Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for December 14th, 2001
Fishing is attempting to return to normal but
changing water levels continue to greet anglers on Kentucky Lake this
week. The reservoir had been falling since last week and dramatic
drawdown had been underway with some eight feet of water discharged.
Recent rains will no doubt send the reservoir back on a fast rise
this weekend as flash flood watches have been in effect for much of west
and middle Tennessee. The Ohio and Mississippi Rivers have also been
high and are now flooding lowland areas.
Since the Tennessee River flows north, it's likely TVA will have to
hold some water due to the status of the river stages on the Ohio and
Mississippi.
Presently, observed lake elevations in the Paris Landing area were
355.4 but that's likely to change to a higher mark in the next few days.
Surface temperatures were in the 47 to 52 degree range with some dingy
water in the main river.
Crappie anglers were finding fish on the deep sides of ledges this
week in the main lake. Depths of 18 to 25 feet were producing decent
strings.
Live minnows and jigs were paying off. Such colors as pink and
chartreuse, grape and pearl were a few of the popular color combinations
fished on painted lead heads.
Most anglers were using the tightline, double-hook, bottom bumping
rigs and feeling for those stumps and scattered brush.
Some smallmouth were being taken as the changing lake levels had a
lot of clear and muddy water mixing together. Anglers fishing feeder
ditches and main lake points where the two extremes of water color were
mixing found some decent sized bronzebacks taking small spinners such as
Roadrunners and leadhead jigs with twister tail grubs.
Catfish have been hitting as anglers work the main lake river
channel. Some good reports of channel catfish taking beef liver and
nightcrawlers have come in. The recent change in lake stages has stirred
up the water and current seems to often stimulate catfish feeding
frenzies.
Look for rising lake levels this next week as runoff from heavy
rains enters the river system. The fish may react to the change too as
it often scatters shallow crappie. However, those fish holding deep will
likely stay put so watch the wind and weather and head on out.
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.
|
