The southern coves midlake, are holding hundreds of baitfish in huge schools. Bass are not agressive in these coves. Check out coves on the Northern side of the lake, off creeks and around bridges. Best patterns are buckbrush; chunk rock banks, dropping off into 10 feet of water; secondary rocky points; and wood cover midway back in the cove or creek.
Square bill crankbaits, Chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, Senkos and creature baits are the better choice of baits. To be effective, baits must be fished within 12 inches of the rocky shoreline or in the bushes.
Topwater action is occasionally productive, particularly on points of coves, halfway back in the creeks.
Crappie anglers are loading coolers, using small minnows over brushpiles and around bridge pilings. Schools of breaking stripers are being found between Buoy 16 and the Clarksville Bridge, and at the mouth of Bluestone Creek.
Trolling Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrak minnows along the river channel is producing some good catches of stripers, but don’t be surprised if you end up with a 30 pound flathead or blue catfish. A number of anglers this past week landed these catfish while fishing for stripers.