July 8, 2016

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 360.35 Surface Temperature - 84
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 360.85 Surface Temperature - 84

Both lakes are nearly 2 feet over summer pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 61, 000 cfs this morning. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 51,000 cfs this morning. 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: Thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rains have been the story this week. Here in Marshall County we have received nearly 15 inches of rain since Monday. In addition to a lot of wind damage as well as flooding caused by the wet weather this week, the run off has shot the lake levels up to present levels. We were only able to get on the water one day this week due to the weather and that trip was cut short with approaching severe thunderstorms. The ledge bite was somewhat slow that morning although my clients did boat a few quality Largemouth. Although we have not been out the past couple of days, no doubt this much rain run off has muddied up the backs of some of the creeks and bays, especially on Barkley. The plus to this situation is that the TVA is pulling water and this should have the ledge fish on the main lake active. Below is the present weather forecast but let me caution you that these forecasts are changing a lot lately so before you venture on the water, you should check for the latest forecasts for storm and wind conditions. These storms we are getting have a lot of wind, lightning and locally heavy rains and are in most cases, fast moving. Since we have not had a lot of time on the water this week, my species reports below are the same as my last report as I do not expect much has changed in the patterns other than possibly a additional shallow water bite on the Largemouth with water now up in the buck brush where there are still a number of spring fry residing.

The forecast for today is for a high of 90/low of 72 with a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms and wind WSW at 14. Saturday is calling for a high of 87/low of 69 with a 40% chance of thunderstorms and wind NNW at 7. Sunday's forecast is presenty calling for a high of 83/low of 68 with a 60% chance of thunderstorms and wind variable at 6. The extended forecast into next mid week is calling for high's in the low 90's/ low's in the 70's with chances for thunderstorms each day.

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. A few bass are being taken around mayfly hathches early and late in the day near overhanging trees in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on topwater lures, Texas rigged creature baits and jigs.

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. 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 and Zoom pumpkin lizards with chartreuse tails on Carolina rigs.

White Bass: White Bass are being taken along the old river channel ledges by vertically fishing with inline spinners and blade baits. Some whites are also being taken near mayfly hatches early and late in the day near overhanging trees in the creeks and bays on small topwater poppers and inline spinners.

Bluegill: Bluegills are being taken near mayfly hatches early and late in the day near mayfly hatches around overhanging trees in the creeks and bays as well as around docks at night. These fish are being taken on red worms and wax worms fished under bobbers.

Catfish: Catfish are being taken along the old river channel ledges in 20-30 feet of water on bottom rigs baited with cut baits, shrimp and leach combinations 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.

FLASH: Fisherman's Headquarters now has in stock the new Charmer Timber Pup in Green Pumpkin with Blue Flake. Check them out, they are sure to be a new item in my arsenal of high percentage creature baits!

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"