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Watauga Lake

Lake fishing  Tennessee · 06:10 - 20:48

Watauga Lake is a lake in Tennessee. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather
Mainly clear
Water temp (est.)
73°F
Air temp
69°F
Wind
6 mph
Pressure
29.88 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
17.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dusk 19:33–21:33 Night 21:33–05:25

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

Next hours

10:00
69°
11:00
72°
12:00
76°
13:00
79°
14:00
80°
15:00
81°
16:00
82°
17:00
82°
18:00
81°
19:00
80°
20:00
76°
21:00
71°

Likely catch now (12 species)

Common Carp
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season.
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Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
6%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
6%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
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Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
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Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
3%
Slow during the night, peak season, bright sky slows things.
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Bluegill
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season.
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Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
2%
Slow during the night, bright sky slows things.
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White Bass
White Bass
Morone chrysops
2%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
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About the fishing here

Watauga Lake is a lake in Tennessee.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

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.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.
Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.
Colour Clear water and good light: try natural, gold and bronze for common carp.
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

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 Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass and Black Crappie.

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?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Watauga Lake right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 18%.