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September 26, 2013
CRAPPIE IMPROVE AS SURFACE TEMPS COOL
Kentucky Lake’s fall crappie action has been heating up as surface
temperatures cool down. Fish have been moving up this week toward
shallow areas when cloud cover and rainy days delivered low light
conditions.
The last week or so has seen the fall crappie bite improve, although
last weekend’s cool front and gale north winds brought a temporary
hiatus to the good fishing conditions. Since the weekend light winds and
moderate temperatures have returned and things have improved.
Good stringers have been taken this week by anglers working the 10 to 14
foot depth range. And, a few bigger fish have come from main lake ledges
too where the deep sides of drop-offs are still holding on to a few
slabs lingering in the 16 to 18 foot depth.
Most of the fish are coming from submerged stump rows, brushpiles, and
stakebeds where fishermen are using vertical presentations of 1/16 to
1/8-ounce jigs tipped with minnows or Berkley Power Bait crappie
nibbles.
Popular color combinations have been black/chartreuse, white/orange,
green glitter, and some blue/chartreuse just to name a few.
Good crappie fishing should continue for the next several weeks as more
fish move toward shallow areas in pursuit of schooling threadfin shad
that are now finding comfort zones away from their deep summer hideouts.
Surface temperatures this week have stayed in the 76 to 79 degree range,
which is cooler than the last two weeks. Water color has been in good
shape across most of the reservoir.
Lake levels rose a few inches earlier this week in the aftermath of some
heavy rains but stabilized at midweek. Look for a slow fall as the
weekend approaches.
Elevation is projected to be in the 356.4 range at Kentucky Dam as the
weekend approaches. A similar reading is projected for New Johnsonville
as well.
Catfish perked up at midweek once water levels began falling slowly as
the increased current seemed to stimulate the bite. A few boats are
working the cuts and dips along the main river channel using bottom
bumping rigs in the 25 to 35 foot depth range. Nightcrawlers, skipjack,
and chicken livers have been popular baits lately.
Bass action has been fair with several small fish showing up in the
creel of anglers working shallow grassbeds. Tossing gold willow leaf
spinnerbaits with blue/chartreuse skirts have been popular as have shad
colored jerk baits worked over the aquatic vegetation.
Texas rigged worms have produced too around the vegetation as have some
white fluke style jerk baits and chrome and blue Rattle Traps.
A few bass have been schooling around shallow flats where shad are
moving up. Watch for the gulls to help locate those schooling bass this
time of year.
As surface temps cool watch for more bass to move toward shallow gravel
banks and points. Some surface action will take place on foggy or cloudy
mornings when shad are up feeding on midge hatches along shallow
shorelines.
There’s some great fall fishing ahead but a lot of anglers miss the boat
when it comes to autumn angling. Don’t be one of them!
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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