Help crappie fishing kentucky or barkley april 10 to 14th.

Need some help
Going fishing with some friends from april 10th. to the 14th. for crappie either Kentucky or Barkley lake. Looking for clean reasonable lodging for 4 adults. Then after that would like to get some information on where crappie might be and what they might be biting on? I've been to Barkley before fishing for bass and done great but never made it down for spring crappie. I'm not sure to fish deep on in coves, minnows or jigs. Wanted to check out some good spots to eat also. If any of you master crappie fishermen or women or kids could give me any information, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank You

PS
In the summer I'll come down and help you get rid of some of those Asian Carp. I heard they are fun to bowfish.

Looking for clean and lower rates you should consider the Bel Air Motel which is located on U.S. 641 close to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. This would give you easy access to both lakes. You would be about 20 minute drive from Jonathan Creek which is a spring crappie haven and you could access north Barkley by launching at Double Creek at Barkley Dam which would be about a 10 minute drive from the motel. Demumbers Bay and Willow Bay get quite a bit of attention from local Crappie anglers in the spring. Eating places close would be the famous Patti's Restaurant in Grand Rivers (10-15 minutes), Catfish Kitchen (5 minutes), Knoths Barbque (10 minutes).

You can expect the Black Crappie spawn to be pretty much done that week but there should be White Crappie spawning...of course all this depends on water temps.

[QUOTE=Dave Stewart;543213]Looking for clean and lower rates you should consider the Bel Air Motel which is located on U.S. 641 close to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. This would give you easy access to both lakes. You would be about 20 minute drive from Jonathan Creek which is a spring crappie haven and you could access north Barkley by launching at Double Creek at Barkley Dam which would be about a 10 minute drive from the motel. Demumbers Bay and Willow Bay get quite a bit of attention from local Crappie anglers in the spring. Eating places close would be the famous Patti's Restaurant in Grand Rivers (10-15 minutes), Catfish Kitchen (5 minutes), Knoths Barbque (10 minutes).

You can expect the Black Crappie spawn to be pretty much done that week but there should be White Crappie spawning...of course all this depends on water temps.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the information. I haven't been down there for spring crappie fishing so this will be a new experience.
Can't wait. What is your perferred bait down there. I have many types of gigs, and was thinking minnows. Any tricks to this. Normally at home I cast minnows with a small swivel letting it sink slow and we head down the shore and we i catch one we stop the boat and start fishing.

Thanks again for the information and any other info is greatly appreciated.

Personally I have not done much Crappie fishing in years as I am busy everyday guiding for bass but I do stay in touch with a number of locals that do Crappie fish a lot to get information for my weekly fishing report. Typically that time of year that you are going to be here, most of the folks I know spend their time casting curly tail jigs and road runner type jigs to the banks or to submerged brush piles where the Crappie are holding just off spawning banks. Some prefer the age old bobber and minnow presentations fished over and around cover or slow rolling minnows and or jigs under the bobbers in these areas. If it were me personally, I would do just as I do when bass fishing.....I would figure out what and how the fish want on any given day and give them that....it has been my experience that if you try to force feed fish what you like to do or use and they prefer something else, you are going to lose that argument every time.

[QUOTE=Dave Stewart;543287]Personally I have not done much Crappie fishing in years as I am busy everyday guiding for bass but I do stay in touch with a number of locals that do Crappie fish a lot to get information for my weekly fishing report. Typically that time of year that you are going to be here, most of the folks I know spend their time casting curly tail jigs and road runner type jigs to the banks or to submerged brush piles where the Crappie are holding just off spawning banks. Some prefer the age old bobber and minnow presentations fished over and around cover or slow rolling minnows and or jigs under the bobbers in these areas. If it were me personally, I would do just as I do when bass fishing.....I would figure out what and how the fish want on any given day and give them that....it has been my experience that if you try to force feed fish what you like to do or use and they prefer something else, you are going to lose that argument every time.[/QUOTE]

How is bass fishing that time of year. Normally that's about all I fish for up here in northern kentuky. I've only fished down there for a weekend down at Prizer Point. A storm was coming in one evening and I absolutely destroyed the bass. One of the most fantastic bass fishing evenings I've ever had. I love to catch bass but I always put them back.
The crappie and catfish are what I prefer to eat..

Normally the bass fishing then is good with the LM. There should be some early girls back shallow cruising the bedding areas and also numbers staged on points and banks just off the spawning areas. Jigs and Texas rigged lizards can make for some very good days that time of year.

Soft plastics are by far my favorite baits for bass. I fish for fun in a couple tournaments up here and I can hold my own. I can't quite figure crank baits. I have a neighbor that I fish with at Kincade lake and he can be slamming these huge large mouths while me using basically the same crank bait not getting a strike. Just unreal. Thanks for the information on the bass. 4 days with just the guys, i'm sure we'd love to get into some of that small mouth fishing. Just so excited to get away with no one bugging me. In fact, I've never been away 4 days just for fishing. Can't wait.

Thanks for all your help.

I'll probably keep bugging you until the day I leave.
I'll definitely let you know how we do..














s

Patties is awsome

Go to Pattis, get the porkchop, youre welcome

we stayed in jonathon creek a couple aprils ago and some guys were in there crappie fishing while we bass fished. They were cleaning their fish at the cleaning stations when we came in and they had giants (15-18"ers). We saw them the next day spider rigging minnows over brush in 8-12ft. Didnt appear they were taking a ton of bites but the ones they caught were good ones

My buddy ended up booking our rooms at Eddy Creek. Now all I need to do is to make sure my boat is running, restringing the line and figure what I need to put in my cooler. My buddy also said he ate at patties and their pork chops were excellent. If anyone knows any good areas around Eddy's Marine, it would be great. Again,, thanks for the information.

I myself and some buds, will be at ky beach resort on blood river the 11 thru 16. great place . this will be third year in a row. that's how good it is. clean friendly great fishing. if the bite is on a slip bobber rig in the shallows. bull rushes easy . even if wind is up just a good anchor . amushroom aint gonna cut it. (and expect wind at ky lake) postion up wind lock it down float em in. to shallows. if no action in one hr move out to fish attractors . there vertical jig structure. I like gulp minnows on a a plain lead head jig. if still aint happening. go huntining with a black black shadrap dt9 troll it if you can keep those 5lb bass off it there is big crappie to come.( yes I know this goes against princapcles as crappie scale down itty bitty baits finnesee etc . screw that a tough bite is a tough bite. if it aint happening for go loud or go home. now if bite is on nothing beats skippining jigs under docks at jothan bend youre rod (jig in hand bow in the rod slingshot jig under dock . that skitter acrorsthe top and the settle etc
Thank You

PS
In the summer I'll come down and help you get rid of some of those Asian Carp. I heard they are fun to bowfish.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=casedog;543201]Need some help
Going fishing with some friends from april 10th. to the 14th. for crappie either Kentucky or Barkley lake. Looking for clean reasonable lodging for 4 adults. Then after that would like to get some information on where crappie might be and what they might be biting on? I've been to Barkley before fishing for bass and done great but never made it down for spring crappie. I'm not sure to fish deep on in coves, minnows or jigs. Wanted to check out some good spots to eat also. If any of you master crappie fishermen or women or kids could give me any information, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank You

PS
In the summer I'll come down and help you get rid of some of those Asian Carp. I heard they are fun to bowfish.[/QUOTE]
Moors on KY lake is 75 a nite and if you book 3 nites the 4th nite is free.That time of year.They have a marina and restaurant.Alot of crappie fisherman stay there that time of year and hit that cove right behind the lodge.