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Kentucky Lake Fishing Report: 25 April 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
BLUEGILL/REDEAR BITE UNDERWAY…. CATFISH ON THE WAY
When a full moon in April coincides with warming surface temperatures and rising lake levels the battle with bluegill and shellcracker begins. That’s what’s been happening the last week, or two along shallow pockets and shorelines of Kentucky Lake where weed beds attracted early spawning panfish in big numbers.
Actually, the third week of April is a bit early for active spawning phases to kick in for bluegill but the redear sunfish (shellcracker) are known to kick off the race a bite early. Despite the continuation of unruly winds and some chilly mornings the bite has been good and seemed to improve by midday once the sun warmed things up.
Working well have been meal or wax worms plus red worms. It has been so cold as of late most bait shops had not even begun to stock crickets when the early bite began. That’s all changed now. All systems are on go for the popular panfish who begin active spawning phases in late April (depending on weather and surface temps) and often do well through late May and into early June at times.
Anglers should have some good fishing in the weeks ahead as these aggressive panfish really turn on and provide a thrill to anglers of all ages. It’s a great time to introduce anyone to fishing but especially youngsters wetting a hook for the first time. From gravel banks to pockets off the main lake where weeds mix with various shoreline habitat is where you’ll find their crater shaped beds. The fish fan out little “pie-plate” shaped craters where they deposit eggs. The dark olive drab-colored ones are the males; females will display a pale-yellow appearance. Grab some terminal tackle and head to the lake. The show is underway. Disappearing bobbers never go out of style!
Kentucky Lake’s elevation reached summer pool ahead of schedule this spring and was 359.2 at midweek. Water color is clear. Surface temps are in the 66-to-68-degree range. Normal summer pool level is 359 so the reservoir is not only early (May 1 is TVA’s target date for summer pool elevation) but a bit above normal at present.
Crappie across Kentucky Lake are entering their post spawn phase and have started to scatter a bit for most anglers, but decent stringers are still coming in. Around the Paris Landing sector most of the crappie have been taken in the 9-to-13-foot depth range. Not a lot of fish have moved up to shallow shoreline structure or shallow spawning spots. Seems the clear water has kept a lot of fish spawning out away from shoreline structure. Up Big Sandy there were several fish taken in 2-to-5-foot depths the last couple of weeks. Seems the upper Big Sandy basin always has some crappie moving up to shallow venues earlier that the rest of the region. Odds are it warms quicker plus is known for dingy watercolor at times.
Cat fishermen are armed and loaded, waiting on ole’ whiskers to move up to the rocky banks and begin spawning phases. That’s about to hit high gear as once surface temps reach the low 70’s they really go on the prowl. Best get the nightcrawler bucket and heavy catfish poles ready. They’re on the threshold.
Bass fishermen have been banging away at the banks and fan casting weed beds with spinnerbaits, Texas rigged craws and worms, floating worms, jig and pig combos and some topwater at times. Other patterns have boats backing off the banks and targeting humps and shell bed sand bars in their quest for smallmouth.
Watch for more shoreline activity to kick in for most all species as rising water levels coincide with rising surface temperatures in the days and weeks ahead. Some great fishing opportunities await you here as the spring transition continues and warmer days enter the picture.
17 April 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
LAKE LEVELS, WIND AND STORMS ADDING UP TO STUBBORN SPRING
Anglers have juggled a variety of unstable conditions this past week in their quest to find spawning crappie and bass. Some redear sunfish (shellcracker) and bluegill have entered the picture too as surface temps rise. Last weekend Kentucky Lake reached the summer pool mark of 359 at Kentucky Dam—some two weeks early—for a day or two only to fall back a few inches. As of this update the reservoir was resting around the 358.6 elevation.
Watercolor is clear across most of the reservoir. High winds are still a thorn in the side of fishermen. Water levels are always of concern to anglers and all lake users for that matter but especially during peak spawning phases of crappie. Once surface temperatures reach the 62-to-66-degree range it signals the active spawning range of crappie and bass aren’t far behind.
Normal summer pool level isn’t supposed to arrive here until May 1 according to TVA’s annual curve, but lake levels have not followed the usual stair-step climb this spring. TVA’s curve starts reservoir filling on April 1 where lake levels are normally at the low ebb of winter pool (354). From there is reservoir is supposed to climb slowly until it reaches its target of summer pool on or around May 1.
This spring the lake has fluctuated and jumped around a bit as it has been above normal since early April. That throws off fishing patterns to some degree. Some folks like higher water early; others prefer TVA stick to its normal projections, slowly bringing up the lake on a gradual basis. Rainfall across the region sometimes falls in drastic amounts and upsets the apple cart, swelling Kentucky Lake ahead of normal. When that happens rising waters send a lot of floating debris about the lake, a scenario which scatters fish and the fishermen trying to find them.
Such as been the case this week. Some bass and crappie anglers were hoping to see the lake stay high at summer pool and inundate shoreline buck bushes, weed beds and all sorts of habitat. They love fishing visible stickups. Since last week more crappie have moved up and while a few anglers found some crappie attempting to spawn in shallow areas there were scores of fishermen finding the bite challenging. The fish have been scattered and roaming.
No sooner had the reservoir reached the summer pool mark last weekend TVA began pulling the water back down toward its curve. The agency is creating more storage capacity pulling the lake down a bit here in mid-April as heavy rains could occur at any time. Meanwhile, the fishing scene has continued to evolve each week. Some crappie moved up to shallow flats in the upper Big Sandy and West Sandy last week and were taken in 2-to-4-foot depths at times. Down toward the Paris Landing sector most boats were targeting somewhat deeper depths and finding fish in the 7-to-13-foot depth range.
Successful techniques ranged from vertical jig presentations over shallow stumps and manmade fish attractors such as stake beds and brush piles to spider rigs pushed slowly out over flats where scattered crappie were staging. The buffet bait presentation was working pretty good for some folks. Trolling curly tail grubs, Road Runners and some crankbaits has paid dividends too. Some fish have been suspended and not relating tight to structure at times, a byproduct of changing lake stages and stubborn spring weather.
Generally speaking, it has been tough for most anglers to witness a distinctive blitz by the crappie towards shallow structure. Usually, they stage and dart toward cover where they deposit their eggs. Several females were still holding eggs at midweek.
Entering the picture as of last week were some hefty bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) tagging the jigs of crappie fishermen as they worked midrange to shallow crappie beds. Bluegill are not on the bed yet but headed in that direction. Shellcracker usually hit the banks prior to the bluegill’s arrival. Watch for activity to increase for both those species in the next few weeks. Peak bluegill spawning usually begins in early May, but the timetable can get pushed up if warmer surface temps (70-degree range) arrive early. Shellcracker are on the verge of their early spawning phase as some big females have been taken lately and they’re bloated with eggs.
Bass anglers are banging away at the banks and finding the bite decent around shoreline grass. Still not quite enough water on the buck bushes just yet but bass are up around shallow pockets and grass enjoying the warmer surface temps in their prespawn phase. Tossing a Texas rigged craw or lizard has been productive as have floating fluke style worms. Some topwater jerk baits have worked too as have spinnerbaits and buzz baits.
There are some boaters backing off the banks and fishing secondary humps and ledges with Carolina and Texas rigged worms, swim baits and deep diving crankbaits too. Kentucky Lake always has a variety of patterns and depths producing at the same time. As surface temps heat up more shallow shoreline fishing will enter the equation, especially for bass, bluegill and redear sunfish.
Best start mending the terminal tackle and light spinning rigs. Those powerful panfish are about to hit active spawning phases and the catfish are on the prowl too. Soon rocky banks will attract catfish to spawning spots so that’s fast approaching.
11 April 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
CRAZY SPRING CONTINUES…UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR ANGLERS
Stability has not been in the cards for fishermen this spring. Anglers have battled the weather roller coaster for weeks now and this past week was no exception. One day warm and sunny and the bite was on for crappie: then several back-to-back days of wind, rain and some thunderstorms. Fishermen are wondering if an extended stretch of nice weather and light winds will ever get here and stay here!
Lake levels have fluctuated the last couple of weeks and have been above TVA’s normal curve as to management of the reservoir. The last week or so it was a bit high with a reading of 358 elevation at Kentucky Dam but fell several inches down to the 357.4 range for a day or two only to start another climb right back up in the aftermath of heavy rains at midweek. Surface temperature have been in the 63-degree range. That will rise in sunny days ahead. Watercolor is clear. The rising lake has again been inundated with floating debris. Lot of sticks and logs floating off the shorelines, so boaters need to be aware of floating objects.
The spawn has been underway this week, but it has been a bit tricky for anglers as to the specific whereabouts of slabs. Fish have been scattered. That’s not unusual when lake levels are yo-yoing, and weather patterns are weird. Some hefty crappie eclipsing the 2-pound range have been taken with a few knocking on the 3-pound threshold. At midweek big females were still sporting eggs but active spawning phases should occur in the next few days.
Looks like sunny days and rising temperatures are in the forecast at least until midweek. Daytime highs will be in the upper 70’s and low 80’s! The crappie bite has been fair for those vertical fishing jigs over manmade fish attractors in the 7-to-13-foot depth range. Most boaters indicate it is taking several stops to accumulate a limit. Other techniques such as long lining jigs and some crankbaits has worked too. Spider rig techniques are paying dividends as well as anglers slowly push jig and minnow poles over midrange depths with some moving to the upper ends of bays trying the 4-to-6-foot depths.
With rising lake levels anglers are having to move about. Many are asking if the shoreline buck bushes and willow trees will be the place to try in the days ahead if the reservoir jumps to summer pool ahead of schedule? That could very well happen. Anglers are keeping a close eye on lake levels.
Bass fishermen have scored some success while stalking the weedy shorelines lately. Those patches of yellow flowers are holding fish and are always a great location in early spring. Tossing Texas rigged craws, lizards, worms and floating fluke style worms are quite popular right now. Spinnerbaits are working too as are some buzz baits and jerk baits as the topwater bite is underway in the clear water. Bottom line is that anglers are waking up to a different lake every few days when the elevation changes. Watch for a lot of transition in fish activity the next few days as more fish follow the rise and head toward shallow shorelines.
Bluegill and shellcracker have already been biting too. Shellcracker will hit the shallow weeds and begin early spawning phases before the bluegill. Peak time isn’t here yet but it’s drawing closer as surface temps rise.
Crappie anglers fishing shallow to midrange depths lately have encountered several bluegill and shellcracker (redear sunfish) nipping at their jigs. Some big female shellcracker weighing in the 1 ½-pound range have been taken lately!
It has been a strange spring. Things happen fast once the surface temps reach the mid 60’s. Hang in there as sooner or later the weather, lake levels and fish will begin playing by the rules!
20 March 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
CRAPPIE SPAWNING PHASES ADVANCE…BASS ON GRAVEL BANKS
Spring on Kentucky Lake is a special time of year in more ways than one. It signals the arrival of the annual spawning phase of the area’s most popular panfish. Crappie are on the doorstep of active spawning phases. What’s needed now is a long stretch of mild warm weather with some light winds to accommodate anglers. Once surface temperatures reach the 62-to-66-degree range crappie will spawn here on shallow flats and back in some of the larger bays, which warm a bit quicker than main lake areas.
Several nice stringers continue to be caught by anglers using a variety of techniques as the fish stair-step their way up toward spawning territory. A lot of credit is going to anglers long lining Road Runner style jigs around the 12-to-14-foot depths. A few boats are trolling crankbaits out over midrange depths in main lake areas lately too. Others are casting jigs and doing quite well while a few boats are vertical fishing jig and minnow rigs over manmade fish attractors such as stake beds and brush piles.
