Region II Fishing Report
October 29, 2009
PERCY PRIEST:
Water conditions: The surface temperature is in the low 60s.
Crappie: Fishing is picking up. The lake level is falling and crappie seem to be adjusting to fall. Anglers are catching them around structure and TWRA fish attractors. Some anglers are finding crappie from the bank. Look for trees laying in the water and fish around branches or roots. Crappie will also school around drop-offs. Fish minnows or small plastic tubes on light jig heads (1/16th ounce or even lighter). Try various colors. Small crankbaits also work well for crappie.
Bass: Fishing is good. Anglers are doing real well in the upper part of Priest as thousands of shad are schooling above Fate Sanders Marina and into the various creeks and coves n the upper end of the lake. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater baits, and plastic baits are working well. Fish cover. Fish all day if possible, but don't miss the early or late evening bites. Lots of fish are small, but the activity is good.
White Bass: Big white bass are being caught in the upper end of Priest. You can fish in and around Stewarts Creek. (Don't forget the TWRA cove in Stewarts Creek parking area. There is a pier there). Fishing is good around Spring and Fall Creek and above the Weakly Road Bridge. Look for surfacing fish, but don't hesitate to troll crankbaits to find where the white bass are schooling when not on the surface. It's a good way to locate these fish. Also, take spoons for white bass for the time when they are not surfacing. Work baits from the bottom to the surface.
Catfish: The bite has been good. Jug anglers are also catching a lot
of cats on the upper end of the lake. Use stinkbaits, cut bait,
minnows, or
even nightcrawlers.
OLD HICKORY:
Water conditions: The surface temperate is in the low 70s.
Crappie: Fishing is good deep around structure. Go back into creeks, too, and look for brush piles or channel drops or humps on the lake bottom. Fish minnows or plastic tubes on light jig heads. You might need up to 1/8th ounce if the structure is deep. Try tree tops around shorelines later in the day as the air temperature warms the surface temp.
Bass: Fishing is pretty good. Go back into the creeks and throw crankbaits for fast action. Work spinnerbaits and plastic baits around structure and drops for bigger fish.
Catfish: Very good right now. This is the time of year when flathead
catfish spawn. Work around structure with cut bait
or live bluegill. Night crawlers and minnows will also catch cats.
Work channels or creek mouths. If you fish below Old Hickory Dam
fish on the bottom with cut bait.
