Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
April 25th, 2002
Fishing continues to hold up quite well for crappie
and bass anglers on Kentucky Lake. Last week was the most productive one
of the year for crappie anglers who found the peak of the spawn
occurring Monday through Saturday.
Beautiful weather coincided with the rising surface temperatures
and sent big fish to spawning habitat such as manmade stakebeds, brush
piles, and natural stump rows. Anglers boasted about hefty stringers,
especially last Wednesday and Thursday, where a lot of two-pound plus
crappie were taken.
There's still a few crappie spawning but the bulk of fish seemed to
have already completed the annual ritual. Spawning actually began this
year around April 14. Then, the following week saw significant movement
as fish went from a suspended mode direct to structure to spawn.
Presently, surface temperatures are in the 67 to 71 degree range.
Lake levels are rising slowly with readings in the Paris Landing and New
Johnsonville area showing the reservoir to be in the 358.7 range.
Observed elevation at Kentucky Dam is already showing the summer
pool level of 359. TVA indicates the reservoir will be stable for the
next two days, although the elevation is slightly ahead of schedule as
to the curve for reservoir operations. Normally, the lake reaches summer
pool by May 1, according to TVA's projections.
Crappie are hitting in the 9 to 14 foot zones and still relating to
structure in the Paris Landing area. Water color is still quite clear
and the fish appear to have found their spawning comfort zone in that
depth range.
Some scattered fish are still being taken as anglers drift and slow
troll around the power lines in the Big Sandy River near Mansard Island
Resort. Most are pulling jigs and live minnow rigs as they bounce near
bottom or use bobbers to regulate depth and catch suspended crappie.
Other successful techniques have been slow trolling small grubs and
inline spinners such as Road Runners and Beetle Spins.
The male crappie are still sporting a dark, purple color. The big
females clearly indicate they have dropped their eggs and their thin
profile, compared to a bulky appearance last week, is the normal look.
Anglers can still find some good crappie as the fish enter a
post-spawn phase and there's a few fish still spawning right now. Look
for a small portion of fish to occupy some gravel banks and shoreline
habitat in the week ahead but most of the fish will not make it to the
shorelines this year as their needs have been met in deeper water.
Popular jig colors lately have been white/lime, red/chartreuse, aqua
blue with metal flake, yellow/chartreuse, and some purple and white. A
few anglers are dropping back to unpainted leadheads and dull colored
skirts such as motor oil, silver, and light purple.
Bass anglers continue to find a new lake awaiting them each week as
water levels change. Two weeks ago the shoreline habitat was high and
dry. Now, water has found its way to the weedbeds and moss flats where
spawning bass are fanning out craters.
Action has been good this week and the ever-popular "yellow flowers"
that are now inundated with water are holding fish. Tossing a
spinnerbaits, topwater, worm, and lizard will likely get a strike.
The male "buck" bass are roaming the shoreline habitat with an
attitude this week. A lot of fish are biting with some of the big
females now on the bed.
There's still success if casting a crankbait around gravel or
working it slowly around logs and other visible structure such as
roadbeds, bridges, and rock piles.
Smallmouth are still showing up in the creel too but it appears the
largemouth and spotted bass are hitting best at the present time.
Some redear (shellcracker) and bluegill action is underway in the
shallow coves where weeds and bushes are mixed. Look for this type
action to improve in the weeks ahead as the fish begin spawning.
# # #
NOTE:( Steve's Third Annual "Casting For A Cure" Kids Fishing Rodeo,
which benefits The American Cancer Society, will be held June 8, 2002.
Location will again be Carroll Lake, located near McKenzie, TN.)
(For news release on Steve's Second Annual "Casting For A Cure" Kids
Fishing Rodeo...click
here)
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Click Here
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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