Fishing Report Archives

Hey Y’all from the Excel Storm Cat 230. It’s been a long and unproductive winter except for watching five seasons of “Yellowstone”. I had always wondered what all the fuss was about. Now I understand.

Going to the "train station" has a new meaning that I hope I never hear. I’ve been a Kevin Cosner fan since “Silverado”. “Field of Dreams" is probably my all-time favorite movie along with “Dances With Wolves”. I dragged my whole family away from a family supper to see it.

I had my left shoulder replaced on November 9th. I’m hopefully running out of joints to replace. That said, the pain levels I have endured for a generation are much less now and my mobility has not suffered. I am concerned about something my son-in-law recently said though. He told the family he had dibs on all my titanium when my time comes. I guess I shouldn’t worry since I won’t be around to stop it. Just kidding! He did say that.

I have been cleared to get back on the lake but the recent weather has gotten me out of the mood. I have taken my down time to spool several new reels and get my new ACC Crappie Stix rods ready. They are a new sponsor this year. I plan on starting some Livescope spider rigging and longline trolling as soon as we get some nice weather, probably toward the end of this month. I’ll be offering these tactics for my clients, as well as casting and vertical jigging with live sonar, both Livescope and Humminbird Mega Live. Don’t worry, my crankbait tackle will be close by.

Kentucky Lake level is 354.0'2 this morning and heavy flow with 49 degree temperature. The forecast over the next few weeks is above normal rain for our area. All these put together don’t bode well for the average crappie fisherman. I got two reports yesterday from friends who spider rig and have not been catching many crappie. Some of the die-hard Livescope guys have been showing off some nice catches from deeper water. Many of the decent catches have been from ledges and drop-offs on the main lake where the crappie are schooled near baitfish.

Muddy water and heavy current will be the result of excessive rains coming up. Take those dreary weather days to get all your gear ready, line changed, that outboard tuned up, and the boat and tackle organized. We will soon be seeing fishing weather and you don’t want to be THAT guy who blocks the ramp to work on his motor when the crappie are jumping into the boat.

The Murray boat show is coming up February 3-5. Grizzly Jig in Caruthersville, Missouri will be having their huge show the same weekend. I won’t have a booth or be doing seminars at the boat show but can be reached at doug@5riversdux.com or through my website at www.crappie-gills-n-more.com. I’m taking bookings for the 2023 season. I’ll be offering trips out of Lynnhurst Family Resort on Blood River as well as Sportsman’s Resort on Jonathan Creek for Kentucky Lake, Of course, I still offer trips on Lake Barkley as well.

Be careful out there. Cold water is not your friend and hypothermia sets in quick if you take a dunking. Be sure to take a friend and carry extra clothing just in case. Wear your PFD. Good Fishing!

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.