Walleye Forcast 2010

Walleye are native to the Clinch River, and are available in low densities throughout most of the river. Walleye have been stocked into the Clinch River each year since 2005, and sampling catch rates are notably improved. Consistent stocking should improve fishing opportunities over the next few seasons. For now, anglers should focus their efforts at the times and locations that concentrate walleyes. For example, during March walleyes often congregate for spawning. Most of the walleyes from several miles of river will gather in one or two locations. Spawning walleyes usually congregate in pools just downstream of significant ledges and shoals during daylight hours and then they move into shallow water at night to spawn. Another good location is where a creek enters the river. These types of locations will also be concentrate walleyes during the hot summer months when water temperatures rise and dissolved oxygen levels become a concern. Tributary creeks often have cooler temperatures and the water just downstream from shoals and ledges often has more oxygen as a result of aeration that takes place as water drops over the ledges. Walleyes are almost always more active in low light conditions. Try to fish at dawn and dusk, or even at night if you can fish safely. If you can only fish during the daytime, try to fish when clouds, rain or murky water limits light penetration. Under these conditions, walleye will be more active during the daylight hours.

Local Reservoirs

South Holston Reservoir

South Holston should provide great walleye fishing in 2010. Reservoir levels were much higher throughout the season in 2009. Based on angler reports this didn’t make the walleyes any easier to catch. However, sampling conducted in 2009 indicated that the walleye population is still in great shape. This reservoir provides year-round fishing opportunities for walleyes. A spring “run” takes place in the South Fork Holston River near the community of Alvarado from late February through April. Fishing generally peaks during mid-March. Most anglers fishing the headwaters area fish at night with floating minnow baits like the number 9 or number 11 Rapala. Some anglers use jigs or jigs tipped with live bait. During April, May and June anglers find walleyes feeding along the shorelines of the lake. Again, shallow running lures fished at night is the preferred presentation. When walleyes move deeper during the summer months, many anglers have success trolling nightcrawler harnesses on leadcore line or bottom bouncers during the daytime. Trollers usually concentrate their efforts at depths between 15 and 25 feet during the summer months. Some anglers also catch walleyes at these depths using jigging spoons. Points and flats are the most popular locations, but any shoreline with fairly consistent depths could produce walleyes. Fall fishing is definitely growing in popularity. The same lures and techniques used in the spring can be successful when the water cools down in September and October. Winter fishing calls for jigging spoons or jigs and live minnows. The winter months provide an interesting opportunity for anglers to fish for walleyes when other fishing opportunities and outdoor activities in general are limited. Very few anglers are taking advantage of the winter walleye fishing opportunities. Our sampling indicates that the walleyes are fairly active in the winter months, particularly the month of February. Since 2008, we have spent a considerable amount of time on South Holston Reservoir during February collecting walleyes for the statewide tagging study. We have collected decent numbers of fish along the shoreline in relatively shallow water (less than 10 feet) the first two weeks of February. Good numbers of walleyes and some really big female walleyes are moving around the reservoir and often are congregated along certain shorelines by mid to late February. These congregations seem to move on a daily basis. A particular bank may hold great numbers of fish one day and have almost no fish the next day. Big females can be found along the lake’s upper shorelines through mid-March. Most of the male walleyes move into the river by early March.

Anglers should note that there is an 18-inch minimum length limit in effect for walleye in South Holston Reservoir, and in the Middle Fork and South Fork Holston Rivers. Biologists will be tagging walleyes in South Holston Reservoir again in 2010 as part of a statewide study. A cash reward of 20 dollars is offered for the return of the tag and catch information. Anglers can remove the tag by cutting through the monofilament attachment with scissors or a knife. The fish can then be released or harvested (minimum length limits apply). Return the tag and catch information to the address printed on the tag. Catch information includes: date, time and general location of catch, “Was the fish harvested or released?”, “Were you fishing for walleyes?”, and “Did you catch other walleyes on this fishing trip?”