When spring officially arrived back on March 19th the first few days of the new season delivered frigid temps reminiscent of winter mornings. However, it didn’t take long for normal weather to rebound but then again, what’s normal for March? Fishermen have battled unruly winds lately with an occasional shower or two. That’s vintage March. Some days cold and some warm; some windy and some calm. One never knows. Yet the lake has given up some hefty stringers throughout March and the fish are on the move and moving up daily.
Surface temperatures continue to gradually climb toward the low to mid 60’s. Not there yet but headed there fast. Male crappie have already moved up ahead of the females toward somewhat shallow areas. A clear indication the spawn is nearing are the color phases of male crappie. They’re already showing hormonal changes with their darkening purple and black appearance.
Each passing day will see more crappie move up to the 5-to-10-foot depth range, although all the fish don’t leave deeper venues at the same time. Even when the peak of spawn is underway there’s always a few fishermen dragging some out of deep water. Meanwhile, lake levels have been rising this past week. The lake rose to levels of 356.8 range in the aftermath of heavy rains across the region. That’s about two feet or so above the normal level for the third week of March.
Odds are lake levels will fall a bit these next few days. Normally from the low ebb of winter pool range of the 354 level TVA begins a slow but gradual rise of the reservoir beginning April 1 each year. The normal curve sees the lake rise to summer pool level of 359 on or around May 1 each spring. Sometimes if the lake is a bit above the low ebb in late March (like it is now) TVA will hold that water. Other times they release it in order to create more storage capacity in the event heavy rains should occur. It’s sort of a guessing game for fishermen this time of year. Most don’t like to see lake levels falling as the crappie spawn nears. Anglers prefer to see a slow gradual rise. Fishermen just don’t like drastic changes that sometimes occur overnight during early unpredictable spring weather.
Both cold fronts and heavy rains can upset the timetable. Such changes can upset the applecart of both the fish and fishermen. Fishing patterns can literally change overnight. Dramatic drops in surface temperatures in a short time result in negative mood swings of crappie on the verge of dropping their eggs. Sometimes the fish back off and put the brakes on, backing away from shallow spawning habitat and suspending out deeper as they ride out cold fronts. Other times quick rising lake levels scatter the fish, making it tough for anglers to establish a pattern as to depth and location when fish are roaming. Lots of variables. It’s all part of the spring fishing scene.
Right now, fish should continue on their path toward spawning spots. While a lot of fish have been taken lately by anglers slow trolling out over midrange depths where fish are staging, a blitz toward structure should continue to occur the next week or two. Although some anglers have taken decent numbers as they vertical fished jigs over stake beds and brush piles there are several reports coming in from anglers observing fish on their Livescope sonar units that are roaming. Those anglers have been catching decent numbers as they cast jigs toward fish, they see on their sonar units.
Meanwhile, it’s high time some bank fishermen started picking up crappie around gravel and rocky banks. Shorelines give up a lot of crappie at times when fish are searching for habitat.
Bass fishermen are reporting more fish moving up on rocky points and shallow pea gravel shorelines. They too are in prespawn phase, and some hefty females bloated with eggs have been caught recently by anglers tossing crankbaits. March is a crankbait month here as so many gravel and big chunk rock banks appeal to prespawn bass. Stickups are holding some bass too and shallow exposed crappie beds are holding bass as a few reports from anglers tossing spinnerbaits, jig and craw combos and even Texas rigged craws and lizards have produced. Patterns are changing daily as fish are on the move and surface temps warm.
14 March 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
SPRING HAS ALMOST SPRUNG ON KENTUCKY LAKE
Time to turn the page. Spring officially arrive Tuesday despite chilly temps that sort of want to hang around. Best not trade in the coveralls on a screen door just yet; March is still in charge. Sometimes she’s an unpredictable month; known for her Ides that blow the treetops sideways with a howl while also blowing the cap off your head.
Fishermen can’t complain much as the last few weeks have delivered a dose of early spring weather. Trees are screaming spring with all their budding displays and until the last few days it has been short sleeve shirt temps. It’s fair to say the weather roller coaster has a few more thrills left. Sometimes even early April can deliver surprises.
Kentucky Lake’s late winter and early spring fishing scene has been mostly kind to bass and crappie anglers. For weeks now fishermen have been out in force, often picking their days and soaking up warm sunny conditions when tolerable winds allowed pleasant outings. Crappie fishermen are logging some nice stringers and they already had a nice start before spring arrived on the calendar.
Surface temps this week have climbed to the 57-degree range. Actually, there was a day or two when readings were higher than that back in shallow bays. A couple of recent cool snaps sort of put the brakes on the rapid warm up that was underway. Lake levels are up slightly from last week and were dancing around the 354.8 range at Kentucky Dam this week. Watercolor remains clear across the reservoir.
TVA’s curve for reservoir management has Kentucky Lake staying at the low ebb of winter pool—around the 354-elevation range—until April 1 when filling begins. The curve allows the reservoir to slowly rise to summer pool elevation of 359 on or around May 1 each year. All the lake level predictions are always subject to heavy rainfall so there are several variables in the equation each spring. Right now, things are pretty much on schedule.
Most of the nice stringers of crappie are coming from midrange depths of 9 to 13 feet but there are other depths giving up fish too. As surface temps warm more movement takes place as both crappie and bass are on the threshold of migrating toward spawning spots.
Once surface temps warm into the 62-to-66-degree range active spawning phases for crappie kick in. Some bass are known to start around that range too of not earlier. Smallmouth have a reputation of spawning sooner than largemouth. Bottom line is Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene, while still in prespawn phases, is about to kick into high gear.
Each spring male crappie move into shallow areas somewhat ahead of the females and while on the magic march their pigmentation begins to turn darker. Due to hormonal changes male crappie take on that beautiful purple or dark shade as active spawning phase arrives, which for us on Kentucky Lake has traditionally been the first two weeks of April. Weather conditions can alter the timetable.
In times past I’ve seen active spawning phases for bass and crappie kick in the last week of March. That’s somewhat unusual but an extended spell of warm weather delivers rising surface temperatures which accelerate the biological clock. Then there are times when fish have moved up shallow and right on the doorstep of spawning only to have drastic cold fronts descend and upset the apple cart. Fishermen really grit their teeth when that happens, often threatening to take the weather forecasters off their Christmas list!
Both overnight cold fronts and flooding conditions greatly alter the fishing scene when they show up uninvited to the party. Rapidly rising lake stages tend to scatter fish, making it tough for anglers to establish a pattern. Cold fronts are detrimental too. Quick changes in surface temperatures confuse spawning crappie. Often times egg laden females will back off the banks away from spawning habitat and suspend, opting to ride things out instead of dropping their eggs under adverse conditions. Stability of weather accompanied by a slow or gradual rise in lake levels has proven to be the best combination for spawning and fishing here on the big pond.
Meanwhile, dandy stringers are being taken as fish continue to move up and stage in midrange depths. Once surface temps reach the spawning range of 62 to 66 degree the fish will make a blitz toward spawning structure. Just how shallow crappie and bass venture toward shorelines has a lot to do watercolor (turbidity) too. Dingy or stained water seems to warm a bit faster, and it lures the fish to shallower depths for spawning.
A few old timers on Kentucky Lake recall fond memories of fishing the buck bushes and other shoreline habitat when muddy waters brought the fish right up on the shorelines to spawn. Dingy water filtered out sunlight, so the fish headed to shallow areas to find their comfort zones. While some of that still occurs at times here, the lion’s share of crappie nowadays choose to spawn out away from shorelines in the 5 to 10-foot depth range. Manmade fish attractors such as stake beds and brush piles or natural stump fields can fulfill most of that need.
In future articles I’ll talk more about specifics and how the reservoir has changed over the years. Meanwhile, already producing are a variety of techniques as fish continue to stair-step their way toward spawning zones. This week success stories have come in from boats long lining Road Runners and twister tail grubs out over main lake ledges and flat in 10-to-14-foot depths.
Those slow-moving spider rig style presentations are producing too. Anglers experiment with color combinations and push a buffet of baits out over suspended crappie staging in la-la land filling coolers in the process. Vertical presentations of tube and hair jigs always work great as anglers locate structure on their sophisticated sonar units and cherry pick the fish relating tight to cover.
Not to be forgotten are the light tackle guys who sometimes back off and cast jigs or minnows toward shallow venues or out over submerged structure. They too scored hefty stringers at times. Kentucky Lake has always offered a variety of depths and patterns that pay dividends at the same time. That’s one of the many reasons we’ve got a great fishing lake!!!
27 Feb 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
WILL IT BE AN EARLY SPRING FOR FISHERMEN?
Dominating the conversation among the ranks of Kentucky Lake anglers is the arrival of spring. It doesn’t official arrive until March 19th this year. However, anglers everywhere are swapping theories about their idea of an early arrival. The general consensus favors it arriving ahead of schedule. Imagine that!
Hard to argue with all the warm days we’ve been having. Already signs point to an early spring as crappie have been biting. Flowers are blooming. Birds are whistling. Wise are the anglers who hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Never discard your coat and coveralls until about mid-April around these parts of the country. Best keep the sunscreen, overcoat, gloves, raingear, coveralls and the whole nine yards within arm’s reach. March can be a nice month, but it also has a mean streak. Not only can the temperature roller coaster swing up and down but the big silver gorilla in the room for fishermen is the wind.
With quick warm-ups this time of year often come gale winds. Southern breezes are nice and deliver warm temperatures, but gale winds are no friend to fishermen. Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene had another mixture of conditions this past week. Unseasonably warm weather saw temps climb near record highs. A couple days the mercury rose to 76 degrees. Normal daytime highs are around the 52 degree mark this time of year. Surface temperatures are dancing around the 52-degree range. Watercolor is clear.
Lake levels are down near the low ebb of winter pool with readings at Kentucky Dam falling to the 354.3 mark lately. TVA has the reservoir down to create more storage capacity in the event heavy rains or storms return, which was in the forecast as this report was formulated.
Decent stringers of crappie continue to come in from anglers targeting the 12 to 15-foot depth range where submerged structure can be located. However, there are some anglers finding a few fish in 8 to 11 feet in places with a few taken in depths less than that. Seems there’s always a wide variety of depths and techniques paying off this time of year. While a few boats credit their luck to spider rig presentation of multi-pole buffets of jigs trolled slowly over main lake flats and ledges there are others opting to cast jigs over brush piles and stake beds in midrange depths.
Still producing are vertical presentations of jigs and live minnow rigs out over main lake structure. A few fish have been taken on the deep sides of main lake ledges at times where structure in the 17-to-20-foot depth range yielded several bites. Lake levels have been falling slowly this past week and that sometimes pulls crappie back closer to deeper comfort zones as they move about and follow the schools of shad.
Not to be overlooked are a few anglers choosing to cast slip bobber style rigs armed with live minnows or the tube jigs color combo of their choice. Slowly retrieving the jig or minnow out over submerged structure or even in some open water areas can pay dividends. Slip bobber rigs make it easy to recognize light strikes while easily adjusting depth. Finicky crappie often want it their way or no way!
Watch more crappie to continue to slowly move up to shallow areas and back into bays these next couple of weeks as surface temps warm. It’s still the prespawn phase for crappie on Kentucky Lake but things can change quickly in March once warm days descend and waters warm, stimulating their biological clock.
Bass fishermen are still finding some nice smallmouth, especially on the east side of the lake. Lots of deep gravel banks and sloping gravel sandbars are located there and the bronze backs will soon be making a spawning move. Tossing crankbaits always seems to work throughout March. Anglers can cover a lot of water chunking and winding with this presentation. It often requires experimentation on color choices whether fishing crankbaits, hair jigs, twister tail grubs or whatever finesse baits one likes to toss.
Carolina rigs worked on shallow flats can produce finicky largemouth right now too. At the same time tossing a jig and pig combo and working it slowly on big chunk rock banks can be quite productive. As spring draws closer best batten down the hatches as anglers will encounter some windy days sandwiched in-between some warm nice ones where light and variable winds offer pleasant outings on the lake.
