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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
June 3, 2010
EARLY SUMMER PATTERNS UNDERWAY AS HOT WEATHER ARRIVES
Seems summer is trying to slip in the door a bit early. Warm weather has
stimulated summer patterns for some anglers as heat has been a factor on
Kentucky Lake this week.
Surface temps climbed into the 81 to 84 degree range this week courtesy
of some hot and humid weather that made it feel more like late summer
than late spring.
Lake levels are expected to sleep around the summer pool elevation of
359 this weekend across most of the reservoir. Readings are projected to
be 359.1 at Kentucky Dam and 359 at New Johnsonville. The elevation is
down a few inches from earlier in the week.
Water color is in good shape across the reservoir. A slight stain is
present at the mouth of Big Sandy and in some pockets along the
Tennessee River.
Bass action has been fair this week with a lot of small fish being
caught in a variety of depths. Seems the larger fish have been playing
hide and seek a few days but there are still a lot of small fish keeping
the interest level high among the ranks of bass fishermen.
The warmer weather should see ledge fishing improve as larger fish begin
to relate more toward deep water hangouts. However, a lot of anglers
have been stalking the main lake drop-offs this week but reported tough
going some days as to heavy stringers.
The big fish bite can vary from day to day as both wind and current are
factors. Popular techniques such as casting big crankbaits, hopping
jigs, slow retrieved Carolina rigs, and Texas rigged worms have
accounted for a lot of fish in the deeper areas lately.
On days when stagnant winds were present and very little current was out
there on the Tennessee River big fish have been stubborn to bite. Still,
some anglers have mastered the warm weather pattern and found a few good
fish taking 10-inch worms fished Texas style.
It’s likely the recent rash of high, muddy water will have an adverse
affect on aquatic weeds such as milfoil. Odds are some of the pros will
find buried treasure somewhere during the upcoming tournaments.
Most anglers are keeping several lures and techniques in their arsenal
and using them during the day to stimulate bites. A few big swim baits
and spoons have been used at times but wise is the angler who is willing
to try different things in the deep water venues.
Popular colors of worms have been red shad, black and blue, purple and
pearl, and some pumpkin pepper just to name a few. Crankbait colors have
ranged from chrome and blue to Tennessee shad, chartreuse/black, pearl
with glitter, and red eye shad.
Shallow areas are still holding on to some fish as a lot of fry are
present in the weeds and bushes where a spinnerbait, topwater jerk bait,
and Texas rigged worm are working well.
Some islands are beginning to hold fish too, especially when current is
present. There are a lot of blowdowns now that high water has eroded
shorelines so watch for those treelaps to hold fish throughout the
summer.
Crappie have been fair this week in midrange depths but anglers have had
to make a lot of stops as the fish are not congregated. It has been a
few-here, few-there scenario. Productive depths have been 12 to 15 feet.
Some fish have been taken on deeper drop-offs but the main lake ledges
have been stubborn to give up numbers.
Stakebeds and deep brushpiles are giving up a few fish as anglers
tightline jigs and live minnows around the cover.
Some anglers are tolling crankbaits and finding a few scattered crappie
in the 15 foot zones.
Bluegill are still hitting but not bedding like they were a week to ten
days ago. Still, there are enough left around shallow shorelines to
offer good fishing. Shellcracker appear to be off the beds and now
scattered.
There was a small mayfly hatch this week in the Paris Landing area.
Watch for more to come in that department.
Catfish have been hitting in some deeper areas this week as they pull
back from the rock bluffs and hit their post spawn phase. The fish
should begin to occupy deeper ledges as warm weather pulls them away
from the rocks and spawning territory that was so attractive a week or
two ago.
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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