J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek spring)
What to throw right now
Per-species breakdown & tactics
Pick a fish, then Fly, Spin, or Colors. Your last pick is remembered.
Best window: first light
HATCH-MODE FLY SETUP: 5 wt rod with floating line, 9 ft 5X tippet. #8 Crappie Candy OR 1/32 oz white marabou jig fished as a fly. Crappie don't hammer dries but they will eat a midge cluster (#16-20 Griffith's Gnat) drifted slowly through brush + dock corners. Watch for the soft pickup, strip-set on any line stop.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
5 wt sink-tip + 1/32 oz white marabou jig fished as a fly over the brush piles. Count down to 12-15 ft (Priest crappie suspend deep), then microscopic strips.
5 wt rod with floating line, 9 ft 5X tippet to a #8 Crappie Candy or 1/32 oz marabou jig. Spring spawn (55-68°F water): dap or short-cast under dock corners + into brush; let the fly fall 2-4 ft then twitch once. The fall does the work. Summer + winter: switch to a sink-tip or full intermediate line, count down to the brush depth (8-12 ft), then microscopic 2" strips. Crappie eat lightly, set on any line stop, no rod sweep.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
5 wt sink-tip + 1/32 oz white marabou jig fished as a fly over the brush piles. Count down to 12-15 ft (Priest crappie suspend deep), then microscopic strips.
5 wt rod with floating line, 9 ft 5X tippet to a #8 Crappie Candy or 1/32 oz marabou jig. Spring spawn (55-68°F water): dap or short-cast under dock corners + into brush; let the fly fall 2-4 ft then twitch once. The fall does the work. Summer + winter: switch to a sink-tip or full intermediate line, count down to the brush depth (8-12 ft), then microscopic 2" strips. Crappie eat lightly, set on any line stop, no rod sweep.
Flies: Crappie Candy #8, Marabou Jig 1/32 oz
Chartreuse marabou jig or small Clouser under an indicator. Count down to the school depth.
In a few hours
HATCH-MODE SPIN SETUP: ultralight 6'-6'6" rod, 4-6 lb mono. Rig a small fly-imitation (1/32 oz white marabou jig OR #8 white Crappie Candy fly) on 4 lb fluoro 18-24" below a small pencil bobber + a tiny split-shot. Cast tight to brush + dock pilings; let the rig sit 5-8 seconds. The strike is a slight bobber dip, set on any subtle move.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Spider-rig small minnows or vertical-jig 1/16 oz hair jigs over marked brush piles. The brush is the whole game on this lake — without a graph or known piles you're searching blind.
BAIT OPTION: Live minnow on a slip-cork set to whatever depth marks brush that day. Stay on top of the school once you find it.
Ultralight 6'6" rod, 4-6 lb mono OR 8 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Spring: 'shoot' a 1/32 oz curly-tail grub far under docks by bow-and-arrow casting the rod tip + flicking the lure. Let it fall on slack line; strike on the drop. Summer: vertical-jig a 1/16 oz hair jig directly above marked brush piles; 6" lifts, 3-second pauses. Minnow on a slip-bobber set 6" above the brush is the bail-out when the bite is light.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Spider-rig small minnows or vertical-jig 1/16 oz hair jigs over marked brush piles. The brush is the whole game on this lake — without a graph or known piles you're searching blind.
BAIT OPTION: Live minnow on a slip-cork set to whatever depth marks brush that day. Stay on top of the school once you find it.
Ultralight 6'6" rod, 4-6 lb mono OR 8 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Spring: 'shoot' a 1/32 oz curly-tail grub far under docks by bow-and-arrow casting the rod tip + flicking the lure. Let it fall on slack line; strike on the drop. Summer: vertical-jig a 1/16 oz hair jig directly above marked brush piles; 6" lifts, 3-second pauses. Minnow on a slip-bobber set 6" above the brush is the bail-out when the bite is light.
