Ky and Barkley

[GeoFisher]

I had a pretty good time. NO monster fish or Monster numbers, but I was sure the trip was going to be gangbusters.

I drove down friday night around 10:00pm after my wife and I got back from a wedding. Made it to Poplar Creek Lodge about 1:00am. I got up at 4:30am to go fishin

Went out on North Barkley and found some spots with bait up. Fished that bait, and managed to catch some decent fish with a kicker that was close to 5lbs. Fished for 4 hours or so, and then went to get the wife and breakfast and do stuff around Kuttawa, and Grand Rivers.

Ended up with 8 fish with 3 keepers. All the keepers came off one spot in nearly 20ft of water on a shakey head. One of those keepers was a nice smallie.Yea baby. Keepers went nearly 12 lbs. Like I said I thought it was going to be GANGBUSTERS.

Went back out Saturday night to Sugar Bay. Stayed in that bay, since we were only going to be out for 2-3 hours. My wife and I managed to catch quite a few......15 or so with a couple keepers on a compact 1/2 oz crankbait and red eye shad.

Sunday we went back to Sugar Bay and started off with 10 or so fish at first light. GREAT top water and red eye shad bite. After a couple hours in Sugar Bay, we went north to Smith Bay. Lots of bait, and managed to catch about a 4ft gar, a catfish, and a few small bass. TONS of bait in there being pounded by small yellows. SOON, that stuff will be on fire . Finished up Sunday Morning down in Rhodes. Caught a couple keepers in there, and a few more fish. Ended up with maybe 20 fish for the day. Only 2 or 3 keepers, but nothing like the day before.

Pulled off the lake by noon, headed to Grand Rivers, and then back to the room for a nap and then early dinner. After dinner, we went back out on North Barkley. Sunday night, I didn't catch a fish. I don't think I even had a bite.

Monday morning, we drove down the trace to Donaldson creek at first light. It stayed overcast most of the morning. AGAIN, I thought it was setting up to be a mac daddy day. I was wrong. I caught 3-4 small bass on a magic point ......Then to my favorite smallie spot and NOT a single bite. Then I ran to Fords where I found a crap ton of bait, but nothing eating it.......After struggling, we headed to our first spot , where I caught a 4lb sauger, which ended up being fileted and blackened.

I did manage to hook and loose a really decent smallie back on the creek in donaldson........

As lots of reports have stated, they are scattered .

Hopefully soon, it will get better. I have 5 more trips scheduled between now and thanksgiving. I'm thinking one of two of those will produce fish




One other thing........I blew up a Cumara rod yesterday. I've never done that before. I the hook and BOOM. right in the backbone of the rod. BROKE the rod, and broke the line, AND lost the dang fish......

On a good note, I took it back to a local shop today and the exchanged it over the counter. WAY COOL.

Later,

Geo.

[Carter1]

Glad to hear they replaced the rod for you. I'll be down KY/Barkley way in November. If I can get my TM fixed by then I will bring my boat.

[redearhoosier]

Cool report, we're heading down there in a month. Going to try for the fall crappie/panfish bite. Does Katie still own Poplar Creek Lodge? We stayed there back in the spring and she's a really nice person, they were trying to sell at the time.

[GeoFisher]

Cool report, we're heading down there in a month. Going to try for the fall crappie/panfish bite. Does Katie still own Poplar Creek Lodge? We stayed there back in the spring and she's a really nice person, they were trying to sell at the time.

She still owns Poplar Creek Lodge.......

Has not sold it yet.