Spring on Kentucky Lake (and elsewhere too) is unpredictable. Always has been always will be!
15 Feb 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
MIXTURE OF WEATHER GREETS ANGLERS
Kentucky Lake’s winter fishermen have been riding that weather roller coaster again. One day cold; next day warm. Then there’s sometimes snow. Sometimes rain. Some days are windy while others are calm. February is a month (and so is March) with a wide variety of weather patterns.
Best not hide the overcoat and coveralls too deep in the closet just yet. Both February and March are known to deliver a little dab of winter and spring weather, which sometimes packs a punch. This past week was a prime example, starting off with a winter chill but ending with a touch of spring. Fishermen all over the Kentucky Lake area have spring fever.
Lake levels had risen last week some two feet or so in the aftermath of heavy rains, but the reservoir crested quickly and has been falling slowly. Elevation this week was around the 356.2 range. Normal winter pool is around the 354 range.
Watercolor remains clear. Surface temperatures had warmed to the upper 40’s but cold nights have an influence. Warmer days are in the forecast so surface temps will likely cross the 50-degree range soon.
Scores of anglers have been testing the waters whenever the wind allows them to venture out. Pretty good stringers of crappie have been taken by a few anglers too. Some are crediting their catches to 16-to-19-foot main lake ledges while others have managed to find a few fish moving up to midrange stake beds and brush piles in 9 to 12 feet.
A few bank fishermen always seem to score this time of the year at places like Springville pumphouse. The discharge area adjacent to the launch ramp sometimes stirs up a lot of shad and when it does the bite is on. Most fishermen there like to cast a slip bobber out around the discharge spot where current is flowing from the pumps out into the main lake area. Beneath their slip bobbers are usually assorted colors of jigs but some like to try a live minnow now and then
The spot has always been a favorite for shoreline fishermen in late winter and early spring. There’s even a few fishermen who enjoy night fishing there as they toss lighted bobbers out which alert them to strikes.
Meanwhile, down around the Paris Landing sector most boaters are targeting main lake ledges. Some rely heavily on modern day sonar equipment and depend on their electronics to take them to the fish. Deeper manmade fish attractors are holding fish at present. Vertical fishing techniques are the most popular as anglers dangle their favorite-colored jig down around submerged structure on the deep sides of drop-offs. Others go to brush and stake beds they’ve placed out in the main lake venues.
Other techniques are producing such as casting jigs out over structure. Trolling spider rigs has worked too as those slow-moving bait buffets usually produce if you find the right depth range.
Late February and early March are still in the prespawn phase of fishing but by mid-March crappie begin stair stepping their way toward shallow flats and venturing toward big bays where spawning territory is nearby.
A few bass have been taken by anglers tossing crawfish and shad-colored crankbaits plus some pearl and white swim baits. Carolina rigs have accounted for a few bass too as the fish like that slow moving retrieve.
Spring weather has stimulated fishing pox. The only cure is to go fishing!
08 Feb 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
FEBRUARY FISHING RESPONDING WELL TO MILD WEATHER
Kentucky Lake’s February fishing scene is holding up well as mild temperatures have really put pep in the step of fishermen lately. Spring fever is already stirring up lots of interest right here in the dead of winter.
Lake levels this week have danced around the 355-elevation range at Kentucky Dam and elsewhere on the reservoir. After a slight rise last week, the lake sort of stabilized a few days but as always rainfall will deal the cards in the days ahead. Surface temperatures have been in the 45-degree range but will warm more if mild days continue to hang around. Watercolor is clear.
Crappie have been taken by anglers stalking structure in the 9-to-14-foot depth range. Some reports from West Sandy and upper Big Sandy indicated a few fish were taken in 6-to-9-foot depths. As always down around the Paris Landing sector some anglers hitting the open water areas at the mouth of Big Sandy are finding a few fish deeper. Depths of 16 to 20 feet were giving up a few fish as deeper brush piles were appealing to some fish.
Most of the success seems to be from the midrange depths where anglers are tightlining jigs. Some credited their catch to live minnows too. Mixed reports have come in from a variety of techniques paying dividends such as spider rigging, casting jigs, vertical presentations of both jigs and minnows and some bottom bumping methods.
A few bass fishermen were venturing out and testing the water too. Some were tossing crankbaits and jig/pig combos. Others were casting Carolina rigs and fishing a slow presentation around gravel and rock banks and bluffs.
February has a reputation as an iffy month for fishing. A mixture of weather is likely and at times it can tease fishermen into thinking an early spring is on the threshold only to slap them in the face with a winter cold front. Lately we’ve had a dose of warm weather once the January thaw occurred. However, enjoy the nice weather while it’s here as drastic changes can occur from week to week.
Pick the nice days with light winds if your schedule allows. Dodge the cold windy ones. Be prepared for a multitude of weather!
24 Jan 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
ANGLERS RETURN TO ACTIVE-DUTY STATUS
In the aftermath of the glacier-like weather that interrupted the winter fishing scene—and about everything else—earlier this month anglers are slowly emerging from hibernation. Kentucky Lake’s winter fishing band of dedicated anglers sort of decreased in active membership during the bitter cold, snowy and icy weather. Understandably so.
Hopefully frozen back water bays and ice-covered boat ramps that were either locked up by the ice or too slick to even consider backing down to launch a boat have now thawed and opened up for business.
Crappie anglers have been easing back out on the water this past week, testing the open water areas where deep drop-offs and perhaps some manmade fish attractors in the form of brush piles and stake beds might be holding fish. Most boaters are targeting the deeper sides of ledges or hitting those deep brush piles in depths of 14 to 25 feet. Some of the deeper areas should be holding crappie but it’s sort of trial and error at present as to the productive depth range.
TVA had pulled lake levels down to a low 354.5 as this report was updated. However, several consecutive days of rain have entered the picture so water for elevation on Kentucky Lake to fluctuate throughout this time frame. Sometimes those crappie school in deep water during this period as they occupy the deep confines of the lake in pursuit of shad. Shad go deep as they have little tolerance for quick drops in surface temperatures.
Tightlining a jig or live minnow around that deep structure can produce dividends. Anglers willing to tolerate the cold temps can land some good stringers if the winds stay calm and allow boaters to move about. During the peak of the bitter weather recently a large portion of West Sandy was iced over. So were portions of the Big Sandy all the way down north of the power lines. Some larger bays such as Eagle, Swamp and Little Sulphur were locked up as well.
Not too often do we see large areas of Kentucky Lake locked up with ice but when we get extended spells of single digit temps that last over a week it does happen even on the big pond. Icing here in the main lake areas has a lot to do with lake levels plus wind and current.
If lake levels are a foot or two above the low ebb of winter pool, then it decreases the likely hood of ice forming in main lake areas. During bitter cold periods wind and a little flow will keep the main lake areas from freezing over. However, once extended spells of brutal cold wear out their welcome and stay too long ice enters the picture. You won’t see it too often but about every ten years or so we get a real doozy of cold conditions that change the whole picture.
While we’ve got a lot of winter still left on the calendar, anglers are keeping their fingers crossed frigid temps stay to our north. Most everyone has had their fill of nasty weather for a while but don’t bury that overcoat and coveralls too deep in the closet.
Both February and March have a reputation of being unpredictable. One day nice weather and mild temps with light winds stirs up spring fever; next day it’s back to the woodshed to get more logs to toss on the fire! You know how it goes around these parts!
18 Jan 2024
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
WEATHER ROLLER COASTER FOR KENTUCKY LAKE ANGLERS
Frigid weather has dealt the cards to the winter fishing scene for Kentucky Lake anglers this week. Anglers had a mean hand to play as single digit temperatures curtailed fishing for most.
Not only was ice forming in backwater bays, but it locked up several launch ramps, denying access to even die-hard fishermen and duck hunters hoping to venture out and test the elements.
Ice-covered boat ramps were dangerous. It was an excellent place to jack-knife trailers, damage both trailer and boats, not to mention vehicles towing them. The fool catcher was out just waiting for opportunity.
Not to worry for too long and warm weather is in the forecast for next week as the Jan 22-27 period approaching looks to be the return of decent winter fishing weather. Temps will rebound back to normal, which is well above the freezing mark.
That should return opportunity to winter crappie anglers who have been suffering from cabin fever lately. Looks like bright days are on the horizon as boaters can return to launch ramps and their favorite fishing holes without having to battle snow, ice and bone chilling winds.
Whether or not the fish respond favorably is a wait and see approach. Odds are a shad kill could be in the picture after such cold surface temperatures descended on the Kentucky Lake region.
Anglers will be targeting deep main lake ledges once they get back out on the water. Odds are the crappie have pulled back to the deeper sides of drop-offs and ledges in pursuit of schools of shad that usually ride out the cold in deeper depths.
Kentucky Lake’s elevation this week had risen to a 355.8 level for a few short days but has been falling slowly since and was down to 355.5. Odds are the reservoir will keep falling slowly until it returns to winter pool, which is around the 354 range of elevation.
13 Dec 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
WINTER FISHING OFFICIALLY BEGINS SOON
Does Christmas crappie have a nice ring to it? Golden fillets sure taste good out of that cold water too. Winter fishing officially begins next week (December 21st) across the Kentucky Lake area. Most crappie anglers hate to see fall fade away as it has been a good one for them.
It’s fair to say the fishing has been better than the duck hunting! Anglers have been pretty consistent in their catches of crappie as they stalked deep structure such as brush piles and stake beds. Lake levels have been relatively stable lately as the reservoir is handing around the 355 range. That’s a few inches above the low ebb of winter pool. Watercolor has been clear.
Depths of 12 to 14 feet have been productive at times but some nice slabs have been taken in deeper depths such as 16 to 20 feet out on main lake ledges. Both jigs and minnow have paid dividends all fall. Winter crappie often favor the deep sides of ledges but if mild weather lingers then midrange depths will hold good numbers of fish.
The crappie are following their forage base, namely threadfin shad, and the baitfish will linger in shallow to midrange depths if surface temperatures hang around the mid to upper 40’s. If a cold spell descends and surface temp fall quickly it often results in a shad kill.
The shad don’t have a tolerance for quick surface temp changes and will go into shock if they’re caught up shallow during an overnight drastic temperature drop. A few times during the winter a massive shad kill occurs and while it’s not unusual it’s somewhat disturbing to fishermen if they see big numbers of bait fish dying and washing up on shorelines. Not a pretty sight. Quite puzzling actually.
Meanwhile, schools of baitfish often seek the refuge of deeper water during the winter months as it offers them a comfort zones free of quick temp changes. Crappie follow the shad wherever they go, which is why a lot of winter crappie stringers are taken from main lake ledges. The deep side of the ledges where structure can be located attracts the baitfish and the crappie are usually hot on their trail.
There are exceptions as not all the crappie and baitfish go deep to dodge the cold conditions but most of them do and that’s why winter crappie anglers target deep water. Unfortunately, the main lake areas where winter crappie often school are vulnerable to high winds. A cold front usually has north to northwest winds that whip up whitecaps, not to mention bone chilling breezes.
Winter fishing can sometimes separate the men from the boys. However, picking your days and dodging those windy day forecasts can deliver some pretty productive fishing conditions. Best be prepared and wrap up good. Remember you can always take a few layers off if it warms up!
22 Nov 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
HOLIDAY COOL SPELL CHILLS FISHING SCENE
Falling temperatures this week have put a chill in the Kentucky Lake fishing scene as north winds have had more of a bite than the fish. Daytime highs are forecast to hang around the mid to upper 40’s most of next week and that’s cold out there on the open water when northeast winds are behind it. Nighttime temps are expected to dip down to the upper 20’s and low 30’s.
