Fishing Report Archives

In the aftermath of the glacier-like weather that interrupted the winter fishing scene—and about everything else---earlier this month anglers are slowly emerging from hibernation.

Several are returning to active duty status after the recent freeze out.

Kentucky Lake’s winter fishing band of dedicated anglers sort of decreased in active membership during the bitter cold, snowy and icy weather. Understandably so.

Hopefully frozen back water bays and ice covered boat ramps that were either locked up by the ice or too slick to even consider backing down to launch a boat have now thawed and opened up for business.

Crappie anglers have been easing back out on the water this past week, testing the open water areas where deep drop-offs and perhaps some manmade fish attractors in the form of brushpiles and stakebeds might be holding fish.

Most boaters are targeting the deeper sides of ledges or hitting those deep brushpiles in depths of 14 to 25 feet. Some of the deeper areas should be holding crappie but it’s sort of trial and error at present as to the productive depth range.

TVA had pulled lake levels down to a low 354.5 as this report was updated. However, several consecutive days of rain have entered the picture so water for elevation on Kentucky Lake to fluctuate throughout this time frame.

Sometimes those crappie school in deep water during this period as they occupy the deep confines of the lake in pursuit of shad. Shad go deep as they have little tolerance for quick drops in surface temperatures.

Tightlining a jig or live minnow around that deep structure can produce dividends. Anglers willing to tolerate the cold temps can land some good stringers if the winds stay calm and allow boaters to move about.

During the peak of the bitter weather recently a large portion of West Sandy was iced over. So were portions of the Big Sandy all the way down north of the power lines. Some larger bays such as Eagle, Swamp and Little Sulphur were locked up as well.

Not too often do we see large areas of Kentucky Lake locked up with ice but when we get extended spells of single digit temps that last over a week it does happen even on the big pond. Icing here in the main lake areas has a lot to do with lake levels plus wind and current.

If lake levels are a foot or two above the low ebb of winter pool then it decreases the likely hood of ice forming in main lake areas.

During bitter cold periods wind and a little flow will keep the main lake areas from freezing over. However, once extended spells of brutal cold wear out their welcome and stay too long ice enters the picture.

You won’t see it too often but about every ten years or so we get a real doozy of cold conditions that change the whole picture.

While we’ve got a lot of winter still left on the calendar, anglers are keeping their fingers crossed frigid temps stay to our north. Most everyone has had their fill of nasty weather for a while but don’t bury that overcoat and coveralls too deep in the closet.

Both February and March have a reputation of being unpredictable. One day nice weather and mild temps with light winds stirs up spring fever; next day it’s back to the woodshed to get more logs to toss on the fire!

You know how it goes around these parts!