Barren - Any pointers? I've Not Been There.

[BEW]

Planning on heading to Barren this weekend, and probably going to target Beaver Creek and Skaggs Creek for LM. But I've never been to Barren before. Any of you guys have any pointers for that area? Also, if you know the lake, do you expect the immense rainfall this week to cause much negative impact to the lake? Will they draw it heavily?

Thanks for any help.

[gillman]

I was there yesterday an the lake had good color. I really don,t think there has been enough rain to hurt. I caught fish on a black buzz bait early on mud flats next to the bank around wood. When the sun came up seen like the bite went to tiger pattern crank also on mud and sand points. Tryed some rock points but it just didn't work for me. There is a good point,that has stumps on it, you may want to try out to your left form the Beaver Creek boat ramp. Also to your right from the ramp that goes to a rock wall going up the creek.

Good Luck

[Fast]

Gillman,
They were biting last week in the morn till about 10, and in evening... In 3 days caught a few small guys on brush hog, and jig.. crawfish color with paca chunk, but my 4 over 3 an 1 over 4 was black 1/2 ounce chatter buzz..also had a twin tail trailer and trailer hook... ***** to retune it ever 10 cast or so, but well worth the effort.
I have a place on skaggs. will be on the lake Friday eve and Sat from time to time.. call if you want the info I get and or i will show you some areas. 502-419-3210. Fish on!!!Ed

[gillman]

I got to a spot up the river from the state dock yesterday at 5:30 AM an within 5 min. had on a 21/2 to 3 lbers beside a log and on the very next cast, by that log had got on another about 3. Well I had it figured out but for the next 40 min. not one hit. Went to a crank and a jig for about the next 30 min. and no good. So I went up Peters and hit some points and one mud bank,Bingo there they were and it was on for about an Hour. and I did pick up one by a rock wall. I hadn't fished Skaggs but once this spring with no luck, but did do pretty good up the creek last year.Yeah I most likely will be on the lake Sat. monring early before it gets hot or storms. I'll be in an old blue and white Bumble Bee out from the state dock unless there a big Tourment out of there.

good luck old buddy

[zx150]

I was there last week and we fished like gillman but we had our luck on black/blue jigs. A couple a 3s a 4 and a 5-6lber.

For the tournament day we could only manage about 12-13lbs. The winning bag was close to 18lb. Lots of big fish were brought to the scale.

Let us know how you do. Ryan.

[BEW]

Thanks to all of you for the input. I'll have a look at my buzz baits for first thing in the a.m., and maybe even my jigs. I'm mostly a plastics and crankbait fisherman, so this was great input. Also, I'm used to mostly working rock banks and points. So the info regarding mud banks was also very helpful!

I've read that Beaver Creek and Skaggs are the better LM areas, but it's a big lake. I'm sure you can find them most places if you work at it. Any other good areas I should target?

[gillman]

you may want to cast some plastic, jig, or even a crank on that rock wall going up the creek from that point to the right from Beaver boat ramp I was telling you about. Up that wall about 400 yds is were a power line crosses that I have had my reel almost pulled out of my hand more then once at first light this time of year. The creek runs along that point and wall. There are other good spot all around Beaver and skaggs that I can't tell ya about because they were pointed out to me by another brother fisherman and I wouldn't feel right giving them out.

Let us know how it works out, good luck

[BEW]

Gillman,

Thanks for that feedback. And I totally understand your thoughts about the other spots relayed to you by another - makes perfect sense. I'm appreciative for the input and suggestions. I'll give the rock wall along the creek channel a try, and just work Beaver Creek and Skaggs.

I'll report back Sunday or Monday.

Thanks again,

BEW

[BEW]

Well, got on the water around 6-6:15. As a result of poor planning, neither of us had $3...bigger bills only. So we left a note that we would come back after a visit to a marina and went off to fish for a while.

Tried the stone wall off to the left of the ramp as you are motoring out...nothing (another boat was on the point). So we moved over to the right of the ramp, and began to move up the creek. Again, we got nothing. Tried buzz baits and cranks. My buddy was carolina rigging.

So after a while, we ran to the marina for ice, change, and some gas, and came back to complete our ramp fee! It was already getting a little warm. ;-)

We decided to run to the bridge over Beaver Creek, and fish around it. Remembering what everyone is saying about catching on mud and sand banks, we went to the non-channel side on the other side of the bridge. We caught several on spinner baits and crank baits over there in 3-6 feet of water, with the sun beating down. I would never have guessed that.

Best fish went around 3lbs....unfortunately I don't know for sure. He snapped my line once in the boat, and began the 'death flop' until he hopped overboard with my spinnerbait still in his mouth! All the more amusing, my buddy had a 1.5 or 2lber in the boat with his crank still in its mouth...same thing! Never seen that twice in an hour. We laughed it off, and moved on.

Rest of the day was pretty slow. Two or three more fish. We 'survived' until about 2 pm - it was just too hot. Breeze had died, and so had the fishing.

Thanks again to all for the suggestions and help.

[gillman]

Sounds like a pretty good fishing trip, or to me and for this heat and weather. That wall has been a first light bite for me this time of year, before the sun gets up an hits in on those rocks.

happy fishing brother

[gillman]

Hit Barren again today and pick up a pretty good fish about 5:15 again on the old buzz in 5 cast but no more for about and hr. Fished some cranks for about hr. on that mud and sand bank, nothing. Went to a rock wall and over the next 2 hours or so put ten pretty good Ky.'s in the boat, with the biggest being 21/2 lbs. Ho yeah hook up to a gar about three ft. long on that mud bank in 16 ft. of water, though I had on a big bass, and a catfish on a crank on the rock wall.

[BEW]

Hey Gillman,

Thanks for the report. Was all of that up in Beaver Creek? When we went last Saturday, I saw a large number of the gar milling around, swirling the surface. Funny that you caught one.

Too bad you didn't catch my spinnerbait, or my buddy's crankbait! LOL.

I hope to get back down to Barren in the next few weeks.