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Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 21st, 2004
From the Kentucky Lake fishing scene comes some good reports for
catfish, crappie, bass, and bluegill. Decent weather this week has
worked in favor of anglers who have been out in force.
Surface temperatures are in the 76-79 degree range this week.
Watercolor is sporting some stain throughout much of the Tennessee River
area where pockets and bays near the main lake are a bit dingy but a
good color for fishing.
Some of the Big Sandy embayment has some dingy water too, especially
in the upper end around the gravel pits and down past New Hope Landing.
Observed lake elevation this weekend is expected to be near the
summer pool mark of 359 in the New Johnsonville area. Downstream at
Kentucky Dam readings should be around 359.2.
The lake has been falling slowly this week after some heavy rains
drenched the area late last week.
Crappie have improved in the Paris Landing area since last week.
Several nice stringers have been taken in the midrange depths of 12 to
14 feet. The fish appear to be in that transition zone between spring
spawning areas and summer hangouts.
Most anglers are tipping jigs with live minnows to enhance strikes.
I found a few fish taking jigs only but adding the minnow definitely
stimulated activity, although many fish are taking the bait with a very
light strike.
Small jigs in the one-sixteenth to one-thirty-second ounce size have
worked best. Adding a split-shot a few inches above the light jig head
will assist the feel of the jig in windy conditions.
Although unpainted leadheads are working well, some light green
colors sporting a small hair or feather skirt have also produced.
Bass fishing has been good with a variety of patterns working.
Several fish are still being caught in the buck bushes and weedbeds
along islands and near the backs of large bays.
And, some anglers are backing off the banks and tossing Carolina
rigged lizards, crankbaits, and jigs on secondary ledges where a few
larger fish have been found.
Shallow fish are taking topwater lures such as jerk baits tossed
over submerged grass and around visible trees and bushes. Spinnerbaits
and buzzbaits have also produced, as have worms in the green
pumpkin-pepper, red shad, and Tequila sunrise.
Some anglers are still pitching jigs and lizards around visible
structure. The dingy water has help the shallow fishing this past week
as water levels have been slightly above summer pool and offering bass a
comfort zone in shoreline cover.
Some pondweed grass and various aquatics are growing in some shallow
bays where schools of tiny “fry” minnows are present. Several bass have
been relating to this type habitat lately as much of the submerged grass
is in deeper water and away from the shoreline.
Bluegill are still hitting good with a few scattered shellcracker
also being taken as anglers continue to work the shallow flats and
visible weedbeds of bays off the main lake. Crickets, nightcrawlers, and
wax worms have been working well.
The fish are still bedding but some areas seemed to slow down this
week as to concentrations. Some areas that were producing high numbers
of bedding fish last week seemed to cool off this week.
There’s still some good action left for bluegill and shellcracker
anglers. Look for the action to hold up for another week or two.
Catfish action has really heated up this week as the fish head
toward rocky type spawning areas. Some hefty stringers were taken this
week up near catfish island, located on the east side of Sulphur Well
Island near the mouth of West Sandy.
The rock levees at Danville and Paris Landing are also producing as
both bank fishermen and boaters are finding the fish heading toward
shoreline structure.
Many trotline and jug fishermen are also catching fish too. Baits of
choice continue to be chicken livers and night crawlers.
It’s prime time for catching catfish around those spawning areas of
rock bluffs and other shoreline cover so better make plans to wet a hook
and tangle with ol’whiskers while he’s on the prowl!
A few sauger are showing up along the gravel points and main lake
sandbars this week too. However, several are still just shy of the
14-inch length limit so keep that measuring board handy and release
those short fish to grow, spawn, and bite again.
Some anglers are already trolling for sauger but finding a few
rockfish (stripers) taking deep diving crankbaits. Some white bass are
showing up too along the sandbars in 10 to 14 foot depths.
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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