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This page brought to you by:
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
LAKE LEVELS BACK TO NORMAL…BASS/BLUEGILL BITE ON
Warm sunny days have heated up the fishing scene for bass and bluegill
anglers this week. Several nice redear sunfish, commonly referred to as
shellcracker, have also gone on the prowl.
Jane and Tom from TN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Spawning phases are underway for bass, bluegill and shellcracker.
Catfish aren’t far behind. Surface temperatures climbed into the upper
60’s this week after a rapid warm up.
Believe it or not Kentucky Lake will be back to normal supper pool level
by this weekend! That’s the projection by TVA as the reservoir has been
falling steadily since last week after cresting more than three feet
above normal.
Lake levels were 359.7 at midweek in the New Johnsonville area and 359.3
at Kentucky Dam but falling. Expect normal summer pool of 359 by this
weekend.
Water color is in good shape across most of the reservoir with some
dingy color still in the upper end of Big Sandy.
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has seen very little stability this year
but it appears that’s about to change. Nice weather has also stimulated
the catfish to begin moving up toward shorelines searching for those
rocky banks where they find crevices to deposit their eggs.
For crappie anglers the saga continues, however. It has been one of the
worst springs in the history of Kentucky Lake.
Not many success stories are coming in from disgruntled anglers who have
braved the elements of a mean late winter and spring. Even when the
weather improved this week the fish didn’t seem to get the memo.
This spring’s spawn has been tough to figure out. A few fish headed
shallow last week when lake levels rose and inundated shoreline buck
bushes and willow trees. However, those stalking the stickups found the
crappie about like Easter eggs; one here and one there!
Some anglers using spider rig techniques or long-lining jigs scored a
few fish at times but most never really found the fish schooled up
whether they fished deep, shallow or in-between. A lot of veteran
crappie fishermen using a variety of techniques across many different
areas have voiced discontent.
Crappie did not blitz toward structure this spring like they have in
times past.
There have been several small fish taken at times but that was the case
last year too. That has fishermen wondering why more fish haven’t grown
and crossed the 10-inch minimum length threshold!
Small fish last year that were near keeping size should have been there
for the taking this spring but that has not been the case. Recruitment
of small fish toward that keeper size category appears to be poor.
Most crappie will be in the post-spawn phase these next few weeks. That
usually means they’re quite scattered out, often suspended and stressed
from the annual ritual until late May or early June when they slowly
start taking on a structure oriented mood.
Meanwhile, bluegill and shellcracker made a rebound this week and
responded to warmer surface temperatures that triggered their spawning
instincts. Fish were hitting pretty good around shoreline bushes and
submerged grass beds.
Although they didn’t seem to be fanning spawning beds aggressively there
were several nice dark male bluegill and shellcracker in spawning
territory so some might well have kicked off the ritual as a full moon
was present on Monday.
Bluegill and shellcracker anglers should have some good days ahead as
spawning phases continue and the water heats up. Although the next full
moon doesn’t occur until May 29 there will be some great opportunities
between now and then.
Best grab the light tackle and some crickets, redworms and meal worms
and head out. If you’re a member of the legion of crappie anglers
suffering from frustration then hitting the bluegill and shellcracker
beds might be the pill you need to cure your woes!
Bass fishing has been good for anglers beating the banks lately. The
higher lake levels brought a lot of bass to the bushes on both Barkley
and Kentucky Lakes these last two weeks.
Tossing Texas rigged craws, worms and lizards has been productive as
have spinnerbaits and topwater jerk baits or floating fluke style worms.
Bass are likely spawning now and some may have already finished up and
backed off the banks to secondary sandbars and humps between the bank
and their summer venues. No doubt the pro anglers in town this week for
the Basssmaster Elite Series out of Paris Landing State Park will figure
them out.
Weigh-ins begin Friday at 3 p.m. After two days of full-field
competition, the Top 50 anglers will qualify to fish the semi-final
round on Saturday. The field will then be cut again to the Top 12 on
Sunday’s championship round.
A stubborn spring has finally lost its grip. Kentucky Lake bass,
bluegill and catfish anglers are strutting their stuff. Shirt sleeve
days are back!
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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