September 10, 2015

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam – 356.13 Surface Temperature – 83
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam – 356.00 Surface Temperature – 83

Both lakes are 3 feet below summer pool. Kentucky Dam has been generating an average flow around 22,800 cfs around the clock over the past couple of days. Barkley Dam has been generating an average flow of 14,500 cfs around the clock for the past couple of 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. With the lake levels down, boaters need to be cautious when navigating the lakes. These are big lakes, but they are shallow river lakes. If you are not familiar with the lakes, make sure you use the navigation lanes and if you are not sure of the depths and locations of obstructions where you are, idle your boat until you are in safe water.

General Conditions: We had flat water, hot humid days and no current earlier this week and the slow scattered bite on the Largemouth I have been reporting has continued. As mentioned last week, we are managing to catch a few fish but they are scattered and the morning and day bite has been slow. I am getting the same reports from lots of visiting and local anglers every day. But, as previously reported, I am still getting reports of a better evening and night bite on both lakes. We had a front pass through the area early yesterday morning and this brought some cooler temperatures yesterday and a little bit of scattered rain. Another front is forecasted to be coming through the area tomorrow bringing with it a cooling period over the weekend and a return to more seasonable temperatures next week. Hopefully this cooler weather will start dropping the water temperatures and get the fish on a more active early fall pattern soon.

The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 75/ low of 53 with a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms with frontal passage. Wind is forecast to range from 5-15 from the NNW. Saturday is showing a high of only 67/ low of 47 with wind NNW14. Sunday’s forecast is calling for a high of 71/ low of 49 with wind N6. The extended forecast into next week is showing a return to more seasonable temperatures with day time high’s in the low 80’s with night time low’s in the 50’s


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, 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 crank baits, 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, 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 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.

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"