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ANGLERS ENJOY SPRING WEATHER
The first week of November felt more like the first week of May!
Has this been a great weather week or what? Anglers have been the
beneficiary of above average temperatures, light winds and nice fall
fishing for several days running.
How long will it last? It appears the honeymoon will end by this weekend
as Saturday’s temperatures are expected to drop 12 to 14 degrees in the
aftermath of some thunderstorms Friday that will pave the way for a
little northwest wind.
Not to worry, however, as some pretty nice weather will return by early
next week.
Kentucky Lake’s water levels have slipped down to a low ebb this week
and several inches below TVA’s normal winter pool mark of 355. The
elevation this week has dropped to the 354.3 range at Kentucky Dam and
even lower upstream at New Johnsonville where the reservoir is resting
around the 354.2 mark.
Surface temperatures responded to the mild weather conditions and have
stayed in the 63 to 65 degree range.
Anglers are finding a few fall crappie with some shallow fish showing up
this week despite the low lake levels. A few fish have been taken in the
4 to 6 foot depth range up Big Sandy. In the Paris Landing sector some
fish were caught in the 6 to 11 foot depth range this week, especially
on those foggy mornings when cloud cover filtered out the bright sun and
seemed to stimulate the shallow bite.
Some anglers are tightlining 1/16 to 1/32-ounce jigs around the shallow
structure while a few others tried casting a slip-bobber with a jig or
live minnows worked slowly over the shallow stakebeds and stumps. Others
are just casting curly tail jigs and picking up a few.
In deeper structure most anglers are vertical fishing jigs and live
minnows. Stakebeds and brushpiles in the 6 to 11 foot depth range gave
up a few more fish this week thanks to excellent conditions that
delivered light winds which allowed boaters to move about in main lake
areas.
Most are having to make a lot of stops to find a few good fish with a
lot of small fish still biting. However, on those windy days anglers are
limited on their routes as it is impossible to hold the boat in the big
water when gale winds dictate the route, making anglers fish where they
can instead of where they want to.
Bass fishermen found a few more friendly fish this week as some
schooling fish were busting shad over flats in big bays and even headed
back toward shallow ends of bays if vegetation was present.
Surface activity has also been seen out on the make lake flats at times.
Shad have been schooling and the gulls will help lead you to those
feeding frenzies. Just watch them working and slamming the water and
you’ll find some active bass underneath the shallow baitfish.
Chrome and black colored Rattle Traps have work well as have swim baits
and jerk baits such as the old tried and true Heddon Zara spook or
similar style baits. Some boats are casting shad colored shallow running
crankbaits on a gravel bank pattern and finding success.
Some anglers are still focusing on the grassbeds but as always, the
vegetation is a hit and miss game.
Be careful out there as the low lake levels offer a challenge. It’s best
to yield on the side of caution this time of year.
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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