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Watauga Lake

Lake fishing  Tennessee · 06:54 - 17:29

Watauga Lake is a lake in Tennessee. The main target species are Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout and Common Carp.

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Good 45% The bite right now
Top bet: Striped Bass Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
84%
69°
Best day
Fri
76%
67°
Sat
82%
53°
Sun
78%
54°
Mon
76%
54°
Tue
76%
61°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Rain
Water temp (est.)
58°F
Air temp
59°F
Wind
14 mph
Pressure
30.09 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
95.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:09–08:09 Dusk 16:14–18:14

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waning crescent 30% lit
Major period 07:37–09:37 Major period 19:37–21:37 Minor period 01:35–03:05 Minor period 14:08–15:38

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

06:00
59°
07:00
57°
08:00
58°
09:00
60°
10:00
64°
11:00
64°
12:00
63°
13:00
64°
14:00
64°
15:00
63°
16:00
62°
17:00
62°

Likely catch now (12 species)

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
45%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
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Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
29%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees, overcast lifts the bite.
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Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
27%
Active through the night, off season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
26%
Active through the night, off season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
23%
Active through the night, overcast lifts the bite.
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Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
18%
Active through the night, off season.
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About the fishing here

Anglers here regularly land Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish.

Striped Bass fishing is usually best around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a crankbait for striped bass, the most likely catch right now.
Colour Stained water: try chartreuse, yellow and glow for striped bass.
Lure Crankbait for striped bass: Big swimbaits and plugs.
Timing Striped bass is slow at night. The best bite comes at dawn.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Watauga Lake, located east of Elizabethton, Tennessee, is the local name of the Watauga Reservoir created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with the 1948 completion of the TVA Watauga Dam.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Boone Lake Tennessee · 19.5 mi away Linville River North Carolina · 27.2 mi away Linville River North Carolina · 28.0 mi away Linville River North Carolina · 28.8 mi away Lake James North Carolina · 40.2 mi away Bald Mountain Lake North Carolina · 60.0 mi away Cranks Creek Lake Kentucky · 72.3 mi away Lake Norman North Carolina · 78.2 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Watauga Lake?

Popular catches here include Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Brown Trout and Smallmouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Watauga Lake?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Watauga Lake?

Striped Bass fishing is usually best around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Watauga Lake right now?

Right now Striped Bass is the most likely catch, at about 40%.