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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
June 22nd, 2007
Mayfly hatches entered the fishing scene on Kentucky Lake last
Friday morning. It was the first big hatch of the summer season with
several more likely on the horizon.
Technically speaking, it was still spring when the hatch occurred.
But then again, mayflies rarely every hatch here in May so we ought to
call them June or July flies to make it more appropriate anyway.
Meanwhile, summer officially arrived Thursday but several species of
fish have already been in their seasonal patterns.
Lake levels this week have been relatively stable with very little
current in the main river. Observed elevation at Kentucky Dam has stayed
around the 358.4 range while upstream at New Johnsonville lake stages
were resting in the 358.3 zone.
The reservoir continues to sleep below summer pool elevation as it
has now since late May.
Surface temperatures warmed some this week with readings in the 80
to 84 degree range. Water color remains clear.
Bass continue to bite with some hefty stringers coming from main
lake ledges and humps where two depth extremes are found close together.
Most anglers are tossing either big crankbaits, large Texas rigged
worms, Carolina rigged worms and lizards, or jig and pig combos.
Most of the winning tournament stringers are coming from deep water
venues as anglers back off the banks in search of larger fish. There are
still some fish lingering around shallow grass and treelaps if you find
schools of pin minnows, however.
The recent mayfly hatches may further contribute to some shallow
action where spinnerbaits, worms, and floating worms or stickbaits will
pay off, especially in the early morning and late afternoon hours.
Grass and various aquatic weeds are present in many bays now and
offer visible structure to shallow bass activity and minnows.
Crappie are holding up well with a lot of fish still residing in
deep stakebeds and brush piles. Depths of 11 to 15 feet have given up
fish the last few weeks and are still producing as anglers vertical fish
jigs and live minnows around the submerged structure.
Warmer weather has also increased activity on the deeper sides of
ledges where stumps and brush can be located in 18 to 25 foot depths.
Bottom bumping rigs with live minnows and jigs seems to be working well
as the deeper areas have improved this week.
Small jigs in the 1/16-ounce size tipped with minnows have worked
well. Unpainted leadheads are appealing to finicky crappie as are some
white and black. Small skirts are optional as the fish seem to like that
live minnows tipped on a naked leadhead.
Some days the fish are taking tube skirted or hair bodied jigs
tipped with both a minnow and Berkley Power Bait nibble.
Action has been best on cloudy days with a light ripple on the
surface. The calm days with high skies have seen action slow down at
midday as the fish become light sensitive and finicky in midrange depths
due to the clear water.
Some bluegill action and assorted species have been taken near steep
banks where mayflies are falling to the surface. Casting light tackle
with beetle spins, Rooster tails, and crickets or worms will produce a
lot of action from bluegill, yellow bass, assorted sunfish and a bass or
two.
Catfishing has been fair for some anglers tossing out jugs and
allowing them to drift over main lake flats or back in the bays. Not
much action lately on the main river due to lack of current but that can
change on a day to day basis.
A few scattered sauger are showing up in the creel of crappie
fishermen as the rusty rascals tag a jig or minnow now and then. There
appears to be a few more fish in the 12 to 13 inch range this summer but
a few are making it to the 14-inch minimum length limit.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams
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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