Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
September 27th, 2002
Fishing has improved this week for crappie anglers and the bass
action is pretty good too. Fall officially arrived on Monday and a cool
snap hit the region on the same day. Anglers, hunters, and all
outdoorsmen welcomed both.
Surface temperatures this week on Kentucky Lake have cooled into the
73 to 75 degree range. A lot of rain has had the reservoir rising slowly
and look for a rise in lake levels to continue as the backlash of
thunderstorms and hurricane winds across the deep south sends water our
way.
Observed elevation at New Johnsonville at midweek was 355.8 with a
projection of 356 by Friday. At Kentucky Dam readings were also 355.8
with 356 levels predicted as well. If heavy rains continue throughout
the TVA valley look for Kentucky Lake to rise even more this weekend and
into next week.
Meanwhile, the cooler weather that arrived on the first day of
autumn was long overdue. Surface temperatures had been above normal for
this time of year and fishing patterns still had summer’s influence.
Crappie action and changed with the cooler weather and improved some
over last week for shallow water action. The series of cloudy, rainy
days has stimulated activity in the 8 to 13 foot zones as fish were
hitting good at midweek.
I found a better grade of fish on Wednesday in 8 to 12 foot stake
beds and brushpiles and with the approach of the low pressure they were
sporting an attitude and appetite.
The fish were taking red and chartreuse, along with a white leadhead
and orange-skirted jig tipped with either minnows or Berkley Power
Nibbles. Tipping the jig seemed to help too as we caught a few fish on
just jigs but it was clear the fish wanted some type of supplement.
While several fish were caught and released, there were some good
ones mixed in and a few made it to the one-pound plus range. Action
should continue to improve in the shallow areas this next week with
cooler conditions and rising lake levels.
Bass fishermen are still finding plenty of action with shallow water
venues improving. The cloud cover has helped the surface action in
shallow water and along gravel banks where shad are feeding on
microscopic insects.
Working jerk baits around visible patches of grass in shallow flats
has produced as have crankbaits worked on gravel and rock points. Some
anglers are still tossing jigs on ledges, along with Carolina rigged
worms to take a few.
Visible structure such as stakebeds and logs has continued to
produce bass too as have old roadbeds and bridges.
Chartreuse and blue skirted spinnerbaits, along with chrome colored
Rat-l-traps and Normark’s Shad-Rap with the sliver sides and black back
has also been effective.
Some catfish action is still underway along the main rive in 20 to
30 foot depths. Those nightcrawlers and liver continue to produce. And,
some deep-water crappie fishermen and tying into a hefty catfish now and
then as ole’ whiskers is roaming the deep sides of main lake sandbars
around some stumps.
Just how much rise we’ll get on Kentucky Lake this next week remains
to be seen as Hurricane Isidore has made its presence known even here in
the Tennessee Valley.
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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