Thread: Need some help on planning vacation

Originally Posted by hays47

How is the crappie fishing in late October @ either douglas , cherokee or watts bar lakes ? Cousin and our wives will make up foursome. Wives probably only going to shore fish. Cousin and I will be hitting it hard on the boat.
Have to check with Cuz to see when his vacation week is. Since I am retired
I can go anytime. What would be your best recommendations on these three lakes ? I believe we would be there either the 3rd week or last week of October.
Last year we went to kerr lake in virginia and the timing was lousy. Even the locals were having a tough time. Lake levels were extremely low due to drought and the crappies were tight lipped to say the least. Hopefully the this Tenn. trip will go better.
Any info or opinions greatly appreciated.

Can't chime in on Douglas or Cherokee, as I haven't fished them in decades :p
Watts Bar, on the other hand, is usually pretty good in mid Oct, and on thru Nov, weather permitting. Last year was a bust, but that was due to the long hot Summer ... that kinda extended itself well into Fall . But, prior Fall trips, and all the former Fall Brawl Crappie Tourneys we used to have ... mid Oct to late Oct ... were productive outings. If you're looking for White Crappie, they're gonna be out deep ... but, if you're looking for Black Crappie, they're usually under the docks, and out on the brushy flats. That timeframe, when the weather and water levels are cooperating, is prime dock shooting time ... but, mostly on the deeper water docks (>15ft deep at front of dock). As with any fishing trip, timing is the key ingredient
Not real sure about "shore fishing" for the ladies, though. Then again, the Yellow Bass & Hybrid Stripers & Stripers could very well be cruising the backs of bays/creeks (along with some LMB's & SMB's) looking for Shad schools to bust into. I wouldn't "count on it" ... but, it is always a possibility :D It would also depend alot on where you stayed, too. If they have a deep water dock (boat slip dock or Marina dock) ... they usually don't mind you fishing off them. You'd probably want to be somewhere between the dam area and Thiefneck Island, as far as having the best chance at finding docks with deep enough water under them ... and the better accomodations camps. From Thiefneck Island towards the town of Kingston, Tn. ... it's mostly "river" type terrain, with shallow bays. There are a couple of deep creeks, like Caney Creek, but they have no docks. I haven't fished up that way, in the Fall, for so many years ... I couldn't even offer you a suggestion on how/where to fish there.
Compare all this to whatever the "locals" can tell you, about Cherokee & Douglas (& their Watts Bar info), before you make any decisions. Any further information needed ... feel free to PM me.

... luck2ya ... cp