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Hello, I'm new to the board and I'm going with my wife to the lakes this weekend. I was wondering if anyone knows how the fishing is at Barkley/Ky right now? We're planning to drive back and forth and fish strictly below the dams in the tailwaters, we will be bank fishing. I'm hoping for some sauger, stripers, or whites. If anybody has a report or any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it.
[quote=Striper-Sniper;287633]Hello, I'm new to the board and I'm going with my wife to the lakes this weekend. I was wondering if anyone knows how the fishing is at Barkley/Ky right now? We're planning to drive back and forth and fish strictly below the dams in the tailwaters, we will be bank fishing. I'm hoping for some sauger, stripers, or whites. If anybody has a report or any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it.[/quote]
One of my favorite places in the whole world to fish. I prefer Barkely, and seem to do better there. I fish mostly for cats, but at sun up /sun down like to throw a 5" sassy shad in pearl or chartreuse for Stripers. I've never fished from the bank, but I don't see why you'd have any problems as long as you can cast out to the boils.
[quote=Striper-Sniper;287633]Hello, I'm new to the board and I'm going with my wife to the lakes this weekend. I was wondering if anyone knows how the fishing is at Barkley/Ky right now? We're planning to drive back and forth and fish strictly below the dams in the tail waters, we will be bank fishing. I'm hoping for some sauger, striper's, or whites. If anybody has a report or any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it.[/quote]
I am like bevo one of my favorite places to fish too. The 5" swim-bait that bevo suggested, but don't forget...lead head jig and curly tails, in-line spinners. If that don't yield anything you could try this has worked for me. Tie a jerk bait or swimming minnow about three feet up your line and tie a bottom weight on, BUT TIE IT ON WITH 6 to 8 lb. line the weight will hang but when you catch a fish the brake-away sinker will let the fish go where you can land it.
God bless and good fishing
My girlfriend and I went down there last fall and used cut bait and worms bought at a local tackle shop for cats= 20 lbs. of fillets in one day. The next day we used pearl 4" sassy shad and caught and released 7 nice stripers about 4-7lbs.apiece. Third day went out with Dave Stewart on Ky Lake for bass. Didn't catch any bass but by far the most informative fishing trip I have ever had!! Had a great time all weekend.
Just in case I'd pack a big pole and some big trebles, Snaggins legal down there all year ,everywhere else we got t ill may10th.....Never thought I'd like it till I got my 1st 50 spoonbill in the back side...OOOHHH MY I'm hooked....Just back up advice in case your sauger and stripes don't work out...DEATH TO THE BIGHEADS
Hey, that snaggin' is a lot of fun! My buddy went a few weeks ago and got a few spoonbill....big'uns too!
All you need is a monster deep sea type baitcaster, and an official snagging rod.....you can get a rod and reel combo for about $100 at the Fisherman's Friend baitshop, which is right next door to the Pelican Restaurant there near the Vulcan Materials office
I typically use 60 - 80 lb test line (buy a big spool of it, it's maybe $10-$15, you respool out there quite a bit if you hang up much). 5 oz. weights, and some 7/0 treble hooks have always worked well for me.
All you do is tie on the treble hook, and the leave about a foot or two of extra line to tie your sinker on to hang below the hook. One little secret is to wrap the line once or twice around one of the hooks, this way the hook points are always facing the right direction.
I've snagged many, many spoonbill and quite a few carp and catfish over the years. One thing to remember is that carp counts towards your daily limit and you MUST keep them. If a game warden sees you throwing one back in, you will be ticketed. I don't eat the carp I catch, I usually just bury them in the garden. They make great fertilizer and makes your tomatoes really really fat and juicy!
Hey art where did your buddy hit them spoons? I'll probably pack a big pole to the falls tomorrow, rivers comin up again...
He was below Ky Dam...........he was trying to sauger fish and didn't catch much, so he switched over to snagging and whacked'em!
My buddy snagged one on a crankbait on the Ohio River once and it had a big hole in it's side. Some of its guts were hanging out. I dont know how that thing was still kicking. This spoonbill was small maybe 6 or 8 lb. Someone must have thought it was too small to keep.