Typical throughout the South, hill-land and highland reservoirs like Norris in Tennessee and Greers Ferry in Arkansas are known for producing big walleyes, sometimes in the 20-pound class. Fred McClintock, perhaps the most famous multispecies guide in Tennessee, follows walleyes through seasonal changes. “I’ve seen lots of northern walleye fishermen go fishless down here because they prospect too deep,” McClintock says, “especially in spring. All the rivers entering Dale Hollow are small. Walleyes stage at the mouth in 4 to 6 feet of water and may move only 100 feet upstream to spawn. Shallow boulders or rocks near the mouth are key spots.”
Water temperatures in southern hill-land reservoirs may not drop much below 50°F all year. Prespawn temperatures can be anywhere between 38°F and 50°F. Heavy rains in February trigger walleye movements upstream into large rivers or to the mouths of feeder creeks. Search river pools with jig-and-minnow combinations and creek mouths with bladebaits or cranks.
During postspawn, fish spend 3 to 5 weeks traveling to summer positions, some 15 miles or more down the reservoir. McClintock finds them on shallow flats immediately adjacent to the main river channel, usually no deeper than 6 feet. “Considering the clear water, it’s understandable how visiting fishermen can make a wrong turn,” he says. “Fish may use deeper water, but feeding activity takes place in the shallows, where the shad are. Look for dark water near a run-off point, or fish on dark or windy days or at night. On flat, calm days, forget it.”
McClintock has great success with a bass-style spinnerbait at night but also takes walleyes on crankbaits like Rapalas and Shad Raps, both night and day. Casting blades and jigging spoons works, too. As water temperatures warm into the 60°F range, walleyes move progressively deeper, following weedgrowth as it spreads progressively deeper on large stairstep flats in the main body of the reservoir.
