Lake Conditions:
Barkley – 359.55, 18,600-73,800 CFS, water is very stained to muddy in color, with water temps running in the upper 70’s to mid 80’s
Kentucky – 359.18, 14,400-59,600, water is stained to light stain in color, with water temps running in the upper 70’s to mid 80’s
Weather: It was a welcome relief of some dryer weather this week. We had a few normal summertime pop-up showers pass through otherwise warm and humid. We look to have some rain today and tomorrow then a week and half stretch of beautiful warm sunny days ahead.
Bass Fishing: As it has been the past few weeks and will be the remainder of the summer and early fall the ledge bite has been hit or miss depending on what the TVA is doing with the current. As normal with little or no current the bite can be pretty fickle but when they get it ramped up the same spots can be incredible. With the massive amount of rain we had the lake levels rose fast prompting the TVA to spill at the Lake Barkley Dam running upwards of 80,000 CFS and was running upwards of 70,000 through their generators. Lake Barkley kept a pretty steady flow while on Kentucky they didn’t seem to ramp up generation flows until mid to late afternoon causing a slower bite in the morning but a descent afternoon bite. Main river ledges along with humps and ledges on flats in the mouths of the bays are still the most consistent. Not every school of fish is going to fire even with current as they have seen enough baits to last a life time and you just can’t get them to go. That’s not saying you can’t or will not find schools of active fish but the it seems that the large schools have become very broken up and the fish are really spread out. This again doesn’t mean you’re not going to catch fish or they won’t bite you going to have to move around a little more to find smaller schools of fish. With the high water in the lakes the past week or so on thing held true again. If the water rises the fish with come up with it. This doesn’t mean the fish abandon the ledges and other offshore structure but fish that are on main lake and secondary point and those resident fish that live in the bays with move to the banks just like in the spring. We were able to catch fish flippin bushes along with throwing a Picasso shockwave bladed jig, spinnerbaits and Spro little john crankbaits down the main lake and secondary pocket banks and catch a good number of fish. Bait choices haven’t changed much again this week but we are starting to see the rise of the big worms like the Big Bite Baits Juice worm and Kriet Tail worms either texas rigged or on a 1/2oz Picasso shaky head doing most of the damage. The Outkast Tackle football head has been another great choice for a bigger bite for the times of low current. When the current is up or you find an active school of fish a swimbait and spoon are hard to beat. Fish are starting to get really spread out so don’t be afraid to look in 10-12 foot of water along with fish that are still hanging out in 25-30 feet of water. If you have a favorite spot that you have a lot confidence in grind them out but overall it’s now a moving game hunting and pecking here and there looking for an active bite.
White and Yellow Bass: We didn’t fish for them this past week but seen plenty in the jumps out on the main river flats. With the extra current on the lakes this week I expect it was good fishing for them. Using a blade bait like a Steel Shad or a rooster tail we’ve been dropping them over the side of the boat and hopping them off the bottom and letting them flutter back down most of your bites with happen as the bait falls back to the bottom. I don’t personally troll for them but have seen plenty of anglers doing so with deep diving crankbait and with curly tail jig or rooster tail running off the back of it catching both white and hybrids.
DO NOT get left on the dock because you forgot to book a trip. Call us today and setup your next fishing adventure and possibly catch the fish of a lifetime at 612-889-2423. Some awesome summer fishing and weather is ahead so be sure to get your dates booked today.
*****Don’t forget about our on the water electronics classes. We have run the Lowrance products the past 10yrs and now are running the NEW Humminbird Helix units. So if you’re stumped as what you’re looking at or how to navigate through the units we can help you. Got a unit and need it installed get in touch with us and we can get you hooked up and finding fish like the pros.
Anyone needing any boat work done or looking for a new boat be sure to stop by and see the guys at Legacy Marine 270-928-3253 they have you covered for any of your boating needs.
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Brian Brown
Fishing Hype Guide Service
612-889-2423
www.fishinghype.com