Fall fishing has been pretty good prior to the arrival of the cold front. Several decent stringers of crappie had been taken recently across the Paris Landing and upper Big Sandy and West Sandy region. Some anglers credit their luck to stake beds and brush piles in the midrange depths of 12 to 14 feet. Others say their best fish came from deeper water around 16 to 20 feet where deep brush piles were holding a few scattered slabs. Both live minnows and jigs are working but a lot of days the fish have been finicky in their choice of bait presentations. Some days jigs are best; other days anglers are bragging about the appeal of live minnows.
Tightlining jigs has been the cat’s meow for most of the successful anglers this fall but wise are the fishermen who are open to trying both at times. Solid body grubs such as Bobby Garland’s vast array of color combinations have paid dividends when fished on neutral colored lead heads. Some fishermen opt to using a black, red or chartreuse lead head at times. Productive colors have been monkey’s milk, blue/chartreuse, black/chartreuse, mayfly and many others at times. A few anglers are tipping their jigs with Berkley power bait crappie nibbles as well and seeing positive results.
Anglers may have to dodge a bit of inclement weather for a few days before a warmup returns. Until then, put another long on the fire as mild weather patterns will soon return for the fishing scene. Meanwhile, lake levels are staying relatively stable as the reservoir is resting around the 355 elevation at Kentucky Dam and all across the big pond. Watercolor remains clear. Light rain has fallen at times but not enough for any significant runoff to put stain in the water. Surface temperatures are in the 45-degree range.
Happy holidays too all you anglers out there!
16 Nov 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
HOW LONG WILL MILD WEATHER LAST?
Kentucky Lake’s late fall fishing scene has extended the fishing season for a lot of folks. How long will the mild weather last? That’s what a lot of lakers have been asking themselves for the last few weeks and last weekend’s a cool spell and some overdue rain put things in perspective. Coveralls are now in demand! The lion’s share of November saw unusually nice weather linger. Mild temps and light winds dominated for several weeks, offering anglers and pleasure boaters ample opportunities to get out on the lake.
It has indeed been a beautiful fall for the most part. Now that some cooler weather has arrived folks are slowly acclimating to chilly nights and days. From the fishing scene comes pretty good reports from crappie fishermen who are still catching decent numbers of fish in a variety of depths. Whenever light winds allow anglers to boat out to main lake areas or move about on the reservoir it sees the catch rates improve.
If fish are scattered, then anglers can try a lot of different areas or experiment with different depth ranges in their pursuit of finicky crappie. Some of the nice stringers taken lately have come from anglers still targeting main lake ledges or deep brush piles and various manmade fish attractors. Depths of 16 to 20 feet have been producing good numbers of crappie.
Also, productive have been some midrange structures in the 9 to 14 foo depth rang. Up West Sandy and Big Sandy a few crappie have been taken in 4-to-8-foot depths at times. While most credit their catches to jigs there are some boaters using live minnows or tipping jigs with minnows to entice bites. Sometimes is best to let the fish decide which one they prefer on any given day. Meanwhile, jig fishermen always seem to experiment with color combinations as their tackle box is full of many different styles and shades ranging from solid bodies to tube skirts and hair jigs as well.
Meanwhile, a lack of rain has kept Kentucky Lake clear pretty much all fall. Rains were in finally entering the region last weekend and earlier this week which may put a little stain in the lake for fishermen. Lake levels have been stable, staying around the 355 elevation. Surface temperatures have been in the mid 50’s and changed slightly at midday. Cool nights have still had a little bite to them, so the frosty mornings have kept the water cool. With cooler weather now in progress look for surface temperatures to fall a few degrees this week. Very little current has been present in the main Tennessee River channel which is not too surprising given the lack of rainfall up until this week.
Bass fishermen have been slugging away tossing swim baits and some crankbaits with moderate success. Some activity was reported in big bays where white bass were schooling and chasing shad busting the surface. With them have been a few smallmouth and largemouth mixed in the flurry.
Right now, activity on the lake has subsided as so many activities are pulling people away from the water. From a variety of hunting seasons to football games, folks are going in several different directions.
Pick your weather and wait for the nice days as the lake is somewhat quiet. And there are still some nice days ahead mixed in-between a few cold fronts. The coveralls and thick coats are standard attire this time of year but remember you can always shed layers on the warmups!
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
HOW LONG WILL MILD WEATHER LAST?
Kentucky Lake’s late fall fishing scene has extended the fishing season for a lot of folks. How long will the mild weather last? That’s what a lot of lakers have been asking themselves for the last few weeks and last weekend’s a cool spell and some overdue rain put things in perspective. Coveralls are now in demand! The lion’s share of November saw unusually nice weather linger. Mild temps and light winds dominated for several weeks, offering anglers and pleasure boaters ample opportunities to get out on the lake.
It has indeed been a beautiful fall for the most part. Now that some cooler weather has arrived folks are slowly acclimating to chilly nights and days. From the fishing scene comes pretty good reports from crappie fishermen who are still catching decent numbers of fish in a variety of depths. Whenever light winds allow anglers to boat out to main lake areas or move about on the reservoir it sees the catch rates improve.
If fish are scattered, then anglers can try a lot of different areas or experiment with different depth ranges in their pursuit of finicky crappie. Some of the nice stringers taken lately have come from anglers still targeting main lake ledges or deep brush piles and various manmade fish attractors. Depths of 16 to 20 feet have been producing good numbers of crappie.
Also, productive have been some midrange structures in the 9 to 14 foo depth rang. Up West Sandy and Big Sandy a few crappie have been taken in 4-to-8-foot depths at times. While most credit their catches to jigs there are some boaters using live minnows or tipping jigs with minnows to entice bites. Sometimes is best to let the fish decide which one they prefer on any given day. Meanwhile, jig fishermen always seem to experiment with color combinations as their tackle box is full of many different styles and shades ranging from solid bodies to tube skirts and hair jigs as well.
Meanwhile, a lack of rain has kept Kentucky Lake clear pretty much all fall. Rains were in finally entering the region last weekend and earlier this week which may put a little stain in the lake for fishermen. Lake levels have been stable, staying around the 355 elevation. Surface temperatures have been in the mid 50’s and changed slightly at midday. Cool nights have still had a little bite to them, so the frosty mornings have kept the water cool. With cooler weather now in progress look for surface temperatures to fall a few degrees this week. Very little current has been present in the main Tennessee River channel which is not too surprising given the lack of rainfall up until this week.
Bass fishermen have been slugging away tossing swim baits and some crankbaits with moderate success. Some activity was reported in big bays where white bass were schooling and chasing shad busting the surface. With them have been a few smallmouth and largemouth mixed in the flurry.
Right now, activity on the lake has subsided as so many activities are pulling people away from the water. From a variety of hunting seasons to football games, folks are going in several different directions.
Pick your weather and wait for the nice days as the lake is somewhat quiet. And there are still some nice days ahead mixed in-between a few cold fronts. The coveralls and thick coats are standard attire this time of year but remember you can always shed layers on the warmups!
08 Nov 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
LATE FALL HAS BEEN KIND TO ANGLERS
Kentucky Lake’s late fall fishing scene has been generous and kind to anglers. Above average temperatures had been teaming up with light winds and stable weather overall to provide ideal fishing conditions for the last couple of weeks. Hillsides have been holding on to picturesque autumn colors too, providing a nice backdrop for fishermen. Cooler days are coming, says the weatherman, as more seasonable weather patterns will kick in by this weekend. Anglers knew this wonderful weather couldn’t last forever.
Daytime highs climbed to near record highs at midweek—reaching the low to mid 80’s in some areas—but the forecast says some much-needed rain will enter the picture ahead of a cold front. Highs this weekend and next week will be in the low to mid 50’s for a few days and slowly climb to the low 60’s for daytime highs with cool night temps dipping into the low to mid 30’s! The honeymoon with summer weather here in late fall may be coming to an end.
Lake levels this week have lingered around the 355 elevation at Kentucky Dam and all across the reservoir. Watercolor remains clear. Pretty much everyone was hoping for rain across the region. Surface temperatures have reflected the warm days and have risen to the 60-to-64-degree range in most areas. Watch for that to change the next few days and fall several degrees.
Crappie fishing has been good the last week to ten days across the reservoir. Mild days and light winds teamed up to produce excellent fishing conditions and the crappie bite responded favorably. Dandy stringers were taken by anglers fishing both jigs and minnows. Deeper areas in some areas of the lake produced good numbers. Depths of 16 to 20 feet were holding nice size fish. Also producing have been some midrange manmade fish attractors in the 8-to-12-foot depth range. Several anglers reported landing 20-fish limits this week as the bite has actually been better the first ten days of November than it was in most of September or October.
It should continue to hold up but with the approaching cold front will come nasty north winds so that will alter the approach for most fishermen who have been enjoying the freedom to fish open water areas without battling whitecaps.
A few bass fishermen saw some increased activity as well during the mild weather phase of November. The bite seemed to improve a bit on gravel banks and rocky areas such as rip-rap levees and roadbeds. Tossing shad-colored crankbaits paid dividends such as Rapala’s Shad Rap, Bandit and Bill Lewis chrome and black or Tennessee shad color variations. Rattle Trap style lures are always a good choice throughout the fall and that has proven to be the case as of late.
Some smallmouth are still testing the tackle of bass fishermen. Most credit their success to casting swim baits over sandbars in main lake areas but steep bluffs back in larger bays have also been productive.
A few white bass have still been busting the surface at times in their pursuit of schooling shad. With them have been a few smallmouth and largemouth at times too.
Catfishing has been sluggish. Current has been sluggish too as not much rain has entered the Tennessee River system this fall and that’s diminished the flow. There has been a slight amount of current—26,000 to 30,000 cfs—at times which is somewhat surprising given the lack of runoff.
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has had an unusually nice fall so anglers can’t complain if we get a few cold and windy days mixed with a day or two of rain.
24 Oct 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Kentucky Lake’s late October fishing scene has been nice this week courtesy of beautiful weather. Fall fishing held up to its reputation as stable conditions greeted fishermen across the region with above average temperatures and relatively light winds. Lake levels were stable too as the reservoir is resting around the low ebb of winter pool. Elevation at Kentucky Dam was hanging around the 354.9 range as was the rest of the reservoir. Watercolor remains clear as a dry region yearns for rain.
Surface temperatures reflect the unusually warm weather with readings in the 64-to-65-degree range. Watch for that to fall a few degrees next week as a drastic cold front is in the forecast with daytime highs projected to be only 46 degrees by Monday. At night the mercury is forecast to dip down to 33 degrees as a nasty front blows in. Daytime highs have been in the upper 70’s and low 80’s this week. Being out on the lake lately has been the cat’s meow. Nice weather with beautiful scenery changing daily as the parade of colors puts on a show has been well worth the price of admission.
The crappie bite has been pretty good across the reservoir this week. Last week was okay too but high winds showed up for several days and sort of upset the apple cart, dictating how and where boaters could go. Not too bad this week as anglers have been able to move about the lake and check out several open water areas in their quest to find October crappie. That’s the way autumn angling is supposed to be. Most of the decent stringers have come from 8 to 12 feet. That midrange depth has been productive, but anglers have had to make several stops as the fish have played games of hide and seek at times.
Anglers are just having to knock on a lot of doors to accumulate numbers of keeper size crappie. Some slabs have been taken but there are a lot of small fish biting, so fishermen are having to keep the measuring board handy most days. Still annoying anglers in certain areas of the lake are the aggressive and annoying schools of yellow bass who never seem to get their fill. For anglers tipping jigs with minnows or just presenting live minnows only the yellow bass are sometimes like a pack of wolves detecting a smell of blood. However, sometimes the crappie are down there in the brush piles and stake beds holding tight in the cover if you can get past the yellow bass army.
