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This page brought to you by:
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley from TN
December 2017
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
HIGH LAKE LEVELS SLOW TO RECEDE…BOATERS FACE HIDDEN HAZARDS
Kentucky Lake has been on a rampage this week as lake levels swelled
some nine feet above normal for this time of year. Anglers and most lake
dwellers were hoping to see the reservoir crest at midweek and begin a
slow descent but normalcy is still several days away.
Jane and Tom from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
For everyone around the lake it has been a challenging week. Most have
been dealing with a lot of unknowns as to just how high the lake would
go and when it might start falling.
At midweek Tennessee Valley Authority projected a crest of 364.7 in the
Kentucky Dam area. Normal winter pool elevation is usually around 355
for this time of year so the reservoir has jumped over nine feet above
it’s early March level.
The normal curve on TVA’s chart would see the lake sleeping around
winter pool until April 1 when reservoir filling begins and a target
date of May 1 for the summer pool elevation mark of 359.
Odds are TVA will attempt to pull the lake back down to winter pool or
somewhere pretty close before April 1 as that’s its normal curve. The
reservoir will likely fall a few inches at first and then TVA could pull
the plug if flooding to our north along the Ohio and Mississippi River
areas permit.
Surface temperatures this week cooled slightly as inclimate weather
danced about with some warm days sandwiched in-between cool ones where
northwest winds put a chill in the air. It is still winter you know!
Water temps cooled a bit this week and were resting in the 53 to 54
degree range. Cool nights and north winds have had an influence.
Water color wasn’t too bad in many bays and coves. Some muddy water was
present in the main Tennessee River channel area.
For the record spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20th this
year. And, March has a reputation of being an unpredictable month when a
variety of weather patterns escorted at times by high winds.
However, the month also stimulates spring fever with some warm sunny
days at times known to cause “fishing pox”! Trees have already budded
out in places and butter cups are blooming their yellow parade. All
signs say spring is fast approaching.
Anglers have not only scrambled to find fish in the rising lake levels
but they’ve had to hunt for a place to launch their boats too! Most boat
ramps in the area have been inundated with high water. Finding a place
to launch has been difficult as has been finding a place to park the
vehicle and boat trailer.
Bass anglers have found a few decent size fish during the high water
hurdle using a variety of methods that ranged from flipping jigs and
craws in buck bushes and trees to tossing Rattle Traps in bays and
pockets where feeding creeks emptied into pockets and such.
Some hefty bass were caught this week in the Paris Landing sector and
elsewhere on the reservoir by anglers following the rising lake levels
toward shoreline habitat. Visible structure has been abundant.
Fish have been on the move all week and following the rise toward new
territory where and abundance of forage was likely moving there too.
Loud colored crankbaits have paid dividends and jig and pig color combos
such as brown/orange and black/blue have worked well.
There’s always a few fishermen tossing spinnerbaits when dingy water
color and visible habitat present themselves. Trying to cover a lot of
water with a spinnerbait or Rattle Trap style bait has been a popular
choice.
TVA was projecting a crest at midweek with a slow fall to follow, which
means ample current will be present in the reservoir for another week or
more. The down current sides of islands or bridges should be holding
bass in the days ahead as will the outside structure line of shorelines
as fish pull back during falling water.
Crappie fishermen haven’t fared as well as bass fishermen lately as the
high lake levels scattered fish. A few anglers have been out there
trying but those attempting to pull long lines have battled a lot of
floating debris on the surface, making it difficult to fish that method.
Others have attempted to find fish moving into big bays in relative
shallow areas. Not many have found significant numbers coming from
visible stickups but there are some folks trying to make that happen.
Others have targeted manmade fish attractors back in the bays in depths
of 6 to 14 feet and found a few isolated fish at times.
It’s not unusual to see crappie roaming and suspended when lake levels
are out of balance. The fish don’t relate to deep structure well during
rising lake levels but should return to cover once levels fall back to
normal.
It may take a few days but watch for improvement in the crappie
department by this time next week if not sooner.
Most all anglers are hoping the rains will subside and allow the lake to
descend at a rapid rate. Warmer days and light winds are also on the
wish list too.
Meanwhile, all boaters are urged to use caution as high lake levels
bring on additional debris and underwater hazards. Logs and all sorts of
trash are out there floating around.
Roadbeds and submerged concrete bridges can play havoc with your boat
and lower unit too. There’s all sorts of obstacles hidden by the high
water. Be careful out there!
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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