This massive system of flood control reservoirs in the Southeast has outstanding fishing for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, but finding fish in all that water can be challenging
The reservoirs of the Tennessee Valley Authority system might comprise the overall best bass fishery in the entire United States. That’s a bold claim, but size alone helps back it up. Some 650,000 acres of water encompass 49 reservoirs, including tributary lakes, throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama, and North Georgia. That’s a lot of water for a bass to hide.
The TVA chain of reservoirs covers five southern states and around 650,000 acres of fishable water. All images by Realtree Media
The big-name lakes like Guntersville, Kentucky Lake, Pickwick, and Chickamauga are best known (technically lakes are natural bodies of water and reservoirs are impounded by manmade dams, but we’re using the terms interchangeably here). Each lake has held top honors as North America’s best bass fishery at one time or another. Others like Wheeler, Watts Bar, and Norris are favorites of dedicated anglers as are some of the smaller, lesser-known waters like Little Bear Creek, Fontana, and Tellico. Many of the lakes have gorgeous scenery and thriving populations of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass.
Most avid bass anglers have visited at least one TVA lake before, while plenty of others never stray far from them. Good as the fishing can be, it can also be extremely challenging. With so much water, where do you make the first cast? The answer is found in a basic program of reservoir bass fishing that’s been proven to work through the decades and is still applicable today. Whether you’re a fan of old-school bassin’ techniques or new-wave techno-fishing, you can score on the TVA waters with this proven approach, particularly in the spring.
DETERMINE YOUR SEASON
Is it spring yet? Not quite, but it’s not far away in many areas across the South. Regardless, seasonal classifications are relative. March on Kentucky Lake is different than March on Guntersville. And, the calendar can be misleading as the seasonal movements of bass are dictated by water temperatures, not date. A warm spring can kick things off earlier than normal.
Water temperatures and fishing conditions can vary widely from lake to lake, so let the fish guide you on where to go.
So, ditch the preconceived notions when heading out on your first trip, and instead let the bass make the decisions. Begin with a water temp check. Readings in the 40s will keep bass in wintering areas including deeper waters and banks with steep drops. Here, fish will relate to main-lake points and brush, hop-scotching their way back into creeks as the temperatures rise. It’s no use fishing the backs of major creeks or shallow shorelines because the bass aren’t there yet.
DIVIDE THE RESERVOIR
A good approach for reservoir bass fishing is to divide the waterway into sections, and then look for predictable patterns of fish movement within each one. Essentially, reservoirs are divided into three sections, including the deepest waters near the dam, the water-body’s midsection, and the upper, riverine portion of the reservoir. Major creeks can be divided similarly from deep to shallow.
Bass will spend the majority of the winter and summer months in the deepest third, and move shallower in spring and fall. In addition, the deepest third of the lake will warm last and progress slower into springtime patterns than the upper third.
For all of these lakes, divide the water into sections based on depth and figure out where the majority of bass are holding while you are there. Start with the deepest water early and move shallow as the temperature rises.
Using our cold-water example, we’ll start our search in the lower third of the reservoir or major creeks, and move to shallower sections as spring progresses. In essence, we’ll follow the fish through the season.
This system of breaking down big water was originally developed by tournament superstar Rick Clunn, and it has been key to his 40+ year career. It’s one that countless professional anglers have relied on for decades, whether they realize it or not.
Getting back to the fishing, bass will be progressing toward the shallows as water temperatures climb into the 50s. Here, your chosen species of bass may dictate your plans. While largemouths will get “up in the dirt” in the spring, crowding shallow bushes and grass beds, smallmouth and spotted bass remain in the mid-zones, where they’ll spawn in deeper, cleaner water.
Following the migration of each requires recognition of key stop-over spots, often secondary points in creeks, or attractive cover on bluffed shorelines. Reservoir bass utilize creek channels for migration into spawning areas, so don’t stray far from ditches and drops. The presence of brush always helps, as does vegetation where it exists.
On many TVA reservoirs, the best bass cover comes in the form of boat docks. Looking for early spring cover on main lake points? There’s a dock for that. How about a shallow sanctuary on a spawning flat? Yep, there’s a dock for that, too. Sometimes it’s just a matter of not overlooking the obvious when searching for honey holes.
As waters continue to warm in spring, look for bass to move shallower, often relating to the shoreline. Anglers utilizing forward-facing sonar (FFS) target fish near spawning areas, but concentrated off the bank on shallow ledges and in the mouths of creeks. Here, we’re learning more that large populations of fish hold in staging areas. The population of fish you target will depend on your favorite methods.
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FISH YOUR STRENGTHS
We’ve all heard this cliche phrase from time to time. However, with today’s sonar-focused tactics, does it still apply? The TVA reservoirs confirm that it does. A case in point, at the 2023 BPT event on Cherokee and Douglas Reservoirs, while every competitor near the top relied on finesse tactics using FFS, winner Keith Poche took an aluminum boat through a mine field of rocks to access overlooked fish and win the event. There, a stout casting setup and a big swimbait did the damage.
Regardless of your favorite approach, a basser can excel on TVA waters. Many are a paradise for flippers, especially as lake levels rise with spring rains. Some, like Guntersville, offer unparalleled grassbed fishing with lipless crankbaits. Wind-blown bluffs come into play across Wilson and Pickwick. The world-famous stump fields of Wheeler never disappoint, and a giant can turn up any time on Chickamauga’s subtle ledges. Spinning rod applications are useful, too, as nearly all of these waterbodies feature clear, deep waters in their lower reaches, often jam packed with feisty spots and smallmouths.
KEEP MOVING
Efficiency is key when fishing massive reservoirs. When things get slow, rather than scrutinizing every detail and begging bass to bite, it’s often best to just keep on truckin’. There’s plenty of productive water on every TVA reservoir, and the key to strong catches relies on locating active fish.
Use fast-moving, efficient baits for starters. In cold waters, a suspending jerkbait is hard to beat, as it allows for slow presentations in a fast package. Also, it’s surprising how cold bass will still eat a Rat-L-Trap. Regardless of water temp, rely on cast-and-retrieve approaches until bass are found, then slow down and pick at them with bottom-bouncing or finesse rigs. Lastly, focus on rapidly warming areas in spring: chunk rock banks and floating boat docks soak up heat and turn on lethargic bass.
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HOP LAKES
One nice thing about TVA reservoirs is there’s always another one down the road. If your favorite water body is cold and muddy, or the bite just seems off, you can always pack up and hit another lake. Sometimes, it can be like flipping a switch. I remember a day several years ago when the smallmouths quit at Pickwick, but the largemouths stormed the bank at Wilson. A 45-minute ride in the truck saved the day. Examples of this are endless.
If the lake you are on isn’t producing, a quick trip to a nearby reservoir might be just the ticket to find action. Don’t be afraid to hop from lake to lake.
So, too, are the TVA waters. This massive complex of reservoirs changed the landscape of our nation, but brought with it affordable energy and fabulous bass fishing as a byproduct. Overall, management of these systems continues to be proactive, and fish habitat is a strong consideration in most water bodies. The economic impact of the giant waterways does not go unnoticed to the region’s policy makers.
Plan a trip to the TVA “lakes” this spring. Heck, try a couple of them. Each offers an adventure all its own.