Some crappie have been taken deeper as main lake ledges and structure in the 15-to-17-foot depth zones have given up some fish as well. Up Big Sandy and West Sandy a few anglers have found fish in shallow structure around the 4-to-8-foot depth range. Vertical fishing jigs or jigs tipped with minnows have paid dividends at times. Next week’s cold spell may curtail activity for a few days as northwest winds will be part of the fishing scene as the front rolls in but watch for things to settle down once the front passes.
Bass fishermen are still struggling to find and catch big numbers. Shad activity is abundant in the bays plus out on the main lake as big schools are roaming about. Back in some of the larger bays bass have been taken on chrome colored Rattle Trap style lures plus shallow running crankbaits. Some bass have been busting the service on calm days in their pursuit of baitfish as have a few schools of white bass.
Not much happening for the shallow bite as the bulk of anglers tossing spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits and hair jigs around visible stickups are not finding much cooperation. The better bass bite has been back off the banks as of late. A few nice smallmouth continue to show up for anglers targeting the secondary sandbars and ledges using swim baits and hair jigs.
As to the catfish bite reports have been sluggish for most as diminished current seems to have curtailed activity. TVA has decreased discharge rates at Kentucky Dam lately down to only 19,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) so not much current in the main channel as of late.
There’s still some great fall fishing ahead as the pumpkin month fades away. Most cold fronts won’t last too long so watch for a quick rebound. Anglers may have to put another log on the fire for a few days and button up the coveralls but not for long. Mild days will soon return.
18 Oct 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
PUMPKIN MONTH HAS BEEN NICE TO ANGLERS
The pumpkin month has been nice to Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene with more nice weather in the forecast for next week. Fall fishing is alive. Each week sees more colors on display along the hillsides and it’s a great time to go fishing or just take a cruise around the lake. Just remember to observe the channel markers as you move about. There are lots of shallow sandbars out there now so resist the urge to take those shortcuts out across the open waters.
Cooler days this week have seen surface temperatures fall from last week. Readings the last few days have shown mornings kicking off around 64 to 65 degrees and rising slightly at midday. That has stimulated the shallow to midrange crappie bite lately.
Lake levels are around the 355 elevation across the reservoir and have at times fallen a few inches. Watch for a slight decline in lake levels in the week ahead as the reservoir falls back toward winter pool.
Watercolor remains clear. Not much current moving in the main Tennessee River channel lately as a lack of rainfall has been the story. This past week Tennessee Valley Authority was pushing only 21,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Kentucky Dam. The diminished current has decreased the catfish bite somewhat, but it can rebound quickly once current increases.
Late October has traditionally been a good time frame for catching crappie here and as of late it has held up to its reputation. More fish have moved up to the 5-to-10-foot depth range in hot pursuit of shad schools.
Several nice stringers have been taken recently by anglers vertical fishing both jigs and minnows around submerged stake beds and brush piles. However, a few reports have come in from successful anglers casting jigs too. Some boats working the main lake ledges pulling jigs with long line techniques are catching fish too as they stroll along the ledges and flats targeting 12-to-15-foot depths. Anglers had to negotiate a few windy days but overall, it’s been nice out there.
Crappie have shown a more aggressive mood this week. No doubt the lower surface temperatures have had a positive influence. The bite should hold up for several more weeks.
Bass activity has been fair with a few more fish headed toward gravel shorelines. Tossing shad-colored crankbaits have produced as have some floating fluke style lures and topwater jerk baits. More shad activity has been visible in the early morning and late afternoons lately. Still stalking some of the main lake ledges and shallow sandbars have been a few boats casting swim baits and some Rattle Trap style presentations. A few smallmouth were showing up from those main lake ledges.
Don’t let this wonderful fall fishing scene pass you by. It’s absolutely beautiful out there right now and the bite is good too.
11 Oct 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
IT’S GREAT OUT ON THE LAKE…AUTUMN INVITES YOU
Waiting for nice weather before heading out on the lake? Wait no longer. Autumn is in full swing and invites you to partake of this wonderful season of transition. Mild temperatures are the norm. Light winds too. Jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons are here. Last weekend’s cool snap sort of helped jump start a sluggish fall that had gotten hung in the summer mode position. A long stretch of hot and dry weather had folks wondering if fall had passed us by. Not to worry. It’s alive and well on Kentucky Lake.
Since last week surface temperatures have cooled slightly and another weekend cold front is in the forecast. An extended spell of chilly weather is expected to hang around next week too. It appears adding another log to the fire is about to enter the picture. Surface temps this week have been in the 77-to-78-degree range. That will likely fall a few degrees in the days ahead.
Watercolor remains clear. Very little rain has fallen in the region lately. Lake levels are sleeping around the low elevation of 354.9, which is on the threshold of the low ebb of winter pool. The reservoir has been stable these last few weeks. Discharge rates out of Kentucky Dam have been in the 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) range.
The fall crappie bite has improved somewhat as a few more fish are moving up and showing more interest. Some decent stringers have been taken recently by anglers vertical fishing live minnows and jigs around the 8-to-13-foot depth range. Some anglers reported some good size crappie taken from the deeper depth range of 16 to 18 feet at times. Up Big Sandy there were fish taken in the midrange depths of 5 to 8 feet.
It’s not uncommon for the shallow bite to turn on somewhat quicker in the upper end of Big Sandy and throughout West Sandy. Fall crappie fishing is often overlooked and underrated. You can fight fish without having to fight the crowd.
These next few weeks will see cooler surface temperatures entering the fishing scene. Transition time is indeed underway out on the lake and up on the hillsides. Fall colors are fading fast but peak is a couple of weeks away. Watch for that shallow bite to improve all across the reservoir, especially on cloudy or rainy days that help filter out the bright sunlight.
Catfish have still been hitting for those who know how to find them out on the main river areas as they follow the balls of baitfish. Shad schooling in huge balls will usually have the catfish in hot pursuit. Depths can vary from 25 to 45 feet at times, but the blue cats have been hitting pretty good at times. Meanwhile, several nice channel catfish are showing up in midrange depths of 10 to 15 feet as crappie anglers working stake beds and brush piles are tying into some on a regular basis. It’s quite a thrill to battle a 3-to-4-pound catfish on light tackle. That’s happening daily for crappie anglers too.
Bass fishermen are still finding the fall bite challenging. Clear water conditions have had shallow bass finicky as most of the better tournament stringers are coming from deeper water humps and sandbars. The best stringers taken by tournament winners are being credited to fishing swim baits out on ledges or humps inside the mouth of big bays. Several nice smallmouth are showing up too!
More shad have moved up on gravel banks this week and flicking about, feeding on midge hatches. The tiny insects hatch in lowlight conditions throughout the fall, offering some nice topwater opportunities along open gravel flats and shady banks. That shallow gravel bank topwater bite occurs in the early morning and late afternoon hours. However, sometimes it kicks in on a cloudy day even at midday.
Other patterns producing a few fish are boat docks where anglers have been tossing shallow running shad-colored crankbaits and pitching jig/pig combos and various Texas rigged worm variations or slow falling baits.
Autumn angling has definitely arrived. These next few weeks offer some great fishing and beautiful scenery so don’t that this wonderful season get away from you. Taking a pontoon cruise in the late afternoon is quite nice but all boaters best use caution and pay close attention to channel markers. That low lake level will humble you!
03 Oct 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
FISHING SCENE WELCOMES WEATHER CHANGE
By this weekend a long overdue cold front will be in progress. Temperatures are expected to plummet, dropping some 25 degrees in the days ahead. Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene is about to see a drastic change as lows on Saturday and Sunday nights are forecast to fall into the upper 30’s and low 40’s. Daytime highs are expected to only reach the low 60’s on Saturday and Sunday.
For several weeks both fishermen and hunters have been hoping for cooler weather. Looks like the region is about to get it. And most everyone was hoping some much-needed rain was preceding the cold spell.
This past week has seen some hot summer days taking over the fishing scene at midday. Stagnant winds made it feel even hotter out there on the big pond too. Low to mid 80’s with no breeze has heated things up above the norm for the first week of October so hardly anyone will complain about cooler days ahead.
Lake levels dropped a few inches this week. Elevation at Kentucky Dam fell to the 354.9 range at midweek. Watercolor remains clear. Discharge rates at Kentucky Dam had fallen off to 29,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) this week. Surface temperatures have started the mornings off around 78 degrees and warmed to 80 at midday. Watch for that to decline rapidly once the cold front passes through the region this weekend.
Bass fishing continues to be challenging for the average everyday angler who had been throwing everything in the tackle box hoping to stimulate some strikes from sluggish bass. While a few anglers reported some activity it has been hit and miss. The most activity has occurred around flats and in some big bays where schools of white bass have been busting the surface with frequent feeding frenzies.
Several calm days revealed surface activity as fish tore holes in the placid waters in hot pursuit of big schools of shad. Some largemouth and smallmouth accompanied the feeding sprees too.
Meanwhile, some area tournament winners credited their success to tossing swim baits out on main lake areas. Finicky bass have been reluctant to show much interest but some of those tournament anglers who have mastered Livescope technology have managed to find and catch a few fish even in the toughest of times.
The early October crappie bite has been challenging as well for most anglers but there are always a few success stories. Depths of 8 to 11 feet have given up some decent stringers this week but it required anglers to make a lot of stops.
The finicky crappie have been one here and two there but not much in the way of schooling fish. Some stake beds and brush piles in midrange depths have been produced while anglers utilized live minnows and a few jigs tipped with minnows. Enticing the sluggish crappie to bite has required anglers to experiment with both depth and bait presentations. The bite has been best in the early morning and late afternoon hours as those hot days with high skies and stagnant winds at midday saw activity diminish. Cloud cover has been rare, which added another hurdle to the equation.
The long hot spell has seen above average surface temps wear out their welcome. The shallow bite has been somewhat below average but that’s about to change. In the aftermath of the cold front will be normal fall type weather so hopefully more fish will transition toward shallow areas in the days ahead.
Some cat fishermen stalking the main Tennessee River channel area chalked up some decent stringers of blue and channel catfish this week. Despite low flows the bite was pretty good at times out there.
Looks like it’s time to dig out the coveralls and heavy jackets. A rare cold front is about to blow in and change the whole fishing scene for a few days, although temps are forecast to moderate by next week.
Finally, it’s going to feel like fall out there!
27 Sept 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
EVEN FISHING SCENE IN NEED OF RAIN AND COOLER TEMPS
You know it’s dry when even the fishermen want it to rain! Such is the case across the Kentucky Lake fishing scene and the entire region has been quite dry lately, not to mention the rather warm temperatures that have been reluctant to loosen their grip. Fall officially arrived last week but summer weather has lingered as of late. Fishermen were hoping the first week of October would deliver some of those jacket mornings. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
Surface temperatures this week have not cooled off from last week. Morning readings are starting the day off around 79 and warming to 82-plus range by midday. Watercolor remains clear across the reservoir. No rain has fallen so runoff has not entered the Tennessee River watershed as of late. Lake levels this week have fallen to the 355.1 range, which is right on the threshold of the low ebb of winter pool.
Boaters running about best pay close attention to channel markers. This is not the time of year to take shortcuts across main lake sandbars as it will get you in trouble. Current has diminished as well. TVA is pushing only 20,000 (cfs) through Kentucky Dam this week so that has somewhat curtailed the main channel catfish bite.
A few catfish have continued to move up to midrange depths of 15 to 20 feet. Some areas of 10 to 12 feet have given up catfish lately as several nice ones have been taken by crappie fishermen while working midrange brush piles and stake beds. That’s a nice surprise to tie into a hefty catfish while fishing a light action rod with light monofilament line. While expecting a light strike and a somewhat sluggish battle the show changes quickly when a hefty catfish makes a run, tearing holes in the water and making the line sing.
Sometimes it’s a tackle tester as a big cat will break the line once he makes a run and dives back into the structure from which he came. Not much an angler can do but hold on and loosen the drag on the reel. Having a dip net handy might help you land ole’ whiskers!
