Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for June 15th, 2001
Summer patterns are developing for crappie, bass
and catfish this week as warmer weather continues to hang around.
Above normal lake levels are also part of the fishing scene on Kentucky
Lake this week. The reservoir continues to inherit water from upstream
causing a consistent rise in lake stages for the last several days.
Presently, elevation in the Paris Landing area is 360.3. That's well above
the normal reading of 359 yet TVA indicates lake stages could be a few
inches higher than that by the end of the week.
Surface temperatures are warming with readings in the early morning hours
of 74 degrees but climbing to 78 at midday.
Water color on the main Tennessee River still sports a little stain
while the Big Sandy is gin clear. That's due to the flow in the main
river lately from upstream.
Crappie continue their biting spree and fishing has been good. Some dandy
stringers are being taken in 14 to 16 foot zones where manmade fish
attractors are found. Stakebeds and brushpiles have been producing good
for several weeks in those depth ranges.
Out on the main lake ledges in depths of 20 to 22 feet have been some
dandy catches too. Live minnows fished on bottom bumping rigs are paying
off. Some anglers are fishing a double hook rig with live minnows while
others are using jigs tipped with minnows.
The fish are relating to structure so find those submerged stumps and
brushy areas on the break of deep sides of the ledge and you'll find
crappie.
Bass fishing is fair with a lot of small fish being taken. Shallow water
continues to give up a lot of small largemouth who are hitting
spinnerbaits, worms, lizards, buzzbaits and jerkbaits.
Some of the larger fish are on the drops in 10 to 13 foot zones. Anglers
working jig and pig combos, big deep diving crankbaits and Carolina and
Texas rigged worms are finding fish.
The shallow water success story continues to be minnow related. Find the
treelaps, weedbeds and buckbushes holding minnows and you'll get a
strike. The main river islands are giving up some small fish, as are the
backs of big coves where grass and bushes are mixed.
Catfish have been fair but improving along the main river channel breaks.
Anglers are drifting nightcrawlers, chicken liver and cut shad as bait.
Some catfish action is occurring in the flats in depths of 15 foot or so
too.
Sauger and white bass are showing up. There's a definite improvement in
the numbers of small sauger but the larger ones are still far and few
in-between. Sauger and white bass have been on the main lake ledges
favoring the breaks.
Bluegill are biting but scattered still. A mayfly hatch is fast
approaching as the area always seems to get a big one in last June.
Overall, fishing for crappie and bass is good, despite the rising lake
levels.
For Previous Fishing Reports
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Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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