• Cherokee Tailwater Fishing Report - TN

    Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
    http://www.tnfish.org/index.html
  • Gary was raised on a farm in Scottdale, Pennsylvania and graduated from East Huntingdon High School in 1964. He is a well rounded outdoorsman in every sense of the word. He attended Penn State University studying Law Enforcement and Correction. Gary has a passion for fly fishing, fly tying, canoes, photography and anything with fur, fins or feathers on it.

  • Cherokee Tailwater Fishing Report - TN

    Tail water elevation was 922.31 feet on June 25 at 9 PM. Average daily discharges have remained minimal for this report period. Next day release schedules and data on Cherokee Dam are available here: http://www.tva.gov/lakes/crh_r.htm
    Temperatures taken on the tailrace today are as follows by area: Dam access point = 52 degrees, Indian Cave area = 64.5 degrees, Nance Ferry access = 72.5 degrees.
    SUMMARY:
    It is necessary to remind anglers that the Indian Cave Access to the tailrace is closed entirely with no access permitted to the public. The water is warming throughout the tailrace as summer progresses with the coldest temperatures located at the outflow of Cherokee Reservoir and down stream of Indian Cave near the lower shoals.

    RAINBOW AND BROWN TROUT: Good
    The earlier than normal water warm up has tended to put trout off at Nance Ferry. The shoals upstream of the parking lot are still fishing fairly well due to the slightly cooler water there. The shoals below Indian Cave have been an active trout spot, but one will now need a boat to float through the area due to the closure of the access area.
    The following does not change for trout. Fly fishermen: fish the hatch or use nymphs or suitable subsurface lure if rises are absent. Use flies and lures in accordance with insect hatches and rises and focus on nymphs and try a weighted soft hackle in dark gray. Spin casters: use flat fish, daredevils and spinners in appropriate colors as indicated by water conditions. Try night crawlers in deeper sections with slower water.

    BLACK BASS: Fair
    Smallmouth have been targeted more and more but are remaining elusive to anglers. Water temperature is optimum for smallmouth.
    Best way to fish is from kayak, drift boat or other small floating device. This allows the angler to reach areas where fish are located.
    Spinner baits, as well as deep diving crank baits and green swim baits are recommended for spin fishermen. Shades of green or green and shad are preferred colors. Streamers and woolybuggers weighted with bead eyes in various colors will work for fly fishermen as well as wet flies and poppers in bright. Try a size 12 soft hackle tied light brown with blood red thread. A simple size 12 hares nymph greased and floated will catch bass also.

    STRIPED BASS: Good
    Striped bass are located throughout the river and especially in the section just downstream of the discharge source at the dam.
    Try Rapalas in various colors and especially shad color. Use silver spoons or silver jerk baits when water releases are underway. Crank lures aggressively through the fast water of a release and give surface lures a lot of hard, loud action.
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