Kentucky Lake’s early fall crappie bite has been fair but somewhat sluggish in the shallow to midrange depths. The fish have not moved up in big numbers just yet, a likely result of warm surface temperatures hanging around. There have been a few crappie taken in 5-to-8-foot stake beds and brush piles, but anglers are encountering a lot of small fish there. Also challenging has been the battle with the bait stealing yellow bass who always seem to possess an appetite and attitude.
Both the yellow bass and crappie will coexist in the shallow crappie beds at times as they’re in competition for shad in the zone. However, if you’re using live minnows—and a lot of anglers are—expect to go through a lot of bait in your quest to find a few keeper size crappie. Some crappie are still lingering out in the 16-to-20-foot depth range. A few bigger fish have been taken there lately on deep structure. Most anglers are using tightline techniques and vertical presentations of live minnows or jigs tipped with minnows around deeper structure. Bites have been light as the fish are somewhat finicky.
A few cloudy or rainy days would help the shallow bite. These beautiful clear days are nice to be out on the lake, but the high skies and high barometric pressure days make shallow fish even more spooky. And, stagnant days without wind add another dimension to already finicky crappie. Most anglers prefer a little chop on the water from a light wind. Sooner or later some real fall weather will arrive and cool off the fishing scene. The early mornings have already been nice and some tint in the foliage is already beginning to show up on the hillsides.
Bass anglers have been pulling out all the stops in their attempts to pattern illusive early fall bass. Some are staying with a summer pattern and working main lake sandbars, humps and ledges. Other have beat the banks and trying to trick some fish on gravel shorelines and various exposed crappie beds. The shallow bite has been tough for most. Tossing spinnerbaits, Texas rigged worms, shallow running shad-colored crankbaits and even some topwater have been sluggish to produce. Those fishing deeper water have had success while tossing finesse baits on main lake sandbars at times.
Another pattern producing has been finding white bass schooling. Locating them in jumps means the schools of shad are there and largemouth and smallmouth are likely running with them. Sooner or later those foggy cool mornings will be here. A long sleeve jacket will be needed until mid-morning, and all will be right with the world!
18 Sept 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
FALL OFFICIALLY ARRIVES…ANGLERS YEARN FOR COOLER DAYS/LOWER SURFACE TEMPS
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene officially changes to autumn angling on Saturday says the calendar. Anglers are hoping for some cool fall weather to get here and stay here.
Lake levels this week continued a slow fall and elevation is down a few inches from last week at this time with a reading of 355.6 across the reservoir. Watercolor remains clear. TVA has been pulling a steady flow as forecasts indicate some 45,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) are moving through Kentucky Dam daily. That’s maintaining pretty good current for cat fishermen and main lake area bass and crappie anglers.
Surface temperatures are starting the morning out around 78 degrees and warming to 82 by midday. The long-range weather forecast indicates stable weather lies ahead with highs in the low 80’s most days and a slight chance of rain by Sunday or Monday. Fall has a reputation of stability and it’s starting out right on track. Anglers wouldn’t mind some cooler days and nights to lower the surface temperatures.
The crappie bite has been somewhat sluggish for most anglers yearning for lower surface temperatures. That might pull more numbers of larger fish to shallow to midrange depths. A lot of small fish have been caught by fishermen stalking stake beds and brush piles in depths of 6 to 10 feet. Finding decent numbers of crappie that exceed the 10-inch minimum length limit in that depth zones has been tough. Lots of smaller fish have moved up but bigger fish remain a challenge.
Even some deeper ledges and structure out on main lake flats has been reluctant to give up decent number of big fish at times. Some boaters are fishing live minnow presentations or tipping jigs with minnows while others are vertical fishing jigs around deep cover. Battling the aggressive schools of yellow bass has been all part of the fall fishing equation as the bait stealers are abundant at times. They are small in size but possess a huge appetite.
Meanwhile, a few boats targeting deeper structure out on main lake areas have managed to find a few good size in the 13-to-17-foot depth range. Most say they had to make a lot of stops to accumulate numbers as not many fish were schooling around the deep cover. That scenario should improve in the days and weeks ahead. A little drop in surface temperatures can trigger increased activity by both schools of shad and the crappie who pursue them. Some cloudy or rainy mornings would help the shallow bite as well.
Catfish continue to move up and slowly leave those deep summer hideouts as fall advances. Tying into a few catfish has been the norm lately for crappie fishermen as they work the midrange depths of 12 to 15 feet. Meanwhile, there’s still good current out on the main river channel these days and that has maintained a decent bite among the ranks of cat fishermen working the banks of the main river channel. Depths of 25 to 35 feet were still giving up good numbers of blue and channel catfish. Nightcrawlers, chicken livers and cut bait were producing.
The bass bite has been inconsistent for most as establishing patterns has been tough. There have been a few fish chasing shad in the backs of larger bays as they mix with white bass activity. Tossing Rattle Trap style lures in chrome colors have produced at times. Rooster Tails have worked good on the white bass. Activity along shallow gravel banks has not worked well as of late, but that bite should improve soon as it’s time for bass to move up and occupy such areas, especially in early morning and late afternoons. Anglers tossing swim baits, Carolina rigs and Texas rig presentations as well as those still offering big deep diving shad-colored crankbaits are managing to catch a few fish.
Some nice smallmouth are showing up at times in the creel of anglers fishing finesse baits on deeper humps and main lake ledges along the river channel.
Some white bass schooling activity is taking place and the fish are busting the surface on calm days in their pursuit of shad schools.
13 Sept 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
AUTUMN ANGLING HAS FEEL OF FALL IN THE AIR
A midweek cool snap sure had a nice feel to it. Lower humidity and temperatures put a little pep in the step of Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene again this week. Chilly nights saw the temps fall into the upper 50’s in some areas and low 60’s in others. It was a welcomed change.
Days have definitely had a fall feel this week although autumn doesn’t officially arrive until September 23. And the weatherman indicates warmer days are in the forecast for next week, but fishermen are enjoying the party of cool weather while it lasts.
Surface temperatures this week have fallen slightly as readings were starting out the mornings around 81 to 82 degrees and warming to 85 by midday. By this weekend water temps will likely fall into the low 70’s at night low 80’s during the day.
Watercolor remains clear across the reservoir. Lake levels in the Kentucky Dam area and across the reservoir have fallen slightly and are down to the 355.8 level, which is the lowest elevation since TVA’s annual drawdown began back on July 1.
Both recreational boaters and fishermen need to pay close attention to channel markers as they navigate across Kentucky Lake. Taking shortcuts can produce problems when the reservoir is down.
There’s still pretty good current in the main Tennessee River channel as TVA is discharging 47,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) through Kentucky Dam. That much current moving should maintain a good bite for cat fishermen stalking the main channel areas. Last week the current diminished but has returned, which will likely stimulate the bite courtesy of shad movement.
Once current kicks in it stirs up phytoplankton and zooplankton and that triggers schools of shad to move about on feeding sprees. Movement throughout the food chain occurs and anglers are the beneficiary of meandering balls of shad with catfish hot on their trail. Depths of 25 to 40 feet have given up fish this week. It appears the cooler days are pushing a few fish to move up to midrange depths.
Although several boats continue to pursue catfish along the main river channel banks, fish have moved up to midrange depths lately as crappie fishermen are encountering them as they fish 9-to-13-foot depths around manmade fish attractors. Nightcrawlers are still the bait of choice among the ranks of cat fishermen.
Crappie have transitioned this week as they slowly stair-step their way toward shallow to midrange depths. Some fish have been taken in 5-to-8-foot depths in Big Sandy and West Sandy this week while most anglers in the Paris Landing sector were fishing a bit deeper. A few larger fish have been taken in 18-to-22-foot depths but numbers there were scattered. Midrange depths of 12 to 15 feet appear to be holding a few more fish but anglers are having to cull out a lot of smaller fish at times.
For those tipping jigs with minnows or just using live minnow presentations it’s that time of the year when pesky schools of yellow bass move up and occupy shallow crappie beds too. Like a school of piranha, the feisty little rascals are fun to catch and quite aggressive but quite annoying at times. They will steal your bait at the blink of an eye. As fall approaches and days grow shorter and hopefully cooler, crappie should continue to move up to the 8-to-12-foot zones in good numbers.
Anglers fishing jigs in a vertical presentation are catching decent numbers but pretty much everyone is having to move about and knock on a lot of doors to accumulate numbers. Once surface temps fall back into the mid to upper 60’s and remains there crappie should take on a more aggressive mood.
Bass anglers have been struggling at times in their quest to find baitfish schools. Some shad are roaming the backs of bays, and a few are showing up along gravel banks in the early morning and late afternoon. Shad usually begin feeding sprees in the lowlight hours as they feast on midge (small insects) hatches, especially in the early morning and late afternoon periods. It can be a good topwater bite for short periods.
Still stalking main lake ledges are boaters staying with the summer patterns. Tossing swim baits, crankbaits and some Texas rigged worms had paid dividends at times. Some decent size smallmouth have been taken by anglers finesse fishing deeper sandbars and humps.
Warm weather has been stubborn to depart for long periods but each passing day brings fall closer to the fishing scene. Soon those jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons will be the norm.
06 Sept 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
TRANSITION TIME FOR KENTUCKY LAKE FISHING SCENE
It’s transition time for Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene as fall approaches. Although the season doesn’t officially arrive until September 23rd this year there are already signs things are changing out there on the big pond. Lake levels have dropped a bit since last week and are sleeping around the 356-elevation range at Kentucky Dam and across the reservoir. Discharge rates have diminished this week as well as TVA is pushing about 36,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Kentucky Dam.
Watercolor remains clear. Surface temps are in the 83-to-85-degree range. A cool spell should enter the picture by this weekend, which may decrease surface temps slightly in the days ahead.
Crappie have begun their late summer and pre-fall transition toward shallow to midrange depths. A few fish have been caught this week in the 9-to-13-foot depth range. More will move up in the days and weeks ahead as surface temps fall back into the mid 70’s and upper 60’s. Schools of baitfish are already beginning to show up meandering across shallow flats and some are moving up into the back ends of big bays. With them will come crappie and bass hot on their trail.
Anglers working manmade fish attractors such as stake beds and brush piles are finding several scattered fish taking live minnows or jigs tipped with minnows while applying vertical presentations. Others are casting jigs at times and scoring decent stringers. Some boats are still staying with main lake ledges and vertical fishing deep structure in depths of 17 to 22 feet. There are still some crappie holding on to summer venues as a result of recent hot weather. Watch for more fish to move up soon. Lower surface temps, shorter days and that fall feel in the air will stimulate activity for sluggish crappie. Like the anglers pursuing them they too welcome the cooler transition toward autumn.
Bass anglers are finding some decent size fish playing their game whenever schools of shad can be located along some main lake sand bars or even toward the backs of bigger bays.
Some white bass have been schooling out on the main lake sandbars and running with them in pursuit of the threadfin shad have been some smallmouth and largemouth schooling as well. On calm days the feeding frenzies can easily be spotted as the fish tear holes in the placid waters. Tossing shad-colored crankbaits, spoons, Rooster Tails and some swim baits have appealed. A few fish have responded to topwater jerk bait in chrome colors.
Some bass anglers are still tossing deep running crankbaits, Texas rigged worms and the typical menu of summer bait buffets out on main lake ledges. Soon more bass will be moving up to gravel banks in hot pursuit of shad that are feeding on the lowlight midge hatches in the early morning and late afternoon hours. The tiny insects hatching draw the baitfish and the bass know it. We need a few more cool days to stimulate that bite.
Catfish have continued to greet anglers this week but a slight decrease in the current may diminish the bite at times. TVA was pushing a lot of water last week but has backed off some. Still, the flow out there now should produce a decent bite. Some nice stringers of blue catfish were taken this week by anglers fishing the 40-foot depth range as they dunked nightcrawlers around the suspended schools of shad. A few boats are bumping bottom along the edge of the river channel banks while others are fishing bridge piers and scoring well.
