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Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
LAKE LEVELS RISE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE…ANGLERS CHASING SCATTERED FISH
Kentucky Lake levels aren’t supposed to reach summer pool elevation
until May 1 on TVA’s curve for reservoir filling but things jumped ahead
of schedule last weekend and the reservoir reached the 360 mark earlier
this week in the Kentucky Dam sector. Normal summer pool is 359.
A fast rise had lots of debris floating as the week began and anglers
already somewhat flustered began chasing bass and crappie that had
already been somewhat scattered before the recent surge in lake levels.
An unusual spring continues.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
After inclement weather late last week loosened its grip sunny days
took over by Easter Sunday and some warm sunny days have dominated.
Despite some nice weather crappie fishermen continued to struggle across
most of the reservoir but there were some exceptions---as there always
are---with long line and spider rig techniques continuing to produce.
Several fish were taken this week in the West Sandy arm of the Big Sandy
basin where a few boats found dark male crappie moving up into shallow
areas. Some decent stringers were taken in depths of 4 to 6 feet.
A few anglers credited their catches to live minnows while others were
trolling curly tail grubs and Road Runners. Both spider rigging and long
line trolling continued to produce over vertical presentations or those
casting jigs around shallow shorelines and submerged manmade structures.
Crappie continued to shy away from submerged stakebeds and brushpiles
for the most part. A few anglers managed to find some scattered males
moving up to shallow structures in 4 to 9 feet but action for those
using vertical jigging methods was inconsistent.
Most boats are targeting their trolling techniques to middle or upper
portions of bays. Not many boats are fishing main lake area drop-offs,
which helps tell the story of what’s out there.
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Several veteran guides and anglers continue to voice confusion this
spring as to why crappie have adopted strange patterns and routes that
have differed dramatically from times past. Some very popular spots and
zones have not produced fish this year.
Seems the crappie left some deeper venues and high tailed it toward
shallow to midrange staging areas without stair stepping their way
during the transition. Generally speaking, the fish leave deep areas and
slowly move up to different depth zones as surface temps warm in late
March and early April.
The fish seemed to bypass structure in the midrange depths of 9 to 14
feet this spring. Crappie staged in open water areas longer than normal,
which is why a lot of long liners and some spider rig style fishermen
have done well when other type anglers have suffered hard times.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Meanwhile, lake levels were still on the rise at midweek with a
projection of 359.9 range by the weekend. Watch for that projection to
change, however.
Water color is clearing across most areas. Surface temperatures were in
the 65 to 66 degree range.
Some bass and crappie anglers could wind up being beneficiaries of the
above normal lake levels by this weekend. If lake levels stay high some
crappie will occupy shoreline habitat such as buck bushes
Bass were already moving up into shoreline structure where dead grass
patches and pockets full of those yellow flowers were attracting them.
Anglers were tossing spinnerbaits and Texas rigged lizards and craws
plus some floating fluke style worms this week. Topwater presentations
have also entered the picture.
Dave and Jeff KY Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Several bass were taken in the last few days that moved up quickly to
shallow shoreline bushes, dead grass and trees.
Just how long that shallow bite holds up in the visible shoreline
habitat depends on what TVA does with lake levels.
Right now fish are on the move and following the rise. If TVA pulls the
plug and rapidly lowers the lake back to summer pool the shallow bite
will likely diminish as bass pull out to slightly deeper water.
As long as the lake stays a bit high watch for the bays and small
pockets off the main lake area or back in large bays to appeal to a lot
of fish seeking spawning territory.
As the last full week of April fades away both bass and crappie anglers
are still strapped in and riding a roller coaster of conditions that
have been anything but stable. Sort of keeps anglers guessing as to the
whereabouts of the fish for their next outing!
Not far away on the horizon will be bedding bluegill and redear. They’re
already darting toward shoreline habitat and their biological clock is
ticking!
As surface temps heat up watch for these rascals to turn on soon.
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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