FALL FISHING PATTERNS STABILIZE
(ANGLERS ENJOY NORMAL CONDITIONS) 

    Anglers are ready to see some stability in lake levels and weather patterns here on Kentucky Lake. Fall fishing has seen changes in lake levels and weather patterns for several weeks running. However, crappie action has improved in shallow areas since last week and bass action is still holding up well.

   Kentucky Lake has seen more fluctuation in lake levels this fall than is normally does. Truth is, fall is supposed to be predictability for outdoorsmen.

    Fishing has been good for bass anglers who are finding some shallow flats holding schooling bass. Shad have entered the shallow zones and bass wasted no time in pushing some of the schools up in extremely shallow areas.

    Tossing shallow running crankbaits, rattle traps, and shad imitation jerk baits have worked well. There's also some surface action underway so keep the silver colored jerk baits like Rebel's Pop-R, Cordell's Crazy Shad, and Heddon's Torpedo tied on.

    Other patterns producing have been Carolina rigged lizards worked around rock points and grassbeds. Some anglers are still throwing crankbaits and jigs on ledges where a few smallmouth have been found.

    Working spinnerbaits around treetops and visible crappie beds has worked too.

    Observed lake elevation in the Paris Landing area was 355.2 at midweek. At Kentucky Dam the readings were 355.3 The lake has been falling this week so anglers can expect a lot of current in the mainstream.

    Look for lake levels to continue to fall this week as TVA lowers the reservoir back down near the winter pool mark of 354. Actually, readings this time of year are usually a few inches above the low mark.

    Surface temperatures have cooled after last Wednesday's cold front and brisk north winds. Readings were in the 65 to 68 degree range.

    Watercolor is stained in the Tennessee River portion while the Big Sandy area has cleared since last week. The falling lake levels pulled most of the dingy water out of the bays last week but look for some dingy water to return for a few days this week.

    Crappie action has been fair this week but should improve once the lake stabilizes and south winds return. However, part of the blame has to do with the drastic change in lake levels as the reservoir has been up and down for the last three weeks.

    The cold fronts earlier this week brought gale north winds for a couple of days which curtailed activity for crappie anglers hoping to work open water areas.

    Some fish are in the 9 to 13 foot zones and taking jigs in the chartreuse and clear colors, along with some blue lead heads sporting pearl colored skirts. Jigs tipped with minnows have worked and adding Berkley Power Nibbles or Kodiak gel scent has helped increase strikes.

    I found some good size fish over the weekend in 8 to 11-foot zones around submerged stake beds but the fish were finicky in their strikes. Even the larger fish were extremely light with the bite and did not appear eager to take a bait.

   By midweek the cold front and north wind had done nothing to help the overall crappie action. Northeast winds and high skies seemed to slow the biting mood of the crappie that were somewhat sluggish to begin with.

    While shallow water action improved for a few days, falling lake levels this week could see deeper areas improve as the fish pull back. Check out the deep sides or the breaks of main lake ledges this week in the 15-foot zones.

    Some white bass action is also underway as they chase shad in shallow flats and around gravel points. Keep some Rooster tails handy for quick action.

    Catfish anglers are still having good luck working the main riverbank. The current has stimulated activity with some good reports coming from the 20 to 30-foot ranges.

    With the falling lake levels likely to stabilize by midweek and cooler conditions remaining in the forecast, anglers could see increased activity later this week, especially in shallow areas.