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May 2, 2013
LAKE LEVEL RECEDING…WEEK OF HIGH WATER CATCHES ANGLERS OFF GUARD
Kentucky Lake went on a rampage earlier this week after two days of
heavy rains saturated the region, sending lake levels some five feet
above normal. The drastic change happened in a short time too, catching
anglers off guard as normal fishing patterns were completely off the
radar screen.
Things have happened quickly this week in the fishing world as bass and
crappie anglers were scrambling in hopes of finding scattered fish that
were roaming with the rapidly rising lake stages. Things were pretty
tough for all anglers while the lake was coming up as floating debris
added another challenge to boaters.
Good news arrived Wednesday, however, as the reservoir crested and is
now falling fast. TVA will attempt to pull the reservoir back to its
normal summer pool elevation of 359 but that will take a few days.
And how have anglers fared in this roller coaster ride? Most fishermen
were victims of the rapid change earlier this week but were adapting
better as the lake crested and began to recede. Although crappie anglers
are still struggling in the post-spawn phase, bluegill and shellcracker
action has really heated up, along with some hefty stringers of catfish
and bass being caught.
Surface temperatures this week responded to some pretty weather in the
aftermath of last weekend’s thunderstorms and rose to into the 66 to 72
degree range. That warm up really stimulated the bluegill and redear
bite as these fish were a bit behind on their bedding attempts due to a
cool, messy April.
Water color is in good shape out on the main lake areas but some larger
bays had muddy to dingy water lingering after last weekend’s
thunderstorms sent runoff into the reservoir. Some areas had chocolate
milk colored water in the upper ends of bays for a few days but that has
improved.
Lake levels crested around 363.7 at Kentucky Dam on Wednesday but were a
bit higher in the New Johnsonville area where the elevation rose to 364.
Normal summer pool is 359.
Projections going into the weekend show a decline of at least a foot at
Kentucky Dam where an elevation of 362.7 is forecast. However, TVA is
revising its forecast on a daily basis and increasing its discharge.
Anglers can expect a lot of current in the main river for the next
several days. Upstream at New Johnsonville the elevation will be 364 as
water is still rolling through the system.
Bass anglers were learning the whereabouts of high water fish and
stalking the abundant habitat such as willow trees, buck bushes, and
shallow grassbeds. Fish have moved up fast into the shallow structure as
an abundance of baitfish moved up with the high water too.
Tossing spinnerbaits has been a popular choice as anglers tried to cover
a lot of water. Pitching and flipping lizards, worms, craws, and jig and
pig combos has been popular too.
Some bass were holding in buck bushes and suspending in the middle as
water depth around some of the original shoreline was more than five
feet deep. Although stained water was present in some bays, others were
quite clear and anglers were tossing some topwater jerk baits and
buzzbaits.
With falling water now entering the picture bass should pull to the
outside cover and that should help anglers formulate a better pattern.
Some river islands have been holding bass too so playing the current
will be a factor.
A lot of bass have already spawned. No doubt the bass were thrown off
too by the recent changes in weather and water levels but things are
improving fast.
Bluegill and redear sunfish, referred to locally as shellcracker, were
biting good at midweek but anglers had to change their approach. Normal
bedding areas were unproductive as the high water caused fish to move up
behind the original shoreline where bushes and trees recently inundated
were more appealing to the powerful panfish.
Some dandy catches were coming in as a few anglers adapted and learned
to fish right down in the submerged structure. As lake levels recede
watch for the fish to slowly transition back toward normal bedding areas
by early next week.
Catfish have been on the prowl as the rising water really brought fish
to the upper ends of bays and toward shallow shorelines. Anglers are
tying into some dandies while fishing near feeder creeks. Several bass
and bluegill fishermen have battled some big catfish this week as they
got a surprise when ole’ whiskers grabbed their hook.
Spawning time is here for catfish and they sprinted toward shallow areas
this week. Watch for those rocky banks to hold fish the next week or
two.
Crappie anglers normally see action subside once the post-spawn phase
arrives and the late April and early May time frame can be challenging
even in normal years. Add drastic weather changes and a flood to the
fishing scene and it teams up for trouble and crappie fishermen got a
big dose of that this week.
Fish have been extremely scattered lately and not relating to structure.
Catch rates dropped off drastically as stakebeds and brushpiles became
less appealing for vertical fishermen dunking jigs and minnows. However,
boaters trolling with both long lines and spider rigs were also
struggling to put a pattern together.
Some crappie moved back into shoreline buck bushes once high waters
arrived but even there fish were scattered.
Action will likely improve as the reservoir falls back to summer pool
and fish get back on a more structure oriented patter but until then
crappie fishermen are likely to have tough sledding. After a spring like
this one many crappie anglers are learning to give more consideration to
the late May and June period when stable weather and lake levels are the
norm.
The nice fall months of September and October are often overlooked and
underrated by crappie anglers who have the “spring only” mentality.
After all the unruly weather and lake levels this year those other
months are sure begging for respect.
As the big pond slowly recedes anglers will wake up to a new lake each
day until TVA gets it back down to summer pool. Adapting to the rapid
change isn’t always easy but for those anglers willing take a different
approach and capitalize on the movements of fish in transition the time
can be quite productive.
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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