Flannagan Reservoir

The walleye population in Flannagan Reservoir has made a nice comeback following the fish kill of 2004. The fish kill combined with poor survival of stocked fingerlings in 2003, 2004 and 2005 greatly reduced walleye numbers. Excellent survival of walleye fingerlings stocked in 2006 started the population on the road to recovery. There should be good numbers of walleye over 18 inches this year. Most of the 2006 year class should exceed 18 inches in length. Survival of year classes stocked since 2006 also looks good based on recent sampling.

Walleyes moving into the Pound and Cranesnest Rivers during the early spring months provide some exciting fishing opportunities. The 2009 spring walleye run offered some good walleye fishing for the dedicated group of anglers who fish in the Cranesnest River practically every evening during the spring months. Most anglers use floating minnow plugs and start fishing just before dusk. These anglers seldom catch their limit of walleyes, but obviously catch enough to keep their interest peaked. Some really nice fish were landed in 2009. During April, May and June walleyes can also be caught on shallow running plugs fished at night along the shorelines of the reservoir. It is during these months that alewives, the primary forage of Flannagan walleyes, move into shallow water at night to spawn. Trolling with lead core line is the preferred technique after the water temperatures soar in the summer months. A 10 pound, 12-ounce trophy walleye was landed by a Flannagan walleye angler trolling crawler harnesses in June of 2009. Some anglers also catch walleyes fishing with live bait under lights at night. Anglers should note that there is an 18-inch minimum size limit in effect for walleye in Flannagan Reservoir.

Local Small Lakes

Hungry Mother Lake

The lake level at Hungry Mother Lake is back to normal following the dredging project. The dredging project should provide improved fish habitat and boat navigation in the shallow areas of the reservoir. Walleye fishing pressure was lighter than usual in 2009 due to limited access during the important months of April and May. This should mean more walleyes for anglers to catch in 2010. Anglers should note that in 2009 an 18-inch minimum size limit was established for walleye in Hungry Mother Lake.

This 108-acre lake in Southwest Virginia provides anglers with a great opportunity to catch walleyes in a small lake setting. Located in Hungry Mother State Park, the lake is also a great destination for families. The walleye population is increasing steadily. There are good numbers of fish up to about 20 inches, and enough bigger ones to cause anglers to lose some sleep again this year. A few walleyes are caught in late February, but the month of March generally signals the beginning of the walleye fishing season. April, May and June are probably the best three months, and night fishing is generally more productive. Alewives are the primary forage for walleyes in Hungry Mother Lake. During these three months the alewives move into shallow water at night to spawn. The spawning alewives swim in tight circles, creating a swirling noise. Most anglers use artificial lures to imitate the spawning alewives, but live shad, minnows and night crawlers are also effective. After June the walleyes seem to be harder to catch. During July, August and September anglers should concentrate their efforts in water less than 15 feet deep, because oxygen is limited at depths below 15 feet. Live bait will probably produce more strikes than artificial lures during this late summer period. During the day walleyes tend to be close to structure, like submerged trees. At night, or on cloudy days, walleyes move away from structure to feed on suspended schools of alewives.

Biologists will be tagging walleyes in Hungry Mother Lake again in 2010 as part of a statewide study. A cash reward of 20 dollars is offered for the return of the tag and catch information. Anglers can remove the tag by cutting through the monofilament attachment with scissors or a knife. The fish can then be released or harvested. Return the tag and catch information to the address printed on the tag. Catch information includes: date, time and general location of catch, “Was the fish harvested or released?”, “Were you fishing for walleyes?”, and “Did you catch other walleyes on this fishing trip?”

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Jacob reels in his 1st Bass

Mother Nature has finally decided to lay off of the rain a bit, and I had a chance to get out on the Clinch River twice this week.  I floated between Miller’s Yard and Dungannon bridge on Monday. The river was at a great level, but the color of the water was still a bit off . We were able to pull in some redeye and smallmouths off brown jigs with a green watermelon trailer. Just about every fish we caught were very shallow and close to the bank. The fish were hitting the bait as soon as the bait hit the water. Also there were very few fish that followed the lure back to the boat so they just were not picking up the color unless you were putting the bait just where the fish were.

