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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
April 9th, 2007
WARM WEATHER IN FORECAST AS COLD FRONT
LOSES GRIP...CRAPPIE BACK OFF TO DEEPER DEPTHS BUT HITTING GOOD...BASS
ACTION SLOWS AS SURFACE TEMPS PLUMMET
After
five days of cold winds and falling temperatures it appears the drastic
cold front will loosen its grip as weather is supposed to moderate
beginning Monday. Anglers deserve a rapid return to action as the last
five days have been tough as to high winds and cold temps.
Gale
winds and bitter cold have challenged anglers during Easter week but
surprisingly, crappie continued to hit pretty good the last few days
although they did back off to deeper depths.
I
found fish backing off the shallow beds this week due to falling surface
temperatures and high skies. However, I was somewhat surprised to find
fish still hitting in a fairly aggressive mood along main lake ledges in
18 to 24 feet. Yesterday I found some fish up in the 12 to 14 foot range
as well.
Several of the fish coming from deeper water had not yet spawned,
although occasionally we did catch some females that were relatively
thin. And, finding a few dark males in the deeper water further showed
the exodus of fish from shallow spawning zones out to deeper areas to
ride out the cold front.
Surface temperatures Saturday afternoon had dropped down to 55 degrees
in shallow areas but were in the 59 degree range out on the main lake.
That's more than a 10-degree drop from a week ago at the same time in
most areas.
Watch
for a slow rebound in surface temps these next few days as warm weather
returns.
Water
color remains clear in the main lake but sporting some good stain in
shallow areas and secondary bays where wind has stirred up sediments.
Overall it's a good fishing color.
Present lake elevation at Kentucky Dam is 356.3. Upstream at New
Johnsonville and in the Paris Landing sector lake levels are in the 356
range. That's up a few inches from earlier in the week as the reservoir
is rising slowly on TVA's curve for spring filling and will reach summer
pool (359) on or around May 1.
The
week ahead should seen better fishing conditions for both bass and
crappie anglers as the pestering northwest winds will disappear and
allow more movement by fishermen on the lake.
Some
shallow action should resume for crappie as a few will move back up to
attempt spawning once surface temps climb back into that 62-66 degree
range. It was a very early spawn this year as March was one of the
warmest on record and many fish began spawning the last week of March.
However, all the fish have not spawned so watch for increased activity
this week in that 4 to 8 foot area with a lot of fish lingering in the 8
to 13 foot zones as well on both the main lake flats and larger bays.
I
don't expect to see a major migration of crappie back to shallow venues
but action should improve there somewhat. Once spawns are interrupted by
severe cold fronts it seems the fish never totally recover as to their
will to move shallow in aggressive modes.
Still, the post-spawn phases will offer some decent fishing to anglers
working the midrange depths of 9 to 14 feet in the days ahead and it
appears a lot of fish will continue to relate to structure in the main
lake where drop-offs offering 15 to 25 foot depths will produce fish.
Popular techniques this week have been vertical jig presentations over
manmade fish attractors, along with drifting, slow trolling spider rigs,
and pulling long lines of tube skirts and curly tail grubs, Road
Runners, etc...
Casting small grubs and other jigs was working well earlier in the week
but the windy days and cold front diminished the appeal of that
technique for a few days. That technique could resume in appeal by
midweek.
Popular colors have been a wide variety of combinations ranging from
purple/chartreuse to chartreuse variations with metal flake. Live shiner
minnows have also appealed this week as tipping jigs has enticed bites
while many of the deep water, bottom bumping rigs have experienced
success just using minnows.
Bass
seemed to slow down this week, especially in shallow water as the quick
surface temp change threw a curve to those shallow rock banks, gravel
points, and wood structure that had been giving up consistently for the
last few weeks. It's likely the fish are there but just turned off by
the high pressure and cooler temps.
Watch for a rapid return of bass action to shallow venues by midweek.
And, with slowly rising lake levels those yellow flower type weeds will
begin to harbor fish where worms, topwater, and spinnerbaits will
produce.
Some
veteran bass anglers are still finding smallmouth out away from the
shoreline as they work gravel humps and other topography away from
shallow banks with hair jigs, crankbaits, and suspending jerk baits.
Kentucky Lake's normal rise toward summer pool
begins on April 1. At that time a gradual increase in lake elevation
occurs, barring any drastic rains or floods upstream. The reservoir is
slated to reach summer pool of 359 on or around May 1st each year.
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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