Gonna head to the Knoxville area sometime after the first of the year for a weekend of fishing. I am very familiar with the area as I lived there for 20 years however I wasn't interested in fishing at that time and no I wasn't at Brushy Mountain. I won't have a boat so I am looking to bank/pier fish. Any areas and lure/bait suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks

What part of Knoxville and how much time will you have to fish?

If I were going to Knoxville area I would have to drive to Dayton to fish chickamauga. I would hit a marina and ask about some good bank access from the locals. Dayton boat dock is owned by FLW pro Micheal Neal. It is known as a ledge lake but there are docks and fish to be had shallow as well. It is a fickle lake but you have a decent chance of catching some six pound plus fish there.

Another thing is go to a local tackle store and ask around. Folks there will be glad to help, as u know they love bass fishing in that area. Good luck!

Knoxville is surrounded by great bass fishing. You can not drive a mile of interstate here without passing a bass boat, year round. The best bank fishing that comes to mind would be on Ft. Loudon lake in the Concord area. Concord Park has a pier for fishing and a lot of open banks to walk. Also all of the TVA dams tailrace have fishing areas that can be productive for several species of fish including the brown bass. A google search should turn up a lot of info, but feel free to ask me questions. I live about 40 miles east of Knoxville in Dandridge......Al

What part of Knoxville and how much time will you have to fish?

Only a 1-1/2 days to fish and I'll be south of Knoxville, I was hoping to get some ideas for fort loudon, Blount County or Lenoir City area

If I were going to Knoxville area I would have to drive to Dayton to fish chickamauga. I would hit a marina and ask about some good bank access from the locals. Dayton boat dock is owned by FLW pro Micheal Neal. It is known as a ledge lake but there are docks and fish to be had shallow as well. It is a fickle lake but you have a decent chance of catching some six pound plus fish there.

Another thing is go to a local tackle store and ask around. Folks there will be glad to help, as u know they love bass fishing in that area. Good luck!

Ok, thanks. Since I know the area I will search there. I remember a few bait stores

Knoxville is surrounded by great bass fishing. You can not drive a mile of interstate here without passing a bass boat, year round. The best bank fishing that comes to mind would be on Ft. Loudon lake in the Concord area. Concord Park has a pier for fishing and a lot of open banks to walk. Also all of the TVA dams tailrace have fishing areas that can be productive for several species of fish including the brown bass. A google search should turn up a lot of info, but feel free to ask me questions. I live about 40 miles east of Knoxville in Dandridge......Al

Thanks Al, I actually know concord park well, spent a lot of time eating at Lakeside Tavern plus we lived about a mile from there. I was planning on that area or near the Dam in Lenoir City. I won't have a lot of time so I was hoping to pin point a couple solid areas.

I'd go to the dam at Ft Loudon this time of year, especially if they've got a screw going. It's going to be your closest best option. Roadrunners, silver buddies and the like should get you into a mixed bag of brown, green, and white bass. Getting a brown/green jig with a craw trailer down to the bottom will get you some better fish, but with much current it'll be tough to keep it out of the rocks.

My trip probably won't be till February, I'm fine going to the dam however will February change bait strategy. Also, are you talking about fishing the upper or lower part of the dam

My trip probably won't be till February, I'm fine going to the dam however will February change bait strategy. Also, are you talking about fishing the upper or lower part of the dam

I'm not an expert but I believe the sauger and walleye should be moving to the tail race waters below the dam in February. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I remember fishing for them below Ft Loudon dam when it was freezing cold. Either way the tail waters when they are generating is always a hotspot. And in Feb they should always be generating.

What Al said. Blades or grubs on the bottom, or bounce minnows into the eddies. Hairs jigs would also work, but getting them down can be tough.

On December 20, 2015 at 10:20 PM, VolFan said:

What Al said. Blades or grubs on the bottom, or bounce minnows into the eddies. Hairs jigs would also work, but getting them down can be tough.

Ok, thanks. I'll start there