Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 7th, 2004
BLUEGILL BEDDING UNDERWAY
After yet another uninvited cold front early this week, Kentucky
Lake fishing bounced back strong as warm weather returned.
Anglers had to dig deep into the closet early this week as the
overcoat made another appearance. A brisk northwest wind had an adverse
affect on the fish for a couple of days too as bass, bluegill, and
crappie seemed to have temporary lockjaw. Those high skies and high
pressure seemed to turn the bite off Tuesday morning but by Wednesday
things were back to normal.
Surface temperatures rebounded quickly and are now in the 68 to
71-degree range. Some shallow bays will likely warm even more as the
forecast indicates warm weather is ahead through early next week.
Watercolor is stained in the main Tennessee River area and in some
shallow pockets off the main lake where high winds early this week
whipped up the banks. Much of the main lake portion of Big Sandy is
still clear except for dingy water up near the New Hope area and further
south into the gravel pits.
Lake elevation will be 358.8 this weekend at New Johnsonville. TVA
indicates water levels in the Kentucky Dam area will be 359. The
reservoir is expected to remain stable throughout the weekend and into
early next week.
Bluegill and red ear (shellcracker) are bedding and fishing has been
good. Anglers are catching large numbers around shallow grass beds, buck
bushes, and sandy, gravel shorelines back in the bays or pockets off the
main lake.
Some good catches have also come from West Sandy this week as ample
water remains behind the levee at Springville pumphouse. The pumps are
running and dewatering the area slowly so anglers can catch some fish
both in the bottom and around the pump discharge on the main lakeside.
Crickets have been the bait of choice but night crawlers and wax
worms are also producing.
Action will heat up this week even more as warm weather and a full
moon are on the agenda.
The next few weeks will be prime time for catching bluegill and
shellcracker on light tackle. Don’t let this good fishing spree pass you
by!
Bass fishing has been fair and should improve this week as stable
lake levels and warm weather work in favor of anglers attempting to
pattern the fish. This week has been confusing to the fish that seemed
to back out of the shallow bushes and visible grass beds when the cold
front arrived.
Some small fish were coming from shallow structure in the backs of
bays but the larger fish had moved out to submerged grass beds and wood.
Watch for action to resume in shallow shoreline buck bushes and
weeds this week. Some bass are on the bed and acting finicky, however.
Popular lures this week have been lizards, crawfish, and worms in
the pumpkin-pepper, red-shad, and black and blue colors. Also popular
have been Zoom’s Brush Hog and Strike King jigs tossed around wood.
Some fish are taking white and chartreuse skirted spinnerbaits
worked around submerged grass and yellow flowers.
Topwater action has been off but will likely improve this weekend.
Popular choices should be flukes, stickbaits, and floating lizards,
along with some buzzbait action on cloudy days.
Crappie fishing has been fair as the fish continue to scatter during
their post-spawn phases. A few good-sized fish have been taken in the 9
to 13 foot zone where stumps, brush, and manmade fish attractors are
located.
Jigs tipped with shiner minnows have worked well. And, just a live
minnow by itself has fooled several fish this week.
Effective color combinations have been chartreuse leadheads with
dull colored skirts such as motor oil, or smoke with silver flake.
A few anglers are still drifting and trolling where suspended
crappie are taking moving baits out on the main lake in the 10 to 14
foot zone. A few anglers are trolling big crankbaits and catching
crappie too.
Catfish action has improved and the fish are headed toward shallow
water. Some dandies have been caught this week around rock banks and
shallow mud flats. Several catfish are hitting the hooks of bluegill
anglers too as the crickets will fool them as well.
Many catfish move in and around bluegill beds once the fish begin
laying eggs. The catfish sometimes prowl around the bluegill craters and
feed on the tiny fry that hatch but they also feed on the other small
fish who are there robbing the bluegill eggs as well.
The bluegill beds are full of such species as yellow perch and
golden shiners, both of which appeal to hungry catfish and bass.
Fishing has improved and the extended forecast calls for warm
weather. Don’t put your fishing trip off!
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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