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Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
June 25th, 2004
CRAPPIE ACTION
GOOD...MAYFLY HATCHES UNDERWAY...KENTUCKY LAKE LEVELS RESTING AT NORMAL
SUMMER POOL
Summer patterns are
in full swing for Kentucky Lake anglers. This week, crappie have been
hitting good and continue to be overlooked by most fishermen this time
of year.
Mayfly hatches are
underway each week with another big one in the Paris Landing on
Wednesday.
Lake levels have been
relatively stable this week. Observed elevation at Kentucky Dam was 359,
which is normal summer pool. Upstream, New Johnsonville was reporting
the same level. The reservoir may fluctuate a few inches this week but
changes will be minor according to TVA forecasts.
Surface temperatures
were in the 81 to 84 degree range. Watercolor is clear throughout the
entire Big Sandy embayment but there is some stain in the Tennessee
River around islands and mainstream flats and points.
Crappie action has been
good for several weeks and the fish are lingering in the 13 to 15 foot
zones out on the main lake flats where stumps and manmade fish
attractors can be found.
I had some good days
this week while vertical fishing 1/16-ounce jigs tipped with minnows. A
few fish preferred chartreuse colored leadheads but unpainted leadheads
were producing as well.
There are some good
size fish hitting on those midrange depths. And, you’ll find a lot of
small crappie and yellow bass mixed in as well so culling and measuring
fish will be part of the outing.
Some crappie have also
moved back to main lake ledges and holding around the 15 to 20 foot
zones where submerged structure is located. Bottom bumping rigs armed
with minnows have produced some decent stringers there too.
Overall, the crappie
fishing has held up well but many anglers are missing out on some good
summer fishing.
Catfish have been
hitting in the 15 to 25 foot zones out on the main Tennessee River. And,
crappie anglers are tangling with a few good ones too each day as some
fish remain in the midrange depths.
There is a little
current in the main river, especially in the afternoons. That seems to
stimulate the catfish bite. Nightcrawlers, leeches, and chicken livers
have been producing well.
A hefty flathead catfish
tipping the scales at 40-pounds was taken last week up Big Sandy near
Sulphur Well Island by Fred Vinn of Springville. He landed the big cat
while crappie fishing on a rod that had 8-pound test line!
Jugging and trotlines
have been paying off for catfishermen too.
Mayfly hatches this
week have attracted some bluegill and bass activity around the shoreline
weedbeds and willows. The flies always seem to appeal to a variety of
species.
Some bass are staying
shallow and running minnows around visible habitat. Boat docks, weedbeds,
and buck bushes are still holding some fish.
Popular lures have been
spinnerbaits, floating worms and flukes, jerkbaits, and some buzzbaits
worked over grass.
A nice bronzeback
weighing 6.35-pounds was caught late last week by Don Winchester of
Paris. The smallmouth won big fish in a local tournament that day too!.
Bass have been quite
scattered on the deep ledges as many anglers are having trouble finding
a concentration of big fish there. A few good ones have been taken on
Carolina rigged lizards and worms. And, big deep diving crankbaits have
also produced, along with large Texas rigged worms and jig and pig
combos.
The river islands and
treelaps are holding minnows and bass have been chasing baitfish around
those areas all week. There’s a lot of small bass in the shallow habitat
right now.
A few sauger are
showing up on the main lake ledges as anglers troll deep diving
crankbaits. And, several stripers are out there too as anglers are
reporting fish in the 3 to 6 pound range taking chrome colored baits.
Some bluegill are
hitting crickets and grubs tossed around the shoreline where mayflies
are present. The weeks ahead will offer some fast action for flyrod
enthusiast so now is the time to get out the popping bugs and go at it.
Look for some big
mayfly hatches in the weeks ahead.
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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