Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
May 30th, 2003
LAKE LEVELS RETURN TO NORMAL
After several weeks of high water, Kentucky Lake’s elevation has
finally returned to normal. TVA really pulled the plug last weekend as
the reservoir fell drastically during the holiday period.
Anglers, recreational boaters, campers, and just about everyone
using the lake was glad to see the return to normal lake stages. Boat
ramps are now accessible but many piers and private docks had damage.
Fishing has been good for bass and bluegill. Crappie action appears
to be improving some too. Catfish action has been a victim of the high
water as much of the bank fishing opportunity was interrupted.
Surface temperatures are in the 70 to 74 degree range. Watercolor is
stained on the main Tennessee River but clears quickly once you enter
the bays.
Observed elevation at New Johnsonville was 359 while Kentucky Dam
showed readings of 359.2. TVA indicates the lake will be falling slowly
this weekend.
Bass have been taken this week around the abundance of weedbeds and
buck bushes. Willows trees are holding some fish too as are many of the
logs and trees that blew down in the high water and wind. There are a
lot of blow downs, which have increased bass habitat along the shoreline
and main river islands.
Schools of “pin minnows” are abundant in the backs of many coves and
along the islands. Bass are really feeding on them too.
It appears the high water really increased the survival rate of the
pin minnows, which should enhance the bass fishing in the weeks ahead.
Spinnerbaits, worms, lizards, and various topwater baits are
producing in the shallow cover. Pitching and flipping a jig has been
effective too.
The falling lake levels have pulled some fish back out to points too
where anglers are using crankbaits and Carolina rigged lizards to catch
fish near deep water.
Bluegill are still hitting and a few shellcracker have been showing
up in the creel as well. The fish have been bedded for several weeks now
and appear to be on the backside of the peak-spawning phase but you can
still catch some.
Look for action to be good this week for bluegill but expect the
fish to scatter soon as spawning phases pass.
Crappie are improving but still somewhat scattered. Depths of 12 to
14 feet were producing a few fish where submerged stakebeds and
brushpiles were located on main lake flats.
There’s still a scattered fish or two in shallow areas but it
appears the fish are returning to deeper water venues. Some deep ledges
in the 15 to 18 foot areas produced some fish this week too as anglers
tightlined jigs and live minnows around stumps and brush.
Catfish were still trying to spawn around rock bluffs but the fish
have been scattered as many ventured out all over the lake during the
high water period. Some anglers are finding fish by jugging in the bays.
Nightcrawlers and chicken livers are producing.
Look for normal fishing patterns to resume this week since the lake
has returned to summer pool levels. Overall, fishing is pretty good so
don’t let the good time pass you by!
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
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Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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