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I've now caught smallmouth on all 4 trips to Barkley this year. Caught a 2lber near Carmack Bay this weekend.
Seems like I used to target smith, duncan and others on the KYLake side for smallmouth but almost never caught any so I've given up and just focus on Barkley. Now that I'm focussing on largemouth seems I always get a nice surprise.
What gives?? Are others catching smallies on Barkley??
i have several,three years ago i had a 4.85 and a 4.10 in the same tournament.My uncle told me this past weekend he has been catching
a lot of them this year too.mine came from down by doanaldson cr..and i have caught several around eddyville crankin the roadbeds.If the water keeps getting clearer and more and more gravel is uncovered they will be there i'd say.
[QUOTE=davidsa;305266]I've now caught smallmouth on all 4 trips to Barkley this year. Caught a 2lber near Carmack Bay this weekend.
Seems like I used to target smith, duncan and others on the KYLake side for smallmouth but almost never caught any so I've given up and just focus on Barkley. Now that I'm focussing on largemouth seems I always get a nice surprise.
What gives?? Are others catching smallies on Barkley??[/QUOTE]
There are plenty of Smallies in Barkley. In the spring, find any gravel point and you will find Smallies around it. We were calling our shot this past spring on catching Smallies in Barkley on gravel points or gravel spawning areas. You were targeting the correct areas on Ky, LBL side of North KY, for Smallies and there are plenty in these bays. They are finicky creatures this is for sure and there are a bunch of 12-15" fish that I found in Ky. Fished Ky the past couple of years targeting smallies on most trips and caught a bunch of fish but never got the constant 3-4lb pattern anywhere. There are many that will probably disagree, but Dale Hollow is the best Smallie fishery in the state and it is a large gap back to second place to whomever is in second. I heard a bunch of people saying the next world record smallie may come out of KY but I for one don't believe it for a second. Caught too many big Smallies out of Dale and with spending the amount of time I have spent on Dale, Ky and Cumberland specifically chasing the brownfish, there is no comparison to Dale Hollow for Smallmouth. Good Luck
[quote=davidsa;305266]What gives?? Are others catching smallies on Barkley??[/quote]
Friend of mine had his biggest smallmouth ever, 5.25, a few years back off the point leading into Denumbers. We have always caught more smallies in the northernmost parts of the lake.
Smallmouth have been gradually increasing for years on Barkley. I actually target smallmouth on Barkley at times even though there are far more LMs. I haven't caught any huge smallies on Barkley but I have at least a half a dozen over 5 and no telling how many 3s and 4s. I have caught my limit in keeper smallies several times. Hearing all of the FNF chatter I even caught several last winter on Barkley playing around on deep main lake points. I still like KY better for smallies but I haven't been getting over there as much the past couple of years so the "bonus" smallies at Barkley are a pleasant addition indeed.
kc