Reply With QuoteHere is some intelligent information. Hire a guide. Fishing on a lake you have never been on for a species you have never fished is a perfect example of needing a guide for at least one day.
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Junior Member
CAVE RUN?
I humbily ask the people of this website to help three idiots catch fish. One of my best friends is coming up to Kentucky for Christmas, and we've made reservations on this lake because we heard it was good. We are Bass fisherman fishing for Muskie; its a foreign language. We're only going to fish the lake once, so its not like we're going to steal all you're spots, if someone were to be gracious enough to help us out, so please don't let that thought discourage you. We'll be heading up at or around the 29th of December. We like the idea of catching Pike and Muskie; but we've never even seen a picture of this lake, much less fished and and know where to fish and how to catch fish. Guys please help... when, where and what with in the wintertime... We'll be making a trip to Bass Pro Shops to accomadate for baits, but we need to know what to buy.. any intelligent information will be charished. Please, please help us.
God Bless
Super Moderator
Here is some intelligent information. Hire a guide. Fishing on a lake you have never been on for a species you have never fished is a perfect example of needing a guide for at least one day.
Senior Member
I only caught Muskies on Shad Raps by the crappie stake beds at Green River Lake by accident. But I heard there are some nice Musky's in Cave Run and had one hooked up on a Rat-L-Trap all the way to the boat and he came unbuttoned.
Since your going to Bass Pro Shop, they should be more than happy to fix you up with the right bait and tackle to use on your trip. But I did hear that bigger than normal spinner bait and inline spinners are some of the tackle that is used to catch those brutes on a full time basis. G/L and post a picture or two if you catch a biggun.
The only area I was in on that lake was by one of the ramps, straight out from it in deep water is all I remember about the location. Don't even know the ramp name.
P.S. Make sure you get a Ramp Launch Permit the day before you go, cause when my uncle and I went. There were no launch permits available at the lake to get and we both got a fine for not having one. Seems you have to buy them at the Lakes Main Office or one of the bait stores the day before your going to fish. But if you have a COE Season Launch Pass, then your all set and won't need a daily pass.
Senior Member
My best advice is to pretend like you're bass fishing and you should get plenty of muskie action. If you really want to get bit just tie on one of you're favorite crankbaits or spinnerbaits. You're not gonna catch many but you'll get plenty of action. In all seriousness, at this time of year your best shot at lining up a trophy musky is to get a reputable guide that is on top of the pattern. I haven't been out on the lake since August.
Member
jgevedon is right, especially if you don't have any musky tackle. I've caught more musky bass fishing than actually musky fishing. I've had better luck this time of year towards the marina (Scott's creek) than up the river. Suspending jerk baits, spinnerbaits and bass jigs (yes bass jigs) have worked for me in Dec-Jan. Most likely will be a slow day no matter what you do but if you raise a fish and don't hook it, stay with it. Even if that means coming back to it throughout the day and making several cast. Good luck.Originally Posted by jgevedon
PS If you do buy any muskie tackle get a glide bait, doesn't have to be big (ex manta)
Senior Member
Do a search on google for Cave Run Muskie - there's a couple other forums dedicated to the lake and species. I'd give you the link but not sure if that's legal here. Keep an eye out for large grass flats (Zilpo) in the middle of the lake - the buoys and other fisherman will tip you off; just make sure you're careful when running on plane in unfamiliar waters. Also, avoid the Licking if you don't know it - some serious prop busters in there and most creeks have standing timber just under the water level so don't run on plane in the creeks either. Skip going to BPS, the local tackle shops will have all you need in teh colors that are working and don't forget to get a launch pass - you can order those on-line or the tackle shops sell them.
Good luck!
Senior Member
Will a COE launch pass work at Cave Run? this is not a COE lake.I think it's the NFS in charge here.
Senior Member
I fished that Lake quite a bit growing up, and the only one I ever caught came while crappie fishing a minnow on a down line. Needless to say when I tried to lift my crappie into the boat I was surprised.
I'll never forget the flash of that silver head coming out of the water. Or the way he broke that 6lb test.
Senior Member
First thing you need to do is get a good map of the lake regardless of whether or not you get a guide. Best bet is to get a guide for a day.
However, if the guide is out of the question, then do some internet searches as suggested earlier on and co-ordinate the info you can pull together off the internet along with the map info. The Hotspots map will give you seasonal patterns, basits, names and locations of flats, creeks, rivers, dropoffs, etc. Then start to put together your game plan.
Cave run is a Corp of Engineers Lake and you can get all the info you need regarding water levels and conditions from the COE Cave Run site at http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/crl/default.htm.
Next, again as suggested, skip Bass Pro completely. Get to the lake early enough to get your parking/ramp passes and visit as many of the local shops as possible, specifically Crashes Landing. The local stores will have plenty of info and the right baits and tackle you will need for the lake.
Finally, use all the information to finalize your game plan, find out what ramps are usable with the low water and get on the water and keep throwing. Fish of a thousand casts you know! Some sound advice, do not leave anything in your vehicle you don't want to lose. I leave my doors unlocked with no valuables in the vehicle. If they want in they will get in by breaking your window. Do not go to any of the upper Licking River Ramps to launch and park, a lot of vehicle breakins up there.
The bests suggestions I can give you is to fish the Zilpo Flats, Leatherwood and Buck Creek. These could keep you busy for at least a day if you fish them correctly. Then try up and around the marina at the upper end of the lake, past Buck and Leatherwood Creeks.
If all that fails, go toward the dam and try Big and Little Cave Run Creeks, Caney Creek and Scott Creek. That will finish off any 3 day weekend at Cave Run.
As suggested earlier, stay out of the Licking River. Nothing but trouble for the newcomer and if you don't plan on many return trips to the Cave, dont bother taking the long idle up the Licking River and risking boat, health and loss of limbs or props!!!!
Have fun, be careful on the water this time of year. A fall in the lake now means potential loss of life situation with hypothermia. Good luck and Merry Christmas.
Senior Member
Yes Cave Run Lake is run by the Corps of Engineers and a COE Launch Pass will work there.
Junior Member
Thank all of you, we will be doing everything you guys tell me.
Senior Member
Muskie Hunting can be very tuff and frustrating. But if you get hit, see a fish follow your bait, or actually catch one it will be well worth all your troubles.
I caught one over a year ago and it got me hooked. I have goose egged on 8 trips since then. ItS tuff but i know the potential of hooking into and actually landing one of those bad boys.
I really would suggest getting a guide, they really know their stuff up there and will work hard to get you on fish. I would suggest TNT guide service.
Good luck and hold on to that rod tight.
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