Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 6th, 2005
This week’s fishing report has warm weather returning and sunny days
in the forecast. That’s good new for anglers who have braved cool
temperatures and wind for the last week or two.
Kentucky Lake is falling slowly after more than a week above summer
pool levels. Surface temperatures are also on the rebound.
Action is very good on bluegill and several shellcracker are hitting
as well. Thanks to warm, sunny days these powerful panfish have gone
back on beds and fanning the submerged craters as the peak of spawning
gets underway.
Some hefty catches have been taken the last few days in 3 to 5 foot
depths where bushes and submerged grass are nearby. A lot of the larger
male bluegill were taking crickets in an aggressive manner the last few
days, providing a ton of fun with every bend of the rod.
Expect some good action on bluegill and shellcracker for the next
few weeks. Don’t let this great fishing phase pass you by. Those bobbers
disappearing never seem to go out of style.
Crappie action has been slow the last few days as fish were quite
scattered due to the rising lake levels, cooler than normal surface
temperatures, and post-spawn stress. Seems most of the fish were
suspended and not relating to structure but that may improve now that
warmer weather and falling lake levels have returned.
Some fish were in the 12 to 15 foot depths earlier this week but
since the lake is returning to the summer pool level the fish are likely
to resume a more structure oriented pattern.
Some crappie were taking jigs tipped with live minnows but the bites
were quite light as fish were stubborn to strike. A few fish were taking
jigs tipped with Berkley Power Bait when vertical fished slowly over
stakebeds and brushpiles.
Action had also slowed for those anglers trolling jigs up Big Sandy.
It seems a lot of the crappie that were in the midrange depths around
Country Junction and New Hope had scattered this week.
Crappie action will improve some over the next week or two as the
fish settle down from the spawn.
Bass activity has been good for shallow water anglers who love
tossing a variety of lures at shoreline habitat. The higher lake levels
this week offered a lot of cover to bass roaming the weedbeds, willow
trees, buck bushes, and treelaps.
A lot of male buck bass in the 1 to 2 pound range have been jumping
on topwater, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged lizards and worms.
Some anglers have backed off and thrown Carolina rigs on points and
out from the visible structure of shorelines in hopes of finding some
bigger fish that stayed put during the rising lake stages.
With the return of normal summer pool elevation anglers can expect
some good fishing around outside shoreline cover and weedbeds. Floating
worms, flukes, lizards and various jerk baits will produce some strikes
this week as the water color is quite clear throughout Big Sandy.
Catfishing has improved since last week as the fish continue to move
up shallow and search for spawning habitat. Rock banks and rip-rap
levees will produce some good action in the next week or two.
Some stained water is present in the Tennessee River and in the
small pockets off the main lake.
Surface temperatures were rebounding all week and had climbed back
to the 67-degree range at midweek. Look for surface temps in the low
70’s by the weekend as warm weather is on the horizon.
Kentucky Lake’s elevation was falling slowly with a prediction of
359.2 going into the weekend.
Overall, lake levels are returning to normal and fishing patterns
are following suit.
For The Lake Barkley Report
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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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