Ky Lake or Barkley for Shellcracker?

I've been wanting to put together a bluegill/shellcracker trip to LBL for the past three or so years and have never really had the time or money to do so. This seems to be the year that I finally get it all lined up.

What's the better choice for big shellcracker, Barkley or Ky Lake? I'd like to hear from people who have personal experience too but everyone's welcome to chime in. We'll be targeting bluegill too but probably focus heavily on catching redear.

What would be a good place to stay and what's reasonable? I'm looking at the first week of May, May 5th is the full moon so it should be good fishing. I've never been to either lake and only have a 14ft jon boat with a small motor, so hitting the main waters isn't an attractive option. I'd like to get into a bay somewhere that I can dodge the wind but still have plenty of options.

[QUOTE=redearhoosier;480833]I've been wanting to put together a bluegill/shellcracker trip to LBL for the past three or so years and have never really had the time or money to do so. This seems to be the year that I finally get it all lined up.

What's the better choice for big shellcracker, Barkley or Ky Lake? I'd like to hear from people who have personal experience too but everyone's welcome to chime in. We'll be targeting bluegill too but probably focus heavily on catching redear.

What would be a good place to stay and what's reasonable? I'm looking at the first week of May, May 5th is the full moon so it should be good fishing. I've never been to either lake and only have a 14ft jon boat with a small motor, so hitting the main waters isn't an attractive option. I'd like to get into a bay somewhere that I can dodge the wind but still have plenty of options.[/QUOTE]
My buddy and I went to the Big sandy area just across the tenn line. Last year the water was high, and will still caught an awesome amount of gills and crackers. We stayed at a little resort, think it was called paradise or something of that sort. Also, pumphouse lodge is close by. The cove is somewhat secluded, and would suit your boat. We will be there the second week of may... mid may seems to be the best for shellcrackers. If you want to send a PM, I will give you some more details on some places we caught fish.

I always catch mine on Barkley, in areas on the north end. Rarely do I go much farther south than the prison.

[url]http://youtu.be/--_qtmMOZcA[/url]
[url]http://youtu.be/zzgk8tmkF9g[/url]

For your type of boat and fishing, I would recommend Buzzard Rock Marina. The marina is in Poplar Creek/Bay which offers some really good fishing year-round - I catch a lot of shellcrackers in there, along with some monster bluegill. The area is also very much protected from high winds.

Thanks guys. Art, how many acres of water is Poplar Bay? Is it big enough to fish and not have to really leave it for another area? I'm sure I could get my little boat out on the main body of water if it's a decent day...sure wouldn't do it if the wind was up. Are the shellcracker good size in Poplar Bay?

Sorry to ask so many quesitons but I'll be driving from the Louisville area and really want to make certain that I have a little success.

I've only fished ky lake for them but the biggest thing I can say is fish slow and pattern them. Make sure you try different depths. We usually fish 4-5 ft deep or believe it or not Carolina rig pea gravel points and flats for them

I'm in the same boat so to speak. I have a small 15" old john boat with a 25 on it. When I fish bluegills and redear, I usually fish KY Lake. Barkley is also good. Remember the Northeast bays will generally warm the quickest, so spawning patterns in the same bay can be different. I like putting in at Smith Bay in LBL, that way I have Pisgah bay north that I can get to and Duncan and Sugar I can get to. If I'm on the west side of KY lake, I like the ramps in Big Bear. There are a couple bays north and south from that point that are good. Also, Little Bear/Rocky Point is a good place to put in.

What Art said, theres plenty of water in Buzzard Rock/Poplar creek area. Welll portected from the wind and no need to go far looking for fish.

Alright guys, I'm seriously considering making the reservations this week for the Poplar Creek area. Believe it or not, I've contacted some of these hotels via computer and they're already booked solid the first couple weeks of May. It's looking like my trip's going to be from May 5th-May 9th or so.

From the looks of the map, I could potentially get out of Poplar Creek if I had to and scamper to a couple close by bays. Shouldn't have to do that though, that second week of May is the full moon and things should be hot.

[QUOTE=redearhoosier;480879]Thanks guys. Art, how many acres of water is Poplar Bay? Is it big enough to fish and not have to really leave it for another area?[/QUOTE]

Absoultely. My family had a houseboat there in the marina from the time I was 8 up until I was 18. I had a little 16 ft semi-v jon boat with a 2.5 hp that I was given free reign to go and do whatever I wanted solo, as long as I didn't go outside the breakwall. I know every single little spot in that bay. And yes, there are good sized shellcrackers in there!

I live in Louisville too, and I drive all the way down there just to fish that area. I make an annual trip to a certain spot in that bay every year Mother's Day weekend...that's when I usually fill the freezer ;)

You'll also be close enought that you can trailer down to Kuttawa if you want a change of scenery - it's another good area that is very large and quite protected if the wind gets up. It too has good fish in it - when I was finally old enough to take the boat past the breakwall, I motored down to Kuttawa quite a bit. There's a little bay in between Buzzard/Poplar and Kuttawa - it has an old roadbed at the mouth that holds fish. The bay itself is loaded with brush piles in the back, and there's quite a few docks to fish as well.

If you could go a little later in the month, it might be a little better, but there's always that chance of an early spring and the bite starting up earlier. Like I said, Mother's Day weekend has been a very reliable indicator for me.

If you want to catch some bass.....a carolina rig works very well in those areas in May, especially if you can locate the old railroadroad bed in Poplar ;)

[QUOTE=KyLakeLunker;480977]I like putting in at Smith Bay in LBL, that way I have Pisgah bay north that I can get to and Duncan and Sugar I can get to. If I'm on the west side of KY lake, I like the ramps in Big Bear. There are a couple bays north and south from that point that are good. Also, Little Bear/Rocky Point is a good place to put in.[/QUOTE]

This is good info. as well. If I couldn't get a place to stay over around Buzzard Rock, I'd be looking at Moors as you have a lot of area to play with that's mostly protected should the wind get up.

We always go the weekend after mothers day and with 2 boats and around 6 ppl we have around 700 bluegill/ shellcrackers in 4 days but this is on ky lake

[QUOTE=artcarney_agr;481095]Absoultely. My family had a houseboat there in the marina from the time I was 8 up until I was 18. I had a little 16 ft semi-v jon boat with a 2.5 hp that I was given free reign to go and do whatever I wanted solo, as long as I didn't go outside the breakwall. I know every single little spot in that bay. And yes, there are good sized shellcrackers in there!

I live in Louisville too, and I drive all the way down there just to fish that area. I make an annual trip to a certain spot in that bay every year Mother's Day weekend...that's when I usually fill the freezer ;)

You'll also be close enought that you can trailer down to Kuttawa if you want a change of scenery - it's another good area that is very large and quite protected if the wind gets up. It too has good fish in it - when I was finally old enough to take the boat past the breakwall, I motored down to Kuttawa quite a bit. There's a little bay in between Buzzard/Poplar and Kuttawa - it has an old roadbed at the mouth that holds fish. The bay itself is loaded with brush piles in the back, and there's quite a few docks to fish as well.

If you could go a little later in the month, it might be a little better, but there's always that chance of an early spring and the bite starting up earlier. Like I said, Mother's Day weekend has been a very reliable indicator for me.

If you want to catch some bass.....a carolina rig works very well in those areas in May, especially if you can locate the old railroadroad bed in Poplar ;)[/QUOTE]
with as warm as this winter has been i bet the spawn will come a little earlier this year