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February 10, 2011
WINTER WOES BITE ANGLERS…WARMING TREND IN FORECAST
About the only thing that’s had a bite to it lately for Kentucky
Lake anglers has been the bone chilling north winds. Snow storms and
frigid temps have not been kind to anglers this winter but hold the
phone; a warming trend has entered the forecast.
Fishermen have been cooped up for several days now and cabin fever is
about to peak as anglers pace the floor, thumbing pages of tackle
catalogs that further peg the “go outdoors” meter.
It appears warmer weather will trail this week’s blizzard and bring
temps back to the mid to upper 50’s by late this weekend and throughout
next week. That should stimulate activity from both the fish and
fishermen.
Kentucky Lake’s elevation has been falling slowly this week after a foot
or more surge in lake levels last week. Observed elevation is expected
to be in the 355.4 range at Kentucky Dam this weekend and 355.6 upstream
at New Johnsonville Steam Plant.
Lake levels may change, however, as a rapid warm-up and snow melt may
influence lake levels by early next week as runoff enters the system.
Water color has been clearing this week but could experience some stain
in the days ahead.
Surface temps have been sleeping around the mid to upper 30’s. Cold
nights when the mercury dipped down into the teens has held a grip so it
will likely be few days before a steady rebound occurs.
Crappie anglers are anxious to get back out as some decent fish were
showing up before the recent rash of cold weather descended. Stakebeds
and deeper brushpiles, along with some natural stump rows close to deep
water had been producing quality fish.
Look for the deeper venues to produce best for a few days as crappie
have likely pulled back to deeper water, trailing the shad that likely
rode out the cold spell in deep zones.
Depths of 12 to 14 feet were giving up a few crappie but fish may be
deeper for a few days until the warm weather impacts the cold water and
brings baitfish back shallow.
Those deeper main lake ledges with structure located in the 20 to 25
foot depth zone may be holding the bulk of fish until warmer makes its
presence known.
Jigs in a variety of chartreuse shades had been producing but crappie
were showing a passion for live minnows as well.
Bass and sauger fishermen were not having much luck lately. Although a
few winter bass boats were buzzing around and hitting sloping rock
points and deeper humps with Carolina rigs, they weren’t reporting many
encounters.
Sauger continue to evade anglers and not many boats were seen in the
popular spots such as the mouth of Duck River, Danville Bridge or Paris
Landing bridge areas. Even further south toward Pickwick Dam the sauger
saga was still slow going.
Despite a weary winter wonderland as of late, fishing should resume
quickly as weather moderates and normal temps return to the Kentucky
Lake fishing scene in the days ahead.
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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