West Fork Recreation Area
What to throw right now
Per-species breakdown & tactics
Pick a fish, then Fly, Spin, or Colors. Your last pick is remembered.
Best window: morning
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
7-8 wt and a #6 backstabber carp fly. Sight-fish tailing carp on the mussel beds. Lead by 2-3 ft, drop the fly soft (any splash spooks them), let it sink to bottom on slack line. Strip an inch when the carp gets within a foot.
7-8 wt rod, floating line, 9 ft tapered leader to 12 lb fluoro. Sight-fish tailing or mudding carp like bonefish. Lead the fish by 2-3 ft, drop the fly soft (any splash spooks them), and let it sink to bottom on slack line. Strip the fly an inch when the carp gets within a foot of it; the strike is a slow head-down 'pickup', strip-set on weight. Mulberry pattern under an overhanging tree in June is the highest-percentage carp opportunity in TN.
7-8 wt and a #6 backstabber carp fly. Sight-fish tailing carp on the mussel beds. Lead by 2-3 ft, drop the fly soft (any splash spooks them), let it sink to bottom on slack line. Strip an inch when the carp gets within a foot.
7-8 wt rod, floating line, 9 ft tapered leader to 12 lb fluoro. Sight-fish tailing or mudding carp like bonefish. Lead the fish by 2-3 ft, drop the fly soft (any splash spooks them), and let it sink to bottom on slack line. Strip the fly an inch when the carp gets within a foot of it; the strike is a slow head-down 'pickup', strip-set on weight. Mulberry pattern under an overhanging tree in June is the highest-percentage carp opportunity in TN.
Flies: Backstabber Carp Fly #6, Hybrid Carp Fly #8, Mulberry Fly #8
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
Pre-bait a known mussel-bed flat with a handful of corn 30 min ahead. Sweet corn (3-4 kernels) on a #6 hair rig with a 1/2 oz inline lead, cast to the baited spot, wait for the slow tip-load.
BAIT OPTION: Sweet corn on a #6 hair rig is the standard. Pre-bait the spot for serious results.
Medium 6'6" rod, 8 lb mono, simple bottom rig. Sweet corn (3-4 kernels) on a #6 hair rig with a 1/2 oz inline lead; cast to known feeding flats and wait. Pre-bait the area 30 min ahead with a handful of corn or pack-bait for serious carp anglers. The strike is a slow tip-load, let the rod load, then set; carp inhale and run before they realize the hook is there. Barbless circle hooks are cleaner for release.
Pre-bait a known mussel-bed flat with a handful of corn 30 min ahead. Sweet corn (3-4 kernels) on a #6 hair rig with a 1/2 oz inline lead, cast to the baited spot, wait for the slow tip-load.
BAIT OPTION: Sweet corn on a #6 hair rig is the standard. Pre-bait the spot for serious results.
Medium 6'6" rod, 8 lb mono, simple bottom rig. Sweet corn (3-4 kernels) on a #6 hair rig with a 1/2 oz inline lead; cast to known feeding flats and wait. Pre-bait the area 30 min ahead with a handful of corn or pack-bait for serious carp anglers. The strike is a slow tip-load, let the rod load, then set; carp inhale and run before they realize the hook is there. Barbless circle hooks are cleaner for release.
Lures: Bread fly on barbless circle, Sweet corn on #6 hair rig, Doughball
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: natural, olive
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.
Why this score
- preferred time of day+15
- barometric trend+10
- pre frontal surge+8
- in season+4
- wind speed+4
- cloud preference+3
- flow band+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: after dark
Stunt approach: 9 wt sinking line, 30 lb fluoro to a 6" meat-fly with chicken-liver scent. Cast across-current into a known scour hole + let it sink to bottom, then strip 6" at a time with long pauses. Not common in TN; treat as exploratory.
Not a practical fly target most days. Heavy Clouser dredged deep is the novelty play.
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
Anchor above the deep holes around the bridge pilings or at the heads of the longest pools, fan-cast bait rigs after dark.
