August 13, 2015

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam – 357.16 Surface Temperature – 85
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam – 357.45 Surface Temperature – 86

Both lakes are about 2 feet below summer pool. Kentucky Dam has been generating a peak average flow of just over 55,000 cfs during the late morning and afternoon hours the past couple of days. Barkley Dam has been generating at a little over 14,200 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 had some nice cooler weather over the past few days with low humidity and high temperatures only in the 80’s. Some north wind put some chop on the water but certainly it has been fishable. The ledge bite continues to be inconsistent but we are managing to take some nice bass, but as I have been reporting for the past month, our numbers of fish on the ledges has been down. The fish we are catching are good ones though with only a short fish now and then. Our most productive techniques continue to be slower techniques of Carolina rigged creature baits, dragging football head jigs and Texas rigged large worms. This seems to be the theme this summer according to the many reports I have been receiving. I have received a number of reports though of many folks struggling to put some fish in the boat. I did receive 2 reports of a good night bite on the main lake on Kentucky on the points. The early morning and late evening top water bite has shifted to more on secondary points in the creeks and bays as the schools of fry are pulling out toward deeper water now.

The forecast for the weekend looks good even though it will be heating up a little with some humidity coming back. Friday’s forecast is showing a high of 88/low of 65 with post frontal wind ENE5. The post frontal conditions continue into the weekend with a high Saturday at 91/low of 67 and wind E4. Sunday is calling for a 40% chance of early morning thunderstorms, a high of 90/low of 69 with wind SSE4. The extended forecast into mid next week is for high’s in the low 90’s and low’s in the lower 70’s with light south quadrant 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 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 being taken early morning and late evening top water lures on the secondary points about half way back in the creeks and bays where bass are feeding on these transitioning schools of fry. One can also catch fish on the deeper flats in 5-8 ft of water during the day where bass are feeding on these fry schools. These fish are being taken on chatter baits, spinner baits and lipless crank baits. We are also now getting some large mayfly hatches and bass along with other fish are feeding on these hatches early in the morning and late in the evening around over hanging trees in the creeks and bays. These bass are being taken on Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits as well as finesse jigs. 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, Slong’s trokar football head jigs in possum and Cumberland craw and D&L football head jigs in Oops and Cumberland Craw patterns, Slong's shaky head jigs 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 river channel ledges as well as main lake creek 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.

If you are planning a visit to the lakes area, I highly recommend these local businesses for all your fishing and boating needs:
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, Slong’s lures 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. Check Checkers and Dischem Specials.

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:
August: 24
September: I have a number 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"