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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
HOW HIGH WILL IT GO?...LAKE LEVELS ON EVERYONE’S MIND
Last week at this time TVA was spilling water through Kentucky Dam at a
rapid rate and the reservoir wasn’t rising too fast despite flood
warnings across the region.
The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to our north weren’t too high just yet
and that allowed the agency to pull the plug and rid the area of the
massive runoff from torrential downpours in the aftermath of a series of
thunderstorms.
Jane and Tom from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Things have changed. Flooding along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers this
week diminished TVA’s discharge rate and Kentucky Lake is rising
rapidly.
How high will it go? That’s a question anglers and all lake dwellers are
asking right now as an already wet area got another soaking at midweek.
Sooner or later the bowl gets full and overflows result. That’s what’s
happening now and no one is exactly sure when the crest will come.
A lot of rumors have been flying around as to just where that peak water
levels will be. However, truth is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
starts calling the shots as to what TVA can discharge through Kentucky
Dam when flooding elsewhere enters the equation and right now they’re
dealing with some unknowns.
There is a posting from the lock at Kentucky Dam that Kentucky reservoir
could see lake level rise some ten feet above normal summer pool! Normal
summer pool is 359 feet above sea level.
If that happens the entire reservoir will see dramatic flooding as boat
ramps, resorts, marinas, docks, campgrounds and all lake related
activities will experience damage and a lot of challenges ahead.
Flood advisories have been part of practically every weather forecast
lately. The saga continues.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Lake’s elevation has been rising on a daily basis
and TVA is revising its forecast of projected elevation sometimes twice
within a 24-hour period. Normally the reservoir would be sleeping around
the 355 mark or even a few inches lower during winter pool times but
right now that’s history.
Lake levels at midweek were already reaching the 360 mark at New
Johnsonville. At Kentucky Dam the elevation was 360.1 and rising.
Surface temperatures were in the 55 degree range.
Water color was dingy across most of the reservoir but not as muddy as
last week at this time.
No doubt the fishing scene is changing rapidly too. Once rising water
enters the picture at such a fast pace it tends to scatter fish that
roam and move up as rising water inundates shorelines and new habitat.
It’s pretty tough to pattern bass and crappie under such changing
conditions. Yet there are always a few boaters who are in the right
place at the right time and seize the moment.
Some bass anglers learn to play the current. Others move up to shallow
areas as rising lake levels suddenly make visible shoreline habitat
appealing. The bass are quick to move shallow in hot pursuit of their
forage base, especially if warmer surface temperatures enter the
equation.
Crappie are known to scatter and roam, making it difficult to stay on
their path. Odds are crappie will move toward shallows as they follow
the shad toward new venues.
Anglers across the region will have their work cut out for them this
next week. Once the crest occurs things could improve but generally
speaking all anglers are dealing with too much water that is coming up
too fast!
As March arrives anglers are anxious to get an early start on spring
fishing. Looks like everyone will have plenty of water in which to wet a
hook!
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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