On a positive note, state and federal hatcheries are now producing smallmouth bass fingerlings for stocking into Blue Ridge to maintain and restore this important fishery. Over the past five years, Blue Ridge has received more than 260,000 smallmouth. Hatcheries will continue to raise smallmouth for stocking the lake in 2021. WRD lake monitoring data has yet to show a significant increase in smallmouth numbers, but some anglers have noticed more small (10-12") smallmouth suggesting some of the stocked fingerlings are surviving and starting to recruit to the fishery.
(Report courtesy of fisheries biologist John Damer) — Staff from Armuchee completed annual spring sampling at Blue Ridge this past week. We found average numbers of spotted and largemouth bass up shallow, as they are on the tail end of the spawning period. They seemed to go deep again as the cooler weather rolled in but should return to the shallows when the herring begin to spawn, which should probably occur during the next warm spell. We also saw good numbers of walleye in the shallows, usually near downed trees or deep bush piles. Some healthy bluegill in the half pound range were seen in the backs of coves. Target the rocks along and near the dam for channel and flathead catfish.
