Fishing Report Archives

Summer officially arrived Wednesday and Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene had pretty much settled into a summer pattern several weeks ago. Warmer days and nights with the traditional forecasts of afternoon and evening thunderstorms has things about on track for a normal summer.

Surface temperatures this week have been in the 80 to 83 degree range. Water color remains clear across the reservoir.

Lake levels are holding around normal summer pool elevation with a reading of 359.2 this week at Kentucky Dam. Anglers and pleasure boaters will see summer pool levels remain until July 1 as Tennessee Valley Authority’s curve for reservoir management normally implements the start of winter drawdown in early July.

Lakers will begin to see a slow drawdown after that which continues all the way through fall.

Despite a few thunderstorms across the region lake levels haven’t fluctuated much lately. A slight increase in current this week might stimulate activity for both bass and catfishermen who have been yearning to fish some moving water.

Discharge rates this week increased slightly from last week and Tennessee Valley Authority’s forecast showed water would be moving through Kentucky Dam at a rate of 27,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

That increase should see more activity from meandering schools of catfish along the main river channel banks. The bite has been a bit slow but with rising surface temperatures and the increase in current that main channel area should begin to produce.

Once current increases in the main channel area it stimulates movement from baitfish. It’s a rippling effect as moving water stirs up plankton and that, in turns, causes movement of baitfish which feed on the plankton. Close on the heels of moving baitfish schools will be scores of channel and blue catfish partaking of the shad buffets.

Up until this week there had still been some decent stringers of catfish lingering around rocky banks. Anglers using nightcrawlers, leeches, chicken liver, big minnows and cut up bluegill were landing good numbers. Most were fishing bobbers and floating their bait presentations around the 3 to 8 foot depths over submerged rocks.

Anglers should see the deeper bite improve these next few weeks as more fish migrate toward typical summer venues.

Meanwhile, nothing says summer more than frequent mayfly hatches along the main lake area of Kentucky Lake. That’s been happening the last couple of weeks and no doubt more are on the way.

Seems there’s always a massive hatch coinciding with the Fourth of July holiday on the lake. The hatches can deliver some nice action for bluegill and bass fishermen as fish sprint toward shorelines and river island rims where a buffet awaits them.

Tossing a variety baits such as crickets or beetle spin type lures will put you in the driver’s seat for some fast action from bass, bluegill, yellow bass and aggressive sunfish competing for anything that hits the water.

Once the adult mayflies begin taking flight and falling to the lake’s surface it’s a feeding frenzy. Many fishermen refer to the midst of a mayfly hatch as “fishing’s finest hour”!

Bass fishermen also benefit by tossing Texas rigged worms, small crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and assorted topwater. Sometimes the bigger bass are there beneath those overhanging canopies not only for shade and mayfly delights but to forage on the tons of small fish there attracted by the flies.

Not many old timers are seen on the lake anymore using a flyrod and popping bug but it’s a thrilling technique that still produces. Tying a slow sinking nymph a foot or so behind a floating popping bug monofilament leader will sometimes see a battle with two fish on the line at the same time.

Working a flyrod and mastering the cast to deposit the bug beneath low limbs is indeed a work of art. It takes time and talent. It is indeed a spectacle watching someone perform that really knows how to control the long line and use the loops from midair for precise placement on placid waters.

Mayfly hatches should continue for another few weeks all across the reservoir.

Summer crappie fishing has been fair for a few anglers concentrating on structure in the midrange depths of 9 to 15 feet. Decent stringers have been taken by those fishing jigs and also tipping jigs with live minnows.

Some anglers prefer to just tightline minnows and often the warm weather bite from crappie can be finicky. That live minnow can be the cat’s meow for sluggish summer crappie despite having a tackle box full of the latest and greatest jig skirt colors.

While most anglers are vertical fishing their jig or minnow rigs and dunking them smack dab in the face of the fish others are opting to pitch or swim the bait at times, slowly dragging it over the structure to entice bites.

Casting jigs or minnows with light spinning tackle will work too. Using a slip bobber can help regulate depth at times or just slow casts across the strike zone will work. Expect to lose a few hooks or jigs but that’s just part of the game.

Meanwhile, the main lake ledge bite has been fair for bass anglers. Several boats are working the drop-offs with big crankbaits, Texas and Carolina rigged worms and swimbaits.

With increased current now underway the bass bite should improve out on the main lake humps and ledges.

Summer is officially here. It’s a great time to be on Kentucky Lake if you remember the limitations that hot weather brings with it.