Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
August 4th, 2005
From the fishing scene comes scattered
reports of night fishing success for bass and crappie anglers while a
few braving the summer heat have caught catfish, white bass, crappie and
bass in some early morning and later afternoon outings.
Kentucky Lake has been falling slowly
since last week, which is normal under TVA winter drawdown curve. Lake
elevation in the New Johnsonville area will be 357.3 this weekend with a
similar lake stage at Kentucky Dam. That’s a few inches lower than last
week at this time.
Surface temperatures are in the 87 to 90
degree range. Watercolor remains clear throughout the reservoir.
Several crappie are still being caught on
main lake ledges by anglers working bottom-bumping rigs armed with live
minnows. Those drop-offs holding deep stumps and brush in the 18 to 24
foot range are producing fish, although a lot of fish are small.
Still, a few decent crappie are mixed in
with the smaller fish, along with an occasional surprise from a hefty
catfish, drum, sauger or largemouth.
Night fishing has become more appealing
lately as anglers attempt to beat the heat. Fishing beneath the lights
as the boat is anchored over the edge of a drop-off on the main lake is
producing crappie.
Bass action has been fair but pretty good
for some anglers such as Roger Buffington of Paris. In last Friday
morning’s Sportsman’s Digest tournament he landed a hefty largemouth
that tipped the scales at 7.95 pounds! That’s a big bass in anyone’s
book but especially on a hot summer day when fish are somewhat lean.
Anglers are still tossing crankbaits,
Carolina and Texas rigged worms on the main lake ledges for most of the
larger fish.
Both night and daytime anglers have taken
some decent smallmouth too. Backing off the banks and working those
sloping ledges will put you in touch with a few bronzebacks.
Catfish action is fair along the main
river channel. Current has been present this week, which has helped the
catfishermen. Depths of 25 to 40 feet are holding most of the fish.
A few white bass are showing up but no
consistent activity has been reported. The heyday of surface activity
where those big schools blasted shad on top of the water seem to be
behind us.
The next few weeks should see some
improvement; however, as the doldrums summer days and placid waters make
it easier to spot white bass in the jumps. Keep the small spinners,
spoons, and topwater baits handy.
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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