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March 27, 2013
OVERDUE WARM SPELL IMPROVES KENTUCKY LAKE FISHING SCENE
Would spring weather ever arrive and chase away the chill? That’s a
question anglers have been asking for quite some time here on Kentucky
Lake and it appears spring has finally sprung.
Warmer weather arrived the last few days but not before bone chilling
winds and some snow earlier this week added insult to injury. Things are
rebounding quickly and the fishing scene is changing for the better as
bass and crappie action is improving.
Anglers can expect significant movement to take place this weekend and
throughout next week as crappie begin moving toward midrange depths in
preparation for spawning. Same goes for bass that will now occupy more
shallow gravel banks and rocky points in their transition from winter to
early spring patterns.
Crappie action picked up the last few days as overdue sunshine began to
have a positive effect. The fish have lingered in deep water across most
of the lake for the last week or two due to cold surface temperatures. I
found a few hefty slabs in 20 foot depths earlier this week but they
were scattered and bites were finicky.
A spot check of a few midrange stakebeds was unproductive earlier in the
week but was already showing signs of improvement after a day of
sunshine and rising surface temps.
The warm-up now underway had pulled the surface temps up from 47 degrees
at the beginning of the week to 51 on Wednesday. By this weekend anglers
could see readings in the mid 50’s, a threshold that will send more fish
to midrange depths as they enter prespawn phases.
Watch for a lot of crappie to move into the 9 to 13 foot zone the next
few days across much of the reservoir. In some bays and flats up Big
Sandy and elsewhere south along the Tennessee River where dingy water is
found anglers are already taking fish in 4 to 8 foot zones.
That’s not to say several fish are not lingering along main lake ledges
as several boats were slow trolling, drifting, and dragging long lines
of jigs this week and finding some suspended crappie out there. Fish
were relating to 18 to 22 foot depths earlier in the week but moving up
daily as warmer weather influenced their urge to move toward prespawn
staging areas.
Spawning for crappie usually takes place once surface temperatures reach
the 62 to 66 degree range with some stability. It appears that’s still
at least a week to ten days away as male crappie have yet to show
hormonal changes of their darkening color phases once spawning time
approaches.
Crappie fishermen should see a dramatic improvement the next few days
and weeks. The biological clock has been pushed back this year due to
the mean March weather but once the games begin fish hit the fast
forward button!
Lake levels this week began near the low ebb of winter pool but have
risen daily since Tuesday. TVA begins its annual start to summer pool on
April 1 each year so that will kick in on Monday. Barring heavy rains or
the return of last year’s drought conditions Kentucky Lake will reach
the summer pool elevation of 359 on or around May 1st.
Projections going into the weekend will be 355.6 at Kentucky Dam.
Upstream at New Johnsonville Steam Plant lake levels will be in the
355.9 range. Water color has a slight stain but has cleared since last
week in many areas.
From the bass arena comes continued success stories by anglers tossing
shad and crawfish variations of crankbaits, along with the Alabama rig.
Although stringers the last week or so have not been as hefty as two to
three weeks ago they are still impressive.
Most tournament wins the last week or so have required a 4-pound
average, which is amazing but not as eye opening as the 5 pound plus
average in several events the previous two to three weeks. No doubt the
below average temperatures and high winds lately have curtailed
activity.
With warmer surface temps entering the picture watch for some good fish
to occupy shallow gravel banks, roadbeds, and mudflats near deep water.
Tossing Rattle-Trap style lures, suspending jerk baits, jig and pig
combos, and Alabama rigs should continue to pay dividends as the deep
water patterns lose their grip once fish move up.
Carolina rigged craws and Texas rigged craws will begin producing too as
the spring pattern takes hold.
Both bass and crappie anglers are ready to shut the door on a cold and
dreary month. March was a mean one. Let’s hope April acts better as it’s
time to get this spring gig going.
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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