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ANGLERS EMBRACE COOL SNAP
Kentucky Lake anglers are getting a dose of early fall weather and
embracing it with open arms. Autumn doesn’t officially arrive until
September 23 but no one is complaining if it slips through the door
early this year.
Hot and humid weather dominated until Thursday when rain and some
thunderstorms escorted a cold front that really dropped temps and set
the stage for a wonderful weekend. In fact, night time temps are
forecast to drop into the mid to upper 50’s with daytime highs expected
to be only in the mid 70’s this weekend.
It looks like a few jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons are
here!
Surface temperatures this week have been in the 82 to 83 degree range
but will no doubt fall back into the upper 70’s in the days ahead. Water
color has been clear across the reservoir.
Lake levels have been relatively stable this week. Elevation is forecast
to be 356.1 at both Kentucky Dam and upstream at New Johnsonville
throughout the weekend.
Crappie action improved this week and should be even better once surface
temps fall back in the aftermath of the cool snap, setting the stage for
some nice days this weekend and throughout next week.
Although the fish have been scattered they are showing more interest for
anglers working jigs and minnows around 12 to 14 foot depths. Stakebeds
and brushpiles are holding fish in that depth range and numbers should
improve as more baitfish respond to cooler weather and move toward
shallow areas.
Bass fishing has been fair with a lot of anglers targeting grassbeds
with worms, spinnerbaits, topwater jerk baits, buzzbaits and assorted
weedless lures. Several small fish have been taken this week around the
grass where baitfish are present, although several reported diminished
activity around grass.
With lower lake levels there so many acres of vegetation showing and it
all looks good. However, grassbeds near deeper water have paid off best.
A few boats are backing off the banks and still favoring main lake
ledges with jig and craw combos, big Texas and Carolina rigged worms,
shaky heads, deep diving crankbaits and swimbaits. Some of the bigger
bass have been taken on midrange structure and ledges but numbers have
been low.
Cooler surface temperatures should see an improvement for topwater
activity along gravel banks. Schools of shad have already begun to
migrate toward rocky banks in the early morning and late afternoon
hours.
Tossing shad colored crankbaits around gravel banks, docks, roadbeds and
bridge piers will also produce.
Catfishermen rebounded some this week and a few scattered reports came
in from anglers landing some while fishing beneath the Paris Landing
Bridge and along the main Tennessee River channel around Standing Rock
and upstream toward Leatherwood as well as downstream around Cypress
Creek.
If you’ve been waiting on cooler weather then wait no longer. It’s here!
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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