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Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
CATFISH/BLUEGILL BITE TAKES OVER FISHING SCENE
Water temps have warmed this week as April faded into May and that
signals a transition time for a lot of fishermen here on Kentucky Lake.
Once surface temperatures on Kentucky Lake cross the 70-degree threshold
it stimulates the early phases of catfish and bluegill spawning. Usually
that kicks in during the last week of April and the first week of May
and this year the transition is pretty much on schedule.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Anglers have landed some pretty good stringers of catfish this
past week from the rocky bluffs and shorelines. Ole’ whiskers seemed to
make a blitz last week toward the spawning zones and several good
fishing stories are coming in from both boaters and bank fishermen who
have tangled with some dandy channel cats already!
As usual, the bait of choice has been night crawlers. A few anglers were
using various commercial concoctions and fooling a few fish into biting
too.
Watch for some good catfishing to continue for the next couple of weeks
around rip-rap rock levees and roadbeds, steep rock bluffs and any rocky
shorelines as the fish target these submerged areas to spawn in the
crevices.
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Also joining the spring fling have been both bluegill and red ear
sunfish, commonly referred to as shellcracker. These powerful panfish
are in the early stages of bedding so the best is yet to come,
especially for bluegill. Each passing day should see improvement as the
biological clock is definitely ticking for the panfish community!
Now is a great time to introduce someone to the great sport of fishing
as bedding bluegill or catfish on the prowl usually display an
aggressive biting spree. The enjoyment of fishing for bedding bluegill
and shellcracker knows no age boundaries.
A few bluegill were taken this week in 2 to 4 foot depths around shallow
grass and bushes in pockets along the lake. Crickets and redworms were
working well. A few veteran shellcracker fishermen like to use maggot
larva, meal worms and even some artificial grubs once the fish become
aggressive.
Most are using pegged or slip bobbers to regulate depth and detect light
strikes. Others prefer casting without bobbers and slow dragging a bait
over bedding zones, watching that bow in the line as an indicator.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Kentucky Lake’s prime time for bedding bluegill should last into early
June. Shellcracker time is now underway and the first two weeks of May
have traditionally been good with a few fish lingering around bedding
zones into late May.
Meanwhile, lake levels continued to fluctuate last week but have now
settled down around the summer pool mark of 359. After a quick rise the
previous week, followed by a drastic drawdown for a few days, the
reservoir has now stabilized for the most part.
Surface temperatures were in the 69 to 70 degree range by midday this
week but started out cooler in the mornings. Warm nights will now help
the water stay warm and aid in the spawning phases of catfish and
bluegill as well as some bass now up on the banks.
Water color is clear across most of the reservoir with a few bays
sporting some stain in the upper end of Big Sandy.
Dave and Jeff KY Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Crappie fishing has taken a back seat to the bluegill, bass and catfish
activity now underway. However, during the high water last week a few
anglers were seen wading and finding scattered crappie in shallow buck
bushes and willow trees up Big Sandy when lake levels surged to the 360
range.
Since then most of the shoreline habitat is now a bit too shallow for
the crappie. Some boats were still trolling both spider rigs and long
lining but their success rates have diminished compared to last week.
Those attempting to find crappie in manmade fish attractors such as
stakebeds and brushpiles picked up a few more fish this week but the
overall bite was still scattered and sluggish. Depths of 7 to 12 feet
had a few fish as did some shallow structure in 4 to 6 feet.
Casting jigs produced for a few anglers this week too. The technique
worked when casting over midrange crappie beds. Those casting did not
report much activity when tossing at shallow shoreline structure.
Now entering the post-spawn phase, crappie will likely scatter and
suspend in midrange depths for a spell. A few will hang around some
shallow structure but soon move back to midrange depths as the stress of
spawning seems to put crappie out there in la-la land for the time
being.
Bass anglers have been making changes in their arsenal and now tossing
some topwater in the form of floating worms and jerk baits. A few
buzzbaits have been popular too cast around shallow bushes and submerged
shoreline grass beds.
Always popular this time of year are Texas rigged craws, lizards and
worms. Laying back off the banks in clear water requires some long casts
at times but late bedding bass are up there in the shallow pockets off
the main lake.
A few anglers are pitching and flipping shoreline cover using jig and
craw combos and Texas rigged lizards and similar offerings. Seems
there’s always a few boats working ledges and humps back off the banks
as that pattern never goes away as fish will continue to pull out to
such areas as surface temps heat up.
May is a good month for the Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene. A lot of
options are available to anglers regardless of what their favorite type
fishing might be!
You best head make plans and head to the lake; the fish are calling!!!
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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