There’s some great fishing opportunities ahead as fall approaches, bringing with it cooler days and less overall activity out on the lake. It is indeed an overlooked season. Just be aware of the lower lake levels—which are normal this time of year—and pay close attention to channel markers and your sonar units. Don’t go blasting down the lake at high speeds if you don’t know the water!
30 Aug 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
TOUCH OF FALL WAS SHORT HONEYMOON FOR FISHING SCENE
Kentucky Lake’s late August fishing scene had a touch of fall in the air this week. Anglers are wondering how long it will last.
According to the long-range forecast things will begin heat up by Labor Day as daytime highs are forecast to return to the upper 80’s and hang around most of next week.
Lake levels have been falling slowly this week and TVA’s forecast heading into the weekend projects an elevation of 356.6, which a minor change from last weekend’s level. Watercolor is clear across the reservoir.
Surface temperatures are in the 83-to-85-degree range. The short hiatus from hot and humid weather sure helped the attitude of anglers but it had a minor effect on water temps.
A steady current has held up well for catfish and bass anglers working the main lake areas.
TVA has been keeping a steady flow through Kentucky Dam and discharging around 57,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). That has provided ample current in the main channel area and maintained the aggressive bite of both blue and channel catfish schools who are following the paths of shad balls.
Cat fishermen know that current—as long as it’s not too swift—is their bread and butter. Moving water stimulates movement of baitfish. And the baitfish are moving because their forage base (shad) are meandering about feeding on zooplankton.
Current puts life in the main channel areas and without it the bite diminishes. The fish just don’t move around and feed much when stagnant current descends.
Sometimes the bite will change throughout the day if low flows exist early but increase throughout the day as power demands increase. There are times when anglers just have to wait it out.
Checking the TVA website (TVA.com) for Kentucky reservoir will provide a three-day forecast on both lake levels and discharge rates, which helps anglers make plans but even that’s subject to change on short notice.
Nice stringers have been taken as anglers work the edge of the Tennessee River channel banks plus submerged humps and bends in the riverbank. Depths of 40 to 50 feet have produced but a few fish have been taken suspending around the baitfish balls.
Topping the preferred bait list is still nightcrawlers. They’re pretty hard to beat for consistency. Chicken liver, big minnows, cut shad/bluegill, hotdogs dipped in homemade concoctions, shrimp and catalpa worms (if you can find them) are always good choices as well.
Bass activity had some improvements as current has helped that bite too out on main lake ledges. A few nice smallmouth and largemouth have been relating to the down current sides of sandbars and humps.
Depths of 12 to 20 feet have given up some dandies in the 4 to 5 pound plus range as of late. Swim baits and deep diving crankbaits have worked but so have Texas rigged worms and Carolina rigged worms and grubs in the pumpkin pepper, green pumpkin pepper, red shad and Tequila sunrise colors just to name a few.
Scattered schools of white bass are showing up on main lake sandbars too when big schools of shad are present. Some surface activity has been seen on calm days when the fish go into a feeding frenzy.
Crappie have been fair with scattered success stories from anglers fishing live minnows and jigs tipped with minnows. Depths of 12 to 16 feet produced a few fish as have some deeper structures in the 18-to-25-foot depth zone.
Most anglers are tightlining their bait presentation and bumping bottom at times as the fish are tight in the cover.
Look for more crappie to move up to midrange depths in the days and weeks ahead. Early September kick starts a transition time for Kentucky Lake crappie to slowly begin putting some of their deep summer hideouts in the rearview mirror.
23 Aug 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Dominating this week’s Kentucky Lake fishing scene has been the return of hot and humid weather. Daytime highs have climbed to the mid to upper 90’s with a heat index of 100-plus.
That’s calling the shots for summer fishermen and diminished the playing field for a lot of anglers but there are always a few die-hards out there testing the water.
There’s good news in the forecast as temps are expected to fall back near or slightly below the normal range by Sunday or Monday so cooler days are ahead for fishermen.
Lake levels have been falling this week while temperatures were rising. Kentucky Lake’s elevation is projected to be down around the 356.7 range by the weekend. That’s down several inches from last week at this time.
Surface temperatures have risen to the 86-to-88-degree range. Watercolor is clear across most of the reservoir with a slight stain remaining in the main channel area.
TVA has been pulling a lot of current and that kept ample flow in the main Tennessee River channel which prolonged a good summer catfish bite. Projections indicate a reduction in discharge through Kentucky Dam in the days ahead down to 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
That’s down from last week but still enough to keep the interest level high for meandering blue and channel catfish. Anglers should continue to see plenty of activity.
Still producing have been the deeper depths of 40 to 50 feet at times. Baits of choice have been nightcrawlers, catalpa worms, chicken liver, hot dogs marinated in garlic type concoctions, big minnows and cut bait. Several commercial baits are working too.
Crappie have been sluggish, but some have been taken in the 18-to-22-foot depth range by anglers tightlining minnows on bottom bumping rigs or on jigs tipped with minnows. Some anglers reported scattered fish found in 12-to-15-foot brush piles and stake beds.
Others are trolling crankbaits out on main lake sandbars and picking up a few using that technique.
Most all anglers are hitting the lake in the wee hours of the morning and tossing in the towel before midday heat takes over.
Crappie and bass anglers indicate the bite is diminishing once the sun gets high in the sky as fish are sensitive to the bright light and heat by midday.
Bass fishermen are finding a few deep holes producing out on the main lake sandbars and ledges. Current helps that bite too and when there’s flow the schools of shad are meandering, which stimulates for feeding activity from bass, catfish, crappie and white bass.
A few bass fishermen have turned to night fishing in an effort to beat the beat.
Most anglers continue to toss big Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, swim baits, deep diving crankbaits and a few spoons.
There have been several sightings of white bass schooling out on main lake flats gotten the attention of summer fishermen. Tossing small spinners and spoons have worked well on the aggressive feeders in the midst of a feeding frenzy.
Mayflies continue to hatch and that can produce a decent shallow bite in the early morning and late afternoon hours at the peak of the hatch.
Cooler days are coming, and anglers should have a much better comfort zone out there once they arrive. Next week should be better overall for the entire fishing scene.
16 Aug 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
CATFISH STILL KING OF FISHING SCENE
Make no mistake about it; catfish is still king of the summer fishing scene on Kentucky Lake!
In the aftermath of abundant rain that fell in the wake of repeated thunderstorms passing through the region earlier this week and portions of last week ample runoff has entered the Tennessee River watershed lately. As a result, Kentucky Lake has plenty of current flowing as TVA has been discharging over 57,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) this week through Kentucky Dam.
Lake levels and discharge rates could change daily. Lake levels are falling slowly and were dancing around the 357.8 range. Watercolor is mostly clear, but more stain has entered the main channel area the last few days. Surface temps are in the 85-to-87-degree range.
A cool front has slipped in the door and given anglers a rare touch of fall for a few days. That’s a welcomed change to the heat and humidity, which is the norm for August angling. The forecast indicates the break from hot weather will be a short honeymoon.
Fishermen could see some foggy mornings enter the fishing scene. A light jacket or long sleeve shirts may replace sunscreen or a day or two.
Meanwhile hefty stringers of blue catfish are dominating the Kentucky Lake fishing scene again this week. Good flowing current has helped prolong the summer bite and anglers are taking advantage of it.
Whenever discharge rates increase at Kentucky Dam it has a domino effect upstream for summer cat fishermen stalking the deep holes along the Tennessee River.
Where bend and turns or perhaps humps and other irregular features in the topography occur that may divert the submerged flow is where anglers frequently discover buried treasure in the form of ole’ whiskers. Schools of catfish are hot on the trail of meandering balls of baitfish and such spots pay dividends.
Kentucky Lake’s summer catfish bite should continue to hold up for several more weeks as long as steady current stays in the picture.
A lot of anglers are targeting the 40-to-50-foot depth range, but some fish have been suspending at times in their pursuit of meandering schools of shad. Successful anglers that have learned to monitor their sonar screens are scoring big catches of both blue and channel catfish.
Productive baits have been nightcrawlers, chicken livers, cut bait such as bluegill, big minnows, catalpa worms, hot dogs dipped in various homemade concoctions and shrimp just to name a few. There are some good commercial baits available at your favorite bait shop that are working too.
Scattered reports of summer crappie have come in from anglers still stalking stake beds and brush piles around the 12-to-15-foot depth range. Most were tightlining jigs tipped with minnows or Berkley Power Bait crappie nibbles in white or chartreuse.
Deeper crappie have been taken around 18 to 25 feet by anglers tightlining live minnows. Some are tipping jigs will minnows as well. The live minnow seems to be enticing to summer crappie.
A few boats are trolling crankbaits over main lake ledges and picking up a potpourri of species around the 12-to-15-foot depth range. It’s not unusual for trollers to encounter crappie, white bass, yellow bass, drum, catfish, sauger and an occasional hefty largemouth or smallmouth bass.
The trolling technique covers a lot of water and sometimes a school of white bass can be discovered holding on the edge of a drop-off.
White bass have been seen in the jumps around the Paris Landing sector on days when calm winds delivered placid water that allowed anglers to hear and see them busting shad. The surface activity has been inconsistent, but anglers are tossing spoons and Rooter Tails to catch them once the school submerges around main lake sandbars.
Bass fishermen are still banging away at main lake ledges with big deep diving crankbaits, swim baits, Texas and Carolina rigged worms and even tossing finesse baits at times in hopes of enticing finicky bass to bite.
Hopping a hair jig with a craw type trailer is another summer bait that always seems to be on the rod of the summer bass fishermen’s arsenal.
Now that some cool weather has entered the fishing scene anglers need to make the most of it and get out and about. It’s a nice reprieve from the hot and humid conditions but it won’t last long.
09 Aug 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
TYPICAL SUMMER FISHING SCENE FOR KENTUCKY LAKE
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene this week is typical of mid-summer patterns and lake levels as the reservoir has been falling slowly and pretty much on track as to TVA’s drawdown curve.
Lake levels this week have been falling slowly with a weekend projection of 357.4. TVA is pushing some 40,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Kentucky Dam, which ample current to stimulate shad movement and keep the catfish bite going.
Watercolor remains clear. Surface temps are starting out the mornings around 85 degrees and rising to 88 around midday.
Several cloudy days have helped filter out a stubborn sun and that has worked in favor of anglers. Thunderstorms have been part of the forecast causing anglers to keep an eye on the sky.
Kentucky Lake’s catfish bite has been consistent as of late with some pretty good stringers showing up in the creel of anglers. Blue and channel catfish have been taken in good numbers in depths of 40 to 50 feet, but some were caught in the 30-foot range as well.
Most boats are targeting the main Tennessee River channel banks or other bends and turns in the channel where current is perhaps creating submerged eddies around sandbars or humps. Such spots are holding schools of shad who may be dodging the current or feeding on the zooplankton moving about in the water column.
Finding the balls of bait fish suspended or relating to deep topography will put anglers in touch with schools of hungry catfish. Watching sonar units and tracking the shad will pay dividends.
Summer catfish baits always seem to consist of nightcrawlers, chicken livers, cut-bait, hot dogs marinated in various stink bait brews and even some big minnows just to name a few. Some commercial baits are working too.
Scattered reports of white bass in the jumps have come in on the days when placid water is present. Windy days make it tough to see shad activity and surface feeding frenzies.
A few crappie have been caught by anglers working main lake areas in depths of 18 to 20 feet, but some anglers have found a few scattered fish lingering around submerged stake beds in 13-to-15-foot depths at times.
While most are relying on live minnows there are some anglers tipping jigs with minnows to entice bites.