BAIT OPTION: Cut skipjack or chicken liver on a 6/0 circle hook with a 2-3 oz sinker, fished tight on bottom of the deep holes. Post-rain flush is the trigger — first 24 hours after a 1"+ rainfall puts big cats on the submerged wood near the pilings.
Heavy spinning or baitcasting combo, 50 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. For drifting: 7/0 circle hook on a 3-way swivel with a 2-3 oz sinker; bait the hook with cut skipjack (largest available, palm-sized chunks for trophy fish). Drift broadside across the channel edge or anchor upstream of a creek mouth and let the bait sit. Post-rain flush is the trigger; first 24 hours after a 1"+ rainfall puts big fish on submerged wood.
Anchor above the deep holes around the bridge pilings or at the heads of the longest pools, fan-cast bait rigs after dark.
BAIT OPTION: Cut skipjack or chicken liver on a 6/0 circle hook with a 2-3 oz sinker, fished tight on bottom of the deep holes. Post-rain flush is the trigger — first 24 hours after a 1"+ rainfall puts big cats on the submerged wood near the pilings.
Heavy spinning or baitcasting combo, 50 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. For drifting: 7/0 circle hook on a 3-way swivel with a 2-3 oz sinker; bait the hook with cut skipjack (largest available, palm-sized chunks for trophy fish). Drift broadside across the channel edge or anchor upstream of a creek mouth and let the bait sit. Post-rain flush is the trigger; first 24 hours after a 1"+ rainfall puts big fish on submerged wood.
Lures: Cut skipjack on 7/0 circle hook, Cut shad on 6/0 circle hook, Stink bait on treble (channel only)
Cut bait on bottom rigs. Put scent in the current seam and wait.
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: natural, bloody
Guide pick for stained water (fall): bloody cut shad, blackened liver, chartreuse dip bait
Catfish hunt by smell first. Color barely matters, contrast and scent do. Dark baits with bloody scent win in stain.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.
Why this score
- barometric trend+10
- pre frontal surge+8
- in season+4
- wind speed+4
- flow band+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: first light
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
Lightly pressured backwater largemouth here. 8 wt and a #4 deer-hair frog skipped under the laydowns on outside bends at first light.
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.
Lightly pressured backwater largemouth here. 8 wt and a #4 deer-hair frog skipped under the laydowns on outside bends at first light.
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 (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
Texas-rigged worm pitched into the laydowns and undercut banks. Slow everything down — these are lowland-river fish, not active reservoir fish.
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 worm pitched into the laydowns and undercut banks. Slow everything down — these are lowland-river fish, not active reservoir fish.
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: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.
- 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
- pre frontal surge+10
- barometric trend+10
- in season+4
- wind speed+4
- flow band+3
- cloud cover+2
Best window: midday
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
9 wt with a 3" frayed nylon rope 'fly' (no hook — rope tangles the teeth). Sight-fish surface-finning gar in the shallow sandbar flats during mid-day sun. Lead by 3-4 ft, let the rope sink to gar eye level, slow strip across the path. Count to 5 after the grab before setting.
9 wt rod for big longnose, intermediate or floating line, 6 ft 30 lb fluoro to a 3-4" frayed nylon-rope 'fly' (no hook, the rope tangles the teeth). Sight-fish surface-finning gar in mid-day sun-warmed shallows; lead by 3-4 ft, let the fly sink 6" to gar eye level, then strip slowly across the path. Once the gar grabs, count to 5 before stripping line tight, let it work the rope into the teeth. Strip-set with a long sweep.
9 wt with a 3" frayed nylon rope 'fly' (no hook — rope tangles the teeth). Sight-fish surface-finning gar in the shallow sandbar flats during mid-day sun. Lead by 3-4 ft, let the rope sink to gar eye level, slow strip across the path. Count to 5 after the grab before setting.
