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May 30, 2013
STABILITY RETURNS TO KENTUCKY LAKE’S FISHING SCENE
Stable lake levels and nice weather coincided this week for anglers at
Kentucky Lake and that’s been rare this spring. The Memorial holiday was
a good one for recreational boaters, fishermen, campers and practically
all lakers as the kickoff to summer got started on the right foot.
Up until this week anglers have encountered a new fishing scene each
week as changing lake levels and weird weather patterns kept fishermen
off balance. Not so this week as lake stages have stayed around summer
pool since last week and it appears things will stay normal for quite a
spell.
Surface temperatures warmed up this week courtesy of some southern
breezes and have been resting in the 74 to 78 degree range. Water color
is relatively clear throughout the upper Big Sandy and West Sandy areas
with a slight stain over on the Tennessee River portion.
Lake levels will be 359.1 this weekend at Kentucky Dam. Upstream at New
Johnsonville the elevation is projected to be in the 358.8 range with
only minor fluctuation in the forecast. Barring any heavy thunderstorms
across the region Kentucky Lake should remain at normal summer pool for
several weeks.
The overall fishing scene had held up well this week with significant
improvement in the crappie department as the fish are in their typical
late spring pattern, occupying midrange structure. Popular depths have
been 10 to 14 feet as the fish stage out on secondary structure such as
brushpiles and manmade stakebeds.
Good stringers were taken this week by anglers vertical fishing jigs
tipped with Berkley Power Bait and live minnows around deeper stakebeds
and brushpiles. Popular colors range from purple and clear sparkle to
red/chartreuse sparkle and black/chartreuse just to name a few.
Now that spawning is over and lake levels have settled down watch for
some good crappie action to continue in the weeks ahead. June is a month
often overlooked by crappie fishermen but it’s quite productive thanks
to stable conditions across the reservoir.
Bluegill and shellcracker were still hitting this week but it appeared
the fish were passed their peak bedding activity as most veteran bream
fishermen were having to make more stops as the big males were somewhat
scattered.
There’s still some good action left for bluegill anglers but expect to
encounter more females and smaller fish to enter the picture once prime
bedding time passes.
Bass fishermen continue to ride the wave of activity as a lot of fish
were taken this week by both shallow and deep water anglers. There’s
still a lot of fish relating to shorelines where some submerged grass on
the outside rim is attracting fish.
A few river islands with blowdown trees and logs that have washed up due
to the erosion of this spring’s high water levels are holding some fish
too. Working topwater jerk baits and pitching or flipping Texas rigged
craws and worms have worked well in the shallow, visible cover this
week.
A few fish were relating to boat docks as the bright sunny days pushed
fish to cover and shade at times.
An alternate pattern of deep water has emerged this week too at the same
time shallow water fishermen were scoring some decent catches.
A lot of fish are beginning to back off the banks and residing on
secondary ledges where big deep diving crankbaits, Alabama rigs,
Carolina rigged craws, and big Texas rigged worms are the ticket.
The early summer pattern of fishing ledges is alive and well and most of
the bigger tournament stringers will start coming from the deeper venues
as warmer surface temperatures send the post-spawn fish to drop-offs and
irregular humps.
Some boats were tossing swim baits along the deep ledges in attempts to
find some bigger schooling fish. There hasn’t been much current the last
few days but some generation usually occurs up around midday and that
can enhance the ledge bite.
Some submerged milfoil grass is present south toward the New
Johnsonville area and some anglers were tossing big spinner baits and
ripping Rattle Trap style lures through the scattered patches to find
fish.
Catfishermen were out in force lately as the fish were hitting good near
rocky banks. Several bank fishermen were landing nice ones as the fish
came into spawning territory.
Watch for catfish to slowly back out away from shoreline rocks and cover
in favor of midrange depths for the next couple of weeks. The fish will
stage in midrange depths until hot weather sends them toward the main
river channel. Until then, there should be some good ones caught by
crappie anglers and those jug fishermen drifting their multiple
presentations over flats where the catfish are roaming.
Good weather and stable lake levels should continue to work in favor of
fishermen this next week. Things are on track for good early summer
fishing scene for bass and crappie anglers.
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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