September 4, 2015

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam – 356.44 Surface Temperature – 84
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam – 356.45 Surface Temperature – 84

Both lakes are 2 and one half feet below summer pool. Kentucky Dam has been generating at an average rate of between 36,000-37,000 cfs around the clock for the past few days. Barkley Dam has been generating at an average rate of 16,600 cfs over the past 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.

General Conditions: We have had high pressure, blue skies, no current, flat water and it has been hot with daytime temperatures in the 90’s with high humidity levels all week. This weather pattern is forecasted to continue through the holiday weekend. This weather pattern along with no current on the lakes has the bite continuing to be slow with the fish scattered during the morning and day. We are taking some fish but again, we are finding them scattered both on the ledges and main lake points as well as in the creeks and bays. The more favorable reports are still coming in of a better bite during the early evening and and at night. The extended forecast is showing a cold front forecasted to come through around mid next week bring us more early fall like temperatures and hopefully this will start bring the water temperatures down.

The forecast for Saturday through Monday is for high’s in the 90’s, low’s in the upper 60’s with light east quadrant winds. Expect a lot of traffic on the lakes this holiday weekend so take care to be courteous, drive your boat defensively and bring plenty of water, sport drinks and sun block. The lake levels are dropping so take care when you are running to be sure you are in safe water depths. We are already seeing some boats damaged from striking underwater obstructions. Let’s see if we can get through one holiday weekend this season without any fatalities or injuries on the lakes.


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 medium running crankbaits, finesse jigs, tube 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. Smallmouth are being taken at night on main lake points on dark skirted spinner baits and tube jigs.

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 and Cumberland Craw, 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 vertically fishing inline spinners, blade baits 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. This bite has been reported as slow due to the lack of current this week.

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:

I still have a few dates available in September and October as well as November. 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.

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

"Fish With A Professional"