Lake barkley Vacation

Hey all,

We are taking a week vacation down too lake barkley, and planned on doing maybe some early morning or evening bass fishing, and maybe try jug fishing one night. I have been hearing for bass ledge fishing is the way to go, but I really don't have much of a idea of what to throw. My dad use to ledge fish with spinner baits(letting it drop), would that be very effective? As for catfish, we're pretty much clueless as too what/where to use. On Herrington, we used live bluegill, and put them out, sort of in a back of a creek, and caught flatheads and channels. Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated, I have a cousin coming up from florida, who does really get to fish the much at all. He likes to bluegill fish, but really enjoys jug fishing and bass fishing.

Thanks in advance,
Nate

Just got back myself, and it was hot out

I've fished LB many times over the years and usually just pound the shore with crankbaits. Tried a few new things this go around and settled in on carolina rig 10" plastic worm as the go to bait. Caught about 20 bass over the week, most of them 12-14", one each at 14.75", 17" and 18". Most of them came off of deep rocky shorelines near cover. Tried finding suitable ledges and just couldn't get that figured out. Spent a bit of time with the 2 little kids and today's equivalent of snoopy poles winding in bluegill, pumpkinseed and a couple red ear. Most of these caught within a couple feet of rip rap shorelines near cover using wax worms on small crappie jigs. Cleaned 50 or so good size ones this week. Best of luck. I guess I'll have to go back to work.

Need more time to fish.
John

I usually do best with a carolina rig on ledges. Just find drop offs by creek channels near the mouths of bays or river channels that drop from about 10 feet down to about 20-25 feet - those are the ones I do best on. And just drag a carolina rig down them. If you were out early morning or late afternoon - you can go in the backs of bays and throw some topwater. I usually have some good luck this time of year with that. As hot as it has been lately you may enjoy the early morning or late afternoon. You could also fish an hour or two into night and fish points with a single blade spinner bait.

What part of Barkley Lake? This time of year, as it gets hotter and hotter, the white bass bite starts getting hot. I know of a few places around the Buzzard Rock area that will get you bit, and can let you in on my catfish honey hole down there. :)

hey, sorry for the late reply, i have been staying at the lake barkley state lodge, and have yet to really do either cat or bass fish, but was planning on going out the following couple nights and mornings for fishing. i would love to know the secret catfish spot, if you just wanted to pm me about it that would be great.

thanks
nate

You're a little bit too far south of my honey hole.

But what I would if I were you is to head out to the main river channel. It makes a bend towards the mouth of Little River at the central island, which should have a white diamond sign on it. That's where I would start.

Best bet is to use two rods set for different depths. Have one rod with a split shot and hook, and let it down not much deeper than 8 ft or so with a night crawler - it's usually a sure thing for the 1 lb. blue catfish this time of year, which tend to school up in the upper part of the water column.

Now for the other rod, I would take a 3 way swivel, and tie about a 1/2 oz. or larger bell sinker on a leader to one, and a leader with a crappie minnow and hook on the other. The size of the weight kind of depends on how strong the current is. The idea is to bounce the rig lightly on the bottom while trolling or drifting over different depths. Usually between 15 and 20 ft is best this time of year. I've caught blues up to 35 lbs. doing this. If you come across some stumps in that depth, along the edge of the main river channel, it should hold a big one or two. Sometimes you'll get into some sauger doing this as well, which will readily eat that crappie minnow. Plus, if you do find stumps like that, there's a good chance bass with be hanging around too.

The mouth of little river and goose creek are both good for catfish on the river drop. 20' to 25'. Mostly blues but channels sometimes too. Yellowtail Shad work great.

kc