Boone Lake Fishing Guide

"The charm of fishing is that, it is the pursuit of
what is elusive, but attainable; a perpetual
series of occasions for hope"

GENERAL:

Boone Lake is a 4,520-acre TVA reservoir located in upper east Tennessee. The dam has impounded the South Fork of the Holston River since 1952. Boone's major tributaries are the Watauga and South Fork of the Holston Rivers which originate in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, and catfish are the predominant game fish. Since Boone Lake can support high densities of fish, the TWRA has stocked blue catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, and crappie during the past several years to enhance the fishery.

There are seven public boat ramps and eight private marinas located around the reservoir. Lake View Marina, Sonnys Marina And Boone Lake marina all offer boat rentals.  

FISH HABITAT ENHANCEMENT:

A variety of fish attractors have been constructed over the years to attract fish for anglers. These include brush piles which are used by many game fish, and stake beds that are primarily for concentrating crappie. Attractors work well. Benches designed to provide smallmouth spawning habitat have been placed in several areas.

BLACK BASS:

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are by far the most numerous and most sought after game fish in the reservoir. Although largemouth make up the greatest percentage,nearly equal numbers of both species are caught by anglers. The bass population is in excellent shape and the future continues to look good.

The daily creel limit is five largemouth and/or smallmouth bass in any combination. As of April 24, 2009, there is a 15-inch minimum length limit on both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

CATFISH:

• Blue Catfish Stocking: 1998 - 10,693; 1995 - 14,000; 1992 - 25,021

Since Boone has an abundant supply of forage species and good fertility, it can support the addition of quality game fish such as blue catfish. Blue cats can exceed 100 pounds and have been stocked on a limited basis since 1992. There are no harvest limits for catfish except that only one catfish over 34-inches may be harvested per day.  

CRAPPIE:

• Blacknose/Black Crappie Stocking: 2008 - 29,140; 2007 - 27,558; 1998 - 69,994; 1997 - 83,587; 1996 - 93,583

Crappie fishing has improved recently. The creel limit put in place in the mid-90’s has allowed the crappie population to thrive. Black crappie are more abundant than whites. The daily creel limit is 15-fish with a minimum length limit of 10-inches.

STRIPED and CHEROKEE (HYBRID) BASS:

• Striped Bass Stocking: 2008 - 26,469; 2007 - 44,608; 2006 - 25,445; 2005 - 11,911; 2004 - 13,000; 2003 - 44,038
• Hybrid Stocking: 2008 - 22,992; 2007 - 14,620; 2006 - 12,376; 2005 - 16,410; 2004 - 22,420; 2003 - 16,249

The TWRA has stocked striped and hybrid striped bass in Boone since 1972. There is a two-fish per day limit with a 15-inch minimum length limit from April through October and a one-fish per day limit with a 36-inch minimum length limit from November through March. One cannot harvest more than two of these fish per day in any combination.

FISHING TIPS:

Largemouth bass - Spring: Spinner baits, buzz baits, worms, crankbaits, and float-n-fly work well in coves; Summer: Good night fishing on worms and lizards.

Smallmouth bass - Spring: Fish with spinner baits, lizards, worms, live bait, small crankbaits, float-n-fly, and suspended flukes. During this period, secondary points and boulders are prime smallmouth holding spots. Summer: The smallmouth move to deeper water; the river channels are the best areas to fish. Fish at night with various worm rigs and pig-n-jigs. Crappie - Fish minnows or jigs around brush in the main channel or coves.

Blue catfish - Summer: Fish the channel on either river arm with shad or bluegill.