1st trip to Center Hill lake

Well I was going to go at first light this morning but the lightning put a stop to that, later around 12:00 my wife and I decided to go and just do some exploring. I live in Watertown and so we drove hwy 70 to Dowel town and then took 96 to Edgar Evans Park..(I do not know why my font just changed...LOL) Anyway by the time I got to the park my rear truck breaks were smoking! So next time I think I will take I-40. My wife was reading a book and Petie our Boston terrier was having a large time.

We drove around just checking out the lake and I came to a cove off to the right side of the Dam. I decided that I would try to catch some bronze backs.

I did not expect to catch anything at all due to the time of day and my line being 12 pound flouro.( everyone told me to go with lighter line) Well I started throwing a texs rigged zoom ultra vibe speed craw and within minutes had my 1st ever Smallie.

The fish was about a pound to pound and a 1/2 but was fighting like a 7 pound Large mouth.

I caught 6 but the 1st was the biggest (Sorry wife and I both left cells in the truck, no pics.) So really the line did not play a role at all. I have heard of stories of how clear that lake was, from what I saw it looked stained, I could not even see the bottom in 5 foot of water. I found some deep holes though, 180 ft not far from the dam and in spots I would be no more than 5 ft from the bank in would be in 80 ft of Water. looking forward to going back one early morning and wearing them Bronzebacks out.!

[Travis C.]

Nice report...gotta love those smallies

It's a great lake but just like Dale Hollow for me....hard to go on the other side of the Dam. I like fishing the tailwaters there too much.

The lake does have some steep banks. My grandfather got stuck out on it with some of my mom and her friends back in their teenage years. He had to take a whizz really bad but with the girls in the boat tried to be sneaky. They pulled up to the bank nose in and since it was only a couple foot deep he'd just step off in the shallow water from the back....he stepped off alright in about 15-20ft water and all that floated was his hat.

I'd gave anything to see that first hand.