Located between Chattanooga and Knoxville in Tennessee, Watts Bar Lake is a 39,000-acre (157.8 km2) reservoir that runs for 72.4 winding miles (116.5 km) from Fort Loudoun Dam to the Watts Bar Dam. The Tennessee Valley Authority initially conceived the reservoir to bring flood relief to Chattanooga as part of a broader plan to improve living conditions throughout the Tennessee River Basin during the Great Depression.
A colorful array of aquatic wildlife lurks beneath the lake’s surface. Several species of turtle exist near the banks of the reservoir, and visitors are most likely to find a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), a midland smooth softshell (Apalone mutica mutica), or an eastern spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera spinifera) on their trip. At the bottom of the lake, bivalves such as the fingernail clam (Musculium transversum), Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea), and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) can be found.
The lake’s numerous tributaries also provide diverse habitats that support various fish. Several sport fish are stocked in the lake yearly, including striped bass, largemouth bass, crappies, and walleye. Though species diversity is superb for fishing, numerous advisories to limit the consumption of many species from Watts Bar Lake have been issued, as many species in the lower reservoir have accumulated pollutants due to historical contamination from the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation and other industrial plants.
Fish Species in Watts Bar Lake
1) Sauger (Sander canadensis)
Saugers are slender, cylindrical fish famed for their intimidating canine teeth. They use this threatening dentition to bite into threadfin shad, their preferred prey. Saugers are ruthless when it comes to hunting threadfins. The moment that threadfin populations recover after winter die-off, sauger attack— inducing a second bout of threadfin mortality in Watts Bar Lake by February. Threadfin shad populations do not recover from this excessive predation until April, so sauger temporarily shift their diet to freshwater drum, logperch, and bluegill. Saugers have an aversion to light and feed primarily at night, though they may also search for a meal during the day in turbid areas of the reservoir. When ready to reproduce, they congregate in the tailwaters of Fort Loudoun Dam for broadcast spawning. The swift flow of the water disperses eggs, prevents suffocation, and protects eggs from predators.
Saugers in Watts Bar Lake average 40.3 cm (15.9 inches) long. Their bodies are olive to grey with 3 – 4 big, saddle-like marks extending from their backs down their sides— this pattern helps sauger camouflage from predators. Like other members of the Percidae family, saugers have a separated dorsal fin consisting of an anterior spiny section and a posterior rayed portion. The anterior fin is covered with small, dark dots.
2) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Though saugers were stocked in Watts Bar Lake annually until at least 2008, the program’s success was minimal, and thus, in 2011, lake management shifted stocking efforts to a close relative— the walleye. The build and coloration of walleye are nearly identical to that of sauger, so fish enthusiasts must pay keen attention to the patterns on a fish’s body when attempting to differentiate the two. For example, walleye lack the large blotches that mark the sauger’s back and sides and the rows of spots on the anterior dorsal fin. They instead have a black patch near the posterior base of the first dorsal fin. Another unmistakable identifier of walleye is the white-tipped point of the bottom half of their forked tails.
Belonging to the same genus means that sauger and walleye share commonalities, which don’t end with their appearance! Walleye diet and habitat overlap with sauger, and anglers can target both fish in the same area. Both species can be caught with brightly-colored jigs, trolling crankbaits, and live baits like shad and minnows. The minimum length limit for walleye caught in Watts Bar Reservoir is 16 inches (40 cm), while the creel limit is five fish per day.
3) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Discerning anglers may encounter a peculiar black crappie variant when fishing in Watts Bar Lake. This fish has the dense black mottling characteristic of the species but also dons a black band running from the dorsal fin to the tip of the upper lip that resembles a stripe of war paint. These unique crappies are a genetic variant of P. nigromaculatus, aptly called black-nose crappie. Both black crappie and black-nose crappie are stocked in the reservoir by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Though both variants belong to the same species, black-nose crappie has been found to grow faster than black crappie.
