August 5, 2016

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 358.95 Surface Temperature - 89
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 358.90 Surface Temperature - 89

Both lakes are at summer pool and on a slow draw down. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 32,000 cfs early this morning. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 27,600 cfs early 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: Another week of hot summer heat with some brief localized heavy downpours from scattered thunderstorms in the lakes area this week. The run off from these storms have kept the lake levels higher than they normally would be at this time in August. Normally we would have levels about one foot lower than present levels with the water on a continuous slow draw down to reach about 2 feet below summer pool by the end of the month.

The TVA did increase the flow rate somewhat this week with a couple of days having drawn more than 40,000 cfs during the heat of the day and at night. Although the bass bite has remained somewhat scattered and slow over all, the bite did increase some during the periods of heavier draw at the dams. We are catching fish, but we are still in those summer doldrums of lower oxygen levels and slower catch rates. The best bite has been early in the morning before sun rise and late in the evening just before sun set. Slower techniques such as Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged worms, dragging jigs, shaky heads and drop shots continue to be the best producers. The key to boating some bass is to be patient and fish slow. I am still getting reports of a good night bite on the ledges and on the main lake points on most nights with dark skirted spinner baits, Texas rigged worms, jigs and tube jigs.

The weather forecast for today is for a high of 93/low of 74 with heat indexes near 100 and wind WSW at 7. A cold front will be passing through the area late tonight into tomorrow giving us some reprieve from the higher heat levels but of course coming with the frontal passage, more storms for tomorrow. Saturday's forecast is for a high of 85/low of 68 with a 60% chance of thunderstorms with wind N at 6. Sunday is showing post frontal with a high of 85/low of 68 with sunny skies and wind NNE at 7. The extended forecast into mid next week is showing high's near 90/low's in the 70's with a slight chance of scattered thunderstorms and light winds. Keep an eye on the sky for approaching thunderstorms. These thunderstorms we have been having are producing a lot of cloud to ground lightning, localized high winds and heavy down pours. Seek a safe port when you see these approaching storms as most of them are fast movers.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on the ledges as well as on main lakes points and secondary creek channel points with swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms, drop shots, shaky heads and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on secondary points and creek channel banks in the creeks and bays early and late in the day where they are feeding on schools of fry. These fish are being taken on top water lures, medium running crank baits, chatter baits, Texas rigged worms and finesse jigs. There are also some bass being taken around docks where there are schools of fry. These fish are being taken on unweighted senko type baits and finesse jigs. The night largemouth are being taken on dark skirted spinner baits, Texas rigged worms, shaky heads, jigs and tube 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: Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt and bay smelt, 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 and Charmer shaky head jigs with Charmer shaky head worm in green pumpkin as well as Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin/blue and watermelon purple, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin blue 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, live minnows fished vertically and blade baits as well as trolling inline spinners behind deep diving crank baits. White Bass have been very active this week in the jumps along the river channel ledges and creek channel ledges as well as on the main lake flats. These fish are being taken on inline spinners and small spoons cast into the surface feeding fish.

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.

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 and Pro Tungsten weights. 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:

August: I still have some 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"