Polo, most of the better quality bass I've caught this year have either had black pectorals or black blotches above the lateral line. However, I am not sure what the significance of that is.
Thanks for the tip on the Hiwassee, Dec1. We tried fishing the channel in the fall last year while the jump was on in the coves. There is nothing more demoralizing than zeroing in the big water while watching the bass bust shad in the off-limits of the refugeemoBang.