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March 22, 2012
CRAPPIE SPAWN UNDERWAY… WEATHER TRIGGERS EARLY START
Kentucky Lake crappie are responding to the extended spell of warm
weather that has triggered an early start to spawning phases. It should
come as no surprise to anglers this spring as a rather mild winter faded
into spring but this week it has felt more like summer.
Record high temperatures were set earlier in the week as the mercury
climbed to 84 degrees on the first day of spring in some areas and very
warm nights have lingered. All that has combined to influence surface
temperatures that climbed into the 66 to 68 degree range across some of
the Big Sandy basin at midweek.
A lot of change and movement has taken place the last few days as male
crappie have darkened dramatically since last week, a color phase
influenced by hormonal changes that signals spring spawning time is
here.
Big females have moved up into midrange depths this week and some hefty
stringers have been taken in depths of 5 to 8 feet. Their egg sacs are
bloated and no doubt the fish are on the threshold of moving toward
structure to broadcast their eggs.
I found some nice slabs in shallow stakbeds at midweek that were void of
big fish a few days prior. While big numbers of small fish continue to
occupy beds in various depths it was clear that some of the big females
had moved up at midweek and were about ready to begin the annual ritual.
Traditionally, spawning time begins here in early April but this year’s
biological clock has been ahead of schedule. A lot of anglers are
worried they’ll miss the peak spawning phases this year as their trips
were scheduled months in advance.
While mid-April this year will likely have some late spawning taking
place, odds are it will indeed be in the post-spawn phases for much of
the area since the fish got an early start. Still, there will be plenty
of decent fishing left as all the fish don’t spawn at the same time, a
scenario that Mother Nature devised many moons ago to take care of her
critters.
Meanwhile, anglers all across Kentucky Lake have enjoyed one of their
best late winter and early spring fishing seasons ever thanks to the
magnificent weather. Thunderstorms and some heavy rain was entering he
forecast at midweek but the inclimate weather is expected to be out of
the area by this weekend when normal temperatures with highs around the
70 degree mark will return.
Surface temperatures started out the week in the 64 to 67 degree range,
which is very much above average for this time of year. Water color has
been good for fishing with a slight stain.
Lake levels have been falling slowly this week and TVA projects a
reading of 355.2 at both Kentucky Dam and New Johnsonville Steam Plant
sector as the weekend approaches. If heavy rains hover over the TVA
valley during the rash of thunderstorms, lake levels could rise several
inches by early next week but no flooding was in the forecast.
Anglers have had to battle high winds a few days and that curtailed some
of the open water fishing but a lot of boats have been drifting
multi-pole rigs and doing well. Long line presentations have been
popular for slow trollers too while some of the drift boas are using
wind socks to slow them down during the windy days.
Pulling or trolling Road Runners in the 1/16 to ¼ ounce size has worked
well. Other techniques of vertical presentations of small jigs tipped
with minnows or Berkley Power Bait has paid dividends as well,
especially as more fish relate to structure as spawning time arrives.
Popular color combinations have ranged from purple/chartreuse to
white/red. Crappie have also been thumping live minnows when tipped on a
jig.
Still, a lot of crappie are suspended in the 8 to 14 foot zones in Big
Sandy near Sulphur Well Island and the Elkhorn area while up Big Sandy
around New Hope and Country Junction more fish have moved up to the
shallows. Same goes for Swamp Creek where several boats reported success
in the 5 foot depth range.
In West Sandy around Britton Ford and toward Springville pumphouse a lot
of fish were caught in the 7 to 12 foot depths but again, fish are
really on the move.
Look for more male crappie move up toward gravel banks this week and
into shallow stumps and brush. The males usually move up quickly and
occupy such areas before the females move up to spawn and that pattern
is now underway.
Several boats are casting curly tail jigs and Road Runners around
submerged stakebeds and brushpiles while others are just working the
rocky banks and finding a few fish.
Bass are in prespawn patterns and relating to shallow pockets and feeder
creeks where some big sows are hanging out and waiting for things to get
just right before moving up on beds. A lot of fish are still relating to
gravel banks and points, staging there in preparation for spawning
phases.
March is a crankbait paradise and that has been the hot ticket for
catching fish lately as such lures as Rattle Traps, Rapala’s Shad Rap,
Bandit and Strike King’s medium running series baits have been paying
off well. Those rocky bluffs and points are popular right now but some
fish are hanging out on shallow mud flats as well.
The Alabama rig is producing fish on a consistent basis and some boats
are tossing the rigs around ledges and submerged sandbars. Jig and craw
combos are working too.
Fishing is good and a variety of patterns and lure selections are
working for both bass and crappie anglers. Spring has sprung on Kentucky
Lake.
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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