The wind makes these 2 lakes VERY dangerous at times. I will tell you that these lakes you will want to know which direction is is coming from and how hard it is blowing EVERY time you get on these waters. NNW wind direction is the worst, with SSE being a close second. The reason is that these 2 directions are the ones where the wind blows straight up or down KY Lake and a mere 10-15 mph wind can cause 2-4 footers, 20 mph and higher pretty much makes running Ky Lake with these 2 wind directions almost impossible and very dangerous. Seen and been on the lake with 20+ mph and the lake is rolling 6 footers in no time. The reason is very flat, very shallow water and STRAIGHT lake. Not like any other lake I ever fished in that the lake takes turns or has high mountains around. East and West winds don't make the lake running impossible but does blow straight into all the major bays off KY Lake on both sides of the lake. I think with the wind, when it blows, Ky Lake fishes like 4 lakes, North and South side of the lake and the LBL and West side because when it blows it is not just that simple to cross the lake or run the lake. When you do get either of the 2 worst wind directions and it blows hard, then North Barkley becomes a parking lot for this is where guys go to fish and get out of the NNW or SSE wind directions the most. Watch your map and stay in the channel on either of the lakes. You can be 200 yards from either side of the bank idleing right in the middle of some of the pockets and look down and be in 3 foot of water, or running the main lake right in the middle and see birds sitting right on top of the rock ledges. Pretty much both lakes are only at Summer Pool from about May thru August. I know there is only a 4 foot variation from Winter to Summer Pool levels during a normal year but 4 feet at Ky and Barkley is like 25 feet at Cumberland, 20 feet at Dale and Barren. I am amazed that how there are not as many boats left without lower units or totally busted up with all the joy boaters out in April and early May for I see people running all over in and out of the marked navigation channels. I for one navigate inside the navigation channels all year long when I fish these lakes. Best lakes in KY for greenfish and when they asked KVD at the Classic a couple of weeks ago to which lake was he looking forward to fishing the most this Elite Series year, his response was Ky Lake. He went on to say best ledge fishing lake in the Country.