Lures: 1/32 oz curly grub (white/chartreuse), 1/16 oz hair jig, Minnow under slip-bobber
Chartreuse jig tipped with minnow, vertical over brush. Slow fall triggers the eat.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Engine pick right now: chartreuse, white, pink/white
Guide pick for stained water (fall): chartreuse, pink / white, electric chicken
Crappie hunt by flash and vertical profile. Chartreuse and white outproduce naturals in every stain level except gin-clear.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 70% (terrestrials) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Crappie bite shuts down hard during post-frontal high-pressure days; commit to spring + fall windows where you can.
Why this score
- barometric trend+12
- pre frontal surge+10
- wind speed+7
- in season+4
- wind on preferred bank+3
- cloud cover+2
- water temp in target range+1
Best window: first light
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
8 wt and a #4 deer-hair frog walked along the drowned timber at the back of the Cedar Creek arm at first light. Switch to a #6 chartreuse-white Clouser fished sub-surface along the creek-channel ledges mid-day.
8 wt rod, integrated intermediate or floating line, 8 ft of 16-20 lb fluoro tapered down (4X butt to 0X bite). #4 deer-hair frog or #4 popper on calm warm mornings; #6 Clouser in chartreuse/white or olive Game Changer on overcast days or deeper. Cast tight to cover (overhung wood, dock corners, weed edges), let the popper sit 4-6 seconds, then a sharp pop. For sub-surface: cast across to the bank, let the streamer fall, then 2-3 ft strips with hard pauses. Strip-set hard; bass jaws are bony and you need the line tight to drive the hook.
8 wt and a #4 deer-hair frog walked along the drowned timber at the back of the Cedar Creek arm at first light. Switch to a #6 chartreuse-white Clouser fished sub-surface along the creek-channel ledges mid-day.
8 wt rod, integrated intermediate or floating line, 8 ft of 16-20 lb fluoro tapered down (4X butt to 0X bite). #4 deer-hair frog or #4 popper on calm warm mornings; #6 Clouser in chartreuse/white or olive Game Changer on overcast days or deeper. Cast tight to cover (overhung wood, dock corners, weed edges), let the popper sit 4-6 seconds, then a sharp pop. For sub-surface: cast across to the bank, let the streamer fall, then 2-3 ft strips with hard pauses. Strip-set hard; bass jaws are bony and you need the line tight to drive the hook.
Flies: Clouser Minnow #6 (chartreuse/white), Frog Popper #4
Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm pitched into the drowned timber at the back of the arm. Summer: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along the 15-25 ft channel ledges in the main creek. Pressured fish, so downsize and slow down everything.
BAIT OPTION: Live shiner (4-5") on a small Carolina rig dragged along the channel ledges. The bail-out when artificial bite shuts down.
Medium-heavy 7' rod, 20 lb braid + 12-15 lb fluoro leader (or straight 12 lb fluoro on a baitcaster). Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm with a 3/16 oz tungsten weight + 4/0 EWG hook is the all-conditions standard. For active fish: 1/2 oz spinnerbait slow-rolled along points + drop-offs. For deep summer suspended fish: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along 12-18 ft ledges. Post-front shutdown: switch to a weightless wacky-rigged 5" Senko in green pumpkin, work it dead-slow next to cover.
Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm pitched into the drowned timber at the back of the arm. Summer: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along the 15-25 ft channel ledges in the main creek. Pressured fish, so downsize and slow down everything.
BAIT OPTION: Live shiner (4-5") on a small Carolina rig dragged along the channel ledges. The bail-out when artificial bite shuts down.
Medium-heavy 7' rod, 20 lb braid + 12-15 lb fluoro leader (or straight 12 lb fluoro on a baitcaster). Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm with a 3/16 oz tungsten weight + 4/0 EWG hook is the all-conditions standard. For active fish: 1/2 oz spinnerbait slow-rolled along points + drop-offs. For deep summer suspended fish: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along 12-18 ft ledges. Post-front shutdown: switch to a weightless wacky-rigged 5" Senko in green pumpkin, work it dead-slow next to cover.
