWNED - * Fishing Equipment * Tackle * Live Bait * Open Mon - Sat 423-365-2266 290 Whites Creek Road Spring City, TN 37381 Kenny Stone with awesome rockfish. Photo courtesy Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. Fellowship Bass Tournaments July 1 - Chickamauga - Grasshopper July 29 - Watts Bar - Ladd Landing www.fellowshipbasstour.com Adam “Tater” with big paddlefish. Photo courtesy Watts Bar 4 Bait & Tackle. WATTS BAR LAKE Carson got this bass fishing a private pond. Photo courtesy Jerry’s Bait Shop. Chilhowee Reservoir Reopening July 1 BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. --- Following a nearly two-year closure, Chilhowee Lake is reopening to the public on July 1 at noon. Brookfield Renewable, which owns and oper- ates Chilhowee Dam, began draining the res- ervoir in September 2015 for dam inspection and repairs. Brookfield reports that the work is complete, the reservoir has been reflooded and will open for public use Saturday, July 1 beginning at noon.. In anticipation of a higher than normal vol- ume of boating traffic because of the holiday weekend and extended lake closure, TWRA officers will patrol the lake for boating safety enforcement. TWRA also wants to make boat- ers aware that there may be large amounts of floating debris in the reservoir as a result of the refilling process. Andy Davis, Brookfield Renewable Director of (Con’t on p. 17) Jase Marine with big catfish using skip jack from Jerry’s Bait Shop. Photo courtesy Jerry’s Bait Shop. 5 WATTS BAR LAKE David & Emma - crappies and catfish - granddaughter visiting from Ohio. Photo courtesy Barry’s Guide Service. Alex & Caleb from Arizona - visiting Grandpa - night fishing proved to be the ticket! Photo courtesy Barry’s Guide Service. Photos above: Matt and Carter from Minnesota had a great Sunday Evening Fishing Tournament day at the lake! Pulling a crankbait for crappies, they came up with crappie (top), drum (middle) and striper (bottom) - Some- Tom Fuller Park - 4 PM - 8 PM times you just don’t know what you’ll get! Photos Barry’s Guide 6 James Gann - 865-898-0015 Service. WATTS BAR LAKE Ph: (423)365-9521 Fax:(423)365-0921 1190 Whites Creek Rd - Spring City, TN 37381 * Lodging For Any Need * Plus New Floating Covered Docks www.whitescreekmarina.com Archery Equip & Supplies Custom made Long-Bows and Muzzleloaders Guns - Ammo - Scopes Treestands - Clothing Open: Tu - F 12 - 7 / Sat 12 - 8 Michael Buckley with a 20+ pound flathead catfish caught at White’s Creek Marina 6/5/17. Photo Roy Brewster. Business 423-619-8739 [email protected] Mike 423-605-2299 Stacia 423-605-0116 1367 Market St. Dayton, TN 37321 Restaurant and store open every day from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 89 octane fuel - no ethanol fishing license, live bait, marine supplies, snacks Authorized service on Evinrude and Yamaha outboards by appt. Authorized Stratos Bass Boat dealer 423-365-6484 [email protected] SATURDAY NIGHT TOURNAMENTS Everyone Welcome Watts Bar -Tom Fuller Park -Rockwood 7:00 pm - 2:00 am Cost: $20 Per Person call Dwight Hagler 423-593-6040 Send us your hunting & fishing photos: Wayne Brazzell with awesome 6 lb largemouth. Photo courtesy email to [email protected] Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. 7 HIWASSEE / OCOEE RIVERS Tracy Morgan caught this nice largemouth bass. Photo courtesy Hiwassee Corner Market. Hailey Morgan with a big striper - way to go Hailey! INRODUCE A KID TO FISHING! Photo Hiwassee Corner Market. WWW.TNFHG.COM Download this magazine in full color! 8 HIWASSEE / OCOEE RIVERS 2017 FISHERS OF MEN TOURNAMENT July 22nd Fort Loudon - Canal Ramp For info Steve Jennings 865-984-2903 Chickamauga Reservoir Report: Reservoir Conditions: Summer normal elevation: 682.0 feet. Winter normal elevation: 676.0 feet. Current elevation at time of report: 681.78 feet. The water surface temperature is 75 degrees in many areas. Some shallow areas are 80 degrees. Crappie: Few anglers are trying to catch crappie right now. Those that are target docks and steep creek bluffs with blowdowns. Minnows and jigs are being used with equal results. Some anglers are catching fish around lights at night. Smallmouth Bass: Some fish are being caught around rock walls or bluffs. The majority are being caught during low light hours. Top water lures and crankbaits are being used most often. Largemouth Bass: Humps and ledges on the main lake are being visited often by those anglers using crankbaits, plas- tic worms, or swimbaits. The problem is the heavy traffic in these areas, too many boats and too few community holes. Striped bass: Some trophy fish are being caught while using shad or swimbaits. Go to the tailwaters. Bluegill/Shellcracker: Most fish are being caught while using crickets or worms around river bluffs. Catfish: A lot of drifters are catching a lot of fish. Shrimp was a hit this past week. Those baiting with shrimp caught a lot of fish but not the giants sometimes caught while using skipjack. - TWRA - Nickajack Reservoir Report: Reservoir Conditions: Normal elevation: 633.5 feet. Current elevation at report time was 634.04 feet. The water tem- perature is 75 degrees. Largemouth Bass: Some bay fish are being caught. The areas with the main interest are on the channel. Irregular fea- tures along the edge of the channel are holding fish. Plastic worms are as good as anything. Smallmouth Bass: Most fish are being caught in the upper river or tailwaters. Jigs or crankbaits are being used. Spotted Bass: A lot of spotted bass are being caught in the tailwaters below Chickamauga Dam. Crankbaits and live bait are being used. Crappie: Minnows or jigs are being used in the upper river and tailwater in tranquil and shady water. Catfish: Many fish are being caught. Use meaty baits. Shad will be the best choice. Some big fish are being caught. Bluegill: Use crickets or worms around steep banks for the better results. - TWRA - 9 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO Fishing Supplies - Custom Lures - Live Bait - Hunting Supplies - Licenses Checking Station - Hardware - Gas - Convenient Mart - OPEN 7 DAYS Madison Paige Harris with her 1st trout ever! Photos above: action below Ft. Loudon Dam. Photo courtesy Sloan’s Center. Photos courtesy FISH ON! Guided Tours. This Magazine Provided To You FREE By The Advertisers Thank Them With YOUR Business! 10 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO "Every cast is a new adventure!" Capt. Chadwick Ferrell Join "Fish On!" Guided Tours, Located on the Ten- nessee and Clinch rivers. Est. 1998. As seen on "Live at Five" ,"Allstar Cast" and featured in Tennessee Sportsman magazine. Member: Knoxville Chamber Of Commerce in 2007. Your guide has over 24 years exp. as a LOCAL, sponsored/pro angler. We are a FULL TIME guide service, targeting ALL east Tennessee species: Trophy Striper, Trout, Catfish, Bass, Crappie, White bass, Sauger and Muskey. We fish ALL year round. .Great Gift Idea! Gift Certificates available. Book Today! Check us out at WWW.FISHONTOURS. COM. Contact : USCG Certified, Captain Chadwick Ferrell, 865-455-0412 Thank You and Tight Lines . Some good striper action below Ft. Loudon Dam - guided by Capt. Chadwick Ferrell of FISH ON! Photos courtesy FISH ON! Guided Tours.