by Steve McCadams
Report for November 3rd, 2000
Fishing this week has chalked up another entry into the "good
fall fishing" column. Everyone has been talking about how nice the
weather has been. Light breezes, relatively stable lake levels and
moderate to warm temperatures have dominated the picture.
Observed elevation in the Paris Landing area this week has been up
a
few inches from last week with a reading of 355.1. Surface
temperatures have ranged in the 64 to 70 degree range. Look for a
slight cooling this week as near record highs last week kept the surface
temperatures a little above normal for this time of the year.
Crappie anglers continue to enjoy good fall fishing along
Kentucky Lake. Depths of 8 to 13 feet have been producing a lot of
fish lately. While there's a lot of small fish being caught, anglers are
finding a few hefty ones mixed right in there with them.
Successful techniques have been ranging from vertical jigging and
live
minnow rigs over manmade fish attractors to casting light spinning
tackle with curly tail grubs.
The water continues to remain clear throughout most of the Big
Sandy
embayment while the main Tennessee River area has a little stain. Most
angles would prefer to see some dingy water as it filters the light and
seems to give the fish more of a comfort zone in those shallow areas.
Crappie are being taken in 3 to 5 foot depths in the upper end
of Big Sandy and West Sandy as those areas are shallow and lack the
deeper creek channels. Thus, fall crappie will often be taken in those
areas in shallow depths then other parts of the lake might find the fish
much deeper.
At the mouth of Big Sandy in the Paris Landing area there are
still crappie relating to the deeper sloughs and submerged creek
channels in the main lake. However, several fish have been moving
into the larger bays and relating to structure such as stump rows in 12
to 15 foot depths.
The double hook, bottom bumping rig armed with live minnows will
work great for the deep water presentations. Some anglers are simply
tightlining 1/8 ounce leadhead jigs on relatively light line. Watching
the LCR and working the bait in and around the unit's cone angle while
often bumping the structure has been an effective method too.
Meanwhile, chartreuse with metal flake, white with clear sparkle,
lime and white and clear with sparkle are just a few of the color
combinations paying off well. Live minnows are still appealing too.
A lot of the brushpiles and stakebeds are full of yellow bass.
These feisty critters will steal your bait and tear up your jig skirts
but they sure put on a display of energy. The aggressive yellow bass
migrate to shallow water each fall and gorge themselves on the abundant
schools of shad. They're small and seldom reach the 3/4 pound size but
really pack a punch.
Bass have been improving this week and crankbaits, spinnerbaits
and jigs have been accounting for some good stringers. Shad colored
crankbaits such as Rapala's Shad-Rap and Bomber's Model A have been
popular choices.
Working the big rock points and rip-rap along roadbeds and levees
have produced some good fish this week. A few fish are still taking a
topwater lure now and then.
Some smallmouth are taking small leadhead grubs cast along the
sloping banks of the main river. And, some crawfish imitations have fooled some
bronzebacks into striking as well.
As long as surface temperatures remain in the low to mid 60's look
for continued activity along rocky banks for bass. Crappie fishing should
remain good too, in the shallow areas until cold weather drives the
baitfish back deep.
Previous Fishing Reports
Oct. 27th
Oct. 24th
Oct 13th
Oct. 7th
Sept. 25th
Sept. 18th
week of Sept. 11th
week of Sept. 4th
week of Aug. 28th
The information above is
compiled by outdoor writer
Steve McCadams
Steve is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the Paris Landing area and host of the The Outdoor Channel's television series
IN-PURSUIT.
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