Fishing Report Archives

While everyone is talking about the hot weather it seems ole’ whiskers is taking it in stride out on Kentucky Lake.

Even when the doldrums descend on a southern summer day catfish along the Tennessee River channel are still on the prowl.

Such has been the case the last week to ten days as several anglers are reporting nice catches. Both channel and blue cats have been taken lately on the lines of fishermen stalking the 35 to 45 foot depth range. Some even deeper down around 50 feet if schools of baitfish (shad) are discovered roaming there.

The bite has improved the last couple of weeks courtesy of increased current along the main river channel. Tennessee Valley Authority has increased discharge rates out of Kentucky Dam recently and that has enhanced the catfish bite.

Lake levels this week have been falling slowly after a brief rise last week in the aftermath of flooding rains across the region that sent a lot of runoff into the reservoir.

Presently lake levels are dancing around the 358.4 range - down from summer pool peak of 359 - and falling slowly. TVA was pushing about 55,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) and that puts ample current in the main channel area.

The elevation is about on schedule for TVA’s drawdown curve which will continue throughout the summer and fall months.

Water color is stained in the main river area but clear elsewhere. Surface temperatures this week have been in the 84 degree range in the mornings and warming to 87 at midday.

Successful catfishermen are crediting their catches to nightcrawlers, chicken livers marinated in various concoctions ranging from Koolaide to garlic ingredients, catalpa worms (if you can find them) and various commercial stink baits.

Most anglers are attempting to locate balls of baitfish, which are basically big schools of gizzard or threadfin shad, roaming about as they feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton. The current helps stimulate the whole food chain so catfishermen are dependent most days on moving water.

Bass fishermen thrive on the current as well and the main lake ledge bite usually improves once current kicks in. Most anglers are tossing the typical menu of summer buffets comprised of big deep diving crankbaits, Texas and Carolina rigged worms, swim baits and sometimes hopping a big spoon to entice bites.

A few white bass have been taken in the Paris Landing area but no significant sightings of surface schooling activity have been reported.

There’s always a few bass boats beating the banks looking for sightings of pin minnows schooling around stickups and blowdowns around island rims.

Some topwater activity is occurring in the wee hours of the morning and just before darkness falls.

Scattered mayfly hatches are still showing up all across the reservoir but hatches have been unpredictable and inconsistent. That’s pretty much the norm throughout mid to late summer but odds are a big hatch occurs in the aftermath of thunderstorms or perhaps the night before.

The hatches always produce an opportunity for both bass and bluegill anglers. Feeding frenzies around the falling flies will provide great opportunities.

Crappie activity seems to have subsided this week as the fish have been sluggish. There are a few folks night fishing for both bass and crappie during hot weather.

A few fish were taken in 16 to 20 foot depth ranges by anglers tightlining minnows.

Rising early and hitting the lake before ole’ man sun takes over and calls the shots is the ticket this time of year. Crappie are indeed sensitive to light and the midday sun and heat often diminish their mood to feed.