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Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
September 13th, 2008
LAKE
LEVELS DOWN SINCE LAST WEEK...BASS/CRAPPIE ACTION TRANSCEND TOWARD FALL
PATTERNS
Fall
is still more than a week away (Monday, Sept 22) before it officially
arrives on the calendar but approaching conditions indicate a cool snap
and rain are in the forecast. Temps are expected to fall Sunday as more
fall like conditions enter the picture, escorted by much needed
rainfall.
Crappie are already showing signs of transition as they stair-step a
path toward midrange depths of 8 to 12 feet. Some fish have been taken
even shallower earlier this week.
I
found some fish yesterday (Thursday) in 8 to 9 foot stakebeds. Tipping a
jig with shiner minnows seemed to enhance the bite. Although scattered I
did find some keeper-size fish showing up in places that were void of
activity just a few days prior.
Presently, lake elevation at Kentucky Dam is 355.6, down several inches
since last week at this time. Upstream at New Johnsonville lake levels
are in the 355.2 range. TVA's drawdown the last week has been somewhat
ahead of schedule as the present readings are not usually seen until
October.
Drought conditions continue to have an
influence on the Tennessee River system but rain is expected by the
weekend and early next week from the backwash of Hurricane Ike.
Fishing has been fair this week for bass, catfish, and a few crappie
anglers.
Surface temperatures are in the 79 to 82 degree range. Those temps are a
several degrees cooler than last week at this time. Water color remains
clear.
Beneath the Paris Landing Bridge several boats have been finding some
tackle testing catfish in the 35 foot depth range. A few have been taken
in the 18 to 20 pound range by anglers using leeches and night crawlers.
Some are also baiting with chicken liver and goldfish or large shiner
minnows.
Bass
and grass are still the deadly combination for most anglers who just
want to get a bite and feel something pull on their line. Several fish
have been taken this week by anglers tossing weedless frogs and floating
fluke style worms in the thick vegetation.
Topwater action continues to produce too as jerk baits such as Storm’s
Chugg Bug, Rebel’s Pop-R, floating Rapala, and a Zara Spook have been a
few favorites fished around the parameters of grassbeds. Floating flukes
such as the Banjo minnow, Slugo, and Yamamoto jerk worms have been good
choices as well.
Spinnerbaits in blue/chartreuse, silver glitter, and white with gold
willow leaf blades have been the cat’s meow as working them slowly
around the deeper patches of grass works great once the sun gets up.
However, several fish have been taken in shallow grass this week this
week.
Texas rigged worms in a variety of colors have also paid dividends.
Out
on the main lake ledges the big crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and large
Texas rigged worms continue to produce a few fish as have a jig and pig
combo. Some anglers have also worked spoons around drop-offs to find a
few largemouth and spotted bass running shad when schools of white bass
were present.
Crappie activity has been fair with some improvement on days when cloud
cover entered the picture. Those overcast days seem to stimulate the
bite on finicky summer crappie that sometimes move up toward 8 to 11
foot depths in lowlight conditions.
A few
deep stakebeds and brush piles have been giving up some fish in the
early morning and late afternoon hours with midday action best around
the deep sides of ledges in the 19 to 25 foot zones.
Watch
for crappie action to improve in the weeks ahead as the fish usually
start moving up in early September as shad migrate to shallow flats and
roam the open water areas.
Some
boats are slow trolling crankbaits and covering a lot of water to find a
few scattered crappie hanging on the edge of the drop-offs.
Fall
draws closer every day and it is one of the most underrated and
overlooked seasons of the year for great fishing here on Kentucky Lake.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
Also check out our past:
Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Steve McCadams
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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