Mayfly hatches are always a part of summer and they’re still occurring up and down the reservoir, especially in the aftermath of thunderstorms. You’ll find bass activity around the flies plus plenty of bluegill and various species feeding on Mother Nature’s buffet.
Bass fishermen continue to target main lake ledges for the most part. Tossing Texas rigged worms plus some Carolina rigs, deep diving crankbaits, swim baits and jig and craw combos are working too. A few night fishermen are tossing big bladed spinnerbaits along bride piers and rip-rap rock levees as well.
01 Aug 2023
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
CURRENT KEEPS CATFISH BITE GOING AT KENTUCKY LAKE
Kentucky’s Lake fishing scene this week is once again dominated by the mid-summer catfish bite. Although the current has diminished from late July there’s still enough flow to stimulate movement of baitfish and that’s the key.
TVA is pushing 29,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Kentucky Dam at present, which helps stimulate movement of shad schools that meander about, feeding on plankton and zooplankton. Anglers are targeting the balls of baitfish on sonar units and finding catfish hot on their trail.
Productive depth ranges have been 35 to 50 feet. Popular bait choices have been nightcrawlers, chicken livers, cut bait, catalpa worms (if you can find them), several commercial concoctions and hotdogs marinated in homemade garlic brews just to name a few. Like the cat fishermen summer bass anglers rely on the current to stimulate the bite.
Surface temps are in the 85-to-85-degree range. Watercolor is clear. Lake levels this week are in the 357.8 range, which is down a few inches from last week.
Bass fishing has been sluggish but some decent size fish have been taken on main lake ledges when current was present. Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, swim baits, big deep diving crankbaits and jig/craw combos have produced at times.
Night fishing has appealed to a few anglers attempting to beat the heat. Tossing a big spinnerbait along rip-rap shorelines, bridge piers and roadbeds has given up a few decent smallmouth.
Scattered sightings of white bass schooling and busting the surface in pursuit of meandering baitfish balls have been reported in main lake areas. The action has been inconsistent.
Crappie anglers are picking up a few on main lake ledges as they target deep structure in the 18-to-25-foot depth range. Most credit their catches to live minnows but some are tipping jigs with minnows to entice bites from finicky fish. The bite has been best in the early morning hours before a midday sun takes over and diminishes activity.
A few boats are trolling crankbaits out on main lake area sandbars and picking up a mixed bag of crappie, white bass, catfish, largemouth and an occasional sauger.
Mayfly hatches are still showing up around main river island areas. Using light tackle and casting Rooster Tails has been productive as have tossing crickets under slip bobbers. Assorted species are always feasting on the mayfly hatches.
During the summer doldrums it seems catfish is king of the fishing scene along Kentucky Lake as long as current is present.
20 Jan 2023
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Water is coming up and down a lot right now. Can still catch some fish on current breaks when water comes up. Then when water falls you slide off the end of points with an Alabama rig and jerk bait. Happy fishing.
23 Dec 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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It’s been very good this last week. But water is fixing to start rising and fish will be moving to the current breaks. Crank baits, jerk baits, rattle traps will be on fire. Mouth of creeks mouth of pockets anywhere a current break would be is going to be where the fish relate too. Happy fishing and merry Christmas.
14 Oct 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been good as the cooler weather is coming. Top water bite is heating up on the main river shallow bars. Strike King sexy dawg has been the key player. Happy fishing.
07 Oct 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been good as the top water bite is heating up. Shallow bars on main channel and also lead in banks going into the creeks have been the best. Strike King sexy dawgs and also whopper plopper have been the best producing baits.
01 Oct 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been good as the top water bite is heating up. Shallow bars on main channel and also lead in banks going into the creeks have been the best. Strike King sexy dawgs and also whopper plopper have been the best producing baits.
16 Sept 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been good, but they are all over the place. From the backs of creeks to the main river bars. Most productive have been shallow main river bars throwing top water. Fall is here and the spook bite is heating up. Happy fishing.
26 Aug 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been steady. Water temps still very hot. Morning bite continues to the best. Top water, spinner bait, and also a Senko. Fishing shallow in the creeks about halfway back around wood and bank grass.
29 July 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Water temps are super high fishing has been best first thing in the morning. Top water fishing shallow points inside the creeks fish are up cruising chasing bait first thing in the mornings. You can go fish some brush piles when the sun comes up and get some bites on a big jig and worm. Happy fishing.
10 June 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been great. Lots of fish to be caught shallow fishing bank grass. Top water baits have been really good first thing in morning then when sun comes out you can slow down and drag worms around wood and grass. Also, can catch some fish at mouth of creeks on points dragging a big football jig or big worm. Happy fishing.
27 May 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Kentucky lake bass fishing continues to be great. Still several fish shallow can catch them early in morning on top water and some on wood flipping a jig. Deeper points dragging a Carolina rig and also throwing a crank bait can produce bites also. Happy fishing!
13 May 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
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Fishing has been great. Still can catch fish shallow flipping wood. Some fish are starting to move out as the water gets warm. Deeper creek channel turns points of creeks. Dragging a big worm and also a jig. Happy fishing!
22 April 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing is on fire. Fish are shallow spawning on any shallow cover. Soft plastic and jigs have been great. Slow fishing will produce bites. Early signs of a shad spawn fixing to happen as well. Happy fishing.
08 April 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing has been really good. Fish are in the backs of creeks waiting to spawn and some are spawning. Jigs, crank baits, and chatter baits have been working the best. Last deep water in backs of creeks they are holding waiting for the water to come up. Happy fishing.
25 March 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing is heating up!! Big largemouth are moving back in the creeks staging up. Catching them cranking, slow rolling a spinner bait, also a chatter bait. Smallmouth are still hanging around the mount of creeks on current breaks. Cranking and rattle trap have been key for the smallmouth. Happy fishing.
11 March 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing has been really good! Big weights have been winning tournaments. Fish are sitting on current breaks at moth of pockets and creeks also. Rattle traps and square bills have been a really big player. Happy fishing.
04 March 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
(Note- Tristan is fishing the Bassmaster Classic this weekend and will have a new report next week.) Fishing has been great, but the water is going up and down rapidly. Current still strong fish are positioning on current breaks such as points at mouths of creeks. Alabama rig and jerk baits still key baits.
25 Feb 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Fishing has been great, but the water is going up and down rapidly. Current still strong fish are positioning on current breaks such as points at mouths of creeks. Alabama rig and jerk baits still key baits.
11 Feb 2022
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing is heating up. Warmer weather is slowly rising the water temp. Fish are getting more active and can catch them on reaction baits such as crank baits jerk bait and Alabama rigs. Channel swing banks on main river and creeks have been really good. Happy fishing.
21 Jan 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing is still great. Water temperature is still cold, but the fish are active. Alabama rigs, jerk baits, and also a jig have been the key baits lately. Mount of creeks near channel swings banks have been the most productive. Also, main channel ditch’s that dump into the river starting to see some fish school up. Can also catch them going down the bank on a crank bait such as a dt 10.
Jan 2022
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing has been good lately. Fish are still keying on deep channel swing banks and main points at mount of creeks. Alabama rigs and jerk baits are the main players. Happy fishing.
17 Dec 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing report. Fishing has been great lately. Alabama rigs and jerk baits around channel swing banks and also ditches leading into creeks. You can also catch some on a football jig in brush piles. Happy fishing.
10 Dec 2021
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Bass fishing is still great on Kentucky Lake. Large mouth and smallmouth have been hanging around channel swing banks in creeks and on main river. Key baits have been a jerk bait and also an Alabama rig.
03 Dec 2021
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing report is steady. Water temps falling off very quick. Alabama rig and jerk baits are key players right now. Channel swing banks inside of creek and also creek mouths at the river have been very good.
26 Nov 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Fishing is still great at Kentucky Lake. With weather cooling off jerk bait and Alabama rig is fixing to be a big player. Deeper channel swing banks leading into creeks. But you can still catch some fish on top water on main channel shallow bars.
Mid Nov 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing report. Weather is cooling off fish are still very active. While most people are in the woods hunting you can still go out and catch some fish. Top water is still a main player. Shallow bars on main river along with mouths of creeks.
22 Oct 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky Lake continues to fish well. Bait is everywhere from backs of creeks to the main lake. Top water has been the biggest success lately. You can still go in creeks and fish hard wood cover with a jig and soft plastics and catch them as well.
17 Sept 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake is still fishing good. This cooler weather each day is going to have these fish schooling up on shallow bars where you can catch them on top water. Creeks are the most constant right now shallow grass with top water and soft plastics.
03 Sept 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing remains steady this week. The shallow bite has been the best. Chatterbaits spinner baits and soft plastics. The bite has been the best first thing in the mornings
27 Aug 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing remains steady this week. The shallow bite has been the best. Chatterbaits spinner baits and soft plastics. The bite has been the best first thing in the mornings
20 Aug 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing remains steady this week. The shallow bite has been the best. Chatterbaits spinnerbaits and soft plastics. The bite has been the best first thing in the mornings
13 Aug 2021
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing remains steady this week. The shallow bite has been the best. Chatterbaits spinner baits and soft plastics. The bite has been the best first thing in the mornings
06 Aug 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick – Follow on Facebook
Kentucky lake bass fishing this week has been decent. The shallow bite has been the best. Chatterbaits spinner baits and soft plastics. The bite has been the best first thing in the mornings
30 July 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TristanM.Fishing
Kentucky lake it’s the dog days of summer. Brush piles are still producing on big worms and jigs. Depth from 12-20 feet deep. The very backs of creeks where the cool water is coming in has been a great way to catch fish. Shallow fish flipping any piece of shallow wood you run across with a soft plastic or jig.
23 July 2021
Kentucky Lake
Forecast Contributor Tristan McCormick
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TristanM.Fishing
Kentucky lake bass fishing has been good. Still lots of fish to be caught shallow on top water flipping baits and worms. Bank grass has been the best for shallow. Big bags are still be weighed in on brush piles out deep anywhere from 10-20 foot of water. Football jigs ole monster worms have been the key player for brush piles
09 July 2021
02 July 2021
25 June 2021
18 June 2021
11 June 2021
04 June 2021
28 May 2021
21 May 2021
Kentucky Lake – Tristan McCormick, https://www.facebook.com/TristanM.Fishing provides this report. Fish are heading out deep. Starting to see them schooled up on bars and ledges. Crank bait, dragging a jig have been very good. Shad spawn is starting to heat up can catch them early in morning on top water and chatterbaits.
14 May 2021
Kentucky Lake – Tristan McCormick https://www.facebook.com/TristanM.Fishing provides this report. The water is starting to stabilize. There are still several fish up shallow and may be caught while flipping, top water and several different other ways. There is lots of bait activity shallow. The shad spawn is starting. We’re starting to see some big largemouth group up on bars and creek drops. The bass are slowly getting further out.
07 May 2021
Tristan Mccormick provides this report. With the water rising the largemouth are following the water up. Creeks with bushes seem to be the best. Flipping baits such as craws and beavers. Several are still spawning. Smallmouth are already back out wide. Shallow bars and current breaks seem to be the best to find them grouped up. You will catch largemouth with them also. Cranking and dragging a Carolina rig.
30 April 2021
Kentucky Lake – Some crappie are still being caught by fishermen long lining roadrunners/jigs in water depths of 6-8 feet. Also, fishermen vertical fishing beds with success in 10-14 feet of water. He says there are other successful fishing methods going on like casting to beds/structure in various depths. A lot of people are rigging up for redear and bluegill and some catfish have been caught at various depths. Surface temperature was 67 plus degrees on Tuesday April 27, 2021 in the Paris Landing area of the lake. Also, last weekend’s (April 23-24) two-day American Crappie Trail tournament out of Paris Landing State Park was won with 14 crappie weighing 25.33 lbs. Big crappie of the tournament weighed 2.86 lbs. caught by the 3rd place team.
