Fishing Report Archives

Kentucky Lake crappie fishermen---along with practically all type anglers---have seen nice weather and a pleasant fall extend into mid-November and no one is complaining. It has been nice out there lately!

Peak fall colors the previous two weeks mirrored a parade courtesy of nature’s paintbrush. The reflection along the shorelines thanks to placid waters was indeed a sight to behold.

Stable weather and light winds have teamed up for an extended stay and that has delivered above average temperatures lately. How long can the honeymoon with beautiful weather continue?

Anglers have been asking that question for weeks now and while it may take a little dip later this week with a chance of rain on Sunday there’s no inclimate weather in the long range forecast. By late next week temps will rebound to the upper 60’s says the weatherman.

Crappie fishermen have scored some nice stringers lately during the ideal conditions. No one can complain if we get a day or two of wind and a shower with slightly cooler temps. It has been above average for a quite a spell.

Lake levels this week have been falling slowly. TVA projects an elevation of 354.7 as the weekend approaches. Water color remains clear.

Surface temperatures reflect the warm conditions and have started the days off around 61 degrees and warmed to 65 in many shallow bays by midday. That’s several degree above the norm for mid-November on Kentucky Lake.

Nice size crappie have been caught in the 8 to 11 foot depth range lately throughout the Paris Landing sector. Up Big Sandy and West Sandy anglers have found them in 4 to 8 foot depths at times.

Most boats are vertical fishing jigs or live minnows over manmade fish attractors such as stakebeds and brushpiles. The last couple of weeks more slabs have moved up to shallow structure. Several reports of 1 ¼ to 1 ½ -pound size fish have been taken.

The crappie are sporting a healthy appearance too. The fish are fat and sassy, sporting signs of a good forage base. More shad are in the reservoir this fall than the last couple years based on the physiology of crappie and catfish that seemed to have plenty to eat.

Live minnows have continued to pay dividends for fall crappie fishermen but jigs have produced too. Color combinations in the black/chartreuse, grape/chartreuse, motor oil with gold glitter, and plain chartreuse with sparkle skirts have been quite popular.

Although most of the fish appear to be in the midrange depths there are a few anglers always testing the deep sides of main lake ledges and humps. Depths of 17 to 20 feet have produced a few scattered fish at times as have the drop-offs with structure in the 13 to 16 foot depth range.

Vertical presentations by anglers choosing a one pole technique have been popular but there are still a few boats resorting to spider rigging techniques and slow trolling multi-pole presentations with a buffet of baits. They too have landed fish at times but the crappie appear to be in a structure oriented mode lately.

Catfish are still on the prowl. Some dandy stringers continue to come in from anglers stalking the 40 to 45 foot depth range along the main Tennessee River channel and around bridge piers. Current has been present on a steady basis.

A day or two upset the apple cart when some stubborn south winds teamed up with increased current. That combination added to the challenge but in a day or so anglers bounced right back and were able to position their boats over spots with their trolling motors and racked up on numbers.

Bass fishermen have managed to find a few fish chasing shad on main lake flats at times. Tossing shad colored variations of crankbaits and swim baits has helped them cover a lot of water as the fish are sometimes on the move.

A few white bass have been observed busting the surface on calm days and some largemouth have been right there with them enjoying the party of schooling baitfish.

Some boats are still banging away at the banks, boat docks and shallow roadbeds too. Shallow running crankbaits plus some topwater presentations have fooled a few bass, especially in the early morning and late afternoon periods of lowlight.

Kentucky Lake’s fall fishing scene has received an extension this year. In times past we were dodging terrible weather patterns filled with falling temps, gusting north winds and heavy rains at during November but this year so far; so good!