Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for April 27th, 2001
Fishing this week on Kentucky Lake has again seen
gale winds and cooler temperatures dominate the scene. High winds have
been pestering anglers all spring.
Water levels in the Paris Landing area were resting at the summer
pool reading of 359 this week. Surface temperatures cooled down to 62
degrees early in the week, after another cold front visited on Tuesday,
escorted by brisk north winds. However, by Wednesday temps were climbing
up to the 66 to 68 degree range during the day.
Warmer weather is predicted throughout the weekend and into next
week. That should send some light southern breezes for anglers.
Crappie continue to test the skill and patience of anglers as the
post-spawn phases are normally a challenging time anyway. Added to the
post-spawn mood of the fish has been cold fronts and high winds. As a
result, the fish have been slower than normal this week.
Scattered crappie are being caught in the 11 to 18 foot zones in
the Paris Landing area with very few coming from shallow zones lately.
And, there's still some reports of crappie coming from the flats out on
Big Sandy and up in West Sandy and the Country Junction area. Depths of
10 to 12 feet are producing a few fish in those areas.
With the fish somewhat scattered and roaming, finding them
relating to structure such as stumps, brushpiles and stakebeds has been
tough going this week. That will likely improve, however, in the days
and weeks ahead as the fish get over the stress of spawning.
Each year there's a lull in the first week to 10 days after the
peak of spawning. Seems the crappie suspend and change their habits
somewhat by leaving structure. They're often on a journey to nowhere in
particular and reluctant to take a bait or reside near cover.
Anglers having the most luck are those who are drifting or
trolling as they cover more water and thus, encounter more fish while in
this scattered mode.
Jigs in the purple and chartreuse combo and some varieties of
painted leadheads in the red or chartreuse sporting tube skirts in the
dull colors have been paying off. Live minnows are still producing and
jigs tipped with minnows are working better than just a jig by itself.
Bass action has picked up since last week. Tossing a lizard around
the dead grass beds and buck bushes or logs is producing some strikes.
There's a lot of small fish hitting but you can tie into a good one now
and then too.
Spinnerbaits and some topwater lures such as floating Rapalas,
Smithwick 's Devil's Horse, Storm's Chug-Bug, and Bomber's Long-A are a
few that are producing. There's some stained water in the shallow
pockets off the main lake where the wind has whipped up the shoreline.
Several of the secondary bays off the main lake are sporting clear
conditions, however. Many of the bass were on bed the last two weeks but
most appear to be in the post-spawn phase now.
Recent cool fronts had slowed action at midweek but the warmer
weather predicted this weekend should enhance things.
A lot of male "buck" bass are hitting, especially in the
early morning and late afternoon periods or during the day if there's
cloud cover.
Catfish are beginning to act up too. Successful anglers are
reporting some hefty stringers coming from the rock levee at Paris
Landing and along the highway embankment. Nightcrawlers and cut shad
have been two good baits. Look for catfish action to continue to improve
in the week ahead as spawning time gets underway.
Bluegill and redear are also showing signs of improvement. Anglers
are already finding them around the shallow banks sporting an appetite
for crickets and redworms. The redear go on bed a little before the
bluegill and that appears to the case right now.
Better dust off the light spinning rods and cricket boxes. Stop by
and stock up on the long shank hooks and bobbers. The time is fast
approaching for a bluegill bonanza.
For Previous 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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