Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
April 5th, 2002
CRAPPIE SPAWN APPROACHING
(ANGLERS READY FOR GOOD WEATHER)
by
Steve McCadams
Crappie are on the threshold of spawning on Kentucky
Lake. Both the anglers and the fish are ready for stable weather as the
annual ritual is about to begin.
March was a mean month this year for anglers as gale winds, heavy
rains, and cold fronts dominated the fishing scene. With April finally
on the calendar, it's high time sunny days dominated the picture.
Yet spring this year has roared in like a lion. The brisk north
winds just won't go away for very long as yet another front slipped in
this week from the northwest sending temperatures below normal.
The slabs have attempted to move up for about two weeks now but
every time they make a motion toward shallow water along comes a cold
snap that jerks surface temperatures back down. Changing lake levels
have been the culprit too.
This week, surface temperatures started out around 53 to 55 degrees.
By midweek, the bays were sporting some 58-degree water but just about
the time things were headed in the right direction, along came a
bone-chilling wind that changed things drastically on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the high was 79 degrees but Wednesday's high struggled
to make it to 51 degrees. That's a mid-day difference of 28 degrees in
only 24 hours and the mercury was expected to dip below the freezing
mark Wednesday
night.
So what's the status of the crappie spawn? The fish are staging in
the 9 to 14 foot zones across much of the Paris Landing area. While a
few fish have been in and out of shallow water already, the bulk have
not made it to their spawning destination just yet.
This week, several male crappie were showing the hormonal changes
and sporting a darker tint. That's a sure sign that spawning time is
close at hand.
Females are bulging with eggs and awaiting the right moment to drop
their cargo around stumps, brushpiles, and various manmade fish
attractors in the 4 to 8 foot zones.
Some shallow fish continue to be taken in the upper Big Sandy and
West Sandy area in depths of less than five feet. However, anglers in
the Paris Landing area have yet to see much success in depths of less
than eight feet.
Spawning will likely begin next week when some sunny days and south
winds push the surface temperatures up to the 62 to 66 degree range.
That's when the most successful spawning takes place here.
Water colors are still quite muddy in some areas as high winds and
runoff in the upper portions of creeks are keeping a lot of sediments
stirred up. However, that could help the shallow water anglers, as the
fish will come toward shoreline venues as dingy waters filter the light.
The more color or stain in the water, the more likely the fish are
to migrate toward shallow areas. For many years Kentucky Lake has this
degree of stain during the spring but recent years has seen some
clearing. Years ago, farming practices were different and the reservoir
still had a lot of
loose soil on the banks and points.
Look for significant improvement in the crappie department this
weekend and into next week as warm weather works in favor of anglers.
Water levels will be a factor too. The lake was rising early in the
week
due to heavy rains upstream but TVA was flushing a lot of water through
the system. Current was present in the main Tennessee River this week.
Observed lake elevation at New Johnsonville on Wednesday night was
358.4. However, TVA's forecast indicated a decline of some six-inches
each day through Friday when the elevation was expected to be down to
356.7.
Here in the Paris Landing area the readings were a few inches below
New Johnsonville and a wall of water was coming down the system.
Recently, there have been as much as two to three feet difference on the
same day between elevation readings at New Johnsonville and Kentucky
Dam. That means swift current in the main river for anglers.
Bass action was improving with some dandy stringers taken along rock
bluffs and gravel roadbeds this past week. Crankbaits in the crawfish,
fire-tiger, and shad colors were producing, as were hair jigs and small,
in-line spinners for smallmouth.
Some success was also coming from anglers tossing jig and pork
combos. And, a few suspended jerk baits were beginning to account for
some bronzebacks as well.
Spring has been slow in getting here but anglers are ready for the
dogwoods to bloom and short-sleeve shirts to be standard attire. Both
could be a reality by this time next week.
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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