May 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 COVER WWW.BENTONSHOOTERS.COM 423-338-2008 Cheryl Leonard displays a 6.02 lb largemouth Hwy 411, Benton, TN 37307 Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm bass caught in Watauga Lake. Spring is in full HUNTING & FISHING SUPPLIES - GUNS - AMMO swing and the fish are ARCHEREY EQUIPMENT - SAFES biting in Tennessee lakes OUTDOOR CLOTHING FOR MEN/WOMEN/CHILDREN - so why not take the family out to a favorite Tennessee lake this month for a weekend of fun! Cover photo courtesy TNT Outdoors, Mounain City, TN 423-727-4181 Fish & Hunt Tennessee! Long guns and handguns: Over 2,000 guns in stock! Ammo and supplies for every shooting need. Introduce A Kid To Fishing! KEEP OUR TENNESSEE 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 Turkey season off to good start gor this hunter. Photo courtesy 4 Corners Market. * Groceries * Deli - Take-Out * Pizza * 100% Gas - no ethanol * Live Bait * Worms * Beer * Ice * Lottery * Propane * Minnows J & S Pawn Shop 1008 River Road, Decatur, TN 37322 (423) 334-3468 * New & Used Guns & Ammo * Gun Accessories Turkey hunting - a family affair! * We buy gold and silver Photo courtesy 4 Corners Market. * Fishing Supplies & much more! TENNESSEE TEAM TRAIL OPEN: Mon-Sat 9am - 5pm June 3, 2017 Watts Bar Lake INRODUCE A KID TO FISHING! for details visit TNTEAMTRAIL.com NOW! VIEW THIS MAGAZINE IN COLOR ONLINE AT WWW.TNFHG.COM 3 WATTS BAR LAKE * Fishing Equipment Watts Bar Bait and Tackle 1831 State Hwy 68W Decatur, TN 37322 * Tackle 423-334-4286 * Live Bait LIVE BAIT - TACKLE - FISHING SUPPLIES * Open Mon - Sat 100% GAS - GROCERIES - DELI LICENSES - BIG GAME CHECKING STATION 423-365-2266 BEER - ICE - CIGARETTES Open 7 Days from 5am - till fish quit biting! 290 Whites Creek Road - AMERICAN OWNED - Spring City, TN 37381 Sunday Evening Fishing Tournament Tom Fuller Park 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM info 865-898-0015 $25.00 / 2 person boat 100% Payout Classic August 6, 2017 Fellowship Bass Tournament May 13 - Watts Bar Caney Creek for more information www.fellowshipbasstour.com Support Our Advertisers C.L. with a nice 18-inch crappie. Photo courtesy Watts Bar Bait & Tackle. 4 With YOUR Business! WATTS BAR LAKE www.kingstongunsandfirearms.com Camo Clothing - Reloading Supplies - Ground Blinds Gunsmith Services - Fishing Supplies - Zoom Worms Open: Tu - Fri 9 - 6 Sat 9 - 5 Jase Marine with big carp on a private pond. Photo courtesy Jerry’s Bait Shop. Good crappie fishing (L) and bass fishing (R) on Watts Bar Lake. Photos courtesy Jerry’s Bait Shop. 5 WATTS BAR LAKE VOLUNTEER BASS TRAIL $1500 1ST PLACE Guaranteed Per Tournament PLUS 100% of Entry Fees Entry Fee $60.00 Per Team Includes $10 Big Bass Fee May 13 - Norris Lake Point 19 - Loyston Ramp 865-354-2853 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Wenell from FL with nice crappie catch. Photo Barry’s Guide Service. Workshop Set June 2-4 in Crossville NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will host the 2017 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop June 2-4 in Crossville at the Clyde M. York 4-H Center. The relaxed atmosphere of the BOW workshop is aimed at women, and an opportunity for those 18 or older to learn outdoor skills usually associated with hunting and fishing. However, the workshop provides useful for other out- door pursuits and interests. Workshop participants will have a chance to take a variety of courses over the three days and the classes are taught by experts in their respective fields. There will be special programs in the evenings. Jim from Ohio - great day on Chickamauga. Photo Barry’s Guide Service. (Con’t on p. 9) 6 WATTS BAR LAKE Ray Simpson with record-class 4-pound crappie - see it Brady Nichols with good crappie on Watts Bar. hanging on wall at Jerry’s Bait Shop. Photo courtesy Jerry’s Photo courtesy Jerry’s Bait Shop. Bait Shop. Chickamauga Reservoir Report: Largemouth Bass: Many bass are bedding. Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, lipless lures, and topwater baits are the best baits. Some heavy fish are being caught. Smallmouth Bass: Upper reservoir and lower reservoir anglers are catching a few fish. Jigs or crankbaits are good lure choices. Crappie: Shallow fish are being caught. Some fish are spawning, others have spawned. Jigs or minnows are being used. Trolling, tight lining, and fishing under a float are all techniques being used. Striped bass: No observations. Bluegill: Many bluegills are bedding. Crickets or worms are better than other baits. Sauger/Walleye: No observations. Catfish: Some catfish are being caught along the river banks and also shallow in the sloughs. The meaty bait of your choice can be used. - TWRA - 7 WATTS BAR LAKE Archery Equip & Supplies Custom made Long-Bows and Muzzleloaders Guns - Ammo - Scopes Treestands - Clothing Open: Tu - F 12 - 7 / Sat 12 - 8 Business 423-619-8739 [email protected] Mike 423-605-2299 Stacia 423-605-0116 1367 Market St. Dayton, TN 37321 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 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] Lilli Cate & Brady Nichols enjoy dock fishing on Watts Bar. Photo Jerry’s Bait Shop. Nickajack Reservoir Report: Largemouth Bass: Fish shallow in the lake. Plastic worms are the best bait. Some nice fish are being caught. Smallmouth Bass: Upper reservoir fish are being caught. Live bait, jigs or crankbaits are better bait choices. Spotted Bass: Most spotted bass are caught upstream. Live bait, jigs or crankbaits are being used most often. Sauger: A few reports of upper reservoir fish being caught. Crappie: Tailwater fish are being caught in stillwater areas. Minnows are being used by most anglers. Lower reservoir fish are be- ing caught in shallow water. Minnows or jigs can be used. 8 Catfish: Meaty baits are being used by river drifters. Several fish are being caught. - TWRA - HIWASSEE / OCOEE RIVERS Jeff Swanson with early-season turkey. Photo courtesy Stoney’s. (“Outdoors Woman Workshop” ... con’t from p. 6) This year’s workshop offers classes in introduction to firearms/safety, successful fishing skills, advanced fishing techniques, all-terrain vehicle operation, basic archery, introduction to paddleboards, boating safety education, outdoor cooking, wild edible foray, beginning fly fishing, nature photography basics, basic canoeing, basic shotgun, survival skills, backyard habitat, map/ compass, introduction to muzzleloading, introduction to Mike Raby killed this big turkey in Polk County. turkey hunting, introduction to deer hunting, introduction Photo courtesy Stoney’s. to waterfowl hunting, basic trapping, reading the woods, discover scuba, and stream ecology. The workshop fee is $225 and includes lodging at the Clyde M. York 4-H Center, meals, T-shirt, and a 2017- 18 Tennessee Hunting and Fishing License. Registration is taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applica- tions may be obtained from the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org, or any TWRA regional office. For more information contact Donald Hosse, Wildlife Education Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or tele- phone (615) 781-6541. - TWRA - WWW.TNFHG.COM Download this magazine in full color! 9 HIWASSEE / OCOEE RIVERS Tournament Fished on Norris Lake Brandon Sherwood with a good stringer of stripes on the 10 Hiwassee. Photo courtesy Hiwassee Corner Market. FORT LOUDON / TELLICO Irwin Food City Bass Tournament Saturday, May 6, 2017 Tellico Canal Ramp, Lenoir City for info (865)232-1105 Guided by FISH ON! Guided Tours. A good day striper fishing for these guys. Guided by FISH ON! Guided Tours. Guide Capt. Chadwick Ferrell wiith clients and catfish below Ft. Loudon Dam. Photo FISH ON! Guided Tours. 11 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO Fishing Supplies - Custom Lures - Live Bait - Hunting Supplies - Licenses Checking Station - Hardware - Gas - Convenient Mart - OPEN 7 DAYS Cotton Odom with a big largemouth bass (L) and smallmouth plus largemouth (R). Photos courtesy Sloan’s Center. 12 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO Global Loan & Pawn Need Cash Quick? We loan on guns, jewelry, car titles, land, boats, any item of value We Pawn, Buy & Sell We can order any gun you need, If we don’t have it! (865) 988-5263 312 West Broadway, Lenoir City, TN 37771 OPEN: M - F 10 -6 Sat 10 - 3 [email protected] $10.00 Off $10.00 Off $10.00 OFF ANY GUN WITH COUPON $10.00 Off $10.00 Off Guide Capt. Chadwick Ferrell of FISH ON! Guided Tours with big cat below Ft. Loudon Dam. 13 FORT LOUDON / TELLICO Allen’s Guns and Leather - FREE LAYAWAY! - NEW AND USED GUNS - LARGE SELECTION OF AMMO BUY - SELL - TRADE - TRANSFER - FFL DEALER Looking for something? We cand help you find it! Ammo - Holsters - Scopes - Carry Purses Ask About Out Custom Leather Belts, Wallets, Zippo Lighters, Belt Buckles - Glock Armor - 865-986-4888 5125 B Hwy 321 N, Lenoir City, TN Big catfish taken below Ft.