|
This page brought to you by:
Keith from IN
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
BLACKBERRY WINTER THROWS CURVE TO FISHING SCENE
Locals refer to these unusual cool windy days we’ve been having as
“blackberry winter”. Not supposed to be wearing sweat shirts and
coveralls this time of year out on the lake but that’s been the attire
as of late. And did I mention rain suits too?
Last week’s nice weather forecast didn’t materialize and several windy
days with below average temps at night sort of pushed back the
biological clock as surface temps have been sluggish to rebound and
climb to that 70-degree mark and stay there.
As to lake conditions water color is in good shape across both Barkley
and Kentucky lakes. Some stain is present in the upper pockets and
shorelines where high winds have churned things up but overall it’s
clearing.
Jane and Tom TN Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Lake levels have seen minor fluctuations this week. Readings are
presently in the 359.3 range, which is only a few inches above normal
summer pool despite some severe thunderstorms earlier in the week.
Bluegill and redear anglers have been anxious to get the show going but
Mother Nature has dealt them a tough hand to play since late April and
early May. Surface temps this week have mostly stayed in the 65 to 68
degree range with only a brief trip to the 70-degree threshold.
That’s not what anglers need to really jump start spawning phases.
Although a couple of days last weekend warmed things up it was a short
honeymoon. Daytime highs are struggling to make it to the upper 60’s at
present and lows for the upcoming weekend are predicted to fall into the
upper 30’s!
May’s first full moon arrived on Thursday. There have been a few
bluegill and some redear taken this week around the parameters of
shallow weedbeds and buck bushes.
The first full moon in May traditionally signals the start of prime
spawning phases for both bluegill and redear sunfish but peak bedding
time is temperature driven.
Several stringers have been taken from farm ponds and small lakes
already that sometimes warm quicker than big lakes. Spawning activity
has been sluggish to get going on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Yes, there
have been a few fish taken but not what it ought to be. No doubt
inclimate weather has played a role in the timing.
Tom and "OC" from Chicago
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Some hot and humid days are needed to stimulate aggressive activity.
There will be a few fish attempting to bed now and while anglers may
score some catches these next few days the best is yet to come. By next
week action should improve once weather conditions settle down.
If you’ve already been out and found activity below average you’re not
alone. I found a few beds where fish were finicky and reluctant to bite
in their normal aggressive manner. Once bluegill and redear go on bed
they usually protect the nesting area, warding off intruders with an
aggressive chase but cool surface temps will diminish that.
Things happen quickly so stay on standby as these powerful panfish can
flip the switch and get things going from morning to late afternoon if
sunshine heats things up.
Catfish have been on the prowl and moving up toward shallow shorelines
and rocky areas. Several were taken recently by anglers targeting
rip-rap levees or rocky bluffs.
Those searching for bluegill and redear around shallow pockets have also
encountered several catfish roaming around bushes and weedbeds as they
too search for spawning spots.
Nightcrawlers are producing best. Watch for some hefty stringers to be
taken in the next week to ten days from rocky bluffs as the catfish
spawn continues. And, a lot of light tackle anglers fishing bluegill
beds will tie into some dandies too as the catfish often frequent the
craters where eggs and hatching fry of bluegill are emerging.
Roger Binkley and Chase Binkley
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Crappie anglers are finding some scattered fish still lingering in the
midrange depths of 10 to 12 feet. Boats trolling long-line techniques
pulling 1/8 to ¼-ounce Road Runners with chartreuse heads and chartreuse
twister tail grubs have managed to find enough to keep them going in the
post-spawn phase.
Some anglers working stakebeds and brushpiles in 10 to 12 foot ranges
have encountered a few late spawning crappie too. Tipping jigs with
minnows or just presenting a live minnow has worked well at times but
it’s a one-here; two-there type route for most.
As of last week some females were still sporting eggs. However, the eggs
seen were more like the first week of April than the first week of May
as to their appearance. It has been a challenge to predict the timetable
of this spring’s spawning phases for crappie on Kentucky and Barkley
lakes!
Bass fishermen are landing nice stringers when weather allows them to
move about the lake. High winds have hampered them at times too.
Working shallow shorelines where abundant grass beds and buck bushes are
mixed has given up a lot of fish lately. Most boaters are pitching and
flipping Zoom’s Brush Hog or similar style baits to locate fish.
Spinnerbaits have worked too as have floating worms at times. Not much
action on buzzbaits lately but weedless frogs and fluke style worms
twitched in visible weeds has paid dividends.
Dave and Jeff KY Crew
Kentucky Lake Crappie Fishing
"1 pole jig fishing"
Crappie Action
Guide Service
Seems there always a few boats backing off the banks and working
submerged humps and sloping flats with various swim baits and crankbaits
or Texas rigged worms. There have been several smallmouth taken this
year too.
Seems anglers this spring have gotten a couple days each weeks of decent
weather or light winds while the other five have been downright nasty at
times with everything from high winds to rain or below normal
temperatures.
Fishermen continue to play the cards as dealt, hoping for some long
stretches of nice weather while negotiating the variables that have
played tricks on timing and normal fishing patterns thus far!
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.
|
