Fishing Report Archives

Kentucky Lake anglers continue to be beneficiaries of great fall weather and the forecast says it will linger well into next week.

Temps lately have been above average after a cool start to the week. Highs are expected to climb into the low to mid 70’s in the days ahead. That’s great for fishermen but not exactly what deer hunters and small game hunters were hoping for across the region.

The overall fishing scene has been pretty good lately thanks to stable conditions. Lake levels this week haven’t changed drastically. A slight fall is underway and TVA projects an elevation of 354.6 for the weekend around Kentucky Dam with similar readings upstream toward Paris Landing and New Johnsonville.

Surface temperatures have been starting the mornings out in the mid 50’s and climbing to the 58 degree range at midday. Watch for that to rise a few degrees by this weekend as daytime highs rise above the norm. Water color remains clear.

Decent stringers of crappie have been taken this week by anglers stalking stakebeds in midrange depths of 9 to 12 feet. A good grade of crappie have been caught with several fish tipping the scales in the 1 ¼-pound range.

Most boats are not catching big numbers of fish, although a few limits have been reported at times. Depths of 13 to 16 feet were giving up decent numbers of crappie this past week. With lake levels falling slowly it might have pulled a few crappie toward deeper areas, at least in the Paris Landing area.

Up Big Sandy and in West Sandy anglers have found crappie in somewhat shallow depths at times. Structures in the 6 to 8 feet have given up several fish.

Jigs have worked well as have live minnows. Tipping a jig with a minnow has enhanced bites too. Still filling coolers are catfishermen along the Tennessee River channel. Depths of 35 to 45 feet---sometimes deeper---have given up hefty stringers again this week. The bait of choice continues to be nightcrawlers.

TVA has been pushing plenty of water through Kentucky Dam all fall so a steady current has been present most days. That stimulates movement of schools of shad which keeps the bite going for active catfish movement.

Bass fishing has been fair with a few more fish moving up to gravel banks in the early morning and late afternoons in pursuit of shad. Tossing topwater jerk baits has accounted for a few fish as have shad colored crankbaits.

Some bass are running shad on shallow flats and gulls will help you find the baitfish activity. Chrome/blue colored Rattle Traps or Red Eye Shad selections have been working well there as have some shallow running crankbaits at times.

There are a few boats targeting ledges and the edges of the river channel when current is present in hopes of locating some smallmouth. That has worked at times too.

Best get out there and take advantage of this great weather. It won’t last forever you know!