• 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

    *September 8, 2017*

    *Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 355.46 Surface Temperature
    - 76*
    *Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.60 Surface Temperature -
    76*

    *Both lakes are 3.5 feet below summer pool. Kentucky Dam was generating at
    an average rate of 34,000 cfs this afternoon. Barkley Dam was generating
    at an average rate of 18,000 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.*

    *Current Conditions: *Late last week the remnants of Hurricane Harvey was
    forecasted to come through the lakes area Friday and Saturday. The TVA
    pulled the lakes down to near winter pool levels in anticipation of a lot
    of water to be dropped in the local area as well as up the Tennessee
    river. Well, this did not happen. The remnants of Harvey actually came
    through further east of us and the end result was that a lot of rain was
    dropped in the Cumberland river upstream from the lakes. This resulted in
    a lot of water coming into Lake Barkley but not much coming into Kentucky
    Lake. Barkley had a lot of current and muddy water from this large influx
    of water coming in from up stream. Barkley water clarity remains heavily
    stained in most areas. Kentucky Lake water clarity ranges from light stain
    to clear. The TVA has been raising the water a little every day over the
    past couple of days as we are still about a foot below where we should be
    on the fall drawdown.

    I have spent the last 2 days on Kentucky Lake from the dam to Paris and I
    can tell you that the large schools of threadfin moving into the shallows
    which signals the start of the fall transition has happened yet. The same
    report from last week still stands in that the bite is still slow and
    scattered with some bass being taken on top water lures early and late
    back shallow in the creeks and bays and on main lake flats. Some are also
    being taken on secondary points in the creeks and bays and main lake points
    on slower techniques. A few fish are still being taken on ledges on slower
    techniques but the bite is slow and scattered. I expect the transition
    will start any day now as we are in the water temperature range for this to
    happen. I will keep you posted through my reports here when this happens.

    *Largemouth Bass:* Largemouth are being taken on primary points on the main
    lake as well as on ledges on the main lake and in the mouths of creeks and
    bays. These fish are being taken on Texas rigged large worms, drop shot
    rigs, shaky heads, Carolina rigged creature baits and jigs. Largemouth are
    being taken on secondary points in the creeks and bays as well as on main
    lake points and shallow flats early and late in the day on top water lures
    as they are feeding on schools of fry. Some Largemouth are also being taken
    on shallow flats in the creeks and bays and on the main lake early and late
    in the day on top water lures.

    *Smallmouth Bass:* Smallmouth are being taken on main lake points and
    secondary points in the creeks and bays. The fish are being taken on top
    water lures, finesse jigs and shaky heads.

    *Productive Lures:* Some of the productive lures reported this week are
    Lucky Craft Sammy and Lucky Craft Gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King
    spash baits in white, D&L jigs in "oops" and cumberland craw, Slong's jigs
    in cumberland craw and black/blue, Charmer and Zoom large worms in green
    pumpkin on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs, Charmer lizards and timber pups on
    Texas rigs and Carolina rigs in green pumpkin, green pumpkin/blue and
    watermelon/purple, Charmer shaky head worms and zoom trick worms on shaky
    head jigs in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple and Charmer tubes in smoke
    purple and green pumpkin/orange flake on tube jig heads rigged stupid
    style, Zoom fluke junior in white and variations of green pumpkin robo
    worms on drop shot rigs.

    *White Bass:* White Bass are being taken along main lake ledges and the
    ledges around the mouths of the creeks and bays with in line spinners and
    blade baits fished vertically as well as by trolling medium running crank
    baits in these areas.




    *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 and Pro Tungsten weights. From bluegill to bass and catfish to
    crappie, FHQ has you covered! Stop by and visit or phone 270-

    *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 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 Commanche 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.

    *Ledge Teaching:*

    *I am also taking bookings for my Ledge Teaching trip. The Ledge Teaching
    trip consists of both classroom and time on the water. This trip not only
    teaches you how to find the highest percentage ledges but also what you are
    looking for on your electronics and how to interpret what you are seeing,
    how to search the ledges, set up on the ledges as well as making decisions
    on what type lures you should be throwing depending on enviromental
    conditions. You do not learn how to find and fish the best ledges by simply
    looking at your electronics....it takes knowledge to find and fish the best
    ledges, the electronics are just a tool to assist you in seeing the fish
    afer you find them.*

    *Available Dates:*

    *I have dates available for this month as well as October and November.
    Call or email me to make a reservation.*



    *Captain Dave Stewart*
    *Bass Buster Guide Service*
    *www.kentuckylakeguide.com <http://www.kentuckylakeguide.com> *
    *dave@kentuckylakeguide.com <dave@kentuckylakeguide.com>*
    *270-362-9987 <(270)%20362-9987>*
    *"Fish With A Professional"*
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