Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 359.06 Surface Temperature - 77
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.20 Surface Temperature - 76

Both lakes are at summer pool with little flucuation. Kentucky Dam has been generating between 7,000 cfs - 28,000 cfs over the past few days. Barkley Dam has been generating an average of 8,600 cfs for the past couple of days. 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 is clear. Lake Barkley is stained with a few of the larger creeks heavily stained from localized heavy rains this week.

We finally have had a week without high winds to contend with on the lakes. We are getting some scattered afternoon thunderstorms most days with localized rain and wind but it has been spotty. The current weather patterns we have been having remain in the forecast through next mid week. Tomorrow's forecast is for a high of 86, low of 67 with a 50% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms with wind E at 6. Saturday is showing a high of 88 and low of 68 with a 50% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms with wind E at 6. Sunday is forecasted to have a high of 86, low of 71 with a 40% chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms with wind SSE at 6. The extended forecast thourgh next mid week is calling for highs in the 80's, low's in the 70"s with a chance of rain each day and southerly wind flow.

I mentioned in last week's report the ledges were beginning to come on and this week the bass fishing on the ledges proved that to be true. We have had a good week on the ledges with hungry post spawn Largemouth. An example of that would be the first day weigh-in today for the FLW Ray-O-Vac Series out of Ken Lake Marina. Today there were 29 bags over 20 lbs weighed on the pro side with the tournament being led by local favorite Brandon Hunter with over 27lbs. Congratulations Brandon....keep it coming! We still have Largemouth being taken on the post spawn points and banks in the creeks and bays also as well as some Largemouth still being taken on the spawning flats near the brush, so if your not into ledge fishing, you still can find some numbers in shallower water.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on ledges on the main lakes as well as around the mouths of the deeper creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points, secondary points and channel banks in 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 (early), 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 crankbaits and jigs. Smallmouth 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, Bag5 custom painted medium and deep running crankbaits in blue glimmer, green gizzard shad and chartreuse gizzard shad, Strike King XD10 and XD6 series in sexy shad, parrot and chartreuse sexy shad, Rapala DT 16 in parrot, Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt, Chatterbaits in shad patterns, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon with red fleck, Charmer 10.5 inch ribbon tail worms in plum, Charmer tubes in smoke purple, road kill and green pumpkin, D&L jigs in Cumberland craw and Oops patterns, Slong's jigs in mustard, and Strike King trick worms on whacky rigs in green pumpkin, watermelon with purple fleck and watermelon with red fleck.

Bluegill/Red Ears: We still have Bluegills bedding and some nice catches are still being taken. 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 the numbers are dwindling but some are still being taken 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 but this bite has slowed with the lack of current this past week.

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: 15, 16, 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"