Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 17th, 2002
High water continues to play a big role in the
overall fishing scene here on Kentucky Lake this week. Anglers are still
finding fish with success stories coming in from bass, crappie, catfish,
and bluegill enthusiasts.
Action for bluegill has been very good this week and should continue
for another two weeks or so. Some good size fish are being taken in beds
out from shoreline buck bushes and around submerged grass and gravel
bars.
I found the action to be excellent this last week, despite changing
lake levels and a cold front. The bluegill are fanning their beds and
really putting on a feeding frenzy. Crickets are the bait of choice with
some wax worms and artificial grubs producing.
Some hefty redear (shellcracker) are still hitting too as buck
bushes scattered in the backs of bays are producing some large fish,
especially where the bushes and grass are mixed.
Water levels at Kentucky Dam were still rising with observed
elevation of 362.5 on Wednesday (May 15). TVA's projections indicated a
reading of 362.9 by Friday night. Upstream at New Johnsonville the
readings were similar with present elevation at 362.3. The forecast
there was to be 362.7 on Friday night. Normal summer pool elevation is
359.
Surface temperatures were in the 69 to 73 degree range. Water color
was stained in the main Tennessee River and several bays. The Big Sandy
River was clear at the mouth with some stain in a few bays such as Eagle
Creek, Swamp, and portions of West Sandy.
Crappie continue to hit in the deeper brushpiles and manmade
stakebeds on main lake flats in depths of 13 to 16 feet. And, some fish
have been taken on the deep sides of main lake ledges where brush and
stumps can be found in the 20 to 24 foot range.
It appears many crappie have moved back out from the spawning areas
toward main lake venues this week. Deep water techniques producing best
have been bottom-bumping rigs baited with live shiner minnows and jigs
tipped with minnows.
Popular colors in tube-style skirted jigs were green/yellow,
chartreuse with red metal flake, blue/chartreuse, and some dull colors
in clear water such as silver with metal flake and motor oil.
Although the fish are in their post-spawn phase and under the
influence of high water, fishing has been pretty good when wind allows
anglers to work the open water areas.
Bass action has been fair this week but fish are still scattered due
to the rising lake levels. An abundance of shoreline habitat appears to
be holding a lot of smaller fish around willow trees, buck bushes and
grassbeds.
Some of the larger stringers have come from main lake points and
sandbars where anglers were tossing Carolina rigged lizards and
chartreuse crankbaits.
A lot of fish were taken last weekend when lake levels were falling
slightly as current was present. However, by midweek the reservoir was
back on the rise with a lot of debris floating in the main river. That
appears to have pushed some of the fish back into thick cover where
getting a lure to them is somewhat of a challenge.
Pitching and flipping jig and pork chunk, Texas rigged lizards and
worms, and casting spinnerbaits has produced a lot of fish in spite of
the changing lake levels. Still, anglers are having trouble establishing
consistent patterns.
Catfish continue to improve as they seek spawning territory around
rock banks and bluffs. Several fish have been taken in the feeder creeks
too as anglers bottom fish cut shad, nightcrawlers, and beef liver.
Some success has come from anglers jug fishing too as the secondary
bays have a lot of catfish in them right now.
Look for fishing conditions to keep changing, however, as lake
levels dictate the movement and moods of finicky fish.
The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers are above flood stage and that is
contributing to the high lake stages here on Kentucky Lake. Once those
rivers crest, look for TVA to begin lower lake levels which should
improve fishing for most species.
Meanwhile, high water conditions often improve the success rate of
survival for many young of the year fish such as bass and crappie fry.
These schools of tiny offspring have more places to hide from predators
during high water conditions, a scenario that often helps fishing in the
years ahead as stronger year classes are usually the case.
# # #
NOTE:( Steve's Third Annual "Casting For A Cure" Kids Fishing Rodeo,
which benefits The American Cancer Society, will be held June 8, 2002.
Location will again be Carroll Lake, located near McKenzie, TN.)
(For news release on Steve's Second Annual "Casting For A Cure" Kids
Fishing Rodeo...click
here)
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Click Here
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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