Fishing at Hughes Lake, Bradley County, Tennessee

• Overview

  The Bradley County entry here is Hughes Lake, in Tennessee. Elevation runs to 863 feet. Some 6.4 miles away sits Wildwood Lake, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is East Chattanooga, 24 miles distant. Round about: Jersey Meadow Lake about 3.9 miles, Green Shadow Lake near enough 4.4 miles, Leisure Lake about 5.2 miles, Ridley Lake near enough 5.3 miles and Hunt Lake about 6.8 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Hughes Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Bradley County include redeye bass, coosa darter, greenbreast darter and speckled darter. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Hughes Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 77°F, with January the cold end at about 38°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Hughes Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Jersey Meadow Lake is 3.9 miles distant. None of that is settled for Hughes Lake in what we hold.