• Fishing Report dated May 14, 2015

    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 dated May 14, 2015

    May 14, 2015

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 358.91 Surface Temperature - 73
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 358.95 Surface Temperature - 73

    Both lakes are at summer pool and stable. Kentucky Dam was generating between 13,000 - 20,000 cfs today. Barkley Dam was generating at 9,800 cfs today. 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 .

    General Conditions: We have been post frontal for most of this past week with some north and easterly winds. The lakes are clear and stable. We still have a myriad of patterns producing Largemouth from shallow bedding areas to the early ledges. Bluegill and Red Ears are bedding as are the Channel Catfish. We concentrated our bass fishing this week on the early ledges in the creeks and bays and on the main lake near the mouths of the creeks and bays. We took most of our bass on slow techniques this week with the post frontal conditions. We did not see much in the realm of feeding schools of post spawners this week but I expect this will start any day as more larger schools of shad move to deeper water areas for the summer.

    The weather is changing for this weekend with the next approaching front. The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 86/ low of 67 with a 60% chance of evening thunderstorms and wind forecasted SSW12. Saturday is showing a high of 79/ low of 69 with an 80% chance of thunderstorms and wind S9. Sunday is showing a high of 86/ low of 69 with an 80% chance of thunderstorms and wind S12. This pattern continues on Monday with a high of 80/ low of 58 with a 60% chance of thunderstorms and wind SW7. The next front is forecasted to come through late Monday and the forecast for next week is again post frontal with high's in the 70's/ low's in the 50's and north quadrant winds. Everyone needs to keep an eye on the sky for the next few days for pop up thunderstorms and be prepared to go to safe port as necessary.

    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on a myriad of patterns right now. Some largemouth are being taken on early post spawn ledges with deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points and secondary points and channel banks in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits, jigs and shaky heads. Largemouth are also still being taken around the spawning brush, especially those with grass and/or flowers. These fish are being taken with jigs, Texas rigged lizards and creature baits, spinnerbaits, whacky rigged worms and some topwater lures.
    .
    Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on main lake primary points and secondary points in the front halves of the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on Carolina rigged creature baits, jigs, tube jigs and shakey heads.

    Productive Lures: Some of the more productive lures reported this week have been: Bag 5 custom painted deep diving crankbatis in blue glimmer and green gizzard shad, Charmer Timber Pups and lizards in green pumpkin, whacky rigged Yamamoto Senko's in green pumpkin/black, Zoom Trick Worms whacky rigged in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer and white/chartreuse, Last Cast jigs in green pumpkin with Missle baits turbo tail and Net Baits Baby Paca craw trailers, D&L football head jigs in Oops and Cumberland Craw, Slong's football head jigs in mustang with Net Baits Paca Punch trailers in green pumpkin, Slongs shaky heads with Yamamoto Senko's in green pumpkin/black.

    Catfish: The Channel Catfish are being taken in numbers right now on rocky banks and points on the main lake and on the flats in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken with night crawlers under bobbers and on bottom rigs as well as on jug lines baited with night crawlers and threadfin shad.

    Bluegill/Red Ears: The Bluegills and Red Ears are bedding. The Bluegills are being taken with crickets under bobbers on shallow flats in 2-4 feet of water near vegatation. The Red Ears are being taken on split shot rigs baited with worms and slow rolled on gravel bars in 3-6 feet of water.
    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, or the Draffenville "Y". FHQ stocks everything an angler could need, from live bait, hooks and bobbers to top of the line tournament bass tackle. More than a "bait and tackle" store, Fisherman’s Headquarters is a true "pro shop", offering advice, training and special order assistance not found online or at the big box retailers. Services even include custom electronics training and installation. The store offers a wide variety of nationally known brands as well as many regional and hard to find items we use on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. They stock many of the products I rely on daily, such as Charmer Baits and All Pro Rods. From bluegill to bass and catfish to crappie, FHQ has you covered! Stop by and visit or 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 20 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:
    May: Sorry, I am booked up.
    June: 3,5 (these dates came open due to late cancellations. This is prime ledge time so call or email for one of these dates!
    July: Plenty of weekday dates available...call or email to make your reservation now!

    Call me or drop me an email to book your late summer and fall trips with me now. The sooner you make a reservation, the more likely you are to get the date(s) you want.

    I am also taking bookings for my Ledge Teaching trip. The Ledge Teaching trip consists of both classroom and time on the water. This trip not only teaches you how to find the highest percentage ledges but also what you are looking for on your sonar and how to interpret what you are seeing, how to search the ledges, set up on the ledges as well as making decisions on what type lures you should be throwing depending on enviromental conditions.


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