Fishing Report Archives

Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene is glad to put a mean March in the rearview mirror. It certainly lived up to its reputation as an unstable month for weather. Seems there’s always a mix of winter and spring, not to mention the relentless winds.

April arrives Saturday with some favorable temperatures in the forecast. Fishermen are yearning for a long stretch of normal temperatures and we may just get it as highs this weekend are forecast to be in the low to mid 70’s and that’s supposed to extend into next week. Can we get an Amen?

The last week of March was a typical farewell; some days were warm and sunny while others were cool and windy. And, throw a little rain in there too and the weatherman always seems to dig out a threat for thunderstorms somewhere in the weekly forecast.

Not to worry as most everyone is delighted at the sight of dogwoods in bloom. Spring appears to now have the upper hand. However, wise are the fishermen who keep the coveralls, rain suits and hooded sweatshirts handy.

Some of us old timers vividly remember dodging snowflakes the first week of April. Those northwest winds have a way of changing things overnight, messing up the fishing patterns of prespawn crappie and bass in the process.

Presently things are improving across the region as surface temperatures rise along with lake levels. The reservoir is a bit ahead of schedule as to its elevation with a level cresting around 356.2 at midweek in the Kentucky Dam sector.

Normally the lake is still at low winter pool until April 1 when Tennessee Valley Authority implements its start toward summer pool with a target date of May 1. However, heavy rains across the region last week swelled lake levels and sent massive runoff into the Tennessee River.

Odds are TVA may pull the lake down a little these next few days as the agency tries to return the elevation back to its normal curve. The drawdown should be minimal and hopefully won’t upset the apple cart of fishermen too bad as fish are still in prespawn phase but knocking on the door.

Surface temperatures this week danced around the 53 to 56 degree range but will gain a few degrees each passing day. Peak spawning temps for crappie are 62 to 66 degree range so anglers should see a lot of movement in the days ahead as fish respond to the warm up now underway.

Some male crappie were taken the last week or so up West Sandy and Big Sandy already showing signs of hormonal changes. Male crappie take on a darker color once spawning phases kick in and their appearance indicates the annual ritual is fast approaching.

Nice stringers were taken up Big Sandy when wind and weather allowed boats to roam about and fish the open lake areas. Slow trolling spider rigs and long lining techniques were producing as anglers covered midrange depths of 5 to 12 feet.

Other techniques such as tightlining jigs and minnows around submerged brushpiles and stakebeds has worked well at times as the crappie begin to take on a more structure oriented mood.

Also producing has been casting techniques where boaters are backing off the spots and casting both slip-bobbers armed with live minnows and assorted jigs retrieved slowly over submerged cover.

Up Big Sandy and West Sandy the bite has been better than the Paris Landing sector lately which is likely due to somewhat warmer surface temperatures in the shallow basin and higher lake levels. Crappie always seems to migrate up Big Sandy once spring arrives but whenever higher lake levels enter the equation it seems to jumpstart the annual transition.

Anglers can expect to see fish make a blitz toward shallow to midrange zones each passing day. Fish will stair-step their way toward spawning spots as they seek out backs of bays and shallow area out on main lake sandbars.

Areas that are void of fish one day may well attract meandering crappie the next. It’s that time of year!

The biological clock is ticking and barring any drastic changes in weather and lake levels active spawning phases should begin within the next week to ten days.

Bass fishermen are enjoying the seasonal transition too. Prespawn bass are already headed toward small pockets and bays off the main lake that are experiencing rapid warm-up.

Egg-laden females are sporting heavy weights right now and already approaching gravel banks as they begin to stage and wait for lake levels to inundate shorelines. Once those weedbeds and shoreline structure get more water on them watch for bass to move up quickly.

Until higher lake levels arrive---which normally occurs later in April---bass should relate to gravel and rocky banks, roadbeds and any secondary areas within bays or even out on the main lake such as sloping sandbars. Since the water isn’t high enough just yet to pull them up to buck bushes and grassbeds they park out away from spawning areas waiting for that magic time.

Right now anglers are tossing Texas rigged craws, worms, jig and pig combo and also casting Carolina rig presentations. Crankbaits in crawfish, shad and even some loud chartreuse variations are effecting if fishermen encounter some dingy water.

Rattle Trap style lures are always tied on the rods of anglers this time of year too and a spinnerbait is about to be on the menu as those shallow stickups or any blowdown is likely to hold bass.

The last few weeks several nice smallmouth have been caught by some anglers tossing finesse baits on steep gravel banks or rock bluffs. Crankbaits have worked too as have swim baits fished on main lake points and sloping sandbars.

Spring has sprung. It was a bit sluggish at times before leaving the station but the train of transition is about to arrive for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene.