Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – October 2020

Blue Ridge: Level: 7 feet below full pool. Temp: 79-80 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “Fishing has been a little tough, with all these crazy weather changes, but the main thing is we’re heading in the right direction. TVA has started dropping the lakes down, and the water temps are starting to fall. This month, we should start seeing a lot more shad action with these cooler nights and days, which means it’s time to start your mornings out throwing topwater. My go-to baits have been a Pop-R, a Zara Puppy, a Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr. and a Whopper Plopper. I like to start out around rocky points and flats. Then I’m going to throw the Ned rig with a Z-Man TRD worm or a 3.5-inch tube, while watching my graph. If I see any fish schooled up, I will drop a drop shot down on them. After spending my mornings on the main lake, normally by noon I will run up and start fishing the deep, rocky banks up the river with the same type baits.”

Capt. Eric Crowley reports, “Spots are everywhere, literally every point is holding fish from the dam to Point 8. Use your sonar to locate them as some are suspended and some are on the bottom. I like fishing deep cranks and jerkbaits this month. Use the same color choices for the spots throughout the day as I mention for walleye.”

Walleye: Capt. Eric Crowley reports, “Walleye are moving toward the shallower structure to feed both early and late in the day. Trolling, jigging spoons and casting deep, slow, retrieve baits is the go-to this month as the fish start to transition. As far as baits go, I like bright colors early, then clear, drab colors midday and chrome and gold in the evening. Some trial and error will help narrow it down a bit. We are seeing lots of fish in the 16- to 21-inch-size class, with a few 23-inch fish mixed in.”

Perch: Capt. Eric Crowley reports, “The perch bite has been good for the last few weeks, and we are seeing some really nice fish in the 14- to 15-inch class. Live minnows, small jigs and small spoons have been productive early in the day.”