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Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
LATE SUMMER FISHING UPDATE
Kentucky Lake’s late summer fishing scene has shown some improvement
lately for crappie and catfishermen. There’s already a touch of fall in
the air and that seasonal change is fast approaching.
Lake levels continue to fall slowly and TVA’s drawdown curve is pretty
much on schedule. Elevation this week hovered around the 356 range at
Kentucky Dam and only a few inches higher upstream in the New
Johnsonville area.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Surface temperatures cooled slightly and this week were in the 83 to 84
degree range. Water color is still clear across the reservoir.
There has been slow current present in the main Tennessee River channel,
which has worked in favor of catfishermen stalking the edges of the main
river channel. Depths of 25 to 35 feet have given up some decent
stringers lately for anglers using nightcrawlers as their bait of
choice.
The cooler nights the last week or so have helped curtail the heat and
humidity to some degree and made the early morning outings quite nice
for anglers. Those warm days haven’t totally disappeared but conditions
are more enjoyable on the lake when compared to a month ago.
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Crappie fishing has shown some improvement lately with a few more
anglers chalking up decent stringers at times. Several stringers have
been taken from relatively shallow to midrange depths this week.
Stalking depths of 5 to 10 feet in some areas has produced a few crappie
as have midrange depths of 10 to 14 feet at times. A few boats have
attempted to locate some deep water fish while vertical fishing minnows
and jigs around brushpiles but the deep bite has been inconsistent.
Live minnows have been the bait of choice as the crappie have shown a
preference for minnows over jigs but some fish have been taken by
anglers tipping 1/16-ounce jigs with minnows. Tipping the jigs has also
paid dividends.
Some boats have been slow trolling or pushing spider rigs in the back of
big bays. Other techniques producing have been vertical fishing minnows
down in stakebeds and brushpiles where fish are holding tight at times
around the submerged structures.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Finding crappie up in shallow to midrange depths may seem odd during hot
weather but the fish follow their forage base, namely threadfin shad and
that seems to be where the baitfish are at times. Cloudy or rainy days
will especially help out the shallow pattern as the fish are more
aggressive with cloud cover as the bite subsides at midday when the
bright sun changes things.
With cooler days now entering the picture plus lower lake levels the
fall transition will slowly begin to take place as fish move up. Another
week or so of cooler days will see significant improvement in the
shallow bite.
Dave and Jeff KY Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Bass fishing has been a bit sluggish lately as anglers haven’t been able
to boat big numbers. Finding schooling fish has not been in the cards
this summer.
In the past those abundant grassbeds were full of baitfish and the late
summer pattern in the backs of bays was dependable but that’s not the
case nowadays.
Although bass haven’t moved up to shallow gravel banks thus far, that
pattern should emerge in the days and week ahead. Early morning and late
afternoon gravel banks should start holding bass that move in to feed in
the lowlight conditions when small insects such as midges hatch.
The midge hatch attract the shad and close on their trail are bass who
know the early morning and late afternoon buffet occur for short windows
of opportunity. Tossing Rattle Trap style lures and assorted topwater is
usually productive.
Still producing a few scattered bass is the typical summer pattern of
main lake ledges. Anglers working the main lake ledges are playing the
current when it’s present and tossing swim baits, crankbaits, Carolina
rigged worms and craws, jig and craw combos and some occasional
suspending jerk baits.
Shallow style bass anglers are finding a few fish lingering around
stickups and exposed crappie beds. Casting spinnerbaits and shallow
running crankbaits has worked well around shallow structure plus boat
houses and roadbeds.
Once surface temps fall back into the upper 70’s, which should occur
soon, Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene should see overall improvement. Fall
officially arrives on Monday, September 23 if you’re keeping score on
the calendar but fall patterns usually start well before the season
arrives.
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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