Black crappies love shelter and can often hide in aquatic foliage, submerged tree trunks, and near boulders. They are easy to spot as they travel through clear, gentle waters in schools. They are sensitive to water conditions and are intolerant of swift flows.
4) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
In most reservoirs, either white or black crappie dominate. However, Watts Bar Lake facilitates an unusual situation in which both black and white crappie persist in nearly equal numbers. White crappies are less dependent on vegetation, more tolerant of turbid water than their sister species, and more likely to be found in open waters. Before their April spawning season, however, both white and black crappies school collectively to feast on forage fish.
There are several ways to tell white and black crappie apart. The most apparent means of differentiation is by their coloration. As their name suggests, white crappie lacks the black, mosaic-esque pattern of P. nigromaculatus. However, this identification method becomes unreliable during the breeding season, when males of both species turn entirely black. Observing the dorsal fin is a more reliable way of identifying your crappie catch. White crappie will never have more than six dorsal fin spines, while black crappie has seven or eight.
5) Redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Redear sunfish get their name from the scarlet margin lining their “ears” or gill covers. These laterally compressed fish reach 8 – 9.5 inches (20.3 – 24.1 cm) long as adults. Like many other sunfish, they have olive bodies decorated with gold and dark green specks, though their pectoral fins are the longest of all species in the Lepomis genus.
Redear sunfish are molluscivorous. Though they will also feast on insect larvae and microcrustaceans, their food of choice is usually snails. Redears have specialized pharyngeal teeth that allow them to crush mollusk shells and extract their slimy prey. Because of this niche diet, redears have long been considered a potential biocontrol agent for invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Though using redears to reduce invasive mussel spread holds vast potential in theory, there are still some challenges with adopting this strategy. Redears tend to outcompete pumpkinseeds when introduced to lakes, as they are more efficient in crushing snail shells. Additionally, redears are not guaranteed to feed on invasive bivalves (mussels) or gastropods (snails) and may prefer to eat native species instead.
6) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Like redears, bluegills can be identified by their colorful opercula (gill covers). The name Lepomis refers to the conspicuous opercula of species within the genus. These robust, pancake-shaped fish are a favorite for training novice anglers because they’re abundant and always willing to bite. Bluegills have small mouths, so anglers should utilize small baits or lures on a number 6 – 10 hook. Bluegills migrate to different reservoir sections throughout the year, nesting in shallow-water colonies from spring to summer. In fall and winter, they school near the thermocline.
Bluegills eat insects, snails, crustaceans, zooplankton, fish eggs, and smaller fish. Foraging strategies vary from one fish to another, with some preferring to browse vegetation while others explore open water. Bluegills that search for food within vegetation tend to have longer fins for better maneuverability through the foliage. In contrast, those that occupy open waters have more streamlined bodies that reduce drag.
7) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Smallmouth bass are ubiquitous throughout Watts Bar Lake, commonly spotted in shallow, rocky areas adjacent to deeper waters from March to April. Though their mouths are small, their appetites are insatiable, and smallmouths utilize a wide range of prey items. These include shad, young fish, frogs, crayfish, insects, and tadpoles.
Among several other Tennessee inland waters, Watts Bar Lake is a premier smallmouth bass fishing destination. Smallmouths over 18 inches (45.7 cm) long are common. To ensure fisheries maintain quality, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regularly monitors smallmouth numbers in the reservoir via electrofishing surveys. The future of the Watts Bar Lake smallmouth bass population has recently spurred concern due to the introduction of Alabama bass to the impoundment.
8) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Largemouth bass are nearly identical to smallmouths, differentiated by their sizeable jaws that extend beyond the back of their eye. Largemouths also have a substantial gap between the dorsal fins and lack vertical bands on their sides. There are two subspecies of largemouth bass, the northern largemouth (M. s. salmoides) and the Florida largemouth (M. s. floridanus). Since 2015, the Florida largemouth has been stocked in Watts Bar Lake annually at Piney Embayment, Big Springs, and Caney Creek.
