Date for Spring Trip to Kentucky/Barkley

[mhall]

Month of March is big fish time.

Dave we use to go to Irvin Cobb every year in the third week or the last week of March. We usually didn't get big numbers but somebody would always catch a Hoss, usually a fish over six. We loved that place and Cliff Roberson ran it during those days and was a prince of a fella. He liked that Wild Turkey and we would always take him some.

One of our group of four had a serious accident on the job and suffered a severe head injury. He is in a assisted living place in Carbondale Illinois now and never really recovered. We went two more years after that but it was never the same and we quit going. Your post made me think of all those good times. Ole Blood river I can see it in my minds eye right now.
Didn't mean to highjack your post Boone, sorry, but Dave is right them ole bigguns are stirring in March.

[Dave Stewart]

Mark
Just read your post. You know, fishing is all about making memories with family and friends. Thanks for your post....sometimes I get tired when I do things like I have lately (teaching folks how to find bass every day for the past 6 weeks)...your post has reminded me why I do it.

[floatman]

my partner and I won our club tournament last year in March had over 30lb in a day and a 1/2, and you know we caught the big one in practice over 7 but we had a good bag to weigh on Sat 13+ 1/2 day Sun 17+ our tournament is in March this year. JMO

P.S. well said Dave

Gary

[JimDi]

My buddy DaveR used to go fishing at KY/Barkley, but we both sold our boats due conditions beyond our control. Hope to be back into it one day. Yes, March always was a good time to get the big ones for us. My experiences is that KY gets good before Barkley. Something about that cold stained/muddy water they don't like. However, if you get several clear warm days in a row it warms up really quick and have knocked them dead slow rolling spinnerbaits. Just have to stick with it and time them right. Also, have done really good on texas rig.

[FlyLie]

Thanks again guys....all good info. Now anyone want to give me their Honey Holes...He...He..

No, but on either Kentucky or Barkley, with consideration to fishing pressure, would you recommend North End, Mid Lake or KY/Tn Border . I tend to think Mid Lake???...but have no FACTS to base this upon....Then again, I suspect that's not a factor in early spring? I know both lakes are fished heavily!!!

Any comments?

Gary

[bigwormy]

i plan my trip every year for the last week of april 1st week of may. numbers get crazy and you might not catch a 7 or 8 you can still catch enough 4-5 to keep you happy. the yellow flowers get me so jacked its unbelievable when they are in them. just zip them buzzers thru them flowers and BAM! GAWD I LOVE DEM FLOWERS!!!!!

[JimDi]

My experiences for March/April have been that KY Lake is more consistent. Barkley if it is too cold wasn't ever really consistent. On KY Lake, you want to hit main lake points, creek points and channel banks in creeks. I have been throwing something that has been really good the past two years on KY Lake for the Jet-A-Marina and don't want to divugle it. Only hint I will give is that it is something texas rigged. Two years ago we would have had a top ten finish, but I missed one right below the boat that was definately a good keeper. Last year my brother missed one, but he wasn't used to catching those type of fish on KY and missed it. Also, word is southern KY Lake has the weeds and has been producing bigger stringers in the tourneys.

Those yellow flowers are really fun too, but third to fourth week of April sometimes the lake will flood. If it were me and could make two trips, I would go down the fourth week of March for the big ones and last week of April for the yellow flowers. Might even try southern Barkley for the flower fishing, less fishing pressure than KY Lake and wouldn't have to battle the wind as much. Go on the western side and get in some of those back areas and BE CAREFUL. Might even try getting a TN license down there.

Back in the late 80's my neighbor of my mom and dad's used to have an uncle who fished with the guides. He would let us know when to come down when it was primetime. We could take rattle traps and catch 60-70 fish a day and would only see a handful of boats all day. This is when they had weeds on KY Lake all the way to the dam before they sprayed and killed them all