Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Reports – October 2021

Blue Ridge: Level: 2.8 feet below 1,681. Temp: 72-74 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “The bite is starting to pick up as TVA has started the process of dropping the lake for the winter. We’ve been having cooler days and rain, which is helping lower the water temps. Did I mention fall and winter is my favorite time of year to fish? The bass are starting to get active looking for baitfish. We’re starting to see a lot more surface activity throughout the day. I like throwing a Strike King Sexy Dawg Jr., Zara Spook Jr. and a Hedden Pop-R around points and rocks. You will also see fish breaking out in the open water as they chase schools of herring. It’s a waiting game when targeting these fish. They will bust the school up and then the school may become multiple schools, and this is when the waiting game begins. I’ve been seeing some topwater first thing in the mornings, but the better bite is when the sun gets out. I’m still marking a lot of fish in the 12- to 25-foot range, and I’m targeting these fish with a drop shot, Z-man Ned rig and a small Sexy Swimmer swimbait. Once the bite slows down on the main lake, I’m going to the river and fishing the rocky bluff banks with the same baits. The fishing is only going to get better as the month goes on. Good luck.” 

Yellow Perch & Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley reports, “Water temps dropping along with the annual drawdown will bring about new bites, mainly the perch fishing. The yellow perch move onto the grassbeds in the fall and start feeding and packing on the pounds before winter. This annual migration has become one of my favorite times of year. Not only are there good numbers of fish but some really nice-sized fish are caught each fall. Right behind the perch are the walleye. They are finally moving up a bit shallower and feeding really well on shad and herring. Look for the bait and find the fish nearby. Spoons and deep-diving crankbaits are the go-to for these fall walleyes. As the fish move to shallower structure, look for them on secondary points and pockets instead of on the main lake. I like the big Vibrax spoons in green and gold, as well as the Deep Tail Dancers in dark colors.”