In August, I will be making a trip up to Tennessee staying right along the Tennessee-Georgia line near the Blue Ridge mountains.  I'm looking for any recommendations on smallmouth lakes in that portion of the state.  Douglass and Fort Loudon are both lakes that we are looking at, however I see mixed reports as far as how good either actually is as a smallmouth fishery.  We will be fishing out of kayaks so if a lake is known for having sketchy boating conditions that would definitely be an issue.

 

If the possibility to camp exists around one of the lakes so we could make it a two day trip that would be great, but I'd rather have one good day trip that I have to drive 1 to 2 hours for than spend two days on a lake that isn't producing.

Douglas and fort loudoun are both great for smallmouth but a long way from where you are staying. Fontana in NC would be a good option, along with nickajack (right below chickamaga dam). Chilhowee or tellico are two other great smallmouth fisheries. Then you have all the rivers! Are you dead set on lakes or would you fish rivers too? 

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Douglas and fort loudoun are both great for smallmouth but a long way from where you are staying. Fontana in NC would be a good option, along with nickajack (right below chickamaga dam). Chilhowee or tellico are two other great smallmouth fisheries. Then you have all the rivers! Are you dead set on lakes or would you fish rivers too? 

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll take a look at all of those.

 

I would be fine with fishing rivers, and I think my buddy would actually prefer to fish a river.  I just wouldn't know where to start as far as what rivers can be safely waded or kayaked in, and whether or not that particular river is better for trout.

 

Edit:  After looking at a map, Tellico and Fort Loudon are just under 50 miles away and straight north of where we'll be staying for reference.

Depending on where you are on the TN border, I'd be thinking more Lake Ocoee or Oconee, or fishing the Hiwassee from NC into TN. Should be several shuttle services if you go that route.