Fish early to beat 4th crowd

With the July 4th weekend closing in fast, area anglers and recreational boaters are preparing for the biggest weekend of the summer months.

Fishermen will definitely have to rise early and be on the lakes at dawn if they wish to fish quiet waters. Boaters, skiers and the seadoo crowd will begin arriving around 10 a.m.

Bass anglers will find Old Hickory Lake bass fishing good for largemouth bass measuring 12 to 13 1/2 inches. There are a few 15-inch largemouth being taken but they're few and far between.

The latest reports reveal spinnerbaits, plastic worms, and the jig and pig to be the most productive on Old Hickory, although there are rumors of buzzbaits and Pop R's fished on the surface early getting catches, too.

Catfishing is fair along rocky banks using cut bait, worms, chicken and turkey livers. The bluegill fishing has slowed some, however, crickets are still getting lots of bluegill, sizes small.

Always a sure bet for catfish catches and also bass is the area around and in the Gallatin Steam Plant. Rockfish, too, are taken in this area.

From Kentucky Lake the word is night-fishing for bass. Early morning and late evening bass results have been fair on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and plastic worms and lizards. Later in the day bass are being taken along the main river and creek channel ledges and drops, fishing Carolina rigged worms and lizards.

Willow fly hatches have brought on some exciting bluegill action for fly rod anglers. The flyrod anglers are using tiny, popping bugs to make their catches.

Crappie results have been slow, although some fisherman are going deep, down to 15 and 20 feet, fishing over brush to take fair catches using minnows and jigs.

The catfishing on Kentucky Lake is good. Fishing along the main river channel banks down 10 to 15 feet deep is paying off. Cut bait (skipjack and shad), night crawler worms, and turkey and chicken livers are the best baits.

The same kind of fishing activity for bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie are happening on Barkley Lake.

Percy Priest Lake hybrid are still stretching lots of anglers fishing lines early in the mornings and again late in the evenings around Suggs Creek and also the area in and around the 5-mile marker. Sizes are averaging in the 5 to 12 pound class.

Bass action is best early in the mornings on surface lures. Carolina-rigged worms and lizards are also producing later in the day. No crappie news to speak of, although some anglers are scoring fair trolling deep diving lures like the Bandit.

Yellow stripe are being caught in good numbers throughout the lake trolling and also casting. Bluegill fishing is fair on crickets. Catfishing is good on worms, chicken and turkey livers fished on jugs, also rod and reel.

Rockfish are also being caught early and late in the day trolling plainer boards and using shiners as bait.

Center Hill and Dale Hollow Reservoirs fishing is confined mostly to night for bass anglers. Spinnerbaits, Carolina rigged plastic worms and lizards, along with jigs and pork rind are your best bet for bass catches.

Walleye fishing is fair along gravel banks, trolling spinners and night crawler worms, also medium running crankbaits like the Bandit and Hot Shot.

Bluegill fishing is fair on steep bluffs on worms and crickets. Rainbow trout fishing is fair to good below the dams on both Center Hill and Dale Hollow on corn, Power Bait, small spinners and spoons.

Not much fishing news from Tims Ford, Normandy or Woods Reservoir, however, night fishing is your best bet.

Wear your life jacket and have a safe July 4th!