|
Jordyn Riddick on spring break March 2014 with grandad
photo courtesy:
Crappie Action Guide Service
SPAWNING CONTINUES FOR BLUEGILL/REDEAR…WEIRD WEEK FOR ANGLERS
Bet you thought nasty north winds and cold fronts were gone! Think
again.
To a weird spring full of unstable weather add yet another cold front
that rolled in Wednesday, putting a chill to the Kentucky Lake fishing
scene. Temperatures Tuesday topped out at 89 degrees but by Thursday it
struggled to reach 62 degrees after a very chilly start.
The uninvited cool snap had brisk north winds that had anglers digging
the coveralls and overcoats back out. That’s not supposed to happen in
mid-May but happen it did, upsetting the applecart once again for
fishermen who felt like they were starting out on a fall morning.
A slow rebound is supposed to arrive early this weekend as temps are
forecast to reach 70 by Saturday. No doubt surface temps lost ground for
a few days but should regain their loss quickly.
Bedding bluegill and redear sunfish have been hitting good this week as
active spawning phases have been underway. A full moon at midweek had
fish fanning beds with aggressive moods but the drastic weather change
had an adverse effect and curtailed activity to some degree once the
front passed through.
Surface temperatures this week were in the 72 to 74 degree range before
the front and likely lost a degree or two as cool nights pulled temps
well below average. However, watch for action to resume quickly as the
urge to spawn will respond quickly to sunny days.
Lake levels have stayed around the normal summer pool elevation of 359
this week across the reservoir. Heavy rains at midweek could influence a
slight rise in elevation the next few days. Water color is stained in
several bays due to runoff from thunderstorms but showing a pretty good
color overall with the main Big Sandy clearing. Dingy water is present
in the main Tennessee River channel as well.
Hefty catches of bluegill were taken the last few days by anglers
tossing crickets in depths of 2 to 5 foot depths. Some fish had moved
into shallow bushes and parameters of grassbeds where a few redear were
also biting.
Those bigger bull bream are sporting a handsome olive drab color and
orange belly. The females are the pale yellow ones. The males are really
territorial right now, making for ideal fishing conditions as they
usually keep the smaller fish at bay.
Most anglers are using slip bobber presentations but a few are choosing
to cast without bobbers and slowly drag the bait across the bottom. Both
techniques have worked well and a few bluegill are bedding out on flats
or gravel bars away from the shorelines.
Catfish were hitting good as well and bluegill fishermen are still
catching them around the spawning areas. Catfish often seek out bluegill
beds and feed on the eggs and fry hatching there.
Rock bluffs such as rip-rap and other rocky banks have been holding
catfish too as they search for spawning crevices. Nightcrawlers have
been the bait of choice when targeting catfish.
Bass fishermen are still finding plenty of bass using the shallow buck
bushes and weed beds. Good numbers were taken this week by anglers
tossing spinnerbaits, Texas rigged worms, craws and lizards. Some
topwater had been working too such as buzzbaits and floating fluke style
worms.
At the same time some boaters are backing away from the banks and
targeting sloping points and humps where deeper water is holding
post-spawn bass. Carolina and Alabama rigs have worked well as have deep
diving crankbaits, jig and pig combos, suspending crankbaits and some
big Texas rigged worms.
Crappie action has been slow this week as the post-spawn fish are
scattered and sluggish. A few scattered fish were taken in shallow
stakebeds in depths of 5 to 9 feet but numbers were low.
Action has fallen off for most drift and trolling techniques this week
as fish are suspended and not too interested in striking, a scenario
that isn’t too unusual in the post-spawn phase. Watch for crappie action
to improve later this month as fish slowly transition back to midrange
depths and take on a more structure oriented mood as surface temps warm.
Meanwhile, fishermen continue to battle the wind as whitecaps seem to be
consistent the last few weeks. High winds have hampered all anglers
lately and dictated their day as to location and routes.
More great fishing is ahead for light tackle enthusiasts as the bluegill
and shellcracker should continue for a few weeks. Most anglers are
looking ahead to normal weather patterns as the weekend approaches. A
few days with light and variable winds are long overdue!
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.
|
|
