REGION IV
Region IV, in the eastern part of the state, is blessed with several solid catfish venues. If you're talking big fish, then the first that comes to mind, according to Doug Peterson, Region IV fisheries biologist, is Fort Loudoun.

Fort Loudoun is located on the Tennessee River, just a short drive from Knoxville. At normal pool, the water covers 14,600 acres and offers over 370 miles of shoreline.

The catfish caught in this reservoir are massive. Peterson reports anglers regularly catch channel cats up to 30 pounds, flatheads in the 40- to 50-pound range and blues up to 60 pounds (and, rarely, blues even bigger than that). Those are big ones -- anytime, anywhere and under any conditions.

That's the good news. Unfortunately, there's bad news as well. The reason for this extraordinary size is the consumption advisory. Fort Loudon is strictly catch-and-release.

However, to do the releasing, you first must do the catching. Most of the biggest fish are taken from deep waters near the dam or from the steep-sided, very deep tributaries that flow into this reservoir. Daytime angling centers on areas with heavy, deep shade and large schools of baitfish. After dark, the fish follow the baitfish into more shallow water.

These brutes require heavy tackle. Heavy-action rods and reels are the norm. Line test weights above 50 pounds are common and hooks in the 6/0 to 10/0 size range are considered ordinary.

If you want a few to eat, Peterson suggests fishing either Cherokee or Douglas reservoirs. Both offer good, solid populations of catfish and as of this writing, there are no consumption advisories in effect for either venue.

Both support excellent populations of channel cats between 3/4 pound and 5 pounds. That's darn near perfect for the frying pan. Cherokee will occasionally produce a blue up to around 20 pounds.

The best place to fish for eating-sized channels on Cherokee is around the steam plant at the extreme upper end of the lake. Most of the keepers are caught on either homemade or commercial stink baits bounced along the bottom with a Lindy rig or a Carolina rig.

On Douglas, most of the cats are taken from weedlines or from weed-lined channel drops and breaks. If you can find a spot with a sharp twist or turn, so much the better.

Unless you're looking for one of the big blues in Cherokee, ordinary tackle is the norm on both lakes. Medium-weight open-face spinning rods and reels with 6- to 10-pound-test line should be adequate.

In some years, the channel cat spawn on these lakes can occur late in the season. (It'll happen when the water reaches approximately 75 degrees.) When that occurs, the channel cats will move toward rocky areas. The very best spots are ledges and rock outcroppings with deep cuts and crevices in them. Fish these areas with stink baits or live minnows at this time of year.

For more information on catfishing opportunities in Region III, check the Web site at www.tnfish.orgor call (423) 587-7037.

Well, there you have it, a survey of catfishing opportunities around Tennessee. They're good, whether you're after fun, trophies or supper. Fish one of them this year.