• 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

    August 27, 2015

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam – 356.86 Surface Temperature – 82
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam – 356.90 Surface Temperature – 82

    Both lakes are two feet below summer pool and on a draw down. Kentucky Dam has been generating at an average rate of 60,000 cfs over the past couple of days. Barkley Dam has been generating at an average rate of 25,500 over the past couple of days. The TVA website is showing a projected draw down of another foot over the next few days. 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.

    Current Conditions: We have had some beautiful cool fall like days over the past week, even needing a light jacket for those early morning runs on the lakes. The slow bite I reported last week on has continued this week on north Kentucky. The fish have been scattered for the most part and we have taken fish from the ledges to the backs of the creeks and bays but certainly not numbers of fish nor have we encountered any schools of feeding bass. I have received a couple of reports that the bite has improved somewhat on north Barkley and on Kentucky from Blood River south this week but none of these reports indicated a great bite, just a better bite than last week. Boaters need to take heed in the fact the lakes levels are dropping and pay attention to where they are running. If you are not sure of the water depth where you are, you should idle your boat until you are sure you are in safe water for running.

    The forecast for the weekend and early next week is showing a slight warming period with humidity levels starting to rise again. The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 87/low of 65 with wind SE5. Saturday’s forecast is for a high of 89/low of 67 with wind SSW9. Sunday is calling for a high of 89/low of 66 with wind SSW6. The extended forecast into next mid week is calling for daytime high’s in the low 90’s/ night time low’s in the upper 60’s with light winds.


    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on 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. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points and channel banks of the main lake using the same techniques as mentioned above. One can also catch fish on secondary points in the creeks and bays where some bass are feeding on schools of fry . These fish are being taken on finesse jigs and shaky heads. Largemouth are being taken around grass beds in the creeks and bays south of Blood River early in the morning on top water lures and senko type baits. Overall the fish the scattered and bite is slow. Largemouth are also being taken at night on main lake points and points inside the mouths of the deeper creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on dark skirted spinner baits, jigs 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 bite on these fish during the day is slow. 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 King Splash baits in white near grass beds, Charmer Timber Pups in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple on Carolina rigs , 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, D&L baby advantage jigs in “oops” pattern, Slong's shaky head jigs with Charmer shaky head worms in watermelon candy as well as Yamamoto Senko’s in green pumpkin/black and Charmer tubes in road kill and green pumpkin/orange on tube jigs.

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

    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.

    FLASH: Fisherman’s Headquarters has expanded their line of Slong’s fishing lures, including the football head jigs with the trokar hook that I prefer as well as an ample supply of the Slong’s spinner baits. The Blue Glimmer pattern spinner baits are a must for every tackle box for the up coming fall bite. Stop by and check them out!

    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 and Stratos 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:
    August: Sorry, I am booked up.
    September, October and November: 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"
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