Spring Stripers?

Plan on coming up early this spring, (March), and doing some fishing with an old Army buddy of mine. He isn't much of a fisherman but suggested Melton Hill, Watts Bar, and Norris Lake. Are these viable lakes to target stripers? I have experience fishing for them in Lake Lanier in Georgia and on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. Would the same tactics work? Is there somewhere near there to purchase rainbow's for bait?

Thanks in advance, Adam

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by Capt Adam Peeples

Plan on coming up early this spring, (March), and doing some fishing with an old Army buddy of mine. He isn't much of a fisherman but suggested Melton Hill, Watts Bar, and Norris Lake. Are these viable lakes to target stripers? I have experience fishing for them in Lake Lanier in Georgia and on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. Would the same tactics work? Is there somewhere near there to purchase rainbow's for bait?

Thanks in advance, Adam

Adam... You will have a great time in the Spring ... Now the lakes you mentioned in the East are all schoolie lakes ... 20 maybe 30 pound range max ... but mostly teens ... But if you are looking for trophys ... you have to fish middle Tennessee ... 40's to 60 pound range ... But come prepared ... heavy tackle ...get them in the boat and release and let them live ...

As far as bait Before I retired There was a Bow hatchery in Smithville (Nut Cave) think they are out of business ?? But unless you are going the fish the Cumberland River chain ...Middle TN ... Bows won't mean a lot in East TN ... Go with the natural bait that are not foreign to the waters ... <'TK><

Great thanks for the advice. I would love to hit middle tenn for a trophy but this trip is more about catching up with an old friend, just going to do some fishing while I'm up there. I just want him to catch some fish mostly.

One more question, will the fish be moving into the creeks at that point yet or will it still be early for that? Usually in Georgia they start pushing into the creeks in early to mid march.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by Capt Adam Peeples

Great thanks for the advice. I would love to hit middle tenn for a trophy but this trip is more about catching up with an old friend, just going to do some fishing while I'm up there. I just want him to catch some fish mostly.

One more question, will the fish be moving into the creeks at that point yet or will it still be early for that? Usually in Georgia they start pushing into the creeks in early to mid march.

Some will be but April/May are the best months ... <'TK><

[StriperFun]

Your choices for East TN lakes are very good Striper Lakes ... Melton Hill has plenty of 30-50 lb fish to be caught ... Watts Bar has healthy numbers of all sizes ... Norris is fishing better than it has in many years

There are some great guides over there including Ezel Cox and Todd Asher... one day with either will get you going for productive Striper chasing in East TN

I have Striper fished all three in 2012 and would rank them in this order for trophies 1) Melton Hill (muskies too) 2) Watts Bar 3) Norris

I would rank them in this order for numbers 1) Watts Bar 2)Norris 3)Melton Hill

There are several places to buy trout if needed and will work on all three

[tkwalker]

StriperFun, Is Ezel still guiding ... Someone told me he was thinking about retireing ??? <'TK><

[punchs]

After a lot of looking and waiting I proud to report the stripers are starting to show up on the Cumberland. We found a bunch of the smaller hybrids this last week and the bigger ones are soon to follow. Try the creeks and steam plants for movement. It's going to get tough again with the warmer weather on the way. Still can't believe this weather we have been having.

[txnative]

What lakes on the cumberland have hybrids ? I've heard conflicting stories, and I never really bothered to check stocking info for these lakes.


Chris

[MNfisher]

I have definitely seen them below Percy, so I guess Cheatham Lake has them.

[punchs]

I focus more on Barkley but it's a stretch to call it part of the lake. I usually just refer to it as the cumberland river from cross creek to cheatham.

[bfish]

Nice thing about the three your buddy pick, is that they are all in close proximity to each other. If one is not fishing well, the others are nearby.

Yes same tactics as Lanier work.