Dave Stewart's Fishing Report
Written by Dave Stewart - Published on October 26, 2018
Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 354.69 Surface Temperature - 63
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 354.70 Surface Temperature - 63
Both lakes are about one half foot over winter pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 47,000 cfs this morning. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 19,800 cfs this morning. As the lake levels drop boaters should be cautious when navigating the lakes. There are a number of areas where old foundations, stumps, humps and ridges are just waiting to ruin your trip and cause damage to you and your boat. If you are not familiar with the lakes, follow the navigation buoys and be very careful when navigating outside the buoys.
Current Conditions: We did have some close to normal temperatures for this time of year earlier this week but we also had blue bird skies and flat water. We found the bite to be scattered and slow but did manage to put a few keepers and some short fish in the boat on finesse baits (ned rig and shaky heads) were the most productive. We also managed a fish or two on white hair jigs and spoons stroking them in creek channels about half way back in the creeks and bays where shad schools were suspended. The cooler weather moved back in yesterday with over cast skies and we did have some top water bite going back in the shallows early but then some moderate rain moved in where we were on mid Kentucky Lake and the top water bite shut down on us. I did receive a couple of unconfirmed reports of some scattered crankbait bite on rocky secondary points in the creeks and bays as well on primary points on the main lake. Overall, I would still classify the bite as scattered and slow.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on rocky creek channel banks and associated secondary points as well as primary points on the main lake. These fish are being taken on Ned rigs, shaky heads, Carolina rigs and finesse jigs. We have taken a few fish on the shallow flats in the creeks and bays but this bite has been inconsistent and scattered this past week. The few fish we did take shallow were on top water lures with a splash bait and walking bait.
SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are being taken on rocky river channel points and banks on the main lake and rocky secondary points and channel banks in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on ned rigs, shaky heads, tube jigs and finesse jigs.
PRODUCTIVE LURES: Strike King splash baits in white, Lucky Craft Sammy and Gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, D&L jigs in Cumberland craw and oops patterns, Last Cast jigs in green pumpkin, Slong's jigs in mustang, Zman TRD in green pumpkin on ned rig, Yamamoto Senko in green pumpkin/black, green pumpkin magic on shaky heads. Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and green pumpkin blue on Carolina rigs and TCB hair jigs in white.
I picked up the TCB jigs from a young enterprising Marshall County high school student and bass team member that works part time at Fisherman's Headquarters. He is hand tying these jigs in his spare time. You can see his hair jigs on his website at www.tcbjigs.com.
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