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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 23rd, 2008
BASS/CRAPPIE ANGLERS SMILING…ACTION
HOLDS UP WELL
Kentucky Lake has been kind to anglers this week as warm weather,
light winds, and fairly stable lake levels have greeted anglers.
Good fishing conditions have rewarded bass, crappie, bluegill and
catfish anglers as some nice stringers have been taken across the
region.
Presently, surface temperatures are in the 71 to 74 degree range.
That’s up slightly from last week at this time.
Lake levels are slightly above the summer pool mark with readings of
359.5 in the New Johnsonville area and 359.6 at Kentucky Dam. The
reservoir is up a few inches compared to last week’s elevation at this
time.
Water color is clearing across most of the reservoir as no rains
this week and light winds have not stirred up any sediment.
The bass bite continues to hold up well all across the reservoir as
it has been a good spring for anglers beating the banks where weed beds
and buck bushes have given up fish on a consistent basis. That pattern
continues to produce too.
A variety of presentations are working for shallow areas ranging
from blue/chartreuse spinnerbaits with gold willow leaf blades to
shallow running crankbaits in shad colors. And, pitching and flipping
techniques where a green pumpkin-pepper craw, lizard, or worm worked
slowly has paid dividends. Other popular colors have been black,
black/blue, pumpkin-pepper, red shad, and tequila sunrise, just to name
a few.
Topwater has worked on the cloudy days as that clear water really
lends itself to shad colored jerk baits or floating flukes and worms in
the white, bubble gum, and fluorescent green colors.
A few fish were taking buzzbaits over shallow grassbeds on cloudy
mornings as well.
Some anglers are backing off the banks this week and throwing
Carolina rigged worms and lizards around sloping gravel points that feed
into deep water.
It’s that time of year when some fish are backing out to deeper
ledges and jerking that jig and pig and big Texas rigged worms will
being to produce as will big deep diving crankbaits.
Submerged grass is present in a lot of the bays on the east side of
the lake where spinnerbaits, rattle traps, and worms have been producing
fish that are chasing shad.
It’s that time of year when finesse baits fished shallow produce at
the same time deep patterns with bigger baits work too.
Crappie have improved since last week with good numbers showing up
in the 12 to 14 foot depths where stakebeds and brush piles are holding
nice crappie. Late May and throughout June will offer some great crappie
fishing and many anglers overlook this period.
I had some nice catches this week on white/red hair jigs and tipping
with minnows worked too. Also, unpainted leadheads with dull colored
tube skirts and some chartreuse did the trick.
A few fish were coming from 18 to 20 foot depths on main lake ledges
too. Out there anglers were tightlining jigs and tipping them with
minnows.
The crappie have settled down and headed toward structure now that
spawning phases are in their review mirror.
Bluegill and shellcracker have been holding up pretty good this week
and continue to reside in bedding areas. Some days the high skies and
bright sun have seen the bite slow down at midday.
There are still some dandy bull bluegill fanning beds and some of
those shellcracker are holding tight to buck bushes where weeds surround
them. Watch for bedding action to diminish after another week or so and
spawning phases appear to be on the back side of their peak.
From Springville bottom comes success stories from both bluegill and
crappie anglers this week. Pumps are running in an attempt to dewater
the area but ample water remains for anglers at this time.
Catfish were coming from the little rock island up Big Sandy near
Sulphur Well Island and along the east side of the Paris Landing Bridge
and up near Danville levee.
A few anglers were also jugging this week with moderate results.
And, some success was enjoyed at the discharge at Springville pumphouse.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams
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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