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June 6, 2013
JUNE CRAPPIE ACTION HEATS UP
It’s been a good week for anglers here on Kentucky Lake as crappie and
bass anglers are chalking up some nice stringers. After another week of
near normal lake levels and decent weather conditions teamed up to make
this late spring time frame quite productive.
Some thunderstorms last weekend and a day or two of windy weather to
start the week off didn’t diminish the bite as June continues to hold up
to its good fishing reputation. The month has a little bit of spring
left in it before the summer season takes over.
Crappie action has really improved this week with some good numbers
showing up in the creel of anglers working midrange depths of 11 to 14
feet. A few fish were also taken on deeper ledges in 17 to 19 feet this
week as well.
June crappie fishing is overlooked and underrated by most anglers. The
stable lake levels and weather patterns combine to produce good fishing
conditions as crappie will stage for several weeks in the midrange
depths before the doldrum days of summer arrive.
Jigs tipped with Berkley Power Bait have been productive but tipping
with a minnow has enticed strikes too. The fish are really relating to
structure now that the post-spawn phase has passed and sporting an
appetite. Those stakebeds, brushpiles, and submerged stump rows are
holding a lot of fish and action should hold well for the next few
weeks.
Popular colors have ranged from red/black to blue/chartreuse with some
motor oil with glittler and cotton candy producing too. Don’t let this
good June crappie fishing pass you by.
Bass action has held up with this week too with the bulk of larger fish
coming from main lake ledges. Most anglers are tossing big deep diving
crankbaits such as Strike King, Bill Norman, Mann’s, Poe’s and various
brands of big lip baits.
Also working on the ledges have been big Texas rigged worms in the
10-inch plus range. Popular colors have been green pumpkin-pepper,
black/blue pearl, and Tequila sunrise just to name a few.
Carolina rigged craws are always popular too once the ledge bite
intensifies. Some boats were tossing Alabama rigs at times, along with
jig and craw combos to fool a fish as well.
Several smaller fish were still coming from shallow buck bushes and some
blowdown trees around river islands. Working spinnerbaits and some
topwater around the shallow grass and logs has produced at times.
A few bluegill where still lingering around scattered bedding areas this
week and some decent catches were taken in the 3 to 5 foot areas. Some
fish have scatterd and left bedding areas this week but there were a few
spots where some nice bull bream were making a late spawning attempt and
holding on to fanning areas.
Catfish were hitting pretty good in midrange depths as crappie anglers
are encountering them on a regular basis while working those deeper
stakebeds and brushpiles in 12 to 15 foot depths. A few scattered boats
were jug fishing and doing well while baiting with nightcrawlers and
chicken livers.
Water color has been clear across most of the reservoir this week.
Surface temperatures warmed into the 76 to 80 degree range.
Lake levels have been rising a few inches the last few days due to heavy
rains across portions of the TVA valley. And, high water on the
Mississippi River has diminished discharge rates at Kentucky Dam the
last few days.
Projections for the weekend indicate the reservoir will be about a foot
above summer pool with readings of 360 in the Kentucky Dam area.
Upstream at New Johnsonville lake levels will be a bit higher with a
forecast for 360.5.
Once the reservoir crests anglers can expect some current in the main
channel areas next week once TVA is able to increase its discharge rate
and lower the reservoir back to normal summer pool.
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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