Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for November 2nd, 2001
Fishing has improved this week on Kentucky Lake,
thanks to the return of mild weather. Last week's cold fronts and high
winds made it tough on anglers as the lake was covered in whitecaps.
Falling temperatures and high skies kind of played havoc with fishing
patterns but bass and crappie have bounced back.
Surface temperatures were down to the 53 to 57 degree range this
week. Lake levels have been falling steady and the reservoir is nearing
winter pool elevation. Observed lake levels in the Paris Landing area
were 354.7 at midweek.
Crappie have been hitting good the last few days but many fish have
dropped back to main lake ledges and deeper water. The falling lake
levels and recent cold snaps seemed to push the fish back out of shallow
areas late last week.
Depths of 9 to 13 feet were producing some crappie before the cold
spell but I found the fishing tough in shallow beds and brush piles
early this week. Dropping back to main lake ledges and sandbars in such
depth ranges as 18 to 24 feet produced results, however, as action there
was much improved.
Fishing double-hook, bottom bouncing rigs baited with minnows and
jigs, I found a good number of fish relating to stumps and brush on the
deeper sides of the drop-offs.
Jigs in the lemon and pearl, grape and pearl, and red and chartreuse
were appealing to crappie this week. The water color in Big Sandy is
still clear, as are most of the bays in the Tennessee. The falling lake
levels have pulled most of the stained water to the main river channel.
A good grade of crappie was showing up with some fish in the
two-pound range this week. I found a lot of smaller fish hitting but
some larger slabs were mixed in with them.
In addition to good crappie action, I found a few hefty catfish
testing the tackle now and then. A 15-pounder tested my line one day
with several in
the 3 to 6-pound range on other days landed by clients.
Bass action has been improving too. Last week the wind and cold
fronts affected many anglers, although some fared well in the smallmouth
department.
A 5-fish limit weighing 23-pounds plus won the Froggy Fall Bass
Buddy Tournament out of Paris Landing State Park. Marshall Russell of
McKenzie and partner Bill Royer of Milan teamed up to take the winning
prize of $10,307.
Their stringer consisted of four smallmouth and one largemouth.
Since the weekend, bass have been hitting crankbaits tossed around
rock points. Spinnerbaits worked slowly around submerged grass beds have
been paying off too.
Smallmouth have been taking jig and pig combos worked slowly around
main lake points and ledges. Some fish are also taking worms worked
slowly around logs, exposed crappie beds along rock or gravel banks, and
tree laps.
Surface temperatures will likely warm a few degrees this weekend and
some crappie and bass will likely improve in shallow water as shad
become more active there.
There's some good weather predicted so get out there and take
advantage it. Just because November is pushed October off the map
doesn't mean it's time to quit fishing!
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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