TN Fish Finder - Boone Lake Discussion

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User:	vinny60
Comment:	Largemouth bass – In spring, largemouth will move into shallow water to spawn as the surface temps approach the mid 60’s. As summer moves in the bass will move out deeper during the day but will make trips into the shallows at night. Largemouth bass eat minnows, shad and crayfish. Spinner baits, buzz baits, worms, crank baits and minnows will take largemouth throughout the year. Smallmouth bass – Like largemouth, smallmouth bass will move into shallow water to spawn but at cooler surface temperatures. This activity takes place as surface temperatures approach the upper 50’s. Smallmouth prefer rocky substrate and will often be found hanging out on points. As summer approaches, smallmouth move to deeper water. Smallmouth feed on minnows, shad and crayfish. Fish with spinner baits, lizards, worms, live bait, small crank baits, float-n-fly and suspended fluke. Trolling live gizzard shad or alewife can be very effective. CATFISH: There is no size or creel limit for catfish, but there is a precautionary advisory for all catfish species found in the reservoir. Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not eat catfish or carp and other persons should limit their consumption to one meal per month. FISHING TIPS: Catfish feed more by taste than by sight. Their natural foods include crayfish, worms, fish, insects, decaying animal matter, and mollusks. Worms, crayfish, minnow, chicken livers, catalpa worms, commercial stink baits and cut baits Spawning takes place when surface temperatures approach 75 degrees and rocky ledges and cavities are preferred spawning habitat. The access areas located on the main channels of the South Fork and Watauga Rivers as well as the pier at Winged Deer Park are good places to bank fish. From a boat you should explore the main channels, especially areas where the channel narrows or the entrances to large coves. CRAPPIE: Crappie fishing on Boone has improved recently. The creel limit put in place in the mid 90’s has allowed the crappie population to grow. While white crappie are still caught, black crappie are more abundant. The daily creel limit is 15 crappie and there is a 10-inch minimum length limit. FISHING TIPS: The best crappie fishing usually occurs in the spring. Crappie will spawn when the surface temperatures approach the mid 50’s and submerged brush or any submerged structure offer prime spawning habitat. Spawning takes place in 3 to 10 feet of water and will continue until the water temperature reaches the upper 60’s. Crappie feed on minnows, shad and insects so live bait is a good bet but anglers also take crappie on various jigs or grubs. The area around Deer Lick Bend on the Watauga Arm and Beaver Creek on the South Fork Arm are good crappie fishing spots. STRIPED AND CHEROKEE BASS: Striped bass and Cherokee bass have been stocked since 1972. Striped bass and Cherokee bass do not reproduce in Boone and these populations are maintained by annual stocking. The creel limit for striped bass and Cherokee bass is two fish in any combination with a 15- inch size limit. FISHING TIPS: Stripers and Cherokee bass feed on shad and alewife. They feed in schools, which can be located with an electronic fish finder or by observing flocks of gulls. These gulls are eating the same food as the fish! The depths the baitfishes occupy will determine the depth of the stripers and Cherokee bass. When surface feeding is taking place fish with large topwater chuggers or poppers or shallow running lures. When fish are feeding in deeper water go with spoons or bucktail jigs. Live bait (shad or alewife) can be trolled with downriggers or planer boards.
Date:	02/26/11 06:51 PM

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