Watauga Lake (TN)

[Choporoz]

Will be spending a few days in/around Johnson City this weekend; and probably bringing yaks.  I've heard that Boone was drained, so I was looking at Watauga.  Looks beautiful.   Anybody here fish it at all?  Lately?  Thanks!

[TnRiver46]

i haven't fished it myself recently but heard of a 19lb bag winning a tourney the other day. On into the cold winter it's usually well up into the 20s to win a tourney. Sounds like spots are still being caught deep with electronics, but that's about all the good info I have heard. Some folks still night fishing too, water temp mid 60s. You can still fish Boone even though it's down, they even added 3-4 new ramps for the low water level 

[Choporoz]

Thanks!  Looks like a beautiful lake.  Will post results/impressions next week.

[Choporoz]

Interwebs pictures didn't lie.  Watauga is truly a beautiful lake.  Stayed in a cabin on the lake at http://www.lakeshore-resort.com/

Off-season, so the cost of lake-view cabin was less than anywhere else we stayed the rest of the trip. (I think it was $76/night incl tax.)  Unreal.  Only fished Watauga on Fri. And it was a fairly windy day, so we didn't get on the main lake.  Found a marina that was somewhat sheltered (Mallard Cove.)  They let us park at the shore and didn't charge a launch fee.  Nice.  We paddled all the coves in that arm of the lake without getting onto real big water.  I only caught two - one smallie and one spot.  Wife was skunked.  Not nearly enough time to figure much out from the kayaks -- much different lake than we're used to.  One ledge went from 17' to 100' in very short order...no clue what to do with that....lol.....But, it was a beautiful day and a great lake that I'd like to get back to.  

    Spent a few hours late Sun kayaking from Swann's on Douglas, but got nothing other than two small crappies.  Another lake that it is going to take some time to learn.

 

[TnRiver46]

Thanks for the follow up, the wind is brutal up there. Those steep banks are my favorite, just let the lure crawl down the rock face and watch the line carefully. If it stops it's not because it hit the bottom!!!