Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
June 27th, 2003
MAYFLY HATCHES SIGNAL SUMMER FUN
(TIME TO TEST THE FLY ROD)
This week’s fishing report has definitely changed to the summer
pattern for most species as warm weather arrived just as the seasons
officially changed.
Surface temperatures this week on Kentucky Lake were in the 83 to
85-degree range, which is up about five degrees from last week.
Observed lake elevation at New Johnsonville was 359.2. Downstream at
Kentucky Dam the elevation was 359.4. The reservoir is falling slowly
and will likely be back down to the summer pool level of 359 by this
weekend.
Watercolor is still quite clear in the main lake portion of Big
Sandy while some dingy water is present all along the Tennessee River
islands and main lake areas.
There have been some big mayfly hatches this week and anglers can
expect more in the week ahead. The mayflies have been abundant all over
the Paris Landing area this week as thousands of carcasses can be seen
floating where the larva stage has emerged from the lake bottom and
hatched into the adult fly.
A lot of fish come shallow to feed on the abundant food source as
the overhanging willows provide a perfect canopy of shade for the fish
to hide and wait. Then as the birds feed on the flies they also knock
them off to the lake surface where hungry fish dine in style on this
natural buffet.
It’s a good time to use a fly rod or light spinning tackle to catch
a variety of sunfish. Tossing a Rooster Tail or Beetle Spin will get you
a lot of strikes. Also worth tossing is a bobber and cricket rig.
Bass action is still holding up well this week and a few anglers are
working the shallow weed beds and buck bushes. The bass feed on the
mayflies too so you can likely find action near the mayfly hatches.
A lot of pin minnows are still present around blowdowns, weeds, and
docks. Tossing a spinnerbait or worm around the visible structure when
the minnows are present is a recipe for success.
Meanwhile, the warmer surface temperatures will likely send some of
the larger bass toward main lake ledges. Working Carolina rigged lizards
in the June Bug, Tequila Sunrise, Red Shad, and black with red glitter
has been effective.
Texas rigged worms are working too as are deep diving crankbaits in
the Tennessee Shad, Ghost, chrome and black, along with chartreuse and
blue. Popular deep divers are the Poe’s 400-series, Norman’s DD22, and
Mann’s Deep Pig.
Popping a black and blue jig along the edges of the drops has also
produced some decent stringers.
There’s still some surface action in the weedbeds and shallow bushes
if you rise early or fish late in the afternoon. A few rainy and cloudy
days have helped the shallow water venues so keep the buzzbait and other
jerkbaits tied on.
Crappie are hitting good as anglers catch a lot of small fish
in-between the larger ones this week. It’s likely many of the crappie
are taking advantage of the recent mayfly hatches and gorging himself or
herself on the mayfly larva.
A few fish are still lingering around deep stakebeds and brushpiles
in 12 to 15 foot depths. The main lake ledges are producing too as
anglers tightline minnows and jigs tipped with minnows in the 17 to 23
foot zones.
More sauger are hitting lately, as crappie and bass anglers seem to
be catching several of them each day. My clients landed several sauger
this week from the tops of ledges in the main lake where depths were 13
to 15 foot deep. However, although more sauger are showing up there are
only a few which reach the minimum length limit of 14-inches.
Summer is here and so are the summer fishing patterns.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Click Here
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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