Story by Justin Brouillard
Hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN, stop number three on Douglas Lake runs May 22–24, with daily takeoff and weigh-ins at the Dandridge Boat Ramp. A true highland reservoir, Douglas is known for its steep banks and rocky points, with everything from offshore brush and ledges to shallow pockets and shoreline cover.
While part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) river system, Douglas functions more as a holding reservoir than others in the region, meaning current plays less of a role. The lake spans nearly 30,000 acres and over 500 miles of shoreline, offering a diverse mix of fishing opportunities. Known for its wide water level swings, Douglas can fluctuate up to 60 feet annually, though summer levels tend to remain relatively stable. Still, rapid rises of 15 to 20 feet in just a few days are possible following heavy rainfall in the surrounding Appalachian foothills.
Three-time NPFL Champion and former NPFL angler Taylor Watkins earned over $200,000 in just two seasons with the league. Living in the heart of East Tennessee, Watkins has spent countless hours on TVA reservoirs and has spent his fair share of time on Douglas. While he’s no longer competing, he’s still keeping an eye on the schedule—and this is one event he’d love to fish.
“I sure wish I was competing next week with the ‘league,’ that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ve fished plenty of big local events on Douglas, but over the last few years I’ve spent more time on Watts Bar and Chickamauga. The fishing’s better right now than it has been recently on Douglas. Despite being on the lower end of a downward cycle, it’s making a comeback.”
Compared to ten years ago, when 25-pound bags were more common, Douglas has seen a noticeable decline in fishing. Recent hurricanes and the TVA’s more cautious approach to water control have kept levels lower, which means the shallow bite—usually a factor this time of year—will be less of a factor.
“I haven’t looked this week, but I think it’s around 3 feet below normal pool, which takes a lot of the bushes out of play,” he added. “That said, I do think someone will figure out how to go up the river and make a Top 10. If it were me, I’d focus on a shad spawn early and then try to fire up some schools later in the afternoon.”
Working both ends of that strategy could be a huge advantage. For the shad spawn, Watkins looks to shallow points and docks. For the offshore schools, he expects the 12- to 20-foot range to be key—not the deepest stuff just yet.
“There’s also a brush deal, in addition to the rocks and ledges,” he said. “Douglas is where the term long-lining came from. Back then guys would crush them on crankbaits, but the deeper schools were hard to reach. They’d cast out, troll until all the line was gone, then crank it through the schools to get to those deeper fish.”
For the NPFL field, the lake will fish smaller than usual. With so many shallow areas out of play, more of the field will likely be forced offshore. Typically, this time of year would see guys in the bushes throwing swim jigs or frogs and such—but not this year.
“There’s still a good shad spawn on docks and floating docks, so someone may stay shallow and do well,” Watkins said. “But again, if someone can do both—shad spawn/brim bed stuff early and ledges later—they’ll have a shot at winning.”
Douglas is on the upswing, but it’s still not back to where it used to be. As Watkins put it, “TVA lakes run in cycles.” The recent hurricanes didn’t seem to impact the fishery too badly—there’s just more debris and floating logs around—but there are still quality fish to be caught.
Go-to baits for the shad spawn include an Omega Custom Tackle Spinnerbait (double silver willow blades) or an Omega Swim Jig, both in white. For the ledges and brush, it’s the standard TVA playbook—crankbaits, swimbaits, spoons, hair jigs, big worms, jigs, and dropshots.
“The weights should be tight—I don’t see anyone running away with it,” Watkins said. “The key is getting a 4-pounder or two. There are plenty of 2- to 3-pound fish, and even lower in the standings we’ll see lots of limits. You’ll probably need 11–12 pounds a day just to get a check, and consistency at the top to win.”
“Douglas is one of the most scenic lakes in East Tennessee. With the Smoky Mountains in the background, it’s one of those places you really take it all in,” he concluded.
How to Watch
Tune in daily from to watch the action from Douglas Lake – watch the LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and on-the-water photo galleries and blogs of the anglers fishing each day in Eastern Tennessee.
Catch the LIVE Coverage with Luke Dunkin and FatCat at TNPFL.com on days two and three.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast or check out the real-time leaderboard on the Fishing Chaos Live Track with estimated weights entered by the anglers on the water and join us for the LIVE Weigh-ins, here!
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