Lake Chatuge Fishing Report – June 2008

Chatuge: Level: 0.2 feet below full pool. Temp: Upper 60 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Fair, according to John Hembree. “It’s not been wide open, but it’s been pretty good,” he said. “Over the last few weeks it has been taking 10 or 11 pounds to win a nighttime tournament. The last tournament we fished we had 12 pounds and won. We had nine keepers, all spots, and I don’t think a largemouth was weighed in. It has been a cool spring, and the fish are still up shallow, mostly in less than 8 or 10 feet of water. Before dark we caught some fish on weightless and jig-head flukes; after dark we threw a black spinnerbait and a crankbait. Some others were catching fish on worms. Most of the fish came around some kind of cover — rocks or wood — and it wasn’t all on main-lake points. The fish were more in the pockets. I don’t think they have made their move out to the summertime pattern yet.” The schooling activity is still ahead. “It has been so windy we haven’t seen a lot of topwater activity,” said John. “If you get into a calm pocket, you might see some individual fish breaking, but no schooling yet.”