June 23, 2016

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 358.88 Surface Temperature - 85
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 358.95 Surface Temperature - 85

Kentucky Lake is a few inches below summer pool. Lake Barkley is at summer pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 19,000 cfs late this afternoon. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 8,300 cfs this afternoon. 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: It is definitely summer as those of us that have been on the water this week during the day can attest. Heat indexes above 100 every day this week and of course accompanied by the occassional afternoon summer thunderstorm. We had a good week on the bass this week though despite the heat. We concentrated solely on the ledges this week and our pattern of slower techniques (Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs) continued to be the most productive for us. I have had a number of reports of a good late evening and night bite this week on the ledges and most of the reports would indicate the late evening and night bite are more productive right now than the day bite in numbers of fish.

The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 97/low of 72 with wind NNW at 6. Saturday is showing a high of 95/low of 76 with wind SSE at 5. Sunday's forecast is for a high of 07/low of 76 with wind WSW at 7. The extended forecast into mid next week is showing high's in the low 90's/ low's in the 60's with north quadrant winds. A 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms is forecasted for Monday. Heat indexes are going to remain over 100 for the next few days so be sure to bring plenty of water and don't forget the sunscreen. Keep an eye on the sky for those pop up summer thunderstorms and seek safe port if you see one coming...they move very quick and have a lot of cloud to ground lightning and localized high winds.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on the ledges with deep diving crankbaits, swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms, drop shots and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken shallow in the coves and backs of the creeks and bays near vegetation on topwater lures early in the morning and late in the evening. Some bass are being taken near wood cover in shallow water during the day on Texas rigged creature baits and worms.

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are being taken on the ledges with 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 and shakey heads. I have received a few reports of Smallmouth now being taken on the rocky points on the main lake and in the front halves of the creeks and bays at night on large dark skirted spinner baits and jigs.

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, Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt and bay smelt, Keitech swim baits in pro blue and pearl, Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King splash bait in white, Slong’s football jig Cumberland craw, D&L football head jigs in Cumberland craw and Oops patterns, 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 and watermelon/purple on Carolina rigs and Texas rigs, Charmer 10.5 inch ribbon tail worms in plum and green pumpkin on Texas rigs.

White Bass: White Bass are being taken along the old river channel ledges by vertically fishing with inline spinners and blade baits.

Catfish: Catfish are being taken along the old river channel ledges in 20-30 feet of water on bottom rigs baited with cut baits and yellow tails. Some catfish are also still being taken in the mid depth ranges of 10-15 ft in the creeks and bays on bottom rigs baited with night crawlers.

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:
June: Sorry, I am booked up.
July: Sorry, I am booked up.
August: I still a number of available dates...book now.

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"