It's about to be that time of year where a lot of us around the country are planning our annual "big" fishing trip.

 

My spotlight this year falls on Eastern Tennessee in and around the Knoxville area as I'm planning on moving there in the future and my Fiancee has never been east of the Mississippi.

 

Our goal is to take the last week in May and spend as much time around there and catch as many fish from shore as possible. I'm wondering if anyone knows any good ponds, or sections of river, and good lakes that would be friendly to some Montanans who've never fished water with less than 10 ft visibility.

 

I'm not familiar with productive colors and patterns here for hard baits, jigs, soft plastics, etc (which I'm sure some guy as BPS there would know.) But any advice helps. Thanks!

Look up Rogne Brown, he's a guide on Lake Chickamauga. Amazing rates and provides all necessary tackle. He is near Soddy Daisy TN. 

Spent a long weekend in the area a couple years ago and wife and I fell in love with the area.  We, too, plan to move there in the (hopefully) not-too-distant future.

 

Good luck.

I've been doing some research via Youtube and various google searches and have found that Meads Quarry Lake looks fun as well as Dock/Bank Fishing around Concord Park can be fruitful. I will keep in mind hiring a guide the price is right as this trip will be confined to a budget. Thanks for the response!

Concord Park is an excellent choice as is below nearly any TVA dam. I'm not familiar with Meads Quarry Lake. Local tackle shops can help when you arrive for the area you want to fish. Within a half hour of Knoxville there are literally hundreds of miles of shoreline and 5 or more lakes with hundreds of miles of shoreline each. Concord Park on Loudon Lake is an excellent place to start.

After further research I have also come across these areas that look fun to fish.

 

Fall Creek Falls State Park

Angel Falls Overlook Trail - Cumberland River

Cordell Hull Reservoir

Standing Stone Lake

Dale Hollow Lake

Center Hill Lake

Melton Lake Park

Little Tennessee River

 

We want to focus on creek and river fishing so if anyone has so cool spots they'd like to shoot our way we'd appreciate it!

Douglas, Cherokee, Norris and watts bar are all good lakes...All good lakes within an hour drive of Knoxville.