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Nashville-area fishing report: Bass are biting

Mike Organ
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

To report the most up-to-date information on fishing in the Midstate, The Tennessean asked for contributions from several avid anglers. They report on their latest trips as well as offer tips. To add a report, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or morgan@tennessean.com.

Midstate fishing report

Melvin Stewart on Kentucky Lake: I fished Kentucky Lake in Danville on Sunday with a good friend. The water was 69 degrees and cooler in the creeks and at full summer pool. The shad were spawning in the buck bushes and the bass were all over them. We caught 50 pounds of keeper bass, which were all released. Most of the bushes had three to four bass lingering. I also caught a nice 5-pound largemouth bass. All were caught on spinner baits and top-water baits.

Brian Carper guide service on Percy Priest: The last seven days the crappie have been on fire! We have been catching 20-30 keepers in just four hours. The majority of the crappie are now active in 8 to 15 feet of water in brush piles throughout the lake. Mid-lake between Fate Sanders and Four Corners Marina has been the most productive for us when fishing with live minnows 2 to 3 feet off the bottom or casting chartreuse/green Crappie Magnets on eighth-ounce jigs. The bass are continuing to bite in the backs of coves and pockets in 1 to 5 feet of water with plastic worms and crawfish, as well as main lake points and drop-offs around boulders in 4 to 8 feet of water. On cloudy days you better have some form of top-water lure tied on. For more information check out www.briancarper.com.

Chris Snow on Center Hill: Fishing all across the lake is fair right now. The largemouth bass are still spawning and the smallmouth are pretty much done with the spawn. This is a great opportunity to catch them up shallow, especially the ones guarding their fry. Try any top-water bait and wacky worms around the structure that is available. Had an excellent day last Friday catching 11 keepers all on my flipping jigs. Crappie fishing is good right now. Try crappie magnets and Punisher Lures crappie slayer jigs around tree tops. The walleye has slowed some. With the hotter weather on the way it should pick up. For more information contact Chris at snowspinbaits.com

Ken Campsey on Percy Priest: Late April to early May is the time of year that traditionally produces the best smallmouth fishing on Percy Priest. This year has been no exception as I have boated a couple of 5-pound plus fish in the past 10 days. The latter of the two crushed a Strike King top-water bait in the sexy shad pattern. Largemouth have still been active, but have moved out into a little deeper water. I have still had success with top-water early. Crank baits and swim baits have been equally productive as the top-water bite slows later in the morning. My brother kept 22 crappie caught on Percy Priest Monday. He reported catching about twice that number on crappie magnets.

Joey Monteleone on the headwaters of Percy Priest, a small managed lake, a farm pond. I caught largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Fish are scattered after the spawn and around secondary cover wood, aquatic weed beds. Fish can be found in varying depths of 2 to 15 feet of water. Water temperatures are now, and should stay for a while, in the 70-degree range. Frogs, minnows, crawfish and all types of food sources are all around the shoreline. Bullfrogs have mated and tadpoles are appearing all over. In clear water and bright skies fish will move to overhead cover of all types. Soft plastics (worms, craws and tubes) are dominating my bass catches. Buzz baits, top-water cup-faced baits, Strike King Spit-N-King and the frog bite around vegetation are intense, especially early and late in the day. The No. 3 Strike King KVD crank baits are catching a few off-shore suspended bass. The willow/Colorado blade combination spinner baits ⅜-ounce version drew strikes around weed beds. Crappie are deeper around wood and submerged trees in post-spawn mode. Crappie are continuing to hit tubes rigged on sixteenth-ounce lead heads, and eighth-ounce lead head in windy conditions. Bluegill are hitting small grubs and tubes and sponge spiders on the fly rod. Water is clear to slightly stained. Abundant sunshine is promoting the growth of aquatic vegetation of all types. Levels in creeks and rivers are stable. Fish will now often move shallow to feed and possibly retreat to deeper water. The next major moon phase is the new moon, which occurs Friday. Please wear your life jackets.