Where would you go on derby weekend?

[fishinfreak]

So my buddy and I are wanting to go on a fishing trip on derby weekend. My work schedule is crazy and this will probably be the only trip I get to take this year so we want it to be a good one. We are thinking either ky lake for bass and possibly red ear (if they're biting that early)? Or Nolin for bass crappie and maybe a walleye or two. My question is if you could go anywhere in the state to fish that weekend where would you go and what would you target? Thanks.

[DRob3382]

Derby weekend was always the weekend we would traditionally take a trip to Dale Hollow for smallmouth. We used Derby as the indicator each year and always did really well. The fish were always typically coming into post-spawn time and were up pretty shallow and easy to catch. I'm going to try again this year to make that trip.

[fishinfreak]

Derby weekend was always the weekend we would traditionally take a trip to Dale Hollow for smallmouth. We used Derby as the indicator each year and always did really well. The fish were always typically coming into post-spawn time and were up pretty shallow and easy to catch. I'm going to try again this year to make that trip.

I made my first trip to dale hollow last September for a camping trip. I did get out for a hour or so to fish. I boated on small smallmouth and lost one pushing 3lbs and had another pushing 4 roll over my popper. How do you target the smallies that time of year?

[riverrat12]

Bout Derby I'm gettin some good bites on the Big-O. I'd spend more time fishin and less time driven... course that's comin from an old riverrat LOL.

[sweetwater]

In the first part of May Green River Lake is as good as any lake in the state for lm bass in size and numbers. Crappie numbers will be very good as well but size is not what Ky. Lake would be. As a bonus or if you're like me an irritation a legal size or larger musky is a common catch, a white spinnerbait will do it. Bluegill should be starting to bed, a bucket full of hand size gills is very doable if you have enough crickets.

[Dave Stewart]

Hard to beat Kentucky/Barkley that weekend if water temperatures are on schedule. Still some late prespawn Largemouth and spawners as well as post spawn Largemouth and Smallmouth. Bluegill and Red Ears are active also back shallow.

[mhall]

Hard to beat Kentucky/Barkley that weekend if water temperatures are on schedule. Still some late prespawn Largemouth and spawners as well as post spawn Largemouth and Smallmouth. Bluegill and Red Ears are active also back shallow.

We had a trip out of Irvin Cobb that weekend once I will never forget. Bass were cruising buckbrush, if you seen them throw a piece of plastic in front of them and almost every one of them bit. It was crazy good, I will never forget that trip....

[DRob3382]

Always had luck on Dale that time of year by fishing live baits, grubs, or swimbaits up in the buckbrush along the banks.

[GeoFisher]

Hard to beat Kentucky/Barkley that weekend if water temperatures are on schedule. Still some late prespawn Largemouth and spawners as well as post spawn Largemouth and Smallmouth. Bluegill and Red Ears are active also back shallow.

I will be at KY Lake that weekend...........DEFINITELY.

Later,

Geo

[Fishin is life]

A decent trip to ky lake will usually beat a good trip anywhere else. If the wind gets up you could wind up locked in whatever bay you launch in, so thats something to keep in mind. Green River Lake can be really good that time of year, i usually stock my freezer with slab crappie around derby and dont worry about catching tablefare for the rest of the year. If you come to green, ride around on points until you see brush/fish and pitch a minnow out. Find the right school and two people will limit out in an hour or so. The bass fishing can be really good that time of year also, with more size than numbers

[zx150]

The infield.

[Flash5150]

The infield.

Don't overlook the Ohio River for crappie fishing with both numbers and size. Had one of my best days crappie fishing in Craig's Creek on Derby day. I remember it because it was the day Barbaro won the Derby.