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By
far the most popular activity on Norris Lake is fishing. Norris is among the
Nation’s top for Striper and produces ample quantities of walleye and small mouth
as well.
Fishing
follows seasonal patterns. Most winter fishing is concentrated in the headwaters
of the reservoir and in the mouths of tributary streams. In early spring, some
species begin spawning runs. Walleye and sauger, for example travel upstream
into the Clinch and Powell Rivers and many are caught on these runs.
Good reservoir fishing is available from March through June. Crappie fishing is
best in April and early May. Bass and walleye fishing hits it’s peak in May
and June. Hair jigs and deep running plugs are effective for most species in
early spring. Spinners and worms are standard walleye bait.
During
summer months, night fishing for white bass and white crappie using live bait
and lights has proven successful. Black bass fishing, particularly small mouth,
picks up again in the fall. White bass, white crappie, and walleye are caught by
shallow trolling and still fishing with minnows.
Fishing Licenses:
Are NOT available
at the marinas, but can be purchased on your way through town at Wal Mart.
| Walleye |
Feb-March |
Headwaters; gravel or rock
points in main lake |
Hair jigs, lead-heads, grubs,
small spoons, crank baits |
| June-Oct |
Nighttime-Jigging spoons over
deep water
Daytime-Trolling spinner rigs off long points |
Worms, spinners, crank baits, hair jigs,
jigging spoons |
| Sauger |
Feb-March |
Headwaters; gravel or rock
points in main lake |
Hair jigs, lead-heads, grubs,
small spoons, crank baits |
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| White Bass |
Feb-March |
Headwater streams |
Minnows, spinners, crank baits,
jigs, grubs |
| June-Aug |
Trolling, jump fishing,
breaking fish, nighttime under lanterns |
Top water in breaks, and
grubs, jigs, crank baits, and minnows at night |
| Crappie |
Feb-May |
Brush in coves; trolling |
Minnows, grubs, crank baits
and jigs |
| June-Oct |
Trolling small crank baits;
deep brush piles; minnows under lanterns at night; deep |
Minnows, grubs, jigs, small crank baits |
| Striped Bass |
Feb-April |
Headwaters |
Spoons, crank baits, large
jigs, large top water lures, live shad |
| May-Oct |
Fish open water main channel
areas; search for breaking fish, fish thermoline |
Live shad, large top water,
large jigs |
| Catfish |
March-Oct |
Both daytime and nighttime
rough out the reservoir |
Stink bait, worms, chicken
livers |
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| Bluegill |
March-Oct |
Daytime |
Crickets, worms, grubs,
popping lures |
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| Largemouth Bass |
March-Mov |
Dingy water-up creeks, clear
water-drop offs and deep brush |
Worms, crank baits, jigs and
pig, lizards, spinner baits |
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| Smallmouth Bass |
Jan-Dec |
Dingy water-shallow points;
clear water-deep rock, drop-offs, bluffs |
Worms, flies, rind, crank
baits, spinner baits |
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| Spotted Bass |
March-Dec |
Steep banks, boat docks,
bluffs, big rocks |
Worms, flies, rind, crank
baits, spinner baits, minnows |
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