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This page brought to you by:
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
FULL MOON RETURNS…BLUEGILL SPAWN UNDERWAY
Tuesday is the first full moon of May and that will trigger active
spawning phases of both bluegill and shellcracker on Kentucky Lake.
There’s no bad time, mind you, for a late spring outings targeting these
feisty panfish but most anglers get pumped up when a full moon arrives.
The
last few weeks of warm weather have been pretty good for bluegill and
shellcracker, although fish have been scattered at times and taken on
some mood swings.
Jane and Tom from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Anglers should see a surge in activity these next several days as these
powerful panfish hit peak spawning phases and occupy sandy gravel and
mud mix type bottoms in which to fan out spawning craters. More of the
bulky dark male bluegill and shellcracker will be guarding the beds and
hammer a cricket, red worm or similar larva type variation should it
enter their danger zone.
Depths of 2 to 4 feet will be productive but some fish may back off the
banks in some areas and fan craters on shallow flats in somewhat deeper
venues. When water color clears the gills often find a comfort zone is
deeper depths.
It’s a great time of year to introduce anyone to the great sport of
fishing but especially a youngster or novice angler. You can get them
hooked quickly as these aggressive panfish really take on a mood swing
when spawning gets underway, jerking a bobber down and out of sight in
the blink of an eye.
Surface temperatures this week have been in the 78 to 81 degree range.
That’s really heated up the bluegill and shellcracker bite too.
Water color has cleared dramatically and anglers may choose to lay back
away from shallow bedding areas and utilize light spinning or spincast
combos to cast baits and bobbers to shallow areas as the fish sometimes
spook easily in clear water conditions.
Stability has remained in lake levels again this week. TVA projects that
will continues throughout the weekend and into next week barring any
drastic rainfall. Elevation is projected to remain around the summer
pool elevation. The forecast for Kentucky Dam area is 359.2 while
upstream around New Johnsonville levels are slightly lower in the 358.9
range. Normal summer pool is 359.
Bass fishing has held up pretty good this week for anglers utilizing a
variety of patterns. Several fish have been taken around shoreline
structure such as weedbeds and buck bushes.
At the same time some of the larger winning tournament stringers have
come from anglers already backing away from the banks and targeting a
summer pattern of main lake ledges.
Shallow fishermen are tossing topwater jerk baits, floating fluke style
worms, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged lizards, craws and worms. Those
hitting the deep ledges have already have been tossing swim baits, big
deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs and some large Texas rigged worms
at times.
With surface temps now in the low 80’s several of the larger fish have
pulled off the banks and already shown an interest in parking out on
summer spots where shad are located. An impressive string of hefty
catches was recorded last week on Kentucky Lake in the FLW tournament by
Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee.
His four-day total tipped the scales at 101 pounds, 9-ounces, and was
the most weight to ever win an FLW here. One day he landed a 9 pounder!
For his showing Lambert earned $100,000!
Lambert’s main lure for the week was a 5- and 7-inch Green Shad-colored
Castaic Jerky J soft jerkbait on a 1-ounce Scrounger Head-type jig on
18-pound-test Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon line with a 7-foot,
11-inch Duckett White Ice II swimbait rod and a Duckett 360RW reel.
Lambert also used a Gene Larew Tattletail Worm on a jighead to catch his
limit from a ditch on a shallow roadbed, although most of his catches
came from much deeper water.
Catfish continue to prowl and anglers working rocky banks and bluffs
were still landing hefty stringers. And, a lot of bluegill and
shellcracker anglers fishing shallow flats in the backs of bays are
still tying into plenty of them too as catfish smell the bluegill eggs
and feed on the newly hatched fry.
Nightcrawlers have been the bait of choice but chicken livers and
several other commercial type baits have worked as well.
A few more success stories have come in from crappie anglers long lining
and slow trolling spider rigs. The spider rig technique baited with live
minnows or jigs has produced a few more fish this week as have the long
liners pulling curly tail grubs and Roadrunner type leadheads.
Most of the crappie appear to be suspended in depths of 8 to 14 feet.
There have been a few boats also trolling crankbaits and scoring decent
numbers at times.
It’s typical for post-spawn crappie to suspend out over deep water and
not relate very well to structure this time of year. The fish park in
midrange depths but don’t necessarily show a desire to hide around
brushpiles, stumps or stakebeds in the wake of spawning.
That will change soon as the fish will begin to seek shade and refuge
around submerged structure. Until then, trolling seems to be the most
productive technique.
Summer weather has already slipped in the door and summer fishing
patterns are headed that way too. Dodging a few thunderstorms is all
part of the fishing scene these days so keep the raingear handy and a
watchful eye in the sky when dark clouds approach.
Here’s hoping you have a safe and memorable weekend as Memorial Day
kicks off the summer boating and fishing season. Expect a crowd both on
the lake and at the boat ramps!
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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