Fishing Report Archives

Dominating this week’s Kentucky Lake fishing scene has been the return of hot and humid weather. Daytime highs have climbed to the mid to upper 90’s with a heat index of 100-plus.

That’s calling the shots for summer fishermen and diminished the playing field for a lot of anglers but there are always a few die-hards out there testing the water. There’s good news in the forecast as temps are expected to fall back near or slightly below the normal range by Sunday or Monday so cooler days are ahead for fishermen.

Lake levels have been falling this week while temperatures were rising. Kentucky Lake’s elevation is projected to be down around the 356.7 range by the weekend. That’s down several inches from last week at this time.

Surface temperatures have risen to the 86 to 88 degree range. Water color is clear across most of the reservoir with a slight stain remaining in the main channel area.

TVA has been pulling a lot of current and that kept ample flow in the main Tennessee River channel which prolonged a good summer catfish bite. Projections indicate a reduction in discharge through Kentucky Dam in the days ahead down to 35,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

That’s down from last week but still enough to keep the interest level high for meandering blue and channel catfish. Anglers should continue to see plenty of activity.

Still producing have been the deeper depths of 40 to 50 feet at times. Baits of choice have been nightcrawlers, catalpa worms, chicken liver, hot dogs marinated in garlic type concoctions, big minnows and cut bait. Several commercial baits are working too.

Crappie have been sluggish but some have been taken in the 18 to 22 foot depth range by anglers tightlining minnows on bottom bumping rigs or on jigs tipped with minnows. Some anglers reported scattered fish found in 12 to 15 foot brushpiles and stakebeds.

Others are trolling crankbaits out on main lake sandbars and picking up a few using that technique.

Most all anglers are hitting the lake in the wee hours of the morning and tossing in the towel before midday heat takes over.

Crappie and bass anglers indicate the bite is diminishing once the sun gets high in the sky as fish are sensitive to the bright light and heat by midday.

Bass fishermen are finding a few deep holes producing out on the main lake sandbars and ledges. Current helps that bite too and when there’s flow the schools of shad are meandering, which stimulates for feeding activity from bass, catfish, crappie and white bass.

A few bass fishermen have turned to night fishing in an effort to beat the beat.

Most anglers continue to toss big Texas rigged worms, Carolina rigs, swim baits, deep diving crankbaits and a few spoons.

There has been several sightings of white bass schooling out on main lake flats gotten the attention of summer fishermen. Tossing small spinners and spoons have worked well on the aggressive feeders in the midst of a feeding frenzy. Mayflies continue to hatch and that can produce a decent shallow bite in the early morning and late afternoon hours at the peak of the hatch.

Cooler days are coming and anglers should have a much better comfort zone out there once they arrive. Next week should be better overall for the entire fishing scene.