Cherokee Lake looks like a highland reservoir, but it fishes mostly like a Tennessee River impoundment, according to David Walker. Cherokee Lake’s 28,780 surface acres are formed by the Holston River. It’s sister lake, Douglas, features 28,420 acres formed by the French Broad River. The confluence of those two rivers in Knoxville forms the headwaters of the Tennessee River.
“Everything in the Tennessee River you can relate to these two lakes,” Walker said. “The difference is basically these look like highland reservoirs. But they fish more Tennessee River style.
“That’s why you see lures that are famous on Kentucky Lake that work on Cherokee and Douglas, like hair jigs and big spoons, all that same type stuff. That’s why (David) Mullins can catch ’em on a big crankbait here. It’s not really a highland lake, even though it looks like it.”
Mullins, who calls Cherokee his “home lake,” believes it can fish like a blend of both a highland reservoir and a Tennessee River lake.
“That’s why so many good fishermen come out of this area,” Mullins said. “Highland (techniques and lures) work here too.”
Added Walker, “You can’t be a one-trick pony out here and do the same thing every day. These fish will just stop biting and move. There are so many different things you have to do to be successful here.”