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Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
TVA BEGINS WINTER DRAWDOWN…LAKE LEVELS FALL SLOWLY
Kentucky Lake anglers have been up against tough odds this last week as
hot weather has dominated the fishing scene. Most days have been hot and
humid. The other days have been humid and hot!
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
June was one of the hottest on record as temps were above average for
the lion’s share of the month that normally has a little bit of spring
and summer mixed in. This past month had most days feeling like a sauna
out on the lake and that accelerated summer fishing patterns.
Now that July has arrived and August is closing in anglers won’t get
much of a reprieve from the summer doldrums.
Surface temperatures this week held on to the 87 to 88 degree range.
Some areas could well see 90-degree water by this weekend as the lake
continues to heat up.
June 2018
Joe, Judy, and Ryan TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Water color remains clear across the reservoir despite several
thunderstorms moving through the area at times.
Lake levels have actually been several inches above the normal summer
pool elevation mark of 359 lately. At midweek the elevation in the
Kentucky Dam sector was 359.6 and falling slowly. Upstream in the New
Johnsonville area lake levels were a few inches lower.
TVA will begin pulling a lot of water through the system these next few
weeks so anglers can expect plenty of current in the main Tennessee
River channel. Normal winter drawdown begins in early July each year and
TVA traditionally begins an increase in discharge rates once the Fourth
of July holiday period passes.
The curve for winter drawdown is underway so all lakers can expect to
see a slow and gradual decline in elevation from week to week. Shoreline
habitat that has had ample water around weedbeds and buck bushes for the
last several weeks will now see receding water levels leaving shallow
pockets and shorelines too shallow to fish.
Bass anglers had still been tossing away at visible structure lately on
shorelines in the backs of bays and along rims of river islands with
topwater, spinnerbaits and Texas rigged worms. Several late hatches of
fry have been coming on and occupying visible cover where they find
refuge from larger predator fish among the shady confines.
That shallow pattern worms well for early summer bass fishing at times.
The norm is: fine the schools of pin minnows and you’ll find the bass!
At the same time some bass anglers turn their back to the banks once hot
weather arrives and pretty much target the main lake ledges or humps.
This contrasts to the shallow summer pattern but a lot of anglers stalk
the deeper venues hoping for a few bigger bites while other love to
catch a fish of any size and therefore, target shallow shorelines.
Most of the winning stringers for summer bass tournaments come from
deeper ledges and humps out away from the shorelines. Fishing the deep,
submerged drop-offs and secondary ridges or creek channels often
produces some schools of fish that choose the main lake areas as their
comfort zones.
Depths of 12 to 14 feet have been holding some nice bass as the fish
hold up around any brushpiles or stumps they encounter and ambush shad
that come their way. Current helps put the fish in places where anglers
can pattern their whereabouts.
Current brings life to a stagnant lake when the movement of water
stimulates the lower food chain, pushing zooplankton and algae around.
This, in turn, stimulates schools of shad to meander and follow their
forage base.
The more movement from current and baitfish the more likely bass are to
be on the prowl. At various times throughout the day bass will corral
shad and push them from deep venues up toward the shallow sides of
sandbars when a feeding frenzy takes place.
Moving to the top sides of the sandbars is a last ditch effort for the
threadfin and gizzard shad. When this scenario presents itself bass
fishermen do well, tossing big deep diving crankbaits, spoons, Texas and
Carolina rigged worms and various swim baits.
Sometimes it’s a hit and miss as to when the bass will turn on and make
a blitz. That’s why anglers sometimes have to sit on a hole and wait for
that to happen.
Other times anglers may have to cover a lot of water on a summer day
before they encounter active movement from schools of baitfish. It’s
often hit and miss, requiring a lot of door knocking before finding
someone at home willing to respond to the knocks!
Summer crappie continue to be sluggish as the bite has been mediocre at
best. Several small fish continue to show up for anglers vertical
fishing live minnows and some jigs over stakebeds and brushpiles. Depths
of 13 to 14 feet have given up several small fish lately.
Finding decent numbers of bigger crappier has been a challenge for most
anglers throughout the spring and summer.
Most boats are vertical fishing and bumping structure but a few boats
are trolling crankbaits over main lake ledges and catch a few that way.
Covering a lot of water as boats troll along the edge of drop-offs out
on the main lake has produced some crappie that are apparently suspended
in the midrange depths.
Some loud colored crankbaits such a chartreuse and black have been
attracting strikes from finicky crappie that are holding over ledges but
suspended in 14 to 16 foot depths.
Anglers using bottom bumping rigs with minnows and stalking the deep
sides of ledges have not found fish schooled as is usually the case when
hot weather desends.
A few boats are working the main river channel and finding catfish on
the prowl. Depths of 30 to 40 feet have produced at times as anglers
slowly drift with the current and work the side of the river channel
itself.
Baits of choice have been chicken liver and night crawlers.
Bluegill have been taken this week on the edges of some steep banks
where overhanging trees holding mayflies are attracting several. Casting
slip bobbers armed with crickets has been productive at times.
Several mayfly hatches have been occurring this week and more are likely
on the way.
The hot weather is a factor for all fishermen these days. Best thing to
do is rise and shine early. Get in a few hours of fishing before the sun
takes command and pushes you back to a recliner where that cool shady
spot and iced tea awaits your return!
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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