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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
November 19, 2009
Fall fishing has held up well for bass and crappie
anglers this week who had another stretch of nice weather up until
midweek when temps cooled some and a little wind and light rain entered
the picture.
Up until Tuesday the weather had been unusually warm as above average
temps lingered for over two weeks. Still, things are too bad and really
back to near normal for this time of year.
Lake levels have been falling slowly all week but TVA really pulled the
plug late last week and into the weekend with the reservoir falling some
six inches each day. The drawdown has diminished the last few days and
should fall slowly throughout the weekend and into next week.
Present elevation at Kentucky Dam is 355.9. Upstream at New Johnsonville
Steam Plant lake levels are forecasted to be in the 356.3 range as the
weekend approaches. Those readings are down considerably from a week ago
at this time.
Surface temps have cooled slightly but still remain in the 56 to 59
degree range and last weekend were still holding in the 60 degree range,
which is above normal for this time of year. Water color is clear.
Crappie were biting in a variety of depths as anglers reported some
decent catches in 11 to 13 foot zones around brush and manmade
structure. A few fish were holding on to those deep ledges and residing
in the 17 to 20 foot zones too.
Portions of West Sandy around Britton Ford and in other bays such as
Bass Bay, Cane, White Oak, and Leatherwood some fish were choosing to
stay in 7 to 9 foot zones. Anglers there reported pretty good stringers
as they vertical fished jigs.
Crappie should settle down this weekend and next week as this past week
saw a drastic drawdown that may have had fish on the move at times. It’s
not unusual for crappie to pack their bags and move on when quick
changes in lake levels occur.
Watch for those midrange stakebeds and drop-offs to produce good numbers
in the days ahead barring any drastic changes in the weather and lake
levels.
Bass anglers are still scoring decent stringers with a lot of fish
relating to submerged grass beds. A lot of aquatic vegetation is present
on the Tennessee River flats and edges of islands where tossing a white
spinnerbait with gold willow leaf blades will get you a bite.
Shallow running crankbaits, rattle traps, and jerk baits are working
too. There is a lot more grass out there than most anglers thought and
the lower lake levels are exposing acres of it. A lot of milfoil was
breaking loose this week and floating down the main channel in huge
patches as the current from falling lake levels likely dislodged it.
Watch for those gravel bank patterns to bounce back as lake levels
return to near normal in the days ahead. Last week a lot of bass move up
to shallow shoreline cover but that has all changed as the fish are back
to gravel points and rocky banks chasing shad on shallow flats too.
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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