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October 2018
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
DECENT FALL DAYS RETURN FOR ANGLERS
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene was the beneficiary of decent days this
week, a scenario that was long overdue for fall fishermen here on the
big pond.
Finally, fall fishing felt like it ought to; cool mornings with a little
fog at times that melted away at midmorning only to reveal light winds
and pleasant temperatures.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Anglers have been out in force this week too, partaking of the nice
fishing conditions and hoping to put together some patterns for both
bass and crappie. Last week not many fishermen braved the nasty weather
as boat ramps were all but vacant most days and popular fishing areas up
and down the lake were void of boats.
It’s amazing what a few pretty days will do to the attitude of fish and
fishermen. Several anglers seemed to rebound from their woes and found
fish playing their game.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Lake levels this week were stable after falling slowly all of last week.
Elevation this week is expected to stay around the 355 range at Kentucky
Dam and elsewhere on the reservoir.
Water color is in pretty good shape up and down the reservoir too.
Surface temperatures have slept in the low 60’s lately, which is the
norm for late October.
With stability returning to the fishing scene have come a few more
success stories from weary crappie anglers. A few decent stringers have
been taken on main lake areas by anglers stalking some deep ledges and
brushpiles in the 16 to 18 foot depth range when the wind let them fish
open water.
Also producing have been midrange stakebeds and brushpiles in the 8 to
13 foot zones. Up Big Sandy and West Sandy a few anglers reported
finding some shallow crappie in 4 to 7 foot zones but fish were
scattered there.
The shallow to midrange bite has been best when cloud cover was present
to help filter out some of the bright sunlight.
Around the Paris Landing sector there are always a few anglers searching
the main lake ledges out on Big Sandy while other boaters target shallow
to midrange structures at the same time. Sometimes crappie are found in
both areas too.
The fall bite improved this week for anglers vertical fishing jigs and
live minnows over manmade fish attractors. It seemed a few more fish had
moved up to midrange depths, likely due to more shad entering those
areas.
Crappie anglers were also seeing more shad activity on their sonar units
these last few weeks. That’s a positive sign in and of itself.
Popular jig colors have ranged from blue/chartreuse to chartreuse with
red glitter. Other grubs sporting shad colors with sparkle seemed to
appeal as well.
Live minnows have worked well all fall and at times tipping a jig with a
minnow has worked as good as any choice. Tipping jigs with Berkley Power
Bait in the white and chartreuse colors seemed to entice bites at times.
While the overall fall bite has been off this year, action definitely
improved this week thanks to a little help from the weather and wind.
Hopefully things have settled down and this fall crappie gig will now
live up to its reputation.
Bass fishermen seemed to like the return of stability too as some better
stringers were showing up this week. Gravel banks and rocky points were
holding bass and anglers tossing shad colored crankbaits were catching
several.
Some topwater was still on the menu as buzzbaits and shad colored jerk
baits fished along sloping gravel banks accounted for a few fish in the
early mornings and late afternoons or when cloud cover helped out.
Shallow stickups such as exposed crappie beds or boathouses and roadbeds
were holding some bass this week as anglers tossing spinnerbaits managed
to find a few.
There are still a few boaters targeting the main lake flats or long
submerged points in big bays where some bass are chasing shad at times.
Rattle Traps and Red-eye shad style baits have been productive if you
can locate some schools of baitfish.
Watch for the gulls and they will help you find the forage!
Autumn angling is well worth the price of admission. Trees are beginning
to change colors, providing a great backdrop for a fine outing on the
lake. The pumpkin month is fast departing but there’s plenty of good
fall fishing left!
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
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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