The month of July in the Chattanooga area can offer some great fishing opportunities due to the versatility offered by Chickamauga Lake, which navigates through the city of Chattanooga. Encompassing 36,000 acres, Chickamauga Lake is located along the Tennessee River and borders Rhea, Meigs, and Hamilton counties with an impressive 810 miles of shoreline.
Chickamauga's angler's paradise is all thanks to favorable characteristics such as cooler water in the summer, water current, preferred habitat (rip rap banks and a rocky bottom) and lots of available bait fish such as threadfin and gizzard shad. In July, one could anticipate catching catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass as well as other species in this area.
Chickamauga Dam, which lies within the Chattanooga city limits, separates two reservoirs. The Chickamauga Dam's tailwaters (Nickajack headwaters) offer some of the best fishing in the Chattanooga area year-round.
The reservoir has great structural features and excellent water quality. There's moving water and a wonderful mixture of vegetative habitat which includes milfoil, pondweed, hydrilla and naiads. Chickamauga has many acres of spawning habitat with stumps, rock banks, shallow back water, overhanging trees, and more. The biggest challenge to spawning is the yo-yoing of the water levels in the spring by Tennessee Valley Authority due to rain events. Also, Chickamauga doesn't achieve full pool until May 15 when it used to be April 15, according to TVA's new Reservoir Operations Study incorporated around 2008. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has done a phenomenal job managing this fishery as has the nearby City of Dayton when it comes to promoting the lake's recreational offerings.
This tailwater area also offers convenient boat access and some of the best bank fishing opportunities. The best bank fishing area is adjacent to and below the Chickamauga Dam at the south end of the dam. A fishing pier is also located there. Areas downstream from this tailwater area also offer quality fishing conditions around laydowns and breaks in the river current where fish await food to be brought to them by the river current.
Chickamauga Reservoir, which is located above the Dam, offers some of the best bass fishing opportunities. The new state record largemouth bass was caught there in 2015, which weighed 15 lb., 3 oz. With several years of stocking Florida-strain bass and great vegetation, Chickamauga was a growing favor to deliver a record-breaker, and it did just that. The fish was estimated to be 12 years old, and as expected was a hybrid from the Florida stockings. Another amazing statistic recorded at Chickamauga is a one-day, 5-fish tournament limit that weighed a whopping 44.31 pounds. That's only 13 ounces from the national record! So there is no doubt this is an incredible bass lake. It's got it all: moving water, great structure, Florida-strained, monstrous fish. I would encourage any angler looking for a good place to fish to try and plan an outing to this reservoir as soon as possible.
TWRA fisheries biologist Mike Jolley has confirmed that the stocking program, the vegetation, and a strong, high-protein forage base of gizzard and threadfin shad provide the perfect formula for an excellent bass fishery. Jolley said it seems bass production is good most years with exceptional spawns occurring during the years there are more spring floods.
In July, most anglers targeting black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) focus on deeper water structure such as humps, bluffs and deep woody structures.
Deep running lures such as crankbaits, as well as jigs and plastic worms, are also fantastic baits of choice. Don’t forget topwater fishing along vegetation lines and other structures, especially early in the morning and late evening when shallow waters can also be productive.
Catfish in deep water holes in the main river channel are also productive for some large catfish. Additionally, bluegill can be caught around laydowns, bluffs and shady areas with a variety of baits.
Note that many largemouth will remain shallow through spring flooding and should likely move to depths of 6-10 feet by mid-June, and maybe 8-14 feet as the days warm even more. But on cloudy days, look for the fish to return to those 6-10 feet depths. In late May, also start to look for the fish to suspend in the mouths of the creeks or wherever there is good vegetative cover. As summer sends water temperatures soaring, look for more bass to begin holding on deeper ledges and humps in the main lake and in the larger creeks. The current will help dictate the bite and concentrations of fish. Surface activity can also begin in the month of May. Simply look for schooling activity and fish a Rebel Pop-R for some good results.
The most popular baits depend on the species, which are typically live bait, such as shad for stripers and bass, worms or crickets for bluegill, cut fish bait for catfish and artificial baits that mimic shad or crayfish for most game fish.
As expected, growth rates of fish are incredible, and you can catch nice ones just about anywhere on this fabulous waterway. The City of Dayton has gone all out to promote tournament fishing in the region, and anglers visiting the area are definitely pleased with visits. A TWRA survey indicates a 99.7 percent angler approval rating.
As described, one can see how the Chattanooga area in July, or any other time of the year, has much to offer regarding fishing opportunities. Whether you choose to fish from a boat or the bank in the Chattanooga area is your choice; one thing for sure-- a host of fish species await you in some of the most productive waters in East Tennessee along the beautiful Tennessee River.
