Will3369

I have always found them spawning in gravel flats with scattered boulders in mostly crystal clear water. Generally 5-7 feet. Then 12 -14 feet after the spawn.

Well I live in Dandridge, so Douglas is my closest, I was told to try Loudoun because the draw down isn’t as much as the other resivoir’s. This has just been a huge adjustment going from fishing about 200 days a year, with a third of those being from the bank before or after work. And not being shut out in 2 yrs. To being shut out 3 outta 4 times from the bank on Douglas. Kinda kicks ya right in the pride. Lol. I am looking at a 1999 G3 this week. Hoping I will find much better fishing then from the bank.

You know I tried Cherokee on Friday for a couple hours with no luck over in front of the big rip-rap wall by the d**n. I watched a guy this winter catch about 10 in front of me, but he was using live bait. I have only done Cherokee like 3 times. What do you know about louden? Oh and I was here and fished right after the flood, that was the best fishing I have experienced on douglas was for the three weeks after flood with crankbaits.

I have always found they leave their spawning flat and head for a little deeper water. Usually 12-14 feet and feed the rest of the summer feeding on bait in the weeds. Last lake, you would catch crappie and bluegills on the shallow side of the weeds, smallies hunting them on the deep side. I have never fished where there is a lul or slow period. From post spawn till fall, anything green pumpkin would catch big smallies in the weeds. And at the current moment they are no where near where I found em in the fall. Today I was told the water temp was 60. For me that means the crankbait bite is over, (usually 50-57 degrees for me). But I haven’t seen or experienced the spring smallie smashing like on other lakes. I have never fished a lake that didn’t have weeds or pads. Gonna need to learn alot of new things fishing in the south. Lol

Fishing Smallmouth in the PNW or N Michigan, I have always found Smallmouth on the deep side of the first weed bed from spawning flats after spawn. I currently fish a resivoir and am told the are no weeds. My question being with no weeds where do Smallies go on weedless resivoirs after spawning?

Thanks so much for the hint.. you have been very helpful and knowledgeable. I have struggled with getting/finding information here. Your info has been very inline with how I learned to fish.

Hi, have posted here before, am new to the area. Looking for a fishing partner/mentor. Currently have been fishing from bank for the last 8 months, looking to buy a boat, but being the last 8 months the fishing from the bank is the worst I have experienced my entire life. I am scared to death to buy a boat. I am a clean guy, don’t smoke, would be happy to pay for gas, have all my own gear and equipment. Just looking for someone interested in showing me a bit about the fishing here. It has to be better then I have experienced so far. thanks in advance to anyone willing to chine in/help.

As TNRiver46 said,A tube. I have always done well with tubes. Open hook, weedless, stupid. To this day still one of my favorite ways to catch Smallies.

Losing a floating crank-bait, and being able to cast another one and snag it almost every time. Not sure if this is a super power or just being frugal. Lol

I am always down to fish!!

Thanks for all your info, some of the best I have gotten so far.

So it’s determined by weather/rainfall. Thats understandable I guess being a resivoir. Are there any good natural lakes nearby that offer good year round fishing with minimal to no draw down?

Thanks for your reply. Oh I have the lake app on my phone, last 2 weeks the water came up 15 feet only to have about 10 feet drained back out. I guess my question should be when do they leave the water in. When it fills. ( that is the only time I do ok is when there is water) after the flood when it filled I killed it from shore/bank but when they let all the water out back to slow.

This lake has been a struggle, I have fished this lake for almost 8 months, pretty regularly. 1 to 2 times a week. Granted I am only bank/shore fishing. Compared to most lakes I have fished over the last 40 yrs the fishing is very unpredictable/bad. Granted that may be because I am limited to where I can go from the bank. Prior to fishing Douglas lake it had been 2 yrs since I had been skunked bass fishing. It seems here its every other trip you get skunked. So my questions are as follows, I have searched and searched to find when they start refilling the lake and can not find a def answer anywhere. Also they tell me in the summer they switch to live bait in order to catch bass. ( I have never heard of this on a good bass lake? ) Also the Tackle store in Dandridge TN is only open 1 day a week. How is that possible on what is supposed to be such a great bass lake? I am new to the area and don’t know many people. I struggle with finding the answers to some of these questions. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. And thanks in advance.

I just left WA state, best decision I ever made. Their fishery’s are run poorly. ( at least on the west side of that state.) They make it hard/nearly impossible to get on the water in the off season. ( it almost seems at times they don’t want fisherman there.) Some of the lakes have good to great fishing, except they seem to cater to the wake boats, water skiers and jet skiers. For all the lakes/rivers/ponds I have fished in my 45 yrs of fishing. WA state lakes and fisheries have def been at the bottom of the barrel. ( west side of the state at least).