Steve McCadams

Seems most every county fair and carnival has a roller coaster ride! So does the winter weather picture in Tennessee, especially on Kentucky Lake.

Riding that roller coaster has been Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene. Warm one week; cold the next. Some days calm but others deliver gale winds.

Anglers got spoiled during the holiday period as above average temperatures hung around for a long spell, making it feel like mid-fall. It appears that ship has sailed.

Fishermen were out in force for a week to ten days back during the holiday period, basking in the sun and living it up when light winds allowed crappie and bass fishermen to test the water at their favorite fishing holes.

Just before the New Year arrived came a cold snap that dropped temps back below freezing for a few days, which sort of put the brakes on the honeymoon of a long abnormal warm spell. Since then there’s been a chill in the air as early January weather has returned to its normal range.

One thing that has been consistent is the lack of rain. Drought conditions continue over a large portion of the region.

Lake levels remain low across Kentucky Lake. Elevation has seen minor fluctuation this winter with readings dancing around the 354.7 range. That’s low winter pool as there hasn’t been much runoff water entering the system this winter.

Generally speaking lake levels have been stable. Not much water has fallen across the Tennessee Valley these last few weeks.

Water color remains clear. Surface temps have dropped back down to normal range for early January with readings around the upper 30’s to low 40’s.

Crappie anglers reported some decent stringers taken before the cold spell chased away the unusually warm conditions. Fishermen are now monitoring the weather and wind closely, choosing to pick their days carefully before heading out.

Depths of 8 to 13 feet had been producing a few fish. With the colder weather lowing the surface temps and influencing movement of baitfish crappie seemed to have moved slightly deeper. That’s likely due to their forage base moving out a bit.

Odds are some crappie have moved back to deeper main lake ledges and likely riding it out on the deeper sides of drop-offs. Depths are 16 to 22 feet may be worth trying. Both live minnows and various jig colored leadheads and skirts are worthy of experimentation as to presentations.

No doubt the fish are following their forage and shad are sensitive to quick temperatures changes. As a result, the baitfish often go deeper where they have a better comfort zone.

A few nice smallmouth were taken the last week or two as anglers found them up on sloping pea gravel banks and some rip-rap shorelines at times. Tossing small grubs and swim baits, along with crankbaits retrieved slowly, produced some hefty brozebacks that tipped the scales to over 5-pounds.

Things are beginning to moderate back to normal winter temps but January is a month with cold front potential at any time. Drastic changes can occur at the drop of a hat. Once a front blows in and nasty north winds whip up whitecaps out there on the big pond it separates the men from the boys as to toughness!

Some people can tolerate the cold winter winds; others choose to stay close to the fire and wait for the weather to warm up before heading to the boat ramps.

Watch your favorite weather channel but be cautious as that weatherman will miss the forecast sometimes and hang you out to dry so to speak!

Not to worry; it only takes a warm day or two for the fishing pox to return and pull you back out on the lake where the fish are waiting your arrival!