The growth of largemouth bass during their first year of life is crucial to their survival in the reservoir. Though largemouths are not temperature-sensitive, they are indirectly affected by cold winters, which cause the die-off of largemouths’ primary food item— threadfin shad. Because of this die-off, many largemouths do not feed or grow during this period, and only the fish big enough to store a season’s worth of energy can survive the winter.
9) Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
Spotted bass get their name from the rows of minuscule dots that line their white undersides. The largemouth’s smaller cousin, spotted bass, have deep mouths that reach the rear margin of the eye and a broad, waveform-shaped band extending from head to tail. Unlike largemouth bass, spotted bass grow to only 10 – 17 inches (25.4 – 43.2 cm) (whereas largemouths can grow over 20 inches or 50.8 cm long).
Spotted bass, largemouths, smallmouths, and other members of the Micropterus genus are collectively known as the black basses. Spotted bass occupies an intermediate habitat between its relative species, with a moderate current too brisk for largemouths but too inactive for smallmouths. Though they do not share a habitat, the diet of the spotted bass largely overlaps with the largemouth bass. Both species are ambush predators with generalist diets consisting of crustaceans, insects, and smaller fish. Spotted and largemouth bass are suspected to compete for food from a young age, with as much as 77% dietary overlap between juveniles of both species.
10) White bass (Morone chrysops)
White bass are abundant in Watts Bar Reservoir due to a long-standing history of favorable prey and suitable spawning grounds. White bass spawning starts in March when males and females form schools segregated by sex. They congregate near dam tail waters where females and males release eggs and milt for external fertilization. Water flow and substrate type are the two factors critical to white bass spawning success. White bass spawn in swift waters, which provide aeration for eggs and fry. Spawning over gravel allows eggs to settle between the crevices of rocks, providing much-needed protection from predators, especially since white bass are unconcerned with caring for their young.
Once eggs are fertilized, white bass develop and grow at expeditious speeds. Eggs hatch after only two days, and juveniles can attain sexual maturity in two years. This rapid growth compensates for the white bass’ abbreviated life span. Despite their large size, white bass are generally short-lived, typically surviving for only four years.
11) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
Striped bass are among the largest fish in Watts Bar Lake, attaining lengths of up to three feet (0.9 m)! Landing a sizeable striped bass is a massive accomplishment, as they are one of the most brutal fighters in the lake. Striped bass leverage their weight when hooked to engage in lengthy stand-offs with anglers. Reservoir striped bass feed in schools at night, so a moonlit fishing trip is ideal for those aspiring to cross striped bass off their angling bucket list.
The striped bass population in Watts Bar Lake cannot sustain itself. Therefore, striped bass are stocked in the reservoir annually by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Though they are one of the most popular and abundant fish in the reservoir, the striped bass’ high trophic status and long life span make it more likely to accumulate toxins through the food chain (bioaccumulation). Stripers caught in the Clinch River Arm and the Tennessee River portion of the lake should not be eaten due to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination.
12) Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis)
The yellow bass is the smallest of the temperate basses, about 9.4 inches (23.9 cm) on average. They are yellow- and grey-colored fish with several horizontal lines running along the body. Some of the lines appear broken towards the posterior end of the fish. Adult yellow bass prefer quiet, sluggish waters whereas juveniles may be found in faster-flowing, yet shallow streams and rivers.
Yellow bass spawn in the spring when temperatures begin to rise. During this time, groups make migrations to shallow tributaries to spawn. These shallow locations will provide young yellow bass with a safe home to grow. Juveniles will form large schools to avoid predators. Schooling can confuse predators and ensures that at least some of the individuals in the school survive.
Yellow bass are not native to eastern Tennessee and therefore there is no limit on the number of yellow bass an angler may harvest. Using live bait, spoons, and spinners might net you a few yellow bass. When fileted and cooked, they are delicious just like other temperate basses.
13) Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli)
Alabama bass belong to the same genus as the other black basses and are very similar to spotted and smallmouth bass. It is important to tell these two species apart because Alabama bass are considered invasive in Tennessee. Alabama bass compete with other black basses, like largemouth and smallmouth basses, for food. They rapidly reproduce and are better competitors in an introduced ecosystem than their other Micropterus counterparts. This may seem like a great attribute since Alabama bass can be quite large, over 25 inches (64 cm). Their rapid reproductive rate, however, leads to overpopulation and stunted populations. Additionally, Alabama bass can hybridize with native Micropterus species and dilute the gene pool.
Alabama bass can be distinguished from other black basses by examining the inside of the mouth for a tooth patch, a distinct rough patch located on the fish’s tongue. Their spots, which follow the lateral line, are also darker and more distinct than other Micropterus species. More characteristics can be found here. An angler that finds an Alabama bass should report the incident to their local wildlife agency.
14) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Yellow perch are eye-catching fish, perfect for beginner anglers and fish enthusiasts alike, as they are easy to catch and even easier to recognize! Yellow perch can swim through moderate depths of water, identified by their golden-yellow flanks and the 6 – 8 tiger-like stripes that run dorsoventrally down their sides. These unmistakable bands have earned yellow perch the nicknames “striped perch” and “ringed perch.” The vibrancy of a yellow perch’s pigmentation depends on its age and habitat. Young perch and adults that live in areas lacking aquatic foliage tend to be paler, while adults in heavily vegetated habitats are a brighter gold.
Though yellow perch are an easy catch once found, their populations in Watts Bar Lake have been unpredictable and varied in conjunction with fluctuating plant density. Yellow perch rely on underwater flora for reproductive success, near which they lay their eggs in long, tube-like structures. These tubular egg masses float until they become tangled in plants, sinking to the lake floor so that they can develop.
The adjoining Clinch River is the best place to find yellow perch in Watts Bar Lake. There is no limit for yellow perch harvest in the reservoir.
15) Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Muskellunge in Watts Bar Lake are easily mistaken for submerged logs. These elongated fish often sit perfectly still, waiting for prey to pass by. Muskellunge, or muskies, are piscivores, with other fish making up 98% of their diet. They are apex predators that can eat fish up to nearly half their size. While they are vulnerable to disease and terrestrial birds of prey, the only other fish in Watts Bar Lake that can take down a muskie— is another muskie! Muskellunge management in lakes is particularly challenging because of their cannibalistic tendencies.
Muskellunge closely resemble pike, and differentiating the two is difficult. Muskies sport varied patterns that may trick fish enthusiasts into assuming they are different species. For example, a muskie’s flanks may be decorated with dark vertical bars, spots, or without a pattern, whereas a pike always has rows of horizontal, oval spots. Additionally, the tips of a muskellunge’s tail fin are sharply pointed, whereas those of a pike are rounded.
16) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
Large catfish are common in Watts Bar Lake, but none are as peculiar as the flathead catfish. This catfish can be distinguished from the others by examining its jaws, as the flathead is the only species with a distinct, protruding lower jaw. Adults are mottled and olive in color with an average length of 30 inches (76 cm) and weights exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg). Juveniles are more solid and can be confused with bullheads as their distinct jaws are not as defined.
This species is a sedentary, nocturnal hunter that spends most of its time in deep pools. They migrate daily from their deep pools to shallow areas to hunt. This species primarily consumes invertebrates and fish. They spawn once in early to mid-summer.
Flathead catfish are popular eating fish on the dinner plate and have a remarkable flavor. Live bait is best; some examples of excellent bait fish include smaller sunfish, mudcats, or other appropriately sized bait fish. Care should be taken when handling any catfish as this group of fish possesses venom glands that can deliver a painful sting via hollow dorsal and pectoral spines. Gloves are recommended when removing catfish from hooks and processing them for filets.
17) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
The channel catfish is the official state commercial fish of Tennessee so it is no surprise that they are one of the most popular sportfish in North America. They are large, grey catfish with delicious filets. Their forked caudal fin and round anal fin can help distinguish them from other catfish species. The average length for a channel catfish is 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm).