Today I took my son down to Oxbow Lake in St. Paul to fish. The wind was blowing too hard for him to catch blue gill on the lake, so we headed to the back water of the lake where it runs into the Clinch. This area offers much more shelter from the wind and Jacob was able to pull in his first bass. This one was landed on a 5″ Zoom Pumpkinseed lizard and jumped twice to give him a great fight. The water level is perfect on the river, and the color is the best I’ve seen in over a month, so this 4th of July weekend is going offer some great fishing on the Clinch.

Clinch River Fishing Report

There have been some good reports coming out of the Tennessee side of the Clinch River. Fly Fishermen have been reporting have great success on sulphur dries, split back sulphurs, pheasant tails and sow bugs in sizes 14 to 18. The Peach Orchard to the 61 bridge section has been hot.

Generation schedules on the Clinch remain good for both floats and anglers who are wading.

First Bass out of Bark Camp

This Saturday I fished with the guys over at Southwest Virginia Outdoors in their Dinkmaster single event for the Summer held at Bark Camp Lake, June 27th, Daylight-11am. I can say I had a good time and was able to catch my first fish out of Bark Camp. I had fish the lake a couple of times, but never had any luck at all landing anything outside of a bluegill.

I caught all my fish on a 7″ Cherry Seed lizard. The fish were just inhaling the bait as soon as it hit the water. I was about to pull in three fish that would have weighed in around 4 pounds total, but due to 11″ to 14″ slot limit none of them got to stay in the boat. Lynn was able to boat four fish just under 11″, and with a grand total of 2 lbs we won the Dinkmaster 2009.

He was bank fishing in the rapidly flowing water below Claytor Lake Dam. Both striped bass and hybrids are stocked in the lake above, and some make their way through the dam to the New River below. The fish hit a Rapala Super Shad Rap and took him for a wild ride in the swirling waters before succumbing after a ten-minute battle. Hybrids are well-known for their strength and are very popular game fish for that reason. Although Mr. Rakes didn’t know what species he had at the end of his line until he brought it ashore, he knew it was big so he kept the drag loose in the hopes that it wouldn’t break the line.

Although hybrids can be confused with striped bass, he and his friends were fairly certain that the fish was a record hybrid. Had it been a striped bass, it would not have been anywhere near the current state record of 53 pounds, 7 ounces, caught in Leesville Reservoir. So, he was relieved when VDGIF Fisheries Biologist Bill Kittrell confirmed that his fish was indeed a hybrid and certified scales verified the weight at 13 pounds. Go to the Department’s website for a current list and photos of Virginia’s state record freshwater fish and more information about the trophy fish program.

– Report from the VA Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

Thanks

Josh

Fly Fishing the Clinch River

This article is republished with permission from Matthew at Grits-N-Flies. Be sure and check out the great fly fishing coverage on Grits-N-Flies:

There are many grate rivers and streams here in the south, and I plane to highlight many of them in the future. The Clinch River is just one of those rivers. If you want a stream that produces challenging, but exciting fishing year round, then the Clinch is river you’ve been looking for.

The Clinch River is a beautiful river that head waters in southwest Virginia, just to the east of Tazewell,Virginia. The Clinch winds its way through the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee, before emptying into the Tennessee River near Kingston, Tennessee. The river covers three hundred miles and is impounded once north of Clinton, Tennessee.

The impoundment at Clinton, is called Norris lake. The dam was completed in 1936. The lake now covers 30,000 Acers, that is when TVA isn’t generating power, and has 800 miles of shore line. Norris lake has it’s share of game fish including bass, walleye, catfish, and more. If your interested you maybe even able to hunt down a golden ghost or two.

