Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
March 7th, 2003
Things are
improving on the fishing scene here at Kentucky Lake. The weatherman has
finally come up with a good forecast where sunny days and a warming
trend is part of the long-range picture.
Crappie fishing has
improved this week and overall activity is about to break loose. Many
local anglers have already tested the waters this past week as winter
crappie were being caught in a variety of areas.
Meanwhile, the
reservoir has been falling steady for the last week to ten days. This
comes after dramatic increases in lake levels back in mid-February where
heavy rains and snow pounded the TVA valley for weeks.
Observed lake levels in
the New Johnsonville area were 355.9 on Thursday and falling steady.
Downstream at Kentucky Dam the readings were somewhat lower where
reports indicated the elevation to be at 354.5.
This means there’s
still a lot of current in the main river. With over a foot difference
between that 60-mile or so stretch in the Tennessee River there is going
to be current as TVA continues attempts to pull the lake back down to
winter pool stage.
Lakes are lowered so as
to create storage capacity for heavy rains in the winter. The recent
scenario has been a prime example.
Crappie anglers are
having success in West Sandy near Britton Ford and on out near Sulphur
Well Island and down to the power lines at Mansard Island Resort area.
Action has also
improved at the mouth of Big Sandy out from Little Sulphur and Eagle
Creeks. However, there’s still too much current to fish the main river
channel on the Tennessee yet bays back off the main river are producing
crappie. Leatherwood, Hurricane, Standing Rock and White Oak are just a
few to consider.
Watercolor has been
dingy throughout Big Sandy but the falling lake levels are really
pulling the dirty water out of the secondary areas. Look for watercolor
to continue to clear in the week ahead.
Anglers are finding
crappie in the 12-foot zones up Big Sandy but slightly deeper down in
the Paris Landing area.
Some fishermen report
the most success on minnows or jigs tipped with minnows. Then, some
reports have others fishing jigs exclusively and tipping with Berkley
Power Bait.
Such colors as purple
and chartreuse, blue and white, black and chartreuse, and fluorescent
red and chartreuse are a few of the popular colors that are working.
Most anglers are fishing the tube-skirted jigs on painted leadheads in a
variety of loud colors.
Look for the deeper
zones to produce fish this upcoming week as the lake falls back down to
winter pool levels. The falling lake stages tend to pull fish back to
deeper ledges or drop-offs where the fish have deep water nearby.
Bass action is in need
of some warm days but that may be close at hand. Surface temperatures
were lingering in the 40-degree range but will likely warm several
degrees this upcoming week.
A few fish were hitting
jig and pig combos or crawfish colored crankbaits on rock and gravel
banks. Some loud colored crankbaits in the “firetiger” and “florescent
orange” were producing as well due to the dingy watercolor.
Overall action should
improve this week so dust off the rods and rearrange the tackle box.
It’s time to go fishing and get the season started. This cabin fever has
got to go!
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Click Here
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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