Lake Chatuge Fishing Reports – July 2020

Chatuge: Level: Full pool. Temp: Low 80s. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Guide Eric Welch reports, “We are seeing some topwater action at first light. I’ve been throwing a Strike King Sexy Dawg and a Whopper Plooper. The fish have moved out deep around brush, long points and steep banks. We’re targeting these fish with a shaky head, a Strike King 3.25-inch Rage Swimmer and by drop shoting a Roboworm in morning-dawn color. There have been some fish around deep docks that have brush around them. Try throwing a Texas-rig worm, a drop shot or a jig. With the summertime bite going on, your electronics are key. If you pull up on a point or a pocket and you’re not marking any fish, it’s time to move. The night bite has been getting better. We’ve been catching most of our fish on a Texas-rigged worm in brush. Stay safe on the water over July 4th. Good luck.”

Hybrids: Guide Shane Goebel reports, “Hybrid and striper fishing is explosive for us right now. The fish are schooling in large numbers, and we are catching some big quantities. We’re catching between 30 and 50 hybrids and stripers in just a couple of hours. Most of our fish are averaging 6 to 8 pounds. We’ve had several stripers in the 20- to 30-lb. range, as well. The early morning bite has been prime. Look for schools of fish off shallow humps along the main channel, clay banks and off points in the 20- to 40-foot range. Downlining live blueback herring has been the best technique. Search out your areas and watch your electronics. When you mark fish, drop your lines. Fish will be slightly shallower in the early morning hours and will move to deeper water by mid-morning. The topwater bite remains very good, as well. When these fish start busting on bait, it’s always a good idea to have a plug, Spook or Red Fin at the ready. These hybrids should hold this same pattern for the next month or so before heading to deeper water.”

GON’s Lake Chatuge Page