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I'm headed to Gaitlinburg Tenn. in late march for a family trip. Anybody got any info on any good crappie fishing in that area. Trying to decide if I should take the boat along or not.
Thanks for any help !
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Fort Loudon, Telico lake, Watts Bar to name a few going from the closest. I am sure there are others
If a road trip isn’t out of the question, Dale Hollow Lake is a ways west and known as the Smallmouth Factory. Might put it on the list. Crappie fishing there is different but good, but the smallmouth run big and tough there. Lots of lakes closer to the Knoxville area. It was me, I’d have a boat behind me when I pulled into the hotel.
On the road in to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg from Interstate 40 (Hwy 66) you will pass a couple turn offs that will lead to Douglas Lake Dam Access area, a large boat ramp, campground and recreation area that is only about 30-45 minutes out of Sevierville. A great Crappie lake for numbers and if this mild weather continues late March will be perfect pre spawn conditions on that end of the lake. Grab you a map of the area, look at Navionics Chart Viewer on line and find Flat Creek down near the dam. Look for the boats in that creek and you will find the Crappie! One word of caution, our lakes drop 30-40ft in the winter, and in the Spring they are rising which causes lots of floating debris and navigation hazards. Shallow humps and islands can have only a few feet of water on them one week then be 10ft deep the next. Knowing the channels, hence maps and Navionics, will help. Good luck if you bring the boat.
Some good fishing up in East TN from the posts I see on the TN Forum. I'm with skeet.... I'd pull it!
All of the above are great suggestions! I will add, if you like trout fishing, you are right beside the entrance to the GSMNP. All of the trout in the Park are wild (not stockers), and you don’t need a boat.
This is good information.Quote:
Originally Posted by StantheMan2567
Douglas lake is close to Gatlinburg and is loaded with white and black crappie.
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Yep Douglas lake just a short drive ,I live very close to the dead sea "Norris" and make a few runs over there each year. big lake and then there is Cherokee not far also and they have rockfish there if your wanting a bigger tug
Thanks for all the feedback ! Stan thank you for your detailed info. Sounds like the boat will be in tow. Will be checking out Douglas for sure.
Crappie.com is the best !!
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I have been hearing about alot of rain in the south. Just wondering if there is any new info for Douglas or Norris Lakes.
Thanks !
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Red line is this years lake levels, also known as a Yo Yo!
TVA - Douglas Operating Guide
Weather has been even worse, but I think...fingers crossed, it is supposed to get warm and stay warm. Yes rain is in the forecast again but hopefully things will get back to normal. They are pulling water now, sluicing it out quickly, but fish are being caught.
:biggrin:biggrin
Thanks Stan ! I will be coming down around the 21st. Hopefully weather & water level will be settled down by then.
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You will be there just as the big smallmouth begin to move up into the Little Pigeon River in Sevierville! It ls just a 15 min drive from Gatlinburg early AM. We used to wade and throw large tuffies on an 1/8 or 1/4 carolina rigs, or clear floats fished 3-4ft deep you catch 25 on a good half day with a few pushing the 5lb mark. They will hit artificials like flukes and shadraps, but live bait is the key to big fish. There are some pull offs around bridges where you can fish from the bank. Be there at daylight for the best fishing. Concentrate on the area just above Wilderness at the Smokies and down river from there. May get a monster rainbow too! Just use google maps to find the bridges and pull offs. I’m planning on going there the first few weeks in April if the water is right.