The Reel Thing: Best fish to catch in winter season

With the weather turning back to traditional winter cold following the Christmas week warm spell, this week's edition of The Reel Thing will focus on the best fish to go for in the chill. The first fish are the different trout varieties. Throughout the winter, the TWRA stocks different waterways in the state with trout. The most recent stocking at time of writing this piece was on Monday, when LeConte Creek in Gatlinburg was stocked. Ralph Stout Park Pond, South Indian Creek, and Boone Trailwater have all been stocked locally in recent weeks. The TWRA stocks a mixture of rainbow, brook, and brown trout species. Insects, especially worms, tend to yield the best results. Corn also works well when angling for trout species. It is worth noting the restrictions the state of Tennessee has on trout fishing. There is a daily limit of seven trout per day, and only two trout in a creel may be lake trout. South Fork Holston River, Watauga River, and other local waterways have special regulations. For more details on those, visit www.tn.gov/twra/fishing-regs/trout-regulations. Another common species is crappie. Even though peak season tends to be the early spring, crappie have continued to become more active as the weather turns cold. At this point in time, the deeper the water, the better the chances are of coming up with a catch. Bass also can be found commonly, though the peak season was in the late fall. If you have a story you'd like to share, a fishing event upcoming, or an update on your local waterways, feel free to reach out to Andrew Smith at asmith@sixriversmedia.com.