OK, let’s just start with some truth: Tims Ford ain’t easy fishing.
It’s a tough learning curve, and more than a few fisherman have left cussing and scratching their heads after a tough day on the water. Oh sure, there’s always that guy that says he can catch a limit every time, but he is just an official member of the liar’s club. I’ve heard it called “the Dead Sea” and know others who say that dynamite would be the only way to catch anything consistently.
Now, I’m not an expert fisherman. I don’t fish tournaments. I am way behind on all the fancy electronics and latest techniques. I fish for fun, mainly for bass, but I still enjoy a good ol’ bobber and a worm for some bluegill sometimes. But there are some quality fish in Tims Ford. My wife Laci and I have caught some nice ones over the years, and we have also suffered through many slow days.
The very first fish I ever caught here was a 5.75lb smallmouth. I thought I had entered the pearly gates of fishing heaven! I soon found out that may not be the case, but if you like a challenge, this lake will deliver!
So Tims Ford features striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, spotted bass, bluegill, and walleye. The tail waters below the dam offer rainbow and brown trout as well. So how in the world do you catch them? Well, I’m going to share some of the things that have worked for me. Again, I’m just an amateur, and I’m sure there are others that would disagree with me. But there’s no one way to catch fish! I will break it down by species, and maybe, just maybe, it might be helpful to you.
1. Largemouth Bass
In Winter, the Elk River area below Rock Creek is a good place to start. Look for rocky or mud banks, and try jigs, or my favorite, a Rapala DT crankbait.
Early Spring is when I usually head to areas like Turkey Creek, Owl Hollow, Graves Branch, Big Hollow, and Anderton Branch. Pockets and wooded cover are my main targets. Start shallow, and if that doesn’t produce, start easing out until you find them. Ned rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, or buzzbaits all can be effective.
In the summer things can get tough. You can try deep main lake points and pockets fishing jigs or Carolina rigs. Early or late in the day I have had success with topwater lures as well. As usual, if you can find some deep structure, it’s to your advantage. Night fishing is a great option, slow rolling a Colorado bladed spinnerbait or slowly working a black/blue jig. I’ve had success around the Awalt bridge area after dark.
In the Fall, largemouth move back into the shallow creeks to follow the baitfish. I head back to my Rapala DT’s primarily. Be prepared to cover a lot of water. They seem to be scattered out and always on the move, so I make a ton of casts and cover a lot of water. So take your Ibuprofen, that arm is gonna be tired!
2. Smallmouth Bass
I don’t normally like to fish in the cold of Winter, but the smallmouth action on Tims Ford really seems to be at its best January – March. The wind, while chilly, is your friend. They will usually school in about 15ft of water, and they seem much more active when there is a stiff breeze. Rapala DT 6’s and 10’s as well as jigs will probably find you some bites, and occasionally I’ll have some hit a spinnerbait when all else fails. Gravel and red clay banks in the mid-section of the lake are a good place to start. If you happen to catch a heavy rain this time of year, head to the back of Turkey Creek or Hurricane Creek and give it a try. For whatever reason this has worked for me on several occasions.
As the water starts to warm up in the Spring, smallmouth move to the coves and inlets. Kitchens Creek, Winchester Springs, and Dry Creek are popular, but most of the creeks will yield some quality fish. Rocky points, flats, and main lake pockets are always worth a few casts as well. The same lures I use in the winter seem to do the trick in the spring as well.
Summer sends them back to the main lake, and night fishing is your best bet. But you might find a few early morning or late afternoon cruising flats for an easy meal. I fish a lot from the Mansford Bridge area to the Awalt Bridge. The mouth of Dry Creek isn’t a bad option either. Topwater is my first choice, but when the heat really moves in I’ll switch to jigs or Carolina rigs almost exclusively.
In the Fall I switch back to my Rapalas and just cover as much water as I can. Honestly I struggle to find them consistently this time of year, and when I do they usually seem to be the little ones. So if you figure it out, let me know, LOL!
3. Striped Bass
These guys are not my specialty (not that I have a specialty!) But I have several friends that primarily fish for stripers. Around March they like the Elk River area up around Estill Springs. White buck-tail jigs are a good bet.
After the stripe complete their spawn, they start moving throughout the lake, and man are they lethargic at this time. They are like me on a Sunday afternoon after church! Look for gravel points and creek mouths and slow it way down. And when you think it’s slow enough, go slower! Live bait is best, but some shad colored plastic can work also.
As Summer arrives, these fish love that colder, deeper water. Head out towards the dam, Lost Creek, Mansford Bridge, or Wiseman Bend. Live shad, white buck-tail jigs, and maybe a shad colored crankbait are the best choices typically. Good electronics are very helpful. Find the baitfish and the depth they are at, and fish accordingly. I do have one friend that swears by a Mepps inline spinner with some red on it, but he’s from up north, so we aren’t sure that he ever really catches anything, LOL! I will also mention that Kitchens Creek is a favorite of mine this time of year. They seem to move in and out feeding, and if you can find them pulling up to the buffet you can have some fun.
In the Fall I look for surface feeding or birds feeding on schools of baitfish. The stripe are usually feeding on them as well. If they are feeding you can throw about anything in there and catch them.
Let me add, trolling is probably the easiest way to catch these guys. So if that is your game, this is perfect for you!
4. Crappie
Ah, the crappie. There are lots of folks fishing for crappie. And buddy they are serious about getting on their favorite spots. And they won’t share the slightest bit of their intel. EVER. I don’t even think they want you to know after they are dead and gone! But I’ll share what I know.
In the Winter, use your electronics to find them schooling on channel drop-offs in 20-30 ft of water. Minnows or jigs, take your pick!
Spring brings them shallow, and is my favorite time to catch good numbers. We don’t have a lot of good vegetation, but look around docks, brush piles, and fallen trees. Bobby Garland jigs are a must have. Boiling Creek is usually a good Spring time bet.
In the Summer I fish the docks pretty heavily, again using electronics to find the most productive ones. The Mansford bridge is always worth a try as well. Many go out at night with lights to attract baitfish, which in turn draw the fish in. Minnows, or those must have Bobby Garland jigs are almost always to their liking.
Whatever you do, don’t listen to what the old man at the boat ramp told you. He’s lying. He may be the most honest guy around, but he ain’t telling you his crappie spots. But he will gladly lead you on a wild goose chase and laugh all the way home thinking about you out there catching ZERO fish!
5. Bluegill
It ain’t rocket science! Hit the backs of coves and creeks in the Spring, and go deep in the Summer. Crickets and worms never fail.
So now you have no excuse not to catch fish on the Dead Sea, I mean Tims Ford! It’s deep, it’s pretty clear, and there’s not as much structure or vegetation as you might expect. There has been a good effort to add man-made structure over the last few years, and hopefully that will begin to pay dividends soon. Wind is usually a good thing. Hard rains that stain the water can help. Patience is a virtue. If you want to speed up your learning curve, I recommend getting with Kyle Palmer or Jake Davis. Both are excellent guides and can put you on fish.
So embrace the challenge, grab your gear, and come see us. Even if they aren’t biting, Tims Ford Lake is a great place to spend some time!
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