Lake Chatuge Fishing Report November 2011

Chatuge: Level: 5.2 feet below full pool. Temp: Low to mid 60s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Look for a schooling bite on main-lake points down around the dam. This is more of a morning bite, and you’ve got to get lucky to get on them, but the fishing can be good if you find them. Try a topwater bait like a Sammy or a fluke. If you can’t find them on top, it’s time to resort to deep brush and rocky points. A shaky head with a green-pumpkin finesse worm is a good choice for either pattern. These fish will also take a crankbait sometimes. A small Shad Rap is a good choice. The deep-water bite should begin to set up on into November. Look for them on long points in 25 to 30 feet of water, and fish a hair jig, spoon or shaky head. For a non-traditional approach to catching big fish with giant swimbaits on Chatuge, see page 68.