• Fishing Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley

    Bass Buster Guide Service
    (270) 362-9987 http://www.kentuckylakeguide.com dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
  • "Specializing in Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Lake Familiarization, Tournament Preparation, and Technique Instruction"

  • Fishing Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley

    October 13, 2016

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 354.48 Surface Temperature - 71
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 354.15 Surface Temperature - 71

    Both lakes are just slightly over winter pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 12,800 cfs this afternoon. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 6,200 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

    FLASH: Thanks to all the folks that contacted me over the past week to see if I was o.k. since I did not publish a report last week. I failed to mention in my last report 2 weeks ago that I would be attending my annual military reunion last week and that there would be no report. I apologize for failing to mention that, but it is nice to know so many good folks are thinking about me.

    General Conditions: I mentioned in my last report 2 weeks ago that the water temperatures indicated we should see the fall transition start within the next few days. As it happens, the next day I saw that the transition indeed was underway in that a number of the creeks and bays I visited that day had large schools of the small threadfin showing up in the shallows which is always the first shad to show up shallow in numbers in the fall. So, we are definitely in transition and since my return to the water this week, I have found these schools of shad in every creek and bay I fished. The transition got a late start this year and we are still about 3 degrees above normal on our water temperatures, but we are headed in the right direction.

    This transition normally lasts about 5-6 weeks, depending on water temperatures of course, and one can still expect a lot of scattered fish as they are traveling now but it is nice to see us moving toward the true fall patterns. Our best bite this week came from top water lures in the shallows in the creeks and bays but we also took fish on spinner baits, lipless crank baits and square billed crank baits on the flats. Finesse jigs on secondary points in the creeks and bays also put fish in the boat. I saw the first day results of the FLW BFL Regional tournament which started today and the results were about what I expect to see during the transition period. First place was 18lb 14 oz with 15lb 7 oz in 10th place. Out of 180 boats, over 100 boats had 2 fish or less. This is indicative of the scattered bite of the transition period but it also indicates one can catch some nice fish if you are on the right place at the right time.

    The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 71/low of 60 with a 20% chance of rain with post frontal E wind at 4. Saturday's forecast is calling for a high of 80/low of 65 with a 30% chance of showers with wind S at 9. Sunday is showing a high of 83/low of 66 with wind SSW at 12. The extended forecast into next mid week is showing daytime high's in the 80's/low's in the 60's with south quadrant winds.

    LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on main lake flats, main lake points and shallow pockets on the main lake near deep water. These fish are being taken on top water lures, spinner baits, lipless crank baits and jigs. Largemouth are being taken on shallow flats in the backs of the creeks and bays as well as the coves in the creeks and bays on top water lures, lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and square billed crank baits. Largemouth are also being taken on secondary points in the creeks and bays on medium running crank baits, finesse jigs and shaky heads.

    SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake rocky points and banks as well as rocky secondary creek channel banks and points in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on medium running crankbaits, finesse jigs, shaky heads, dead sticked senko type baits with some early and late topwater lures.

    PRODUCTIVE LURES: Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft sammy and gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, Whopper Ploppers in natural shad patterns, Bandit crank baits in rootbeer and rootbeer chartruese, Bag 5 square bill crank baits and medium running crank baits in blue glimmer and green gizzard shad, Slong's spinner baits in blue glimmer, D&L baby advantage jigs in Cumberland craw and "oops" patterns, Charmer shaky heads worms in green pumpkin.

    White Bass: White Bass are being taken on main lake flats as well as along the ledges on the main lake on inline spinners and minnows fished vertically. Whites are also being taken on medium depth flats in the creek and bays as they are feeding on schools of fry. These fish are being taken with same techniques aforementioned techniques. There are some short lived jumps on both the main lake and in the creeks and bays.

    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.

    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:
    October: 20, 21, 24, 26, 31
    November: A number of dates still available

    Make your reservations now to get the date(s) you want. I am also taking reservations now for next season.

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