"The Tennessee River is a productive river with an abundance of good habitat," Catchings pointed out. "There are a number of prominent tributaries with good habitat, the aquatic vegetation provides a nursery for young fish, and there are decent populations of forage fish -- threadfin and gizzard shad. We are getting good young bass coming into the population each year, and we are getting good growth.

"In fact, the growth is excellent for all ages, except the age-5 fish. By the time they reach age 5, they are starting to compete with some of the older bass, so their growth slows a little."

From his electro-fishing samples, Catchings reported that 45 percent of the lake's bass measure 15 to 20 inches, which is exceptional compared to lakes statewide. And bass in the next higher category of 20 to 25 inches show an increase in their population size.

"The percentage this year is 5 percent," Catchings said, "which is up a percent from '04. This category holds bass from 4 1/2 pounds and larger. When a bass reaches 25 inches, it weighs about 7 or 8 pounds."

Even though bass in the 15- to 20-inch category form the highest population density on the lake and are great fun to catch, it's the bass in the larger category that win tournaments.

"In spring," observed full-time guide Tim Chandler of Owens Cross Roads, "it typically takes 24 to 30 pounds to win a tournament."

Chandler added that the fish in late February and early March are in a late-winter pattern, and anglers can find them in hydrilla at depths from 4 to 10 feet on main-lake ridges.

"Guntersville has ridges from its headwaters all the way down the lake," Chandler offered. "Some are just below the surface, and some are islands with trees. But as you move down the lake, the tops of those ridges become deeper. The ridges lie parallel to and on each side of the river channel."

Chandler fishes ridges by slow-rolling a Booyah spinnerbait through the grass-covered humps. Most strikes occur when the lure hangs on the grass. If you catch a largemouth, work the ridge thoroughly, as the fish tend to form loose groups.

As the water temperature warms into mid-March, Chandler looks for pre-spawn bass in the backs of creeks.

"Fish the middle of shallow pockets, places with scattered grass left over from last year," he said. "Plan to search a lot of pockets, because you'll find many do not hold bass. Then, all of a sudden, you'll pull into a warm pocket, and bass are everywhere.