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Kentucky Lake Guide Andy
Hicks
JUNE FISHING SCENE
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has been a good one this week but it got
started off on a strange note. Fall like conditions kicked the month off
as below average temperatures really felt more like late October than
early June.
Fishermen donned long sleeve shirts and jackets at the beginning of the
week but have traded them in on sunscreen as the weekend approaches.
Anglers enjoyed a pretty good week overall as hefty stringers of bass,
crappie, bluegill and catfish have been taken.
Lake levels have been above normal summer pool for the last week to ten
days but the elevation is falling slowly. Projections for the weekend
indicate levels will be in the 359.6 range at Kentucky Dam this weekend
and 359.3 upstream at New Johnsonville. By early next week look for the
reservoir to rest at normal summer pool, which is 359.
Surface temperatures were somewhat below average earlier in the week
with readings in the 73 to 75 degree range. By this weekend it should
climb into the 78 to 80 degree range. Water color is clear in much of
Big Sandy but a slight stain is present in West Sandy and throughout the
Tennessee River channel itself.
Bass action has been good with most of the big stringers coming from
main lake ledges. Hefty five fish stringers weighing in the 26 pound
plus range have been required to win tournaments!
The recent Triton Boat Owners tournament out of Paris Landing State Park
saw the winning stringer exceed 26 pounds on both days of the two-day
event. The first day of the Bassmaster Elite Series on Wednesday of this
week had another 26 pounds of fish brought in and it took over 20 pounds
of bass just to make the top 25 ranking!
While a few fish are still being taken in shallow weed beds, buck bushes
and treelaps by anglers tossing spinnerbaits andTexas rigged worms and
craws, the majority of the heavier stringers are coming from depths of
10 to 15 feet along drop-offs and humps.
Ledges along the edge of the main river channel or sloughs and creek
channels at the mouth of big bays have paid dividends lately. Those out
on the main lake areas have benefitted from slow current this week as
well.
Popular lure choices have been big swim baits, jig and craw combos, huge
crankbaits, 10-inch Texas rigged worms or similar variations.
June crappie fishing has gotten off to a good start. Some decent
stringers were taken in 13 to 16 foot depths this week by anglers
vertical fishing jigs and minnow combos over stakebeds. Tipping a jig
with chartreuse Berkley crappie nibbles has also paid dividends.
Watch for good crappie action to hold up these next several weeks. The
June bite is overlooked by most crappie fishermen.
Catfish were hitting good with a lot of fish still roaming shallow
areas. Cooler conditions last week and earlier this week likely kept
some catfish shallow but higher lake levels played a role as well.
Some fish will transition toward deeper depths next week as falling lake
levels and warmer surface temperatures influence catfish toward a summer
pattern.
Bluegill action resumed earlier this week to some degree but the cool
front and north winds had a detrimental effect. A few fish did return to
bedding areas earlier this week when a full moon returned on Tuesday but
activity was not as aggressive as most had hoped for.
A few mayflies hatched last week as well and that pulled a few fish to
shallow beds around the shorelines but some of the better catches came
from 6 to 7 foot depths and out away from shoreline habitat. Spawning
phases will quickly fade to post-spawn in the days ahead as fish scatter
and vacate the prime bedding spots that had appealed since early May.
Warmer weather and summer patterns are about to take over and for some
species that’s already in the works.
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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