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June / 2014
Joe and Judy Bernath from Tennessee
Kentucky Lake Crappie fishing
photo courtesy:
Crappie Action Guide Service
JULY FISHING SCENE GOOD FOR BASS/CRAPPIE ANGLERS
Anglers enjoyed a great Fourth of July around the Kentucky Lake region
thanks to excellent weather. Since the weekend some high winds and
midweek thunderstorms rolled through the area but the summer fishing
scene is holding up well for bass and crappie anglers.
Surface temperatures this week stayed in the 82 to 84 degree range and
water color is clear across most of the reservoir.
Lake levels began falling slowly earlier this week as TVA starts its
curve toward annual winter drawdown in early July each year. The lake is
a few inches lower that last week at this time with readings forecast
for 358.9 at Kentucky Dam and 358.7 upstream at New Johnsonville going
into the weekend.
These summer crappie have been biting good and continue to be overlooked
by most anglers. I’ve logged some nice catches lately and have actually
caught more fish in late June and early July from some popular areas
than I did back in late March and early April.
Fellow guide Don Winstead of Dresden has also had some hefty catches of
crappie this week.
Good numbers of fish are holding around structure in the 13 to 15 foot
depth range. They’ve been residing in these midrange depths for the last
six week or more and don’t seem to be in any hurry to leave.
Tipping jigs with live minnows has worked well. Seems the crappie have a
preference for live bait once surface temperatures warm and that has
sure been the case this year.
Catfish action has been fair but there’s still a lot of fish hanging out
in midrange depths as crappie fishermen are tying into them on a regular
basis while fishing deeper stakebeds and brushpiles. Look for more
catfish to move toward the main river channel soon as it’s high time
they transitioned toward those summer hideouts of deeper water where
current washes baitfish their way.
Bass fishing has been good and not all the fish are deep. Some decent
ones have been taken by anglers fishing spinnerbaits, Texas rigged
worms, shallow running crankbaits and some topwater. A few fish are
relating to shallow grass and treelaps, along with boatdocks where
schools of pin minnows are holding in shady areas.
Mayflies have drawn bluegill and various baitfish to shallow banks too
and some bass are feeding on the abundant food source there.
Main lake ledges are still holding good numbers with some schooling fish
running along sandbars and submerged shellbeds in depths of 10 to 15
feet. Big deep diving crankbaits, Texas and Carolina rigged worms and
craws, big spoons, swimbaits, and jig and craw combos are all part of
the arsenal when summer fishing patterns arrive for ledge fishermen.
Scattered mayfly hatches are showing up along the Tennessee River
islands from the stateline down past Bass Bay lately.
It has been another good week for summer fishing here on Kentucky Lake
despite a few days of unruly wind. Rise and shine early and you’ll beat
the heat.
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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