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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
August 20, 2009
Anglers on Kentucky Lake have had to dodge a few
thunderstorms this week but in-between the showers have been a few days
of cloud cover that helped filter that August sun. Actually, it hasn’t
been too bad out there as light breezes have help chase away some of the
humidity.
Summer fishing patterns are pretty much holding their own as are lake
levels.
Presently, the reservoir is resting around the 357.3 mark at both
Kentucky Dam and upstream in the New Johnsonville area.
The level is similar to last week at this time but saw a slight surge
earlier in the week only to fall back to present elevation. TVA is
discharging some water daily so expect a slight current in the main
river and falling lake stages for the next few days.
Surface temps are in the 84 to 88 degree range. Water color is clear in
the main lake area of Big Sandy and around the Paris Landing sector.
Upper Big Sandy has a slight stain due to runoff from thunderstorms as
do a few bays along the Tennessee River.
Crappie have been hitting in manmade fish attractors located in the 12
to 15 foot range out on the Big Sandy River. A few successful fishermen
reported catching them on jigs tipped with minnows or Berkley power
bait.
Some deeper ledges were giving up scattered fish from the 18 to 24 foot
zones but it appears the fish have returned to midrange areas where the
cloud cover has likely helped. Sometimes the shad will move up to
shallow areas this time of year where dissolved oxygen levels are more
attractive.
Bass have been relating to some shallow areas too, although several
anglers report catching abundant numbers of small fish roaming main lake
ledges.
Some submerged grass beds and visible aquatics have been holding fish
and tossing spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits and Rattle Traps
has produced. Texas rigged worms and floating jerk baits, along with
weedless frogs, have also been effective.
Carolina rigged worms, lizards and such choices as Zoom’s Brush Hog in
the green pumpkin-pepper have worked well on main lake ledges. Big deep
diving crankbaits are still worth tossing as anything in the shad
colored variation has been fooling a few into striking.
A few bass have been schooling and chasing shad to the surface around
main river sandbars. Some white bass and largemouth are teaming up on
schools of threadfin shad and blowing up with surface strikes at times.
Jumps of white bass remain inconsistent with only scattered reports of
fish activity from anglers both trolling and casting main lake ledges.
The stripes continue to evade anglers but there was a time when August
angling was prime time for these aggressive gamefish.
Catfish reports have been mixed at best. Not many boats have been seen
working the main river channel or beneath the Paris Landing bridge but
the current should be working in favor of summer patterns.
Some pontoons have continued to score while jug fishing and allowing
their floating bait buffets to drift in the wind and entice a few
suspended fish out on Big Sandy. Chicken livers and nightcrawlers have
been the baits of choice.
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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