The last few weeks of rain have flooded both Percy Priest and Old Hickory lakes 5-7 feet above summer pool. This has opened miles of flooded shoreline to bass, crappie and many other species to a buffet of insects, oxygen and cover.

Ultimately, that is a good thing for the fish, but for the fisherman that makes catching very hard, like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The good news is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been draining the water day after day and the lake is close to summer pool again. What does this mean? This means that the fishing will begin to pick up because now the fish do not have as many places to hide.

Expect to catch both bass and crappie in shallow water near wood, rock and other forms of cover. If you are after crappie, try using a 1/16 oz. jig with a chartreuse and white tube. I have found this color to be successful at many lakes.

As for the bass, Texas-rig lizards, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are great choices for shallow water. Most of the large female bass have finished spawning and moved out to deeper water, but a lot of the males (buck bass) are still shallow protecting their eggs.

For more information on spring fishing or to book a guided fishing trip, contact Brian Carper at briancarper.com or (615) 278-6311.