Watts Bar In Early March

[Fusion Man]

Does anyone have any good pointers on Watts Bar in early March? My buddy and I fish Watts Bar 1-2 times p/ year and always fish Watts Bar the 1st weekend in March. We launch at Lakeside Resort and usually catch a few fish, but have not seemed to get a decent jerkbait or carolina rig bite emoScratch . Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[jbh3]

The surface temp should be well into the 50's by then and there should be fish shallow. I like the lipless crankbait and spinner bait, but will also have a LC Pointer tied on. The back of White's Creek would be a good, close place to start as you'll be right there. Good time to be on the lake down here. Good luck!

 

[Fusion Man]

JBH3- Thanks for the help. We will definately try. We are eager to get out on the water, especially since we decided to ditch fishing the 2/11/06 Midwest Sportsman on Norris this weekend. We aren't too fond of fishing for 8hrs in the snow and 20mph winds, then driving 4hrs back to Cincinnati. Have you tried fishing the Clinch or Emory Rivers in early March? The second break outside of the Kingston Steam Plant seems to be my best area for big staging largemouth.

 

[jbh3]

Good move staying in Cinci this weekend. I'm planning to be a back seater in a small club tx on Norris next weekend. Glad it wasn't today! It's supposed to warm back up next week. Used to fish up in the Emory a bunch for crappie this time of year and always caught bass in the process. The steam plant discharge is always worth checking this time of year, for sure. Don't get down there nearly as much as I used to as I live pretty close to Loudon/Tellico and spend most of my time there anymore especially since gas has gone crazy. Hope you all have a good trip next month.

 

[jon the fisherman]

The Clinch and Emory rivers are both good in March. Bass are usually pretty shallow and lots of crappie to be found. If you throw spinner baits or other large spinners around the fallen trees up the river, you could hook a musky. Had one 40" in king creek.

 

[Fusion Man]

JTF & JBH3- - -Another buddy of mine who fishes Watts Bar several times a year says he catches pretty decent sized Spots (in March) around Half Moon Island. He throws a medium & deep diver paralleling the bluff banks and out toward the end of the points. I've fished Half Moon Island a couple of times, but never boated anything buy 8-10" fish. Have you guys had any luck around this area?

 

[jbh3]

The area around Half Moon as well as the 2 branches where Arrowhead and Eagle Lodge are/were located are definitely worth checking. Got a SM ~6' off the point outside Terrace View a few years ago. A lot of folks look down on the spots, but they are growing and have saved a lot of days for me on Tellico recently. I also check the Rockwood/Bayside/Blue Springs areas. Don't be too surprised if a big stripper tries to steal your spinner or crank bait.
JTF - Have enjoyed your Emory area reports on some of the other boards for a good while. Used to fish out of the ferry in Kingston a lot when I lived in OR and OS. Need to get back over there some. Thanks!

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

Hello Fusion Man,

The company I used to work for used to host some Canadians every year for fishing on the Bar in early March. I like to throw soft plastics, but it seemed to be too early for them, or at least the slow moving kind. We had our best luck with small crawfish colored crankbaits in 3' - 5' water off points and outside of brush piles. Also 3" motor oil grubs bumped along the bottom, again in 3' to 5' depths seem to be the best. We usually had several boat loads of visitors and we always caught a fair number of fish. Most of our fishing was down on the lower end, from the Iron Hill cut down to the dam. I hope this helps and good luck!

March is almost here!!!!!

 

[jon the fisherman]

Hello fusion man.

I do fish around half moon on ocassion. I like the back of whites creek and all the coves up river from there towards thief neck. Some good spots and smallies down that way. I also catch some good largemouth during the spawn in those coves. Lots of stumps and rocks to throw a jig at or a spinner. My favorite area for the first of march is the emory but I also like the upper end of the Tennessee river near paint rock. Not as many small mouth but some good quality largemouth can be caught in the creeks up there.emoCool

 

[Fusion Man]

Good advice- I am trying to convince my buddy we should target the upper end. Last time we were there the Clinch was all torn up...but the Emory seemed pretty darn clear (Is that normal in March?). There was a bluff bank we fished on the Emory about 1-2 miles past the railroad ties. The water was so clear I swear you could see down 10ft.. Seems nearly every cast, though, was a pretty good sized spot if you got the bait away from the boat. Even broke off a decent smallmouth.

 

[jon the fisherman]

The Emory is real clear in the winter and early spring. It is not unusual to see it that clear, until the water goes up from Watts Bar. The railroad ties is where the Little Emory river joins the Emory and is usually a little more stained than the Emory. Some good bass are in both, but the Little Emory seems to have the more aggresive fish. I like to go up the Little Emory past the Clax Gap bridge towards the hwy 61 bridge. It is real shallow getting there, and it is about a mile of Idle speed or trolling, but well worth the trip. emoThumbsup