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This page brought to you by:
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
BOTH CRAPPIE AND THOSE WHO FISH FOR THEM CONFUSED!…SPAWN DRAWS CLOSER
If you see a few Kentucky Lake crappie fishermen somewhat black and blue
these days it’s because they’ve been beat up by a nasty spring and
stubborn fish. It has been a tough one thus far!
Jane and Tom from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Late March and early April usually kick the bite in gear for Kentucky
Lake’s spring crappie fishery. Seems both the fish and the weatherman
haven’t gotten the memo.
The last week to ten days anglers have gotten pounded by high winds and
below normal temperatures. Add several rainy days to the picture too.
No doubt the weather has had a negative impact and delayed the prespawn
phases of crappie as most fish have been reluctant to move up toward
shallow areas. The overall bite has been off and the few fish that have
been caught have come from deeper depths such as 16 to 20 feet here in
the Paris Landing and Big Sandy sector.
Odds are next week will trip the switch and send fish to midrange or
shallow zones. That should have taken place already but surface
temperatures have lingered in the low to mid 50’s lately. At midweek
readings were in the 56 degree range but more cold fronts were on the
horizon, which will keep the water from warming up by this weekend,
further disappointing anxious anglers.
Crappie like some stability and will begin active spawning when surface
temps reach the 62 to 66 degree range. Prior to that they begin
stair-stepping their way out of deep venues and work their way toward
spawning zones but that phase has been sluggish to kick in.
Overall the bite is off for anglers from the upper end of Big Sandy and
West Sandy to the Paris Landing sector and clear up north past the Blood
River sector into Kentucky. The lion’s share of anglers are just not
finding and catching keeper size fish in the places where they normally
should be.
Deep water fishermen working main lake ledges in the 20 foot depth zones
have found several small fish at times but haven’t logged big numbers of
keepers. Spider rig techniques and long lining that allow boaters to
cover a lot of water and often find suspended and scattered fish have
struggled.
Also struggling have been those slow trolling crankbaits or utilizing
bottom bumping rigs loaded with jigs and minnows along the drop-offs
where they’ve stalked structure with a vertical presentation.
Granted the wind most days hasn’t allowed anglers to really pursue the
open water areas in the manner they’d prefer. There have been a small
number of fish taken deep that indicated a few male crappie beginning to
show some dark color changes but those hitting midrange stakebeds and
brushpiles have not found fish occupying structure in the 8 to 14 foot
depths zones yet.
Traditionally those male crappie make an early blitz toward gravel banks
and search out shallow spawning territory. That has yet to happen.
However, it’s that time of year when things happen quickly once sunshine
enters the equation and warms things up.
Overall the status of the crappie fishery has a lot of veteran fishermen
scratching their head and wondering what’s up? Legends of disgruntled
anglers are hoping things get jump started by early next!
As to lake conditions the reservoir is rising slowly. TVA begins filling
the reservoir each year on April 1 with a target date of May 1 for
summer pool elevation, which is 359. Lake levels this week started out
around 354.7 but are projected to reach 355.7-plus range by this weekend
in the Kentucky Dam sector.
Upstream around New Johnsonville the lake was rising slowly and should
make the 355.3 range by this weekend. Water color has been stained and
dingy in several bays within the Big Sandy basin. The main lake is
stained too but sporting a good color for fishing.
Surface temps at midweek were in the 56 to 57 degree range after a warm
up Tuesday but nasty thunderstorms preceded a cold front that held temps
back from a rapid warm-up. Unfortunately, another cool snap is on the
horizon for Saturday.
Bass action has held up fair this week as anglers tossing crankbaits on
gravel points and big chunk rock continue to land several fish. Rapala’s
Shad Rap has been popular as has have Bandits in the Firetiger and
assorted colors. Strike King’s Red-Eye Shad and Bill Lewis Rattle Traps
are working too.
Rip-rap shorelines and levees have produced fish as have shallow gravel
roadbeds. Bass should respond favorably to warmer surface temperatures
next week too.
Some anglers are tossing a green pumpkin-pepper craws rigged Texas style
and targeting exposed stickups in the form of exposed crappie beds or
logs and boat houses with submerged cover.
Everyone is yearning for a few days with less wind and warmer
temperatures. Next week should provide some overdue relief. If it
doesn’t there are scores of anglers ready to run the weatherman out of
town!
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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