March 11, 2010
Kentucky Lake: Water Level
at KY Dam - 354.77 Surface Temperature - 48
Lake Barkley:
Water Level at Barkley Dam - 354.75 Surface Temperature - 49
Both lakes are about one half
foot over winter pool. As forecasted last week, we have had some above
average temperatures this week and the warmer weather has raised the base
water temperatures 5 degrees on Ky Lake and 6 degrees on Lake Barkley. The
water temperatures in the creeks and bays has been somewhat higher,
especially during the late morning and afternoons this week. This warming
of the waters seems to have gotten the Largemouth a little more actively
biting suspending jerkbaits and flat sided crankbaits. We have been
experiencing something a little different than we normally see this time of
year, and that is there are more shad in the creeks and bays than we
normally see this time of year. This no doubt is due to the high current
rates we experienced on both lakes during the latter part of February. The
better bite for Largemouth has been in the front halves of the creeks and
bays on rocky secondary points and creek channel banks with some shallow
bite coming in shallow cuts as well as some on flats near the backs of the
bays. I have gotten a few reports of Largemouth still being taken on
shallow ledges on the main lake. I would expect this bite in the creeks and
bays to continue as the water warms and also would expect the main lake
points and banks to start producing more as the deeper fish move up to
stage. What I have experienced and what many of the reports I received this
week indicate is that numbers of smaller Largemouth are being taken with an
occasional very good larger fish. I expect we will see more numbers of the
larger fish being taken very soon, as in any day now as the water warms up a
little more. The Crappie are another story. I have had a number of reports
of good Crappie being taken this week, mostly Black Crappie, in the creeks
and bays over staging brush piles in 12-15 ft of water as well as some
Crappie moving up onto the banks near brush piles in 5-8 ft of water during
the warmer afternoons this past week. This makes perfect sense since the
Black Crappie are early spawners and we are just about at their late
prespawn and spawning temperatures. We have a slow moving low pressure
center to our west, moving northeast and has been spawning thunderstorms and
rain showers since last night over the lakes area. The is forecasted to
continue through Saturday. Daytime and night time temperatures are
forecasted to be below average over the weekend with highs ranging from the
mid 50's tomorrow to a high of 50 on Saturday. The frontal boundary is
expected to pass north of us early Sunday morning which will bring high
pressure into the area with a slow warming trend next week. Anglers going
on the water tomorrow and Saturday should be aware of changing weather
conditions.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth
Bass are being taken on main lake primary points and secondary points and
creek channel banks in the front halves of the creeks and bays. These fish
are being taken primarily on rocky banks with suspending jerkbaits, slow
rolled crankbaits, jigs and shaky heads. Some Largemouth are also being
taken in shallow cuts in the creeks and bays as well as on shallow flats
near the back one third of the creeks and bays on flat sided crankbaits.
Some Largemouth are also being reportedly taken on shallow main lake ledges
by slow rolling deep diving crankbaits, yo yo ing flat sided crankbaits and
blade baits.
Smallmouth Bass: The only
reports I have received on Smallmouth indicate the bite has not been great,
but those fish that have been taken, were taken on main lake primary points
and main lake banks on jigs, tube jigs and curly tail grubs.
Some of the productive lures
reported this week are: Lucky Craft suspending jerkbaits in pearl ayu,
aurora black, nishiki (clown) and table rock shad, Rapala Xrap in
black/silver and olive, Rapala shadraps in original crawdad, Bandit flat
sided crankbaits in spring craw and Spro little john crankbaits in spring
craw. Strike King red eye shad in red craw and Lewis rattletrap in
blue/chrome. Last Cast hairy bug jigs in green pumpkin and D&L baby
advantage jig in "oops" pattern.
Crappie: Black Crappie are
being taken over staging brush piles in the creeks and bays in 12-15 ft of
water by spider rigging small tubes and minnows as well as by casting small
curly tail jigs. Black Crappie are also being taken on banks with brush in
5-8 ft of water by casting curly tail grubs and curly tail grubs under
bobbers. Some White Crappie are being taken in these areas too, but most
are reportedly short fish. White Crappie are still being taken on the main
lake old creek channels and creek channels near the mouths of the creeks and
bays in 15-20 ft of water. These fish are being taken by spider rigging
small jigs and minnows.
This weekend the FLW BFL
tournament will be held on Ky Lake out of Ky Dam. This is the first major
bass tournament of the season, and of course many will follow in the coming
weeks and months. I would like to recommend that all you tournament anglers
and just for fun anglers too, whether you are fishing for bass, Crappie or
your favorite species stop by The Cabin Bait and Tackle located on U.S.
62 just west of Kutawa for all your fishing needs. You will find the folks
at The Cabin to be courteous and knowledgeable about the latest fishing
conditions. The Cabin also has a great stock of fishing tackle and lures
and caters especially to the avid Bass angler and Crappie angler.
I would also like to
recommend that you stop by and visit my good friends at Jet-a-Marina located
on U.S. 62 in Calvert City just a couple miles north of Ky Dam.
Jet-a-Marina has a reputation for trying to keep you anglers on the water
while you are here with a great service department that has a region wide
reputation for customer service. These folks have taken care of my boat and
many of my client's boats for many years and I have never had a client
complain about the service they have received there. When it comes to
service, the folks at Jet-a-Marina is second to none. While visiting
Jet-a-Marina, stop by the fully stocked showroom to browse the latest in
Ranger and Stratos bass boats where you will also find a full line of
boating accessories. It also is worth mentioning that you can find your
favorite engine oils in bulk jugs at the showroom at the best prices
around.
If you are in need of a bass
guide for some fun, catch and release bass fishing, tournament preparation,
lake familiarization or technique instruction don't hesitate to give me a
call or drop me an email to book one of my open dates. I have the following
dates available for booking in March, April and May:
March: 22
April: Sorry I am booked up
May: 4, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16,
27
Of course I am taking
reservations for the rest of the season also and I urge you to make your
plans now for summer and fall fishing to make sure you can get the date(s)
you want. If I am booked up on a date you wanted, I would be happy to make
a referral for you.
