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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
July 23, 2009
RECENT COOL SPELL EMBRACED BY ANGLERS
Was that fall trying to slip in the door this week smack dab in the
middle of July? It sure felt like it.
Weather topped the conversation among fishermen this week that dug out
some long sleeve shirt on several mornings and had to adapt somewhat to
a change in conditions.
According to the National Weather Service two nights either tied or set
record lows in the area as temps dipped down in the upper 50’s.
No one has complained and the low humidity teamed with cooler temps to
change the pattern somewhat on bass who responded to the cool spell with
a surge toward shallow areas of aquatic vegetation and wood structure in
the backs of bays.
Lake levels have changed some this week and actually rose some due to
heavy rains to our south that saw a surge of runoff water enter the
reservoir. However, TVA has been releasing water and resumed its gradual
drawdown.
At Kentucky Dam the elevation is 358.3. Upstream at New Johnsonville TVA
predicts an elevation of 358 going into the weekend.
Water color is stained around the Birdsong/New Johnsonville area due to
thunderstorms earlier in the week while clearer conditions are the norm
around Paris Landing and the Big Sandy basin.
Surface temps fell this week courtesy of the cool spell and are now in
the 83 to 86 degree range. Watch for a gradual warming trend in the week
ahead.
Shallow water bass patterns paid off this week for anglers tossing
white/chartreuse spinnerbaits in the backs of bays around visible
crappie beds, logs, or submerged grass. Shallow running crankbaits in
shad colors, along with floating worms and Texas rigged works produced
too.
Dingy water in the upper ends of bays helped provide a comfort zone for
bass running shad around shallow cover and the cooler conditions
stimulated the bite there.
Some fish were still lingering on main lake ledges where Carolina rigged
worms and big deep diving crankbaits, along with jig and pig combos,
were accounting for a few fish but the cooling trend seemed to pull fish
toward shallow areas this week.
Crappie perked up some too as action picked up in 13 to 15 foot zones
where stumps and stakebeds seemed to show more appeal this week than
last week at this time. Anglers working the submerged midrange cover
were taking fish on both minnows and jigs tipped with minnows.
Main lake ledges were producing scattered bites but some fish were
relating to structure in the 18 to 24 foot zones.
A few scattered jumps of white bass have been seen but action has been
inconsistent along the main lake ledges.
Catfish action was mediocre for a few boats working the main river bank
and bouncing bottom in 25 to 35 foot zones. Nightcrawlers and chicken
liver were producing a few fish. There has been some current in the last
few days which should help the catfish bite.
Mayfly hatches continue to be sparse. A few flies have been seen during
late afternoon hours but anglers continued to be surprise by the lack of
big hatches that normally occur around thunderstorm periods this time of
year
This July fishing scene has been quite unusual and last week make it
feel like fall was ahead of schedule
For The Lake Barkley Report
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Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams
Steve McCadams is one of the nation's best known Crappie Fishermen
and a full time resident of Paris, Tennessee. Steve is also a
professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area.
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