Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Report for October 26th, 2001
This week's fishing scene has been dominated by
drastic weather changes that have once again rocked the boat of fall
anglers. Abnormal temperatures and approaching cold fronts have brought
unstable conditions to a season that is normally free of changing
weather patterns.
Gale winds delivered devastating blow midweek as Kentucky Lake was
covered with whitecaps. Falling temperatures were arriving, pushed by a
cold front that sent the mercury tumbling.
High skies and cooler conditions were on hand, once the front passed
through. Both the crappie and bass were reacting in a negative manner to
the high pressure system on Thursday.
Crappie are still holding in the 9 to 13 foot zones around manmade
fish attractors such as stake beds and brush piles on main lake flats
and in large bays. There are also some fish still relating to the deep
sides of main lake ledges too in such depth zones as 15 to 18 feet,
although working the open water areas was impossible for most of the
week due to wind warnings on area lakes.
Chartreuse and red combo colored jigs tipped with minnows were
paying off, as was a florescent chartreuse skirt sporting red metal
flake. Painted leadheads in the red , blue, and pink seemed to appeal to
finicky crappie.
Many anglers are using the double hook, bottom bumping rigs baited
with minnows and finding success on the deeper structure. Seems the
deeper fish have been less affected by the changing barometric pressure.
Look for action to improve early next week as temperatures moderate
and winds return back to their normal light and variable mood. The last
few weeks seemed more like March weather than late fall.
Surface temperatures were rising early in the week due to warm
nights. Readings were in the 63 to 66 degree range. Look for that to
change several degrees by this weekend with the cold front now upon us.
Lake elevation has been falling slowly and is expected to continue
throughout the weekend. Observed elevation in the Paris Landing area was
355.2.
Bass action was fair but slowed due to the weather change. Some nice
smallmouth were showing up as anglers worked big chunk rock banks and
rip-rap levees and roadbeds with shad colored crankbaits and jigs.
Largemouth were coming from gravel banks and submerged weed beds.
Spinnerbaits, worms and shallow running crankbaits were producing. Some
surface action was underway on the cloudy mornings and afternoon along
sloping rock banks and grass beds.
Stability is expected to return early next week where warm south
winds should stimulate action for both bass and crappie anglers.
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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