Deep Bite Slow To Develop At Douglas

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

Up and down, up and down.

So it goes for the water levels at Douglas Lake, site of the fourth Bassmaster Elite Series tournament of the year. It happens every year – the water is drawn down to a winter pool level and then gradually filled back up in the spring. The fluctuation can sometimes be 60 feet from season to season.

Currently, the water’s on the rise at the Tennessee Valley Authority impoundment on the French Broad River about 30 minutes east of Knoxville, Tenn. It’s about 3 feet shy of the summer pool level and the fish are reacting in kind, scattering all through the water column.

This won’t be as foreign a lake to many in the field as Bull Shoals was since many of the competitors either fished last year’s Douglas Southern Open or the Bassmaster Megabucks tournament in 2001.

For those new to it, they’ll encounter a lake in transition with the water rising, many fish in their post-spawn rituals and a full-blown shad spawn in progress. Potential for big bags does exist, though – it took 20-plus pounds to take top honors in recent local tournaments. Due to the mild winter and warmer than average March, the lake is about 3 weeks ahead of schedule, according to locals who know it well, and it could play about the same as it did for last year’s Southern Open, when nearly 62 pounds won.

Before getting into more details about the bite, here’s the lowdown on Douglas.

BassFan Lake Profile

> Lake name: Douglas
> Type of water: Mountain reservoir
> Surface acres: 30,000-plus
> Primary structure/cover: Channel bends, humps, drop-offs, flats, laydowns
> Primary forage: Gizzard shad, bluegills
> Average depth: 55 to 60 feet (140 feet max depth)
> Species: Largemouths, smallmouths, spotted bass
> Minimum length: 20 inches for smallmouth; only 1 smallmouth per 5-fish limit
> Reputation: Plenty of numbers with big-fish potential
> Weather: Warm. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to high-80s all week with little wind. Slight chance of thunderstorms Friday through Sunday.
> Water temp: 68 to 73 degrees
> Water visibility/color: 2 to 4 feet/some stain in creek arms as water comes up
> Water level: 3 feet below summer pool
> Fish in: All depths
> Fish phase: Mostly post-spawn
> Primary patterns: Crankbaits (deep and shallow), Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, flipping
> Winning weight: 73 pounds (4 days)
> Cut weight (Top 12 after 3 days): 40 pounds
> Check weight (Top 50): 23 pounds
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 3 for Douglas
> Biggest factors: Shad spawn. It could be the key to an early limit.
> Biggest decision: Going shallow. The water’s not quite in the bushes, but it’s getting there. The fish might not be far behind.
> Wildcard: Late spawners. Water temps at the upper end of the lake tend to be cooler and things happen a little later. It won’t dominate, but a big bite or two will be crucial.

Will History Repeat?

Rick Clunn is the only angler in the field with a B.A.S.S. win at Douglas on his dossier. It came back in May of 2001 at the Bassmaster Megabucks tournament, a unique event that included a 3-day pro-am followed by a 2-day shootout that featured designated fishing areas in Flat Creek that were off limits for the pro-am that the 10 finalists rotated through every 50 minutes in a golf course-style format.

Clunn weighed 21-08 over the final 2 days to edge Dean Rojas by 7 ounces for the win. The cumulative weight totals, however, may lend some insight into what to expect this week. Clunn’s cumulative weight of 53-12 over 5 days was the 4th-highest total behind Mark Davis (60-14), Mark Rose (54-14) and Rojas (54-06).

The final standings at last year’s Southern Open, held in June under full-pool summer conditions, were dominated by anglers from across Tennessee, which may explain why the weights jumped considerably. Douglas ace Bobby Ferguson beat a field that included more than a dozen Elite Series pros, weighing 61-09 over 3 days to win by more than 4 pounds.

The common theme between the two events: off-shore structure. Clunn won throwing a custom Mann’s deep-diving crankbait while Ferguson got the majority of his bites on a swimbait and jigging spoon in 25 to 30 feet of water, just off the main channel.

Lay Of The Land

There are a couple factors at work right now that are contributing to a tough bite. First, with the water on the rise, it has the fish pulling out and suspending, making them somewhat difficult to target and trigger bites. One pro, for example, committed the majority of his first day of practice to working deep water and had one 5-pounder to show for it.

