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Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
October 19th, 2005
CRAPPIE
ACTION GOOD...STABLE WEATHER AND LIGHT WINDS DELIVER EXCELLENT FISHING
CONDITIONS...RESERVOIR RESTING AT WINTER POOL
Kentucky Lake has given up some good crappie fishing thus far this
fall, especially here in the Paris Landing sector.
Fall fishing is often overlooked and underrated. I’ve been on the
lake daily for about three weeks and not many boats are testing the
water.
Great weather and light winds have teamed up to offer anglers almost
perfect conditions the last week to ten days. And, there’s every
indication good fishing conditions will hold up in the weeks ahead.
Lake levels are resting right at the winter pool mark of 354. The
lake has fluctuated a few inches some days but generally speaking, low
lake stages, which are normal this time of year, will greet you.
Surface temperatures warmed slightly at midweek due to a couple of
warm days. Readings are in the 67 to 72 degree range.
Watercolor remains clear throughout Big Sandy and West Sandy. A
slight stain is present in the Tennessee River but the lack of rain and
wind hasn’t stirred up the water much.
Crappie have been taken throughout the week in big numbers.
Structure in the 6 to 13 foot zone is holding a lot of fish.
I've had several days back to back with
catches of 100-plus fish and two days where we boated about 150! We've
culled and kept 55 to 75 fish for several days now. Fishing is good!
The last two days has seen some larger fish
move in to the stakebeds too as we boated a few fish in the 1 1/4 to 1
3/4 pound range mixed in with the smaller fish.
Working the submerged cover with jigs and jigs tipped with minnows
has produced some hefty stringers. Several different jig colors are
working with 1/32 to 1/16-ounce leadheads in the red, chartreuse, and
black working well.
Some fish are showing a preference for small hair jigs with white,
yellow, and chartreuse bodies while just the painted leadheads tipped
with minnows are also producing
A few fish remain on main lake ledges where depths of 14 to 16 feet
were giving up a few fish but the lion’s share of crappie appear to be
in those midrange depths of 6 to 13 feet.
Size appeared to improve this week with a few larger fish showing up
in the creel. There’s still a lot of fish that have to be measured as
some are just shy of the 10-inch minimum length limit but there’s plenty
of keeper-size fish to go around.
Overall, the crappie fishing is good and well worth the trip.
Bass anglers are finding fish in a variety of patterns this fall
with some topwater action in the early morning and late afternoon hours.
There’s still some white bass busting the surface in places where a few
largemouth and spotted bass are also there with them running shad.
Spinnerbaits are working well around shallow structure, as are
shallow running crankbaits in the chrome, Tennessee Shad and chartreuse
and black combo colors.
Jerk baits are attracting some fish too along the gravel banks and
around exposed crappie beds along gravel banks and the backs of bays.
A few smallmouth are taking crankbaits and finesse baits tossed
around main lake points and sloping banks, rip-rap, etc…
Some anglers are flipping boat docks with worms, jigs, and craws
where bass are using the shaded areas for refuge.
Don’t let this great fall weather and fishing pass you by!
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.
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