Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report November 2016

Blue Ridge: Level: 16.5 feet low. Temp: 72-74 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “TVA has still been pulling the lake down. One good thing about the lake being this low is it’s going to make the winter fishing better this year. Because the lake level is already going to be down by the time the cold weather comes in and cools the water off, the drawdown will not shock the fish as bad. My patterns have been run and gun in the mornings with a topwater lure on the flats and long points. I have been using a Strike King Sexy Dog and a Zara Spook. I’m also keying on rocky points and banks with a Strike King 3XD and a No. 5 Shad Rap. If you can find a 3-inch minnow grub in a light-smoke color, pair it with a 1/8-oz. lead head, and swim it off points and around rocks. You’re going to catch plenty of spotted bass. I have been catching a few smallmouth on 3.5-inch Bass Pro Tender Tubes in and around the same areas. Drop shot a 4.5-inch morning-dawn Roboworm on suspending fish and deep bluff banks up the river. Watch your electronics while you’re fishing. The bass are moving around a lot looking for pods of herring.”