Douglas Lake in April! There is no better place to be! I took three of my clients out on a guiding trip on 04/17/2010 and we caught a total of around 22 keepers on Prowler Pro Pitch Lures finesse worms and Carolina rigs. Our average fish this day was 2 1/2two lbs with around five being in the 3 lb range. We had ideal conditions with blue bird skies and some wind from the west. We targeted the sides of points and pocket cuts leading back in large creeks. The water was around 72-75 degrees in the area we were in. We were catching fish that were setting up to spawn. The majority of the fish we caught did not have bloody tails on them yet. If my thinking is correct, the big girls were probably close by ready to lay eggs. Much of the time on Douglas this time of year, if you can find cuts off main creeks you will find bass. They like these small cuts or small hollows to spawn in due to it being protected from wind and waves and such. If you are around Douglas Lake be sure to stop by and wet a line or two. Good fishing.

Captain Nathan

The Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper was a hit down on Lake Okeechobee FLW American Bass Fishing Series Southeast Division tournament last week. This bait draws strikes from resident and bedding fish like I have never seen. I am going to use this bait around bedding, schooling and resident fish up on the lakes East Tennessee this year. The color of choice on the BIG O was the Houdini color, which is similar to a golden shiner. The important thing to do when bed fishing is to always waypoint your bed so you know exactly where it is due to weather hindering situations. If you can return to your waypointed bed, you can get way off of it and throw the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper above it or let the dipper drop down in the bed. I would say about 80% of the time these fish killed this bait if I got it above or to the sides of the bed. If I could not get bit on the dipper I would either throw the Reaction Innovations Beaver or Yamamoto Sinko to the beds.  One more thing that will increase your success of being a successful bed fisherman is a Power Pole. The next time I return to Florida to fish the FLW American Series, I will definitely have a Power Pole. This piece of equipment can help you stay locked down on a bed without any boat movement. I will be able to use this product in the rivers and fishing shallow on East TN Lakes as well while I am guiding and fishing tournaments in East Tennessee.  Go give a few of these products a try and see what happens!!

As you have probably read from my home page, I’m a local fishing guide who has put in many hours on most East TN Lakes and fish the National FLW American Series Bass Tournaments across the country.   The prime time to fish Douglas and Cherokee Lakes are April and May.  You can catch lots of fish and have a lot of fun while you’re at it.  Planning a spring break in the Smokies??  Come fish with me.  Douglas Lake is a very short drive from Sevierville and Cherokee Lake is under a 30 minute drive.  I will guarantee you to catch lots of fish.  Can’t come during April or May.  No problem,  I can put you on fish most any time of the year.  I also do trips on Norris Lake and Fort Loudon/Tellico.  Have questions or comments on fishing?  Feel free to ask.  Comment on this opening blog and receive $10 off your full day trip.