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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
April 18th, 2008
BASS BITE GOOD AS CRAPPIE SPAWN ARRIVES
Crappie are on the move and headed toward spawning territory. Bass
are biting well and some hefty stringers are being caught in a variety
of patterns. Also on the radar screen has been catfish action as anglers
are already seeing their whiskered prey head toward the rocks.
The fishing scene has improved, thanks to the overdue arrival of
warm and sunny weather. Lake levels have been falling too as TVA has
really pulled the plug, dropping the elevation by some six feet since
last week at this time.
It appears the biological clock for this year’s crappie spawn will
be almost three weeks behind what it was last year. A most unusual
spring has really thrown a curve to both the crappie and the anglers
searching for them but hold the phone; things are about to get real good
real quick.
While a few fish may have attempted spawning the last week to ten
days, it appears the peak may occur in the next few days as the
combination of warm weather and falling lake levels may return the
scenario to near normal conditions.
Assuming no more floods enter the picture and cold fronts stay up
north where they belong, crappie will do their thing soon.
Surface temperatures have been climbing the last few days and are
now in the 61 to 64 degree range and likely to warm even more in the
days ahead.
Water color is in good shape across most of the reservoir with more
stain up Big Sandy and in West Sandy.
Lake levels have been falling steadily now for several days. Some
days TVA dropped the lake as much as eight to ten inches, which is a lot
of water for a lake this big.
Elevation is expected to be in the 359.5 range going into the
weekend in the New Johnsonville area. Kentucky Dam will be around 359.9
this weekend. Lake levels will continue falling according to TVA’s
forecast but just how low the agency will go remains to be seen.
Both bass and crappie anglers have been concerned about the changing
lake stages as fish head toward shoreline habitat to spawn. When
drastically declining lake levels and warm weather coincide at a time
when fish are on the verge of spawning the eggs can be vulnerable if
deposited in shallow shoreline habitat.
For the last week or so it appears the bulk of the crappie
population pulled back off the banks and road out the cold fronts and
roller coaster changes of surface temperatures in deeper water.
Right now they are on the threshold of making a blitz toward shallow
venues and broadcasting eggs around submerged structure.
Watch for significant movement in the next few days. Some fish may
head toward shoreline bushes and trees if TVA holds the reservoir at
summer pool, which is 359. If the agency goes below that elevation a lot
of the fish will spawn in 6 to 10 foot depths where shallow stumps and
the abundance of manmade fish attractors will appeal.
Crappie anglers were seeing changes the last few days in the New
Hope and Country Junction sector where a lot of fish were staging in the
shallow flats and suspending in preparation for the annual move. It
appears the falling lake levels have pulled fish out of the upper end of
Big Sandy where higher than normal elevation had given them a reason to
go to the headwaters and stay there.
Techniques such as slow trolling jigs and crankbaits, pulling long
lines of jigs, drifting, and spider rigging have been effective lately
as it allowed anglers to cover a lot of water and reach suspended and
roaming fish.
Anglers using vertical techniques over manmade fish attractors or
casting jigs along shorelines fell prey to the unstable conditions
earlier in the week but will likely see a quick turnaround.
Here in the Paris Landing sector crappie were scattered and
reluctant to bite during the recent rash of cold weather and high winds.
Yet it’s that time of year when things happen quickly and it appears
improvement is already underway after a day or two of sunshine.
From the bass department comes more good reports of successful
anglers using a wide variety of lures. I’ve talked with several veteran
bass anglers this week who say they’ve had one of their most productive
seasons in years.
The high water has brought a lot of bass to the abundant shoreline
habitat where they’ve stayed for several weeks. Falling lake levels are
pulling a lot of fish to outside cover and making it easier for anglers
to establish a pattern.
Pitching and flipping jigs, lizards, crawfish and Texas rigged worms
have worked well lately. Spinnerbaits and some topwater jerk baits have
been other popular choices.
The dingy water around much of the backwater bays and pockets have
been great conditions for pitching and flipping but as waters clear
watch for some floating worms and topwater buzz and jerk baits to have
more appeal.
Bass appear to be on the verge of spawning too. Most of the females
are sporting hefty egg sacs and those bulging bellies say spawning time
is here.
Meanwhile, look for those grassbeds mixed with willows and buck
bushes to be hot spots this week.
Fortunately for bass fishermen, the adverse conditions this spring
have not hampered the bass bite. Even before the high water bass were
hitting good on gravel banks and rock bluffs and the bite has held up
since back in early March, although shifting to stickups along
shorelines as of late.
Catfish are already heading toward rock bluffs with some nice
stringers being taken by bank fishermen who know the time is here for
them to head to the banks.
It’s time to put the crazy spring conditions in the review mirror
and look ahead to better times that are knocking on the door of Kentucky
Lake anglers.
For The Lake Barkley Report
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Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams
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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