June 4, 2015

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 359.76 Surface Temperature - 75
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.85 Surface Temperature - 75

Both lakes are are almost one foot over summer pool and on a slow draw down. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 50,000 cfs today. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 16,000 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: Cooler temperatures earlier this week gave way to more summer like weather the past couple of days. The ledge fishing continues to get better as more bait fish and bass have moved out to the ledges. Kentucky Lake was crowded today with the BASS Fest starting and other folks preparing for the up coming weekend tournaments. Our best producing techniques continue to be on slower moving techniques such as dragging jigs, Carolina rigs, Texas rigged large worms, slow rolling swim baits and drop shots. We are getting fish on deep diving crankbaits also but the slower techniques continue to be producing best for us.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is calling for a high of 84/low of 65 with a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms with wind WSW5. Saturday is showing a high of 83/low of 63 with a 20% chance of rain and wind NNE5. Sunday is calling for a high of 88/low of 70 with a 20% chance of rain and wind SW7. The extended forecast into next week is calling for high's in the 80's, low's in the 60's with chances of rain and thunderstorms each day and south quadrant winds. This is the time of year we tend to get quite a few of the afternoon pop up thunderstorms so boaters should keep an eye on the sky and seek shelter if you see an approaching storm as these storms do produce frequent lightning and localized high winds.


Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken ledges on the main lake and around the mouths of deeper creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on deep diving crank baits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms, slow rolling swim baits and drop shot rigs. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points and channel banks of the main lake using the same techniques as mentioned above. Largemouth are also still being taken near brush and vegatation in the backs of the creeks and bays, especially early and late in the day where they are feeding on bluegills and fry. These fish are being taken on topwater lures, Texas rigged large worms and creature baits as well as whacky rigged worms.
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Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on rocky main lake primary points and secondary points in the front halves of the creeks and bays as well as on ledges. 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, Rapala DT 16 in parrot, Strike King XD6 in chartreuse sexy shad, Charmer Timber Pups in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple on Carolina rigs, whacky rigged Yamamoto Senko's in green pumpkin/black, Zoom Trick Worms whacky rigged in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple, Charmer shakey head worms on drop shot rigs in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple, Charmer 10.5 inch worms in plum and green pumpkin/purple on Texas rigs, D&L football head jigs in Oops and Cumberland Craw, Slongs shaky heads with Yamamoto Senko's in green pumpkin/black.

Catfish: There are still Channel Catfish being taken on rocky banks and rocky shallow flats with night crawlers fished under bobbers and on bottom rigs but numbers are starting to dwindle as many of these fish have now started moving to the creek and river channels. Catfish are being taken in the old river channels now in 20-30 ft of water on bottom rigs during periods of current.

Bluegill/Red Ears: There have been some Bluegills and Red Ears spawning this week in the creeks and bays with the full moon. The reports indicate the numbers on this latest spawn are not as good as the last spawn but there have been some nice catches coming in. These fish are being taken on crickets and worms under bobbers and worms on split shot rigs. The Bluegills can be found in 3-5 ft of water near brush and vegatation. The Red Ears are being taken on gravel bars in 5-7 ft of water.

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:

June: Sorry, I am booked up.
July: I still have some week day 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 electronics 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. You do not learn how to find and fish the best ledges by simply looking at your electronics....it takes knowledge to find and fish the best ledges, the electronics are just a tool to assist you in seeing the fish afer you find them.


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