Lures: Texas-rigged worm (watermelon red flake), 1/2 oz spinnerbait (white/chartreuse), 3" soft jerkbait (smoke shad), 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer (deep summer)
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Engine pick right now: watermelon, chartreuse/white, shad
Guide pick for stained water (fall): black / blue jig, chartreuse / white spinnerbait
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 70% (terrestrials) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Topwater commits hardest in the first 90 minutes after sunrise on calm warm mornings, see /learn/technique/topwater-bass.
- Bluebird high-pressure days after a cold front kill the topwater bite; switch to slow soft plastics in deeper cover.
Why this score
- water temp in target range+16
- barometric trend+12
- pre frontal surge+10
- wind speed+7
- in season+4
- wind on preferred bank+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: morning
HATCH-MODE FLY SETUP: 6 wt rod with floating line, 9 ft 3X-4X tippet. Hatch-on smallmouth on rivers eat dries you'd throw at trout: #10-12 Stimulator or Chubby Chernobyl, often with a #14 rust-color Hare's Ear dropper. On lake smallmouth, a #4 Game Changer (perch finish) twitched along rocky banks at first light covers more water. Cross-current + dead-drift on rivers, twitch-and-pause on lakes.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
9 wt intermediate line, #4 olive Game Changer twitched along the rocky points at the mouth of Cedar Creek arm at first light. Smallmouth on Priest hold on the chunk-rock transitions in 10-15 ft.
8 wt rod, integrated intermediate or floating line, 8 ft of 16-20 lb fluoro tapered down (4X butt to 0X bite). #4 deer-hair frog or #4 popper on calm warm mornings; #6 Clouser in chartreuse/white or olive Game Changer on overcast days or deeper. Cast tight to cover (overhung wood, dock corners, weed edges), let the popper sit 4-6 seconds, then a sharp pop. For sub-surface: cast across to the bank, let the streamer fall, then 2-3 ft strips with hard pauses. Strip-set hard; bass jaws are bony and you need the line tight to drive the hook.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
9 wt intermediate line, #4 olive Game Changer twitched along the rocky points at the mouth of Cedar Creek arm at first light. Smallmouth on Priest hold on the chunk-rock transitions in 10-15 ft.
8 wt rod, integrated intermediate or floating line, 8 ft of 16-20 lb fluoro tapered down (4X butt to 0X bite). #4 deer-hair frog or #4 popper on calm warm mornings; #6 Clouser in chartreuse/white or olive Game Changer on overcast days or deeper. Cast tight to cover (overhung wood, dock corners, weed edges), let the popper sit 4-6 seconds, then a sharp pop. For sub-surface: cast across to the bank, let the streamer fall, then 2-3 ft strips with hard pauses. Strip-set hard; bass jaws are bony and you need the line tight to drive the hook.
Flies: Clouser Minnow #6 (chartreuse/white), Frog Popper #4
Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.
In a few hours
HATCH-MODE SPIN SETUP: medium-light spinning combo, 8 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. River: 1/16 oz brown jig + 2" smoke craw trailer ticked along bottom seams, smallies hammer it during the hatch as they key on emerging caddis nymphs. Lake: tiny 1/16 oz hair jig under a slip-bobber rig drifted along rocky shorelines. Surface action: 1/8 oz Yellow Magic popper twitched dead-slow with 5-second pauses.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
1/4 oz jerkbait twitched parallel to the chunk-rock points at first light. Mid-day: drop-shot a finesse worm along the 20-25 ft contour off the same points.
BAIT OPTION: Live shiner on a drop-shot rig fished directly above marked fish on the graph. Most consistent producer for pressured Priest smallmouth in summer.
Medium-heavy 7' rod, 20 lb braid + 12-15 lb fluoro leader (or straight 12 lb fluoro on a baitcaster). Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm with a 3/16 oz tungsten weight + 4/0 EWG hook is the all-conditions standard. For active fish: 1/2 oz spinnerbait slow-rolled along points + drop-offs. For deep summer suspended fish: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along 12-18 ft ledges. Post-front shutdown: switch to a weightless wacky-rigged 5" Senko in green pumpkin, work it dead-slow next to cover.
