Fishing Report Archives

It's hard to believe that the 4th of July has already come and gone. Summer is flying by with some crazy weather. We went from a severe drought to more than enough rain in recent weeks. While the month of June is typically the best month for bass fishing offshore, July has already proven to be pretty good and only a week in. Here's the rundown.

Lake Conditions and What's Happening on the Lake

Water Temp: Mid to Upper 80s

Lake Level: 359 Summer Pool

Water Color: Clean/Normal Overall with slight stain in some creeks due to rains

Kentucky Lake is in great shape. Numbers and quality both this summer have been very encouraging. While the majority of the spring, we were in a severe drought, recent rains have relieved us and fishing continues to be pretty good with some great quality recently.

Each year gets better and better as far as numbers of school we are finding offshore. The month of June is always the month where things really start to happen. I do feel like I found more fish offshore last year than I did this year, but I think a lot of it has to do with pressure. Fish are moving around a lot. I have mentioned this before, fish are pressured more today than they ever have been. More people fishing today and technology is getting better all the time. Fish are harder to catch today than they ever have been. As lakes go through cycles, they will also change.

The month of July will continue to get tougher as the hot dog days get here. Fish will start schooling up on shallow flats. Topwater when they are up and big worms when they are down are hard to beat this time of year. The big baits will continue to play if you have the confidence in them and continue to throw them. Most people lay these baits down too soon.

As the water temps warm up and hot summer gets here, fish will actually get shallower. Fish start coming up this time of year because of oxygen levels in the water. Every year the first of July, we start seeing indications of this starting with shad migrating to the main lake. When this happens, you will start seeing a lot of things on your electronics from clouds of bait and every fish in the system it seems like. Bass will start to scatter out when this happens. This is why the bass fishing gets so tough this time of year.

Look for fish in the month of July around shallower ledges. 8-12’ on top are great places to start and if there is wood or stump around, this is key. Bait likes to hold around cover as summer goes on. There are still some fish to be caught in the deeper water, but will be fewer grouped up deep. Fish will roam more with so much bait offshore. Shallow docks and laydowns are key this time of year. They hold bait and shade. If you like to fish shallow, you can get bit running shallow cover, especially on those hot days.

Techniques & Where

Spinnerbait or Swim Jig-

Shad are starting to get on docks and laydowns. This happens every year this time of year and a small spinnerbait or swim jig works great when targeting shallow cover.

Specifics – Dirty Jigs Compact Spinnerbait, 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig

Colors- White or Chart White, Shad Colors

Swimbait-

A big swimbait is always fun. When fish move offshore, the 3/4 Head with the 5" Ignite Frenzy is my go-to bait. The small swimbaits are key around small bait this time of year.

Specifics- 6th Sense Fishing Finesse Swimbait Head 3/16 or 5/16oz, 6th Sense Fishing Divine 3.2 or 3.8 Swimbaits, Ignite Frenzy 5”

Colors- Pro Blue, Platinum White, Sexy Shad, Pro Shad, Kentucky Lake Special

Minnow Bait-

A jig head minnow of your choice and a minnow style bait has been proven on smallmouth and largemouth both. FFS is a great tool and it’s proven to be dominated today. When those fish feel pressured, this is a great bait to toss at them to make them bite.

Specifics- 6th Sense Fishing Shindo 5,6”

Colors- Blue Fleck or Plum, Morning Daw

Big Spoon-

I have caught more big fish on a mag spoon this year than anything. It will simply catch you the biggest fish in the school. The spoon will get them to react when nothing else will.

Specifics- Nichols Magnum Spoon or 6th Sense Spoon

Colors- Silver

Texas Rig Worm or Jig Head-

The Texas Rigged Big Worm has been a staple on the TN River and will continue to be in the summer months. When fish start moving up shallow on top of the ledges this time of year, the Ribbon Tail Worm and Big Shakey Head gets bit.

Specifics- 6th Sense Boosa Ribbontail Worm, Boosa Shakey Worm

Colors- Plum Dawn, Plum Bug, Red Bug Magic

Deep Cranking-

The deep cranking bite has slowed down a great bit since last month, but still some to be caught if you find them up on top feeding

Specifics- 6th Sense Crush 300

Colors- Bluetreuse, Citrus Scales, Smashfest

Topwater-

Fish are schooling up and will continue through the summer. Shallow flats will hold bait, as well as shallow cover. The walking baits are key to trigger those bites late summer.

Specifics- 6th Sense Fishing Dogma or Catwalk

Colors- Bone, 4K Gizzard, Shad Burst

*All of the 6th Sense Fishing Baits mentioned in this report can be purchased at 6thsensefishing.com and use code “BHFISHING10” at checkout and save some money. If you are visiting the area or local to Kentucky Lake, I would encourage you to visit the guys and gals at Kentucky Lake Outdoors for a great selection of fishing and hunting goods.

For those of you who are not familiar with my service, I competed for eight years on the Major League Fishing Tour. 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 Vexus VXS21 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 are looking at upgrading your marine electronics, needing products installed, or need help learning about your system, I would encourage you to visit Hitec Marine. We are a full line shop offering anything from Vexus Boats to marine electronics. Visit us at hitecmarine.net or call us today at 270-527-1900.

Be sure to 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 for updated reports and tips. Please visit brandonhunterfishing.com and shoot me an email to book your next trip. See you on the water!