Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 356.98 Surface Temperature - 82
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 357.10 Surface Temperature - 82

Both lakes are two feet below summer pool which is where they should be at this time in August in accordance with the TVA River Operating Schedule. Kentucky Dam was generating at varying rates today ranging from 23,000 cfs to 71,000 cfs. Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 16,300 cfs today. Expect the lake levels to remain fairly steady over the next week and then start a slow draw down of one foot during September barring an unforeseen influx of water. 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 .

As I mentioned in last week's report, the lower water temperatures we were seeing last week did not last as the warm up with sunny skies and flat water this week served to raise the temperatures again to present levels. This is pretty normal for the early fall transition as water temperatures tend to fluctuate up and down as we leave summer and move to the early fall as we get cool fronts followed by warm high pressure days. The patterns I mentioned last week of scattered shad and bass continued this week on the main lake areas. Also the number of schools of young threadfin shad in the creeks and bays increased in the creeks and bays we fished this week as the week progressed. We spent this week fishing some ledges but most of our time was in the creeks and bays. We found the ledge fish bite to be scattered and slow. The shallow fishing in the creeks and bays was better but not for good numbers of keeper sized bass but the action was better than on the deeper main lake areas. We took most of our fish in the creeks and bays by going shallow early for topwater action and then backing out onto deeper flats and fishing around the schools of small threadfin shad. The best bite on the ledges was on Carolina rigged small creature baits. The best action in the creeks and bays was topwater walking baits early and then spinner baits, square billed crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and chatterbaits. The square billed crankbaits provided the majority of the fish after the topwater bite this week.

The weather in the immediate forecast is pretty much the same weather we have been having the past few days. Friday's forecast is calling for a high of 89 and low of 68 and wind forecasted E4 with a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms. The weekend is looking good with a high of 90 on Saturday and low of 66 with wind E8 and a slight 10% chance of rain. Sunday shows a high of 89 with a low of 70 and wind ESE5. The extended forecast is calling for high's in the upper 80's each day through mid week with light S winds.

FLASH: It is not very often that I highlight a new lure or item of fishing equipment in this report. I only do this when I find something new that really impresses me with it's ability to assist me in producing fish for my clients. This week I had the opportunity to test the new BAG5 blue glimmer pattern square bill crankbait and I can honestly say that not only does this lure perfectly match a threadfin shad but it also proved itself to be a bass magnet. This crankbait out performed all my tried and proven standard early fall transtion lures this week and when a new lure shows me that it can do that...I just have to let my readers know about it. As my readers already know, I have been using some of the custom painted BAG5 crankbaits since they first went into business and many of their patterns have proven to be good fish catchers. This new color scheme on the square bill is no exception. I highly recommend that you give one of these crankbaits a try during this tough early fall transition, I know you will find as I have that it produces fish and I expect it will only get better as we progress into full fall patterns. BAG5 baits are sold locally at The Fisherman's Headquarters Tackle Shop located in Draffenville and The Cabin Bait and Tackle located in Kuttawa.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are still being taken on the river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes as well as around the mouths of the creeks and bays. Some fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, large slow rolled spinnerbaits and swim baits but the more productive bite has been on Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms, drop shotting and slow dragging football head jigs. The ledge fish have been scattered this week and although we are catching some on the ledges, the numbers have been down and the bite slower than one would expect at this time in August. Largemouth are also being taken in the back halves of the creeks and bays as they are feeding on schools of young threadfin shad. These fish are being taken on topwater lures early and late in the day, spinnerbaits, lipless and square billed crankbaits and chatterbaits. The better bite has been around schools of small white and yellow bass where the Largemouth are mixing in with these feeding smaller fish. Although we are taking some numbers of fish on this shallow water pattern, most of the fish are small or just over keeper size with some occasional 3 lbs fish. Overall the Largemouth bite was slow this week.

Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on main lake gravel points early and late in the day on Carolina rigged creature baits, tube jigs and finesse jigs. There is some early morning topwater being reported on these fish using walking baits and poppers but it is short lived and scattered. The better Smallmouth fishing is still being reported at night. These night feeders are being taken on rocky banks and gravel banks on the main lakes on slow rolled dark colored spinnerbaits with a single oversized Colorado blade.

Some productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King KVD splash baits in bone, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Strike King 6XD crankbaits in chartreuse sexy shad, Bag5 custom painted deep diving crankbaits in green gizzard shad, Bag 5 square billed crankbaits in blue glimmer pattern, Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt, Strike King Red Eye shad in chrome sexy shad, Chatterbaits in blue glimmer with twin tail Yamamoto trailer in blue pearl, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple on Carolina rigs, Charmer 10.5" ribbon tail worms in plum and green pumpkin on Texas rigs, D&L football head jigs in Cumberland Craw and "oops" patterns and Slong's football head jigs in Cumberland Craw (all with Net Baits paca punch green pumpkin trailers).

White Bass: White Bass are being taken on the old river channel ledges where they are feeding on schools of baitfish. These fish can be taken by vertically fishing with inline spinners and small spoons. Some fish are also being taken by trolling inline spinners behind deep diving crankbaits along the river ledges and main lake creek channel ledges. The bite has been reported as scattered also on these fish.

Catfish: A good Catfish bite is being reported on the old river channel ledges in 25-35 feet of water using nightcrawlers and cut baits. The best bite is during periods of current.


If you are coming to the big lakes here to enjoy our great 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. I am currently doing a number of these teaching trips and as usual the feedback I am getting from those that have taken the class is very positive. 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 17 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 have the following dates available for August, September and October:

August: Sorry I am booked up.

September and October: A good number of dates are still available, call or email to get the date(s) you want before they are taken. Now is the time to make those reservations for tournament preps for the fall classics if you have not already done so.

Of course I am taking reservations for the late fall bass fishing in November as well as for next spring's bass fishing.