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
1/4 oz jerkbait twitched parallel to the chunk-rock points at first light. Mid-day: drop-shot a finesse worm along the 20-25 ft contour off the same points.
BAIT OPTION: Live shiner on a drop-shot rig fished directly above marked fish on the graph. Most consistent producer for pressured Priest smallmouth in summer.
Medium-heavy 7' rod, 20 lb braid + 12-15 lb fluoro leader (or straight 12 lb fluoro on a baitcaster). Texas-rigged 7" watermelon-red worm with a 3/16 oz tungsten weight + 4/0 EWG hook is the all-conditions standard. For active fish: 1/2 oz spinnerbait slow-rolled along points + drop-offs. For deep summer suspended fish: 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer hopped along 12-18 ft ledges. Post-front shutdown: switch to a weightless wacky-rigged 5" Senko in green pumpkin, work it dead-slow next to cover.
Lures: 1/16 oz brown jig + 2" smoke craw trailer (bottom-tick presentation), Texas-rigged worm (watermelon red flake), 1/2 oz spinnerbait (white/chartreuse), 3" soft jerkbait (smoke shad), 3/8 oz football jig + craw trailer (deep summer)
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Engine pick right now: watermelon, chartreuse/white, shad
Guide pick for stained water (fall): black / blue jig, chartreuse / white spinnerbait
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 70% (terrestrials) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Topwater commits hardest in the first 90 minutes after sunrise on calm warm mornings, see /learn/technique/topwater-bass.
- Bluebird high-pressure days after a cold front kill the topwater bite; switch to slow soft plastics in deeper cover.
Why this score
- preferred time of day+15
- barometric trend+12
- pre frontal surge+10
- water temp in target range+9
- wind speed+7
- in season+4
- wind on preferred bank+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: first light
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Niche on Priest. If you try: 9 wt fast-sink line with a weighted chartreuse Clouser counted down to 20-25 ft over the main-lake humps.
Lake walleye on a fly is a niche game. 9 wt with a fast-sink 350-450 grain integrated head; 6 ft 20 lb fluoro to a heavily-weighted Clouser or articulated baitfish pattern in chartreuse-over-white. Troll-fish from a kayak or skiff over 20-30 ft ledges at 0.8-1.2 mph using the wind for drift. Or jig vertically with the heaviest fly your rod can handle, count down to bottom, then 6" lifts. Productive but slow versus spinning gear; treat it as a fun-with-friends approach, not your meat-and-potatoes.
Niche on Priest. If you try: 9 wt fast-sink line with a weighted chartreuse Clouser counted down to 20-25 ft over the main-lake humps.
Lake walleye on a fly is a niche game. 9 wt with a fast-sink 350-450 grain integrated head; 6 ft 20 lb fluoro to a heavily-weighted Clouser or articulated baitfish pattern in chartreuse-over-white. Troll-fish from a kayak or skiff over 20-30 ft ledges at 0.8-1.2 mph using the wind for drift. Or jig vertically with the heaviest fly your rod can handle, count down to bottom, then 6" lifts. Productive but slow versus spinning gear; treat it as a fun-with-friends approach, not your meat-and-potatoes.
Niche on fly. Heavy chartreuse Clouser trolled along 20 to 30 ft ledges.
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Bottom-bouncer + nightcrawler harness trolled along the 18-25 ft contours of the main-lake humps at 1.0-1.5 mph. Pre-spawn (March-April): vertical-jig the mid-lake humps at dusk.
BAIT OPTION: Nightcrawler harness on a bottom-bouncer. The standard Priest walleye approach; need a graph for productive water.
Bait-casting or medium-heavy spinning combo with a graph. Bottom-bouncer (1.5-2 oz) on a 3-way swivel + 4-6 ft snell to a slow-death hook tipped with a half-nightcrawler. Troll along the 20-30 ft contour at 1.0-1.5 mph; the bottom-bouncer ticks rocks while the harness floats just above. Watch the rod tip for the soft pull-back-then-load that's a walleye eating. Set with a sweeping rod lift, not a hookset jerk.
