Bivens suggests testing these quality waters all through the winter and February with a Bullet Lures' Float-N-Fly rig featuring 4-pound-test line and a 1/16-ounce jig. He used to rely heavily on 1/4-ounce hair jigs and a No. 5 crawdad-colored Shad Rap, but can't put the bobber rod down in February. The chance to hook up with a big smallmouth on 4-pound-test and the long rod used with the Float-N-Fly is just too much to pass up. The real test and fun is trying to get one in the boat with the finesse system.

The question about whether Tellico can produce is easily answered through Bivens' experiences. He said a 6- to 7-pound brown fish on any given February day is not out of the ordinary. Tellico isn't your grandpa's numbers lake. You might even boat a couple of smallies over 6 pounds in a trip to these overlooked waters, according to Bivens' experiences. He said on a three-day fishing trip at Tellico, the majority of brown bass will be 4 to 5 pounds in size, but big kicker fish can be in the mix as well.

WATAUGA LAKE
The first smallmouth bass over 6 pounds that I boated happened over a decade ago, and it wasn't from my favorite waters of legendry Dale Hollow Lake. That big brown bruiser was caught near the dam on deep, clear Watauga Lake on a cold and icy February morning. That first fish of the day and the biggest of my smallmouth career at that time actually jumped on the back side of the boat before I could gain the upper hand, but then again, that's smallmouth fishing.

Watauga Lake is a smallmouth classic in the sense of the word that it defines you as a smallmouth angler. It's one of the toughest lakes you can pit your skills against and at the same time it can produce that trophy when you least expect it. The name Eddie Nuckols is familiar in smallmouth arenas because of the national exposure he's brought to the Float-N-Fly technique as well as his tournament exploits with it on Dale Hollow and South Holston. Nuckols, from Washington County, is no stranger to Watauga Lake and has enjoyed tournament wins there as well.

Nuckols will quickly tell you the reason to be on Watauga Lake in February is because of the smallmouth opportunity there. He said there's no other reason to take on these tough but bountiful waters in late winter. There is truly nothing easy about conquering Watauga in February, but the challenge can be rewarding in the form of quality smallmouths. If the water is stable, Nuckols said February can be one of the best months to be on Watauga. It can get very tough when early rains spill into the lake from the rivers feeding in from North Carolina. Nuckols said rising waters kill the Watauga smallmouth bite.

When conditions are right and they often are in February, the veteran smallmouth angler said the lack of fishing pressure on Watauga is one of the things that makes it a great smallmouth destination. From main-lake points and bluffs to a lot of underwater structures available for those willing to look for it, Watauga can be a prime producer from the mid to lower section of the lake. The upper section's shallower water with its two feeder rivers and creeks will be best later on. For now, from the boat ramp at Fish Springs Dock on down toward the dam is where you'll want to concentrate your efforts in February.

With water temperatures near the low 40s in February, smallmouths can still be fairly deep. They may move up on the main lake inside protected pinots on main channel bluffs, but will be found relatively deep. When smallies are deep and suspended under baitfish, anybody that knows Nuckols knows he's throwing the Float-N-Fly.

Those that don't know him that well should also realize he knows the value of a jigging spoon in February on Watauga Lake. Drops and stumps play a big part in his late-winter fishing taking advantage of the success of a jigging spoon. He said the smallies can be in the 20- to 40-foot range with a spoon in February and often the 30- to 35-foot mark depending on the amount of winter drawdown can be very productive.

Nuckols' Float-N-Fly fishing on Watauga depends on water conditions. It's guaranteed he'll be throwing it in February, but his tactics may differ slightly with the bobber set from 10 to 15 feet. In colored water, he'll switch to a 1/8-ounce fly with chartreuse highlights and back to the routine 1/16-ounce gray and blue jig in clear conditions. He'll even admit one of my favorite Float-N-Fly colors of a white jig with red trim is a good coldwater Watauga option. To learn more about the Float-N-Fly, call Nuckols at (423) 753-6151.