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Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
FISHERMEN SLUGGING IT ON IN THE TRENCHES
It has been tough out there lately!
The overall Kentucky Lake summer fishing scene continues to be a bit
sluggish for both bass and crappie anglers.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Not all reports are bad as some catfishermen have indicated action to be
fair at times. And, bluegill have been taken lately by anglers casting
ultra-light grubs and Mepps style spinners plus tossing bobbers and
crickets around docks, piers and wherever steep banks are holding
mayflies.
Hot weather is the big factor for most anglers who are restricting their
outings to early morning and later afternoons. At midday it isn’t much
fun when the sun is blazing and the fish take a siesta.
Lake levels continue to fall slowly as TVA’s annual drawdown toward
winter pool elevation began last week. The reservoir has been falling a
few inches each day on a slow but gradual basis.
June 2018
Joe, Judy, and Ryan TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Early last week the reservoir was slightly above the summer pool mark of
359 but once the Fourth of July holiday passed TVA began lowering
Kentucky reservoir to create more storage capacity as it has for
decades.
Lake levels this weekend are projected to be in the 358.5 range in the
Kentucky Dam sector. Upstream around New Johnsonville elevation is
typically lower but by only a few inches unless heavy rains enter the
picture.
Surface temperatures this week have been in the 86 to 88 degree range.
Lake levels are clear across the reservoir. Anglers got a short reprieve
from the 90-degree heat for a couple of days but it was short lived as
temps have now climbed back to the low 90’s in the forecast.
With falling lake levels now underway there is a steady current present
along the main Tennessee River channel, which should work in favor of
catfishermen for the next few weeks. Moving water helps bring life to a
stagnant situation out there on the water as movement of baitfish
occurs.
In fact, the entire food chain responds to moving water. That usually
helps not only catfishermen stalking the deep banks of the river channel
but bass and crappie alike who target main lake ledges.
Bass fishing lately has been a bit tough but those hitting the deep
drop-offs and submerged humps have managed to find a few decent
stringers at times.
Patterns have been vintage summer selections of huge deep diving
crankbaits, large spoons, 10-inch Texas rigged worms, swim baits and
both Carolina and Alabama rigs.
Lower lake levels have receded from shallow shorelines so the shallow
pattern has quickly disappeared for those boaters casting visible buck
bushes and weedbeds. However, some schools of pin minnows are holding
around blowdowns, bridge piers and boat houses or docks. Rims of river
islands are holding minnows too as current is pushing the baitfish
around whatever structure is there.
For those hitting the lake early there has been some topwater action in
the first hour or two after daylight. Buzzbaits, floating worms and jerk
baits have paid dividends at times.
Mayfly hatches have been scattered and inconsistent. A few flies have
attracted bass and bluegill to shallow places and especially steep banks
where deeper water and overhangs provide shady canopies.
Crappie anglers continue to encounter challenging days. Several small
fish continue to show up for folks vertical fishing live minnows or jigs
tipped with minnow around midrange depths of 12 to 14 feet. Some of the
deeper ledges have not produced for summer crappie patterns lately the
way they have in times past.
Some boats trolling crankbaits around the reservoir are picking up a few
suspended fish at times. Depths of 14 to 22 feet appear to be holding
some suspended crappie at times. Chartreuse and black colored crankbaits
or various shad variations seemed to be the most appealing.
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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