• 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

    March 23, 2017

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 355.87 Surface Temperature - 55
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.85 Surface Temperature - 55

    Both lakes are 2 feet over winter pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at a rate of 58,600 cfs this afternoon. Barkley Dam was generating at a rate of 43,600 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.

    Current Conditions: Well we recovered from the deep freeze that hit us all last week and the water temperatures have risen back up 5 degrees since last week's report. This week we have had everything from record heat in the 80's, severe thunderstorms, cooler post frontal days with temperatures in the 50's with most days giving us either high south winds or high north winds. It must be March! We did manage to get out on the water this week and had some good days and some slow days depending on which side of the fronts that have been freight training through the area we have been fishing. We caught bass from the main lake all the way back to the shallow flats in the creeks and bays. Typically what we expect to do on a late March early prespawn pattern. Each day is a little different right now as to what is producing best from suspending jerk baits, crank baits to finesse baits. Our largest bass and more numbers of keeper plus bass came on the overcast days this week fishing back shallow. On the sunny days we did better on main lake points and secondary points in the creeks and bays.

    The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 71/night time low of 60 with more wind from the south at 16 with higher gusts expected. Saturday is looking nasty with a high of 65/night time low of 52 with a 90% chance of thunderstorms (some severe) with wind south at 18 with higher gusts expected. Sunday is showing an expected high of 68/night time low of 52 with a 20% chance of rain and wind west southwest at 14. The extended forecast into mid next week is showing another frontal passage on Monday followed by post frontal conditions Tuesday and Wednesday. Daytime high's in the high 60's to low 70's with night time low's in the 50's. Please check that latest wind and weather forecasts before you go on the water. The forecasts this time of year change rapidly.

    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on main lake ledges on Alabama rigs and jigs. Largemouth are being taken on main lake channel points and banks on Alabama rigs, deep and medium running crank baits, suspending jerk baits, shakey heads and jigs. Largemouth are being taken on channel banks and secondary points in the creeks and bays on suspending jerk baits, medium running crank baits, jigs and shakey heads. Some fish are being taken on shallow main lake flats and on flats in the backs of the creeks and bays on warm days on lipless crank baits and shallow running crank baits.

    Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on main lake ledges on Alabama rigs and jigs. Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake channel points and banks on Alabama rigs, medium running crank baits, suspending jerk baits, tube jigs and jigs. The numbers are low but some nice fish have been taken.

    Productive Lures: Some of the productive lures reported this week are Picasso Bait Ball Alabama rigs with Kitech swim baits in pearl blue and white as well as Big Hammer swim baits in pearl white. Rapala DT crank baits in demon and red craw, Rapala DT shadraps in demon, red craw and original crawdad. Stike King 6XD crank baits in sexy shad and chartruese sexy shad, Megabass suspending jerk baits in Ito Watsugi, Lucky Craft suspending jerk baits in pearl ayu and aurora black. D&L jigs in "oops" and cumberland craw, Slong's jigs in cumberland craw, Charmer shakey head jigs and Slong's shakey head jigs with Charmer shakey head worms in green pumpkin and Zoom trick worm in green pumpkin/purple, Strike King red eye shad and Lewis rattletrap lipless crank baits in crawfish patterns. Spro Little John shallow crank baits in spring craw and chartreuse with black back.

    Crappie: Crappie are being taken by vertically fishing with jigs tipped with minnows and Crappie nibles over staging brush piles and deep stake beds in the front halves of the creeks and bays in 12-15 ft of water and also the 8-10 ft range.

    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:
    March: Sorry, I am booked up.
    April: Sorry, I am booked up.
    May: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,19, 20, 21, 22, 23

    Of course I am taking reservations for the rest of the season also through November

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