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Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
COOLER DAYS AID ANGLERS
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene received a reprieve this week from the hot
and humid conditions that have lingered for weeks. It’s ironic that a
few cooler days with lower humidity arrived at the end of July and early
August.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
No one is complaining about the unusual cooler weather as anglers
deserved a break. Back in June the lion’s share of the month was hot and
humid. July was about the same.
Responding to the cooler conditions have been surface temperatures.
Temps dropped this week down to the 83 degree range for a few days.
Readings had been staying in the upper 80’s so that’s another break for
fishermen.
June 2018
Joe, Judy, and Ryan TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Water color remains clear and lake levels continue a path toward winter
pool on TVA’s curve for annual drawdown. Things are about normal for
this time of year.
Lake levels are projected to be in the 357.5 this weekend in the
Kentucky Dam sector while upstream around New Johnsonville the elevation
will be slightly lower at 357.4. As always the projections depend on
rainfall throughout the valley.
With the exception of bass anglers not a lot of boats have been on the
lake lately. That will change thanks to the cool snap but prior to
midweek conditions most anglers had been hitting the lake in the early
morning hours and pitching in the towel before midday.
A host of young bass anglers have been testing the water this week in
the B.A.S.S. High School National Championship out of Paris Landing
State Park. The event has a big draw and the youngsters have been
zooming about the lake as though it was a spring outing.
Kentucky Lake can be intimidating to even veteran anglers. The summer
months sometimes add another hurdle to the bass puzzle too!
Most of the better stringers of bass continue to come from main lake
ledges where boaters are targeting submerged humps, ledges and the edge
of the main river channel itself.
With lower lake levels now in progress shoreline habitat has diminished
and the shallow bite has declined. A few fish have lingered around boat
docks and piers where some cover and shade has appealed, especially if
baitfish are present.
A few scattered mayfly hatches have occurred and attracted some bass to
shallow, steep banks at times but hatches have been inconsistent.
Several bass were hanging around midrange depths of 10 to 14 feet where
submerged crappie beds were providing attractive structure. Brushpiles
and stakebeds always seem to hold bass even during the peak of hot
summer months.
A slow current has been present at times and when it’s there those
deeper drop-offs seem to produce some finicky bass that move up to feed
once shad schools are roaming and feeding on plankton.
Still popular on the menu of anglers have been jig and split-tail
trailers, big Texas rigged worms in the green pumpkin pepper or cotton
candy color ranges, big deep diving crankbaits and even some giant
spoons.
Crappie anglers have endured pretty tough times overall. A few boats
have been seen trolling crankbaits at times while others were vertical
fishing live minnows and some jigs over midrange stakebeds and
brushpiles. Several small fish are still the norm.
Depths of 11 to 13 feet were holding some fish in the manmade structure.
Deeper drop-offs with structure in the 18 to 25 feet haven’t produced
very well. Seems a lot of the normal summer holes have not held fish as
of late.
Catfishermen are playing the current and finding a few fish around the
Paris Landing Ned McWherter Bridge piers lately. Depths of 35 to 40 feet
were holding fish pretty good and anglers were using nightcrawlers and
chicken livers to score best.
A few scattered boats were drifting along the main channel banks and
utilizing bottom bumping rigs too. When current is present the bite has
been decent. Without the current the fish are somewhat lethargic.
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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