Above the Lake you can find a good selection of fish to chase as well. According to the web site The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee there are 17 rare fish species that call the Clinch River home. Of course, most of them are not game fish. Also it is the home of one of my favorite warm water prey, Smallmouth bass. As well, in the fall the walleye begin to run up the river out of the lake. And redeye, I am told, also inhabit these waters. And further to the north, near Tazewell, Virginia, trout come back into the picture. One web site for the State of Virginia lists brook trout as one of the natives of the Clinch.

I’m not so sure of the claim that there are brookies in the head waters of the Clinch. I grew up within twenty minuets of the Clinch river. I rode a school bus three times a week for two years by the south fork of the Clinch river, I never imagined that there would have been brookies living in those waters. This is not to say their not there but its not a stream on the top of my “To Fish” list.

If you have a “To Fish” list, add the twenty or so mile section below Norris Dam to it. This section of water is touted by many as one of the best tailwaters in Tennessee. A fourteen to sixteen inch trout is not uncommon on the Clinch, but be ready, for there are many much larger fish that lurk in these waters. For example, a state record brown was pulled from these waters weighing in at 28 lbs.

Although a State record fish won’t be nipping at your fly every time you make a cast, there are still some real hogs in there. The guys over at the Creel were telling me that some of their customers only hunt for large browns on the Clinch. These guys will spend most of their day with large streamers, an intermediate sinking line, and whole lot of casting and stripping. The best way to do this is out of a drift boat and when generation is at two or more. Currently, that is a daily thing due to all the A/C units running.

The thought of the A/C brings up another subject, wading. before I moved to Tennessee I had never been around a tailwater like the Clinch. The only one I had fish was in West Virginia on the New River. You could spend all day, bear legged, on this river in the middle of August with out any problem. The Clinch is an other story. The water stays in the mid fifty’s year round which makes for good fishing, but unbearable wading without waders. I’ve done it but I don’t suggest it.

If your going to wade please respect the water. I’ve heard stories of folks getting stranded on islands because they didn’t check out the water release schedule. I have also heard stories of folks in float tubes getting dangerously close to the wier dam, which is about a mile below the main dam, during high generation.

It’s not worth getting killed over! If you don’t have access to a boat with a motor, stay out of the weir pool during generation. There are plenty of options for those without boats. when generation starts just pack up and head down stream. A public access area call the Peach Orchard is only about a fifteen to twenty minute drive and can give you another couple of hours of fishing. Drive to the highway 61 bridge, park at the jail house, and you could fish for another five or six hours before the water reaches you. If you do park at the jail house, ask first and they will tell you where to park and where to walk. If you get to close to the jail house you may set off a alarm that would ruin your day. I have parked there my self and they are very helpful.

When it comes to the fishing and rigging aspect of it, unless you are streamer fishing, small and light is the name of the game. The flies you will be throwing will be in the 18-20 range, and you will want an eleven to twelve foot, 6x-7x leader. As far as the rod goes, a nine foot five weight with WF line should be sufficient. Bead Head Pheasant Tail and midge patterns are your best bet, but you might want to also bring along some size 16 scuds that are as natural as possible. Also, from April to June sulfurs come off and are also small in size.

If you are coming from out of town there are many places to stay in the area. Clinton has several hotels and Knoxville is only about a thirty minute drive from the Clinch. There are also a number of rental cabins and lodges in the area that boast of river front property, so you may want to do some checking around. One plus to staying in Knoxville is if the Clinch is a bust it’s only an hour drive or so to another tailwater or the Great Smokie Mountains.

The Clinch is not an easy fish but it can be very rewarding. Even some of the days when I didn’t catch fish, I was able to learn something. I believe you’ll enjoy fishing the Clinch I know I do.

Matthew

About Grits-N-Flies:

Grits-N-Flies is a blog that provides helpful information on fly fishing in general but with special interest on the south. Most of the focus is in the southwestern Virgina and east Tennessee areas seeing that is my home turf. Also check out the fine bamboo rods Matthew makes.