By Joe Bailey
Tucked away in the mountains of upper East Tennessee, Watauga Lake is the first lake of the TVA chain. Fed by sparkling mountain streams and rivers, it is rated as the third cleanest lake in United States. No industry is located on any of the feeder streams or rivers that fill the Lake. That is, unless you count moonshining. Over 70% of the land surrounding the lake is owned by the government. At the lower end of the lake is a national campground. It features a swimming area, complete with sandy beach and a well-kept picnic area with clean restrooms. The Appalachian Trail literally goes right across the top of the damn. Winding through about 18 miles of the mountains, reaching dips of 260 feet, the lake contains a wide variety of fishing species to fit the style of most any angler.
For the bass angler, Watauga Lake is a premier smallmouth bass lake. Going back a few years, my brother and I took home 22 smallmouth, weighing in at just over 90 pounds, for my father’s church fish fry. That was in one, 17-hour trip. The lake also contains large mouth bass, spotted bass, crappy and rock bass (redeye).
For those that like to fish for fun and food, there is no better tasting fish in the world than the walleye from Watauga Lake. Let me warn you, 90% of the walleye are caught at night on the lake, and it is most challenging fishing. Of course, the crappie and spotted bass are quite tasty also. In addition, you can fish from the bank for three species of catfish, freshwater drum, and the various species of children friendly panfish. Corn, minnows, nightcrawlers, and chicken livers are the most effective for those. However, fly fishing and spinners provide a lot of action. Then there are four species of trout: rainbow, lake trout, Brown trout, and ohrid trout.
That is where I come into the picture. Through Fish Springs Marina, I provide guided trout fishing on this breathtaking lake. We troll in comfort for various trout on a 22-foot pontoon. I provide everything for the fishing. You are required to have a Tennessee fishing license with a trout stamp. You are welcome to bring coolers with food and drink for yourself and your companions. Plenty of room to move around for up to five people, in addition to myself. Bring the wife and kids. The pontoon is set up with four downrigger and one lead core rod, allowing us to fish at up to to nine different depths, with nine different lures, at the same time. We usually travel at 1.5 mph and tour the lake as we relax awaiting that next strike. We are primarily targeting the lake and rainbow trout. However, fishing at so many different depths, allows the guest to catch almost anything. We have caught smallmouth, walleye, spot bass. We have even caught carp and one bluegill. Ready to go fishing?