Bottom-bouncer + nightcrawler harness trolled along the 18-25 ft contours of the main-lake humps at 1.0-1.5 mph. Pre-spawn (March-April): vertical-jig the mid-lake humps at dusk.
BAIT OPTION: Nightcrawler harness on a bottom-bouncer. The standard Priest walleye approach; need a graph for productive water.
Bait-casting or medium-heavy spinning combo with a graph. Bottom-bouncer (1.5-2 oz) on a 3-way swivel + 4-6 ft snell to a slow-death hook tipped with a half-nightcrawler. Troll along the 20-30 ft contour at 1.0-1.5 mph; the bottom-bouncer ticks rocks while the harness floats just above. Watch the rod tip for the soft pull-back-then-load that's a walleye eating. Set with a sweeping rod lift, not a hookset jerk.
Lures: Bottom-bouncer + nightcrawler harness (chartreuse spinner), 3/8 oz long jighead + 4" swimbait (smoke), #7 jointed shad-rap troll along 20-30 ft contour
Bottom-bouncer plus chartreuse crawler harness along contour. Slow troll 1.0 to 1.5 mph.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Engine pick right now: chartreuse, purple, shad
Guide pick for stained water (fall): chartreuse, orange, fire tiger
Walleye eyes gather light. They feed low-light and see chartreuse and orange deeper than any other colors.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 70% (terrestrials) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Lake walleye scatter in summer; without electronics you're searching blind. A graph + structure-aware troll is the difference between zero and double-digits.
Why this score
- barometric trend+12
- pre frontal surge+8
- wind speed+7
- in season+4
- wind on preferred bank+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: last light
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Spring run (mid-March through April) up Cedar Creek — strip a #4 white-chartreuse Clouser through current voids where the creek narrows. Fall schooling on the main lake: cast a Clouser THROUGH the surface boil, not at it.
6-7 wt with a sink-tip or intermediate line, 4 ft 12 lb fluoro, #4 Clouser in white-over-chartreuse. Cast into the current void behind a sand bar or rip; strip-strip-pause back through. The pause is critical, whites smash on the pause. Spring tributary run (Feb-April): wade the mouths of feeder creeks and cover water on every retrieve. Surface schools at dusk: cast through the boil, NOT at the boil, and strip fast.
Spring run (mid-March through April) up Cedar Creek — strip a #4 white-chartreuse Clouser through current voids where the creek narrows. Fall schooling on the main lake: cast a Clouser THROUGH the surface boil, not at it.
6-7 wt with a sink-tip or intermediate line, 4 ft 12 lb fluoro, #4 Clouser in white-over-chartreuse. Cast into the current void behind a sand bar or rip; strip-strip-pause back through. The pause is critical, whites smash on the pause. Spring tributary run (Feb-April): wade the mouths of feeder creeks and cover water on every retrieve. Surface schools at dusk: cast through the boil, NOT at the boil, and strip fast.
Flies: Clouser Minnow #4 (white/chartreuse), Wooly Bugger #6
Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (J. Percy Priest Lake (Cedar Creek arm)): USACE reservoir, heavily pressured year-round. Cedar Creek arm pulls spring inflow that drops water temp 3-5°F below the main lake all summer — concentrates baitfish and predators when the rest of the reservoir cooks. Brush piles, drowned timber, and creek-channel ledges are the key structure.
Spring: 1/4 oz Roostertail through current voids at narrow spots in Cedar Creek. Fall surface schools: 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz head, count down 2 seconds, jig back.
Medium-light rod, 10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro. 1/4 oz Roostertail or 1/8 oz silver spoon is the classic. Cast across current, retrieve just fast enough to keep contact + spin the blade. For schooling fish at dusk: 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz head, count it down 2-3 seconds, then jig back with the rod tip. Whites travel in tight schools, once you find one, throw to the same spot until it stops.
Spring: 1/4 oz Roostertail through current voids at narrow spots in Cedar Creek. Fall surface schools: 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz head, count down 2 seconds, jig back.
