Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Land Between The Lakes

Dave Stewart's Fishing Report

Bass Buster Guide Service
Captain Dave Stewart
(270) 362-9987
Website - Email

Both lakes are one foot over winter pool.  Lake Barkley is stained with some heavy stain in some of the creeks.  Kentucky Lake has light stain but a few of the creeks are stained.  Both dams are spilling water.  Kentucky has been spilling at rates around 180,000 cfs over the past few days.  Lake Barkley has been spilling at rates around 55,000-70,000 cfs over the past few days.  The latest lake levels and current flows for all the TVA lakes can be found at www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/index.htm .  

The weather forecast for today is a high of 64 with a chance of late showers.  Rain will be coming in to the area tonight and up to one inch of rain is in the forecast for Saturday.  Saturday's high is forecasted at 57 and Sunday is forecasted a high of 52 as a front will pass through the area sometime Saturday.  The weather next week looks good with daytime high's in the low to mid 50's and sunshine.  

Daytime temperatures in the 60's and water temperatures in the 50's.......sounds a lot like mid March than it does the first week of February.  This is the kind of weather we have been having this week and the fish are loving it as much as we are.  The bass have been enjoying late fall water temperatures all winter and they have not quit feeding so they are looking more like footballs than fish.  I certainly expect we are going to see some really big catches this spring when the females get ripe with eggs for the spawn.  If you have not planned your fishing trip yet for this spring, you better get started because if you wait too long you won't be able to get accommodations or guides if the big fish bite I expect to happen this spring comes about.  Heck, folks are already catching more numbers of large fish than is normal for this time of year.     

Largemouth Bass:  Largemouth are being taken on primary points and ledges on the main lakes as well as on secondary points and channel banks in the mouths of the creeks and bays on Alabama rigs, swim baits,  suspending jerkbaits and jigs.  The Alabama rig continues to be the dominate technique with some very good catches being reported.  

Smallmouth Bass:  Smallmouth are being taken on the same patterns, lures and techniques as the Largemouth Bass.     

Productive lures reported this week were:  Net Baits BK swimbaits in pearl and blue pearl and Big Hammer swim baits in pearl and sexy smelt fished on Alabama rigs.  Lucky Craft pointers in aurora black, clown and table rock shad, D&L jigs in Cumberland craw and "oops" patterns as well as some reports of unspecified brand jigs in natural brown colors.   

Crappie:  Crappie anglers are reporting numbers of fish by spider rigging over deep brush on the main lake ledges in the 15-20 ft depth range.  Small jigs and minnows have been the baits of choice. I have received a few reports of minnows under bobbers working in the 8-15 foot range over brush also on warmer afternoons.     

HAPPENINGS THIS WEEKEND:  

Fisherman's Headquarters will be resuming it's "Cure for Cabin Fever" seminar series this Saturday, February 4th at 1:00 p.m.  Part III in the series "HD Sonar:Friend or Foe" will be presented by John Parks.  This segment will cover the use of GPS to consistently and accurately return to your previously located secret spots.  By mixing technology with some "old school" common sense, you will be able to find things more efficiently than ever before.  Fisherman's Headquarters is located on the triangle at the intersection of U.S. 68 and U.S. 641 in Draffenville.  Phone:  270-527-5983
Fisherman's Headquarters is also stocking up daily on all the new lures and tackle as well as old favorites for the oncoming season.  Stop by and check it out.    

The Cabin Bait and Tackle:  Although the Cabin Bait and Tackle is back open now and has a great selection of new lures coming in daily.  Go by and welcome Bill Smith the new store manager that has relocated here to the lakes area and check out all the great fishing tackle. The Cabin Bait and Tackle is located in Kuttawa about one mile west of the I-24/U.S. 62 interchange.  Phone:  270-388-6440    

Jet-A-Marina:  If you have a problem with your boat while you are visiting our great fisheries, let me recommend you have the folks in the service department at Jet-a-Marina check it out.  These folks have a well known reputation for trying to keep our visitors on the water while they are here if they can possibly do so, especially you tournament anglers.  Hopefully you will not need this kind of assistance but if you do, you can find Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles north of Kentucky Dam.  Jet-a-Marina also has a great showroom for all your boating accessories and check out the new Ranger and Stratos bass boats too as well as bulk oil at rock bottom prices for your engine.  Phone:  270-395-4030    

FLASH:   Bass Buster Guide Service has a new phone number:   270-362-9987.  

Note:  Happily, my wife and I bought a new home we have been wanting but sadly we were not able to keep our old phone number so please make note of the number change above to contact me to book your trips and classes or to just talk fishing.  Talking fishing is always a welcome phone call at my house.  

FLASH:   We have a new boat!!   Bass Buster Guide Service will be putting a new Ranger Z522 into service this spring!!   

I am sure my clients will love this boat.  It is undoubtedly the "Cadillac" of Bass Boats.  Enjoy the comfort of a 22ft Ranger equipped with all the comforts of the Ranger Comanche series as well as the latest in electronics( two 10" Lowrance sonar screens with side scan)  to enhance your bass fishing experience.     

WINTER  CLASSES:  

ELIMINATING WATER (Learn how to eliminate water to find the bass)  

I have been teaching a class on how to eliminate water to find the highest percentage fishing spots that will hold more bass, more often for a number of years now.  This is a very popular class with my clients and the feedback has been very good from those that have taken the class, both tournament anglers and just for fun bass anglers.  I will be offering this class during the months of January and February.  These classes are limited to one or two people so that you can have one on one type instruction which provides for a much better learning environment by learning one on one with someone that fishes for bass every day for a living.  

One thing is for sure, you can't consistently catch bass unless you know how to find them whether you are fishing ledges, banks, points or shallow flats.  You can have all the current electronics available in your boat and all the finest rods/reels and lures, but if you do not have a working knowledge of what makes a spot have the highest percentage chance of holding more bass, more often,  you can spend a lot of wasted time searching for fish with a lure and/or your electronics.  I developed the information you will receive in this class over many years of study and observations and in fact this is the system I use every day to put my clients on bass whether I am on Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley.  The information you will learn in this class will also apply to other lakes and rivers.  

Here is a sample of the typical feedback I receive from clients that have taken this class:    

Dave ... Harry and I took your "Eliminating Water" class in January of 2010, and it has helped both of us like you wouldn't believe! - J. Harris  

In the past 3 tourney's I have managed to get a limit on 3 separate lakes.  Old Hickory, Barkley, and Barren.  Managed a 3rd place finish Sunday on Barkley with a 6lb kicker.  I have a lot more confidence when I hit the water now.  I no longer pull the old "that bank looks good, lets waste a few hours here".  Thanks Dave -  M. King  

Well worth the money - and probably the most valuable thing I have purchased in the terms of fishing.  - K. Stephens  

That class is without a doubt the best money I've spent on fishing in my life. - D. Page  

Prices:  150.00 for one person or 200.00 for two people    

Book a class:   Just drop me an email or call me and we will get you set up for a class this winter.  There are still a few dates available in February but available dates are dwindling so if you want the class this winter, you need to book now!       

GUIDE SERVICE:   For those of you that may not be familiar with my service:  I am a full time catch and release bass fishing guide. I only guide for bass. If you want a panfish guide, I would be happy to recommend one but if you want bass, that is what I do.  If you book with my service, you will have me as your guide.  I provide just for fun bass fishing trips, tournament preparation trips, focused teaching trips and technique instruction.  If you are in need of a bass fishing guide, give me a call or drop me an email.  Book your dates now for 2012 season.  Don't wait too late or you may not get the dates you want as I am getting a lot of bookings right now for the coming season.