Fishing Report Archives

We have been very fortunate with some very nice weather lately. Low humidity has made for some very nice days on the water for the month of June.

I do believe that those days are now behind us and summer will set back in with high temperatures and high humidity in the air. That being said, fish are making their way to the main lake and starting to school up as they do in the summer months. The lake is in great shape right now with numbers of fish and bait showing up.

The lack of current has made it a bit tough as far as an offshore bite, but some days are better than others. If you have followed me the last few years, you know that the offshore bass fishing has almost been non-existent with lack of bait and fish on the main lake.

Every year is getting better and better. The smaller age class of fish are now keeper size and we have had some great spawns over the last few years. The bait fish are finally making a comeback as well with the gizzard and threadfin shad. That's great news!

It is very encouraging to see the numbers and quality of fish being caught this year. We are still a few years away from it being really,really good, but when lakes go through these cycles, it takes some time. Each year is better and I'm excited to see what the future holds.

Lake Conditions and What's Happening on the Lake

Water Temps: Mid 80s
Lake Level: 359 Summer Pool and Very low current
Water Color: Normal or Clean

The lake is in pretty good shape right now. The lack of current moving through the system has made for some tough days of fishing, but every now and then you'll find them and they are set up right. Every day is different, catch them good one day and the next is a bit tougher.

Rotating baits has been key. For you offshore ledge guys, you'll be glad to know that we have found more fish offshore this year than last year and for sure more than the previous few years.

Two big changes are bait is coming back and moving offshore and fish are getting bigger. In years past the main bait was emerald shiners and these baitfish don't move far from the bank. Fish had no reason to go deep. The threadfin and gizzard shad are starting to come back with great spawns recently and that bait is making its way offshore again.

There is always a shallow bite on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. There always has been in the summer months, but it wasn't until recent years that we had to go shallow for bites. There are still some fish up shallow running around bluegill beds. There are also a good number of fish hanging around the small bait fry around docks and laydowns.

Techniques and Where

DropShot - Look for fish to be out deeper than you have normally found them. 25-28’ is not uncommon to find them on the river channel ledges. Fish have been tricky to catch with lack of current and the dropshot is a great bait when they are tough to catch and also a bait that gets down in that deep water quickly. Fish can also be caught on the 15-20 foot depth around brush or stumps.

Specifics - 6th Sense Glitch 3.8 Morning Dawn or Plum Dawn, 6” Roboworm Morning Dawn

Swimbaits - Swimbaits are great baits to target fish offshore and cover water. You can scan and look for schools or you can get on a river ledge and throw it around bait and get bit. Fish that are shallow will bite the smaller swimbaits as well.

Specifics - 6th Sense Divine Swimbaits 3.2 and 3.8 Shad Colors on the shallow fish, 6th Sense Divine 3.8 Shad Colors with 1/2oz Head and Ignite 5” Frenzy Lavender Shad, Real Deal, TVA Hitch on 3/4oz Head on the Deep Fish

Big Worm - A staple on the TN River, Fish around schools or isolated structures offshore.

Specifics - TX Rig 5/16oz Weight with the 6th Sense Boosa Ringworm Plum or Blue Fleck Frog or Buzzbait - Shallow fish are up around old bluegill beds and water willow grass.

Frog or Buzzbait - Shallow fish are up around old bluegill beds and water willow grass

Specifics - 6th Sense Vega Frog, Accent Fishing Buzzbait Black or White

Blade Bait - This is a bait that you can tie on and throw it over open water or over the top of ledges. When the baitfish moves offshore, the fish will roam a lot with lack of current and get up off the bottom. You can throw this bait and wind it, yo yo it, rip it, burn it, you name it. Throw it around schools of bait and you’ll catch bass, whites, everything on it.

Specifics - 6th Sense Fishing Slice Blade Bait, Shad Hammer or White

For those of you who are not familiar with my service, I competed for eight years on the FLW Tour and continue to compete in the MLF Toyota Series Events. I am a full time, licensed and insured Captain, with first aid and CPR certification. I offer one-on-one training, technique-specific trips, fun bass fishing trips, and electronics training in your boat.

I would love the opportunity to share a day with you in my Caymas CX21 or in your own boat to get your electronics dialed in. I am here to help you and to help you become a better angler and to give you confidence in your equipment.

If you're in the area on the north end of Kentucky Lake, make sure to visit us at Hitec Outdoors. We are a full line boat dealership and marine electronics install center. We have lines from Caymas, Crestliner, Harris and Viaggio Pontoons. We also have a great selection of bait and tackle for your trip to the lake.

Come see us! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @brandonhunterfishing and @bhunterfishing for anything fishing. Make sure you are following along and subscribe to my YouTube Channel BrandonHunterFishing. Please visit brandonhunterfishing.com and shoot me an email to book your next trip. See you on the water!