Medium-light rod, 10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro. 1/4 oz Roostertail or 1/8 oz silver spoon is the classic. Cast across current, retrieve just fast enough to keep contact + spin the blade. For schooling fish at dusk: 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz head, count it down 2-3 seconds, then jig back with the rod tip. Whites travel in tight schools, once you find one, throw to the same spot until it stops.
Lures: 1/4 oz Roostertail, 1/8 oz spoon (silver), Sassy Shad 3"
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Engine pick right now: white, chartreuse, silver
Guide pick for stained water (fall): black / blue jig, chartreuse / white spinnerbait
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 70% (terrestrials) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
Why this score
- barometric trend+12
- preferred time of day+11
- pre frontal surge+8
- wind speed+7
- in season+4
- wind on preferred bank+3
- cloud cover+2
Next 24 hours · weather forecast
Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.
12PM
93°
5
SW
1PM
95°
0
N
2PM
97°
0
N
3PM
98°
0
N
4PM
97°
0
N
6% rain
5PM
97°
0
N
7% rain
6PM
95°
0
N
7PM
89°
5
SE
8PM
86°
5
E
9PM
84°
5
SE
10PM
82°
5
SE
11PM
81°
5
SE
12AM
80°
0
N
1AM
79°
0
N
2AM
78°
0
N
3AM
77°
0
N
4AM
76°
0
N
5AM
75°
0
N
6AM
75°
0
N
7AM
74°
0
N
8AM
77°
0
N
9AM
81°
0
N
10AM
87°
5
W
11AM
90°
5
NW
Latest readings
Live telemetry| Air temp (°F) | 72.9°F |
|---|---|
| Cloud cover (%) | 100% |
| Dew point (°C) | 21.1°C |
| discharge cfs | -67 cfs |
| gage height ft | 3.36 in |
| Relative humidity (%) | 42% |
| Chance of precipitation (%) | 6% |
| Precipitation (in) | 0.00 in |
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 1,020.0 mb |
| Rain past 24h (in) | 0.48 in |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0.00 in |
| Water temp (°C) | 27.6°C |
| Wind direction | E (90°) |
| Wind (mph) | 3.6 mph |
Reading freshness
Source update lag| Water temp (°C) | 36 min ago usgs |
|---|---|
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 0 min ago openmeteo |
| Wind (mph) | 0 min ago openmeteo |
| Cloud cover (%) | 0 min ago openmeteo |
| Air temp (°F) | 0 min ago openmeteo |
| Rain past 24h (in) | 2753.1 h ago openmeteo stale |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0 min ago nws |
Hatch matcher · this month
Active aquatic insect emergences & suggested imitations.
Midge
Sizes 18–24
Recommended patterns:
Zebra Midge #20
Year-round on tailwaters/lakes
Craneflies
Sizes 10–14
Recommended patterns:
Cranefly Larva #12, Adult Cranefly #12
Weeks 10-39 (Mar-Sep) on Stones River + lower Cumberland; long warmwater season.
Next few hours · best species
Prime windows for active feeding over the next 12 hours (CDT).
7-day forecast
Composite spot scores over the coming week.
TREND SPARKLINE (7-DAY BITE SCORE)
Score Range: 0 - 100
10-day weather & pressure outlook
Extended NWS meteorological outlook.
| Day | High | Low | Wind | Cloud | Rain % | Pressure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98°F | 75°F | Unknown | — | 1% | 1,023.5 mb | nws | |
| 98°F | 74°F | Unknown | — | 2% | 1,023.3 mb | nws | |
| 99°F | 74°F | Unknown | — | 2% | 1,019.4 mb | nws | |
| 100°F | 72°F | Unknown | — | 2% | 1,015.1 mb | nws | |
| 98°F | 72°F | Unknown | — | 4% | 1,013.3 mb | nws | |
| 95°F | 72°F | Unknown | — | 12% | 1,012.7 mb | nws | |
| 91°F | 69°F | Unknown | — | 24% | 1,014.0 mb | nws | |
| 84°F | 64°F | Unknown | — | 20% | 1,016.1 mb | nws | |
| 85°F | 58°F | Unknown | — | 13% | 1,014.1 mb | nws | |
| 90°F | 61°F | Unknown | — | 10% | 1,016.9 mb | openmeteo |
Trends · 7 days
Hover chart points for telemetry details. Gold dot represents latest reading.
