|
Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
October 5th, 2007
CRAPPIE ACTION HOLDING UP AS
BASS BITE SLOWS
How about this fall fishing weather?
Even with a bit of rain in the forecast odds are it won’t dampen the
spirits of area anglers who have enjoyed stable lake levels and weather
patterns for the last two weeks. Light winds have been kind to fall
fishermen too.
Fall fishing continues to be a sleeper for the bulk of anglers who
overlook the season’s attributes. Not only is the weather nice but the
lake isn’t crowded, which just seems to make that fishing trip ever more
enjoyable.
Kentucky Lake has been giving up some pretty good stringers of
crappie this week as the fish make their fall transition from slow and
sluggish moods in deep water to more aggressive bites in midrange
structure.
Bass action fell off some last week and early this week as those
bright sunny days seem slow down the shallow action that had been
underway in a variety of patterns ranging from grassbeds to gravel
banks.
Lake levels continue to linger around the 355.5 range at New
Johnsonville. At Kentucky Dam readings were in the 355.6 range. Both
areas have similar elevation to readings taken last week at this same
time.
Surface temperatures didn’t cool off much this week, staying in the
73 to 75 degree range. Several back to back days of temps climbing up in
to the mid 80’s haven’t released a persistent summer grip.
Still, some cooler nights have hung around and kept a lot of
baitfish moving shallow in the early morning and late afternoon.
Water color is clear in the main lake but some slightly dingy in a
few bays. Overall it’s a good color for fishing.
Some rain and cooler weather are in the forecast for the weekend and
early next week. That should see an increase in activity for shallow
areas that have been victim of high skies and rising temperatures at
midday.
Crappie action has been good in 9 to 13 foot depths where stakebeds
and brushpiles are attracting fish. Some of the deeper structures have
produced best but watch for fish to move up if some cloudy days enter
the picture.
There’s still a lot of fish in the 10-inch range being caught so
keep the measuring device handy. Still, a few hefty fish are mixed in
there too.
A few larger fish appear to be relating to main lake ledges in
depths of 15 to 19 feet. Structure along the edge of the drop-off is
holding fish as anglers work both live minnows and jigs with success.
I found good numbers of fish on deeper stakebeds late last week and
into this week with shallow stuff giving up scattered fish now and then.
Still, the fish appear to be moving around as some sectors are holding
fish while other areas with structure and baitfish in the same depth
zones are not producing.
Jigs in the light green and clear, black and chartreuse, white and
blue, along with some dull colors and unpainted leadheads are working
too. Tipping jigs with live minnows has enhanced bites.
Bass are running shad on shallow flats back in big bays and out on
the main lake as well. Tossing Rattle Traps, Shad Raps and other shad
imitations has worked well.
Gravel banks were still producing a few fish but most of the fish
have chosen crankbaits and shied away from topwater as the shad have not
been busting the surface too much. Cooler surface temps this next week
could see the topwater bite improve.
Some anglers continue to work main lake ledges with Carolina rigs
and big crankbaits with mediocre response.
Grassbeds had been producing fish as anglers worked spinnerbaits,
Texas rigged worms, chatter baits, and some finesse worms but larger
fish have been hard to come by this week.
Not much current has been present so bridge piers and main lake
sandbars have not given up many fish as a result.
The recent slow down may be due to the extended spell of high
pressure where bright skies and almost no cloud cover have made fish
finicky. Watch for action to bounce back quickly if rain and a low
pressure arrives this weekend.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
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.
|
