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Keith from IN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
COOL WINDY SPRING DELAYS CRAPPIE SPAWN…BETTER DAYS ON HORIZON
For most crappie anglers testing the waters of Kentucky Lake these last
few weeks it has been pretty tough sledding. A mean spring has tossed
some very challenging conditions in the path of anglers yearning to jump
start this very popular fishing season.
It appears better days are fast approaching. Warmer weather is expected
as the weekend arrives and that will help warm surface temperatures that
have been below average this past week.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
April started on a cold note this week with very cold
nights---Sunday/Monday dropped below or near the freezing mark---that
have kept surface temperatures in the 54 to 56 degree range. Cold
northeast winds Monday escorted the new month’s arrival, delaying any
hopes of an early crappie spawn.
In years past there were times when unusually warm conditions arrived
early and spawning phases actually began in late March and early April.
Not this year, however, as a stubborn spring has pushed the timetable
back.
By this weekend temps should jump a few degrees and climb to the upper
50’s. Early spawning phases appear to be at least a week away if not
more. Temps need to be in the 62 to 66 degree range to stimulate
spawning conditions.
Odds are temps will finally cross the 60 degree threshold this weekend.
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
By early next week the whole crappie scenario should change dramatically
as fish will make their overdue blitz toward midrange and shallow
structure. That hasn’t happened yet and male crappie have not shown
signs of hormonal changes with a darkening appearance.
Overall, the crappie picture has been sluggish across the reservoir for
most anglers but some decent stringers have been taken by those using
long line techniques while pulling curly tail grubs and Road Runners.
The fish taken have been suspended out over deeper water as they stage
and wait for warmer surface temps before stair stepping their way toward
spawning locations.
Both spider rigging presentations and long lining have paid the most
dividends lately for crappie anglers stalking main lake areas such as
the old river channels up Big Sandy. Several fish were taken at times
while anglers trolled their buffet of baits in the 11 to 14 foot depth
range but out over 20 foot or deeper depths.
Popular jig skirt colors have ranged from blue/chartreuse to
purple/clear with sparkle. Some black/chartreuse have been productive
too.
Other crappie anglers who attempted to find some shallow to midrange
depth fish have been disappointed. Very few fish have been caught by
those casting jigs to shallow stakebeds in 4 to 8 foot depths. Fish just
haven’t been there.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Vertical fishing jigs and live minnows over deeper stakebeds and
brushpiles in 9 to 14 foot depths out in the main lake areas around
Paris Landing have not produced either.
Crappie have remained deep, staging there until stable weather returns
and warms things up. That warm up should begin Friday, according to the
weather forecast.
Meanwhile, water color is good across the region.
Lake levels this week, after falling last weekend and earlier this week,
began rising slowly on Tuesday. TVA begins its annual curve for
reservoir filling on April 1 each year with a target day of May 1 for
summer pool (359).
Presently, lake levels are in the 355.2 range and should rise slowly in
the coming weeks barring any drastic weather changes.
On the minds of Kentucky Lake fishermen are the rising river stages on
the Mississippi River. Flooding from the Midwestern states has entered
the Mississippi and will no doubt alter river stages in the weeks ahead.
Just how much it will alter Kentucky Lake’s elevation remains to be
seen.
Bass anglers have been testing a variety of depths and areas in their
attempts to find fish. Tournament anglers practicing for weekend events
have been searching main lake ledges at times while others continue to
pound the banks and rock points.
Dave and Jeff KY Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Some attempted to toss spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits and
Texas rigged craws around shallow stickups and boat docks. Others have
focused on secondary ditches where a little more water was present.
Those boaters have tossed Red Eye Shad and Rattle Traps plus some swim
baits.
The crankbait pattern around shallow rock and gravel banks should resume
once warmer surface temps return. The recent series of high skies and
cold north winds have not helped the shallow bite but watch for that to
resume quickly.
Despite a few weeks of unstable weather and lake levels it appears
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene is braced for a rebound.
It’s that time of the year when things can change quickly. Several back
to back warm days are on the horizon. Prepare for an upswing!
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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