Doug Wynn

Hello from the Excel 230 Elite. The post-spawn for crappie has begun and the fish are in a sluggish mood. Watching hundreds of fish follow your lures  but resist hitting them makes for entertaining Livescope but aggravating fishing.

I recently learned a technique called Power Trolling from Les Smith in Mississippi. It involves 20 foot poles, heavy weights, and Crappie Magnet Fin Spins. The double rig of Fin Spins is lowered to the level of the fish then pushed from the front of the boat toward the fish. You are watching the fish react to the baits in real time on my Garmin Livescope screen.

We've done the Power Trolling several times this spring with great results. As the crappie have spawned then started to move back toward deeper water, they have become harder to catch. This is normal most years. The funk normally lasts several days then the bite will return to normal. The crankbait bite has slowed as well.

One bite that has not slowed is bluegills and Redears. We are approaching the May full moon and most years it is the best time to catch a cooler full of gills. Red worms, crickets, or Popeye jigs will all draw strikes. Shallow bays with gravel or sandy bottoms are the best locations. 2-8 feet of water are best depths. Woody cover is a big plus so the Ky Fish and Wildlife stake beds get a lot of pressure. I've seen lots of bluegills being cleaned at local resort stations.

Catfish chasers have been doing very well also. Cut bait, worms, or prepared stink baits will all catch catfish along rocky banks or rip-rap. A shallow area near deep water is always a great place to start.

We have been picking up several nice white bass during our trolling trips.

Hopefully this rainy weather will get out of our area. It has made some of my trips an uncomfortable event but my clients have been wonderful. 

The afternoon surface temperatures are now in the low 70s. Those temperatures will make the lake more attractive for the pleasure boat crowds. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kick- off for the jet-skis, tritoons, and wake boats. Keep in mind those folks have as much right to enjoy the lake as fishermen do. I hope everybody practices courtesy and gives other boats a wide berth. A much anticipated vacation or day at the lake can be quickly turned into an emergency by carelessness, inattention, drunkenness, or rage. Many folks rent boats and have zero idea how to operate them or know a little courtesy goes a long way. 

Be careful out there! Leave the booze on the bank. Wear your life jackets when running above trolling speeds. Enjoy our lakes but be aware of those around you. 

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.