|
Jordyn Riddick on spring break March 2014 with grandad
photo courtesy:
Crappie Action Guide Service
FISHING UPDATE
The fishing scene has held up pretty good since last week for bluegill,
bass, and catfish anglers as some hefty stringers have been taken.
Temperatures rebounded after last week’s cool snap and are forecast to
be slightly above average as the busy boating weekend approaches. High
winds slapped anglers in the face again this week as gusty southwest
breezes dictated routes a few days, taking a lot of open water areas out
of the equation.
Lake levels are expected to rest around the normal summer pool mark of
359 at Kentucky Dam as the weekend approaches. Upstream at New
Johnsonville the elevation is forecast to be in the 358.8 range after
falling a few inches this week.
Surface temperatures are in the 73 to 75 degree range, which is up a few
degrees from last week at this time. Water color has some stain to it in
most bays and several shorelines are dingy where high winds whipped up
shallow areas but the main lake is clearing and showing a good color for
fishing.
Bass action has been good this week as a variety of patterns are
producing. A lot of fish are still relating to shallow structure and
those buck bushes, willows, and submerged grassbeds continue to hold
good numbers. Spinnerbaits have worked well but so have pitching and
flipping techniques where anglers are using Texas rigged craws, worms,
and jig and pig combos.
Some buzzbaits and assorted topwater jerk baits have worked too as the
shallow bite has held up.
At the same time ledge fishing is picking up as some of the winning
tournament stringers are beginning to come from humps, drop-offs and
sloping points. Anglers are really tossing the big crankbaits this week
and already leaning on the summer pattern that will likely improve as
higher surface temperatures enter the picture.
Several boats are still backing off the banks and working sloping points
far from shore with Carolina rigged lizards and craws, big Texas rigged
worms and Alabama rigs.
Bedding bluegill have continued biting with big numbers taken this week.
Crickets have been the bait of choice but some anglers are using wax
worms on tiny jigs. A few scattered shellcracker are hitting too but the
bulk of the big stringers are coming from bull bream guarding the
spawning craters in depths of 2 to 4 feet.
Some deeper beds out away from the shoreline in 4 to 6 foot depths are
producing good too. Anglers are finding them by casting and dragging the
bottom or using casting style slip bobbers that allow for easy depth
adjustment.
The bluegill show no sign of letting up so water for another week or two
of prime spawning action. Some big shellcracker are being caught but not
in large quantities.
Catfishing has been improving this week as slow current in the main
river has helped stimulate the bite around the Paris Landing bridge area
and other venues along the main channel. Some good ones were taken his
week along the rocks too.
Not all the fish are deep as some dandies continue to challenge the
light tackle enthusiasts fishing bream beds.
Out on the river channel anglers are using such baits as chicken livers,
shad, leeches and nightcrawlers.
Crappie showed slight improvement this week but catch rates are still a
bit slow. The fish are scattered but should start moving toward
structure in midrange depths of 10 to 14 feet soon.
Warmer surface temperatures should pull some scattered crappie back to
deeper areas soon as the post spawn phase will fade away and early
summer patterns take over.
Overall it has been a pretty good week for a variety of anglers here on
Kentucky Lake but the wicked wind continues to deal the cards some days.
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.
|
|
