Lake Chatuge Fishing Report – March 2006

Chatuge: Level: 7 feet below full pool. Temp: 50 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: The pot-tournament season is about to get cranked up on Chatuge, and when it does, John Hembree said he would have three baits tied on: a fluke, a crankbait like a Shad Rap, and a jerkbait. “I throw a Husky Jerk in Tennessee Shad a lot,” he said. He also likes a suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. “I like the suspending plugs a lot better,” he said. “You can pull it down and let it stop — that’s the key. The suspending plugs work well on spots.” Wind is critical for fishing crankbaits or jerkbaits at Chatuge this time of year. A ripple on the water seems to make the fish feel more secure and helps move them up on the banks, said John.