Kentucky Lake /Smallmouth

[Topwater2004]

Looking for some general information concerning when the smallmouth can generally be found near the bank on Kentucky Lake.

Would like to target them using spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits.

I am thinking mid-April to the second week of May? or do they spawn earlier?

Looking to spend a week down on Kentucky Lake, hoping to catch some good weather.

[Dave Stewart]

Most of the Smallies will be spawned out with a few still spawning around the week of Mid April as a rule. Late April and early May is post spawn patterns for the most part. If you want to get them on the banks I would suggestmnid to late March or early April. Crankbaits are good for that time but rank behind suspending jerk baits in my book. One thing I have learned over the years is you can't force feed the fish..they will hit what they want...I hope during your trip that they are on the bite you prefer but don't try to force feed them if they want something else...the fish always win out in the end when you try to force feed them...lol.

[Topwater2004]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-06 AT 07:36AM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks for the information Dave.

I have a few of the suspending minnows from Smithwick. Gold with orange belly.

I also ordered some of the Stacey King designed Lucky Craft, they were on sale at Bass Pro for $10.99. I hope they work because that was more than twice the price for a rougue.

[Dave Stewart]

Hopefully you purchased the colors that normally work here.

[Topwater2004]

Dave,

Most of the waters that I fish at home are strip pits with water so clear you can see 10-12ft deep most of the time. I try to buy the subtle colors, but I do have a fair share of chartruese lures.

On the Lucky Craft, I purchased a color called Ghost Shiner and another called MS Copper Glass. Just looking at them on the computer, they appeared to be what I wanted. Sometimes when you get them they look different.

One reason I purchased these, were that the description says they suspend about 7 feet deep. I doubt that the Smithwick goes much deeper than 3ft in the size that I throw.

I am going up to Pekin, Illinois in a few weeks when they open up Powerton Lake to fishing again. Very good smallmouth lake and I do real well on Smithwick's. I have even caught white drum on them in that lake. It nearly ripped the rod out of my hands, literally. I never had a fish hit a bait any harder than that white drum did. I don't mind catching them a bit.

Good luck on your show tours going on. I hope I can get to go to the Indy show, if my doctor clears me for crutches soon. I am sure I can get in a bass boat now though, so it won't be long.

topwater

[Dave Stewart]

You never know for sure what will be the "hot" color for the season...seems like it changes every year but here are some of the colors/lures that have worked well for me in the past here:

Lucky Craft: clown, american shad, table rock shad
Super Rogues: black/chrome/orange, clown, black/gold/orange, purple/chartruese
Husky Jerks: blue/chrome/orange, clown, black/silver

Hope this helps. Get well soon and hope to see you at the Indy Show. I am leaving here tomorrow and won't be home again until after the Indy Show.

[RippinLip]

LBL refers to the Land Between the Lakes. On Ky Lake it will be the east side of the lake where the creeks are that were mentioned in another post. Those are good starting points.

If you cant hire Dave at least read his report right before you go. He will report on LM and SM and that will eliminate alot of water for you.

Buck

[RippinLip]

By late April or early May most of the smallies will have spawned, however, the LBL side on main Kentucky Lake is the best smallie waters....good luck

Buck

[kistler67]

From mid march-the first of April the jerkbait bite on KY Lake is awesome. Sometimes earlier. Mostly on the LBL side of Ky Lake. Smith, Duncan, Sugar and Rhodes are all good places to start. South of the 68 bridge is all good. Pea gravel banks are keys. By May the topwater bite can be on. Dave Stewart is the guy to e-mail on the Ky board.

[Topwater2004]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-06 AT 11:02PM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks for the response. Just what is the LBL side? Is that left bank lower lake or Lake Barkely?

If I do contact a guide it would be Dave, I have been at his website before and was impressed with it. Currently I don't know what days I would be able to go, so I can't lock in a guide yet. Medical problems with the left leg still might be a concern.

I will take you guys advice and give him a call.

[RiverRat1]

Hey topwater, I'm going down on the first of april so i might be able to help you a little. I bought a hotspots map the last time I went and that helped a lot. We stayed at a place near Jonathon Creek and caught fish there the whole time. The maps are pretty inexpensive and give you a pretty good idea of what kind of cover and structure that is around.

[Topwater2004]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-25-06 AT 09:49AM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks a lot. Let me know the pattern you find. I plan on just throwing my spinnerbaits until my arm falls off. If that does not work, I will try cranks.

I did buy the Hotspot map last year, I just never made it down there. It gives you a good idea where to start, but you never know if the lake has changed a little since they printed those up.

I can't wait to get out and go fishing. I just got a package of crankbaits in the mail yesterday that I bought and they are all looking great. I want to get them on the pole and go.

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/c/colemanr...efending-2.mpg

thanks
topwater