Jon boat at KY lake

[NuttyFisherman]

Headed to KY lake this weekend with a jon boat and small motor, I don't want to travel much on the main lake (Not at all hopefully). Any suggestions where to put in I can stay close and catch some bass?

Thanks in advance!

[offdtop]

Jonathan Creek, Blood River (Wildcat), Smith Bay in LBL, Double Creek on Barkley

[hooksetter]

I would not recommend the above post if winds are over 5 MPH. Blood River and Jonathan Creek are lakes in themselves. If no wind however you can launch and go anywhere you like. My suggestion if you need out of the wind is to put in at Ky Dam Villiage, protected wave wise, you'll still have wind, but plenty of fish in that pocket, both Bass and Crappie

[elnutsmalljaws]

Just stay off the main lake plus Blood River and Jonathan Creek if the wind gets too high. As Dave Stewart once told me, it only takes 3 waves to put you in trouble, 1 to turn you sideways, 2 to fill your boat with water and 3 to turn you over, and he has seen my boat, coult not even imagin navigating this body of water in a Jon boat. Good Luck. Launch in one of the bays on the West side of Ky Lake and you should find some fish around Big Bear, Little Bear, Ken Lake and such.

Sat winds SE at 5 mph, Sun winds S at 10 so both days will have some rollers on the main lake with Sunday pushing 2-3 footers if the wind stays constant plus if the forecast is accurate. Add a few more miles per hour on either of these, especially Sunday and good luck in the jon boat navigating the main lake.

[offdtop]

I would not recommend the above post if winds are over 5 MPH. Blood River and Jonathan Creek are lakes in themselves. If no wind however you can launch and go anywhere you like. My suggestion if you need out of the wind is to put in at Ky Dam Villiage, protected wave wise, you'll still have wind, but plenty of fish in that pocket, both Bass and Crappie

As they are lakes to themselves they have protection from wind from all different directions, in Jonathan creek you can launch a john-boat from east or west of Hwy 68 depending on the wind, to get out of it if the winds are from the north or south you can fish one or the other banks. If you fish from the mouth to 68 you are protected for the most part. I agree with the Dam recommendation, in fact you could recommend any number of marina areas such as Green Turtle bay, Moors, Kenlake area,

And my recommendation for Jonathan was based upon catching good numbers and size of bass that myself and others have been wacking there as of late!

[bassfisherman99]

There won't be any rollers on the lake with the wind at only 5 mph. There certainly won't be 3 foot rollers with 10 mph winds. You must have not spent much time on Ky. lake to make those statements.

[elnutsmalljaws]

There won't be any rollers on the lake with the wind at only 5 mph. There certainly won't be 3 foot rollers with 10 mph winds. You must have not spent much time on Ky. lake to make those statements.

10mph out of the south and there won't be 2-4 foot rollers on KY???? Are you kidding me, you are the one that has not spent much time on Ky Lake. Let a 10 mph wind blow consistenly from the south and I will bet you my boat that you will have 2-4 foot rollers. Especially, north of the 68/80 bridge. Only fished it EVERY spring since 2005, with 25 days average on the lake in late March, April and Early May and is the ONLY lake on the planet that I care about the wind and what direction it is coming from. Put a jon boat out in the middle of Ky Lake with 10 mph wind from the south or north and you will see a fella swimming before the day is over.

[bassfisherman99]

Read your post you said there would be rollers with 5 mph winds. Ask your friend Dave Stewart how many rollers there are with 5 mph winds. I haven't posted much on this sight, but I read a lot of posts. Every time someone dosen't agree with one of your posts you act terrible. Also if you think there is 4ft rollers with 10 mph winds than you don't know what your talking about.

[offdtop]

I do live ON KY lake for the last 15 years and I am out 3 to 4 times a week, 10 mph you "might" see white caps mainly if the wind is directly North or South 1-1/2 to 2ft.... maybe - not 4ft rollers - they hit when it's 20+ with high wind gusts, I've been there done that, and the lake is dangerous with winds over 10-15 mph in a bass boat even more so in a John Boat. Gusting wind is usually the problem, right now when the wind is high the waves aren't necessarilly "rollers" they are more like swells there has been a lack (not always) of white caps, I guess due to water temp/current this time of year??

In a john boat you have got to be carefull anyway, some boats put off a wake that will sink you if you don't know what you are doing. The original post stated he did not want main lake, he realizes his boundries and isn't chancing it - good thinking!

[MSD]

I read in your post that you are not going to travel in the main lake; I think that a few others failed to accurately read your post. I have fish in KY Lake in the fishing boats that many of the marinas (Big Bear and Moors) rent and never had any trouble fishing in 5-10 mph winds. Just got blown around some. I really like Big Bear...nice bass fishing and some real good crappie action. Just use your head and you will have a great time. You could always trailer your boat from say Ky Dam Marina to many of the other marinas until you find some fish. Lots of water and the creeks and bay are huge. I wouldn't be afraid to give Jonathan Creek a shot. Good Luck.

[bassfisherman99]

Elnut,
Looks like i'm not the only one who doesn't agree with you. Where do you live so I can come pick up your boat.

[NuttyFisherman]

Thanks for all the info, I'm sorry my question caused such a debate, I have been there before and would not want to mess with the main lake with ANY wind in a jon boat. Safety first, fish second.....Thanks again, good luck to all!