Cherokee Lake
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Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter (Current)
Cherokee Lake Overview
SLOWWind (mph)FAST
01020406080100
Top Techniques Reported for Smallmouth Bass + Winter
- Drop Shot1
- Soft Body Swimbaits (Large)1
Total Fishing Reports
41
Top Species Reported for Winter
Largemouth Bass2 Reports- Smallmouth Bass2 Reports
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Fishing Reports
41 Reports on Cherokee LakeSort by
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Structure Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
65°
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Spinnerbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Shad
Launched out of 25E Boat ramp and fished the western end of the lake primarily in coves. Air temperature was 27 at launch and rose to around 38 before starting to drop at 3 or so. Winds went from 0 to 10 mph throughout the day. Water temp ranged from 54 to 55 degrees. Found plenty of baitfish schooled and sporadically was able to find a few smallmouths hugged to the bottom below the schools in 5 to 12 feet of water. Was able to catch a short smallmouth on a 3/8 oz Damiki Vault in Black Halo color by casting out and after it reach bottom, I would slowly raise it off the bottom maybe a foot or two, flutter down on semi slack line and let it sit a few seconds before repeating. Bass would hit it on the bottom. Bottom composition was red clay with small rock intermixed. After a few hours we parallel the bank in a cove that had large rocks in 1 to 5 feet and I would cast a 1/2 oz River2Sea Bling spinnerbait with a 3.8 Keitech in electric shad as a trailer. Caught my 1st 4lbs 8 oz Largemouth keeper 2 reel turns into my retrieve as it came over a large rock. 3 casts later with same bait on the inside corner of a floating dock I was able to catch a 1 lbs. 9 oz Largemouth. Ended up with 6 more bites continuing this pattern until it was time for weigh-in. The Vault worked well with little to no wind, but the spinnerbait was the key when the wind started to pick up.
Species
Striped BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Topwater Walking
Structure
Shad
Forage
Shad
Cherokee is loaded with huge Stripers and Hybrids and fall is a great time of year to catch them using conventional bass tackle. Focus on looking at main lake points and islands around creek mouths. I have had the best luck riding and looking for schooling fish gorging on shad around the dam area. Mornings and evenings are best, some anglers even sit still on the main lake looking for schoolers, kind of like hunting. Grab you a topwater and go find them. Once you found them, keep you bait wet and have fun!
Top Fishing Techniques
for Smallmouth Bass + WinterChoose from techniques based on Cherokee Lake fishing reports.