Barometric pressure (mb)
Water temperature (°F)
Fishing regulations (TWRA)
Statewide creel and length limits. Confirm the current rule on TWRA before you keep a fish.
These are statewide defaults only. Many waters have their own creel, size, or season rules that override this list. Check the water you are fishing on TWRA before you go.
TWRA fishing regulations · Water-specific exceptions
Statewide defaults (19 rules)
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | No harvest allowed. Must be returned to water immediately. |
| Black Bass (includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Alabama And Coosa) | No more than 5 black bass per day in any combination may be taken. | None |
| Catfish | Only one (1) catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches. |
| Crappie | 15 | 10 inches |
| Lake Trout | Only 2 of your 7 total trout may be lake trout. | None |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36 inches |
| Paddlefish | Paddlefish may be harvested from April 24 through May 31. Daily creel limit is 2 fish per day with no size limit. Culling is prohibited. Exceptions on Center Hill, Cherokee, and Watts Bar reservoirs. |
| Redear Sunfish (shellcracker) | 20 | None |
| Redear Sunfish Or Shellcracker | 20 | None |
| Region 1 Crappie Exception: Unless Otherwise Noted For Specific Waters. | 30 | None |
| Rock Bass Or Redeye And Shadow Bass | 20 | None |
| Sauger Or Sauger/walleye Hybrids | 10 | 15 inches |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | No harvest allowed. Must be returned to the water immediately. |
| Skipjack Herring | 100 | None |
| Striped Bass Or Hybrid Striped Bass (any Combination) | 2 | 15 inches |
| Trout (all Trout Species Combined) | 7 | None |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 inches |
| White Bass | 15 | None |
| Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Warmouth, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, And Nongame Species | no limit | None |
Access points & navigation
- Bartons Creek 36.2758, -86.3652 phone map Google OSM
- Bledsoe Creek State Park Ramp 36.3761, -86.3523 phone map Google OSM
- Boat Ramp 36.3052, -86.4028 phone map Google OSM
- Boat Ramp 36.2994, -86.2654 phone map Google OSM
- Bryant's Grove 36.0737, -86.5184 phone map Google OSM
- Cairo Boat Ramp 36.3593, -86.3625 phone map Google OSM
- Ciaro Bend 36.3406, -86.3737 phone map Google OSM
- Couchville Lake 36.0946, -86.5436 phone map Google OSM
- Davis Corner Access 36.2807, -86.4480 phone map Google OSM
- Four Corners Boat & Marina 36.0515, -86.5666 phone map Google OSM
- Four Corners Marina 36.0521, -86.5662 phone map Google OSM
- Gallatin Steam Plant Ramp 36.3242, -86.3920 phone map Google OSM
- Laquardo Access 36.2898, -86.4442 phone map Google OSM
- Long Hunter Boat Ramp 36.0899, -86.5458 phone map Google OSM
- Misty Cove 36.3196, -86.2896 phone map Google OSM
- Old Union Hill Access 36.3983, -86.3453 phone map Google OSM
- Poole Knobs 36.0534, -86.5190 phone map Google OSM
- Poole Knobs Camp Area 36.0547, -86.5109 phone map Google OSM
- Shady Cove Resort & Marina 36.3768, -86.3395 phone map Google OSM
- Viverette Creek 36.1409, -86.5435 phone map Google OSM
- Ziegler's Fort Ramp 36.3744, -86.3588 phone map Google OSM
Field reports & historical notes
-
fly south 25 a night of music to kick off our fall of celebration · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago
-
yeti gobox overview · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago
-
pumpkin in the hallowed pages of scof · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago
-
the case for late spring in middle tennessee · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago
-
skillsets wet wading · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago
-
summercarp · flysouth
Fetched 10 h ago