• Kentucky Lake Fishing Report

    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"

  • Kentucky Lake Fishing Report

    Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 358.80 Surface Temperature - 71
    Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 358.90 Surface Temperature - 71

    Both lakes are at summer pool. Kentucky Dam has been generating at a rate of 69,000 cfs the past few hours. Barkley Dam has been generating at a rate of 35,700 cfs over the past 24 hours. 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 .

    Both lakes settled in at summer pool levels earlier this week. We have had storms and wind the past few days associated with a cold front that passed through the lakes area last night bringing us post frontal conditions today with blue skies and cooler temperatures. We have a trailing dry cold front that will pass through the area this evening giving us another cooler day tomorrow with a high of 72 and low of 48 with NNE wind at 10. On Saturday we are looking at a high of 76 and a low of 58 with wind SE at 8. Sunday if forecasted to have a high of 79 and low of 62 as a 30% chance for isolated thunderstorms creeps back into the picture with ESE wind at 5. Memorial Day is showing a high of 83 and low of 65 with a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms and wind SE at 7. All in all, it is a pretty good forecast for the holiday weekend. The extended forecast shows a return to the high 80's by mid week.

    I mentioned last week that I would be staying on the late prespawn bite as long as it was productive. Over the past couple of days I have seen this pattern dwindle down as most of late prespawn moved up to spawn. There is still an active shallow water bite, but it is more just male bass guarding the nests. The action on these fish can be fruitful, just don't expect to catch many large fish. Primary points and ledges around the mouths of the creeks and bays are starting to see more fish but there is still a good number of post spawners hanging in the creeks and bays on secondary points and channel banks. Although I have yet to see any shad spawning, we are in the temperature range for this to happen and very well may be happening in some of the creeks and bays. I have not had any reports on this fun pattern yet and as I mentioned, I have not seen any of this activity myself, but I certainly expect to soon. From the number of boats I saw on Kentucky Lake today, I would say we are going to have a busy holiday weekend on the lakes so be careful out there, drive defensively and please show courtesy to the other boaters and anglers. Kentucky Lake ranges from lightly stained to clear. Lake Barkley is stained.

    Please take time out of your fun this Monday to pause and give thanks to those that have given their all so that we can still enjoy the freedoms of our great nation.

    Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on main lake primary points as well as ledges around the mouths of the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged worms and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on secondary points and channel banks in the creeks and bays. These post spawn fish are being taken on crankbaits, Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on the flats in the backs of the creeks and bays and in coves. These fish are being taken on topwater lures (especially near vegetation), spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim baits, Texas rigged creature baits and jigs.

    Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on main lake points and on ledges on the main lakes. These fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, tube jigs and jigs. Some nice fish are being reported but not large numbers.

    Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Strike King XD 6 series crankbaits in parrot, chartreuse sexy shad and sexy shad, Rapala DT 16 crankbaits in parrot. Chatterbuzz buzzbaits in white and black, Rebel Pop R in black/silver, Yozuri Pop n Splash in lemon with ghost body, Charmer 10.5" ribbon tail worm in plum, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon red, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer and white/chartreuse, Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt and DL advantage and football head jigs in Cumberland craw and "oops" patterns.

    Crappie: Post spawn Crappie are being taken over brush piles and mats in 10-15 ft of water along old creek channels near the mouths of the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken by vertically fishing with small jigs and minnow/jig combinations.

    White Bass: White Bass have been schooling around the ledges and humps at the mouths of the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on inline spinners fished vertically.

    Bluegill and Red Ears: These fish are on the beds and folks are reporting good catches this week. With the full moon this weekend, this will only get better. The gills are being taken on the flats in the backs of the creeks and bays in 3-5 ft of water. The Red Ears are being taken on gravel bars and banks near vegetation. These fish are readily taking crickets under bobbers and split shot rigs with small creature jigs tipped with worms slow rolled on the bottom.

    Catfish: Channel Catfish are still spawning on the rocky banks on the main lake and on rocky bottoms on the flats in the creeks and bays. These fish are taking night crawlers fished under bobbers and on bottom rigs. Good catches are being reported.

    If you are coming to the big lakes here to enjoy our great spring fishing, make sure you stop by these businesses for all your fishing and boating needs:

    The Cabin Bait and Tackle is located in Kuttawa on U.S. 62 about one mile west of the I-24/U.S. 62 interchange. The Cabin Bait and Tackle has a great selection of the latest in rods, reels, lures for you bass anglers and also a great selection of tackle for the panfish anglers to include live bait. You can also find a selection of bows and guns for the hunter as well as personal handguns in the store. The Cabin also hosts the a website where you can order all your fishing needs with free shipping on all orders over 50.00. Be sure to check them out at www.tackleexperts.com . The Cabin has a great delicatessen where you can get that early morning breakfast sandwich or enjoy a delicious lunch. Phone: 270-388-6440

    Fisherman's Headquarters is located in Draffenville at the U.S. 68/U.S. 641 triangle. Fisherman's Headquarters boasts a great selection of the latest in rods, reels and lures for bass anglers that are on the market, not to mention one of the best selection of high end lures and local custom lures we use here on Ky/Barkley lakes. You can find many of the custom lures you see in my fishing reports there including the Bag5 custom painted crank baits and jerk baits. Fisherman's Headquarters also has a really good selection of Crappie and panfish tackle featuring Wally Marshall "Mr Crappie" rods, reels, lures and line as well as live baits. 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, Stratos and Triton bass boats too as well as bulk oil at rock bottom prices for your engine. Phone: 270-395-4030 .

    LEDGE FISHING:

    Now is the time to make your reservations to learn how to fish the ledges. I offer a focused teaching trip on how to fish the ledges. This trip consists of a class on how to eliminate the water on your topo map before you leave home so that you can concentrate your time on only the highest percentage ledges while on the water as well as some time on the water to learn how to use your electronics on the ledges, set up on the ledges and learn the techniques used to fish the ledges. This teaching trip has been very popular over the many years since I started offering it as it will teach you how to go find and fish the best ledges on your own. To book one of these trips, all you have to do is give me a call or drop me an email to book one of my open dates.

    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 16 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 2 Lowrance HDS 10's 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.

    I still have the following dates available for booking in May, June and July:

    May: Sorry, I am booked up.
    June: Sorry, I am booked up.
    July: 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31

    Captain Dave Stewart
    Bass Buster Guide Service
    dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
    www.kentuckylakeguide.com

    "Fish With a Professional"
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