Kentucky River Smallmouth in Winter

Guys (And fishergurl)

I have decided not to waste a bunch of gas and drive back to C land on Sunday. My bro and I are going to take our chances at a closer smallmouth habitat - the KY River.

It is at normal winter pool from what I understand. I just wanted to know if anyone has fished it this time of year and what to look for. I have fished it with pretty good success other times of the year, but never in Jan.

Any thoughts?

The plan is to find low/no current areas with structure close to deeper water. Then throw hair jigs, shakey heads, small rubber jigs, a small spinnerbait maybe or a crank if they are on shad.

[quote=Cajun78;312082]Guys (And fishergurl)

I have decided not to waste a bunch of gas and drive back to C land on Sunday. My bro and I are going to take our chances at a closer smallmouth habitat - the KY River.

It is at normal winter pool from what I understand. I just wanted to know if anyone has fished it this time of year and what to look for. I have fished it with pretty good success other times of the year, but never in Jan.

Any thoughts?

The plan is to find low/no current areas with structure close to deeper water. Then throw hair jigs, shakey heads, small rubber jigs, a small spinnerbait maybe or a crank if they are on shad.[/quote]

I'll be very interested to see how you do since that's a lot closer to me than Cumberland as well.

I'm going to try and go to C-Land on Saturday with my father, but he now says he's coming down with a cold, so it may not happen.

Michael

Try a F-n-F if it's clear enough on some of those places. People catch em on it from time to time in the river.

Yea, I'll need to check the water temps, I would bet they are mid to upper 40's right now.

I would think bends in the river that offer some refuge from the current would be the place to fish, close to the channel with some wood/rock. And I am sure well have to fish slow.

Probably will try FNF as well as light grubs, shakey head worms, texas rig craw, etc.

Cajun....

Good move.... Post when you get back.

Billy

Water temp is 41

Well, after seeing the river all coffee colored, bro and I decided to go to Burnside and fish that end of Cumberland. Launched from Burnside at about 7, went into the south fork and fished a bank across from the power plant. I must have seen 4 boats hit that same bank. We took 1 off of it on a green rubber jig with an uncle josh craw trailer in avocado. (8lb test, med action) Went over into Pittman and took another, both fish about 14 inches - both largemouth. VERY SLOW Fishing was the only way we could get a bite. The wind was blowin hard on us and I cranked every point on the main lake and in Pittman I could find. Jigs were the only producers.

I never had trouble graphing fish this time *(unlike my trip in Caney/Wolf creek a few weeks back) we were able to find them.. it was just hard to make em bite and on the main lake, it was real tough to stay on them with the wind and all.

Interesting to note though, the 2nd fish was in a shallow cut that had collected some trash. We tried fishing a few more of those but no luck.

tough day, but didnt get skunked.

Forgot to mention, I threw a yellow zoom trick worm (bit about an inch off the head) on a 1/8 shakey head on 8lb test. I didnt get anything on it, but man the action was incredible. I bet it'll be a good spring producer.

Do they make the trick worm in anything other than pink, white and yellow?

Yep, lots of colors.
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yea they make the main colors you need. theres no need to bite the head off. the fish will eat it as it is. i usually use a regular trick worm on a shaky head as long as im not fishing for ky's. just a confidence thing.

They make them in several different colors....[QUOTE=Cajun78;312368]Forgot to mention, I threw a yellow zoom trick worm (bit about an inch off the head) on a 1/8 shakey head on 8lb test. I didnt get anything on it, but man the action was incredible. I bet it'll be a good spring producer.

Do they make the trick worm in anything other than pink, white and yellow?[/QUOTE]