Growing up literally running around the shoreline of Chickamauga Lake has sort of spoiled me in one regard. Before I even had a boat to fish from, I walked many miles of the shoreline on this Tennessee River impoundment seeking bream, crappie and largemouth bass.

While the bass fishing was excellent on some days, and the crappie action was seasonal, there were plenty of times we couldn’t catch these species in good numbers from the shoreline. Nevertheless, there was one sure thing during the spring that kept me “spoiled” and that was the outstanding bream fishing on Chickamauga Lake. When referring to bream, I am collectively referring to both bluegills and shellcrackers. The lake was teeming with these fish those many years ago, and still is today.

Many of the places I used to walk (and run) along the shoreline going from one bream “bed” to the next are now populated with houses instead of trees. However, the underwater hotspots are still there, so to avoid trespassing I now fish them from a boat.

In addition, one good thing has occurred during the years: The size of the fish has improved. The average size of bluegills seems to have improved somewhat, but the shellcrackers are definitely much larger, and even more numerous, than I remember from the past. Recent sampling of these species at this lake certainly validates that point for me.

The combination of outstanding shellcracker and bream fishing is one of the keys to why this lake is one of the better bream fisheries in the state. Chickamauga Lake has both of these species in big numbers and relatively huge sizes.

Moreover, the entire lake is productive for these fish. While most of the fishing I have done in the past centered on the lower half of the lake, in recent years, I’ve also began fishing the upper portion of the lake. Also, I’ve met other anglers who fish there exclusively for bream.

All of the major creeks are productive, especially during the spring months, particularly May. These bream hotpots include Wolftever Creek and Dallas Bay (one favorite area of mine), as well as Soddy, Possum and Sale creeks.

In addition, the Hiwassee River farther upstream has some prime bream territory in the lower end, close to where it forms a junction with the Tennessee River. From that point upstream, many of the best places are small creeks and coves that wind back into open pockets and sloughs on the lake. Look for the ones that have a water source, even if it’s a very small creek. Where you have even tiny flowing streams in the creeks, you will usually find plenty of action on bedding bream and shellcrackers.

When the fish are on the beds, look for the bream on gravel or sand near the shoreline. When not spawning, they’re more likely caught near woody or rocky cover.

By May, the fishing is usually outstanding throughout the lake. In some of the above-named larger creeks, you can catch shellcrackers on the beds earlier, but usually this is the prime month. However, if you can’t get out on the lake as much as you’d like in May, do not despair or give up. The full moon in June is typically excellent as well at Chickamauga and at all the lakes we’ll discuss across the state.