Second, the water isn’t quite high enough to reach most of the bushes that dot the shoreline, which may take shallow flipping out of the equation somewhat. It’s worth monitoring, though, as the water is expected to reach normal pool at some point this week.

With most of the fish having already spawned, especially on the lower end of the lake, it’s expected that off-shore structure will get a lot of attention.

“It can be a challenge this time of year,” said Joel Wheelon, who’s been guiding at Douglas and other eastern Tennessee lakes for the last 12 years. “Considering we had a mild winter and a really warm March, we’re going to have a lot of post-spawn fish. However, there will be still fish shallow. It’ll probably be the last spawning go-around for the lake.”

While it’s not expected to be an issue, in the event the lake sees some wind and cloud cover, Wheelon noted the fish tend to school up under such conditions.

“This lake is full of fish,” he said. “You can catch them just about any way you want to. It’ll be wide open. Size will be the thing and they’ll run into some big fish beating the bank occasionally, but most of it will be off-shore structure.”

That tends to be the consensus heading into the event -- that the best bites will be found off shore, in the 12- to 25-foot range. However, with the lake fishing small throughout practice, expect crowding to play a role.

“You can catch 1- to 3-pounders all day long fishing shallow cover and maybe pop a good one here and there, but I think it’ll won finding better schools of fish off shore,” said David Berry, who’s been guiding at Douglas for 25 years.

As for the lake’s reputation, it’s on the upswing since Ferguson cleaned up at the Open last year.

“It’s been known to produce a lot of numbers more than big fish,” Berry added. “After last year’s Open and some other events, people are seeing you have a good chance to catch some big fish.”

Notes from the Field

Mark Menendez

“It’s slow. I haven’t had many bites, but I’m in a different section of the lake than I was yesterday. The bites I have had have been pretty small. It seems like you’re going to be able to catch them just about any way you want to, but the deep bite has been just about non-existent for me. I was hoping to get out there and throw a big (Strike King) 6XD around and find a big school or two, but I haven’t been able to do that.

“The lake is about 4 or 5 feet below pool and there are a lot of fish out, but they are all suspended. It’s a scattered deal. It’s a grinder’s special so you’ll hope to grind out your five and go try to figure something else out.”

Ott Defoe

“I’ve been working my tail off covering all the bases and checking everything I want to. I’ve worked as hard at this practice as I have at any other. I wish there were 2 or 3 more feet of water. It would help the shallow fish be around more cover, but this is pretty normal for this time of year.

“My confidence is pretty good. I’ve had a decent practice. I’m pretty happy with what I’ve found. Everyone here thinks I have the magic spot all picked out, but I don’t yet. I’d like to have 15 or 20 really good places. Even if there are people fishing the same stuff, I’ll have options at that point.”

Jason Quinn

“There are going to be a lot of fish caught. The water’s coming up every day. They had such a mild winter here that a lot of the fish have spawned and to get the big fish going, we’re going to need them to be moving water out, not in like they are. You’re not going to be able to pull up on a place and just catch them. You’re going to have to work for them.

“I feel pretty good. You’re going to have to work a little harder than I like for it to be and there’s a pretty good shad spawn going on all over the lake. I think guys are going to have to capitalize on that and see what happens.

“There’s going to be a lot of running around. This is one of the only lakes we’ll go to where the fish stay suspended most of the time. It does fish small and I know a lot of people are comparing it to Bull Shoals, but at Bull Shoals you could run around and not see another boat all day, so everyone was so spread out. Because this lake fishes small, if you get a couple of boats in your area, you’re going to be splitting up fish.”

Chris Lane

“It’s fishing very small, but I’m not really surprised at that. It could change during the tournament, especially if guys venture out and find something else after they catch a decent limit. The guy that finds them out deep will probably be the guy who seals the deal.

“There are plenty of fish here. It’s just a matter of finding the ones that want to eat. That’s been the big thing. I’ve fished here one time and I did well and it was out deep. I can see the fish. I just can’t get them to bite.

