May 26, 2016

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 360.00 Surface Temperature - 72
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 360.10 Surface Temperature - 72

Both lakes are one foot over summer pool. Kentucky Dam was generating an average flow of 35,000 cfs this evening. Barkley Dam was generating an average flow of 19,200 cfs this evening. 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 early summer air temperatures in the 80's this week which raised the water temperatures about 5 degrees to present levels. We also have had heavy rain and thunderstorms over the past few days, dropping a number of inches of rain here and up the rivers. This has resulted in the lake levels having risen to present levels of about one foot over summer pool. The resulting rise in the water temperatures have moved more baitfish and bass to the summer ledges. There are still a good number of fish on the post spawn banks and points also which have yet to make the transition to the deeper water summer haunts. There are still some. fish shallow too as some males are still guarding nests from the spawning bluegills. We targeted both the ledges and the post spawn areas this week with good success.

Expect the lakes to be crowded with the long holiday weekend so please be courteous to other boaters and anglers as well as drive defensively. Let's make this an accident free holiday weekend! With the rise in the lake levels boaters should be aware that there may be some floating debris on both lakes. Boaters need to keep an eye on the sky for the thunderstorms. The storms we have been having have lots of cloud to ground lightning as well as localized high winds and heavy down pours. Get to safe port at the first sign of approaching storms.

The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 82/low of 69 with a 20% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms. Wind is forecasted from the S at 14. Saturday is showing a high of 83/low of 66 with a 20% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms. Wind is forecasted from the S at 12. Sunday's forecast is calling for a high of 88/low of 66 with a continued 30% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms with wind from the WSW at 10. The extended forecast into mid next week is calling for high's in the 80's/ low's in the 60's with post frontal north quadrant winds and continued chances of of rain and thunderstorms each day.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on the ledges with deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and jigs. Largemouth are being taken on secondary channel points and banks inside the creeks and bays on crankbaits, Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits, jigs and shaky heads. Largemouth are also being taken shallow in the coves and backs of the creeks and bays near vegetation on topwater lures, spinner baits, chatter baits, Texas rigged creature baits, whacky rigged worms and jigs.

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are being taken on the ledges with deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits and jigs. Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake rocky points and banks as well as rocky banks and points in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on jigs, Texas rigged creature baits, tube jigs, shaky heads and grubs. Although the numbers are low, some nice fish have been taken.

PRODUCTIVE LURES: Some of the productive lures this week have been: Strike King XD 6 and XD 10 crankbaits in sexy shad and chartreuse sexy shad, Rapala DT 16 crankbaits in parrot, Bag 5 custom painted deep crankbaits in blue glimmer and green gizzard shad, Slong's spinner baits in white/chartruese, Picasso FX shock blade chatterbait in white and blue glimmer, Zman chatterbaits in white/chartruese, Buzzbaits in white/chartreuse and black, Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Slong’s football jig Cumberland craw, D&L baby advantage jig in Cumberland craw and Oops patterns, Last Cast jigs in green pumpkin, Slong’s shaky head jigs with Charmer shaky head worm in green pumpkin and bama bug as well as Yamamto senkos and Yum dingers in green pumpkin, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin on Carolina rigs, Charmer 10.5 inch ribbon tail worms in plum on Texas rigs, Zoom trick worms on whacky rigs in green pumpkin, green pumpkin blue, green pumpkin purple and watermelon purple.

Bluegill/Red Ear: These fish are now spawning and are being taken shallow with crickets and red worms under bobbers as well as on split shot rigs baited with small creature jigs tipped with worms dragged slowly on bottom. Look for the red ears on gravel points in 3-5 ft of water. The bluegills are being taken in front of the brush on gravel bottoms in 2-4 ft of water.

Catfish: Channel catfish are now being taken on rocky points and banks on night crawlers fished both under bobbers and on bottom rigs. Some nice catches of numbers of these fish are now being reported. A number of these catfish are also being taken on the flats just off the shallow spawning areas by anglers while jug fishing with minnows and worms.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON VISITING OUR LAKES I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING 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, Picasso lures, Bag 5 lures, Pro Tungsten weights, 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 over 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.

Ledge Teaching: I have been providing a focused learning experience trip for a number of years to teach bass anglers how to find the most productive ledges and also how to fish them. This learning experience features both classroom and on the water instruction. You cannot learn everything you need to learn "in the classroom" nor can you learn everything you need to learn "on the water". This experience features both aspects. After this experience with me, you should be able to successfully find and fish the ledges here or on any body of water with ledges. If you would like to really learn how to find and fish the ledges as well as make the right lure selections etc, give me a call or drop me an email to book one of my open dates.

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:
May: Sorry, I am booked up.
June: Sorry, I am booked up.
July: 26, 27, 28. 29

I am also taking reservations through November with a number of available dates. Make your reservations now to get the date(s) you want.

Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-362-9987
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"