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June / 2014
Joe and Judy Bernath from Tennessee
Kentucky Lake Crappie fishing
photo courtesy:
Crappie Action Guide Service
ANGLERS SAY GOODBYE TO STUBBORN SPRING…SUMMER SCENE OFF TO GOOD START
Catfish have been on the prowl thanks to increased current in the
Tennessee River channel. Bigger bass have backed off the banks. Hefty
stringers of June crappie have been taken this week and action should
hold up well for a few more weeks. Even some late bedding bluegill were
taken and mayflies continue to hatch.
Kentucky Lake’s summer fishing scene is holding up well despite some
warm days this week as spring loses its grip to summer. For me it was a
stubborn spring and I was glad to see March and April in the rearview
mirror. May was nice and June has been great fishing thus far.
I’ve been on the lake almost every day the last few weeks and some light
winds teamed up with cloud cover to deliver pretty nice fishing
conditions most days.
Lake levels are down about a foot from last week at this time as TVA
pushed a lot of water through the system this week. The reservoir is
back down to normal summer pool and will be stable the next few days.
Projections for the weekend will be 359.1 at Kentucky Dam with slightly
lower elevation upstream at New Johnsonville where the elevation will be
358.9.
Surface temperatures are in the 80 to 83 degree range. Water color is
clear in the main lake area of Big Sandy with a slight stain present in
the Tennessee River channel.
Thanks to steady current that stimulates baitfish activity, catfishermen
in the Paris Landing area boated some nice stringers this week. A lot of
dandy catches were taken beneath the Paris Landing bridge area and north
of the bridge as the fish were really holding on the down-current sides
of piers and on the edge of the channel itself.
Baits of choice have been nightcrawlers, cut shad or skipjack, chicken
or turkey livers, leeches and some big minnows.
Bass action continues to hold up well with the bigger stringers coming
from main lake ledges where anglers are tossing those big deep diving
crankbaits, along with Carolina and Texas rigged worms, jig and craw
combos, swim baits, and spoons.
Not all the bass are deep as some weedbeds and island rims have been
holding fish too. Anglers working surface baits in the early morning and
late afternoon are still catching fish in shallow cover. Also paying
dividends have been spinnerbaits and Texas rigged worms worked over
shallow grass or around treelaps where baitfish are holding.
Summer crappie continue to bite well. Nice stringers were taken again
this week from stakebeds and brushpiles in the 12 to 15 foot depth
range.
Jigs tipped with live minnows are working well. Also tipping jigs with
Berkley Power Bait in the chartreuse or white colors have stimulated
strikes.
I’ve had some nice catches this week as the fish are in their typical
early summer pattern and relating well to structure. The crappie have
been consistent, staying in the same depth range for several weeks and
sporting an appetite.
Mayfly hatches continued this week and will reoccur throughout the
summer. You can find a lot of bluegill and bass around the shallow
bushes and overhanging trees where steep banks with deeper water close
by are quite appealing.
The weatherman may paint a picture of hot and humid conditions at times
but he isn’t a fisherman! So, don’t let him keep you off the lake as
it’s been quite nice out there lately!
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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