• Fishing Report for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley

    Bass Buster Guide Service
    (270) 362-9987 http://www.kentuckylakeguide.com dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
  • "Specializing in Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Lake Familiarization, Tournament Preparation, and Technique Instruction"

  • Fishing Report for Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley

    March 13, 2015

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 355.52 Surface Temperature - 46
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.55 Surface Temperature - 45

    Both lakes are one and one half feet above winter pool. Both lakes have gates open at the dams and are spilling. Kentucky Lake is spilling at a rate of 177,000 cfs this morning. Barkley Dam is spilling at a rate of 111,500 cfs this morning. The latest lake levels, current flows and forecasts for all the TVA lakes can be found at : http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/index.htm . Lake Barkley is muddy with floating debris. Kentucky Lake is heavily stained with some muddy water in the main river channel. There is floating debris on Kentucky Lake also so be careful when running either lake right now with the floating debris as well as the water levels being down near winter pool.

    General Comments and Conditions: It is good to be writing my first weekly fishing report of the the season this week even though it is not as favorable report as I would like to start the season with but as everyone is aware, winter hit us hard here in the lakes area over the past few weeks with record snow falls and record low temperatures as well as heavy rains. All this nasty weather has the water temperatures running about 2 weeks behind schedule and 10 degrees below normal for this time of year as well as the less than favorable lake conditions mentioned above.

    On the the good side, we finally started to get some more seasonable temperatures over the past week and water temperatures are now slowly rising and the snow and ice have melted allowing us to get on the water. As one would expect, the cold water coupled with the cold water temperatures have made the bass fishing challenging and the bite is slow and scattered. Although we have some few reports of scattered fish being taken early in the day, the better bite is such as it is has been during the warmer part of the day during the afternoon after the surface temperature has warmed a couple of degrees. Most of the fish have been taken lately in deep water with finesse techniques fishing bery slow with lots of patience. The past couple of days there is some suspending jerk bait bite and also slow rolled crank bait bite around rocky points and banks near deep water. The Alabama Rig bite has been scattered and slow also for the most part on rocky points and around deep wood cover but a few fish are being taken.

    I do, however, expect we should start seeing a more active early and pre spawn bite if the water temperatures continue to rise over the next week and we get some drier weather and clearing water. The weather forecast for today is for rain with a high temperature of 62. More rain is in the forecast for tonight and Saturday morning with a high of 62, low of 42 with wind N10 on Saturday. Sunday is forecasted to have a high of 70 and a low of 42 with wind NE5. Monday's forecast is for a high of 70, low of 51 with wind SW10. Cooler weather is forecasted to return beginning Tuesday with high's in the 50's and low's in the 40's with post frontal north wind.

    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken deep off rocky channel points and banks as well as deep off ledges near wood cover with shakey heads, blade baits, jigs and small jigging spoons fished slow with patience. Some Largemouth are also being taken around shallow rocky points and banks near deep water on suspending jerk baits and slow rolled crankbaits. Overall the bite is slow.

    Smallmouth Bass: A few Smallmouth are being taken on both rocky and gravel points and banks near the channels. These fish are reportedly being taken on suspending jerk baits, slow rolled crank baits and jigs. The bite is still slow on these fish but should improve soon.

    Crappie: The Crappie bite is being reported as slow with some fish being taken over brush piles in 15-20 ft of water by spider rigging and bottom bouncing with small jigs dressed with small minnows.

    If you are coming to the big lakes here to enjoy our great fishing, make sure you stop by these businesses for all your fishing and boating needs:

    The Cabin Bait and Tackle is located in Kuttawa on U.S. 62 about one mile west of the I-24/U.S. 62 interchange. The Cabin Bait and Tackle has a great selection of the latest in rods, reels, lures for you bass anglers and also a great selection of tackle for the panfish anglers to include live bait. You can also find a selection of bows and guns for the hunter as well as personal handguns in the store. The Cabin also hosts the a website where you can order all your fishing needs with free shipping on all orders over 50.00. Be sure to check them out at www.tackleexperts.com . The Cabin has a great delicatessen where you can get that early morning breakfast sandwich or enjoy a delicious lunch. Phone: 270-388-6440.


    Fisherman's Headquarters is located in Draffenville at the U.S. 68/U.S. 641 triangle. Fisherman's Headquarters boasts a great selection of the latest in rods, reels and lures for bass anglers that are on the market, not to mention one of the best selection of high end lures and local custom lures we use here on Ky/Barkley lakes. You can find many of the custom lures you see in my fishing reports there including the Bag5 custom painted crank baits and jerk baits. Fisherman's Headquarters also has a really good selection of Crappie and panfish tackle featuring Wally Marshall "Mr Crappie" rods, reels, lures and line as well as live baits. Phone: 270-527-5938

    Jet-A-Marina: If you have a problem with your boat while you are visiting our great fisheries, let me recommend you have the folks in the service department at Jet-a-Marina check it out. These folks have a well known reputation for trying to keep our visitors on the water while they are here if they can possibly do so, especially you tournament anglers. Hopefully you will not need this kind of assistance but if you do, you can find Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles north of Kentucky Dam. Jet-a-Marina also has a great showroom for all your boating accessories and check out the new Ranger, Stratos and Triton bass boats too as well as bulk oil at rock bottom prices for your engine. Phone: 270-395-4030


    GUIDE SERVICE:
    For those of you that may not be familiar with my service: I am a full time catch and release bass fishing guide. I only guide for bass. I have been guiding for bass full time on these lakes for 18 years and bass fishing the lakes for over 30 years. I do not go out and fish panfish for 4 or 5 days and then try to guide on bass for one or two days. No one knows everything the bass are doing but one thing is for sure, if you only fish for bass day in and day out, you will have a lot better idea of what they are doing and also be familiar with all the different techniques it takes to be a successful bass angler. If you book with my service, you will have me as your guide and you will be guided in the comfort of a late model Z522 Ranger Comanche equipped with Lowrance HDS sonar and top of the line tackle. I provide just for fun bass fishing trips, tournament preparation trips, focused teaching trips and technique instruction. If you are in need of a bass fishing guide give me a call or drop me an email.

    Available Dates:

    March: 31
    April: 6, 7, 8, 10, 11
    May: 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 28

    As you can see, I have only a few spring dates left so book your trip now wile I still have dates available. I am also taking reservations for the summer and fall so now is a good time to make those reservations too so that you can get the date(s) you want.


    Captain Dave Stewart
    Bass Buster Guide Service
    270-362-9987
    dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
    www.kentuckylakeguide.com
    "Fish With a Professional"
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