Channel cats thrive in clear streams, but they are resilient and can survive in turbid or even brackish water. In the wild, juveniles hunt small invertebrates and gradually hunt larger items as they age. Channel catfish reproduction is temperature-dependent and is initiated when the water temperature reaches at least 75°F (23.9°C). When temperatures are favorable, male channel catfish construct a nesting area for females to lay their eggs. The male will then protect these eggs until they hatch.
The National Parks Service suggests using live fish and nightcrawlers to catch a tasty channel catfish. However, they will accept a variety of meat-based bait, from squid and shrimp to hotdogs and processed bait.
18) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
Catfish are a popular sport and food fish. They are well known for their flavor and because they feed mostly from the water column and less from the substrate, they tend to taste better than species that are bottom-feeding specialists. Blue catfish are the largest catfish species in North America. They can grow to enormous sizes, with a recent record weight of 143 lbs (65 kg). A record fish was also caught in Tennessee last year that weighed in at over 100 lbs (45 kg).
This species thrives in clear streams with an abundance of invertebrates which they feed upon. They have small eyes and poor eyesight so blue catfish rely on their sensitive barbels to detect prey items in the water column or hiding in the substrate. They usually hunt at night since they do not need to see their prey.
19) Skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris)
The skipjack herring, also called the Tennessee tarpon, is a streamlined, glistening fish that averages 12 – 16 inches (30.5 – 40.6 cm) long. Though skipjacks are covered in reflective scales and have a protruding underbite like the tarpon, the two fish are entirely unrelated. Skipjack herring are members of the Clupeidae family, characterized by scaleless cheeks and no visible lateral line. They have a short, sickle-shaped dorsal fin with 16 – 21 rays, a darkened lower lip, and a deeply forked tail. The scientific epithet “chrysochloris” means gold-green, a reference to the metallic green-blue scales on the dorsal surface of the fish.
Skipjack herring swim in schools in transparent, pelagic (open) waters. They prefer swift currents and inhabit the rapid tailwaters of the dam. Though skipjacks are bony, flavorless fish that make for off-putting tablefare, they are an exciting catch known for their energetic routine of leaps and flips when caught. Due to their odorous oil, they readily bite at small jigs and spoons and make superb bait for catfish and striped bass. Watts Bar Lake holds the all-tackle world record for skipjack herring, set by a 3-lb 12-oz (1.7 kg) catch in 1982.
20) Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense)
Most anglers are familiar with largemouth bass and bluegill, but we often think far less about the fish that feed these amazing sportfish. Threadfin shad are small, silver fish with a black spot behind their gill covers and a long, threadlike projection on their dorsal fin. This projection is common among shad species, and it extends more than halfway toward the caudal fin in the threadfin shad. This species stays relatively small, maxing out at around 9 inches (23 cm).
Threadfin shad is one of several typical silvery herrings that comprise the bottom and middle of fish food chains. Phytoplankton and zooplankton are the preferred food items for threadfin shad. They filter their food from the open water. Often, threadfin shad are introduced to reservoirs and lakes to provide a source of food for large sportfish.
21) American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
Also known as the Mississippi paddlefish, this intriguing-looking fish has a long, flattened snout that resembles a paddle, hence the “paddle” in the common name.
This species is found only in the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes and is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List in some parts of its range. Populations in Louisiana are stable, so the regulated harvest of paddlefish is allowed, but there are some restrictions. For example, in Louisiana, individuals may harvest up to 2 fish per day. In Texas, individuals may harvest up to 5 paddlefish and only 2 of those may be less than 16 inches (41 cm) long. These restrictions may become more limiting if populations continue to decline. Threats to paddlefish populations include channelization, pollution, and fishing pressures.
They are planktivorous, long-lived, and can grow up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) long. The long nose, or rostrum, is dotted with electroreceptors that allow the paddlefish to sense prey. Paddlefish infrequently spawn, once every two to three years, and produce thousands of tiny offspring while investing little parental care. The infrequency at which they spawn is one factor that makes it difficult for populations to recover.
