• 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 19, 2015

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 355.74 Surface Temperature - 52
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.80 Surface Temperaturte - 51

    Both lakes are about 3 feet below summer pool. Kentucky Dam has gates open and was spilling at a rate of 113,664 cfs this morning. Barkley Dam has gates open and was spilling at a rate of 60,200 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 . With the lake levels down, everyone needs to be cautious when navigating the lakes. Use the navigation channels unless you know exactly where you are and if you are not sure, idle your boat until you are sure you are in safe water.

    General Conditions: Kentucky Lake water ranges from stained to moderately stained. Lake Barkley water is heavily stained. Although a good bit of the debris we had floating last week has thinned out, there is still some floating debris and boaters need to keep an eye out for this and also I have seen some logs that have gotten hung up on the bottom here and there in deeper water so beware of this also when running.

    The water temperatures rose about 4 degrees over the past week and this has gotten the Bass and Crappie a little more active over the past few days. We are still running about 4-5 degrees behind normal water temperatures for this time in March, but the early prespawn bite bite on the Bass has now started and this should get better as the water warms up more over the next week or so. Although the Bass are still somewhat scattered, we are taking a good number of buck bass now as well as some larger Bass. I expect the tournament results on the north end of the lake this weekend to be much better than we saw last weekend. The Black Crappie are getting active and have been staging on brush off spawning banks this week also. Although most of the reports I have had indicate that Crappie are still being taken by vertically fishing over deep brush piles, I also observed and have had reports of Black Crappie being taken by casting curly tail jigs and road runner type baits to the banks and points with wood cover.

    We had a couple of cold fronts come through the area over the past few days with cooler temperatures, rain and wind but the forecast for the weekend and into early next week looks better with daytime highs ranging in the low 60's and night time low temperatures in the 40's. Right now it appears the next front is forecasted to come through the area bringing some cooler temperatures toward the latter half of next week. Keep in mind that this is March and the weather forecasts and conditions are subject to change at any time so make sure you check the weather and wind forecasts regularly before you venture on the water.

    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being on main lake points as well as secondary points and channel banks inside the creeks and bays. Rocky banks and points have been the best producers for us this week but we are also taking some fish on the gravel banks and points. These fish are being taken on Alabama Rigs, suspending jerk baits, medium running crankbaits, jigs and shakey heads. Overall the Largemouth fishing is fair and improving.

    Smallmouth Bass: A few Smallmouth are being taken on both rocky and gravel points and banks near the channels on the main lake and on secondary points in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on suspending jerk baits, slow rolled crank baits and jigs. The bite is scattered on these fish but they are actively feeding when you come across one or two.

    Productive Lures: Some of the more productive lures this week have been: Rapala Shad Raps and DT 10 crankbaits in Demon and Red Craw, Smithwick suspending Rogues in Chrome with Black Back, Rapala X-raps in black/silver and clown, Bag 5 custom painted Mega Bass jerk baits in Blue Glimmer, Lucky Craft Pointers in Aurora Black, D&L jigs in Cumberland Craw and Oops patterns and Charmer shakey head worms on D&L and Slong's shakey head jigs in green pumpkin and green pumpkin candy.

    Crappie: The Crappie bite is being reported as fair with some fish being taken over brush piles in 15-20 ft of water inside the mouths of the creeks and bays by spider rigging and bottom bouncing with small jigs dressed with small minnows. The Black Crappie are starting to stage on points and banks in the creeks and bays with wood cover and are being taken by casting curly tail jigs and road runner type baits to the shoreline.
    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 19 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: Sorry, I am booked up.
    April: Sorry, I am booked up.
    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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