The cooler temperatures are sending the fish on the feed as the water temperatures begin to drop and baitfish school up and head for the backs of creeks. As the water cools, look for all species of fish to begin taking faster moving baits, such as crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Next week should signal the start of some of the best fishing of the year.
Striper fishing is good to fair, with most fish being caught in the area from Buoy seven to Clarksville. Trolling Cordell Redfins and bucktail jigs is the preferred method.
Shad are schooling up and moving into the back ends of the creeks.
Bass fishing is slow, with most fish being taken in the back of creeks and coves below Clarksville, on spinnerbaits and shallow running crankbaits. Bass are holding near shady clay banks in 3-10 feet of water in the creeks. Crankbaits and topwaters are taking these fish. Some bass are also moving into deeper water off main channel points and creek channel points in 5-6 feet of water. Shaky Heads, drop shots and deep diving crankbaits are the most productive methods for catching these fish.
Crappie action is also good with minnows, fished on wood structures in 12-15 feet of water or submerged brushpiles in 9-10 feet of water. Schools of white bass are available at the mouth of Bluestone Creek.
White perch are being caught in 14 feet of water, off rip-rap, on nightcrawlers and small minnows. Lots of gar are prowling the clay banks in the lower creeks. They readily take topwaters and crankbaits, but hooking them is another story.