“I have five areas right now and knowing I won’t have them to myself, I want to find about five more and just put my head down and go fishing. That can be a good thing, too, because it lets you know what the competition is getting so after day 1 you’ll know what adjustments you need to make for day 2.”

Fred Roumbanis

“I’ve never been here before. The water’s coming up and the lake is definitely similar to some lakes in southern California. The fish are schooling up on bait and the bait’s pretty high in the water column, so the fish are suspended which makes them a little harder to catch.

"I think it’s going to be a mix of shallow and off-shore stuff. I feel like I can fish doing both and I plan to mix it up. I have about six patterns going, but I haven’t dialed into one of them being a better deal. I like the lake. There’s some pretty good fish in here. There will be guys catching good, quality fish. The trouble will be backing it up with four other ones.

“I’m confident I can get a few bites. I like it because if things aren’t working, I can go somewhere else and still have confidence. There’s definitely a good mix of fish shallow and deep. In the backs of some of these pockets, there is some bank grass because the water has come up into some yards and there are some willow trees, so there’s potential for some big flipping fish or frog fish. There’s a lot going on. A guy can really fish his strength here and do well."

Scott Ashmore

“It’s a weird lake. It’s really different. The rock formations on the bank are stuff you think you’d see in Colorado. The fishing here is going to be different from what people are expecting. The deep bite is pretty tough right now.

“Hopefully, what I’ve learned will pay off. I plan to do some other stuff before I go sit on a hump for an hour. I think a lot of people had it in their minds how they were going to catch them and it’s not working out.

“We’re supposed to have some hot weather and with the water rising I don’t see the deep bite coming around. If anything, the rising water and where the shad are is going to put them even shallower.”

Top 10 To Watch

With the above in mind and more, here, in no particular order, is BassFan's recommendation on the Top 10 to watch at this event.

1. David Walker – He hails from Michigan, but now calls Sevierville home, which is minutes from Douglas. He’s on fire this year with four finishes in the Top 17.

2. Kevin VanDam – With off-shore cranking expected to play at least a minor role, this could be his tournament to lose. If not, he’ll adjust accordingly. He’s had a quiet season so far, too, but is 7th in Angler of the Year (AOY) points.

3. Ott Defoe – He lives in nearby Knoxville and knows the lake well. He placed 7th in the Open a year ago.

4. Dean Rojas – Runner-up to Clunn at the 2001 Megabucks tournament. Looking to rebound after two straight missed 50-cuts.

5. Paul Elias –He’s had a couple stinkers this year that have him well down the AOY standings, but if they’re deep, the Mississippi cranking maven will find a way to connect with them.

6. Keith Combs – Off-shore structure is his forte, but his finishes have tailed off since a 3rd at the St. Johns River.

7. Brent Chapman – Apparently, he’s developed an allergy to missing cuts this year. The AOY points leader will try to push his streak of Top-5s to four.

8. Brandon Card – This year’s top rookie -- he’s 11th in points -- comes home, kind of. He lives in Caryville, Tenn., about an hour west of Douglas.

9. Mike McClelland – Currently occupies the 36th position in points, but hasn’t made a Sunday since June 2010. This lake suits his strengths, though.

10. Rick Clunn – Don’t sleep on the legend. He’s been fishing well recently, has won at Douglas before and is known to throw a crankbait here and there.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

> Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from The Point Marina (122 Boatdock Drive, Dandridge, Tenn.) Weigh-ins will get under way at 3:15 p.m. at The Point Resort (same address).

Weather Forecast

> Thurs., May 3 – Partly Cloudy - 89°/60°
- Wind: From the SW at 2 mph

> Fri., May 4 – Partly Sunny - 86°/58°
- Wind: From the SW at 4 mph

> Sat., May 5 – Partly Cloudy - 87°/62°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 5 mph

> Sun., May 6 – Partly Cloudy/Thunderstorm possible - 79°/56°
- Wind: From the N/NE at 6 mph

Notable

> Brent Chapman and Aaron Martens have weighed in on their practice sessions. To read their latest reports, click here to go on tour with BassFan Big Sticks.

> Wheelon operates East Tennessee Guide Service along with Larry Porter while Berry runs Smokies Angling Adventures. Both offer guided trips at Douglas and other eastern Tennessee lakes.