9 wt rod for big longnose, intermediate or floating line, 6 ft 30 lb fluoro to a 3-4" frayed nylon-rope 'fly' (no hook, the rope tangles the teeth). Sight-fish surface-finning gar in mid-day sun-warmed shallows; lead by 3-4 ft, let the fly sink 6" to gar eye level, then strip slowly across the path. Once the gar grabs, count to 5 before stripping line tight, let it work the rope into the teeth. Strip-set with a long sweep.
Flies: Frayed-rope Gar Fly (chartreuse), White Deceiver #1/0
In a few hours
ON THIS WATER (West Fork Recreation Area): Slow lowland river in Rutherford County. Long flat pools with sandbar drops, mussel beds, and a few deeper holes around bridge pilings. Big gar reported in the shallow sun-warmed flats; cats in the deep holes after dark; carp on the mussel beds.
5" pearl-white soft jerkbait on a weighted swimbait jig OR a frayed nylon rope teaser. Cast 6-8 ft ahead of finning fish in the shallow flats, slow steady retrieve at nose level. Re-tie after every fish — gar teeth shred mono.
Medium-heavy rod, 20 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. 5" pearl-white soft jerkbait on a weighted swimbait jighead, OR a frayed nylon rope teaser tied to a 1/4 oz weight. Cast 6-8 ft ahead of a finning gar and let it sink to depth. Slow steady retrieve at gar's nose level. Gar grab and crush sideways, count to 3 before setting, then sweep the rod hard. Re-tie after every fish; gar teeth shred mono.
5" pearl-white soft jerkbait on a weighted swimbait jig OR a frayed nylon rope teaser. Cast 6-8 ft ahead of finning fish in the shallow flats, slow steady retrieve at nose level. Re-tie after every fish — gar teeth shred mono.
Medium-heavy rod, 20 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. 5" pearl-white soft jerkbait on a weighted swimbait jighead, OR a frayed nylon rope teaser tied to a 1/4 oz weight. Cast 6-8 ft ahead of a finning gar and let it sink to depth. Slow steady retrieve at gar's nose level. Gar grab and crush sideways, count to 3 before setting, then sweep the rod hard. Re-tie after every fish; gar teeth shred mono.
Lures: 5" white plastic on weighted swimbait jig, Frayed nylon rope teaser
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
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.
Why this score
- barometric trend+10
- pre frontal surge+8
- in season+4
- wind speed+4
- cloud preference+3
- flow band+3
- cloud cover+2
Next 24 hours · weather forecast
Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.
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Latest readings
Live telemetry| Air temp (°F) | 69.6°F |
|---|---|
| Cloud cover (%) | 100% |
| Dew point (°C) | 20.6°C |
| discharge cfs | 28 cfs |
| gage height ft | 2.16 in |
| Relative humidity (%) | 48% |
| Chance of precipitation (%) | 5% |
| Precipitation (in) | 0.01 in |
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 1,019.6 mb |
| Rain past 24h (in) | 0.74 in |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0.00 in |
| Wind direction | E (100°) |
| Wind (mph) | 2.5 mph |
Reading freshness
Source update lag| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97°F | 74°F | Unknown | — | 1% | 1,023.4 mb | nws | |
| 99°F | 73°F | Unknown | — | 2% | 1,023.5 mb | nws | |
| 99°F | 73°F | Unknown | — | 1% | 1,019.6 mb | nws | |
| 98°F | 71°F | Unknown | — | 3% | 1,015.2 mb | nws | |
| 97°F | 70°F | Unknown | — | 5% | 1,013.7 mb | nws | |
| 96°F | 71°F | Unknown | — | 12% | 1,013.0 mb | nws | |
| 92°F | 68°F | Unknown | — | 23% | 1,013.9 mb | nws | |
| 84°F | 62°F | Unknown | — | 21% | 1,015.9 mb | nws | |
| 84°F | 56°F | Unknown | — | 14% | 1,013.8 mb | nws | |
| 88°F | 58°F | Unknown | — | 11% | 1,016.5 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 |
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