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October 24, 2013
COLD SNAP CHILLS FISHING SCENE
Frost on the pumpkin, below average temperatures, and brisk northwest
winds put a chill to the fishing scene at midweek. Another October cool
snap invaded the Kentucky Lake fishing scene and while the weekend ahead
will be nippy, warm days are in the forecast for early next week as
temps are expected to return to 70 on Monday.
Some nice stringers of crappie were coming in last weekend and earlier
this week and bass fishing was pretty good too. Even some hefty catfish
have been taken. While the overall fishing scene has been good the cold
front and chilly winds brought mile high skies and slowed the bite some
for anglers braving the high pressure that lingered the last few days.
It’s not unusual for fish to take on a sluggish mood once a cold front
passes through. The clear, sunny days are nice to be out but changes in
barometric pressure often have an adverse effect and that seemed to be
the case the last few days.
Despite the cold front crappie anglers have managed to find and catch
fish although the bites from finicky fish have been light. The crappie
have been reluctant to move much out of their comfort zone to strike a
bait so it has been a game of finesse.
Fish were holding tight to structure the last few days and you really
had to watch that rod tip and line to detect the light bites. Tipping
jigs with Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse and white colors has enhanced
the presentation.
A lot of crappie have been holding in 7 to 12 foot depths this week.
Some fish even moved up to 4 to 7 foot zones in the early morning and
late afternoon period when lowlight conditions seemed to help.
Good numbers of fish have been caught lately but the cool snap brought a
temporary hiatus to the bite. Action will likely resume by early next
week when winds return to the southwest.
Meanwhile, a few fish have been taken by anglers working the main lake
drop-offs as the deeper depths always seem to produce a few fish.
However, the numbers of fish in the deeper structure in depths of 16 to
20 feet have diminished lately.
Surface temperatures responded to the cold front and have dropped back
into the 63 to 65 degree range. That’s down several degrees from last
week at this time and could fall even more by late this weekend due to
cold nights. Water color remains clear across the reservoir.
Lake levels have fluctuated slightly this week after falling to the low
ebb range of winter pool on Monday. Projected elevation going into the
weekend will be 354.7 at both Kentucky Dam and New Johnsonville Steam
Plant. The stability comes after the reservoir fell several inches late
last week but rebounded slightly at midweek.
Bass fishermen scored some decent stringers last weekend but like the
crappie fishermen they experienced more challenging conditions at
midweek. The fish seemed to back off once the cold front passed and took
on a sluggish behavioral pattern.
Tossing crankbaits toward gravel points and banks has been paying off as
have some rip-rap shorelines and shallow roadbeds. A few fish continued
to school over shallow flats where they were running shad prior to the
cool snap. Watch for that pattern to resume early next week as well.
Some boats are still working the drop-offs out on the main lake with
Texas rigged worms, jig and pig combos, and some Carolina rigged craws.
And, throwing a big crankbait is always in the arsenal.
Grassbeds continue to produce good numbers of bass that have been
relating to the outsides of grass patches near deeper water.
Spinnerbaits and Texas rigged worms have been producing but so have
chrome and black colored Rattle Trap style lures and some shallow
running crankbaits over submerged grass.
Catfish are still prowling along the edge of the river channel in depths
of 30 to 40 feet. Anglers have been working the edge while baiting with
chicken livers, cut shad, and night crawlers. Fall catfishing is
overlooked by a lot of anglers.
After a few days of cold weather it appears some nice fall conditions
will return soon. The colors are changing rapidly along the shorelines
and hillsides of Kentucky Lake. It’s a great time to be out there!
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams is one of the nation's best known Crappie Fishermen
and a full time resident of Paris, Tennessee. Steve is also a
professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area.
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