My partners and I have caught more big fish, 7lbs+ during the end of March til mid April. This, in my opinion is the best time for quality fish. Most of the time, we haven't caught numbers, but good fish. There have been days when multiple 7 to 8lbers have been caught. On both lakes. Throw big baits, the old addage is true, big=big. #9 shad raps in crawfish have produced well. I always fish around the hwy68 bridges, I put in at Devils Elbow or Fenton. On KY fish the main lake points, on Barkley fish the mouths to about 1/2 way back in the bays. Good luck and hang on!