Past the rock finger as you move downstream, the bank starts to get more abrupt and there are many trees, tree roots and such to negotiate. Watch for cuts and other variations in the shoreline, especially those that have had riprap or other rock dumped into them to cut down on erosion. Those rocks usually reach well out into the river and the backside drop¬offs consistently hold both largemouths and smallmouths.

Past this stretch, which contains a smallish cut known as "The Hog Trough" to Stevens and his fishing pals for reasons that need little explanation, a second public launching ramp below The Botel, a shoreline restaurant/motel combination offers boat access and another reference point.

"From here down it's all boat work," he explained. "If it's early March and the weather has been nasty, stick with a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce leadhead and either a chartreuse metalflake or root beer metalflake grub in the 3- to 4-inch size. Keep it close to the rocks and as slow as you can get it. When you start seeing broken water -- eddies -- on the river side, get out because you're getting shallow and can wreck your outboard. The rocks that cause those eddies also hold a lot of smallmouths, but don't try to get in too close. Toss a gold Shad Rap from a safe distance."

On the other side of the river Stevens fishes from the very tip of the dam's lock wall, paying special attention to where the riprap "ribs" that reinforce the bank enter the water. Once again, he spends most of his time working the downriver side but admits that the upper sides will occasionally hold fish as well. Location is often dictated by current flow and learning that takes some practice.

"Anywhere there is a rock bank on the west side of the river all the way down to the second set of power lines you should be ready to get your string stretched," he said. "At this time of year, the smallmouths here seem to run in multiples, and doubles of over 4 pounds are pretty common. The best that I ever heard of went 6 pounds, 7 ounces and 5 pounds, 4 ounces. They were taken on an in-line spinner. The biggest smallmouth that I know of from this stretch of river went 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was taken on a chartreuse jig. For really big fish, I'd suggest the western shoreline from the dam all the way down to the lower Narrows (second power lines) and slowly worked jigs. For fun, more consistent action and a mixed bag, the boating angler might like the side above and below the TVA launching ramp better. It all depends on what you want. This is a fishery that pretty much has everything."

It would seem so, and March seems to be the month to prove it. According to the experts across the state, now is the time to cash in on one of Tennessee's bass factories. Now if someone would just take care of the March weather. . . .