Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 358.96 Surface Temperature - 72
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.10 Surface Temperature - 72

Both lakes are at summer pool this week with little fluctuation. Kentucky Dam has been generating an average of between 21,000 cfs - 35,000 cfs today. Barkley Dam has been generating an average of between 9,900 cfs - 20,000 cfs today. 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 . Kentucky Lake clarity ranges from lightly stained to clear. The stain mostly in the creeks and bays from winds kicking up silt earlier this week. Lake Barkley is stained.

The wind we had last week continued into this week and we had lake wind warnings out through mid week due to south winds from an approaching cold front. We were post frontal today with light wind and this post frontal light winds are forecasted to continue through the weekend. The nasty cold front we had pass through the lakes area late last week bring unseasonably lower temperatures dropped the water temperatures all the way back to the high 60's but the temperatures have been slowly recovering over the past few days. With warmer temperatures in the forecast and light winds, expect the water temperatures to rise over the weekend and into next week. The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 82 and low of 59 with post frontal wind NE at 7. Saturday's forecast is calling for a high of 82 and low of 60 with wind E at 7. Sunday the warm up continues with a high of 87 and low of 65 with wind SSE at 4. Memorial Day is calling for a high of 90 with low of 68 with wind SSW at 8. Southerly wind and warm days are in the forecast through mid week.

This week we found more Largmouth moving to the ledges, especially those around the mouths of the creeks and bays. We still have a myriad of patterns going though as we have bucks guarding the nests in the spawning areas and post spawn fish feeding up on primary points and secondary points as well as the creek channel banks in the creeks and bays. It is take you pick on patterns still but our most consistant bite this week has been coming off the primary and secondary points in the creeks and bays but the ledge bite is quickly picking up and some ledges are starting to produce some good numbers and good fish. The Bluegill anglers are still reporting a good bite in spawning areas with some nice Red Ears also being produced but the Red Ears are being reported as slower than one would expect this time of year. The Catfish are still biting on rocky deep banks with some still being taken on shallow rocky flats.

FLASH: With the great weather forecast for this weekend, expect the lakes to be very busy with pleasure boaters and anglers. Please drive defensively on the water and be courteous to fellow boaters. Let's get through this weekend with zero accidents and lots of fun. Please also take time to remember those that gave their all so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have in this great country.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on primary points and secondary points in the creeks and bays as well as on ledges in the mouths of the creeks and bays or main lake ledges adjacent to the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on crankbaits, swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits Texas rigged large worms and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on shallow flats and around buck brush in the backs of creeks and bays and spawning coves. These fish are being taken on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, Texas rigged creature baits, whacky rigged floating worms and jigs.

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are being taken early and late in the day on main lake gravel bars on topwater lures, crankbaits and jigs. Smallmoutha are also being taken on primary and secondary points in the creeks and bays on crankbaits, tube jigs and jigs. Some Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake ledges on crankbaits, jigs and Carolina rigged creature baits. The numbers of fish are not great but some quality fish have been taken.

Some of the more productive lures reported this week: Lucky Craft sammy and gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, Chatterbuzz buzzbaits in white, Bag5 custom painted medium and deep running crankbaits in blue glimmer and green gizzard shad, Strike King XD 5 and XD6 series in sexy shad and chartreuse sexy shad, Chatterbaits in shad patterns, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Charmer lizards in green pumpkin, green pumpkin/blue fleck and watermelon with red fleck, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon with red fleck, Charmer tubes in smoke purple and green pumpkin, D&L jigs in Cumberland craw and Oops patterns and Strike King trick worms on whacky rigs in green pumpkin, watermelon with purple fleck and watermelon with red fleck.

Bluegill/Red Ears: Bluegills are being taken off spawing beds in 2-4 ft of water by fishing with crickets and worms under bobbers and with split shot rigs on bottom baited with small jigs tipped with worms. Red Ears are being taken on gravel bars in 3-5 ft of water with worms under bobbers and split shot rigs on bottom baited with small jigs tipped with worms.

Catfish: Channel Catfish are being taken on deep rocky banks and shallow rocky shorelines on the main lake as well as in the creeks and bays on rocky bottom flats. These fish are spawning and being taken in large numbers with night crawlers fished both on bottom and under bobbers. Catfish are also being reported on the main lake on river channel ledges in 20-30 ft of water by bottom bouncind shrimp and leach combinations 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

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 18 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.

Available Dates:

May: Sorry, I am booked up.
June: Sorry, I am booked up.
July: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Call me or drop me an email to book your dates now. The sooner you book, the more likely you can get the dates you want. I also will take bookings for the rest of the season. Now is the time to start booking your fall trips with me. I am also taking bookings for my Ledge Teaching trip. The Ledge Teaching trip consists of both classroom and time on the water. This trip not only teaches you how to find the highest percentage ledges but also what you are looking for on your sonar and how to interpret what you are seeing, how to search the ledges, set up on the ledges as well as making decisions on what type lures you should be throwing depending on enviromental conditions.

Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-362-9987
[email protected]
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"