July 23, 2015

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam – 359.72 Surface Temperature – 89
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam – 359.90 Surface Temperature – 87

Both lakes are nearly one foot over summer pool and on a draw down. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 63,000 cfs this afternoon. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 22,700 cfs this afternoon. 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: The ledge fishing has been about the same for us with some nice fish but not large numbers of fish. We have noticed that with the reduction in the strong current we were experiencing last week that more fish have returned to the main lake ledges of which many had seemed to have been vacated for the more favorable conditions of the ledges and points in the mouths of the creeks and bays. Our most productive techniques continue to be using slower presentations with Carolina rigs, jigs, Texas rigs, shaky heads and drop shots.

We have had a reprieve from the triple digit heat indexes over the past couple of days but this is going to be short lived as the high humidity will start building in the area again tomorrow and is projected to go into next week. The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 90/low of 67 with wind NE3. Saturday is showing a high of 92/low of 72 with wind SE4. Sunday is forecasting a high of 94/low of 74 with wind SE4. The extended forecast into mid next week is showing high temperatures in the upper 90’s with low’s in the mid 70’s and light winds. Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated this weekend, with the sunny skies and higher humidity it is going to be hot.

FLASH: I will not be publishing a fishing report next week as I will be on vacation. This will be the first vacation my wife and I have taken during the summer rather than winter in 20 years because of my guide service and my wife convinced me that it was time we see what it is like to vacation when it is not freezing cold. From the looks of the weather forecast next week, I don’t think we will be cold at all.


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 Carolina rigged creature baits, dragging large football head jigs, Texas rigged large worms, shaky heads and drop shot rigs as well as large spoons and large swim baits. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points and channel banks of the main lake as well as on the points inside the mouths of the creeks and bays using the same techniques as mentioned above. Largemouth are also still being taken near brush and vegetation in the backs of the creeks and bays, especially early and late in the day where they are feeding on schools of spring fry. These fish are being taken on top water lures early and late in the day and Texas rigged creature baits, tube jigs and jigs as well as spinner baits during the day. Largemouth are also being taken at night on main lake banks and points on dark skirted spinner baits and tube jigs.

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 shaky heads. The summer night bite for these feisty fighters is on now and they are being taken on large dark skirted spinner baits and tube jigs on both gravel and rocky main lake points.

Productive Lures: Some of the more productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon and Strike Splash baits in bone for the shallow top water bite, Charmer Timber Pups in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple on Carolina rigs (deep) and Texas rigs (shallow), Charmer shaky head worms on drop shot rigs in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple as well as Robo worms in green pumpkin variations, Charmer 10.5 inch worms in plum and green pumpkin/purple on Texas rigs, Necessity football head jigs and D&L football head jigs in Oops and Cumberland Craw patterns, Slong's and Necessity shaky heads with Charmer shaky head worms in watermelon candy and Charmer tubes in road kill and green pumpkin/orange on tube jigs.

White Bass: Whites are now being taken by trolling inline spinners behind deep diving crank baits along channel ledges and vertically fishing inline spinners and small spoons over schools of deeper fish.

Catfish: Catfish are being taken in the old river channels now in 20-30 ft of water on bottom rigs with cut baits,night crawlers. shrimp and leach combinations and yellow tails during periods of current.

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 pan fish 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 electronics 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:
July: Sorry, I am booked up.
August: 24, 25
September: I have plenty of dates still available...call or email me now to get the date(s) you want.

Call me or drop me an email to 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 environmental 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 after you find them.


Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
270-362-9987

"Fish With A Professional"