TWRA Fishing Reports

Fishing Reports

NOTE - TWRA wants to build a comprehensive report each week of the state’s lakes. If you do not see a report for your favorite lake and you are someone who can provide a report, please contact us at Ask.TWRA@tn.gov and provide us with your contact information.

Cordell Hull – 8/26/26

Report Contributor – Will Schibig, Region III Creel Clerk

Flow Rates-

Cordell Hull Dam- average outflow of 10,000 cfs per day

Wolf Creek Dam (Lake Cumberland)- average outflow of 7,800 cfs per day

Dale Hollow Dam- average outflow of 1,600 cfs per day.

Roaring River- average flow of 10.8 cfs

Reservoir Conditions-

The reservoir elevation is currently sitting at 503.5’ and is slowly dropping. Surface water temperatures are around the low-to-mid eighties in the creek arms and on the main river channel on the lower end around the dam. The further upstream you go, the cooler the main river and creek arms get, especially if there is current being generated. Surface water temperatures in these areas are in the mid 60’s-to-low 70’s. Water clarity has been consistently around 4-8’ visibility reservoir-wide. The moon phase at this writing is almost the full moon, with the next full moon being scheduled to be around the end of September. With the water level dropping a few inches, the matted-out tops of grass patches will start to re-appear in the 3-5’ zones around the bank or in pockets. Baitfish have been shallow around grass or shallow flats in the backs of pockets or creek arms for a few weeks now. You can find young of the year Threadfin shad around the surface on the main river, with gamefish like Temperate bass and Black bass species schooling them in the jumps. The late mayfly hatch around the mid-reservoir seems to have wrapped up.

Bass- Fishing is slow.

Some good quality bass have been caught around the mid-reservoir while flipping wood and grass around the main river flats. Target any hard structure mixed in with the grass patches, or fish the hard grass lines with finesse presentations like drop-shots, shakyheads, wacky rigs, or urchin style baits. In the mornings, you can fish faster presentations like spooks, small buzzbaits, or glide baits around the grass lines. With the water level falling, the mats should start to reappear. Once the mats get a hard top and good canopy under them, you can get a good frog bite over the top or punching creature baits through the canopies.

Crappie- Fishing is decent.

Decent crappie have been caught by tight lining jigs over treetops in 15 FOW on shaded banks along creek channels. Some anglers have been catching crappie shallow by sticking long rods into the shade pockets behind overhanging limbs. The best production comes in the darkest shade pockets mixed with brush/branches in the water. Crappie can be caught around deep brush near creek channels or suspended with baitfish in creek channels and creek mouths. Better quality crappie can be caught one or two at a time on shallow isolated wood in shallow sloughs and the backs of creek arms. Lots of crappie have been reported to be caught this year on our TWRA deployed artificial structure in these creek arms. You can find fish attractors on the TWRA On The Go app under “Where To Fish” or search “Fish Attractors” to access the interactive map on tnwildlife.org

Sauger/Walleye- Fishing is slow. 

A few anglers are targeting walleye/sauger by trolling plugs through deep pools on the upper river between Celina and Gainesboro. You may have some luck throwing jerkbaits or plugs along creek mouths or islands/points at night with the full moon going.

Striped Bass- Fishing is good. The bite has picked up this past weekend with multiple quality fish getting caught near Celina. Fishing creek/river mouths or floating around eddies has been the key. Live bait ranging from trout to live shad or skipjack have been used. 

Fort Loudoun Reservoir – 8/28/26

Report Contributor – Sydney Feistner, Region 4 Creel Clerk

Fishing on Ft. Loudoun continues to be slow as hot summer conditions persist and water temperatures remain in the mid to upper 80s. Bass activity has been best during the cooler parts of the day, with anglers targeting main lake points, shoreline cover, and deeper offshore structure. Topwater baits can produce some early morning action before switching to soft plastics, jigs, and deep-diving crankbaits as the sun gets higher. Crappie remain around deeper brush piles, docks, and bridge pilings in roughly 10–20 feet of water. Catfish can still be found along channel edges, with cut bait and nightcrawlers producing bites. Early mornings and late evenings continue to offer the best opportunities as fishing becomes tougher during the heat of the day. Recreational boat traffic remains high, so use caution and stay safe while on the water.

Melton Hill Reservoir – 8/28/26

Report Contributor – Sydney Feistner, Region 4 Creel Clerk

Fishing on Melton Hill remains slow overall, with water temperatures holding in the mid-80s and fish continuing in their typical summer patterns. Bass anglers are focusing on rocky banks, bluff walls, and deeper offshore structure, with topwater presentations offering opportunities early in the morning. As the day warms, soft plastics and crankbaits have been better choices around deeper cover and structure. Crappie continue to hold near deeper brush piles, docks, and submerged timber. The midday heat has made fishing more challenging, with most activity occurring during the early morning and evening hours. Boaters should continue to use caution with increased recreational traffic on the water.

Trout Reports

TWRA biologists recently completed annual electrofishing surveys on Tennessee’s tailwater trout fisheries. You can read the TWRA summaries of individual lakes below.  For more information about the great trout fishing opportunities, tips, and techniques to ensure a great fishing trip, check out the TWRA Trout Fishing Stocking and Forecast.

Video: Hidden Gems of Jefferson County: Douglas & Cherokee Unleashed

Latest Catches