Water temps dropping fast, afternoon bit

5/25/2026: The Catfish Spawn is on in full force. It started early this year (end of April), which is rare. The spawn is usually a 6 week period, so I am expecting the spawn to wind down by early June. Only small catfish are caught during spawn. The large females and nearly all males do not eat during spawn. The females only spawn for about 2 weeks, so post spawn females are possible. Smaller, no spawn females are definitely out there and being caught. The big males spawn and guard the nest. We are still getting numbers and action, but zero big monsters. After Extreme drought, recent heavy rains have finally started raising the water levels to near full summer pool. The bites are really turned on for numbers, but still no big ones. However, the spawn should be winding under over the next 2 weeks.

November 6th: The past few weeks have been on fire for both quantity and quality. This is typical of the mid fall bite when water temps hit low 70's/upper 60s. Bait scatters throughout the depths, making the catfish very active. However, this has been a very short fall, at least on the water. Surface water temps have started to drop dramatically, 10 degrees in the past 8 days, now in the upper 50s. Within 2 weeks, the deeper water temps will also get into the 50s, which then becomes a "winter pattern" of anchored up fish. As with every year, on November 1, TVA started dropping Watts Bar to winter pool levels (targeted for December 1st), which will further slow down the bite. Tough weather has recently caused 3 clients to cancel 3 charter trips and missed opportunities to take advantage of what has been a great fall bite.

Water Temperatures have dropped to winter levels (mid to high 40's), and the water flow-current is erratic, which means the catfishing is slow. However, they can still be caught. Setting up on structure for an hour, move, repeat, is the most successful winter technique. Mid - Morning to Mid afternoon trips are the best time to be on the water to catch big cats at their most active.